JPH11337411A - Transmitted-light photographing apparatus for color discrimination - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a transmitted-light photographing apparatus, for color discrimination, by which an object to be discriminated is conveyed accurately so as to be photographed precisly, by which a color image of high reliability is obtained and by which a color can be discriminated precisely. SOLUTION: A charging conveyor 24A one end of which comes into contact with the object discharging part 20 of a turntable body 23 so as to be extended rectlinearly and which is of a belt type or the like is installed. A discharging conveyor 24B is installed at the rear stage of the charging conveyor 24A. A space B is formed in a transit part to the discharging conveyor 24B from the charging conveyor 24A. In the transit part, the side of the charging conveyor 24A is situated in a high position, and the side of the discharging conveyor 24B is situated in a low position. A height difference A is formed between both conveyors 24A, 24B. A video photographing apparatus 14 which is composed of a color video camera 14B and a light source 14A is installed in the space B in the transit part to the discharging conveyor 24B from the charging conveyor 24A. In this case, in the space B, the color video camera 14B is situated in the obliquely upper part, and the light source 14A is situated in the obliquely lower part in such a way that both are arranged and installed so as to be faced with each other.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to transmitted light imaging for identifying the colors of plastic bottles such as soft drinks, plastic containers such as foods and detergents, and various plastics such as packaging bags and glass bottles. Related to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When plastic bottles such as soft drinks, plastic containers such as foods and detergents, various plastic products such as packaging bags, and glass bottles are to be reused (recycled), their colors are identified. It is important to separate each color. For example, as a conventionally known color identification method, there is a method in which an object to be identified is applied to a transmitted light photographing apparatus for photographing with a color video camera using transmitted light, and an obtained color image is processed to identify a color.

FIG. 1 shows one such transmission light photographing apparatus.
As shown in FIGS. 0 and 11, one or more objects arranged such that plastic bottles 2 or the like, which are aligned in a row in a longitudinal direction in a conveying direction by an aligning device such as a turntable 1, are sandwiched from both sides of the conveyor 3. There is a device that captures images using a plurality of lamps (light sources) 4 and a color video camera 5. However, in such a transmitted light imaging device, for example, a plastic bottle 2 or the like as an object to be identified is subjected to press processing,
If the paper is transported in a crushed state, the projection area of the plastic bottle 2 is small, and accurate transmitted light data cannot be obtained because the photographing is performed from the side of the conveyor 3.
Cannot be accurately identified.

[0004] As an apparatus for solving such a problem,
There is an apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 8-509417. This apparatus stores a color image of a material portion in an image forming apparatus and converts the color image into a video signal. The image forming apparatus has a color video camera, and a lamp is assigned to the camera. The lamp illuminates a material portion with scattered irradiation light. As a result, the color video camera photographs the material portion with the irradiation light. Further, the image forming apparatus has a second color video camera, to which one or more lamps are assigned. The lamp irradiates the material from the opposite side of the conveyor from the conveyor belt. Therefore, a color video camera photographs a material portion with transmitted light. In order to enable the above-mentioned transmitted illumination, the conveyor belt of the conveyor needs to have transparency, and is constituted by, for example, a fiber belt having an opening or a lattice-like structure.

That is, in this conventional apparatus, the conveyor is configured to have transparency so that a plastic bottle or the like can be photographed, and a lamp and a color video camera are arranged so as to sandwich the upper and lower surfaces of the conveyor. I have.

[0006]

However, in such a conventional transmitted light photographing apparatus, as described above,
The conveyor belt of the conveyor needs to be permeable, and for example, is composed of a fiber belt having openings and a lattice-like structure, and thus has the following problems.

That is, in the case of a fiber belt or a conveyor belt formed of a lattice-like structure, if the aperture is narrow, a color video camera may photograph the out-of-focus fiber belt or lattice-like structure. In some cases, only a color image that is dark and grayish is obtained. In such a color image, it is impossible to perform accurate color identification even if this is processed.

To prevent such inconvenience, if the opening is enlarged, a small plastic bottle or the like will fall out of the opening or be caught by the conveyor, disturbing the alignment, falling out of the shooting range of the color video camera, and The object cannot be accurately photographed. The present invention has been made to solve the conventional problems as described above, and accurately transports an object to be identified, while enabling accurate imaging,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a transmitted light photographing apparatus for color identification capable of obtaining a reliable color image and performing accurate color identification.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transmitted light photographing apparatus for color identification, comprising: an input conveyor for conveying an object to be identified; A space is provided between the discharge conveyor to be sent out to form a connecting portion of the object to be identified, and at the connecting portion, the input conveyor side is positioned at a high position, and the discharge conveyor side is positioned at a low position. While providing a height difference between the two conveyors, one of a color video camera and a light source for performing transmitted light photographing is placed upward and the other is placed downward in the space of the transit portion from the input conveyor to the discharge conveyor. , Each of which is disposed so as to face each other.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, one of the color video camera and the light source is positioned obliquely upward and the other is positioned diagonally downward in the space of the transit portion from the input conveyor to the discharge conveyor. In this case, the two are arranged facing each other. The invention according to claim 3 is that the opposing line connecting the color video camera and the light source disposed in the space of the connecting portion from the input conveyor to the discharge conveyor is 20 to 85 degrees with respect to the vertical line. Features.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the object to be identified is a plastic bottle, and a height difference A between the two conveyors is provided.
In the range of 10 to 150 mm, the horizontal distance of the space B at the connecting portion from the input conveyor to the discharge conveyor is set to 1
It is characterized in that, while each is set to 0 to 300 mm, the conveying speed of the two conveyors is set to a range of 500 to 4000 mm / sec.

The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that at least a discharge conveyor of the charging conveyor and the discharge conveyor is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a horizontal plane such that an inlet end thereof is at a higher position. The invention according to claim 6, wherein the inclination angle β of the discharge conveyor starting from a horizontal plane is 2
The inclination angle α starting from the horizontal plane of the feeding conveyor is set in the range of 0 to 20 degrees.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a side wall is provided at least on the same side of the input conveyor and the discharge conveyor, and an elastic linear line is provided on the other side opposite to the side wall. A guide is provided, and an interval between the side wall portion and the distal end of the elastic linear guide is set to be smaller than a minimum width of the object to be identified.

[0014] The invention according to claim 8 is that, in the space of the connecting portion from the input conveyor to the discharge conveyor, a side wall portion connecting the side wall portions of both conveyors,
An elastic linear guide located on the other side opposite to the side wall, and the distance between the side wall of the space and the tip of the elastic linear guide is set smaller than the minimum width of the object to be identified. It is characterized by having done.

The operation of the present invention will be described. Claim 1
In the invention according to the invention, at the connecting portion from the input conveyor to the discharge conveyor, the input conveyor side is positioned at a high position, the discharge conveyor side is positioned at a low position, and a height difference is provided between the two conveyors, so that the object to be identified is Can stably pass through the space, and in the space of the connecting portion, the color video camera can photograph the object to be identified by the transmitted light without being disturbed by the obstacle, and a highly reliable color image can be obtained.

In the invention according to claims 2 and 3, one of the color video camera and the light source is positioned diagonally upward and the other is positioned diagonally downward in the space of the transit part. No dust or the like from the feeding conveyor falls and accumulates on the color video camera or the light source, and a color image with excellent reliability can be obtained for a long time.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the plastic bottle, which is the object to be identified, becomes more stable by specifying the height difference between the two conveyors, the space at the connecting portion from the input conveyor to the discharge conveyor, and the conveyance speed of the two conveyors. In this state, it is conveyed through the connecting portion. In the invention according to claim 5, when the object to be identified is connected to the discharge conveyor from the input conveyor, the front side in the transport direction is inclined downward, but the angle difference is reduced when the discharge conveyor is inclined. Therefore, it is transported in a stable state.

When both the input conveyor and the discharge conveyor are disposed at an angle, the object to be identified is inclined upward by the inclined input conveyor before the transfer from the input conveyor to the discharge conveyor. Since the discharge conveyor is connected to the discharge conveyor at a predetermined angle, it is not necessary to arrange the discharge conveyor at a large angle, and the discharge conveyor can be disposed substantially horizontally as a whole, and the transport of the identification object is performed smoothly.

In the invention according to claim 6, by specifying the inclination angles of the discharge conveyor and the input conveyor, the object to be identified is transferred from the input conveyor to the discharge conveyor in a more stable state. In the invention according to claim 7, a side wall is provided at least on the same side of the input conveyor and the discharge conveyor, and the object to be identified is pressed against the side wall by an elastic linear guide and conveyed. Even if there is no side wall in the space, the object to be identified is transferred in a stable state while being aligned.

[0020] In the invention according to claim 8, the object to be identified is pressed against the side wall by the elastic linear guide, and is conveyed in the space of the transit part so that it is conveyed while being aligned in a more stable state. .

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are:
FIG. 1 is an example in which a transmitted light photographing apparatus for color identification according to the present invention is applied to perform color selection of a plastic bottle such as soft drink, FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the entire color selection apparatus, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a color selection mechanism of the device.

First, the configuration of the color selection device will be described with reference to FIG. In this figure, a color sorting device includes an aligning device 11 for transporting the inserted plastic bottles 10 while aligning them in a line and discharging them one by one, a transmitted light imaging device 12 for color identification, and a plastic color identification device. Device 17 (FIG. 2)
), And a plurality of color selection / discharge units 15 corresponding to the color of the plastic provided downstream of the transmitted light imaging device 12.
And a color selection / discharge device 16 for discharging the plastic bottle 10 to the color selection / discharge unit 15 corresponding to the color of the plastic based on the identification result of the color identification device.
(See FIG. 2).

The alignment device 11 includes a turntable 18 that is driven to rotate, an article input unit 19 that sequentially inputs the plastic bottles 10 on the turntable 18, and the transmitted light imaging of the plastic bottle 10 on the turntable 18. An article discharging section 20 for discharging the apparatus 12 and a rectifying guide 21 provided above the turntable 18 for aligning the inserted plastic bottle 10 in a predetermined posture and guiding the plastic bottle 10 toward the article discharging section 20. And is comprised.

The turntable 18 comprises an annular turntable body 23 having a circular central opening 22,
And a rotation driving device for the turntable main body 23, and transports the inserted plastic bottle 10 to the transmitted light imaging device 12. The straightening guide 21 includes a main guide 21A and an auxiliary guide 21B.

The central opening 22 of the turntable body 23 serves as a drop-in portion for the plastic bottle 10 overflowing from the above-described article conveying path. here,
In the present embodiment, the transmitted light photographing device 12, the color identification device 17, and the color selection / discharge device 16 are unitized as one plastic color selection mechanism.

