JP6909683B2 - Internal quality inspection system - Google Patents

Description

In the present invention, a tray on which fruits and vegetables are placed and having an opening in which at least a part of the upper part is covered by the placed fruits and vegetables, and a light projecting unit that projects measurement light onto the fruits and vegetables placed on the tray. The present invention relates to an internal quality inspection system that includes a light receiving unit that receives measurement light transmitted through the fruit and vegetable through the opening and inspects the internal quality of fruits and vegetables based on the measurement light received by the light receiving unit.

There is known an internal quality inspection system that projects measurement light onto fruits and vegetables placed on a tray, receives the measurement light transmitted through the fruits and vegetables, and inspects the internal quality of the fruits and vegetables based on the received measurement light. (See, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2.).

In the system described in Patent Document 1, an opening through which measurement light can pass is formed in a substantially central portion of the tray. Then, the measurement light projected from the light projecting unit (light projecting means 50) installed on one of the upper and lower sides of the tray passes through the fruits and vegetables placed on the tray and the opening formed in the tray, and then the tray. The light is received as measurement light by the light receiving units installed on the upper and lower sides of the above.
Further, in Patent Document 2, an elastic body (elasticity) such as a sponge for suppressing the swinging of fruits and vegetables and stably supporting them around the opening (central circular opening 204) on the upper surface of the tray (receiver 1). It is disclosed that fin-shaped pieces 403, 404, 405) are provided intermittently.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-220043 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-249286

The conventional internal quality inspection system as described above has a substantially spherical mass shape in which the maximum body diameter is located at the substantially central portion of the central axis connecting the apex and the stalk, such as tomatoes, apples, melons, and pears. The internal quality of the fruits and vegetables is inspected for the fruits and vegetables that have. However, a shape in which the maximum body diameter is located closer to the apex or stalk than the central part of the central axis, such as avocado and pear (in the present application, such a shape is referred to as an "avocado-like shape"). In some cases, when fruits and vegetables with () are targeted for inspection, there is a problem that the inspection accuracy is lowered. Specifically, when avocado-shaped fruits and vegetables are placed on a tray in a sideways posture, a gap is likely to occur between the elastic body on the upper surface of the tray and the outer surface of the fruits and vegetables placed on the elastic body. Further, when the elastic bodies are intermittently provided around the opening on the upper surface of the tray, a gap is generated between the adjacent elastic bodies. When such a gap is generated, the leakage light that the measurement light projected on the fruits and vegetables passes through the gap without passing through the fruits and vegetables and directly reaches the light receiving portion may cause a decrease in inspection accuracy.
In particular, when targeting fruits and vegetables with large seeds such as avocado and peach, it is necessary to avoid the seeds and inspect the internal quality of the fruits and vegetables based on the measurement light transmitted near the outer surface of the fruits and vegetables. Therefore, a decrease in inspection accuracy due to leakage light that reaches the light receiving portion in the vicinity of the measurement light becomes a further problem.

In view of this fact, the main subject of the present invention is to project the measurement light on the fruits and vegetables placed on the tray, receive the measurement light transmitted through the fruits and vegetables, and based on the received measurement light, the internal quality of the fruits and vegetables. In the internal quality inspection system for inspecting fruits and vegetables, the point is to provide a technology capable of inspecting the internal quality of fruits and vegetables with high accuracy.

The first characteristic configuration of the present invention is a tray on which fruits and vegetables are placed and which has an opening in which at least a part of the upper part is covered by the placed fruits and vegetables.
A light projecting unit that projects measurement light onto the fruits and vegetables placed on the tray,
It is provided with a light receiving unit that receives the measurement light transmitted through the fruits and vegetables.
An internal quality inspection system that inspects the internal quality of fruits and vegetables based on the measurement light received by the light receiving unit.
A light-shielding elastic member made of an elastic body having a light-shielding property is continuously provided over the entire length around the opening on the upper surface of the tray.
The inner edge of the light-shielding elastic member is formed in a shape along the outer surface of the fruits and vegetables placed on the tray in a plan view.

