Grain discriminator

Abstract

The present application provides a grain discriminator (1) comprising: a light source (7); a lens (5) for condensing light emitted by the light source (7); a reflecting portion (6) for reflecting light condensed by the lens (5); and a disc member (3) having light transmissivity and receiving light reflected by the reflecting portion (6) on a lower surface.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a grain discriminator for discriminating quality of grains. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the past, a grain discriminator for discriminating presence or absence of cracks and the like of grains based on transmitted light of light rays irradiated to the grains has been known. For example, a grain discriminator disclosed in Patent Literature 1 makes light rays irradiated to a lower surface of a transparent tray via a reflection plate from a light source disposed at a side of the transparent tray.

[0003] PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

[0004] PATENT LITERATURE

[0005] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-173884 SUMMARY

[0006] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0007] In the grain discriminator disclosed in Patent Literature 1, since the light source is disposed at one side of the transparent tray, an area far from the light source of the transparent tray becomes darker than an area close to the light source. That is, there is a risk that the intensity of the light rays irradiated to the grains placed on the transparent tray becomes uneven, and the quality discrimination of the grains cannot be performed correctly.

[0008] An object of the present application is to provide a grain discriminator capable of suppressing unevenness in the intensity of light rays irradiated to grains.

[0009] MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

[0010] The grain discriminator of the present application includes a light source, a lens that condenses light rays emitted from the light source, a reflection section that reflects the light rays condensed by the lens, and a tray member that has a light-transmitting property and receives the light rays reflected by the reflection section at a lower surface.

[0011] EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0012] According to the present application, it is possible to suppress unevenness in the intensity of light rays irradiated to grains. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a grain discriminator of a first embodiment.

[0014] Figure 2 is a plan view showing the grain discriminator of the first embodiment.

[0015] Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of

[0016] Figure 4 is a partial enlarged view of Figure 3 .

[0017] Figure 5 is a view showing the direction of the maximum luminous intensity of the light rays emitted from the opening.

[0018] Figure 6 is a view showing the illuminance of the light rays received by the disk member.

[0019] Figure 7 is a view showing the direction of the maximum luminous intensity of the light rays emitted from the opening.

[0020] Figure 8 is a view showing the illuminance of the light rays received by the disk member in the first embodiment.

[0021] Figure 9 is a partial enlarged view of the longitudinal section of the grain discriminator of the second embodiment.

[0022] Figure 10 is a view showing the illuminance of the light rays received by the disk member in the second embodiment.

[0023] Figure 11 is a view showing another lens.

[0024] Figure 12 is a view showing still another lens.

[0025] Figure 13 is a view showing still another lens. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Hereinafter, the grain discriminator of the first embodiment will be described using the drawings.

[0027] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the grain discriminator of the first embodiment. The grain discriminator 1 is a device for irradiating light rays to grains, and is used for discriminating the quality of grains such as rice, wheat, beans, and corn.

[0028] For example, when light rays are irradiated to rice having cracks, the light rays are reflected at the cracked portions. Therefore, the intensity of the light rays transmitted through the cracked portions becomes weak, and the cracked portions appear dark. Thus, by the brightness and darkness of the transmitted light of the rice, the presence or absence of cracks, and the size of cracks, etc. can be discriminated.

[0029] The grain discriminator 1 is provided with a main body 2 and a disk member 3.

[0030] The main body 2 is formed, for example, in a box shape. In the main body 2, various devices for irradiating light rays to the lower surface of the disk member 3 are built in.

[0031] The disk member 3 is a member for placing the discrimination target grain. The disk member 3 is formed in a plate shape. The disk member 3 is provided to the upper surface of the main body 2. The disk member 3 is formed of, for example, a transparent synthetic resin. However, the disk member 3 can be formed of a material having light transmittance.

[0032] Figure 2 is a plan view of the grain discriminator 1 of the first embodiment.

[0033] The main body 2 is, for example, rectangular in plan view. The shape of the main body 2 is not limited to rectangular in plan view, and can be formed in a circular shape, a polygonal shape such as a triangular shape and a hexagonal shape.

[0034] The disk member 3 is, for example, circular in plan view. The shape of the disk member 3 is not limited to circular in plan view, and can be formed in an elliptical shape, a polygonal shape.

