JP3401590B2 - Food and beverage identification 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 food and drink identifying apparatus for identifying food and drink provided using a plurality of transport media placed on an endless track transport path, for example, placed on a carousel conveyor. The present invention relates to a sushi identification device for identifying sushi provided using a sushi plate.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional sushi identification device is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-
There is a device described in Japanese Patent No. 238157. This sushi identification device operated as follows. First, before adding sushi to the carousel conveyor, read the bar code printed on the sticker on the bottom side of the sushi plate, enter the identification number of the sushi plate into the computer, and place it on the sushi plate. I was manually inputting the type of sushi on the computer. Next, the bar code of the sushi plate was read by the readers installed on the downstream side and the upstream side of the kitchen area of the rotary sushi conveyor, and the type and quantity of sushi in the audience area of the rotary sushi conveyor were managed.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned sushi identification device, it is necessary to attach a sticker with a bar code printed on each sushi plate, and if the sushi plate is used for a long period of time, the sticker will partly peel off and stick to the seal. There was a problem that it was not hygienic because the space between the dish and the sushi plate could not be washed sufficiently.

Further, since the bar code pattern is very accurate, if the bar code is directly printed on the sushi plate, the unit price of the sushi plate becomes high or rice grains or the like adhere to the surface of the bar code. However, there was also a problem that the barcode could not be read accurately and it lacked reliability.

An object of the present invention is to provide a hygienic and highly reliable low-cost food / drink identifying apparatus by directly identifying food / drink on a carrier medium.

[0006]

A food and drink conveying device of the present invention is a food and drink identifying device for identifying food and drink provided using a plurality of carrier media placed on an endless track conveying path, A photographing means for photographing an image of food and drink placed on each carrier medium including the carrier medium, and a food and drink in an area corresponding to the food and drink from the image of the carrier medium containing the food and drink photographed by the photographing means. Area extraction means for extracting the food image data, and food / drink identification means for identifying food / drink on each carrier medium based on the food / beverage image data are provided.

With the above arrangement, since the food and drink image data corresponding directly to the food and drink can be used to directly identify the food and drink on each carrier medium, the food and drink can be identified with high reliability. At the same time, it is not necessary to use a sticker on which a barcode or the like is printed, the transport medium can be sufficiently washed and kept hygienic, and a commonly used transport medium can be used as it is. Is also advantageous.

Further, the food and drink identifying means sets a color classification means for classifying the food and drink image data into predetermined color information, and color information classified by the color classification means is preset for each food and drink. It is preferable to include a comparison / determination unit that compares the set value set therein to determine the food or drink on each of the conveyance media. In this case, since the food and drink can be identified from the plurality of color information, the food and drink can be identified more accurately.

Further, the food and drink identifying device includes position detecting means for detecting the position of the food and drink with respect to each carrier medium based on the image of the carrier medium containing the food and drink photographed by the photographing means, and the position detecting means. It is preferable to further include a transport medium identification unit that identifies each transport medium based on the position of the food or drink detected by. In this case, it is possible to directly identify each transport medium on the endless track transport path by the position of the food or drink on the track without using different printed labels such as barcodes. Even then, each carrier medium can be identified.

Further, it is preferable that the position detecting means detects the position of the food or drink with respect to each carrier medium by using a predetermined identification pattern on the carrier medium protruding from the area of the food or drink. In this case, the position of the food or drink with respect to the transport medium can be detected more accurately and easily from the identification pattern.

Further, the photographing means is fixed at a predetermined position of the endless track conveyance path, and the number of revolutions for detecting the number of revolutions of each conveyance medium on the endless track conveyance path based on the identification result by the conveyance medium identification means. It is preferable to further include a detection unit and a notification unit that notifies that the number of laps detected by the lap count detection unit has exceeded a predetermined number. In this case, since it is notified that the number of turns of the food and drink on the endless track transportation path has exceeded the predetermined number, it is possible to easily remove unnecessary foods and drinks from the endless track transportation path that have become less fresh.

[0012] Further, it is preferable to further include a presenting means for presenting information on the food and drink placed on each carrier medium on the endless track conveying path based on the identification result by the food and drink identifying means. In this case, it is possible to easily understand the type and quantity of food and drinks on the endless track transportation path from the presented food and drink information, and to select foods and drinks that are suitable for the taste of customers to whom the food and drinks are provided. Can be provided.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a food and drink identifying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, as a preferred food or drink to which the present invention is applied, a sushi provided using a sushi plate placed on a carousel sushi conveyor will be described as an example, but the present invention is for identifying sushi. The invention is not particularly limited, and can be similarly applied to other foods and drinks such as fruits and ice creams provided by a conveyor belt sushi conveyor, and also to other foods and drinks such as dim sum other than conveyor belt sushi. can do.

As shown in FIG. 1, the food / drink identifying device includes photographing units 1a and 1b, an image processing unit 2, a display unit 3, and a movement amount detection unit 4. The image processing unit 2 includes an area extraction unit 21, a food / drink identification unit 22, a position detection unit 23, a conveyance medium identification unit 24,
The number of turns detection unit 25 is provided. The food / drink identification unit 22 includes a color classification unit 221 and a comparison determination unit 222.

The photographing units 1a and 1b are composed of a video camera, a digital camera or the like, and are connected to the area extracting unit 21 of the image processing unit 2. The photographing units 1a and 1b photograph a sushi plate (including sushi on the sushi plate, that is, sushi material) placed on a carousel conveyor, convert the photographed image data into image data in a TIFF file format, and create an area. Output to the extraction unit 21.

The area extracting section 21 is connected to the food and drink identifying section 22 and the position detecting section 23. The area extraction unit 21 converts the input image data in the TIFF file format into the image data in the RAW file format and performs the differentiation process to create an edge image. In addition, the area extraction unit 21
The outline of the sushi plate is extracted from the created edge image, and the center coordinates of the sushi plate are calculated from the extracted outline of the sushi plate. Further, the area extraction unit 21 determines the sushi item area based on the center coordinates of the sushi plate, outputs the image data in the sushi item area to the food item identification unit 22 as food item image data, and also outputs the sushi item area. Position information of the sushi plate and the outline information of the sushi plate
Output to 3.

The food and drink identifying section 22 is connected to the display section 3. The color classification unit 221 of the food / drink identification unit 22 classifies the food / drink image data corresponding to the input sushi material into three primary colors of R, G, and B, and separates the R image data, the G image data, and the B image data, respectively. Output to the comparison / determination unit 222. The comparison / determination unit 222 compares the input R image data, G image data, and B image data with predetermined threshold ranges to identify sushi material, that is, sushi, and identifies the identified sushi material identification information. Output to the display unit 3.

The position detecting section 23 is connected to the conveying medium identifying section 24. The position detecting unit 23 detects the position of the sushi material with respect to the sushi plate from the input position information of the sushi material region and the position information of the outline of the sushi plate, and the detected position information is used as the sushi plate position information to identify the transport medium identifying unit 24. Output to.

The conveying medium identifying section 24 is a circulation number detecting section 25.
Connected to. The carrier medium identification unit 24 compares the input sushi plate position information with the sushi plate position information that has already been stored,
When the two are the same, it is determined that they are the same sushi plate, and when they are different, it is determined that they are different sushi plates, and the result is output to the number-of-laps detecting unit 25 as sushi plate identification information.

The movement amount detecting section 4 is composed of a rotary encoder or the like, and is connected to the number of turns detecting section 25. The movement amount detection unit 4 detects the movement amount of the rotary sushi conveyor and outputs the movement amount information to the number-of-laps detection unit 25. The number-of-laps detection unit 25 includes a clock unit that measures time and time, and is connected to the display unit 3. The lap number detecting unit 25 detects the lap number of each sushi plate identified as the same from the input sushi plate identifying information and the movement amount information, and displays the lap number information of each sushi plate.
Output to. The display unit 3 is composed of a display such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display device, and displays a predetermined display screen based on the sushi item identification information and the lap number information that are input.

