JP6662729B2 - Internal quality evaluation system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention is an internal quality evaluation system for evaluating the internal quality of fruits or vegetables such as avocado maximum cylinder diameter is displaced from the fruit or vegetable reference direction central connecting Hateitadaki portion and fruit梗部toward the Hateitadaki portion or fruit梗部about the.

  2. Description of the Related Art An internal quality evaluation system that irradiates a measuring object with light to receive internal transmitted light and determines the internal quality of the measuring object based on the transmitted light is known.

  For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 below disclose a tray on which fruits and vegetables to be measured can be placed, a transport mechanism that transports the tray in a transport direction, and a transport path in the transport mechanism below the transport mechanism. A light-emitting unit that emits measurement light upward from above, a light-receiving unit that receives transmitted light emitted from the light-emitting unit and transmitted through the fruits and vegetables, and a fruit or vegetable based on the transmitted light received by the light-receiving unit. An internal quality evaluation system including an evaluation means for evaluating the internal quality of the electronic device is disclosed.

  Specifically, in the conventional configurations described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the tray has a slit formed along the transport direction at the center in the transport width direction and an opening width of the slit at the center in the tray transport direction. A gap formed with a large diameter is provided, and the measurement light projected from the light projecting section is irradiated to the fruits and vegetables on the tray via the slit and the gap. .

  The conventional configuration is useful when a fruit or vegetable such as an apple or a tangerine, which is located in the center with respect to the direction in which the maximum body diameter portion is conveyed, is the measurement target, but the maximum body diameter portion such as avocado. For fruits and vegetables that are displaced from the center of the fruit and vegetable reference direction connecting the fruit crest and the fruit stalk to the fruit apex or the fruit stalk, the amount of light incident on the maximum body diameter of the light from the light emitting unit is reduced. There was a problem that it became insufficient.

  That is, in the conventional configuration, the gap is disposed at the center in the tray conveyance direction. Therefore, when an apple, a tangerine, or the like whose maximum body diameter portion in the tray mounted state is located at the center of the tray transport direction is an object to be measured, the maximum body diameter portion is located on the wide gap. Therefore, the measurement light from the light projecting portion can be effectively distributed to the maximum body diameter portion via the gap portion.

  However, when the avocado or the like, which is displaced from the center of the fruit and vegetable reference direction where the maximum body diameter part connects the apex and the stalk to the apex or the stalk, is the measurement target, the tray is placed on the tray. The position of the maximum body diameter portion is displaced from the gap portion, and the amount of incident light from the light projecting portion to the maximum body diameter portion becomes insufficient. As a result, the accuracy of the internal quality evaluation deteriorates. .

JP 2009-220043 A JP-A-2000-102769

The present invention has been made in view of such prior art, and the fruits and vegetables whose maximum body diameter is displaced from the center in the fruit and vegetable reference direction connecting the apex and the stalk to the apex or the stalk part The purpose of the present invention is to provide an internal quality evaluation system that can accurately evaluate the internal quality of products .

The present invention, in order to achieve the above object, to evaluate the internal quality of the fruits and vegetables to be measured located on the side of the apex or stalk from the center of the fruits and vegetables reference direction where the maximum body diameter part connects the apex and the stalk An internal quality evaluation system, comprising a receiving portion on which fruits or vegetables to be measured can be placed directly or indirectly, wherein the receiving portion has a tray conveying direction and is directly or indirectly attached to the receiving portion. A tray provided with a slit that is at least partially closed by the fruits and vegetables to be measured placed thereon, a transport mechanism for transporting the tray in the tray transport direction, and a measurement provided in the middle of transport by the transport mechanism. A light projecting unit for projecting measurement light onto the measurement target fruit and vegetable placed on the receiving seat from the upper and lower sides in the region, and receiving transmitted light emitted from the light projection unit and transmitted through the measurement target fruit and vegetable; Receiver and front And a evaluation means for evaluating the internal quality of the measurement object fruits or vegetables based on the transmitted light received by the light receiving unit, wherein the receiving seat, a tray transporting direction central portion to the position displaced to the tray transporting direction one side A through-hole that is communicated with the slit and wider than the slit is provided, and when the fruits and vegetables to be measured are directly or indirectly placed on the receiving seat portion, the maximum body diameter portion of the fruits and vegetables to be measured Provides an internal quality evaluation system that can be arranged on or close to the through-hole .

