JP3191627B2 - Non-destructive sugar content measuring device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a non-destructive sugar content measuring device capable of measuring the sugar content of fruits and vegetables such as melons and watermelons one by one in a non-destructive and continuous manner. The present invention relates to an improvement of a non-destructive sugar content measuring device capable of measuring sugar content of fruits and vegetables at high speed and with high accuracy without performing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Since fruits and vegetables are natural products, their quality generally varies among individuals, and the transaction price fluctuates depending on the quality. In addition, since the damaged fruit and vegetables have a reduced commercial value, it is desirable to inspect the quality of the fruits and vegetables nondestructively and individually.

[0003] Conventional quality inspection of fruits and vegetables has relied heavily on manual labor. Recently, however, with the development of sensor technology, distribution technology, computer technology, etc., an automatic inspection device that is advantageous in terms of accuracy and processing speed has been developed. Now being used.

[0004] In such quality inspection, the mechanization of the sugar content measurement of fruits and vegetables including a subjective factor has been delayed, but the nondestructive sugar content measurement of fruits and vegetables using laser light, ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, electromagnetic waves, etc. (See, for example,
JP-A-216265, JP-A-1-235850, JP-A-2-147940, JP-A-4-104
041, JP-A-4-208842, JP-A-5-34281, JP-A-5-172549 and JP-A-6-15236.

[0005] In the nondestructive measurement of the sugar content of fruits and vegetables by an automatic inspection device, a plurality of fruits and vegetables are sequentially transported at appropriate intervals, and each of the fruits and vegetables is measured by a measuring unit provided in the transport path. Laser light from the inside to the inside,
In addition to irradiating light such as ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, and electromagnetic waves, light absorption of sugar emitted from fruits and vegetables is measured, and the degree of sugar content in fruits and vegetables is quantified or ranked based on the obtained data.

[0006] By the way, fruits and vegetables such as melon and watermelon have a thick outer rind and are larger in size than grapes and citrus fruits. For this reason, it is difficult to make the irradiated light penetrate deep into the fruits and vegetables or to obtain detection light of sufficient intensity (that is, light emitted from the fruits and vegetables). If the irradiation light does not penetrate deep into the fruit or vegetable, the average sugar content of one fruit or vegetable cannot be properly obtained, and if the detection light is weak, the measurement accuracy decreases.

[0007] In order to measure the sugar content properly and accurately, a method of increasing the power of irradiation light to the fruits and vegetables can be considered. However, the surface of the fruits and vegetables is burned due to the increased strength, and nondestructive inspection becomes difficult. .

Therefore, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 11, at least a pair of cylinders a and b are pressed against the outer peripheral surface of a fruit or vegetable (melon) M, and light is irradiated on the fruit or vegetable M through the cylinder a. Thus, a method of preventing light leakage and efficiently entering light into the fruits and vegetables M, and causing light emitted from the fruits and vegetables M to be incident on a detector (not shown) via the cylindrical portion b has been studied.

[0009]

By the way, when actually measuring the sugar content of fruits and vegetables using the above-mentioned cylinders a and b,
In order to arrange the cylinders a and b in pressure contact with the fruits and vegetables M being conveyed, it is necessary to move these cylinders a and b in accordance with the conveyance of the fruits and vegetables M. For this reason, it is necessary to incorporate the moving mechanism of these cylindrical bodies a and b into the non-destructive sugar content measuring device, and there is a problem that the structure of the measuring device becomes complicated accordingly.

When measuring the sugar content of fruits and vegetables, it is possible to omit the mechanism for moving the cylindrical portions a and b by incorporating a mechanism for temporarily stopping the transportation of the fruits and vegetables into the apparatus.

However, in such a configuration, there is a problem that the measuring speed is lowered because the mechanism cannot continuously measure the sugar content of the fruits and vegetables.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object thereof is to provide a nondestructive method capable of measuring the sugar content of fruits and vegetables at high speed and with high accuracy without complicating the structure of a measuring device. It is to provide a sugar content measuring device.

