JPH1057903A - Image pickup device for fruit vegetables - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to more exactly decide the grades and classes of fruit vegetables by providing the device with turning means which pick up the images of the fruit vegetables with cameras for image pickup, output image data and turn the fruit vegetables. SOLUTION: A fruit vegetable selector transfers many pieces of mandarin oranges A... placed on a receiving conveyor 2 on respective aligning conveyors 3... and places the fruit vegetables on respective selecting conveyors 4.... The images of the these mandarin oranges A are successively picked up by grade and class deciding devices 6 having cameras 34 for image pickup consisting of CCD cameras, etc., in the image pickup positions set on the respective selecting conveyors 4. The mandarin oranges A placed on the selecting conveyors 4 are turned upside down by respective upside down turning machines 7... and are again subjected to the image pickup. The grades and classes of the mandarin oranges A are decided in accordance with the image data of both front and rear surfaces thereof. The upside down turning machines 7 rotate inversion belts 44 in the direction opposite to the feed direction, thereby turning the mandarin oranges A placed between respective placing rollers 25... upside down 180 deg..

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for sorting fruits and vegetables such as oranges, apples, pears, persimmons, peaches, or cucumbers, aubergines, carrots, and yams, by imaging the fruits and vegetables. The present invention relates to a fruit and vegetable imaging device that outputs image data used for sorting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a general method of sorting oranges according to the same rank as in the above-mentioned example, for example, a large number of oranges brought in from a producer are placed on each bucket of a sorting conveyor one by one. Placed, and sequentially take each orange placed on each bucket with the imaging camera, evaluate and determine the rank of each orange based on the image data captured by the imaging camera, based on the determination There is a method of sorting the oranges placed on each bucket according to their rank.

[0003]

However, as described above, when each orange placed on each bucket is imaged from above by an imaging camera, for example, discoloration, decay, damage, and the like are not observed on the back side of the orange. However, the rear side of the orange cannot be imaged by the imaging camera, and its rank cannot be determined accurately.

[0004] When the rear side of each orange placed on each bucket is imaged from below by an imaging camera, for example, an imaging camera is arranged at a lower position between conveyors arranged at the front and rear. Therefore, a method of imaging the lower surface side of each orange with an imaging camera from the gap between the conveyors is considered, however, the bucket hinders imaging, and the lower surface side of each orange cannot be accurately imaged, There is a problem that it is difficult to determine the equivalent class accurately.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fruit and vegetable imaging device capable of outputting an image signal for more accurately determining the grade of fruit and vegetable.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A fruit vegetable imaging device for capturing fruit products with an imaging camera and outputting image data, wherein the fruit vegetable imaging device is provided with a reversing means for reversing the fruit vegetables.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the imaging camera includes a first camera that captures an image before inverting the fruit and vegetables, and a second camera that captures an image after the inversion. Characterized in that it is a fruit vegetable imaging device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first or second aspect, the reversing means includes a plurality of rotators for placing a fruit product and applying a rotating force to the fruit product. It is characterized in that it is an imaging device for fruit vegetables which is constituted by the following.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the third aspect, the rotating body is formed in a drum shape in which the outer peripheral surface becomes larger in diameter from the outer peripheral surface at the center to the outer peripheral surface at both ends. It is a fruit vegetable imaging device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the third aspect, the rotating body has a cylindrical shape in which the outer peripheral surface has the same outer diameter from the outer peripheral surface at one end to the outer peripheral surface at the other end. It is characterized in that it is a fruit and vegetable imaging device formed in the above.

[0011]

According to the present invention, since the fruits and vegetables are inverted and imaged by the inverting means, the whole image of the fruits and vegetables can be imaged without a blind spot in the imaging range, and the image data on both sides of the fruits and vegetables can be taken. Can be output.

[0012] Therefore, when comprehensively determining the grade of fruit and vegetable based on the image data on both front and rear sides, even if a deteriorated portion such as discoloration, decay, damage or the like is present on the rear side of the fruit or vegetable, it is determined. Image data effective for quality inspection of the whole fruit and vegetables can be output.

