JPH07171511A - Sorting of waste bottle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To sort a waste bottle to efficiently use the same as recycled resources by supplying the imaging signal of the waste bottle to a computer to compare the same with respective stored shapes and performing color sorting on the basis of the color of the corresponding shape. CONSTITUTION:Various kinds of waste bottles 10, 11, 12 on the upstream part 1a of a belt conveyor 1 are transferred in a direction (a). A light source 4 and the imaging device 3 opposed thereto are arranged on both sides of the belt conveyor 1 and the imaging signal of each of the waste bottles obtained from the camera part 3a of the imaging device 3 is supplied to a computer 5. The shape of each of the waste bottles from the front, rear and side surface thereof is stored in the computer 5 and the color corresponding thereto is also stored therein. Therefore, when the transferred waste bottle is black, the drive part of a gate device A is driven and the black waste bottle is guided to be received in a receiving box. As a result, waste bottles can certainly be sorted by desired colors on a downstream side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for selecting a waste glass bottle, which is a target for recycling resources, of municipal solid waste.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, waste bottles are particularly selected for recycling in each of the municipal waste treatments. For example, the waste bottles are sorted for each color, sorted, and crushed to cullet. We use it to make new bottles of the same color, or supply certain bottles to the manufacturer as is, but these must all be visible to the operator or rely on an incomplete color detection device. I had to do it.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and relates to a method of selecting a waste bottle which can be automatically selected and used as a resource for recycling efficiently.

[0004]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The above object is to store the shape of each waste bottle and the color corresponding to the shape in a computer, and to transfer the waste bottle transferred along a predetermined transfer path. An image is picked up by an image pickup device disposed on the side of the path, the image pickup signal is supplied to the computer, the shapes are compared with the stored shapes, and color selection is performed on the downstream side of the transfer path according to the color of the corresponding shape. And a method for selecting a waste bottle.

Further, the above-mentioned object is to store the shape of each waste bottle and the manufacturer who manufactured or used the waste bottle in a computer, and the waste bottle is transferred along a predetermined transfer path. Is imaged by an image pickup device disposed on the side of the transfer path, and the image pickup signal is supplied to the computer,
This is achieved by a method for sorting waste bottles, characterized in that each of the stored shapes is sorted and sorted by the corresponding manufacturer on the downstream side of the transfer path.

[0006] Further, the above object is to store the shape of each waste bottle and the manufacturer who produced or used the waste bottle in a computer, and the waste bottle is transferred along a predetermined transfer path. Is imaged by an image pickup device disposed on the side of the transfer path, and the image pickup signal is supplied to the computer,
This is achieved by a method for sorting waste bottles, characterized in that the colors are sorted on the downstream side of the transfer path as compared with the stored shapes.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the shape of the waste bottle and the corresponding color substantially match with each other by 100%. Therefore, if the shape of the waste bottle is imaged by the image pickup device, the desired color can be surely obtained on the downstream side. Can be sorted.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, if the shape of each waste bottle corresponds to that of the manufacturer or manufacturer, and there is almost no damage, the downstream bottles are sorted according to the manufacturer, and the original use is performed. It can be provided to the manufacturer or the manufacturer.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the shape of the waste bottle often corresponds to the manufacturer or the manufacturer of the waste bottle, and the shape of the waste bottle corresponds to the manufacturer or the manufacturer of the use. It is possible to determine which color to play, and thus to do color selection downstream.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A method for selecting a waste bottle according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, an upstream portion 1a of the belt conveyor 1 is shown, on which various waste bottles 10,
11, 12 are transferred in the direction indicated by arrow a. A light source 4 and an image pickup device (for example, a CCD camera) 3 are arranged on both sides of the belt conveyor 1 so as to face the light source 4.
Supply to.

