JPH0530086Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <<Industrial Application Field>> The present invention relates to a seaweed inspection device for inspecting seaweed.

[Prior Art] Traditionally, seaweed, which is made by cutting red and green algae into paper-like sheets and then drying them, has been manually inspected for quality.

However, with this type of testing method, testing accuracy and
Since it is not possible to improve the inspection speed, a seaweed inspection device that automatically performs this has been developed and is in use.

This seaweed inspection device includes a transport unit that transports the seaweed, a line sensor that takes images of the seaweed being transported by the transport unit, and a line sensor that processes the output of the line sensor to determine the width of the seaweed and the presence or absence of horizontal cracks. It is equipped with a processing section that detects the seaweed, and a display section that displays the detection results of this processing section. Display on the display.

[Problems that the invention aims to solve] By the way, in such conventional seaweed inspection equipment, the quality of the seaweed was determined by processing the image obtained by taking an image of the seaweed. When foreign matter such as sand, shellfish, or nylon gets mixed into the seaweed during processing or processing, there is a problem in that it is difficult to detect this.

Therefore, focusing on the fact that when foreign matter is mixed into seaweed, the thickness of that area becomes thicker, it is possible to measure the thickness of seaweed and determine whether or not foreign matter has been mixed into seaweed based on this measurement result. It will be done.

However, in this case, if the thickness of the seaweed is measured by an analog sensor and the measurement results are to be processed by a microprocessor, the microprocessor must control the data acquisition timing, etc. This causes problems such as the program becoming complicated and the data processing speed on the microprocessor side decreasing.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention allows data to be captured at regular intervals without the need to control data capture timing on the microprocessor side. When foreign matter such as grain or nylon gets mixed in, it can be easily removed.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a seaweed inspection device that can detect seaweed at high speed.

<Means for Solving the Problems> In order to solve the above problems, the seaweed inspection device according to the present invention uses the characteristics of the seaweed that changes along the transport direction of the seaweed transported at a constant speed as an analog quantity. A detection sensor and a successive approximation type A/R converting the analog quantity obtained by the sensor into a digital quantity when a signal is supplied to the start terminal.
A D converter, a signal based on an end signal that informs the end of the A/D conversion process of this A/D converter, and a start signal supplied from the outside are ORed and the result is supplied to the start terminal of the A/D converter. A circuit to
The present invention is characterized by comprising a processing circuit that processes the digital quantity obtained by the A/D converter.

<<Embodiment>> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a seaweed inspection apparatus according to the present invention.

The seaweed inspection device shown in this figure is equipped with a conveyance section 1, a thickness detection section 2, a determination section 3, and a switching section 4, and when nori 5 is inserted, its thickness is At the same time, based on this measurement result, it is determined whether or not foreign matter has been mixed into the seaweed 5. If no foreign matter has been mixed in, the seaweed is put into the non-defective stock section 6, and if no foreign matter has been mixed in. For example, put it in the defective product stock section 7.

The transport unit 1 includes a plurality of drive pulleys 8 and a plurality of driven pulleys 9 corresponding to each of these drive pulleys 8.
and a belt 10 stretched between the drive pulley 8 and the driven pulley 9, respectively.
When the seaweed 5 is inserted from the introduction end side, it is transported in the direction of arrow A along the transport surface.

The thickness detection unit 2 also includes a drive roller (for example, a roller whose surface is coated with hard rubber) 11 provided on the lower surface of the introduction end side of the conveyance surface, and a support shaft provided above the introduction end side of the conveyance surface. 12, an arm 13 whose one end is rotatably supported on the support shaft 12, and an arm 13 rotatably supported on the other end of the arm 13 at a position where its circumferential surface contacts the circumferential surface of the driving roller 11. rubber rollers (for example, hard rubber rollers, etc.)
14, and L fixed to the other end side of the arm 13.
It includes a letter-shaped iron plate 15 and a proximity sensor 16 that detects the vertical position of this iron plate 15 and outputs an electric signal (thickness detection signal).

When the seaweed 5 passes between the driving roller 11 and the rubber roller 14, the rubber roller 14 moves up and down according to the thickness of the seaweed 5, and the end side of the arm 13 on which the rubber roller 14 is pivotally supported and The iron plate 15 moves up and down around the support shaft 12. Correspondingly, the proximity sensor 16 that detects the vertical position of the iron plate 15 outputs a thickness detection signal (analog signal) indicating the vertical position of the iron plate 15, that is, the thickness of the seaweed 5, and this is sent to the determination section. Supply to 3.

The determination unit 3 includes an A/D conversion circuit 1 that converts the thickness detection signal into a digital signal (thickness detection data).
7, and a processing circuit 21 that sequentially processes the thickness detection data obtained by the A/D conversion circuit 17 and determines whether foreign matter is mixed in the seaweed 5.
and generates a solenoid ON signal when the seaweed 5 is contaminated with foreign matter,
This is supplied to the switching section 4.

In this case, the A/D conversion circuit 17 is of a successive approximation type that converts the thickness detection signal obtained by the thickness detection section 2 into thickness detection data when a "1" signal is supplied to the start terminal 18a. A/D converter 18 and an end signal END output when this A/D converter 18 finishes the A/D conversion operation.
a delay circuit 19 that delays the
output (delayed end signal DEND) and processing circuit 2
1 and an OR circuit 20 that ORs the start signal ST supplied from 1 and supplies it to the start terminal 18a of the A/D converter 18.

When the start signal ST is supplied from the processing circuit 21, the A/D converter 18 starts operating and converts the thickness detection signal obtained by the thickness detection section 2 into thickness detection data, When this conversion operation is completed, an end signal END is generated and
This is supplied to the processing circuit 21. Thereafter, when the read signal RD is supplied from the processing circuit 21, the A/D converter 18 supplies the thickness detection data obtained by this conversion operation to the processing circuit 21.

At this time, the end signal END is delayed by the delay circuit 19 and then supplied to the start terminal 18a of the A/D converter 18 via the OR circuit 20. As a result, auto-start is applied to this A/D converter 18, and the A/D conversion operation is started.

Thereafter, this operation is repeated, and the A/D converter 18 converts the thickness detection signal obtained by the thickness detection section 2 into thickness detection data at fixed time intervals, and this thickness detection data and the end The signal END is supplied to the processing circuit 21.

The processing circuit 21 includes a control unit (CPU) 22 consisting of a microprocessor, etc., and a ROM in which programs for the CPU 22 and various constant data are stored.
(read-only memory) 23 and the CPU 2
2, a display 25 for displaying processing results of the CPU 22, and an interface 26 for connecting the CPU 22 and the switching section 4.

Then, the CPU 22 controls the A/D conversion circuit 1 based on the program stored in the ROM 23.
7, the start signal is supplied only once. After this,
Every time the end signal END is supplied from this A/D conversion circuit 17, the CPU 22 jumps to the interrupt processing routine and
While carrying out the operation of taking in the thickness detection data supplied from the main program, the main program sequentially processes the thickness detection data to determine whether or not the seaweed 5 is contaminated with foreign matter.

The switching section 4 also includes a flapper 27 provided on the rear side of the conveyance section 1 and a solenoid 28 that drives the flapper 27. When the solenoid ON signal is not supplied from the processing circuit 21, the flapper The tip of the nori 27 is below the conveying surface of the conveying section 1 to guide the seaweed 5 to the good product stocking section 6, and when the solenoid on signal is supplied, the solenoid 28 is turned on to drive the flapper 27, and this The tip of the flapper 27 is made to protrude above the conveying surface to guide the seaweed 5 to the defective product stocking section 7.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, when the power switch of this seaweed inspection apparatus is turned on, the processing circuit 21 starts operating and initializes each part of the circuit, and then supplies a start signal to the A/D conversion circuit 17 in step ST1. Then, each time an interrupt is issued from this A/D conversion circuit 17, the processing circuit 21 sequentially takes in the thickness detection data output from this A/D conversion circuit 17, and
Check whether this is a value other than "0" and wait until the value of this thickness detection data becomes a value other than "0".

Then, when the value of the thickness detection data becomes a value other than "0", the processing circuit 21
Then, it is determined that the seaweed 5 has entered between the rubber roller 14 and the step ST1 branches to step ST2, where the process waits for a predetermined time. Due to this waiting time, the jumping up of the rubber roller 14 that occurs when the tip of the seaweed 5 enters between the drive roller 11 and the rubber roller 14 is ignored.

After this, the processing circuit 21 inputs the A/D in step ST3.
Each time an interrupt is issued from the conversion circuit 17, the thickness detection data is sequentially fetched, and when the number of thickness detection data reaches a predetermined number (for example, 8 pieces), each thickness detection data is averaged to determine the thickness. Find data and store it.

Next, in step ST4, the processing circuit 21 checks whether the value of this thickness data exceeds a predetermined reference value, and if it is within the reference value, branches to step ST5, where the process branches to step ST5. Find the difference (displacement value) between the previous thickness data value (in this case, the value "0" because it is the first time) and the thickness data value obtained this time, and calculate the predetermined standard displacement value. Check whether it exceeds the standard displacement value, and if it is within the standard displacement value, the value of the thickness data obtained this time is set to "0" in step ST6.
Check whether

If the value of this thickness data is not "0", the processing circuit 21 determines that the rear end of the seaweed 5 is on the drive roller 1.
1 and the rubber roller 14, and the process moves from this step ST6 to the step ST3.
Go back and repeat the operations described above.

During this operation, if all the thickness data of the seaweed 5 is within the reference value and reference displacement value, the processing circuit 21 determines that no foreign matter is mixed into the seaweed 5, and the thickness data is determined in step ST6. When the data value becomes “0”, this seaweed 5
is judged to be a good product. Thereby, the seaweed 5 that has been inspected is transported by the transport section 1 and stored in the non-defective product stock section 6.

During this operation, if the value of the thickness data exceeds a predetermined reference value as in the portion P1 shown in FIG. 3, the processing circuit 21 detects this in step ST4 and proceeds to step ST7. Then, a solenoid ON signal is generated to drive the flapper 27, and the tip of the flapper 27 is made to protrude above the conveying surface, leading the seaweed 5 to the defective product stocking section 7.

Also, during this operation, if the displacement value of the thickness data exceeds a predetermined reference displacement value as shown in part P2, the processing circuit 21 proceeds to step ST5.
When this is detected, the process branches to step ST7, where a solenoid ON signal is generated to cause the tip of the flapper 27 to protrude above the conveying surface and guide the seaweed 5 to the defective product stock section 7.

As described above, in this embodiment, whether or not foreign matter is mixed into the seaweed 5 is inspected based on the size of the thickness data obtained by detecting the thickness of the seaweed 5 and the degree of change thereof. ,
Easily check whether foreign substances are mixed into seaweed 5.
Moreover, it can be inspected at high speed.

Further, in the successive approximation type A/D converter 18, the A/D converter 18 utilizes the fact that the time required to convert an analog signal into a digital signal is constant.
Since the D converter 18 is configured to auto-start, data can be imported at regular intervals without the need to control the data import timing on the CPU 22 side, thereby simplifying the program. At the same time, the data processing speed of the CPU 22 can be increased.

Note that the signal based on the end signal, which is added to the start terminal and notifies the end of the A/D conversion process of the A/D converter, may be the end of the read signal RD. In this case, the delay circuit 19 becomes unnecessary.

<<Effect of the invention>> As explained above, according to the invention, data can be taken in at regular intervals without the need to control the data import timing on the microprocessor side. , sand, shellfish,
When foreign substances such as nylon are mixed in, this can be detected easily and quickly.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the seaweed inspection device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the same embodiment, and Fig. 3 is an example of thickness data obtained with the same embodiment. A schematic diagram is shown below. 2...Sensor (thickness detection part), 5...Seaweed, 1
8...A/D converter, 19...Delay circuit, 20...
...OR circuit, 21...processing circuit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A sensor detects the characteristics of the seaweed that change along the conveyance direction of the seaweed transported at a constant speed as an analog quantity, and when a signal is supplied to a start terminal, the analog quantity obtained by the sensor is detected. A successive approximation type A/D converter that converts into a digital quantity, a signal based on an end signal that informs the end of the A/D conversion process of this A/D converter, and a start signal supplied from the outside are ORed together. a circuit that supplies a start terminal of the A/D converter;
A laver seaweed inspection device characterized by comprising a processing circuit that processes digital quantities obtained by the converter.