[0035] Figure 3 is Figure 2 A-A line view of the main body 2. The main body 2 has the light source housing portion 4, the lens 5, and the reflection portion 6 in the inside thereof.

[0036] The light source housing portion 4 is a member of a horizontally long shape arranged along the inner side surface of the main body 2. The light source housing portion 4 is arranged along all four inner side surfaces of the main body 2. However, the light source housing portion 4 can be arranged along at least one of the plurality of inner side surfaces.

[0037] The lens 5 is arranged so as to be adjacent to each light source housing portion 4 in the inner side direction of the main body 2 when viewed from each light source housing portion 4.

[0038] The reflection portion 6 is arranged so as to be in the center of the inside of the main body 2, in parallel with the bottom surface of the main body 2. That is, the light source housing portion 4 is arranged so as to surround the reflection portion 6 in the peripheral region of the reflection portion 6.

[0039] Next, each structure of the light source housing portion 4, the lens 5, and the reflection portion 6 will be described in detail.

[0040] Figure 4 is Figure 3 a partial enlarged view of the main body 2.

[0041] The light source housing portion 4 is a member that houses the light source 7. The light source housing portion 4 has a mounting portion 41, a first light guide portion 42, and a second light guide portion 43.

[0042] The mounting portion 41 has a mounting surface 411 that mounts the light source 7. One or two or more light sources 7 are mounted on the mounting surface 411.

[0043] The mounting surface 411 is a surface that reflects light and guides the light to the lens 5. The mounting surface 411 is, for example, a surface having a white gloss. The mounting surface 411 is, for example, a flat surface. The mounting surface 411 is directed toward the outer side of the main body 2 and downward diagonally in a case where the grain discriminator 1 is placed on a horizontal surface.

[0044] The first light guide portion 42 is a portion connected to the upper end of the mounting portion 41. The first light guide portion 42 has a first light guide surface 421 that reflects light. The first light guide surface 421 is, for example, a surface having a white gloss. The first light guide surface 421 is, for example, a flat surface. The first light guide portion 42 is connected to the mounting portion 41 in such a manner that the first light guide surface 421 is, for example, at a right angle to the mounting surface 411.

[0045] The second light guide portion 43 is a portion connected to the lower end of the first light guide portion 42. The second light guide portion 43 has a second light guide surface 431 that reflects light at a position opposite the mounting surface 411. The second light guide surface 431 is, for example, a surface having a white gloss. The second light guide surface 431 is, for example, a flat surface.

[0046] The second light guide portion 43 is connected to the first light guide portion 42 in such a manner that an acute angle is formed between the second light guide surface 431 and the first light guide surface 421. Further, the second light guide surface 431 is formed to be inclined with respect to the reflection portion 6.

[0047] Since the second light guide surface 431 is inclined with respect to the reflection portion 6, the width of the light source housing portion 4 can be reduced compared to a case where the second light guide surface 431 is formed to be parallel to the reflection portion 6.

[0048] Here, the width of the light source housing portion 4 refers to the width in the horizontal direction of the light source housing portion 4 and orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the light source housing portion 4. That is, it refers to the width in the left-right direction of the illustrated light source housing portion 4. By reducing the width of the light source housing portion 4, the grain discriminator 1 can be made smaller. Figure 4 As a result, the grain discriminator 1 can be made smaller.

[0049] Further, since the first light guide surface 421 and the second light guide surface 431 are disposed in such a manner that an acute angle is formed, the height of the light source housing portion 4 can be reduced compared to a case where the first light guide surface 421 is connected to the second light guide surface 431 at a right angle. As a result, the grain discriminator 1 can be made smaller.

[0050] The mounting surface 411, the first light guide surface 421, and the second light guide surface 431 form a housing space that houses the light source 7 by the above-described structure. In other words, the mounting surface 411, the first light guide surface 421, and the second light guide surface 431 are each a portion of a surface that forms the housing space that houses the light source 7. Further, in a region opposite the first light guide surface 421, an opening in the shape of an elongated hole through which light emitted from the light source 7 passes is formed.

[0051] Further, the mounting surface 411, the first light guide surface 421, and the second light guide surface 431 can each be formed in a curved surface. At this time, each surface is formed to be smoothly connected.

[0052] The light source 7 is constituted by, for example, a fluorescent lamp, an LED (Light Emitting Diode).

[0053] The light emitted from the light source 7 is reflected one or more times by the mounting surface 411, the first light guide surface 421, or the second light guide surface 431, and goes to the opening. The light reaching the opening is incident to the lens 5.

[0054] The lens 5 is disposed at the opening of the light source housing portion 4, and condenses the light emitted from the light source 7 and reaching the opening. The lens 5 is, for example, a lens whose light receiving surface is convex. The lens 5 is, for example, a cylindrical lens formed in a cylindrical shape.

[0055] The reflection portion 6 is, for example, a member formed in a plate shape in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view. The length of one side of the reflection portion 6 is formed to be larger than the diameter of the bottom surface of the disk member 3. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the outer peripheral portion of the reflection portion 6 is located outward of the outer peripheral portion of the disk member 3. Figure 4

[0056] Thus, the reflection portion 6 can reflect the light toward the entire region of the bottom surface of the disk member 3. In other words, the bottom surface of the disk member 3 is set to be able to receive the light from the reflection portion 6 over the entire region of the bottom surface thereof. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the reflection portion 6 is formed to be larger than the disk member 3 in plan view. Therefore, the reflection portion 6 can reflect the light toward the entire region of the bottom surface of the disk member 3. Figure 4

[0057] The reflection portion 6 has a reflection surface 61 that reflects the light condensed by the lens 5 toward the lower surface of the disk member 3. The reflection surface 61 is formed in, for example, black. Further, the reflection surface 61 is formed in a surface having no gloss. Thus, it is possible to prevent the outline of the light source 7 from being reflected in the reflection surface 61. Further, it is possible to prevent the image of the grain placed on the disk member 3 from being reflected in the reflection surface 61.

[0058] The light reflected by the reflection surface 61 transmits the disk member 3 formed in a transparent synthetic resin, and irradiates the grain placed on the disk member 3. Further, in the present embodiment, the light from the light source housing portions 4 disposed along the four inner side surfaces of the main body 2 is sequentially switched, and the lower surface of the disk member 3 is irradiated.

[0059] ​​As described above, when the grain discriminator 1 is placed on a horizontal surface, the mounting surface 411 faces outward and obliquely downward from the main body 2. In other words, the light source 7 emits light in a direction different from the direction in which the reflective surface 61 is located, and the lens 5 receives the light reflected by the mounting surface 411, the first light-guiding surface 421, and the second light-guiding surface 431. As a result, the light from the light source 7 is diffused to a certain extent, preventing the outline of the light source 7 from being reflected on the reflective surface 61.

[0060] Here, use Figures 5 to 8 The arrangement and function of the lens 5 will be described in detail.

[0061] Figure 5 This diagram shows the direction of maximum luminous intensity of light emitted from an opening. Figure 5 A part of the longitudinal section of the grain discriminator 1 in which no lens is arranged at the opening of the light source accommodating portion 4 is shown.

[0062] When the opening of the light source housing 4 is not equipped with a lens, the direction of maximum luminous intensity of the light emitted from the opening is approximately parallel to the second light-guiding surface 431 and directed toward the reflective surface 61 (indicated by thick arrow A1). In other words, the light emitted by the light source 7 illuminates the reflective surface 61 most brightly near the end thereof on the light source 7 side, for example, at a position 11 mm from the end of the reflective surface 61. As a result, the light reflected by the reflective surface 61 brightly illuminates the light source side of the disk member 3. Furthermore, thick arrow A2 indicates the direction of the light reflected by the reflective surface 61.

[0063] Figure 6 It means in Figure 5 This is a diagram showing the illuminance of light irradiated on the tray member 3 in the grain discriminator 1 having the structure shown. The horizontal axis represents the horizontal distance from the light source 7, and the vertical axis represents the illuminance of light received by the tray member 3.

[0064] In the case where the opening is not provided with a lens 5, as Figure 6 As shown, the illuminance is high in the area close to the light source 7 and low in the area far from the light source 7. That is, the difference in illuminance of the light received is large between both ends of the disk member 3.