The computer 5 stores the shape of each bottle from three directions. For example, in FIG.
1 shows the front shape as shown by A, the back surface or bottom surface shape by B, and the side surface shape by C. Main part 11C
1A has a wide shape in FIG. 1A, but as shown in FIG. 3C, the main portion 11C has a small width from the side, and the bottle mouth 11b also has a small shape. It is possible to recognize a three-dimensional shape depending on the shape seen from the front and the shape seen from the side. The same applies to the bottom 11a. In the computer 5, not only the bottle 11 but also FIG.
For the bottles 10 and 12 shown in FIG. 3 and other various bottles, the shapes as viewed from the front, the shape as viewed from the back, and the shape as viewed from the side are stored as shown in A, B, and C of FIG.

FIG. 2 shows a downstream side portion 1 of the belt conveyor 1.
Although b is shown, as a matter of course, as shown by the arrow a, the waste bottle is transferred at the same speed as the upstream side. Gate devices 2A, 2B, 2C ... Are provided on one side of the downstream side portion 1b.
The drive shaft 6 which is provided with and is pivotally attached to these ends includes a rotary drive, to which a drive signal is supplied from the computer 5. Further, on the other side, boxes 7A, 7B, 7C, ...
It is arranged corresponding to A, 2B, 2C, ....

The first embodiment of the present invention is constructed as described above, and its operation will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 1, each waste bottle 10, 11, 1
2 is transferred by the belt conveyor 1, and the light from the light source 4 causes the image pickup device 3 to take an image of the transmitted light or the shadow. In any case, the transmitted light is imaged, but the shape of the single bottle is imaged. In this case, as shown in FIG. 1, it is inclined to one side with respect to the transfer direction.
By storing the shape from the front, the back, and the side as shown in FIG. 1, the computer 5 indicates that the waste bottle 11 transferred even in the posture shown in FIG. Calculate from the numerical value of each coordinate of
In response to this, the computer 5 stores the corresponding color, so that if the color is black, for example, the drive unit 6 of the gate apparatus A is driven as shown in FIG.
A black waste bottle is guided and accommodated in the accommodation box 7A. When the gate device 2B is now driven as shown by the alternate long and short dash line, similarly, in FIG. 1, the waste bottle 12 causes the drive unit 6 to operate from the above-described calculation in the computer 5 and the storage of the corresponding color. If it ’s driven and now it ’s brown,
As shown by the alternate long and short dash line in the brown bottle storage box 7B, the container is stored in the storage box 7B while being guided by the gate device 2B in the arrow direction. Similarly, the waste bottle 10 in FIG.
However, if it is blue, it is accommodated in the accommodation box 7C by the drive of the drive unit 6 of the gate device 2C in FIG. In FIG. 2, the storage boxes 7A, 7B, and 7C are divided into black, brown, and blue, but the other waste bottles 21, 22, and 23 are also sorted in the same manner.

Although the image pickup device 3 is a black-and-white camera in the above, a case in which a color camera is used for this will be described below. In the case of a color camera, not only the above-mentioned shape but also a color signal from the transmitted light is converted into a color signal by a color coder like a television, that is, B (blue), R (red) and G (green) primary color signals. After being disassembled, these are calculated in the computer 5 to determine the color of the bottle imaged by the color camera, and when the corresponding gate device, for example, 2B, is tilted by the alternate long and short dash line in the downstream belt conveyor 1b, This bottle is stored in the storage portion 7B. By using this color camera,
So to speak, it is possible to correct color recognition, and a cheap camera can be used in time without using a high-quality camera such as a television camera. In the case of a highly accurate color camera, shape recognition can be omitted. That is, in FIG. 3A,
The colors can be accurately recognized directly based on the R, G, B signals of the color camera without recognizing the shapes in the three directions as shown by B and C. Then, the color range can be further increased and, for example, 12 colors can be selected.

According to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the shape is stored in the computer from the front, the back, and the side, so that no matter what posture the computer arrives at the front of the image pickup device 3. Since the shape can be accurately determined, if the color corresponding to the shape is stored in the computer, the color can be reliably selected on the downstream side without using the color television.

