JPH10146570A - Pan for agricultural product-sorting device and the same device with the pan - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pan for an agricultural product-sorting device by which quantity of light transmitted through the agricultural product is very small and the transmitted light thereof is detected with good precision and sensitivity. SOLUTION: The pan 1 is formed by unifying both a seat body 102 of the upside, which has a crown structure composed of a shell wall three- dimensionally, and a bottom body 110 forming the base of the seat body 102. The seat body 102 has an annular seat 105, with which an agricultural product P annularly comes into contact and shades the inside and the outside, and an opening 107 of the annular seat. The bottom body 110 has an opening 112 for downward radiating light transmitted through the agricultural product passing the opening 107. Only light transmitted through the agricultural product P placed on the seat 105 is made incident on a prescribed optical system light receiving face.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an agricultural product sorting apparatus which can be suitably used for sorting agricultural products such as citrus fruits (Satsuma mandarin orange, orange, etc.), kiwi, persimmon, apples, pears, etc., and particularly, spherical agricultural products. And an agricultural product sorting apparatus using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, the trade price of agricultural products in the market is affected by the quality thereof. Therefore, agricultural products are usually sorted and sorted according to predetermined quality items at a sorting place and then shipped.

[0003] The quality items of such sorting are generally class elements such as size and weight, and grade elements such as scratches, color, sugar content and ripeness. In order to perform the evaluation automatically without visual observation, a mechanical device for detecting the evaluation information is required, and recently, optical means has been frequently used as this detecting means.

Various element detection methods using such optical means have hitherto been known, and one of the representative methods is an imaging means such as a camera for detecting appearance information of agricultural products.
Another representative means is a transmitted light detecting means for detecting internal information such as sugar content of agricultural products. The optical information detected in these manners is subjected to processing such as image processing, arithmetic processing, comparison processing, determination processing, and the like by computer technology, and is evaluated and determined for a predetermined quality item. In performing such information processing, the processing of appearance information and the processing of transmitted light information are basically common. However, optical means for detecting optical information serving as data for processing is significantly different.
For example, in the transmitted light detection, the transmitted light amount is, for example, 100
It is known that the detection is extremely difficult as compared with the detection of the optical information of the appearance, because it is very small, attenuated to 1/1000 to 100 million.

[0005] Here, a conventionally known transmitted light detection method will be described. The principle configuration of transmitted light detection is described as follows. Agricultural products are placed on a mounting table provided in a test box and transmitted light is detected. Detector (JP-A-4-84740);
One that detects transmitted light of agricultural products placed in the through-holes using a turntable having through-holes that are spaced apart in the circumferential direction (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-25345), and transmission of agricultural products placed on a mounting table. A device that detects light through a filter (JP-A-4-83148), and a device that detects transmitted light of agricultural products using a rubber light shield and a rubber disturbance light shield (JP-A-3-160344). There is also a sorting and sorting device that uses a transport tray.The agricultural product is placed on a flat, tray-shaped, perforated tray with a vertically-opening opening in the center, and the agricultural product is stopped and opened from below. A method of detecting transmitted light by vertically moving an optical fiber forming a light receiving system therein (JP-A-6-288903);
Similarly, a system in which a perforated tray on which agricultural products are placed is stopped, and a sugar content sensor is moved up and down to detect sugar content information (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-25397) is known.

In an actual apparatus, it is important that the optical information can be detected with high accuracy and sensitivity in order to accurately perform the evaluation judgment using the optical information of the transmitted light quantity whose light quantity is extremely small as described above. Not only that, it is required that detection can be quickly performed to continuously sort and sort a large number of agricultural products, and that detection can be performed in the middle without stopping conveyance of a conveyor or the like. The method is not suitable for detecting transmitted light information of each agricultural product without stopping a moving line. More specifically, the above-described methods of contacting or approaching the light receiving system with the agricultural products described in JP-A-6-288903 and JP-A-7-253397 are excellent in detecting weak light, but they require moving the conveyor. However, it is extremely difficult to detect.

A proposal for detecting transmitted light while continuously moving the transport line is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-8055.
No. 7, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 7-26709, Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-7
No. 2712, Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-80557.
Although the transmitted light is cited as one of the information to be evaluated in the publication, there is no disclosure of means for detecting the transmitted light with high accuracy and sensitivity. The proposal of Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-26709 merely discloses the light receiving system conceptually, and the proposal of Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 7-72712 discloses a principle of reducing the influence of noise by lock-in amplification synchronized with the chopping frequency. By simply disclosing, it is possible to accurately detect the transmitted light, which is a very small weak light,
There is no specific proposal for detecting with high sensitivity.

As described above, there has not yet been proposed any industrial-scale apparatus capable of realizing detection of weak transmitted light with high accuracy and sensitivity and imaging of the appearance of agricultural products on one transport line. .

