JPS62266189A - Automatic regulator in color 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] (a) Field of Application The present invention relates to a color sorting machine for sorting the colors of different objects such as rice grains, and in particular, a color sorting machine that can automatically adjust the color sorting. The four rules of color (relating to the automatic adjustment device in the background).

(I'v) Prior Art Conventionally, a color jπ-separating machine has a configuration roughly shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, the part 1 surrounded by broken lines is the observation part 1 for observing the objects to be sorted, and 4
The observation unit 1 includes a narrow light source 2, a backlight plate 3, a lens 4, and an optical sensor 5.
The objects to be sorted 7 that are sequentially fed out from there pass through. The object to be sorted 7 is continuously irradiated with light of a certain intensity by the light source 2 while passing through the observation section 1, and is reflected by the backlight plate 3 to detect the brightness of the background of another object. Background light is also illuminated. The light transmitted and reflected by the object to be sorted 7 is collected by a lens 4, and is sent to an optical sensor 5.
The light is received by 3B, converted into an electric signal, and sent to an amplifier 8 as a color display. This amplifier 8 has a gain i
A variable resistor 9 of 1 gram resistance is provided (the color display signal amplified here is connected to the comparator 10). The comparator 10 compares the level of the color display signal with the sorting reference signal that is set at the other input terminal, and if the level is higher than the reference level, it outputs a defective product detection signal and operates the ejector 11. Defective products are removed by sending air to change the trajectory of the defective objects that have passed through the observation section 1.

Note that, as omitted in FIG. 6, in a multi-channel machine, the configuration described in "1" is provided for each channel.

FIG. 7 shows another example of the configuration of the observation section, in which background light is applied to the object 7 to be sorted. The backlight plate 3 serves as a backlight means for
Instead, a backlight light source 12 and a semi-transparent plate 13 are provided.

(c) Problems to be solved by this invention In the color sorting machine described above, changes in the type or color state of the objects to be sorted,
Further, the sorting state of the color sorting machine may change due to dirt on the light source 2 or the like.

As a countermeasure for this, in particular, adjusting the brightness of the light that is irradiated on the objects to be sorted, that is, the background light, and displaying them in color, increasing the difference in the distance between good and defective items, and It is necessary to adjust the judgment level of L3, that is, to adjust the comparison standard signal.

FIG. 8 shows changes in the waveform appearing in the color display signal due to the difference in brightness of the background light.

FIG. 8(A) shows a case where the background light irradiating the object to be sorted is too bright; A waveform corresponding to the object to be sorted 7 appears in the X direction), and among these, a waveform with constant darkness in the direction of LJ and -L is judged to be defective. 8th
Figure (B) shows a case where the background light is almost adjusted to the brightness of the non-defective object to be sorted.
The waveform corresponding to the defective product is near level a, and the peak in the dark direction of the waveform corresponding to the defective product is emphasized, indicating a large difference between the waveforms of the non-defective product and the defective product. FIG. 8(C) shows a case where the background light is too dark compared to the brightness of the object to be sorted 7. In this case, the waveform corresponding to the object to be sorted 7 is in the brightness direction (Y direction in FIG. 8). ) appears in a size proportional to the reflected light from the object 7 to be sorted. In this way, in order to accurately sort the objects 7 into good and bad, the steps shown in FIGS. 8(A) and (
In the case of C), since the difference in the peak values of the color display signals indicating good and defective products is small, it is necessary to match the background light to the brightness of the object to be sorted, as shown in FIG. 8(B).

The previously mentioned adjustment of the brightness of the background light and the level of defective product determination has traditionally been done manually, which is not only complicated and requires a lot of time and effort, but also has the risk of reducing the sorting accuracy. there were.

An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic adjustment device that can automatically provide a background light of optimal brightness in a color sorting machine, thereby always maintaining an optimal sorting state. be.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic adjustment device in a color sorting machine that automatically creates an optimum sorting reference signal to be given to a comparator, thereby always maintaining an optimum sorting state. It is to provide.

