JP6435856B2 - Grain quality discrimination device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a grain quality discriminating apparatus that discriminates grain quality.

  Conventionally, a grain quality discriminating apparatus that irradiates a grain with light, receives reflected light and / or transmitted light from the grain, and discriminates the grain quality based on the received signal is well known. (For example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2.)

  The grain quality discriminating apparatus described in Patent Literatures 1 and 2 is irradiated from a grain transfer unit in which a plurality of recesses are provided on the outer peripheral edge of a rotating disk, a light source that irradiates the grain with light, and the light source. An optical detection unit having a sensor for receiving reflected light and / or transmitted light from the grain, and a quality determining unit for determining the quality of the grain.

The optical detection unit is disposed at a side position of the rotary disk in the grain transfer unit, and is supplied to the rotary disk and transferred to the grain transferred in a state of being accommodated in the recess of the rotary disk. Light is emitted from the light source, and reflected light and / or transmitted light from the grain is received by the sensor to obtain a received light signal.
And the said quality discrimination | determination part discriminate | determines the quality of the said grain based on the said light reception signal (light reception amount) acquired by the said optical detection part.

By the way, in the known grain quality discriminating apparatus, the characteristics of optical elements such as a light source and a sensor in the optical detection unit change due to an influence of a temperature change or the like inside the main body.
Therefore, in the grain quality discrimination device described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a reference plate is attached to a part of the concave portion of the rotating disk, the reference plate is irradiated with light from the light source, and the reference Reflected light and / or transmitted light from the plate is received by the sensor, and a correction coefficient for correcting the received light amount of the sensor is obtained based on a comparison between the received light amount of the sensor and a preset reference light amount. ing.

  And according to the grain quality discriminating apparatus, at every measurement, a correction coefficient for correcting the amount of light received by the sensor is obtained, and the reflected light received from the grain by the sensor using the correction coefficient and / or Since the amount of transmitted light received is corrected, the quality of the grain can be accurately determined.

  However, in the grain quality discriminating apparatus, the reference plate is attached to the concave portion of the rotating disk in the grain transferring unit, so that the grains supplied on the rotating disk come into contact with the scratches and dirt. There are problems that occur.

  Moreover, in the said grain quality discrimination | determination apparatus, since the said reference plate is mounted in the recessed part of the rotation disc in the said grain transfer part, when this reference plate is damaged, the grain supplied on the said rotation disc There is a problem that chips are mixed in grains.

  In the above grain quality discriminating device, if the reference plate is scratched or dirty, or if the reference plate is damaged, the reference plate may be replaced. Since the reference light amount is different, it is necessary to redo the setting operation of the reference light amount each time, and the grain quality determination accuracy is not stable.

JP 2006-200955 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-90353

  Therefore, the present invention does not cause scratches or dirt on the reference plate due to the contact of the grain supplied to the transfer unit, and lacks the grain supplied to the transfer unit even when the reference plate is damaged. An object of the present invention is to provide a grain quality discriminating apparatus that does not mix them.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
A transfer unit for transferring the grains;
An optical block having a light source for irradiating the grain transferred by the transfer unit, a sensor for receiving reflected light and / or transmitted light from the grain of light irradiated from the light source, and
A quality discriminating unit for discriminating the quality of the grain based on the amount of light received by the sensor;
A reference plate for correcting the amount of light received by the sensor;
A grain quality discrimination device comprising:
The reference plate is disposed at a position different from the transfer unit,
The optical block includes a first position where the light source irradiates light to the grain, and the sensor receives reflected light and / or transmitted light from the grain, and the light source emits light to the reference plate. Irradiated and arranged so that the sensor can move between a second position for receiving reflected light and / or transmitted light from the reference plate.

The present invention
The transfer unit has a rotating disk for transferring the grain,
The reference plate is disposed at a position different from the rotating disk .

The present invention
The optical block is disposed so as to be rotatable about an axis parallel to the rotation axis of the rotating disk so that the optical block can move between the first position and the second position .

The present invention
It is preferable that the optical block is disposed so that a distance between the light source and the grain at the first position is equal to a distance between the light source and the reference plate at the second position.

The present invention
It is preferable that the optical block is disposed so that a distance between the sensor and the grain at the first position is equal to a distance between the sensor and the reference plate at the second position.

The present invention
Based on the received light amount of reflected light and / or transmitted light from the reference plate received by the sensor and a preset reference light amount, correction coefficients for correcting the received light amount of the sensor are red light / green light and blue light. It is preferable to obtain for each of the above.