[0013]

In other words, the invention according to claim 1 is to transport a plurality of fruits and vegetables sequentially at appropriate intervals, and to a measuring unit provided in the transporting path for each of the fruits and vegetables to the outside. Assuming a non-destructive sugar content measuring device that irradiates light from inside to the inside and measures the sugar content of the fruit and vegetables by measuring the light absorption of the sugar emitted from the fruit and vegetables, the receiving part on which the individual fruits and vegetables are placed A moving table moving on the conveying path, guide means for guiding the moving table along the conveying path, and driving means for moving the moving table, constituting a main part of a conveying system; and The receiving portion is provided with two or more movable table side light passage portions whose one open end is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the fruits and vegetables along the thickness direction and the other open end is exposed outward from the bottom surface side of the movable table. Together with the above movement in the transport path A measurement unit having two or more measurement-side light passage portions, one open end of which is aligned with the open end of the movable stage-side light passage portion, is disposed at a portion facing the bottom surface of the measurement portion. The fruits and vegetables are irradiated with light through the one measurement-side light path section and the movable table-side optical path section that is aligned with the same, and the light emitted from the fruits and vegetables is placed on the other movable table-side optical path section and located there. The detector is made to enter the detector via the aligned measurement-side light path.

According to the non-destructive sugar content measuring device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the movable table side optical path section provided in the receiving section of the movable table on which the fruits and vegetables are placed, and the above described transfer path in the transport path. The fruits and vegetables are illuminated through the measurement-side light passage section of the measurement section arranged at a portion facing the bottom side of the moving table,
The light emitted from the fruits and vegetables is incident on the detector via the other measurement-side light path section of the measurement section, similarly to the other movement-table-side light path section provided in the receiving section of the above-mentioned movement table. Light is prevented from leaking at the time of light detection and at the time of light detection, so that light is efficiently incident on the inside of the fruits and vegetables, and light emitted from the fruits and vegetables can be efficiently incident on the detector. Therefore, it is possible to measure the sugar content of the fruits and vegetables appropriately and accurately without increasing the power of irradiation light to the fruits and vegetables.

[0015] Further, the movable table side optical path corresponding to the above-mentioned conventional cylindrical body is provided in the receiving section of the movable table, so that there is no need to provide a moving mechanism for the cylindrical body that moves in accordance with the transport of fruits and vegetables. Therefore, it is possible to measure the sugar content of fruits and vegetables at high speed and with high accuracy without complicating the structure of the measuring device.

In this non-destructive sugar content measuring device,
An open end on the measuring section side of the movable table side optical path section provided on the receiving section of the movable table moved by the driving means, and an open end on the movable table side of the measuring side optical path section provided on the measuring section; Irradiation timing control means for irradiating light at the time when the positions coincide with each other is required. Such irradiation timing control means includes, for example, a member to be detected provided at an arbitrary position on the moving table, an open end of a moving table side optical path disposed near the measuring section, and a measuring side light. A sensor that detects the member to be detected of the movable table when the position of the open end of the passage matches, a power source that turns on and off a light source as a light irradiation unit based on a detection signal from the sensor, a switching unit, and the like. This can be configured.

Next, regarding the number of the moving-table-side optical path portions and the measuring-side optical path portions provided in the receiving portion and the measuring portion of the moving table, the number of paths for entering light into fruits and vegetables and the number of light paths for emitting light from fruits and vegetables are described. At least two passages are required, but if these three light passages on the carriage side and three measurement light passages are provided, the three open ends of the light passages on the carriage side can support three points of fruits and vegetables. It is possible to transport fruits and vegetables stably because it is possible, and measure sugar content by making one passage for light incident on fruits and vegetables and leaving the remaining two for light emission from fruits and vegetables to two detectors respectively. Accuracy can be further improved. The invention according to claim 2 is made for such a technical reason.

That is, the invention according to claim 2 is based on the non-destructive sugar content measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving section of the moving table is provided with 3 moving-table-side optical path sections, and
The measurement section is provided with three measurement-side light path portions aligned with the open ends of the respective moving-side light path portions, and one measurement-side light path portion and the movable-table side position-aligned therewith. The fruits and vegetables are irradiated with light through the light path portion, and the light emitted from the fruits and vegetables is made incident on the two detectors via the remaining two movable stage side light path portions and the measurement side light path portion aligned with the remaining two light path portions. It is characterized by doing so.

According to the non-destructive sugar content measuring device of the present invention, the fruits and vegetables can be stably transported because the three movable table side light passages can support the fruits and vegetables at three points. Since the light incident on the fruit and vegetables and transmitted through different parts is separately measured by two detectors, it is possible to improve the measurement accuracy of the sugar content more than when measuring with one detector. it can. In other words, since there is a non-uniform distribution of sugar content inside the fruits and vegetables that are natural products, it is better to measure the light transmitted through different parts inside the fruits and vegetables individually to find the average value of the sugar contents, This is because the target sugar content becomes more appropriate.

Further, the invention according to claim 3 relates to a non-destructive sugar content measuring device provided with the movable table side optical path section and four measurement side optical path sections.

