JP3660792B2 - Agricultural product sorting equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an agricultural product sorting apparatus used in a fruit selection field or the like that sorts agricultural products, packs them in boxes, and ships them.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A machine that examines and classifies agricultural products according to their grades such as size and shape, appearance quality such as color and scratches, and internal quality such as sugar content, and sorts and sorts them according to the classification and classification of the judgment results In general agricultural product sorting apparatuses, conveyors generally referred to as sorting conveyors (or other names such as “sorting conveyors”, which are hereinafter referred to as “sorting conveyors” in this specification) are used for transporting agricultural products. used.
[0003]
The sorting conveyor of such an agricultural product sorting apparatus sorts each agricultural product from the supply location where the agricultural product is supplied, through the measurement location where the information for sorting and sorting the agricultural product is measured and detected, and according to the result of the evaluation judgment based on the measurement information. Agricultural products are configured to be transported to a sorting place to be discharged by a discharge conveyor or the like according to classification. Specifically, a belt conveyor type (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-4625, etc.), buckets at chain conveyors at predetermined intervals A so-called bucket type (such as Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 3-27279) or a slat-like keyboard conveyor that rotates endlessly by connecting endlessly rotating trays and rotating endlessly to each bucket (receiving tray) Agricultural products are transported on a so-called free tray that is not connected to a conveyor (eg Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-247) It is known, such as those of the free tray method that. And these are normally comprised as a conveyance line of the same specification from the supply place of the agricultural products mentioned above to the sorting place.
[0004]
In recent years, with the diversification of market and consumer needs and improvement of measurement technology, it may be desired to adopt internal quality as an item for sorting agricultural products. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-84740, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 58-25345, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 4-83148, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 3-160344, etc. explain the principle of detection of transmitted light. However, these do not specifically propose a new sorting conveyor that can suitably realize transmitted light detection. In addition, the attenuation of the light obtained by transmitting the illumination light through the agricultural products is extremely large, so it is known that high-sensitivity and high-precision internal quality measurement is not easy. You can't do it. For these reasons, a new proposal for a sorting conveyor having a configuration suitable for measuring internal quality using transmitted light as detection information is straddled, and in particular, transmitted light detection can be performed without stopping a continuously moving conveyance line. There is a demand for transmitted light detection means having a function capable of being performed and a sorting conveyor linked thereto.
[0005]
Apart from these, there are some problems required for the sorting conveyor. For example, in the sorting section, agricultural products that are easily damaged depending on the type of agricultural product to be sorted are placed on a tray that is not restrained by a conveyor called a free tray in order to avoid damage during sorting work, and the tray is packed together with the tray. On the other hand, in mandarin oranges, potatoes, etc., it is possible to sort directly into the boxing part from the conveyor without using a saucer, so that the equipment costs can be reduced by using a simple sorting conveyor. There are requests from various points such as making it advantageous. Thus, the optimum configuration for the sorting conveyor varies depending on the types of agricultural products to be sorted.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, the sorting conveyor that constitutes the main part of the apparatus for sorting and sorting agricultural products is conventionally suitable for a variety of reasons such as types of agricultural products, measurement items for sorting and sorting, and processing capacity. However, for example, a sorting device that transfers a free tray type agricultural product from a bucket type conveyor or performs the reverse operation has not been proposed. This is because such an operation is extremely complicated, and the tendency is that each stage is processed while conveying agricultural products at an extremely high conveyance speed of 5-6 pieces / second in recent times. It is considered that there is almost no feasibility in the situation where is demanded.
[0007]
On the other hand, according to the study by the present inventors, for example, a preferable action / function required for a sorting conveyor at a measurement place and a preferable action / function required for a sorting conveyor at a sorting place are not necessarily the same. If the functions and functions required of a conveyor are adapted to one (for example, a sorting place), it may not be suitable for the other (for example, a measuring place). For the quality measurement, the sorting conveyor suitable for the means for detecting the transmitted light of the agricultural product and the sorting conveyor suitable for the means for measuring the appearance are the measurement method and the preferred method for supporting the produce. It is not the same, for example, it has a light shielding function that is preferably adopted to detect transmitted light with extremely large attenuation as sensitively and accurately Configuration dishes (carrying agricultural pan) does not have necessarily preferred configuration as pan when to be imaged over the appearance surface of produce in as large an area as possible.
