JP3174732B2 - Classification equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an equipment for class determination. For example, the present invention relates to a discrimination system that sorts products such as vegetables and fruits such as eggplants into a plurality of types based on quality (quality) (quality). In addition, the present invention can be applied to quality determination of various industrial products (parts).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when products such as vegetables and fruits are packed in a cardboard box or stored in a tray for packaging, they have been transported to a workplace in a predetermined returnable box such as a cardboard box, a carry, or a container. The operator takes out one by one and cleans or cleans, inspects the quality, for example, weight, aesthetics, etc., classifies it according to a predetermined quality standard, and manually or via a conveyor such as a belt conveyor to a predetermined container. The method of transferring was adopted.

[0003] Conventionally, since packaging is performed after such a long time and a large number of manual operations, not only the decay and other quality are remarkably deteriorated, but also when a large amount of processing is performed, more workers and long work are required. It takes time. In addition, since a simple measuring instrument or a visual inspection is used as the determination means, there is a possibility that artificial determination criteria may vary, or that damage, deformation, or other defects may be overlooked, resulting in contamination of different grades. there were.

In order to address these problems, in recent years, as shown in FIG. 7, there has been proposed a simple image processing apparatus which uses a camera 11 and discriminates a class based on an image signal obtained thereby. That is, this apparatus transfers a fruit selection dish 9 on which products 8 such as vegetables and fruits are placed to an endless transfer conveyor 10.
The camera 11 and the fluorescent lamp 12 are suspended above the camera 11 while being sequentially transported in the direction indicated by the arrow in the figure. An image signal of the product 8 captured by the camera 11 is sent to an image processing device (not shown). Will be.

[0005] However, since this apparatus captures only one side of a product 8 sequentially fed by one camera 11, the area that can be detected by one camera 11 is limited. For example, it is impossible to accurately determine scratches, bends, and other defects on the side and the back side of the product 8 and the like, and cannot be put to practical use as a determination device in terms of reliability and the like. For this reason, today, there is a demand for a class classification system capable of mass processing and having high reliability (accuracy).

[0006]

As described above, as a method of class classification prior to packing and packing (boxing) vegetables and fruits, there has been a method of manually classifying the same.
In addition, it is general to perform the inspection one point at a time by a visual inspection or to determine by a simple image processing. Therefore, the former visual inspection has the following problems (problems).

[0007] A lot of manpower is required until the final step, and rot and other deterioration of quality are inevitable, which causes factors such as shortening of the expiration date and price reduction. Because of the inspection (discrimination) for each point, the work efficiency is poor, and when packing and processing a large number of items, a large number of people and time are required, and a large amount of processing cannot be performed. Due to the visual inspection, there is a possibility that the discriminating criterion may vary greatly depending on the inspector or even for the same inspector due to various factors.

The latter simple image processing method (apparatus)
Since only one camera 11 was provided, only one side of the product could be detected, and the accuracy of discrimination was unreliable and could not be put to practical use. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed to address these problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a class classification equipment capable of sorting products such as washed and aligned vegetables and fruits substantially continuously and according to a predetermined quality standard. With the goal.

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems] reticulated tray in a continuous in a number linked comprising conveyor Senhatesara or intermittently transferred to the incoming object to be inspected (vegetables, fruits, etc.) with respect to the examination position for the , a light source (a fluorescent lamp, the reflecting plate, etc.) to the camera and required ray-like relief to the transport direction are arranged one set, the camera及
And a light source consisting of a light source and a light source.
Turn the camera to take an image of the inspected object
After the image signal from the camera is appropriately processed by the control device, the image signal is output to the downstream sorting device and operated.
Thereby, grades, ranks and the like are automatically selected and sorted according to a predetermined quality standard, and further, a water tank type aligning device and a draining device are arranged as a pre-process of the photographing device, and vegetables, fruits and the like are arranged. To solve the above-mentioned problems by developing a class discriminating equipment that gives cleaning, sterilization and freshness preservation effects to the inspected object, prevents detection accuracy from dropping by water drops, prevents misidentification, and removes dust. Means to do so.

[Operation] After the cleaning and cleaning work steps by the water tank type alignment device,
It is possible to inspect and discriminate the quality of vegetables, fruits, and the like that are sequentially conveyed by draining the inspected object by the drainer, in a continuous or nearly transported state, and sort the quality.
Therefore, a large amount of vegetables and the like can be transferred to a packaging machine or a cardboard box to be packed and processed in a short time. Special
In the present invention, the sorting plate on which the test object is placed
Rotate the camera and light source to take a picture of the inspected object all around.
Consisting of a camera and a light source
What is necessary is just to install a set of imaging devices.

Further, since the classification can be automatically performed by image processing, the number of workers involved in the inspection can be greatly reduced. In addition, since the discrimination process is performed mechanically based on the image, there is no variation in the criterion for the quality, and the reliability of the class classification is greatly improved. As a result, consumer confidence has increased, and it has become possible to expect high sales prices.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 6 show a system for classifying vegetables and fruits according to an embodiment of the present invention.
1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the above system, FIG. 2 is a basic configuration diagram of a discrimination device unit, FIGS. 3 to 5 are application configuration examples of the discrimination device unit,
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an example of an inspection item serving as a criterion for class determination.

As shown in FIG. 1, the system for classifying vegetables and fruits according to the present embodiment includes, as main devices, a washing / arranging device 1, a transfer device 2, and a discriminating device 3 for brought in vegetables and the like. , A control unit 4, a sorting unit 5, and the like. The cleaning and aligning apparatus 1 is exemplified by a water tank type. That is, a water tank 6 into which a large number of products can be put is installed in the upstream portion, and the product 8 is conveyed downstream from the water tank 6 via an endless conveyor 7 provided in a water flow or a waterway (underwater). It is configured to remove dirt and mud remaining thereon and to transfer the dirt and mud to a transfer unit 2 having a draining device.

The transfer unit 2 is provided with a draining device, and is connected to a fruit selection tray 9 to constitute an endless transfer conveyor 10. Therefore, the fruits and the like on the fruit selection tray 9 are transferred to the downstream sorting device 5 and then returned to the original position by circulation, so that the continuous transfer can be performed. As shown in FIG. 8, the fruit selection dish 9 is a mesh-shaped special tray for the purpose of being used for photographing from all directions, such as radial or up and down directions, even in photographing by a photographing device described later. . The mesh shape may be either a horizontal mesh type or a vertical mesh type.

The discriminating device 3 is a device for inspecting the quality of fruits, vegetables and the like which are sequentially transferred via the fruit selection dish 9 and discriminating the rank based on a predetermined standard. The discrimination signal is transmitted to the control device unit 4 and then fed back to the driving means of the sorting device 5, where the sorting device unit 5 classifies the discrimination for each class.
It is designed to be conveyed to a box packing machine or a packing machine for packing. The present system is particularly characterized by a discriminating unit 3 for judging the quality (degree) of a product, and details thereof are shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, one location of the transfer unit 2 for carrying the product 8 on the sorting plate 9 is set as an inspection position, and a plurality of sets of cameras 11a, 11b, 11c are set around the location.
Further, a photographing device including a fluorescent lamp 12, a reflecting plate 13 and the like corresponding thereto is provided so that products 8 such as vegetables to be transferred can be photographed from the entire circumferential direction. Camera 11
a is disposed above the inspection position and can photograph the product 8 from directly above, and the camera 11b is disposed diagonally below and upstream of the inspection position so that the product 8 can photograph the product 8 from obliquely below. Further, the camera 11c is arranged on the obliquely lower upstream side of the inspection position, and can photograph the product 8 from the obliquely lower side. The fluorescent lamp 12 and the reflecting plate 13 are arranged on opposite sides of the cameras 11a, 11b, 11c with respect to the inspection position.

The images captured by the cameras 11a, 11b and 11c are transmitted as signals to the control unit 4, where they are subjected to arithmetic processing for inspection items to be described later, and then sent to the sorting device unit 5 in the post-process. Is appropriately sorted and sorted for each class and sent out to a predetermined place, for example, a packaging machine or a packing cardboard via a tray.

In the system for classifying vegetables and fruits according to the present embodiment, products 8 such as aubergines and fruits, etc., which are transported in a fruit selection dish 9, are photographed over the entire peripheral surface. Since the image processing can be performed, not only the effect that the inspection of various items can be performed simultaneously and instantaneously, but also the vegetables and the like to be transferred can be selected almost continuously. According to the image processing system according to the present embodiment,
As shown in an example in FIG. 6, various tests can be simultaneously determined.

FIGS. 6A to 6G show the present embodiment.
9 shows an example of an inspection item serving as a standard for class determination. Figure
6 (a) shows the overall length L, thickness D and area S of vegetables and the like.
FIG. 2B shows the bending (m / l).
(C) shows the silybant (B / A), and FIG.
(D₁/ S₁), (E) shows information from three cameras 11.
Information obtained by calculating information and comparing areas
(D_Two/ S_Two), And FIG. _Three-D_Three) /
s_ThreeIs shown.

The discriminating device section 3 according to the above embodiment is slim because it fits within the dimensions of the transfer conveyor 10 in the width direction, and has the advantage that a plurality of transfer conveyors 10 can be arranged side by side in the device width direction. However, the discriminating device 3 is not limited to such an example.
(A) As shown in (b), the transfer conveyor 10 may be arranged radially around the center.

That is, the discriminating device 3 includes a plurality of sets of cameras 11a, 11b, 11c and the corresponding fluorescent lamps 1 around a transfer conveyor 10 to which the fruit selection tray 9 is connected.
2. An imaging device including a reflection plate 13 and the like are radially arranged. The camera 11a is arranged above the inspection position and can photograph the product 8 from directly above, and the camera 11b is arranged diagonally below and to the right of the inspection position, and can photograph the product 8 from the diagonally lower right side. Further, the camera 11c is disposed diagonally below and to the left of the inspection position, and can photograph the product 8 from the diagonally lower left side.

The discriminating device section 3 includes, as shown in FIG.
Is generally or intermittently transported and inspected. However, as another type, a plurality of stopped products 8 conveyed via a transport conveyor 10 are provided with a photographing device side. A method of moving and sequentially inspecting can also be adopted. FIG. 4 shows an example of the application configuration. As shown in the figure, the discriminating apparatus 3 is of a type in which a camera 11 and a fluorescent lamp 12 are turned around a fruit selection dish 9 on which a product 8 is placed to photograph the entire circumference.

In this type, the work efficiency is reduced, but a set of photographing devices using the camera 11 and the fluorescent lamp 12 may be provided. FIG. 5 shows still another example of the discrimination device unit 3. In this example, a photographing device including cameras 11a and 11b, fluorescent lamps 12a and 12b, and the like is arranged to face the upper and lower surfaces of the transfer conveyor 10, respectively. The information from the two cameras 11a and 11b is calculated (total),
The blur (s ₃ −d ₃ ) / s ₃ shown in (g) is detected.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0025]

As described above in detail with reference to the embodiments, the class classification apparatus of the present invention has the following various effects. Since image processing is performed using images taken from a plurality of sides in image processing, the quality (size, shape, scratches, etc.) of the inspection object (vegetables, etc.) can be inspected over the entire area and instantaneously determined. . Since the object to be inspected can be discriminated continuously or substantially continuously and transferred to the next step, efficient and mass processing can be performed. Since the determination is made mechanically based on the image, there is no variation in the quality criterion, and the reliability of class classification is greatly improved. The present invention can be generally used for various products other than those exemplified in the embodiments. The tank-type alignment device can provide cleaning, sterilization, and freshness preserving effects on the inspection object such as vegetables and fruits. With the water tank type alignment device, dust attached to the inspection object (for example, dust such as petals attached to Nasu) can be removed. Since the object to be inspected is drained by the draining device, it is possible to prevent water drops from dropping from the inspected object to the lens of the lower camera during photographing by the photographing device, and to prevent a decrease in detection accuracy.
Since the object to be inspected is drained by the drainer, it is possible to prevent a water drop from being mistaken as a scratch when viewed with a camera when photographing with the photographing device. In the present invention,
Is a camera and light centered on the selection dish on which the specimen is placed.
By rotating the source, you can take a picture of the inspected object all around.
By doing so, the shooting device consisting of a camera and a light source
You just need to set up the equipment.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a system for classifying vegetables and fruits according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a basic configuration of a discrimination device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an application configuration example of a discrimination device unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an application configuration of a discrimination device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an application configuration example of a discrimination device unit.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an example of an inspection item serving as a criterion for class determination.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a conventional equivalent class determination device.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of a fruit selection dish.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Washing and aligning device part 2 Transfer device part 3 Discrimination device part 4 Control device part 5 Sorting device part 6 Water tank 7 Conveyor 8 Product 9 Sorting dish 10 Endless transfer conveyor 11a, 11b, 11c Camera 12, 12a, 12b Fluorescent lamp 13 reflector

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-2-251281 (JP, A) JP-A 64-35205 (JP, A) JP-A-61-103591 (JP, A) JP-A 8- 66662 (JP, A) JP-A-2-251282 (JP, A)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] The method according to claim 1] with a sequential transfer has been coming distance to the testing position around the predetermined object to be inspected by a conveyor consisting of radially camera and lighting means such as photographing device as the pre-process of the imaging device as well as a pair arranged In a class classification equipment in which a water tank type aligning device and a draining device are arranged , the conveyor is
A large number of fruit selection trays, which are mesh trays on which
Connected to each other, and the photographing device
While turning as a heart, the camera
Classification equipment that is characterized by taking pictures around the circumference . 2. A control device for receiving an image signal sequentially detected by a relative position movement of the inspection object with respect to the photographing device, outputting the signal to a downstream sorting device after image processing, and operating the controller. equal rank determination equipment according to claim 1, wherein.