JP6004156B2 - Grain appearance quality discrimination device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a grain appearance quality discriminating apparatus that discriminates the appearance quality of grains such as rice grains.

Conventionally, the inspection of cereals has been performed by visual observation using a grain identifier called a carton as described in Patent Document 1. Although it is possible to easily inspect by this method, the visual inspection has a problem that it requires skill and individual differences in the inspection result. In addition, there is a problem that image information of a grain placed on a carton for inspection cannot be stored.

In order to solve these problems, for example, as described in Patent Document 2, a method of performing optical measurement is known. According to this method, the grain to be inspected can be placed on a dedicated tray (scan bottom plate), the grain can be imaged with a scanner, and inspection can be performed using image information obtained by imaging. It becomes.

However, in the method described in Patent Document 2, it is necessary to separately prepare a dedicated tray having a shape different from that of the carton. Therefore, the image information of the grains placed on the carton is stored for inspection. I can't. For this reason, there has been a problem that it cannot be correlated with the conventional carton inspection. Moreover, since the grain outlet is not provided in the tray, there is a problem that it is difficult to transfer the grain on the tray to a sample bag or the like after the measurement.

Japanese Patent No. 4716389 International Publication No. WO2011 / 162315

In view of the above problems, the present invention performs an inspection with a carton by visual inspection by an inspector, and stores image information of a grain placed on the carton for the inspection, and also by the image information. It is a technical problem to enable inspection and to enable easy discharge of the grain after inspection from the tray.

Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a dish-like sample tray on which the grain is placed on the bottom surface, imaging means for imaging the grain on the sample tray from below the sample tray, The analysis unit that analyzes the image information of the grain imaged by the imaging unit and the storage unit that stores the image information, and the sample tray has a transparent bottom surface on which the grain is placed and the grain identification In the grain appearance quality determination device provided with a gripping part that can be gripped by a user, the gripping part can be used as a tool, and the gripping part extends outward from a peripheral wall surface rising to a certain height from the peripheral part of the bottom surface . The upper end surface of both side surfaces forming the groove and the upper end surface of the peripheral wall surface form a flat surface, and the end of the groove discharges the grain. The lower end of the outlet is higher than the bottom surface. Provided, it was a technical take steps stuff that.

  Moreover, the technical means of making the said sample tray into the shape which can be used as a grain identification tool was taken.

  The grain appearance quality discriminating apparatus of the present invention performs measurement with a sample tray having the same shape or substantially the same shape as the carton used for the conventional visual inspection, so that the sample tray can be used for the inspection. For this reason, by using the sample tray for the inspection, it is possible to optically measure the grain as it is inspected with the grain appearance quality discriminating apparatus after the visual inspection.

  Moreover, the grain of the state which performed the test | inspection by visual observation can be preserve | saved as image information by measuring optically with the said grain appearance quality discrimination | determination apparatus.

Further, since the grain outlet is provided in the sample tray, the grain can be smoothly put into a relatively small bag such as a sample bag.

It is a perspective view of the grain appearance quality discrimination device of the present invention. It is a top view of the sample tray used by this invention. It is a front view of the sample tray used by this invention.

  Hereinafter, detailed description will be given with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a grain appearance quality discrimination device 1 according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the grain appearance quality discrimination device 1 includes a computer 2 and a color scanner 3 as an “image reading device” connected to the computer 2.

  The computer 2 is equipped with analysis means for analyzing image information, storage means for storing image information, a function for distributing measurement results via a network, and the like.

The color scanner 3 includes a scanner body 5 having an image reading surface 4 at the upper end surface, and a cover 6 that covers the image reading surface 4 of the scanner body 5 at the time of measurement.

  A glass image reading surface 4 is disposed on the upper surface of the scanner body 5. The image reading surface 4 is not limited to a glass plate, and an acrylic plate may be used, or a plate made of a transparent material other than those may be used. A sample tray 20 is placed on the image reading surface 4 having the above configuration at the time of measurement.

