JP7377538B2 - Observation device for cracked eggs - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an observation device for cracked eggs.

As such a device, one is known that measures the height of the albumen of a broken egg in a non-contact manner (for example, see Patent Document 1). The cracked eggs are placed on an inspection tray and placed inside the housing, then measured using a laser sensor and taken out of the housing.

JP2012-237706A

Conventional devices have many moving parts, making the device complex. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that has a simpler structure than the conventional apparatus and is capable of observing broken eggs.

The cracked egg observation device of the present invention includes a boundary forming section and a calculating section. The boundary forming section forms a boundary between a bright region and a dark region by projecting light from above onto the albumen on the holding section on which the egg to be inspected has been broken and placed. The calculation unit calculates the height dimension of the albumen based on the image taken of the boundary.

Furthermore, the cracked egg observation device of the present invention further includes a determining section. The determination unit determines a measurement point for the thick albumen based on an image taken of the cracked egg to be inspected. The calculation unit calculates the height dimension of the thick egg white at the measurement point.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a device capable of observing broken eggs with a simpler structure than conventional ones.

These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic diagram showing an observation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view showing a part of observation device concerning the same embodiment. It is a block diagram showing a part of observation device concerning the same embodiment. This is an example of the first image. This is an example of the second image. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between a first image and a second image. It is a figure showing photography of a standard scale using an observation device concerning the same embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the example of use of the observation device concerning the same embodiment.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The observation device 10 of this embodiment functions as part of a quality inspection system for cracked eggs. Howe units and yolk coefficients are known as numerical indicators of egg quality.

Howe Unit is a quality indicator that focuses on the property that when the freshness of an egg decreases, the thick albumen becomes watery, and when the egg is broken into a flat plate, the height of the albumen decreases. Howe units are calculated from the height of thick egg white and egg weight.

The yolk coefficient is a quality index that focuses on the property that the chalaza layer easily separates from the yolk as the vitelline membrane weakens over time, causing the yolk to become flattened. The yolk coefficient is calculated from the height of the yolk and the diameter of the yolk.

The egg E to be inspected is placed on the holding part 11 in a broken state. The holding part 11 is a tray having a circular shape in plan view. The holding part 11 includes a recess 12 for positioning the yolk of the egg E to be inspected. The holding part 11 is removable from the base 1. The base 1 is provided with a positioning member (not shown) so that the holding part 11 is arranged in a predetermined attitude with respect to the base 1.

The observation device 10 measures the dimensions of each part, for example, based on the image taken of the egg E to be inspected on the holding part 11 as described above. The observation device 10 includes a boundary forming section 2 and a calculating section 3.

The boundary forming part 2 forms a boundary E3 between the bright region E1 and the dark region E2 so as to pass through the center of the yolk of the egg E to be inspected on the holding part 11. The boundary forming part 2 forms a boundary E3 across the recess 12. The boundary forming unit 2 forms a boundary E3 using blue light. The boundary forming section 2 includes a light projecting section 21 and a shielding section 22. The light projection unit 21 irradiates light toward the egg E to be inspected to form a bright region E1. The light projector 21 is arranged above the base 1. The shielding part 22 blocks part of the light irradiated onto the egg E to be inspected inside the linear end 23 to form a dark region E2. The shielding part 22 is arranged above the base 1. The shielding part 22 is, for example, plate-shaped, and the end part 23 is arranged directly above the center of the recessed part 12.

The calculation unit 3 calculates the dimensions of each part of the egg E to be inspected, which are necessary for determining the quality index of the egg, based on the image taken of the boundary E3. The dimensions of each part include, for example, the height of the thick egg white, the height of the yolk, and the diameter of the yolk.

The image is photographed by the photographing section 9. The photographing unit 9 photographs the egg E to be inspected from above. The photographing section 9 is arranged diagonally above the base 1. The photographing section 9 includes a first photographing section 91 and a second photographing section 92. The first photographing unit 91 photographs the outline of the egg E to be inspected. Specifically, the first photographing unit 91 photographs so as to include the boundary E4 between the thick albumen and the egg yolk and the boundary E5 between the thick albumen and the watery albumen. On the other hand, the second photographing unit 92 photographs the details of the egg E to be inspected. The second photographing unit 92 photographs the vicinity of the portion whose dimensions are to be measured. The second photographing unit 92 photographs, for example, the thick egg white in a larger size than the first image.

The observation device 10 further includes a control section 8. The control section 8 includes an image receiving section 4, a recording section 5, a setting section 6, and a determining section 7 in addition to the above-mentioned calculation section 3. The image receiving section 4 receives the image photographed by the photographing section 9. The recording unit 5 records the received image. The setting section 6 sets reference values for dimension calculation used by the calculation section 3. The setting unit 6, for example, obtains an image of a reference scale S having graduations in the vertical and horizontal directions, calculates the length per pixel from the number of pixels between arbitrary graduations on the image, This is for converting this into actual size. The determination unit 7 determines the measurement point of the thick albumen based on the photographed image of the egg E to be inspected. The control unit 8 may be physically integrated with the boundary forming unit 2, or may be physically separate from the boundary forming unit 2.