The transmitted light photographing device 12, the color identification device 17
Next, each configuration of the color selection and discharge device 16 will be described.
The transmitted light imaging device 12 provides a space between the input conveyor that conveys the object to be identified and the discharge conveyor that sends out the object to form a connecting portion of the object, and
In the transfer section, the input conveyor side is located at a high position, the discharge conveyor side is positioned at a low position, and a height difference is provided between both conveyors, while the transfer section from the input conveyor to the discharge conveyor is provided. In a space, one of a color video camera and a light source for performing transmitted light photography and a light source are positioned above and the other is positioned below, respectively,
It is a configuration in which both are arranged facing each other.

That is, in this embodiment, there is provided a charging conveyor 24A of a belt type or the like, one end of which is linearly extended in contact with the article discharging portion 20 of the turntable main body 23, and the discharging conveyor 24A is provided at a subsequent stage of the charging conveyor 24A.
B is provided. Then, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the charging conveyor 24A is moved from the charging conveyor 24A to the discharging conveyor 24B.
A space B is provided in the transit section to
In the transfer section, a level difference A is provided between the two conveyors 24A and 24B, with the input conveyor 24A side positioned at a high position and the discharge conveyor 24B side positioned at a low position.

A video photographing device 14 comprising a color video camera 14B and a light source 14A is provided in a space B at a connecting portion from the input conveyor 24A to the discharge conveyor 24B. In this case, in the space B, one of the color video camera 14B and the light source 14A is positioned obliquely upward and the other is positioned diagonally downward, and both are arranged to face each other.

In particular, the color video camera 14B and the light source 1
The arrangement of 4A is not simply "directly above" or "directly below" the space B, but one is positioned "diagonally above" and the other is positioned "diagonally below". Even if it is arranged, dust and the like from the input conveyor 24A do not drop and accumulate on the color video camera 14B or the light source 14A, and a color image with excellent reliability can be obtained for a long time without changing the color tone due to the dust and the like. Can be In this case, the angle θ (see FIG. 3 (B)) between an opposing line connecting the color video camera 14B and the light source 14A disposed in the space B of the transit portion and the vertical line is 20 to 85 degrees,
Preferably 45 to 80 degrees, more preferably 60 to 75 degrees
Degrees, more preferably 70 degrees.

The direction of inclination of the opposed line may be a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the feeding conveyor 24A or a direction parallel to the conveying direction (including a direction opposite to the conveying direction).
For example, when there is no side wall portion 24D in the space B described later (see FIG. 7), the direction is orthogonal to the conveying direction of the feeding conveyor 24A, and when the side wall portion 24D is present in the space B (see FIG. 8), A direction parallel to the transport direction of the conveyor 24A is preferable.

In this embodiment, the color video camera 14B is positioned obliquely upward, and the light source 14A, which is a fluorescent lamp, is positioned diagonally downward, so that they face each other and connect the color video camera 14B and the light source 14A. They are arranged so that the direction of inclination of the opposing line is orthogonal to the transport direction of the input conveyor 24A. The color identification device 17 receives an image signal from the video photographing device 14 in order to perform image processing for identifying a plastic bottle by its color.

Further, a color sorting / discharging section 15 is provided in the vicinity of the end of the conveying path of the discharge conveyor 24B. In the configuration of the transmission light imaging device 12 described above, the input conveyor 2
At the transfer section from 4A to the discharge conveyor 24B,
With the input conveyor 24A side at a high position, the discharge conveyor 24B
Since the side is located at the low position and the height difference A is provided between the two conveyors 24A and 24B, the object to be identified stably passes through the space B, and in the space B of the connecting portion,
The color video camera 14B can photograph an object to be identified by transmitted light without being disturbed by an obstacle, and a color image with excellent reliability can be obtained.

Here, the horizontal distance (see FIG. 4) of the space B required for photographing by the color video camera 14B is desirably a distance at which the entire image of the object can be photographed, but is too large. Since the object cannot be changed, the distance is generally in the range of 10 to 300 mm, preferably 20 to 150 mm, more preferably 50 mm.

For example, when there is a protrusion at the rear part such as a deformed plastic bottle, as shown in FIG. 5, when there is no height difference A between the input conveyor 24A and the discharge conveyor 24B, the sheet passes through the input conveyor 24A. After that, the protrusions 10A at the rear of the plastic bottle 10 are
A, 24B (space B), the discharge conveyor 24
He gets stuck on B and jumps up.

To prevent this, the charging conveyor 24A
In the transfer section from the conveyor to the discharge conveyor 24B, the input conveyor 24A is positioned at a high position, and the discharge conveyor 24B is positioned at a low position, and a height difference A is provided between the two conveyors 24A and 24B. The height difference A (see FIG. 4) is generally good in the range of 10 to 150 mm,
Preferably it is 20 to 90 mm, more preferably 30 mm.

In this case, the two conveyors 24A, 24B
Is preferably set in the range of 500 to 4000 mm / sec in the case of transporting plastic bottles. By specifying the height difference A between the two conveyors 24A and 24B, the space B of the connecting portion from the input conveyor 24A to the discharge conveyor 24B, and the conveyance speed of the two conveyors, the plastic bottle to be identified is more stable.
It is possible to prevent the rear portion of the deformed plastic bottle 10 that has been conveyed through the connecting portion and is flipped up.
However, rarely, as shown in FIG. 6, the plastic bottle 10 loses its support at the outlet end of the input conveyor 24A, and the tip of the plastic bottle 10 is inclined downward. The plastic bottle 10 may bounce after connecting.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the discharge conveyor 24B is disposed so as to be inclined such that the inlet end thereof is at a high position, and the angle between the tip of the plastic bottle 10 and the upper surface of the discharge conveyor 24B. If the difference is reduced, the behavior of the plastic bottle 10 after connecting is stabilized. That is, when the plastic bottle 10 transits from the input conveyor 24A to the discharge conveyor 24B, it draws a locus like a parabola and is transported in an aligned state.

Further, when both the input conveyor 24A and the output conveyor 24B are arranged at an inclination,
When the discharge conveyor 24B is disposed so as to be inclined such that the entrance end thereof is at a high position, and the input conveyor 24A is disposed so as to be inclined such that the exit end thereof is at a high position, the input conveyor 24A is also provided with an inclination angle. Therefore, the angle at which the tip of the plastic bottle 10 tilts downward becomes nearly horizontal, so that the tilt angle of the discharge conveyor 24B can be set small.

In this case, the inclination angle α (see FIG. 4) starting from the horizontal plane of the charging conveyor 24A is generally 0 to
Although it may be in the range of 20 degrees, preferably 2 to 20 degrees,
More preferably, it is 2 to 10 degrees, and still more preferably, 5 degrees. The inclination angle β of the discharge conveyor 24B starting from the horizontal plane (see FIG. 4) may be generally in the range of 0 to 30 degrees, preferably 2 to 30 degrees, more preferably 2 to 1 degrees.
5 degrees, more preferably 5 degrees.

Further, in order to stably transport the plastic bottle 10, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a side wall 24D is provided at least on the same side of the charging conveyor 24A and the discharging conveyor 24B. , The side wall 2
Elastic linear guide 24E is provided on the other side opposite to 4D.
Should be provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, a side wall 24D which connects the side walls 24D of the two conveyors 24A and 24B to each other in the space B of a connecting portion from the input conveyor 24A to the discharge conveyor 24B, and faces the side wall. And the elastic linear guide 24 located on the other side
E is preferably provided.

In this case, a side wall 24F for connecting the other side of each of the two conveyors 24A, 24B is provided.
An elastic linear guide 24E is provided on the inner surface of the side wall 24F. Thereby, at least the charging conveyor 2
4A and the side of the side wall 2 on the same side of the discharge conveyor 24B.
If the plastic bottle 10 to be identified is pressed against the side wall 24D by the elastic linear guide 24E and conveyed, even if the space B of the connecting portion does not have the side wall 24D, the bottle is kept in a stable state. When the plastic bottle 10 is transported in the connected state and the side wall 24D is not provided in the space B of the connecting portion, even if the opposing line connecting the color video camera 14B and the light source 14A is inclined with respect to the vertical line, an obstacle may be caused. Since there is no such thing, the positions where the color video camera 14B and the light source 14A are arranged can be selected to be optimal positions, and the degree of freedom of arrangement increases.

Further, in the space B of the connecting portion from the input conveyor 24A to the discharge conveyor 24B, the two conveyors 24
A and 24B are provided with a side wall portion 24D connecting the side wall portions 24D to each other, and an elastic linear guide 24E located on the other side opposite to the side wall portion 24D. Side wall 2 by guide 24E
When pressed against 4D and transited in the space B of the transit part, it can be transported while being aligned in a more stable state,
The orientation of the plastic bottle 10 suitable for transmitted light imaging for image processing can be maintained, and accurate color identification can be performed.

The elastic linear guide 24E is formed of, for example, a piano wire, and one end thereof is fixed to the side wall 24F by, for example, spot welding. By setting the distance D between the side wall portion 24D and the distal end of the elastic linear guide 24E smaller than the minimum width of the plastic bottle 10 as the object to be identified, the plastic bottle 10 is attached to the side wall portion 24D by the elastic linear guide 24E. It is pressed, transported in a stable state while being aligned, and in a posture suitable for transmitted light imaging for image processing, enabling accurate color identification.

The mounting interval of the elastic linear guide 24E is
Although it depends on the length of the plastic bottle 10 to be conveyed, 1
The range of 00 to 1000 mm is good, preferably 300 to
700 mm, more preferably 500 mm. In addition,
When the side wall 24D is not provided in the space B of the connecting portion from the input conveyor 24A to the discharging conveyor 24B, the mounting position is adjusted so that the distal end of the elastic linear guide 24E does not enter the space B of the connecting portion. There is a need.

The two conveyors 2 of the elastic linear guide 24E
The mounting height E of each of the belts 4A and 24B from each belt surface is shown in FIG.
When only one stage is mounted as in (B), generally,
It may be in the range of 250 mm, but preferably 10 to 2 mm.
00 mm, more preferably 70 mm. Further, a side wall portion 24D is provided in a space B of a connecting portion from the input conveyor 24A to the discharge conveyor 24B, and the side wall portion 24D is mounted so that the base end of the elastic linear guide 24E is located in the space B (the elastic linear shape on the right side in FIG. 8). In the case of the guide 24E), the mounting height E is set to the above value based on the belt surface of the input conveyor 24A.

When the elastic linear guide 24E is attached only one step up and down, the crushed plastic bottle 10 or the small plastic bottle 10 sometimes jumps or rolls over the elastic linear guide 24E. However, when the elastic linear guide 24E is mounted in multiple stages as shown in FIG. 7C, such a phenomenon can be avoided. When the elastic linear guides 24E are mounted in multiple stages vertically, the mounting height E of the uppermost elastic linear guides 24E from the belt surfaces of the conveyors 24A and 24B is set to the value described above.
What is necessary is just to provide a space | interval up and down suitably and to attach. It is not necessary to provide the elastic linear guides 24E in all of the upper and lower stages, and the first elastic linear guide 2 on the inlet end side of the feeding conveyor 24A is required.
4E may be provided in alternate stages as multiple stages.

