JP3660809B2 - Agricultural product sorting equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an agricultural product sorting apparatus that measures and sorts the internal quality of agricultural products using light transmitted through the agricultural products.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Agricultural product sorting equipment generally examines agricultural products by classifying their size, shape, etc., or grades such as appearance quality such as color and scratches, and classifies them according to the classification and classification of the judgment results. However, recently, with the diversifying needs of the market and consumers and the improvement of measurement technology, it may be required to adopt internal quality such as sugar content and ripeness as sorting items for agricultural products. It is increasing.
[0003]
Regarding the measurement of such internal quality, the principle of detection of transmitted light is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-4-84740, JP-A-58-25345, JP-A-4-83148, JP-A-3-160344, etc. Explained.
[0004]
However, these do not specifically propose an apparatus capable of efficiently performing transmitted light detection. That is, the light obtained through the agricultural product is 10% of the illumination light.^-Four-10^-6Therefore, it is not easy to measure the internal quality with high sensitivity and accuracy, and even if a small amount of disturbance light enters, the information of transmitted light is buried in the overwhelmingly large disturbance light. For this reason, the transmitted light detection device cannot be configured simply by applying the conventional sorting conveyor.
[0005]
Further, according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 6-288903, a vertical through hole is provided in the center of a tray having a recess for placing agricultural products, and the agricultural products are illuminated above the transport path of the tray, and below the transport path. An apparatus has been proposed in which transmitted light is detected by an installed light receiving device. According to this apparatus, the transmitted light of the agricultural product on the conveyance line can be detected. However, in order to ensure that the illumination light above the conveyance path does not enter the light receiving device below the conveyance path without further stopping the movement of the tray, further improvements are required. Etc. tend to be restricted, and there is a problem that when the agricultural product on the tray is transferred to the discharge conveyor, further measures are required to prevent the agricultural product from being damaged.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is suitable for ensuring light shielding between agricultural products and light receiving means for detecting transmitted light, and has high accuracy and high sensitivity. The present invention is to provide an agricultural product sorting device having a function capable of realizing transmitted light detection.
[0007]
Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for sorting agricultural products that is less likely to damage agricultural products when sorting by sorting category.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The above object can be achieved by the inventions of the claims of the present application.
[0009]
  The invention of the agricultural product sorting apparatus according to claim 1 of the present application is provided so that the agricultural products can be transported on the tray of the conveyer that is connected endlessly and is separated by a number of intervals in the conveying direction. A transport conveyor, a transmitted light detecting means that is disposed in the middle of the transport path of the agricultural product, irradiates the agricultural product on the tray with illumination light, and receives light transmitted through the agricultural product, and at least the agricultural product transmitted light. Sorting classification determining means for determining the sorting classification of the produce on each tray based on the selection element including, a plurality of discharge conveyors arranged separately along the tray transport direction at the terminal end position of the conveyor, Agricultural product discharge means for discharging the agricultural products on the tray to the discharge conveyor corresponding to the determined sorting category.Huh,The saucer is provided so as to form a receiving part for placing agricultural products by a pair of saucer pieces divided on both sides in the conveyance lateral direction, and the opposing ends of the saucer pieces are expanded in the conveyance lateral direction, or Installed in a half-crack type to drop the agricultural products placed by tilting down onto the lower discharge conveyorFarmingProduct sorting deviceThe transmitted light detecting means has a light receiving opening facing upward, a transmitted light receiving means fixedly disposed below the agricultural product transport path, and a position between the transport conveyor and the transmitted light receiving means in the vertical direction. A series of light receiving auxiliary cylinders which are provided so as to move along the transport direction and whose lower end is provided so as to pass through the light receiving opening of the transmitted light receiving means in a light-shielded state, and transmit the agricultural products. A light receiving auxiliary cylinder rotating means for aligning and moving the light receiving auxiliary cylinders in parallel with each other at the same speed so that the received light is incident in a light-shielded state from the upper end opening of the light receiving auxiliary cylinder;It is provided with.
[0010]
In the above configuration, the transmitted light detection means is disposed above the transport path, and the illumination optical system provided in the dark room box that shields the exit / entrance of the agricultural product with a curtain or the like so that external light does not enter as much as possible. It is preferable that the transmission light receiving optical system is disposed below the road and provided in a dark room box that blocks external light without interfering with the conveyance of agricultural products.
[0011]
The sorting classification determining means uses the internal quality (for example, sugar content, maturity, etc.) based on the detected transmitted light as a screening determination element, and uses the appearance imaging camera or the like to determine the shape, size, etc. of the produce. Also good. For classification classification, a method of determining classification classification for grades and classes is generally adopted by comparing numerical data about sorting elements with a predetermined threshold value, but is not limited to this. . Such sorting classification determination can usually be performed by a measuring means for detecting (measuring) various sorting element data and an analyzing means using a computer or the like for judging the sorting classification based on the measured value.
[0012]
A plurality of discharge conveyors provided on the terminal side of the conveyor can be provided in the same number as the number of sections to be sorted, for example, so that one discharge conveyor can correspond to one sorting section. Two or more discharge conveyors may be assigned to a large number of distribution sections. These discharge conveyors are generally provided with a conveying path set so as to form a direction substantially orthogonal to the conveying conveyor, but are not limited thereto.
[0013]
Agricultural product discharge means for discharging agricultural products from a tray on a conveyor to a predetermined discharge conveyor is for switching a tray in a state of supporting and transporting agricultural products to a state of discharging agricultural products. Corresponding to each discharge conveyor, it is provided for one.
[0014]
The present invention is characterized in that the receiving tray is provided so as to form a receiving portion for supporting agricultural products by a pair of receiving tray pieces divided on both sides in the lateral direction of conveyance, and the pair of receiving trays by the agricultural product discharging means. The position is such that the piece can be switched to a posture for dropping and discharging the agricultural product downward, and the posture for dropping and discharging the agricultural product is, for example, a method of expanding a pair of tray pieces in the lateral direction of conveyance (left and right direction), or Any of the methods of tilting the opposite ends of the pair of tray pieces downward may be used.
[0015]
According to this invention, the transmitted light of the agricultural product can be detected on the tray of the transport conveyor constituted by the pair of tray pieces, and the agricultural products being transported on the same transport conveyor can be expanded or The fall distance of agricultural products dropped and discharged from the discharge conveyor to the discharge conveyor due to the downward tilt can be shortened compared to the method of dropping the tray made of a single bucket and dropping, and the risk of damaging the agricultural products due to the drop impact can be reduced.
[0016]
  In addition, according to the method of tilting the opposite end of the saucer piece downward, it is possible to discharge the agricultural products without increasing the lateral dimension of the conveyor, so in a facility where a plurality of conveyors are arranged in parallel, This is advantageous because the installation area of the equipment can be reduced.
  Furthermore, in the characteristic configuration of the present invention, the light receiving auxiliary cylinder that constitutes the light receiving system of the transmitted light detecting means together with the light receiving means that is fixedly arranged is most simply configured as a cylinder formed of a light shielding material. Preferably, a light-shielding seal portion suitable for preventing intrusion of disturbance light into the light receiving port of the transmitted light receiving means when detecting transmitted light is provided at the upper and lower ends. As such a light-shielding seal portion, for example, at the lower end, a ring-shaped elastic seal that provides a light-shielding property by providing an outward flange-like flat surface at the edge of the light-receiving opening of the light-receiving means and elastically sliding on the flat surface. The structure etc. which assembled | attached the member to the cylinder lower end can be illustrated.
  According to this characteristic configuration, the light receiving auxiliary cylinder moves in a state in which the phase and the moving speed coincide with those of the produce, so there is no relative movement in the transport direction between the produce on the tray and the light shielding property is ensured. Becomes easy. In addition, there is a relative movement relationship between the light receiving means fixedly arranged and the rotating light receiving auxiliary cylinder, but since these are the relationships between the mechanical elements, the dimensions, positional relationships of the members, and combinations of these It can guarantee the accuracy of the contact part including the relationship etc. sufficiently high, and can realize the detection of transmitted light with high sensitivity and high accuracy.
[0017]
The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the above invention, each tray has a through-opening in the vertical direction at the approximate center of the receiving portion.
[0018]
According to this invention, there exists an advantage that the light which permeate | transmitted the agricultural product through the through-opening of the saucer can be detected.
[0022]
  Claim3The invention of the aboveeachThe invention is characterized in that the receiving tray provided in the middle type of the transfer conveyor forms a substantially annular receiving portion in a posture when the pair of receiving tray pieces place and convey the agricultural product.4The invention of the present invention is characterized in that the substantially annular receiving part has a seal part in contact with the agricultural product in order to shield the inner side of the ring from disturbance light.
[0023]
  According to this invention, when sorting and sorting the ball-like agricultural products and the like, since the agricultural products can be closely fitted to the annular receiving portion of the tray without gaps, the influence of ambient light can be further reduced. In particular, claims4According to the invention, the light shielding property can be further enhanced by the seal portion.
[0024]
  Claim5The invention is onWritingIn any one of the inventions, the auxiliary light-receiving cylinder has a light-shielding seal portion at a lower end thereof that prevents disturbance light from entering the light-receiving opening of the transmitted-light receiving means when detecting transmitted light.
[0025]
As the light-shielding seal portion, for example, an outward flange-shaped plane is provided at the edge of the light-receiving opening of the light-receiving means, and a ring-type elastic seal member that exhibits light-shielding properties by elastically sliding on this plane is used as a cylinder. The structure assembled | attached to the body lower end can be illustrated.
[0026]
  Claim6The invention is onWritingIn any one of the inventions, the light receiving auxiliary cylinder rotating means for rotating and guiding each light receiving auxiliary cylinder so as to pass over the light receiving opening of the transmitted light receiving means has a fixed length including the transmitted light detection position passing over the light receiving opening. An annular light-shielding seal portion is provided that moves the auxiliary light-receiving cylinder upward in the rotating path and engages the upper end of the auxiliary light-receiving cylinder with the bottom surface of the saucer or fits into the through opening of the saucer to shield light. And claims7In this invention, the light receiving auxiliary cylinder is fitted in the through opening of the saucer so that the upper end can be engaged with the produce on the saucer, and disturbance light is generated at the upper end by engagement with the produce. An annular light-shielding seal portion that prevents entry into the cylinder is provided.
[0027]
  According to these inventions, it is possible to enhance the light shielding property by moving the auxiliary light receiving cylinder in the vertical direction by utilizing the relationship that the tray and the auxiliary light receiving cylinder do not relatively move. Especially claims7According to the invention, since the light receiving auxiliary cylinder and the agricultural product are directly engaged to obtain light shielding properties, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to provide the receiving tray with a structure for ensuring the light shielding properties.
[0028]
  Claim8In each of the above inventions, in each of the above inventions, the pair of saucer pieces forming the saucer discharges the agricultural product placed on the lower discharge conveyor when the opposite end tilts downward from the posture of supporting and transporting the produce. The claim is provided as follows:9The present invention is characterized in that guide means for guiding the tilting of the tray piece is provided so as to gradually increase the downward tilting angle of the opposing ends of the pair of tray pieces.
[0029]
In the above, for example, a guide rail or the like can be used as the guide means for guiding the tray piece so as to gradually increase the tilt angle.
[0030]
According to these inventions, the opposing end of the tray piece is tilted downward, so that the agricultural products can be discharged without increasing the lateral dimension of the conveyor, and a plurality of conveyors are installed in parallel. Then, it is advantageous because the installation area of the facility can be reduced.
[0031]
In addition, when a guide rail or the like that gradually increases the downward tilt angle is provided, there is an advantage that it is possible to alleviate the drop impact of agricultural products.
[0032]
Examples of agricultural products to which the apparatus of the present invention is applied include fruits such as apples, pears, peaches and strawberries.
[0033]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiment 1
Hereinafter, an example of a sorting apparatus that detects the transmitted light of the agricultural product of the present invention and uses it as one of sorting elements will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0034]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing an outline of the entire equipment of the agricultural product sorting apparatus of this example, FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof, FIG. 3 is a longitudinal side view for explaining a transmitted light detection device portion of the equipment, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a vertical side view of an apparatus for discharging agricultural products on the bucket-type tray of the conveyor of the same equipment to a discharge conveyor.
[0035]
In these drawings, reference numeral 101 denotes a conveyor, and a large number of trays 5 are connected to a pair of left and right conveyor chains 103 and 103 rotated endlessly by a pair of sprockets 102 and 102 at regular intervals in the conveying direction. And it is comprised so that the agricultural products P can be put on each one on this saucer 5. Reference numeral 1031 is a link connecting shaft for connecting the link plate 1032, 1033 is a guide rail of the conveyor chain 103, 1034 is a guide rail support frame, and 1035 is a base frame of the transport conveyor 101 to which this guide rail support frame 1034 is fixed. . Moreover, although the receiving tray 5 of this example has the characteristic structure provided in the middle crack type | formula, the detail is mentioned later.
[0036]
1 shows a supply stage (position) for an operator to perform the operation of placing the agricultural products P one by one on the receiving tray 5 of the transport conveyor 101, and the operator selects the agricultural products from a container (not shown) containing a large number of agricultural products P. It is comprised so that the operation | work which takes out P and mounts on the saucer 5 can be performed easily. Note that this operation may be performed mechanically and automatically using a supply mechanism using an alignment conveyor or the like.