The grain quality discrimination device of the present invention is
The reference plate is disposed at a position different from the transfer unit,
The optical block includes a first position where the light source illuminates the grain and the sensor receives reflected light and / or transmitted light from the grain, and the light source emits light to the reference plate. Illuminating and being arranged so that the sensor can move between a second position for receiving reflected light and / or transmitted light from the reference plate,
The reference plate is not damaged or soiled by the contact of the grain supplied to the transfer unit, and even if the reference plate is broken, chips are not mixed into the grain supplied to the transfer unit. Therefore, it can prevent that the said chip | piece mixes in the grain which is a foodstuff.

In addition, the grain quality discriminating apparatus of the present invention does not cause scratches or dirt on the reference plate due to the contact of the grain supplied to the transfer unit, so the frequency of replacing the reference plate is significantly reduced compared to the conventional case. In addition, labor such as reference plate replacement work and reference light amount setting work associated with reference plate replacement is significantly reduced.
Furthermore, since the frequency of replacing the reference plate is markedly reduced, the grain quality discrimination device of the present invention is not easily affected by individual differences in the reference plate, and the grain quality discrimination accuracy is stable.

The grain quality discrimination device of the present invention is
The transfer unit has a rotating disk for transferring the grain,
The reference plate is disposed at a position different from the rotating disk,
Since the optical block is disposed so as to be rotatable around an axis parallel to the rotation axis of the rotating disk so that the optical block can move between the first position and the second position .
Since the optical block can be moved in parallel with the rotation surface of the rotating disk, the optical block and the grain at the first position and the positional relationship between the optical block and the reference plate at the second position Can be easily made the same. Therefore, since the measurement conditions regarding the position of the optical block can be made the same between the grain and the reference plate, an appropriate light reception signal necessary for correction can be acquired.

The grain quality discrimination device of the present invention is
If the optical block is disposed so that the distance between the light source and the grain at the first position is equal to the distance between the light source and the reference plate at the second position. The correction coefficient for correcting the amount of light received by the sensor can be determined appropriately.

In addition, the grain quality discrimination device of the present invention,
If the optical block is disposed so that the distance between the sensor and the grain at the first position is equal to the distance between the sensor and the reference plate at the second position. The correction coefficient for correcting the amount of light received by the sensor can be determined appropriately.

The grain quality discrimination device of the present invention is
Based on the received light amount of reflected light and / or transmitted light from the reference plate received by the sensor and a preset reference light amount, correction coefficients for correcting the received light amount of the sensor are red light / green light and blue light. If it calculates | requires about each of these, the quality discrimination | determination precision of a grain will improve.

It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the grain quality discrimination | determination apparatus in embodiment of this invention, Comprising: The schematic plan view of a transfer part and an optical block. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the grain quality discrimination | determination apparatus in embodiment of this invention, Comprising: The schematic right view of a transfer part and an optical block. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the grain quality discrimination | determination apparatus in embodiment of this invention, Comprising: The schematic front view of a transfer part and an optical block. Explanatory drawing in the case of moving an optical block in the grain quality discrimination | determination apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of an optical block, Comprising: CC sectional schematic diagram of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of an optical block, Comprising: DD sectional drawing of FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 to 3 are schematic explanatory views of a grain quality discriminating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a transfer unit and an optical block, and FIG. 2 is a transfer unit and an optical unit of FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic right side view of the block, and FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of the transfer unit and the optical block of FIG.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the grain quality discriminating apparatus 1 irradiates the grain with light, the transfer unit 2 that transports the grain, and receives reflected light and / or transmitted light from the grain. The optical block 3 and the quality discrimination | determination part 7 which discriminate | determines the quality of the said grain are provided.

  The said transfer part 2 has the disk 21 rotated by the drive motor which is not shown in figure. A number of recesses 22 are formed at the peripheral edge of the disk 21, and a transparent bottom plate 23 is disposed in the recesses 22.

  The optical block 3 includes a light source that irradiates light to the grain, and a sensor that receives reflected light and / or transmitted light from the grain of light emitted from the light source. The optical block 3 is disposed on one side of the disk 21 in the transfer unit 2.

  The optical block 3 is supplied from the light source to the grains that are supplied onto the disk 21 and are continuously transferred while being accommodated in the recesses 22 of the disk 21 as the disk 21 rotates. , And the reflected light and / or transmitted light from the grain is received by the sensor to obtain a received light signal.

  The quality discriminating unit 7 discriminates the quality of the grain based on the light reception signal acquired by the optical block 3. The quality discriminating unit 7 may employ various configurations in addition to the configuration disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-202265.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the grain quality discrimination device 1 further includes a reference plate 81 for correcting the amount of light received by the sensor in the optical block 3.
The reference plate 81 is attached to a holding member 82 disposed at a different position away from the disk 21 in the transfer unit 2.
Here, as the reference plate 81, two sheets having different densities, such as white and milky white, are used, but three or more sheets may be used.