The dimension C (see FIGS. 7 and 8) of the component of the elastic linear guide 24E in the transport direction depends on the length of the plastic bottle 10 to be transported, both in the case of the upper and lower stages and in the case of one stage. , 10 to 700 mm, preferably 300 to 600 mm, more preferably 600 mm. It is desirable that the distance D (see FIGS. 7 and 8) between the side wall portion 24D and the distal end of the elastic linear guide 24E be smaller than the minimum width of the plastic bottle 10 in both the upper and lower stages and the single stage. But generally between 5 and 200
The range of mm is good, preferably 10 to 100 mm, more preferably 30 mm.

The mounting angle γ of the elastic linear guide 24E to the side wall portion 24F (see FIGS. 7 and 8) is 1 to 90 degrees with respect to the conveying direction in the case of the upper and lower multi-stages and the single stage. Any range is acceptable, but it is preferably in the range of 30 to 60 degrees, and more preferably 20 degrees. When the elastic linear guide 24E is bent inward on the way, the elastic force of the elastic linear guide 24E acts well, and the elastic linear guide 24E is bent.
The tip of E firmly holds the plastic bottle 10 as the object to be identified, and is transported in a more stable state.

The elastic linear guide 24E and the conveyor 24A,
The angle δ between the belt 24B and the belt surface (see FIGS. 7 and 8) is generally 1 in the case of the above-mentioned upper and lower stages and in the case of a single stage.
The range is preferably 100 to 100 degrees, preferably 30 to 90 degrees, and more preferably 80 degrees. In addition, the space B at the connecting portion from the input conveyor 24A to the discharge conveyor 24B.
A side wall portion 24D is provided in the space B, and the elastic linear guide 24 is provided in the space B.
When mounting is performed so that the base end of E is located (the elastic linear guide 24E on the right side in FIG. 8), the angle δ is set to the above value with reference to the belt surface of the charging conveyor 24A.

The side wall portion 24D is preferably made of stainless steel.
A resin such as plastic may be used. Further, as a material constituting the elastic linear guide 24E, preferably, a piano wire can be adopted. As the material of the piano wire, JIS G 3502
Various types of carbon steel specified in "Piano wire" and the like can be used. As the elastic linear guide 24E, a flexible wire substantially equivalent to a piano wire, for example, a wire made of a welding rod, spring steel, or the like may be used, and “JIS G 3507 carbon steel wire for cold heading”, “JIS G 3506 hard steel wire ”is also good. Further, a wire made of resin such as plastic may be used. Also,
The shape is not particularly limited, and the cross-sectional shape may be a square shape such as a quadrangle, but preferably the cross-sectional shape is a circular shape.

When the elastic linear guide 24E has a circular cross section, the diameter thereof is preferably 0.5 to 4 mm, and more preferably about 2 to 3 mm. When a plastic plate is used to mount the elastic linear guide 24E made of a piano wire as the side wall 24F to which the elastic linear guide 24E is attached, a gap 24J is provided in the side wall 24F as shown in FIG. The elastic linear guide 24E may be inserted through 24J, and the outer end may be fixed with the bolt 24G and the washer 24H.

Next, the video photographing device 14, the color identification device 1
The specific configuration of the color separation device 7 and the color selection and discharge device 16 will be described. That is, in FIG. 2, a light source 14A is provided in a light source unit 26A connected to a control panel 25 to be described later via a power cable 26a, and a color video camera 14B is provided.
Is connected to the color identification device 17 via the camera cable 26b.

Then, the light from the light source 14A is applied to the plastic bottle 10, and this plastic bottle 1
The transmitted light from 0 is captured by the color video camera 14B. The identification signal from the color identification device 17 is input to a sequencer 27 described later. A monitor 28 is connected to the color identification device 17.

As shown in FIG. 2, the color sorting / discharging device 16 includes a control panel 25 having a built-in sequencer 27 to which an identification signal from the color identification device 17 is input, and an operation panel connected to the control panel 25. 29 and a plurality (for example, four) in parallel with one end of the discharge conveyor 24B along the transport path.
And an air jet nozzle 30 provided.

In this case, the control signal from the sequencer 27 is output to an electromagnetic valve 30A as opening / closing means for opening / closing an air passage of a predetermined air jet nozzle 30 according to the identified color of the plastic bottle 10 described later. It has become. Here, the color sorting / discharging section 15 is partitioned by each partition plate 15A on the side opposite to the air jet nozzle 30 across the end of the conveyance path of the discharge conveyor 24B so as to face each air jet nozzle 30. In addition, a plurality (for example, four) are provided in parallel along the transport path, and a collection box (not shown) is movably installed in each color selection and discharge unit 15. The color sorting / discharging section 15
The partition plate 15A may be fixed in contact with the discharge conveyor 24B, or may be provided near the discharge conveyor 24B at a slight distance from the discharge conveyor 24B. Although not shown, a chute (not shown) is provided above the color sorting / discharging section 15 so that the plastic bottle 10 which is blown off does not scatter to the side, but falls into the collection box in the color sorting / discharging section 15 accurately. I try to make it.

Next, the color identification sequence of the plastic 10 will be described. The photoelectric switch 31 provided at the outlet end of the charging conveyor 24A is connected to the plastic bottle 10.
Is kept ON while passing through the opposing line connecting the color video camera 14B and the light source 14A. While the photoelectric switch 31 is ON, that is, while the photoelectric switch 31 is detecting the plastic bottle 10, the color identification device 17
Is, for example, one plastic bottle every 1/60 second
A color determination of 0 is performed, and the color determination data is stored.

When the photoelectric switch 31 is turned off,
That is, the photoelectric switch 31 is connected to the plastic bottle 10.
Is no longer detected, the color identification device 17 finally determines the color of the plastic bottle 10 from the accumulated color determination data. As a method of finally determining the color from the color determination data, for example, assuming that the time from when the photoelectric switch 31 is switched from ON to OFF is 1 second, the color determination data is converted to the color identification device 1.
7 accumulates 60 times.

For example, of the 60 times, 10
If the number of times is the color discrimination data of the color A and the number of times is the color discrimination data of the color B, the color discrimination device 17 finally decides and discriminates the color B of which the color discrimination data is large. In addition, if there are 40 times that the transmitted light cannot be determined due to the paper or dirt or the like affixed to the front surface among the data accumulated 60 times, and the data cannot be determined, the color identification device 17 uses the 40 times. Is excluded from the judgment material,
A color is finally determined and determined from the remaining 20 color determination data. For example, if the color discrimination data of the color A is five times and the color discrimination data of the color B is 15 times out of the 20 times, the color discrimination device 17 finally decides the color B of which the color discrimination data is large. .

The color discriminating apparatus 1 which has determined the color in this way.
7 outputs a color determination signal to the sequencer 27. The sequencer 27 to which the color discrimination signal is input receives the color discrimination signal, and after a predetermined time corresponding to the color type indicated by the color discrimination signal, the air jet nozzle corresponding to the color type indicated by the color discrimination signal Solenoid valve 30A that opens and closes the air passage 30
And outputs an open signal for a predetermined time.

The predetermined time corresponding to the type of color indicated by the color discrimination signal after receiving the color discrimination signal corresponds to the type of color indicated by the color discrimination signal by fixing the discharge conveyor 24B at a constant speed. This is a time that is artificially set in the sequencer 27 in advance for each type of color indicated by the color determination signal so that the plastic bottle 10 determined by the air jet from the air jet nozzle 30 can be blown off.

Therefore, when the color discriminating signal from the color discriminating device 17 is input, the sequencer 27 determines in advance the color discriminating signal indicating the color kind of the plastic bottle 10 corresponding to the color kind of the plastic bottle 10. A predetermined air jet nozzle 30 is selected, and after a predetermined time for each color discrimination signal, an open signal is output to a solenoid valve 30A for opening and closing the air passage of the air jet nozzle 30 for a predetermined time. An air jet is jetted from the jet nozzle 30 for a predetermined time, and only the discriminated plastic bottle 10 is blown off. The plastic bottle 10
Is blown off toward the color sorting / discharging unit 15 corresponding to the determined color of the plastic bottle 10, discharged to the color sorting / discharging unit 15, and collected in a collection box in the color sorting / discharging unit 15.

Next, the operation of the color selection device having such a configuration will be described. The plastic bottle 10 is mounted on the chute 1 provided in the article input section 19 of the turntable body 23.
9A is dropped and supplied to the inside of the article input section 19. The loaded plastic bottle 10 is conveyed along the rectifying guide 21 by the clockwise rotation of the turntable main body 23, and reaches the article discharge unit 20.

Here, the rectifying guide 21 is connected to the article input section 1.
Plastic bottles 10 put together in large numbers in 9
Are arranged in a line, and are arranged one by one in the direction of the plastic bottle 10 so as to be conveyed one by one to the subsequent feeding conveyor 24A. This function has been clarified in Japanese Patent Application No. 9-2431934 filed earlier by the present applicant.
Here, the description is omitted.

The function of the rectifying guide 21 allows the plastic bottle 1 inserted into the article input section 19 to be inserted.
0 is gradually oriented in one row, and the plastic bottle 10 conveyed more than necessary is placed in the central opening 22.
It is dropped and dropped into the dropping part consisting of. The plastic bottle 10 dropped and removed by the dropping portion falls onto a return conveyor 32 installed below the central opening 22.

Further, by the action of the rectifying guide 21,
Finally, the input conveyor 24 at the subsequent stage from the article discharge article 20
The plastic bottles 10 to be sent to A are aligned in one row. The plastic bottle 10 discharged from the article discharge section 20 of the turntable main body 23 is supplied to a charging conveyor 24A via a chute. This charging conveyor 24
The transport speed of A is set higher than the speed of the plastic bottle 10 discharged from the turntable main body 23, and the stagnation of the plastic bottle 10 that is successively charged into the charging conveyor 24A is prevented.

The plastic bottle 10 transits from the input conveyor 24A to the discharge conveyor 24B, passes through the video photographing device 14 provided in the space B of the transit section, and, as described above, the plastic identifying device 17 Is conveyed to the subsequent color sorting and discharging unit 15 side. Here, as described above, the color identification device 17 that has identified the color outputs a color identification signal to the sequencer 27.

