JPH11337495A - Grain color sorting method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To sort and remove not only colored particles or pebbles but also foreign matter having a color or transparency same to that of a good product by one grain color sorter and to also sort and remove alburnum rice. SOLUTION: Light sources 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d of a visible light region are changed over for the purpose of sorting alburnum rice and the irradiation of a background 5b with visible light is permitted by a shield means 11 and the irradiation of a flow-down region locus L with visible light is shielded to detect the quantity of permeation light of alburnum rice and the quantity of the reflected light of the background 5a are detected by a light detection sensor 4a and, on the basis of this light quantity difference, alburnum rice is sorted and removed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a method for selecting and removing foreign matters such as colored grains, pebbles, glass fragments and the like from grains to be flowed down.
The present invention relates to a grain color sorting method and apparatus capable of simultaneously sorting and removing a refined product and a milky white grain (so-called “Shirata rice”).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are known techniques for selecting foreign particles such as colored grains and pebbles having different colors from non-defective products in the visible light range, and for separating milky white particles (so-called "Shirata rice") from non-defective products. For example, it can be easily carried out according to JP-A-54-78190 and JP-A-1-258787. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are schematic explanatory views showing an optical detection unit of the grain color sorter, and a technique for sorting rice using this will be described.

FIG. 3 shows an optical detector of a color sorter for mainly sorting and removing colored grains and pebbles, and can be used for rice sorting as a secondary sort. Optical detector 10
Reference numeral 0 denotes light receiving sensors 102A and 102B provided with lens barrels 101A and 101B and a background 1 facing the light receiving sensors 102A and 102B.
03A, 103B and two pairs of fluorescent tubes 104A, 104B, 104 exhibiting a hue for polished rice as illumination means.
C and 104D, a chute 105 serving as a raw material conveying means is provided above the flow trajectory of the optical detection unit 100, and an ejector nozzle 106 for removing colored particles and pebbles is provided below the flow trajectory.

[0004] In order to sort and remove the rice from the polished rice, when a "Shirata rice removal" button switch (not shown) provided on an operation panel or the like is pressed, the illuminating means turns on the chute 10.
Fluorescent tubes 104C, 104D irradiating from the lower side of 5
Is turned on, and the fluorescent tubes 104A and 104B on the upper side are turned off. The fluorescent tubes 104C and 104D emit blue light and also irradiate the background 103A so that the background 103A has a blue surface color. In this state, when the polished rice mixed with shirasu from the chute 105 is allowed to flow down, when the polished rice passes, the amount of transmitted light is larger than that of the shirasu. Therefore, the ejector nozzle 106 does not operate and is guided to the receiving trough 107. When the shirasu rice has passed, the transmitted light amount is smaller than that of the polished rice, and the light amount difference between the transmitted light amount of the shirasu detected by the light receiving sensor 102A and the reflected light amount of the background 103B becomes clear. Is operated to be removed out of the receiving trough 107.

FIG. 4 shows a color sorter capable of sorting and removing colored grains and pebbles and simultaneously performing rice sorting. The difference from the configuration of the optical detection unit in FIG. 3 is that background lamps 108A and 108B for exclusively illuminating the background 103 are provided separately from the illuminating unit 104, and the other configuration is the same as the configuration in FIG. Description is omitted because there is.

[0006] In FIG. 4, in order to sort and remove rice which has been added to the polished rice in addition to sorting and removing colored grains and pebbles, the illuminating means turns on the fluorescent tubes 104 C and 104 D which irradiate from below the slope of the chute 105. And the fluorescent tube 1 on the upper side
04A and 104B are turned off. The background lamps 108A and 108B are turned on. In this state, when the polished rice mixed with the colored grains, pebbles and shirat rice flows down from the shoot 105, when the colored grains and pebbles flow down,
The difference in the amount of reflected light from the background 103B is clear,
The change in the amount of light received by the light receiving sensor 102 </ b> B is large, and the ejector nozzle 106 is operated to remove the light to the outside of the receiving trough 107. In addition, the dried rice is detected by the light receiving sensor 102A. That is, the amount of transmitted light of shirat rice is smaller than that of milled rice, and the amount of transmitted light of shirat rice and the background 10
3A, the difference in the amount of light becomes clear, so that the ejector nozzle 106 is operated to
Removed outside.