  Further, in the grain quality discriminating apparatus 1, the optical block 3 is fixed to a rotating member 92 that rotates about a shaft 91 disposed in parallel with the rotating shaft 24 of the disk 21. The rotating member 92 has an arcuate outer peripheral edge, and a peripheral surface of the outer peripheral edge meshes with a gear 96 that transmits a rotational driving force of a motor 95 disposed adjacent to the rotating member 92. Thus, a gear 93 is formed.

FIG. 4 shows an explanatory diagram when moving the optical block in the grain quality discriminating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the optical block 3 is driven by the rotation of the motor 95, and the grain measurement position A on the disk 21 and a different position away from the disk 21 via the rotating member 92. It is possible to move between the reference plate positions B.

  The grain quality discrimination device 1 irradiates the reference plate 81 with light from the light source of the optical block 3 at the reference plate position B, and reflects and / or transmits light from the reference plate 81 to the optical block. The sensor 3 receives the light, compares the amount of the reflected light and / or transmitted light received by the sensor with a preset reference light amount, and calculates a correction coefficient for correcting the amount of light received by the sensor.

  Moreover, the said grain quality discrimination | determination apparatus 1 irradiates light to the grain accommodated in the recessed part 22 of the said disk 21 from the light source of the said optical block 3 in the said grain measurement position A, and reflection from this grain Light and / or transmitted light is received by the sensor of the optical block 3, and the received light amount is corrected by multiplying the received light amount of the sensor by the correction coefficient.

  In the grain quality discriminating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the reference plate 81 is mounted on a holding member 82 disposed at a different position away from the disk 21 in the transfer unit 2, and the optical block 3 is mounted on the disk 21. Since it arrange | positions so that it can move between the upper grain measurement position A and the reference | standard board position B of the different position away from the said disk 21, it is the said by contact with the grain etc. which are supplied on the said disk 21 No scratches or dirt are generated on the reference plate 81, and even if the reference plate 81 is broken, chips are not mixed into the grains supplied onto the disk 21.

In the grain quality discrimination device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the reference plate 81 is not damaged or soiled by the contact of the grain or the like supplied on the disk 21, so that the reference plate is replaced as compared with the conventional case. This drastically reduces the frequency of performing the reference plate and the labor for setting the reference light quantity accompanying the replacement of the reference plate.
Furthermore, the grain quality discriminating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is not easily affected by individual differences in the reference plate because the frequency of replacing the reference plate is remarkably reduced, and the grain quality discrimination accuracy is stabilized. .

In the grain quality discriminating apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the optical block 3 rotates around an axis 91 parallel to the rotation axis 24 of the disk 21, so that it is parallel to the rotation surface of the disk 21. Move to.
Therefore, according to the grain quality discriminating apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention, the positional relationship between the optical block 3 and the grain at the grain measurement position A and the optical block 3 and the reference board 81 at the reference plate position B. Can be easily made the same.

  Specifically, the optical block 3 has the same positional relationship between the distance between the light source and the grain at the grain measurement position A and the distance between the light source and the reference plate 81 at the reference plate position B, In addition, since the distance between the sensor and the grain at the grain measurement position A and the distance between the sensor and the reference board 81 at the reference plate position B can be equal to each other, the light reception of the sensor It is possible to appropriately calculate a correction coefficient for correcting the amount.

  In the grain quality discriminating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, if the correction coefficient is calculated for each of the three primary colors of red light, green light and blue light, the grain quality discrimination accuracy is further improved. .

5 and 6 are explanatory views of an example of an optical block of the grain quality discriminating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 1, and FIG. A DD cross-sectional schematic diagram is shown.
The optical block 3 includes light sources 31 to 35, sensors 41 and 42, a condenser lens 47, and a dichroic short pass filter 51.

The light source includes two red, green, and blue light sources (RGB light sources) 34 and 35 disposed on the surface side of the grain G.
The light source includes a blue light source (B light source) 31, a green light source (G light source) 32, and a red / green light source (RG light source) 33 disposed on the back side of the grain G. The blue light source 31 emits blue light necessary for specifying the planar shape of the grain. Each of the light sources preferably uses red, green, and blue LEDs, but other illuminations can also be used.

  The sensor is a first light receiving sensor 41 disposed on the surface side of the grain G so as to be able to scan in a direction parallel to the rotation surface of the disk 21 and perpendicular to the transfer direction of the grain G. The second light receiving sensor 42 is arranged on the side of the grain so as to be able to scan in a direction orthogonal to the rotation surface of the disk 21.

