JPH09117727A - Recognizing device for transparent bottle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To constitute the device in such a manner that the transparent achromaticity of a transparent bottle is correctly recognized when this bottle passes between a light source and an image pickup device. SOLUTION: The light source 12 consisting of a fixed light quantity fluorescent lamp which is capable of emitting nearly the specified light quantity of light L at all times in spite of an ambient temp. change and long-term use is disposed on one side of a belt conveyor 11 by which the transparent bottle B is transported. A color camera 13 which is the image pickup device is disposed on the other side of this belt conveyor 1 so as to face this light source 12. The device is provided with an image processor 14 which recognizes the transparent achromaticity of the bottle passing between the light source 12 and the color device 13 in accordance with the color components and light quantity or brightness of the light L or transmitted light p detected by the color camera 13.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recognition device for determining a transparent bottle based on the amount of received light.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 shows a color selecting device for a waste bottle, which has a known structure and is 5 in total.
It is indicated by 1. That is, the color selection device 51 faces the transport conveyor 52, a speed detection unit 53 that detects the speed of the transport conveyor 52, a light source 57 disposed on the upstream side of the transport conveyor 52, and the light source 57. A color image pickup camera 58, a computer 59 to which a signal corresponding to the color component and the amount of light supplied from the color image pickup camera 58 is supplied, and a plurality of which are provided on the downstream side of the transport conveyor 52 and operate by receiving a signal from the computer 59. Diverters 55a, 55b, 55C, 55d, and each diverter 5
5a, 55b, 55c, 55d, a plurality of housing casings 56a arranged so as to face the bottles to house bottles by color,
It is composed of 56b, 56c and 56d. The computer 59 recognizes a color based on a signal supplied from the color image pickup camera 58 and outputs an image processing unit 59a which outputs a signal corresponding to the identified color, and a signal from the image processing unit 59a and the speed detecting unit 53. Based on the signal and
The diverter 55a, 55b, 55c, 55d is composed of an operation control section 59b for transmitting an operation signal. Further, at the terminal end portion 52a of the transport conveyor 52, there is provided a storage box 56e for storing items other than waste bottles, such as pottery and cans.

Further, a color identification device 54, which is a conventional example of the color identification device for transparent bottles of the present invention, comprises a light source 57, a color image pickup camera 58, and an image processing part 59a.
As the light source 57, a white fluorescent lamp having a high-frequency lighting circuit, that is, a fluorescent lamp having the same R (red), B (blue), and G (green) components is used. Further, the color imaging camera 58 is an area sensor having a window, and the color components of the received light are converted into color signals, that is, R (red), B (blue), and G (green) by a color coder as in a television. It is decomposed into primary color signals, and the primary color signals and a signal corresponding to the level of the amount of received light are supplied to the image processing unit 59a. The image processing unit 59a uses these signals to extract pixels (for example, CCD (Charge Coup) in the window).
The color of the light received by the device) is more than a certain number of pixels that have received a specific color component other than the color component of the light emitted from the light source. If there is a certain number or more, it is recognized that the blue bottle has passed.

As shown in FIG. 5, if a green bottle A (for example, a bottle of wine) passes between the light source 57 and the color image pickup camera 58, the inside of the color image pickup camera 58 window is as follows. The transmitted light b having a green color component is transmitted through the green bottle A and is received. The color imaging camera 58 decomposes the received color components into primary color components of R, B, and G, that is, the R component and the B component are almost 0%,
The image processing unit 5 outputs the image signal in which the G (green) component has priority.
Tell 9a. On the basis of this signal, the image processing unit 59a determines that the green bottle A has passed between the light source 57 and the color image pickup camera 58 because the predetermined value or more of the pixels in the window has received the green light. Then, the image processing unit 5
9a supplies a recognition signal that the green bottle has passed to the operation control unit 59b, and the operation control unit 59b accommodates this green bottle A based on this recognition signal and the speed signal from the speed detecting means 53. When the green bottle A reaches the side of the housing casing 56c, a signal for activating the diverter 55c arranged so as to face the housing casing 56c is emitted. Then, the diverter 55c takes the position shown by the dotted line, so that the green bottle A transferred to the right side of the drawing by the transport conveyor 52 is stored in the green storage casing 56c.