Each unit of the image processing unit 2 may be composed of dedicated hardware as described above, or may be composed of a microprocessor, a ROM, a RAM, etc., as long as the above functions can be achieved. The above function may be achieved by executing predetermined software by the computer described above, or the hardware and software corresponding to each unit may be mixed. Further, in consideration of the case where the food and drink cannot be identified and the carrier medium cannot be identified at the same time, the carrier medium identifying unit 24 outputs the sushi plate identifying information to the food and drink identifying unit 22 so as to be associated with the sushi plate identifying information. The sushi item identification information may be output from the food and drink identifying unit 22 to the display unit 3.

Next, the installation state of the food and drink identifying device on the carousel conveyor will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the food and drink identifying device is installed on a rotary sushi conveyor.

As shown in FIG. 2, the photographing unit 1a is arranged at the downstream end of the kitchen area of the carousel sushi conveyor C which moves in the clockwise direction, photographs the sushi and sushi plate conveyed to the audience area, and photographs them. The part 1b is arranged at the upstream end of the kitchen area, and photographs the sushi and sushi plate that have returned from the audience area.
Further, the display unit 3 is arranged at a position where the worker can easily see it on the kitchen area side, displays a predetermined display screen, and informs the worker of the information about the sushi being conveyed to the audience area by the carousel conveyor C. Further, the movement amount detection unit 4 is arranged near the rotary sushi conveyor C in the kitchen area, detects the movement amount of the rotary sushi conveyor C, and the image processing unit 2 is appropriately arranged below the rotary sushi conveyor C. . In addition, the imaging unit 1
In order to obtain a clearer image at the time of shooting in a and 1b, the sushi and the sushi plate may be ring-illuminated using a high-frequency fluorescent lamp or the like. Further, the number of the image capturing units installed is not particularly limited to the above two units, and the food and drink may be identified using the image captured by one image capturing unit, or a plurality of image capturing units may be installed. Then, food and drink may be identified in real time.

Next, the overall operation of the food and drink identifying apparatus having the above-mentioned structure will be described. FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the overall operation of the food and drink identifying apparatus shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, first, in step S1, a sushi item to be conveyed by a rotary sushi conveyor is set from a predetermined sample, and a threshold of R image data corresponding to each set sushi item is set. The value range, the threshold range of G image data, and the threshold range of B image data are stored in advance in the comparison / determination unit 222. The above setting can be performed by a setting unit (not shown) including a keyboard, a predetermined selection switch, or the like, but if all the settings have been performed in advance, the above process is not necessary. .
In addition, when using multiple rotary sushi conveyors connected to each other to cope with busy times or when it is out of service, or when only a part of them is used, set the number of rotary sushi conveyors to be used and set this value. The length of the carousel conveyor may be determined based on the above.

Next, in step S2, the sushi and the sushi plate conveyed from the kitchen area to the passenger seat area are identified, the sushi plate position is detected, and the departure time is detected.
First, as a sushi item identification process, sushi and sushi plate are photographed by the photographing unit 1a, the image data of the sushi item area extracted by the area extraction unit 21 is classified by the color classification unit 221, and the comparison determination unit 2 is executed.
22 is sequentially compared with a plurality of threshold ranges stored in 22. As a result, when each classified image data falls within a predetermined threshold range, it is identified as sushi material corresponding to the threshold range. Next, as the sushi plate position detection processing, the region extraction unit 21 detects the position information of the sushi neta region and the position information of the outline of the sushi plate from the image data of the sushi and the sushi plate photographed by the photographing unit 1a. The position detecting unit 23 detects the position of the sushi with respect to the sushi plate, and the conveying medium identifying unit 2
4 records this sushi plate position information as information for a new sushi. Next, as the departure time measurement processing, the circulation number detection unit 25 stores the time when the sushi plate identification information indicating that the sushi is a new sushi is output from the transport medium identification unit 24 as the departure time.

