A seed testing device for pods and seeds

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of soybean seed testing technology, and more particularly to a seed testing device for soybean pods and seeds. The device includes a pod feeding port, a pod shell discharge port, and a soybean discharge port located outside the main body of the device, and a pod feeding unit, a pod imaging unit, a soybean dehulling unit, and a soybean imaging unit located inside the device. This enables pod conveying, pod image acquisition, dehulling separation, and soybean image acquisition. The device also includes control buttons and a display for operation and data display. Through the above technical solution, a fully automated process is achieved from pod feeding, image acquisition, dehulling to soybean seed detection, reducing manual intervention, significantly shortening the seed testing time, and improving seed testing efficiency. It solves the problems of low efficiency and susceptibility to subjective factors in traditional seed testing methods, making it difficult to guarantee the accuracy and consistency of data.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of soybean seed testing technology, and particularly relates to a seed testing device for soybean pods and seeds. Background Technology

[0002] Soybeans are an important component of my country's grain production. Soybean traits, such as growth status and yield potential, are not only key indicators for assessing soybean quality but also crucial for identifying new varieties. However, for a long time, soybean variety evaluation in my country has relied primarily on traditional manual methods. Evaluation workers need to test and record various soybean trait data one by one. This process is not only inefficient but also, due to the subjectivity of manual operation, makes it difficult to guarantee the accuracy and consistency of the data. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of this, the present invention aims to provide a seed testing device for pods and seeds to solve the problems of low efficiency and susceptibility to subjective factors in traditional seed testing methods, which make it difficult to guarantee the accuracy and consistency of data.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution created by this invention is implemented as follows:

[0005] A testing device for pods and seeds, comprising

[0006] The device body has a receiving cavity inside. Externally, the device body has a pod feeding port, a pod shell discharge port, and a soybean discharge port connected to the receiving cavity. Internally, it includes a pod feeding unit, a pod imaging unit, a soybean dehulling unit, and a soybean imaging unit. The pod feeding unit transports pods from the pod feeding port to the pod imaging unit. After the pod imaging unit acquires an image of the pods, the pods enter the soybean dehulling unit, where they are separated into pod shells and soybeans. The pod shells are discharged through the pod shell discharge port, and the soybeans are discharged through the soybean discharge port after secondary image acquisition by the soybean imaging unit. The device body also includes control buttons and a display. The control buttons control the device's operation, and the display shows the acquired image data and analysis results.

[0007] The soybean imaging unit includes a second imaging device, a second conveyor belt, a tray, and a pressure sensor. The second imaging device includes at least one of a visible light camera, a near-infrared camera, a multispectral camera, a hyperspectral camera, a thermal infrared camera, a lidar, and an X-ray detector. The tray is placed on the second conveyor belt, and the pressure sensor is located below the tray for measuring the weight of the soybeans. The second conveyor belt is driven by a second servo motor and spreads the soybeans evenly on the bottom of the tray through high-frequency vibration. The second imaging device, in conjunction with a second light source, acquires data and images of the quantity and shape of the soybeans, while the pressure sensor reads the weight of the soybeans.

[0008] The bottom surface inside the tray has a diamond pattern to make the soybeans more stable during high-frequency vibration and spreading.

[0009] Furthermore, the pod feeding unit includes a feed inlet and a feed trough, wherein the feed inlet is connected to the pod discharge outlet and the feed trough respectively.

[0010] Furthermore, the pod imaging unit includes a first conveyor belt and a first imaging device. The surface of the first conveyor belt is provided with equidistant protrusions to divide the pods into independent areas. The first imaging device includes at least one of a visible light camera, a near-infrared camera, a multispectral camera, a hyperspectral camera, a thermal infrared camera, a lidar, and an X-ray detector, which works in conjunction with a first light source to acquire images of the pods.

[0011] Furthermore, the first conveyor belt is equipped with a micro-vibration component and a rolling pause module. The micro-vibration component is used to prevent pods from accumulating, and the rolling pause module is used to ensure stable imaging posture.

[0012] Furthermore, the top of the protrusion is arc-shaped or streamlined.

[0013] Furthermore, the protrusion is integrally formed with the first conveyor belt or is detachably connected, and the connection between the protrusion and the first conveyor belt is flush.

