JP2021194620A - Optical sorter - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an optical sorter which allows a user to easily perform operation setting of an ejector nozzle of an optical sorter.SOLUTION: An optical sorter includes: an inspection part for optically inspecting a granular material transferred by transfer means; a determination part for determining whether or not the granular material is a non-defective article or a defective article on the basis of the optical inspection by the inspection part; an ejector control part having a plurality of ejector nozzles for blowing compression air from the ejector nozzles to the defective article, and sorting the defective article and the non-defective article; and a sort strength setting part for setting sort strength in the ejector control part. The sort strength is composed of a plurality of sort strength levels, and the sort strength setting part can preset a plurality of kinds of operation setting parameters for controlling the operation of the ejector nozzles for each of the sort strength levels.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to an optical sorter that allows the user to easily set the operation of the ejector nozzle of the optical sorter.

Conventionally, in order to remove grains determined to be defective in an optical sorter, compressed air is injected from an ejector nozzle onto the grains determined to be defective. In order to surely remove defective products and obtain high-quality grains after sorting, compressed air may be applied to the defective products for a long time and over a wide range. However, in this way, the sizing, which is a good product, is removed as a companion to the compressed air, and the yield is lowered. Therefore, in order to reduce the entrainment of the above-mentioned sizing and to achieve a high yield, it has been set to apply compressed air to the defective product for a short time and in a narrow range (for example, Patent Document 1). ..

Japanese Patent No. 4206522

However, although the operation setting of the ejector nozzle in the above-mentioned conventional optical sorter can be set for each item such as delay time and injection time, when adjusting the high or low yield, the high yield is used. A professional maintenance engineer must repeat trials and errors for each item, and set the operation of the ejector nozzle over time, depending on whether it is selected as normal or high quality. It was difficult for an ordinary user to make settings easily and easily.

Therefore, an object to be solved by the present invention is to provide an optical sorter in which the user can easily set the operation of the ejector nozzle of the optical sorter.

The invention according to claim 1 of the present application is an inspection unit that optically inspects the granules transferred by the transfer means, and the granules are good or defective based on the optical inspection by the inspection unit. In the ejector control unit and the ejector control unit, which have a determination unit for determining whether or not the defective product and a plurality of ejector nozzles, and blows compressed air from the ejector nozzle to the defective product to sort out the defective product and the non-defective product. The sorting strength setting unit has a sorting strength setting unit capable of setting the sorting strength, the sorting strength is composed of a plurality of sorting strength levels, and the sorting strength setting unit operates the ejector nozzle for each sorting strength level. It is an optical sorter characterized in that it is possible to preset a plurality of types of operation setting parameters to be controlled.

The invention according to claim 2 of the present application is described in claim 1, wherein the ejector control unit can change the injection range of compressed air by the plurality of ejector nozzles according to the plurality of sorting strength levels. It is an optical sorter.

In the invention according to claim 3, the ejector control unit has a defect area specifying means capable of identifying a defect area in the defective product, and the defect area specifying means has a laterally continuous area defect pixel. The optical sorter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the thinning process of leaving the center line portion of the area defective pixel as a defective pixel can be performed.

In the invention according to claim 4, the plurality of types of operation setting parameters include the injection time by the ejector nozzle and the width of the overlap area straddling each other's injection ranges with the boundary line of the adjacent ejector nozzles interposed therebetween. 3. The ejector control unit comprises at least an overlap value, and when at least a part of the defect area is in the overlap area, the ejector nozzles adjacent to the ejector nozzle are injected together with the ejector nozzle. It is an optical sorter of.

In the invention according to claim 5, the sorting strength setting unit is connected to a setting input means capable of selecting the sorting strength level by the user of the optical sorting machine, and corresponds to the selected sorting strength level. The optical sorter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the yield can be adjusted.

The invention according to claim 6 of the present application is the optical sorter according to claim 5, wherein the setting input means is capable of preset operation of the operation setting parameter for each sort intensity level.

In the invention according to claim 7, the setting input means sets according to the preset operation of the operation setting parameter at one sorting intensity level without operating the preset of the operation setting parameter at another sorting intensity level. The optical sorter according to claim 6, which is possible.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, defective granules can be removed by a plurality of ejector nozzles controlled according to the sorting strength level set by the sorting strength setting unit, and further, the sorting is performed. The intensity level is configured so that multiple types of operation setting parameters that control the operation of the ejector nozzle can be preset for each of the plurality of sorting intensity levels. Therefore, unlike the conventional method, it is not necessary to set the operation of the ejector nozzle over time, and the user can set the optical sorter extremely easily according to the yield and quality required by the user. Become.

According to the invention of claim 2, since the injection range of the compressed air by the plurality of ejector nozzles is adjusted to be different according to the plurality of sorting strength levels, it is appropriate according to the yield and quality required by the user. It is possible to sort and remove defective products.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to specify a defective area in a defective product and to perform a thinning process for horizontally continuous area defective pixels so that the center line portion of the area defective pixel is left as a defective pixel. It has become. By performing such a process, it is possible to narrow the injection range of the compressed air by the plurality of ejector nozzles, and it is possible to increase the yield.

According to the invention of claim 4, as the operation setting parameters for the ejector nozzles, the injection time by the ejector nozzles and the width of the overlap area straddling each other's injection ranges with the boundary line of the adjacent ejector nozzles interposed therebetween. The overlap value can be set at least, and when at least a part of the defect area in the granular material enters the overlap area, the two adjacent ejector nozzles are configured to inject together. By adjusting the lap value, it is possible to adjust the injection range of compressed air, and it is possible to sort and remove according to the yield and quality required by the user.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the user of the optical sorter uses the setting input means, and the operation screen as shown in FIG. 4, for example, makes it extremely easy to sort according to the yield and quality required by the user. It is possible to select the intensity level.

According to the invention of claim 6, the maintenance engineer or the like can easily preset the operation setting parameter for each sorting strength level from the operation screen as shown in FIG. 10, for example.

According to the invention of claim 7, by presetting the operation setting parameter at one sorting intensity level, the operation setting parameter at another sorting intensity level is automatically set based on a predetermined setting rule. Has been done. With such a configuration, it is possible to save the trouble of presetting the operation setting parameters individually for all the sorting strength levels.

It is a schematic vertical sectional view which shows the internal structure of the optical sorter in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the control processing means of the optical sorter in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the outline of the sorting strength level in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which showed the display mode of the sorting intensity level adjustment screen in the liquid crystal display in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the image processing of the grain performed at the time of determining the injection area in one embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment of the present invention, it is a conceptual diagram of each operation setting parameter and an injection area in the primary sorting using an optical sorter. (Sorting strength level 5 to 3) In one embodiment of the present invention, it is a conceptual diagram of each operation setting parameter and an injection area in the primary sorting using an optical sorter. (Sorting strength level 2, 1) In one embodiment of the present invention, it is a conceptual diagram of each operation setting parameter and an injection area in the secondary sorting and the tertiary sorting using an optical sorter. (Sorting strength level 5 to 3) In one embodiment of the present invention, it is a conceptual diagram of each operation setting parameter and an injection area in the secondary sorting and the tertiary sorting using an optical sorter. (Sorting strength level 2, 1) It is a figure which showed the display mode of the setting screen for maintenance engineers in the liquid crystal display in one Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the optical sorter of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view showing the internal structure of the optical sorter 1 in the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control processing means of the optical sorter 1.

(Configuration of optical sorter)
As shown in FIG. 1, the optical sorter 1 has a chute 4 for transferring the grain 100 into the machine frame 2 at an angle of about 60 degrees from a horizontal position as a means for transferring the grain 100, and a grain. The storage tank 5 for storing the grains 100, the vibration feeder 6 for transporting the grains 100 from the storage tank 5 to the chute 4, and the top and bottom of the fall trajectory of the grains 100 falling from the lower end of the chute 4 are sandwiched between them. The optical detection units 7a and 7b provided, the ejector 8 provided further below, and the ejector 8 below the ejector 8 are on the same inclined line as the chute 4, and fall the fall locus as they are without receiving the gutter from the ejector nozzle 80. From the non-defective product recovery gutter 9 that receives the grain 100, the defective product recovery gutter 10 that is juxtaposed with the non-defective product recovery gutter 9 and receives the blown air from the ejector nozzle 80, and the ejector nozzle 80. An auxiliary defective product recovery gutter 11 for collecting defective particles that have failed to receive the blast and bounced off the surrounding members is provided.

Further, the shape of the chute 4 is formed in a flat plate shape without a groove in order to slide the grain 100 in a wide band shape, in order to prevent the grain 100 from overflowing from the chute 4, and to prevent the grain 100 from overflowing. In order to prevent the grain 100 from rising from the bottom surface while sliding the chute 4, the chute cover 4a is provided at a predetermined distance from the bottom surface.

The vibration feeder 6 is configured such that a feeder trough 6a is supported on the support portion 6b and the grain 100 can be supplied to the chute 4 by operating a vibration member such as an electromagnetic drive coil 6c. The shape of the chute 4 described above may form a groove, and the cross-sectional shape of the groove may be U-shaped, V-shaped, concave, or the like as appropriate. Can be done.

The optical detection units 7a and 7b, which are inspection units for performing optical inspection, are surrounded by the box bodies 12a and 12b, respectively, and the box body 12a on the front side of the fall locus of the grain 100 has visible light. CCD camera 13a for near-infrared light, NIR camera 14 for near-infrared light, visible light sources 15a and 15b composed of fluorescent lamps and the like, near-infrared light sources 16a composed of halogen lamps and the like, and an optical detection unit 7b for facing back. The ground 17a and the interior are decorated.

Further, in the box body 12b behind the fall locus of the grain 100, a CCD camera 13b for visible light, visible light sources 15c and 15d composed of fluorescent lamps and the like, and a near infrared light source 16b composed of a halogen lamp and the like are provided. And the facing backgrounds 17b and 17c of the optical detection unit 7a are built in. Then, window members 18a and 18b made of transparent glass are fitted on the drop locus side of the grain 100 of the boxes 12a and 12b.

The ejector 8 in the optical sorter 1 of the present embodiment is provided with 48 ejector nozzles 80 in a row at equal intervals in the same direction as the width direction of the chute 4, and each ejector nozzle 80 is provided with equal intervals. An ejector solenoid valve 81 for turning on / off the injection of compressed air is provided. The number of ejector nozzles 80 can be appropriately changed according to the width dimension of the chute 4 and the like. Further, the ejector 8 of the present embodiment can store compressed air inside, and is configured to supply air from an air compressor (not shown) via an air supply pipe 22. In addition, one or a plurality of sub-tanks (not shown) for temporarily storing air may be provided between the ejector 8 and the air compressor, and by configuring in this way, the amount of air injected from the ejector nozzle 80 is large. Even in that case, there is no risk of running out of air.

A front door 24 that can be rotated in the vertical direction by an air cylinder 23 is provided on the inclined wall in front of the machine frame 2, whereby maintenance work such as cleaning can be easily performed. Further, below the front door 24, a liquid crystal display 25 that functions as a setting input means that also serves as an operation panel including a touch panel and a monitor, and a power switch (not shown) are provided. By arranging the liquid crystal display 25 and the power switch at the height of the operator's eyes, the machine can be easily operated.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, as a receiving port for the selected grain 100, a defective product receiving port 27, a non-defective product receiving port 28, an auxiliary defective product receiving port 29, and further, a defective product receiving port 27 are provided. A sample taking-out portion 30 is provided above the above.

Subsequently, the configuration of the control processing means of the optical sorter 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The CCD cameras 13a and 13b for visible light and the NIR camera 14 for near-infrared light are electrically connected to a signal processing unit 31 in order to perform binarization processing of the acquired image, and further, the signal processing unit. 31 is connected to a memory unit 32 that stores an image and performs necessary processing. The liquid crystal display 25 described above is electrically connected to the memory unit 32.

Further, the signal processing unit 31 stores an image data acquisition unit 33 that temporarily stores image data, and a threshold value data that determines whether the acquired image data is a good product or a defective product. The data storage memory 34, the binarization calculation mechanism 35 for binarizing the acquired image data, the non-defective / defective product determination unit 36 that functions as a determination unit for determining whether the product is good or defective, and the ejector 8 It is provided with at least an ejector control unit 37 that controls the operation of the above.

