JPH10227766A - Detecting device for crack degree of egg, and egg selecting device comprising the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a for detecting device for crack degree of egg by which the degree of the crack of egg can be correctly detected with remarkably high reliability. SOLUTION: A crack degree detecting device 3 comprises an impacting means 11 for giving the impulse mechanical impact to an egg 2, a receiving means 12 for receiving the vibrational sound 70 generated when the mechanical impact is given to the egg 2 by the impacting means 11, and a determining means 5 for determining the crack degree of the egg 2 on the basis of the spectral intensity of the predetermined frequency band on the vibrational sound from the receiving means 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for detecting the degree of cracks in an egg, particularly a chicken egg, and to an egg sorting device provided with the detection device.

[0002]

Before being shipped as a product, chicken eggs are usually inspected for cracks and the degree of cracking after washing. Various automatic devices have been proposed for the inspection for the presence or absence of cracks in the egg.

For example, an egg crack detection device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-308098 gives an ultrasonic wave from an ultrasonic generator to an egg carried by a carrier device, and detects the ultrasonic wave transmitted through the egg. To detect egg cracks. By the way, according to this detection device, when applying an ultrasonic wave to an egg, it is necessary to bring the ultrasonic generator into contact with the egg, but if this contact is not uniformly performed on each egg, a detection error occurs. There is a risk that the ultrasonic device must be pressed against the egg with a certain large force in order to make the contact uniform and reliably apply ultrasonic waves to the egg. Therefore, it is not possible to increase the transportation speed of the eggs so much, and there is a risk that the eggs themselves may be newly cracked or crushed.

The egg crack inspection apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-167619 applies an impact to an egg held by an insulator, and uses an acceleration sensor to detect a change in acceleration generated in the shell of the egg that has been subjected to the impact. Detects and checks the eggs for cracks. By the way, according to this inspection device, it is necessary to keep the acceleration sensor in contact with the egg shell during detection, and it is extremely difficult to perform this on the conveyed egg, as described above. The transport speed cannot be so high, and the weight of the shocked member is added to the egg during detection. Is extremely small, and if the weight of the impact applying member is reduced in this way, the impact applied to the egg is reduced, and therefore, it may be difficult to obtain a desired change in acceleration.

[0005] Further, in any of the above-mentioned devices, the cracks of the egg are to be detected and inspected by focusing on the magnitude of the amplitude of the detection signal on the time axis. It is necessary to always make the magnitude of the impact the same, and if the magnitude is different, the magnitude of the amplitude of the detection signal on the time axis is also different, and as a result, it is difficult to detect an accurate crack. Moreover, in the case of chicken eggs, there are differences in the thickness, size, shape, and surface shape of the eggshell, as well as the presence or absence of dust and chicken dung on the eggshell surface.
It is difficult to improve the detection accuracy and the inspection accuracy of the cracks of the egg, and there is a possibility that erroneous detection and erroneous inspection may occur.

[0006] Further, the cracks of chicken eggs are generally of various sizes, from large ones that can be visually discriminated to extremely small ones that are difficult to discern visually.
The crack is not limited to one specific part, but may be various parts and may occur in two or more parts. Therefore, sufficient crack information corresponding to these conditions cannot be obtained from only one specific location, and it is difficult to accurately detect the degree of cracking of the egg. In any of the above-mentioned devices that do not take such points into consideration, detection of the degree of cracking of the egg and inspection accuracy are inferior, and erroneous detection and erroneous inspection may occur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a device for detecting the degree of cracking of an egg, which can accurately and extremely reliably detect the degree of cracking of an egg. Is to provide.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for detecting the degree of cracking of an egg, which can accurately and very reliably detect the degree of cracking of a transported egg.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for detecting the degree of cracking of an egg which does not cause a new crack in the egg itself or crush the egg itself.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an egg crack detecting apparatus as described above, and furthermore, an egg having a designated crack or more,
An object of the present invention is to provide an egg sorting apparatus that can sort and assemble for packaging and the like in relation to its weight.

[0011]

An apparatus for detecting the degree of cracking of an egg according to the present invention comprises: an impact applying means for applying an impulse mechanical impact to the egg; and a vibration when a mechanical impact is applied by the impact applying means. Receiving means for receiving the sound, and determining means for determining the degree of cracking of the egg based on the spectral intensity of a preset frequency band in the vibration sound from the receiving means, the impact imparting means, A hitting means is provided for instantly hitting the egg to give an impulse mechanical impact to the egg.

[0012] The impact applying means further comprises a transport means for transporting the egg while rotating the egg. In this case, the hitting means instantaneously moves a portion of the egg which is transported while being rotated by the transport means and has a different rotation direction. It is configured to hit the egg with an impulse-like mechanical impact.

The hitting means includes a plurality of hitting sticks, and a hitting drive means for causing each of the hitting sticks to perform a hitting operation on a different portion of the egg. Are arranged along the transport direction so that the player can hit the sheet.

[0014] The determining means compares a value based on the spectral intensity of the frequency band in a plurality of vibration sounds of different parts of the egg with an evaluation value preset for the spectral intensity of the frequency band, and based on the comparison result. Evaluation value giving means for giving an evaluation value to the degree of cracking of the egg. The determining means is configured to determine the degree of cracking of the egg based on the spectral intensities of at least two predetermined frequency bands in the vibration sound from the receiving means.

Further, when the egg has a crack, the determining means increases the spectrum intensity of the vibration sound in a specific frequency band and decreases the spectrum intensity of the vibration sound in another specific frequency band. When there is no crack in the egg, the ratio R = Lo / (Lo + Hi) based on the finding that the spectrum intensity of the vibration sound in a specific frequency band decreases and the spectrum intensity of the vibration sound in another specific frequency band increases. (However,
Lo = integral value of the spectral intensity of the preset low-frequency vibration sound, and Hi = integral value of the preset spectral intensity of the high-frequency vibration sound). It is configured to determine the degree of cracking of the egg based on the R. In this case, in the case of an egg having a crack, the spectral intensity of the vibrating sound becomes large and the egg having no crack is formed in the low frequency band. In the case of, the spectral intensity of the vibration sound becomes small,
In the case of eggs with cracks,
In the case of an egg in which the spectrum intensity of the vibration sound is small and no crack is present, each of the frequency bands in which the spectrum intensity of the vibration sound is large is selected. Here, the low frequency band is at least 1 kHz to 2 kHz.
The high frequency band includes a frequency range of at least 5 kHz to 10 kHz.

The receiving means selects microphones which are arranged along the transport direction and have the same number or less than the number of striking rods, and a microphone which receives a vibration sound in the nearest vicinity, and the selected microphone is selected. Microphone selection means for supplying the vibration sound received by the microphone to the determination means. By configuring the receiving means with the same number of microphones as the number of striking rods, as a result, microphones can be arranged close to the source of each vibration sound,
While it is possible to reliably receive individual vibration sounds, it is possible to reduce costs by configuring the receiving means with a smaller number of microphones than the number of striking rods. It should be noted that more microphones are provided than the number of hitting sticks, preferably, a plurality of microphones are provided for each hitting stick,
Vibration sounds from a plurality of microphones related to each hitting bar may be added via an adding unit, and the added vibration sound may be used as a vibration sound from each hitting bar. The receiving means includes a gate means for transmitting the vibration sound to the determination means for a time required for obtaining information for determining the degree of cracking from the vibration sound. By providing the gate means, it is possible to eliminate sounds other than the vibration sound, so that there is no possibility of erroneous detection, and it is possible to provide a preferable detection device.

Furthermore, the apparatus for detecting the degree of cracking of an egg according to the present invention receives impact applying means for applying an impulse mechanical impact to the egg, and receives a vibration sound when a mechanical impact is applied by the impact applying means. Receiving means, wherein the degree of cracking of the egg is detected based on the vibration sound from the receiving means, and the shock applying means is a conveying means for conveying the egg while rotating the egg; Hitting means for instantly hitting a plurality of different portions around the direction of rotation in the egg being conveyed while being rotated by the means to apply an impulse mechanical impact to the egg, A plurality of striking bars arranged along the transport direction so that different portions of the egg can be struck, and a striking bar so that the vibration sounds generated by the striking of the eggs by the striking bars do not overlap each other. It is provided with a tapping drive means for causing the hitting operation.

In this device for detecting the degree of cracking of an egg, the receiving means is arranged along the transport direction so as to receive the vibration sound, and has the same number of microphones as the number of striking sticks or less, and Microphone selection means for selecting a microphone that receives a vibration sound in the vicinity, and in such an egg crack degree detection device,
It is configured that the degree of cracking of the egg is detected based on the vibration sound received by the selected microphone. Also, each hitting bar is arranged along the transport direction so as to hit the corresponding portion of the egg when the different portions of the egg are arranged at substantially the same rotation angle position on the transporting means,
The striking rods are arranged along the transport direction so as to strike a plurality of portions at substantially equal angular intervals around the circumference in the rotation direction of the egg. According to each hitting bar arranged in this way,
Vibration noise can be obtained from the same part around the egg under the same conditions, and the possibility of erroneous detection can be further reduced. Similarly to the above, the receiving means includes a gate means for transmitting the received vibration sound for a time required for obtaining information for detecting the degree of cracking of the egg from the vibration sound.

In order to achieve the above object, the egg sorting apparatus of the present invention comprises the above-described apparatus for detecting the degree of cracking of eggs, setting means for arbitrarily setting the degree of use available for cracks, and setting by the setting means. Comparing the degree of cracking and the determination result from the determining means to specify an egg to be collected at a given collecting location; and placing the egg specified by the specifying means at the given collecting location. And an assembling means for assembling.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention and embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments at all, and can be implemented with various modifications.

[0021]

1 to 7, an egg sorting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is shown.
Is a crack degree detecting device 3 for detecting the degree of cracking of the egg 2 as an egg, and the degree available in the cracking of the chicken egg 2 is determined by the weight range of the egg 2 such as large (L), medium (M) and small. The setting means 4 which can be arbitrarily set in relation to (S) is compared with the degree of crack set by the setting means 4 and the determination result from the determining means 5 of the crack degree detecting device 3 to give a given value. Chicken eggs 2 to be assembled at the assembly site
, A collecting means 7 for collecting the chicken eggs 2 specified by the specifying means 6 at a given collecting site, and detecting the weight of each chicken egg 2 supplied to the cracking degree detecting device 3, A weight detecting means 8 is provided for determining whether the weight of the chicken egg 2 falls within the weight range, large (L), medium (M), or small (S).

The cracking degree detecting device 3 receives an impact applying means 11 for applying an impulse mechanical impact to the chicken egg 2 and a vibration sound 70 generated when a mechanical impact is applied to the chicken egg 2 by the impact applying means 11. A receiving means, a determining means for determining the degree of cracking of the egg based on a spectrum intensity of a predetermined frequency band in the vibration sound from the receiving means, and a position signal generating means; ing.

The impact imparting means 11 includes a transporting means 21 for transporting the chicken egg 2 in the direction B while rotating the egg 2 in the direction A about its long axis, and a rotating direction of the chicken egg 2 transported while being rotated by the transporting means 21. A hitting means 25 for instantly hitting the different portions, in this example, approximately three equally divided portions 22, 23 and 24 in the rotation direction A to apply an impulse mechanical impact to the chicken egg 2 is provided. ing.

The conveying means 21 is attached to the endless chain 31 and the endless chain 31 so as to be rotatable at equal intervals.
The hen egg 2 is placed in such a manner that its long axis is perpendicular to the B direction, and a large number of roller-like rollers 32 are placed in contact with the rollers 32 in a given area to travel in the B direction of the endless chain 31. By rotating the sprocket wheel 34 on the driving side between the fixed plate 33 that causes the roller 32 to rotate in the C direction and the sprocket wheels 34 and 35 on the driving and driven sides around which the endless chain 31 is wound, the endless chain 31 And a drive mechanism (not shown) composed of an electric motor or the like for causing the vehicle to travel in the B direction.

When the endless chain 31 travels in the direction B, the conveying means 21 causes the rollers 32 successively in contact with the fixing plate 33 to rotate in the direction C, thereby causing the eggs placed between the rollers 32 to rotate. 2 、 A around its long axis
Direction rotation is generated at least approximately 2/3 rotation or more.

The hitting means 25 includes a plurality of hitting rods 41, 42.
And 43, and the chicken eggs 2
And a hitting driving means 44 for performing a hitting operation on different portions 22, 23 and 24. Hitting stick 4
1, 42 and 43 are sites 22, 23 and 2 of each egg 2
When the chicken 4 is rotated to the uppermost position, the different portions 22, 23 and 24 of the chicken eggs 2 can be hit one after another.

The hitting stick 41 is arranged so as to hit the uppermost portion 22 of the egg 2 which is conveyed while being rotated, and the hitting stick 42 has an area A hit by the hitting stick 41.
(2/3) × π × n + Δ (radian) (where n
.., Δ is a minute rotation angle,
When the part 23 is positioned at the highest position, the chicken 23 can be hit when the part 23 is positioned at the highest position by rotating the egg 2 during the time until one vibration sound 70 almost completely disappears. The hitting bar 43 is such that the portion 22 hit by the hitting bar 41 is (4/3) × π × m + 2Δ in the direction A.
(Radian) (where m is 1, 2, 3,..., N ≧
m), and when the part 24 is positioned at the highest position,
It is arranged so that the part 24 can be hit.

In other words, the chicken egg 2 has the first arbitrary portion 22 and the rotation angle in the direction A from the portion 22 (2/2 /
3) a part 23 separated by × π × n + Δ (radian);
(4/3) × π × at the rotation angle in the direction A from the part 22
The hitting rods 41, 42, and 43 are used to hit the portion 24 which is separated by m + 2Δ (radian).

Instead of the parts 23 and 24, the parts 22 and 24 which are first hit by the hitting rod 41
The rotation angle in the direction may be a position separated by (2/3) × π × n + 2Δ (radian) and (4/3) × π × m + Δ (radian). (2/3) × π × n-Δ (radian) at the corner
And (4/3) × π × m + Δ (radian).

Further, the upstream hitting rod 42 is used for the part 2
4 may be hit first and the downstream hitting bar 43 may be used to hit the site 23 later. In short, the hitting bars 41, 42 and 43 are provided around the surroundings of the egg 2 in the rotation direction A. At least two angular sounds may be arranged so as to be able to strike portions 22, 23 and 24 of the egg 2 so that at least two vibration sounds 70 after striking do not overlap each other. Therefore, the interval between the striking bars 41, 42, and 43 is not equal to an integral multiple of the interval between the rollers 32.

When the uppermost portion of the egg 2 is hit equally by the hitting rods 41, 42 and 43, the hitting state becomes uniform, the difference in the vibration sound 70 due to the different hitting states hardly occurs, and it depends only on the degree of cracking. A vibrating sound 70 can be obtained.

The above-mentioned arrangement intervals of the hitting rods 41, 42 and 43 are usually obtained from the eggs 2 having an average diameter.
Therefore, due to the difference in the diameter of the chicken egg 2 and even the minute rotation angle Δ, the portions 22, 23 and 24 hit by the hitting rods 41, 42 and 43 do not always have uniform angular intervals in the rotation direction A. However, the difference due to this is small, and it can be considered that the angle intervals are substantially uniform.

Each of the striking bars 41, 42 and 43
A hitting portion 51, a coil spring 52 whose one end is attached to one end of the hitting portion 51, and one end is attached to the other end of the coil spring 52, and are rotatably supported on the shaft 53 in the D and E directions in the middle. Arm 54 and the hitting portion 51
Of the egg 2 hits the uppermost portion of the egg 2.