On the other hand, as a grain color sorter that sorts and removes foreign matters having different colors from non-defective products in the visible light range and also removes foreign matters of the same color or transparent as non-defective products (eg, glass pieces) in the near infrared range, The applicant has proposed this in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-304182. In this device, a light-receiving element having high sensitivity to wavelengths in the visible light region and a light-receiving element having high sensitivity to wavelengths in the near-infrared region are joined and integrally formed so as to correspond to each other.
By using a CD line sensor, two wavelengths can be detected by one sensor.

[0008]

However, in the grain color sorter shown in FIG.
Since A and 104B are turned off, the background 10
Since it is not possible to irradiate the 3B with illumination, it is not possible to carry out the sorting and removal of rice, which is the sorting and removal of colored grains and pebbles, in parallel. Further, in the grain color sorter shown in FIG. 4, it is possible to simultaneously perform the sorting and removal of rice as well as the sorting and removal of colored grains and pebbles, but the same color or transparent foreign matter as a good product (for example, Glass pieces) cannot be sorted and removed. Further, in the grain color sorter disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-304182, sorting of colored grains and pebbles is performed.
Removal and foreign substances of the same color or transparent as non-defective products could be selected / removed, but shirat rice could not be selected / removed. For this reason, conventionally, it was necessary to separately provide a grain color sorter for shirata rice.

In view of the above problems, the present invention makes it possible to sort and remove colored grains and pebbles, and to sort and remove foreign matters of the same color or transparency as a good product by using a single unit. It is a technical object of the present invention to provide a grain color sorting method and a grain color sorting method which enable the same.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention irradiates a grain falling from a grain guiding means to a falling locus with a light source having a spectral energy distribution in a visible light region and a near infrared region. Then, the reflected light amount or transmitted light amount obtained from the kernel and the reflected light amount from the background are received by a light-receiving sensor having sensitivity in the visible light region and the near-infrared region, and the output signal from the light-receiving sensor and any A light source in the visible light range, which outputs a removal signal by comparing with a threshold value and sorts and removes defective grains having different colors from the non-defective products and non-defective grains having the same color or transparent as the non-defective products, while irradiating the flow path from one direction. Turns off the light source dedicated to irradiating the kernel, and the light source that also serves as the kernel and the irradiation of the bag land, allowing only the irradiation to the background,
And, to control the irradiation to the downflow trajectory,
Technical measures were taken to allow the light receiving sensor to receive the transmitted light amount of the rice and the reflected light amount of the background, and to sort and remove the rice based on the difference in the light amount.

[0011] With this, at the same time as the separation and removal of colored particles and pebbles and the separation and removal of the same color or transparent foreign matter as non-defective products,
It is possible to sort and remove shirasu rice. In other words, in order to sort and remove rice flakes together with colored grains, pebbles, and glass fragments from the grain, pressing the rice flake removal button provided on the operation panel, etc., causes the visible light region on one side of the flowing trajectory to be sandwiched. Of the light sources (1) and (2), the light source dedicated to irradiating the kernel is turned off, and the light source that also irradiates the kernel and the background is turned on. Then, the shielding means is activated by the light source in the visible light region that is lit, so that only the irradiation to the background is permitted, and the irradiation to the falling trajectory is shielded.

[0012] For a foreign substance having a different color, such as a colored particle or a pebble, flowing down the trajectory of the optical detecting means, the light-receiving element having sensitivity in the visible light region detects the foreign substance and sends a removal signal to the ejector means to remove the foreign substance. It will be removed outside the trajectory. In addition, a foreign substance of the same color or transparent as the non-defective product (for example, a piece of glass) is removed by the light receiving element having sensitivity in the near-infrared region and sends a removal signal to the ejector means when the foreign substance is detected. .