[0065] Figure 7 This diagram shows the direction of maximum luminous intensity of light emitted from an opening. Figure 7 The figure shows a part of the longitudinal section of the grain discriminator 1 in which a lens 5 is arranged at the opening of the light source housing 4. When the lens 5 is arranged at the opening of the light source housing 4, the lens 5 focuses the light passing through the opening and changes the direction in which the light travels.

[0066] like Figure 7As shown, the convex surface between the mounting surface 411 and the second light-guiding surface 431 serves as the light-receiving surface of the lens 5. The lens 5 receives light at the light-receiving surface, thereby changing the direction of the light's maximum luminous intensity. In other words, the lens 5 is configured so that the direction of the light's maximum luminous intensity when incident on the lens 5 is different from the direction of the light's maximum luminous intensity when emitted from the lens 5.

[0067] like Figure 7 As shown, when the lens 5 is arranged at the opening, the direction of the maximum luminous intensity of the light (the direction indicated by the thick arrow A1) is closer to the center of the reflecting surface 61 than when the lens 5 is not arranged at the opening. In other words, the position on the reflecting surface 61 that is illuminated most brightly is, for example, 12 [mm] away from the end of the reflecting surface 61. This 12 [mm] is a distance from the end of the reflecting surface 61. Figure 5 The larger values ​​of l1[mm] are shown.

[0068] Figure 8 It means in Figure 7 This is a diagram showing the illuminance of light received by the tray member 3 in the grain discriminator 1 of the first embodiment. The horizontal axis represents the distance in the horizontal direction from the light source 7, and the vertical axis represents the illuminance.

[0069] Compared to a grain discriminator 1 in which the lens 5 is not disposed at the opening, the grain discriminator 1 in which the lens 5 is disposed at the opening has a smaller difference in the illumination intensity of the light received between the two ends of the disc member 3. That is, in the grain discriminator 1 of the first embodiment, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of unevenness in the intensity of the light irradiated onto the disc member 3.

[0070] As a result, the grains placed on the tray member 3 are irradiated with light more uniformly, and thus the grains can be accurately discriminated.

[0071] In addition, if Figure 7 As shown, when the lens 5 is disposed at the opening, the light rays at the end portion of the light source side of the reflecting surface 61 are focused by the lens 5 toward the center of the reflecting surface 61. Figure 8 As shown, the illumination intensity of the area of ​​the disk member 3 closest to the light source 7 becomes low.

[0072] Next, the grain discriminator 1 according to the second embodiment will be described.

[0073] Figure 9 This is a partially enlarged view of a longitudinal section of the grain discriminator 1 according to the second embodiment. In the grain discriminator 1 according to the second embodiment, a gap is provided between the lens 5 and the second light-guiding surface 431. With respect to the structure other than the arrangement of the lens 5, the grain discriminator 1 according to the second embodiment is identical to the grain discriminator 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0074] Through the gap between lens 5 and second light-guiding surface 431, a portion of the light emitted by light source 7 passes directly toward reflective surface 61 without passing through lens 5. In other words, this gap allows light from the accommodating space to pass toward reflective portion 6. Light that does not pass through lens 5 but is reflected by reflective surface 61 may pass through lens 5 or may not pass through lens 5 and irradiate the lower surface of tray member 3.

[0075] Furthermore, the size of this gap is set to approximately 3 mm, for example, when a cylindrical lens with a diameter of 15 mm is used as lens 5. In this case, the distance between the lower end of mounting portion 41 and second light-guiding surface 431, that is, the dimension between the upper and lower ends of the opening, is set to be 18 mm or less. In other words, the dimension between the upper and lower ends of the opening is set to be equal to or smaller than the sum of the diameter of lens 5 and the size of the gap, depending on the size of lens 5 and other factors.

[0076] Figure 10 It means in Figure 9 In the grain discriminator 1 of the second embodiment shown, this is a diagram showing the illuminance of light received by the tray member 3. The horizontal axis represents the distance in the horizontal direction from the light source 7, and the vertical axis represents the illuminance.

[0077] like Figure 10 As shown, in the grain discriminator 1 of the second embodiment, similar to the grain discriminator 1 of the first embodiment, the disc member 3 receives light substantially uniformly across the entire width. In other words, in the grain discriminator 1 of the second embodiment, it is possible to suppress unevenness in the intensity of the light irradiated on the disc member 3.

[0078] Furthermore, in the grain discriminator 1 of the second embodiment, a gap is provided between the lens 5 and the second light-guiding surface 431. Therefore, light that has not passed through the lens 5 is also directly irradiated onto the end of the reflective surface 61 on the light source 7 side. Consequently, light is also irradiated onto the end of the tray member 3 on the light source 7 side, that is, onto the outer peripheral portion of the bottom surface of the tray member 3, allowing the tray member 3 to receive light more evenly across its entire width.

[0079] As a result, the grains placed on the tray member 3 are irradiated with light more uniformly, and thus the grains can be accurately discriminated.

[0080] In addition, although Figure 7 and Figure 9 The middle figure shows a cylindrical lens having a circular cross section, but it is sufficient if the light receiving surface of the lens 5 is formed into a convex shape. Figure 11 As shown, the lens 5 may also be a semicircular arch lens 5 whose exit surface is formed by a plane. Figure 12 As shown, the cross section of the lens 5 can also be formed in an elliptical shape. In other words, the convex shape of the light receiving surface of the lens only needs to have a curved surface.

[0081] Further, as shown in Figure 13 the lens 5 can be a circular convex lens. In this case, a gap through which light rays from the opening toward the reflecting surface 61 pass is formed near the contact portions of the lenses 5 in contact with each other. Light rays are irradiated to the vicinity of the end portion of the reflecting surface 61 by the light rays emitted from the gap. Therefore, light rays can be uniformly irradiated to the outer peripheral portion of the disk member 3. As a result, since light rays are more uniformly irradiated to the grains placed on the disk member 3, the discrimination of the grains can be correctly performed.

[0082] Further, although in each of the above embodiments, the light source housing portion 4 is separately provided and the light source 7 is provided inside the main body 2 formed in a box type in the grain discriminator 1, it is not limited thereto. It can be configured that the light source is provided inside the main body to form the light source housing portion. In this case, the inside of the main body in which the light source is built-in forms a housing space in which the light source is housed, i.e., corresponds to the light source housing portion of the present application.

[0083] Symbol Explanation

[0084] 1: grain discriminator; 2: main body; 3: disk member; 4: light source housing portion; 41: mounting portion; 411: mounting surface; 42: first light guide portion; 421: first light guide surface; 43: second light guide portion; 431: second light guide surface; 5: lens; 6: reflecting portion; 61: reflecting surface; 7: light source.

Claims

1. A grain discriminator, characterized in that: have: light source; a lens for focusing the light emitted by the light source; a reflecting portion arranged in parallel with the bottom surface of the main body at the center of the main body of the grain discriminator and having a reflecting surface for reflecting the light focused by the lens; a disk member having light-transmitting properties and receiving the light reflected by the reflecting portion on its lower surface; and a light source accommodating portion, which is disposed in a peripheral area of ​​the reflecting portion and forms an accommodating space for accommodating the light source and an opening for allowing light emitted by the light source to pass through; The lens is disposed in the opening and focuses the light emitted from the light source toward the center of the reflecting surface so that the reflected light is irradiated onto the grains placed on the tray member.

2. The grain discriminator according to claim 1, characterized in that The lens is arranged so that a direction of maximum luminous intensity of light incident on the lens and a direction of maximum luminous intensity of light emitted from the lens are different.

3. The grain discriminator according to claim 1, characterized in that A gap is provided between the lens and the light source accommodating portion for allowing light that does not pass through the lens to pass through.

4. The grain discriminator according to claim 3, characterized in that The light source emits light in the accommodation space in a direction different from a direction in which the reflective portion is arranged.

5. The grain discriminator according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that The light source accommodating portion has a light guiding surface, which forms a part of the accommodating space and reflects the light emitted by the light source and is inclined relative to the reflecting portion.

6. The grain discriminator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The lens is a cylindrical lens.

7. The grain discriminator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The lens is a circular convex lens.

8. The grain discriminator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The reflective portion has a matte reflective surface.

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