Next, according to the waste bottle selection method of the second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, each shape of the waste bottle and its manufacturer or manufacturer are stored in the computer. In the same manner as in the first embodiment, the shape is recognized, and each manufacturer makes a selection on the downstream side, and depending on the manufacturer, only one color bottle is used.
In this case, it is possible to perform color selection. However, after performing color selection for each maker and then performing color selection for the waste bottles of each maker using a conventional color sensor, the color selection can be performed. It can be further ensured, and if the corresponding shape is not recognized by the imaging signal indicating the shape,
You may make it select into the accommodation box for cullet, and color-select this with the conventional color sensor. In any case, a black and white camera is sufficient in this case.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, needless to say, the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications can be made based on the technical idea of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the shapes of the front, back, and side of each waste bottle are stored in the computer. However, depending on the waste bottles to be handled, there are many waste bottles having a rotational symmetry axis. For this, shape recognition from two directions is sufficient. Alternatively, the shapes from a larger number of directions may be stored.

Further, in the above embodiment, the belt conveyor 1
While the waste bottles were transferred in a recumbent posture, and the shape was recognized by the imaging device 3 during the transfer, other transfer means, for example, the mouth of the bottle was engaged with some hook, and the fishing state Alternatively, the shape may be recognized by the imaging device.

Further, according to the shape recognition method in the above embodiment, the degree of breakage of each waste bottle can also be determined. If the shape exceeds the allowable range, it is for cullet and the allowable range is set. The waste bottles inside may be sorted by each maker, and may be collected by these makers instead of being cullet.

[0022]

As described above, according to the method for selecting a waste bottle of the present invention, the waste bottle can be efficiently recycled.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged plan view of a main part of a waste bottle sorting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of another main part.

3A and 3B are views showing a shape recognition method according to the embodiment, where A is a front view of the waste bottle, B is a rear view of the waste bottle, and C is a side view of the waste bottle.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Belt Conveyor 3 Imaging Device 5 Computer 10 Waste Bottle 11 Waste Bottle 12 Waste Bottle

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A computer stores the shape of each waste bottle and the color corresponding to the shape, and the waste bottle transferred along a predetermined transfer path is imaged on the side of the transfer path. An image is picked up by an apparatus, the image pickup signal is supplied to the computer, the stored shapes are compared, and color selection is performed on the downstream side of the transfer path according to the color of the corresponding shape. How to sort bottles. 2. The image pickup device is a color camera,
The transmitted light of the waste bottle is imaged, the color of the waste bottle imaged is determined by the R, G, B signals obtained from the color coder of the color camera, and the color corresponding to this determination and the shape stored in the computer is determined. The method for selecting a waste bottle according to claim 1, wherein the color selection is performed according to the color when and match. 3. The method of selecting a waste bottle according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the waste bottle is a shape viewed from a plurality of directions. 4. A computer stores the shape of each waste bottle and the manufacturer who manufactured or used the waste bottle, and the waste bottle transferred along a predetermined transfer path is stored in the transfer path. Image is picked up by an image pick-up device arranged laterally, the picked-up image signal is supplied to the computer, compared with each of the stored shapes, and sorted by the corresponding manufacturer on the downstream side of the transfer path. A method for sorting waste bottles characterized by. 5. The method of selecting a waste bottle according to claim 4, wherein the shape of the waste bottle is a shape viewed from a plurality of directions. 6. A computer stores the shape of each waste bottle and the manufacturer that manufactured or used the waste bottle, and the waste bottle transferred along a predetermined transfer path is stored in the transfer path. An image is picked up by an image pick-up device arranged laterally, the image pick-up signal is supplied to the computer, the shapes are compared with the stored shapes, and colors are selected on the downstream side of the transfer path. How to sort waste bottles.