[0013] Further, if the reversing means is constituted by a plurality of rotating bodies for placing a fruit and vegetables and applying a rotating force to the fruit and vegetables, it is possible to easily impart rotation to the fruit and vegetables.
When this rotating body is formed into a drum shape in which the outer peripheral surface has a large diameter from the central outer peripheral surface to both end outer peripheral surfaces, the large and small fruit vegetables placed between the rotating bodies are turned upside down at the same position. The rotating body is formed in a cylindrical shape in which the outer peripheral surface has the same outer diameter from the outer peripheral surface on one end side to the outer peripheral surface on the other end side. In this case, for example, fruits and vegetables such as cucumbers, eggplants and carrots can be placed in a horizontal state, and the placement position and the posture of the fruits and vegetables can be stably turned over.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The drawing shows a fruit and vegetable sorting apparatus according to a first embodiment which is used for sorting a large number of oranges according to an equal rank as an example of fruit and vegetable, and FIGS. 1 and 2 show the fruit and vegetable sorting apparatus. The sorting device 1 transfers a large number of the oranges A placed on the conveyer 2 for loading to the conveyors 3 for sorting, respectively, and transfers the oranges A placed on the conveyors 3 for sorting. Each of the sorting conveyors 4 is transferred. At the imaging position set on each of the sorting conveyors 4..., Each of the oranges A... Placed on each of the sorting conveyors 4. The oranges A placed on each of the sorting conveyors 4 are turned upside down by the front and back reversing machines 7 arranged at the lower part of the same position, and the oranges A ...
Is determined. At each of the sorting positions a, b, c, d, e, and f set on each of the sorting conveyors 4...
Each orange A ... is discharged to each sorting conveyor 8 ... in each class by equal rank, and is boxed for artificial work or mechanical work, and is arranged at the sending end of each sorting conveyor 4 ... Non-standard oranges A... Are sequentially supplied to the outer collection unit 9.

The above-mentioned alignment conveyor 3 is sprockets 10 and 10 which are pivotally supported in the vicinity of the feed-side end of the load-receiving conveyor 2 and which are pivotally supported in the vicinity of the feed-side start of the sorting conveyor 4. Each circling chain 12, 12 is stretched between each sprocket 11, 11, and each circulating chain 1
A plurality of alignment rollers 13... Are arranged at predetermined regular intervals in the feed direction between opposed surfaces of the alignment rollers 2 and 12, and a sprocket 11 pivotally supported on a feed end of the alignment conveyor 3;
A sprocket 18, which is pivotally supported at a feed-side start end of the sorting conveyor 4 described later, is connected to each other via respective sprockets 15, 16 and an interlocking chain 17 so as to be able to transmit power. That is, the sorting conveyor 4 is rotated in the feed direction in conjunction with the sorting conveyor 4 described later, and the oranges A placed between the sorting rollers 13 of the sorting conveyor 8 are separated from the sorting conveyor 4 described later. Are sequentially transferred between the mounting rollers 25.

The above-mentioned sorting conveyor 4 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 4, a circling chain 20 is stretched between a sprocket 18 pivotally supported at the start end on the feed side and a sprocket 19 pivotally supported at the end portion on the feed side.
0, for example, synthetic resin, metal, wood,
A solid drum-shaped mounting roller 25 made of an appropriate material such as ceramics is vertically oscillatably connected in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction, and a large number of each mounting roller 25 is attached to the longitudinal side peripheral edge of the circling chain 20. Are arranged at predetermined intervals in the feed direction in a keyboard shape.
Are formed in a drum shape having a large diameter from the outer peripheral surface at the center to the outer peripheral surfaces at both ends. In other words, by the driving force of the circling motor 21 with a speed reducer arranged at the lower part on the starting end side,
Through the sprockets 22 and 23 and the drive chain 24, a large number of the mounting rollers 25 connected on the circling chain 20 are circulated in the feed direction, and the sprockets 15 and 16 and the interlocking chain 17 are moved. , A number of the respective aligning rollers 13 constituting the aligning conveyor 3.
Is rotated in the feeding direction, and the oranges A placed between the alignment rollers 13 of the alignment conveyor 3 are sequentially transferred between the mounting rollers 25 of the sorting conveyor 4.