[0008]
The present inventor diligently studied various problems, particularly with respect to the sorting conveyors of these sorting apparatuses, and solved the problem of forming a transfer line with a sorting conveyor of the same specification in the past. If the agricultural products can be carried in a state suitable for the work in each part on the transport line, it is possible to provide a very advantageous sorting device, and the present invention has been made. Is.
[0009]
That is, the main object of the present invention is to adopt a sorting unit conveyor suitable for sorting work, which is often different for each agricultural product, and without being limited by the configuration of the sorting unit, the conveyor of the measuring unit. The present invention is to provide a novel sorting device that can configure the above.
[0010]
Another object of the present invention is to use a special tray having a light-blocking function suitable for detecting transmitted light without limiting it to a part of the transport path, and using it over the entire transport line of the sorting conveyor. The object of the present invention is to provide a sorting apparatus which can be configured at low cost.
[0011]
Still another object of the present invention is to add a measuring unit of an existing sorting device or to add an existing sorting device by making it possible to configure a conveyor of a measuring unit without being limited to the configuration of the sorting unit. The present invention is to provide a sorting apparatus that is modified to perform optical measurement such as internal quality and appearance imaging.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The above object can be achieved by the inventions described in the claims of the present application.
[0013]
The invention of the agricultural product sorting apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention forms a bucket for carrying agricultural products by approaching each other while many endlessly rotating members in a pair in the transverse direction of the conveying direction are endlessly rotating synchronously. As well as The pair of these products spreads and separates in the lateral direction, so that the supported agricultural products are dropped downward. And an elastic member for elastically supporting the supported agricultural product is provided inside the recess formed when the bucket is formed. Placed in the middle of the middle-break bucket conveyor and the agricultural product transport path of this middle-break bucket conveyor And For determining the classification of the produce Transmitted light measurement is performed by measuring transmitted light of the agricultural product through transmitted light receiving optical means for detecting transmitted light through a disturbance light intrusion prevention cylinder that prevents intrusion of ambient light from an opening provided in a recess formed at the time of bucket formation. apparatus When, An intrusion prevention cylinder endless rotation mechanism that rotates endlessly so that a plurality of the disturbance light intrusion prevention cylinders are sent in parallel with the corresponding buckets; The starting end is located at the agricultural product falling position of the above-mentioned cracking bucket conveyor, From the above-mentioned cracking bucket conveyor And a sorting conveyor for carrying the fallen agricultural products to the sorting unit.
[0014]
In the above configuration, the work of placing agricultural products on the half-break bucket conveyor is carried at a constant pitch on a method in which the worker manually places it, a roller conveyor, a drum-shaped roller conveyor with a thin shaft middle part, a belt conveyor, etc. It is possible to appropriately select and employ the farm products that have been produced, such as a method of dropping and placing the farm products on the farm product support of the half-break bucket conveyor. Similarly, the work of discharging agricultural products from the sorting section of the sorting conveyor by sorting category is to use a belt conveyor, roller conveyor, etc. for this sorting conveyor to discharge agricultural products by switching the swing of the guide bar, using a slat conveyor A method of dropping agricultural products downward by tilting the slat downward, a method of discharging agricultural products together with the tray using a free tray type tray, and the like can be appropriately selected and employed according to the type of agricultural products.
[0015]
In addition, the optical measuring means arranged in the middle of the agricultural product transport path of the above-described cracking bucket conveyor is an apparatus for detecting the transmitted light of the agricultural product to measure the internal quality, and imaging the appearance of the agricultural product with a camera or the like. An apparatus for measuring colors, scratches, sizes, etc. can be exemplified, but an optical measuring means for detecting elements such as transmitted light related to internal quality is particularly preferably used.
[0016]
According to the present invention, for example, the split bucket conveyor is configured to have a light shielding property suitable for optically detecting elements related to the internal quality such as transmitted light of agricultural products. By limiting the trajectory of the cracking bucket conveyor to a part of the sorting device and transferring agricultural products to a sorting conveyor with a simple configuration, it is possible to adopt a sorting conveyor suitable for sorting work, Cost reduction can be realized.
[0017]
Moreover, the above-mentioned half-break bucket conveyor can drop the carried agricultural products downward at a predetermined position by separating the pair of middle-breaking members from side to side, so that it can be reliably transferred to the sorting conveyor at the next stage. Transfers can be performed, and quick and high-speed processing can be realized.
