JPS63305974A - Selector for fruit - 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 Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a fruit sorting device and can be used in a fruit sorting plant.

Conventional technology and problems to be solved by the invention Conventionally, in a sorting plant for mandarin oranges, potatoes, etc., rotten fruit is manually removed at the beginning of the process, and then a pretreatment process such as cleaning is performed. ,Next, visual inspection by a large number of people was conducted to classify the quality, such as coloring, various scratches, irregular shapes, etc.
The common process was to use tentacles to sort them into quality grades, such as excellent, excellent, and good, and then sort them into size classes for each quality grade. In addition, a color sensor that detects the color of the fruit,
Other electronic quality grading systems, such as sensors that detect the color and size of flaws and sensors that determine irregularities with respect to standard shapes, are still in the research stage.

If all the elements of classifying the quality of fruit are done manually, lines for rough sorting, re-sorting, etc. are required, which requires a lot of manpower and a large installation area. Judgment criteria change over time due to individual differences, fatigue from continuous work, and the need for skilled workers, so there is a strong desire to automate sorting based only on color. Ta.

Means for Solving the Problems This invention provides a step before or after a class sorting line (2) for sorting fruits (1) into size classes by detecting the fruit diameter or weight of the fruit (1). Fruit color, flaws,
In a fruit sorting plant having a grading line (3) for sorting fruits (1) into quality grades based on sorting elements such as irregular shapes, a color sensor is installed in the grading line (3) for detecting the color of the fruit (1). (4), a color sorting device (5) that sorts fruits by color, and a manual sorting device (5), which visually inspects fruits (1) and sorts them by classification factors other than color.
6) The structure of the fruit sorting device comprises:

Function and effect of the invention In the grade sorting line (3) in the process before or after the size grade sorting line (2) of the fruit (1), a color sorting device (5
) detects the fruit (1) using the color sensor (4), and the fruit (
1) Set color numerical standards for each grade to classify colors by numerically determining colors ranging from unique desirable colors to undesirable colors, and use the set standard values and color sensor (4 ) to determine the color grade of the detected fruit (1), and mechanically classify the fruit based on this determination. Sorting can be done using a sorting conveyor similar to .

This color sorting device (5) and the conventional manual sorting device (6)
) can be carried out in any order, and if the manual sorting device (6) is used as the previous step, the manual sorting device (6) will remove any defects other than color by human visual inspection. The materials are sorted into grades such as excellent, excellent, good, average, etc. based on classification factors such as irregular shapes, and then transported by conveyors for each grade, and then re-sorted only for color factors by a color sorting device (5). , the grade can be upgraded or downgraded. In addition, the color sorting device (5) sorts only the colors into excellent, excellent, good, average, etc., and then the items to be transferred can be re-sorted by the manual sorting device to be upgraded or downgraded.

For this reason, since the color sensor (4) judges colors numerically, there is no change in the judgment criteria due to the passage of time or individual differences between people, so accurate color judgments can be made. Manual operation is more economical than using electronic equipment and requires less labor than performing all quality grading elements manually, thus reducing the footprint of the grading line (3) and increasing the size of the fruit sorting room. Can be used effectively.

Further, as mentioned above, the conveyor of the color sorting device (5) can be used in common with the sorting conveyor of the class sorting line (2), so the color sensor (4) is used in the transfer process of this sorting conveyor.
) and a size detection section with a sensor for detecting fruit diameter or weight are installed at the front and back, and the detection data from both detection sections is used together to determine the color, quality, size, etc. It is also possible to take out by providing an outlet for each class, and in this way, the sorting conveyor can be used effectively.

Embodiment In the illustrated example, the fruit (1) is a mandarin orange, and the explanation will be given by illustrating a plant for sorting mandarin fruit (1) in which a grade sorting line (3) is placed in the previous step of a grade sorting line (2). do.