That is, a third aspect of the present invention is based on the nondestructive sugar content measuring device according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the receiving portion of the movable base is provided with four movable base side optical paths, and The measurement section is provided with four measurement-side light path sections that are aligned with the open ends of the respective moving-table-side light path sections.
The fruits and vegetables are irradiated with light of the same wavelength via the measurement-side light path portion and the two carriage-side light passage portions that are aligned with the measurement-side light passage portion, and the light emitted from the fruits and vegetables is transmitted to the remaining two carriage sides. The light is incident on the two detectors via the light path and the two measurement-side light paths aligned with the light path.

According to the non-destructive sugar content measuring device of the present invention, light having the same wavelength is made to enter the fruits and vegetables from different directions, and the light transmitted through the different parts inside the fruits and vegetables is reflected by two. , The sugar content of the fruits and vegetables can be measured with higher accuracy than the device according to claim 2.

Further, since the receiving portion of the movable base is provided with four movable base optical paths, the shape of the movable base and the arrangement positions of the four movable optical paths are symmetrical. If it is set appropriately in consideration of the performance, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom of arrangement when a moving table or the like is incorporated in the transport path as compared with the apparatus according to the second aspect.

In the non-destructive sugar content measuring device according to the present invention, the measurement-side light passage portion of the measuring portion disposed below the moving table with respect to the fruits and vegetables placed on the receiving portion of the moving table. Light is radiated through the moving table side light path, and the light emitted from the fruits and vegetables enters the detector provided below the moving table through the other moving table side light path and the measurement side light path. Since the sugar content is then measured, foreign substances such as dust and dirt attached to the fruits and vegetables may fall during the measurement and clog the measurement-side optical path in the measurement section. The invention according to claim 4 avoids such a problem.

That is, a fourth aspect of the present invention is based on the nondestructive sugar content measuring device according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention. A light-transmissive covering member that covers each of the movable-table-side open ends of the side light passage portions; and a cleaning unit that removes foreign matter attached to the member is attached to the light-transmissive covering member. It is a feature.

In the present invention, examples of the light-transmitting covering member include materials such as glass and plastic.
Further, as the cleaning means, for example, the light-transmitting covering member is formed of a rotatable disk-shaped plate material, and the center of rotation is set near the movable-table-side open end of the measurement-side optical path portion, and A cleaning brush is provided such that a brush tip is disposed on the opposite side of the open end of the measurement-side light path portion with respect to the rotation center such that the brush tips contact both surfaces of the light-transmitting covering member. Further, the cleaning means may be constituted by an air blowing means for blowing compressed air to both surfaces of the light transmitting covering member to remove foreign matter.

[0027]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the movable table side optical path provided in the receiving portion of the movable table on which the fruits and vegetables are placed and the portion of the transport path facing the bottom surface of the movable table. The light is radiated to the fruits and vegetables through the measurement-side light passage portion of the arranged measurement unit, and for the emitted light from the fruits and vegetables, the other movement stage-side light passage portions provided in the receiving portion of the moving stage and Similarly, since the light is incident on the detector through the other measurement-side light passage section of the measuring section, light leakage during light irradiation and light detection is prevented, light is efficiently incident inside the fruit and vegetables, and light from the fruit and vegetables is effectively prevented. The emitted light can also be efficiently incident on the detector. Therefore, it is possible to measure the sugar content of the fruits and vegetables appropriately and accurately without increasing the power of irradiation light to the fruits and vegetables. Further, a moving table side optical path portion corresponding to the cylindrical body in the conventional example is provided in the receiving portion of the moving table,
Since there is no need to provide a cylinder moving mechanism for moving the fruits and vegetables in accordance with the transportation of the fruits and vegetables, the sugar content of the fruits and vegetables can be measured at high speed and with high accuracy without complicating the structure of the measuring device.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the three movable table-side light passages enable the fruits and vegetables to be supported at three points, so that the fruits and vegetables can be stably transported and the interior of the fruits and vegetables can be stably transported. Since the light that has entered and transmitted through different parts is separately measured by the two detectors, the measurement accuracy of the sugar content can be further improved as compared with the case where the light is measured by one detector.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, light having the same wavelength is made to enter the fruits and vegetables from different directions, and the light transmitted through different parts inside the fruits and vegetables is detected by the two detectors. , It is possible to measure the sugar content of fruits and vegetables with higher accuracy than the invention according to claim 2. In addition, since the receiving part of the moving base is provided with four moving base-side light passages, the symmetry of the shape of the moving base and the arrangement positions of the four moving base-side light passages are taken into consideration. If it is set appropriately, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom of arrangement when incorporating a moving table or the like in the transport path as compared with the apparatus according to the second aspect.

