JP2015094711A - Discrimination device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a discrimination device capable of accurately discriminating among a plurality of mutually different types of discrimination objects.SOLUTION: A discrimination device 1 discriminates among a plurality of mutually different types of discrimination objects. The discrimination device 1 includes: transport means 10 which transports a discrimination object 100; light projection means 20 which projects light L including light in the blue wavelength range, light in the green wavelength range, light in the red wavelength range, and light in the near-infrared wavelength range, to the discrimination object 100 transported from the transport means 10; light receiving means which receives the light L transmitted through the discrimination object 100 to detect light in the blue wavelength range, light in the green wavelength range, light in the red wavelength range, and light in the near-infrared wavelength range of the received light L; and discrimination means 50 which discriminates the discrimination object 100 on the basis of the detection result of the light receiving means 30.

Description

  The present invention relates to an identification device that identifies a plurality of types of identification objects that are different from each other.

  Glass for bottles is made of environmentally friendly natural raw materials and is used for various purposes in consideration of consumer health and the environment. For example, glass materials contained in glass bottles are collected by local governments. The glass material contained in the collected glass bottle is crushed into cullet and recycled as a glass raw material (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  When recycling cullet as a glass raw material, a large number of cullet is melted in a melting furnace to form a glass lump called gob. At this time, since a single color glass is melted in the kiln, when a lot of colors are included in the cullet, it is necessary to exclude a cullet having a color outside the allowable range.

  Therefore, development of a technique for separating a large number of cullets according to the color of the glass is underway. For example, Patent Document 2 discloses an identification device that projects visible light onto a cullet conveyed by a conveyor and identifies the type of cullet based on transmitted light that has passed through the cullet.

JP 2005-349277 A JP 2000-028435 A

  In recent years, due to the need for diversification of glass products, the type of cullet as an object to be identified may not always be sufficiently identified only by light included in the visible light wavelength region. For example, an oxidizing green glass material and a reducing green glass material exhibit similar wavelength transmittance in the wavelength region of visible light. For this reason, it is difficult to distinguish from each other based only on the light included in the wavelength region of visible light.

  The present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an identification device that can accurately identify a plurality of different types of identification objects.

  As a result of extensive research conducted by the present inventors, it has been found that by using near-infrared light in addition to visible light, the type of cullet can be identified to provide excellent identification characteristics to the identification device.

That is, the identification device according to the present invention is an identification device for identifying a plurality of different types of objects to be identified,
From the transport means for transporting the object to be identified and the sensitivity characteristics of the camera, the light included in the first wavelength region consisting of 390 nm to 480 nm, the light included in the second wavelength region consisting of 490 nm to 570 nm, and the light from 580 nm to 680 nm A light projecting means for projecting the light included in the third wavelength region and the light including the light included in the fourth wavelength region consisting of 760 nm or more and 890 nm or less onto the identification object transported from the transport means;
Receiving light transmitted through the identification object, and among the received light, light included in the first wavelength region, light included in the second wavelength region, light included in the third wavelength region, And light receiving means for detecting light included in the fourth wavelength region;
Identification means for identifying the identification object based on the detection result of the light receiving means;
Is provided.

  In the identification device according to the present invention, a parabolic mirror and a reflecting mirror may be disposed between the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit.

  In the identification device according to the present invention, the light receiving means may receive light transmitted through the identification target in a direction orthogonal to a flow direction of the identification target and a width direction of the flow of the identification target.

In the identification apparatus according to the present invention, the apparatus further comprises a branching unit that changes the traveling direction of the identified object falling from the transport unit based on the identification result of the identification unit,
The branching unit has a plurality of injection ports for blowing air to the identification object falling from the conveying unit,
The plurality of injection ports may be arranged in the width direction of the flow of the identification target.

  In the identification device according to the present invention, a direction connecting both end portions of the parabolic mirror may be parallel to an arrangement direction of the plurality of ejection ports.

In the identification device according to the present invention, the identification means outputs a branch instruction based on a result of identifying the identification object,
The branching means has a plurality of solenoid valves for controlling the supply of air to the corresponding injection ports based on the branch command,
The solenoid valve may be constituted by an external pilot valve.

  The identification device according to the present invention may further include a cleaning device for cleaning the identification target on the upstream side of the conveying means.

  According to the present invention, by using light included in the wavelength region of near-infrared light in addition to light included in the wavelength region of visible light, a plurality of different types of identification objects can be accurately identified. Can do.