[0018]
In addition, the judgment result of the sorting classification based on the measured information is sent to the discharging device of the sorting section, and the predetermined discharging device is operated by synchronizing and linking the agricultural product feed speed with the feeding speed of each conveyor. It is discharged to the sorting division. Synchronization and linkage of these agricultural products and the feeding speed of the conveyor can be performed, for example, by outputting a pulse for a certain amount of movement of the conveyor, thereby managing measurement information and movement of the agricultural products. .
[0019]
The present invention can be used for sorting and sorting various agricultural products. For example, fruits such as pears, apples, citrus fruits, and melons, vegetables such as potatoes, and the like can be exemplified as processing objects.
[0020]
The present invention also provides: The middle-break bucket conveyor is configured to form a recess that accommodates and holds agricultural products when a bucket is formed in which a pair of middle-crack members approach. And further In addition, an elastic member for elastically supporting the supported agricultural product is provided inside the recess. As a typical configuration .
[0021]
Although the said recessed part can illustrate the thing of a mortar-like structure generally as a preferable thing, it is not limited to this. Examples of the elastic member that elastically supports agricultural products include a sponge-like elastic body and an elastic body formed of fin-like pieces extending from a plurality of positions in the circumferential direction toward the center.
[0022]
this Characteristic composition According to the above, the carrying state of the agricultural products accommodated in the concave portion of the bucket is stabilized, and the measurement accuracy and sensitivity are improved by the posture stability when performing optical measurement.
[0023]
Further, in claim 1 In the invention, the concave portion formed at the time of forming the bucket is provided with a light-transmitting opening for allowing the light transmitted through the illuminated supported agricultural product to enter the lower transmitted light receiving optical means. As a typical configuration .
[0024]
this Characteristic composition According to this, the detection accuracy and sensitivity of transmitted light in the case of measuring the internal quality of the agricultural product conveyed on the half-break bucket conveyor is improved. Also, by the disturbance light intrusion prevention cylinder, against the transmitted light receiving optical means Outside the transmitted light of agricultural products Disorder light Intrusion is prevented .
[0025]
Claim 2 The invention of the above Departure In the light, the appearance imaging device for imaging the appearance of the agricultural product to be transported is arranged at any position on the transport track extending from the half-break bucket conveyor to the sorting conveyor.
[0026]
The above-described appearance imaging device can be configured using an appropriate device such as a CCD camera or a sensor camera.
[0027]
In the above, the external appearance imaging device can be provided along with the transmitted light measuring device on the conveying path of the half-break bucket conveyor, or can be provided on the conveying path of the sorting conveyor. Further, when the sorting conveyor is configured by connecting a plurality of conveyors, it can be provided at the connecting portion.
[0028]
According to this invention, for example, it is possible to sort agricultural products using both external and internal optical information, and, for example, the beginning of a sorting conveyor of an existing sorting apparatus that already has an external imaging device. By newly providing a half-break bucket conveyor on the side, it is possible to expand the items of sorting information of existing sorting apparatuses.
[0029]
Claim 3 According to the present invention, in each of the above-described inventions, the split-type bucket conveyor is rotated endlessly by a mechanism in which each of the pair of split members rotates about the horizontal axis, and the pair of split members toward the downstream side. It is characterized by having a curved line or an inclined line-symmetrical trajectory that is spaced apart in the transverse direction of conveyance.
[0030]
The above-described half-break bucket conveyor is configured by, for example, connecting a middle-breaking member to a pair of endlessly rotating link chains, and providing a curved or inclined line-symmetrical track on a part of the rotating track of the link chain. Therefore, a mechanism for approaching / separating the pair of intermediate cracking members can be easily configured. Therefore, when a plurality of sorting lines are arranged side by side, the space in the lateral direction of the transport track may be short, and the entire facility can be made compact.
[0032]
Claim 4 The invention of claim 1 is characterized in that, in each of the above inventions, the sorting conveyor has a substantially flat agricultural product carrying conveyance surface. 5 The invention is a bucket-type conveyor in which a sorting conveyor is connected to a conveyor and transports endlessly rotated agricultural product-carrying buckets, or a free tray in which a free agricultural product-carrying tray that is not connected to a conveyor is conveyed It is a type conveyor.