The hit driving means 44 is provided with each hitting rod 41, 42.
A spring 55 as a return means provided to the arm 54, one end of which is attached to the arm 54 and the other end of which is fixed to the arm 54, the elastic force for rotating the arm 54 in the E direction. A stop bar 56 for preventing rotation of the arm 54 in a direction E or more; a cam 59 having a projection 57 engaged with the other end of the arm 54; And an electric motor (not shown) for rotating the cam 59 in the F direction based on a signal from the position signal generating means 13.

The beating driving means 44 rotates the cam 59 once in the direction F by the operation of the electric motor, and engages the projection 57 with the other end of the arm 54 during the rotation.
Is temporarily rotated in the D direction against the elastic force of the spring 55, and then the engagement of the projection 57 with the other end of the arm 54 causes the arm 54 to momentarily move in the E direction by the elastic force of the spring 55. In this rotation, only the arm 54 is brought into contact with the stopper 56 by the contact of the arm 54 with the stopper 56.
In the direction E, and the hitting portion 51 is further rotated in the direction E by the elastic bending of the coil spring 52.
The hitting portion 51 is instantaneously hit against the chicken egg 2, and after this hitting, the hitting portion 51 is returned to the original position by the elastic return force of the coil spring 52. Chicken egg 2 of hitting part 51
The coil spring 5 should be hit only once.
The second spring force, the length of the arm 54, and the like are set.

In the present embodiment, three portions 22, 23, and 24 of each chicken egg 2 at substantially equal angular intervals are connected to three striking rods 4.
Instead of hitting at 1, 42 and 43, four or more hitting rods are provided so as to hit at least four portions of each egg 2 at substantially equal angular intervals. Is also good. Further, two or more portions of each egg 2 may be hit with one or more hitting sticks. In this case, the feeding speed of the egg 2 along the feeding direction B of the egg 2 may be adjusted. Reciprocating with a faster moving speed than
You may hit a required part. Further, the above-mentioned hit driving means 44 is configured to include electric motors provided corresponding to the hitting rods 41, 42 and 43, but instead of this, an electric motor for running the endless chain 31 is used. May be provided with a gear mechanism for transmitting the rotation of the output shaft to each of the cams 59. In this case, the gears are operated so that the hitting rods 41, 42 and 43 are operated at the above-mentioned predetermined times. Set the gear ratio of the mechanism.

In the hitting means 25 of this embodiment, the chicken egg 2
Since the hitting portion 51 does not contact the egg 2 at all after this hit, there is no influence on the vibration of the egg 2 after hitting by the contact of the hitting portion 51 with the egg 2 and, therefore, information on cracks was obtained. Vibration noise can be reliably obtained, and an accurate degree of cracking can be preferably detected.

The position signal generating means 13 detects the passage of each roller 32 as the moving rollers 32 come into contact with each other one after another, and generates a roller passage detection signal. To detect the movement of the roller 32, in other words, the movement amount detecting means 62 for detecting the movement of the chicken egg 2 placed on the roller 32 in the A direction.
2 includes a pulse generator 63 that generates a pulse as a detection signal for each unit movement amount of the egg 2 in the B direction.

The position signal generating means 13 converts the detection signals of the limit switch 61 and the pulse generator 63 into hit driving means 44, receiving means 12, determining means 5, specifying means 6, collecting means 7, and weight detecting means 8. Respectively. The beating driving means 44, the receiving means 12, the determining means 5, the specifying means 6, the collecting means 7 and the weight detecting means 8 determine the rotational position and the transport position of each egg 2 based on the detection signal supplied from the position signal generating means 13. Are specified, and each of the necessary operations is performed in each.

The receiving means 12 is arranged along the transport direction B so as to receive the vibration sound 70 generated when a mechanical shock is applied to the chicken egg 2, and the hitting rods 41, 42 and 43
Is smaller than the number of microphones, in this example, two microphones 71 and 72, and a microphone that receives the vibration sound 70 at the nearest one of the microphones 71 and 72, and receives the selected microphone. Vibrating sound 7
The time required to obtain information for determining the degree of cracking from the vibration sound 70 based on the signal from the microphone selection means 73 that supplies 0 to the determination means 5 via the gate means 74 and the signal from the position signal generation means 13. Only the gate means 74 for transmitting the vibration sound 70 from the microphone selection means 73 to the determination means 5.

The microphone selecting means 73 determines, based on the position in the direction B where the microphones 71 and 72 are arranged and the detection signal from the position signal generating means 13, the vibrating sound 7 at the nearest position.
The microphone that receives 0 is specified, and the vibration sound 70 received by the microphone is supplied to the determination unit 5 via the gate unit 74. In this example, the microphone 71 responds to the vibration sound 70 resulting from being hit with the hitting rod 41.
The microphone 72 is selected for the vibration sound 70 generated as a result of being hit with the hitting rods 42 and 43, respectively.

The gate means 74 includes the position signal generating means 13
Based on the detection signal from
Are immediately opened by the start of each of the striking operations, and are closed after a lapse of a predetermined time. According to experiments, usually, the time T required for obtaining information for determining the degree of cracking from the vibration sound 70 is 5 ms. Therefore, in the present example, the gate means 74 includes
After the start of each of the striking operations 2 and 43, the vibration sound 70 received for a time of 5 ms is transmitted to the determining means 5.

Although the number of microphones for receiving the vibration sound 70 may be one, a plurality of microphones are provided as described above, and preferably, the microphones are provided close to each of the hitting portions by the hitting rods 41, 42, and 43, respectively. If the number of the striking rods 41, 42, and 43 is set to be equal to the number of the striking rods, and the plurality of microphones are selected to use the vibration sound 70 received closest, the signal-to-noise ratio of the vibration sound 70 deteriorates. Erroneous decision can be prevented. Further, as described above, if the vibration sound 70 received for a certain period of time by the gate means 74 is sent to the determination means 5, the noise before and after the vibration sound 70 can be deleted. Erroneous decision can be prevented.

Further, an amplifier which amplifies the vibration sound 70 and has a Schmitt trigger function is connected to the microphone selection means 7.
3 and the gate means 74, the input signal may be amplified only when a signal of a certain level or more is input. Noise can be eliminated, and thereby more accurate information can be obtained when determining the degree of cracking from the vibration sound 70.

The determining means 5 determines a ratio R = Lo / (Lo + Hi) (where, the Fourier transform means 81 performs a Fourier transform on the vibration sound 70 from the gate means 74 and the spectral intensity of the vibration sound 70 from the Fourier transform means 81). , Lo = integral value of spectral intensity of vibration sound 70 in a preset low frequency band, Hi = vibration sound 70 in a preset high frequency band
Calculating means 82 for calculating the integral value of the spectrum intensity of
A storage unit 83 for storing the result calculated by the calculation unit 82 for each chicken egg 2 based on the signal from the position signal generating unit 13, and a different part 22 of each chicken egg 2 read from the storage unit 83. The value based on the spectrum intensity of the frequency band in the vibration sound 70 for 23 and 24 is compared with an evaluation value set in advance for the spectrum intensity of this frequency band, and the degree of cracking of the chicken egg 2 is determined based on the comparison result. Evaluation value providing means 84 for providing an evaluation value.

The Fourier transform means 81 includes a gate means 74
Is converted into a spectrum intensity on the frequency axis ω. Fourier transform means 81 of this example
Is designed so that the vibration sound 70 from the gate means 74 is once converted into a digital signal by an analog / digital converter, and the vibration sound represented by the digital signal is Fourier-transformed.

The calculating means 82 calculates the spectral intensity corresponding to each vibration sound 70 from the Fourier transform
Calculate the ratio R = Lo / (Lo + Hi). Here, the low frequency band is the case of the egg 2 where the crack exists.
In the case of the chicken egg 2 in which the spectrum intensity of the vibration sound 70 is large and no crack is present, the vibration sound 70
In the high frequency band, the spectrum intensity of the vibration sound 70 becomes smaller in the case of the egg 2 having cracks, and the spectrum intensity of the vibration sound 70 becomes smaller in the case of the egg 2 having no cracks. Are selected from the frequency bands in which

According to the experiment and the statistical analysis of the experimental results, when a large crack is present in the chicken egg 2 in the vibration sound 70, as shown by a spectrum intensity curve 86, the spectrum intensity in the frequency band from 1 kHz to 2 kHz Becomes larger overall, and conversely, from 5 kHz to 1
In the frequency band of 0 kHz, the spectrum intensity becomes small as a whole, and when there is no crack in the chicken egg 2, as shown by the spectrum intensity curve 87, in the frequency band of 1 kHz to 2 kHz, the spectrum intensity becomes small as a whole. On the contrary, in the frequency band of 5 kHz to 10 kHz, the spectrum intensity becomes large as a whole,
Then, in proportion to the size of the crack, the spectrum intensity shifts from that shown by the spectrum intensity curve 87 to that shown by the spectrum intensity curve 86, while in the frequency bands of 1 kHz or less, 2 kHz to 5 kHz, and 10 kHz or more. It was found that the spectrum intensity varied in various ways, and it was difficult to obtain a clear correlation between the presence and the degree of the crack. In other words, the characteristics of the presence or absence of cracks and the degree of the
It has been found through experiments that remarkable occurrence occurs in the frequency band from 10 Hz to 10 kHz.

Therefore, in this example, the calculating means 82
Select the frequency bands of 1 kHz to 2 kHz and 5 kHz to 10 kHz, and set Lo as 1 kHz of the vibration sound 70.
From the integrated value of the spectrum intensity in the frequency band of 2 kHz,
The ratio R = Lo / (Lo + Hi) is calculated by calculating the integrated value of the spectrum intensity of the vibration sound 70 in the frequency band of 5 kHz to 10 kHz as Hi. The calculated ratio R is proportional to the degree of cracking of the chicken egg 2, and if there is a large crack, the ratio R increases.
If there are no cracks or cracks that are hardly visible, the ratio R
Becomes extremely small. In addition, the calculation means 82 calculates
The ratio R for each of the three vibration sounds 70 obtained from
1, R2 and R2 are calculated.

The storage unit 83 stores the ratio R, which is the calculation result from the calculation unit 82, and the weight range, which is the detection result from the weight detection unit 8, which will be described later, in the chicken egg 2 where the ratio R and the weight range are obtained. Remember in relation to 3 for each chicken egg 2
The ratios R 1, R 2 and R 3 and the weight range are read out by the evaluation value providing means 84 in relation to each egg 2.

The evaluation value assigning means 84 calculates a value based on the spectral intensity of the frequency band in the vibration sound of a plurality of parts of the egg, in this example, The three ratios R1, R2 and R3 for each egg 2 are compared and an evaluation value is given to each egg 2. In this example, the preset value is a value from 1 to 6, and the value 1 is such that at least one ratio R is 0.
Assuming that it is 30 or more, the value 2 does not satisfy the value 1, but
Assuming that at least one ratio R is greater than or equal to 0.20, value 3 does not satisfy values 1 and 2, but assuming that at least one ratio R is greater than or equal to 0.15, value 4 is less than values 1 to 3. Not satisfying, but assuming that at least one ratio R is 0.10 or more, value 5 does not satisfy values 1 to 4, but assuming that at least one ratio R is 0.05 or more, value 6
Are previously set as satisfying none of the values 1 to 5.

The evaluation value assigning means 84 gives the evaluation value 1 to the egg 2 satisfying the value 1, gives the evaluation value 2 to the egg 2 satisfying the value 2, and so on. , The evaluation values 3 to 6 are given to the chicken eggs 2.

As is evident from the above application method,
An evaluation value of 1 indicates that cracks are almost certainly present and the cracks are relatively large.
Indicates that there is no crack, and if it is present, it is extremely small and almost negligible, and the evaluation values 2 to 5 indicate that it is intermediate.

In this manner, the determining means 5 is configured to determine the degree of cracking of the chicken egg 2 based on the evaluation value 1 to 6 based on the ratio R.

In the above description, the evaluation values 1 to 6 are given based on only the magnitude of the ratio R. However, instead of this, the number of the ratios R showing a certain value or more and the degree of variation of the ratio R (variance Values) and the like may be given based on the evaluation values 1 to 6, and the evaluation values are not limited to six.
It is also possible to give less or more evaluation values.

The weight detecting means 8 comprises a weight scale 95 for detecting the weight of each egg 2 supplied to the transport means 21 and a weight scale 9
Weight range determining means 96 for determining whether the weight of the chicken egg 2 detected in step 5 belongs to a large (L), medium (M) or small (S) range which is a different weight range set in advance; The large (L), medium (M) or small (S) weight range of each chicken egg 2 determined by the weight range determining means 96 is stored in the storage means 83 described above. It is memorized in relation to the chicken 2 that has been given. The weight range of each chicken egg 2 is read out by the evaluation value providing means 84 in relation to each chicken egg 2.

The setting means 4 determines the degree usable in the crack corresponding to the evaluation values 1 to 6 given by the evaluation value giving means 84 as the number 1 in relation to the weight range.
To 6 can be manually set arbitrarily, such as a rotary switch. For example, the weight range is large (L),
When the eggs 2 having the evaluation values 2 to 6 are packaged in a predetermined number, for example, every 10 eggs to be used as a product, the weight range (L) and the numeral 2 are manually set, and the weight is set. When the range is medium (M) and the eggs 2 with evaluation values 5 and 6 are packaged together in a predetermined number to be used as a product, the weight range (M) and the numeral 5 are manually set. In other words, the numeral 1 indicates that chicken eggs 2 having an evaluation value of 1 or more should be packaged for use as a product, and the numeral 2 indicates that chicken eggs 2 having an evaluation value of 2 or more should be packed for use as a product. Numeral 6 indicates that the chicken egg 2 having only the evaluation value 6 is instructed to be packaged for use as a commercial product. In addition, instead of numbers, corresponding to the evaluation values 1 to 6, "best", "excellent", "excellent",
Characters such as “good”, “acceptable” and “impossible” may be used.
Further, the setting means 4 wraps the eggs 2 having a weight range of large (L) and a predetermined number of eggs 2 having evaluation values of 2 to 6 so that they can be used as products, and at the same time, the weight range is medium (M). Then, it may be possible to set so that the eggs 2 having the evaluation values 5 and 6 are packaged together in a predetermined number so as to be used as a product.

When the evaluation value provided by the evaluation value providing means 84 is other than six as described above,
If the weight range is other than three, the setting means 4 is configured to be able to arbitrarily manually set the degree available in the crack in relation to the weight range in accordance with the number.

The specifying means 6 compares the value of the degree of cracking set in relation to the weight range by the setting means 4 with the evaluation value given to each chicken egg 2 by the evaluation value providing means 84, and The chicken eggs 2 to be collected at the collection site are specified. For example, when the number set by the setting means 4 is “2” and the weight range is (L), the weight range of the egg 2 being conveyed by the conveyance means 21 is (L). Then, a chicken egg 2 having an evaluation value of 2 or more is specified.

The collecting means 7 collects only the eggs 2 specified by the specifying means 6 at a certain collecting place. The collecting means 7 includes a robot or the like that grasps each specified egg 2 being transported downstream of the transporting means 21 and places it on a packaging tray or a packaging pack or the like arranged at a gathering location in a fixed number. Since such a collecting means 7 is well known, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The specifying means 6
The egg 2 not specified by the above is collected at the lowermost stream of the transport means 21 and is appropriately disposed of.

In the egg sorting apparatus 1 configured as described above, the washed eggs 2 through a chicken egg supply device (not shown) are weighed by a weighing scale 95, and are successively transferred.
It is placed on a roller 32 upstream of 1. The transporting means 21 transports the eggs 2 on the rollers 32 in the direction B by running the endless chain 31. The egg 2 on the roller 32
While passing over the fixing plate 33, the roller 32 is rotated in the direction A by the roller 32 rotated in the direction C. Hitting means 25,
The egg 2 on the roller 32 rotated in the direction A is hit based on a signal from the position signal generating means 13. Here, the hitting stick 41 hits the portion 22 of the egg 2 which is successively conveyed, and the hitting stick 42 hits the portion 23 of the egg 2 which hits again.
Is also operated by the hit driving means 44 and hits the parts 24 without overlapping each other.

That is, the hit driving means 44 operates the electric motor corresponding to the hit rod 41 to move the cam 59 corresponding to the hit rod 41 in the F direction just before the portion 22 of the egg 2 is brought to the highest position. Rotate the protrusion 57 and the arm 54
, The arm 54 is once rotated in the direction D, the engagement of the projection 57 with the other end of the arm 54 is released, and the arm 54 is moved by the elastic force of the spring 55. In this rotation, only the arm 54 stops rotating in the direction E by the contact of the arm 54 with the stopper 55. Thereby, the hitting portion 51 corresponding to the hitting rod 41 is further rotated in the direction E by the bending of the coil spring 52, and is instantly hit against the portion 22 of the egg 2 just brought to the uppermost position. The above operation is similarly performed for the hitting bar 42 and the hitting bar 43.

The vibrating sounds 70 emitted from the eggs 2 and the like by being hit one after another by the hitting rods 41, 42 and 43 are received by the microphones 71 and 72, and the vibrating sounds from the selected microphones 71 or 72 are received. 70 is gated by the gate means 74, the vibration sound 70 of each egg 2 during the gated period is Fourier-transformed by the Fourier transformation means 81, and the calculation means 82 is the spectrum intensity of the Fourier-transformed vibration sound 70 At the ratio R = Lo /
Calculate (Lo + Hi). The calculating means 82 calculates each chicken egg 2
R1 and R2 for three vibration sounds 70 obtained from
And R2, and the storage unit 83 obtains the ratio R, which is the calculation result from the calculation unit 82, and the weight range, which is the determination result from the weight range determination unit 96, and obtains the ratio R and the weight range. Evaluating means 8 for storing in relation to chicken eggs 2
4 is the above ratio R with respect to the spectral intensity of the frequency band.
Are compared with three ratios R1, R2, and R3 for each chicken egg 2 from the storage means 83, and evaluation values 1 to 6 are given to each chicken egg 2.

After the last hit by the hitting rod 43, the evaluation values 1 to 6 are given to each of the eggs 2 which are further conveyed further downstream by the conveying means 21. Identifying means 6
A chicken egg 2 having a value greater than or equal to a value usable in the crack set by the setting means 4;
Sort and identify chicken eggs 2 in the weight range set in
The collecting means 7 transfers only the eggs 2 specified by the specifying means 6 from the transport means 21 to a packaging tray or a packing pack or the like by a transfer robot or the like.

In the above-described egg sorting apparatus 1, various available cracked eggs can be easily and automatically sorted and collected for each package, and thus the shipping destination, ie, the destination of use, can be used. Can be easily obtained in a package in which a predetermined number of chicken eggs 2 meeting the above requirements are packaged.

In addition, the crack degree detecting device 3 determines the ratio R = Lo /
Since the crack of the chicken egg 2 is detected based on (Lo + Hi), the detection can be performed accurately, and the degree of crack of the chicken egg 2 is determined based on a plurality of ratios R = Lo / (Lo + Hi). Therefore, it is extremely reliable.

In the above example, the portions 22, 23 and 24 of the egg 2 are hit with the hitting rods 41, 42 and 43 arranged in a line along the direction B, but a more accurate degree of cracking is obtained. For this purpose, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the striking rods 91 and 92 are arranged in two rows along the direction B, and two hits in the longitudinal direction of the egg 2 are struck in the same manner as described above. The degree of cracking may be detected and specified from the vibration sound 70 so as to obtain the sound 70. Therefore, the striking rods may be arranged in three or more rows along the direction B.

It goes without saying that the deciding means 5, the specifying means 6, etc. can be implemented using a so-called microcomputer.

[0069]

As described above, according to the present invention, the degree of cracking of an egg can be detected accurately and with extremely high reliability. And it can be detected with extremely high reliability, and there is no risk of causing new cracks in the egg itself or crushing the egg itself, and packaging eggs that are equal to or more than the specified crack degree. Egg sorting apparatus capable of sorting and assembling for the same.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory side view of an impact applying means and the like according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory perspective view of the impact applying means shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a hitting point in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a hitting means according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a vibration sound in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a Fourier transform of a vibration sound in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory side view of another example of the hitting means in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory front view of an example of the hitting means shown in FIG. 9;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Egg sorting apparatus 2 Chicken egg 3 Crack degree detector 4 Setting means 5 Determination means 6 Identifying means 7 Collecting means 8 Impact means 9 Receiving means

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An impact applying means for applying an impulse mechanical impact to an egg, a receiving means for receiving a vibration sound when a mechanical impact is applied by the impact applying means, and a vibration sound from the receiving means Determining means for determining the degree of cracking of the egg based on the spectrum intensity of the frequency band set in advance, wherein the shock applying means instantaneously strikes the egg and applies an impulse mechanical shock to the egg. An egg cracking degree detecting device provided with a hitting means for giving a crack. 2. The impact applying means further comprises a transport means for transporting the egg while rotating the egg, and the hitting means comprises a plurality of eggs having different rotations around the rotation direction of the egg transported while being rotated by the transport means. And instantaneously hitting the portion of the egg to apply an impulse mechanical impact to the egg, and the determining means includes a value based on a spectral intensity of a frequency band in a vibration sound for a plurality of different portions of the egg. The evaluation method according to claim 1, further comprising: comparing an evaluation value set in advance with respect to the spectrum intensity of the frequency band to an evaluation value, and providing an evaluation value for the degree of cracking of the egg based on the comparison result. Egg crack degree detector. 3. The hitting means includes a plurality of hitting sticks and a hitting drive means for causing each of the hitting sticks to perform a hitting operation, wherein the plurality of hitting sticks hit different portions of the egg. 3. The device for detecting the degree of cracking of an egg according to claim 2, wherein the device is arranged along the transport direction so as to be able to perform. 4. The receiving means receives a vibration sound.
The number of microphones that are arranged along the transport direction and are equal to or less than the number of striking rods, and the microphone that receives the vibrating sound in the closest vicinity are selected, and the vibration received by the selected microphone is selected. 4. The device for detecting the degree of cracking of an egg according to claim 3, further comprising a microphone selection unit that supplies a sound to the determination unit. 5. The receiving means comprises a gate means for sending the vibration sound to the determination means for a time required for obtaining information for determining the degree of cracking from the vibration sound. The egg cracking degree detection device according to any one of the above. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining means determines the degree of cracking of the egg based on spectral intensities of at least two predetermined frequency bands in the vibration sound from the receiving means. The device for detecting the degree of cracking of an egg according to any one of claims 5 to 10. 7. The determining means is configured to determine a ratio R = Lo / (Lo + H
i) means for calculating (Lo = integrated value of spectrum intensity of vibration sound in a preset low frequency band, Hi = integral value of spectrum intensity of vibration sound in a preset high frequency band) It is configured to determine the degree of cracking of the egg based on this ratio R,
In the case of an egg with a crack, the spectral intensity of the vibration sound increases, and in the case of an egg without a crack, the spectral intensity of the vibration sound decreases.In the case of an egg with a high frequency band, In the case of an egg in which the spectrum intensity of the vibration sound is small and the crack does not exist, the frequency band is selected from the frequency bands in which the spectrum intensity of the vibration sound is large, and the low frequency band is at least 1 kHz to 2 kHz.
And the high frequency band is at least 5 kHz.
The device for detecting the degree of cracking of an egg according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a frequency range from z to 10 kHz. 8. An apparatus for detecting the degree of cracking of an egg according to any one of claims 1 to 7, setting means capable of arbitrarily setting a degree usable in the crack, and a crack set by the setting means. Means for comparing eggs and the determination result from the determination means to specify eggs to be collected at a given collection site, and a set for collecting the eggs specified by the specification means at a given collection site Means for sorting eggs. 9. An impact applying means for applying an impulse mechanical impact to an egg, and a receiving means for receiving a vibration sound when a mechanical impact is applied by the impact applying means. An egg cracking degree detecting device that detects the degree of cracking of the egg based on the vibration sound from, wherein the shock applying means is a conveying means for conveying the egg while rotating the egg, and is conveyed while being rotated by the conveying means. And a hitting means for instantly hitting a plurality of different portions around the rotation direction of the egg to apply an impulse mechanical impact to the egg, wherein the hitting means hits each different portion of the egg. So that the tapping rods perform a tapping operation so that the plurality of tapping rods arranged in the transport direction and the vibration sound generated by the hitting of the eggs by the respective tapping rods do not overlap with each other. A device for detecting the degree of cracking of an egg, comprising a moving means. 10. The receiving means is arranged along the transport direction so as to receive a vibration sound, and receives the same or less number of microphones as the number of striking rods, and receives the vibration sound in the nearest vicinity. Microphone selection means for selecting a microphone, wherein the device for detecting the degree of cracking of the egg is configured to detect the degree of cracking of the egg based on the vibration sound received by the selected microphone. Item 10. An apparatus for detecting the degree of cracking of an egg according to Item 9. 11. The striking rods are arranged along the transport direction such that, when different portions of the egg are arranged at substantially the same rotational angle position on the transport means, the corresponding portions of the egg are hit. 11. The device for detecting the degree of cracking of an egg according to claim 9 or 10. 12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein each of the hitting rods is arranged along the transport direction so as to hit a plurality of portions having substantially equal angular intervals around the circumference of the egg in the rotation direction. Item 2. The egg cracking degree detecting device according to the item 1. 13. The receiving means according to claim 9, wherein said receiving means comprises a gate means for transmitting the received vibration sound for a time required for obtaining information for detecting the degree of cracking of the egg from the vibration sound. An apparatus for detecting the degree of cracking of an egg according to any one of the preceding claims. 14. An apparatus for detecting the degree of cracking of an egg according to any one of claims 9 to 13, setting means capable of arbitrarily setting a usable degree in the crack, and a crack set by the setting means. Means for comparing eggs and the determination result from the determination means to specify eggs to be collected at a given collection site, and a set for collecting the eggs specified by the specification means at a given collection site Means for sorting eggs.