Sequencer 2 to which this color discrimination signal is input
7 is an air jet nozzle 30 corresponding to the color type indicated by the color discrimination signal, after a time set in the sequencer 27 artificially in advance for each color type indicated by the color discrimination signal after receiving the color discrimination signal. Solenoid valve 30 for opening and closing the air passage
And outputs an open signal for a predetermined time. Therefore, the determined plastic bottle 10 is placed in the discharge conveyor 24B.
While being conveyed to the downstream side, it is blown off by the air jet from the air jet nozzle 30 toward the color selection / discharge unit 15 corresponding to the identified color, discharged to the color selection / discharge unit 15, and collected in the collection box. You.

In the above embodiment, the sequencer 27 to which the color discrimination signal is input sends an open signal to the solenoid valve 30A that opens and closes the air passage of the air jet nozzle 30 corresponding to the color type of the color discrimination signal. Although the starting point of the output timing is the time point when the color discrimination signal is received, the starting point may be the time point when the photoelectric switch 31 is turned off. This is because the predetermined time may be determined according to the starting point.

In the above-described embodiment, the discharge conveyor 24B is fixed at a constant speed as a predetermined time corresponding to the type of color indicated by the color discrimination signal after receiving the color discrimination signal. Although the plastic bottle 10 determined by the air jet from the air jet nozzle 30 corresponding to the color type is blown off, the time is set artificially in advance in the sequencer 27 for each color type indicated by the color determination signal. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is calculated from a transfer speed signal from a speed sensor such as an encoder provided in the transmitted light imaging device 12 and a distance to the position of the specific air jet nozzle 30 corresponding to the type of the color determination signal. May be.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the example of the photoelectric switch 31 is shown as the detecting means provided at a predetermined position of the transmitted light photographing device 12 and detecting the presence of the plastic 10, but the ultrasonic detecting means, the television camera, etc. May be used. In the above embodiment,
Although the belt conveyor has been described as an example of the return conveyor 32, the input conveyor 24A, and the discharge conveyor 24B, a roller conveyor may be used.
Anything can be used as long as 0 can be conveyed without changing the posture.

In the above-described embodiment, the collection box is provided in the color selection / discharge unit 15 to collect the plastic bottles 10. However, the collection box is discarded and, for example, the plastic bottle 10 subjected to the color selection is subjected to the next processing. A chute or a conveyor for conveying to the process may be provided. In the above embodiment, the color video camera 14B is positioned obliquely upward, and the light source 14A made of a fluorescent lamp is positioned diagonally downward, and they are opposed to each other. May be directly above or below the space B of the connecting portion. In that case, the color video camera 14B or the light source 1
It is preferable to send the wind continuously or intermittently from the side so that dust from the charging conveyor does not fall and accumulate in 4A.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which the input conveyor 24A is connected immediately after the aligning device 11 or the color selection and discharge section 15 is provided near the end of the conveying path of the discharge conveyor 24B. It is a matter of course that another conveying means may be provided between the aligning device 11 and the input conveyor 24A or between the discharge conveyor 24B and the color selection / discharge unit 15.

In the above embodiment, the article is
Although the example in which the color selection of the plastic bottle 10 is applied has been described, the invention may be applied to the color selection of other articles.

[0074]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
According to the transmitted light photographing apparatus for color identification according to the above, a space is provided between the input conveyor that conveys the object to be identified and the discharge conveyor that sends out the object to form a connecting portion of the object to be identified. At the same time, in the transfer section, the input conveyor side is positioned at a high position, the discharge conveyor side is positioned at a low position, a height difference is provided between the two conveyors, and transmission light imaging is performed in the space of the transfer section. One of the color video camera and the light source is located above and the other is located below, and the two are placed facing each other, so that the object to be identified can stably pass through the space of the transit part. In addition, the color video camera can photograph the object to be identified by the transmitted light without being disturbed by obstacles in the space of the connecting portion, and a highly reliable color image can be obtained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, one of the color video camera and the light source is positioned diagonally upward and the other is positioned diagonally downward in the space of the connecting portion, so that the lower color collar is positioned. Video camera or the light source,
No trash etc. from the input conveyor will fall and accumulate,
A color image with excellent reliability can be obtained for a long time without changing the color tone due to the influence of dust or the like.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the opposing line connecting the color video camera and the light source disposed in the space of the transit portion is at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical line. Further, a color image having excellent reliability can be obtained for a long time without changing the color tone due to the influence of dust or the like. According to the invention according to claim 4, the plastic bottle, which is the object to be identified, can be transported through the connecting portion in a more stable state, and the plastic bottle can be accurately photographed by the transmitted light, and more reliable. And a color image excellent in image quality can be obtained.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, at least the discharge conveyor of the input conveyor and the discharge conveyor is arranged at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical plane so that the entrance end thereof is at a higher position, so that the object to be identified can be identified. It can be transported in a more stable state. In particular, when both the input conveyor and the discharge conveyor are arranged at an angle, the discharge conveyor does not need to be arranged at a large angle, and can be arranged almost horizontally as a whole, facilitating the transport of the object to be identified. It can be carried out.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to transfer from the input conveyor to the discharge conveyor and stably convey the object in a more stable state. According to the invention according to claim 7, a side wall is provided at least on the same side of the input conveyor and the discharge conveyor, and the object to be identified is pressed against the side wall by the elastic linear guide and conveyed. Even if there is no side wall portion in the space portion of the connecting portion, the object to be identified is transferred in a stable state while being aligned, and if there is no side wall portion in the space portion of the connecting portion, the color video camera and the light source There is no obstacle even if the opposing line connecting to the vertical line is inclined with respect to the vertical line, so that the position for disposing the color video camera and the light source can be selected at an optimum position, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in arrangement.

According to the invention of claim 8, in the space of the connecting portion from the charging conveyor to the discharging conveyor, the side wall portion connecting the side wall portions of both conveyors, and the side wall portion facing the side wall portion are provided. An elastic linear guide positioned on the other side is provided, and the interval between the side wall of the space and the distal end of the elastic linear guide is set smaller than the minimum width of the object. Since it is pressed against the side wall by the elastic linear guide and is transported by transit through the space of the transit part, it can be transported while being aligned in a more stable state,
Accurate color discrimination can be performed while maintaining the posture of the discrimination object suitable for transmitted light imaging for image processing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a color selection device to which a transmitted light imaging device for color identification according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a color selection mechanism including a color identification device, a transmitted light imaging device, a color selection / discharge unit, and a color selection / discharge device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3A is a front view of the transmitted light imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment,
(B) is the side view

FIG. 4 is a front view for explaining dimensions of each part of the transmitted light photographing apparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a front view for explaining a problem in transporting a plastic bottle.

FIG. 6 is a front view for explaining a problem when transporting a plastic bottle.

FIG. 7A is a plan view showing an embodiment in which a side wall portion is provided on the same side of the input conveyor S discharge conveyor and an elastic linear guide is provided on the other side, and FIG. (A) is a sectional view taken along the arrow FF in (A), and (C) is a sectional view taken along GG in (A).

FIG. 8A is a plan view showing an embodiment in which a side wall portion and an elastic linear guide are provided in a space of a connecting portion from an input conveyor to an output conveyor, and FIG. 8B is an HH arrow in FIG. Sectional view

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an embodiment in which a side wall portion to which an elastic linear guide is attached is made of resin.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing an identification device such as a plastic bottle to which a conventional transmitted light imaging device is applied.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the transmitted light imaging device, in which (A) is a plan view and (B) is a side view.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 plastic bottle 12 transmitted light photographing device 14 video photographing device 14A light source 14B color video camera 24A input conveyor 24B discharge conveyor A height difference B space

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Masaki Mori 1-9-3 Kamata Honcho, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside the Niigata Ironworks Engineering Center Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masanori Ishii 1 Kamata-Honcho, Ota-ku, Tokyo No. 9-3 Niigata Ironworks Engineering Center (72) Inventor Toshihiko Tsuchida 1-9-3 Kamata Honcho, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Niigata Ironworks Engineering Center (72) Inventor Kubono Itsuo Niigata Ironworks Engineering Center, 1-9-3 Kamata Honcho, Ota-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Mitsuru Hamano 27-1, Shinisogocho, Isogo-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Niigata Ironworks Development Center Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroaki Ogura 27-1 Shinisogo-cho, Isogo-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Niigata Iron Works Development Center Co., Ltd.

Claims (8)

[Claims] A space is provided between an input conveyor for transporting an object to be identified and a discharge conveyor for sending the object to be identified, thereby forming a connecting portion of the object to be identified. The conveyor side is positioned at a high position, the discharge conveyor side is positioned at a low position, and a height difference is provided between the two conveyors, while the transmitted light photographing is performed in the space at the connecting portion from the input conveyor to the discharge conveyor. A transmitted light photographing apparatus for color identification, characterized in that one of a color video camera and a light source for performing the operation is positioned above and the other is positioned below, and the two are arranged to face each other. 2. The color video camera and one of the light sources are positioned obliquely upward and the other diagonally downward in the space of the transfer section from the input conveyor to the discharge conveyor, and the two are relatively positioned. 2. The transmitted light photographing apparatus for color identification according to claim 1, wherein the transmitted light photographing apparatus is arranged to face. 3. An opposed line connecting the color video camera and a light source disposed in the space at a connecting portion from the input conveyor to the discharge conveyor is 20 to 85 degrees with respect to a vertical line. 3. A transmitted light photographing apparatus for color identification according to claim 2. 4. The object to be identified is a plastic bottle, the height difference between the two conveyors is in the range of 10 to 150 mm, and the horizontal distance of the space of the connecting portion from the input conveyor to the discharge conveyor is 10 to 300 mm. The transmitted light photographing apparatus for color identification according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the conveying speed of the two conveyors is set in a range of 500 to 4000 mm / sec. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a discharge conveyor of the input conveyor and the discharge conveyor is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a horizontal plane so that an inlet end thereof is at a higher position. A transmitted light imaging device for color identification as described. 6. The inclination angle of the discharge conveyor starting from the horizontal plane is set in the range of 2 to 30 degrees, and the inclination angle of the input conveyor starting from the horizontal plane is 0.
6. The angle is set within a range of about 20 degrees.
A transmitted light imaging device for color identification as described. 7. A side wall portion is provided at least on the same side of the input conveyor and the discharge conveyor, and an elastic linear guide is provided on the other side opposite to the side wall portion. 2. The distance between the portion and the tip of the elastic linear guide is set smaller than the minimum width of the object to be identified.
7. A transmitted light photographing apparatus for color identification according to any one of the above-mentioned items. 8. A space in a connecting portion from the input conveyor to the discharge conveyor, a side wall portion connecting the side wall portions of both conveyors, and a side wall portion facing the side wall portion and located on the other side. An elastic linear guide that is provided, wherein a distance between a side wall of the space and a tip of the elastic linear guide is set to be smaller than a minimum width of the object to be identified. Light imaging device for