Next, an example of a method for measuring the egg E to be inspected using this observation device 10 will be explained using a flowchart.

First, a reference scale S is placed on the observation device 10 (step S1). The reference scale S is arranged in a predetermined attitude with respect to the base 1 by a positioning member common to the holding part 11. In this state, the photographing unit 9 photographs the reference scale S (step S2). The image receiving section 4 receives the image photographed by the photographing section 9, and records the image in the recording section 5. The setting unit 6 sets a reference value based on this image (step S3).

A broken egg is placed on the holding part 11. Note that the egg weight before breaking is also used to calculate the Howe unit, so measure the egg weight first. The yolk of the cracked egg E to be inspected is positioned in the recess 12 on the holding part 11, and the thick albumen spreads toward one side of the yolk. The holding part 11 is arranged on the base 1 so that a boundary E3 is formed along the side where the thick egg white extends the most (longitudinal direction) (step S4). The light projection unit 21 emits blue light. One half of the egg E to be inspected becomes a bright region E1, and the other half becomes a dark region E2. A boundary E3 is formed on the surface of the egg E to be inspected. The boundary E3 is formed over the surface of the egg yolk, the surface of the thick albumen, the surface of the watery albumen, the surface of the holding part 11, and the surface of the base 1. The boundary E3 is formed at a portion where the bright region E1 and the dark region E2 are adjacent to each other, and represents the outer shape of the egg E to be inspected cut at the center.

With the boundary E3 formed on the egg E to be inspected, a first image is photographed using the first photographing unit 91 (step S5). The image receiving unit 4 receives the first image. The recording unit 5 records the received image. The determining unit 7 determines the measurement point of the thick egg white based on the first image (step S6). The determining unit 7 employs the central part of the thick albumen of the broken egg as a measurement point. The determination unit 7 detects the boundary E4 between the thick albumen and the egg yolk and the boundary E5 between the thick albumen and the watery albumen from the first image, and determines the center of these boundaries E4 and E5 as the measurement point. The boundaries E4 and E5 may be detected by using inflection points of the outer shape obtained from the photographed images or differences in color obtained from the photographed images. Note that the position of the boundary E4 between the rich albumen and the egg yolk and the boundary E5 between the rich albumen and the watery albumen on the holding part 11 changes depending on the size and freshness of the egg E to be inspected.

Further, with the boundary E3 formed on the egg E to be inspected, a second image is photographed using the second photographing section 92 (step S7). Image receiving section 4 receives the second image. The recording unit 5 records the received image. The calculation unit 3 calculates the height dimension of the thick egg white at the measurement point (step S8). The calculation unit 3 uses the reference value set by the setting unit 6 and the measurement point determined by the determination unit 7 to calculate the dimensions. Note that step S7 may be performed before step S5, at the same time as step S5, or before step S6.

Howe units are calculated using the thus calculated thick egg white measurement value and egg weight.

Furthermore, the height and diameter of the yolk used to calculate the yolk coefficient can also be calculated in the same manner as in the Howe unit.

For example, after steps S1 to S5 described above, the image receiving section 4 receives the first image, and the recording section 5 records the received image. The calculation unit 3 calculates the dimensions from the first image using the reference value set by the setting unit 6. The calculation unit 3 calculates the height dimension of the egg yolk from the first image. The yolk height dimension was measured at the highest point of the yolk of the broken egg. Further, the calculation unit 3 calculates the diameter of the egg yolk from the first image. The yolk diameter is the distance between the two boundaries E4 and E4 of the yolk of a broken egg. The two boundaries E4 are the boundaries E4 between the rich egg white and the egg yolk, on one side and the other side with the egg yolk in between.

As explained above, the observation device 10 of this embodiment is an observation device 10 for calculating the dimensions of each part of a broken egg, and includes a boundary forming section 2 and a calculation section 3. The boundary forming part 2 forms a boundary E3 between the bright area E1 and the dark area E2 so as to pass through the center of the yolk on the holding part 11 on which the egg E to be inspected is broken and placed. The calculation unit 3 calculates the dimensions of each part of the egg E to be inspected, which are necessary for determining the quality index of the egg, based on the image taken of the boundary E3. Therefore, it becomes possible to observe broken eggs with a simpler structure than before.

The holding part 11 includes a recess 12 for positioning the yolk of the egg E to be inspected. The boundary forming part 2 forms a boundary E3 across the recess 12. Therefore, the boundary E3 can be easily formed at a desired position.

The boundary forming section 2 includes a light projecting section 21 and a shielding section 22. The light projection unit 21 irradiates light toward the egg E to be inspected to form a bright region E1. The shielding part 22 blocks part of the light irradiated onto the egg E to be inspected inside the linear end 23 to form a dark region E2.

