JP6203922B1 - Fruit and vegetable inspection equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus capable of accurately detecting abnormalities such as spoilage parts resulting from fluctuations in moisture present on the surface and inside of fruit and skin, and capable of detecting even minute water rot. To do. Based on the light projecting means for irradiating the fruit and vegetables with inspection light, the image pickup means for picking up the fruit and vegetables with the inspection light, and the inspection image of the fruit and vegetables imaged by the image pickup means, the presence or absence of abnormality of the fruit and vegetables is detected. Analyzing means, the light projecting means can irradiate light including an inspection wavelength of 1450 ± 50 nm, the imaging means includes an InGaAs photodiode as an imaging element, and the analyzing means is based on light having an inspection wavelength. The inspection image is used to detect the presence or absence of abnormalities in the fruits and vegetables. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus for inspecting the presence or absence of an abnormality in the fruit and fruit skin, such as water rot that appears on the surface of a citrus fruit skin.

  In citrus fruits, when the skin is damaged, if bacteria enter the wound and are stored in a hot and humid state, a symptom called water rot may appear.

  The reason for the scratches on the pericarp is roughly that rainwater enters from the small cracks formed in the pores and expands, so that the cracks spread while being submerged. Injuries, such as trauma, insect bites, and bruises.

When fungi such as mold enter from wounds caused by natural occurrence, the fungus such as fungus propagates and destroys oil vesicles as symptoms progress.
When the symptom further progresses, the water disappears from the place where the rot occurs, and a state called dry rot occurs.

  In this way, when citrus fruits with water rot are mixed and packed with normal products, there is a risk of rot to normal products, so in order to ensure product quality, It is desired to eliminate it at the selection stage.

  By the way, there is a flavonoid-based substance that emits fluorescence in the visible region in the oil vesicles of the pericarp, and when the oil vesicle is destroyed, it becomes possible to detect the flavonoid-based substance that emits fluorescence in the visible region. In Patent Documents 1 to 4, image inspection is performed by detecting a specific fluorescence wavelength derived from a flavonoid-based substance that emits fluorescence in the visible region by ultraviolet irradiation.

  In addition, as a method for inspecting the presence or absence of water rot, mold and dry rot, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 5, light is emitted from an illumination lamp such as a halogen lamp to fruits and vegetables. There is known a method for detecting the presence or absence of a discolored or corrupt portion of fruit and vegetables by imaging reflected light with an imaging camera.

  Further, Patent Document 6 irradiates fruits and vegetables from visible light to near-infrared light, and captures changes in surface layer components such as moisture and oil at wavelengths in the near-infrared region, thereby enabling multivariate analysis. Determining a change in moisture status is disclosed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-14650 JP 2011-33612 A JP 2013-231668 A Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-184071 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-24343 Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-201636

  However, substances that fluoresce when irradiated with ultraviolet light are in a detectable state when citrus oil vesicles are destroyed. Can not be detected unless the oil is propagated and even the oil vesicles are destroyed.

  In other words, natural water rot caused by rainwater entering from the small cracks formed in the pores to expand and become water-immersed, especially minute water rot of about 10 mm in diameter as required in the market in recent years. Cannot be detected by the inspection disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2.

  In addition, it is possible to detect a change in oil content derived from rot only at a point in time when the water rot state is relatively advanced at which destruction of citrus oil vesicles occurs.

  For this reason, the sensitivity is low to detect minute water rot of about 10 mm in diameter as required in the market in recent years, and sufficient inspection cannot be performed.

  In addition, as disclosed in Patent Document 6, in a calibration curve using multivariate analysis using visible light and near infrared light, technical knowledge is required to create a calibration curve, and complicated work is required. Therefore, not everyone can use it easily.

  Furthermore, the sensitivity of the Si photodiode in the near-infrared region is low, and there is a possibility that the initial detection of water rot is insufficient and cannot be detected.

  In the present invention, in view of such a current situation, abnormalities such as rot caused by fluctuations in moisture existing on the surface and inside of the fruit skin are accurately detected, and even minute water rot is detected. An object of the present invention is to provide a fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus.

The present invention was invented in order to solve the problems in the prior art as described above.
A fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus for determining the presence or absence of abnormality of fruit and vegetables,
A light projecting means for irradiating the fruit and vegetables with inspection light;
Imaging means for imaging the fruits and vegetables with the inspection light;
Based on the inspection image of the fruits and vegetables imaged by the imaging means, analysis means for detecting the presence or absence of abnormality of the fruits and vegetables,
A transport means for transporting the fruits and vegetables in a predetermined direction,
The light projecting means can irradiate light including an inspection wavelength of 1450 ± 50 nm,
The imaging means includes an InGaAs photodiode as an imaging element,
The analysis means detects in-line presence or absence of abnormality including at least water rot of the fruits and vegetables by binarizing the inspection image based on the light having the inspection wavelength after conspicuous a change in contrast. Composed of
The imaging means captures an inspection image of the fruits and vegetables with the reflected light reflected from the fruits and vegetables by the inspection light emitted from the light projecting means,
Each pixel value of the inspection image is a reflection ratio R of the fruits and vegetables calculated as a ratio of the reflected light Rs from the fruits and vegetables and the reflected light Rr from the standard obtained by irradiating the incident light acquired in advance. That is, it is determined based on the following formula (1) .

Et al is, each pixel value of the inspection image, absorbance A of the apparent, i.e., can be determined on the basis of the following formula (2).

In this case, further comprising a reflecting mirror on both sides of the conveying means,
By projecting the side part of the fruit and vegetables on the reflecting mirror, the whole fruit and vegetables can be imaged by the imaging means.

Moreover, the said conveyance means may be provided with the fruit and vegetables rotation mechanism which rotates the said fruit and vegetables in a desired direction.
Further, the imaging means is disposed above the fruits and vegetables,
The imaging means may be further arranged below the fruits and vegetables.
Moreover, the said imaging means may be arrange | positioned above the said fruits and vegetables.
Furthermore, the imaging means may be arranged below the fruits and vegetables.

  According to the present invention, among the absorption wavelengths of water, an inspection wavelength which is 1450 ± 50 nm is used, and fruits and vegetables are imaged using a highly sensitive InGaAs photodiode. Since it detects, the change of a moisture state can be caught with sufficient accuracy and minute water rot of about 10 mm in diameter can also be detected.

  In addition, since the inspection can be performed only with the inspection wavelength of 1450 ± 50 nm, it is possible to provide a fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus having a simpler configuration than that using light of a plurality of wavelengths as in the prior art.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining the configuration of an embodiment of the fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining another configuration in one embodiment of the fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining another configuration in the embodiment of the fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining a configuration in another embodiment of the fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining a configuration in still another embodiment of the fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining another configuration in yet another embodiment of the fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining a configuration in still another embodiment of the fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining another configuration in yet another embodiment of the fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining another configuration in yet another embodiment of the fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 10 shows an inspection image (inspection image based on 1450 nm light) (FIG. 10A) when inspecting fruits and vegetables S using the fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and 960 nm light (FIG. 10). It is an example of a comparative image based on (b)) and 1150 nm light (FIG. 10C). FIG. 11 is an example of a comparative image in the case where a Si photodiode is used as the image pickup device of the image pickup unit and light of 960 nm is used as the inspection light.

Hereinafter, embodiments (examples) of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining the configuration of an embodiment of the fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes a light projecting unit 12 that irradiates inspection light onto the fruit and vegetable S to be measured from above the fruit and vegetable S, and inspection light reflected on the fruit and vegetable S ( The image pickup means 14 picks up the fruits and vegetables S from above the fruits and vegetables S by the reflected light, and the analysis means 16 detects the spoiled part of the fruits and vegetables S based on the inspection image of the fruits and vegetables S picked up by the image pickup means 14.
Here, “above” the fruits and vegetables S is above the surface on which the fruits and vegetables S are placed, and includes the vertical direction and the oblique direction of the fruits and vegetables S.

In the present embodiment, the fruits and vegetables S are not particularly limited, but can be, for example, citrus fruits such as mandarin oranges and citrus fruits, pears, peaches, loquats, plums, and apples.
Further, in the case of such a fruit and vegetable S, in the fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, for example, water rot found in citrus fruits, water fruit found in pears, peach, loquat, plums, apples and the like. It can be inspected for scars and the like.

Here, “water rot” means that when the skin is damaged, as described above, bacteria enter the wound, and the surface of the skin is wet for a long time due to rain or dew. It is a symptom that appears as if the pericarp swells, appearing under temperature conditions.
In addition, “water fruit” is a symptom in which the pulp is immersed in water. When the degree becomes severe, the pulp becomes brownish.
In addition, “pressing marks” are the result of local pressure being applied to the surface of fruits and vegetables by contact between the fruits and vegetables, destroying the flesh tissue of the fruits and vegetables, and moisture exuded from the flesh tissue between the peel and the flesh. This is a symptom in which a state to perform (so-called internal bleeding state in the human body) appears.