[0014] Furthermore, the soybean imaging unit includes a second imaging device, a second conveyor belt, a grid structure, a pressure sensor, and a baffle. The second imaging device includes at least one of a visible light camera, a near-infrared camera, a multispectral camera, a hyperspectral camera, a thermal infrared camera, a lidar, and an X-ray detector. The grid structure is disposed on the second conveyor belt, and the pressure sensor is disposed below the grid structure for measuring the weight of the soybeans. The grid structure includes multiple arrayed soybean troughs, each trough being adapted to a single soybean. The baffle is disposed at the front end of the grid structure near the soybean hulling unit for cleaning up accumulated soybeans and achieving single-grain positioning. The second imaging device, in conjunction with a second light source, acquires data and images of the quantity and shape of the soybeans, while the pressure sensor reads the weight of the soybeans.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the present invention can achieve the following beneficial effects:

[0016] By linearly linking the pod feeding unit, pod imaging unit, soybean dehulling unit, and soybean imaging unit, a fully automated process is achieved from pod feeding, image acquisition, dehulling to soybean grain detection. This reduces manual intervention, significantly shortens the testing time, and improves testing efficiency. Through the imaging unit, multi-dimensional trait data such as pod type, shape, and color can be accurately collected, enabling quantitative detection of soybean grain traits and ensuring data accuracy and consistency. At the same time, the device integrates multiple functional units, making its structure compact and space-efficient. This solves the problems of low efficiency and susceptibility to subjective factors in traditional testing methods, which make it difficult to guarantee data accuracy and consistency. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this invention, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments and descriptions of the invention are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an undue limitation of the invention. In the drawings:

[0018] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of the seed testing device for pods and seeds provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the pod feeding unit provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of the pod imaging unit provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the protrusion structure provided for an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 5 Another structural schematic diagram of the protrusion provided for an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the structure of the soybean imaging unit provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 7 Another schematic diagram of the structure of the soybean imaging unit provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0026] 1. Main body of the device; 2. Pod shell outlet; 3. Soybean outlet; 4. Pod feeding unit; 401. Feed inlet; 402. Feed trough; 5. Pod imaging unit; 501. First conveyor belt; 502. First imaging device; 503. Protrusion; 6. Soybean shelling unit; 7. Soybean imaging unit; 701. Second conveyor belt; 702. Tray; 703. Pressure sensor; 704. Grid structure; 705. Baffle. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only for explaining the invention and do not constitute a limitation thereof. Similar elements in different embodiments are referred to by associated similar element reference numerals. In the following embodiments, many details are described to facilitate a better understanding of the invention. However, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that some features may be omitted in different situations, or may be replaced by other elements, materials, or methods. In some cases, some operations related to the invention are not shown or described in the specification. This is to avoid obscuring the core parts of the invention with excessive description. For those skilled in the art, detailed description of these related operations is not necessary; they can fully understand the related operations based on the description in the specification and general technical knowledge in the art.

[0028] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this invention can be combined to form various implementations. Furthermore, the order of the steps or actions in the method description can be changed or adjusted in a manner readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the various orders in the specification and drawings are merely for the clear description of a particular embodiment and do not imply a mandatory order, unless otherwise stated that a particular order must be followed.

[0029] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," and "counterclockwise," etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation on this invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, features defined with "first," "second," etc., may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this invention, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0030] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0031] The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0032] like Figures 1 to 7 As shown, this embodiment provides a seed testing device for bean pods and seeds, including a device body 1. The device body 1 has a box structure and a receiving cavity inside. The outside of the device body 1 is provided with a bean pod discharge port, a bean pod shell discharge port 2, and a soybean discharge port 3, which are connected to the receiving cavity. The bean pod discharge port is located on the front of the device body 1 and near the top of the device body 1; the bean pod shell discharge port 2 and the soybean discharge port 3 are located on the sides of the device body 1, including but not limited to the lower left position.

[0033] The main body 1 of the device includes, from top to bottom, a pod feeding unit 4, a pod imaging unit 5, a soybean dehulling unit 6, and a soybean imaging unit 7, which are installed and connected in sequence. The pod feeding unit 4 is used to transport the pods from the pod discharge port to the pod imaging unit 5. After the pod imaging unit 5 acquires an image of the pods, it transports the pods into the soybean dehulling unit 6 to separate them into pod shells and soybeans. The pod shells are discharged through the pod shell discharge port 2, and the soybeans are discharged through the soybean discharge port 3 after the soybean imaging unit 7 acquires an image.

[0034] In actual use, the operator places the bean pod to be tested into the bean pod feeding port. Under the action of the bean pod feeding unit 4, the bean pod enters the bean pod imaging unit 5. The bean pod imaging unit 5 acquires images, and then the bean pod enters the soybean dehulling unit 6. The dehulled bean pod shells are discharged through the bean pod shell discharge port 2, while the soybeans enter the soybean imaging unit 7 for image acquisition, and are then discharged through the soybean discharge port 3.

