JP6686649B2 - Aggregate identification method, aggregate identification device, and aggregate transport storage device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an aggregate identifying method, an aggregate identifying apparatus, and an aggregate transporting / storing apparatus for automatically identifying aggregates classified into a plurality of types according to particle size.

  Conventionally, when storing aggregates classified into a plurality of types according to the particle size at the transport source in a storage silo corresponding to the type at the transport destination, a plurality of aggregates prepared for each type of aggregates are stored. From the storage silos, a worker selects a storage silo corresponding to the type of aggregate that has been carried in, and puts the aggregate into this. However, due to human error in such work, it is likely that the transported aggregate is thrown into a storage silo corresponding to a different type of aggregate selected by mistake.

  Under such circumstances, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method for automatically determining the type of aggregate that has been carried in. Specifically, a distance sensor is installed in the upper part of the belt conveyor device used when transferring the aggregate carried in by a transport vehicle from the loading platform to the storage silo, and the distance sensor measures the distance to the surface of the aggregate on the belt conveyor. taking measurement. The surface irregularity is calculated from this measured value, and compared with the specific surface irregularity calculated in advance for each type of aggregate, the type of the introduced aggregate is determined.

JP, 7-100823, A

  The above method repeats the step of emitting a visible light laser from the distance sensor to the moving aggregate surface on the belt conveyor and capturing the reflected wave at a predetermined sampling interval, and the voltage output curve corresponding to the unevenness of the aggregate surface. To get Then, the difference value between the maximum value and the minimum value on this curve is calculated and used as the surface irregularity of the aggregate.

  Such a surface unevenness is obtained by acquiring a reflected wave at a certain point on the surface of the aggregate on the belt conveyor at a predetermined sampling interval and does not have continuity. Therefore, it is possible to grasp the variation in the height direction for the irregular shape of the aggregate surface that does not have regularity, but it is difficult to accurately grasp the grain size of the aggregate from this irregularity variation. It cannot be said that it has sufficient accuracy to determine the difference in the type of aggregate classified by the diameter.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its main purpose is to automatically identify aggregates in a state of being classified into a plurality of types according to particle size by a simple method without an operator intervening. An aggregate identification method, an aggregate identification apparatus, and an aggregate transport / storage apparatus that can be performed.

In order to achieve such an object, the aggregate identification method of the present invention is an aggregate identification method for identifying the types of aggregate classified into a plurality of types according to particle size, and the aggregate is a belt conveyor in an operating state. Drops on the conveyor belt of the apparatus, of the aggregate mass was imaged by drop the aggregate mass of the line laser camera consisting the aggregate to obtain a cross-sectional image data in a direction parallel to the conveying direction of the conveyor belt , Extracting the contour of the surface of the aggregate mass from the cross-sectional image data as an uneven line, calculating the pitch length between adjacent valleys of the uneven line, and based on the pitch length, the particle size of the aggregate It is characterized in that an estimated value is calculated and the type of aggregate is identified from the estimated particle diameter value.

The aggregate identifying method of the present invention is characterized in that the cross-sectional image data is acquired by imaging the center line of the conveyor belt in the aggregate lump.

The aggregate identifying method of the present invention is characterized in that all pitch lengths between adjacent valleys in the uneven line are calculated, and the one having the longest pitch length is calculated as an estimated particle diameter of the aggregate. .

According to the aggregate identifying method of the present invention described above, the contour of the surface of the aggregate of aggregates can be extracted from the cross-sectional image data as uneven lines. With this, it is possible to calculate the pitch length between adjacent troughs of the uneven line that reflects the shape of each aggregate, and the particle size estimation value can be calculated from the pitch length. Not only can it be estimated, but it is also possible to properly identify the type of aggregate.

Further, according to the above-described aggregate identifying method of the present invention, the contour of the surface of the aggregate of aggregates can be obtained as the uneven line that is substantially horizontal and continuous in the conveying direction of the conveyor belt, so that the uneven lines are more efficiently adjacent to each other It is possible to calculate the pitch length between the troughs and accurately calculate the particle size estimation value.

Furthermore, by imaging the center line of the conveyor belt, it is possible to image the ridge line of the aggregated mass that is formed in a mountain shape by dropping the aggregate on the conveyor belt, so that the shape of each aggregate is reflected more accurately. It is possible to acquire the uneven line.