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, the influence of disturbance light can be reduced under the above-described prior art in order to enable the detection of transmitted light of agricultural products having very small light quantity with high accuracy and sensitivity. In order to minimize the size of the transmitted light, the transmitted light receiving system that makes the light-blocking member contact the agricultural product is adopted so that the transmitted light can be detected without stopping the movement of the agricultural product. It was done.

That is, the present invention is directed to an agricultural product sorting apparatus used to sort agricultural products that can detect highly transmitted light having a very small amount of light with high accuracy and sensitivity and can accurately perform evaluation and judgment. It is an object of the present invention to provide a saucer and an agricultural product sorting device using the same.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a saucer for an agricultural product sorting apparatus suitable for continuously and quickly sorting and sorting a large number of agricultural products, and an agricultural product sorting apparatus using the same.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a saucer for an agricultural product sorting apparatus which realizes detection of agricultural product transmitted light without stopping transport while transporting agricultural products continuously on a conveyor or the like. The present invention is to provide a used agricultural product sorting apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a saucer for an agricultural product sorting apparatus that is devised so as to be able to detect transmitted light of an agricultural product and image the entire appearance, respectively, and a sorting apparatus using the same. To provide.

[0014]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The features of the present invention to achieve the above object are as described in the appended claims.

The invention of a saucer for an agricultural product sorting device according to claim 1 of the present application provides an upper seat having a crown structure in which a shell wall is three-dimensionally formed, and a bottom forming a bottom surface of the seat. And a body, wherein the receiving body is formed into a space optically partitioned from the outside by integrating the receiving body, wherein the receiving body is in annular contact with agricultural products placed on the receiving tray. An upper annular seat provided so as to be able to shield the inside and outside of the annular contact line, a skirt extending from the annular seat to the periphery, and an annular seat opening formed inside the annular seat, The bottom body has a bottom body opening for emitting downwardly the agricultural product transmitted light that has entered the receiving body through the receiving opening, and only the light that has passed through the agricultural product placed on the annular receiving unit receives the agricultural product. Light is incident on a predetermined light receiving surface from the opening through the bottom body opening.

In the above, the seat is made of plastic,
It is preferable to use an elastic body such as rubber, especially when the agricultural product is supported by the annular seat, it is slightly deformed and adheres to the contact part to prevent leakage of light. It is appropriate to use a material having good properties and shape-retaining properties for stable support. Appropriate ribs or the like may be provided inside the seat for adjusting the flexibility and shape retention.
In addition to the light-shielding property, when the receiver is used so as to obtain imaging information of the appearance, a color whose surface can be distinguished from agricultural products, for example, black, is preferably used. The shape of the skirt provided so as to spread around the annular seat of the seat body is not limited, but can be provided on a horizontal plane or a tapered surface inclined downward toward the outside. The part and the hem can be formed integrally, or they can be formed separately and integrated by the uneven fitting of the combination part, etc. In many cases, it is possible to select a material that imparts a high shape retention property and a flexibility of the annular seat portion that easily adheres to agricultural products in accordance with the required action, and thus it is often preferable.

The bottom body can be generally made of a hard plastic material or a metal material in order to obtain the shape-retaining property of the entire pan, and the shape is not limited. A flat plate having a central opening, a flat plate shape, or the like can be preferably used. In addition, in order to detect transmitted light while minimizing the influence of disturbance light, it is often preferable that the bottom surface be black. In addition, it is often preferable to attach a soft ring packing or the like to the inner edge of the opening in order to reduce the influence of disturbance light when the light emitted from the bottom opening is received by a predetermined light receiving surface. ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, a saucer can be provided at low cost with the simple structure of integrating the seating body of the crown structure which formed the shell wall three-dimensionally on the bottom body, and also the annular shape provided in the seating body A good light-shielding property is obtained by the seat, and the transmitted light of the target agricultural product emitted from the opening of the bottom body can be detected with high sensitivity and accuracy while preventing the influence of disturbance light.

The invention according to claim 2 of the present application is characterized in that the annular seat of the seat body is constituted by a plurality of concentric circles having different diameters.

According to the present invention, the plurality of seats having different diameters can secure the light-shielding property of the mounted agricultural product.

[0020] The invention according to claim 3 of the present application is characterized in that the annular seat of the seat body is provided at a position higher than the surrounding skirt so as to be able to illuminate and image the mounted agricultural product from diagonally below. I do.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4 of the present application, the receiving body is
It is characterized in that it has a plane rectangular or circular shape.

According to the present invention, for example, a plurality of trays each having a flat rectangular shape are separated from each other in the conveying direction of the endlessly rotating conveyor as in the invention of claim 5 of the present application, thereby forming a space above the conveying surface. Since the connecting tray can be used for light shielding of the space below, the respective spaces of the illumination system and the light receiving system can be easily cut off.

The invention of claim 5 of the present application is characterized in that a plurality of annular seats of the seat body are provided concentrically with different diameters, and an annular seat opening is formed inside the annular seat.

When the tray is transported without being restricted by the transport means as in the invention of claim 7 of the present application, a flat circular tray can be suitably used.

[0025] The invention of an agricultural product sorting apparatus according to claim 8 of the present application is any one of the above-mentioned trays, transport means for transporting the trays, illumination means for illuminating agricultural products on the trays transported by the transport means, Transmitted light receiving means arranged below the tray transport path so that the bottom body opening of the tray to be conveyed faces, and transmitted light information detected by the transmitted light receiving means is received, and sorting classification is determined for each target agricultural product A signal processing means for outputting the signal, and a sorting discharge means which is operated by the sorting signal from the signal processing means and discharges the target agricultural product according to the sorting category.

According to the present invention, while the agricultural product is continuously transported, the transmitted light of the agricultural product can be detected, and the sorting based on the internal quality such as the sugar content can be efficiently performed.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the agricultural product sorting apparatus, the conveyor is arranged so that a plurality of trays are connected and separated in the transport direction, and the horizontal attitude when transporting the agricultural product and the tilting attitude when discharging the agricultural product. It is characterized by comprising a posture guide means for guiding the posture of the transport tray, and a discharge operation means which is operated by a sorting division signal to tilt the horizontal tray to a tilting posture.

According to the present invention, continuous sorting can be performed by operating the discharge operation means at a predetermined sorting section position based on the signal indicating the sorting section.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the agricultural product sorting apparatus, illumination means for illuminating the agricultural product on the conveyed tray and imaging means for imaging the appearance of the illuminated agricultural product are provided. And

According to the present invention, apart from the detection of transmitted light, appearance information of a wide surface including the lower half of the agricultural product can be obtained by imaging.

[0031]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiment 1 FIGS. 1 to 5 show an example of a configuration outline of an agricultural product sorting device,
5 is a view showing a series of steps, FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a state in which a tray is linked to a link of a chain conveyor, taken along a plane perpendicular to the conveying path, FIG. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the transmitted light detection stage, and FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the sorting / discharging section.

In these figures, reference numeral 1 denotes a tray on which the agricultural product P is placed. The tray 1 of the present embodiment includes a receiving member 101 having a shell wall structure made of black rubber and a bottom surface of the receiving member. It is composed of a flat bottom 110 made of black hard plastic and assembled so as to form a symmetrical structure on the left and right sides (width direction) from the center of the transport track as shown in FIG.

The receiving body 101 having the shell wall structure is formed by a shell wall type which can shield light from entering from outside by a relatively thin rubber body.
In this example, the tapered wall 102 inclined at an angle of about 30 ° from both the left and right sides forms a substantially triangular cross section (see the dotted line in FIG. 1) continuously from the upper plane (not shown in this example). A receiving seat 104 is provided at the center in the transport direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the receiving seat 104 has a cylindrical portion 1 formed so as to rise upward from the tapered wall 102.
The upper end of 05 is folded inward to form a seat 106 on which the agricultural product P is stably placed. The inside of the seat 106 forms a seat opening 107 through which transmitted light enters. Further, inward and leftward groove portions 108 are provided at both left and right ends of the tapered wall 102 so as to be fitted to edges of a flat rectangular bottom body 110 described below. The seat 101
The front and rear surfaces in the transport direction are closed by a vertical wall (not shown) continuous from the tapered wall 102, and the lower end of the vertical wall also has an inward groove for fitting into the edge of the bottom body 110. Is provided. Although not shown in the present example, in order to prevent the receiver 101 from bending significantly downward when agricultural products are placed on the receiver 101, a rib (book In the example, an internal vertical wall) can be appropriately provided.

The bottom body 110 is formed of a flat bottom plate 111 having a flat rectangular shape. The tapered wall of the seat and the groove 108 of the vertical wall are fitted at the peripheral edge so that they are integrated. And the receiving opening 10
7, a bottom plate opening 112 is provided,
In this example, a ring packing 113 is attached to the opening edge. In addition, the chain conveyor 2 is attached to the bottom body 110 of the present example at one position in the width direction of the bottom plate 111.
Link side bracket 202 fixed to link 201
The tray is provided with a tray-side bracket 114 connected thereto, the tray is connected so as to be tiltable around an axis in the transport direction, and a tilt-preventing hook is rotatably mounted to the link-side bracket 202 by a pin 204. The tray 203 is prevented from tilting by engaging a pin 115 provided on the tray-side bracket 114, and the tray 1 is tilted by hanging the tilt-preventing hook 203 by the discharge operation device described with reference to FIG. 4. It has become. Reference numeral 116 denotes a shoe that slides on the tray conveyance guide rail 3 and is fixed to the opposite side of the bottom plate 111 with respect to the mounting position of the tray-side bracket 114 and is provided downward.