(d) Means for Solving the Problem In order to provide background light with optimal brightness, the automatic adjustment device of the present invention extracts a plurality of positive and negative peak values of a signal waveform in a color display signal as a signal sample. a circuit, an arithmetic circuit that calculates each arithmetic mean value of positive and negative sample values obtained from the signal resampling circuit, and further calculates a ratio of the positive and negative arithmetic mean values, and the arithmetic mean value. and a backlighting means for controlling the backlighting means to adjust the intensity of the background light to the objects to be sorted so that the ratio of .

In addition, in order to automatically create an optimal selection reference signal, the automatic adjustment device of the present invention includes a signal sampling circuit that extracts a plurality of peak values of a signal waveform in a color display signal, and a signal sampling circuit that extracts a plurality of peak values of a signal waveform in a color display signal; A sorting standard generation circuit (Iti
I'm getting better.

(e) The backlight 71 is adjusted so that the ratio of the arithmetic mean values of the positive and negative peak values of the signal waveform in the action color display signal becomes a predetermined value, so that the background light is in an optimal state. As a result, the waveform of the object to be sorted in the color display signal is adjusted to the optimum state as shown in FIG. 8(B).

In addition, by determining the distribution of the peak values of the signal waveform indicating the objects to be sorted in the color display signal together with the number of samples, it is possible to calculate the peak value distribution between the peak direct distribution indicating good items to be sorted and the peak value distribution indicating defective items. A peak value with a relatively small number of samples compared to the distribution is determined as a selection reference value.

(f) Embodiment FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the color sorting machine of the present invention. In the figure, the observation section 1 and the chute 6 are omitted because they have the same structure as shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 1 shows a multi-channel machine, in which the sorting operation of objects to be sorted is performed for each channel. For each channel, an optical sensor 5, an amplifier 21, a variable gain amplifier 22, a comparator 23,
It includes a signal sample circuit 24, an ejector 11, a motor 25, and a background plate 3, and a control section 26 is configured commonly to each channel.

The color display signal output from the optical sensor 5 is amplified by an amplifier 21, and its output is applied to a variable gain amplifier 22 for selection. A gain control signal is input to the variable gain amplifier 22 from the control section 26, and the gain is adjusted in accordance with this gain control signal. The color display signal output from the variable gain amplifier 22 is applied to one input terminal of a signal sample circuit 24 and a comparator 23.

The other input terminal of the comparator 23 receives a reference signal for each jπ from the control unit 26, and the comparator 23 compares the level of the selection reference signal and the color display signal, and outputs a selection signal to the ejector 11. .

Figure 2 shows the signal sample concavity 1i'l! 24, which is roughly composed of a positive side sample circuit and a negative side sample circuit, and since both circuits have the same 174 configuration, the same parts are given the same reference numerals, and the positive side sample circuit will be explained below. do. The color display signal inputted to the signal sample circuit 24 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3(B), the signal is collected and transferred to the peak detection circuit 28 and the differentiation circuit 29. The differentiating circuit 29 differentiates the rectifier (1)) in FIG.
The differential signal shown in Figure (C) is output from the comparator 30/\. The comparator 30 does not enter, and the differential changes from positive to negative LIJ I
) When the color display signal changes, the sample pulse is set at the 31st 'flD' at the timing corresponding to the positive peak value.
N) Exit Jl as shown in 7, delay time i? 3:'! ] and add 17 to the sample hole 14 circuit 32. Delay circuit 3
As shown in Nj 3rd [2] (E), it is delayed for a fixed time and sent to the peak detection circuit 28 as a reset signal! I can do it.

The peak detection circuit 2!3 detects the rectified peak value manually and outputs it to the sample hold circuit 32.
It is reset by the second set signal and is prepared for the next signal V peak detection. As a result, the peak detection circuit 2
8 outputs the peak detection signal shown in FIG. 3(F). The sample hold circuit 32 adjusts the level of the input sample pulse (peak detection signal J) as shown in FIG.
G) Not shown, J: Sea urchin fυI'! jL, control unit as positive peak value? Output to 6. In exactly the same way, even if J5 is in the negative side sample circuit, it shows the background light of the negative side, that is, the color display signal. (Ali~Log'Digital)
Converter 7 (4, 1) / A (analog) converter 35, CP [1 (central processing unit); (6, R
OM (Re-1/Monthly Memory) 37 and R, A M
(Random access, memory): (Constructed with 8. The above signals 5 →) - The peak value of the positive and negative analog outputs output from the sample circuit 24 is A/I'
) is input to the converter 34, where it is converted into a digital peak value and provided to CF"[13B.