[0037]
Reference numeral 2 denotes a measurement stage (position), and the tray 5 containing agricultural products of the transport conveyor 101 is first passed through a transmitted light detection device 6 provided in the middle of the transport path of the transport conveyor 101 to detect transmitted light. Transmitted light including information related to internal quality is detected and measured, and this transmitted light information is used as grade information for determining the classification of each agricultural product in a classification classification determination apparatus (not shown) composed of a computer or the like. The transmitted light detection device 6 of this example illuminates the agricultural product P with the illumination lamp 603 of the illumination optical system in the dark room box 601 which is disposed above the conveyance path of the conveyance conveyor 101 and whose entrance is shielded from the outside by a curtain. The light receiving device 604 that receives the transmitted light provided on the lower side of the transport path of the transport conveyor 101 is provided so as to receive and detect the light transmitted through the agricultural products. Details thereof will be described later. Reference numeral 605 denotes a darkroom box for shielding the light receiving optical system from the outside. However, only the light receiving device 604 may be partitioned from the outside to shield the light, or the entire endless rotation mechanism of the light receiving auxiliary cylinder is externally provided. You may partition so that it may shield from light.
[0038]
7 is an appearance imaging device provided at the next stage of the transmitted light detection device 6, and the appearance of the agricultural products illuminated by the illumination lamp 702 is picked up by an appearance imaging camera 701 disposed above the conveyance path. The information is sent to the sorting classification determination device in the same manner as the transmitted light information, and is used to determine the sorting classification of agricultural products as appearance grade information and class (size) information.
[0039]
Reference numeral 3 denotes a sorting stage (position). In this example, the discharge conveyors 81 to 83 are classified according to the sorting information determined by the above information. Is horizontally arranged in the horizontal direction with a predetermined interval in the tray conveyance direction below the conveyance path, and when the agricultural product P for which the predetermined classification is determined reaches the corresponding discharge conveyors 81 to 83 In addition, by the operation of the discharge devices 31 to 33, the opposing ends of the pair of tray pieces 51 and 51 constituting the tray 5 of the present example are simultaneously tilted downward, and the agricultural products P placed on the opposite ends are discharged to the discharge conveyors 81 to 81. 83 is dropped and discharged.
[0040]
Next, the tray 5 of this example will be described.
[0041]
As shown in FIG. 3, the saucer 5 of this example is configured by a combination of a pair of symmetrical saucer pieces 51, 51, and each saucer piece 51 is horizontally connected to the link connecting shaft 1031 of the conveyor chain 103. A saucer piece support base 511 that is supported so as to maintain its posture, and a generally rectangular rectangular saucer piece that is swingably supported around the shaft 513 by a swing center shaft 513 fixed to a bracket 512 on the support base 511. A plate 514 and a semi-annular receiving lip member 515 assembled in a semicircular recess at the swinging tip edge of the tray piece plate 514, and the agricultural product placement portion of the pair of left and right tray pieces 51 is provided. When the receiving lip member 515 is opposed to each other, a substantially annular agricultural product receiving portion is formed. In addition, the receiving piece 51 has a locking pin 516 provided on the rear end of the receiving piece plate 514 (the end opposite to the receiving lip member 515 with the swinging central shaft 513 interposed) on the bracket 512. The locking hooks 517 provided on the plate are normally locked to swing, and in the locked state by the locking hooks 517, as shown in FIG. The pair of receiving lip members 515 form an annular receiving portion for placing the produce P while maintaining the horizontal posture, and the swinging tip edge of the tray piece plate 514 to which the receiving lip member 515 is assembled is By forming a semicircular recess, an opening penetrating in the vertical direction is formed inside the annular receiving portion. In addition, the receiving lip member 515 of this example is provided with a lip made of a relatively flexible elastic body to which the mounted agricultural product slightly sinks and deforms, and the double lip is Since the diameter is gradually increased upward from the base portion attached to the swinging tip edge of the tray piece plate 514, the posture is stably engaged with the produce P in a sealed state with a good light shielding property. It can be supported.
[0042]
The locking hook 517 is rotatably provided by a pin 518 provided on the bracket 512, and is normally spring-biased in the direction of engagement with the locking pin 516 by a torsion coil spring (not shown). In addition, the locking release arm 5171 provided on the locking hook 517 is pressed downward by the discharge device so as to release the locking. In this example, the light receiving auxiliary cylinder 606, which will be described later, is directly engaged with the agricultural product to reliably prevent disturbance light from being mixed into the transmitted light. However, the light receiving auxiliary cylinder is directly related to the agricultural product. Without combining, it is possible to ensure the light shielding property by engaging with the tray so as to have a light shielding property around the lower end edge of the through opening of the saucer or in the through opening.
[0043]
Next, the transmitted light detection device 6 which is a characteristic configuration of the present example in which the agricultural product P is placed on the receiving tray 5 formed by a pair of the receiving tray pieces 51 and 51 and the transmitted light of the agricultural product is detected by the measurement stage 2. Will be described.