When a pottery or a can A ″ passes between the light source 57 and the color image pickup camera 58, the light emitted from the light source 57 is blocked by the pottery, a can A ″, etc. The pixels that the light does not reach,
That is, there are a certain number or more of pixels whose light amount is almost zero level, and the signal of the light amount level from the pixels is transmitted to the image processing unit 59a. Based on this signal, the image processing unit 59a determines that an object that blocks light, such as a pottery or a can A ″, has now passed between the light source 57 and the color imaging camera 58. Then, the image processing unit 59a determines No signal is supplied to the operation control unit 59b, so that the pottery, the can A ″ or the like is conveyed to the end portion 52a of the transport conveyor 52, and the pottery, the can A ″.
It is housed in a housing box 56e for housing the like.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the colorless and transparent bottle B'passing between the light source 57 and the color image pickup camera 58 in FIG. Also at this time, the light a emitted from the light source 57 passes through the transparent bottle B ′ and is received by the color image pickup camera 58, and a signal corresponding to the color component and the amount of the received light is transmitted to the computer 59. At this time, the color components of the transmitted light c received by the color imaging camera 58 are colorless and transparent in the bottle, so that the color component ratio (R, B, and G components of the light a directly emitted from the light source is 3 respectively).
The amount of light (brightness) is about 10%, that is, a certain amount of decrease. Therefore, the image processing unit 59a of the computer 59
In addition, the color component of the received light has the same color component ratio as the light a emitted from the light source 57, but the light amount of the light or the light amount for which the brightness is set, for example, the normal light emitted from the light source. When a signal having a light amount that is about 10% lower than the light amount is supplied, the image processing unit 59a determines that a transparent bottle is passing, and supplies the signal to the operation control unit 59b. A housing casing 56d for housing the transparent bottle B'according to the signal and the signal from the speed detecting means 53.
When the transparent bottle B'is reached to the side of the
The d is operated to the position of the dotted line, and the transparent bottle B ′ is stored in the storage casing 56d.

However, in principle, the white harmonic fluorescent lamp used as the light source 57 varies in brightness depending on the ambient temperature in which it is used, long-term use, etc.
At a temperature of ° C, the brightness changes by about 40% to 50%. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, for example, a broken pottery or a crushed can A ′ passes in front of the light source 57, and the light a ′ generated from the light source 57 directly passes through the color imaging camera 5.
Even when the light is received at 8, when the brightness of the light a ′ is already 10% or more darker than the set value of the light emitted from the light source when the light is generated from the light source, that is, the image processing unit 59a When the amount of light recognized as being transmitted by the transparent bottle is set, the image processing unit 59a does not change the color component ratio of the light depending on the setting of the window of the color imaging camera 58, and the amount of light (brightness). Is the amount of light when passing through the transparent bottle, it is determined that a transparent (colorless) bottle is passing between the light source 57 and the imaging camera 56.
Then, the operation control unit 59b supplied with the signal that the transparent bottle is passing from the image processing unit 59a, the diverter when the crushed can A ′ reaches the side of the transparent bottle housing casing 56d. 55d is actuated, and the crushed can A ′ is used as a transparent bottle for a transparent bottle housing casing 56.
It is housed in d. That is, the conventional recognition device 54 erroneously determines that the crushed can A ′ is a transparent (colorless) bottle. Therefore, in the color selection device 51 using the recognition device 54, a waste bottle is discarded. There is a problem that color selection cannot always be performed correctly.