  The fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is not limited to the inspection of such a failure, but, for example, is a general failure related to the increase or decrease of water that appears in the skin surface and / or under the skin when the pulp cell is destroyed. It is possible to check for.

  The light projecting means 12 is not particularly limited as long as it can irradiate near infrared light including an inspection wavelength of 1450 ± 50 nm. For example, a halogen lamp, an LED light source, or a laser device is used. it can. The LED light source may be one that emits white light, but may be one that emits only light of a specific wavelength.

  The imaging unit 14 is not particularly limited as long as it can capture an image based on the inspection light having the wavelength irradiated by the light projecting unit 12, and is not limited to an area camera, a line camera, an imaging spectrometer, and a multiband camera. Etc. can be used.

  The present invention is characterized in that an InGaAs photodiode is used as the image pickup element of such an image pickup means 14. As described above, by using the InGaAs photodiode, even inspection light having a wavelength of 1450 ± 50 nm can be detected with high sensitivity and low noise.

A band-pass filter 18 that transmits only light of a predetermined wavelength may be provided between the light projecting unit 12 and the fruits and vegetables S.
By configuring in this way, the light projecting means 12 can irradiate the fruits and vegetables S only with the light having the necessary wavelength, and the light having the wavelength unnecessary for the image analysis is not received, so that the noise can be reduced.

  The analysis means 16 is not particularly limited as long as it can determine the presence / absence of a spoiled part based on the captured inspection image by image analysis as will be described later. For example, the image analysis program Can be a computer in which is embedded.

  In the fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, the fruit and vegetables S are irradiated with inspection light from the light projecting means 12 and the fruit and vegetables S are picked up by the imaging means 14 using the reflected light from the fruits and vegetables S to obtain an inspection image. doing.

  In this embodiment, each pixel value of the inspection image is determined based on the light amount L of the inspection light (reflected light) received by the imaging unit 14, but, for example, as shown by the following formula (1), the fruits and vegetables Based on the reflection ratio of the fruits and vegetables S calculated as a ratio between the reflected light Rs from S and the reflected light Rr from a standard body (for example, a gray chart) obtained by irradiating incident light acquired in advance. Each pixel value of the inspection image is determined. In addition, as represented by the following formula (2), the pixel value may be determined based on the apparent absorbance from the calculated reflection ratio R.

  In this way, by using the reflected light Rr from the standard as a reference, the reflection ratio R can be measured with almost no variation even when the light amount is reduced due to, for example, deterioration of the light projecting means 12. Therefore, a stable inspection can be performed for a long time.

The determination of each pixel value of the inspection image based on the reflection ratio R and the apparent absorbance A can be performed as follows, for example.
For example, in the case of an 8-bit image, the pixel value is a value from 0 to 255. Therefore, the assumed minimum value of the reflection ratio R (appropriately set based on the performance of the imaging unit 14) is “0”, and the reflection ratio R is The reflection ratio R of each pixel may be converted so that 1 which is the maximum value becomes “255”.

Then, by analyzing the inspection image with the analysis means 16, the rot portion of the fruit and vegetables S can be detected.
The image analysis in the analysis means 16 is, for example, detecting a change in contrast in the inspection image, or performing a pre-processing such as expansion, contraction, blurring, and edge extraction, which are known techniques, as image processing, to change the contrast. After making the image stand out, a binarization process can be performed to detect a corrupt portion in the inspection image.

  This is because the rot portion of the fruits and vegetables S has a larger amount of water than the normal portion, so that the light having the absorption wavelength of water is absorbed by the rot portion and is imaged by the imaging means 14 as compared with the normal portion. This is based on the decrease in the amount of light at the rot site.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the band-pass filter 18 is provided between the light projecting means 12 and the fruits and vegetables S. For example, as shown in FIG. 14 can also be provided.

  Further, when a light source having a small half-value width such as an LED light source or a laser device is used as the light projecting unit 12, as shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining a configuration in another embodiment of the fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus of the present invention.
The fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 4 has basically the same configuration as the fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted. To do.

  1-3, the light projecting means 12 and the imaging means 14 are arrange | positioned with respect to the fruits and vegetables S in the same direction, and the fruits and vegetables S are imaged with reflected light. On the other hand, in the fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus 10 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the inspection light irradiated by the light projecting means 12 passes through the fruit and vegetables S, and the image pickup means 14 inspects the fruits and vegetables S using this transmitted light. Taking an image.

  Thus, even when the inspection image based on the transmitted light is used, as described above, by performing image analysis as in the case of using the inspection image based on the reflected light, the normal part of the fruits and vegetables S And rot sites can be discriminated.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the inspection image is picked up only by the transmitted light. However, by combining with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the inspection image is obtained using both the transmitted light and the reflected light. May be imaged.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining a configuration in still another embodiment of the fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus of the present invention.
The fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 5 has basically the same configuration as the fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted. To do.

The fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is configured such that inspection light is irradiated from the light projecting means 12 to the stationary fruit and vegetables S, and an inspection image based on the inspection light is captured by the imaging means 14. Yes. On the other hand, in the fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus 10 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the inspection light is irradiated onto the fruits and vegetables S conveyed in one direction by the conveying means 20 from above the conveying means 20, and an inspection image is taken. It is configured to do.
Here, “upward” of the conveying means 20 is above the conveying means 20 on which the fruits and vegetables S are placed, and includes the vertical direction and the oblique direction of the fruits and vegetables S.

In this way, a large amount of fruits and vegetables can be efficiently inspected by configuring so as to inspect the fruits and vegetables in-line.
When the inspection is performed while the fruits and vegetables S are transported by the transport means 20, as shown in FIG. 5, the reflecting mirrors 22 are provided on both sides in the transporting direction, and the side portions of the fruits and vegetables S are reflected on the reflecting mirrors 22. Thus, it is preferable that the entire image of the fruits and vegetables S is captured by the imaging unit 14.

  Note that the number of the imaging means 14 is not limited to one. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, by using a plurality of imaging means 14, the upper surface and both side surfaces of the fruit and vegetables S are imaged by separate imaging means 14. It can also be configured.

FIGS. 7-9 is a schematic block diagram for demonstrating the structure in another Example of the fruit and vegetables test | inspection apparatus of this invention.
The fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 has basically the same configuration as the fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be given. Is omitted. In addition, in the drawings shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, a part of the configuration is omitted in order to simplify the description.

As the conveying means 20, for example, when there is a gap as in a roller conveyor, when there is a joint between the conveyors, or when the belt portion of the belt conveyor has translucency, it is shown in FIGS. As described above, the imaging unit 14 may be disposed below the transport unit 20.
Here, “downward” of the conveying means 20 is below the conveying means 20 on which the fruits and vegetables S are placed, and includes the vertical direction and the oblique direction of the fruits and vegetables S.

  In FIG. 7, the imaging unit 14 disposed below the conveying unit 20 and the imaging unit 14 disposed above are arranged in a straight line, but the arrangement is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 8, the upper side and the lower side of the fruits and vegetables S are located at different positions by shifting the imaging unit 14 disposed below the conveying unit 20 and the imaging unit 14 disposed above. It is also possible to take an image with. In addition, as shown in FIG. 9, the imaging unit 14 may be disposed only below the transport unit 20.

  Moreover, although the imaging means 14 shown in FIGS. 1-9 are all arranged in the vertical direction above or below the vertical direction of the fruits and vegetables S, the direction is not particularly limited. The angle can be changed as appropriate according to the apparatus configuration, such as changing the angle below.

  Furthermore, it is preferable to use a line camera as the imaging means 14 when imaging from the gap of the roller conveyor or when imaging from the joint between the conveyors.

  In addition, when images cannot be taken from below the fruits and vegetables S, the fruits and vegetables rotating mechanism (not shown) for rotating the fruits and vegetables S in a desired direction is provided in the conveying means 20, and the fruits and vegetables S are rotated and moved, whereby the fruits and vegetables are rotated. In addition to imaging from one direction with respect to S, imaging may be performed from a plurality of directions. By transporting the fruits and vegetables S by the transport means 20 provided with the fruits and vegetables rotating mechanism (not shown), the entire circumference of the fruits and vegetables S can be sequentially inspected.

  The fruit and vegetable rotating mechanism (not shown) is not particularly limited, and a rotating mechanism that rotates the fruit and vegetables S placed on the conveying means 20 in a desired direction such as a horizontal direction or a vertical direction can be used. Although it is not a thing, the mechanism which reverses the top and bottom of the fruit and vegetables S which is disclosed by Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 10-53213, Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2000-153912, Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2014-97455 etc. may be utilized, for example. Is possible.

  10 shows an inspection image (inspection image based on 1450 nm light) (FIG. 10A) when inspecting fruits and vegetables S using the fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 10 (b)) and 1150 nm light (FIG. 10 (c)). The light projecting unit 12 is a halogen light, and a band pass filter 18 is provided in front of the image capturing unit 14, and the image is captured using the reflected light Rs of the fruits and vegetables S. In addition, the black circles in the figure indicate the parts corresponding to the rotting parts.

  As shown in FIG. 10B, in the image based on the light of 960 nm, the black circle portion corresponding to the decayed portion is not changed compared to other portions, and the decayed portion cannot be determined. Further, as shown in FIG. 10C, in the image based on the light of 1150 nm, the black circle portion corresponding to the decayed portion is picked up slightly black, but the change in contrast is small, and the accuracy of image analysis by a computer or the like is small. It is difficult to determine well and quickly.

  In particular, as shown in FIG. 5, a quick inspection is necessary when in-line fruit and vegetable inspection is performed, and therefore sufficient inspection is required for images such as FIG. 10B and FIG. 10C. I can't do it.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10A, in an image based on light of 1450 nm, a black circle portion corresponding to a rot portion appears clearly in black. As described above, since the change in contrast is large and the decayed portion appears, it is possible to make an accurate and quick determination even in image analysis by a computer or the like, and it is possible to cope with in-line fruit and vegetable inspection.

FIG. 11 is an example of a comparative image in the case where a Si photodiode is used as the image pickup device of the image pickup unit and light of 960 nm is used as the inspection light. In addition, the black circles in the figure indicate the parts corresponding to the rotting parts.
Since the Si photodiode can detect only light up to about 1100 nm, it can only use up to 960 nm as the water absorption wavelength. In such an image using 960 nm inspection light, as shown in FIG. 11, the black circle portion corresponding to the rot portion is not different from other portions. Therefore, it is difficult to determine the rot site.

  The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made without departing from the object of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus 12 Light projection means 14 Imaging means 16 Analysis means 18 Band pass filter 20 Conveyance means 22 Reflector S Fruit and vegetables

Claims (7)

A fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus for determining the presence or absence of abnormality of fruit and vegetables,
A light projecting means for irradiating the fruit and vegetables with inspection light;
Imaging means for imaging the fruits and vegetables with the inspection light;
Based on the inspection image of the fruits and vegetables imaged by the imaging means, analysis means for detecting the presence or absence of abnormality of the fruits and vegetables,
A transport means for transporting the fruits and vegetables in a predetermined direction,
The light projecting means can irradiate light including an inspection wavelength of 1450 ± 50 nm,
The imaging means includes an InGaAs photodiode as an imaging element,
The analysis means detects in-line presence or absence of abnormality including at least water rot of the fruits and vegetables by binarizing the inspection image based on the light having the inspection wavelength after conspicuous a change in contrast. Composed of
The imaging means captures an inspection image of the fruits and vegetables with the reflected light reflected from the fruits and vegetables by the inspection light emitted from the light projecting means,
Each pixel value of the inspection image is a reflection ratio R of the fruits and vegetables calculated as a ratio of the reflected light Rs from the fruits and vegetables and the reflected light Rr from the standard obtained by irradiating the incident light acquired in advance. That is, the fruit and vegetables inspection apparatus characterized by determining based on following formula (1).
2. The fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each pixel value of the inspection image is determined based on an apparent absorbance A, that is, the following equation (2).
Further comprising reflecting mirrors on both sides of the conveying means;
3. The fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the entire fruit and vegetables can be imaged by the imaging unit by projecting a side surface portion of the fruit and vegetables on the reflecting mirror. The fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the transport unit includes a fruit and vegetable rotation mechanism that rotates the fruit and vegetable in a desired direction. The imaging means is disposed above the fruits and vegetables,
The fruit and vegetable inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the imaging means is further disposed below the fruit and vegetables. It said imaging means, vegetables and fruits inspection apparatus according to any one of 4 from claim 1, characterized in that it is arranged above the fruit or vegetable. It said imaging means, vegetables and fruits inspection apparatus according to any one of 4 from claim 1, characterized in that it is disposed below the fruit or vegetable.