Further, the CCD cameras 13a and 13b for visible light and the NIR camera 14 for near-infrared light amplify the voltage value via an I / V converter (not shown) that converts the light amount detection value into a voltage value. Each is connected to an amplifier. Then, based on the amplified voltage value (detection signal), the non-defective product / defective product determination unit 36 discriminates between the non-defective product and the defective product by comparing with the threshold value stored in the threshold data storage memory 34. There is.

Further, in the memory unit 32, whether the grain is a good product based on the image data storage memory 38 that stores the data from the image data acquisition unit 33 as needed and the image data stored in the image data storage memory 38. The threshold data calculation mechanism 39 that calculates the threshold for determining whether the product is defective, the sorting strength setting unit 40 that sets the operation for the ejector 8, and the touch operation signal of the liquid crystal display 25 are received. The operation signal receiving mechanism 41 for outputting the processed image data to the liquid crystal display 25 is provided at least.

The non-defective / defective product determination unit 36 in the signal processing unit 31 is electrically connected to the ejector control unit 37, and the ejector control unit 37 is the ejector 8 set in the sorting strength setting unit 40 of the memory unit 32. The ejector drive circuit 42 is controlled in order to remove the defective grain 100 based on the operating conditions.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the ejector drive circuit 42 is electrically connected to each ejector solenoid valve 81 that turns on / off the injection of compressed air by each ejector nozzle 80, and a drive signal is input. By doing so, each ejector solenoid valve 81 is configured to open and close. As described above, the ejector 8 of the present embodiment includes 48 ejector nozzles 80, each of which has a one-to-one correspondence and includes an ejector solenoid valve 81. Note that, in FIG. 2, of the 48 ejector solenoid valves 81, the first ejector solenoid valve 81a, the second ejector solenoid valve 81b, and the third, which can inject compressed air into the entire grain 100 adjacent to each other, are shown. The ejector solenoid valve 81c is shown.

(Sort processing configuration)
Subsequently, the sorting process of the optical sorter 1 in the present embodiment will be described in detail below.

In the optical sorter 1 of the present embodiment, the sorting strength at the time of removing the grain 100 determined to be a defective product by the ejector 8 can be set in advance. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the sorting strength can be set in five stages from level 5 to level 1. For example, level 1 has high sorting strength and reliably sorts defective products. Therefore, some of the non-defective products are removed by being entrained with the compressed air ejected from the ejector nozzle 80, resulting in a low yield, but high-quality grain 100 can be obtained. On the other hand, at level 5, the sorting strength is low, and some defective products may not be removed by the ejector 8, so that the obtained grain 100 is of low quality, but the yield is high. The details of the operation mode of the ejector 8 at each sorting strength will be described later.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a display mode in the liquid crystal display 25, in which a user using the optical sorter 1 touches the ejector setting icon 253 with a finger to obtain a sort intensity level as shown in the figure. It is configured to display the adjustment screen of. Then, by touching the level-up icon 251 and the level-down icon 252, the desired selection intensity level by the ejector 8 can be easily selected. In the figure, the selection strength level may be selected by touching the round setting level icon 255 and flicking to a desired level position.

Subsequently, based on FIG. 5, a mode for identifying the defective grain 100 when the defective product is removed by the ejector 8 will be described. First, in Step 1, the object image of the grain 100 is acquired by the non-defective product / defective product determination unit 36, and in Step 2, the defective area in the grain 100 is specified by the dose measurement based on the light amount detection value obtained from the object image. do. In Step 3, a defect area satisfying the defect size determined as a defective product is specified based on a predetermined threshold value set in advance. In Step 4, for defective pixels in a defect area that is continuous in the horizontal direction, a "thinning" process is performed in which only the center line thereof is left as a defect area. Although the details will be described later, the effect of improving the yield can be obtained by this thinning process. Then, in Step 5, the injection range of the compressed air by the ejector nozzle 80 according to the preset selection strength level (levels 5 to 1) is determined based on the specified defect area. As shown in FIG. 5, the thinning process of Step 4 is not indispensable, and if necessary, the injection range of Step 5 may be set without the thinning process.

Next, the operation setting parameters at each sorting intensity level (levels 5 to 1) in the present embodiment will be described.

6 and 7 show schematic views of each operation setting parameter preset for each sorting intensity level (levels 5 to 1), a compressed air injection area for the defective grain 100, and the like. Note that FIGS. 6 and 7 show an embodiment of primary sorting by an optical sorter 1 provided with a flat plate-shaped chute 4. In addition, FIGS. 8 and 9 show embodiments of secondary and tertiary sorting by an optical sorter 1 equipped with a U-shaped chute 4. Further, in the schematic views of FIGS. 6 to 9, among the 48 ejector nozzles 80 described above, the first ejector nozzle 80a and the second ejector capable of injecting compressed air into the entire grain 100 adjacent to each other are shown. The nozzle 80b and the third ejector nozzle 80c are illustrated.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, the “injection time” of compressed air and the adjacent ejector nozzle 80 as shown for each sorting intensity level (levels 5 to 1) are used. When there is a defective area in the overlapping area that straddles each other's injection range across the boundary, the "overlap value" that can operate both ejector nozzles 80 and the defective area of the defective product that is continuous in the lateral direction The ON / OFF setting of "thinning" that leaves only the center line of the defective pixel as a defective area is preset as an operation setting parameter.

Subsequently, the operation setting parameters and the operation mode of the ejector 8 with respect to the defective grain 100 will be described. The "level 5" setting shown in FIG. 6 is set to a high yield, and the injection time is preset to "10", the overlap value is set to "0", and the thinning process is preset to "ON". ing. The unit of the injection time "10" is not an hour unit, but an arbitrarily specified numerical value, and is actually compressed to the range indicated by the double-headed arrow in the figure with respect to the falling grain 100. It's time for the air to hit. Of course, it is also possible to set the numerical value in units of time.

Further, in the setting of "level 5" shown in FIG. 6, the overlap value is "0", and in this case, the second ejector nozzle capable of injecting compressed air into the specified defect area. Only 80b will work. Further, in the setting of "level 5", since the thinning process is set to "ON", the linear defect area as shown in the figure is specified, and the range is smaller than the actual defect area. ing.

Subsequently, the setting of "level 4" shown in FIG. 6 is set to have a higher sorting strength than the above-mentioned "level 5", and the yield is slightly lower, but the quality of the obtained grain 100 is slightly higher. It is set. The injection time is preset to "15", which is about 1.5 times longer than "level 5", the overlap value is "4", and the thinning process is "ON". The overlap value "4" does not have a specific unit, but is a numerical value arbitrarily specified. For example, it can be the number of pixels in the width direction of the image sensor, and is a numerical value corresponding to the length in the width direction of the overlap area shown in the figure. Of course, it is also possible to set the overlap value as a numerical value in the distance (dimension) unit.

In the setting of "level 4" shown in FIG. 6, since the overlap value is "4", the boundary line between the adjacent first ejector nozzle 80a and the second ejector nozzle 80b is shown as shown in the figure. , And an overlapping area that straddles the injection ranges of the second ejector nozzle 80b and the third ejector nozzle 80c is set so as to sandwich the boundary line between the second ejector nozzle 80b and the third ejector nozzle 80c. In the illustrated embodiment, since the thinned defect area does not enter the overlap area and is in the injection range of the second ejector nozzle 80b, only the second ejector nozzle 80b operates.

Subsequently, the setting of "level 3" shown in FIG. 6 is set to have a higher sorting strength than the above-mentioned "level 4". The injection time is preset to "20", which is twice as long as "level 5", the overlap value is "8", which is twice as long as "level 4", and the thinning process is preset to "ON". .. In the "level 3" setting, the overlap value is "8" and the width of the overlap area is twice that in the "level 4" setting, but in the illustrated embodiment, the line is thinned. Since the defective area does not enter the overlap area and is within the injection range of the second ejector nozzle 80b, only the second ejector nozzle 80b operates.

Subsequently, the setting of "level 2" shown in FIG. 7 is set to have a higher sorting strength than the above-mentioned "level 3". The injection time is preset to "25", which is 2.5 times longer than "Level 5", the overlap value is "14", which is nearly twice as long as "Level 3", and the thinning process is preset to "OFF". Has been done.

