JPH11267596A - Grainy material inspection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inspect properly whether the air jet operation out of respective air jet sections is good of not by sensors and reduce the number of sensors as much as possible while eliminating moving sections. SOLUTION: For the purpose of specifying the position of a prearranged transfer line in the width direction and separating defective grany materials from good grainy material thus inspected onto different lines, an air jet means EF provided with a plurality of air jet sections 6a along the width direction of the prearranged transfer line is so constituted as to operate selectively respective air jet sections 6a based on the position information of defective grainy materials. Based on the sensing information of a jet status sensing means 102 so fixed as to sense the change demonstrated on the air jet means EF when one or a plurality of air jet sections are started to jet in place of the state that all of a plurality of air jet sections 6a are not jetted, the abnormality of respective air jet sections 6a is discriminated by an abnormality discrimination means 101.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a defective object detecting means for detecting a defective object among a group of granular materials transferred along a predetermined transfer path by specifying a position in a width direction of the predetermined transfer path. Air provided with a plurality of air ejection portions for ejecting air to separate a defective object and a normal object detected by the defective object detection means into different paths, along a width direction of the scheduled transfer path; The present invention relates to a granular material inspection apparatus configured to cause a jetting means to selectively jet out the plurality of air jetting parts based on detection information of the defective object detecting means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the above-described granular material inspection apparatus, for example, a group of rice grains from a rice mill or the like is transported along a predetermined transport path as a group of granular objects to be inspected, and the entire width in the path width direction is changed by a fluorescent lamp or the like. The detection light reflected by the rice grains illuminated by the light source or transmitted through the rice grains is received by a light receiving means such as a line sensor, and the light receiving level at each light receiving portion is set to an appropriate light amount range for the inspection target having a normal light receiving level. Defective rice and stones such as colored rice
When the presence of a defect such as plastic is detected, air is ejected from the nozzle corresponding to the position of the defect among a plurality of ejection nozzles juxtaposed along the width direction of the passage as an air ejection portion at the downstream portion of the route. The defect is separated from the path of the normal one. Then, in order to inspect whether the air ejection operation from each nozzle is normal,
Conventionally, a detector such as a pressure sensor for detecting the quality of the air ejection operation is moved for each nozzle position on the front side of the ejection surface of the nozzle, so that air is ejected from each ejection driven nozzle. The above-mentioned detector is used to detect the presence or absence (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-146768).

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, since the movable portion is provided to move the detector to the front position of each nozzle, the structure of the apparatus becomes complicated and the cause of failure is increased. There was a drawback that it was easy to become. Here, in order to eliminate the movable portion, it is also possible to provide a detector such as a pressure sensor corresponding to each nozzle, in this case, a large number of detectors are required,
There is a disadvantage that the equipment cost is high.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to solve the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art by eliminating each movable part and using a minimum number of detectors to reduce the number of air ejection parts. The purpose of the present invention is to appropriately inspect the quality of the air ejection operation from the air.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a defective object detected by specifying the position in the width direction of the predetermined transfer path in the group of granular materials transferred along the predetermined transfer path is determined to be normal. In order to separate the object into different paths, air ejecting means provided with a plurality of air ejecting sections for ejecting air along the width direction of the scheduled transfer path is provided based on the position information of the defective article. The air ejection unit is configured to selectively eject the air ejection unit, and the air ejection is performed when any one of the plurality of air ejection units is ejected from a state in which all of the plurality of air ejection units are not ejected. The detection information of the ejection state detection means fixedly installed at a portion which can be detected when any of the air ejection parts is ejected, corresponding to the air ejection means so as to detect a change appearing in the means. To And Zui, abnormality of each of the plurality of air ejection portion is determined.