Each of the mounting rollers 25 is provided with a plurality of mounting members 26 on the longitudinal side peripheral edge of the circling chain 20.
Are fixed at predetermined intervals in the feed direction, and each of the support members 27 is pivotally supported on the front end of the upper surface side of each of the mounting members 26 so as to be vertically rotatable in a direction perpendicular to the feed direction. The base shafts of the support shafts 28 are inserted and fixed in the direction perpendicular to the feed direction at the upper end on the front side of the shaft support members 27.
The free-end-side shaft portions of the support shafts 28 are inserted through respective insertion holes 25a formed in the axial direction of the central portions of the mounting rollers 25 so as to be freely rotatable.

At the rear end of the upper surface side of each mounting member 26, each locking lever 29 is pivotally supported so as to be vertically rotatable in a direction perpendicular to the feed direction. Each locking projection 27a formed at the lower end of the side, and each locking lever 2
9 are locked with each other with the locking claws 29a formed at the distal end portions thereof, and the mounting rollers 25 are rotationally fixed in a horizontal posture in which the orange A is mounted. The locking projections 27a of the shaft support members 27 and the locking claws 29a of the locking levers 29 are unlocked, and each of the mounting members is placed in a release position in which the orange A is allowed to fall. The rollers 25 are rotated. In addition, each shaft support member 2
7 are rotated by the respective coil springs 30 in the direction in which they are locked against the respective locking projections 27a, and each mounting lever 29 is placed in a direction in which the orange A is allowed to fall. The rollers 25 are urged to rotate by their own weight and the coil springs 31.

As shown in FIG. 2, the above-described class class judging device 6 surrounds the entire imaging position set on the sorting conveyor 4 with a light-shielding box 33,
Facing the conveying surface of the sorting conveyor 4 moved into the
For example, an imaging camera 34 composed of a CCD camera or the like
And a plurality of illumination lamps 36 composed of, for example, halogen lamps or the like, opposed to the conveying surface of the sorting conveyor 4 moved to the imaging range of the imaging camera 34.
Are arranged at predetermined intervals, and an imaging camera 34 is connected to a determination device main body 37 for determining the rank of oranges A and a monitor 38 for displaying an image of oranges A,
Each electromagnetic solenoid 40 disposed at each of the sorting positions a to f ...
Is connected to the determination device main body 37.

At the lower part of the imaging position set on the sorting conveyor 4, address readers 39 for reading the addresses of the mounting rollers 25 are arranged in correspondence with the imaging by the imaging camera 34. In response to the address reading by the address readers 39, the front and back surfaces of the oranges A placed between the mounting rollers 25 are imaged by the imaging camera 34, and the front and back surfaces are imaged by the imaging camera 34. Is determined based on the image data, and the determination data and the address data are stored in the determination device main body 37 in association with each other.

In other words, the surface side of each of the oranges A placed between the mounting rollers 25 of the sorting conveyor 4 is imaged by the imaging camera 34, and each of the mountings on which the oranges A are mounted is taken. The rollers 25 are rotated in one direction by a front / back reversing machine 7 to be described later, and the oranges A placed between the mounting rollers 25 are arranged.
Is imaged on the back side of each of the oranges A placed between the mounting rollers 25 by the imaging camera 34, and the image data of the front and back surfaces output from the imaging camera 34 is determined. By comparing the rank data with the rank data stored in the apparatus main body 37, each orange A...
(E.g., excellent, good, etc. and 2L, L, M, S, etc.), and based on the judgment, each mounting roller 25
Are sorted for each rank. For example, a time lag is counted until each of the placing rollers 25 moves to each of the sorting positions a to f set for each class such as 2L, L, M, and S, and each sorting corresponding to the judgment by the class judging device 6. When the placement rollers 25 move to the positions a to f, the electromagnetic solenoid 40 at the position corresponding to the determination is actuated, and the placement rollers 2 on which the orange A is placed are actuated.
5 are rotated to the release posture.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, each of the electromagnetic solenoids 40 is disposed at each of the sorting positions a to f set on the sorting conveyor 4, and is sorted at the lower end of each of the electromagnetic solenoids 40. The release members 41 are connected to the rear ends of the locking levers 29 that constitute the conveyor 4 for connection. The respective electromagnetic solenoids 40 are independently operated based on the determination by the above-described class determination device 6, and the release positions where the rear ends of the respective locking levers 29... 29. Each of the release members 41 is moved up and down to a standby position which is appropriately spaced apart from the rear end of the release members 41. At each of the sorting positions a to f, the rear ends of the locking levers 29 constituting the sorting conveyor 4 are continuously pressed down by the release members 41 and the respective locking of the shaft support members 27 are performed. Protrusion 27
By unlocking the locking pawls 29a of the locking levers 29, the mounting rollers 25 on which the oranges A are mounted are rotated to the release positions.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the above-mentioned front / back reversing machine 7 pivotally supports pulleys 42 and 43 below the image pickup position set on the sorting conveyor 4 at appropriate intervals in the longitudinal direction. A reversing belt 44 formed of a member having a large contact resistance, such as synthetic rubber, is stretched between the pulleys 42 and 43, and the placing rollers 25 constituting the sorting conveyor 4 are arranged.
Belt 4 at the height position where it is pressed against the lower peripheral surface of the
4 is stretched in parallel with the feeding direction. In other words, the reversing belt 44 is rotated in the direction opposite to the feeding direction by the driving force of the reversing motor 45 with a speed reducer disposed on the lower end side via the pulleys 46 and 47 and the driving belt 48, or The reversing belt 44 is quickly rotated in a direction coinciding with the feeding direction, and the respective placement rollers 25 of the sorting conveyor 4 are rotated.
Are pressed against the reversing belt 44 and rotated in one direction, so that the oranges A placed between the placing rollers 25.
It can be turned upside down by 0 degrees.