The aggregate identification device of the present invention, a belt conveyor device , cross-sectional image data on a center line parallel to the conveying direction of the conveyor belt in the aggregate mass of aggregates dropped on the conveyor belt of the belt conveyor device, A line laser camera for acquiring and a terminal device connected to the line laser camera are provided, and the terminal device extracts the contour of the surface of the aggregate of aggregates from the cross-sectional image data as an uneven line, and the uneven line. Of the particle size estimation unit for calculating the particle size estimation value based on the pitch length between the adjacent valleys, and comparing the particle size range and the particle size estimation value specified for each type of aggregate, It is characterized in that a type identification unit for identifying the type of aggregate is provided.

  According to the aggregate identifying apparatus of the present invention described above, the type of aggregate can be automatically identified with high precision by a simple operation of only supplying the aggregate in a pre-classified state to the belt conveyor device, thus reducing the labor time. It is possible to appropriately manage the aggregate while greatly simplifying it.

  An aggregate transporting / storing apparatus of the present invention is an aggregate transporting / storing apparatus using the aggregate identifying apparatus of the present invention, and a plurality of aggregate silos in which aggregates classified by particle size are stored, An aggregate silo is provided with a sorting dropping device for dropping the aggregate, and an aggregate identifying device for supplying the aggregate to the sorting device, wherein the sorting device is identified by the aggregate identifying device. It is characterized in that it is movably installed on a plurality of the aggregate silos based on the type of aggregate.

  According to the aggregate transport / storage device described above, the types of aggregates pre-classified by particle size are stored in the appropriate type of aggregate silo automatically by the aggregate identification device and without erroneous type identification. be able to. Therefore, it is possible to prevent accidentally dropping different types of aggregates into multiple aggregate silos provided for each type, and to construct high-quality concrete structures and civil engineering structures using these aggregates. Is possible.

  According to the present invention, cross-sectional image data of an aggregate lump composed of aggregates classified by particle size is acquired, and uneven lines reflecting the shape of each aggregate are extracted from this cross-sectional image data. Since the type of aggregate is automatically identified by performing image analysis, it is possible to identify the type of aggregate appropriately by a simple method without causing human error.

It is a figure showing the outline of the aggregate transportation storage device in the present invention. It is a figure which shows the aggregate silo of the aggregate conveyance storage apparatus in this invention, and its peripheral equipment. It is a figure which shows the aggregate identification device in this invention. It is a figure which shows the line laser camera of the aggregate identification device in this invention. It is a figure which shows the imaging target area | region of the aggregate identification device in this invention. It is a figure which shows the surface shape of the aggregate mass which consists of aggregates in this invention. It is a figure which shows the cross-sectional image data of the aggregate lump which consists of aggregates in this invention (the 2).

  The present invention is used to automatically identify aggregates in a state of being classified into a plurality of types according to particle size, and the aggregates may be those used as a material for a cementitious mixture such as concrete. However, either one may be adopted. In the present embodiment, a case of manufacturing concrete for constructing a dam will be described as an example, and the details will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in a concrete manufacturing plant F, an aggregate transport / storage device 100 that stores aggregate A, a concrete manufacturing facility 200 that manufactures concrete using the stored aggregate A, and a concrete manufacturing facility. And an aggregate supply device 300 that conveys and supplies the aggregate A from the aggregate transfer / storage device 100 to 200.

  The aggregate supply device 300 is a combination of a plurality of belt conveyor devices 301 that are generally used when transporting bulk goods, and the aggregate A supplied from the aggregate transport / storage device 100 is appropriately transferred to concrete. It is transported to the manufacturing facility 200. The concrete manufacturing facility 200 includes at least a cement silo 201 for supplying cement to the aggregate A supplied from the aggregate transport / storage device 100, a water tank 202 for adding water to the aggregate A, and the aggregate A and the cement. A mixer 203 for kneading water and water is provided, and concrete is manufactured by kneading these with the mixer 203.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the aggregate transport / storage device 100 drops a plurality of aggregate silos 110 that supplies the aggregate A to the aggregate supply device 300 and the aggregate silo 110. The sorting and dropping device 120 for performing the sorting and the aggregate identifying device 140 for identifying the type of the aggregate A and supplying the aggregate A to the sorting and dropping device 120 via the aggregate transport device 130 are provided. The aggregate transport device 130 employs a belt conveyor device that is generally used when transporting bulk goods.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the aggregate silo 110 separates and stores the aggregates A classified in advance according to the particle size for each type, and the aggregate A stored in the aggregate silo 110 is manufactured. A quantity corresponding to the mix design of the concrete to be discharged is discharged from each discharge port 111 of the aggregate silo 110 and supplied to the concrete manufacturing facility 200 via the aggregate supply device 300. In the present embodiment, four types of aggregates (0 to 5 mm, 5 to 20 mm, 20 to 40 mm, 40 to 80 mm) are supplied to the four aggregate silos 110, respectively.