[0033]
As in the present invention, as the sorting conveyor, a conveyor having specifications suitable for necessary operations such as sorting and appearance imaging can be appropriately selected and employed.
[0034]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiment 1
1 to 5 mainly show a part of the half-break bucket conveyor 1 in the agricultural product sorting apparatus of this example, and the half-break bucket conveyor 1 has drum-shaped rollers on both sides at the start end side. Agricultural products P (in this example, apples) are connected in series so as to be placed in a single bucket 101 from the upstream supply conveyor 2 that is connected to a pair of chains and rotated endlessly. On the terminal side, the agricultural products are provided on the sorting conveyor 4 via the transfer relay conveyor 3 (which forms part of the sorting conveyor in a broad sense).
[0035]
Hereinafter, each of these conveyors will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the supply conveyor has a large gap between a large number of drum-shaped rollers 201 whose diameter gradually decreases toward the central portion in the axial direction. The both ends of the link chain 202 are rotatably connected to a pair of synchronous endlessly rotating link chains 202 so as to rotate along a predetermined endless track. Reference numeral 203 denotes a cover of the link chain 202. Therefore, the spherical agricultural product P placed on the supply conveyor 2 is brought to the central portion between the front and rear drum rollers 201 due to the shape in which the diameter gradually decreases toward the central portion of the drum roller 201. Then, the agricultural product P is dropped from its terminal portion onto the starting end side of the half-break bucket conveyor 1 at a constant pitch. And the fall of the agricultural product P from the supply conveyor 2 and the rotation of the bucket 101 of the intermediate crack type bucket conveyor 1 described below are synchronized so that one agricultural product P is dropped and carried in one bucket 101. Is done.
[0036]
In this example, the half-cracked bucket conveyor 1 is a pair of split members 1011 and 1011 obtained by equally dividing a dish-shaped bucket member into both sides (both sides in a transverse direction perpendicular to the conveying direction) on a vertical plane including its diameter line. And the above-described dish-shaped bucket 101 having a substantially mortar-shaped concave portion 1012 that is widely open on the upper side is formed. Since the middle crack members 1011 and 1011 are separated from each other on the left and right sides, the carried agricultural products can be dropped downward. Reference numeral 102 denotes a support plate for the above-described split member 1011, which is provided on each of the pair of split members 1011, 1011, and these pairs are connected to link chains 103, 103 that rotate synchronously and endlessly. Thus, the pair of intermediate cracking members 1011 and 1011 are rotated endlessly. Reference numeral 104 denotes a sprocket for rotating the link chain 103. As shown in FIG. 3, a sprocket-chain mechanism 106, 106 transmits a rotational driving force from a common drive shaft 105 to rotate synchronously. Has been. Reference numeral 1014 denotes a translucent opening penetrating vertically in the center of the bucket 101.
[0037]
Reference numeral 107 denotes a guide rail for guiding the rotation of the link chain 103. The guide rail 107 is assembled to the frame 108, and from the start end portion to the vicinity of the end side of the intermediate crack type bucket conveyor as shown in FIGS. A straight track portion 1071 that moves linearly in a bucket formation state in which a pair of middle crack members 1011 and 1011 are close to each other, and a pair of the middle crack members 1011 that are inclined from the straight track portion toward the end portion. 1011 is configured to have inclined orbit portions 1072 that are symmetrically spaced apart on both lateral sides. In addition, the guide rail 107 is provided with an inclined track portion (not shown) that allows the pair of middle cracking members 1011 and 1011 separated as described above to approach each other at the lower track portion of the rotation.
[0038]
In addition, the middle crack member 1011 for forming the bucket of this example has rubber or the like in a stepped manner along the mortar-shaped inclined surface of the recess 1012 so as not to damage the agricultural product (apple) dropped when the bucket 101 is formed. A plurality of short fins 1013 made of an elastic body are provided apart from each other in the circumferential direction (for example, four places at regular intervals in the circumferential direction).
[0039]
Next, the transfer relay conveyor 3 and the sorting conveyor 4 that are provided following the half-break bucket conveyor 1 will be described. In this example, the transfer relay conveyor 3 is provided for convenience of transfer, and this can be omitted by extending the start end side of the sorting conveyor 4 to the side of the cracking bucket conveyor 1. It is part of the sorting conveyor.