The illustrated embodiment is constructed as described above, and a plurality of oranges A
The operation when sorting... According to the same class will be described. First, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the placing rollers 25 constituting the sorting conveyor 4 is moved back to the starting end on the feed side, and each of the shaft supporting members 27 supported on the circling chain 20. , And the locking claws 29a of the locking levers 29 are locked with each other, and the mounting rollers 2
5 are rotated in the feed direction while rotating and returning to the horizontal posture. At the same time, a large number of the oranges A brought in from the producer are placed on the conveyer 2 and the oranges A conveyed by the conveyer 2 are arranged between the alignment rollers 13 of the alignment conveyors 3. , And the oranges A placed between the alignment rollers 13 of the alignment conveyors 3 are placed on the respective mounting rollers 25 of the sorting conveyors 4.
, And the oranges A are conveyed in a line on the central peripheral surface between the placing rollers 25.

Next, at the imaging position set on each of the sorting conveyors 4..., Each of the placement rollers 2.
5 is imaged by the imaging camera 34 on the front side of each of the oranges A placed between them, and the image data of the front side imaged by the imaging camera 34 and the address data of each of the mounting rollers 25. Correspondingly, it is stored in the judgment device main body 37 of the class judgment device 6. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 5, the placing rollers 25 on which the oranges A are placed are pressed against the reversing belt 44 of the front / back reversing machine 7, and the moving speed of the placing rollers 25 is reversed. The belt 44 is rapidly rotated in the feed direction, and the placing rollers 25, which are pressed against the reversing belt 44, are rotated in the direction of the arrow, and the oranges A placed between the placing rollers 25 are moved in the direction of the arrow. And then flip it 180 degrees.

When the size of each of the oranges A placed between the mounting rollers 25 is different, as shown in FIG. 3, a large orange is attached to the large diameter side peripheral surface of each of the mounting rollers 25. A, and a small orange A is placed on the small diameter side peripheral surface of each of the placement rollers 25.
By rotating each mounting roller 25 in the direction of the arrow, the large and small oranges A placed between the mounting rollers 25 are the same in accordance with the rotation amount of each mounting roller 25. Flip over at the position.

Next, immediately after the reversal, each of the placing rollers 2
5 is imaged by the imaging camera 34 on the back side of each of the oranges A placed between them, and the image data on the back side taken by the imaging camera 34 and the address data of each mounting roller 25. The corresponding information is stored in the determination device main body 37. By comparing the image data of the front and back surfaces imaged by the imaging camera 34 with the class data stored in the determination device main body 37, the class of the oranges A placed between the placing rollers 25. Is comprehensively determined. Even if there is a discolored portion or a decayed portion on the back side of the oranges A placed between the mounting rollers 25..., The equivalent class can be accurately determined from the image data of the entire oranges A. .