Further, due to changes in the ambient temperature of the light source 57 where the fluorescent lamp is placed, long-term use, etc., the light emitted from the light source 57 is usually 10% brighter than the emitted light. At this time, when the transparent bottle B ′ passes between the light source 57 and the color imaging camera 58, this light passes through the transparent bottle B ′, so that the amount of light emitted from the light source 57 is reduced by about 10%. It becomes transmitted light and is received by the color imaging camera 58. However, when the light source 57 emitted light, the light amount was about 10% brighter than the preset light amount, so the image was transmitted though the transparent bottle B ′ and the light amount decreased by 10%, but the image Since the processing unit 59a does not receive the amount of light that determines that the transparent bottle is passing through the window of the color imaging camera 58, the light source 57 and the color imaging camera 58 are now colorless and transparent. It does not judge that the bottle has passed, that is, it cannot recognize it correctly even though the transparent bottle has passed. Then, in the color selection device 51 using the recognition device 54 as shown in FIG. 5, the transparent bottle B ′ is not stored in the storage casing 56d for storing the transparent bottle, but the transparent bottle B ′ is transferred to the transport conveyor 52.
It is conveyed to the terminal end portion 52a and is housed in a housing box 56e that houses pottery, cans, and the like. That is, even in such a case, the conventional recognition device 54 cannot correctly recognize the transparent bottle, and therefore the color selection device 51 using the recognition device 54 cannot always perform correct color selection.

That is, the conventional recognition device 54 recognizes that the colorless and transparent bottle has passed when the color image pickup camera 58 receives the light of the set light amount (about 10% decrease). The color image pickup camera 58 does not always receive the set light amount only when the transparent bottle passes, and the color image pickup camera 58 does not receive the light amount set even when the transparent bottle passes. Therefore, the color imaging camera 58
There is a problem that the transparent bottle cannot be absolutely recognized based on the amount of light received by, that is, the transparent bottle cannot always be correctly recognized.

[0010]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in the case where light emitted from a light source is directly received by an image pickup device when a broken pottery, a crushed can or the like passes through. In addition, it is possible to always recognize correctly that a transparent and transparent bottle is passing, and that when a transparent bottle is passing, it can always be correctly recognized that it is a colorless and transparent bottle. An object is to provide a recognition device.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The above object is to provide a belt conveyor for carrying bottles, a light source arranged on one side of the belt conveyor to emit light, and a belt conveyor facing the light source. An image pickup device disposed on the other side and an image processing device that processes a signal from the image pickup device, and when the bottle passes between the light source and the image pickup device, the image pickup device is In the transparent bottle recognition device in which the image processing device determines that the bottle is transparent based on the light amount or brightness of the received light, the light source always emits a constant light amount or a constant light amount. It is achieved by a transparent bottle recognition device, which is a fluorescent lamp.

[0012] Further, the above object is to provide a belt conveyor for conveying bottles, a light source arranged on one side of the belt conveyor to emit light, and a light source arranged on the other side of the belt conveyor so as to face the light source. And an image processing device that processes a signal from the imaging device, and the amount of light received by the imaging device when the bottle passes between the light source and the imaging device. Alternatively, the image processing device based on the brightness, in a transparent bottle recognition device that determines that the bottle is transparent, a sensor for detecting the light amount or brightness of the light emitted from the light source is provided, This is achieved by a transparent bottle recognition device characterized in that the image processing device recognizes that the bottle is transparent based on a signal corresponding to a change in the amount of light and a signal from the imaging device.