Therefore, the abnormality of each air ejection section is determined based on the detection information of the ejection state detection means fixedly installed in correspondence with the air ejection means having a plurality of air ejection sections. In addition, when a detector having a pressure sensor or the like (corresponding to the ejection state detecting means) is configured to be movable, it is possible to eliminate the drawbacks that the device configuration becomes complicated and it is easy to cause a failure. In addition, when a large number of detectors such as pressure sensors are provided in correspondence with the respective air ejection portions so as to be non-movable, the air cost can be reduced by using as few detectors as possible while avoiding the disadvantage of increasing the equipment cost. It is possible to appropriately inspect the quality of the air ejection operation from the ejection portion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the control valve according to the first aspect, wherein the control valve for interrupting the supply of air from the air manifold for supplying air to the plurality of air ejection parts to each of the air ejection parts is provided. From a state in which the supply of air to all the air ejection parts is shut off so as not to cause the air ejection part to operate, and is operated so as to supply air only to the air ejection part so as to activate any of the air ejection parts. The change in the air pressure in the air manifold at that time is detected as a change appearing in the air ejection means.

Therefore, when the air ejection portion is normal, the air pressure in the air manifold changes normally with the ejection operation, whereas when the air ejection portion is clogged, for example. Since the air pressure in the air manifold does not change, the quality of the air ejection operation of the air ejection unit is determined based on the change in the air pressure in the air manifold. It is possible to appropriately inspect the air ejection operation from each air ejection portion by simply installing a detector such as the one at an appropriate position in the air manifold, and thus the preferred means of claim 1 is obtained.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the control valve according to the first aspect, wherein the control valve for interrupting the supply of air from the air manifold for supplying air to the plurality of air ejection portions to each of the air ejection portions is provided. From a state in which the supply of air to all the air ejection parts is shut off so as not to cause the air ejection part to operate, and is operated so as to supply air only to the air ejection part so as to activate any of the air ejection parts. The flow of air flowing into the air manifold at that time is detected as a change appearing in the air ejection means.

Therefore, when the air ejecting portion is normal, the air ejecting portion exhibits a change such as an increase in the flow of air flowing into the air manifold accompanying the ejecting operation. In this case, since the flow of air flowing into the air manifold does not change, the flow of air flowing into the air manifold is checked to determine whether or not the blowing operation of the air blowing portion is good so that the clogging of the air blowing portion can be determined. It is possible to properly inspect the quality of the air ejection operation from each air ejection portion simply by installing a detector such as a flow rate sensor that detects the flow rate of air, for example, at the inlet side of the air manifold, Thus, the preferred means of claim 1 is obtained.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, any of the plurality of air ejection portions formed by the common ejection casing is not operated to eject any one of the air ejection portions. The vibration of the ejection casing is detected as a change appearing in the air ejection means.

Therefore, when the air ejection portion is normal, the ejection casing vibrates in accordance with the ejection operation. On the other hand, when the air ejection portion is clogged, the ejection casing does not vibrate. Therefore, just as the clogging of the air ejection part is judged, the quality of the ejection operation of the air ejection part is determined by the vibration of the common ejection casing, so that a detector such as a vibration sensor is installed at an appropriate place of the ejection casing. It is possible to properly inspect the quality of the air ejection operation from each of the air ejection portions by simply performing the operation.
Is obtained.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, an embodiment of a granular material inspection apparatus according to the present invention will be described in which a granular material group composed of a group of rice grains such as brown rice and polished rice is transported along a predetermined transport path as an inspection object.
A case of detecting and removing a defective object will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 (note that FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of detecting and removing a defective object, and therefore, the arrangement of the device configuration is different from that of FIGS. 1 and 2). A plate-like shooter 1 having a flat guide surface formed over the entire width in the width direction is installed at a predetermined angle (for example, 60 degrees) with respect to a horizontal plane, and is provided on the upper side of the shooter 1. The rice grain group k conveyed and supplied from the storage tank 7 by the feeder 9 is guided downward while spreading horizontally on the upper surface of the chute 1. That is, the flow path from the upper surface of the shooter 1 and the lower end thereof forms a scheduled transfer path. Here, since the purpose is to transfer the particles in a single layer state, even if the particles partially overlap depending on the flow state, they are included in the concept of the single layer state.