[0035] Through the above technical solution, the linear linkage of the pod feeding unit 4, pod imaging unit 5, soybean dehulling unit 6, and soybean imaging unit 7 achieves a fully automated process from pod feeding, image acquisition, dehulling to soybean grain detection. This reduces manual intervention, significantly shortens the evaluation time, and improves evaluation efficiency. The pod imaging unit 5 and soybean imaging unit 7 can accurately collect multi-dimensional trait data such as pod type, shape, and color, enabling quantitative detection of soybean grain traits and ensuring data accuracy and consistency. Simultaneously, the integration of multiple functional units within the device results in a compact structure and high space utilization. This solves the problems of low efficiency and susceptibility to subjective factors in traditional evaluation methods, making it difficult to guarantee data accuracy and consistency.

[0036] Furthermore, a support leg is provided at each of the four corners of the bottom of the main body 1, which allows the weight borne by the device to be evenly distributed, enhancing the stability of the overall structure. In other embodiments, casters or other structures may also be used, depending on actual needs, and no limitations are made here.

[0037] In some embodiments, the pod feeding unit 4 includes an inlet 401 and a trough 402. The cross-sectional shape of the trough 402 gradually narrows from top to bottom, forming a funnel shape. This shape not only allows the pods to slide more smoothly under gravity, but also provides initial aggregation of the pods, preventing them from scattering and piling up inside the trough 402. The inlet 401 is located at the top of the trough 402, connecting the pod discharge port to the trough 402 to ensure that the pods can smoothly enter the trough 402 from the pod discharge port.

[0038] In some embodiments, the pod imaging unit 5 may include a first conveyor belt 501 and a first imaging device 502. The first conveyor belt 501 is driven by a first servo motor, which is mounted on the inner wall of the device body 1. When a pod enters the first conveyor belt 501, the first servo motor starts, ensuring that the pod moves at a uniform speed on the first conveyor belt 501. This allows the first imaging device 502 to acquire clear and complete pod images at the optimal shooting rhythm and angle, using continuous line scanning, avoiding image blurring or missed scans caused by the conveyor belt speed being too fast or too slow. Images acquired in this way can fully present all the details of the pod, including surface texture and shape contours, providing a comprehensive and reliable image data foundation for subsequent accurate analysis of the pod's characteristics.

[0039] The surface of the first conveyor belt 501 is provided with equidistant protrusions 503 to divide the soybean pods into independent areas. In this way, on the one hand, the equidistant protrusions 503 provide a natural segmentation basis for image analysis, facilitating the processing and analysis of the acquired images by relevant algorithms, improving the robustness of the algorithms, making the analysis results more reliable, and providing more accurate data support for soybean seed testing. On the other hand, the protrusions 503, through physical restraint, prevent occlusion caused by lateral rolling or stacking of pods, ensuring that each pod is evenly distributed within its independent area. This guarantees that the image information of each pod can be clearly captured by the first imaging device 502, greatly improving the clarity and accuracy of the imaging, making subsequent identification and differentiation of different types of pods such as shriveled pods, one-pod pods, two-pod pods, three-pod pods, and cracked pods more accurate.

[0040] The first imaging device 502 includes at least one of a visible light camera, a near-infrared camera, a multispectral camera, a hyperspectral camera, a thermal infrared camera, a lidar, and an X-ray detector, and works in conjunction with a first light source mounted on the inner wall of the main body 1 to acquire images of the bean pods. It is worth noting that a halogen lamp is an ideal choice as the light source. Due to its high color rendering index, it can accurately reproduce the true color of the bean pods, ensuring that the images captured by the first imaging device 502 are color accurate. Halogen lamps are typically equipped with parabolic reflectors or ellipsoidal reflectors, which use geometric optics principles to converge and adjust the divergent light emitted by the filament into parallel light or a fan-shaped beam at a specific angle. For example, the inner wall of the reflector may be treated with a micron-level coating (such as aluminum or silicon dioxide coating), achieving a reflectivity of over 95%, ensuring that light is uniformly reflected onto the surface of the bean pods. Its stable luminous performance and uniform illumination distribution, when used in conjunction with the first imaging device 502, can effectively avoid differences in image brightness caused by uneven illumination, providing high-quality lighting conditions for the first imaging device 502, thereby ensuring the accuracy and integrity of pod image acquisition and improving the reliability of the seed data. In other embodiments, LED lights can also be selected as the light source, depending on the actual situation, and no limitation is made here.