Next, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a light-transmitting covering member is provided on the surface of the measuring section facing the movable table, each of which covers the movable table-side open end of each measurement-side optical path section. ,
In addition, since the light-transmitting covering member is provided with a cleaning means for removing foreign matter attached to the member,
Even if foreign substances such as dust and dirt attached to the fruits and vegetables fall during the measurement, the light paths on the measurement side in the measurement section are not blocked. Therefore, it is possible to stably measure the sugar content of fruits and vegetables over a long period of time.

[0031]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

[Example 1] A nondestructive sugar content measuring apparatus according to this example is, as shown in Figs.
A plurality of moving tables 1 having a receiving portion 10 on which M is placed, a guide 2 for guiding these moving tables 1 along a transport path, and a drive for moving the moving table 1 at a speed of, for example, 60 cm / sec. A roller conveyor 3 as means, three box-shaped measuring units 4, 5, and 6 arranged at appropriate intervals in the transport path, and fruits and vegetables (melon) on the moving table 1 arranged near each measuring unit A) Fruit / vegetable presence / absence determination unit 7 for determining the presence / absence of M, and mobile unit 1 and measurement units 4, 5, 6 And a light source 3 for irradiating the fruits and vegetables M with light at each of the measuring units 4, 5 and 6.
Semiconductor lasers 91, 92, 93,
The main part of each of the detectors 5 and 6 is configured by a detector (not shown) into which the light emitted from the fruit or vegetable M is incident.

First, the moving table 1 is formed of a rectangular plate as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and a substantially circular receiving portion 10 on which the fruits and vegetables M are placed is provided at a substantially central portion thereof. In addition, the receiving portion 10 has a movement in which one open end is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable M and the other open end is exposed outward from the bottom surface side of the movable base 1 along the thickness direction thereof. The table-side optical passages 12 and 13 are opened, and a ridge 90 provided on the upper surface of the measuring units 4, 5 and 6 is slidably movable substantially at the center of the bottom surface of the movable table 1. A concave groove 14 to be fitted is provided. Further, on both sides of the movable base 1, an engagement roller 15 that engages with the guide 2 is provided, and the detected member 11 is provided between the engagement rollers 15 on one side.

On the other hand, each of the measuring sections 4, 5, and 6 is provided with the above-mentioned convex line 90 at the central portion on the upper surface side, and is aligned with the open end of the moving table side optical path sections 12 and 13 on the measuring section side. The measurement-side light path portions 41 and 42 formed of the two cylindrical bodies are provided, and the laser light from the semiconductor lasers 91, 92 and 93 is transmitted to the open end of one of the measurement-side light path portions 41. (An optical fiber for transmitting the laser beam from the semiconductor laser 91 is disposed at the open end of the measurement-side optical path section 41 of the measurement section 4. In other measurement sections, Similarly, the semiconductor laser 9
An optical fiber for transmitting the laser light from the second or 93 is disposed), and a detector (not shown) is disposed at the open end of the other measurement-side optical path portion. The function of the ridges 90 provided on the upper surface side of the measuring section 4 is as shown in FIG. 2, because the ridges 90 block the gap between the movable table 1 and the measuring section 4. Semiconductor laser 9 passing through section 41
This prevents laser light from entering the measurement-side optical path portion 42 from entering the laser light. For this reason, only the emitted light from the fruits and vegetables M is incident on the detector (not shown) arranged on the open end side of the measurement-side light path section 42, and the leakage light of the laser light from the semiconductor laser 91 is The resulting sugar content measurement error can be avoided.

The above-described fruit / vegetable presence / absence judging device 7 and sensor 8
Is input to the power supply 100 of the semiconductor lasers 91, 92, and 93. When a signal from the fruit / vegetable presence / absence determiner 7 is input and a detection signal from the sensor 8 is input, The power supply 100 is operated to emit laser light from the semiconductor lasers 91, 92, 93. Also, the setting is made so that the power supply 100 is turned off when no signal is input from the fruit or vegetable judging device 7 (that is, when no fruit M is present on the mobile platform 1) or when no detection signal is input from the sensor 8. Have been.