[0040]
The transfer relay conveyor 3 is configured by using a belt conveyor that rotates endlessly in this example, and its starting end is located below the inclined track portion 1072 of the cracking bucket conveyor 1, When 1011 and 1011 are separated, the agricultural product P stored in the bucket 101 can be received when it falls. This state is shown in FIG. 5, and the agricultural product P is conveyed by the pair of medium-breaking members 1011 and 1011 that accommodated and carried the agricultural product P in the state of the two-dot chain line in the figure separated to the left and right in the state of the solid line. It is placed on the belt 301. Reference numeral 302 denotes a guide frame of the conveyor belt 301, and 303 denotes a pulley for rotation.
[0041]
In this example, the sorting conveyor 4 is configured by using a keyboard-type conveyor on a slat (see Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-247), and the starting end thereof is transferred, and the agricultural product P is transferred from the terminal end of the transfer conveyor 3. So that they are connected. 401 is a keyboard type conveyor, and 402 is a sprocket. Reference numeral 403 denotes a presser roll made of an elastic roller disposed above the start end of the sorting conveyor 4 and is provided to stop the shaking of the agricultural products during transfer.
[0042]
In addition, on the terminal side of the sorting conveyor 4, for example, a discharge device (not shown) that can discharge corresponding agricultural products for each sorting section is provided for a plurality of sorting conveyors branched in the horizontal direction.
[0043]
Next, a description will be given of the transmitted light detection device 5 provided in the middle of the straight track portion of the half-break bucket conveyor 1. This device 5 of this example is arranged on both sides of the conveyance path above the conveyance path. An illumination room 501 is provided, and a plurality of illumination lamps 502 arranged in the illumination room 501 are provided so as to irradiate illumination light substantially in the center direction. In order to make the amount of illumination light constant, it is also preferable to use a dark room box that includes the illumination room 501 and is shielded from outside by a curtain or the like. On the other hand, the transmitted light detection device 5 of the present example includes a light receiving optical device 503 for detecting transmitted light in the dark room box 504 on the lower side of the conveyance path at the center position of the illumination chambers 501 and 501, and agricultural products. There is a feature that an intrusion prevention cylinder endless rotation mechanism 505 of the disturbance light intrusion prevention cylinder 5051 is provided for allowing the light receiving optical device 503 to receive the light transmitted through the light without the intrusion of disturbance light. This intrusion prevention cylinder endless rotation mechanism 505 connects a plurality of disturbance light intrusion prevention cylinders 5051 to a link chain 5052 provided so as to run in parallel at a constant speed in synchronization with the cracked bucket conveyor 1. While causing the disturbance light intrusion prevention cylinder 5051 to run side by side, the front end is engaged with the bottom surface of the agricultural product P from the translucent opening 1014 of the bucket 101, and the lower end is engaged with the agricultural product P after passing over the light receiving optical device 503. And endless rotation. According to the intrusion prevention cylinder endless turning mechanism 505 thus provided, the disturbance light intrusion prevention cylinder 5051 provided so as to form a vertically penetrating cylinder is annularly engaged with the bottom surface of the produce P at its tip. In this way, it is possible to make a close contact state that prevents the intrusion of disturbing light, and it is relatively easy to move the lower end of the light receiving optical device 503 without the intrusion of disturbing light. The transmitted light can be detected without intrusion of disturbance light, and the attenuation from the illumination light is 10 ^-Four -10 ^-6 In this way, it is possible to detect extremely weak transmitted light with high sensitivity and accuracy. In order to detect the transmitted light without intrusion of such disturbance light, for example, in order to improve the adhesion between the tip of the disturbance light intrusion prevention tube 5051 and the agricultural product P and obtain high light shielding properties, the tip of the tube 5051 It is also preferable to form an elastic body that is easy to adhere to agricultural products or to form a lip shape, and to rotate the agricultural product P accommodated in the bucket 101 so that the disturbance light intrusion prevention cylinder 5051 slightly floats. By setting the trajectory of movement, it is also preferable to use the own weight of the agricultural product P for improving the adhesion, and further, a device for pressing the agricultural product P conveyed by the bucket 101 from above at the transmitted light detection position may be provided. Recommended as a preferred configuration.
[0044]
With the above configuration, it is possible to detect with high sensitivity and accuracy of light transmitted through the agricultural product P conveyed by the half-break bucket conveyor 1.