According to this configuration, if fruits and vegetables are placed on a light-shielding elastic member continuously provided over the entire length around the opening on the upper surface of the tray, the outer surface of the placed fruits and vegetables is placed. It is possible to prevent the formation of a gap between the light-shielding elastic member on the upper surface of the tray and the outer surface of the fruits and vegetables placed on the light-shielding elastic member by closely adhering the inner edge of the light-shielding elastic member with almost no gap. can. Therefore, it is possible to satisfactorily suppress the leakage light that the measurement light projected on the fruits and vegetables reaches the light receiving portion through the gap between the tray and the fruits and vegetables without passing through the fruits and vegetables. In particular, when the light receiving portion receives the measurement light transmitted through the fruit and vegetable through the opening, it is difficult for a gap to be formed between the periphery of the opening and the fruit and vegetable, so that the light receiving portion is exposed to the light receiving portion through the opening. It is possible to satisfactorily suppress the arrival of leaked light.
Therefore, according to the present invention, when measuring light is projected onto the fruits and vegetables placed on the tray, the measurement light transmitted through the fruits and vegetables is received, and the internal quality of the fruits and vegetables is inspected based on the received measurement light, for example. Even when fruits and vegetables with large seeds are to be inspected, it is possible to realize an internal quality inspection system that can inspect the internal quality of fruits and vegetables with high accuracy.

The second characteristic configuration of the present invention is that the fruits and vegetables have a shape in which the maximum body diameter portion is biased toward the fruit apex side or the fruit stalk portion side with respect to the central portion of the central axis connecting the fruit apex and the fruit stalk. At the same time, it is placed on the tray in a sideways posture with the central axis facing sideways.

According to this feature configuration, the inner edge of the light-shielding elastic portion, which is continuously provided over the entire length around the upper surface of the tray, is a sideways avocado-like fruit and vegetable placed on the tray in a plan view. It is formed in a shape along the outer surface, in other words, an avocado-like horizontal cross-sectional shape in a sideways posture (a shape in which the front is semicircular and the width is reduced toward the rear). Therefore, even when such avocado-shaped fruits and vegetables are placed on the tray in a sideways posture, almost the entire inner edge of the light-shielding elastic member is gapped with respect to the outer surface of the placed fruits and vegetables. It is possible to prevent a gap from being formed between the light-shielding elastic member on the upper surface of the tray and the outer surface of the fruits and vegetables placed on the light-shielding elastic member. Therefore, even when avocado-like fruits and vegetables are targeted for inspection, the internal quality of fruits and vegetables can be inspected with high accuracy by reducing the gap through which the leaked light passes.

The third characteristic configuration of the present invention is that the inner edge portion of the light-shielding elastic member is formed in a shape that spreads outward toward the upper side.

According to this feature configuration, the inner edge of the light-shielding elastic member is formed in a shape that spreads outward toward the upper side, so that even if the size of fruits and vegetables changes, for example, it is placed on the upper part. It will be along the outer surface of the fruits and vegetables. Then, the inner edge portion of the light-shielding elastic member and the outer surface of the fruits and vegetables placed on the inner edge portion thereof can be satisfactorily adhered to each other within a range having a width in the vertical direction. Therefore, the gap through which the leaked light passes can be further reduced, and the inspection accuracy of the internal quality can be improved.

The fourth characteristic configuration of the present invention is that the inner edge portion of the light-shielding elastic member is formed in a staircase shape that gradually spreads outward toward the upper side.

According to this feature configuration, the inner edge of the light-shielding elastic member is formed in a staircase shape that gradually spreads outward toward the upper side, so that even if the size of fruits and vegetables changes, for example, In addition to being along the outer surface of the fruits and vegetables placed on the upper part, a plurality of angular inner edges along the outer surface of the fruits and vegetables are formed in a plan view. Then, the plurality of angular inner edges of the light-shielding elastic member come into contact with the outer surface of the fruits and vegetables placed on the upper surface and are crushed, and the inner edges of the light-shielding elastic members and the outside of the fruits and vegetables are crushed. The surface will be more reliably adhered to the surface within a range having a width in the vertical direction. Therefore, the gap through which the leaked light passes can be further reduced, and the inspection accuracy of the internal quality can be further improved.

The fifth feature configuration of the present invention includes a transport mechanism for transporting the tray in a predetermined transport direction along the horizontal direction.
The tray has a slit formed along the transport direction as the opening, and a portion biased to one side of the central portion of the slit is formed as a wide portion wider than the other portions. There is a point.

According to this feature configuration, a part of the slits formed in the tray along the transport direction is closed by the fruits and vegetables placed on the tray in a lateral position along the central axis in the transport direction at the upper part thereof. Further, since the wide portion provided in the slit is biased to one side from the central portion of the slit, the maximum diameter of fruits and vegetables also biased to the fruit apex side or the fruit stem side from the central portion of the central axis. The portion can be located just above the wide portion of the slit. Therefore, the amount of measurement light transmitted through the maximum body diameter of fruits and vegetables and received by the light receiving portion can be sufficiently secured by the presence of the wide portion in the slit, and the inspection accuracy of the internal quality can be further improved. ..

The sixth characteristic configuration of the present invention has an outer peripheral portion made of an elastic body pressed against the upper surface of the fruits and vegetables placed on the tray, and includes a partition disk that can rotate the outer peripheral portion around a rotation axis. At the point.

According to this feature configuration, when inspecting the internal quality of fruits and vegetables while transporting the tray on which the fruits and vegetables are placed by the transport mechanism, the partition disk presses the outer peripheral portion made of an elastic body against the upper surface of the fruits and vegetables. It will rotate while. Then, the fruits and vegetables whose outer peripheral portion of the partition disk is pressed against the upper surface are pressed against the light-shielding elastic member interposed between the tray and the light-shielding elastic member by urging a downward force. The adhesion between the inner edge of the fruit and the outer surface of fruits and vegetables is improved. Therefore, the gap through which the leaked light passes can be further reduced, and the inspection accuracy of the internal quality can be further improved.
Further, if this partition disk is arranged at a substantially central portion in the transport width direction of fruits and vegetables and a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion are provided on each of the left and right sides thereof, the left and right light emitting portions side and the light receiving portion side can be used. Can be suitably partitioned in a light-shielded state.

External view of internal quality inspection system Side view showing the internal structure of the internal quality inspection system Top view showing the internal structure of the internal quality inspection system Perspective view showing the internal structure of the internal quality inspection system Vertical cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the first translucent inspection section of the internal quality inspection system. Vertical cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the second translucent inspection section of the internal quality inspection system. Tray perspective An exploded perspective view of the tray Vertical section of the tray Left side cross section of tray Top view of the tray Vertical cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the translucent inspection unit of another embodiment

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In the internal quality inspection system of the present embodiment (hereinafter, referred to as "this system"), as shown in FIGS. Fruits and vegetables A to be inspected for avocado having an avocado-like shape displaced toward the fruit apex A2 or the fruit stalk A3 from the central part of the central axis, and further having a relatively large seed A1 (see FIG. 10 etc.). As a result, it is configured to evaluate the internal quality of the fruit and vegetable A.
Specifically, the system main body including the first translucent inspection unit 10 and the second translucent inspection unit 20 that perform a predetermined translucent inspection for inspecting the internal quality of the fruit / vegetable A based on the measurement light transmitted through the fruit / vegetable A. 1. And the first translucent inspection unit 10 and the second translucent inspection unit 20 are provided with a transport mechanism 40 for transporting the fruits and vegetables A in this order.

The transport mechanism 40 is provided with a tray 41 on which the fruits and vegetables A are placed in a horizontal posture with the central axis facing sideways, and the tray 41 is placed in a predetermined transport direction X along the horizontal direction inside the system main body 1. Will be transported to. Further, as will be described in detail later, the tray 41 is formed with a slit S (an example of an opening) in which at least a part of the upper part is covered with the placed fruits and vegetables A. In FIGS. 1 and 4 showing the configuration of this system, the drawing of the fruits and vegetables A placed on the tray 41 is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 1, the transport mechanism 40 employs a conveyor system in which a plurality of trays 41 connected in series and endlessly are circulated. Specifically, the endless body such as a chain connected to the rod 51 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) connecting the adjacent trays 41 is circulated by the drive unit, so that the tray 41 is discharged from the discharge unit 1B of the system main body 1. The tray 41 is returned to the loading portion 1A of the system main body 1 through the lower portion of the system main body 1.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the first translucent inspection unit 10 and the second translucent inspection unit 20 are flooded with light projecting units 11 and 21 for projecting measurement light onto the fruits and vegetables A placed on the tray 41. And the light receiving portions 15 and 25 for receiving the measurement light transmitted through the fruits and vegetables A placed on the tray 41 are provided. The system is provided with evaluation means 71 for evaluating the internal quality of fruits and vegetables A based on the measurement light received by the light receiving units 15 and 25. The evaluation means 71 functions when the control device 70 that controls the operation of the system executes a predetermined program. Further, the control device 70 outputs the evaluation result by the evaluation means 71 in a form of being displayed on a monitor or the like.

The light projecting units 11 and 21 are composed of a halogen lamp, a xenon lamp, an LED lamp and the like capable of irradiating the measurement light having a wavelength in the near infrared region.
On the other hand, the light receiving units 15 and 25 are composed of a photodiode, a phototransistor, a CCD, a spectroscopic device, and the like for detecting the measurement light transmitted through the fruits and vegetables A.

Cylindrical light guides 13 and 23 are provided on the light projecting units 11 and 21 side to guide the measurement light emitted from the light projecting units 11 and 21 to the fruits and vegetables A. The light guide units 13 and 23 have built-in lenses 13A and 23A for concentrating the measurement light on the fruits and vegetables A. A shutter mechanism capable of intermittently injecting measurement light from the light projecting units 11 and 21 to the light guides 13 and 23 by swinging the light shielding plates 12A and 22A at the inlets of the light guides 13 and 23. Parts 12 and 22 are provided.

Proximity to each of the first translucent inspection unit 10 and the second translucent inspection unit 20 for detecting that the fruits and vegetables A mounted on the tray 41 conveyed by the transfer mechanism 40 have reached a predetermined inspection position. A sensor 52 is provided. Then, when the proximity sensor 52 detects that the fruit and vegetable A has reached the inspection position, the control device 70 operates the light projecting units 11, 21, the light receiving units 15, 25, the shutter mechanism units 12, 22, and the like. Initiate translucency inspection in morphology.

Goodwill-shaped light-shielding curtains 3 are provided at three locations between the input unit 1A and the discharge unit 1B of the system main body 1 and between the first light-transmitting inspection unit 10 and the second light-transmitting inspection unit 20. As a result, the first translucent inspection unit 10 and the second translucent inspection unit 20 are kept in a dark room state.

Next, the detailed configuration of the tray 41 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 11. In FIGS. 7 and 8 showing the configuration of the tray 41, the drawing of the fruits and vegetables A placed on the tray 41 is omitted.

The tray 41 has a base portion 42 connected to the transport mechanism 40 and transported, and a receiving seat portion 43 connected to the base portion 42 and having a mounting surface on which the fruits and vegetables A are placed.
The base portion 42 is a front connecting portion 42F that connects a pair of side wall portions 42S spaced apart from each other in the transport width direction Y orthogonal to the transport direction X in a plan view and the pair of side wall portions 42S on the front side of the transport direction X. And a rear connecting portion 42R that connects the pair of side wall portions 42S on the rear side in the transport direction X.

The front connecting portion 42F is provided with a rod insertion hole 42F through which the rod 51 connected to the transport mechanism 40 is inserted. On the other hand, the rear connecting portion 42R is provided with a U-shaped engaging portion 42Ra that is open toward the rear. Then, the engaging portion 42Ra is engaged with the rod 51 inserted into the rod insertion hole 42F in the tray 41 connected to the rear side. As a result, the front and rear trays 41 are connected in series while maintaining the same height.

The receiving seat portion 43 has a concave curved shape that extends upward, and a slit S formed along the transport direction X is provided at a substantially central portion thereof in the transport width direction Y. When the fruit and vegetable A is placed on such a receiving seat 43, at least a part of the slit S is covered by the fruit and vegetable A.

The receiving seat portion 43 is composed of a pair of receiving members 43A arranged on the left and right sides of the slit S. Each receiving member 43A is connected to the side wall portion 42S in a state of being rotatable around the pivot shaft 44 along the transport direction X. Then, the fruits and vegetables A are placed in a state in which the pair of left and right receiving members 43A are rotated upward and supported (the state shown in FIG. 7), and although not shown, the pair of left and right receiving members 43A are pivoted from that state. By rotating the fruit and vegetable A downward around the support shaft 44, the fruit and vegetable A will fall downward and be discharged. Further, the fruits and vegetables A can be selected according to the internal quality by appropriately changing the discharge timing of the fruits and vegetables A, the presence or absence of discharge, and the like according to, for example, the evaluation result of the internal quality of the evaluation means 71.

The portion of the slit S formed in the receiving seat portion 43 that is biased toward the front side of the central portion is formed as a wide portion Sw that is wider than the other portions. That is, as shown in FIG. 11, when the fruit and vegetable A is placed on the upper surface of the receiving seat portion 43 in a lateral posture with the central axis connecting the fruit apex portion A2 and the fruit stem portion A3 along the slit S, the fruit and vegetable A is placed. The maximum body diameter portion A4 of the fruit and vegetable A, which is biased toward the fruit apex A2 side or the fruit stem A3 side with respect to the central portion, is located substantially directly above the wide portion Sw of the slit S.

Due to the presence of the wide portion Sw in the slit S, in the light transmission inspection by the first light transmission inspection unit 10 described later, the wide portion Sw and the maximum body diameter portion A4 of the fruits and vegetables A are transmitted and received by the light receiving portion 15. The amount of measurement light to be measured is sufficiently secured, and the inspection accuracy of the internal quality by the evaluation means 71 is improved. The wide portion Sw is formed in a substantially circular shape in which substantially semicircular notches formed in the inner edge portions of the pair of left and right receiving members 43A are arranged so as to face each other.

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 11, around the slit S on the upper surface of the receiving seat portion 43, a light-shielding elastic member 60 made of a sponge or the like, which is an elastic body having a light-shielding property, is continuously provided over the entire length. ing. That is, the light-shielding elastic member 60 is interposed between the fruits and vegetables A placed on the tray 41 and the receiving seat portion 43 without interruption over the entire length around the slit S. Then, the fruits and vegetables A placed on the tray 41 are stably supported in a state of suppressing rocking and the like.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 11, the inner edge portion 60A of the light-shielding elastic member 60 is placed in a shape along the outer surface of the fruit and vegetable A placed on the tray 41 in a plan view, in other words, in a horizontal posture. It is formed in a shape that follows the outer shape of the horizontal cross section of the placed fruits and vegetables A.
For example, the light-shielding elastic member 60 is composed of a sheet-shaped lower member 61 and a sheet-shaped upper member 62 that is laminated on the sheet-shaped lower member 61. The inner edge portion 61A of the lower member 61 is formed in a substantially circular shape close to the horizontal cross-sectional shape near the bottom side of the fruits and vegetables A placed in the sideways posture. On the other hand, the inner edge portion 62A of the upper member 62 has a substantially drop shape (a shape in which the front is semicircular and the width is reduced toward the rear) close to the horizontal cross-sectional shape near the center of the fruits and vegetables A placed in the lateral position. It is formed.

When the avocado-like fruit and vegetable A is placed in a sideways posture on the light-shielding elastic member 60 configured in this way, the inner edge portion 61A and the upper member 62 of the lower member 61 with respect to the outer surface of the fruit and vegetable A. Each of the inner edge portions 62A will be in close contact with each other with almost no gap throughout. Then, it is suppressed that a gap is generated between the light-shielding elastic member 60 on the upper surface of the tray 41 and the outer surface of the fruit and vegetable A placed on the light-shielding elastic member 60. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the measurement light projected on the fruit and vegetable A reaches the light receiving units 15 and 25 through the gap between the tray 41 and the fruit and vegetable A without passing through the fruit and vegetable A. Leakage light is well suppressed. Therefore, the deterioration of the inspection accuracy of the internal quality by the evaluation means 71 due to such leakage light is suppressed.

Further, since the light-shielding elastic member 60 is configured by overlapping and pasting the two sheet-shaped lower members 61 and the upper member 62 as described above, the inner edge portion 60A of the light-shielding elastic member 60 is formed. It is formed in a staircase shape that gradually spreads outward toward the upper side.
Specifically, the inner edge portion 61A formed on the lower member 61 and the inner edge portion 62A formed on the upper member 62 have the same central axis in the transport width direction Y in a plan view. The width of the lower inner edge portion 61A in the transport width direction Y is set to be smaller than the width of the upper inner edge portion 62A in the transport width direction Y.
As a result, the inner edge 60A of the light-shielding elastic member 60 composed of the narrow substantially circular inner edge 61A and the wide substantially drop-shaped inner edge 62A superimposed on the inner edge 60A thereof is the upper portion thereof. In addition to being along the outer surface of the fruit and vegetable A placed on the above, a plurality of angular inner edges 61A and 62A along the outer surface of the fruit and vegetable A are formed in a plan view. Then, for example, even when the size of the fruit and vegetable A changes, the plurality of angular inner edges 61A and 62A of the light-shielding elastic member 60 hit the outer surface of the fruit and vegetable A placed on the upper portion thereof. In the form of being crushed in contact with each other, the inner edge portion 60A of the light-shielding elastic member 60 and the outer surface of the fruit and vegetable A are more reliably adhered to each other within a range having a width in the vertical direction. Therefore, the gap through which the leaked light passes between the tray 41 and the fruit / vegetable A is further reduced, and the inspection accuracy of the internal quality by the evaluation means 71 is further improved.

The fruits and vegetables A placed on such a tray 41 are conveyed by the conveying mechanism 40, pass through the first translucent inspection unit 10 and the second translucent inspection unit 20 in the system main body 1 in order, and are thrown at each. An optical test is performed. Hereinafter, the configurations of the first translucent inspection unit 10 and the second translucent inspection unit 20 will be described.

In the first translucent inspection unit 10, as shown mainly in FIG. 5, one light projecting unit 11 is arranged directly below the tray 41, and a pair of left and right light receiving units are arranged on the upper side of the tray 41. 15 are arranged. Then, when the proximity sensor 52 (see FIG. 2) detects that the fruit and vegetable A has reached the inspection position, the control device 70 opens the shutter mechanism 12 and causes the light projecting unit 11 to emit light for a light transmission inspection. Is started, and this translucency inspection is carried out until the fruits and vegetables A placed on the tray 41 completely pass through.

Then, the measurement light projected upward from the light projecting unit 11 arranged on the lower side of the tray 41 through the light guide unit 13 passes through the slit S formed in the tray 41 and is placed on the tray 41. The bottom side of the fruit and vegetable A is irradiated. At this time, since the tray 41 is conveyed by the conveying mechanism 40 and the slit S is formed along the conveying direction X, the measurement light is irradiated in a state of being scanned along the slit S when viewed from the fruits and vegetables A. Will be done.
The irradiated measurement light is transmitted upward through the fruits and vegetables A, and the transmitted measurement light is received by a pair of light receiving portions 15 arranged on the left and right on the upper side of the tray 41, respectively, and the light is received by the evaluation means 71. The internal quality of fruit and vegetable A is evaluated based on the measured light.

When the first translucent inspection unit 10 performs the translucency inspection, since the light-shielding elastic member 60 is interposed between the tray 41 and the fruit and vegetable A, the measurement light projected from the light projecting unit 11 onto the fruit and vegetable A is measured. The light leakage that reaches the light receiving portion 15 through the gap between the tray 41 and the fruit and vegetable A without passing through the fruit and vegetable A is reduced. In particular, in the first translucent inspection unit 10, when the light receiving unit 15 receives the measurement light transmitted through the fruit and vegetable A through the slit S, a gap is unlikely to occur at the boundary portion between the periphery of the slit S and the fruit and vegetable A. Become. From this, it is well suppressed that the leaked light reaches the light receiving portion 15 through the slit S.
That is, even when the fruit and vegetable A has a relatively large seed A1 such as avocado, the light receiving unit 15 avoids the seed A1 and transmits the measurement light transmitted through the vicinity of the outer surface of the fruit and vegetable A including the leaking light. It is possible to receive light accurately without any problem. As a result, the inspection accuracy of the internal quality by the evaluation means 71 is improved.

Further, in the first translucent inspection unit 10, since a pair of light receiving units 15 are provided on the left and right on the upper side of the tray 41, the “blind spot” due to the seed A1 of the fruit and vegetable A is prevented as much as possible. Further, each of the pair of light receiving portions 15 has the same distance from the fruit and vegetable A so that the light receiving conditions are the same.

In the second translucent inspection unit 20, as shown mainly in FIG. 6, a light projecting unit 21 is arranged on one side of the tray 41 on the upper left and right sides, and the light projecting unit 21 on the upper left and right sides of the tray 41. A light receiving unit 25 is arranged on the opposite side of the 21. Then, when the proximity sensor 52 (see FIG. 2) detects that the fruit and vegetable A has reached the inspection position, the control device 70 opens the shutter mechanism 22 and causes the light projecting unit 21 to emit light for a light transmission inspection. Is started, and this translucency inspection is carried out until the fruits and vegetables A placed on the tray 41 completely pass through.

Then, the measurement light projected diagonally downward from the light projecting unit 21 arranged on one of the left and right sides above the tray 41 through the light guide unit 23 is applied to the side surface side of the fruit and vegetable A placed on the tray 41. NS. The irradiated measurement light is transmitted laterally through the fruits and vegetables A, and the transmitted measurement light is received by the light receiving portions 25 arranged on the left and right opposite sides above the tray 41, and the received measurement light is transmitted by the evaluation means 71. Based on this, the internal quality of fruits and vegetables A is evaluated.

A partition disk 27 having a rotation axis 27A along the horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction X and an outer peripheral portion 27B made of a sponge or the like which is a light-shielding elastic body is provided on the side directly above the tray 41. ing. The outer peripheral portion 27B of the partition disk 27 is arranged so as to be pressed against a substantially central portion of the upper surface of the fruit and vegetable A placed on the tray 41 in the transport width direction Y.
Then, since the tray 41 on which the fruits and vegetables A is placed is transported along the transport direction X, the partition disk 27 has a transport power while pressing the outer peripheral portion 27B made of an elastic body against the upper surface of the fruits and vegetables A. Will rotate. Then, by such a partitioning disk 27, the light emitting portion 21 side and the light receiving portion 25 side are suitably partitioned on the upper surface of the fruit and vegetable A in a light-shielded state.

When the second translucent inspection unit 20 performs the translucency inspection, since the light-shielding elastic member 60 is interposed between the tray 41 and the fruit and vegetable A, the measurement light projected from the light projecting unit 21 onto the fruit and vegetable A is measured. The light leakage that reaches the light receiving portion 25 through the gap between the tray 41 and the fruit and vegetable A without passing through the fruit and vegetable A is reduced. That is, even when the fruit and vegetable A has a relatively large seed A1 such as avocado, the light receiving unit 25 avoids the seed A1 and transmits the measurement light transmitted near the outer surface of the fruit and vegetable A including the leaking light. It is possible to receive light accurately without any problem. As a result, the inspection accuracy of the internal quality by the evaluation means 71 is improved.

Further, at the time of this translucency inspection, the fruit and vegetable A is urged by a downward force by pressing the outer peripheral portion 27B made of the elastic body of the partition disk 27 against the upper surface, and is interposed between the fruit and vegetable A and the tray 41. It will be pressed against the light-shielding elastic member 60. As a result, the adhesion between the inner edge 60A of the light-shielding elastic member 60 and the outer surface of the fruit and vegetable A is improved and the gap is further reduced, and as a result, the inspection accuracy of the internal quality by the evaluation means 71 is further improved. ing.

Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, the first translucent inspection unit 10 that executes the translucency inspection in a form in which the measurement light is transmitted upward to the fruit and vegetable A, and the measurement light laterally to the fruit and vegetable A. A second translucent inspection unit 20 that executes a translucent inspection in a form of transmitting light is provided, and is configured to perform a plurality of translucent inspections of fruits and vegetables A in which the transmission directions of the measured light are different from each other. .. As a result, the "blind spot" caused by the seed A1 can be substantially eliminated.

[Another Embodiment]
Other embodiments of the present invention will be described. It should be noted that the configurations of the respective embodiments described below are not limited to those applied independently, but can also be applied in combination with the configurations of other embodiments.

(1) In the present embodiment, two types of translucent inspection units 10 and 20 are provided in the system main body 1, and trays 41 on which fruits and vegetables A are placed are sequentially conveyed to the respective translucent inspection units 10 and 20. However, the form and number of the translucent inspection unit may be changed as appropriate.

For example, as another form of the translucent inspection unit, the translucent inspection unit 30 as shown in FIG. 12 may be provided.
In the translucent inspection unit 30 shown in FIG. 12, a pair of left and right light projecting units 31 are arranged on the upper side of the tray 41, and a light receiving unit 35 is arranged on the central portion above the tray 41. Then, when the proximity sensor detects that the fruit and vegetable A has reached the inspection position, the control device 70 opens the shutter mechanism 32 and causes the light projecting unit 31 to emit light to start the light transmission inspection. Then, the measurement light projected diagonally downward from the pair of light projecting units 31 arranged on the left and right above the tray 41 through the light guide unit 33 irradiates both side surfaces of the fruits and vegetables A placed on the tray 41. Will be done. The irradiated measurement light is transmitted laterally through the fruits and vegetables A, and the transmitted measurement light is received by the light receiving unit 35 arranged in the central portion above the tray 41, and is based on the received measurement light by the evaluation means 71. The internal quality of fruits and vegetables A is evaluated.

