JPS6216151B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a grain sorting unit that can select and separate specific, for example, defective products from grains such as peanuts, red beans, and rice based on differences in the amount of reflected light on their surfaces. The present invention relates to a reference signal adjustment device for grain sorting in a grain sorting machine equipped with a plurality of grain sorters.

For example, if grains such as peanuts, red beans, and rice are contaminated with defective products, their commercial value will decrease. Moreover, when such grains are powdered, if defective products are mixed in, it becomes impossible to remove them after the grains are powdered.

Therefore, various devices have been put into practical use that can sort out and separate defective products from grains. Grain sorting machines that sort and separate grains based on differences in light intensity have been put into practical use.

In conventional grain sorting machines, light is irradiated onto grains passing through the background and in the vicinity of the background, the reflected light is received, and a detection signal is generated at a level corresponding to the amount of light received. It is compared with a preset reference signal for grain sorting, and based on the comparison result, a specific grain is selected and separated from grains passing near the background.

By the way, such a grain sorting machine is provided with a plurality of grain passageways, and the grains passing through each grain passageway are individually sorted. That is, such a grain sorting machine is equipped with a plurality of grain sorting sections for sorting and separating grains in order to improve throughput. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust all of the grain sorting reference signals in each grain sorting section to optimal levels.

However, the level of the grain sorting reference signal cannot be uniformly adjusted for all grain sorting sections because there are variations in the characteristics of the optical system, electrical system, etc. in each grain sorting section. Can not.

Therefore, in the past, grains were passed through each grain sorting section for trial sorting, and while observing the sorted grains, the reference signal for grain sorting in each grain sorting section was adjusted to the desired level. We are adjusting each individual accordingly.

However, in this conventional adjustment method, as the processing capacity increases, that is, as the number of grain sorting sections increases, the number of adjustments to the level of the grain sorting reference signal increases, and the adjustment work is troublesome. There was a problem that it was difficult to make uniform adjustments because adjustments were made individually. Another problem was that if it was desired to change the level of the grain sorting reference signal after the operation had started, the operation would have to be stopped once and the same adjustment would have to be made again.

The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to easily and uniformly adjust the level of the reference signal for grain sorting in each grain sorting section, and also to adjust the level of the reference signal for grain sorting in each grain sorting section as necessary. An object of the present invention is to provide a grain sorting reference signal adjustment device that can be adjusted.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to examples.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the main parts of a grain sorter to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

This grain sorting machine is equipped with a background illuminance adjustment function and a grain sorting reference signal adjustment function. First, the background illuminance adjustment function will be explained with reference to FIG.

In this grain sorter, a background light source 12 and a background 13 are arranged on one side of a grain passage 11, and a grain irradiation light source 14 and a light sensor 15 are arranged on the other side. When grains (not shown) sequentially pass through the grain passage 11, the light from the background light source 12 passes through the background 13 and is received by the optical sensor 15, and the light from the grain irradiation light source 14 passes through the background 13 and is received by the optical sensor 15. The light is irradiated towards the grain and the background 13, and the reflected light is received by the optical sensor 15.
5, a detection signal 16 having a level corresponding to the amount of received light is supplied to an amplifier 17. The amplifier 17 is
It includes a well-known low-pass filter and can perform processing such as noise removal. The processed signal 18 processed by the amplifier 17 is supplied to a comparator 31 (FIG. 2), which will be described later, and also to an average value calculator 19.

The average value calculator 19 includes an integrating circuit that integrates each positive and negative peak value of the processed signal 18 and an addition circuit that adds the output signals from these integrating circuits. It is now possible to find the average of The average value signal 20 output from the average value calculator 19 is an A/D
The signal is supplied to a converter 21, converted into a digital signal 22, and then supplied to a microcomputer 23 having a central processing unit.

This grain sorting device includes a plurality of grain sorting sections each including a grain passageway 11, etc., and each grain sorting section performs the above-mentioned processes on the grains passing through the grain passageway 11. It's getting old. Therefore, the microcomputer 23 is supplied with all the digital signals 22 obtained from each grain sorting section. The microcomputer 23 compares these digital signals 22 with a preset reference signal 24 for background illuminance in a time division manner. The background illuminance reference signal 24 is set by the operator by operating the background illuminance reference signal setting device 25, which consists of a switch, etc., and determines the quality of the grains to be sorted and the sorting method (white spot, black spot).
This is done by selecting the most suitable level. This set reference signal 24 for background illumination is applied to each grain sorting section because statistically speaking, the ratio of good products to defective products for each grain sorting section is almost the same. Can be used in common.