Next, in step S3, the sushi and the sushi plate returned from the passenger seat area to the kitchen area are identified in the same manner as above, the sushi material is identified, the sushi plate position is detected, and the return time is detected. First, as a sushi item identification process, the imaging unit 1
The sushi and sushi plate are photographed by b, and the image data of the sushi neta area extracted by the area extraction unit 21 is classified by the color classification unit 221.
The plurality of threshold ranges stored by the comparison determination unit 222 are sequentially compared. As a result, when each classified image data falls within a predetermined threshold range, it is identified as sushi material corresponding to the threshold range. Next, as the sushi plate position detection processing, the region extraction unit 21 detects the position information of the sushi neta region and the position information of the outline of the sushi plate from the image data of the sushi and the sushi plate photographed by the photographing unit 1b. The position detecting unit 23 detects the position of the sushi with respect to the sushi plate, and the transport medium identifying unit 24 compares the sushi plate with the sushi plate position information stored in step S2 to identify the sushi plate. Next, as the return time measurement process, the number-of-circulations detection unit 25 determines the conveyance medium identification unit 2
The time when the sushi plate identification information indicating that the sushi is already stored is output from step 4 is stored as the return time.

Next, in step S4, the number of laps is detected and the monitor screen is displayed on the returned sushi and sushi plate based on the above processing result. First, as the number-of-laps detection process, the number-of-laps detection unit 25 determines the movement amount of the rotary sushi conveyor detected by the movement amount detection unit 4 as a predetermined time with the elapsed time from the departure time to the return time of each sushi. The number of laps of each sushi in the above elapsed time is detected from the total length of the rotating sushi conveyor. Next, from the above detection results,
A predetermined monitor screen is displayed on the display unit 3. Then, the process returns to step S2 and the above process is repeated.

As the monitor screen, for example, there are monitor screens shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the monitor screen shown in FIG.
It is a screen that displays sushi that has exceeded the preset number of turns for each sushi item, and the monitor screen shown in FIG. 5 is a screen that displays the sushi that is currently being conveyed on the rotary sushi conveyor. Therefore, the operator can easily know that the squid and the tuna have exceeded the expiration date and should be discarded from the monitor screen shown in FIG. 4, and can always easily provide fresh sushi. In addition, from the monitor screen shown in FIG.
You can see at a glance which sushi is currently offered, such as dishes, 12 dishes of hamachi, etc., for example, how much you should add with one dish, and always easily provide sushi with the correct type and quantity. You can In the above description, the display unit 3 displays a predetermined monitor screen to inform the worker of the sushi information currently provided, but the presentation of the sushi information is not limited to this. For example, a speaker may notify by voice, or a warning light may notify by light and sound.

Next, the area extracting section 21 and the food and drink identifying section 2
The sushi item identification process performed in 2 will be described in detail. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the sushi item identification process.

As shown in FIG. 6, first, in step S11.
At, the area extracting unit 21 converts the image data in the TIFF file format input from the image capturing unit 1a into the RAW file format and temporarily stores it. It should be noted that each format of the image file is not particularly limited to the above example, and various modifications can be made according to the file format or the like supported by the photographing unit.

Next, in step S12, the converted RAW file format image data is opened, the differential value at each pixel of the image data is obtained, and an edge image corresponding to the edge of each object in the image is created. Next, in step S13, the outline of the sushi plate is extracted from the created edge image. Usually, the outer periphery of the sushi plate has a circular shape, and for example, the contour of the sushi plate can be easily extracted by searching the edge image for a circular shape having a predetermined size by pattern matching. Next, in step S14, the center coordinates of the sushi plate are calculated from the contours of the extracted sushi plate. Next, in step S15, the area extracting unit 21
Assumes that there is sushi material in the center of the sushi plate from the calculated center coordinates of the sushi plate, and considers the size of the normal sushi material and identifies the area of the sushi material from the edge image. Is determined as the sushi neta area, and the image data of the sushi neta area is output to the food / drink identifying unit 22.

Next, in step S16, the color classification unit 221 of the food / drink identification unit 22 separates the image data of the sushi item area into the three primary colors of RGB, and the brightness of each of the separated RGB image data is, for example, It is classified into 256 gradations. Next, in step S17, the number of pixels for each luminance is counted, and each histogram is created with the number of pixels on the vertical axis and the luminance value on the horizontal axis. Next, in step S18, the luminance value having the largest number of pixels from each of the created RGB histograms is output to the comparison and determination unit 222 as the maximum luminance value of the sushi material. Next, in step S19, the comparison determination unit 222 sequentially compares the maximum luminance value of each RGB image data with the threshold value range of each sushi item set in the comparison determination unit 222 in step S1. As a result,
When the maximum brightness values of all RGB are within the respective threshold ranges, the taken sushi material is determined to be the sushi material corresponding to the threshold value, and the sushi material is identified.