[0013] When the rice spilled on the falling trajectory of the optical detection means, the light source in the visible light range is irradiated from only one side of the falling trajectory, so that the amount of transmitted light can be easily detected and the sensitivity is in the visible light range. The light receiving element receives the transmitted light quantity of the rice and the reflected light quantity of the background, and the difference in the light quantity becomes clear, so that the ejector means is operated to be removed out of the falling locus.

A grain guiding means for guiding the grain along a predetermined flow path; an illuminating means for illuminating the grain using a light source having a spectral energy distribution including a visible light region and a near infrared region; Optical detection means comprising a light receiving sensor that receives light from the kernel with sensitivity in the visible light region and the near infrared region, and a background facing the light receiving sensor across a falling trajectory of the kernel; A control circuit that outputs a removal signal by comparing the output signal of the optical detection means with an arbitrary threshold value,
A grain color sorter provided with ejector means below the optical detection means for removing defective grains different in color and non-defective grains and non-defective articles having the same color or transparent foreign matter by a removal signal of the control circuit, In the control circuit,
Along with providing a rice setting circuit for switching the light source in the visible light range for rice sorting, the light source in the visible light region allows only irradiation to the background, and
With a configuration in which a shielding means for shielding irradiation to the downflow locus is provided, without providing a grain color sorting device for rice, a single grain color sorting device is used to sort and remove colored grains and pebbles, and a good product. It is possible to sort and remove foreign substances of the same color or transparent, and it is also possible to sort and remove shirat rice.

[0015] Further, the rice setting circuit for controlling rice includes, among light sources in the visible light range irradiated from one direction of the flow-down trajectory, turning off a light source dedicated to irradiating the kernel and turning off the kernel. Since the shielding means is operated by the light source which is also used to irradiate the bag land, it is possible to easily sort rice by simply pressing a rice removal button or the like.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an optical detection unit 1 of a grain color sorting device of the present invention, wherein a grain guiding means 2 for guiding a grain along a predetermined grain flow path, and a trajectory for flowing a defective product. The ejector nozzle 3 to be removed from the L and the receiving gutter 15 to collect a good product are shown in the drawing.

It is desirable to provide a plurality of optical detectors 1 in order to improve the sorting accuracy. In the present embodiment, two optical detectors 1a and 1b are provided with a flowing trajectory L interposed therebetween. The optical detectors 1a and 1b are provided with light receiving sensors 4a and 4b each having a lens barrel and a background 5 provided at a position facing the light receiving sensors 4a and 4b across a flow path L.
a, 5b, and illumination means 6a to 6f for illuminating grains in a predetermined detection range. And this lighting means 6
A plurality of light sources whose spectral energy distribution has a visible light region and a near infrared region are used. For example, in the present embodiment, as illumination means provided on the optical detection unit 1a side, fluorescent tubes 6a and 6b having a visible light region and a halogen bulb 6c having a near infrared region are provided, and the fluorescent tube 6b has a grain and a background. Is preferably provided in the vicinity of the background 5b. As illumination means provided on the illumination optical detection unit 1b side, fluorescent tubes 6d and 6e having a visible light region and a halogen bulb 6f having a near infrared region are provided, and the fluorescent tube 6e is also used for irradiating a grain and a background. Therefore, it is preferable to provide it near the background 5a.

The fluorescent tubes 6a, 6b having the visible light region,
A fluorescent tube for polished rice is preferably used for 6d and 6e (for example, a fluorescent tube for exhibiting blue color), and a white hood 7a is provided behind the fluorescent tubes 6a and 6b so as to have directivity to the falling trajectory L. , 7c to prevent light from diffusing backward. The hoods 7b and 7d of the fluorescent tubes 6b and 6e are preferably reduced in size of the hood, and the exposed areas of the fluorescent tubes 6b and 6e are increased so that the backgrounds 5a and 5b can be irradiated with visible light.