Next, the time lag until each of the placing rollers 25 moves to each of the sorting positions a to f corresponding to the judgment by the judging device main body 37 is counted, and for example, judgment data of "M" size is held. When each of the placing rollers 25 moves to the sorting position a of the M size, the electromagnetic solenoid 40 at the position corresponding to the determination is actuated to configure the sorting conveyor 4 as shown in FIGS. Each locking lever 29 ...
Is continuously pressed down by the release member 41 to release the locking of the locking projections 27a of the shaft support members 27 and the locking claws 29a of the locking levers 29, and Each of the mounting rollers 25 on which A is mounted is rotated to the release position,
The oranges A placed between the placing rollers 25 are discharged to the sorting conveyor 8 immediately below the sorting position a.

Similarly, on the basis of the judgment by the class judging device 6, the oranges A ... conveyed by the respective sorting conveyors 4 are sorted by the class and the sorting positions a to.
f are sequentially transferred to the sorting conveyors 8 arranged in the f, and the oranges A ... conveyed by the sorting conveyors 8 are boxed by artificial or mechanical work. Non-standard oranges A... That do not correspond to the same class are supplied to the non-standard recovery unit 9.

As described above, the large and small oranges A placed between the placing rollers 25 of the sorting conveyor 4 are turned upside down and imaged by the imaging camera 34, and imaged by the imaging camera 34. Since the ranks of the oranges A are comprehensively determined based on the image data of the front and back surfaces, there is no blind spot in the imaging range, and the entire image of the oranges A placed between the mounting rollers 25. Can be imaged. Even if there is a deteriorated portion such as discoloration, decay, damage or the like on the back side of the orange A placed between the placing rollers 25..., The quality inspection can be performed reliably. Moreover, the rank can be accurately determined from the image data of the whole of the oranges A, and the work of sorting the large and small oranges A... Having different sizes according to the rank can be reliably performed, and the sorting process with high accuracy can be performed. . In addition, the placement position and the placement interval of each of the oranges A are not regulated as in the conventional example, and a large number of the oranges A can be aligned and transported in a state of being close to each other. Work can be performed continuously.

FIG. 7 is a front and back view of the second embodiment in which the placing rollers 25 constituting the sorting conveyor 4 are rotated by pressing against a reversing pad 49 formed of a member having a large contact resistance such as synthetic rubber. Shows the reversing machine 7 and horizontally moves in the feed direction while pressing the placing rollers 25 of the sorting conveyor 4 against the upper surface side of the reversing pad 49 to thereby place the placing rollers 25 on which the oranges A are placed. Are rotated in one direction, and the oranges A placed between the mounting rollers 25 are turned upside down, so that both the front and back surfaces of each orange A in the same manner as in the first embodiment.
An image can be picked up by the image pickup cameras 34, and the work of sorting the oranges A by rank can be reliably performed.

FIG. 8 shows the fruit and vegetable sorting apparatus 1 of the third embodiment in which the oranges A placed on the sorting conveyor 4 are imaged by the two imaging cameras 34 and 35, respectively. Of each of the placing rollers 25... Of each of the oranges A placed between
When the front and back are reversed by the front and back reversing machine 7 of the first or second embodiment, the front side of the oranges A placed between the mounting rollers 25 is imaged by the imaging camera 34, and the oranges are taken out. A
Are imaged by the imaging camera 35 and the equivalent class of each orange A ... is determined by the equivalent class determination device 6 based on the image data of the front and back surfaces captured by the imaging cameras 34 and 35. Similarly to the first embodiment, the rank of each orange A ... placed on the sorting conveyor 4 can be accurately determined, and the front and back surfaces of each orange A ...
Since images are separately captured at 35, processing of image data can be easily performed.

FIG. 9 shows a fruit and vegetable sorting apparatus 1 according to a fourth embodiment in which each of the oranges A placed on each of the sorting conveyors 4 is imaged by two imaging cameras 34, 34. When the oranges A placed between the loading rollers 25 of the conveyors 4 are turned upside down by the upside down machines 7 of the first or second embodiment, the sorting conveyors in three rows on the left and right sides. 4
Are imaged by the two imaging cameras 34, 34, respectively, on the front and back sides of the oranges A placed on the imaging camera 3, and each of the imaging cameras 3
Since the ranks of the oranges A are determined by the rank determination device 6 based on the image data of the front and back surfaces picked up at 4, 34, they are placed on the sorting conveyors 4 as in the first embodiment. In addition to being able to accurately determine the class of each of the oranges A, the number of the imaging cameras 34 to be installed is reduced, the configuration and structure of the entire apparatus are simplified, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. In addition, each of the sorting conveyors 4 in the left and right three rows
May be imaged by the imaging cameras 34, 34 on the front side of the oranges A placed on the..., And may be imaged by the imaging cameras 35, 35 on the back side of the oranges A.