7 to 9 are graphs showing an example of the measurement results showing the relationship between each luminance and the number of pixels of the image data corresponding to each sushi item, and FIG. 7 shows an example of a green shrimp. 8 shows an example of Anago, and FIG. 9 shows an example of Hamachi. For example, in the case of the shrimp shown in FIG. 7, the maximum brightness value of the R image data is 212, the maximum brightness value of the G image data is 189, and the maximum brightness value of the B image data is 145. Therefore, as the threshold range of the R image data for identifying the prawn is 20
0 to 225, the threshold value range of G image data is 18
0 to 200, the threshold value range of B image data is 14
By setting 0 to 155, it is possible to determine that the sushi material having the maximum luminance value shown in FIG. Even in the case of the eel and the yellowtail shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, it is possible to determine the eel or the yellowtail by setting a predetermined threshold range in the same manner as above, and various foods and drinks can be determined by the above-mentioned identification processing. Can be determined with high accuracy.

In the above description, the image data of the sushi neta area was separated into the three primary colors of RGB to classify the image data, but the color classification method for identifying food and drink is as follows:
The method is not particularly limited to the above examples, and various methods can be used depending on the food or drink to be identified, for example, the brightness and the hue are separated from the image data, and the food or drink is identified from the correlation between the two. Alternatively, the identification may be performed based on the correlation between saturation and hue, the correlation between lightness and saturation, or the like.

Next, the area extracting unit 21 and the position detecting unit 23
Another example of the processing for detecting the sushi plate position performed in 1 will be described in detail. FIG. 10 is a plan view of a sushi plate for explaining another example of the sushi plate position detection process. FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a state in which sushi is placed on the sushi plate shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 10, the sushi plate 51 has a cross pattern composed of two straight lines 52 and 53 which are orthogonal to each other. When the sushi 55 is placed in the center of the sushi plate 51, both ends of the two straight lines 52 and 53 protrude outside the area of the sushi 55, and the four straight lines 52a, 52c and 53, as shown in FIG.
You can see b and 53d. Therefore, these straight lines 52a, 5
Since 2c, 53b, and 53d clearly appear in the edge image created in step S12 described above, by tracing on these straight lines, each distance A from the outer circumference of the sushi net 55 to the outer circumference of the sushi plate 51, B, C, and D can be measured more accurately. The identification pattern used in the sushi plate position detection process is not particularly limited to the above-mentioned cross pattern, and various patterns such as one straight line pattern crossing the plate and one or more circular patterns are used. If the pattern can be seen outside the sushi material area, it can be used similarly. Further, in each of the above-described examples, a sushi plate that is a carrier medium has been described using a disc shape, but the carrier medium to which the present invention is applicable is not particularly limited to a disc shape, such as a quadrangle and a triangle. Other shapes can be used as long as the contour of the carrier medium can be detected.

Next, a food / drink identifying apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 12: is a figure which shows the installation state in the rotary sushi conveyor of the food / beverage identification apparatus of other embodiment of this invention. The food and drink identifying apparatus shown in FIG. 12 and FIG.
And the difference from the food and drink identifying apparatus shown in FIG. 2 is that a plurality of sensor units 5a to 5f are further provided in the seat area, and the other points are different from the food and drink identifying apparatus shown in FIGS. Since they are similar, only different points will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 12, sensor units 5a to 5f composed of photoelectric sensors and the like are embedded at predetermined intervals on the rotary sushi conveyor C on the passenger seat area side, and are connected to the number-of-laps detecting unit 25 of the image processing unit 2. It The number-of-laps detecting unit 25 calculates the moving speed of the rotary sushi conveyor C from the moving amount of the rotary sushi conveyor C detected by the moving amount detecting unit 4 and the predetermined total length of the rotary sushi conveyor C, and step S2
The arrival time of the sushi plate to each of the sensor units 5a to 5f is obtained from the moving speed with reference to the departure time set in (4). Each of the sensor units 5a to 5f detects the presence or absence of the sushi plate on the rotary sushi conveyor at that time in accordance with the determined arrival time, and outputs the detection result to the number-of-laps detecting unit 25. As a result, the number-of-laps detecting unit 25 can more finely detect the presence or absence of the sushi plate, and the display unit 3 can notify the type and quantity of the sushi on the carousel conveyor in real time. The number of sensor units is not particularly limited to the above example, and various numbers can be adopted according to the number of seats, etc.
The greater the number, the more real-time the situation of food and drink can be detected. Further, the above sensor unit may be provided in place of the image capturing unit 1b, the food and drink may be identified by only one image capturing unit, and the presence or absence of food and drink may be detected by the remaining sensor units.

