JPH1159877A - Article inspecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely inspect the whole peripheral surface of an article by providing an inspecting part for inspecting an article with a placing part for placing an article, and providing an inclining means for inclining the placing part at an angle of inclination for tilting an article placed in the placing part. SOLUTION: An article inspecting device 1 is disposed in an inspecting part set on a first conveyer 2. The article inspecting device 1 inclines a support plate 12 which is a placing part forming the first conveyer 2 at an arbitrary angle to reverse the fruits A placed between the support plates 12, and then the fruits A is horizontally rotated by a rotating machine 3 disposed at the inclination side. Simultaneously the whole peripheral surface of each fruit A by image pick-up cameras 30-33 of a judging device, and according to the image data of imaging, the grades of the fruits A are determined by the judging device. According to the determination, the fruits A are sorted by each grade to the conveyers arranged in the sorting parts (a)-(g).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to fruit and vegetables such as oranges, apples, watermelons, pears, persimmons, peaches and potatoes, or substantially balls such as balls for tennis, soccer, baseball and table tennis. The present invention relates to an article inspection apparatus used for inspecting an article having a shape or a substantially elliptical shape.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method of inspecting fruit vegetables as in the above-mentioned example, as shown in FIG. 14, for example, as shown in FIG. There is a method in which an image is taken from above at 42 and the outer peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A is inspected based on the taken image data to determine an equal class.

[0003]

However, since the upper peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A is imaged from above by the imaging camera 42 as described above, for example, discoloration, decay, damage, scars, and the like may occur in the lower part of the fruit and vegetable A. Even on the peripheral surface (back side), the lower peripheral surface (back side) of the fruit and vegetable product A cannot be imaged by the imaging camera 42, and it is difficult to find it. Cannot be inspected.

[0006] As another inspection method, as shown in FIG. 15, fruit and vegetables A are transferred from a front conveyor 43 to a rear conveyor 44.
Is imaged from above with the imaging camera 45. At the same time, conveyor 4
There is a method in which the lower peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A is imaged by the imaging camera 45 through the mirror bodies 46 and 46 disposed on both lower sides between the opposed ends of the fruit and vegetable A. Since the transfer speed is high and the imaging area of the lower peripheral surface is small, it is difficult to inspect the entire peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A, and there is a problem that the inspection operation cannot be performed accurately.

In view of the above problems, the present invention rolls an article placed on a placing section or a conveyor belt in an inclined direction, and horizontally rotates the article rolled on the inclined side edge. It is an object of the present invention to provide an article inspection apparatus capable of reliably inspecting the entire peripheral surface and performing inspection and sorting operations accurately.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
An inspection unit for inspecting an article is provided with a placement unit on which the article is placed, and an inclination unit for inclining the placement unit at an angle at which the article placed on the placement unit is rolled. It is a featured article inspection device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the placing section is constituted by a transport band for transporting the article in a line in a feed direction.
It is an article inspection apparatus provided with a transport surface of the transport band that can be inclined with respect to the width direction.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in combination with the first or second aspect of the present invention, the side peripheral surface of the article is positioned close to the inclined side edge of the placing section or the transporting band. And an article inspection apparatus provided with rotation imparting means for imparting rotation in a direction in which the article is horizontally rotated.

[0009]

In the article inspection apparatus according to the first aspect, the mounting section is inclined by the inclining means, and the article mounted on the mounting section is rolled (for example, upside down) in the inclination direction, and Since the peripheral surface is inspected (for example, inspection means such as visual inspection with an operator's eyes, imaging with an imaging camera, and inspection), it is possible to reliably inspect both the front and back surfaces of the article, and perform inspection and sorting work of the article. Can be performed accurately. Or discoloration, decay, damage, scars,
The inspection accuracy can be improved by irradiating the article with a light ray (for example, ultraviolet ray, infrared ray, X-ray, or the like) that makes it easy to find the floating skin or the like.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the first aspect, the conveying surface of the conveying belt is inclined in the width direction by the inclination means, and the articles placed on the conveying belt are inclined. Since the roller is rolled in the direction and the peripheral surface of the article is inspected, both the front and back surfaces of the article can be reliably inspected. In addition, since the article placed on the conveyance belt is turned over while being conveyed,
The work of inspecting the front and back surfaces of the article can be performed continuously, and the efficiency of the inspection work can be improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the first or second aspect, the article inspection apparatus rolls the fruits and vegetables placed on the placing section or the transporting belt in the tilting direction and tilts the fruits and vegetables. Since the rotation is given to the side peripheral surface of the article rolled to the side edge by the rotation imparting means, and the article is horizontally rotated to change the direction (for example, left and right or front and rear are reversed), The entire peripheral surface of the article (for example, the front and back surfaces, left and right, and front and rear peripheral surfaces) can be reliably inspected. In addition, by turning the product upside down and rotating it horizontally while transporting the article, the inspection of the entire peripheral surface of the article can be continuously performed, and the efficiency of the inspection operation can be improved.

[0012]

According to the present invention, after the articles placed on the placing section or the transport belt are rolled in the inclined direction and turned upside down, the articles rolled on the inclined side edges are horizontally rotated. Therefore, it is possible to inspect both the front and back surfaces and the side peripheral surface of the article, and it is possible to reliably perform the operation of inspecting the entire peripheral surface of the article. For example, by visually inspecting the peripheral surface of the article with the eyes of an operator and imaging and inspecting the peripheral surface of the article with an imaging camera, discoloration, decay, damage, scars, etc. may be found on a part of the peripheral surface of the article. However, it is possible to surely find the product and perform the inspection work and the sorting work of the articles accurately.

In addition, since the article placed on the conveyance belt is turned and turned and rotated horizontally while conveying the article, the trouble and time required to temporarily stop and inspect the article as in the conventional example can be saved, and both sides of the article can be omitted. In addition, the operation of inspecting the side peripheral surface can be continuously performed, and the efficiency of the inspection operation and the sorting operation can be improved.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The drawings show, as an example of an article, an article inspection apparatus of a first embodiment used for inspection and sorting of fruit and vegetables, and in FIGS. 1 and 2, this article inspection apparatus 1
The inspection unit B set on the first conveyor 2 is disposed
The support plates 12 constituting the conveyor 2 are inclined at an arbitrary angle, the fruits and vegetables A placed between the support plates 12 are turned upside down, and then the fruits and vegetables A are rotated by the rotating machine 3 arranged on the inclined side. Rotate horizontally. At the same time, the entire peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A is imaged by the imaging cameras 30 to 33 of the judging device 4, and the class of the fruit and vegetable A is judged by the judging device 4 based on the taken image data.
When the inspected fruit and vegetables A are transported to the sorting units a to g set on the first conveyor 2, the second conveyors 5 arranged in the sorting units a to g based on the determination by the determination device 4.
This is a configuration in which fruit and vegetables A are sorted by class.

The above-mentioned first conveyor 2 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the support plates 12 arranged in a keyboard shape
..., the fruit and vegetable A transported to the inspection unit B is turned upside down. By swinging the support plates 12 to the release position, the fruits and vegetables A are released to the sorting units a to g for each grade. The support plate 12 is formed in a shape (for example, a V-shape or a concave shape) that gradually increases from the center mounting surface to the both end mounting surfaces, and is mounted from the center to the free end. Face, fruit vegetable A
Is formed to a length that allows the front and back to be inverted. Further, for example, an endless belt 10 composed of a chain, a belt, or the like is stretched on the side of the transport path in parallel with the feeding direction, and a support plate 12 is attached to a mounting member 11 fixed to the transport side edge of the endless belt 10. Is pivotally movable up and down in a direction perpendicular to the feed direction,
The supporting plate 12 is connected to the fruit vegetable A with respect to the entire length of the endless belt 10.
Are mounted at a distance from each other before and after mounting. The endless belt 10 is rotated in the feed direction by a circling motor with a speed reducer (not shown) disposed on the side, and the support plates 12 are circulated in the feed direction and placed between the support plates 12. The fruit and vegetable A is transported to the inspection section B and the sorting sections a to g.

Locking lever 11 pivotally attached to mounting member 11
a is pivoted in a direction in which it is locked and unlocked with respect to the pivot-side end of the support plate 12, and the locking lever 11 a is locked to the pivot-side end of the support plate 12. Then, the support plate 12 is swung and fixed in a horizontal posture in which the fruit product A is placed. When the lock is released, the support plate 12 is allowed to swing to a release position in which the fruit and vegetables A are rolled and discharged diagonally downward. Based on the determination by the determination device 4 described later, the sorter 13 disposed in the sorting units a to g is operated to release the locking by the locking lever 11a, whereby the support plate 12 is swung to the release position. You. On the other hand, when the support plate 12 is reciprocated along a guide member (not shown) provided on the return path side and returns to the horizontal posture, the locking lever 11a is engaged with the pivot-side end of the support plate 12. It is fixed. Further, for example, the support plate 12 may be returned to the horizontal posture by a spring, its own weight, or the like.

At the upper right side of the inspection section B, a mounting member 11 is provided.
A lock release member 14 for releasing the lock by the lock lever 11a is provided in parallel with the feed direction at a height position where the lock lever 11a comes into contact with the lock lever 11a. When the support plate 12 on which the fruit and vegetable A is placed is horizontally moved to the inspection section B, the locking release member 14 locks the locking lever 1 of the mounting member 11.
1a, and the locking by the locking lever 11a is released, so that the fruit and vegetable A rolls (for example, about 180 degrees).
Are pivoted to an angle at which is allowed. In addition,
The locking of the locking lever 11a may be released by the sorter 13 described later.

On the lower left side, the fruit and vegetable A is allowed to be turned upside down over the entire length from immediately before to immediately after the inspection part B, and the fruit and vegetable A is pressed against a rotation imparting belt 23 of the rotating machine 2 described later. A swing regulating member 15 for regulating the swing of the support plate 12 at an angle is provided in parallel with the feed direction. The swing regulating member 15 is installed at a height position at which the above-mentioned support plate 12 is swing regulated at a predetermined angle, releases the locking by the locking lever 11a, and rolls the fruit vegetable A (for example, about 180
When the support plate 12 is swung in a direction in which the angle of the support plate 12 is allowed, the support plate 12 is brought into contact with the lower end of the support plate 12 to regulate its angle. In addition, the end side of the inclination restricting member 15 is installed so as to be gradually higher with respect to the feed direction, and the support plate 12, which is circulated in the feed direction, is returned to a horizontal state and pivotally attached to the support plate 12. Locking lever 11a against side end
Is locked by rocking.

The rotating machine 3 described above is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 7, when the support plate 12 of the transport conveyor is arranged at the left side of the inspection unit B and is inclined at an arbitrary angle,
The rotation of the rotation imparting belt 23 is applied to the side peripheral surface of the fruit vegetable A placed between the support plates 12 to horizontally rotate. The rotation imparting belt 23 has a height at the free end side of the support plates 12 inclined at an arbitrary angle and pressed against the side peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A placed between the support plates 12. And at a distance close to the gap, and is stretched in parallel with the circumferential direction of the support plates 12. The pressure contact surface of the rotation imparting belt 23 is, for example, a synthetic rubber (urethane rubber, sponge rubber).
It is covered or formed by a member having a moderate flexibility and a large contact resistance such as, and when the fruit and vegetable A is pressed, it is deformed into a shape corresponding to the side peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A, and the contact area and the contact resistance are large. Therefore, the vegetable A can be surely horizontally rotated. Further, the rotation imparting belt 23 is supported between the rolls 24, 24 pivotally supported at the start end and the end, and the roll 2
Stretched on the belt guide 25 installed between 4, 24,
The belt guide 25 circulates and guides the position and the angle at which the fruit vegetable A is pressed against the side peripheral surface.

A rotation motor 26 with a speed reducer disposed at one end is directly connected to a roll 24 pivotally supported on the same side, and rotates the rotation imparting belt 23 in a direction opposite to the circumferential direction of the support plates 12. For example, low-speed rotation or high-speed rotation) or rotation stop. The fruits and vegetables A placed between the support plates 12 are conveyed in the feed direction while being pressed against the rotation imparting belt 23, so that the rotation force and contact resistance of the rotation imparting belt 23
When the fruit vegetables A are horizontally rotated in the direction of the arrow (for example, about 90 degrees to about 360 degrees) and the support plates 12 are rotated back to the horizontal state, the fruit vegetables A are in a state in which the left and right or front and rear directions are reversed.
Can be turned around. In addition, the rotation imparting belt 2
3 may be rotated at a high speed (more than the feed speed) in a direction coinciding with the circumferential direction of the support plates 12, so that the rotation speed of the fruit and vegetable A can be reduced.

As another rotation method, as shown in FIG.
On the left side of the inspection section B, a support plate 1 constituting the first conveyor
2. The rotation applying pad 27 is inclined near the free end side of 2 ...
The fruit vegetables A placed between the support plates 12 are conveyed in the feed direction while being pressed against the rotation applying pad 27, whereby the fruit vegetables A are horizontally rotated by the contact resistance of the rotation applying pad 27, and the same as described above. The direction of the fruit and vegetable A can be changed.

As shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of rotation applying rollers 28 are arranged on the left side of the inspection section B in the vicinity of the free ends of the support plates 12 constituting the first conveyor 2. The sprocket 29
a and the drive chain 29b, the rotation imparting rollers 28 are synchronously rotated in a direction coinciding with or facing the circumferential direction of the support plates 12, and the fruit vegetables A placed between the support plates 12 are rotated. By conveying in the feed direction while pressing against the applying rollers 28, the fruit vegetables A are horizontally rotated by the rotational force and the contact resistance of the rotation applying rollers 28, and the fruit vegetables A can be changed in direction as described above. it can.

As shown in FIG. 2, the above-described determination device 4 includes a rotating machine 3 on an inspection section B set on the first conveyor 2.
The imaging camera 30 is arranged facing the upper peripheral surface (front side peripheral surface) of the fruit vegetable A before the horizontal rotation by the camera, and the imaging camera 31 is arranged facing the right peripheral surface of the fruit vegetable A. I have. On the rear side, an imaging camera 32 is disposed facing the upper peripheral surface (back side peripheral surface) of the fruit and vegetable A after the horizontal rotation by the rotating machine 3,
An imaging camera 33 is arranged to face the left peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A. The imaging cameras 30 and 32 are disposed substantially directly above or obliquely above the upper peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A, and the imaging cameras 31 and 33 are disposed obliquely to the left and right peripheral surfaces of the fruit and vegetable A. It is arranged in. Further, a plurality of floodlights 34 such as a halogen lamp, an ultraviolet lamp, and the like are provided so as to face the upper peripheral surface and the left and right peripheral surfaces of the fruit and vegetable product A imaged by the imaging cameras 30 to 33. I have. Floodlight 34
Irradiates inspection light such as ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, X-rays and the like to the outer peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A, thereby facilitating discovery of discoloration, decay, damage, scars, floating skin, and the like.

The imaging cameras 30 to 33 are, for example, CC
It is composed of imaging means such as a D camera and a picture element (CCD),
As shown in FIG. 1, it is connected to an apparatus main body 4a for judging the rank of fruit and vegetable A and a monitor 4b for displaying an image of fruit and vegetable A. The apparatus main body 4a compares the image data of the entire fruit vegetable A captured by the imaging cameras 30 to 33 with the previously stored grade data, and compares the grade data (e.g., color, sugar content, scratches, decay, Diameter, shape, height,
Width, volume, flatness, maturity, rotting condition, floating skin condition, non-specification that does not correspond to the class) are determined, and based on the determination, the second conveyors 5 arranged in the sorting units a to g are determined. On the other hand, fruits and vegetables A are sorted by rank.

A sorting device 13 (for example, an actuator such as a solenoid, a cylinder, a motor, etc.) is provided in each of the sorting portions a to g so as to face the locking lever 11a of the mounting member 11 constituting the first conveyor 2. doing. Sorter 1
As shown in FIG. 6, when the fruit vegetables A are transported to the sorting units a to g corresponding to the determination by the determination device 4, the fruit vegetables A are independently operated based on the determination, and the fruit vegetables A are placed. By swinging only the support plates 12 to the release position, the second conveyor 5
To release fruit vegetables A. When the fruit or vegetable A different from the judgment is conveyed, the sorter 13 is not operated and the support plate 12 is not operated.
... while maintaining the horizontal posture. On the other hand, the support plates 12 that have been swung to the release position are returned to the horizontal position on the return path.

The illustrated embodiment is constructed as described above, and the operation of inspecting and sorting the fruits and vegetables A by the article inspection apparatus 1 will be described below. First, FIGS. 2 and 3
As shown in the figure, many fruits and vegetables A brought from the producer
Are sequentially placed between the support plates 12 of the first conveyor 2, and the fruit vegetables A placed between the support plates 12 are transported and supplied to the inspection unit B. An imaging camera 30 disposed above the inspection unit B captures an image of the front side peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A placed between the support plates 12... Then, the image data is stored in the device main body 4a of the determination device 4. After imaging, as shown in FIG.
Is tilted, the fruit vegetables A placed between the support plates 12 are rolled in the width direction from the higher side to the lower side, and the fruit vegetables A are turned upside down ( For example, about 180
Degree).

Subsequently, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the rotation imparting belt 24 of the rotating machine 3 disposed on the left side of the inspection section B is used.
Then, the fruit vegetables A placed between the support plates 12 are pressed against each other, and the rotation force of the rotation imparting belt 24 causes the fruit vegetables A placed between the support plates 12 to be transported in the feed direction. Rotate horizontally (for example, a rotation angle of about 180 degrees or less). After the rotation, the support plates 12 are rotated back to the horizontal state, and the rear peripheral surface of the fruit vegetable A placed between the support plates 12 is imaged by the imaging camera 32, and the front side of the fruit vegetable A is taken. The peripheral surface is imaged by the imaging camera 33, and the image data is stored in the apparatus main body 4a. On the other hand, the image data of the entire peripheral surface (both front and back surfaces and the front and rear peripheral surfaces) imaged by the imaging cameras 30 to 33 are compared with the class data stored in the apparatus main body 4a, and are placed between the support plates 12. Judgment of the rank of the placed fruit vegetables A ... is determined.

Next, in the sorting units a to g corresponding to the judgment,
Fruit vegetables A placed between the support plates 12 of the first conveyor 2.
Is transported, as shown in FIG. 6, based on the determination by the determination device 4 described above, the sorters 13 disposed in the sorting units a to g are operated, and the support plate on which the fruit and vegetable A is mounted is operated. 12 are released to the release position, and the fruits and vegetables A placed between the support plates 12 are released to the second conveyors 5 arranged in the sorting units a to f by grade. Non-standard fruit and vegetables A are discharged to the second conveyor 5 disposed in the sorting section g. In the same manner, the fruits and vegetables A conveyed by the second conveyor 5 are sorted and classified according to the same rank.

As described above, the support plates 12 constituting the first conveyor 2 are inclined, and the fruits and vegetables A placed between the support plates 12 are rolled in the inclined direction and turned over. Since the fruits and vegetables A are horizontally rotated by the rotation imparting belt 24 constituting the rotating machine 3, the imaging camera 3 constituting the determination device 4
With 0 to 33, the front and back surfaces and the left and right peripheral surfaces of the fruit and vegetable A can be imaged, and the inspection of the entire peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A can be reliably performed. In addition, since the class of the fruit and vegetable A is determined based on the captured image data, it is possible to reliably detect, for example, discoloration, decay, damage, and scars even on a part of the peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A. As a result, the sorting operation of the fruits and vegetables A can be performed accurately.

In addition, since the fruits and vegetables A placed between the support plates 12 are conveyed, they are turned upside down and horizontally rotated while being conveyed, and the entire peripheral surface of the fruits and vegetables A is imaged by the imaging cameras 30 to 33. As in the conventional example, the labor and time for temporarily stopping and imaging and inspecting the fruit and vegetable A are eliminated, and the work of inspecting the entire peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A can be performed continuously, thereby improving the efficiency of the inspection and sorting work. Can be achieved.

FIG. 10 shows the support plates 12 of the first conveyor 2.
The article inspection apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment, in which the front and back surfaces of the fruit and vegetable product A placed in between are imaged by one imaging camera 30,
The support plate 12 is moved by the imaging camera 30 disposed above the inspection section B.
... after imaging the front side peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable product A placed in between, the support plate 12 is inclined, and the fruit and vegetable A placed between the support plate 12 ... is turned upside down and the above-described imaging is performed. Camera 3
At 0, the back peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A is continuously imaged. In addition, the fruits and vegetables A are horizontally rotated (for example, a rotation angle of about 180 degrees or less) while being conveyed by the rotation imparting belt 24 of the rotating machine 3, and the left and right peripheral surfaces of the fruits and vegetables A are captured by the imaging camera 3.
Since the images are taken at 1, 33, the operation of inspecting the entire peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable product A can be reliably performed, and the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. In addition, the imaging time required for imaging both front and back surfaces of the fruit and vegetable A is greatly reduced, and the efficiency of the inspection work and the sorting work can be improved.

When the fruit and vegetable A is horizontally rotated by about 180 degrees by the rotation imparting belt 24 of the rotating machine 3 described above,
When the support plate 12 is rotated and returned to the horizontal state, the right peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A is turned to the left, and the same peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A is imaged by the imaging cameras 31 and 33. The camera 33 is disposed on the left side, and images the left peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A.

FIG. 11 shows the support plates 12 of the first conveyor 2.
The article inspection apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment in which the side peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable product A placed therebetween is imaged by the imaging camera 31 disposed on the right side or the left side of the inspection section B, B, the front and back surfaces of the fruit and vegetable product A placed between the support plates 12 are imaged by the imaging camera 30 disposed on the upper portion of the support plate 12, and the support plates 12 are inclined.
After the fruits and vegetables A placed between the support plates 12 are turned upside down, the fruits and vegetables A are horizontally rotated while being transported by the rotation imparting belt 24 of the rotating machine 3 (for example, from about 180 degrees to about 360 degrees).
Then, since the imaging camera 31 arranged on the right side continuously images the side peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A horizontally or obliquely from above, the work of inspecting the entire peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A can be performed. This can be performed reliably, and the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. In addition, since the number of cameras to be installed can be reduced, the installation work of the determination device 4, image processing, and determination of a class can be easily performed.

FIG. 12 shows a structure in which
The article inspection apparatus 1 of the fourth embodiment in which the support rollers 35 constituting the first conveyor 2 are inclined and the fruit and vegetables A placed between the support rollers 35 are turned upside down is shown. Similarly, the supporting roller 3 formed in a shape (for example, a drum shape) having a large diameter from the outer peripheral surface at the central portion toward the outer peripheral surface at both ends.
After the fruit vegetables A placed between the support rollers 35 are turned upside down, the fruit vegetables A placed between the support rollers 35 are turned on the rotation imparting belt 24 of the rotating machine 3. It is transported in the feed direction while being pressed and rotated horizontally. In addition, since the front and back surfaces and the side peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A are imaged by the imaging cameras 30 to 33, the operation of inspecting the entire peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A can be reliably performed, and the same operation and effect as in the first embodiment. Can be played.

The first conveyor 2 is constructed by arranging support rollers 35 having the same outer diameter and the same shape at the same height. For example, large and small support rollers 35 having different outer diameters are used. 35 may be arranged at the same height, and the supporting rollers 35 formed at the same outer diameter may be arranged in a vertically different step, and the step of the supporting rollers 35... The placing position and the placing posture of the fruit and vegetable A are stabilized, and the work of transporting various fruit and vegetable A having different sizes can be stably performed.

In the correspondence between the structure of the present invention and the above-described embodiment, the article of the present invention corresponds to the fruit and vegetable product A of the embodiment.
5, corresponding to the feed belt 36, the transport belt corresponds to the first conveyor 2, the inclining means corresponds to the sorter 13, the unlocking member 14, the inclining regulating member 15, the belt guide 37,
The rotation applying means corresponds to the rotation applying belt 23, the rotation applying pad 27, and the rotation applying roller 28.
It is not limited only to the configuration of the above embodiment.

In the above-described embodiment, the support plate 12 and the support roller 35 constituting the first conveyor 2 are inclined. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the feed belt 36 constituting the first conveyor 2 is inclined. The product inspection apparatus 1 according to the fifth embodiment for reversing the fruits and vegetables A placed on the feed belt 37
The feed belt 37 is stretched around a belt guide 37 provided obliquely to the inspection section B, and the feed belt 37 is rotated in the feed direction while tilting the feed belt 36 along the belt guide 37. The fruits and vegetables A placed on the tumbler roll from the higher side to the lower side, and the fruits and vegetables A are turned upside down, so that the same operational effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of an article inspection apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an imaging state of the article inspection apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a rear view showing a mounted state of fruit vegetables.

FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the front and back reversing operation of the vegetable;

FIG. 5 is a rear view showing the horizontal rotation operation of fruit and vegetables.

FIG. 6 is a rear view showing an operation of releasing fruit and vegetables.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a horizontal rotation operation of fruit and vegetables by a rotation imparting belt.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a horizontal rotation operation of fruit and vegetables by a rotation imparting pad.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a horizontal rotation operation of fruit and vegetables by a rotation imparting roller.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an imaging method by the article inspection device of the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an imaging method by the article inspection device of the third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a rear view showing a reversing method by the article inspection device of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a rotation method by the article inspection device of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a side view showing a conventional method for imaging fruit and vegetables.

FIG. 15 is a side view showing a method for imaging fruit vegetables according to another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A: Fruit vegetables B: Inspection unit 1: Article inspection device 2: First conveyor 3: Rotary machine 4: Judging device 5: Second conveyor 12: Support plate 13: Sorter 14: Lock release member 15: Inclination restricting member 23 rotation imparting belt 27 rotation imparting pad 28 rotation imparting roller 30-33 imaging camera 35 support roller 36 feed belt 37 belt guide

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI // G01N 21/85 G01N 21/85 A 23/04 23/04

Claims (3)

[Claims] An inspection section for inspecting an article is provided with a mounting section for mounting the article, and the mounting section is inclined at an angle at which the article mounted on the mounting section is rolled. An article inspection apparatus provided with a tilting means. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the placing section is constituted by a transport band for aligning and transporting the articles in a feeding direction, and a transport surface of the transport band is provided so as to be inclined with respect to the width direction. Article inspection equipment. 3. A rotation applying means for applying rotation in a direction in which the article is horizontally rotated with respect to a side peripheral surface of the article in proximity to the inclined side edge of the placing section or the transporting band. The article inspection apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.