  Preferably, the receiving seat portion may have a concave shape that opens upward, with the center portion in the tray conveyance direction and the center portion in the tray width direction being the deepest portion.

  Preferably, the through-hole has a curved shape that is convex outward in the tray width direction in plan view.

In the above various configurations, preferably, the mounting surface of the receiving seat portion is provided with a cushioning material having the slit and the through-hole portion corresponding to the slit and the through-hole portion, and the fruits and vegetables to be measured are provided with the buffer material. And is placed on the receiving seat portion through the.

In one embodiment, the light projecting portion is disposed so as to project the measurement light to the measurement target fruits or vegetables on said receiving seat through the slit and the through hole portion from below the conveyance mechanism, the light receiving portion Has a pair of left and right first and second light receiving portions disposed above the transport mechanism and on one side and the other side in the transport width direction from the center of the tray in the transport width direction.

In the above aspect, preferably, the first and second light receiving units are arranged such that the light receiving optical axes are directed to the placement sites on one side and the other side in the transport width direction of the fruits and vegetables to be measured .

According to the internal quality evaluation system according to the present invention, the measurement placed along the tray conveyance direction and directly or indirectly on the reception seat portion of the tray conveyed in the tray conveyance direction by the conveyance mechanism. In addition to the slit that is at least partially closed by the target vegetable, a through hole that is communicated with the slit and is wider than the slit is provided at a position displaced from the center of the tray transport direction to one side in the tray transport direction. because there, with respect to the measurement target fresh produce maximum cylinder diameter is located on the side of the Hateitadaki portion or fruit梗部from the center of the fruit or vegetable reference direction connecting the Hateitadaki portion and fruit梗部, to the maximum cylinder diameter from the light projecting unit The quantity of the irradiated measurement light can be sufficiently ensured by the presence of the through-hole portion, and the internal quality can be evaluated with high accuracy.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an internal quality evaluation system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the internal quality evaluation system. FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the internal quality evaluation system taken along the line III-III in FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view of a tray in the internal quality evaluation system. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the tray in a state where an object to be measured is placed. FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the tray.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of an internal quality evaluation system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1 and 2 show a schematic plan view and a schematic side view, respectively, of the internal quality evaluation system 1 according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the internal quality evaluation system 1 taken along the line III-III in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the internal quality evaluation system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a tray 100 having a receiving seat portion 130 on which a measurement object 300 is placed, and the tray 100 in a tray transport direction. A transport mechanism 10 for transporting, a light projecting unit 30 for projecting measurement light to the measurement object 300 being transported by the transport mechanism 10, and a measuring object among the measurement lights radiated by the light projecting unit 30. The light receiving unit 50 includes a light receiving unit 50 that receives light transmitted through the object 300 and an evaluation unit 91 that evaluates the internal quality of the measurement object 300.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the light projecting unit 30 emits measurement light from one of the upper and lower sides of the transport mechanism 100 toward the measurement object 300 in a measurement area 10 </ b> B provided in the middle of the transport mechanism 10. Is arranged to project light.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the light projecting unit 30 is disposed below the transport mechanism 10 and emits the measuring light upward.
The measuring light emitted from the light projecting unit 30 is applied to the measuring object 300 through the slit 135 and the through hole 140 provided in the receiving seat 130 of the tray 100. The detailed configuration of the tray 100 will be described later.

  As the light projecting unit 30, for example, a halogen lamp, a xenon lamp, an LED lamp, or the like capable of irradiating light having a wavelength in a near infrared region is used.

  The light receiving unit 50 is disposed in the measurement area 10B so as to face the measurement object 300 on a side opposite to the light emitting unit 30 with the transport mechanism 10 interposed therebetween.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the light emitting unit 30 is disposed below the transport mechanism 10. Therefore, the light receiving unit 50 is disposed above the transport mechanism 10.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the light receiving unit 50 is disposed above the transport mechanism 10 and on one side and the other side in the transport width direction from the center in the tray transport width direction. It has a pair of left and right first and second light receiving units 50 (1) and 50 (2).

  As described above, by providing the first and second light receiving units 50 (1) as the light receiving unit 50, even when the measuring object 300 has the large seed 310, the “dead area” due to the seed can be increased. Can be prevented.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the internal quality evaluation system 1 according to the present embodiment includes the light receiving unit 50 (in the present embodiment, the first and second light receiving units 50 (1), 50 (2) )), And a spectroscopic device 70 that splits the transmitted light from the measuring object 300 received by the light receiving unit 50 to generate spectral information such as a spectral signal.

  In this case, the first and second light receiving units 50 (1) and 50 (2) may be, for example, the front ends of optical fibers optically connected to the spectroscopic device 70 at the rear ends.

  The first and second light receiving units 50 (1) and 50 (2) have the same distance from the measurement object 300 so that the transmitted light of the measurement object 300 can be received under the same conditions.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the spectroscopic device 70 mixes the light received by the first and second light receiving units 50 (1) and 50 (2) in a mixed state. It has a common spectroscope 71 for inputting, but instead of this, the spectroscope 70 is optically connected to the first light receiving unit 50 (1) and connected to the first light receiving unit 50 (1). A first spectroscope that splits the transmitted light received by the first spectroscope to generate first spectral information, and is optically connected to the second light receiving unit 50 (2). It is also possible to make a modification to have a second spectroscope that splits the received transmitted light to generate second spectral information.

  According to such a modification, the internal quality of one side in the transport width direction of the measurement target 300 is determined based on the first spectral information, and the other side in the transport width direction of the measurement target 300 is determined based on the second spectral information. Side internal quality can be determined.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, the front end of the optical fiber whose rear end is optically connected to the spectroscopic device 70 is connected to the light receiving section 50 (the first and second light receiving sections 50 (1), 50 (1), 50). Although the present invention is operated as (2)), the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and a hyperspectral camera or a multispectral camera can be operated as the light receiving unit 50. In this case, the spectrometer 70 is omitted.

The transport mechanism 10 is configured to transport a plurality of the trays 100 in a tray transport direction X in a serial state.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transport mechanism 10 includes a driving rotator 11 such as a driving sprocket, a driven rotator 12 such as a driven sprocket, and the driving rotator 11 and the driving rotator 11. A first endless body 15 (1) such as a chain wound around one side of the driven rotating body in the conveying width direction, a chain wound around the other side of the driving rotating body 11 and the driven rotating body in the conveying width direction, or the like. And the second endless body 15 (2).

  In the tray 100, both ends of a front connecting rod 120 and a rear connecting rod 122 that are disposed along the conveying width direction Y (see FIGS. 1 and 3) before and after the tray conveying direction X have the first and second ends. By being connected to the two endless bodies 15 (1) and 15 (2), they are conveyed endlessly by the conveyance mechanism 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transport mechanism 10 transports the tray 100 in a posture in which the mounting surface of the receiving seat 130 faces upward, and places the measurement target 300 on the mounting surface. And a measurement area 10B provided on the downstream side in the transport direction from the placement area 10A to transport the tray 100 with the placement surface facing upward. The tray 100 is transported with the surface facing upward, and the sorting area 10C provided on the downstream side in the transport direction from the measurement area 10B, and the tray 100 that has passed through the sorting area 10C is returned to the placement area 10A. It has an endless transport path including the return area 10D.

The evaluation unit 91 evaluates the internal quality of the measurement object 300 based on the transmitted light received by the light receiving unit 50.
As described above, the internal quality evaluation system 1 according to the present embodiment includes the spectroscopic device 70. Therefore, the evaluation unit 91 determines the internal quality of the measurement target 300 based on the spectral information from the spectroscopic device 70. Is determined.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the internal quality evaluation system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a control device 90, and the control device 90 functions as the evaluation unit.

More specifically, the control device 90 previously stores threshold data relating to a specific internal quality such as a sugar content.
Then, based on a comparison between the spectral information of the measurement object 300 placed on one tray 100 and the threshold data, the control unit 90 receives the internal quality of the measurement object 300 from the spectroscopy device 70. Is evaluated.

Here, a detailed configuration of the tray 100 will be described.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the tray 100.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the tray 100 on which the measurement object 300 is placed, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG.
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the tray 100.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 3 to 5, the tray 100 is supported by the transport mechanism 10, and a base 110 to be transported is connected to the base 110, and a tray on which the measurement target 300 is placed. And a receiving seat portion 130 including a mounting surface.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 7, the base 110 includes first and second side walls 111 and 112 separated in the conveyance width direction Y of the conveyance mechanism 10, and the first and second side walls 111 and 112. It has a front connecting portion 113 connecting the front sides of the second side walls 111 and 112 in the conveying direction, and a rear connecting portion 114 connecting the rear sides of the first and second side walls 111 and 112 in the conveying direction. .

  The front and rear connecting rods 120 and 122 along the transport width direction of the transport mechanism 10 are supported on the front side and the rear side in the transport direction of the base 110, respectively.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the receiving seat portion 130 is provided at least by a measurement target 300 placed directly or indirectly on the mounting surface of the receiving seat portion 130 along the tray transport direction X. The slit 135 partially closed is provided.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 7, the receiving seat portion 130 is rotatable around pivot shafts 132 (1) and 132 (2) along the transport direction X. It has a pair of first and second receiving members 131 (1) and 131 (2) supported by the base 110, and the first and second receiving members 131 (1) and 131 (2) It is configured such that the slit 135 is defined between the opposing edges.

  The first and second receiving members 131 (1) and 131 (2) correspond to the mounting posture for mounting the measurement object 300 while defining the slit 135 and the pivot corresponding to the mounting posture described above. It is possible to take a discharge posture in which the object to be measured is rotated downward around the support shafts 132 (1) and 132 (2) to drop the measurement object downward.

  In the present embodiment, the maximum body diameter portion 305 is displaced from the center 300M of the fruit and vegetable reference direction 300L connecting the fruit crest 301 and the fruit stalk 302 to the fruit cusp 301 or the fruit stalk 302, and the largest such as avocado. The following configuration is employed in order to accurately evaluate the internal quality of the body-diameter-displaced fruits and vegetables 300.

  That is, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 and the like, the receiving seat portion 130 communicates with the slit 135 at a position 100D displaced from the central portion 100M in the tray transport direction to one side in the tray transport direction, and The through hole portion 140 wider than 135 is provided.

  As described above, by providing the through-hole portion 140 in the receiving seat portion 130, when the maximum body diameter portion displacement fruits and vegetables 300 are placed on the receiving seat portion 130, the maximum body diameter portion 305 is inserted into the through-hole portion 305. It can be located on the part 140 or close to the through-hole part 140.

  Therefore, the quantity of the measurement light incident on the maximum body diameter portion 305 from the light projecting portion 30 can be sufficiently ensured by the presence of the through-hole portion 140, whereby the inside of the maximum body diameter portion displacement vegetable 300 can be obtained. Quality can be accurately evaluated.

  In the present embodiment, a notch is formed at a position displaced from the central portion 100M in the tray conveyance direction to one side in the tray conveyance direction among the opposing edges of the first and second receiving members 131 (1) and 131 (2). 133 is provided, and the notch 133 forms the through-hole portion 140.

As shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, the receiving seat portion 130 has a concave portion that opens upward, with the central portion in the tray transport direction 100M and the central portion in the tray width direction being the deepest portion. It has been.
With such a configuration, it is possible to stabilize the posture of the fruits and vegetables 300 while being placed on the receiving seat 130.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 to 7 and the like, the mounting surface of the receiving seat portion 130 has a slit and a through hole corresponding to the slit 135 and the through hole portion 140. The buffer material 150 having the hole is provided, and the fruits and vegetables 300 to be measured are placed on the receiving seat 130 via the buffer material 150.

With such a configuration, the measurement light leaks from between the fruits and vegetables 300 and the tray 100 (in this case, between the fruits and vegetables 300 and the buffer material 150) while suppressing damage to the fruits and vegetables 300 serving as the measurement target. Therefore, it is possible to effectively suppress that the measurement light from the light projecting unit 30 is directly received by the light receiving unit 50 without passing through the fruits and vegetables 300 and adversely affects the evaluation of the internal quality.
The buffer material 150 can support the fruits and vegetables 300 in an elastically deformed state when the fruits and vegetables 300 to be measured are placed, and for example, a sponge can be used.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and the like, the cushioning material 150 is provided on the first and second receiving members 131 (1) and 131 (2) respectively. It has two cushioning materials 150 (1) and 150 (2), and the slit and the through hole are defined between the first and second cushioning materials 150 (1) and 150 (2). .

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 7, the through-hole portion 140 has a curved shape that is convex outward in the tray width direction in plan view. Thus, leakage of measurement light from between the through-hole portion 140 and the fruit and vegetable 300 is prevented.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 and the like, the through-hole portion 140 has a substantially circular shape.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the first and second light receiving units 50 (1) and 50 (2) are arranged such that the light receiving optical axis 50Y is located on one side and the other side in the transport width direction of the fruit and vegetable 300. It is arranged so as to face the mounting portion (contact point with the tray 100).

  According to such a configuration, the field of view of the first and second light receiving units 50 (1) and 50 (2) can be made as much as possible while avoiding the seed 310 of the measurement target 300. They can be arranged to cover a wide area.

  As described above, when the light receiving optical axes 50Y of the first and second light receiving units 50 (1) and 50 (2) are directed to the portion where the fruits and vegetables 300 are placed, the cushioning material 150 and / or the through hole 140 are provided. With this curved shape, prevention of light leakage is particularly effective.

Here, the operation of the internal quality evaluation system 1 will be described mainly with reference to FIGS.
In the placement area 10 </ b> A of the transport mechanism 10, an operator places a maximum body diameter portion displacement fruit or vegetable 300 such as avocado as a measurement target on the tray 100.

ON / OFF of the light emission of the light emitting section 30 is controlled by the control device 90.
That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the internal quality evaluation system 1 according to the present embodiment performs measurement for detecting that one tray 100 transported by the transport mechanism 10 has reached the measurement area 10B. An area sensor 190 is provided.

  When the control device 90 detects that one tray 100 has reached the measurement region 10B based on a signal from the measurement region sensor 190, the control device 90 causes the light projecting unit 30 to emit light and the first and second light receiving units 50 to emit light. (1) The spectral information of the transmitted light received by (2) is input from the spectroscopic device 70.

Preferably, the measurement space 20 including the tray 100, the light projecting unit 30, the first light receiving unit 50 (1), and the second light receiving unit 50 (2) that has reached the measurement area 10B is in a dark room state. Can be.
According to such a configuration, the influence of disturbance light can be prevented as much as possible.

The internal quality evaluation system 1 according to the present embodiment further includes a sorting area sensor 192 that detects that one tray 100 transported by the transport mechanism 10 has reached the sorting area 10C.
Instead, the control device 90 recognizes that one measurement target 300 has reached the sorting area 10C based on the elapsed time from the passage of the measurement area 10B and the transport speed of the transport unit 10. It is also possible to configure.

  When the control device 90 recognizes that one tray 100 has reached the sorting area 10C, the control device 90 displays the evaluation result of the measurement target 300 placed on the one tray 100 on a display means 95 such as a monitor. be able to.

  According to such a configuration, the operator can sort the measurement object 300 on the one tray 100 based on the evaluation result displayed on the display means 95.

  Instead, the internal quality evaluation system 1 includes a payout mechanism (not shown) that pays out the measurement object 300 from the transport mechanism 10 to a corresponding sorting position in the sorting area 10C, and the control device 90 includes: It is also possible to configure so as to operate the payout mechanism based on the evaluation result of the internal quality.

Reference Signs List 1 internal quality evaluation system 10 transport mechanism 10B measurement area 30 light emitting unit 50 (1) first light receiving unit 50 (2) second light receiving unit 50Y light receiving optical axis 91 evaluation unit 100 tray 130 receiving seat 135 slit 140 through hole 150 (1) First buffer material 150 (2) Second buffer material 300 Fruits and vegetables (measurement target)
301 Fruit crest 302 Fruit stalk 305 Maximum body diameter 300L Fruit and vegetable reference direction 300M Fruit and vegetable reference direction center

Claims (6)

An internal quality evaluation system that evaluates the internal quality of the measurement target vegetable located on the side of the fruit crest or the fruit stalk from the center of the fruit or vegetable reference direction where the maximum trunk diameter connects the fruit apex and the fruit stalk,
It has a receiving seat that can directly or indirectly place the fruits and vegetables to be measured , and the receiving seat has at least a fruit or vegetable directly or indirectly placed on the receiving seat along the tray transport direction. A tray provided with a slit that is partially closed, a transport mechanism that transports the tray in the tray transport direction, and a receiving area from above and below one side in a measurement area provided in the transport of the transport mechanism. a light projecting portion for projecting a measuring light on the placed measured fruits or vegetables, and a light receiving portion for receiving the light transmitted through the projected are and measured the fruits or vegetables from the light projecting unit, is received by the light receiving portion Evaluation means for evaluating the internal quality of the fruits and vegetables to be measured based on the transmitted light,
The receiving seat portion is provided with a through-hole portion which is communicated with the slit and is wider than the slit at a position displaced from the central portion of the tray transport direction to one side in the tray transport direction , and directly connects the fruits and vegetables to be measured. or maximum cylinder diameter of the measuring object the fruit or vegetable is on the through hole portions when the indirectly is placed on the receiving seat, or that you have been capable disposed close to the through hole portion Characteristic internal quality evaluation system.   2. The internal quality evaluation system according to claim 1, wherein the receiving seat portion has a concave shape that opens upward, with a central portion in a tray conveying direction and a central portion in a tray width direction being the deepest portion. 3.   The internal quality evaluation system according to claim 1, wherein the through-hole has a curved shape that is convex outward in the tray width direction in plan view. On the mounting surface of the receiving seat portion, a buffer material provided in the slit and the through-hole portion corresponding to the slit and the through-hole portion is provided, and the fruits and vegetables to be measured are placed on the receiving seat portion via the buffer material. The internal quality evaluation system according to claim 1, wherein the internal quality evaluation system is provided. The light projecting unit is arranged to project a measuring light to the measurement target fruits or vegetables on said receiving seat from below through the slit and the through hole portion of the conveying mechanism,
The light receiving unit includes a pair of left and right first and second light receiving units disposed above the transport mechanism and on one side and the other side in the transport width direction from the center of the tray in the transport width direction. The internal quality evaluation system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: 6. The interior according to claim 5, wherein the first and second light receiving units are arranged such that a light receiving optical axis is directed to a placement site on one side and the other side in the transport width direction of the fruits and vegetables to be measured. Quality evaluation system.

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