JPS5898180A - Selector - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a sorting device, and more particularly to a sorting device for sorting objects by weight class in a non-contact manner.

Traditionally, we used to eat large amounts of root vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and daikon radish.
The work of sorting according to a certain weight class involves visual sorting by the operator,
Sorting was carried out using a scale and a slit-type sorting device. FIG. 1 is an external view showing an example of a conventional slit-type sorting device. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an object to be sorted such as root vegetables, 2 is a slit, and 3 is a box that supports the slit 2 and houses the object to be sorted l that falls between the slits 2. The slit interval of the slit 2 gradually widens from the upstream side l to the downstream side j, and the height of the slit 2 gradually decreases from the upstream side l to the downstream side j. There is. Therefore, when an object to be sorted L is placed on the upstream side, the object to be sorted rolls or slides and moves toward the downstream side S over the slit 2, and small and light objects move through the slit 2.
The thick and heavy objects fall from the upstream side g where the spacing is narrow, and the thick and heavy objects fall from the downstream side j where the spacing between the slits 2 is wide. Based on this principle, the materials to be sorted, such as root vegetables, have been sorted approximately by weight class.

In the configuration of the conventional slit-type sorting device described above, there are problems such as peeling and damage of the root vegetables when the objects to be sorted pass through the slits, and problems such as peeling and damage of the root vegetables when the objects to be sorted pass through the slits. However, since the sorting results vary depending on the direction in which the particles pass through the slit, the accuracy of sorting by weight class is low. In addition, visual sorting by workers has various disadvantages such as poor work efficiency and extremely low sorting accuracy, and using a weighing device improves sorting accuracy but has poor work efficiency. there were.

The present invention was invented in order to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, and includes a shape detection device for detecting the shape of objects to be sorted;
A dimension measuring device that measures the dimensions of each part of the object to be sorted from the shape detected by the shape detection device, and a weight calculation method based on the dimensions of each part measured by the dimension measuring device, or a weight calculation formula based on the correlation of the dimensions of each part. A weight calculation device that calculates the weight, a class determination device that determines the object to be sorted into a predetermined weight class based on the weight calculated by the weight calculation device, and a class determination result signal from the class determination device to sort the object. The sorting device is configured to control the transfer device to dispense the items to a predetermined delivery position, and the sorting device is configured to include a device that sorts the items to be sorted by weight class in a non-contact manner with high precision and at high speed. The object of the present invention is to provide a sorting device that can perform the following.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail by way of examples based on the drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a sorting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 2, l is the object to be sorted, 2
2 is a shape detection device that detects the shape of the object to be sorted, n is a dimension measurement device that measures the dimensions and dimensions of each part of the object to be sorted from the shape detected by the shape detection device 2, and 23 is a dimension measurement device 2.
．． A weight calculation device calculates the weight of the object to be sorted l from each of the 1411 dimensions measured in step 2, and 2g puts the object to be sorted into a certain weight class based on the weight calculated by the weight calculation device 23. 25 is a transport device such as a conveyor that transports the objects l to be sorted and sort them to a predetermined delivery position; and 26 is a shape detection device 2 that detects the shape of the objects l to be sorted.
An attached device such as a lighting device to make it easy to detect 1. Tracks the object to be sorted l based on the judgment result signal of the 27&''i class determination device 2, and moves the object to be sorted to a predetermined delivery position. It seems that the sorter is a device that controls the transfer device j.

Now, when the sorting device shown in FIG. 2 is used to sort a large amount of objects l into different weight classes continuously, the objects l are transferred to a continuously driven transfer device, ! The object to be sorted is placed on top of 3 and passed under the shape detection device 2/ while moving, but at this time the shape detection device 2/ uses a line camera or momentarily images the object to be sorted. An industrial TV (industrial television) camera is used. Here, if it is not necessary to continuously sort the objects 1 to be sorted, a fixed table may be used as the transfer device J, and a T'V camera or the like is used as the shape detection device 2/.

Now, regardless of the size of the shape, the specific gravity (density) and the weight of the material to be sorted, such as root vegetables, whose appearance does not change much, are as follows, where the length of the material to be sorted is represented by A, the width is represented by B, and the thickness is represented by C. Equation (1) holds true.

Weight 2ρ・v−ρ・＠A11B・CζKIIA轡B
・C---1111 (1) In the above formula, ■ is the volume, ρ is the density, and K is the proportionality constant, ρ・k. A-B=0=r, V=p-/3
It is r.

Here, the dimensions of each part of the object to be sorted are length A5 width B
, it is normal to take the maximum dimension of thickness C, but it is also possible to take the average dimension, and even if the object to be sorted does not have a fixed shape, such as potatoes, the above equation (1) can be approximately established experimentally. This has been demonstrated by the applicant. Therefore, each of the lengths, widths, and thicknesses A and B shown in the plan view and side view of the potato, which is an example of the shape of the object to be sorted in FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B).

By measuring the dimensions of C, its weight can be determined. Therefore, for example, when detecting the shape of an object to be sorted by optically projecting it using a shape detection device, it is impossible to measure each of the three dimensions using a set of shape detection devices. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 1, two sets of shape detection devices 21 are required, which makes it difficult to install the shape detection devices 2/2/, and at the same time, it is disadvantageous economically due to the large wall. Of course, there is obviously something wrong with the shape of the object to be sorted! Items to be sorted that have features, such as the above A
, B, C, two or three dimensions are the same,
One set of shape detection devices is sufficient for selecting those that do not change due to twisting in one or three of these three dimensions regardless of the size of the shape. However, when the three dimensions of the object to be sorted differ depending on the size of the object, such as potatoes, the K that detects the shape generally needs to be equipped with two sets of shape detection devices as described above. Although this can be done technically to some extent with ease, there are various problems from an economical and installation space standpoint.

In the sorting device of the present invention, the above-mentioned A and B are used depending on the size of the shape, such as potatoes.

Even if the dimensions of C are different, just by using one set of shape detection devices, the weight can be measured using a weight calculation formula. By installing a weight calculation device, it is possible to sort by weight class with high accuracy. There are important features, and next we will explain how to measure weight using the weight calculation device.

In the above formula (1), even if you do not measure each of the dimensions A, B, and C above, if any three dimensions are measured and the other dimension has some correlation with the three measured dimensions, then , can be expressed as a function of the three dimensions obtained by measuring the other one dimension, so it is possible to measure the weight by measuring the three dimensions.

For example, the C dimension in equation (1) is the function f(A, B),
f(A).

If it can be expressed as f (B), etc., equation (1) becomes one of the following equations (, 2), (3), or (4'), and weight can be measured only by measuring each of the three dimensions A and B. It is a word that can be used. Therefore, it is sufficient to provide only one set of shape detection devices.

Weight ζ -AΦB@C・f (8B) ---------------------
1-(J weight!=iK-A-B-c-t(A)----
--1--,-(J) weight-to-A-B-c-f(B)
−−−−1〜−−−−(From Rikore K, by capturing the features of the shape of the objects to be sorted, the above (,2), <3), (4'
) By calculating one of the functions of the formula from the sample, the weight can be determined even if the C dimension is unknown. Next, a case in which the weight of a potato with a complicated shape is calculated will be specifically explained using a sample. Table 1 shows sample data of nine potatoes randomly selected from a population of potatoes.

Table 1 The C-B relationship for each dimension shown in Table 1 above is clearly shown in the graph of FIG. In this case, each dimension B,
Assuming that there is a correlation between C and C, C= f (
B), then K corresponds to the above formula (lI).

Here, from the graph in Figure 5, C=f(B)=0.7.2B+〇, ll (unit: cm
) -------Ct), the weight is expressed by the following formula.

Weight = @h-B-<o, yrB+o, a) ---
−'−−−−(+)'' In the formula, the constant of proportionality is determined by calculating and taking the average. In this case, K=0.3; Therefore, the potato weight calculation formula is expressed by the following equation (7).

Weight = α weight!・AB-(0,7,2B+αlI)
(Unit: g) - (7) Table 2 shows the weight trially calculated using the above formula (7), the measured weight, and the error.

Table 2 From the values shown in Table 2 above, it can be seen that the estimated weight is within an error of 10% compared to the actually measured weight.

This fact proves the validity of the above equation (7) and furthermore, the effectiveness of equation (1).

In addition, although the case of potatoes was explained in the above example, the shape and dimensions of other root vegetables as well as objects to be sorted that have other shapes and whose specific gravity (density) and appearance do not change much. It goes without saying that the above equations (1), (, 2), (,?), and (4') can be applied when measuring weight, and with this, just one set of shape detection devices can be used to It becomes possible to detect the shape and measure the weight of objects, and it is possible to sort objects into predetermined weight classes based on the calculated weights.

As described above in detail, the sorting device of the present invention uses a special pressure-type shape detection device and is equipped with a weight calculation device that calculates weight using a weight calculation formula, so that it can be operated in a non-contact state. Since it is configured to be able to measure the weight of objects to be sorted, it is possible to sort objects by weight class with extremely high precision, at high speed, and at low cost without damaging the objects. This has excellent effects.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an external view of a conventional slit-type sorting device, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a sorting device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figs. 3 (A) and (E) show objects to be sorted. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the shape detection mode of a sorting device using two sets of shape detection devices, and Fig. 3 shows the relationship between the dimensions of potatoes as an example of the object to be sorted. FIG. l...Object to be sorted, 21...Shape detection device, 2U...
・Dimension measuring device, phantom...Weight calculation device, Tsuku...Class determining device, Δ...Transfer device 1.2A...Ancillary devices such as lighting device 1.27...Sorting device. In addition, in the figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts. Agent Ig Kuzuno - Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 (A) ' (B)

Claims (1)

[Claims] A shape detection device that detects the shape of the object to be sorted; a dimension measurement device that measures the dimensions of each part of the object from the shape detected by the shape detection device; A weight calculation device that calculates weight using a weight calculation formula based on the correlation between , and a sorting device that controls the transfer device so that the sorted objects are delivered to a predetermined delivery position in response to a class determination result signal from the class determining device. A sorting device characterized by: