A method for grading fruits of a litchi tree infected by borers

Abstract

The application discloses a grading method for litchi fruits with borers, and the grading method is as follows: S1, freshly picked litchi is placed in a clean water pool for soaking treatment, and the surface residues of the water are removed; S2, the litchi preliminarily cleaned in the step S1 is placed in a salt water pool for soaking treatment, and the pool surface garbage and floating insects are cleaned according to the above step. The application realizes the separation of the fruit pulp and borers and impurities by establishing a set of de-insect process, and the de-insect process follows a processing mode from simple to difficult, or from outside to inside. The mode is simple in operation and low in cost. On the basis, the application adds an infrared identification device and an image recognition device, and cooperates with a shunting device to quickly and efficiently complete the analysis and processing of the litchi, the separation of the borers and the degree of the litchi itself, and the processing method cooperates with the work to improve the litchi sorting efficiency and is suitable for large-scale promotion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of litchi grading technology, specifically a grading method for litchi fruits infested with fruit borers. Background Technology

[0002] The litchi fruit borer belongs to the order Lepidoptera and family Achyranthes. The larvae damage the main veins of young leaves and flower spikes on the back of litchi and longan. During the fruit enlargement stage, they bore into the fruit pits, and after the fruit develops, they bore into the fruit stalks, causing the midribs of young leaves to turn brown, the epidermis to crack, and the tips of flower spikes to die, thus affecting the quality and yield of the fruit.

[0003] When fruit borers feed on lychees, they typically start by eating the surface, eventually creating a hole to penetrate the lychee. Therefore, after harvesting, the fruit borers need to be removed. Previously, this was primarily done through high-intensity washing and agitation by machines, using external force to separate surface impurities and the borers from the lychee. While this method has some merit, surface impurities are relatively easy to remove, but the borers, often deeply embedded in the flesh, are difficult to handle. A combination of mechanical and manual labor is sometimes used, which is superior to purely mechanical methods, but the results are not ideal. Furthermore, this method requires a significant investment of manpower and time, making it unprofitable and not suitable for large-scale sorting.

[0004] To address the aforementioned problems, this application proposes a grading method for litchi fruits affected by fruit borers. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a process for separating fruit pulp from fruit borers and impurities. This process follows a progressive approach from simple to complex, or from the outside in, making it simple to operate and low in cost. Furthermore, this application adds an infrared recognition device and an image recognition device, which, together with a sorting device, enable rapid and efficient analysis of individual lychees, assessing the separation of fruit borers and the quality of the lychees themselves. This combined approach improves lychee sorting efficiency and is suitable for large-scale implementation.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a grading method for litchi fruits affected by fruit borers, wherein the grading method is as follows:

[0007] S1. Freshly picked lychees are soaked in a pool of clean water beforehand, and any residue on the surface of the water is removed.

[0008] S2. Place the lychees that were initially cleaned in step S1 into a salt water pool for soaking, and clean the garbage and floating insects on the surface of the pool according to the above steps.

[0009] S3. Then, the processed lychees are placed in a diversion device for individual washing.

[0010] S4. When the lychees pass through the bottom of the diversion device, the infrared detection device and the image recognition device will simultaneously collect lychee information and upload it to the computer.

[0011] S5. After the diversion is completed, the lychees are soaked in the clear water pool again. The pool is equipped with a stirring device. After stirring for a period of time, the residue on the surface of the pool is removed. This process is repeated many times until there is no obvious residue on the surface of the water.

[0012] S6. Then repeat step S4 on the lychees processed in step S5 until the data displayed by the two computers meets the requirements.

[0013] Preferably, in step S1, the clear water tank is equipped with a stirring device, and the water in the tank completely submerges the lychees.

[0014] Preferably, the salt added in step S2 accounts for 3%-7% of the weight of the water, and the lychee soaking time is 10-20 minutes.

[0015] Preferably, the diversion device in S3 includes a diversion box, a feeding port, a water injection pipe, a diversion plate, a discharge pipe, a transparent interface, an image recognition device, and an infrared sensing device.

[0016] A diversion plate is fixedly installed inside the diversion box, a feeding port is fixedly installed on the top of the diversion box, a water injection pipe is fixedly connected to the upper end of the front of the diversion box, and discharge pipes are fixedly installed at the bottom of the diversion box and the discharge area of ​​the diversion plate. A transparent interface is fixedly installed at the end of each discharge pipe, and an image recognition device and an infrared sensor are fixedly installed on the top of each transparent interface from front to back.

[0017] Preferably, the inner diameter of the discharge pipe is large enough to allow a single lychee to pass through, and each channel formed by the diversion plate also allows only a single lychee to pass through.

[0018] Preferably, in step S4, the infrared detection device scans the surface of the lychee to form a thermal image to determine whether there are fruit borers; the image recognition device takes an image of the lychee as it moves past; the information collected by the infrared detection device and the image recognition device is simultaneously uploaded to the computer system.

[0019] Preferably, the stirring device in step S5 can be either a mechanical stirring device or an aeration device, and the residue on the surface of the pool is discharged and retrieved by net simultaneously.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0021] This application establishes a pest removal process to separate the fruit pulp from fruit borers and impurities. This process follows a treatment method from simple to complex, or it can be described as a pest removal process from the outside to the inside. This method is simple to operate and low in cost. Based on this, this application adds an infrared recognition device and an image recognition device, which, together with a sorting device, can quickly and efficiently complete the analysis and processing of individual lychees, as well as the separation of fruit borers and the quality of the lychees themselves. This processing method, when used in conjunction with other methods, can improve the sorting efficiency of lychees and is suitable for large-scale promotion. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the workflow of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the diversion device of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the interaction between the flow divider box and the flow divider plate of the present invention.

[0025] In the diagram: 1. Diverter box; 2. Feed inlet; 3. Water injection pipe; 4. Diverter plate; 5. Discharge pipe; 6. Transparent interface; 7. Image recognition device; 8. Infrared sensor. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0027] like Figures 1 to 3 This invention provides a technical solution: a method for grading litchi fruit infested with fruit borers, the grading method being as follows:

[0028] S1. Freshly picked lychees are soaked in a pool of clean water beforehand, and any residue on the surface of the water is removed.

[0029] S2. Place the lychees that were initially cleaned in step S1 into a salt water pool for soaking, and clean the garbage and floating insects on the surface of the pool according to the above steps.

[0030] S3. Then, the processed lychees are placed in a diversion device for individual washing.

[0031] S4. When the lychees pass through the bottom of the diversion device, the infrared detection device and the image recognition device will simultaneously collect lychee information and upload it to the computer.

[0032] S5. After the diversion is completed, the lychees are soaked in the clear water pool again. The pool is equipped with a stirring device. After stirring for a period of time, the residue on the surface of the pool is removed. This process is repeated many times until there is no obvious residue on the surface of the water.

[0033] S6. Then repeat step S4 on the lychees processed in step S5 until the data displayed by the two computers meets the requirements.

[0034] This application mainly addresses the treatment of surface impurities and internal stem borers in lychees. Existing technologies can effectively treat both surface impurities and internal insects, but these methods are too manual and lack automation. I have clearly explained this shortcoming in the background section, so I will not repeat it here. This application adds some intelligent devices to the conventional treatment method. Through the combination of mechanical and electronic equipment, it is very easy to understand the cleanliness of the lychees, and the subsequent screening of good and bad fruit is also relatively simple.

[0035] In step S1, the clear water tank is equipped with a stirring device, and the water in the tank completely submerges the lychees.