On the upper side of the tray 41, on the left and right sides of the light receiving portion 35, a pair of rotating shafts 37A along the horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction X and an outer peripheral portion 37B made of a sponge or the like which is a light-shielding elastic body. A partition disk 37 is provided. By pressing the outer peripheral portion 37B of the pair of partitioning disks 37 against the upper surface of the fruit and vegetable A placed on the tray 41, the left and right light emitting portions 21 side and the central light receiving portion 25 side on the upper surface of the fruit and vegetable A. In addition to being partitioned in a light-shielded state, the fruits and vegetables A are urged downward to improve the adhesion between the inner edge 60A of the light-shielding elastic member 60 and the outer surface of the fruits and vegetables A.

(2) In the above embodiment, the transport mechanism 40 is provided so that the tray 41 on which the fruits and vegetables A is placed is automatically transported to the translucent inspection units 10 and 20, but for example, such a transport mechanism is provided. It may be omitted, and the worker may manually place the fruits and vegetables on the tray installed in the translucent inspection unit.

(3) In the above embodiment, the inner edge portion 60A of the light-shielding elastic member 60 provided over the entire length around the slit S on the upper surface of the tray 41 is formed in a staircase shape that gradually expands outward toward the upper side. However, instead of the staircase shape, it may be formed in a tapered shape that continuously spreads outward toward the upper side. Further, as long as there is no problem in the gap reducing effect of the light-shielding elastic member 6, the inner edge portion 60A may be formed to stand upright in the vertical direction, for example, instead of having a shape that spreads outward toward the upper side as described above. do not have.

(4) In the above embodiment, the avocado is the fruit and vegetable A to be inspected, but a pear having an avocado-like shape, a peach having a relatively large seed, and the like can be inspected. High-precision inspection can be performed by appropriately suppressing leaked light.

6 Light-shielding elastic member 11,21,31 Light-emitting part 15, 25, 35 Light-receiving part 40 Conveyance mechanism 41 Tray 60 Light-shielding elastic member 60A Inner edge 61 Lower member (light-shielding elastic member)
61A Inner edge 62 Upper member (light-shielding elastic member)
62A Inner edge 71 Evaluation means A Fruits and vegetables A2 Fruit apex A3 Fruit stem A4 Maximum body diameter S Slit (opening)
Sw wide part X transport direction

Claims (6)

A tray in which fruits and vegetables are placed and has an opening in which at least a part of the upper part is covered by the placed fruits and vegetables.
A light projecting unit that projects measurement light onto the fruits and vegetables placed on the tray,
It is provided with a light receiving unit that receives the measurement light transmitted through the fruits and vegetables.
An internal quality inspection system that inspects the internal quality of fruits and vegetables based on the measurement light received by the light receiving unit.
A light-shielding elastic member made of an elastic body having a light-shielding property is continuously provided over the entire length around the opening on the upper surface of the tray.
The light-shielding elastic member is formed by stacking a plurality of sheet-like members.
An internal quality inspection system in which the inner edges of each of the plurality of sheet-shaped members are formed in a shape along the outer surface of fruits and vegetables placed on the tray in a plan view. The fruits and vegetables have a shape in which the maximum trunk diameter portion is biased toward the fruit apex side or the fruit stalk portion side from the central portion of the central axis connecting the fruit apex and the fruit stalk, and the center axis is laterally oriented. The internal quality inspection system according to claim 1, which is placed on the tray in a posture. The internal quality inspection system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inner edge portion of the light-shielding elastic member is formed in a shape that expands outward toward the upper side. The internal quality inspection system according to claim 3, wherein the inner edge portion of the light-shielding elastic member is formed in a staircase shape that gradually expands outward toward the upper side. A transport mechanism for transporting the tray in a predetermined transport direction along the horizontal direction is provided.
Any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the tray has a slit formed along the transport direction as the opening, and a part of the slit is formed as a wide portion wider than the other portion. The internal quality inspection system described in item 1. The internal quality inspection system according to claim 5, further comprising an outer peripheral portion made of an elastic body pressed against the upper surface of fruits and vegetables placed on the tray, and a partition disk having the outer peripheral portion rotatable around a rotation axis.

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