Further, a halogen bulb 6 having a near-infrared region is provided.
Lamp boxes 8c and 8f may be provided on c and 6f so as to have directivity to the downflow trajectory L to prevent diffusion of light.

As the light receiving elements used for the light receiving sensors 4a and 4b, a light receiving element (for example, a silicon photosensor or a CCD line sensor) having a high sensitivity in the visible light region and a light receiving element having a high sensitivity in the near infrared region (for example, For example, if a sandwich sensor in which a germanium photosensor or an InGaAs array sensor) is vertically bonded is used, it is possible to simultaneously perform the removal of colored particles and pebbles and the removal of foreign substances of the same color or transparent as non-defective products.

The light receiving sensors 4a, 4a
The backgrounds 5a and 5b provided at positions opposing to the point b may be provided with fulcrums 9a and 9b to adjust the hue by adjusting the angle of the background.

Further, transparent glass plates 10a, 10b are stretched on opposite surfaces of the optical detecting portions 1a, 1b so as to prevent dust and the like from entering the transparent glass plates 1a, 1b.
Cleaning means (not shown) for reciprocating the cleaning body may be provided in Oa and 10b.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a shielding means which is an essential part of the present invention. The shielding means 11 can irradiate the background 5b with visible light while shielding the downward trajectory L from irradiating visible light. The shielding means 11 of the present embodiment is a cover body 1 that can cover the fluorescent tube 6b above the flow path L.
2, an arm 13 connected to the cover 12, and an air cylinder 14 into and out of which the arm 13 enters and exits. The cover body 12 is made of an iron plate or the like as its material, and when the inner surface is coated with black paint, the light amount does not leak out, which is effective in preventing light diffusion. In the present embodiment, the shielding means 11 is provided in the optical detection section 1a on the upper side of the falling trajectory L, but may be provided in the optical detection section 11b on the lower side of the falling trajectory L.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the present embodiment. The control circuit 15 is a rice setting circuit 1 provided inside.
6 and a selection / removal determination circuit 17. The rice setting circuit 16 has an input interface 20 on the input side.
, And the illumination means 6 and the shielding means 11 are connected to the output side via an output interface 21. The input / output side of the selection / removal determination circuit 17 is connected to the light receiving sensors 4a and 4b via the A / D converter 22, and the output side is connected to the ejector means 3 via the ejector drive 23. I have. Further, the sorting / removal determining circuit 17 is connected to a storage means 18 storing an arbitrary threshold value or the like.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. When the rice removing button 19 provided on the operation panel or the like is not pressed, the rice setting circuit 16 does not operate, and the sorting and removal of colored particles and pebbles and the foreign matter of the same color or transparent as the good product are performed. For example, the optical detection means 1a, 1b
When a foreign substance having a different color, such as a colored particle or a pebble, flows down the falling trajectory L, a light receiving element having high sensitivity in the visible light region detects the foreign substance and sends a signal to the selection / removal determination circuit 17. The selection / removal determination circuit 17 compares the threshold value with an arbitrary threshold value from the storage unit 18 and, when it is determined that the foreign matter is present, sends a removal signal to the ejector drive 23. When high-pressure air is injected from the ejector means 3, the colored particles and pebbles are blown out of the trough 15 and removed.

Similarly, when a foreign substance (for example, a glass piece) of the same color or transparent as a non-defective product flows down, a light receiving element having high sensitivity in the near infrared region detects the foreign substance and sends a signal to the selection / removal determination circuit 17. . And if it is judged that it is a foreign substance,
It will be removed outside the gutter 15.