In the storage tank 7, an object to be inspected supplied from an external rice milling machine or the like or an object to be inspected from the outside is stored.
Normal or defective items that are re-sorted after the next sorting process are stored. The tank 7 is formed in a tapered cylindrical shape toward the lower end, and the supply amount of the rice grains k dropped from the tank 7 onto the feeder 9 to the shooter 1 is adjusted by changing the transport speed of the rice grains k by the vibration of the feeder 9. Is done.

Rice grains k flowing down from the lower end of shooter 1
Is present in a wide state, the long detection position J is the rice grain group k
The linear light sources 4A and 4B such as fluorescent lamps which illuminate the entire width of the rice grain group k in the horizontal direction at the detection position J and the illumination light from the linear light sources 4A and 4B A reflection line sensor 5B for receiving the light reflected by the rice grain group k at the position J is provided. On the other hand, the linear light sources 4A, 4B
On the side opposite to the installation position (right side in the figure), the linear light source 4
A transmission line sensor 5A is provided for receiving the transmitted light of the illumination light from A and 4B transmitted through the rice grain group k at the detection position J.

Here, the linear light sources 4A and 4B are
2 illuminate the rice grain group k from a plurality of different oblique directions while being inclined with respect to the light receiving direction of the transmission line sensor 5A.
There are two linear light sources 4A and 4B. That is, a lower light source 4A that illuminates the detection position J from obliquely below and an upper light source 4B that illuminates the detection position J from obliquely above are provided. The two light sources 4A and 4B are respectively provided with respect to the detection position J. It is held by the frame 22 while maintaining the illumination angle. In addition, since the detection position J is illuminated from two directions by changing the illumination angle of the illumination light, even if the rice grain k is shifted from the normal position in the horizontal direction, the illumination is preferably performed in a uniform state as much as possible. You can do it.

On the same side as the side where the linear light sources 4A and 4B are provided, light having the same or substantially the same brightness as the transmitted light from the normal product (normal rice) in the rice grain group k is transmitted.
A transmitted light reflector 8A that reflects toward A is provided, and the linear light sources 4A and 4B are arranged to illuminate the transmitted light reflector 8A. In addition, the light reflecting plate for transmission 8A
Is a plate portion 22a connected to the light source supporting frame 22.
And a white plate whose surface is formed white by printing or the like. Then, the linear light sources 4A and 4B, the reflection line sensor 5B, and the transmitted light reflection plate 8A are stored in one storage section 13B.

On the same side as the side on which the transmission line sensor 5A is provided, light having the same or substantially the same brightness as the reflected light from the normal product (normal rice) in the rice grain group k is reflected.
A reflection plate 8B for reflected light that reflects toward B is provided. The transmission line sensor 5A and the reflected light reflection plate 8B are housed in the other housing 13A.
In addition, both the storage portions 13A and 13B are formed as an integral box body having a common side plate.

Each of the storage sections 13A and 13B has a light-transmitting window 14A and 14B made of a plate-shaped transparent glass on the side facing the detection position J. Here, the two windows 14A and 14B are arranged in a state (V-shape) in which the distance from each other decreases toward the lower side. The reflecting plate 8B has a region 8a having the same reflectance as that of the rice grains in a longitudinal shape corresponding to the entire width of the rice grain group k illuminated by the linear light sources 4A and 4B. Is formed as a coating film by printing or the like on the inner surface of the window portion 14A so as to form black regions 8b on both sides of the region 8a.

As shown in FIG.
A and 5B are provided with a plurality of light receiving units 5a from which light receiving information can be separately taken out by setting a range p (for example, about 1/10 of the size of rice grain k) smaller than the size of rice grain k as each light receiving target range. The detection positions J are juxtaposed along the longitudinal direction, and the entire width of the rice grain group k in the width direction is set as the light receiving range. Specifically, a monochrome type C in which light receiving elements as a plurality of light receiving portions 5a are arranged in a straight line.
It comprises a CD sensor 50 and an optical system 51 for forming an image of the rice grain group k at the detection position J on each light receiving element of the CCD sensor. And both line sensors 5A, 5
B, from one end of the long detection position J to the other end, for example, in FIG. 3, from the left end to the right end of the long detection position J, from each light receiving portion 5a Light reception information is sequentially extracted.

At the downstream of the detection position J in the downstream direction, defective and normal objects such as colored particles k and foreign matter detected based on the light receiving information of the two line sensors 5A and 5B at the detection position J In order to separate the rice grains k) into different paths, a plurality of ejection nozzles 6a serving as air ejection sections for ejecting air toward defective objects are juxtaposed along the width direction of the predetermined transfer path.

Here, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, each of the ejection nozzles 6a has a flat ejection port for ejecting the air supplied from each air supply port 6b corresponding to each ejection nozzle 6a. A common ejection casing 6 is formed of a lower portion 6A formed in a shape and an upper portion 6B sealed from the upper side to the lower portion 6A so as to form the ejection nozzles 6a separately. I have. And
There is no portion that blows the entire width of the planned transfer path in the width direction by the air from each outlet, and the outlet ranges of the adjacent nozzles 6a are set so as not to overlap.

Then, of the group of rice grains k flowing down from the lower end of the shooter 1, the normal rice grains k which proceed as they are without being blown by the air from the jet nozzle 6a.
A good rice receiving port 2B for collecting rice and foreign matter such as defective rice such as colored rice and cracked rice or stone or glass fragments separated in the horizontal direction from the flow of normal rice grains k by blowing air. A receiving portion 3B for a defective product to be collected is provided, and a receiving portion 2B for good rice is formed in an elongated tubular shape in the width direction, and surrounds the receiving portion 2B for good rice. Receiving part 3 for defectives
B is formed. Note that the rice grains k collected at the good rice receiving portion 2B and the defectives collected at the defective product receiving portion 3B are stored in the tank 7 of the inspection apparatus for re-sorting or the like. Or to another inspection device.

As shown in FIG. 1, vertical frames F2, F3 and F4, which are erected on a bottom plate F1 provided with legs F0, are
5, F6, and F7 are linked to form a machine frame. An operation console 21 for displaying and inputting information is installed in the upper oblique portion of the front vertical frame F4, and a vibration generator 9A for the feeder 9 is installed on the horizontal frame F5. or,
The box-shaped storage sections 13A and 13B are supported by the vertical frame F4 on the front side and the vertical frame F3 on the rear side, and the chute 1 is supported by the horizontal frame F on the upper side.
The lower part 6 is supported by the storage part 13B. A cover 12 that covers the outer surface of the device is attached to the machine frame. An air manifold 16 for branching and supplying air to the plurality of ejection nozzles 6a is supported by the receiving portion 3B,
A regulator 15 for supplying air to the air manifold 16 at a stable pressure via a pipe 18.
Is installed on the bottom plate F1. The regulator 15 is supplied with air from a compressor (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 9, a switching valve 23 for switching the flow path between an air manifold side m and a side u communicating with the air purge nozzle 20 is provided at a part of the pipe 18 from the regulator 15 to the air manifold 16. A pressure switch S1 for detecting whether the pressure of the air supplied from the regulator 15 is equal to or higher than a predetermined value is provided in the flow path on the air manifold side. When the switching valve 23 is switched to the air manifold side m in a state where air is not ejected from all the ejection nozzles 6a, the pressure switch S
Air is supplied so that 1 is turned on. The switching valve 23 is normally switched to the air manifold side m,
Switch to the air purge side u only during air purge.