(rP+36 is an arithmetic circuit 36a that performs addition, division, etc. of the peak value) A control circuit 36b that compares the arithmetic result with a predetermined value and outputs the difference as a control signal to the input/output capo I/33, the peak value The size and number of RAM38
A sorting standard creating circuit 36c is provided which calculates the distribution of the peak value and the number thereof, and creates a value for j of the objects to be sorted from this distribution state.

The input/output capo 1-33 receives the control section (") and outputs a gain control signal to the variable gain amplifier 22 or a backlight adjustment signal to the motor 25. The motor 25 adjusts the backlight according to the backlight adjustment signal. The plate 3 is rotated by a predetermined amount in the forward or reverse direction.The selection standard value outputted from the selection standard creation circuit "I (3ch) is converted into an analog signal by the D/A converter 35, It is given as a reference signal for each jπ.

The brightness of the background light is adjusted in detail as follows. Now, one channel in the color sorter mentioned above will be explained. From the sample circuit 24 to the control section 26
The positive peak value P obtained by the arithmetic circuit 36a of
, P...P4-m and the average value of +1+2 peak values p, p,...P on the negative side -]-2-n average value is determined. Then, in the control circuit 36b, a control signal is outputted so that the ratio becomes a constant value K (usually -1). As a result, a backlight adjustment signal via the input/output boat 33 is given to the motor 25, which rotates the backboard 3 to adjust the intensity of the background light. and the brightness of the object to be sorted.

The color sorting machine is a multi-channel machine, and the backlight plate 3 may not be provided for each channel, but a single backlight plate common to each channel may be used.

In this case, the angle of the backlight plate is adjusted so that K is the average value of the ratio of the average positive peak value to the average negative peak value for each channel extracted during a certain period of time. . That is, let the number of channels be ■, and the positive peak value of each channel be 1.1) ... IP , 2P-
1-1...2P''-m2, +I +m1 TP...IP +I i-mI The negative peak value is 1P, IP', 2P -...2P-
n2, -1 -nI
-11P...I P -nI +1 The backlight plate is adjusted so that it becomes 10...10 or K.

FIG. 4 shows a light source 12 as a backlighting means as shown in FIG.
Fig. 3 shows a schematic circuit diagram of the control unit and a) schematic circuit diagram of the color sorting machine when using the color sorting machine. In Figure 4, input and output capo)
41 outputs the gain control signal, and the backlight control signal output from the CPU 36 is converted into a voltage or current backlight adjustment signal by the I')/A converter 42, and the backlight power source 12 outputs the light intensity. , that is, the adjustment of the back light is performed.

Good Bad #'+1 constant reference, that is, to create a selection reference signal to the comparator 23, signal sampling times 1i'I! 2
4) For a certain period of time or a certain number of objects, the peak values obtained through the A/D converter 34 are determined by the selection standard creation circuit 36c to determine the distribution of the peak values and the number of objects, that is, the histogram as shown in FIG. Create a cranomi. In FIG. 7, the value in the valley between the large peak showing the distribution of peak values of non-defective products and the small peak showing the distribution of peak values of defective products is detected, and this level value is sent to the D/A converter. It is output to the comparator 23 via 35 as a selection reference signal.

When the color sorting machine is a multi-channel machine, in order to correct the difference in the level of color sorting signals between each channel,
Positive side peak value P extracted by each signal sample @ path 24 P+□ or negative +1 side peak value P -1-P, -2-1-...+
The average value of P- is adjusted to a constant value C for each channel. That is, (P 10P 10.....”-Pl-m)/1o-
C or ]-1 (P, -, 10P, -2,...") A control signal is sent from the CPU 36 to the input/output port 3 so that P-n>/n=C.
3 and is applied as a gain control signal to the variable gain amplifier 22 to adjust the gain.