A comparison result 26 output from the microcomputer 23 is supplied to a D/A converter 27, converted into an analog signal 28, and then supplied to a light source control circuit 29. The light source control circuit 29 receives the analog signal 2
8, the voltage applied to the background light source 12 is controlled, thereby adjusting the amount of light from the light source 12. In this way, the illuminance of the background 13 of each grain sorting section can be adjusted individually and uniformly.

In this grain sorting machine, the transient response time of the background light source 12 and the amplifier 17 is considerably longer than the time required for other processes, but the adjustment of each grain sorting section is processed in a time-sharing manner. , adjustments can be made in a fixed amount of time regardless of the number of grain sorters.

Next, the grain sorting reference signal adjustment function of this grain sorting machine will be explained with reference to FIG.

The processed signal 18 output from the amplifier 17 of the first (basic) grain sorter is fed to one input of the comparator 31 . A preset grain sorting reference signal (hereinafter referred to as reference signal) 33 is supplied to the other input part of the comparator 31 from a grain sorting reference signal setter (hereinafter referred to as reference signal setter) 32. Ru. A comparator 31 compares the processed signal 18 with a reference signal 33 and outputs a separation pulse 34 if the current grain is outside the reference. Executa 3
When receiving the separation pulse 34, the kernel 5 excludes non-standard grains passing through the grain passageway 11 from the regular route and separates them.

The separation pulse 34 output from the comparator 31 is also provided to a separation grain counter 36. Separation grain counter 36 is supplied with separation pulse 34 and sequentially counts the number of grains separated. On the other hand, the processed signal 18 output from the amplifier 17 of the first grain sorting section is also supplied to the whole grain detector 37. Whole grain detector 37 outputs a detection pulse 38 every time a grain passes through grain passageway 11 . The whole grain counter 39 receives the detection pulse 38 and counts the number of grains passing through the grain passage 11, and when this count value reaches a preset count value (for example, 10,000), A count up signal 40 is output. When the counter control circuit 41 receives the count-up signal 40, it outputs a drive signal 42. The separated grain counter 36 is
When receiving this drive signal 42, it outputs a count signal 43 corresponding to the count value at that time (for example, 100). Microcomputer 23
When supplied with this count signal 43, when a certain number of grains (10,000 grains) pass through the grain passage path 11, it is determined that 100 non-standard grains have been separated from among them, and this The number is temporarily stored as the sorting sensitivity of the first grain sorting section, and the fact is displayed on the display 44.

If the operator is satisfied with the sorting sensitivity displayed on the display 44, he or she will officially start sorting grains with this grain sorter. On the other hand, if the level of the reference signal 33 is not satisfied, the reference signal setter 32 is operated to reset the level of the reference signal 33.

When grain sorting is officially started in this grain sorting machine, for example, the amplifier 17 of the second grain sorting section
The processed signal 18a output from the comparator 31a
is supplied to one input of the . The other input section of the comparator 31a receives a correction reference signal 46 from the adder 45a.
a is supplied. The corrected reference signal 46a is a signal obtained by adding the reference signal 33 output from the reference signal setter 32 and the corrected signal 47a. The correction signal 47a will be explained later, but it is assumed that its level is now zero. Then, the correction reference signal 46
The level of a is the same as that of the reference signal 33.

When the level of the corrected reference signal 46a is the same as that of the reference signal 33, the comparator 31a in the second grain sorting section and the separated grain counter 36
a, whole grain detector 37a, whole grain counter 39a
Each operation of the counter control circuit 41a and the first
Since this is the same as in the case of the grain sorting section, a detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

At this time, a count signal 43 output from the separated grain counter 36a in the second grain sorting section
For example, when the count value corresponding to a is 95, the microcomputer 23 corresponds to this count value (95) and the count signal 43 output from the separated grain counter 36 in the first grain sorting section. The count value (100) is calculated to find the difference (100-95=5).

The calculation result 48a corresponding to this difference is outputted from the microcomputer 23 and sent to the D/A converter 49.
a, and is converted into an analog correction signal 47a.
After being converted into , it is supplied to the other input section of adder 45a. The adder 45a adds the reference signal 33 and the correction signal 47a, and supplies a correction reference signal 46a consisting of the addition result to the comparator 31a.

