JPH0553554B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention mainly relates to a small-sized sorting machine that can sort the ripeness (coloring degree) and weight of vegetables and fruits on the spot after they are harvested.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, vegetables, fruits, etc. are sorted in bulk by transporting the harvested products from harvesting farmers to a joint fruit sorting plant. However, since harvested products are generally subject to severe physical damage during transportation, methods to eliminate this transportation process have been considered. In addition, to prevent this damage, unripe fruit, which is harder than ripe fruit, was often harvested. Consumers desire highly ripened fruits from the standpoint of taste, nutrition, and softness.

Furthermore, conventional methods of sorting have been based on weight or the difference in the distance between two belts, and the degree of ripeness is determined visually by surface color, making it difficult to standardize. . There is also a color measurement/discrimination device using a color sensor using a color difference meter, but the device is complicated and expensive.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In view of the above points, the present invention measures the ripeness and weight of the harvest at the harvesting farm without sacrificing quality at the same time as harvesting, and determines the harvest based on the results. The purpose of this project is to provide a compact sorting machine that can uniformly sort fruits, omit the transportation process to a joint fruit sorting facility, and prevent variations in grades and specifications caused by individual measurements.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the small-sized sorting machine of the present invention has a plurality of objects to be measured that can be tilted by a dispensing motor along the upper surface of the turntable that is rotated by a variable speed motor. A hole is provided through the central part of the tray and a corresponding part of the turntable, and a weight measuring device is placed below the turntable, and an object to be measured placed on the tray is inserted through the hole. A light source that emits light and a color sensor that receives reflected light from the object to be measured and outputs a signal according to the color are installed, and a variable speed motor, a dispensing motor,
A weight measuring device, a light source, and a color sensor can be controlled by a computer, and the object to be measured can be sorted and delivered by grade based on data measured by the weight measuring device and color sensor. do.

When measuring an object with a color sensor, the process of projecting light onto the object to be measured at a projection angle of 75° to 85° with respect to the vertical axis, with the center of light emission shifted from the center of the object to be measured, and the receiving angle. The method also includes a step of receiving light at an angle of 40° to 50° with respect to the vertical axis.

[Function] Since the small-sized sorter of the present invention is small, it can be installed near the harvest site. There is a hole in the center of the tray, so if you place the object to be measured on the tray,
Since the top of the fruit fits into the hole and is exposed below the turntable, the top of the fruit necessary for color measurement can be stably obtained. Measurements can then be made using a color sensor installed below the turntable.

In addition, the turntable equipped with a receiving tray can be stopped and rotated by a variable speed motor, and a weight measuring device and a color sensor are installed along the periphery at the bottom of the turntable, so it is possible to stop and rotate the turntable when the weight has been measured. The next coloring measurement of the object to be measured is possible by simply rotating the turntable through a certain angle.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example in which the present invention is applied to tomato selection will be described based on the accompanying drawings.

The compact sorting machine of the present invention is broadly divided into a sorting section 1 and a computer control section 2. The sorting section 1 includes a turntable 3 rotated by a variable speed motor.
A receiving tray 4 is provided on the circumference of the turntable 3 at a position dividing the circumference of the turntable 3 into eight equal parts. The central part of the saucer 4 and the corresponding turntable have a diameter that passes through both vertically.
A hole 5 of 30 mm is provided. An electronic balance 6 connected to a computer is installed at the bottom of the tray 4 at the supply point A of the turntable 3, and a halogen lamp projector 7 and an amorphous scale are installed at the bottom of the position 1/8 turn of the turntable 3 from that position. A silicon color sensor 9 is provided.

The actual sorting is carried out as follows using a small sorting machine consisting of the sorting section 1 as described above and the computer control section 2 that drives and controls the sorting section 1.

When a tomato is placed on the tray 4 at the supply point A with its top facing downward as shown in FIG. 2, the electronic balance 6 first measures the weight of the tomato. Thereafter, the turntable 3 is rotated 1/8 of a turn, and the coloring of the top of the tomato fruit is measured from below the saucer, as shown in FIG. Measurement is performed by applying light from a halogen lamp projector 7 to the top of the fruit from the side, and using an amorphous silicon color sensor 9 via a condensing lens 8 in a light receiving section.

In this case, the surface of the tomato is a convex surface with different curvatures, and the angle of incidence and angle of reflection of light are not constant. Generally, when the reflection angle is flat, the light receiver is placed directly below the object to be measured and the light is emitted from a 45° angle. It becomes easier. Therefore, as shown in Figure 2, the light projection angle with respect to the vertical axis is increased to around 80° (75° to 85°), the center of the light projection is shifted from the center of the tomato, and the receiving angle is also adjusted vertically on the light projection side. The angle is set at around 45 degrees (40 degrees to 50 degrees) with respect to the axis to prevent white light other than the reddish component from entering the light receiver, thereby preventing the color sensor's discrimination ability from deteriorating.

To judge the ripeness of tomatoes, the degree of redness is determined by measuring the surface color of a 30 mm diameter area at the top of the fruit using an integrated color sensor that detects green components. this is,
This is because research to date has revealed that the degree of ripeness of vegetables and fruits most closely corresponds to the degree of coloration at the top of the fruit.

For color measurement, other than the method of exposing the top of the fruit from the hole 5 of the turntable 3, the tomato is placed on the tray 4 with the stem side down and the top of the fruit facing up, and the top of the fruit is exposed from the top of the turntable. It is also possible to measure color by projecting light onto the tomato, but since the position of the top of the fruit varies depending on the individual tomato,
This means that the measurement point cannot be stabilized.

Measurement results are sent each time to a connected computer. When the coloring measurement is completed, the tomatoes are sorted based on preset weight and coloring criteria, and when the tray rotates to the outlet corresponding to the criteria, the dispensing motor 11 is driven to tilt the tray and remove the tomatoes from the tomato tray. It has started to be released more outward. Tomatoes are placed on the tray and measured sequentially each time it comes to the supply point. At the end of the job, the computer displays the number and total weight of tomatoes dispensed from each outlet.

[Effects of the invention] Because the small-sized sorting machine of the present invention is small, sorting can be performed at the harvesting farm, and the process of transporting to the communal fruit sorting facility can be omitted, and quality deterioration due to vibration and impact during transportation can be avoided. can be avoided.

In addition, weight and ripeness are determined by computer based on standards determined in advance by the region.
Even if the selection is done by individual farmers, the grades and standards can be unified for each production area. Furthermore, using a computer, it is possible to program predictions of color changes in harvested products, taking into account distribution and transportation conditions to the market. This makes it possible to select crops that will be fully ripe when they reach each consumer in a variety of regions, making it possible to supply fully ripe vegetables and fruits that meet market needs.

In addition, since it can be done online using a computer, the above-mentioned selection criteria and program modifications can be instantly communicated to each farmer, making it possible to select crops and adjust shipping in response to market product trends and price movements.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of the small-sized sorting machine of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a state diagram of tomato coloring measurement. 1... Sorting section, 2... Computer control section, 3
...turntable, 4...saucer, 5...hole,
6...Electronic balance, 7...Halogen lamp floodlight,
8... Condensing lens, 9... Amorphous silicon color sensor, 10... Light receiver, 11... Dispensing motor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A turntable that is intermittently rotated by a variable speed motor and has holes formed at predetermined intervals along its circumference; and a plurality of trays arranged to be tiltable, each having a through hole corresponding to the hole of the turntable, and on which a harvested product is placed so as to close the through hole; and the tray rotates intermittently together with the turntable. a plurality of dispensing motors that drive the plurality of receiving trays to tilt at their respective stop positions and dispensing the harvested products placed on the receiving trays; , a weight measuring device that measures the weight of the harvest placed on it and outputs a signal according to the weight; A light source is arranged to emit light at a projection angle of 75° to 85° through a through hole, and the reflected light of the light irradiated onto the harvest is set at an angle of 40° to the vertical axis of the harvest. A color sensor that is arranged to receive light at an angle of ~50° and outputs a signal according to the color of the harvest; A small-sized sorting machine comprising: a dispensing motor control means for classifying crops by grade according to color and controlling the drive of the plurality of dispensing motors so that crops of the same grade are dispensed at the same location. .