[0045]
Next, the appearance imaging device 6 will be described. The appearance imaging device 6 of this example is disposed above the belt conveyor type sorting conveyor 4, and in a dark room box 601 whose entrance is shielded from the outside by a curtain. The farm product P illuminated by an unillustrated illumination lamp is provided so as to be imaged by the CCD camera 602.
[0046]
According to such a configuration, the surface of the agricultural product P transported on a flat surface called the slat conveyor 401 is more reflective than the case where the appearance of the agricultural product P accommodated in the bucket 101 of the half-break bucket conveyor 1 is imaged. It is possible to take an image over a wide area using, for example.
[0047]
In addition, this external appearance imaging device 6 can also be arrange | positioned on the conveyance path of the cracking bucket conveyor 1 as shown with the dashed-two dotted line in FIG.
[0048]
According to the agricultural product sorting apparatus of the present example having the above-described configuration, it is possible to detect agricultural product transmitted light with high sensitivity and accuracy by using the half-break bucket conveyor 1, while a wide area appearance can be detected by a belt conveyor type. A desirable configuration can be adopted for each of the above-described sorting conveyors 4, and the sorting conveyor 4 can have a simple structure as compared to the half-break bucket conveyor 1, so that the entire facility can be reduced. The advantage that it can be built at a cost is also obtained.
[0049]
In addition, a facility for measuring the internal quality of agricultural products by newly adding a half-break bucket conveyor 1 and a transfer relay conveyor 3 to an equipment having an existing belt conveyor type sorting conveyor having the appearance imaging device 6 The advantage that it can be changed to is also obtained.
[0050]
Although the sorting conveyor 4 has been described as a slat conveyor type, as described above, a bucket type, a belt type, a free tray type, or the like, which is appropriate according to the type of agricultural product, etc., may be adopted as appropriate. it can.
[0051]
Moreover, since the middle crack type bucket conveyor 1 of this example is configured to endlessly rotate the pair of middle crack members 1011 using the link chain 103 having the inclined track portion guided by the guide rail, As shown in FIG. 6, when a plurality of the same sorting devices (three in the illustrated example) are juxtaposed, the size in the horizontal direction of the conveyance can be set small, and in the selection field where a large amount of processing is performed. There is also an advantage that the installation area of the equipment can be reduced.
[0052]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the conveyor of the sorting unit suitable for the sorting operation of the agricultural products can be adopted, the conveyor of the measuring unit can be configured without being limited to the configuration of the sorting unit, and the transmitted light can be transmitted. By limiting a special mechanism having a light shielding function suitable for detection to a part of the transport track, the entire equipment and device can be configured at low cost.
[0053]
In addition, the conveyor of the measuring unit can be configured without being limited to the configuration of the sorting unit, so internal quality and appearance imaging can be added to the existing sorting device or partially replaced with the existing sorting device In addition to providing a sorting device that has been modified to perform optical measurement, the following effects can be obtained.
[0054]
According to the invention of claim 1 , Agriculture Sorting work is performed on the sorting conveyor while limiting the intermediate bucket bucket conveyor to a part of the transfer track so that it has a light-shielding property suitable for optically detecting elements related to the internal quality such as transmitted light of products. It is possible to adopt a simple structure suitable for the equipment and to reduce the cost of the equipment.
[0055]
In addition, a simple mechanism in which the pair of cracking members expands and separates from side to side can drop the supported agricultural product downward at a predetermined position and transfer it to the next-stage sorting conveyor for quick and high-speed operation. Can also be realized.
[0056]
Claim 1 According to this invention, the carrying state of the agricultural products accommodated in the concave portion of the bucket is stabilized, and the measurement accuracy and sensitivity are improved by the posture stability when performing optical measurement.
[0057]
Further claim 1 According to this invention, the detection accuracy and sensitivity of the transmitted light in the case of measuring the internal quality of the agricultural product conveyed on the half-break bucket conveyor is improved.
[0058]
Claim 2 According to the invention, it is possible to sort agricultural products using both external and internal optical information, and the middle of the sorting conveyor of the existing sorting apparatus that already has an external imaging device. By newly providing a cracking bucket conveyor, it is possible to expand the sorting information items of the existing sorting apparatus.