  A scanning device is disposed in the scanner body 5, and the scanning device irradiates the bottom surface of the sample tray 20 with light (light source), and the light irradiated unit irradiates the grain. And a light receiving unit that receives reflected light reflected by the grain surface.

The light receiving unit of the scanning device is composed of a color CCD or the like, and receives reflected light from the grains placed on the image reading surface 4 for each of three colors of RGB (red, green and blue), for example. Then, the image information obtained by receiving the light is output to the computer 2.

  Since one side of the cover 6 is hinged to one side of the upper end of the scanner body 5, it can be rotated by the hinge. For this reason, the image reading surface 4 of the scanner main body 5 can be covered by the cover 6 at the time of measurement, and stray light from the outside can be prevented. A general scanner can be used as the color scanner 3.

  Next, the sample tray 20 of the grain appearance quality discrimination device 1 of the present embodiment will be described. As illustrated, the sample tray 20 is formed in a substantially dish shape. The sample tray 20 includes a substantially round bottom surface 21 in plan view, a peripheral wall surface 22 raised from the peripheral edge of the bottom surface 21, and a discharge port 23 provided in a part of the peripheral wall surface 22. ing. Since the discharge port 23 also serves as a grip portion, the length of the discharge port (X in FIG. 2) is set to a length that is easy for an inspector to hold. The outer diameter of the sample tray (excluding the discharge port 23) is about 17 cm, and the outer diameter of the bottom surface 21 (excluding the discharge port 23) is about 14 cm.

The shape of the sample tray 20 is the same as that of a carton (grain identification tool) except for the discharge port 23, and can be visually inspected by an inspector as in the case of a conventional carton. For this reason, it is desirable that 1000 grains of brown rice can be placed on the bottom surface 21 of the sample tray 20 without overlapping.

The bottom surface 21 is formed of a transparent plate, and may be formed of, for example, an acrylic resin. Further, when the sample tray 20 is placed on the upper surface of the image reading surface 4, the bottom surface 21 is placed in contact with the upper surface of the image reading surface 4. By the way, in the measurement with the grain appearance quality discriminating apparatus 1, the whole grain needs to be imaged even in the vicinity of the peripheral edge of the bottom surface 21. This is because if a part of the grain is missing and imaged, it will be identified as crushed grains during image processing. For this reason, it is desirable that the entire bottom surface 21 is transparent.

The surrounding wall surface 22 preferably has an angle formed by the surrounding wall surface 22 and the bottom surface 21 of 50 degrees or more and less than 90 degrees, more preferably 60 degrees or more and 80 degrees or less. If the angle formed is less than 50 degrees, the grain located at the peripheral edge of the bottom surface 21 may ride on the peripheral wall surface 22 during measurement. In such a case, there is a possibility that the shape of the grain cannot be accurately imaged. Further, when the angle formed is 90 degrees or more, there is a problem that the grains near the peripheral edge portion 22 of the bottom surface 21 are difficult to see due to the surrounding wall surface 22 being a barrier during visual inspection.

The discharge port 23 is formed to discharge the grains placed on the sample tray 20. When the grains on the sample tray 20 are transferred to a sample bag or the like after the inspection, the grains can be easily transferred by inserting the discharge port 23 into the bag mouth of the sample bag. The discharge port 23 is provided with a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the bottom surface 21. The inclination is provided so that the outside of the sample tray 20 becomes higher.

  Next, the operation and effect of this embodiment will be described. This embodiment demonstrates the case where the grain to be examined is brown rice.

  First, about 1000 grains of brown rice are put on the bottom surface 21 of the sample tray 20 so that the grains do not overlap each other. After the introduction, the brown rice on the bottom surface 21 is visually inspected in the same manner as in conventional carton inspection. Since the bottom surface 21 of the sample tray 20 is transparent, a sheet having a color different from that of brown rice may be laid under the sample tray 20 during visual inspection. The color is preferably black or blue.