In order to sort out and remove colored grains and pebbles from the grain, and to sort out and remove foreign matters of the same color or transparent as non-defective products, and further to sort out and remove the grain of rice, a rice removal button provided on an operation panel or the like. Press 19. As a result, the rice setting circuit 16 is operated, and the setting of the lighting means 6 and the shielding means 11 is changed for rice selection. That is, of the illuminating means 6a to 6f which are all lit, the falling trajectory L
Only the upper fluorescent tube 6a is turned off. And
The shielding means 11 for removing rice stalk is activated, and the falling trajectory L
The fluorescent tube 6b, which is lit at the top, is covered with the cover body 12, so that the irradiation on the flow-down trajectory L is cut off.
b is irradiated with visible light.

After the rice setting circuit 16 is operated, when the sorting object flows down the trajectory L of the optical detecting means 1a, 1b, the light source in the visible light range is only from below the trajectory L of the fluorescent tubes 6d, 6e. Will be irradiated. When the rice flakes flow down the trajectory L, the light source in the visible light range is not irradiated from above the irradiation trajectory L, so that the amount of transmitted light of the rice shine is a light receiving element having high sensitivity in the visible light range of the light receiving sensor 4a. Is sensed. Then, a signal is sent to the selection / removal discrimination circuit 17. At this time, the illuminated rice is milky white, the transmitted light amount is small, and the reflected light amount of the background 5 a adjusted to the same transmitted light amount as the polished rice is used. The light amount difference becomes clear, and it is determined that the particle is a foreign matter. From the selection / removal determination circuit 17, a removal signal is sent to the ejector drive 23, and the ejector means 3 is operated to be removed outside the receiving gutter 15.

Since the illuminating means 6d to 6f are turned on and the background 5b is illuminated, when the colored particles or pebbles flow down the trajectory L, the light receiving sensor 4b has high sensitivity in the visible light range. The light receiving element detects the foreign matter and is removed from the trail L. Further, when a foreign substance of the same color or transparent as the non-defective product flows down the falling trajectory L, the light receiving element having high sensitivity in the near infrared region of the light receiving sensors 4a and 4b detects the foreign substance and is removed from the flowing trajectory L.

In addition, it is also possible to sort out only the polished rice from the polished rice with no foreign matter. In this case, of the illuminating means 6a to 6f, the fluorescent tube located on one of the optical detecting sections 1a and 1b is provided. (The fluorescent tubes 6a and 6b in FIG. 1) may be turned off.

[0031]

As described above, according to the grain color sorting method and apparatus of the present invention, the spectral energy distribution of the kernel falling from the kernel guiding means to the falling locus has a visible light region and a near infrared region. Irradiating the light source consisting of and the amount of reflected light or transmitted light obtained from the kernel, and the amount of reflected light from the background to a light-receiving sensor having sensitivity in the visible light region and near-infrared region, from the light receiving sensor A removal signal is output by comparing the output signal with a given threshold value to select and remove defective grains different in color from non-defective products and non-defective grains having the same color or transparent as non-defective products, while irradiating from one direction of the flow-down trajectory. The light source in the visible light region to turn off the light source dedicated to irradiating the kernel, and allow the light source that also irradiates the kernel and the bag land to irradiate only the background. And said A kernel for controlling the irradiation of the lower trajectory so as to block the amount of light transmitted through the rice and the amount of light reflected from the background by the light-receiving sensor, and sorting and removing the rice based on the difference in the amount of light. Since the color sorting method is adopted, it is possible to sort and remove colored grains and pebbles, to sort and remove foreign substances of the same color or transparent as good products, and to sort and remove shirat rice.