[0044]
This apparatus 6 of this example forms an illumination room 602 by providing a dark room box 601 provided so as to cover the conveyance path above the conveyance path, and is arranged in an arc shape on both sides of the conveyance path in the illumination chamber 602. A plurality of illumination lamps 603 are provided so as to irradiate illumination light toward the agricultural products passing through the arcuate substantially central position (see FIG. 4). In order to make the amount of illumination light constant, it is preferable to shield the entrance / exit of the illumination chamber 602 with a curtain or the like.
[0045]
Further, the transmitted light detection device 6 of this example has a light receiving device 604 for detecting transmitted light in the dark room box 605 below the conveyance path of the illumination chamber 602, and transmits light transmitted through the agricultural products. There is a feature that an endless rotation mechanism 606 of the auxiliary light receiving cylinder for endlessly rotating the auxiliary light receiving cylinder 607 for preventing the intrusion of disturbance light to be received by the light receiving device 604 in a state where no disturbance light enters. .
[0046]
In this example, the light receiving auxiliary cylinder 607 is provided with a main body made of an opaque rigid material (plastic material) having a cylindrical portion 6071 and an outward flange 6072 at the lower end of the cylindrical portion. An upper annular lip member 6074 to be described later is assembled and fixed to the outward flange 6073 at the upper end of the cylindrical portion 6071, and a lower annular shape to be described later is provided to the inward flange 6075 provided at the opening inner edge of the outward flange 6072 at the lower end. A lip member 6076 is assembled and fixed.
[0047]
The light receiving device 604 is configured by combining elements such as a condensing lens, a band pass filter that selectively detects light of a predetermined wavelength, and a light receiving element such as a CCD. The light receiving opening is arranged so as to be positioned vertically below the passing position.
[0048]
Another feature of the endless rotation mechanism 606 of the present example for rotating the light receiving auxiliary cylinder 607 endlessly is wound around a pair of sprockets 6062 and 6062 so as to run in parallel at a constant speed in synchronization with the conveyor 101. A plurality of auxiliary light receiving cylinders 607 are connected to the conveyor chain 6061 at regular intervals, and the upper annular lip is inserted into the opening of the tray 5 by moving the upper end portion of the auxiliary auxiliary light receiving cylinders 607 in parallel. The member 6074 is provided so as to be able to engage with the bottom surface of the produce P, and the lower end portion passes over the light receiving port of the light receiving device 604 and receives light after passing over the light receiving device 604. The auxiliary cylinder 607 is moved downward and away from the agricultural product P and is endlessly rotated so as to come out downward from the opening of the tray 5. Reference numeral 6063 denotes a chain attachment for connecting the conveyor chain 6061 and the flange 6072 of the light receiving auxiliary cylinder 607.
[0049]
According to the endless rotation mechanism 606 of the light receiving auxiliary cylinder 607 provided in this way, the light receiving auxiliary cylinder 607 provided so as to form a vertically penetrating cylinder has an upper annular lip member 6074 assembled to the upper end portion thereof. A close seal state in which ambient light is prevented from entering by annularly engaging the bottom surface of the produce P can be formed, and a lower annular lip member 6076 assembled to the lower end portion is provided on the upper edge of the case of the light receiving device 604 By sliding on the outward flange 6041, it is possible to relatively easily realize relative movement in a tightly sealed state where no disturbance light enters. Thereby, when the agricultural product P reaches just above the light receiving device 604, the incident light of the agricultural product transmitted light to the light receiving device 604 can be surely prevented from entering the disturbance light through the light receiving auxiliary cylinder 607, and the illumination light Decay from 10^-Four-10^-6Thus, an operation for detecting the transmitted light that is extremely weak even with high sensitivity and accuracy is realized.
[0050]
Next, regarding the guide mechanism of the endless rotation mechanism 606 of the light receiving auxiliary cylinder 607, the light receiving auxiliary cylinder 607 is moved up in a trajectory before reaching the transmitted light detection position, and is moved down after passing through the transmitted light detection position. To explain, the conveyor chain 6061 is provided in a structure that is slidably fitted to a plate-shaped guide rail 6065 in a vertical posture that is fixed to the frame 6064 and is provided along the conveying direction, whereby the plate-shaped guide rail 6065 is provided. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, in this example, the conveyor track of the light receiving auxiliary cylinder 607 facing the transport path is on the upstream side of the light receiving position. The upward inclined trajectory gradually moves up from the height position on the start end side (the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3). At the light receiving position, the light receiving auxiliary cylinder 607 is moved at the upward moving position indicated by the solid line in FIG. Is a horizontal trajectory to move a constant distance horizontally, after further past the light receiving position, there is a downwardly inclined track gradually moves downward toward the terminal end. As a result, the above-described operation of fitting the upper end portion of the light receiving auxiliary cylinder into the upper and lower through-opening of the tray 5 and pulling out the inserted light receiving auxiliary cylinder 607 downward is given.