The grade sorting line (2) has four sorting conveyors (7) arranged in parallel at appropriate intervals, and the transfer direction (
b) A size detection unit (8) is provided on the upper side, and the fruit receiver (9) that receives the fruit (1) is overturned due to the detection by the detection unit (8) on the lower side. 1) Take-out part (
10) for each equal class, and each extraction section (10
), a pull-out conveyor (11) is disposed below the sorting conveyor (7) in a direction perpendicular to the sorting conveyor (7). The sorting conveyor (7) has a double-row checker 7 with a checker 7 (12) wound between the sprockets at the front and rear ends in the transfer direction, and a box filled with wear-resistant resin inside is used for the forward and backward transfer steps. shaped rail (
13) is attached to the conveyor (7) machine frame (14),
Attachment that protrudes upward from Che 7 (12) (
The fruit receiver (9), which can be tipped laterally, is formed into a horizontally long slat shape and provided with a shaft (17) on a mounting body (16) that is fitted onto the fruit receiver (15) from above. ) has a retaining pin (
18) is provided, and the hook part of the retainer (20), which is separately provided with a shaft (18) on the mounting body (16), is engaged with the engaging bin (18) to place the fruit receiver (9) in the fruit receiving position. The structure is such that the fruit receiver (9) is caused to fall over by releasing the engagement by pressing the arm portion (21) provided laterally on the engaging tool (20) from above. The receivers (9) are arranged in series along the transfer direction (a) of the chain (12).

The size detection unit (8) is the COD of the linear image sensor.
It uses a camera, and the fruit (1) passing on the fruit receiver (9) is illuminated from a light source on the side, and its shadow is directed to the COD element through an optical system such as a prism and lens on the other side. The maximum diameter along the transport direction (a) is determined by scanning at time intervals and collecting the vertical shadow lines.
The size is detected by detecting the maximum height, measured area, etc., and the size class is determined, and when the fruit (1) moves to the take-out part (lO), Rotate the rotary linenoid provided on the solenoid shaft by a certain angle, bring the arm provided on the solenoid shaft into contact with the arm portion (21) of the engagement tool (20) of the receiver (9) from above, and push down the fruit (
The configuration includes a control device (22) by Cp and u that controls overturning of a plurality of (3 to 4) receivers (9) receiving 1).

The drawer conveyor (11) is composed of a flat belt conveyor, and a boxing device (23) is connected to the end of the conveyance. A belt conveyor (24) and a narrow two-stage belt conveyor (24) that transports fruits (1) in rows on its side.
5) and these belt conveyors (24) (2
A supply port (2B) is opened at the transfer end of 5), and a weighing machine (27) capable of transmitting a weight signal is installed below the supply port (26).
An empty cardboard box (29) is installed on the empty box conveyor (28).
), and a spare corrugated pole box (28) is always placed adjacent to the rear side of the corrugated pole box (29) placed on the weighing machine (27). (2
8), if the storage capacity is 15 kg, the wide belt conveyor (24) is used to supply the box until 14.5 kg is detected by the weighing machine (27), and when 14.5 kg is detected, the narrow The wide two-stage belt conveyor (25) supplies each fruit (1), and the wide belt conveyor (24) is retracted to supply it to the spare box (28) on the rear side, and the fruit (1) is detected one by one. By stopping the supply by the narrow two-stage belt conveyor (25) and pushing the rear corrugated pole box (29) onto the weighing machine (27) table, the corrugated pole box (28) containing 15 kg is removed. ) is pushed to the product delivery conveyor (30) and transferred, and the wide belt conveyor (24) extends and supplies the product to the corrugated pole box (28) on the weighing machine (27) until it reaches 14.5Kg. , this is repeated.

The color sorting device (5) is provided adjacent to the upper side of the size detection section (8) on the upper side of the conveyance side of the sorting conveyor (7), and is arranged adjacent to the upper side of the size detection section (8). A fruit (1) passage opening (32) is provided on the support plate (31) in a position of straddling the support plate (31).
A lighting lamp (33) is provided to illuminate the passageway (32).
) from the surroundings, left and right, top, left and right diagonal - H, and 5
Color sensors (4) are arranged on the lower side of the support plate (31), and each color sensor (4) detects different parts of the fruit (1) body.
The left and right color sensors (4) are equipped with a photoelectric switch (34) consisting of a light emitter and a light receiver, and the fruit (1) blocks the light beam of the photoelectric switch (34) to turn on the switch. When the switch is turned off, scanning for color detection starts, and when the switch is turned off, scanning ends, and the control unit (35) is also a CPU that processes this detection value.
has been established. This color sorting device (5) forms a dark box by covering the upper and lower parts with covers (38) and (37), respectively, and a light-shielding sheet is provided at the passage opening (38) of the upper cover (36).
(39) is installed vertically.

The color sensor (4) is a commercially available RG type color sensor (4) that can detect colors in the range from red to green, which is suitable for detecting the orange color of the mandarin orange fruit (1), and the color sensor (4) is a commercially available RG type color sensor that can detect colors in the range from red to green, which is suitable for detecting the orange color of tangerine fruit (1). , the colors in the green range are captured numerically, the control unit (35) consisting of the CPU emphasizes red, excludes the detected values from the yellow to green part, and calculates the detected values of the five color sensors (4). A program is provided that calculates a color determination value that expresses the color of the fruit (1) body with a single numerical value by averaging the values. The color sensor (4) may be a color CCD camera capable of detecting flaws, different colors, abnormal shapes, etc.

The manual sorting device (6) has a central belt conveyor (40) sandwiched between roller conveyors (41) (42) on the left and right sides of the central belt conveyor (40).
In a general sorting device equipped with
41) (42) Lower left and right belt conveyors (44) (45) are installed below the unsorted fruit (1).
from the upper side to the left and right roller conveyors (41) (42
), for example, this roller conveyor (41)
(42) Leaving the excellent items on top, the belt conveyor in the center (
40), non-defective products on the upper belt conveyor (43), and similar products on the lower belt conveyors (44) and (45).
) (42) The manual sorting device (6) is designed to work separately on the outside. After sorting, the fruits (1) of each quality grade of Excellent, Excellent, Good, and Fair are connected to conveyors for each grade and transferred to four rows of color and size sorting conveyors (7). It is something.

The operation of the stroke will be explained with reference to FIG. Hand sorting device (6
), the worker sorts the fruits (1) to be distributed to the left and right roller conveyors (41) (42), and places the best fruits on the central belt conveyor (40), and then transfers them to the upper belt conveyor (43).
Place good products on the right and left lower belt conveyors (44
) (45) is marked with parallel notes, and the excellent items left on the left and right roller conveyors (41) (42) are sorted into excellent, excellent, good, and average quality by the manual sorting device (,6) on the lower side. When the color sensors (4) are transferred to the conveyor all at once, arranged one by grade on each line of the four-line sorting conveyor (7), and then transferred to the receiver (9) at appropriate intervals, the color sensor (4) It enters through the passage port (38) of the upper cover (36) of the color sorting device (5) having a
4) Each color sensor (4) is detected by scanning when ON, and the control unit (35) re-sorts and determines the quality grade by color, and if there is one that should be downgraded from the grade sorted by the hand sorter (6), it is downgraded. It will be judged.

This is the grade sorting line (3). Next, the size detection section of the class selection line (2) determines the size class into six classes from the largest to the lowest: 3L, 2L, L, M, S, and 2S.
- The quality grade and size class of the fruit (1) are determined by the control section (3).
5) and the control device (22), and the determined fruit (1) is transferred to the receiver (9) at the extraction section (10).
The arm part (21) of the engaging tool (20) that maintains the fruit (1) in the receiving posture is held down by a controlled rotary solenoid, the receiver (9) falls over, and the fruit (1) is transferred to the drawer conveyor (11). The product is transported by a cartoning device (23), placed in a cardboard box (28), and transported by a product conveyor (30).

As shown in the diagram, a color sorting device (5) using a color sensor (4)
If it is provided after the manual sorting device (6) and on the sorting conveyor (7) of the grade sorting line (2), the sorting conveyor (7) can be integrated and the facility can be made compact. Further, the configuration excluding the color sorting device (5) is one that is present in the existing facility, and it is easy to improve and remodel the existing facility.

In addition, what is shown in FIG. 8 to FIG. 10 is another embodiment. In FIG. 8, a color sorting device (5) using a color sensor (4) is provided in the previous stage of the manual sorting device (6), The color sorting conveyor (46) for color sorting has the same shape as the sorting conveyor (7).
The fruit (1), which has been sorted into four grades of color (excellent, excellent, good, average) by each line, is collected and re-handled according to grade. A sorting conveyor (47) is provided consisting of a 0-roller conveyor with a width of about 90 cm, and supplies are supplied to this conveyor, and the grades are re-sorted by hand based on factors other than color, and transferred to the 4-row sorting conveyor of the grade sorting line (2). Size classification is performed using (7) for each of the four grades of excellent, excellent, good, and average. In this form,
If a color CCD camera is used as the color sensor (4), it can detect not only color but also flaws, different colored parts, abnormal shapes, etc., and manual sorting correction on the re-hand sorting conveyor (47) can be easily performed.