[0059]
Claim 3 According to this invention, the mechanism for approaching / separating a pair of middle crack members can be configured easily. This also makes it possible to reduce the space in the lateral direction of the transport track when a plurality of sorting lines are arranged side by side, and the entire facility can be made compact.
[0061]
Claim 4 Invention, claims 5 According to this invention, the sorting conveyor can be selected and adopted from a belt type, a slat type, a bucket type, a free tray type and the like suitable for work according to the type of agricultural products.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a configuration outline of a part of a sorting apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a plan view including a partial cross-section for explaining a mechanism for endlessly rotating an intermediate cracking member of the intermediate cracking bucket conveyor according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion where agricultural products are transferred from the supply conveyor of the first embodiment to a half-break bucket conveyor.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a portion where the agricultural products are transferred from the middle-break bucket conveyor to the transfer conveyor in the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a plan view in the case where three middle-break bucket conveyors are arranged side by side.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... Medium crack bucket conveyor
101 ... Bucket
1011 ... Medium crack member
1012 ... Recess
1013 ... Short fin
1014 ... Translucent aperture
102 ... Support plate
103 ... Link chain
104 ... Sprocket
105 ... Drive shaft
106 ... Sprocket-chain mechanism
107 ... guide rail
1071 ... Straight orbit part
1071 ... inclined orbit part
108 ... frame
2 ... Supply conveyor
201 ... drum-shaped roller
202 ... Link chain
203 ... Cover
3. Transfer transit conveyor
301 ... conveyor belt
302 ... Guide frame
303 ... pulley
4 ... Sorting conveyor
401 ... Slat conveyor
402 ... Sprocket
403 ... Presser roll
5 ... Transmitted light detection device
501 ... Lighting room
502 ... Lighting lamp
503: Light receiving optical device
504 ... Dark room box
505 ... Intrusion prevention cylinder endless rotation mechanism
5051 ... disturbance light intrusion prevention cylinder
5052 ... Link chain
5051 ... Sprocket
6 ... Appearance imaging device
601 ... Dark room box
602 ... CCD camera

Claims (5)

While a large number of a pair of intermediate cracking members facing in the lateral direction of the conveying direction are endlessly rotating synchronously, they approach each other to form a bucket for carrying agricultural products, and the pair expands and separates in the lateral direction. An intermediate crack type bucket conveyor provided with an elastic member for dropping and supporting the supported agricultural products on the inside of the recess formed when the bucket is formed ,
It is placed in the middle of the agricultural product transport path of this cracked bucket conveyor , and the transmitted light of the agricultural product is intruded by disturbance light from the opening formed in the recess formed at the time of bucket formation for determining the sorting classification of the agricultural product. A transmitted light measuring device for measuring by a transmitted light receiving optical means for detecting transmitted light through a disturbance light intrusion prevention cylinder for preventing ;
An intrusion prevention cylinder endless rotation mechanism that rotates endlessly so that a plurality of the disturbance light intrusion prevention cylinders are sent in parallel with the corresponding buckets;
Sorting of agricultural products, comprising: a sorting conveyor having a start end portion located at the agricultural product dropping position of the above-described cracking bucket conveyor and carrying the crops dropped from the above-mentioned cracking bucket conveyor to the sorting section apparatus. Oite to claim 1, exterior imaging apparatus for imaging the appearance of agricultural products to be conveyed, characterized in that it is located on any position of conveyor track extending from the middle cracking type bucket conveyor to the sorting conveyor Agricultural product sorting equipment. 3. The intermediate crack type bucket conveyor according to claim 1, wherein each of the pair of intermediate crack members is provided such that each of the pair of intermediate crack members is rotated endlessly by a mechanism that independently rotates around the horizontal axis. The moving trajectory has a curved line or an inclined line-symmetric trajectory that separates the pair of middle crack members in the transport lateral direction toward the downstream side in the transport direction. In any one of claims 1 to 3, sorting conveyor, agricultural sorting device, characterized in that those having a substantially flat agricultural bearing conveying surface. 4. The sorting conveyor according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the sorting conveyor is a bucket-type conveyor that conveys an agricultural-product-carrying bucket that is connected to the conveyor and rotated endlessly, or a free agricultural-product carrying that is not connected to the conveyor. A sorting apparatus for agricultural products, which is one of a free tray type conveyor for conveying a tray.

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