In this non-destructive sugar content measuring device, the power supply 100 is turned on every time the movable table 1 on which the fruits and vegetables M are placed passes the measuring units 4, 5, 6, and 930 nm in the measuring unit 4. The laser light is irradiated for 20 milliseconds, and this laser light is
2, the light emitted from the fruit and vegetable M is emitted from the fruit and vegetable M, and the movable table side optical path 13 and the measurement side optical path 42
, And thereafter, similarly, a 910 nm laser beam is irradiated in the measuring section 5 for 20 ms, a 880 nm laser beam is irradiated in the measuring section 6 for 20 ms, and Light emitted from M is incident on each detector (not shown), and the sugar content of the fruit or vegetable M is measured. Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 3, these measurements are performed in a dark room.

Then, according to the non-destructive sugar content measuring device according to this embodiment, the receiving portion 1 of the movable platform 1 on which the fruits and vegetables M are placed is placed.
0 and the measurement-side optical path portion 41 (measurement-side optical path portion 41) of each of the measurement sections 4, 5, and 6 disposed at a position facing the bottom surface side of the movable table 1 in the transport path. The laser light is applied to the fruits and vegetables M via the measurement-side light passages of the units 5 and 6 (not shown), and the light emitted from the fruits and vegetables M is provided in the receiving unit 10 of the moving table 1. Detectors are provided via other measurement-side light path portions 42 of the measurement portions 4, 5, and 6 (the measurement-side light path portions of the measurement portions 5 and 6 are not shown), like the other moving stage-side light path portions 13. To prevent light leakage during light irradiation and light detection,
The laser light can be efficiently entered into the inside, and the emitted light from the fruits and vegetables M can be efficiently incident on the detector. Therefore, there is an advantage that the sugar content of the fruits and vegetables M can be measured at high speed and with high accuracy without increasing the power of the irradiation light to the fruits and vegetables M and without complicating the structure of the measuring device.

[Embodiment 2] The non-destructive sugar content measuring apparatus according to this embodiment has a structure of the above-mentioned moving table 1 and a moving-table-side light passage provided in a receiving portion 10 as shown in FIGS. And the number of measurement-side light path sections provided in each of the measurement sections 4, 5, and 6 corresponding to the number of movable path-side light path sections from two. It is almost the same as the non-destructive sugar content measuring device according to Example 1 except that the number is changed to three.

First, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the movable base 1 is formed of a rectangular plate, and a circular opening is provided at a substantially central portion thereof, and a cylindrical receiving portion 10 is provided in the opening. The movable base side light passages 16, 17, 18 each having three cylindrical bodies are provided in the cylindrical receiving part 10, and the movable base 1 is provided substantially at the center on the bottom side of the movable base 1. A concave groove 14 is provided to slidably and slidably fit the convex line 90 provided on the upper surface of the measuring sections 4, 5, and 6. In addition, regarding the arrangement relationship of the moving table side light path sections 16, 17, 18, the center point 16 ′, 17 ′ of the open end on the opposite side of the measuring section of each moving table side light path section 16, 17, 18 is used. , 18 ′ are set to be equilateral triangles (ie, the angle indicated by θ in FIG. 4 is 60 degrees). However,
The arrangement relationship of the movable-table-side optical path portions 16, 17, 18 is arbitrary, and the triangle formed by connecting the center points 16 ', 17', 18 'of the open ends does not necessarily have to be an equilateral triangle. For example, it may be set as an isosceles triangle.

Further, the other end of the measurement-side optical path portion 46 in the measuring section 4 in which the open end of the movable-table-side optical path portion 16 and the movable-table-side open end are aligned is provided with the semiconductor laser 91. Optical fiber (not shown) for transmitting laser light
Are arranged, and the remaining two measurement-side light path portions 47 and 4 are provided.
On the open end side of 8, there are arranged two detectors (not shown) to which laser light from the semiconductor laser 91 is irradiated and light separately emitted from fruits and vegetables is incident.

Then, according to the non-destructive sugar content measuring device according to the second embodiment, the three moving-table-side optical path portions 16, 17, 18
Thereby, the three-point support of the fruits and vegetables is made possible, so that there is an advantage that the fruits and vegetables (not shown) can be stably transported.

Further, in this apparatus, the light that has entered the interior of the fruit and vegetable and transmitted through different parts is separately measured by two detectors, so that it is compared with the case of measuring by one detector. This has the advantage that the measurement accuracy of the sugar content is further improved.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing that the sugar content measurement accuracy in this embodiment is excellent. That is,
When arranging the fruits and vegetables (melon) on the receiving part 10 of the moving table 1 with the fruit stalk portion facing upward, as shown in FIG. 11, the vine p of the fruits and vegetables (melon) M is used as a rotation axis and based on an appropriate position as a reference. 0
The angle (degree) and the absorbance when the sugar content of the fruit or vegetable M is measured in a state where the fruits and vegetables are arranged at degrees, 60 degrees, 120 degrees, 180 degrees, 240 degrees, 300 degrees and 360 degrees, respectively, are shown. In the graph of FIG. 6, the data of the detector 1 is the data of the absorbance obtained by the measurement value from the detector (not shown) arranged on the open end side of the measurement-side optical path portion 47, and the data of the detector 2 Is the data of the absorbance obtained by the measurement value from the detector (not shown) arranged on the open end side of the measurement-side optical path portion 48, and the data of Example 2 is the data of the detector 1 It is the data of the absorbance based on the average value with the data of the detector 2.