[0036] Fresh lychees usually have a lot of leaves and dirt left on their surface during the harvesting process. Since the surface is relatively easy to clean, the cleaning process for lychees is usually done from the outside in. The agitation device in the pool is mainly to make materials such as debris and leaves float in the water. The vigorous water movement can also have a significant impact on the stubborn dirt adhering to the surface of the lychees, making subsequent cleaning easier.

[0037] In step S2, the added salt accounts for 3%-7% of the water weight, and the lychee soaking time is 10-20 minutes.

[0038] The most difficult stage to deal with fruit borers is when they penetrate deep into the pulp. Soaking the fruit in salt water will cause the insects to have a clear rejection reaction and gradually be expelled from the lychee. The specific ratio of salt in the water should be selected based on the actual situation.

[0039] It is important to note that while soaking lychees in salt water will help remove insects, and the longer the soaking time, the cleaner the insects will be, soaking them in salt water for too long will also affect the taste of the fruit. Therefore, it is necessary to control the soaking time during the processing.

[0040] The diversion device in S3 includes a diversion box, a feeding port, a water injection pipe, a diversion plate, a discharge pipe, a transparent interface, an image recognition device, and an infrared sensing device.

[0041] A diversion plate is fixedly installed inside the diversion box, a feeding port is fixedly installed on the top of the diversion box, a water injection pipe is fixedly connected to the upper end of the front of the diversion box, and discharge pipes are fixedly installed at the bottom of the diversion box and the discharge area of ​​the diversion plate. A transparent interface is fixedly installed at the end of each discharge pipe, and an image recognition device and an infrared sensor are fixedly installed on the top of each transparent interface from front to back.

[0042] The inner diameter of the discharge pipe is large enough to allow a single lychee to pass through, and each channel formed by the diversion plate also only allows a single lychee to pass through.

[0043] In step S4, the infrared detection device scans the surface of the lychee to form a thermal image to determine whether there are fruit borers; the image recognition device takes an image of the lychee as it moves by; the information collected by the infrared detection device and the image recognition device is uploaded to the computer system simultaneously.

[0044] Near-infrared spectral image data acquisition of litchi insect-infested fruit samples. The litchi insect-infested fruit samples were divided into two categories: the first category consisted of samples with insect holes in the peel at the fruit stem end; the second category consisted of samples where no insect holes were visible in the peel at the fruit stem end, but the stem-boring insect was causing damage inside the stem. Near-infrared spectral images of the litchi insect-infested fruit samples were acquired using near-infrared spectroscopy detection technology, and image information parameters were obtained through image information processing methods. The working principle of this part is very simple: stem-boring insects are living organisms that continuously radiate heat in their surroundings during their survival. Furthermore, the heat generated by the stem-boring insect is completely different from that generated by the litchi, resulting in a significant difference in the thermal image of the litchi after scanning and uploading. The thermal image allows for a quick determination of whether a stem-boring insect is present in the litchi.

[0045] This study applies intelligent recognition algorithms to judge and identify image information of litchi fruit samples damaged by the litchi stem borer. Using the convolutional neural network algorithm of DeepLearning for Spark MLlib, the system trains and learns from images of litchi fruit damaged by the stem borer, identifying key features that distinguish normal litchi from those damaged. This forms a litchi fruit image recognition engine that differentiates between normal and damaged litchi samples, achieving the goal of litchi fruit grading. The principle behind this is to pre-collect a large number of images of both good and bad litchi fruit, then simulate data modeling, and finally perform extensive recognition work using a computer—a process commonly referred to as training and learning. After large-scale data simulation and training, the recognition device can essentially establish the ability to distinguish between good and bad fruit. This allows for the subsequent application in the sorting process to identify the quality of litchi.

[0046] This device is a core component in the overall separation process. The surface-treated lychees are fed into the feeding port area, and then the diversion plate sends the concentrated lychees to multiple discharge pipes under the action of gravity. This can maximize the processing efficiency, and at the same time, this method can further improve the accuracy of lychee condition detection.

[0047] Further explanation is provided regarding the above:

[0048] The size of lychees is usually sorted by a screening device after the initial cleaning. This application does not involve this part. It is assumed that the size of the lychees is sorted after the cleaning in step S1. The lychee screening structure and device are actually very common, similar to sieve screening. Here is a simple explanation.

[0049] A large number of lychees enter from the feeding port, and are then divided into multiple portions by the diverting plate. The lychees that finally enter the discharge pipe can only be conveyed one by one, without forming multiple simultaneous compression conveying. This provides enough time for the image recognition device and the infrared sensing device to analyze and process the lychee data. Furthermore, the fact that the lychees are not superimposed during conveying also makes the detection by the two devices more accurate.

[0050] In step S5, either a mechanical agitator or an aeration device can be used for stirring, and the residue on the surface of the pool is removed by draining water and scooping it up with a net simultaneously.

[0051] Using a net to collect the waste is a relatively new technology, so I won't go into detail here. Regarding the water discharge and waste removal, I will explain in detail as follows: In this treatment method, the lychees have undergone multiple processing steps, and most of the obvious and sinking debris has already been removed. At this stage, there is very little waste left, mostly lightweight floating debris. The net can easily remove the obvious debris. Then, the drain outlet on the side of the pool is slid downwards, and the surface water is pre-drained. This water contains relatively few impurities and is mainly wastewater with fine impurities left over from the first dredging. This water discharge method can remove wastewater and impurities as much as possible while also reducing water consumption.

[0052] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

[0053] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A method of grading Litchi chinensis Sonn. fruits infested with Borers, characterized in that, The grading method is as follows: S1. Freshly picked lychees are soaked in a pool of clean water beforehand, and any residue on the surface of the water is removed. S2. Place the lychees that were initially cleaned in step S1 into a salt water pool for soaking, and clean the garbage and floating insects on the surface of the pool according to the above steps. S3. Then, the processed lychees are placed in a diversion device for individual washing. S4. When the lychees pass through the bottom of the diversion device, the infrared detection device and the image recognition device will simultaneously collect lychee information and upload it to the computer. S5. After the diversion is completed, the lychees are soaked in the clear water pool again. The pool is equipped with a stirring device. After stirring for a period of time, the residue on the surface of the pool is removed. This process is repeated many times until there is no obvious residue on the surface of the water. S6. Then repeat step S4 on the lychees processed in step S5 until the data displayed by the two computers meets the requirements. In step S1, the clear water tank is equipped with a stirring device, and the water in the tank completely submerges the lychees. In step S2, the added salt should account for 3%-7% of the water weight, and the lychees should be soaked for 10-20 minutes. The diversion device in S3 includes a diversion box, a feeding port, a water injection pipe, a diversion plate, a discharge pipe, a transparent interface, an image recognition device, and an infrared sensing device. A diversion plate is fixedly installed inside the diversion box, a feeding port is fixedly installed on the top of the diversion box, a water injection pipe is fixedly connected to the upper end of the front of the diversion box, and discharge pipes are fixedly installed at the bottom of the diversion box and the discharge area of ​​the diversion plate. A transparent interface is fixedly installed at the end of each discharge pipe, and an image recognition device and an infrared sensor are fixedly installed on the top of each transparent interface from front to back.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method is characterized by: The inner diameter of the discharge pipe is large enough to allow a single lychee to pass through, and each channel formed by the diversion plate also allows only a single lychee to pass through.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method is characterized by: In step S4, the infrared detection device scans the surface of the lychee to form a thermal image to determine whether there are fruit borers; the image recognition device takes an image of the lychee as it moves past; the information collected by the infrared detection device and the image recognition device is uploaded to the computer system simultaneously.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is characterized by: In step S5, the stirring device can be either a mechanical stirrer or an aeration device, and the residue on the surface of the pool is discharged and retrieved simultaneously using a net.

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