JP5158825B2 - Individual counting device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an individual counting device capable of counting small marine resources (hereinafter referred to as fry) such as shrimp larvae, small fish, fry, etc., and more specifically, a liquid counter such as seawater or fresh water. The present invention relates to an individual counting device that enables high-precision counting while avoiding the weakness of fry by using flow.

  Conventionally, in commerce of cultured fry, it is necessary to accurately count the number of individuals in a short time, and various automatic counting devices have been developed for this purpose. The following two types of devices suitable for counting small individuals such as fry are known.

  One is a device that separates individuals from water, disperses them on a conveyor, and measures the number of individuals in the process of being discharged from the conveyor (Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). The other is that the individual is housed in a box with water, and there are many small outlets through which the individual can pass one by one on the bottom plate or side wall of the box. (Patent document 3 and patent document 3).

  However, since the first automatic apparatus lifts the individual from the water, in the case of small larvae, the counting process is extremely weak and may be killed, resulting in a decrease in yield. In addition, due to its small size, individuals are likely to adhere to the conveyor, and many individuals do not fall off the conveyor. From this point of view, a decrease in yield becomes a problem, and a decrease in the counting system also becomes a problem.

  In the second automatic device, since the number of individuals is measured in running water, there is little risk that the individual will be weakened or killed. In addition, since many individuals are dispersed and counted one by one using a large number of small outlets, there is no miscounting due to overlapping of individuals, and the counting accuracy is high. On the other hand, since a camera or the like is required for each of the large number of outlets, the high equipment cost becomes a problem.

  These problems are particularly significant in shrimp larvae with a length of 2-5 mm. By the way, the length of small fish and fry is 5-10mm. Moreover, as a general tendency, the smaller the length, the larger the number of individuals to be counted at one time, which also causes a problem.

JP-A-8-30757 JP-A-8-329212 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-36643 JP-A-6-245665

  The object of the present invention is to be able to measure the number of individuals with high accuracy even when counting a large number of fine individuals, such as shrimp larvae, at the same time, and also to reduce the risk of individual weakness and death. An object of the present invention is to provide an individual counting device that is simple in structure and can be miniaturized and is excellent in economy.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present inventor paid attention to the individual counting device using running water described in Patent Documents 3 and 4. This is because in the case of an individual counting device using running water, counting is performed until the individual is immersed in water, so that the weakness and death of the individual are avoided. However, in the case of an individual counting device using running water, a technique for dispersing the population that has been thrown into the running water is important. In the case of the individual counting device using running water described in Patent Documents 3 and 4, a large number of small outlets are used to count and count a large number of individuals one by one. As described above, the number of cameras and the like increases and the price of the apparatus becomes a problem.

  Therefore, the present inventor planned to use the running water itself for dispersion for the purpose of developing a simple dispersion technique, and compared various running water structures. As a result, it has become clear that it is effective to use an inclined channel inclined in a predetermined direction, in particular, an inclined channel having a liquid reservoir composed of a triangular ridge-shaped depression at an intermediate portion. That is, when such an inclined channel is used, not only the water flow in the inclined channel but also the change in the water flow in the liquid pool contributes effectively to the dispersion, and as a result, a single flow in the inclined channel. The number of individuals can be accurately measured by photographing with a camera and analysis processing of the photographed image.

  The individual counting device of the present invention was developed on the basis of such knowledge, and the individual to be counted is conveyed by a fluid, and the individual is dispersed in the conveyance process, and the individual of the individual is counted by photographing with a camera and analysis of the photographed image. An individual counting device using a fluid for measuring the number, comprising an inclined channel in which a solid to be counted is tilted in a predetermined direction and flows together with a liquid, and a bottom surface is located downstream in an intermediate portion of the inclined channel In addition, a characteristic feature of the structure is that a liquid reservoir is provided which is formed of a triangular tip-shaped depression whose angle of inclination gradually increases from both sides toward the center.

  In the individual counting device of the present invention, liquids such as seawater and fresh water sequentially flow from the upstream side to the downstream side of the inclined channel. When an aggregate of individuals to be counted is introduced into the inclined flow path, the aggregate is transported by a fluid, and the aggregate of individuals is dispersed to individual individuals in this transport process. In particular, in a liquid pool consisting of a triangular tip-shaped depression provided in the middle part of the inclined channel, the fluid once concentrates in the depression and spreads on both sides and up and down on the downstream side. For this reason, when an individual passes through this reservoir, it once concentrates in a triangular depression, but after exiting from there, it is scattered on both sides and up and down, and transported downstream, thereby promoting dispersion. The By promoting the dispersion of the individuals and eliminating the overlap between the individuals, it is possible to accurately count the number regardless of the photographing by the single camera in the measurement unit.

  The inclination angle of the inclined flow path is selected so as to secure a flow rate necessary for the transportation and dispersion of the population.

  Needless to say, as to the type of liquid to be used, seawater, fresh water, and the like are appropriately selected according to the habitat of the individual to be counted.

  The individual counting device according to the present invention is configured to distribute an individual to be counted by circulating a liquid such as seawater or fresh water through an inclined channel having a liquid reservoir formed of a triangular tip-shaped depression at an intermediate portion, thereby conveying the individual to be counted. The distribution of individuals can be achieved while avoiding the debilitation and death of the animals. Thereby, the number of individuals can be accurately measured by photographing with a single camera, and the apparatus can be simplified and miniaturized.

1 is a side view of a schematic configuration diagram showing the overall structure of an individual counting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the liquid channel which is the principal part of the individual counting apparatus. It is another perspective view of the fluid flow path. It is a perspective view of the inclined channel of the upper stage which constitutes the fluid channel. It is a perspective view of the lower side inclined channel which constitutes the fluid channel. It is a top view which shows typically the individual dispersion function of the liquid reservoir formed in the up-and-down inclined flow path. It is a block diagram of the image analysis part with which an individual counting device is equipped. It is a flowchart which shows the function of the image analysis part. It is explanatory drawing of the counting principle in the image analysis part, and shows a binarization process. It is explanatory drawing of the counting principle in the image analysis part, and shows from judgment image creation to calculation judgment.

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

  As shown in FIG. 1, the individual counting device of the present embodiment circulates a liquid channel 10 configured by overlapping inclined channels 10 </ b> A and 10 </ b> B in two stages, and seawater as the liquid in the liquid channel 10. The liquid circulation mechanism 20 includes an illumination mechanism 30, a camera 40, and an image analysis unit 50 combined with the inclined flow path 10 </ b> B in order to continuously count individuals in the liquid flow path 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper and lower inclined channels 10 </ b> A and 10 </ b> B constituting the liquid channel 10 have a U-shaped cross section in which both side plates and a bottom plate constructed between both side plates are combined. It is a vertically long square box. The bottom surface of the upper inclined channel 10A is flat in the lateral width direction except for a part in the longitudinal direction, and as a whole is inclined downward from the left side to the right side of the drawing. The bottom surface of the lower inclined channel 10B is also flat in the width direction except for a portion in the longitudinal direction, and as a whole, it is inclined downward from the right side to the left side of the figure, contrary to the upper inclined channel 10A.

  The upper inclined channel 10A is approximately half the length of the lower inclined channel 10B, and is placed on the upstream portion of the lower inclined channel 10B. Further, the inclination angle of the bottom surface in the lower inclined channel 10B is larger than the inclination angle of the bottom surface in the upper inclined channel 10A. The constituent materials of the inclined channels 10A and 10B are both transparent resins.

  The upper inclined channel 10A is shown in detail in FIG. 4, and its upstream end is a liquid inflow portion 11A. The downstream side of the liquid inflow portion 11A is an input portion 12A for the individual 60 to be counted, and a barrier 13A is provided between the liquid inflow portion 11A and the individual input portion 12A. The barrier 13A is for concentrating the liquid supplied to the inflow portion 11A near the bottom surface of the inclined channel 10A, and is provided over the entire width of the channel. The barrier 13A is L-shaped when viewed from the side, and is arranged so that a predetermined gap is formed between the lower horizontal portion and the bottom surface of the inclined channel 10A for the concentration. Has been.

  A liquid reservoir 14A is provided on the downstream side of the solid charging part 12A. The liquid reservoir 14 </ b> A has a tip shape in which the bottom surface is inclined upward toward the downstream side, and the inclination angle is recessed in a triangular shape that increases from both sides toward the center. The downstream side of the liquid reservoir 14A is a flat portion 15A whose bottom surface is inclined downward at the same angle as the upstream side, and the liquid outlet is provided downstream of the flat portion 15A via an acceleration portion 16A inclined downward at a steep angle. 17A is provided at the downstream end of the inclined channel 10A.

  The upstream end of the lower inclined channel 10B is positioned below the downstream end of the upper inclined channel 10A. The details of the lower inclined channel 10B are shown in detail in FIG. 5, and the upstream end is a liquid inflow portion 11B. On the downstream side of the liquid inflow portion 11B, a lateral weir portion 12B having a bottom surface protruding in a triangular shape is provided, and on the downstream side of the weir portion 12B, a first flat portion 13B whose bottom surface is inclined downward at a predetermined angle. Through this, a liquid reservoir 14B is provided.

  The liquid reservoir 14B, like the liquid reservoir 14A in the upper inclined channel 10A, is recessed in a triangular shape whose bottom surface is inclined upward toward the downstream side, and the inclination angle increases from both sides toward the center. It has a tip shape. The downstream side of the liquid reservoir 14B is a second flat part 15B whose bottom surface is inclined downward at the same angle as the upstream side, and the downstream side of the second flat part 15B is passed through an acceleration part 16B inclined downward at a steep angle. A liquid outlet 17B is provided at the downstream end of the inclined channel 10B. And the middle part of the flat part 15B is the measurement part 18B.

  Since the upper inclined channel 10A is shorter than the lower inclined channel 10B and is disposed on the upstream portion of the lower inclined channel 10B, the upper side of the measuring unit 18B is open, and the camera 40 is disposed here. Has been.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a liquid circulation mechanism 20 that circulates seawater through the liquid flow path 10 pumps up seawater in the tank 21 and supplies the seawater in the tank 21 to the liquid inflow portion 11A in the upper inclined flow path 10A. And a second pump 23 that pumps the seawater in the tank 21 and supplies it to the liquid inflow portion 11B in the lower inclined flow path 10B. The tank 21 is configured to collect the seawater that passes through the upper and lower inclined channels 10A and 10B and is discharged from the liquid outlet 17B of the inclined channel 10B through the individual trap cage 24.

  Next, the illumination mechanism 30, the camera 40, and the image analysis unit 50 combined with the lower inclined channel 10B in order to continuously count the individual in the liquid channel 10 will be described.

  The illumination mechanism 30 is provided below the measurement unit 18B in the lower inclined channel 10B. The bottom plate of the inclined channel 10B including the measurement unit 18B is formed of a transparent resin. The illumination mechanism 30 includes a light source composed of a large number of white light emitting diodes arranged in two vertical and horizontal directions along the back surface of the measurement unit 18B, and a diffusion plate arranged on the front side of the light source, and is transparent in the measurement unit 18B. Irradiate the back surface of the bottom plate with white diffused light.

  The camera 40 is a line camera disposed above the inclined flow path 10B so as to photograph the measurement unit 18B from above, and photographs a predetermined horizontal line in a cycle of about 100 μs. The visual axis of the camera 40 is inclined downstream with respect to a line perpendicular to the surface of the transparent bottom plate in the measurement unit 18B. This inclination is effective for avoiding the influence of the ripple of the seawater flowing through the measuring unit 18B, together with the illumination by the white diffused light from the back side by the illumination mechanism 30.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the image analysis unit 50 includes an image capturing unit 51 that captures a linear image from the camera 40, an image creation unit 52 that creates a determination image (see FIG. 9) from the captured linear image, and a creation A calculation / conversion unit 53 that measures the number of individuals from the determined determination image, a recording unit 54 that records calculation information, a monitor screen construction unit 55, a monitor 56 that displays the constructed image, and the like are provided. These functions will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, the image analysis unit 50 sequentially captures linear images from the camera 40 in step S1 in FIG. In step S2, the captured linear image is sequentially binarized. In the binarization process, as shown in FIG. 9, the brightness of a linear image is determined by a threshold value, white (level 0) is brighter than the threshold, and black (level 1) is darker than the threshold. ). FIG. 9 schematically shows photographing data when the measuring unit 18B is photographed by the camera 40 with a straight line AA and a straight line BB, and binarization processing of the photographing data. On the measuring unit 18B, 60 represents an individual to be counted, 61 represents foreign matter and bubbles, and 62 represents solid foreign matter such as dust. The shooting data is level 1 (black) at these objects.

  When the binarization processing of the linear image ends, the linear images are connected one after another in step S3, and a determination image is created. The determination image is shown in the upper part of FIG. In the determination image, an image 60 ′ of the individual 60 to be counted, an image 61 ′ of the bubble 61, an image 62 ′ of the solid foreign matter 62, etc. are shown in the formation screen 63 ′.

  When the determination image is created, in step S4, all images 60 ', 61', 62 'in the determination image are extracted and given numbers. This process is called labeling and is schematically shown in the middle of FIG. When this labeling is completed, the dimensions of the labeled images 60 ′, 61 ′, 62 ′ are determined in step S5, and the shape of the images 60 ′, 61 ′, 62 ′ is subsequently determined in step S6, thereby counting. Only the image 60 ′ of the individual 60 to be extracted is extracted (lower diagram in FIG. 10). In step S7, the extracted image 60 'of the individual 60 is counted and the count value is updated.

  By continuing this, the number of individuals 60 thrown is automatically measured.

  In the individual counting apparatus having such a configuration, details of the function will be described in the case of measuring the number of small fry individuals such as shrimp larvae.

  In the counting operation, first, the first pump 22 in the liquid circulation mechanism 20 is operated. Thereby, the seawater in the tank 21 is continuously supplied to the liquid inflow portion 11A provided at the upstream end of the upper inclined channel 10A. The seawater supplied to the liquid inflow portion 11A flows from the upstream side to the downstream side through the inclined channel 10A and is discharged from the liquid outlet port 17A provided at the downstream end. The seawater discharged from the outlet 17A flows into the liquid inflow portion 11B provided at the upstream end of the lower inclined channel 10B, flows from the upstream side to the downstream side through the inclined channel 10B, and flows downstream. The liquid is discharged into the tank 21 from the liquid outlet 17B provided at the end.

  Thus, the seawater continuously circulates in the liquid channel 10 composed of the upper and lower inclined channels 10A and 10B.

  In order to measure the number of small larvae such as shrimp larvae, an aggregate of individuals 60 made of larvae is placed in the individual charging section 12A of the upper inclined channel 10A in a state where seawater is circulated in the liquid channel 10. throw into. The charged solid 60 is transported from the upstream side to the downstream side of the inclined channel 10 </ b> A by seawater flowing through the liquid channel 10.

  At this time, the seawater supplied to the supply unit 11A is rectified into a thin layer flow at high speed along the bottom surface of the inclined channel 10A by the barrier 13A provided on the upstream side of the individual charging unit 12A. As a result, the charged solid 60 can be reliably conveyed to the liquid pool 14A on the downstream side.

  In the liquid reservoir 14A, as shown in FIG. 6, a triangular tip-shaped depression whose inclination angle increases from both sides toward the center is formed on the inclined surface rising toward the downstream side. Once the seawater flow is concentrated in the depression, it spreads on both sides and up and down on the downstream side. For this reason, the charged individual 60 once concentrates in the triangular depression when passing through the liquid reservoir 14A, but after coming out of it, it is scattered on both sides and up and down and is conveyed downstream. And it discharges | emits from the liquid outlet 17A through the steep acceleration part 16A provided in the downstream edge part of 10 A of inclined flow paths. The discharged seawater falls and flows into the liquid inflow portion 11B provided at the upstream end of the lower inclined channel 10B. In the process of falling from the acceleration unit 16A, the dispersion of the individuals 60 in the seawater is promoted.

  The solid 60 that has flowed into the lower inclined channel 10B together with the seawater further disperses when it passes over the weir 12B. Subsequently, the dispersion of the solids proceeds in the tip-shaped liquid reservoir 14B provided on the downstream side, as in the case of the upper inclined channel 10A. In addition, the lower inclined channel 10B has a larger inclination angle than the upper inclined channel 10A. For this reason, the seawater flow is accelerated by the lower inclined channel 10B, and in the second flat portion 15B or the like, the dispersion of the individual 60 proceeds mainly in the transport direction.

  For these reasons, even the individual 60 thrown in as an aggregate is sufficiently dispersed when passing through the measurement unit 18B in the second flat portion 15B, and in the laminar lateral, longitudinal and thickness directions. Does not overlap. Therefore, the number of individuals 60 is measured with high accuracy by one camera 40 and the image analysis unit 50 connected thereto.

  In addition, in the individual counting device of the present embodiment, the measuring unit 18B is illuminated from below by the illumination mechanism 30. In order to disperse the individual 60, the seawater passing through the liquid flow path 10 requires a certain amount of water and turbulent flow. On the other hand, a certain amount of water and turbulent flow are illuminated by the measurement unit 18B. The flow pattern of seawater is generated by the above, and the shadow of the pattern is photographed by the camera 40 and imaged. Although this shadow makes the counting of the individual 60 by the camera 40 in the measurement unit 18B inaccurate, it is caused by the right angle irradiation of the white diffused light by the illumination mechanism 30 and the inclination of the visual axis of the camera 40 with respect to the bottom plate surface of the measurement unit 18B. The shadow of the flow pattern disappears from the photographed image, and the accuracy of counting the individual 60 by the camera 40 and the image analysis unit 50 in the measurement unit 18B increases.

  Furthermore, foaming is suppressed in the process of passing through the barrier 13A in the upper inclined channel 10A, the process of falling from the acceleration unit 16A, and the process of passing through the weir 12B in the lower inclined channel 10B. For this reason, the accuracy of counting the individual 60 by the camera 40 and the image analysis unit 50 in the measurement unit 18B is further improved.

  Furthermore, since the individual 60 is immersed in seawater until it is discharged from the individual counting device, even when the individual 60 is like a shrimp larva, its weakness or death. Is prevented. The individual 60 that has finished counting is collected by the capture basket 24 in the tank 21.

  When the second pump 23 is operated together with the first pump 22 in the liquid circulation mechanism 20, the seawater is also supplied to the lower inclined channel 10B, and the amount of water in the inclined channel 10B increases, thereby further promoting the dispersion of the individual 60. Is done.

  The above-described individual counting device was actually produced. The length of the upper inclined channel 10A is about 400 mm, the inclination angle is about 3 degrees, the length of the lower inclined channel 10B is about 800 mm, and the inclination angle is about 7 degrees. Further, the lateral width of both the inclined channels 10A and 10B is about 100 mm, the minimum inclination angle of the liquid reservoirs 14A and 14B in both the inclined channels 10A and 10B is about 18 degrees, and the maximum inclination angle is about 30 degrees. In the liquid circulation mechanism 20, only the second pump 22 was operated, and artificial seawater was circulated through the inclined channels 10A and 10B at a flow rate of 10 L / min. When about 100 shrimp larvae having a length of about 5 mm were introduced at a time, the error was within -5 per 100 animals. The error when about 500 animals were added at once was within -5%, and the error when about 1000 animals were added at once was within -10%.

  In the above embodiment, the light emitting diode is used as the light source in the illumination mechanism 30, but another light source may be used. Although a line camera is used as the camera 40, a CCD camera or the like having a slightly different image analysis process can be used. The tilt angle of the camera 40 may be determined by observing an image with an optimum value for eliminating the influence of the wave, and is appropriately changed depending on the apparatus configuration, liquid flow conditions, and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Liquid flow path 10A Upper stage inclined flow path 11A Liquid inflow part 12A Solid injection | throwing-in part 13A Barrier 14A Liquid pool 15A Flat part 16A Acceleration part 17A Outlet 10B Lower inclination flow path 11B Liquid inflow part 12B Weir part 13B 1st flat part 14B Liquid pool 15B 2nd flat part 16B Acceleration part 17B Acceleration part 18B Measurement part 20 Liquid circulation mechanism 21 Tank 22 1st pump 23 2nd pump 24 Capture basket 30 Illumination mechanism 40 Camera 50 Image analysis part 60 Individual to be counted (fry) Kind)
Image of 60 'individual

Claims (2)

  An individual counting device using fluid, in which individuals to be counted are transported by fluid, and the individuals are dispersed in the transport process, and the number of individuals is measured by photographing with a camera and analysis of the photographed images, and tilts in a predetermined direction. An inclined channel in which the solid to be counted flows together with the liquid is provided, and the bottom surface is inclined upward toward the downstream side in the middle portion of the inclined channel, and the inclination angle increases from both sides toward the center. An individual counting device provided with a liquid pool consisting of a triangular pointed depression that gradually increases. 2. The individual counting device according to claim 1, wherein the inclined channel is a vertically long rectangular box having a U-shaped cross section in which a side plate on both sides and a bottom plate constructed between both side plates are combined.

Images