The comparator 31a compares the processed signal 18a with the corrected reference signal 46a, and outputs a separation pulse 34a if the grain at that time is outside the reference. When the ejector 35a receives the separation pulse 34a, it removes non-standard grains passing through the grain passageway 11a (not shown) from the regular route and separates them.

Separation pulse 34a output from comparator 31a
is also supplied to a separate grain counter 36a. The separated grain counter 36a receives the separation pulse 34a and sequentially counts the number of separated grains. On the other hand, the processed signal 18a output from the amplifier 17a of the second grain sorting section is transmitted to the whole grain detector 37a.
Also supplied. The whole grain detector 37a generates a detection pulse 3 every time a grain passes through the grain passage 11a.
Outputs 8a. The whole grain counter 39a is supplied with this detection pulse 38a, and the grain passageway 11
The number of grains passing through a is counted sequentially, and this count value is set to a preset count value (also 1
When the count reaches 10,000), a count-up signal 40a is output. When the counter control circuit 41a receives the counter up signal 40a, the counter control circuit 41a outputs the drive signal 4.
Outputs 2a. When the separated grain counter 36a receives this drive signal 42a, the count value at that time (100
outputs a count signal 43a corresponding to When the microcomputer 23 receives this count signal 43a, when a certain number of grains (10,000 grains) pass through the grain passage 11a,
It is determined that 100 non-standard grains have been separated from among them, and it is also determined that this number is the same as the number of grains separated in the first grain sorting section, and the calculation result 48a at that time is retained. .

In this way, the reason why the number of grains separated in the second grain sorting section is made the same as the number of grains separated in the first grain sorting section is because statistically speaking, grains to be sorted are different from each other. Since the ratio of good and defective grains to the grain sorting section is almost the same, it is assumed that the second grain sorting section also contains approximately the same number of non-standard grains as the first grain sorting section. Because you can see it. In this way, the level of the grain sorting reference signal of each grain sorting section is adjusted individually and uniformly.

If you want to change the degree of grain sorted and separated during operation by this grain sorter (the level of the reference signal for grain sorting), operate the reference signal setting device 32 to change the level of the reference signal 33. is adjusted to a desired level while looking at the display 44, and the degree of grains to be sorted and separated in each grain sorting section is all changed as desired.

As explained above, according to the present invention, the level of the grain sorting reference signal of each grain sorting section can be adjusted individually by simply setting one level of the grain sorting reference signal. The level of the reference signal for grain sorting in each grain sorting section can be easily and uniformly adjusted, and the same adjustment can be made as needed during operation, making the device extremely easy to handle.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings are shown to explain one embodiment of the present invention. Among them, Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a part of the background illuminance adjustment device, and Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a part of the grain sorting reference signal adjustment device. FIG. 11... Grain passage path, 12... Light source for background, 13... Background, 14...
Light source for grain irradiation, 15... Optical sensor, 17, 17
a...Amplifier, 23...Microcomputer,
31, 31a... Comparator, 32... Grain sorting reference signal setting device, 35, 35a... Ejector, 3
6, 36a...Separated grain counter, 37, 37a
... Whole grain detector, 39, 39a ... Whole grain counter, 41, 41a ... Counter control circuit, 44
...Display, 45a...Adder, 49a...
...D/A converter.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Light is irradiated on the grains passing through the background and the vicinity thereof, the reflected light is received from the background, and a detection signal of a level corresponding to the amount of received light is set as a grain sorting reference signal that is set in advance. In a grain sorting machine equipped with a plurality of grain sorting sections, the grain sorting section selects and separates specific grains from grains passing near the background based on the comparison result. One reference signal setting device is used to set a reference signal for grain sorting, and the detection signal from each grain sorting section is compared with the reference signal for grain sorting set in the reference signal setting device. Separated grain counting means sequentially counts the number of grains to be separated based on the comparison results; Total grain counting means that causes the separated grain counting means to output a count signal corresponding to the count value at that time when a set value is reached, and the count output from the separated grain counting means of each grain sorting section. Calculating means receives the signal and calculates the difference between the count signal corresponding to the basic grain sorting section and the count signal corresponding to each grain sorting section other than the basic grain sorting section;
a correction means for correcting the level of the grain sorting reference signal supplied from the reference signal setting device to the separated grain counting means of each grain sorting section other than the basic grain sorting section based on each calculation result output from the calculation means; A reference signal adjustment device for grain sorting, comprising: