JP2017127277A - Inspection device for egg, sorting and collecting system for egg, and inspection system for egg - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inspection device for eggs that can determine egg quality, a sorting and collecting system for eggs with this inspection device, and an inspection system for eggs.SOLUTION: An inspection device for eggs includes vibrating means for vibrating to the eggshell surfaces of the eggs to be inspected, vibration detection means for detecting the vibration generated by this vibrating means, and determination means for determining whether or not the eggs to be inspected are derived from young chickens based on the damping speed of the amplitude of the vibration detected by this vibration detection means. If it is like this, the eggs of high haugh unit superior in processing characteristics, i.e., the eggs derived from the young chickens, or the eggs of low haugh unit inferior to the processing characteristics, i.e., the eggs derived from old chickens can be determined in non-destruction without breaking the eggs.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a chicken egg inspection device, a chicken egg sorting and assembly system equipped with this inspection device, and a chicken egg inspection system.

Usually, laying hens of the same age or week are kept in the same poultry house, and there are laying hens of various ages in a plurality of poultry houses in the entire poultry farm. In general, it is known that when the parent chicken group is young, the egg produced from the parent chicken group has a light egg weight and shifts to a heavier egg weight as the day progresses. In some cases, the sorting process is performed in a state where the range of egg weight distribution is widened by mixing eggs born from a plurality of parent chicken groups having different ages by utilizing this in the sorting assembly system.

By the way, it is also known that the egg quality deteriorates as the age of the parent chicken group advances (for example, see Patent Document 1 or Non-Patent Document 1 below). For example, the egg how unit from an older parent flock is lower than the egg how unit produced from an older young flock, and the egg yolk coefficient is lower than that of a young fowl. Is lower. Furthermore, based on the premise that the split egg quality of young and old chicken eggs is the same, it has been reported that the egg yolk destruction rate of old chicken eggs is higher than that of young chicken eggs. . Thus, it can be said that even if the eggs belong to the same egg weight category, the quality differs depending on whether the eggs are born from young young chickens or eggs born from older old chickens.

As an example, for example, eggs belonging to the egg weight categories SS, S, and MS are rarely shipped as a shelled egg to a supermarket, and after splitting, they are shipped as a liquid egg to a mayonnaise factory or a cake manufacturing factory. Often. At that time, among eggs belonging to the egg weight categories SS, S, MS, eggs born by older chicks that are older are different from eggs born by younger chicks when used as liquid eggs. The yolk membrane quality deteriorates and the yolk is easily broken. As a result, it becomes difficult to separate egg yolk and egg white, and the range of use as a liquid egg is limited. For these reasons, there is a demand for the supply of “eggs laid by young chickens” with excellent processing characteristics. In addition, chicken eggs shipped as shell eggs to boiled egg processors require the supply of eggs with uniform processing characteristics due to boiled time and other factors, especially the MS size produced by young chickens with excellent processing characteristics. Of eggs "is preferred. As described in Non-Patent Document 2 below, this can be understood from the research result that the coagulability of the egg white decreases when the freshness of the chicken egg decreases.

As can be seen from these circumstances, there is a need to separate eggs produced by young, young chickens with different egg qualities from eggs produced by older, older chickens.

JP 2006-238812 A Yoshihisa Yamagami and Kenji Kyoko, “Effect of the age of laying hens on the availability of eggs”, Journal of the Japanese Poultry Society, 1987, Vol. 24, No. 4, p.253-258 Muramoto Yasuyo and Teramoto Yoshiko, “Storage and Thermocoagulation of Eggs (Part 2) Effects of Differences in Egg Freshness and Heating Conditions on Gel Properties”, Home Economics Journal, 1985, Vol. 36, No. 10, p.763-769

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a chicken egg inspection apparatus capable of discriminating egg quality in a non-destructive manner, a sorting and collecting system including the inspection apparatus, and a chicken egg inspection system.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention takes the following measures. That is, the chicken egg inspection apparatus according to claim 1 includes a vibration means that vibrates the eggshell surface of the egg to be examined, a vibration detection means that detects vibration generated by the vibration means, and the vibration. And determining means for determining whether or not the chicken egg to be inspected is derived from a young chicken group based on the speed at which the amplitude of vibration detected by the detecting means is attenuated.

Here, the “chicken egg derived from a young chicken group” refers to an egg born from a relatively young day-old chicken from about 150 days of age when it begins to lay eggs until it becomes a waste chicken.

The present inventors repeated various experiments on the relationship between eggshell vibration and shells in order to investigate the difference in the quality of eggshells from young chickens and eggs from old chickens. Obtained knowledge. That is, an egg born from a young day-old chicken has a strong bond between the eggshell and the eggshell membrane. Therefore, when the eggshell surface is vibrated by the vibrating means, the eggshell membrane acts as a damper that absorbs the vibration of the eggshell, and the vibration is attenuated relatively quickly. On the other hand, an egg born from an old chicken has a weak bond between the eggshell and the eggshell membrane, and when the eggshell surface is vibrated by a vibrating means, the eggshell membrane hardly absorbs the vibration even if the eggshell vibrates. For this reason, the vibration is not easily attenuated.

According to the chicken egg inspection apparatus using such characteristics discovered by the present inventors, the egg quality can be inspected based on the speed at which the vibration is attenuated. In other words, split eggs of eggs with high processing characteristics and high egg units, that is, eggs from younger flocks, and eggs with lower processing units that have lower processing characteristics, that is, eggs from old flocks. It can be determined without destruction.

The egg inspection apparatus according to claim 2 is the egg inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vibration detection means detects vibration sound generated by the vibration means, and the determination means comprises: It is provided with a calculation unit that quantifies the speed at which the vibration sound attenuates, and when the value quantified by this calculation unit is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, the egg to be tested is derived from a young chicken group judge.

The egg inspection apparatus according to claim 3 is the egg inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vibration detection means detects the vibration generated by the vibration means in contact with the eggshell, The determination means includes a calculation unit that quantifies the speed at which the amplitude of vibration attenuates, and when the value quantified by the calculation unit is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, the egg to be examined is derived from a young chicken group It is determined that

The egg sorting and assembling system according to claim 4, wherein a transport device that transports eggs arranged in a plurality of rows, and whether or not the eggs transported on the transport device are derived from a young chicken flock. The chicken egg inspection apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, and a distribution apparatus that is disposed downstream of the inspection apparatus and distributes the eggs based on the inspection result of the inspection apparatus.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an egg inspection system comprising: a rotating means for rotating an egg to be inspected; an exciting means for exciting the eggshell surface of the egg on the rotating means a plurality of times; Based on the vibration detection means for detecting the generated vibration and the average value of the speed at which the amplitude of the vibration detected by the vibration detection means attenuates each time, the egg to be examined is derived from a young chicken group Determination means for determining whether or not.

Here, the “average value” is a concept including, in addition to the arithmetic average, other representative values used in statistics such as a median value and a mode value.

The egg inspection system according to claim 6 includes a rotating means for rotating the egg to be inspected, an exciting means for exciting the eggshell surface of the egg on the rotating means a plurality of times, and the exciting means. Vibration detection means for detecting the generated vibration, crack egg determination means for determining whether or not the egg to be inspected is a cracked egg, and whether or not the egg to be inspected is derived from a young chicken group The crack determining means and the quality determining means make a determination based on the vibration detected by the vibration detecting means.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the test | inspection apparatus of the hen egg which can discriminate | determine an egg quality nondestructively, the sorting assembly system provided with this test | inspection apparatus, and the test | inspection system of a hen egg can be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The schematic block diagram of the inspection apparatus of the egg egg concerning one Embodiment of this invention. The sample data explaining the Hilbert conversion concerning this embodiment. The vibration sound data of the egg derived from the young chicken group concerning one Example. The vibration sound data of the egg derived from the old-age chicken group concerning one Example. The figure which shows the envelope which performed the envelope process to the vibration sound data of FIG. The figure which shows the envelope which performed the envelope process on the vibration sound data of FIG. The other example of the envelope in the chicken egg derived from the young chicken group concerning one Example. The other example of the envelope in the egg derived from the old-age chicken group concerning one Example. The scatter diagram which shows distribution of the average value of the vibration sound data concerning one Example. The table | surface which shows the determination result concerning one Example. The microscope picture of the cross section of the shell of the chicken egg derived from the young chicken group concerning one Example. Schematic diagram schematically showing FIG. The microscope picture of the cross section of the shell of the hen's egg derived from the old-age chicken group concerning one Example. Schematic diagram schematically showing FIG.

<Embodiment>
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

The egg sorting and collecting system according to the present embodiment includes a transport apparatus 1 that transports eggs E arranged in a plurality of rows, and whether the egg E transported on the transport apparatus 1 is derived from a young chicken group. An egg inspection apparatus 2 for inspecting the egg and a distribution apparatus (not shown) that is arranged downstream of the inspection apparatus 2 and distributes the eggs E based on the inspection result of the inspection apparatus 2.

The transport device 1 is transported in six rows at equal intervals after the direction of the sharp end and blunt end of the egg E is aligned by a direction aligning device (not shown). Here, the chicken egg E is held and transported by a pair of nail-type rollers 11 adjacent to each other in the front and rear directions with the major axis of the egg E being substantially horizontal. In addition, the conveyance apparatus 1 is provided with a measuring unit (not shown) that sequentially measures the weight of the egg E.

The egg inspection apparatus 2 inspects the quality of the egg, and detects the vibration generated by the vibration means 3 that vibrates the eggshell E1 surface of the egg E to be inspected, and the vibration generated by the vibration means 3. Based on the vibration detecting means 4 to be detected and the speed at which the amplitude of vibration detected by the vibration detecting means 4 is attenuated, it is determined whether or not the egg E to be inspected is derived from a young chicken group And determining means 5 for performing.

The vibration means 3 is a rotary solenoid-driven hammer 3 for giving the same impact to the surface of the eggshell E1 of the egg E placed on the conveying device 1.

The vibration detection means 4 detects the vibration generated by the vibration means 3 in a non-contact manner. Specifically, the vibration detection means 4 uses a microphone 4 that receives vibration sound generated when an impact is applied by the vibration means 3. ing.

The determination unit 5 constitutes a part of the control device 7. The control device 7 is a so-called microcomputer provided with a CPU, ROM, RAM, and other appropriate peripheral elements, and quality determination processing regarding whether or not the egg E to be inspected is derived from a young chicken group, and others A program for realizing the operation of each part of the inspection apparatus 2 is incorporated. The determination means 5 includes a calculation unit 6 that digitizes the speed at which the vibration sound attenuates. The quality determination process executed by the determination unit 5 is performed based on the speed at which the amplitude of vibration detected by the vibration detection unit 4 attenuates, more specifically, the calculated value quantified by the calculation unit 6. Is called.

The calculated value is, for example, a value obtained by averaging the envelope amplitude (envelope) obtained by performing envelope processing on the waveform of vibration sound data obtained within a predetermined time after the eggshell E1 is hit by the vibration means 3 Is used. When enveloping the waveform of vibration sound data, non-patent literature (Hiroshi Toda, Akitada, Hiroaki Kawabata “Introduction and Application of the Latest Wavelet Practice Course”, published by Softbank Creative, Inc., October 2005, p.35- A known Hilbert transform as described in 46) may be used. For example, when vibration sound data (input signal) as indicated by a broken line in FIG. 2 is obtained, the input signal is subjected to Hilbert transform, and consists of a real part signal f (t) and an imaginary part signal h (t). An analytic signal z (t) (= f (t) + ih (t)) is generated. Next, the real part signal f (t) and the imaginary part signal h (t) are squared. Then, the sum (= f (t) ² + h (t) ² ) of the squared real part signal f (t) and imaginary part signal h (t), that is, the instantaneous power _pn is calculated. By calculating the square root of the instantaneous power _{p n} to calculate the envelope signal _{a n} (= √p n). This envelope signal based on a _n can be obtained envelope as indicated by the solid line in FIG. 2, this envelope represents the instantaneous amplitude. In addition to the above-described Hilbert transform, a known signal processing technique may be arbitrarily employed for extracting the envelope.

Here, the average of the envelope values is calculated by “amplitude integrated value ÷ time width” within the data acquisition time when the amplitude data of the specific hammer 3 is acquired. Of course, other representative values used in statistics may be used. The data acquisition time (predetermined time described above) can be freely set to a length that does not interfere with the vibration sound of the egg E to be inspected and the vibration sound of the egg E to be hit next.

The determination means 5 of this embodiment determines that the egg E to be examined is derived from a young chicken group when the calculated value is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold T1, and conversely the calculated value is the predetermined threshold. When T1 is not exceeded, it determines with the egg E to be examined derived from an old-age chicken group. Here, as an egg derived from a young chicken group, an egg born from a chicken of about 150 to 300 days of age is assumed.

The distribution device is provided orthogonal to a distribution conveyor (not shown), and discharges the eggs E from the distribution conveyor to a predetermined gathering place. More specifically, six rows of eggs E whose weighed eggs are transferred to a single row distribution conveyor by a known transfer device (not shown) and then distributed to each gathering place. In addition, although the setting of the selection classification of each meeting place is arbitrary, here, using egg weight as a selection classification, the meeting place corresponding to LL size, L size, M size, MS size, S size, SS size is set. Each set, and for MS size, S size, SS size, each gathering place of MS size, S size, SS size when it is determined that the egg E is derived from a young chicken group, The collection location of MS size, S size, and SS size when it is determined that the egg E is derived from an old-age chicken group is set.

Next, the operation of the chicken egg sorting assembly system will be described.

When the test egg E placed on the conveyor is conveyed and reaches the impact applying position of the hammer 3, the hammer 3 is driven by a rotary solenoid based on a drive signal from the determination means 5 and gives an impact to the test egg E. The vibration sound generated at that time is received by the microphone 4. The received vibration sound is taken into the determination means 5 as vibration sound data.

The determination means 5 is based on the speed at which the amplitude of vibration detected by the vibration detection means 4 is attenuated. Specifically, the determination means 5 is based on an arithmetic value obtained by quantifying the speed at which the amplitude of vibration is attenuated. Then, it is determined whether or not the test egg E is derived from a young chicken group as follows. When the calculated value is compared with the predetermined threshold T1, and the calculated value is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold T1, that is, when the amplitude of the vibration sound is greatly attenuated within the predetermined time, the test egg E is young. The quality information is stored in the control device 7 by determining that it is derived from the flock. On the other hand, when the calculated value is compared with the predetermined threshold T1, and the calculated value is larger than the predetermined threshold T1, that is, when the amplitude of the vibration sound hardly attenuates within the predetermined time, The quality information is stored in the control device 7 by determining that it is derived from an old flock of chickens.

When the egg E carried by the transport device 1 is weighed by the weighing unit, the egg weight information is stored in the control device 7. Thereafter, the distribution device is controlled based on the quality information and the egg weight information stored in the control device 7, and the eggs E are respectively discharged to appropriate gathering locations.

As described above, according to the selected egg collection system of the present embodiment, it is possible to determine whether or not the egg E to be inspected is derived from a young chicken group. The sorting based on the quality can be further performed in the normal eggs, not the sorting based on the determination of only the normal eggs. That is, the small-sized egg E derived from the young chicken group and the small-sized egg E derived from the old chicken group having different qualities such as processing characteristics can be collected in different places.

<Example>
Next, an embodiment using such an inspection apparatus 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

The attributes of the egg E to be inspected by the inspection apparatus 2 of the present embodiment are shown below. These two types of eggs E are different in age of the parent chicken group.
Eggs derived from young chicken group (Y): Age of parent chicken → 211 days old, chicken species → Sakura Goto, size → M or L, eggshell color → pink, number → 30 derived from old chicken group (O ) Eggs: Parental age → 700 days old, chicken species → Goto Sakura, size → M or L, eggshell color → pink, number → 29

The egg inspection apparatus 2 of the present embodiment uses the same rotary solenoid-driven hammer 3 as that used in a conventionally known crack egg inspection apparatus as the vibration means 3, and is conventionally known as the vibration detection means 4. The same vibration sound receiving microphone 4 as that used in the cracked egg inspection apparatus is used.

FIG. 3 shows two typical examples of the vibration sound of a chicken egg E derived from a young chicken group (Y). The vertical axis represents the value obtained by receiving the vibration sound by the microphone 4 and amplifying the received voltage by the amplifier 41 and AD conversion, and the horizontal axis represents time. The measurement time is about 2.5 msec. As can be seen from these examples, in the case of a young chicken group (Y), the amplitude of the vibration sound is attenuated over time. On the other hand, FIG. 4 shows two typical examples of the vibration sound of an egg E derived from an old-age chicken group (O). As can be seen from these examples, in the case of (O) derived from an old-aged flock, it can be read that the vibration sound continues to vibrate with almost no attenuation.

The quality determination process performed by the determination unit 5 of the present embodiment is performed based on the speed at which the amplitude of the vibration sound detected by the microphone 4 is attenuated. Specifically, a value obtained by averaging the envelope amplitude obtained by performing envelope processing on the waveform of vibration sound data obtained within a predetermined time after the eggshell E1 is hit by the vibration means 3, and a predetermined value The threshold value T1 is compared.

FIG. 5 shows a result of performing envelope processing on the vibration sound data of the egg E derived from a young chicken group (Y) (same as the data shown in FIG. 3 and the original data of the vibration sound is indicated by a broken line) (FIG. 5). 6 shows the vibration sound data of the egg E derived from the old-age chicken group (O) (the same as that shown in FIG. 4 and the original data of the vibration sound is shown by a broken line). ) Is subjected to Envelop processing (indicated by a solid line in FIG. 6). In addition, FIG. 7 illustrates three typical examples obtained by performing envelope processing on the vibration sound data of the egg E derived from a young chicken group (Y) other than the one shown in FIG. FIG. 8 illustrates three typical examples in which the envelope processing is applied to the vibration sound data of the egg E derived from the old-age chicken group (O) other than the one shown in FIG.

Next, FIG. 9 is a scatter diagram in which values obtained by averaging envelope amplitudes are plotted by quality and size. The vertical axis is the average value of the envelope amplitude, and the horizontal axis is the M size from the young chicken group (Y), the L size from the young chicken group (Y), and the old chicken group in order from the left side. M size of (O), L size of (O) derived from aged flocks. The spread of the plot in the horizontal direction within each size range is due to the order of the examined eggs and does not affect the correlation. In addition, although the cracked egg derived from the old-age chicken group (O) is also plotted, since the cracked egg is originally different in vibration sound from the normal egg, the chicken egg inspection apparatus 2 of the present embodiment uses the young chicken group. It is not possible to test whether the egg is of origin (Y).

In the inspection apparatus 2 of the present embodiment, the average value = 100 is set as the predetermined threshold value T1, and the average value of the envelope amplitude is determined to be 100 or less as the egg E derived from the young chicken group (Y). And the thing exceeding 100 is determined to be an egg E derived from an old-age chicken group (O). The determination result is shown in FIG. Of the eggs E derived from the young chicken group (Y) at the time of acquisition, 24 were out of 30 correctly determined by the inspection apparatus 2 as being derived from the young chicken group (Y). The number determined to be derived from old-age chicken groups (O) was 6 out of 30, and the misjudgment rate was 6/30 = 20%. On the other hand, among the eggs E derived from the old-age chicken group (O) at the time of acquisition, the number correctly determined as the origin of the old-age chicken group (O) by the inspection apparatus 2 is 20 out of 25, and conversely, the inspection apparatus 2 is wrong. The number determined to be derived from young chicken groups (Y) was 5 out of 25, and the miss rate was 5/25 = 20%. In addition, if this misjudgment rate and the overlook rate are calculated only for the M size, the misjudgment rate and the overlook rate are smaller than those including the L size.

The inspection apparatus 2 of the present invention is non-destructive without breaking the egg E and discriminates the quality that affects the processing characteristics. For the purpose of explaining the principle of the inspection apparatus 2, the young chicken group The state of the cross section of eggshell E1 of origin (Y) egg E and egg shell E1 of old age chicken group origin (O) is shown in FIGS.

FIG. 11 and FIG. 13 are cross-sectional photographs taken with a digital microscope after the egg E is split and the eggshell E1 and eggshell membrane E2 near the center are cut into appropriate sizes with scissors. FIG. 11 is a cross section of an eggshell E1 of a chicken egg E derived from a young chicken group (Y), and FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically showing FIG. 11 for explanation. In general, the eggshell E1 is composed of a sponge substrate E3 and nipple protrusions E4 in which small holes are distributed in a sponge shape, and the surface is covered with a cuticle layer E5. However, in FIG.11 and FIG.12, the papillary process E4 cannot be observed, and the boundary of eggshell E1 and eggshell membrane E2 is unclear. In the egg E derived from a young chicken group (Y), since the binding between the eggshell E1 and the eggshell membrane E2 is strong as described above, the eggshell membrane E2 serves as a damper and is vibrated with a hammer 3 or the like. It is thought that the vibration is attenuated with time after. On the other hand, FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of an eggshell E1 of an egg E derived from an old-age chicken group (O), and FIG. 14 is a diagram schematically showing FIG. 13 for explanation. In FIG.13 and FIG.14, many nipple processes E4 can be observed between eggshell E1 and eggshell membrane E2, and it can also confirm that the clearance gap E6 is formed between the adjacent nipple processes E4. In the egg E derived from the old-age chicken group (O), since the binding between the eggshell E1 and the eggshell membrane E2 is weak as described above, the vibration is attenuated even after a long time after being vibrated with the hammer 3 or the like. It is considered difficult.

<Effect of this embodiment>
As described above, the egg inspection apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment includes the vibration means 3 that vibrates the surface of the eggshell E1 of the egg E to be examined, and the eggshell E1 generated by the vibration means 3. Based on the vibration detection means 4 for detecting the vibration and the speed at which the amplitude of the vibration detected by the vibration detection means 4 is attenuated, whether or not the egg E to be examined is derived from a young chicken group Determination means 5 for determining whether or not. Therefore, the egg E having a high How unit with excellent processing characteristics, that is, a chicken egg E derived from a young flock, and the egg E having a low How unit having inferior processing characteristics, that is, a egg E derived from an old flock, are divided. It is possible to discriminate without breaking without laying eggs.

Further, the vibration detection means 4 of the present embodiment detects the vibration sound generated by the vibration means 3, and the determination means 5 includes a calculation unit 6 that digitizes the speed at which the amplitude of the vibration sound is attenuated. In addition, when the value digitized by the calculation unit 6 is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold value T1, it is determined that the egg E to be examined is derived from a young chicken group. For this reason, a cracked egg inspection apparatus using a conventional vibration sound detection system, that is, a crack egg inspection apparatus that indirectly detects the vibration of the eggshell E1 due to the impact of the hammer 3 by the microphone 4 is applied. Unlike the conventional determination of whether or not the test egg is normal, it is possible to determine whether or not the egg E is from a young chicken group with good egg quality.

Furthermore, in the sorting and collecting system for eggs E according to the present embodiment, the transport device 1 for transporting the eggs E arranged in a plurality of rows and the egg E transported on the transport device 1 are derived from a young chicken group. The egg inspection apparatus 2 for inspecting whether or not, and a distribution apparatus that is arranged on the downstream side of the inspection apparatus 2 and distributes the egg E based on the inspection result of the inspection apparatus 2 are provided. Therefore, the egg E determined to be derived from the young chicken group and the egg E determined to be derived from the old chicken group by the inspection device 2 can be distributed to different gathering locations. Generally, those derived from young flocks have more egg products with a high How unit compared to those derived from old flocks, for example, when products with high quality are required. If it picks up from among the eggs E which originated from the young chicken group, the possibility that more good quality eggs E can be collected increases.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above.

The egg inspection apparatus of the present invention measures the quality of the egg to be inspected using vibration generated when the eggshell is vibrated, and is well known in the art. Various mechanisms for inspecting the presence or absence of cracks in eggshells can be applied. That is, the vibration means and the vibration detection means can be variously changed without being limited to the above-described hammer and microphone. As an example, the vibration detection means may detect vibration generated by the vibration means by directly or indirectly contacting the eggshell using a piezoelectric element or the like. Thus, even when the inspection apparatus directly captures the vibration of the eggshell, the determination means includes a calculation unit that quantifies the speed at which the amplitude of the vibration is attenuated, and the value quantified by the calculation unit is a predetermined value. What is necessary is just to determine with the egg of test object originating in a young chicken group when below a threshold value.

In the above-described embodiments and examples, the same hammer and microphone as those used in conventionally known cracked egg inspection apparatuses are used as the excitation means and the vibration detection means, but the invention is not limited to this. It can be changed. As for the presence or absence of cracks, it is necessary to vibrate a plurality of locations per egg (for example, 8 locations around the entire circumference of the egg), but in quality inspection using the inspection apparatus of the present invention, one location per egg is required. It is possible to determine whether or not the egg is derived from a young flock only by shaking at least once. In the above-described embodiments and examples, it is assumed that the average of the envelope values is calculated based on the speed at which the amplitude of the vibration sound based on one excitation is attenuated. Of course, in order to increase the reliability of data, it is needless to say that a plurality of locations may be vibrated / multiple times per egg.

Moreover, you may use the inspection apparatus of the egg of this invention in connection with the crack egg inspection apparatus which test | inspects the presence or absence of a crack. As such an inspection system, a rotating means (for example, a squeezing roller) for rotating the egg to be inspected, a vibrating means for vibrating the eggshell surface of the egg on the rotating means a plurality of times, Vibration detecting means for detecting vibrations generated by the vibrating means, cracked egg determining means for determining whether or not the egg to be inspected is a cracked egg, and the egg to be inspected is derived from a young chicken group Quality judging means (corresponding to the "determining means" described in the above-described embodiments and examples), and the cracked egg judging means and the quality judging means are detected by the vibration detecting means. One that makes a determination based on vibration is mentioned. Here, the vibration data used by the cracked egg judging means and the vibration data used by the quality judging means may be separate or the same. In other words, in parallel with a cracked egg inspection device that checks for cracks, you can check for cracks and then check for eggs from young flocks. Two types of information obtained from one vibration sound signal (crack information on the presence or absence of cracks and the degree of cracks, and quality related to whether eggs are derived from young flocks) Information), in other words, the vibration sound data detected for confirmation of cracks can be reused for quality inspection to check for cracks and to determine whether eggs are from young flocks. You may do it in parallel.

An example of the former case where the quality inspection is performed after the crack inspection is shown below. The cracked egg inspection apparatus includes, for example, vibration means (hammer) and vibration detection means (microphone) that share parts with the above-described egg egg inspection apparatus, and further, based on vibration sound data detected by the vibration detection means. A conventionally well-known one provided with cracked egg judging means for judging cracks of the inspected egg is preferable. As an example of the inspection method, first, an egg to be inspected is vibrated with a hammer in a cracked egg inspection apparatus, and a vibration sound generated by the vibration is detected with a microphone, and whether or not there is a crack in the cracked egg determination means. Determine. After that, the eggs to be inspected determined as non-cracked eggs (normal eggs) are vibrated with the hammer of the inspection apparatus according to the present invention, and then the vibration sound is detected. To determine whether it is an egg. In this way, it is possible to check not only the presence or absence of cracks but also the quality of the eggs by arranging the mechanism of the conventional cracked egg inspection apparatus and the mechanism of the inspection apparatus of the present invention in parallel.

Next, an example of the latter case in which vibration data detected for confirmation of cracks is reused for quality inspection is shown below. This inspection apparatus includes, for example, a vibration means (hammer) and a vibration detection means (microphone). As an example of the inspection method, first, the egg to be inspected is vibrated several times with a hammer, the vibration sound generated by the vibration is detected with a microphone, and the cracked egg is determined based on the crack information obtained by the detection. It is determined whether or not there is a crack in the means. On the other hand, based on the quality information obtained from the detection of vibration by at least one vibration out of a plurality of vibrations, it is determined whether or not the egg is derived from a young chicken group by the quality determination means. The quality determination means may make the determination based on the speed at which the amplitude of the vibration detected by the vibration detection means attenuates (an average value when vibration sound data obtained by a plurality of vibrations is used).

Furthermore, the calculation part of this invention is not restricted to what calculates the value which averaged the envelope amplitude (envelope) as mentioned above. For example, an area surrounded by time and amplitude after the waveform of vibration sound data is enveloped is calculated, and the value of the area is compared with a threshold value by a determination unit. In this case, when the value of the area is equal to or less than the threshold value, that is, when the area is small because the amplitude of the vibration sound is greatly attenuated within a predetermined time, the test egg is derived from a young chicken group What is necessary is just to judge. As another example, the instantaneous amplitude at a specific time (not immediately after excitation) after the envelope processing of the waveform of the vibration sound data is calculated, and the value of the instantaneous amplitude is compared with the threshold value by the determination unit. It may be a thing. In this case, if the value of the instantaneous amplitude is less than or equal to the threshold value, that is, if the amplitude of the vibration sound is greatly attenuated after the time after excitation, and the instantaneous amplitude becomes small, the test egg is derived from a young chicken group What is necessary is just to determine with it. Other methods include calculating the speed at which the amplitude decays using a gradient connecting the amplitudes at multiple points in time, and inverting the amplitude that appears below the reference point of the vibration data above the reference point. A method of calculating the speed at which the amplitude decays using the area of the waveform or the like is conceivable.

In addition, the determination means is not limited to the case where the eggs to be inspected are divided into two groups, one derived from a young chicken group or one derived from an old chicken group. You may make it classify | categorize into the 3 steps | paragraph or more of the thing derived from an age-old chicken group, the thing derived from a medium-aged chicken group, and the thing derived from an old-aged chicken group.

The embodiment disclosed this time is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the scope described above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for an egg inspection apparatus, an egg sorting and collecting system, and an egg inspection system.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Conveyance apparatus 2 ... Egg inspection apparatus 3 ... Excitation means (hammer)
4. Vibration detection means (microphone)
5 ... Determination means 6 ... Calculation unit T1 ... Threshold E ... Egg E1 ... Eggshell

Claims (6)

Vibration means for vibrating the eggshell surface of the egg to be inspected;
Vibration detection means for detecting vibrations generated by the vibration means;
A determination means for determining whether or not the chicken egg to be inspected is derived from a young chicken group based on the speed at which the amplitude of vibration detected by the vibration detection means attenuates; Inspection device. The vibration detection means detects vibration sound generated by the vibration means,
The determination means includes a calculation unit that quantifies the speed at which the amplitude of the vibration sound attenuates,
The egg inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the value digitized by the calculation unit is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, the egg to be inspected is determined to be derived from a young chicken group. The vibration detection means detects the vibration generated by the vibration means in contact with the eggshell,
The determination means includes a calculation unit that quantifies the speed at which the amplitude of vibration attenuates,
The egg inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the value digitized by the calculation unit is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, the egg to be inspected is determined to be derived from a young chicken group. A transport device for transporting eggs arranged in multiple rows;
The egg inspection apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the egg transferred on the transfer apparatus is inspected to be derived from a young chicken group,
An egg sorting and collecting system, comprising: a distribution device that is arranged downstream of the inspection device and that distributes eggs based on the inspection result of the inspection device. A rotating means for rotating the egg to be inspected;
Vibration means for exciting the eggshell surface of the egg on the rotating means a plurality of times;
Vibration detection means for detecting vibrations generated by the vibration means;
Determination means for determining whether or not the chicken egg to be inspected is derived from a young chicken group, based on the average value of the speed at which the amplitude of the vibration detected by the vibration detection means attenuates each time Chicken egg inspection system. A rotating means for rotating the egg to be inspected;
Vibration means for exciting the eggshell surface of the egg on the rotating means a plurality of times;
Vibration detection means for detecting vibrations generated by the vibration means;
A cracked egg judging means for judging whether or not the egg to be inspected is a cracked egg;
And a quality determination means for determining whether the egg to be inspected is derived from a young chicken group,
The cracked egg determination means and the quality determination means are a chicken egg inspection system that makes a determination based on the vibration detected by the vibration detection means.