JP2852764B2 - Soft vegetable sorter - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an apparatus for accurately judging and sorting the size, shape, and the like of soft vegetables, such as asparagus, which are easily damaged. .

(Prior Art) Generally, when shipping harvested asparagus, sorting is performed into several grades according to size or shape such as thickness and length.

Conventionally, such sorting has been performed by a worker, who has visually determined the grades one by one and manually sorted them. In recent years, sorting using image processing technology has also been performed.

That is, leafy vegetables such as asparagus have a soft surface and are easily scratched when sandwiched by a sandwiching body. Therefore, the leafy vegetables are placed on a U-shaped cross section and transported continuously in the horizontal direction.
Then, light is emitted from a light source disposed at a predetermined position above the transport path, and reflected light of this light is emitted by a photographing mechanism arranged at a position facing the light source on the opposite side across the transport path. A sorting apparatus configured to take a positive image of asparagus by detecting the image and process the static positive image to determine the size, shape, and the like is used.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in such a conventional sorting apparatus, the inner bottom of the cradle on which asparagus is mounted, except for the light emitted from the light source except for the light projected onto the asparagus. It is blackened and has a matte surface so that it is absorbed by asparagus, but the light emitted from the light source is reflected on asparagus or dirt, mud, water droplets, etc. attached to the inner bottom of the asparagus. Light is also detected by the imaging mechanism.

For this reason, there is a problem that an erroneous image is taken and accurate determination and selection cannot be performed.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and provides an apparatus for accurately judging the size, shape, and the like of soft vegetables such as asparagus that are easily damaged by image processing means. The purpose is to:

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The apparatus for sorting soft vegetables according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a receiving table having a U-shaped cross section on which soft vegetables are mounted, and a continuous receiving table. A light source disposed above the soft vegetable along the transport path, and disposed above the light source with the transport path interposed therebetween, and irradiates the soft vegetable from the light source. A soft vegetable having a mechanism for detecting a reflected light of the obtained light and photographing a positive image of the soft vegetable, and a mechanism for performing image processing on the positive image photographed by the photographing mechanism to determine the size, shape, and the like. Wherein the inner bottom portion of the cradle, which is in direct contact with the soft vegetable, is constituted by a member having a plurality of small projections closely planted on the surface. A soft vegetable sorting device according to a second aspect is the soft vegetable sorting device according to the first aspect, wherein the small projections are needle-shaped.

(Action) In the soft vegetable sorting apparatus of the present invention, when the soft vegetables placed on the U-shaped cross section and continuously transported reach a predetermined position on the transport path, the soft vegetables are moved along the transport path. Light is radiated from the light source arranged above toward the soft vegetables.

The reflected light of the irradiation light hitting the surface of the soft vegetable on the cradle is photographed as a stationary positive image by a photographing mechanism arranged opposite to the light source with the conveyance path interposed therebetween.

At this time, since the inner bottom portion of the cradle directly in contact with the soft vegetable is constituted by a member having a plurality of small projections closely planted on the surface, garbage, mud, Water droplets and the like fall down through these gaps and do not remain on the surface of the soft vegetable or the like.

Therefore, an erroneous image is not detected by the irradiation light from the light source being reflected on the water droplets or the like.

Also, the light hitting the inner bottom of the cradle passes through these gaps or is irregularly reflected on the surface, so that it does not reach the photographing mechanism, and a clear image of soft vegetables can be obtained from this point as well.

Next, the still positive image photographed by the photographing mechanism is converted into an electric signal or the like and output to the image processing and determination mechanism, where the image processing is performed and the size, shape, and the like are accurately determined.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The drawing is a schematic view showing an asparagus sorting apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a pedestal having a U-shaped cross section on which the asparagus 2 is mounted in a horizontally laid state, and the inner bottom of the pedestal 1 is in close contact with a relatively long small protrusion such as artificial grass. It is constituted by a brush-like member 3 implanted.

The cradle 1 is attached to a conveyor 4 that moves continuously in the horizontal direction.

Above one side of the conveyor 4, a light source 5 for irradiating light by detecting that the asparagus 2 to be transported has reached this position by a sensor or the like is provided.
A camera 6 that detects reflected light of light emitted from the light source 5 and captures a positive image of the asparagus 2 is disposed at a position above and opposite to the light source 5 with the transport conveyor 4 interposed therebetween. The camera 6 includes a condenser lens and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) having a photoelectric conversion function.

The camera 6 is electrically connected to a device 7 which has a built-in memory and CPU and performs image processing and size / shape determination.

Further, asparagus 2 is provided at the end of the conveyor 4.
Is located at a predetermined position, a detaching mechanism (not shown) for detaching it from the receiving table 1 is provided, and the detaching mechanism is electrically connected to the image processing and determination device 7. .

The operation of the apparatus of the embodiment configured as described above will be described below.

That is, when the asparagus 2 placed on the receiving table 1 and continuously transported by the transport conveyor 4 reaches a predetermined position below the light source 5, light is emitted from the light source 5 which detects this by a sensor or the like. .

The light emitted from the light source 5 uniformly hits the outer peripheral surface of the cradle 1 and the asparagus 2 thereon, and the light reflected on the surface reaches the condenser lens of the camera 6 arranged opposite to the light source 5, Thus, a positive image of asparagus 2 is photographed as a still image.

And at this time, the cradle 1 which is in direct contact with the asparagus 2
Is formed of a brush-like member 3 in which relatively long small protrusions such as artificial grass are closely planted.
Dirt, mud, water droplets, etc. attached to the surface of the asparagus 2 or the brush-like member 3 fall down through the gaps between the small projections, and the surface of the asparagus 2 and the tops of the small projections supporting the same. Never remain attached to

Further, the light hitting the inner bottom of the receiving base 1 made of such a brush-like member 3 passes through the gap between the small projections or is irregularly reflected on the surface of the small projection, so that the reflected light may reach the camera 6. Absent.

Therefore, the reflected light detected by the camera 6 is almost only the light reflected on the surface of the asparagus 2, and an accurate positive image of the asparagus 2 is taken by the camera 6.

Next, a positive image of the asparagus 2 taken by the camera 6 is output as an electric signal from this, and the image processing and determination device 7 that has input this signal outputs the asparagus 2 in a size and shape such as length and thickness. Are determined and selected, and the result is output as an electric signal.

When such a signal is input, the removal mechanism removes the asparagus from the receiving stand when it comes to a specific position that differs depending on the determination and selection result, and stores the asparagus in a storage unit or the like.

In this way, the sorting based on the size and shape of the asparagus 2 such as the thickness and length is continuously and automatically performed, and no erroneous determination is made due to the attached mud or water droplets.

In the above embodiment, the inner bottom of the cradle 1 is
Although the brush-like member 3 in which relatively long small protrusions such as artificial turf are closely planted is formed, the present invention is not limited to this.

In other words, what kind of material should be used as long as it has many fine voids opened on the surface so that garbage, mud, water droplets, etc. attached to soft vegetables fall down through the gaps Can also.

For example, it is also possible to use a wire mesh having relatively coarse eyes.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the sorting apparatus of the present invention, the size and shape of soft vegetables such as asparagus are automatically and continuously determined, and accurate and efficient sorting is performed. It can be carried out.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing an asparagus sorting apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Cradle 2 ... Asparagus 3 ... Brush-like member 5 ... Light source 6 ... Camera 7 ... Image processing and determination device

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G01B 11/00-11/30 G01N 21/84-21/91 B07C 1/00-9/00

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pedestal having a U-shaped cross section for mounting soft vegetables, a transport mechanism for continuously transporting the pedestals, a light source disposed upward along a transport path of the soft vegetables, A mechanism that is disposed above the light source with the transport path interposed therebetween, detects reflected light of light emitted from the light source to the soft vegetables, and shoots a positive image of the soft vegetables; and the shooting mechanism. In a soft vegetable sorter equipped with a mechanism for performing image processing on the positive image photographed in and judging the size, shape, and the like, the inner bottom portion of the cradle directly in contact with the soft vegetable has a plurality of small protrusions on the surface. An apparatus for sorting soft vegetables, characterized by being constituted by closely planted members. 2. The apparatus for sorting soft vegetables according to claim 1, wherein said small projections are needle-shaped.