[0041] Understandably, the first imaging device 502 can be flexibly combined with visible light cameras, near-infrared cameras, multispectral cameras, hyperspectral cameras, thermal infrared cameras, lidar, X-ray detectors, and other equipment according to actual testing needs, without any limitations. Among them, the visible light camera captures high-resolution details of the pod's appearance, visually presenting its shape, color, and damage status; the near-infrared camera, with its penetrating power, obtains information about the internal structure of the pod, assisting in determining maturity; multispectral and hyperspectral cameras can accurately analyze chemical composition and nutrient content by analyzing reflectivity in specific wavelengths; the thermal infrared camera can monitor surface temperature distribution, reflecting the physiological state of the pod; lidar can construct a three-dimensional point cloud model, achieving millimeter-level size measurement; and the X-ray detector can penetrate deep into the internal structure to observe seed development. Multiple devices can work collaboratively to collect multimodal data on the pod from its appearance to its interior, from two-dimensional plane to three-dimensional space, providing a scientific basis for precise soybean testing.

[0042] In some embodiments, the first conveyor belt 501 is equipped with a micro-vibration component and a rolling pause module. The micro-vibration component prevents pods from piling up, and the rolling pause module ensures stable imaging posture. The micro-vibration component uses high-frequency, low-amplitude vibration to break the tendency of pods to cluster on the first conveyor belt 501 in real time, keeping the pods dispersed during movement. The rolling pause module precisely controls the first conveyor belt 501 to stop intermittently according to the working rhythm of the first imaging device 502. When the pods move into the imaging area, the first conveyor belt 501 stops briefly, and the equidistant protrusions 503 fix the pods in the optimal shooting position, avoiding image blurring caused by shaking or displacement. This ensures that the first imaging device 502 can clearly capture details of the pods from all angles, significantly improving the quality and efficiency of image acquisition.

[0043] In practical applications, the micro-vibration component achieves a micro-vibration effect through the forward and reverse rotation of the first servo motor, thereby breaking the tendency of pods to cluster on the first conveyor belt 501. Utilizing the precise steering control characteristics of the first servo motor, the frequency and duration of its alternating forward and reverse rotation are set to drive the first conveyor belt 501 to generate regular intermittent vibrations. When the first servo motor rotates forward, the first conveyor belt 501 transports pods normally; at the moment the first servo motor reverses, the first conveyor belt 501 generates a brief reverse displacement, forming a micro-vibration. This method eliminates the need for additional vibration components, directly using the driving power source of the first conveyor belt 501. This simplifies the device structure, reduces costs, effectively prevents pods from accumulating on the first conveyor belt 501, and ensures stable pod posture during image acquisition by precisely controlling the state of the first servo motor, providing ideal conditions for image acquisition.

[0044] In addition, the scrolling pause function of the scrolling pause module can also be implemented by the first servo motor. The first servo motor has precise position control and speed adjustment capabilities, and can accurately drive the first conveyor belt 501 to move or stop.

[0045] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4 As shown, the top of protrusion 503 can be rounded. Or, as... Figure 5 As shown, the tip of protrusion 503 can also be streamlined. An arc-shaped or streamlined tip avoids sharp edges, significantly reducing the impact and friction between protrusion 503 and the pod surface. This is especially suitable for varieties with fuzzy or fragile pods, preventing skin abrasion or deformation, and protecting the pod's integrity for accurate collection of original phenotypic data. Alternatively, the tip of protrusion 503 can be designed as a guide structure of a specific shape (such as an arc-shaped baffle or a flow channel) to guide the pods to move in a predetermined direction. For example, during pod conveying, protrusion 503 can help keep the pods aligned head to tail; that is, through the specific shape of the protrusion 503's tip, each pod is aligned in a uniform direction during movement, avoiding uneven stacking and improving subsequent shelling efficiency. For easily rolling pods (such as cowpeas), protrusion 503 can restrict their free rolling on the first conveyor belt 501, ensuring stable conveying. Meanwhile, debris remains during the pod transport process, and the smooth, raised surface 503 is less prone to adhering to impurities, making it easier to clean and maintain the pod imaging unit 5.

[0046] In some embodiments, the protrusion 503 is integrally formed with or detachably connected to the first conveyor belt 501, and the connection point between the protrusion 503 and the first conveyor belt 501 is flush. Flush means that when the protrusion 503 and the first conveyor belt 501 are connected, their surfaces at the connection point are completely flat and level, without any height difference or misalignment. Specifically, the edge or bottom surface of the protrusion 503 in contact with the first conveyor belt 501 is on the same plane as the surface of the first conveyor belt 501 body, and there is no situation where the protrusion "protrudes" or "recesses" into the conveyor belt surface. The integral forming process enhances the connection strength between the protrusion 503 and the first conveyor belt 501, preventing the protrusion 503 from falling off or loosening due to long-term vibration, thus extending the service life of the equipment. A detachable connection facilitates the maintenance and replacement of the protrusion 503, or allows for flexible adjustment of the spacing and shape of the protrusion 503 according to different pod varieties (such as size and shape differences), improving the versatility and adaptability of the device. The flush alignment avoids height differences or gaps between the protrusion 503 and the surface of the first conveyor belt 501, preventing skin damage to the pods due to jamming, squeezing, or snagging during transport. It also reduces the risk of impurity retention, ensuring the pods pass smoothly through the imaging area and improving detection efficiency. Furthermore, the flush alignment of the protrusion 503 with the first conveyor belt 501, combined with the stable structure of the protrusion 503, ensures the positional accuracy of the pods on the first conveyor belt 501. This prevents pod posture shifts during image acquisition due to movement of the protrusion 503 or unevenness at the connection point between the protrusion 503 and the first conveyor belt 501, thus guaranteeing the accuracy of image segmentation and shape recognition.

[0047] In some embodiments, the soybean dehulling unit 6 may include a dehulling chamber, a roller pressing and separating assembly, a fan, and a pod shell discharge channel, wherein the pod shell discharge channel is connected to the pod shell outlet 2. The top of the dehulling chamber has an inlet that connects to the pod imaging unit 5, and the bottom has a soybean outlet channel that connects to the soybean imaging unit 7. The inner wall of the dehulling chamber is covered with a buffer rubber layer to reduce collision damage to the soybeans during the dehulling process. The roller pressing and separating assembly may include two sets of opposing rollers arranged laterally in the middle of the dehulling chamber. The two sets of opposing rollers include a primary extrusion roller and a secondary separation roller. The primary extrusion roller consists of a pair of rubber rollers with finely serrated surfaces, which initially crack the outer shell of the pod using shearing and frictional forces. The secondary separation roller is located 10 cm below the primary roller, with spiral grooves on its surface, and rotates in opposite directions to further separate the adhered pod shells from the soybeans. An inclined guide plate may also be provided between the primary extrusion roller and the secondary separation roller to guide the pods passing through the primary extrusion roller to fall smoothly. A lateral air inlet is provided in the middle of the side wall of the shelling chamber, and a fan is located at the air inlet. An upwardly inclined arc-shaped guide plate is provided on the opposite side of the air inlet, causing the airflow to form a spiral upward path within the shelling chamber. An air outlet is provided at the top of the shelling chamber, with the arc-shaped guide plate inclined towards the air outlet. Lightweight soybean pods are carried by the airflow through the air outlet into the soybean pod discharge channel, and finally discharged from the soybean pod discharge outlet 2. In other embodiments, the soybean shelling unit 6 can also have other structural forms, which can be designed according to actual needs, and no limitations are made here.

[0048] In some embodiments, the soybean imaging unit 7 includes a second imaging device, a second conveyor belt 701, a tray 702, and a pressure sensor 703. The tray 702 is fixedly mounted on the second conveyor belt 701, and the pressure sensor 703 is disposed below the tray 702 for measuring the weight of the soybeans. When soybeans fall into the tray 702, the pressure sensor 703 can quickly sense the pressure change and read the real-time weight data, providing important weight parameters for the comprehensive evaluation of soybeans.

[0049] The second conveyor belt 701, driven by a second servo motor, spreads soybeans evenly on the bottom of the tray 702 through high-frequency vibration. The second servo motor is mounted on the inner wall of the main body 1 of the device. High-frequency vibration is achieved by controlling the second servo motor to make the second conveyor belt 701 reciprocate at a relatively high speed along a preset path. After the soybeans fall into the tray 702, the second conveyor belt 701 transports the tray 702 to below the second imaging device. The second servo motor then drives the conveyor belt to pause, stabilizing the soybeans within the imaging area. Through repeated reciprocating motion, utilizing vibration and inertia, the soybeans are quickly dispersed and evenly spread on the bottom of the tray 702, avoiding overlap and accumulation, ensuring that each soybean is completely captured by the second imaging device, improving the accuracy and efficiency of image acquisition. After the soybeans are spread, the second imaging device acquires an image. After completing the above steps, the tray 702 moves with the second conveyor belt 701, allowing the soybeans to be discharged through the soybean outlet 3.

[0050] The second imaging device includes at least one of the following: a visible light camera, a near-infrared camera, a multispectral camera, a hyperspectral camera, a thermal infrared camera, a lidar, and an X-ray detector. This second imaging device, in conjunction with a second light source mounted on the inner wall of the main body 1, acquires data and images of the quantity and shape of soybeans. During operation, the second imaging device, with the aid of the second light source, comprehensively acquires data and captures images of the quantity and shape of soybeans, providing rich and accurate data support for soybean detection. Notably, halogen lamps are an ideal choice as a light source. Their high color rendering index accurately reproduces the true color of soybeans, ensuring that the images captured by the second imaging device are color-accurate. Halogen lamps are typically equipped with parabolic reflectors or ellipsoidal reflectors, using geometric optics principles to converge and adjust the divergent light emitted by the filament into parallel light or a fan-shaped beam at a specific angle. For example, the inner wall of the reflector may be treated with a micron-level coating (such as aluminum or silicon dioxide), achieving a reflectivity of over 95%, ensuring uniform reflection of light onto the soybean surface. Its stable luminescence performance and uniform illumination distribution, when used in conjunction with the second imaging device, can effectively avoid differences in image brightness caused by uneven illumination, providing high-quality lighting conditions for the second imaging device, thereby ensuring the accuracy and integrity of soybean image acquisition and improving the reliability of the evaluation data.

[0051] Understandably, the second imaging device can be flexibly combined with visible light cameras, near-infrared cameras, multispectral cameras, hyperspectral cameras, thermal infrared cameras, lidar, X-ray detectors, and other equipment according to actual testing needs, without any limitations. Among them, the visible light camera captures the details of soybean appearance at high resolution, intuitively presenting its shape, color, and damage status, providing intuitive image data for the morphological characteristic analysis of soybeans; the near-infrared camera utilizes the interaction between near-infrared light and the internal components of soybeans to obtain information on the content of moisture, protein, fat, etc., inside the soybean; multispectral and hyperspectral cameras identify early signs of pest and disease infection and mold through differences in reflectance in specific bands; the thermal infrared camera judges seed vigor based on temperature distribution; lidar constructs a three-dimensional point cloud model to accurately measure the volume and morphological parameters of soybeans; and the X-ray detector sees through the internal structure to detect defects that are difficult to detect with the naked eye, such as empty grains and insect infestation. Multiple devices can work together to collect multimodal data on soybeans from appearance to interior, from two-dimensional plane to three-dimensional space, providing a scientific basis for accurate soybean testing, depending on different testing needs.

[0052] In some embodiments, the bottom surface of the tray 702 is provided with a diamond-shaped pattern to make the soybeans more stable during high-frequency vibration and spreading. During high-frequency vibration and spreading, the tendency of soybeans to slide and roll within the tray 702 is effectively suppressed, and even if the second conveyor belt 701 moves at high frequency, the soybeans will not undergo significant displacement. The diamond-shaped pattern is equivalent to forming multiple tiny "positioning grooves" on the surface of the tray 702. Under the action of vibration, the soybeans will naturally embed into these "positioning grooves" and be fixed, further improving stability. After the soybeans are spread out, each soybean can maintain a relatively fixed position, and the soybeans are evenly distributed on the tray 702, providing a stable subject for the second imaging device to capture, avoiding problems such as image blurring and ghosting caused by soybean shaking, greatly improving the clarity and accuracy of image acquisition, thus laying a solid foundation for the accurate detection and analysis of soybeans.

[0053] In some embodiments, the tray 702 can be replaced with a grid structure 704, which includes multiple arrayed soybean troughs, each trough adapted to a single soybean, providing dedicated "space" for each soybean and ensuring its relative position is fixed during transport. A pressure sensor 703 is located below the grid structure 704 to measure the weight of the soybeans. Simultaneously, a baffle 705 or brush is provided at the front end of the grid structure 704 near the soybean shelling unit 6 to clean accumulated soybeans and achieve single-grain positioning. Specifically, the baffle 705 can be reciprocated linearly via a reciprocating linear motion mechanism, such as a lead screw and nut mechanism, to move the baffle 705 or brush along the direction of the second conveyor belt 701, pushing the accumulated soybeans to the appropriate position. This method offers high transmission accuracy, smooth movement, and effective cleaning. Alternatively, a piston rod of a cylinder / hydraulic cylinder can be connected to the baffle 705 or brush, and the piston rod can then drive the baffle 705 to move.

[0054] To prevent the baffle 705 from damaging the soybeans during cleaning, a rubber pad can be placed on its surface, or the baffle 705 can be made of soft plastic, such as polypropylene or polyethylene. The design can be tailored to specific needs, and no limitations are imposed here.

[0055] It is worth noting that the device for controlling the baffle 705 to perform linear reciprocating motion only needs to meet the requirements of being able to stably and accurately drive the baffle 705 to clean up the accumulated soybeans without causing physical damage to the soybeans, and at the same time be able to work efficiently in coordination with equipment such as the grid structure 704 and the second conveyor belt 701. It can be designed according to actual needs, and no restrictions are imposed here.

[0056] In some embodiments, the device body 1 further includes control buttons and a display. Furthermore, the device body 1 may also integrate an embedded control system (such as a computer and a PLC controller), and the control buttons and display are electrically connected to the control system. The control system is used to process and analyze the acquired images; the control buttons are used to control the operation of the device, allowing operators to start, pause, or adjust the device's operating status; the display is used to show the acquired image data and analysis results, enabling operators to intuitively and clearly obtain relevant information.

[0057] In actual use, place the testing device in a stable, dry working area. After connecting the power supply, check whether the control buttons, imaging equipment, sensors, etc. are working properly. Adjust the running speed and vibration frequency of the first conveyor belt 501 and the second conveyor belt 701, and set the parameters (such as resolution, exposure time, etc.) of the first imaging device 502 and the second imaging device respectively to ensure that all functions of the equipment operate stably.

[0058] The pods of the variety to be tested are poured into the feed trough 402 through the pod discharge port, allowing them to fall evenly onto the first conveyor belt 501 below. The pods move at a constant speed along the first conveyor belt 501, and the micro-vibration component is activated synchronously, using high-frequency, low-amplitude vibration to break up the tendency of the pods to cluster on the first conveyor belt 501 in real time. When the pods move to the imaging area, the rolling pause module controls the power cut off to the first servo motor, stopping the first conveyor belt 501. At this time, the first imaging device 502 begins operation, acquiring and recognizing images of the pods, obtaining and recording data such as the type, shape, and color of the pods, and synchronizing the acquired data to the display. After imaging is complete, the rolling pause module controls the power supply to the first servo motor to resume operation of the first conveyor belt 501. The pods that have undergone image acquisition enter the soybean shelling unit 6 via the first conveyor belt 501 for shelling. The pod shells and soybeans flow out from different outlets; the pod shells are discharged from the pod shell outlet 2, while the soybeans enter the soybean imaging unit 7.

[0059] If the first soybean imaging unit 7 structure is adopted: after hulling, the soybeans fall into the tray 702. The second conveyor belt 701 moves back and forth at high frequency and vibrates, quickly dispersing and evenly spreading the soybeans at the bottom of the tray 702. The second imaging device scans and collects the characteristics, quantity, and other properties of the soybeans, and the pressure sensor 703 measures the weight of the soybeans. After data acquisition is completed, the acquired data information is synchronized to the display. Then, the tray 702 moves with the second conveyor belt 701, and the soybeans enter the soybean discharge port 3 and are discharged.

[0060] If the second soybean imaging unit 7 structure is adopted: after shelling, the soybeans fall into the grid structure 704, and the baffle 705 or brush cleans the accumulated soybeans to make them neatly arranged. The second imaging device scans and collects the shape, quantity, and other properties of the soybeans, and the pressure sensor 703 measures the weight. After data acquisition is completed, the acquired data information is synchronized to the display. The soybeans move with the conveyor belt into the soybean discharge port 3 and are discharged.

[0061] This completes the evaluation of the pods and soybean seeds.

[0062] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it is to be understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

[0063] The specific embodiments of the present invention described above do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of the present invention. Any other corresponding changes and modifications made in accordance with the technical concept of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A seed testing device for pods and seeds, characterized in that: include The device body has a receiving cavity inside. Externally, the device body has a pod feeding port, a pod shell discharge port, and a soybean discharge port connected to the receiving cavity. Internally, it includes a pod feeding unit, a pod imaging unit, a soybean dehulling unit, and a soybean imaging unit. The pod feeding unit transports pods from the pod feeding port to the pod imaging unit. After the pod imaging unit acquires an image of the pods, the pods enter the soybean dehulling unit, where they are separated into pod shells and soybeans. The pod shells are discharged through the pod shell discharge port, and the soybeans are discharged through the soybean discharge port after secondary image acquisition by the soybean imaging unit. The device body also includes control buttons and a display. The control buttons control the device's operation, and the display shows the acquired image data and analysis results. The soybean imaging unit adopts one of the following two structures: The soybean imaging unit includes a second imaging device, a second conveyor belt, a tray, and a pressure sensor. The second imaging device includes at least one of a visible light camera, a near-infrared camera, a multispectral camera, a hyperspectral camera, a thermal infrared camera, a lidar, and an X-ray detector. The tray is placed on the second conveyor belt, and the pressure sensor is located below the tray for measuring the weight of the soybeans. The second conveyor belt is driven by a second servo motor and spreads the soybeans evenly on the bottom of the tray through high-frequency vibration. The second imaging device, in conjunction with a second light source, acquires data and images of the quantity and shape of the soybeans, while the pressure sensor reads the weight of the soybeans. The bottom surface inside the tray has a diamond pattern to make the soybeans more stable during high-frequency vibration and spreading. Alternatively, the soybean imaging unit includes a second imaging device, a second conveyor belt, a grid structure, a pressure sensor, and a baffle. The second imaging device includes at least one of a visible light camera, a near-infrared camera, a multispectral camera, a hyperspectral camera, a thermal infrared camera, a lidar, and an X-ray detector. The grid structure is disposed on the second conveyor belt, and the pressure sensor is disposed below the grid structure for measuring the weight of the soybeans. The grid structure includes multiple arrayed soybean troughs, each trough being adapted to a single soybean. The baffle is disposed at the front end of the grid structure near the soybean hulling unit for cleaning up accumulated soybeans and achieving single-grain positioning. The second imaging device, in conjunction with a second light source, acquires data and images of the quantity and shape of the soybeans, while the pressure sensor reads the weight of the soybeans. The pod feeding unit includes a feed inlet and a feed trough. The feed inlet is connected to the pod discharge outlet and the feed trough respectively. The cross-sectional shape of the feed trough gradually narrows from top to bottom, forming a funnel shape. The pod imaging unit includes a first conveyor belt and a first imaging device. The surface of the first conveyor belt is provided with equidistant protrusions to divide the pods into independent areas. The first imaging device includes at least one of a visible light camera, a near-infrared camera, a multispectral camera, a hyperspectral camera, a thermal infrared camera, a lidar, and an X-ray detector, which works in conjunction with a first light source to acquire images of the pods. The first conveyor belt is equipped with a micro-vibration component and a rolling pause module. The micro-vibration component is used to prevent pods from piling up, and the rolling pause module is used to ensure stable imaging posture. The micro-vibration component achieves the micro-vibration effect through the forward and reverse rotation of the first servo motor, breaking the tendency of pods to gather on the first conveyor belt. The rolling pause module is implemented by the first servo motor, driving the first conveyor belt to move or stop. The soybean dehulling unit includes a dehulling chamber, a roller pressing and separating assembly, a fan, and a pod shell discharge channel, which is connected to the pod shell outlet. The top of the dehulling chamber has an inlet that connects to the pod imaging unit, and the bottom has a soybean outlet channel that connects to the soybean imaging unit. The inner wall of the dehulling chamber is covered with a buffer rubber layer to reduce collision damage to the soybeans during the dehulling process. The roller pressing and separating assembly includes two sets of opposing rollers arranged laterally in the middle of the dehulling chamber. These two sets of rollers include a primary compression roller and a secondary separation roller. The primary compression roller consists of a pair of rubber rollers with finely serrated surfaces, which initially crack the pod shells using shearing and friction forces. The secondary separation roller... The separating roller is located 10cm below the primary roller and has spiral grooves on its surface. It rotates in the opposite direction to further separate the adhering pod shells from the soybeans. An inclined guide plate is set between the primary extrusion roller and the secondary separating roller to guide the pods that have passed through the primary extrusion roller to fall smoothly. A lateral air inlet is opened in the middle of the side wall of the shelling chamber, and the fan is set at the air inlet. An upward-sloping arc-shaped guide plate is set on the opposite side of the air inlet, so that the airflow forms a spiral upward path in the shelling chamber. An air outlet is opened at the top of the shelling chamber. The inclined direction of the arc-shaped guide plate is pointing towards the air outlet. The light pod shells are carried by the airflow through the air outlet into the pod shell discharge channel and finally discharged from the pod shell discharge outlet.

2. The seed testing device for pods and seeds according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top of the protrusion is arc-shaped or streamlined.

3. The seed testing device for pods and seeds according to claim 1, characterized in that: The protrusion is integrally formed with or detachably connected to the first conveyor belt, and the connection between the protrusion and the first conveyor belt is flush.

Images