A control valve 1 for interrupting the supply of air from the air manifold 16 to each of the plurality of ejection nozzles 6a.
1 is provided, and air is branched and supplied from the air manifold 16 to each of the ejection nozzles 6a from each of the control valves 11 through each of pipes 17 made of a resin material or the like forming a flow path to each of the nozzles 6a. .

The control structure will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, a control device 10 using a microcomputer is provided, and the control device 10 is provided with image signals from both line sensors 5A and 5B and a control device 21 from a console 21. Operation information and a detection signal of the pressure switch S1 are input. On the other hand, the control device 10 intermittently supplies a drive signal to the display unit of the console 21, a drive signal to the lighting circuit 19 of the linear light sources 4A and 4B, and supply of each air from the air manifold 16 to each ejection nozzle 6a. A drive signal for the electromagnetic valve drive circuit 11A that drives each control valve 11 to be driven, a drive signal for the feeder vibration generator 9A, and a drive signal for the switching valve 23 are output.

Then, using the control device 10, based on the light receiving information of each of the line sensors 5A and 5B, the defective ones of the rice grain group k transferred along the planned transfer path are transferred to the planned transfer path. A defective object detecting means 100 for specifying and detecting the position in the width direction of the object is configured. That is, based on the light reception information of the transmission line sensor 5A that receives the transmitted light from the rice grain group k and the reflected light from the transmitted light reflection plate 8A, the amount of received light is the transmitted light from the normal thing in the rice grain group k. A reflection line sensor 5B that detects the presence of a defective object at a position out of the proper light amount range with respect to, and receives the reflected light from the rice grain group k and the reflected light from the reflected light reflecting plate 8B. Based on the received light information, the presence of a defective object is detected at a position where the amount of received light is out of the appropriate light amount range for the reflected light from the normal object in the rice grain group k.

In the case of transmitted light, as shown in the output waveform of the transmitted light line sensor 5A in FIG. 6, the output voltage corresponding to the amount of light received by each light receiving section 5a is within the appropriate light amount range ΔEt for the rice grain group k. In this case, the presence of a normal rice grain is determined, and when the rice grain is out of the set appropriate range ΔEt, the defective rice grain or the presence of a foreign substance is determined. Here, the appropriate light amount range ΔEt for transmitted light
Is set in a range of a predetermined upper and lower width across an output voltage level e0 for standard transmitted light from normal rice grains.

When the light amount is smaller than the appropriate light amount range ΔEt, the presence of defective rice grains, foreign matter, etc. (for example, black stones) having a transmittance lower than that of normal rice particles is determined. If it is larger, the presence of a light-side defective rice grain k or foreign matter having a transmittance higher than that of a normal rice grain k is determined. As an example of the defective rice grain k or foreign matter on the light side, a thin colored transparent glass piece becomes a foreign matter having a transmittance higher than that of the normal rice grain k, and the normal rice grain k is "sticky rice". In this case, the "rice glutinous rice" becomes a defective rice grain k having a higher transmittance than the normal rice grain k.

FIG. 6 shows that the output voltage (light reception amount) of the light receiving portion 5a is determined by the position where a part of the rice grain k has a colored portion, the position of a black stone or the like (indicated by e1), and the cracked portion of the body. At the existing position (indicated by e2), if there is a foreign substance or the like which is located below the appropriate light amount range ΔEt and has a transmittance higher than that of normal rice grains, the appropriate position is determined as indicated by the position e4. The state where it is located above the light amount range ΔEt is illustrated.

On the other hand, in the case of the reflected light, as shown in the output waveform of the reflected light line sensor 5B in FIG.
When it is within the range, the presence of normal rice grains is determined, and when it is out of the appropriate light amount range ΔEh, defective rice grains or the presence of foreign matter is determined. Here, the appropriate light amount range ΔEh for the reflected light is the output voltage level e for the standard reflected light from normal rice grains.
It is set in a range of a predetermined width up and down with respect to 0 ′.

FIG. 7 shows that, at the position where the colored portion exists in the rice grain k (denoted by e1 ') and the position where the cracked portion exists (denoted by e2'), the rice grain k is shifted downward from the appropriate light amount range ΔEh. Illustrates a state where the light is out of the proper light amount range ΔEh as shown at a position e3 ′ by strong direct reflection light from the foreign matter when a foreign matter such as a glass piece exists. doing. Although not shown, the reflectance of a black stone or the like is very small, so that the waveform deviates greatly from the appropriate light amount range ΔEh downward.

The controller 10 determines, based on the defect detection information, defective rice grains or the presence of foreign matter among the rice grain group k transferred to the detection position J by the line sensors 5A and 5B. In this case, as the transfer time from the detection position J to the air ejection position by the ejection nozzle 6a elapses, each of the ejection nozzles 6a corresponding to the position with respect to the defective rice grain or foreign matter flowing down is determined. Air from the rice to separate it from the path of normal rice grains.

In other words, the control device 10 and the plurality of ejection nozzles 6a provide a plurality of air jets for separating the defective object and the normal object detected by the defective object detecting means 100 into different paths. Air ejection means EF having ejection nozzles 6a arranged along the width direction of the predetermined transfer path is configured to selectively eject a plurality of ejection nozzles 6a based on detection information of the defective object detection means 100. ing. Further, the air ejection means EF includes the air manifold 16 and the control valve 11.

Also, when any one of the plurality of ejection nozzles 6a is set to correspond to the air ejection means EF and any one of the plurality of ejection nozzles 6a is ejected from a state in which all of the plurality of ejection nozzles 6a are not ejected. The air blowing means EF
Is provided at a location that can be detected when any of the ejection nozzles 6a is ejected, and the control device 10
The abnormality determining means 101 configured to determine the abnormality of the ejection nozzle 6a based on the detection information of the ejection state detection means 102 when one of the plurality of ejection nozzles 6a is ejected by utilizing Have been.

Next, specific forms of the ejection state detecting means 102 and the abnormality determining means 101 will be described with reference to FIG. 4 and FIGS. In the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 9, the ejection status detecting means 102 is configured by the pressure switch S1 and configured to detect a change in the air pressure in the air manifold 16. ing. The abnormality determining means 101 determines whether the ejection nozzle 6a has normally ejected due to a change in the air pressure in the air manifold 16 detected by the pressure switch S1, or whether the ejection nozzle 6a has failed due to a malfunction of the control valve 11 or nozzle clogging. It is determined whether or not 6a does not normally operate. Hereinafter, the inspection procedure in this case will be described. (1) First, the switching valve 23 is switched to the air purge side u while the pressure switch S1 is on. At this time, the pressure switch S1 remains on, and the air pressure in the air manifold 16 is maintained at a predetermined value. (2) The control valve 11 for one of the ejection nozzles 6a is turned on for a predetermined time. At this time, when the jetting operation is performed normally, the air pressure in the air manifold 16 decreases and the pressure switch S1 is turned off. (3) Next, the switching valve 23 is switched to the manifold side m, and the pressure switch S1 is turned on. (4) Then, the above steps (1) to (3) are repeated to sequentially check the operation of each ejection nozzle 6a.

Next, although the pressure value that can be detected by the pressure switch S1 is one, two pressure values can be detected instead of a high-precision pressure switch, and the nozzle state such as semi-clogging is detected. An improved embodiment for inspecting with high accuracy will be described. As shown in FIG. 10, the control valve (valve) 1
When the nozzle No. 1 is turned on, in the case of a normal nozzle, as shown by a solid line, the pressure detection waveform decreases at a high speed, so after passing through the upper first pressure value d1, the lower second pressure value d2
When the time t1 before passing through is short, but the nozzle is half-clogged, as shown by the broken line,
Since the rate of decrease of the pressure detection waveform is slow, the time t2 from passing the upper first pressure value d1 to reaching the lower second pressure value d2 becomes longer. Therefore, this time t1,
The degree of failure can be determined based on the length of t2.

