JPH06205661A - Method of non-destructive fruit sorting and device therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To sort high-quality fruits from low-quality fruits by judging qualities of fruits by density and saccharimetric degree of fruits. CONSTITUTION:Fruits 5 such as watermelon are transported by a fruit sorting conveyor at a fixed speed, weight of the fruit is weighed by a load cell type metering machine 9 having a metering conveyor 8 and volume of the fruit is measured by a volume measuring gate 11. Density of the fruit is computed by a controller 22 and a cylinder 17 for removing fruit having low saccharimetric degree and a cylinder 19 for taking out fruit having high saccharimetric degree are operated according to their saccharimetric degrees judged based on a saccharimetric degree judging standard value inputted from a judging standard value setting device 21 and judged densities of the fruits.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a nondestructive method and apparatus for selecting fruits such as watermelon.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technique has been developed for measuring the weight and volume of fruits and performing a nondestructive test for maturity (for example, hollowing of watermelon).

[0003]

According to the above-mentioned prior art, the sugar content of thin peaches such as peaches can be measured by near infrared rays, but the thickness of peaches such as watermelon cannot be measured by near infrared rays. The fruit density was measured based on the weight and volume, and the ripeness (cavitation) of watermelon was judged, but the sugar content of the fruit was unknown, so it was harvested after a certain number of days after flowering, for example. When selecting fruits, it is easy to select fruits with a high density (more than ripe) and low sugar (unripe) with a certain density, and especially for watermelons with thick skin, the sugar content should be determined. There is a problem that it cannot be easily performed by non-destructive inspection, and it is not possible to easily improve the accuracy of fruit quality discrimination.

[0004]

[Means for Solving the Problems] Therefore, according to the present invention, the density of fruit is measured to determine the sugar content, and the quality is determined by the density and sugar content of the fruit. Based on the density of the fruit by measuring the sugar content of the fruit non-destructively based on the weight and volume of the fruit by measuring in advance and determining the sugar content of the fruit based on the weight and volume of the fruit. Since the quality of fruits is determined by sugar content, fruits are sorted into those with high sugar content and those with low sugar content, and high quality (ripe) fruit and low quality (immature) fruit are sorted based on sugar content. Therefore, it is possible to improve the accuracy of fruit quality discrimination more easily than before.

Further, a measuring means for measuring the density of the fruit,
It is provided with a setting means for initially setting the sugar content determination reference value and a determination means for determining the sugar content based on the measured density of the fruit.For example, by conveying the fruit by a conveyor or the like, the sugar content of a plurality of fruits is not continuously measured. It is possible to perform destructive measurement, and it is possible to easily automate the selection work based on the sugar content of the fruit and optimize the selection work.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a fruit selection control circuit, and FIG. 2 is a side view of a fruit selection device, which includes a fruit selection conveyor (3) stretched through a driving wheel (1) and a driven wheel (2). ) Is driven in one direction at a substantially constant speed by an electric motor (4), and fruit holders (6) on which watermelons (5) as fruits are placed are attached to the conveyor (3) at substantially equal intervals, and a plurality of watermelons are attached. (5) is configured to be continuously conveyed at a constant speed.

A conveyor (7) for automatically supplying watermelons (5) to the holder (6) on the starting side of the conveyor (3) is provided, and the watermelons (5) received by the shipping port or the producer are received. The conveyor (7) is configured to stock and manage the receipt.

Further, a load cell type weighing machine (9) having a weighing conveyor (8) for lifting the watermelon (5) of the holder (6) onto the fruit sorting conveyor (3) is provided, and the weighing conveyor (3) and The weight of the watermelon (5) is measured by moving the watermelon (5) in synchronization with each other.

Further, a suction plate (10) forming a main electrode
And a volume measuring gate (11) forming an earth electrode,
A watermelon (5) of the holder (6) is provided with a volume measuring conveyor (12) for supporting the watermelon (5) on the suction disc (10) and passing through the inside of the gate (11), and the watermelon is attached to the suction disc (10) by the air cylinder (13). The watermelon (5) is moved by synchronizing the picking conveyor (3) with the (5) fixed, and by energizing the suction plate (10) and the gate (11).
The volume of the watermelon (5) is measured based on the capacitance of the space in the gate (11) that changes depending on the volume of the watermelon (5).

Further, the watermelons (5) are picked up from the fruit selection conveyor (3) according to their respective ranks, and the receiving boxes (14) and (1) are classified according to their ranks.
5) (16) and low sugar content fruits and high sugar content extraction cylinders (17) (19) for moving the watermelon (5) of the holder (6) to each of the boxes (14) to (16). Also, the watermelon (5) of the holder (6) is taken out into each box (14) (16) separately for high sugar content.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the weighing machine (9) and the capacitance meter (20), which are measuring means for measuring the density of the watermelon (5), and a setting for initially setting a reference value for judging the sugar content. A controller (2) composed of a judgment reference value setting device (21) as a means and a microcomputer as a judgment means for judging the sugar content based on the measured density of the watermelon (5).
2) is provided.