The boundary forming unit 2 forms a boundary E3 using blue light. Therefore, an easily distinguishable boundary E3 can be formed on the transparent thick egg white.

Furthermore, the observation device 10 of this embodiment includes a photographing section 9, a determining section 7, and a calculating section 3. The photographing unit 9 photographs the egg E to be inspected from above. The determination unit 7 determines the measurement point of the thick albumen based on the image taken of the cracked egg E to be inspected. The calculation unit 3 calculates the height dimension of the thick egg white at the measurement point. In particular, in the present embodiment, the determining unit 7 determines the measurement point of the thick albumen based on the first image, and the calculating unit 3 calculates the height dimension of the thick albumen based on the second image. There is. In this way, measurement accuracy can be improved by using images of the egg E to be inspected taken in a plurality of fields of view.

The determining unit 7 uses a first image taken so as to include the boundary between the thick albumen and the yolk and the boundary between the thick albumen and the watery albumen. Further, the calculation unit 3 uses a second image in which the thick egg white is photographed in an enlarged manner compared to the first image. Therefore, it becomes possible to perform measurements to more accurately calculate the Howe unit. Note that the first imaging section 91 may have lower image quality than the second imaging section 92.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.

The boundary forming part 2 is not limited to the light projecting part 21 and the shielding part 22 as illustrated. The shielding part 22 does not have to be flat. For example, in order to form the boundary E3 more clearly, it may be a special shape that can reduce diffraction. The boundary E3 may be a line of light (bright area E1) or a line of shadow (dark area E2). The boundary E3 may be formed by points. The boundary forming section 2 is not limited to one that uses blue light. Filters may also be used to use wavelengths that can form easily discernible boundaries on the concentrated albumen. For example, the light projecting section 21 may emit white light, and the photographing section 9 may detect only a specific wavelength.

The relationship between the light projecting section 21 and the photographing section 9 is not limited to that illustrated. For example, the light projecting section 21 may be disposed diagonally above the base 1 and the photographing section 9 may be disposed above the base 1, or the light projecting section 21 and the photographing section 9 may each be disposed diagonally above the base 1. It may be arranged above.

The determining unit 7 and the calculating unit 3 may be configured such that the boundary E3 is not included in the image of the egg E to be inspected. That is, the determining unit 7 may not use the boundary E3 when determining the measurement point of the thick egg white. The calculation unit 3 may not use the boundary E3 when determining the height dimension of the thick egg white.

In the embodiment described above, a plurality of photographing units 9 were provided and the determination unit 7 was provided for determining the measurement point, but as a modified example, the calculation unit 3 captures an image obtained by photographing the outline of the egg E to be inspected. If the height dimension of the thick egg white is calculated from the above, one photographing section 9 is sufficient and the determining section 7 is also unnecessary. That is, the calculation unit 3 calculates the dimensions by using only the image (first image) of the outline of the egg E to be inspected, without using the enlarged image (second image). It may be calculated.

The embodiment disclosed this time is an example and is not limited thereto. The present invention is defined not by the scope described above, but by the scope of the claims, and is intended to include all changes within the meaning and range equivalent to the scope of the claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION This invention can be utilized for the apparatus which measures the shape of a cracked egg, or the apparatus which evaluates the quality of a cracked egg.

10... Observation device 11... Holding part 12... Concave part 2... Boundary forming part 21... Light projecting part 22... Shielding part 23... End part 3... Calculating part 7... Determining part E... Egg to be inspected E1... Bright area E2... Dark area E3...Boundary E4...Boundary between thick albumen and egg yolk E5...Boundary between thick albumen and watery albumen

Claims (6)

a boundary forming unit that projects light from above onto the albumen on the holding unit on which the egg to be inspected has been broken and placed to form a boundary between a bright area and a dark area;
An observation device for cracked eggs, comprising a calculation unit that calculates a height dimension of albumen based on an image of the boundary. The holding section includes a recess for positioning the yolk of the egg to be inspected,
The cracked egg observation device according to claim 1, wherein the boundary forming part forms a boundary across the concave part. The boundary forming part includes a light projecting part that irradiates light toward the egg to be inspected to form the bright area, and a part of the light irradiated to the egg to be inspected inside the linear end part. The apparatus for observing a cracked egg according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a shielding part that shields the dark area to form the dark area. 4. The cracked egg observation device according to claim 1, wherein the boundary forming section forms the boundary using blue light. The method further includes a determination unit that determines a measurement point for the thick albumen based on an image taken of the cracked egg to be inspected;
5. The cracked egg observation device according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit calculates a height dimension of the thick albumen at the measurement point. The determining unit uses a first image photographed to include the boundary between the thick egg white and the egg yolk and the boundary between the thick albumen and the watery albumen,
6. The cracked egg observation device according to claim 5, wherein the calculation unit uses a second image obtained by enlarging and photographing the thick albumen compared to the first image.

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