A grain guiding means for guiding the grain along a predetermined flow path; an illuminating means for illuminating the grain using a light source having a spectral energy distribution including a visible light region and a near infrared region; Optical detection means comprising a light receiving sensor that receives light from the kernel with sensitivity in the visible light region and the near infrared region, and a background facing the light receiving sensor across a falling trajectory of the kernel; A control circuit that outputs a removal signal by comparing the output signal of the optical detection means with an arbitrary threshold value,
A grain color sorter provided with ejector means below the optical detection means for removing defective grains different in color and non-defective grains and non-defective articles having the same color or transparent foreign matter by a removal signal of the control circuit, In the control circuit,
Along with providing a rice setting circuit for switching the light source in the visible light range for rice sorting, the light source in the visible light region allows only irradiation to the background, and
When configured in a grain color sorting device provided with a shielding means for blocking the irradiation to the downflow trajectory, without providing a grain color sorting device for shirahama rice, colored grains and the like by one grain color sorting device. It is possible to sort and remove pebbles and to sort and remove foreign substances of the same color or transparent as non-defective products, and it is also possible to sort and remove shirat rice.

[0033] Further, the rice setting circuit for turning off the light source for exclusive use for irradiating the kernel among the light sources in the visible light range irradiating from one direction of the falling trajectory is turned off, Since the shielding means is operated by the light source which is also used to irradiate the bag land, it is possible to easily sort rice by simply pressing a rice removal button or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an optical detection unit of a grain color sorter of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the grain color sorter of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing an optical detection unit of a conventional color sorter.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view showing an optical detection unit of a conventional color sorter.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical detection part 2 Grain guide means 3 Ejector means 4 Light receiving sensor 5 Background 6 Lighting means 7 Hood 8 Lamp box 9 Support point 10 Transparent glass plate 11 Shielding means 12 Cover body 13 Arm 14 Air cylinder 15 Control circuit 16 Rice Setting circuit 17 Sorting / removal discrimination circuit 18 Storage means 19 Shirata rice removal button 20 Input interface 21 Output interface 22 A / D converter 23 Ejector drive

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A light source having a spectral energy distribution comprised of a visible light region and a near-infrared region is irradiated on a kernel falling from a kernel guiding means to a downward trajectory to obtain a reflected light amount or a transmitted light amount obtained from the kernel. , The amount of light reflected from the background is received by a light-receiving sensor having sensitivity in the visible light region and the near-infrared region, and a removal signal is output by comparing an output signal from the light-receiving sensor with an arbitrary threshold value. While selecting and removing defective grains having different colors and non-defective grains and non-defective products having the same color or transparent foreign matter, a light source in the visible light range for irradiating from one direction of the falling trajectory is a light source dedicated to irradiating the grains. While turning off the light, the light source that is also used to irradiate the grain and the bag land is controlled so as to allow only the irradiation to the background and to block the irradiation to the downflow trajectory. Rice transmitted light A grain color sorting method comprising: causing the light-receiving sensor to receive the amount of light and the amount of reflected light from the background; and sorting and removing rice based on the difference in the amount of light. 2. A grain guiding means for guiding the grain along a predetermined flow path, and an illuminating means for illuminating the grain using a light source having a spectral energy distribution comprising a visible light region and a near infrared region. Optical detection means comprising a light receiving sensor that receives light from the kernel with sensitivity in the visible light region and the near infrared region, and a background facing the light receiving sensor across a falling trajectory of the kernel; A control circuit for outputting a removal signal by comparing the output signal of the optical detection means with an arbitrary threshold value; and a defective grain having a non-defective product and a color different from a non-defective product by the removal signal of the control circuit below the optical detection means. In a grain color sorter provided with ejector means for removing the same color or transparent foreign matter as a non-defective product, the control circuit includes a rice setting circuit that switches a light source in the visible light range to a rice sorter. To provide A grain color sorter, wherein the light source in the visible light region is provided with a shielding means for permitting only the irradiation to the background and shielding the irradiation to the falling trajectory. 3. The rice setting circuit according to claim 1, further comprising: turning off a light source dedicated to irradiating the kernel, among light sources in a visible light range irradiating from one direction of the flow-down trajectory; 3. The grain color sorter according to claim 2, wherein said shielding means is operated by a light source which is also used for irradiating said bag land.