The above-mentioned chain conveyor 2 has a pin shaft 20
5, the link 206 is pivotally connected so as to rotate endlessly, and the roller 207 assembled to the pin shaft 205 runs on the running rail 208. Reference numerals 209 and 209 denote inclined guide walls extending on both sides of the traveling track of the tray 1, and when the agricultural product P falls from the tray 1, the agricultural products P are returned to the left and right return conveyors 21.
0, 210 returns to the start end side of the chain conveyor 2.

The receiving tray 1 constructed as described above is connected to a pair of sprockets 4, 4 and a motor 5 to rotate endlessly. As shown in FIG. At (left end side in FIG. 5), for example, one agricultural product P is supplied to one tray 1 from an unillustrated alignment supply device. And in this example, the saucer 1 on which the agricultural product P is placed is first placed on the appearance imaging stage 6.
The image is illuminated by the illumination lamp 602 in the predetermined external light shielding box 601 and the external appearance is imaged by the imaging camera 603, and the external appearance imaging information is sent to the signal processing device 8 including a computer. Details at the time of this external appearance imaging will be described later with reference to FIG. Next, the tray 1 is moved to the transmitted light detection stage 7, illuminated by the illumination lamp 702 in a predetermined external light shielding box 701, and the bottom plate 111 of the tray 1 receives the agricultural product transmitted light emitted through the bottom plate opening 112. The transmitted light information is detected by the light receiving member 703 of the light receiving optical system arranged so as to be able to pass over the sensor and the transmitted light information is sent to the signal processing device 8. The details at the time of detecting the transmitted light information will be described later with reference to FIG.

The signal processing device 8 to which the signals of the above-mentioned appearance imaging information and transmitted light detection information have been sent determines, for example, the color, the presence or absence of flaws, the size, etc., based on the appearance imaging information and transmits the internal quality such as sugar content. By making a determination based on the light detection information, the sorting signal obtained by comprehensively determining the sorting category of the agricultural product P is output via the sorting signal output device 9 to the discharge conveyors 10 ₁ to 10 ₄ installed for each sorting section. letter to the corresponding sorting ejection actuation device 11 ₁ to 11 _4. Thereby, for example, every time the tray 1 on which the agricultural products determined in the corresponding sorting section are transferred to the discharge conveyor 10 ₁ ,
The sorting discharge operation device 11 ₁ is operated to discharge a constant grade agricultural product P at all times. The discharged agricultural products P are packed in boxes for each sorting by an appropriate boxing device (not shown).

FIG. 2 shows a state of the exterior image pickup stage 6 at the time of external image pickup.
01, a light-shielding curtain (not shown) is provided on the box-shaped shielding wall at the entrance and the exit of the conveyed tray 1, so that external light is prevented from entering the inside as much as possible. It has a slit opening 604. Further, the receiving tray 1 of the present example has a receiving seat 10 on the top of the tapered wall 102.
4, the image can be taken to a slightly lower surface than the middle part of the spherical agricultural product P as shown in FIG. 2, so that the illumination of the imageable surface is appropriately performed. A plurality of illumination lamps 602 are arranged in an arch shape, and a reflecting mirror 605 for guiding the surface reflected light of the lower portion to the imaging camera 603 is arranged. In addition, the tray 1 of this example has a flat rectangular shape as described above, and by connecting each of the connected trays 1 as closely as possible, external light can enter the external light shielding box 601 from the conveying track surface. Is sufficiently prevented, and thereby the influence of illumination unevenness due to external light is suppressed, so that accurate appearance imaging can be realized.

In the appearance imaging stage 6 having the above configuration,
The appearance can be imaged while the agricultural product P is continuously moved without stopping the transport of the saucer 1.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which transmitted light is detected by the transmitted light detection stage 7. As in the case of the external appearance imaging stage 6, the external light shielding box 701 prevents external light from entering the inside as much as possible. A light-shielding curtain (not shown) is provided on the box-shaped shielding wall at the entrance and exit of the tray 1 to be conveyed. Also, as mentioned above,
The external light shielding box 701 is formed by the receiving tray 1 having a flat rectangular shape and connecting the receiving trays 1 connected to each other with as little gap as possible.
Intense illumination light from inside can be sufficiently prevented from leaking from the conveying track surface to the lower side, and the flat bottom plate 111 is connected to the tray conveying posture guide rail 3 on the opposite side to the chain conveyor 2 on one side in the width direction. The light receiving member 703 of the light receiving optical system can be disposed very close to the moving tray 1 by carrying the tray 1 while maintaining the raceway surface with high precision by supporting the light receiving surface. External light and illumination light can be prevented from entering the member 703 satisfactorily, and highly accurate transmitted light detection can be realized. In order to further prevent leakage of illumination light from the joint portion of the connected trays 1, a flexible sheet may be provided to close between the trays. The light-receiving member 703 of the light-receiving optical system can be constituted by using a condensing lens, an optical transmission medium such as an optical fiber, an imaging element such as a CCD, and a filter or the like when performing spectral analysis. Can also. In consideration of the fact that the transmitted light is extremely attenuated and weakened as described above, it is preferable to install a large number of illumination lamps 702 within a range that does not hinder the conveyance of the saucer 1 and the agricultural product P. A case in which they are arranged in a horizontal arch shape on both sides in the width direction can be given.

In the transmitted light detection stage 7 having the above configuration, it is possible to detect the light transmitted through the agricultural product P while continuously moving the agricultural product P without stopping the transport of the tray 1.

[0042] Figure 4 is a sorting ejection actuation device 11 ₁ to 11 ₄
Indicates a sorting section for discharging agricultural products to predetermined discharge conveyors 10 ₁ to 10 _4, and each time the tray 1 on which the agricultural products determined in the predetermined classification are moved, the sorting discharge operation device 11 ₁ to 11 ₄ either to discharge the agricultural P operates. That is, sorting ejection actuation device 11 ₁ to 11 _4, the projection 13 is to oscillate the lever 14 by the electromagnetic solenoid 12 is energized by a sorting signal,
Due to the swing of the lever 14, the hook 203 for preventing tilting is disengaged from the pin 115 of the bracket 114 on the pan side, and is wrapped around the pin 204 of the bracket 202 on the link side from the solid line state in FIG. Thereby, saucer 1
Can be tilted. In this position, the tray 3 is guided obliquely downwardly as shown by reference numeral 3 'in FIG. 4 so that the tray 1 can be tilted. Therefore, saucer conveyance posture guide rails 3 at each position corresponding to the four sorting ejection actuation device provided at positions 11 ₁ to 11 ₄ in this example is curved obliquely downward, each pan 1 is in the discharge position Since the tilt preventing hook 203 is disengaged from the pin 115, the tilting is performed. In the non-discharge position, the tilt preventing hook 203 is not disengaged from the pin 115.
It is transported while maintaining the horizontal posture. In addition,
Reference numeral 15 denotes an inclined guide for guiding the agricultural products P to fall on the discharge conveyors 10 ₁ to 10 ₄ .

In the agricultural product sorting apparatus having the above-described configuration, it is natural that other necessary components are provided as appropriate, although not shown. For example, the tilted receiving tray 1 is returned to the horizontal position, and the tilt preventing hook 203 is provided. And a return means for bringing the pin 115 into an engaged state.

According to the agricultural product sorting apparatus of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, while the agricultural product is continuously conveyed while being placed on the saucer 1, the appearance including the lower portion of the agricultural product is imaged, and the agricultural product transmitted light is transmitted. Both can be suitably performed.

Embodiment 2 The present example shown in the part of the transmitted light detection stage 6 in FIG. 6 is different from the embodiment 1 in the shape of the receiving tray, but shows the same agricultural product sorting apparatus in other configurations.

That is, the receiving tray 21 of the present embodiment comprises a bottom plate 211.
1 has the same planar rectangular plate shape as the first embodiment and has the same connection relationship with the tray-side bracket 2114 and the chain conveyor 2, but the receiving body 2101 is in close contact with the upper surface of the bottom plate 2111. At the center of the flat plate wall 2102 (immediately above the bottom plate opening 2112 of the bottom plate 2111), a receiving seat 2104 is formed in which the upper end edge of the cylindrical portion 2105 is turned inward to form a seat 2106. Other configurations of the tray 21 include a receiving opening 2107, 210
Reference numeral 8 denotes a groove, 2112 denotes a bottom plate opening, 2113 denotes a ring packing, 2115 denotes a pin with which the tilt preventing hook 203 is engaged, and 2116 denotes a shoe which comes into sliding contact with the tray conveyance attitude guide rail 3.

Also in this example having such a configuration, the same effect as that of the first embodiment, that is, imaging of the appearance including the lower portion of the agricultural product while the agricultural product is continuously transported while being placed on the saucer 1 is taken. And the detection of agricultural product transmitted light can be suitably performed. Further, according to this example, the structure of the receiving body 2101 of the receiving tray 21 is simpler, and the degree of bending of the cylindrical portion 2115 can be adjusted, for example, by appropriately providing a rib for deformation restraint in the generatrix direction (vertical direction) of the cylinder. It can be done by doing.

Embodiment 3 The present embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to 11 shows an agricultural product sorting apparatus using a saucer 31 having a structure different from that of Embodiment 1, and FIG.
10 corresponds to FIG. 1, FIG. 8 corresponds to a state at the time of appearance imaging on the appearance imaging stage of FIG. 2, FIG. 9 corresponds to a state at the time of transmitted light detection at the transmitted light detection stage of FIG.
Corresponds to the state of the sorting section in FIG. FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of the tray 31. The configuration of each unit in this example is the same as that of the first embodiment except for the tray 31. Therefore, the same reference numerals are given to the same devices and members, and description thereof will be omitted.

The receiving tray 31 of this embodiment is similar to the receiving tray 301 shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, a lower seat 304 in which a tapered wall 302 inclined at an angle of about 15 ° from both the left and right sides is continuous with an upper flat surface 303, and a separate upper seat 305 assembled at the center of the upper part in the transport direction. Are provided in combination. This upper seat 305 in the present example is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 5, an outer cylindrical seat 3051 formed to rise from the tapered wall 302 to extend upward and outward, and an inner cylindrical seat 3052 formed to extend slightly upward to extend upward and outward slightly inside, and The agricultural product P is stably mounted on the outer cylindrical seat 3051 or the inner cylindrical seat 3052. The inner cylindrical seat 305
A receiving opening 307 into which the transmitted light enters is provided inside 2. Reference numeral 3053 denotes a circumferential groove that fits into the annular projection on the upper part of the receiving body 301.

Further, at both left and right ends of the tapered wall 302, inward grooves 308 are provided so as to be fitted to the edges of the flat rectangular bottom body 110 having the same structure as in the first embodiment. The front and rear surfaces of the receiving body 301 in the transport direction are closed by a vertical wall 309 continuous from the tapered wall 302, and the lower end of the vertical wall 309 has an inner portion for fitting to the edge of the bottom body 110. An orientation groove is provided. Note that, in this example, similarly to the first embodiment, a rib for preventing bending (in this example, an internal vertical wall) is appropriately provided for the purpose of preventing bending when an agricultural product is placed on the receiving body 301. It can also be provided.

In this embodiment, since the bottom body 110 has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, the configuration of each part and the relationship of linkage with the chain conveyor 2 and the like are the same as those of the first embodiment. The description is omitted by attaching reference numerals.

According to this embodiment, the upper receiving seat 305 of the receiving tray 31 for placing agricultural products is provided in a double annular shape of the outer cylindrical seat 3051 and the inner cylindrical seat 3052 inside the outer cylindrical seat 3051. , Relatively large produce is the outer cylindrical seat 3051
The relatively small agricultural products are supported by being elastically attached to the inner cylindrical seat 3052, and in any case, the light is reliably blocked from the outside to the inside of the saucer. Thus, conditions suitable for detecting transmitted light from agricultural products can be obtained.

Also, the receiving body 301 is separated from the lower receiving
4 and the upper seat 305 in combination,
The lower seat 304 is made of an elastic material that is relatively hard to deform, and the upper seat 305 is made of an easily deformable elastic material suitable for light shielding. There is also an advantage.

Embodiments 4 to 6 Each of the examples shown in FIGS.
1, 51, 81 show examples in which the structures of the receiving bodies 401, 501, 801 are different. Other configurations are the first embodiment.
Same as 3.

For example, in the example of the tray 41 of FIG. 12, the inner cylindrical seat 3052 is omitted in place of the upper tray 305 of the third embodiment, and the inwardly deformable inner edge portion 4052 is directed inward.
And upper receiving seat 40 having an outer cylindrical seat 4051
5 shows an example in which 5 is attached to the lower seat 404. Such relatively large agricultural P ₁ by construction light shielding property is ensured by Tamagi an outer cylindrical seat 4051, a relatively small agricultural P ₂ is easily deformable inner edge 4052
Thus, the light-shielding property is ensured.

FIG. 13 shows an example of the receiving tray 51 which is a further modification of the example of FIG. 12. The upper receiving seat 505 is formed in a cup shape, and the upper edge of the cup is elastically attached to the agricultural product. Shows an example in which the light-shielding property is ensured. In addition, 5
04 is a lower seat, and 5052 is an easily deformable inner edge.

The example of the receiving tray 81 in FIG.
Has a configuration similar to that of the second embodiment.

That is, the receiving body of the receiving tray 81 of the present embodiment is the same as that of the third embodiment in that the receiving body is constituted by a combination of the lower receiving seat 804 and the upper receiving seat 805, and the upper receiving seat 8 is provided.
05 is the same as that of the third embodiment, except that the lower seat 80
4 is a flat plate wall 8102 which adheres along the upper surface of the bottom plate 111
A cylindrical portion 8105 is provided at the central portion (immediately above the bottom plate opening 112 of the bottom plate 111), and the upper receiving seat 805 is attached to the upper end thereof. Reference numeral 8106 denotes a groove.

The same effects as those of the first to third embodiments can be obtained by the saucers of the fourth to sixth embodiments.

[0060]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the upper receiving body having a crown structure in which the shell wall is formed three-dimensionally and the bottom body forming the bottom surface of the receiving body are integrated into the receiving body. Is a saucer that is optically partitioned from the outside,
The receiving body has an upper annular receiving seat provided so as to be able to shield the inside and outside of the annular contact line by being in circular contact with the agricultural product placed on the receiving tray, a skirt portion extending from the annular receiving seat to the periphery, An annular seat opening formed inside the seat, wherein the bottom body has a bottom body opening for emitting downwardly the agricultural product transmitted light that has entered the seat body through the seat opening, According to the saucer for an agricultural product sorting device that allows only light transmitted through the agricultural product placed on the annular seat to enter a predetermined light receiving surface through the bottom opening from the seat opening, on the bottom, A simple configuration that integrates a three-dimensionally structured crown-shaped seating body can provide a saucer at low cost, and the annular seating provided on the seating body provides good light-shielding properties. Sensitivity and accuracy of transmitted light of target agricultural products emitted from the body opening while preventing the influence of disturbance light Ku can be detected.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in which the annular seat of the seat body is constituted by a plurality of concentric circles having different diameters, the light-shielding property of the mounted agricultural product can be ensured by the plurality of seats having different diameters.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in which the annular seat of the seat body is provided at a position higher than the surrounding skirt, illumination and imaging of the mounted agricultural product can be performed diagonally from below.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the receiving body is formed in a plane rectangle or a circle, for example, in the case of a plane rectangle, a large number of articulated bodies are separated from each other in the conveying direction of the endlessly rotating conveyor. This makes it possible to use the articulated tray to shield the upper space and the lower space above the transport surface, making it easy to block each space of the illumination system and the light receiving system, and to transport the tray without being restricted by the transport means. A flat circular saucer can be suitably used.

According to the configuration in which the plurality of annular receiving seats of the fifth aspect of the present invention are provided concentrically with different diameters, it is possible to reliably obtain light-shielding properties.

According to the invention of claim 8 of the present application, the tray, the transport means for transporting the tray, the illuminating means for illuminating the produce on the tray transported by the transport means, and the bottom of the transported tray Transmitted light receiving means arranged below the tray transport path so that the body opening faces, and receives transmitted light information detected by the transmitted light receiving means, determines sorting categories for each target agricultural product, and outputs a signal therefrom. The signal processing means and the sorting and discharging means which is operated by the sorting and sorting signal from the signal processing means and discharges the target agricultural products according to the sorting category are provided, so that the agricultural products can be continuously transported while the agricultural products are continuously transported. The transmitted light can be detected, and sorting based on internal quality such as sugar content can be efficiently performed.

A conveyor according to the present invention, wherein a plurality of trays are connected and separated in the transport direction, and a posture guide means for guiding the posture of the transport tray between a horizontal position when agricultural products are transported and a tilting position when agricultural products are discharged. According to the invention of the agricultural product sorting device having the sorting operation signal and the discharging operation means for tilting the horizontal tray to the tilting position by the sorting signal, the discharge of the predetermined sorting position is performed by the signal that has determined the sorting condition. By operating the operating means, continuous sorting can be performed.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an agricultural product sorting apparatus comprising an illuminating means for illuminating an agricultural product on a conveyed tray and an imaging means for imaging the appearance of the illuminated agricultural product. Apart from that, the appearance information of a wide surface including the lower half of the agricultural product can be obtained by imaging.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of a conveying track surface of a conveying conveyor in an agricultural product sorting apparatus using a tray according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of a conveying track surface in an agricultural product appearance imaging step of the conveying conveyor according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of a transport track surface of the transport conveyor according to the first embodiment in an agricultural product transmitted light detection step.

FIG. 4 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of a transport track surface of the transport conveyor according to the first embodiment in an agricultural product discharging step.

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining an overall outline of an agricultural product sorting apparatus using the saucer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of a transport track surface in an agricultural product transmitted light detection step in the agricultural product sorting device using the saucer according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of a transport track surface of a transport conveyor in an agricultural product sorting apparatus using a tray according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of a conveying track surface in an agricultural product appearance imaging step of the conveying conveyor according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of a transport track surface of the transport conveyor according to the third embodiment in an agricultural product transmitted light detection step.