[0013]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the light source always emits a constant amount of light regardless of changes in ambient temperature and long-term use. When the light is received, the transparent bottle has passed between the light source and the image pickup device. Therefore, the image processing device for recognizing the color of the bottle has a transparent bottle between the light source and the image pickup device. Even if it passes, it does not mean that the transparent bottle is not recognized correctly. Further, when the transparent bottle does not pass between the light source and the image pickup device, the image pickup device receives a light amount far brighter than the light amount that the image processing device assumes to be the transparent bottle. There is no false positive that the bottle has passed. That is, the image pickup device has a certain amount of light, for example, the brightness (light amount) reduced by 10% of the amount of light emitted from the light source.
Even when the image processing apparatus determines that all the transparent bottles are the transparent bottles when the light is received, the transparent bottle can always be correctly identified.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the image processing device for identifying the transparent bottle based on the light amount (brightness) of the light received by the image pickup device is used to detect the light amount (brightness) of the light emitted from the light source. Since the signal is supplied, if the light amount changes due to changes in the ambient temperature where the light source is placed, long-term use, etc., the sensor detects the changed light amount and the image processing device receives it. The amount of light received by the imaging device is compared with the amount of light detected by the sensor, and if the amount of light received by the imaging device is reduced by a certain amount, it is transparent. When the bottle passes between the light source and the image pickup device, it can be surely recognized, so that the transparent bottle can always be correctly recognized without complicating the configuration.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A transparent bottle recognition apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a transparent bottle recognition apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which is generally designated by 1. The recognition device 1 includes a light source 12 adjacent to one side of the belt conveyor 11 and a light source 12 facing the light source 12.
The color camera 13 which is an image pickup device close to the other side
Is provided. The color camera 13 is an area sensor having a rectangular window 13a of a certain size.
CD (Charge / Coupled / Device)
The elements are two-dimensionally aligned and arranged, and the light L or the transmitted light p emitted from the light source 12 is always received and the color component of the light is converted into a color signal, that is, R ( Image signals of primary color components of red, B (blue), and G (green) are decomposed, and the image signal and the signal of the amount of received light are supplied to the image processing device 14. The image processing device 14 determines, based on the image signal and the light amount signal supplied from the color camera 13, what color light is received by the pixel in the window, and what color bottle is used as the light source 12 and the color camera 13. I am aware of whether I have passed between.

The light source 12 of this embodiment emits white light having the same R, B, and G components, and when the ambient temperature is between 0 ° and 40 ° (so-called operating environment temperature), the amount of the emitted light L is light. Alternatively, a constant-quantity fluorescent lamp whose brightness changes within ± 1% is used. This constant light amount fluorescent lamp adjusts the light amount (brightness) of the light L according to a signal from the sensor 15 that detects a change in the light amount (brightness) of the light L emitted from the light source 12. The fluorescent lamp 17 includes a dimming circuit 16, and a dimmable fluorescent lamp, for example, a rapid start type fluorescent lamp is used as the fluorescent lamp 17. Various types of dimming circuits 16 are known, one example of which is shown in FIG.
Shown in

As shown in FIG. 2, the dimming circuit 16 is composed of a dimming ballast 16a and a dimming circuit 16b which are arranged on the fluorescent lamp 17 side as is well known.
The dimming ballast 16a includes a heating winding 19a for constantly heating the filament 17a and a magnetic leakage transformer 19b. The dimming circuit 16b supplies the light received by the sensor 15 as a signal. The phase control circuit 18 and the thyristor 28 are connected to the commercial AC power supply 20.
It is connected to the. In the dimming circuit 16, when the light amount (brightness) of the light L emitted from the fluorescent lamp 17 changes, the phase control circuit 18 creates a control pulse in accordance with the signal from the sensor 15 which detects the change in the light amount. A circuit for controlling the conduction angle of the main discharge current, changing the electric power applied to the fluorescent lamp, and controlling the light amount of the light L emitted from the light source 12 to be constant by adding it to the thyristor 28. That is, the light source 12 of the present embodiment can always keep the light amount (brightness) of the light L emitted from the light source 12 constant regardless of changes in the ambient temperature in which it is placed, long-term use, and the like. It is a constant-light fluorescent lamp.

The structure of this embodiment has been described above. Next, the operation will be described.

When a green bottle, such as a bottle of wine, is conveyed by the belt conveyor 11 between the light source 12 and the color camera 13, the light source 12 constantly emits the light, like the conventional recognition device 51. The light L is transmitted through the green bottle, and becomes light having a color component corresponding to the color, that is, transmitted light p of green light, and is received by the color camera 13. The color camera 13 decomposes the color components of the received transmitted light p into image signals of R, B, and G primary color components in window pixel units, and receives the image signals (here, green transmitted light p is received). Therefore, R and B components are 0%,
The G component becomes a primary color signal of almost 100%) and a signal corresponding to the light amount are supplied to the image processing device 14. Based on these signals, that is, the image processing device 14 receives a signal in which the G component is almost 100%, the image processing device 14 determines that the pixel in the window has received the green light, and now the light source 12 and the color camera 13 are detected. Recognize that a green bottle has passed between and. If necessary, the result of this recognition is output as a recognition signal Y to the outside.

Further, when the brown bottle passes between the light source 12 and the color camera 13, the light L emitted from the light source 12 is transmitted light having a brown color component when passing through the brown bottle. It becomes p and is received by the window of the color camera 13. Then, the color camera 13 converts the received transmitted light p into an image signal according to the color component ratio, and supplies the image signal to the image processing device 14. The image processing device 14 determines the color received by the window pixel based on the signal,
Since there are a certain number or more of pixels that have received the brown color component, it is recognized that the brown bottle is passing.

Now, when the transparent bottle B passes between the light source 12 and the color camera 13, when the light L emitted from the light source 12 passes through the transparent bottle B, the color component remains as it is, and the amount of light thereof remains. The transmitted light p is reduced by about 10%,
The light is received by the window of the color camera 13. In the present embodiment, the light source 12 has a constant brightness (amount of light) of the emitted light L irrespective of changes in ambient temperature in which the light source 12 is placed and long-term use. When passing between the light source 12 and the color camera 13,
The color camera 13 must always have the same color components as the light L emitted from the light source 12 (that is, the R, B, and G components are 3
(3, 3%), the transmitted light p whose only light quantity (brightness) is reduced by about 10% is received. Therefore, the image processing device 1
Reference numeral 4 denotes the light source 12 and the color camera 13 when there are a predetermined number or more of pixels of the color camera 13 that have received a predetermined amount of light (for example, light that is about 10% darker than the amount of light L emitted from the light source 12). Even if it is determined that the transparent bottle has passed during the period, there is no mistake in the determination, so that the transparent bottle can be easily and surely recognized. Further, even if a broken transparent bottle has a predetermined number or more of pixels that have received a predetermined amount of light, it is recognized that the bottle passing between the light source 12 and the color camera 13 is a transparent bottle. Therefore, when the color recognition device 1 of the present embodiment is used in the color selection device 51, the transparent bottle is always stored in the transparent bottle storage casing 56d, and even if the transparent bottle is broken, it is stored in a pottery or a can. Since it is not housed in the box 56e, the color of the waste bottle can always be correctly selected.

Next, when a broken pottery or a crushed can passes between the light source 12 and the color camera 13,
The light emitted from the light source 12 is directly the color camera 1
3 is received. However, in this embodiment, at this time, the amount of light received by the window of the color camera 13 is much brighter than the amount of light that is always judged to be a transparent bottle, and the pixel that receives the amount of light is much brighter. Since there is a certain amount or more, the image processing device 14 does not judge that the bottle is passing, that is, does not mistakenly recognize that the colorless and transparent bottle is passing. Therefore, when the recognition device 1 is used in the conventional color selection device 51, a broken pottery, a crushed can, and the like unlike the conventional example are not mistakenly recognized as a transparent bottle. The pottery, the crushed can, and the like are stored in the storage box 56e, and are not stored in the transparent bottle storage casing 56d by mistake. That is, the transparent bottle can always be accurately selected.

Next, with reference to FIG. 3, a transparent bottle recognition device 2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The same components as those in the first embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals. The description is omitted.

The light source 22 of the present embodiment uses a constant light amount fluorescent lamp which can always generate white light with a substantially constant light amount (brightness) regardless of changes in the ambient temperature in which it is placed. This is, for example, a lighting device as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-212201, or a fluorescent lamp in which the ambient gas temperature characteristics are kept constant at almost the operating temperature by increasing the pressure of the enclosed gas (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-216201). No. 283135) or a fluorescent lamp using a fluorescent lamp or the like in which amalgam is injected instead of pure mercury, and the fluorescent lamp has a known structure, and its configuration is different from that of the first embodiment. , As in the first embodiment, the light quantity (brightness) is almost constant at all times.
It is a constant quantity fluorescent lamp capable of emitting the light L.

In this embodiment, the light source 22 always has a constant light amount (brightness) even when the ambient temperature in which it is placed changes.
Since the light L can be emitted, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. That is, only when the transparent bottle B passes between the light source 22 and the color camera 13, a light amount (brightness) set by the color camera 13 and having a constant light amount (brightness) of 10% or less when directly receiving from the light source 22 is set. Since the image processing device 14 receives the light L, the light L emitted from the light source 22 is directly received by the color camera 13, or the transmitted light p transmitted through the transparent bottle is the color camera 1.
It is possible to accurately recognize whether or not the light is received by the light receiving unit 3, that is, the effect that the transparent bottle B can be correctly recognized.

FIG. 4 shows a transparent bottle recognizing device 3 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in the above-mentioned embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, the light source 32 is a fluorescent lamp similar to the conventional one. Further, in this embodiment, the light source 3
A sensor 35 that detects the light amount (light) of the light L ′ is arranged near the position 2. This sensor 35 is always the light source 3
The light L ′ from 2 is directly received, and the light amount (brightness) of the received light L ′ is supplied to the image processing device 34 as a signal. The image processing device 34 uses the supplied image signal corresponding to the primary color components from the color camera 13 and the signal of the light amount of the light and the signal of the light amount received by the sensor 35 between the light source 32 and the color camera 13. To see if the transparent bottle has passed through.

When the image processing device 34 determines that the sensor 35 receives light having a different light amount from the light having a constant light amount based on the signal supplied from the sensor 35, the color camera at that time. The signal of the light amount supplied from 13 is corrected. That is, when the sensor 35 receives light having a light amount of 90% of the light amount of the light emitted from the light source 32, for example, if the light received by the color camera 13 is about 90% of the normal light amount, the image When the processing device 34 determines that the transparent bottle does not pass between the light source 32 and the color camera 13 at this time, and the color camera 13 receives the light amount of about 80% of the normal light amount at this time. In the image processing device 34, the sensor 35
If there is a difference of 10% or more from the amount of light received by, the transparent bottle is judged to have passed. Further, when the image processing device 34 recognizes that the sensor 35 has received light having a light amount of 110% of the light amount of the light emitted from the light source 32, for example, the light received by the color camera 13 changes from the normal light amount. Even if a light amount not received is received, the image processing device 34
Determines that the transparent bottle is passing between the light source 32 and the color camera 13 on the assumption that there is a difference of about 10% from the amount of light received by the sensor 35.

That is, in this embodiment, the light amount of the light L'when emitted from the light source 32 is detected by the sensor 35,
If the light amount of the light received by the color camera 13 with respect to the detected light amount is lower than a certain amount, it is recognized that the transparent bottle has passed. This makes it possible to reliably obtain the light amount (brightness) of the light emitted from the light source 32 that is reduced by the time the light is received by the color camera 13. Therefore, the light amount when the light source 32 emits the light is reduced. Whether or not the light received by the color camera 13 is the transmitted light p ′ that has passed through the transparent bottle can be easily and reliably determined without being affected by the change. You can correctly recognize the transparent bottle. For colored bottles such as green bottles and brown bottles,
Similar to the embodiment, the image processing device 34 recognizes that a green bottle or a brown bottle has passed by an image signal corresponding to the color component, and therefore, it is necessary to always perform accurate color recognition for these colors. You can Therefore, if this is used in the color selection device 51 as shown in the conventional example, it is possible to always reliably store only the transparent bottle in the housing casing 56d of the predetermined transparent bottle.

As described above, according to the transparent bottle recognition apparatus of the present invention, the color camera 13 can be used without complicating its structure.
Even if the image processing apparatus recognizes the transparent bottle depending on the amount of light received by the, the recognition is always accurate, so that the transparent bottle can always be correctly recognized.

Although the transparent bottle recognizing device according to each embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to these and various modifications can be made based on the technical idea.

For example, in the first embodiment described above, the 3-wire type dimming circuit 16 as shown in FIG. 2 was used, but instead of this, a 2-wire type dimming circuit using a high frequency lighting circuit as a basic technique is used. A ballast may be used as the light stabilizer, and by using the ballast, it is possible to obtain effects such as further reduction in size and weight of the ballast, reduction of power loss, and less flicker of light flux.

Further, in the above embodiment, the light sources 12, 22,
Although the case where one 23 fluorescent lamp is used has been described, a plurality of fluorescent lamps may be used as one light source.

In this embodiment, a color camera is used as the image pickup device, but when only transparent bottles and bottles of other colors are discriminated, that is, the primary color components are the same and the received light is received. When a color is identified only by the amount or brightness of transmitted light, a black-and-white camera or other imaging device may be used as an imaging device. Can be recognized. Further, in the present embodiment, the image pickup device of the area sensor having the square window is used, but it goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained with other area sensors or line sensors.

Further, in the present embodiment, based on the technical idea, the recognized material of the transparent bottle is not limited to glass, that is, a plastic transparent material such as a PET bottle is accurately recognized. Can also be used for

[0037]

As described above, according to the transparent bottle recognition apparatus of the present invention, the light source in which the amount of light emitted from the light source is always constant is used. Even when the image processing device recognizes that a colorless and transparent bottle has passed between the light source and the imaging device when receiving the light amount, the recognition is always correct, that is, the transparent bottle is always recognized. It can be carried out. In addition, when there is a certain difference between the amount of light emitted from the light source using the sensor and the amount of light received by the imaging device, the image processing device recognizes that the transparent bottle has passed, so the light source The image processing apparatus can always correctly and correctly recognize the transparent bottle even if the amount of light emitted from the device changes.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a transparent bottle recognition device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a light control circuit in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a transparent bottle recognizing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a transparent bottle recognition device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a bottle color selecting device using a conventional recognition device.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view when a transparent bottle passes between a light source and a color camera in a recognition device of a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view when a broken colored bottle passes between a light source and a color camera in a recognition device of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Recognition Device 2 Recognition Device 3 Recognition Device 11 Belt Conveyor 12 Light Source 13 Color Camera 14 Image Processing Device 15 Sensor 16 Dimming Circuit 22 Light Source 25 Sensor 32 Light Source 34 Image Processing Device 35 Sensor

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A belt conveyor for conveying bottles, a light source arranged on one side of the belt conveyor to emit light, and an imaging device arranged on the other side of the belt conveyor facing the light source. And an image processing device that processes a signal from the imaging device, based on a light amount or brightness of light received by the imaging device when the bottle passes between the light source and the imaging device. The image processing device, in the transparent bottle recognition device for determining that the bottle is transparent,
An apparatus for recognizing a transparent bottle, wherein the light source is a constant-quantity fluorescent lamp that always emits a constant amount of light or brightness. 2. A sensor in which the constant light fluorescent lamp detects the light amount or brightness of light emitted by the constant light fluorescent lamp, and a light amount of light emitted by the constant light fluorescent lamp in response to a signal from the sensor. The device for recognizing a transparent bottle according to claim 1, which is a constant-light fluorescent lamp including a dimming circuit for adjusting brightness. 3. A belt conveyor for transporting bottles, a light source arranged on one side of the belt conveyor to emit light, and an imaging device arranged on the other side of the belt conveyor facing the light source. And an image processing device that processes a signal from the imaging device, based on a light amount or brightness of light received by the imaging device when the bottle passes between the light source and the imaging device. The image processing device, in the transparent bottle recognition device for determining that the bottle is transparent,
A sensor for detecting the light amount or brightness of the light emitted by the light source is provided, and the image processing device is transparent to the bottle based on the signal from the sensor and the signal according to the change of the light amount from the sensor. A transparent bottle recognition device characterized by recognizing that it is present.