In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, a vibration sensor S2 is provided on the jet casing 6, and its detection information is amplified by an amplifier 24 and input to the control device 10. The ejection status detecting means 102 is constituted by the vibration sensor S2, and is configured to detect the vibration of the ejection casing 6. The abnormality determining means 101 is provided by the abnormality detecting means 101 by the ejection casing 6 detected by the vibration sensor S2. By the vibration waveform of
It is determined whether or not the ejection nozzle 6a is defective. That is, when the ejection nozzle 6a normally performs the ejection operation, the ejection casing 6 vibrates with a relatively large amplitude, whereas when the nozzle 6a does not normally perform the ejection operation, the amplitude of the vibration of the ejection casing 6 is large. Is small, it is possible to detect the presence or absence of a defect, for example, by providing a predetermined determination level. Specifically, in a state where the switching valve 23 is switched to the manifold side m, the control valve 11 of the nozzle 6a to be inspected is turned on a plurality of times (for example, five times) within a set time (for example, one second). The output of the vibration sensor S2 for each is checked, and the vibration sensor S2
If the amplitude of the output signal exceeds the determination level, it is determined that the output signal is normal. In addition, the said vibration sensor S2 is installed at the center position in the longitudinal direction of the ejection casing 6, one is installed near the left and right ends, or one is installed at either one of the left and right ends. Etc., it can be installed at an appropriate position.

In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, a flow sensor S3 for detecting the flow of air flowing into the air manifold 16 is provided at the air inlet of the air manifold 16 from the tank 15. While being installed, the detection information is amplified by the amplifier 25 and input to the control device 10. The ejection state detecting means 102 is constituted by the flow rate sensor S3, and is configured to detect the flow of air flowing into the air manifold 16. Then, the abnormality determining means 101
Determines whether there is a defect in the ejection nozzle 6a based on the flow state of the air detected by the flow sensor S3. That is, when the ejection nozzle 6a operates normally,
With the ejection operation, the flow rate of the air flowing into the air manifold 16 increases, but when the ejection nozzle 6a does not normally eject, the flow rate of the air into the air manifold 16 does not change. . Here, instead of the flow rate sensor, a flow rate switch that is turned on at a predetermined flow rate or more may be used.

As shown in FIG. 13, the inspection result of each of the jet nozzles 6a is displayed on a display screen 21a provided on the console 21 to notify the operator. When a plurality of inspection devices are installed, the unit number display unit 30 displays which device (unit) among the plurality of inspection devices in ascending unit number order. Each device has 2
Since zero ejection nozzles 6a are provided,
A channel display unit 31 having 20 lamps is provided for each of the nozzles. Here, the lamp at the location of the nozzle (channel) determined to be defective blinks, and the lamp at the location of the nozzle (channel) determined to be normal does not blink. Pressing the unit key section 32 at the bottom of the screen switches to the screen of the next unit, and the results of the 20 nozzles in that unit are displayed in the channel display section 31.
Will be displayed.

The nozzle check is automatically executed at the time of starting inspection of the inspection apparatus. Hereinafter, the control flow is shown in FIG. First, when the power is turned on, various initial settings are performed, and then the line light sources 4A and 4B are turned on, and then the apparatus stands by for a predetermined time to start up the apparatus. After the elapse of the standby time, it is determined whether or not a predetermined air pressure has been reached by the pressure switch S1, and if the air pressure is the predetermined air pressure, the inspection is sequentially performed on each ejection nozzle 6a of each unit as described above. If the inspection is completed and there is no defective nozzle, the process proceeds to normal processing. If there is a defective nozzle, the display of the nozzle check result and the operation of a rotation indicator (patlite) (not shown) and other defects are performed. Processing is performed, and after the defective processing, the processing shifts to normal processing. The check of the nozzles can be individually performed while manually selecting each nozzle 6a.