[0051]
With the above configuration, in this example, it is possible to detect the light transmitted through the agricultural product P conveyed by the conveyor 101 without introducing disturbance light, and thus the agricultural product included in the weak transmitted light. The internal quality information can be measured with good sensitivity and accuracy.
[0052]
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the state of the saucer 5 that conveys the position of the transmitted light detection device 6 as described above as a state where the agricultural product P is not placed on the saucer 5. Transmitted light detection is performed when passing through position A in FIG. That is, the light receiving auxiliary cylinder 607 at the position A in FIG. 4 runs in parallel with the saucer 5 for a certain length in a state of being fitted into the upper and lower through openings of the saucer 5 from below.
[0053]
The appearance imaging device provided at the next stage of the transmitted light detection position is the same as that for imaging the appearance of agricultural products with a known CCD camera or the like. For example, the appearance imaging device on the tray 5 with the same illumination optical system as in FIG. It is performed so that the agricultural product P is illuminated and captured by the appearance imaging camera 701.
[0054]
Next, the sorting stage 3 will be described.
[0055]
In this sorting stage 3 of this example, the farm products belonging to the same sorting section based on the result of determining the sorting section for the farm products P on each tray 5 based on the above-described transmitted light detection information and appearance imaging information. Is discharged to the same discharge conveyor (any one of 81 to 83) that is spaced apart along the transfer direction of the transfer conveyor 101. That is, the discharge device of this example is configured to discharge the agricultural products to each discharge conveyor corresponding to each of the discharge conveyors (81 to 83) spaced apart below the transfer path along the transfer direction of the transfer conveyor 101. 31 to 33 are provided, and in the operation of the discharge devices 31 to 33, discharge corresponding to the sorting category is appropriately performed based on the information obtained by the sorting category determination device. For this purpose, the sorting information can be transmitted to each discharging device by a known method.
[0056]
The state of discharge of agricultural products from the transport conveyor 101 to the discharge conveyor (any of 81 to 83) performed in this way is shown in FIG.
[0057]
That is, electromagnetically operated discharge devices 31 to 33 are arranged along the transfer path of the transfer conveyor 101 located above the discharge conveyors 81 to 83, and FIG. The position of 31 is shown.
[0058]
In the electromagnetically operated discharge device 31 described above, the switch lever 312 that is pivotally supported around the rotating shaft 311 is normally biased upward by a spring (not shown) and is pressed down. When 313 is moved downward by the electromagnetic drive device 314, the switch lever 312 is pressed downward, and the rocking tip of the switch lever 312 is a locking hook 517 provided on the support base 511 of the saucer piece. The lock release arm 5171 is pushed to rotate the lock hook 517 in the lock release direction, thereby releasing the lock engagement with the lock pin 516 on the tray plate 514 side. Is tilted downward (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 5). By causing this series of operations to be performed synchronously by the left and right tray pieces 51, 51, the agricultural product P placed on the receiving portion of the tray 5 falls on the discharge conveyor 81.
[0059]
According to the agricultural product sorting apparatus of the present example configured as described above, it is possible to detect weak agricultural product transmitted light through the upper and lower through openings formed in the central portion of the tray 5 without incurring disturbance light. In addition to being able to measure the internal quality information of agricultural products with high sensitivity and accuracy, the receiving tray 5 is a half-cracked type consisting of a pair of left and right receiving tray pieces, and the opposing end tilts downward so that the agricultural product P placed on the receiving section is Since it can be dropped on the discharge conveyors 81 to 83 with a relatively small fall distance at the position, there is an advantage that the risk of damaging the agricultural products is small.
[0060]
Embodiment 2
The sorting apparatus of the present example shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is configured so that the configuration of the tray 9 is partially the same as that of the first embodiment and the pair of left and right tray pieces 91 and 91 are gradually tilted by the guide rail 92. However, since the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, the illustration and description of common parts are omitted.
[0061]
In the tray 9 in this example, as shown in FIG. 7, the receiving portion on which the agricultural product P is placed is provided in the concave portion 919 having a quadrangular pyramid shape, and a vertical through-opening 9191 is formed at the center position thereof. However, the other points are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, about the common structure, the code | symbol of 500 series of Embodiment 1 was changed into the code | symbol of 900 series, and was shown.
[0062]
Further, in the sorting device of this example, the discharge devices 31 to 33 are not operated at the upper positions with respect to the discharge conveyors 81 to 83, but the discharge devices 31 to 33 are arranged at positions slightly upstream in the transport direction. Then, after releasing the locking engagement of the locking pin 916 by the locking hook 917, it is guided below the conveying path so that the downward tilt angle of the tray pieces 91, 91 gradually increases along the conveying direction. There is a feature that a pair of left and right guide rails 92 is provided. The guide rails 92 are provided in pairs for the discharge conveyors 81 to 83, respectively.
[0063]
According to the configuration of this example, the same advantages as in the first embodiment can be obtained, and the pair of tray pieces 91 and 91 of the tray 9 are gradually tilted downward by the guide rail, so that the agricultural product P can be dropped onto the discharge conveyor. Since the impact can be reduced more gently, the risk of damaging agricultural products can be further reduced.
[0064]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the above embodiment, It can implement in the various changed aspect, for example, it replaces with falling and discharging agricultural products by inclining a pair of half-crack type saucer pieces downward. The pair of tray pieces can be expanded in the horizontal direction to drop and discharge the agricultural products. In this case, a slide mechanism is provided that can move the tray pieces in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the conveyance path. The spring is biased toward the left and right outside, and in normal times, the movement by this spring bias is blocked using a locking hook etc. The lock may be released by the electromagnetically operated discharge device described in the embodiment.
[0065]
【The invention's effect】
As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to detect the transmitted light of the produce on the tray of the transport conveyor constituted by a pair of tray pieces, and the agricultural products being transported on the same transport conveyor, The fall distance of agricultural products dropped and discharged from the conveyor to the discharge conveyor by spreading or tilting the tray piece can be shortened compared to the method of tilting and dropping the tray consisting of a single bucket. The risk of damage can be reduced.
[0066]
  In addition, according to the method of tilting the opposite end of the saucer piece downward, it is possible to discharge the agricultural products without increasing the lateral dimension of the conveyor, so in a facility where a plurality of conveyors are arranged in parallel, It is advantageous because the installation area of equipment can be reduced.
  Further, since the light receiving auxiliary cylinder moves in a state where the phase and the moving speed coincide with those of the produce, there is no relative movement in the transport direction with the produce on the tray, and it is easy to ensure the light shielding property. In addition, there is a relative movement relationship between the light receiving means fixedly arranged and the rotating light receiving auxiliary cylinder, but since these are the relationships between the mechanical elements, the dimensions, positional relationships of the members, and combinations of these It can guarantee the accuracy of the contact part including the relationship etc. sufficiently high, and can realize the detection of transmitted light with high sensitivity and high accuracy.
[0067]
According to invention of Claim 2, there exists an advantage that the light which permeate | transmitted the agricultural product was able to be detected through the through opening of a saucer.
[0068]
  ContractClaim3According to the invention, when sorting and sorting the ball-like agricultural products and the like, the agricultural products can be closely fitted to the annular receiving portion of the tray without gaps, so that the influence of ambient light can be further reduced. In particular, claims4According to the invention, the light shielding property can be further enhanced by the seal portion.
[0069]
  Claim5According to the invention, it is possible to effectively prevent disturbance light from entering the light receiving port of the transmitted light receiving means.6According to this invention, it is possible to improve the light shielding property by moving the auxiliary light receiving cylinder in the vertical direction by utilizing the fact that the tray and the auxiliary light receiving cylinder are not relatively moved. Especially claims7According to the invention, since the light receiving auxiliary cylinder and the agricultural product are directly engaged to obtain light shielding properties, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to provide the receiving tray with a structure for ensuring the light shielding properties.
[0070]
  Claim8According to the invention, since the opposite end of the tray piece is tilted downward, it is possible to discharge the agricultural products without increasing the lateral dimension of the conveyor, and in a facility in which a plurality of conveyors are installed in parallel This is advantageous because the installation area of the equipment can be reduced.
[0071]
In addition, when a guide rail or the like that gradually increases the downward tilt angle is provided, there is an advantage that it is possible to alleviate the drop impact of agricultural products.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an overall outline of an agricultural product sorting facility including a transmitted light detection apparatus according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the facility of FIG.
3 is a longitudinal side view showing an outline of the configuration of the transmitted light detection device 5 of FIG. 1. FIG.
4 is a plan view of FIG. 3. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal side view showing an outline of the configuration of the agricultural product discharging apparatus in FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal side view showing a discharge device portion of the agricultural product sorting facility according to the second embodiment.
7 is a plan view of FIG. 6. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... Supply stage
101 ... Conveyor
102 ... Sprocket
103 ... conveyor chain
1031 ... Link connecting shaft
1032 ... Link plate
1033 ... Guide rail
1034 ... Guide rail support frame
1035 ... Base frame
2 ... Measurement stage
3 ... Sorting stage
31-33 ... Discharging device
5 ... saucer
51 ... saucer piece
511 ... Supporting stand
512 ... Bracket
513 ... Oscillation center axis
514 ... saucer piece plate
515 ... Receiving lip member
516 ... Locking pin
517 ... Locking hook
5171 ... Unlocking arm
518 ... pin
6 ... Transmitted light detection device
601 ... Dark room box
602 ... Lighting room
603 ... Lighting lamp
604. Light receiving device
605 ... Darkroom box
606: Endless rotation mechanism
6061 ... Link chain
6062 ... Sprocket
6063 ... Chain attachment
6064 ... Frame
6065 ... Plate-shaped guide rail
607 ... Light-receiving auxiliary cylinder
6071 ... Tube portion
6072 ... outward flange
6073: outward flange
6074 ... Upper annular lip member
6075 ... Inward flange
6076 ... Lower annular lip member
7 ... Appearance imaging device
701 ... Appearance imaging camera
702 ... Lighting lamp
81-83 ... discharge conveyor
9 ... saucer
91 ... saucer piece
911 ... Support stand
912 ... Bracket
913 ... Oscillation center axis
914 ... saucer piece plate
916 ... Locking pin
917 ... Locking hook
9171: Unlocking arm
918 ... pin
919 ... concave portion
9191 ... Upper and lower through opening
92 ... Guide rail

Claims (9)

A transport conveyor provided so that agricultural products can be placed and transported on the transport tray that is connected endlessly and separated by a number of intervals in the transport direction. A transmitted light detecting means for irradiating the produce on the saucer with illumination light and receiving the light transmitted through the produce, and sorting of the produce on each saucer based on at least the sorting element including the produce transmitted light A sorting section judging means for judging the position, a plurality of discharge conveyors spaced along the transport direction of the tray at the terminal end position of the transport conveyor, and the produce on each tray corresponding to the determined sorting section e Bei and agricultural discharge means for discharging the discharge conveyor, said pan is provided so as to form a receiving portion for mounting the agricultural by a pair of pan pieces divided on both sides of the conveying transverse direction Together, sorting apparatus of agricultural products opposite ends of each of pan pieces provided agricultural products are placed by or under tilting expanding the transport transversely into cracks formula dropping onto the lower side of the discharge conveyor In
The transmitted light detecting means has a light receiving opening facing upward, a transmitted light receiving means fixedly disposed below the agricultural product transport path, and a position between the transport conveyor and the transmitted light receiving means in the vertical direction. A series of endlessly rotating light receiving auxiliary cylinders that are provided so as to move along the direction and whose lower ends are provided so as to pass through the light receiving port of the transmitted light receiving means in a light-shielded state, and light transmitted through the agricultural products And a light receiving auxiliary cylinder rotating means for causing the light receiving auxiliary cylinders to move in parallel and face each other at the same speed so that the light receiving auxiliary cylinders are incident from the upper end opening of the light receiving auxiliary cylinder in a light-shielded state . A sorting apparatus for agricultural products.   2. The agricultural product sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the trays has a through opening in a vertical direction at a substantially center of the receiving portion. 3. The agricultural product according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the receiving tray provided in the middle of the conveying conveyor forms a substantially annular receiving portion in a posture when the pair of receiving tray pieces carry and place the agricultural product. Sorting device. 4. The agricultural product sorting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the substantially annular receiving portion formed by the pair of tray pieces has a seal portion that is annularly in contact with the agricultural product in order to shield the inside of the annular shape from disturbance light. . In any of claims 1 to 4, the light receiving auxiliary cylinder is a shielding seal portion for preventing the entry of ambient light to the light receiving mouth of the transmitted light detected at the time of the transmitted light receiving unit, and having at its lower end Agricultural product sorting equipment. In any one of claims 1 to 5, the light receiving auxiliary cylinder rotation means for each light receiving auxiliary cylinder rotates guided to pass through the light receiving Prompt is transmitted light detection position passes through the light receiving Prompt the transmitted light receiving unit The light receiving auxiliary cylinder is moved up in a fixed orbit including a predetermined length, and the upper end portion of the light receiving auxiliary cylinder is engaged with the bottom surface of the saucer or inserted into the through opening of the saucer to shield the light. A sorting apparatus for agricultural products, comprising a seal portion. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 6 , a light reception auxiliary | assistant cylinder is provided so that it may fit in the through-opening of a saucer, and an upper end part can be engaged with the agricultural product on a saucer, and this upper end part is connected with agricultural products. An agricultural product sorting apparatus comprising an annular light shielding seal portion for preventing disturbance light from entering the light receiving auxiliary cylinder by engagement. The pair of saucer pieces forming the saucer according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein the agricultural product placed thereon is discharged onto a lower discharge conveyor when the opposite end tilts downward from a posture for supporting and transporting the produce. A sorting apparatus characterized by being provided as follows. 9. The sorting apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising guide means for guiding the tilting of the tray pieces so as to gradually increase the downward tilting angle of the opposite ends of the pair of tray pieces.

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