Further, in another embodiment shown in FIG.
8), only rotten fruits (49) are removed by working banks located on both sides of the conveyor (48), and the rotten fruit (49) is equally divided and supplied to the four-row sorting conveyor (7) without sorting the grade. Color grade by color sensor (4) and size detection unit (8)
A hand sorting device (6) is installed in the form of a roller conveyor (50) for each grade at the transfer end of the pull-out conveyor (11), which detects the size class by fruit diameter and concentrates all grades for each class. Then, a person standing between each roller conveyor (50) mainly inspects the fruit and downgrades the fruit from good to good, from good to good, and transfers the fruit to the adjacent conveyor (50). In this case, the grade sorting line (3) is separated by the class sorting line (2) into good and bad.
In the roller conveyor (50) section, the color and size are sorted in the previous step, so it is easy to judge the quality grade, and since it is only necessary to mainly look at the scraps, the sorting can be done easily.

In addition, in another embodiment shown in FIG. 10, in addition to removing rotten fruit (48), the hand sorting device (6) at the beginning of the process also separates ordinary grade and lower grade for processing such as juice. The fruits corresponding to the higher grades of Excellent, -Excellent, and Good (1) are transferred to the parallel sorting conveyor (7) and processing containers, etc., and are transferred to the other three sorting conveyors (7) without being sorted. Divided evenly to the conveyor (
51), the color sorting device (5) and the size detection section (8
), there are two grades based on color: red and yellow, and green, and there are five grades of 3L-3 based on fruit diameter, and another 28.
4L is sorted to the transfer terminal side. Each drawer conveyor (11)
Red re-sorting roller conveyor (52) at the end of the transfer
A hand sorting roller conveyor (53) is installed between these roller conveyors (52) and (53), and a conveyor (54) is installed between these roller conveyors (52) and (53) to sort and place downgraded items from the red category and high grade items from the poor category. ), and the fruit (1) to be placed on this conveyor (54) is designated as superior quality, and the red roller conveyor (5
2) Leave the fruit (1) on the excellent product, the poor roller conveyor (
The fruit (1) left in the container 53) is considered to be good quality, and the fruit (1) is omitted from re-sorting and is supplied to each boxing device (23) with equal circumference for packaging.

According to this form, it is possible to save labor by not re-selecting parallel entries.

Furthermore, since 2S and 4L are small and extra large, and may not be shipped to the market, it is convenient to place them together when hand-packing them into bags without using a packaging device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The figures show one embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 1 is a sorting process diagram, Fig. 2 is a partial front view, Fig. 3 is a partial side view, and Fig. 4 is a partial front view. FIG. 5 is a side view, FIG. 6 is a partial plan view, FIG. 7 is a side view, and FIGS. 8 to 10 are diagrams of the sorting process of another embodiment. be. In the figure, code (1) is the fruit, (2) is the class sorting line, (
3) is a grade sorting line, (4) is a color sensor, (5) is a color sorting device, (6) is a hand sorting device, (7) is a sorting conveyor, (8) is a size detection unit, and (9) is fruit receptor, (10)
(11) is a drawer conveyor, (22) is a control device, (23) is a packaging device, (27) is a weighing machine, (29)
indicates a corrugated pole box, and (35) indicates a control unit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Fruit (1) by detecting the fruit diameter or weight of fruit (1)
Before or after the grade sorting line (2), which sorts fruits by size class, there is a grade sorting line (2) which sorts fruits (1) by quality grade according to classification factors such as fruit color, blemishes, combs, irregular shapes, etc. 3), the grading line (3) is equipped with a color sorting device (5) for grading the fruit (1) by color using a color sensor (4) that detects the color of the fruit (1); 1) and a manual sorting device (6) for visually observing and sorting grades based on classification factors other than color.