In addition, a selection criterion for the comparator 23 is set separately for each channel, and a separate criterion creation circuit 3 is also set as described above.
If the selection reference signal is adjusted by 6c, it is considered that two series of gain adjustments are unnecessary. However, as shown in FIG. 5, there are cases where good products and defective products cannot be clearly distinguished, and in this case, it is necessary to manually adjust the selection criteria while checking the selection results. In this case, it is advantageous to use a common selection criterion for each channel to eliminate differences between the channels, which makes the adjustment operation easier.

(g) Effects The present invention can automatically adjust the background light to the objects to be sorted in a color sorter, and can also automatically adjust the sorting reference value.

Therefore, the complicated adjustment work conventionally performed manually is freed, and the optimum sorting condition is always automatically maintained even when the sorting condition of the color sorting machine changes due to dirt or the like. This makes it possible to prevent a decrease in sorting accuracy and to perform sorting with constant accuracy.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram of a signal sample circuit, and FIG. 3 (A
) to (G) are waveform diagrams for explaining the operation of the signal sample circuit, Figure 4 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the control section of the color sorter, and Figure 5 is the peak value obtained from the sample circuit. 6 is a schematic diagram of a conventional color sorter, FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another example of the configuration of the observation section of a color sorter, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between ) (C) is a color display signal waveform diagram for explaining the influence of the brightness of background light on the color display signal. 1... Observation section 2... Light source 3... Backlight plate 5 ... Optical sensor 7 ... Object to be sorted
12... Light source for backlight 13... Semi-transparent plate
22... Gain amplifier 23... Comparator 2
4...Signal sample circuit 25...Motor
26...control unit 33...input/output boat 36...
CPU 36a...Arithmetic circuit 36b...Control circuit 36c...Selection standard creation circuit 38...RAM 42...D/A converter (5 people in addition)

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) The objects to be sorted are sequentially passed through an observation section including a light source that irradiates the objects to be sorted with light of a constant intensity and backlighting means that provides background light to the background of the objects to be sorted; At this time, the light transmitted and reflected by the object to be sorted is collected and photoelectrically converted by an optical sensor, and the level of the color display signal obtained is compared with the sorting standard value to determine whether the object is good or defective. A color sorting machine that includes a signal sampling circuit that extracts a plurality of positive and negative peak values of a signal waveform in the color display signal, and an arithmetic average value of each positive and negative sample value obtained from the signal sampling circuit. an arithmetic circuit that calculates the ratio of the positive and negative arithmetic mean values; An automatic adjustment device for a color sorting machine, comprising: a backlight adjustment means for adjusting intensity; 2) The automatic adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein the signal sample circuit includes a rectifier circuit, a peak detection circuit, a differentiation circuit, a comparison circuit, a delay circuit, and a sample hold circuit. 3) The backlight means is a backlight plate that reflects light in the direction to be sorted, and the backlight adjustment means includes a motor for changing the angle of the backlight plate in order to adjust the amount of reflected light. The automatic adjustment device according to item 1. 4) The automatic adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein the backlight means is a backlight light source, and the backlight adjustment means includes voltage or current control means for adjusting light emission of the backlight light source. 5) The color sorter is a multi-channel color sorter that detects whether the object to be inspected is good or bad in a plurality of channels, the backlight means is common to each channel, and the signal sample circuit is common to each channel. The arithmetic circuit is provided for each channel, and the arithmetic circuit calculates the arithmetic average value of all the channels of the ratio of the arithmetic average values of the positive and negative peak values for each channel, and the backlight adjustment means calculates the arithmetic average value of the ratio of the arithmetic average values of the positive and negative peak values for each channel. The automatic adjustment device according to claim 1, which controls the backlighting means so that the average value becomes a predetermined value. 6) The objects to be sorted are sequentially passed through an observation section including a light source that irradiates the objects to be sorted with constant light and backlighting means that provides background light to the background of the objects to be sorted, and at this time, the objects to be sorted are passed through and In a color sorting machine that sorts out whether the object to be sorted is good or bad by comparing the level of a color display signal obtained by condensing reflected light and photoelectrically converting it with an optical sensor with a sorting reference value, the color display A signal sampling circuit that extracts a plurality of peak values of a signal waveform in a signal, and a selection reference signal for determining whether the object to be sorted is good or bad is created based on the peak value obtained from the signal sampling circuit and the distribution of the number of samples. and a selection standard creation circuit for outputting to the comparator.