FIG. 10 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of a conveying track surface in a agricultural product discharging step of the conveying conveyor according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the saucer of the third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of a saucer according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of a saucer according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view of a transmitted light detection stage of a saucer according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Receiving tray 101 ... Receiving body 102 ... Tapered wall 104 ... Receiving seat 105 ... Cylindrical part 106 ... Seat 107 ... Receiving opening 108 ... Groove part 110 ...・ Bottom body 111 ・ ・ ・ Bottom plate 112 ・ ・ ・ Bottom plate opening 113 ・ ・ ・ Ring packing 114 ・ ・ ・ Baking tray side bracket 115 ・ ・ ・ Pin 116 ・ ・ ・ Shoe 2 ・ ・ ・ Chain conveyor 201 ・ ・ ・ Link 202 ・··· Link side bracket 203 ··· Hook for preventing tilting 204 ··· Pin 205 ··· Link 207 ··· Roller 208 ···· Rail 209 ···························· ..Rail for guiding the receiving position of the receiving tray 4 ... Sprocket 5 ... Motor 6 ... External imaging stage 601 ... External light shielding box 602 ... Illumination lamp 60 Reference Signs List 3 imaging camera 604 slit opening 605 reflecting mirror 7 transmitted light detection stage 701 external light shielding box 702 illumination lamp 703 light receiving member 8 Signal processing device 9 ... Sorting signal output device 10 ₁ to 10 ₄ ... Discharge conveyor 11 _{1 to} 11 ₄ ... Sorting discharge operation device 12 ... Electromagnetic solenoid 13 ... Projection 14 ... Lever 15 ··· Inclination guide 21 ··· Receiving tray 2101 ··· Receiving body 2102 ··· Flat plate wall 2103 ··· Hook for preventing tilting 2104 ··· Receiving seat 2105 ··· Cylindrical portion 2106 ··· Seat 2111 · ..Bottom plate 2112 ... Bottom plate opening 2113 ... Ring packing 2114 ... Baking tray side bracket 2115 ... Pin 2116 ... Shoe

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An interior of a receiving body from the outside by integrating an upper receiving body forming a crown structure in which a shell wall is three-dimensionally formed and a bottom body forming a bottom surface of the receiving body. An annular receiving tray, which is formed as an optically partitioned space, wherein the receiving body has an annular receiving portion at an upper portion which allows light to be shielded from the inside and outside of the annular contact line when the agricultural product placed on the receiving tray makes annular contact. A seat, a skirt extending from the annular seat to the periphery, and an annular seat opening formed inside the annular seat, wherein the bottom body receives light into the seat through the seat opening. It has a bottom opening for emitting transmitted light downward, so that only light transmitted through the agricultural product placed on the annular seat enters the predetermined light receiving surface from the seat opening through the bottom opening. A saucer for an agricultural product sorting device. 2. The saucer for an agricultural product sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the annular seat of the seat body comprises a plurality of concentrically arranged concentric circles of different diameters. 3. The agricultural product according to claim 1, wherein the annular seat of the seat body is provided at a position higher than the surrounding skirt so that illumination and imaging of the mounted agricultural product can be performed diagonally from below. A saucer for the sorting device. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein
A receiving plate for an agricultural product sorting device, wherein the receiving member has a flat rectangular shape or a circular shape. 5. An interior of a receiving body from the outside by integrating an upper receiving body forming a crown structure in which a shell wall is formed three-dimensionally and a bottom body forming a bottom surface of the receiving body. Claims 1. A receiving tray which forms an optically partitioned space, wherein the receiving body includes a plurality of annular receiving seats provided in concentric circles of different diameters, and an annular receiving opening formed inside the annular receiving opening. The bottom body has a bottom body opening for emitting downwardly the agricultural product transmitted light that has entered the receiving body through the receiving opening, and the agricultural product placed on the annular receiving body is annular. Agricultural product sorting characterized in that, by contacting, the light obliquely moves inside and outside the annular contact line and only light transmitted through the agricultural product enters a predetermined light receiving surface from the seat opening through the bottom body opening. Pan for equipment. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein
A saucer for an agricultural product sorting device, wherein the saucer is configured so as to be separated in the conveying direction of an endlessly rotating conveyor so that a large number of the saucers can be connected. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein
The saucer for an agricultural product sorting device, wherein the saucer is a free tray that is carried without being restricted by the carrying means. 8. The saucer according to claim 1, wherein:
Conveying means for conveying the tray, illuminating means for illuminating agricultural products on the tray conveyed by the conveying means, and transmitted light disposed below the tray conveying path such that the bottom body opening of the conveyed tray faces. A light receiving means, a signal processing means for receiving the transmitted light information detected by the transmitted light receiving means, determining a sorting category for each target agricultural product and outputting the signal, and operating by a sorting sorting signal from the signal processing means; An agricultural product sorting device comprising: a sorting discharge means for discharging a target agricultural product according to a sorting category. 9. The attitude according to claim 8, wherein the attitude of the transport tray is guided between a horizontal attitude at the time of transporting agricultural products and a tilting attitude at the time of agricultural product discharge, wherein the conveyor is configured to carry a large number of trays separated and connected in the transport direction. An agricultural product sorting apparatus, comprising: a guide unit; and a discharge operation unit that is operated by a sorting classification signal to tilt a tray in a horizontal position to a tilted position. 10. The agricultural product sorting apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: an illuminating device for illuminating the agricultural product on the conveyed tray, and an imaging device for imaging the appearance of the illuminated agricultural product.