It is a side view which shows the identification device which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. In the identification device shown in FIG. 1, it is a top view which shows the path | route through which the light projected from the light projection means reaches | attains a light-receiving means. In order to facilitate understanding, the sliding plate, the light projecting means, and the parabolic mirror are indicated by a two-dot chain line. It is a top view for demonstrating the path | route through which the light which permeate | transmits the cullet which fell in the state which floated from the sliding plate of the conveying means passes. It is the schematic which shows the cullet which has a thick part, (a) shows a side view, (b) shows a front view. It is the schematic which shows the cullet which affixed the label, (a) shows a side view, (b) shows a front view. It is a graph showing the relationship between the wavelength of light and its transmittance for a plurality of typical glass materials. It is the graph showing the relationship between the wavelength of light and the transmittance | permeability about several green type glass material. It is the graph showing the relationship between the wavelength of light, and the transmittance | permeability about several dark-colored glass materials. It is the schematic which shows the spray part of the branch means in the identification device shown in FIG. 1, (a) shows a top view, (b) shows a front view. It is the schematic which shows the range of the air sprayed on a cullet, (a) shows the state at the time of removing the foreign material mixed between many cullets, (b) is when identifying many cullets from each other Shows the state.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings attached to the present specification, for the sake of illustration and ease of understanding, the scale, the vertical / horizontal dimension ratio, and the like are appropriately changed and exaggerated from those of the actual product. 1 to 9 are diagrams for explaining an embodiment according to the present invention. Among these, FIG. 1 is a side view showing an identification apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The identification apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an apparatus for identifying a plurality of different types of identification objects 100 using different near infrared light in addition to visible light. The plurality of types of identification objects 100 include, for example, a cullet and a foreign object. As an example, in a cullet generated by crushing a glass bottle collected by a local government, Seto and heat-resistant glass tableware are mixed as foreign matters.

  As described above, since the plurality of types of cullet 100 are generated by crushing a plurality of types of glass materials, they can have various shapes and sizes. Typically, each cullet 100 is crushed so that the distance between the farthest ends is 30 mm or less.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the identification device 1 includes a conveyance unit 10 that conveys the identification target 100 supplied from the supply unit 2, and visible light and near-infrared light including each light included in a plurality of different wavelength regions. The light projection means 20 for projecting the multicolor light L including the light to the identification object 100 conveyed from the conveyance means 10 and the multicolor light L transmitted through the identification object 100 are received, and the received multicolor light L Among these, the light receiving means 30 for detecting each light included in the wavelength region of visible light and light included in the wavelength region of near infrared light is provided.

Among these, the conveying means 10 includes a conveyor 11 that conveys the identification target 100 supplied from the supply unit 2 and a sliding plate 14 that slides the identification target 100 conveyed from the conveyor 11 downward. ing. In the illustrated example, the conveyor 11 includes a pair of drums 12 that are spaced apart from each other, and a belt 13 that is endlessly wound around the pair of drums 12.
The conveying means may be an electromagnetic feeder or a vibration conveyor.

  The sliding plate 14 extends along the flow direction D1 of the identification target 100. In the present embodiment, the sliding plate 14 includes a bottom plate 15 that slides the identification target 100 downward and a pair of side plates 16 that stand up from the bottom plate 15. The bottom plate 15 is formed in a flat plate shape and supports the identification target 100 from below. On the other hand, the pair of side plates 16 are separated from each other in the width direction D2 (see FIG. 2) of the flow of the identification target 100, and guide the identification target 100 from the side. Here, the width direction D2 of the flow of the identification target 100 is a direction orthogonal to the flow direction D1 of the identification target 100 and parallel to the horizontal plane.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the identification device 1, the multi-color light L is projected from the light projecting means 20 toward the identification target 100 that falls from the lower end 14 a of the sliding plate 14. The light projected from the light projecting means 20 is shown in the plan view of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the light projecting means 20 is disposed so as to be separated from the flow of the identification target 100 and to face the bottom plate 15 of the sliding plate 14. The light projecting means 20 covers the substrate 21 disposed so as to face the bottom plate 15 of the sliding plate 14, the white LED 22 and the infrared light LED 23 arranged on the substrate 21, and the white LED 22 and the infrared light LED 23. And a cover 24.

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of white LEDs 22 and a plurality of infrared LEDs 23 are alternately arranged along the width direction D2. Each white LED 22 mainly projects light included in the wavelength region of visible light. In the present embodiment, the white LED 22 projects light including light included in the first wavelength region λ1, light included in the second wavelength region λ2, and light included in the third wavelength region λ3. Specifically, the first wavelength region λ1 is a wavelength region between 390 nm and 480 nm, the second wavelength region λ2 is a wavelength region between 490 nm and 570 nm, and the third wavelength region λ3 is between 580 nm and 680 nm. Is the wavelength region.

  On the other hand, each infrared LED 23 mainly projects light included in the wavelength region of near infrared light. In the present embodiment, the infrared LED 23 projects light including light included in the fourth wavelength region λ4 composed of 760 nm or more and 890 nm or less.

  The cover 24 of the present embodiment is connected to a light emitting surface 24a positioned between the object to be identified 100 that falls, the white LED 22 and the infrared light LED 23, and the periphery of the light emitting surface 24a. And a side surface 24b surrounding the plurality of infrared LEDs 23 in an annular shape. The light emitting surface 24a has a light diffusing function for emitting light toward the identification target 100 while diffusing light from the white LED 22 and the infrared LED 23. This light diffusion function may be an isotropic diffusion function or an anisotropic diffusion function. In the present embodiment, the isotropic diffusion function of the light emitting surface 24 a is realized by dispersing a diffusion component that diffuses light in the cover 24. In the illustrated example, the light emitting surface 24a has a rectangular shape having a longitudinal direction in the width direction D2.

  With such a configuration, the light from the white LED 22 and the infrared light LED 23 enters the light emitting surface 24a, and includes each light included in the first to fourth wavelength regions λ1 to λ4 from each position on the light emitting surface 24a. Diffused light composed of multicolor light L is emitted.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the multicolor light L including each light included in the first to fourth wavelength regions λ <b> 1 to λ <b> 4 projected from the light projecting unit 20 is transmitted through the falling identification target 100 and the light receiving unit 30. The light is received by. The light receiving means 30 of the present embodiment includes a camera 31 that can receive light included in the wavelength region of visible light and light included in the wavelength region of near infrared light. As described above, the light projecting unit 20 projects the multicolor light L toward the identification target 100 that falls from the lower end 14 a of the sliding plate 14. Accordingly, the camera 31 of the present embodiment is configured by a line sensor type CCD camera or CMOS camera suitable for capturing a moving subject with high definition. The camera 31 of the present embodiment has a rectangular light receiving surface 32 having a longitudinal direction in the width direction D2. The length of the light receiving surface 32 in the width direction D <b> 2 is narrower than the spacing between the side plates 16 of the sliding plate 14, that is, the flow width of the identification target 100.

  By the way, the identified object 100 that slides down from the sliding plate 14 typically falls from the lower end 14 a of the sliding plate 14 while sliding on the bottom plate 15 of the sliding plate 14. Accordingly, the camera 31 used in the identification device 1 is intended to image the identification objects 100b and 100d that have fallen from the lower end 14a of the sliding plate 14 while sliding on the bottom plate 15 of the sliding plate 14. However, some of the objects to be identified 100 a and 100 c sliding down from the sliding plate 14 may fall from the lower end 14 a of the sliding plate 14 while jumping on the bottom plate 15 of the sliding plate 14 and floating from the bottom plate 15. A diagram for explaining such a state is shown in FIG. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, it is assumed that the light receiving surface 32 of the camera 31 is disposed so as to face the light emitting surface 24 a of the light projecting unit 20. As shown in FIG. 3, in the front region facing the light receiving surface 32 of the camera 31, the light passing through the identification target 100 a that has fallen from the lower end 14 a of the sliding plate 14 while floating from the bottom plate 15 of the sliding plate 14 is While sliding on the bottom plate 15 of the sliding plate 14, the light passing through the identification target 100 b dropped from the lower end 14 a of the sliding plate 14 is incident on the light receiving surface 32 of the camera 31 through an optical path that substantially matches. Therefore, in the front area facing the light receiving surface 32 of the camera 31, the identified object 100 a that has fallen while floating from the bottom plate 15 of the sliding plate 14 has fallen while sliding on the bottom plate 15 of the sliding plate 14. The body 100b and the position in the width direction D2 are determined to be substantially the same. On the other hand, in the region deviated from the light receiving surface 32 of the camera 31, the light passing through the identification target 100 c dropped from the lower end 14 a of the sliding plate 14 while floating from the bottom plate 15 of the sliding plate 14 is transmitted to the bottom plate 15 of the sliding plate 14. The light passing through the object to be identified 100d dropped from the lower end 14a of the sliding plate 14 while sliding is incident on the light receiving surface 32 of the camera 31 through a different optical path. Therefore, in the region deviated from the light receiving surface 32 of the camera 31, the identified object 100 c dropped while floating from the bottom plate 15 of the sliding plate 14 is dropped while sliding on the bottom plate 15 of the sliding plate 14. It is determined that the position in the width direction D2 is deviated from 100d. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 3, the position in the width direction D <b> 2 is accurately positioned with respect to the identification object 100 c that has fallen in a state of floating from the bottom plate 15 of the sliding plate 14 in a region that is shifted from the light receiving surface 32 of the camera 31. It becomes difficult to specify.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a paraboloid is provided between the light projecting unit 20 and the light receiving unit 30 in order to accurately identify the position of the identified object 100 in the width direction D2. A surface mirror 41 and a reflecting mirror 42 are arranged. The multicolored light L projected from the light projecting means 20 is received by the light receiving means 30 after passing through the falling object 100 and being reflected by the parabolic mirror 41 and the reflecting mirror 42. According to such a form, due to the condensing function of the parabolic mirror 41, the falling identification target 100 is orthogonal to both the flow direction D <b> 1 of the identification target 100 and the width direction D <b> 2 of the flow of the identification target 100. The light transmitted in the direction in which the light is transmitted can be collected on the light receiving surface 32 of the camera 31. In this case, in the region shifted in the flow width direction D <b> 2 with respect to the light receiving surface 32 of the camera 31, the light passing through the identification object 100 e dropped from the bottom plate 15 of the sliding plate 14 is transmitted to the bottom plate of the sliding plate 14. 15 enters the light-receiving surface 32 of the camera 31 through an optical path substantially coincident with the light passing through the identification object 100f that has fallen while sliding. Therefore, even in a region shifted in the flow width direction D2 with respect to the light receiving surface 32 of the camera 31, the identification object 100e dropped in a state of floating from the bottom plate 15 of the sliding plate 14 slides on the bottom plate 15 of the sliding plate 14. It is determined that the object to be identified 100f dropped while moving is substantially the same in the width direction D2. For this reason, even in a region shifted in the flow width direction D2 with respect to the light receiving surface 32 of the camera 31, the position of the identification target 100 in the width direction D2 can be specified with high accuracy.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the multicolor light L transmitted through the identification target 100 is collected by the parabolic mirror 41 instead of the spherical mirror. For this reason, the multicolor light L transmitted through the identification target 100 can be collected on the light receiving surface 32 of the camera 31 with higher accuracy.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a direction D3 connecting both end portions 41a of the parabolic mirror 41 is parallel to the flow width direction D2 of the identification target 100.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the identification device 1, information detected by the light receiving means 30 is sent to the identification means 50 via a signal line 33. In the present embodiment, the information detected by the light receiving means 30 is sent to the identifying means 50 with a signal resolution of 10 bits. Thereby, even if the amount of transmitted light is small, the amount of transmitted light can be accurately detected.

  The identification unit 50 shown in FIG. 1 is provided to identify the identification target 100 based on the detection result of the light receiving unit 30. In the present embodiment, the identification unit 50 includes the image processing element 51 that analyzes the image captured by the camera 31 of the light receiving unit 30 and the first to fourth wavelength regions λ1 to λ4 for each type of the identification target 100. A storage element 52 that stores in advance information relating to the amount of light included, and a determination element 53 that specifies the type of the identification target 100 based on the analysis result of the image processing element 51 and the information stored in the storage element 52; , Including. Such identification means 50 can be realized by, for example, a personal computer in which a CPU, RAM, ROM, and various software are installed.

  For example, the image processing element 51 extracts an outline of the identification target 100 by analyzing an image captured by the camera 31 of the light receiving means 30. Then, the image processing element 51 includes the light amount of the predetermined light included in the first wavelength region λ1 of the identification target 100 from which the contour has been extracted, the light amount of the predetermined light included in the second wavelength region λ2, and the third wavelength region. The light amount of the predetermined light included in λ3 and the light amount of the predetermined light included in the fourth wavelength region λ4 are specified. In the present embodiment, the image processing element 51 includes a light amount of light having a wavelength of 450 nm included in the first wavelength region λ1, a light amount of light having a wavelength of 550 nm included in the second wavelength region λ2, and a third wavelength region. The amount of light having a wavelength of 650 nm included in λ3 and the amount of light having a wavelength of 850 nm included in the fourth wavelength region λ4 are specified.

  Here, since the cullet 100 constituting the identification target is generated by crushing a glass material, a case where a thick portion is partially included is also assumed. It is also assumed that the label remains attached to the cullet 100 to be identified. FIG. 4A shows the cullet 100 having the thick portion 101, and FIG. 4B shows the cullet 100 to which the label 103 is attached. A cullet 100 shown in FIG. 4A has a flat plate portion 102 and a thick portion 101 connected to a part of the plate portion 102. The thickness of the thick part 101 is considerably thicker than the thickness of the plate part 102. In this case, the thick wall portion 101 is extremely difficult to transmit light compared to the plate portion 102. Therefore, the portion occupied by the thick portion 101 in the cullet 100 can be determined as an opaque portion by the image processing element 51. On the other hand, a label 103 is attached to the cullet 100 shown in FIG. 4B. The label 103 is extremely difficult to transmit light. Therefore, the portion of the cullet 100 to which the label 103 is attached can be determined as an opaque portion by the image processing element 51.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, even if there is a part determined to be opaque in a part of the extracted contour of the identified object 100, the first detected in the other part of the contour of the identified object 100. The light amount of light included in the fourth wavelength regions λ1 to λ4 is adopted as the light amount of the identified object 100 whose contour has been extracted. According to such a process, even the cullet 100 partially including the thick part 101 or the cullet 100 with the label 103 attached thereto can be accurately identified.

  The storage element 52 includes, for example, the amount of light included in the first wavelength region λ1 to be measured, the amount of light included in the second wavelength region λ2, and the third wavelength region λ3 for each type of glass material. The amount of light and the amount of light included in the fourth wavelength region λ4 are recorded in advance.

  FIG. 5 shows a graph showing the relationship between the wavelength of light and the transmittance for a plurality of typical glass materials. In the graph of FIG. 5, as a typical glass material, a blue glass material, a brown glass material, a green glass material, a purple glass material, and a black glass material are shown. In the graph of FIG. 5, the blue-based glass material tends to exhibit a relatively large transmittance in the first wavelength region λ1, and a relatively small transmittance in the second wavelength region λ2 and the third wavelength region λ3. Have. On the other hand, the tea-based glass material has a relatively small transmittance in the first wavelength region λ1, and tends to exhibit a relatively large transmittance in the second wavelength region λ2 and the third wavelength region λ3. On the other hand, the green glass material has a relatively large transmittance in the second wavelength region λ2, and tends to exhibit a relatively small transmittance in the first wavelength region λ1 and the third wavelength region λ3. Conversely, the purple glass material tends to exhibit a relatively small transmittance in the second wavelength region λ2 and a relatively large transmittance in the first wavelength region λ1 and the third wavelength region λ3. On the other hand, the black glass material tends to exhibit a small transmittance in any of the first wavelength region λ1, the second wavelength region λ2, and the third wavelength region λ3. As described above, each typical glass material exhibits a specific transmittance in the first wavelength region λ1, the second wavelength region λ2, and the third wavelength region λ3 included in the wavelength region of visible light.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, each glass material has a different transmittance even in the fourth wavelength region λ <b> 4 included in the wavelength region of near infrared light. Therefore, in addition to the first to third wavelength regions λ1 to λ3 included in the wavelength region of visible light, by utilizing the difference in transmittance in the fourth wavelength region λ4 included in the wavelength region of near infrared light, Each glass material can be accurately identified.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between the wavelength of light viewed with a camera and the transmittance of a plurality of green glass materials. In the graph of FIG. 6, reference signs a to c indicate an oxidizing green glass material, and reference signs d to j indicate a reducing green glass material. As shown in FIG. 6, the oxidizing green glass materials a to c and the reducing green glass materials d to j show similar transmittances in the visible wavelength region. On the other hand, in the fourth wavelength region λ4 included in the wavelength region of near-infrared light, the oxidizing green glass materials a to c exhibit a large transmittance, while the reducing green glass materials d to j. Indicates a small transmittance. Therefore, by utilizing the difference in transmittance in the fourth wavelength region λ4 in addition to the first to third wavelength regions λ1 to λ3, the oxidizing green-based glass materials a to c and the reducing green-based material are used. It is also possible to accurately identify the glass materials d to j. In addition, when the present inventors investigated, generally an oxidizing green type glass material does not contain much Fe ^<2+> ion, However, a reducing green type glass material contains many Fe ^<2+> ions. This Fe ²⁺ ion has a characteristic of absorbing a lot of light contained in the wavelength region of near infrared light. Therefore, in the fourth wavelength region λ4 included in the near-infrared wavelength region, the oxidizing green glass material exhibits a large transmittance, whereas the reducing green glass material exhibits a small transmittance. It was discovered that

  FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the wavelength of light and the transmittance for a plurality of typical dark glass materials. As shown in FIG. 7, the dark-colored glass materials k to n exhibit a small transmittance in the first wavelength region λ1, the second wavelength region λ2, and the third wavelength region λ3 included in the visible light wavelength region. . On the other hand, in the fourth wavelength region λ4 included in the wavelength region of near-infrared light, some of the dark glass materials k and l exhibit a large transmittance, while some of the dark glass materials m. , N indicates a small transmittance. Accordingly, by using the difference in transmittance in the fourth wavelength region λ4 in addition to the first to third wavelength regions λ1 to λ3, the dark glass materials k to n can be distinguished from each other with high accuracy. it can. Examples of dark glass materials k and l that exhibit a large transmittance in the near infrared wavelength region include dark smoke, and a dark color that exhibits a small transmittance in the near infrared wavelength region. Examples of the glass materials m and n include amber (brown) and dead leaf (dead leaf color).

  Therefore, for example, based on the transmittance in the first to fourth wavelength regions λ1 to λ4 of each glass material shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, included in the first to fourth wavelength regions λ1 to λ4 for each glass material to be measured. The amount of each light to be calculated is calculated. And the light quantity of each light contained in the 1st-4th wavelength range (lambda) 1-lambda4 about each of these calculated glass materials is recorded on the memory | storage element 52 previously.

  The discriminating element 53 includes the light quantity of each light included in the first to fourth wavelength regions λ1 to λ4 specified by the image processing element 51 with respect to the identification target 100 to be identified, and the first stored in the storage element 52 in advance. By comparing the light amounts of the respective lights included in the first to fourth wavelength regions λ1 to λ4, the type of the identification object 100 to be identified is specified.

  A branch command is output from the identification unit 50 to the branching unit 60 according to the identification result of the identification target 100 specified by the identification unit 50. The branching means 60 is for changing the traveling direction of the identified object 100 to be branched based on the branch command output from the identifying means 50. As shown in FIG. 1, the branching unit 60 has a blowing unit 61 that blows air onto the identification target 100 that falls from the conveying unit 10.

  In FIG. 8, the spraying part 61 of the branch means 60 is expanded and shown. As shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of injection ports 63 are formed in the main body 62 of the spray unit 61 to spray air onto the identification target 100 that falls from the transport means 10. The plurality of ejection ports 63 are arranged side by side in the width direction D <b> 2 of the flow of the identification target 100. In other words, the arrangement direction of the plurality of injection ports 63 is parallel to the direction D3 connecting both end portions 41a of the parabolic mirror 41. Each injection port 63 has a rectangular shape having a longitudinal direction in the width direction D2. The spray unit 61 includes a plurality of pipes 64 provided corresponding to the respective injection ports 63 and connected to the main body unit 62. A flow path 65 is formed in the main body portion 62 so that each injection port 63 communicates with a flow path in the corresponding pipe 64. The flow paths 65 formed in the main body 62 are isolated from each other and do not communicate with each other.

  The branching means 60 of the present embodiment has a plurality of electromagnetic valves 66 connected to corresponding pipes 64. Each electromagnetic valve 66 controls the supply of air to the corresponding injection port 63 based on the branch command. The solenoid valve 66 of the present embodiment is configured with an external pilot valve. The external pilot valve is to drive a valve body that opens and closes a flow path of air supplied to the injection port 63 using a separate external fluid. In the external pilot valve, by suppressing the pressure of the air supplied to the injection port 63 to a low level, it is possible to suppress the object 100 to which the air is blown from moving vigorously and to change the traveling direction stably. In addition, it is possible to suppress damage to other components constituting the identification device 1 by suppressing the object 100 from moving vigorously. In addition, by maintaining the pilot pressure of the external fluid high in the external pilot valve, the valve body can be opened and closed quickly, and the response speed to the branch command from the identification means 50 can be increased.

  But the solenoid valve 66 is not limited to what consists of an external pilot valve, A direct acting valve may be sufficient and an internal pilot valve may be sufficient. In particular, when the solenoid valve 66 is constituted by a direct acting valve, if the apparent power (power consumption) is 8 W or more, the response speed to the branch command from the identification means 50 can be sufficiently increased. .

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the branching means 60 of the present embodiment includes a moving element 67 capable of bringing the spraying part 61 into and out of contact with the object to be identified 100 that falls. FIG. 9A shows a state where air is blown to the identification target 100 when the spraying portion 61 is separated from the falling identification target 100, and FIG. 9B shows the identification target falling. A mode that air is sprayed on the to-be-identified object 100 when the spraying part 61 is made to approach with respect to the body 100 is shown. As shown in FIG. 9A, the range A in which the air blown from the jet port 63 is blown increases as the distance between the jet port 63 of the spray unit 61 and the identification target 100 to be branched increases. In this case, air is likely to be blown to the object to be identified 100 to be branched, but air is also blown to other objects to be identified 100 located around the object to be identified 100 to be branched and the other objects to be identified. The body 100 is also easily caught. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9B, the range A to which the air blown from the jet port 63 is blown becomes narrower as the distance between the jet port 63 of the spray unit 61 and the identification target 100 to be branched is shorter. To go. In this case, it is difficult for air to be blown to the other identification objects 100 located around the identification object 100 to be branched, and the other identification objects 100 are difficult to be involved.

  In this regard, when a large number of objects to be identified 100 are identified from each other, the frequency of blowing air to the objects to be identified 100 to be branched is increased. It is preferable to prevent air from hitting the identification object 100. For this reason, when identifying many to-be-identified objects 100 from each other, the moving element 67 is configured to bring the spray unit 61 relatively close to the to-be-identified object 100 that falls. In addition, in order to further suppress air from hitting other identification objects 100 located around the identification object 100 to be branched, the interval between adjacent identification objects 100 may be widened. For example, by reducing the amount of the identification object 100 supplied from the supply unit 2 while keeping the rotation speed of the pair of drums 12 of the conveying unit 10 constant, the interval between adjacent identification objects 100 is expanded. be able to.

  On the other hand, when removing foreign substances mixed between a large number of identification objects 100, the foreign objects to be branched are scarcely mixed, and therefore air to other identification objects 100 located around the foreign objects to be branched. It can be allowed to hit. Therefore, when removing foreign matters mixed between a large number of identification objects 100, the moving element 67 sprays on the falling identification objects 100 rather than identifying the identification objects 100 from each other. The part 61 is separated. Thereby, since the distance between the ejection port 63 of the spraying part 61 and the identification object 100 to be branched becomes long, foreign substances contained in a large number of identification objects 100 can be reliably removed. In addition, in order to remove foreign matters mixed in between a large number of identification objects 100, the interval between adjacent identification objects 100 may be narrowed. For example, by increasing the amount of the identification object 100 supplied from the supply unit 2 while keeping the rotation speed of the pair of drums 12 of the conveying unit 10 constant, the interval between the adjacent identification objects 100 is narrowed. be able to.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the stacking unit 70 is disposed downstream of the branching unit 60 in the flow direction D1 of the identification target 100. In the present embodiment, the branch container 71 that accumulates the identification objects 100 whose traveling direction has been changed by the branching means 60 and the other identification objects 100 whose traveling directions have not been changed by the branching means 60 are accumulated. And a drop container 72.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a large number of identification objects 100 are supplied from the supply unit 2 to the conveyor 11 of the conveying means 10. A large number of supplied identification objects 100 are placed on the belt 13 of the conveyor 11 and conveyed to the sliding plate 14. Subsequently, a large number of identification objects 100 slide on the sliding plate 14 and fall from the lower end 14 a of the sliding plate 14.

  Multi-color light L including each light included in the first to fourth wavelength regions λ1 to λ4 is projected from the light projecting unit 20 toward the identification target 100 that is falling. The multi-color light L projected from the light projecting means 20 passes through the object to be identified 100 falling, is reflected by the parabolic mirror 41 and the reflecting mirror 42, and then received by the light receiving means 30. Specifically, each light included in the first to fourth wavelength regions λ <b> 1 to λ <b> 4 is detected for the received multicolor light L by the camera 31 of the light receiving unit 30. Information detected by the light receiving means 30 is sent to the identifying means 50 via the signal line 33.

  Next, the image picked up by the camera 31 of the light receiving means 30 is analyzed by the image processing element 51 of the identifying means 50 and the contour of the identification object 100 is extracted. Subsequently, the light quantity of each light included in the first to fourth wavelength regions λ <b> 1 to λ <b> 4 of the identified object 100 whose contour has been extracted is specified by the image processing element 51. Subsequently, the light quantity of each light included in the first to fourth wavelength regions λ <b> 1 to λ <b> 4 specified by the image processing element 51 with respect to the identification object 100 to be identified by the discrimination element 53, and the storage element 52. Are compared with the light amounts of the respective lights included in the first to fourth wavelength regions λ1 to λ4 stored in advance, and the type of the identification target 100 to be identified is specified. A branch command is output from the discriminating means 50 to the branching means 60 in accordance with the identification result of the identified object 100 specified by the discrimination element 53.

  Next, the advancing direction of the identification object 100 being conveyed is changed by the branching unit 60 based on the branch command output from the identifying unit 50. As described above, in the present embodiment, the branching unit 60 is provided with a plurality of injection ports 63 arranged in the width direction D <b> 2 of the flow of the identification target 100, and the corresponding electromagnetic valve for each injection port 63. 66 is provided. In this case, each solenoid valve 66 controls the supply of air to the corresponding injection port 63 based on the branch command output from the identification unit 50. Specifically, when the solenoid valve 66 receives the branch command, the solenoid valve 66 supplies air to the corresponding injection port 63 for a predetermined time. As a result, air is blown from the ejection port 63 provided in the spraying unit 61 to the identification target 100 to be branched, and the traveling direction of the identification target 100 is changed. The identification object 100 whose traveling direction has been changed by the branching means 60 is accommodated in the branching container 71, and the other identification object 100 whose traveling direction has not been changed by the branching means 60 is accommodated in the dropping container 72. The

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the identification device 1 identifies the object to be identified that is transported from the transport means 10 with the multicolor light L including each light included in the first to fourth wavelength regions λ1 to λ4. The multi-color light L that has passed through the light projecting means 20 that projects to 100 and the identification target 100 is received, and each light included in the first to fourth wavelength regions λ1 to λ4 among the received multicolor light L. And a discriminating unit 50 for discriminating the identification object 100 based on the detection result of the photodetecting unit 30. According to such a form, in addition to each light included in the first to third wavelength regions λ1 to λ3 included in the wavelength region of visible light among the multicolor light L transmitted through the identification target 100, a near red color By using light included in the fourth wavelength region λ4 included in the wavelength region of external light, it is possible to accurately identify a plurality of types of identification objects 100 different from each other.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the spray unit 61 of the branching unit 60 is provided with the plurality of injection ports 63 arranged in the width direction D2 orthogonal to the flow direction D1 of the identification target 100, and The electromagnetic valve 66 controls the supply of air to the corresponding injection port 63. According to such a form, the supply of air to the injection ports 63 arranged in the width direction D2 can be independently controlled by the plurality of electromagnetic valves 66. For this reason, by selectively supplying air to the necessary injection ports 63, it is possible to blow air on the identification target 100 to be branched within a limited range in the width direction D2. Thereby, it can suppress effectively that air hits the to-be-identified object 100 other than the to-be-identified object 100 of a branch object.

  Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the parabolic mirror 41 and the reflecting mirror 42 are arranged between the light projecting means 20 and the light receiving means 30. According to such a form, the flow direction D1 of the identification target 100 and the width direction of the flow of the identification target 100 out of the light transmitted through the identification target 100 falling by the condensing function of the parabolic mirror 41. Light directed in a direction orthogonal to both D2 can be collected on the light receiving surface 32 of the camera 31. In this case, in the region shifted in the flow width direction D <b> 2 with respect to the light receiving surface 32 of the camera 31, the light passing through the identification object 100 e dropped from the bottom plate 15 of the sliding plate 14 is transmitted to the bottom plate of the sliding plate 14. 15 enters the light-receiving surface 32 of the camera 31 through an optical path substantially coincident with the light passing through the identification object 100f that has fallen while sliding. Therefore, even in a region shifted in the flow width direction D2 with respect to the light receiving surface 32 of the camera 31, the identification object 100e dropped in a state of floating from the bottom plate 15 of the sliding plate 14 slides on the bottom plate 15 of the sliding plate 14. It is determined that the object to be identified 100f dropped while moving is substantially the same in the width direction D2. For this reason, the position in the width direction D2 of the identified object 100 can be specified with high accuracy, and the injection port 63 that should blow air on the identified object 100 to be branched can be accurately specified. That is, air can be reliably blown to the identification target 100 to be branched.

  In particular, according to the present embodiment, the electromagnetic valve 66 is constituted by an external pilot valve. In this case, the response speed to the branch command from the identification means 50 can be increased while keeping the pressure of the air supplied to the blowing unit 61 low.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the information detected by the light receiving means 30 is sent to the identification means 50 with a signal resolution of 10 bits. Thereby, even if the to-be-identified object 100 is a thing with little transmitted light quantity like the dark-colored glass materials jp, the light quantity of transmitted light can be detected accurately.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Identification apparatus 10 Conveyance means 14 Sliding plate 20 Light projection means 22 White LED
23 Infrared LED
24 Cover 24a Light emitting surface 30 Light receiving means 31 Camera 32 Light receiving surface 33 Signal line 41 Parabolic mirror 42 Reflecting mirror 50 Discriminating means 51 Image processing element 52 Storage element 53 Discriminating element 60 Branching means 61 Spraying part 63 Injection port 66 Solenoid valve D1 Flow direction D2 Width direction

Claims (6)

An identification device for identifying a plurality of different types of objects to be identified,
A conveying means for conveying the identification object;
Light included in the first wavelength region consisting of 390 nm to 480 nm, light included in the second wavelength region consisting of 490 nm to 570 nm, light included in the third wavelength region consisting of 580 nm to 680 nm, and 760 nm to 890 nm A light projecting means for projecting light including light included in the fourth wavelength region comprising:
Receiving light transmitted through the identification object, and among the received light, light included in the first wavelength region, light included in the second wavelength region, light included in the third wavelength region, And light receiving means for detecting light included in the fourth wavelength region;
Identification means for identifying the identification object based on the detection result of the light receiving means;
An identification device comprising:   The identification device according to claim 1, wherein a parabolic mirror and a reflecting mirror are disposed between the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit.   The identification device according to claim 2, wherein the light receiving unit receives light transmitted through the identification target in a direction orthogonal to a flow direction of the identification target and a width direction of the flow of the identification target. Based on the identification result of the identification means, further comprising a branching means for changing the traveling direction of the identified object falling from the transport means,
The branching unit has a plurality of injection ports for blowing air to the identification object falling from the conveying unit,
The identification device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of ejection ports are arranged in a width direction of the flow of the identification target.   The identification device according to claim 4, wherein a direction connecting both end portions of the parabolic mirror is parallel to an arrangement direction of the plurality of injection ports. The identification means outputs a branch command based on the result of identifying the identification target,
The branching means has a plurality of solenoid valves for controlling the supply of air to the corresponding injection ports based on the branch command,
The identification device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the electromagnetic valve is configured by an external pilot valve.