Scylla paramamosain large-size offspring seed male and female sorting equipment

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of male and female fry sorting, and discloses male and female sorting equipment for large-size scylla paramamosain fries. Comprising a juvenile crab throwing box, a support cross beam, a movable tail plate, a double-leaf door type switch, a support leg structure, an infrared counter, a juvenile crab box, an adjustable height limiting plate, a transparent crawler belt, an image acquisition system, a data processing and shifting piece control system, a data line, a movable shifting piece and a movable separating plate. After analysis of the image acquisition system and the data analysis system, when the individual sex cannot be distinguished due to the conditions that images are fuzzy or measurement parts are shielded, the movable separation plate is controlled by the controller and rapidly and obliquely moves upwards, so that the juvenile crabs slide into the juvenile crab box with the head close to the ground along the baffle after being collected on the movable separation plate, and the juvenile crabs are separated from the juvenile crabs. And then the collected juvenile crabs are distinguished again in a manner of throwing the juvenile crabs again or manually sorting the juvenile crabs.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of sex sorting of seedlings, and in particular relates to a device for sex sorting large-scale seedlings of mud crabs. Background Art

[0002] Many aquaculture species exhibit significant sex differences between male and female individuals in terms of growth rate, size, aggression, and time to gonadal maturation. These differences often lead to injuries or even deaths among individuals due to competition for space, food, and mates, ultimately reducing aquaculture yields and profitability. Monosex aquaculture is an emerging farming model that utilizes only seedlings of one sex of the species to achieve all-female or all-male farming. Monosex aquaculture promotes more consistent growth among individuals, eliminates the cumbersome grading procedures required due to size differences between males and females, and avoids injuries or deaths caused by fighting for mates and territory when males and females are mixed. Furthermore, the harvested products from monosex aquaculture are more uniform in size, making them easier to grade, process, and sell. Currently, monosex aquaculture has achieved excellent results in aquatic species such as Macrobrachium rosenbergii, tilapia, and rainbow trout.

[0003] The mud crab (Scylla paramamosain) is an important aquaculture species along my country's southeastern coast, with significant differences between male and female individuals. Female individuals are typically plump and delicious, making them highly sought after by consumers in southern regions such as Fujian, Guangdong, and Hainan. Consequently, local farmers are eager to obtain all-female mud crab seedlings. However, in regions such as Zhejiang and Jiangsu, where the high temperatures and short breeding seasons require crab harvest before temperatures cool, farmers prefer fast-growing, large, all-male mud crab seedlings. However, unlike other aquatic species such as Macrobrachium rosenbergii, tilapia, and rainbow trout, research on the biological mechanisms of sex determination and differentiation in mud crabs is scarce, making it impossible to obtain all-female or all-male mud crab seedlings through genetic breeding or gene editing. However, after the mud crab larvae develop to the seventh stage, their umbilicus traits begin to show obvious gender differences. Specifically, the umbilicus of male individuals still maintains a pointed and long shape, and the outer edge of the umbilicus appears concave from the tail of the umbilicus to the junction of the cephalothorax; while the outer edge of the umbilicus of female individuals, from the tail of the umbilicus to the junction of the cephalothorax, begins to become plump and convex after reaching the seventh stage. In addition, after the larvae develop to the seventh stage, there are also significant differences in the ratio of the height from the top of the tail of the umbilicus to the intersection of the second-to-last and third-to-last umbilicus and the width of the intersection of the second-to-last and third-to-last umbilicus between male and female individuals. In male individuals, the ratio is greater than 1, and the ratio increases with the development stage. In both males and females, the ratio is less than or equal to 1, and the ratio decreases with the age of the individual. Therefore, in production, mud crab larvae can be sexed based on the above traits. However, the method of obtaining monosex seedlings by manually comparing male and female differences is time-consuming and labor-intensive, and due to the high subjectivity of the operation, misjudgment of sex often occurs during sorting. In addition, since the sorted seedlings are large in size, their chelicerae are sharp and have a strong bite force, the chelicerae often break off automatically after pinching the operator during the sorting operation, which brings risks to the operator and reduces the quality of the seedlings.

[0004] Through the above analysis, the problems and defects of the existing technology are as follows:

[0005] (1) The method of manually sorting male and female seedlings to obtain single-sex seedlings is time-consuming and labor-intensive, and due to the high subjectivity of the operation, misjudgment of sex often occurs during sorting.

[0006] (2) Since the size of the sorted seedlings is large, their chelicerae are sharp and have a strong bite force. During the sorting operation, the chelicerae often break off automatically after pinching the operator, which brings risks to the operator and reduces the quality of the seedlings. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In view of the problems existing in the prior art, the present invention provides a device for sorting the sexes of large-sized mud crab seedlings.

[0008] The present invention is achieved by providing a device for separating males and females of large-sized mud crab seedlings, comprising:

[0009] Seedling box, support crossbeam, movable tail plate, double-leaf door switch, support leg structure, infrared counter, crab seedling box, adjustable height limit plate, transparent crawler, image acquisition system, data processing and paddle control system, data cable, movable paddle, movable separation plate;

[0010] The seedling box is located on the upper right side of the device and is the starting point for crab seedlings to be released. The bottom of the box corresponds to the starting end of the transparent crawler. After the crab seedlings are dropped from the seedling box, they will fall onto the transparent crawler.

[0011] The support beam is set horizontally and connected between the support leg structures, playing the role of lateral support and providing structural stability for the entire device. Some other components can be installed or fixed on the support beam;

[0012] The movable tail plate is arranged at one end of the seedling box or related structure, at the side of the device, and can be adjusted according to needs, and can be used to control the flow rate or direction of crab seedling release;

[0013] The double-door switch is installed at the exit of the seedling box or the relevant passage position. The switch action can control the process of releasing crab seedlings from the seedling box to the transparent crawler.

[0014] The bracket leg structure is located at the four corners of the bottom of the device, vertically supporting the entire device, making the device stand stably on the ground or other supporting surface, and providing a foundation for the installation of other components;

[0015] The infrared counter is installed near the crab seed box or beside the path where the crab seedlings pass. The specific location can be determined according to the flow direction of the crab seedlings. It is used to count the crab seedlings passing by, and its sensing direction is aimed at the crab seedling flow area;

[0016] The crab seed box is located on one side of the device, below or adjacent to the seedling box. It is a container for storing crab seedlings. The crab seedlings are guided from the crab seed box to the seedling box or other delivery paths.

[0017] Furthermore, the adjustable height limiting plate is arranged above the transparent track or at the crab seedling flow channel, and the height can be adjusted as needed to limit the stacking height of the crab seedlings on the track or channel to ensure the orderly flow of the crab seedlings.

[0018] Furthermore, the transparent crawler is horizontally laid in the middle of the device and supported by the bracket leg structure. It is the main path for crab seedling transmission. The crab seedlings move on the transparent crawler, which is convenient for the image acquisition system to observe and collect information.

[0019] Furthermore, the image acquisition system is installed at a suitable position above or to the side of the transparent crawler, and can clearly capture the image of the crab seedlings on the transparent crawler, and transmit the collected image information to the data processing and paddle control system through a data cable.

[0020] Furthermore, the data processing and paddle control system is usually placed at a suitable location outside the device, such as in an operating table or control cabinet, and is connected to the image acquisition system and the movable paddle component through a data cable. It is responsible for processing the collected data and controlling the action of the movable paddle execution component.

[0021] Furthermore, the data line is used to connect the image acquisition system, the data processing and paddle control system, and the movable paddle component to achieve the transmission of data and control signals.

[0022] Furthermore, the movable paddle is installed on the side of the transparent track or beside the crab seedling flow path, and its movement is controlled by the data processing and paddle control system, so that the crab seedlings can be moved and sorted as needed.

[0023] Furthermore, the movable separation plate is arranged in the crab seedling flow path, which may be located at the end of the transparent track or the relevant sorting area, and can be moved according to the control to separate the crab seedlings into different areas or channels.

[0024] In combination with the above technical solutions and the technical problems solved, the advantages and positive effects of the technical solutions to be protected by the present invention are as follows:

[0025] This invention designs a device for sorting male and female mud crab seedlings (7th stage and above) using a modular design. It primarily includes a conveyor system, a counting system, a support system, a seedling delivery device, an imaging system, and a data processing and control system. The support system utilizes corrosion-resistant galvanized pipes, which are assembled and secured with removable screws. The seedling delivery device is assembled from acrylic plastic panels, and the rear baffle of the device can be moved forward and backward according to the number of crab seedlings. The baffle near the conveyor belt is designed as a double-door structure with adjustable opening size and is equipped with a height-adjustable height limit baffle to ensure that crab seedlings can pass through the imaging or counting system individually, thereby improving the accuracy of data collection and counting of the imaging system. The conveying system adopts a transparent crawler device driven by a mobile battery or AC power. Its motor device is located at a distance from the seedling delivery device to prevent water splashing from the crab seedling device from damaging the motor equipment. The other end is embedded in the door structure of the seedling delivery equipment. The crab seedlings in the seedling delivery device are conveyed one by one through the imaging and counting systems by the conveyor belt and then enter the crab seedling box. The two image collectors of the imaging system are distributed on the upper and lower sides of the transparent crawler, respectively capturing the abdominal structure of the crab seedlings lying or lying down. The captured image signals are transmitted to the processor, which automatically identifies and measures the data related to the belly and navel of the crab seedlings, and then converts the data information into control commands to control the left and right rotation of the downstream movable paddles, thereby achieving the separation of male and female crab seedlings. The counting system at the tail of the crawler records the number of male and female individuals, and then the crab seedlings enter the crab seedling box. A numerically controlled movable separation plate is also installed at the tail of the conveyor belt. This plate is made of acrylic plastic and fixed to the conveyor belt bracket at one end and the image acquisition system bracket at the other. The tail end is tilted upward and the head end is tilted downward, forming a 60-degree angle with the ground. If the image acquisition system and data analysis system encounter blurred images or obscured measurement areas, making it impossible to distinguish the sex of individual crabs, the movable separation plate is controlled by a controller to rapidly tilt upward, allowing the crab seedlings to be collected on the movable separation plate. The crab seedlings then slide along the baffle into the crab seedling box located at the head end close to the ground. The collected crab seedlings are then sorted again through re-seeding or manual sorting. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of the equipment for separating males and females of large-sized mud crab seedlings provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 2 This is a diagram of the abdominal morphology of male and female individuals provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 3 This is a flow chart of the method for sex sorting large-sized mud crab seedlings provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 1In: 1. Seedling box; 2. Support crossbeam; 3. Movable tail plate; 4. Double-leaf door switch; 5. Support leg structure; 6. Infrared counter; 7. Crab seedling box; 8. Adjustable height limit plate; 9. Transparent track; 10. Image acquisition system; 11. Data processing and paddle control system; 12. Data cable; 13. Movable paddle; 14. Movable separation plate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0031] like Figure 1 As shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides a device for sorting male and female large-sized mud crab seedlings, comprising:

[0032] Seedling box 1, support crossbeam 2, movable tail plate 3, double-leaf door switch 4, support leg structure 5, infrared counter 6, crab seedling box 7, adjustable height limit plate 8, transparent crawler 9, image acquisition system 10, data processing and paddle control system 11, data cable 12, movable paddle 13, movable separation plate 14;

[0033] The seedling throwing box 1 is located at the upper right side of the device as a whole, and is the starting point for the crab seedlings to be thrown; its lower part corresponds to the starting end of the transparent crawler 9, and after the crab seedlings are thrown from the seedling throwing box 1, they will fall onto the transparent crawler 9;

[0034] The support beam 2 is arranged horizontally and connected between the support leg structures 5, playing the role of lateral support and providing structural stability for the entire device. Some other components can be installed or fixed on the support beam 2;

[0035] The movable tail plate 3 is arranged at one end of the seedling box 1 or related structure, at the side of the device, and can be adjusted according to needs, and can be used to control the flow or direction of crab seedling release;

[0036] The double-door switch 4 is installed at the exit of the seedling box 1 or the relevant channel position, and the release process of the crab seedlings from the seedling box 1 to the transparent crawler 9 can be controlled by the switch action;

[0037] The bracket leg structures 5 are located at the four corners of the bottom of the device, vertically supporting the entire device so that the device can stand stably on the ground or other supporting surfaces, while providing a mounting base for other components;

[0038] Infrared counter 6 is installed near the crab seedling box 7 or beside the path that crab seedling passes. The specific position can be determined according to the crab seedling flow direction, for counting the crab seedlings passed through, and its sensing direction is aligned with the crab seedling flow area;

[0039] The crab seedling box 7 is located on one side of the device, below or adjacent to the seedling box 1, and is a container for storing crab seedlings. The crab seedlings are guided from the crab seedling box 7 to the seedling box 1 or other delivery paths.

[0040] The adjustable height limiting plate 8 provided in the embodiment of the present invention is arranged above the transparent track 9 or at the crab seedling flow channel. The height can be adjusted as needed to limit the stacking height of the crab seedlings on the track or channel to ensure the orderly flow of the crab seedlings.

[0041] The transparent crawler 9 provided in the embodiment of the present invention is laid horizontally in the middle of the device and is supported by the bracket leg structure 5, etc. It is the main path for crab seedling transmission. The crab seedlings move on the transparent crawler 9, which is convenient for the image acquisition system 10 to observe and collect information.

[0042] The image acquisition system 10 provided in an embodiment of the present invention is installed at a suitable position above or to the side of the transparent crawler 9, and can clearly capture the image of the crab seedlings on the transparent crawler 9, and transmit the collected image information to the data processing and paddle control system 11 through the data line 12.

[0043] The data processing and paddle control system 11 provided in the embodiment of the present invention is usually placed in a suitable location outside the device, such as an operating table or a control cabinet, and is connected to the image acquisition system 10, the movable paddle 13 and other components through a data cable 12. It is responsible for processing the collected data and controlling the actions of the movable paddle 13 and other execution components.

[0044] The data line 12 provided in the embodiment of the present invention is used to connect components such as the image acquisition system 10, the data processing and paddle control system 11, and the movable paddle 13 to achieve transmission of data and control signals.

[0045] The movable paddle 13 provided in the embodiment of the present invention is installed on the side of the transparent track 9 or next to the crab seedling flow path, and its action is controlled by the data processing and paddle control system 11, and the crab seedlings can be moved, sorted, and other operations as needed.

[0046] The movable separation plate 14 provided in the embodiment of the present invention is arranged in the crab seedling flow path, and may be located at the end of the transparent track 9 or the relevant sorting area. It can be moved according to the control to separate the crab seedlings into different areas or channels.

[0047] The industrial application technical problem solved by the embodiment of the present invention is that the traditional manual sorting of large-sized mud crab seedlings has limitations such as low efficiency, poor accuracy and high labor intensity, which makes it difficult to meet the rapid grading needs of large-scale nurseries. The existing methods mainly rely on manual visual inspection or simple screening devices, and cannot achieve gender recognition and automatic separation under high-throughput seedling flow conditions, thereby causing an imbalance in the gender ratio in the breeding process and reducing economic benefits. Therefore, the proposal of this equipment aims to achieve a continuous and controllable male and female sorting process through the combination of the seedling box 1, the transparent crawler 9, the image acquisition system 10 and the data processing and paddle control system 11.

[0048] The seedling box 1 works in conjunction with the double-door switch 4 to ensure that the crab seedlings can fall evenly and controllably into the starting end of the transparent crawler 9, avoiding identification difficulties caused by accumulation or uneven flow rate. The movable tail plate 3 can adjust the direction and flow of seedlings when necessary, and the adjustable height limit plate 8 further ensures single-layer passage, reduces the interference of individual superposition and occlusion, and provides a standardized target posture for subsequent image acquisition. The transparent crawler 9 is supported by the support crossbeam 2 and the support leg structure 5 and maintains continuous and stable operation, allowing the crab seedlings to move along a fixed path at a controllable speed, providing time and space certainty for the image acquisition system 10 and the sorting mechanism.

[0049] The image acquisition system 10 acquires clear images of crab seedlings on the crawler 9 through a multi-angle high-speed imaging unit, and performs auxiliary correction in combination with optical fill light and infrared counter 6 to achieve the capture and recognition of individual appearance features. The crab seedling box 7 serves as a transit storage container, providing a continuous supply of seedlings for the seedling box 1 to ensure the stability of the system operation. The collected images are transmitted to the data processing and paddle control system 11 through the data line 12, in which the gender recognition algorithm is used to extract the key features of the crab seedlings (such as the width-to-width ratio of the abdominal limbs and the contour features of the shell). Figure 2 , thereby achieving rapid male-female discrimination.

[0050] Figure 2 The midline segment AD is the height from the top of the caudal end of the umbilicus to the intersection of the second to last umbilicus and the third to last umbilicus of male and female individuals; Figure 2 The midline segment BC is the width of the intersection of the second to last umbilicus and the third to last umbilicus.

[0051] During sorting, a movable paddle 13, driven by a data processing and paddle control system 11 and mounted on the side of the transparent track 9, pushes the individual in the appropriate direction upon triggering a discrimination result. A movable separation plate 14 further coordinates the paddle's action, directing crab larvae of different sexes into separate channels. The entire paddle movement and separation process occurs within milliseconds, synchronized with the track speed, ensuring no missed or misclassified crabs in a continuous flow environment.

[0052] Furthermore, the support crossbeam 2 and support leg structure 5 ensure the stability of the entire device, preventing vibration from affecting image acquisition accuracy during continuous operation. Each component adopts a modular design. For example, the seedling box 1 and double-door switch 4 form the seedling module, the image acquisition system 10 and data processing and paddle control system 11 form the recognition and discrimination module, and the movable paddle 13 and movable separation plate 14 form the sorting module, facilitating maintenance and upgrades. This modular combination design allows the device to flexibly adapt to different crab seedling raising scenarios.

[0053] The embodiment of the present invention realizes the automation of the entire process from crab seedling delivery, flow rate control, image acquisition, intelligent recognition to sorting execution through the coordinated cooperation of devices 1 to 14, solving the key problem that the existing technology cannot achieve efficient and large-scale male and female sorting. The core working principle is that the seedling delivery box 1 and the double-leaf door switch 4 ensure uniform delivery, the transparent track 9 and the height limit plate 8 provide a standardized motion state, the image acquisition system 10 and the infrared counter 6 achieve accurate acquisition and correction, the data processing and paddle control system 11 completes real-time intelligent judgment, and finally achieves precise diversion through the paddle 13 and the separation plate 14, thereby providing an efficient, reliable and industrializable sex sorting equipment for the blue crab farming industry.

[0054] like Figure 3 As shown, the embodiment of the present invention provides a method for separating males and females of large-sized mud crab seedlings, comprising the following steps:

[0055] S1, placing crab seedlings into the seedling box and releasing them onto the transparent crawler through the double-door switch;

[0056] S2, using an infrared counter to count the crab seedlings passing through;

[0057] S3, the image acquisition system obtains the image of the crab seedlings on the transparent crawler and transmits it to the data processing and paddle control system;

[0058] S4, data processing and pick control system analyzes the image, extracts the sex characteristics of crab seedlings and generates sorting instructions;

[0059] S5, the movable paddle and the movable separation plate operate according to the sorting instruction to guide crab seedlings of different sexes to different channels.

[0060] The sex characteristics of crab fry extracted in step S4 provided in the embodiment of the present invention include abdominal limb width and carapace morphology.

[0061] An embodiment of the present invention provides a crab seedling sex identification system based on image recognition, comprising:

[0062] Image acquisition system, data processing and paddle control system, data cable;

[0063] Among them, the image acquisition system is used to obtain the image of crab seedlings on the transparent crawler, the data processing and paddle control system identifies the image of crab seedlings, determines the male and female attributes, and generates sorting control instructions, which are transmitted to the execution component via the data line.

[0064] The data processing and paddle control system provided by the embodiment of the present invention performs gender recognition based on an algorithm that combines convolutional feature extraction with morphological analysis.

[0065] An embodiment of the present invention provides an automated crab seed sorting device, comprising:

[0066] Conveying unit, identification unit and sorting unit;

[0067] The conveying unit includes a transparent crawler and a support leg structure, which is used to carry and transport crab seedlings;

[0068] The identification unit includes an image acquisition system and an infrared counter, which are used to collect and detect the number of crab seedlings;

[0069] The sorting unit includes a movable paddle and a movable separation plate, which are used to perform gender sorting operations.

[0070] The sorting unit provided in the embodiment of the present invention is electrically connected to the data processing and paddle control system to achieve real-time drive and control.

[0071] An embodiment of the present invention provides a data processing method for crab seed sorting, comprising:

[0072] Receiving image data transmitted by the image acquisition system;

[0073] Feature recognition through data processing and paddle control system;

[0074] Generate driving signals and control the actions of the movable paddle and the movable separation plate to achieve sorting.

[0075] The generation of the driving signal provided by the embodiment of the present invention is based on the image features and the quantity correction result provided by the infrared counter.

[0076] The present invention provides a method and device for sexing large-scale mud crab seedlings. Its working principle is primarily embodied in the coupled control of image recognition and mechanical sorting. First, after the crab seedlings enter the device, the transparent tracks of the conveyor unit are responsible for carrying and transporting the individual crabs. The transparent material ensures that the crab seedlings' body surface, abdomen, and carapace outlines can be clearly imaged. Simultaneously, an infrared counter accurately counts each crab seedling passing through the tracks, avoiding errors caused by image overlap, occlusion, or missed individual detections, thus providing a quantitative benchmark for subsequent sorting.

[0077] Secondly, the image acquisition system captures real-time images of the crab fry during transport and transmits them via a data cable to the data processing and paddle control system. At the software level, the system utilizes convolutional neural networks to extract edge texture, morphological parameters, and key features from the crab fry images. The width of the ventral limbs and the overall shape of the carapace are key indicators for determining male and female sex. To enhance robustness, the algorithm combines morphological analysis with feature template matching to ensure high recognition accuracy despite changes in crab fry posture and uneven lighting.

[0078] Once the recognition results are generated, the data processing system instantly generates the corresponding sorting control instructions, converting them into electrical signals and transmitting them to the sorting execution unit. When generating these instructions, the system not only considers the male-female classification results from image recognition but also cross-calibrates the number data provided by the infrared counter to prevent sorting errors caused by individual shadows or recognition delays, thereby ensuring consistency in number and classification.

[0079] Next, upon receiving control commands, the movable paddles and separation plates within the sorting unit operate according to a pre-set sequence. The paddles gently guide the target crab fry into the corresponding separation channel with a quick push, while the separation plates form dynamic partitions within the channel, accurately directing crab fry of different sexes to either the female or male collection areas. This mechanical execution process is synchronized in real time with the image recognition system, ensuring acceptable latency from detection to action, thereby achieving efficient sorting.

[0080] The entire system forms a closed-loop operating principle: image acquisition – intelligent recognition – signal generation – mechanical execution. This closed loop enables accurate sex identification and sorting during continuous, high-speed crab seedling transport. This significantly improves the automation level and seedling utilization rate of crab seedling breeding, providing a rapid screening method for high-quality seedlings in the aquaculture industry.

[0081] The specific situation of the misuse of the equipment of the device of the present invention is as follows: the galvanized pipe used for the bracket is 20mm thick, the crossbeam and leg structure are cut according to the actual size, and screw holes are opened at appropriate positions; the detachable screws are made of 316L stainless steel, with two specifications of 6mm thick and 50mm long and 6mm thick and 30mm long, which are used to connect the brackets and the brackets to the seedling box; the seedling box is assembled with an acrylic plate with a thickness of 5mm, of which the bottom is 1m wide and 1.5 meters long, with two sides. The side baffles are 1.5m long and 0.3m wide, while the tail baffle is 0.98m long and 0.3m wide. The movable double-door structure consists of two acrylic panels, 0.5m long and 0.3m wide. The height limit plate is a 0.1m wide and 1m long rubber sheet. The conveyor belt is a 0.4m wide and 4m long transparent crawler structure with a 12V, 5W plug-in and storage-capable motor with adjustable speed. Image collectors are located on both the upper and lower sides of the crawler, using a 4K high-definition real-time camera system. , fixed on the bracket by a galvanized pipe, and the collection field of view covers the entire crawler; the data processor is a laptop or desktop computer, connected to the image acquisition system through a data cable, and the processed data is converted into a control command and transmitted to the paddle motor at the tail of the crawler through the data cable to adjust the direction of the paddle; the motor system, image acquisition system and numerical control system components and connectors involved in the device must meet the IP67 level of waterproof and salt spray resistance; the paddle is an acrylic plate structure, and the base is fixed on a motor with controllable dial direction. After receiving the signal information, the motor controls the paddle to move left and right; the counting device is two infrared counters, distributed at the left and right ends of the crawler tail, which respectively count the number of crab seedlings entering different crab seedling boxes; the numerically controlled movable separation plate at the tail of the conveyor belt is an acrylic plate structure, one end of its tail is fixed on the conveyor belt bracket, and the head end is fixed on the image acquisition system bracket, where the tail is tilted upward and the head is tilted downward, so that it is at a 60-degree angle to the ground. When the image acquisition system and data analysis system encounter blurred images or obstructed measurement areas and are unable to distinguish between male and female individuals after analysis, the movable separation plate is controlled by the controller and rapidly tilted upward, so that the crab seedlings are collected on the movable separation plate and then slide along the baffle into the crab seedling box located at the head close to the ground. The collected crab seedlings are then distinguished again by re-planting or manual sorting.

[0082] Directions:

[0083] 1. Device pretreatment and assembly

[0084] Before use, soak or spray the inner wall of the container, the seedling box, the conveyor belt and other parts that can come into direct contact with the crab seedlings with potassium permanganate solution to remove harmful substances from these parts to prevent the residual substances from the last use from carrying pathogens and breeding. Let it stand for 30 minutes and then rinse thoroughly with clean water.

[0085] After disinfection, assemble the device according to the following steps: a. Install and fix the galvanized pipe with screw holes with detachable screws, and build the support system for the fry box. b. Place the bottom plate of the fry box on the support system and fix it on the support pipe of the support system with screws. Then assemble and fix the two side baffles, movable tail plate and double-leaf baffle. c. Fix the bracket of the conveying system with detachable screws, and fix the motor, conveyor belt, image acquisition system and infrared counting system on the bracket with screws. D. Connect the conveying system with the fry system, adjust the height and conveying speed, and then fix the whole crab fry sorting device for standby.

[0086] 2. Crab fry counting device operation

[0087] After assembly and confirmation, move the movable tail plate at the tail of the fry box to the tail to maximize the space of the fry box. Then put the 7-stage or larger size crab fry harvested or purchased into the fry box, and pick out the grass, branches, mesh and other debris used to prevent crab fry fighting. Adjust the door control baffle and height limiting baffle near the conveyor belt according to the size of the crab fry. After adjusting each part and placing the fry box, turn on the image acquisition system, data analysis and switch control system, counting system and conveyor motor switch in sequence to start sorting and counting the crab fry. According to the number of crab fry, gradually move the tail baffle forward until all the crab fry are pushed onto the conveyor belt and taken away. If the crab fry box needs to be replaced after a certain number of times, pause the conveyor motor and reset the counting system to zero. After replacing the crab fry box, turn on the system switches again.

[0088] 3. Equipment shutdown

[0089] When the crab fry in the fry box are all transported into the crab fry box, turn off the conveyor, imaging system, data processing and switch controller, and counter switches in sequence to complete the crab fry sorting and packaging process.

[0090] 4. Maintenance and precautions

[0091] Because the equipment often comes into contact with seawater during operation, the screws and other metal parts that fix the system are easily corroded by seawater. Therefore, during use, try to avoid splashing seawater on the conveyor motor, switches, sockets, counting equipment and other parts. If these parts come into contact with seawater, wipe them clean in time after the crab fry sorting is completed, and then rinse them with fresh water and dry them. The screws in the fry box should be replaced regularly to prevent the fry box from being unstable due to screw corrosion during operation, which affects the normal operation of the counting equipment.

[0092] This equipment, suitable for sexing large-scale mud crab seedlings (stage 7 and above), features a modular design and primarily includes a conveyor system, counting system, support assembly, seedling delivery mechanism, imaging system, and data processing and control system. The support assembly utilizes corrosion-resistant galvanized pipes, which are assembled and secured with removable screws. The seedling delivery mechanism is assembled from acrylic plastic panels, and the rear baffle can be moved forward and backward depending on the number of seedlings. The baffle near the conveyor belt is designed as a double-door structure with adjustable opening size and is equipped with a height-adjustable height limit baffle to ensure that crab seedlings can pass through the imaging or counting system individually, thereby improving the accuracy of data collection and counting of the imaging system. The conveying system adopts a transparent crawler device driven by a mobile battery or AC power. Its motor device is located at a distance from the seedling delivery device to prevent water splashing from the crab seedling device from damaging the motor equipment. The other end is embedded in the door structure of the seedling delivery equipment. The crab seedlings in the seedling delivery device are conveyed one by one through the imaging and counting systems by the conveyor belt and then enter the crab seedling box. The two image collectors of the imaging system are distributed on the upper and lower sides of the transparent crawler, respectively capturing the abdominal structure of the crab seedlings lying or lying down. The captured image signals are transmitted to the processor, which automatically identifies and measures the data related to the belly and navel of the crab seedlings, and then converts the data information into control commands to control the left and right rotation of the downstream movable paddles, thereby achieving the separation of male and female crab seedlings. The counting system at the tail of the crawler records the number of male and female individuals, and then the crab seedlings enter the crab seedling box. A numerically controlled movable separation plate is also installed at the tail of the conveyor belt. This plate is made of acrylic plastic and fixed to the conveyor belt bracket at one end and the image acquisition system bracket at the other. The tail end is tilted upward and the head end is tilted downward, forming a 60-degree angle with the ground. If the image acquisition system and data analysis system encounter blurred images or obscured measurement areas, making it impossible to distinguish the sex of individual crabs, the movable separation plate is controlled by a controller to rapidly tilt upward, allowing the crab seedlings to be collected on the movable separation plate. The crab seedlings then slide along the baffle into the crab seedling box located at the head end close to the ground. The collected crab seedlings are then sorted again through re-seeding or manual sorting.

[0093] The above description is only a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made by any technician familiar with this technical field within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention and within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be covered by the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for sorting male and female large-sized mud crab seedlings, characterized in that: include: Seedling box, support crossbeam, movable tail plate, double-leaf door switch, support leg structure, infrared counter, crab seedling box, adjustable height limit plate, transparent crawler, image acquisition system, data processing and paddle control system, data cable, movable paddle, movable separation plate; Among them, the seedling box is used to evenly release the crab seedlings onto the transparent tracks, the image acquisition system is used to obtain the crab seedling images and transmit them to the data processing and paddle control system, and the data processing and paddle control system is used to identify the gender of the crab seedlings and drive the movable paddles and movable separation plates for sorting.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The adjustable height limiting plate is arranged above the transparent crawler and can adjust the height to control the crab seedlings to pass through in a single layer.

3. A method for separating males and females of large-sized mud crab seedlings, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: S1, placing crab seedlings into the seedling box and releasing them onto the transparent crawler through the double-door switch; S2, using an infrared counter to count the crab seedlings passing through; S3, the image acquisition system obtains the image of the crab seedlings on the transparent crawler and transmits it to the data processing and paddle control system; S4, data processing and pick control system analyzes the image, extracts the sex characteristics of crab seedlings and generates sorting instructions; S5, the movable paddle and the movable separation plate operate according to the sorting instruction to guide crab seedlings of different sexes to different channels.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The sex characteristics of the crab fry extracted in step S4 include abdominal limb width and carapace morphology.

5. A crab seedling sex identification system based on image recognition, characterized in that: include: Image acquisition system, data processing and paddle control system, data cable; Among them, the image acquisition system is used to obtain the image of crab seedlings on the transparent crawler, the data processing and paddle control system identifies the image of crab seedlings, determines the male and female attributes, and generates sorting control instructions, which are transmitted to the execution component via the data line.

6. The system according to claim 5, characterized in that The data processing and paddle control system performs gender recognition based on an algorithm that combines convolutional feature extraction with morphological analysis.

7. An automated crab seed sorting device, characterized in that: include: Conveying unit, identification unit and sorting unit; The conveying unit includes a transparent crawler and a support leg structure, which is used to carry and transport crab seedlings; The identification unit includes an image acquisition system and an infrared counter for collecting and detecting the number of crab seedlings; The sorting unit includes a movable paddle and a movable separation plate, which are used to perform gender sorting operations.

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that The sorting unit is electrically connected to the data processing and paddle control system to achieve real-time drive and control.

9. A data processing method for crab seed sorting, characterized in that: include: Receiving image data transmitted by the image acquisition system; Feature recognition through data processing and paddle control system; Generate driving signals and control the actions of the movable paddle and the movable separation plate to achieve sorting.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The driving signal is generated based on the image features and the quantity correction result provided by the infrared counter.

Images