In the "level 2" setting shown in FIG. 7, the overlap value is "14", and the width of the overlap area is nearly double that of "level 3" as shown in the figure. There is. Then, in the illustrated embodiment, the upper right portion of the defect area (thinning OFF) is included in the overlap area set between the second ejector nozzle 80b and the third ejector nozzle 80c. As a result, in addition to the second ejector nozzle 80b, the third ejector nozzle 80c also operates, and the injection area as shown in the figure is formed so that compressed air is injected into the grain 100.

Subsequently, the setting of "level 1" shown in FIG. 7 is set to have a higher sorting strength than the above-mentioned "level 2". The injection time is preset to "30", which is three times as long as "level 5", the overlap value is "20", which is about 1.5 times as long as "level 4", and the thinning process is preset to "OFF". Has been done.

In the "level 1" setting shown in FIG. 7, the overlap value is "20", and the width of the overlap area is about 1.5 times that of "level 2" as shown in the figure. It has become. Then, in the illustrated embodiment, the upper right portion and the lower left portion of the defect area (thinning OFF) are set to straddle the boundary line between the second ejector nozzle 80b and the third ejector nozzle 80c, respectively. And the overlap area set between the second ejector nozzle 80b and the first ejector nozzle 80a. As a result, in addition to the second ejector nozzle 80b, the third ejector nozzle 80c and the first ejector nozzle 80a also operate, and the injection area as shown is formed so that compressed air is injected into the grain 100. It is configured.

Therefore, in the setting of "level 1", a range wider than the outer shape of the grain 100 becomes the injection area by the ejector nozzle 80. However, since the grains 100 are close to each other and continuously flow down in a band shape, good products in the vicinity of defective products are removed as entrainment of compressed air ejected from the ejector nozzle 80. Therefore, although the yield is low, defective products can be reliably removed, so that high-quality grain 100 can be obtained.

Subsequently, the operation setting parameters in the secondary sorting and the tertiary sorting shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 and the operation mode of the ejector 8 with respect to the defective grain 100 will be described. In the secondary sorting and the tertiary sorting, the grain 100 obtained by the primary sorting by the optical sorting machine 1 is further put into the optical sorting machine 1 for the secondary sorting and the tertiary sorting. Sorting and a repetitive sorting process. Further, in the secondary sorting and the tertiary sorting, a chute 4 having a plurality of U-shaped grooves having a width dimension such that one grain 100 can flow down is used, and the outlines of FIGS. 8 and 9 are shown. As shown in the figure, the area for injecting compressed air by one ejector nozzle 80 is about the same as the width of the grain 100.

The setting of "level 5" shown in FIG. 8 is a setting for high yield, and the injection time is preset to "10", the overlap value is "0", and the thinning process is preset to "ON". ing. In the "level 5" setting, the overlap value is "0", and in this case, only the second ejector nozzle 80b capable of injecting compressed air into the specified defect area operates. .. Further, in the setting of "level 5", since the thinning process is set to "ON", the linear defect area as shown in the figure is specified, and the range is smaller than the actual defect area. ing.

Subsequently, the setting of "level 4" shown in FIG. 8 is set to have a higher sorting strength than the above-mentioned "level 5", and the yield is slightly lower, but the quality of the obtained grain 100 is slightly higher. It is set. The injection time is preset to "15", which is about 1.5 times longer than "level 5", the overlap value is "0", and the thinning process is "ON".

Subsequently, the setting of "level 3" shown in FIG. 8 is set to have a higher sorting strength than the above-mentioned "level 4", and the yield is further lowered, but the quality of the obtained grain 100 is slightly higher. It is set. The injection time is preset to "20", which is twice that of "level 5", the overlap value is "0", and the thinning process is "ON".

Subsequently, the setting of "level 2" shown in FIG. 9 is set to have a higher sorting strength and a lower yield than the above-mentioned "level 3", but the quality of the obtained grain 100 is higher. It has become. The injection time is preset to "25", which is 2.5 times that of "level 5", the overlap value is preset to "8", and the thinning process is preset to "OFF".

In the "level 2" setting shown in FIG. 9, since the overlap value is "8", as shown in the figure, between the adjacent first ejector nozzle 80a and the second ejector nozzle 80b. An overlap area is set between the second ejector nozzle 80b and the third ejector nozzle 80c. In the illustrated embodiment, since the defect area (thinning OFF) is within the injection range of the second ejector nozzle 80b without entering the overlap area, only the second ejector nozzle 80b operates.

Subsequently, the setting of "level 1" shown in FIG. 9 is set to have a higher sorting strength than the above-mentioned "level 2". The injection time is preset to "30", which is three times as long as "level 5", the overlap value is "16", which is twice as long as "level 2", and the thinning process is preset to "OFF". ..

In the "level 1" setting shown in FIG. 9, the overlap value is "16", and the width of the overlap area is twice as large as that in the "level 2" setting as shown in the figure. .. Then, in the illustrated embodiment, the left side portion of the defect area (thinning OFF) is included in the overlap area set across the boundary line between the second ejector nozzle 80b and the first ejector nozzle 80a. As a result, in addition to the second ejector nozzle 80b, the first ejector nozzle 80a also operates, and the injection area as shown in the figure is formed so that compressed air is injected into the grain 100.

Therefore, in the setting of "level 1", a range wider than the outer shape of the grain 100 becomes the injection area by the ejector nozzle 80. However, since the grains 100 are close to each other and continuously flow down in a band shape, good products in the vicinity of defective products are removed as entrainment of compressed air ejected from the ejector nozzle 80. Therefore, although the yield is low, defective products can be reliably removed, so that high-quality grain 100 can be obtained.

Although an example of the operation setting parameters at each sorting strength level in the present embodiment has been described above, of the 48 ejector nozzles 80, the ejector nozzles 80 adjacent to the ejector nozzles 80 at both ends are only on one side. Therefore, when the overlap value is set, the overlap area is set only on one side where the adjacent ejector nozzles 80 exist, and the ejector nozzles 80 operate. Further, the setting of each operation setting parameter of "injection time", "overlap", and "thinning" described above is preset by the maintenance engineer, and the user of the optical sorter 1 has as described above. All you have to do is specify the sorting strength level on the setting screen as shown in FIG. Therefore, as in the past, it is possible to significantly reduce the time and effort required for the maintenance engineer to set each operation setting parameter, perform trial and error, and set the operation of the ejector 8 over time. It becomes.

Note that FIG. 10 shows an example of a setting screen dedicated to the maintenance engineer, and by touching the detailed setting icon 254 on the upper right of the display screen, the screen shifts to the detailed setting screen (not shown), and the “detailed setting screen” at each sorting strength level is displayed. It is possible to set each operation setting parameter of "injection time", "overlap", and "thinning". Further, when setting the operation setting parameter, if the operation setting parameter is set at any of levels 5 to 1, the operation setting parameter at the other sorting strength level is automatically set according to the level. Has been done. According to such a configuration, when setting or changing the operation setting parameter, it is possible to save the trouble of inputting the operation setting parameter for all the other sorting strength levels.

(Other embodiments)
The embodiment of the optical sorter of the present invention has been described above. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the above-described embodiment, and includes, for example, the following modifications.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the method for selecting the grain 100 has been described, but the method is not necessarily limited to the grain 100, and the selection target is pellets, resin pieces such as beads, beans, pharmaceuticals, ores, shirasu and the like. The optical sorter of the present invention can be effectively applied even when sorting granules containing fine articles.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the sorting strength level is set to 5 levels from "level 5" to "level 1", but the sorting strength level is not necessarily limited to 5 levels, and any number of stepwise sorting strength levels are used. Can be set.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, there are three types of setting items preset in the sorting intensity level: “injection time”, “overlap”, and “thinning”. Since these setting items greatly affect the yield and quality, it is possible to effectively adjust the yield and quality by configuring these items in a presettable manner. However, the setting items are not necessarily limited to these, and other types of setting items may be configured to be configurable in a plurality of presets.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the level can be adjusted from low yield to high yield, but the configuration is not necessarily limited to such a configuration, and for example, the obtained granular material is obtained. Each operation setting parameter may be set for each sorting intensity level with an emphasis on the quality of the above, and the level may be adjusted from low quality to high quality. Then, on the level selection screen as shown in FIG. 4, in addition to the low yield to high yield level selection, the low quality to high quality level selection may be performed.

Further, the sorting strength level selection function as shown in FIG. 4 may be additionally equipped with a switching means for turning ON / OFF, and by configuring in this way, selection can be made according to the user's request. It is possible to turn off the function and set each operation setting parameter individually in detail.

Although the embodiments of the present invention and some modifications thereof have been described above, the above-described embodiments of the present invention are for facilitating the understanding of the present invention and do not limit the present invention. The present invention can be modified and improved without departing from the spirit thereof, and the present invention includes equivalents thereof. Further, it is possible to combine or omit the scope of claims and the components described in the specification within the range in which at least a part of the above-mentioned problems can be solved or the range in which at least a part of the effect is exhibited. ..

1 Optical sorter 2 Machine 4 Shoot 4a Shoot cover 5 Storage tank 6 Vibration feeder 6a Feeder trough 6b Support part 6c Electromagnetic drive coil 7a Optical detection part 7b Optical detection part 8 Ejector 9 Good product recovery gutter 10 Defective product recovery gutter 11 No auxiliary Good product collection optics 12a Box 12b Box 13a CCD camera 13b CCD camera 14 NIR camera 15a Visible light source 15b Visible light source 15c Visible light source 15d Visible light source 16a Near infrared light source 16b Near infrared light source 17a Opposite background 17b Opposite background 17c Opposite background 18a Window member 18b Window member 22 Air supply pipe 24 Front door 25 Liquid crystal display 27 Defective product receiving port 28 Good product receiving port 29 Auxiliary defective product receiving port 30 Sample extraction unit 31 Signal processing unit 32 Memory unit 33 Image data Acquisition unit 34 Threshold data storage memory 35 2 Value calculation mechanism 36 Good / defective product judgment unit 37 Ejector control unit 38 Image data storage memory 39 Threshold data calculation mechanism 40 Sorting strength setting unit 41 Operation signal reception mechanism 42 Ejector Drive circuit 80 Ejector nozzle 80a 1st ejector nozzle 80b 2nd ejector nozzle 80c 3rd ejector nozzle 81 Ejector electromagnetic valve 81a 1st ejector electromagnetic valve 81b 2nd ejector electromagnetic valve 81c 3rd ejector electromagnetic valve 100 Grain 251 Grain 251 Level up icon 252 Level down icon 253 Ejector setting icon 254 Advanced setting icon 255 Setting level icon

Claims (7)

An inspection unit that optically inspects the granules transferred by the transfer means,
Based on the optical inspection by the inspection unit, a determination unit for determining whether the granular material is a good product or a defective product, and a determination unit.
An ejector control unit that has a plurality of ejector nozzles and blows compressed air from the ejector nozzles onto the defective product to sort out the defective product and the non-defective product.
It has a sorting strength setting unit that can set the sorting strength in the ejector control unit.
The sorting strength is composed of a plurality of sorting strength levels.
The sorting strength setting unit is an optical sorting machine capable of presetting a plurality of types of operation setting parameters for controlling the operation of the ejector nozzle for each sorting strength level. The optical sorter according to claim 1, wherein the ejector control unit can have different injection ranges of compressed air by the plurality of ejector nozzles according to the plurality of sorting intensity levels. The ejector control unit has a defective area specifying means capable of identifying a defective area in the defective product.
The defect area specifying means according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the defect area specifying means can perform a thinning process on the area defect pixels continuously in the lateral direction so as to leave the center line portion of the area defect pixels as the defect pixels. Optical sorter. The plurality of types of operation setting parameters include at least the injection time by the ejector nozzle and the overlap value which is the width of the overlap area straddling each other's injection ranges with the boundary line of the adjacent ejector nozzles interposed therebetween. Including,
The optical sorter according to claim 3, wherein the ejector control unit injects the adjacent ejector nozzles together when at least a part of the defect area is in the overlap area. The sorting strength setting unit is connected to a setting input means capable of selecting the sorting strength level by the user of the optical sorter, and the yield can be adjusted according to the selected sorting strength level. Item 4. The optical sorter according to any one of Items 1 to 4. The optical sorter according to claim 5, wherein the setting input means can perform preset operations of the operation setting parameters for each sort intensity level. The setting input means according to claim 6, wherein the setting input means can be set according to the preset operation of the operation setting parameter at one sorting intensity level without operating the preset of the operation setting parameter at another sorting intensity level. Optical sorter.

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