[Alternative Embodiment] In the above embodiment, the case where the granular material group as the inspection object is the rice particle group k such as brown rice is exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
The present invention can also be applied to the case of inspecting the presence or absence of a defective or foreign matter in plastic particles or the like.

In the above embodiment, as the scheduled transfer route,
Although the plane chute 1 having the oblique attitude and the flow-down path from the lower end are configured, other paths such as a plurality of gutter-shaped paths arranged in the lateral direction may be used.

In the above embodiment, the defective object detecting means 100
However, although the defectives in the group of particulates are detected by optical means, other means than optical means may be used.

In the above-described second embodiment of the ejection state detecting means,
Although the vibration sensor S2 is directly attached to the ejection casing 6 (see FIG. 11) to detect the vibration, the vibration may be detected indirectly. For example, as shown in FIG. 15 and FIG.
The spout casing 6 and the vibration sensor S
2 are mounted side by side, the vibration of the ejection casing 6 is transmitted to the support plate 26, and the vibration of the support plate 26 is detected by the vibration sensor S2. When the vibration sensor S2 is directly attached to the ejection casing 6, the vibration sensor S2 may be attached to the lateral end of the ejection casing 6 as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
You may make it attach to a front lower part position.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall side view of a granular material inspection apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the main part.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the main part.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control configuration.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a light receiving range of a line sensor.

FIG. 6 is an output waveform diagram of a transmitted light line sensor.

FIG. 7 is an output waveform diagram of a line sensor for reflected light.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the structure of an air ejection unit.

FIG. 9 is a front view of an air ejection section and a system diagram of an air supply path.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing inspection waveforms of the ejection operation of the air ejection section.

FIG. 11 is a side view of an air ejection section showing a second embodiment of ejection state detection means.

FIG. 12 is a system diagram of an air supply path showing a third mode of the ejection state detection means.

FIG. 13 is a diagram of a display screen showing an inspection result of an air ejection unit.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a control operation of the inspection device.

FIG. 15 is a side view of a main part of a granular material inspection apparatus according to another embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a second mode of the ejection state detecting means of another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 6 ejection casing 6a air ejection portion 11 control valve 16 air manifold 100 defective object detection means 101 abnormality discrimination means 102 ejection state detection means EF air ejection means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A defective object detecting means for detecting a defective object in a group of granular materials transported along a scheduled transport path by specifying a position in the width direction of the scheduled transport path, and detecting the defective object. The air ejecting means, which includes a plurality of air ejecting sections for ejecting air to separate a defective object and a normal object detected by the detecting means into different paths along the width direction of the planned transfer path, is provided. A granular material inspection device configured to selectively eject the plurality of air ejection units based on detection information of an object detection unit, wherein the plurality of air ejection units are installed in correspondence with the air ejection unit, and An ejection state detection unit that detects a change that appears in the air ejection unit when any one of the plurality of air ejection units is ejected from a state in which all of the air ejection units are not ejected, and Izu The installed in detectable moiety even when jetted operated, on the basis of the detection information of the jetting condition detecting means when jetted operated one of the plurality of air ejection section,
A granular material inspection apparatus provided with abnormality determination means for determining abnormality of the air ejection section. 2. An air manifold in which said air ejection means branches and supplies air to said plurality of air ejection portions, and a control valve for separately interrupting supply of air from said air manifold to each of said plurality of air ejection portions. 2. The granular material inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the ejection state detection unit is configured to detect a change in air pressure in the air manifold. 3. 3. An air manifold for supplying air to said plurality of air ejecting portions by branching said air ejecting means, and a control valve for intermittently supplying air from said air manifold to each of said plurality of air ejecting portions. 2. The granular material inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the ejection state detection unit is configured to detect a flow of air flowing into the air manifold. 3. 4. The air ejection section of the air ejection section is formed of a common ejection casing, and the ejection state detection section is configured to detect vibration of the ejection casing. 2. The granular material inspection device according to 1.