From the data of Example 2 of this graph, in the nondestructive sugar content measuring device according to Example 2, fruits and vegetables (melon) can be arranged at any angle position with respect to the receiving portion 10 of the moving table 1. It is confirmed that there is little variation in the absorbance data obtained, so that stable measurement of sugar content is possible.

[Embodiment 3] A non-destructive sugar content measuring apparatus according to this embodiment is configured as shown in FIGS. And the number of measurement-side light path sections provided in each of the measurement sections 4, 5, and 6 corresponding to the number of movable path-side light path sections from two is increased from two to four. It is almost the same as the non-destructive sugar content measuring device according to Example 1 except that the number is changed to four.

First, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the movable base 1 is made of a rectangular plate, and a square opening is provided at a substantially central portion thereof. Part 10
Is fitted, and one open end of the dish-shaped receiving portion 10 is provided along the thickness direction thereof with fruits and vegetables (not shown).
And the other open end is exposed to the outside from the bottom surface side of the movable base 1 and the movable base side optical path portion 16, 17, 1
8 and 19 are provided, and a concave groove 14 for slidably fitting a convex groove 90 provided on the upper surface of the measuring section 4, 5 or 6 approximately at the center of the bottom surface side of the movable base 1. Is provided. Incidentally, the four carriage-side optical passages 16, 17, 18, and 19 provided in the dish-shaped receiving portion 10 are symmetrical to each other as shown in FIG. 9A (that is, each carriage-side light path). A square formed by connecting the center points of the open ends of the passages is a regular square), and a concave portion provided on the bottom surface of the movable base 1 is provided at a substantially central portion on the bottom side of the receiving portion 10. Article 14
9 are aligned with each other in FIG.
As shown in (B), they are formed to cross each other,
Thus, when the receiving portion 10 is fitted into the opening of the movable base 1, the receiving portion 10 is set at an appropriate position regardless of whether the receiving portion 10 is fitted in any direction from front to rear and right and left.

Further, the other open ends of the measurement side light passage portions 46 and 47 in the measuring section 4 in which the open ends of the movable stage side light passage portions 16 and 17 and the movable stage side open end are aligned. Optical fibers (not shown) for transmitting the laser light from the semiconductor laser 91 are arranged, and the laser light from the semiconductor laser 91 is provided on the open ends of the remaining two measurement-side optical paths 48 and 49. Two detectors (not shown) are provided, each of which is irradiated with light emitted separately from fruits and vegetables.

According to the nondestructive sugar content measuring device according to the third embodiment, light having the same wavelength is made to enter the fruits and vegetables from different directions and transmitted through different parts inside the fruits and vegetables. Are separately measured by the two detectors, and therefore, there is an advantage that the sugar content of the fruits and vegetables can be measured with higher accuracy than the non-destructive sugar content measuring devices according to the first and second embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing that the sugar content measurement accuracy in this example is excellent. That is,
When arranging the fruits and vegetables (melon) in the receiving part 10 of the moving table 1 with their stalks facing upward, the vine of the fruits and vegetables (melon) is used as a rotation axis, and the angle between 0 degrees and 360 degrees is appropriately determined with reference to the location. 30
The angle (degree) and the above-mentioned sugar content (degree Brix) when the sugar content of the fruits and vegetables are measured in a state where the sugar content is arranged at the intervals of the degrees are shown. And, in the graph of FIG.
Data when using the non-destructive sugar content measuring device according to the present invention (that is, one incident light-one emissive device), and □ indicate data when using the non-destructive sugar content measuring device according to Example 2 (that is, one incident light-emission 2). ) And △ are data (ie, two incidents−two outgoings) when the nondestructive sugar content measuring device according to this embodiment is used.
) Respectively.

From the data of Example 3 in this graph, in the non-destructive sugar content measuring device according to Example 3, fruits and vegetables (melon) can be arranged at any angle position with respect to the receiving portion 10 of the moving table 1. The obtained sugar content (degree Brix) data has little variation (± 0.3 degree Brix or less).
It is confirmed that a more stable measurement of the sugar content is possible as compared with the case where the non-destructive sugar content measuring devices according to Example 1 and Example 2 are used.

Further, in the nondestructive sugar content measuring apparatus according to this embodiment, as described above, the four movable table side optical passages 16, 17, 18, and 19 provided in the dish-shaped receiving portion 10 are shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1A, the movable table 1 is set to be symmetrical with each other, and is substantially at the center on the bottom side of the receiving section 10.
Since the two recesses 14 ′ and 14 ″ that are aligned with the recesses 14 provided on the bottom surface of the moving table 1 are formed so as to cross each other as shown in FIG. When the receiving part 10 is fitted, it is set at an appropriate position regardless of whether the receiving part 10 is fitted in any of the front, rear, left and right directions.

Accordingly, there is an advantage that the degree of freedom in the arrangement of the dish-shaped receiving portions 10 on the movable table 1 in the transport path is increased.

[Embodiment 4] The nondestructive sugar content measuring apparatus according to this embodiment is provided on the surface of each of the measuring units 4, 5, and 6 facing the moving table 1 as shown in FIGS. 10 (A) and 10 (B). , Made of a disc-shaped transparent plastic material, the center of which is rotatably supported, and the measuring-side light passages 41 and 42 of the measuring units 4, 5 and 6 (the measuring-side light passages of the measuring units 5 and 6). Parts are not shown), two light-transmitting covering members 201 and 202 respectively covering the movable table side open ends, and a measurement-side light passage portion around the rotation center of the light-transmitting covering members 201 and 202. Except that cleaning brushes 203 and 204 are provided at positions opposite to the open ends in 41 and 42 to remove foreign substances adhering to the surfaces of the respective light-transmitting covering members 201 and 202, It is almost the same as a broken sugar measurement device.

According to the non-destructive sugar content measuring device according to the fourth embodiment, the light-transmitting covering members 201 and 202 are provided.
And the cleaning brushes 203 and 204 do not clog the measurement-side optical passages in the measuring units 4, 5, and 6 even if foreign substances such as dust and dirt attached to the fruits and vegetables fall during the measurement. This has the advantage that the sugar content of fruits and vegetables can be measured stably over a long period of time.

In the non-destructive sugar content measuring devices according to the first to fourth embodiments, each of the movable side optical path sections provided in the receiving section 10 of the movable base 1 and the measuring sections 4, 5, and 6 are provided. The measurement-side optical path portions are obliquely arranged (that is, the receiving portion 10
Are arranged obliquely so that the directions of the light passage portions approach each other toward the center of the light receiving portion 10. However, even if the directions of these light passage portions are set to be substantially perpendicular to the receiving portion 10. Good. However, in the case of such an arrangement, the foreign matter such as dirt and dust attached to the fruits and vegetables easily falls directly on the detector or the end face of the optical fiber transmitting the laser beam.
It is desirable to provide the light transmitting covering members 201 and 202 and the cleaning brushes 203 and 204 according to the above.

[0056]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to measure the sugar content of fruits and vegetables appropriately and accurately without increasing the power of irradiation light to the fruits and vegetables. In addition, the moving table side light path corresponding to the cylindrical body in the conventional example is provided in the receiving section of the moving table, and there is no need to provide a moving mechanism of the cylindrical body that moves in accordance with the transport of the fruits and vegetables.
This has the effect of measuring the sugar content of fruits and vegetables at high speed and with high accuracy without complicating the structure of the measuring device.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the three light-transmitting-portion side light passage portions can support the fruits and vegetables at three points, so that the fruits and vegetables can be stably transported, and the interior of the fruits and vegetables can be stably transported. Since the light that has been incident on and transmitted through different parts is separately measured by the two detectors, there is an effect that the measurement accuracy of the sugar content can be further improved as compared with the case where the light is measured by one detector.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, light having the same wavelength is made to enter the fruits and vegetables from different directions, and the light transmitted through different parts inside the fruits and vegetables is detected by the two detectors. , It is possible to measure the sugar content of fruits and vegetables with higher accuracy than the invention according to claim 2. In addition, since the receiving part of the moving base is provided with four moving base-side light passages, the symmetry of the shape of the moving base and the arrangement positions of the four moving base-side light passages are taken into consideration. In this case, the degree of freedom in arranging a movable table or the like in the transport path can be increased.

Next, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a light-transmitting covering member is provided on the surface of the measuring section facing the movable table, each covering the movable table-side open end of each measurement-side optical path section. ,
In addition, since the light-transmitting covering member is provided with a cleaning means for removing foreign matter attached to the member,
Even if foreign matter such as dust and dirt attached to the fruits and vegetables falls during the measurement, the light passages on the measurement side in the measurement section are not blocked.

Therefore, there is an effect that the sugar content of fruits and vegetables can be measured stably over a long period of time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of a nondestructive sugar content measuring device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a moving table and a measuring unit in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of the nondestructive sugar content measuring device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a receiving portion of the nondestructive sugar content measuring device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a main part of a nondestructive sugar content measuring device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between the arrangement angle (degree) of a fruit and vegetable with respect to a receiving portion and the absorbance when the sugar content of a fruit and vegetable (melon) is measured using the nondestructive sugar content measuring device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing a relationship between an arrangement angle (degree) of a fruit and vegetable with respect to a receiving part and a sugar content (degree Brix) when a sugar content of a fruit and vegetable (melon) is measured using the nondestructive sugar content measuring device according to the third embodiment. FIG.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a main part of a nondestructive sugar content measuring device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 9A is a plan view of a receiving part of the nondestructive sugar content measuring device according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 9B is a schematic bottom perspective view of the receiving part.

FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view of a moving table and a measuring unit of a nondestructive sugar content measuring device according to a fourth embodiment, and FIG. 10B is a schematic perspective view of a light-transmitting covering member and a cleaning brush.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the principle of a conventional nondestructive sugar content measurement method for fruits and vegetables.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Moving stand 2 Guide (guide means) 3 Roller conveyor (driving means) 4 Measuring part 10 Receiving part 12 Moving stand side light path part 13 Moving stand side light path part 41 Measurement side light path part 42 Measurement side light path part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Toshiki Kishimoto 5-11-3 Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. Technology Headquarters (56) References JP-A-9-236543 (JP, A) JP-A-9-43142 (JP, A) JP-A-7-253397 (JP, A) JP-A-6-288903 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model Application Sho 63-84559 (JP, U) (58) (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01N 21/00-21/61 G01N 21/84-21/958 ESPACENET

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of fruits and vegetables are sequentially conveyed at appropriate intervals, and a measuring unit provided in a conveying path irradiates light from the outside to the inside of each of the fruits and vegetables and emits the fruits and vegetables from the fruits and vegetables. In a non-destructive sugar content measuring device for measuring the sugar content of fruits and vegetables by light absorption measurement of the sugar of light, a moving table having a receiving portion on which individual fruits and vegetables are placed and moving on the transport path, and the moving table A main part of the transport system is constituted by guide means for guiding along the transport path and drive means for moving the movable table, and one open end of the receiving section of the movable table along its thickness direction. At least two movable-table-side optical paths are provided in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the fruits and vegetables and the other open end is exposed outward from the bottom surface of the movable platform, and a portion of the transport path facing the bottom surface of the movable platform. One open end moves above A measuring section having at least two measuring-side optical path sections aligned with the open end of the table-side optical path section, and one measuring-side optical path section and the movement aligned with the measuring section in the measuring section; Light is radiated to the fruits and vegetables through the table-side light path, and the light emitted from the fruits and vegetables is made to enter the detector via the other movable table-side light path and the measurement-side light path aligned with the position. A non-destructive sugar content measuring device, characterized in that: 2. The receiving part of the moving base is provided with three moving-side light paths, and the measuring part is provided with three measuring-side lights aligned with the open ends of the moving-side light paths. A light path is provided, and light is radiated to the fruits and vegetables through one measurement-side light path and the movable-table-side light path aligned with the light-transmitting part. 2. The non-destructive sugar content measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the light is incident on the two detectors via the side light passage and the measurement side light passage aligned with the side light passage. 3. A light receiving portion of the moving base, wherein four moving side light passage portions are provided, and the measuring portion has four measuring side light beams aligned with the open ends of the respective moving side light passage portions. A light path of the same wavelength is radiated to the fruits and vegetables via the two measurement-side light paths and the two movable-table-side light paths aligned with the paths, and the light is emitted from the fruits and vegetables. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reflected light is incident on the two detectors via the remaining two moving-side optical paths and the two measuring-side optical paths aligned with the remaining two paths. Non-destructive sugar content measuring device. 4. A light-transmissive covering member for covering the movable-table-side open end of each measurement-side optical path portion is provided on a surface of the measuring section facing the moving table, and the light-transmissive covering member is provided on the light-transmissive covering member. The nondestructive sugar content measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a cleaning means for removing foreign matter attached to the member.