The first light receiving sensor 41 is located on the optical axis of the blue light source 31 and includes a first light receiving region 41 a that receives reflected light and / or transmitted light from the surface side of the grain G.
In addition, the second light receiving sensor 42 receives the reflected light and / or transmitted light from the back side of the grain G, and the reflected light from the side surface side of the grain G and / or A third light receiving region 42b that receives the transmitted light is included.
Here, a linear image sensor is preferably used for each light receiving sensor, but other light receiving sensors may be used.

  A condensing lens 47 is disposed in front of each light receiving area of the first and second light receiving sensors 41 and 42.

  The dichroic short pass filter 51 has a characteristic of transmitting blue light and reflecting green light and red light among the three primary colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). On the back side of the grain G, the grain G and the blue light source 31 are disposed at an inclination angle of 45 degrees with respect to the rotating surface of the disk 21 and the second light receiving sensor 42.

  In the optical block 3, the light source on the front surface side and the light source on the back surface side are turned on alternately. For example, at the grain measurement position A, the grain G is alternately irradiated with light from the front surface side and the back surface side.

The first light receiving region 41a of the first light receiving sensor 41 receives reflected light and / or transmitted light from the surface side of the grain G.
The second light receiving area 42a of the second light receiving sensor 42 receives reflected light and / or transmitted light from the back side of the grain G, and the third light receiving area 42b of the second light receiving sensor 42 Reflected light and / or transmitted light from the side of the grain G or the reference plate 81 is received.

  5 and 6, the optical block 3 receives reflected light and / or transmitted light from the front, back, and side surfaces of the grain G, but at least the surface of the grain G. Any light receiving reflected light and / or transmitted light from either the back surface or the side surface may be used.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, at the time of measuring the grain, the grain is transferred to the optical block 3 by the disk 21 at a constant transfer speed. Therefore, when measuring the reference plate 81, the reference plate 81 is transferred to the optical block 3 at the same speed as the transfer speed. As a transfer method, for example, at the reference plate position B, the holding member 82 may be rotated like the disk 21 so that the reference plate 81 is transferred to the optical block 3 at the transfer speed. Alternatively, the rotation speed when the optical block 3 moves may be adjusted so that the reference plate 81 is transferred at the same speed as the transfer speed.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the grain quality discriminating apparatus 1 includes one optical block 3 as shown in FIG. 1, but like the grain quality discriminating apparatus described in Patent Documents 1 and 2. In addition, a plurality of optical blocks may be provided.
In that case, each optical block may be arranged to be movable. Further, the reference plate may be provided for each of the plurality of optical blocks, or may be provided in common for the plurality of optical blocks.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that the configuration can be appropriately changed without departing from the scope of the invention.

  The grain quality discriminating apparatus of the present invention does not cause scratches or dirt on the reference plate due to the contact of the grains supplied to the transfer unit, and is supplied to the transfer unit even when the reference plate is broken. It is extremely useful because it does not contain chips in the grain.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Grain quality discrimination | determination apparatus 2 Transfer part 21 Disk 22 Recessed part 23 Bottom plate 24 Rotating shaft 3 Optical blocks 31-35 Light source 41, 42 Sensor (light receiving sensor)
47 Condensing lens 51 Dichroic short pass filter 61 Reflector 7 Quality discriminating part 81 Reference plate 82 Holding member 91 Shaft 92 Turning member 93 Gear 95 Motor 96 Gear A Grain measurement position B Reference plate position G Grain

Claims (4)

A transfer unit for transferring the grains;
An optical block having a light source for irradiating the grain transferred by the transfer unit, a sensor for receiving reflected light and / or transmitted light from the grain of light irradiated from the light source, and
A quality discriminating unit for discriminating the quality of the grain based on the amount of light received by the sensor;
A reference plate for correcting the amount of light received by the sensor;
A grain quality discrimination device comprising:
The transfer unit has a rotating disk for transferring grain,
The reference plate is disposed at a position different from the rotating disk ,
The optical block includes a first position where the light source irradiates light to the grain, and the sensor receives reflected light and / or transmitted light from the grain, and the light source emits light to the reference plate. Irradiates and can be moved around an axis parallel to the rotation axis of the rotating disk so that the sensor can move between a second position where the sensor receives reflected light and / or transmitted light from the reference plate. A grain quality discriminating device which is arranged. The optical block, the distance between the grain and the light source in the first position, the claim 1, wherein the distance between the reference plate and the light source in the second position is arranged to be equal Grain quality discrimination device. The optical block, the distance between the grain and the sensor in the first position, the claim 1 or the distance between the reference plate and the sensor in the second position is arranged to be equal 2. Grain quality discrimination device according to 2. Based on the received light amount of reflected light and / or transmitted light from the reference plate received by the sensor and a preset reference light amount, correction coefficients for correcting the received light amount of the sensor are red light / green light and blue light. The grain quality discrimination device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , which is obtained for each of the above.

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