  In the present embodiment, four aggregate silos 110 are installed in order to produce concrete using four types of aggregates in the concrete production plant F, but the number of aggregate silos 110 and the number of aggregate silos 110 are stored. The type of aggregate is not limited to this.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the sorting and dropping device 120 includes a belt conveyor device 121 installed horizontally and a horizontal moving device (not shown) that moves the belt conveyor device 121 in the horizontal direction. Accordingly, the belt conveyor device 121 appropriately moves horizontally above the aggregate silo 110 via the horizontal movement device in order to drop the supplied aggregate A onto the aggregate silo 110 corresponding to the type. The position of the lower part 121a of the aggregate A can be aligned with the input port 112 of the desired aggregate silo 110.

  Although the aggregate transport / storage device 100 including the above-described aggregate silo 110, the sorting and dropping device 120, and the aggregate transport device 130 has the same structure as that conventionally equipped in the concrete manufacturing plant F, In this embodiment, an aggregate identifying device 140 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 is additionally installed. The details of the aggregate identification device 140 will be described below.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the aggregate identifying device 140 includes a belt conveyor device 141, a line laser camera 143 installed above the belt conveyor device 141, and a terminal device 144 communicatively connected to the line laser camera 143. The belt conveyor device 141, like the aggregate conveying device 130, employs a conveying device generally used when conveying bulk goods.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the line laser camera 143 employs a camera including a laser projecting unit 1431 capable of irradiating the laser linear light L and a camera lens 1432 for capturing an image of the laser projecting unit 1431. Then, with respect to the aggregate of aggregate A that moves in the imaging target area set on the transport surface of the conveyor belt 142 in the transport section of the belt conveyor device 141, the laser line is parallel to the transport direction of the conveyor belt 142. The circular light L is emitted and these are imaged.

  In this embodiment, a 3D-compatible line laser camera is used as the line laser camera 143, but the invention is not limited to this, and a 2D-compatible line laser camera may be used. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the imaging target area of the line laser camera 143 is located inside the dark room 145 installed independently of the belt conveyor device 141, and the line laser camera 143 is installed in the dark room 145. Thus, the vibration of the belt conveyor device 141 is prevented from being transmitted to the line laser camera 143.

  In this way, the line laser camera 143 acquires profile data P indicating the outer shape of the cross-sectional shape when the aggregate of aggregate A is cut in the transport direction of the conveyor belt 142 as shown in FIG. Then, the cross-sectional image data C of the aggregate aggregate made of the aggregate A as shown in FIG. 7 obtained from the profile data P is image-processed by the terminal device 144.

  The terminal device 144 performs image analysis of the cross-sectional image data C to identify the type of the aggregate A, and as shown in FIG. 3, hardware such as an arithmetic processing unit and a storage device and operates on the hardware. Information processing device 1441 configured by the software, a communication device for inputting various data to the information processing device 1441, an input device 1442 such as a keyboard, and a display for outputting the calculation processing result performed by the information processing device 1441 in real time. And an output device 1443 including a storage device and the like.

  The information processing device 1441 is provided with a particle size estimating unit 1444, a type identifying unit 1445, and a sorting and dropping device control unit 1446. Further, the storage device of the information processing device 1441 stores in advance a particle size range corresponding to the type of the aggregate A that may be carried into the concrete manufacturing plant F. In the present embodiment, since four types of aggregates are supplied to the four aggregate silos 110, respectively, the storage device of the information processing device 1441 has four types of particle size ranges corresponding thereto. It is stored.

  The particle size estimation unit 1444 estimates the particle size of the aggregate A from the cross-sectional image data C input from the line laser camera 143. Specifically, in the cross-sectional image data C acquired from the profile data P, the contour line of the surface of the aggregate mass of the aggregate A, and the uneven line R in the direction parallel to the conveying direction of the conveyor belt device 141 are provided. Is displayed. These uneven lines R reflect the shape of each of the aggregates A forming the aggregate of aggregates, and in particular, most of the pitch lengths (L1, L2, L3 ...) Of the valleys adjacent to the uneven lines R are 6 and FIG. 7, the particle size of each aggregate A is reflected. Therefore, the uneven line R is extracted from the cross-sectional image data C, and the image is subjected to image processing to calculate the estimated particle size of the aggregate A.