FIG. 10 shows the sorting conveyor 4 of the fifth embodiment in which a large number of loading rollers 25... Are alternately connected to the respective circling chains 20, 20 stretched left and right. The oranges A placed between the mounting rollers 25 are turned upside down by the front and back reversing machine 7 of the first or second embodiment, and imaged by the imaging camera 34.
Each orange A based on the image data of both front and back
Are determined by the class determination device 6. The electromagnetic solenoids 40 arranged at the sorting positions a to f are independently operated based on the judgment by the equal class judging device 6, and the oranges A placed between the placing rollers 25 are sorted for each sort. Since they are discharged to the conveyors 8, the oranges A placed between the loading rollers 25 of the sorting conveyor 4 can be sorted according to the same rank as in the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 shows the mounting rollers 2 arranged in a keyboard shape.
6 shows a sorting conveyor 4 according to a sixth embodiment for restricting the rotation of 5 to a slanting downward discharging posture, and shows a fixing member 51 fixed between two orbiting chains 20, 20 stretched in parallel with each other. A support shaft 53 is inserted and fixed to the front upper end portion of a shaft support member 52 supported on the front end side of the mounting member 51, and the solid drum-shaped mounting roller 25 is freely mounted on the free end side shaft portion of the support shaft 53. The bearing is rotatable. The mounting member 52 is mounted in a direction in which the locking projection 52a of the shaft supporting member 52 supported by the mounting member 51 and the locking claw 54a of the locking lever 54 supported by the rear end of the mounting member 51 are locked. The elasticity of the coil spring 55 stretched between the member 51 and the locking lever 54 urges the traction force, and the front end side of the mounting member 51 faces the lower peripheral surface of the mounting roller 25 described above, and a posture regulating plate. 56 is fixed in a state of being inclined at an appropriate angle.

That is, the oranges A placed between the mounting rollers 25 are turned upside down by the front / back reversing machine 7 of the first or second embodiment, and imaged by the imaging camera 34. Based on the image data of the front and back surfaces imaged at 34, the equivalent class of each orange A... Is determined by the equivalent class determination device 6. The electromagnetic solenoids 40 arranged at the respective sorting positions a to f are operated based on the judgment by the equal class judging device 6, and the locking levers 54... Constituting the sorting conveyor 4 are continuously depressed by the release member 41, Each locking projection 52a of each shaft support member 52 and each locking claw 54a of each locking lever 54 ...
Are unlocked, and each of the placing rollers 25 on which the orange A is placed is rotated to the release position. In addition, the mounting rollers 25 are brought into contact with the attitude regulating plates 56 fixed to the mounting members 51 to restrict the rotation of the mounting rollers 25 to the discharge attitude in which the mounting rollers 25 are turned obliquely downward. In the same manner as in the first embodiment, it is possible to reliably perform the operation of sorting the oranges A by equal rank, and to release the oranges A placed between the mounting rollers 25. Occasional impacts and heads are reduced, thereby preventing the commercial value of oranges A from being impaired.

FIG. 12 shows the sorting conveyor 4 of the seventh embodiment in which the placing rollers 57... Formed in a solid cylindrical shape are arranged in a keyboard shape, and is made of the same material as the placing roller 25 of the first embodiment. The mounting roller 57 is formed, and the outer peripheral surface of the mounting roller 57 is formed in a cylindrical shape having the same outer diameter from the outer peripheral surface at one end to the outer peripheral surface at the other end. By inserting the support shaft 28 into the insertion hole 57a formed in the axial direction and bearing it so as to be freely rotatable, for example, fruits and vegetables such as cucumbers, eggplants and carrots can be placed in a horizontal state,
Since the placement position and placement posture of the fruit and vegetables are stable, the front and back can be surely inverted. By arranging guide walls (not shown) in the feed direction along both side edges of the sorting conveyor 4, for example, fruit products such as oranges, apples, pears, and persimmons can be prevented from falling left and right. . It can also be applied to the operation of turning over other fruits and vegetables.