[0040]

According to the present invention, since the food and drink on each carrier medium can be identified by using the image data of the area corresponding to the food and drink, it is possible to directly identify the food and drink on the carrier medium. Therefore, it is possible to provide a low cost food and drink identifying device that is hygienic and highly reliable.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a food and drink identifying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state where the food and drink identifying device shown in FIG. 1 is installed on a carousel conveyor.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the overall operation of the food / drink identifying apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a monitor screen displaying sushi which has exceeded the preset number of laps for each sushi item.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a monitor screen that displays sushi that is currently being conveyed on a rotary sushi conveyor.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a sushi item identification process.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing an example of a measurement result showing a relationship between each luminance and the number of pixels of image data corresponding to a lobster.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing an example of a measurement result showing a relationship between each luminance and the number of pixels of image data corresponding to an eel.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing an example of measurement results showing the relationship between each luminance and the number of pixels of image data corresponding to Hamachi.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a sushi plate for explaining another example of the sushi plate position detection process.

11 is a plan view showing a state in which sushi is placed on the sushi plate shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a view showing a state in which a food and drink identifying apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention is installed on a rotary sushi conveyor.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a, 1b Imaging unit 2 Image data processing unit 3 Display 4 Moving amount detector 5a to 5f Sensor unit 21 Area Extraction Unit 22 Position detector 23 Food and drink identification section 24 Transport medium identification unit 25 laps detector 221 color classification section 222 Comparison judgment unit

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-9-201267 (JP, A) JP-A-6-28368 (JP, A) JP-A-8-238157 (JP, A) JP-A-8- 335236 (JP, A) JP-A-9-185717 (JP, A) JP-A-6-176268 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A47G 23 / 08-23 / 10 G06T 1 / 00,7 / 00

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A food and drink identifying device for identifying food and drink provided by using a plurality of carrier media placed on an endless track carrier path, the image of the food and drink placed on each carrier media. And a region extracting unit for extracting food and drink image data in the region corresponding to the food and drink from the image of the carrier medium including the food and drink taken by the imaging unit, and the food and drink. Food and drink identifying means for identifying food and drink on each carrier based on the food image data , wherein the food and drink identifying means is a color classification for classifying the food and drink image data into predetermined color information.
Means and the color information classified by the color classification means for each food and drink
Compared with the preset value,
A food / drink identifying device comprising: a comparison / determination unit for determining food / drink . 2. The color classification means is the food and drink image data.
Data is separated into the three primary colors of RGB, and the separated RGB images
The maximum brightness value of the image data is output to the comparison / determination means.
The comparison / determination means applies the maximum of each of the RGB image data.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the brightness value is compared with each predetermined threshold range.
The food and drink identification device described . 3. A plurality of carriages placed on a tracked track.
Food and drink identification that identifies food and drink provided using a transmission medium
The device includes an image of food and drink placed on each carrier medium including the carrier medium.
Of the carrier medium containing the food and drink photographed by the photographing means
Image data of food and drink in the area corresponding to food and drink from the image
The area extracting means for extracting and the food and drink on each carrier medium are identified based on the food and drink image data.
And a separate to food identification means, position detecting means for detecting the position of the food for each transport medium based on the image of the transport medium containing the taken food by the imaging means, detected by said position detecting means The food and drink identifying device further comprising a carrying medium identifying means for identifying each carrying medium on the basis of the position of the food and drink thus obtained. 4. The food and drink identifying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the position detecting means detects the position of the food and drink with respect to each carrier medium by using a predetermined identification pattern on the carrier medium that protrudes from the food and drink area.