  Any method may be used to calculate the estimated particle size of the aggregate A, but the following method is conceivable, for example. As shown in FIG. 7, all pitch lengths (L1, L2, L3 ...) Of adjacent valleys in the uneven line R are calculated, and the longest pitch length among them and the estimated particle size of the aggregate A are calculated. Calculate as Alternatively, the top 10 positions are extracted from all the pitch lengths (L1, L2, L3 ...) And the intermediate value thereof is calculated as the particle size estimation value. Alternatively, an intermediate value of all pitch lengths (L1, L2, L3 ...) Is calculated as the particle size estimation value. Note that the valley portion in the uneven line R is selected by a method generally used in an image analysis method, for example, by calculating a tangent line of a curve by differentiation to calculate the position where the tangent line is closest to the vertical line in the uneven line R. It can be calculated in.

  The type identifying unit 1445 uses the particle size estimation value of the aggregate A estimated by the particle size estimating unit 1444 and the particle size of each class of aggregate stored in advance in the storage device 1441 of the information processing device. The range is compared to identify which type the aggregate A belongs to.

  Then, the sorting device control unit 1446 selects the aggregate silo 110 corresponding to the type of the aggregate A identified by the type identifying unit 1445, and the position of the dropping portion 121a of the sorting device 120 is as shown in FIG. As shown, the position of the sorting and dropping device 130 is controlled so as to match the input port 112 of the selected aggregate silo 110.

  As described above, the aggregate identifying device 140 extracts the uneven line R in which the shape of each aggregate A is reflected from the aggregate of the aggregate A made of the aggregates A classified in advance according to the particle size, and the uneven line R is extracted. Since the type of the aggregate R is automatically identified by image analysis of R, the type of the aggregate R can be appropriately identified by a simple method without human error.

  Further, since the contour of the surface of the aggregate lump can be acquired as the uneven line R that is continuous substantially horizontally in the conveying direction of the conveyor belt 142, the particle size of the aggregate A can be more efficiently and faithfully grasped from the uneven line R. At the same time, it is possible to accurately identify the type of aggregate A.

  By providing the aggregate identifying and storing apparatus 140 having such a configuration in the aggregate transporting and storing apparatus 100, the aggregate A pre-classified according to the particle size can be automatically and correctly identified without misclassifying the type. It can be stored in the material silo 110. The procedure is as follows.

  First, the aggregate A carried into the site is dropped into the charging equipment 150 shown in FIG. Then, since the aggregate A becomes a mountain-shaped aggregate on the conveyor belt 142, the line laser camera 143 irradiates the aggregate of aggregate passing through the imaging target area with the laser linear light L from the laser projecting unit 1431. The camera lens 1432 images this. The profile data P obtained by imaging is stored in the storage device of the information processing device 1441 via the input device 1442 of the terminal device 144 as the cross-sectional image data C of the aggregate of aggregates, and via the output device 1443. Is output.

  Then, the particle size estimation unit 1444 estimates the particle size of the aggregate A from the uneven line R of the cross-sectional image data C, stores it in the storage device of the information device 1441, and outputs it to the output device 1443. Then, the type identifying unit 1445 identifies the type of the aggregate A based on the output estimated particle size of the aggregate A, stores it in the storage device, and outputs it to the output device 1443. Then, the sorting device control unit 1446 controls the movement of the belt conveyor device 121 provided in the sorting device 120 based on the type of the aggregate A output to the output device 1443.

  The above processing is immediately performed by the terminal device 141, and the aggregate A dropped on the conveyor belt 142 passes through the imaging target area, and then, as shown in FIG. Be transported to. Since the dropping part 121 of the sorting dropping device 120 is already aligned with the input port 112 of the aggregate silo 110 corresponding to the type of the aggregate A, the aggregate A conveyed to the sorting dropping device 120 is It is dropped into the aggregate silo 110 corresponding to the type and stored.

  In this way, by providing the aggregate identifying device 140 equipped with the line laser camera 143 in the aggregate transporting and storing device 100, the worker supplies the aggregate A carried into the concrete manufacturing plant F to the aggregate identifying device 140. However, the aggregate A is stored in the aggregate silo 110 of an appropriate type automatically and without mistaken identification of the type only by imaging with the line laser camera 143. Therefore, the labor required for storing the loaded aggregate A in the aggregate silo 110 can be significantly reduced, and different types of aggregates are mistakenly dropped onto the four aggregate silos 110 provided for each type. It is possible to prevent this, and it is possible to ensure the quality at the time of designing the concrete structure using these aggregates A.

  The aggregate identifying method, the aggregate identifying device, and the aggregate transporting / storing device of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Needless to say.

  In the present embodiment, only one type of cross-sectional image data is acquired from the aggregate mass of the aggregate A formed on the conveyor belt 142, but, for example, the aggregate A conveyed by the belt conveyor device 141 is used. The aggregated aggregate may be imaged at intervals of about several seconds to obtain a plurality of cross-sectional image data C, and these may be used for calculating the particle size estimation value.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the laser linear light L of the line laser camera 143 is arranged in parallel with the conveying direction of the conveyor belt, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to this, and the aggregate of aggregate A made of aggregate A If the surface shape can be imaged, it may be arranged orthogonal to the conveying direction of the conveyor belt 142.

  When the laser linear light L of the line laser camera 143 is arranged in parallel to the conveying direction of the conveyor belt, the laser linear light L is made to match the center line of the conveyor belt 142 as shown in FIG. Good. By doing so, the ridge line of the aggregated aggregate formed by dropping the aggregate A onto the conveyor belt 142 can be imaged, and therefore the uneven line R in a state in which the shape of each aggregate A is more accurately reflected is cross-sectioned. It is possible to obtain it from the image data C.

100 Aggregate Transport / Storage Device 110 Aggregate Silo 111 Ejection Port 112 Inlet 120 Sorting and Dropping Device 121 Belt Conveyor Device 121a Dropper 130 Aggregate Conveying Device 140 Aggregate Identification Device 141 Belt Conveyor Device 142 Conveyor Belt 143 Line Laser Camera 1431 Laser Projection unit 1432 Camera lens 144 Terminal device 1441 Information processing device 1442 Input device 1443 Output device 1444 Particle size estimation unit 1445 Type identification unit 1446 Sorting drop device control unit 145 Dark room 150 Input facility 200 Concrete manufacturing facility 201 Cement silo 202 Water tank 203 Mixer 300 Aggregate Supply Device 301 Belt Conveyor Device F Concrete Manufacturing Plant A Aggregate L Laser Linear Light P Profile Data C Cross-sectional Image Data R Concavo-convex Line

Claims (5)

An aggregate identification method for identifying the type of aggregate classified into a plurality of types by particle size,
Dropping the aggregate on the conveyor belt of the belt conveyor device in the operating state,
The aggregate mass consisting dropped by said aggregate by imaging by the line laser camera of the aggregate mass acquires a cross-sectional image data in a direction parallel to the conveying direction of the conveyor belt,
While extracting the contour of the surface of the aggregate mass from the cross-sectional image data as a concavo-convex line, calculating the pitch length between adjacent troughs of the concavo-convex line,
An aggregate identification method characterized in that an estimated particle size of the aggregate is calculated based on the pitch length, and the type of aggregate is identified from the estimated particle size. The aggregate identifying method according to claim 1,
A method for identifying the type of aggregate, wherein the cross-sectional image data is acquired by imaging the center line of the conveyor belt in the aggregate lump. The aggregate identifying method according to claim 1 or 2,
An aggregate identifying method, characterized in that all pitch lengths between adjacent valleys in the uneven line are calculated, and the one having the longest pitch length is calculated as an estimated particle diameter of the aggregate. A belt conveyor device, a line laser camera for acquiring cross-sectional image data on a center line parallel to the conveying direction of the conveyor belt in an aggregate mass composed of aggregates dropped on the conveyor belt of the belt conveyor device, With a terminal device connected to the line laser camera,
The terminal device extracts the contour of the surface of the aggregate mass from the cross-sectional image data as an uneven line, and calculates an estimated particle size based on the pitch length between adjacent valleys of the uneven line. An aggregate identifying device comprising: an estimating unit; and a type identifying unit that identifies the type of aggregate by comparing a particle size range defined for each type of aggregate with the estimated particle size. . An aggregate transporting and storing apparatus using the aggregate identifying apparatus according to claim 4,
A plurality of aggregate silos that store aggregates classified by particle size,
A sorting and dropping device having a dropping portion for dropping the aggregate on the aggregate silo,
The aggregate dropping device for supplying the aggregate to the sorting device,
An aggregate transport and storage characterized in that the sorting and dropping device is movably installed on a plurality of the aggregate silos based on the type of the aggregate by which the aggregate is identified by the aggregate identifying device. apparatus.