FIG. 13 shows the sorting conveyor 4 of the eighth embodiment in which the placing rollers 58... Formed in the shape of a hollow drum are arranged in a keyboard shape, and is loaded with the same material as the placing roller 25 of the first embodiment. The placement roller 58 is formed, and the outer peripheral surface of the placement roller 58 is formed into a drum shape having a large diameter from the central peripheral surface to the outer peripheral surface of both ends. By inserting the support shaft 28 through the insertion holes 58a and 58a and bearing it so as to be freely rotatable, the sorting conveyor 4 composed of the mounting rollers 25 formed in a solid drum shape in the first embodiment can be provided. The total weight is reduced, and the entire sorting conveyor 4 can be reduced in weight. In addition, a small driving force is required to rotationally drive the sorting conveyor 4, and the driving means including the circling motor 21, the sprockets 22, 23, the drive chain 24, and the like can be reduced in size.

FIG. 14 shows the sorting conveyor 4 of the ninth embodiment in which the placing rollers 59... Formed in a hollow cylindrical shape are arranged in the form of a keyboard, and is loaded with the same material as the placing rollers 25 of the first embodiment. The placement roller 59 is formed, and the outer peripheral surface of the placement roller 59 is formed in a cylindrical shape having the same outer diameter dimension from the outer peripheral surface on one end side to the outer peripheral surface on the other end side. By inserting the support shaft 28 into each of the formed insertion holes 59a and 59a and bearing it freely rotatably, the weight of the entire sorting conveyor 4 and the miniaturization of the driving means can be reduced as in the above-described eighth embodiment. I can do it.

FIG. 15 shows each of the mounting rollers 25 of the first embodiment.
Shows the sorting conveyor 4 of the tenth embodiment in which the covering member 60 is covered with an elastic covering member 60 such as a synthetic rubber, and the entire outer peripheral surface of each of the mounting rollers 25. The impact generated at the time of mounting is absorbed and mitigated by the elasticity of the covering member 60, thereby preventing the commercial value from being impaired. And the covering member 6 covering the placing roller 25.
Displacement of the placement position and the placement posture of the orange A can be prevented by the contact resistance between the orange A and the orange A. The seventh,
The entire outer peripheral surface of each of the placing rollers 57, 58, 59 of the eighth and ninth embodiments or a part of the outer peripheral surface facing the lower peripheral surface of the orange A may be covered with the covering member 60, and the same operation and effect as described above can be obtained. can get. Further, each of the mounting rollers 25, 57, 5
For example, on the outer peripheral surface of the covering member 60 covered with 8, 59,
By forming a large number of buffer portions (not shown) such as blades, protrusions, and irregularities, the buffer function of the covering member 60 is improved, and
The mounting position and the mounting posture of are stabilized.

FIG. 16 shows the sorting conveyor 4 of the eleventh embodiment in which the loading roller 25 of the first embodiment is supported by bearings 61, 61, and is provided at both ends of an insertion hole 25a formed in the loading roller 25. The bearings 61, 61 are fitted and fixed, and the support shaft 2 is attached to the center of rotation of each bearing 61, 61.
8, the bearings are freely rotatable, and when each of the placing rollers 25 is rotated by the reversing device 7 of the first or second embodiment, the rotation center of each of the placing rollers 25 is loose. Since the rotation direction of each of the placing rollers 25 is stable without turning, each of the oranges A can be accurately inverted. In addition, each of the placing rollers 57, 58, 5 of the seventh, eighth, and ninth embodiments.
9 may be bearing in the same manner as described above.

FIG. 17 shows the sorting conveyor 4 of the twelfth embodiment in which the placing roller 58 of the eighth embodiment is bearing by bearings 58b, 58b. 58b, 58b are formed to communicate in the axial direction,
A plurality of ribs 58c formed on the outer peripheral surface of each bearing portion 58b are connected to the inner peripheral surface on both ends of the mounting roller 25, and each bearing portion 58 formed on both end portions of the mounting roller 58 is formed.
By inserting the supporting shaft 28 through the support shafts 28b and 58b so as to be freely rotatable, air permeability between the inside and the outside of each of the placing rollers 58 is good, and each of the placing rollers 58 is moved around in the feed direction. Since the air is cooled, the commercial value of the oranges A can be prevented from being impaired by the heat applied from the mounting rollers 58. The mounting roller 59 of the ninth embodiment may be bearing in the same manner as described above.