Then, as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 3, the weight of the watermelon (5) measured by the weighing machine (9) is input to the controller (22), and the electrostatic attraction between the suction cup (10) and the gate (11) is entered. The volume of the watermelon (5) based on the capacitance change is input from the capacitance meter (20) to the controller (22) to calculate the density from the weight and volume of the watermelon (5), and the determination reference value setter (21). The sugar content determination reference value is input to the controller (22), and the determination data based on the correlation diagram between the fruit density and the sugar content shown in FIG. 4 is stored in the controller (22) in advance and the measured watermelon (5) density The sugar content of the watermelon (5) is judged based on the judgment data of FIG. 4 based on the judgment reference value and the non-destructively measured sugar content of the watermelon (5) to determine whether the watermelon (5) is immature or mature. Each cylinder (17) (19)
Is operated to automatically and continuously select the watermelon (5), the density of the watermelon (5) is measured to determine the sugar content,
The quality is determined by the sugar content of the watermelon (5), and low quality low sugar content fruit with low sugar content and high quality high sugar content fruit with high sugar content
It is configured to select the watermelon (5).

This embodiment is constructed as described above. Fruits that have passed a predetermined number of days after flowering are harvested as samples, and the density of the sample fruits is determined by, for example, measuring the weight in air and the weight in water, and The flesh is collected and the sugar content is measured with a sugar meter, and the relationship between the density and sugar content of the sample fruit is obtained as the fruit selection data as shown in Fig. 4. The correlation diagram in Fig. 4 shows 40 days after flowering. The relationship between the sugar content and the density of the watermelon (5) harvested after passing the front and back is shown, and the watermelon (5) with a density of 0.96 to 0.98 grams per milliliter has a sugar content of 11% or less and is hollow. It is an unripe fruit with a low sugar content because it has no sugar content, and the watermelon (5) with a density of 0.94 to 0.96 grams per milliliter has a sugar content of 10.5% or more and has no cavities. Watermelon with a high ripe fruit and a density of 0.94 g per milliliter or less has a sugar content of 10% or more, but it is overripe because it has cavities. Was given.

As is clear from the above, the fruit density is 0.
For watermelon (5) of 94 grams per milliliter or more, a negative correlation was observed between fruit density and sugar content, and fruit density was 0.9.
4-0.96 grams per milliliter watermelon (5)
Has a sugar content of 10.5% or more, is equivalent to a ripe fruit, has no cavities and can be selected as a high sugar content product.
The watermelon (5) having a fruit density of 0.96 to 0.98 g ml has a sugar content of 11% or less, corresponds to unripe fruit, and can be selected as a low sugar product, and a fruit density of 0.94 g ml Watermelon below (5)
Has a substantially constant sugar content of 10% or more, corresponds to overripe fruit, and has a high sugar content but can be selected as having cavities.

When the watermelon (5) is selected, the controller (22) stores the correlation diagram between the fruit density and the sugar content shown in FIG. 4 as judgment data, and the fruit produced by the variety. Judgment standard value setter (2
1) Correcting by operation and changing the set value for classifying the size of the watermelon cavity. The watermelon (5) of the receiving conveyor (7) is replaced by the fruit holder (6) of the fruit selecting conveyor (3).
By automatically supplying the watermelon (5) to the holder (16), the weight of the watermelon (5) is measured by the weighing machine (9), and then the watermelon (5) is supported by the suction cup (10) to measure the volume. The volume of the watermelon (5) is measured by the capacitance change of the space inside the gate (11). When the weight and volume of the watermelon (5) are clarified and the fruit density is measured, the sugar content is determined from the fruit density of the watermelon (5) to determine whether the fruit is immature or ripe. The determination is made based on the sugar content, and the cylinders (17) and (19) are operated and controlled to select the result.

The volume and density of the watermelon (5) may be measured by an image processing method or a water immersion method.

Further, FIG. 5 shows a modified example, in which the watermelon (5) is taken out from the fruit selection conveyor (3) by the equal rank, the receiving boxes (14), (15) and (16) according to the equal rank are provided with holders (6). Cylinders (171) (181) (191) for picking unripe fruits, ripe fruits and overripe fruits for moving watermelon (5) of
The watermelon (5) of the holder (6) is divided into unripe fruit, ripe fruit and overripe fruit, and the boxes (14) to (16) are provided.
It is configured to be taken out.

Also, as in the above embodiment, the watermelon (5)
The weighing machine (9) and the capacitance meter (20) which are the measuring means for measuring the density of the, the determination reference value setting device (21) which is the setting means for initially setting the determination reference value of the sugar content, and the watermelon ( A controller (2) composed of a microcomputer which is a judging means for judging the sugar content based on the measured density of 5).
2) is provided.

Then, as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 6, the weight of the watermelon (5) measured by the weighing machine (9) is input to the controller (22), and the electrostatic attraction between the suction cup (10) and the gate (11) is entered. The volume of the watermelon (5) based on the capacitance change is input from the capacitance meter (20) to the controller (22) to calculate the density from the weight and volume of the watermelon (5), and the determination reference value setter (21). The sugar content determination reference value is input to the controller (22), and the determination data based on the correlation diagram between the fruit density and the sugar content shown in FIG. 4 is stored in the controller (22) in advance and the measured watermelon (5) density The sugar content of the watermelon (5) is judged based on the judgment data of FIG. 4 based on the judgment reference value and whether the watermelon (5) is immature or mature based on the density and sugar content of the watermelon (5) measured nondestructively. To determine whether the ripening, the cylinders (171) - (191) to actuate Watermelon (5)
Is automatically and continuously selected, the sugar content is determined by measuring the density of the watermelon (5), and the quality is determined by the density and sugar content of the watermelon (5). Watermelon (5) is configured to select low quality unripe fruit, high density high quality ripe fruit with no cavities and high sugar content, and low density low quality overripe fruit with cavities but high sugar content is doing.

When the watermelon (5) is selected, the controller (22) stores the correlation diagram between the fruit density and the sugar content shown in FIG. Judgment standard value setter (2
1) Correcting by operation and changing the set value for classifying the size of the watermelon cavity. The watermelon (5) of the receiving conveyor (7) is replaced by the fruit holder (6) of the fruit selecting conveyor (3).
By automatically supplying the watermelon (5) to the holder (16), the weight of the watermelon (5) is measured by the weighing machine (9), and then the watermelon (5) is supported by the suction cup (10) to measure the volume. The volume of the watermelon (5) is measured by the capacitance change of the space inside the gate (11). Then, when the weight and volume of the watermelon (5) are clarified and the fruit density is measured, the sugar content is determined from the fruit density of the watermelon (5) to determine whether the fruit is unripe or ripe. Whether it is a ripe fruit or not is judged based on the fruit density and sugar content, and each cylinder (1
71), (181) and (191) are operated and controlled to select the result.

[0021]

As is apparent from the above examples, according to the present invention, the sugar content is determined by measuring the density of the fruit (5), and the quality is determined by the density and sugar content of the fruit (5). The correlation between the density of the fruit (5) and the sugar content is measured in advance and used as the judgment reference value of the sugar content, and the density is non-destructively measured based on the weight and volume of the fruit (5), and the judgment reference value of the sugar content and the fruit (5) By determining the sugar content of the fruit (5) by the measured density, the sugar content based on the density of the fruit (5) determines the fruit (5).
Therefore, it is possible to select fruits with high sugar content and low sugar content, and to select high quality (ripe) fruit and low quality (immature) fruit based on sugar content. Therefore, it is possible to improve the accuracy of fruit quality determination more easily than before.

The measuring means (9) (20) for measuring the density of the fruit (5), the setting means (21) for initially setting the reference value for the sugar content, and the sugar content based on the measured density of the fruit (5). By providing a determination means (22) for determining, the fruit (5) can be continuously and non-destructively measured for the fruit (5) by conveying the fruit (5) by, for example, a conveyor (3). It is possible to easily automate the selection work based on the sugar content of) and optimize the selection work.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a selection control circuit diagram.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a fruit selection device.

3 is a flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a correlation diagram of fruit density and sugar content.

FIG. 5 is a selection control circuit diagram showing a modified example.

6 is a flowchart of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (5) Watermelon (fruit) (9) Measuring machine (measuring means) (20) Capacitance meter (measuring means) (21) Judgment reference value setting device (setting means) (22) Controller (judging means)

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Haruo Koga 1-32, Chayamachi, Kita-ku, Osaka City Yanmar Agricultural Machinery Co., Ltd. Omi measure Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A non-destructive fruit selection method in which the density of fruit is measured to determine the sugar content, and the quality is determined based on the density and sugar content of the fruit. 2. A non-destructive fruit sorting apparatus comprising: a measuring unit for measuring fruit density; a setting unit for initially setting a sugar content determination reference value; and a determining unit for judging sugar content based on the measured density of fruit.