  After the visual inspection is completed, the sample tray 20 is placed on the image reading surface 4 of the color scanner 3 as shown in FIG. 1 without moving the brown rice on the bottom surface 21. At that time, the discharge port 23 may be used as a grip portion. At the time of measurement with the color scanner 3, the bottom surface 21 of the sample tray 20 serves as an optical path.

After placing the sample tray 20, the cover 6 covers the upper surface of the sample tray 20, and an image of the brown rice 7 is taken using the color scanner 3. Specifically, the scanning device of the scanner body 5 is moved (two-dimensional scanning) along the bottom surface of the image reading surface 4. In that case, light is irradiated to the brown rice 7 from the light irradiation part of a scanning device, and the reflected light reflected by the brown rice 7 is received by the light-receiving part of a scanning device. The received signal is output to the computer 2 as RGB image information.

In addition, as for the brown rice 7 imaged with the color scanner 3, the surface which touches the bottom face 21, ie, the lower side of a grain, is imaged. For this reason, the back side of the grain which is not confirmed by visual inspection can be measured.

By analyzing the image information with the computer 2, it is possible to optically inspect the measured appearance quality of the brown rice (crushed rice, dead rice, colored rice, green immature rice, pest-damaged rice, etc.). Needless to say, the computer 2 can store the image information.

  For the analysis by the computer 2, a general analysis method can be used. For example, a method as described in JP2011-242284A can be used. Further, in this embodiment, the measurement is performed without aligning the brown rice, but for example, by performing image processing as described in CN101281112 (open publication) published in China, Each brown rice can be identified by grain.

  Further, the image captured by the color scanner 3 is periodically displayed on the screen of the computer 2. Thereby, the inspector can compare the image captured by the color scanner 3 and the visual inspection result, and whether there is an error (variation) in the grain appearance quality determination device 1 and the visual inspection result. Easy to check.

  As described above, after the visual inspection by the inspector, the grain subjected to the inspection can be easily and quickly optically measured without replacing the grain. Since the sample tray 20 is measured by the color scanner 3, it is considered that the reflected light from the main body of the sample tray 20 affects the measurement. For this reason, it is preferable that at least the surface is not glossy, and it is desirable to form the sample tray 20 with a black body or a material close to a black body.

  By the way, the shape of the sample tray 20 used in the grain appearance quality discriminating apparatus of the present invention may be a shape in which the discharge port 23 is omitted. In this case, the shape of the sample tray is the same as that of the grain identifier (carton). Moreover, it is also possible to set it as the shape of a square dish as described in Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2000-074901. The number of grains to be measured in one measurement is not particularly limited, and may be increased or decreased freely within the range of the number that can be placed on the bottom surface of the sample tray.

  The grain appearance quality discrimination device of the present invention can inspect not only grains but also beans. Moreover, if it is granular things, such as resin pellets, it can be used for a test | inspection.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Grain appearance quality discrimination device 2 Computer 3 Color scanner 4 Image reading surface 5 Scanner body 6 Cover 7 Brown rice 20 Sample tray 21 Bottom surface 22 Surrounding wall surface 23 Discharge port

Claims (1)

A dish-like sample tray on which the grain is placed on the bottom;
Imaging means for imaging grains on the sample tray from below the sample tray;
Analyzing means for analyzing the image information of the grain imaged by the imaging means;
Storage means for storing the image information;
In the grain appearance quality discriminating apparatus provided with a gripper that can be gripped by the user, the sample tray is a transparent bottom surface on which the grain is placed and can be used as a grain identification tool. ,
The gripping part is formed by extending a peripheral wall surface rising to a certain height from the peripheral edge of the bottom surface to the outside , and extending in a groove shape. The upper end surface of both side surfaces forming the groove and the peripheral wall surface The upper end surface forms a flat surface, and the end of the groove serves as a discharge port for discharging the grain, and the lower end of the discharge port is provided at a position higher than the bottom surface. Grain appearance quality discrimination device.

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