FIG. 18 shows each of the mounting rollers 25 of the first embodiment.
13 shows the sorting conveyor 4 of the thirteenth embodiment in which the support shaft 28 is inserted in the central axis direction of each of the divided rollers 25b, 25b obtained by dividing the placing roller 25 into left and right. Screw hole 25c formed in split roller 25b
And a screw shaft 25d formed on the other split roller 25b, and the respective split rollers 25b, 25b are rotated in the screw feed direction to adjust the enlargement / reduction to an arbitrary mounting width. , 25b are tightened and fixed by the tightening nuts 32, 32 screwed onto the screw shaft 25d, so that the split rollers 25 constituting the placing roller 25 are fixed.
The mounting widths of a and 25b can be variably adjusted according to the size of orange A. The respective mounting rollers 57, 58, and 59 of the seventh, eighth, and ninth embodiments may be adjusted in the same manner as described above.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the placement rollers 25, 57, 58, and 59 of the sorting conveyor are pressed against the reversing belt 44 or the reversing pad 49 of the reversing machine 7 to rotate in one direction. A gear (not shown) fixed to one end of each of the mounting rollers 25... And a rack (not shown) disposed below the imaging position are engaged with each other to form each of the mounting rollers 25, 57, 58. , 59 in one direction,
Like the first embodiment, the oranges A can be surely turned over.

Each loading roller 2 of the sorting conveyor 4
5 may be horizontally moved by sorting means such as pressurized air or a pusher to discharge the oranges A to the sorting conveyors 8 arranged at the sorting positions a to f. .

Further, in the first embodiment, the operation of sorting a large number of oranges A by the same rank is described.
For example, it can be used for sorting fruits and vegetables such as apples, pears, persimmons, cucumbers, eggplants, carrots, and yams.

In the correspondence between the configuration of the present invention and the above-described embodiment, the fruit and vegetable product of the present invention corresponds to the oranges A of the embodiment. And the reversing pad 49, and the rotating body is
The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, but is applied based on the technical idea of the invention described in the claims, although it corresponds to the mounting rollers 25, 57, 58, and 59. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of a fruit and vegetable sorting apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state of conveyance by a sorting conveyor.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a mounting state of a loading roller constituting the sorting conveyor.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a swinging state of a loading roller constituting the sorting conveyor.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the reversing operation by the front / back reversing machine.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a sorting operation by a sorting conveyor.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing the reversing operation by the front / back reversing machine of the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing an imaging method by the fruit and vegetable sorting apparatus of the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing an imaging method by the fruit and vegetable sorting apparatus of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a sorting operation by a sorting conveyor according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a front view showing a swinging state of a placing roller according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing a placing roller of a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing a placing roller of an eighth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a vertical sectional front view showing a loading roller according to a ninth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a vertical sectional front view showing a covering state of a placing roller according to a tenth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a vertical sectional front view showing a bearing structure of a loading roller according to an eleventh embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing a bearing structure of a placing roller according to a twelfth embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a front view showing an enlarging / reducing structure of a placing roller according to a thirteenth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A: oranges 6: equal class judging device 7: front / back reversing machine 25, 57, 58, 59 ... placing rollers 34, 35 ... imaging camera 37 ... judging device body 44 ... reversing belt 49 ... reversing pad

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image capturing apparatus for fruit and vegetables, which captures fruit and vegetables with an imaging camera and outputs image data, wherein the apparatus for capturing fruits and vegetables is provided with a reversing means for reversing the fruit and vegetables. 2. The fruit and vegetable imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging camera comprises a first camera for imaging before the inversion of the fruit and vegetable and a second camera for imaging after the inversion of the fruit and vegetable. 3. The fruit and vegetable imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reversing means comprises a plurality of rotators for placing a fruit and vegetables on the fruit and applying a rotational force to the fruits and vegetables. 4. The fruit and vegetable imaging device according to claim 3, wherein the rotating body is formed in a drum shape with an outer peripheral surface having a larger diameter from a central outer peripheral surface to both end outer peripheral surfaces. 5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the rotating body is formed in a cylindrical shape having an outer peripheral surface having the same outer diameter from the outer peripheral surface at one end to the outer peripheral surface at the other end.