Intelligent sorting equipment for appearance quality of tobacco lamina based on AI (Artificial Intelligence)

Abstract

The invention discloses an AI-based intelligent sorting device for the appearance quality of tobacco lamina, belongs to the technical field of tobacco leaf production, and aims to solve the problems that manual detection is low in efficiency and poor in accuracy, and existing equipment is single in function, needs manual transfer and classification and the like. The device comprises a conveying support, a recognition mechanism, a feeding mechanism, a transfer mechanism and a sorting mechanism; automatic feeding is conducted through the feeding mechanism, the transferring mechanism transfers the tobacco strips to the conveying net belt, the recognition mechanism recognizes the appearances of the tobacco strips through a camera and a processor, the sorting mechanism conducts automatic sorting according to the recognition result, the equipment optimizes the shooting environment through a soft light plate, the tobacco strips are kept flat through a suction cover, and the recognition accuracy is improved. The labor cost is reduced, and the efficiency, accuracy and product quality stability of tobacco strip appearance quality detection and sorting are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of tobacco production technology, and in particular to an AI-based intelligent sorting device for the appearance quality of tobacco leaves. Background Technology

[0002] In the tobacco processing industry, the appearance quality of tobacco leaves has a crucial impact on the final quality of cigarette products. The appearance characteristics of tobacco leaves, such as color, shape, integrity, and surface defects, directly affect key indicators such as the taste, aroma, and combustion performance of cigarettes. Therefore, accurate and efficient detection and sorting of the appearance quality of tobacco leaves is an indispensable and important step in the tobacco production process.

[0003] Traditional methods for inspecting the appearance quality of tobacco sheets primarily rely on manual visual inspection. Workers need to examine each sheet on the production line, judging its quality grade based on experience and classifying sheets of different quality. However, this method has several significant drawbacks. Firstly, manual inspection is inefficient and cannot meet the demands of large-scale tobacco production. With the continuous development of the tobacco industry and the increasing scale of production, the speed of manual inspection cannot keep up with the pace of the production line, severely limiting production efficiency. Secondly, the accuracy of manual inspection is greatly affected by subjective factors. Differences in experience, eyesight, and fatigue levels among different workers can lead to inconsistent standards for judging the quality of tobacco sheets, easily resulting in misjudgments and omissions, thus affecting the stability of product quality.

[0004] To overcome the limitations of manual inspection and improve the efficiency and accuracy of tobacco appearance quality inspection, the industry has gradually begun to explore automated inspection technologies. In recent years, with the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, AI-based image recognition technology has been widely applied in the industrial inspection field. AI image recognition technology can train models to enable computers to automatically learn and recognize the features of objects, thereby achieving accurate classification and detection of target objects. Applying AI image recognition technology to tobacco appearance quality inspection is expected to achieve efficient, accurate, and objective automated inspection, bringing new changes to tobacco production.

[0005] However, while some image recognition-based tobacco processing equipment exists on the market, most of these devices are single-function, focusing only on the detection stage and lacking comprehensive automated sorting capabilities. In actual production, tobacco detection and sorting is a continuous process. After detecting tobacco of different qualities, it is necessary to quickly and accurately classify and store them or proceed to the next step. Existing equipment often cannot achieve integrated detection and sorting operations, requiring manual intervention in the transfer and classification of tobacco. This not only increases production costs and labor costs but may also introduce new errors due to manual operation, affecting the efficiency of the entire production process and product quality.

[0006] In addition, existing tobacco flake detection equipment has some shortcomings in terms of tobacco flake loading, conveying, and shooting environment control. For example, the loading process may not be stable enough, leading to problems such as overlapping and tilting of tobacco flakes during conveying, which affects the shooting effect and detection accuracy; the tobacco flakes may shake or bend during conveying, which is also not conducive to accurate shooting; the lighting conditions of the shooting environment are unstable, which can easily lead to problems such as reflection and overexposure, further reducing the accuracy of image recognition.

[0007] To address the aforementioned issues, this invention proposes an AI-based intelligent sorting device for the appearance quality of tobacco sheets. Summary of the Invention

[0008] This invention provides an AI-based intelligent sorting device for the appearance quality of tobacco flakes, which solves the problems of low detection efficiency, poor accuracy, limited functionality, and the need for manual transfer and sorting when using existing manual methods to inspect tobacco flakes.

[0009] This invention provides the following technical solution: An AI-based intelligent sorting device for tobacco flakes based on appearance quality includes a conveyor support. A drive roller and a driven roller are rotatably connected within the conveyor support. A shared conveyor belt is mounted on both the drive roller and the driven roller for conveying the sorted tobacco flakes. A drive motor is fixedly mounted on one side of the conveyor support, and the output shaft of the drive motor extends into the conveyor support and is fixedly connected to one end of the drive roller. The conveyor support is equipped with an identification mechanism for recognizing the tobacco flakes, detecting their quality from an appearance perspective. The sorting device also includes: A feeding mechanism is installed on the conveyor support. The feeding mechanism is used to feed the tobacco leaves that need to be identified and detected. The transfer mechanism is installed on the conveyor support. The other end of the drive roller extends to the outside of the conveyor support and is connected to the transfer mechanism to drive the transfer mechanism to operate, thereby transferring single pieces of tobacco to the conveyor belt. A sorting mechanism located on one side of the conveyor support is used to classify tobacco leaves of different qualities.

[0010] In one possible design, the identification mechanism includes a detection box fixedly mounted on a conveying bracket. A control display screen is mounted on one side of the detection box. Two lamps are symmetrically fixedly mounted on the top inner wall of the detection box to provide illumination when photographing and identifying the tobacco leaf. A diffuser is fixedly mounted inside the detection box to cover the two lamps. Two cameras located below the diffuser are also symmetrically fixedly mounted inside the detection box. Both cameras are electrically connected to the control display screen via a processor.

[0011] In one possible design, the feeding mechanism includes a feeding box fixedly installed on a conveying bracket. An inclined baffle plate is fixedly installed inside the feeding box to limit and block the tobacco flakes. A first electric push rod is fixedly installed on one side of the feeding box. The output shaft of the first electric push rod extends into the baffle plate and is fixedly installed with an inclined push plate. The inclined push plate contacts the inner wall of the feeding box, and the side of the inclined push plate closest to the baffle plate is set as an incline.

[0012] In one possible design, the transfer mechanism includes a vacuum pump fixedly mounted on one side of the conveying support. A bent pipe is fixedly mounted on the suction end of the vacuum pump. A sealing plate is fixedly fitted on one end of the bent pipe. An arc-shaped baffle is fixedly mounted on one side of the sealing plate. The mechanism also includes a rotating cover. The arc-shaped baffle is located inside the rotating cover and fits tightly against the inner wall of the rotating cover. The sealing plate is tightly rotatably connected to the opening of the rotating cover. Multiple suction nets are fixedly mounted through the inner wall of the rotating cover at equal intervals. A transmission assembly is mounted on the other side of the conveying support. The transmission assembly is connected to the center position of one side of the drive roller and the rotating cover, respectively.

[0013] In one possible design, the transmission assembly includes a gear component mounted on the other side of the conveying bracket, a first support shaft rotatably connected to the feeding box, one end of the first support shaft being fixedly connected to the center of one side of the connecting groove, the gear component being connected to the first support shaft, and synchronous pulleys being fixedly sleeved on both the gear component and the drive roller, with the same synchronous belt being driven on the two synchronous pulleys. A protective cover is also fixedly installed on the other side of the conveying bracket to protect the gear component, the two synchronous pulleys, and the synchronous belt to prevent transmission failure.

[0014] In one possible design, the gear component includes a drive shaft rotatably connected to the other side of the conveying bracket, the drive shaft passing through a corresponding synchronous pulley and being fixedly connected to the synchronous pulley, a drive gear being fixedly sleeved on the drive shaft, and a driven gear being fixedly sleeved on the first support shaft, the drive gear meshing with the driven gear.

[0015] In one possible design, an attraction hood located inside the conveyor belt is fixedly installed inside the conveyor support. Multiple equally spaced attraction holes are opened in a matrix on the top inner wall of the attraction hood. Two suction tubes are symmetrically fixedly installed on one side inner wall of the attraction hood. One end of each suction tube extends to the outside of the conveyor support and is fixedly connected to the same connecting pipe. One end of the connecting pipe extends into the bend and is fixedly connected to one side inner wall of the bend.

[0016] In one possible design, the sorting mechanism includes a mounting frame disposed on one side of a conveying support. A discharge plate is disposed on the conveying support, and one side of the discharge plate is fixedly connected to the top of one side of the mounting frame. A turntable is rotatably mounted on the top of the mounting frame. A connecting groove is opened on the top of the turntable, and a clamping assembly is disposed on the top of the turntable to clamp the tobacco flakes conveyed to the turntable. The bottom of the clamping assembly extends into the connecting groove and is connected to the inner wall of the connecting groove. Multiple discharge plates are fixedly mounted on the mounting frame for conveying tobacco flakes of different qualities. A stepper motor is fixedly mounted on the bottom inner wall of the mounting frame. The output shaft of the stepper motor is fixedly connected to the bottom center of the turntable. The stepper motor is electrically connected to a control display screen through a processor.

[0017] In one possible design, the clamping assembly includes a limiting frame fixedly mounted on the top of the turntable, a second support shaft fixedly mounted in the connecting groove, a first clamping plate rotatably connected to the second support shaft, the top of the first clamping plate being flush with the top of the turntable, first connecting frames rotatably connected to both sides of the first clamping plate, the tops of the two first connecting frames extending above the turntable and rotatably connected to the same second clamping plate, the second clamping plate and the first clamping plate cooperating to clamp the tobacco leaf, a second electric push rod fixedly mounted on the top inner wall of the limiting frame, a second connecting frame fixedly mounted on the output shaft of the second electric push rod, the second connecting frame slidably connected to the limiting frame, two sliding plates symmetrically slidably connected inside the limiting frame, and the second clamping plate rotatably connected to the two sliding plates respectively.

[0018] In one possible design, two torsion springs are symmetrically sleeved on the second support shaft, with the two ends of the torsion springs fixedly connected to one side of the first clamping plate and the inner wall of one side of the connecting groove, respectively.

[0019] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are merely exemplary and do not limit the invention.

[0020] Beneficial effects: In this invention, through the set identification mechanism, after the tobacco leaves pass under the detection box using the conveyor belt, two cameras can be used to capture images of the tobacco leaves. The captured images can be sent to the processor, which can identify the captured images and then transmit them to the control display screen to identify the quality of the tobacco leaves based on the captured appearance. In terms of the shooting environment, by setting two lamp tubes, necessary lighting can be provided after power is turned on. At the same time, the diffuser can soften the light emitted by the lamp tubes to avoid the problem of reflection when the tobacco leaves are illuminated, thereby preventing problems such as overexposure during the shooting process. In this invention, the feeding mechanism allows the tobacco flakes to be photographed and inspected to be placed in the feeding box. With the support of the inclined portion of the inclined push plate, the tobacco flakes can be kept at an angle, making it easier for the transfer mechanism to suck the tobacco flakes onto the conveyor belt. This achieves automatic feeding of the tobacco flakes. Furthermore, after the first electric push rod is started, it can push the inclined push plate closer to the baffle plate. During the feeding process, the position of the inclined push plate can be adjusted according to the amount of tobacco flakes in the feeding box, so that the tobacco flakes are in a position that can be attracted to the transfer mechanism. In this invention, the transfer mechanism generates suction by activating a vacuum pump, and the bent pipe is connected to both the vacuum pump and the rotating hood. Therefore, after activating the vacuum pump, the rotating hood maintains an attractive force, allowing the suction net to attract the tobacco flakes. Through the transmission component, the rotating hood is driven to rotate when the drive roller rotates, allowing the suction net to transfer the tobacco flakes after adsorbing them, moving them onto the conveyor belt. An arc-shaped baffle is installed inside the rotating hood, which, when the suction net is moved to a position corresponding to the arc-shaped baffle, disconnects the suction net from the rotating hood, thus eliminating the attractive force. At this point, the tobacco flakes fall onto the conveyor belt, which then transports them, allowing the tobacco flakes to be identified and detected by two cameras. In this invention, the sorting mechanism initially positions the clamping component and the discharge plate. After being photographed and identified, the tobacco flakes are output from the discharge plate and fall onto the clamping component. Then, the clamping component is activated to clamp and position the tobacco flakes, and simultaneously, a stepper motor is started to drive the turntable to rotate. After being photographed and identified, the processor can classify the tobacco flakes into different grades according to a pre-set program. After identifying the tobacco flakes, the grade information is transmitted to the stepper motor, which controls the rotation angle of the turntable, thereby moving the tobacco flakes to the corresponding discharge plate. Then, the clamping component is driven in reverse to release the clamping and positioning of the tobacco flakes, allowing them to fall onto the corresponding discharge plate. This enables automatic sorting of tobacco flakes based on their quality.

[0021] This invention overcomes the shortcomings of low efficiency and poor accuracy of manual inspection and the single function of existing equipment, which requires manual transfer and classification, by using automated feeding, stable conveying, precise shooting and detection, and integrated sorting. It avoids human operation errors, reduces labor costs, and improves the efficiency, accuracy and product quality stability of tobacco appearance quality inspection and sorting. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a first-view three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the AI-based intelligent sorting device for tobacco appearance quality provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a second-view three-dimensional structural diagram of the AI-based intelligent sorting device for tobacco appearance quality provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the drive roller and support shaft transmission structure of the AI-based intelligent sorting equipment for tobacco appearance quality provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the internal structure of the conveying support and the feeding box of the AI-based intelligent sorting equipment for the appearance quality of tobacco leaves provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional cross-sectional schematic diagram of the conveyor support structure of the AI-based intelligent sorting equipment for tobacco appearance quality provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of the connection structure between the conveying support and the suction hood of the AI-based intelligent sorting device for the appearance quality of tobacco flakes provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a first-view three-dimensional schematic diagram of the rotating cover and sealing plate separation structure of the AI-based intelligent sorting device for tobacco appearance quality provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 This is a second-view three-dimensional schematic diagram of the rotating cover and sealing plate separation structure of the AI-based intelligent sorting device for tobacco appearance quality provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the connection structure of the mounting frame, turntable, and limiting frame of the AI-based intelligent sorting equipment for tobacco appearance quality provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 10 This is a three-dimensional sectional view of the mounting frame of the AI-based intelligent sorting device for tobacco appearance quality provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 11 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of the connection structure between the first clamping plate and the second clamping plate of the AI-based intelligent sorting device for tobacco appearance quality provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 12 This is a three-dimensional top-view schematic diagram of the detection box structure of the AI-based intelligent sorting device for tobacco appearance quality provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 13 This is a three-dimensional cross-sectional schematic diagram of the detection box structure of the AI-based intelligent sorting device for tobacco appearance quality provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure label: 1. Conveyor support; 2. Drive roller; 3. Driven roller; 4. Conveyor belt; 5. Drive motor; 6. Feed box; 7. Baffle plate; 8. First electric push rod; 9. Inclined push plate; 10. Vacuum pump; 11. Bend pipe; 12. Sealing plate; 13. Rotating cover; 14. Suction net cover; 15. Arc-shaped baffle; 16. Connecting pipe; 17. Suction pipe; 18. Suction cover; 19. First support shaft; 20. Drive shaft; 21. Synchronous pulley; 22. Synchronous belt; 23. Transmission gear; 24. Driven gear; 25. Protective cover; 26. Detection box; 27. Control display screen; 28. Soft light panel; 29. ​​Lamp tube; 30. Camera; 31. Mounting bracket; 32. Unloading plate; 33. Turntable; 34. Stepper motor; 35. Connecting groove; 36. Second support shaft; 37. First clamping plate; 38. First connecting frame; 39. Second clamping plate; 40. Torsion spring; 41. Limiting frame; 42. Slide plate; 43. Second connecting frame; 44. Second electric push rod. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connection" and "installation" should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a detachable connection or a non-detachable connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "connection" can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. "Fixed" means that the devices are connected to each other and their relative positional relationship remains unchanged after the connection. The directional terms mentioned in the embodiments of the present invention, such as "inner," "outer," "top," and "bottom," are only for reference to the directions in the accompanying drawings. Therefore, the directional terms used are for better and clearer explanation and understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the embodiments of the present invention.

[0026] In this embodiment of the invention, the terms "first" and "second" 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. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature.

[0027] In this embodiment of the invention, "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent three cases: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, and B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0028] References to "one embodiment" or "some embodiments" as used in this specification mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment is included in one or more embodiments of the invention. Therefore, the phrases "in one embodiment," "in some embodiments," "in other embodiments," "in still other embodiments," etc., appearing in different parts of this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but rather mean "one or more, but not all, embodiments," unless otherwise specifically emphasized. The terms "comprising," "including," "having," and variations thereof mean "including, but not limited to," unless otherwise specifically emphasized.

[0029] Example 1: Refer to Figure 1-13 A sorting device includes a conveying support 1, with a driving roller 2 and a driven roller 3 rotatably connected inside the conveying support 1. The same conveyor belt 4 is driven and sleeved on the driving roller 2 and the driven roller 3 for conveying sorted tobacco flakes. A drive motor 5 is fixedly installed on one side of the conveying support 1, and the output shaft of the drive motor 5 extends into the conveying support 1 and is fixedly connected to one end of the driving roller 2.

[0030] like Figure 12-13 As shown, the identification mechanism is mounted on the conveyor support 1, including a fixedly installed detection box 26. A control display screen 27 is installed on one side of the detection box 26, and two lamps 29 are symmetrically fixedly installed on the inner top wall to provide illumination during identification. A diffuser 28 covering the two lamps 29 is fixedly installed inside the detection box 26, and two cameras 30 are symmetrically fixedly installed below the diffuser 28. Both cameras 30 are electrically connected to the control display screen 27 via an STM32H7 series processor. When the conveyor belt 4 carries the tobacco sheet through the detection box 26, the two cameras 30 capture images of the tobacco sheet. The images are then transmitted to the processor for recognition and then to the control display screen 27, enabling the identification of the tobacco sheet's appearance quality. The two lamps 29 provide illumination when powered on, and the diffuser 28 softens the light to prevent reflection and overexposure of the tobacco sheet.

[0031] like Figure 4-5 As shown, the feeding mechanism is mounted on the conveyor support 1, including a fixedly installed feeding box 6. An inclined baffle plate 7 is fixedly installed inside the feeding box 6 to limit and block the tobacco flakes. A first electric push rod 8 is fixedly installed on one side of the feeding box 6. The output shaft of the first electric push rod 8 extends into the baffle plate 7 and is fixedly installed with an inclined push plate 9. The inclined push plate 9 contacts the inner wall of the feeding box 6, with the side closest to the baffle plate 7 being inclined. The tobacco flakes to be photographed and inspected are placed in the feeding box 6. Supported by the inclined push plate 9, the tobacco flakes remain inclined, facilitating the automatic feeding by the transfer mechanism to suck in the conveyor belt 4. After the first electric push rod 8 is activated, it pushes the inclined push plate 9 closer to the baffle plate 7. The position of the inclined push plate 9 is adjusted according to the amount of tobacco flakes in the feeding box 6, so that the tobacco flakes are in a position that can be attracted by the transfer mechanism.

[0032] like Figure 7-8 As shown, the transfer mechanism is mounted on the conveyor support 1, including a vacuum pump 10 fixedly mounted on one side of the conveyor support 1. A bent pipe 11 is fixedly mounted on the suction end of the vacuum pump 10, and a sealing plate 12 is fixedly sleeved on one end of the bent pipe 11. An arc-shaped baffle 15 is fixedly mounted on one side of the sealing plate 12. It also includes a rotating cover 13, with the arc-shaped baffle 15 located inside the rotating cover 13 and tightly fitted against the inner wall of the rotating cover 13. The sealing plate 12 is tightly rotatably connected to the opening of the rotating cover 13. Multiple suction nets 14 are fixedly mounted at equal intervals on the inner wall of the rotating cover 13. A transmission assembly is mounted on the other side of the conveyor support 1, which is connected to the center position of the drive roller 2 and one side of the rotating cover 13. When the vacuum pump 10 is started, it generates suction. The bent pipe 11 remains connected to the vacuum pump 10 and the rotating cover 13, giving the rotating cover 13 an attractive force, allowing the suction nets 14 to attract the tobacco leaves. Driven by the transmission assembly, the drive roller 2 rotates, driving the rotating cover 13 to rotate. After the suction nets 14 absorb individual tobacco leaves, they are transferred to the conveyor belt 4. An arc-shaped baffle 15 is installed inside the rotating cover 13. When the suction net cover 14 moves to the position corresponding to the arc-shaped baffle 15, the suction net cover 14 is not connected to the rotating cover 13, the attraction force disappears, and the smoke falls onto the conveyor belt 4.

[0033] like Figure 3As shown, the transmission assembly includes a gear component mounted on the other side of the conveyor support 1. A first support shaft 19 is rotatably connected to the feeding box 6. One end of the first support shaft 19 is fixedly connected to the center of one side of the connecting groove 35. The gear component is connected to the first support shaft 19. Synchronous pulleys 21 are fixedly sleeved on both the gear component and the drive roller 2. The same synchronous belt 22 is driven and sleeved on the two synchronous pulleys 21. A protective cover 25 is also fixedly installed on the other side of the conveyor support 1 to protect the gear component, the two synchronous pulleys 21, and the synchronous belt 22. When the drive roller 2 rotates, it drives the gear assembly to rotate through the two synchronous pulleys 21 and the synchronous belt 22. The gear assembly drives the connecting groove 35 to rotate, which in turn drives multiple suction nets 14 to move in a ring. The suction nets 14 that absorb the tobacco move in an arc shape with the tobacco until they are blocked by the arc-shaped baffle 15, losing their attraction to the tobacco, and the tobacco falls onto the conveyor belt 4. The gear assembly includes a drive shaft 20 rotatably connected to the other side of the conveyor support 1. The drive shaft 20 passes through and is fixedly connected to the corresponding synchronous pulley 21. A drive gear 23 is fixedly sleeved on the drive shaft 20, and a driven gear 24 is fixedly sleeved on the first support shaft 19. The drive gear 23 meshes with the driven gear 24. When the drive shaft 20 rotates with the synchronous pulley 21, it drives the drive gear 23 to rotate. The drive gear 23 rotates in the same direction as the drive roller 2. When the drive gear 23 rotates, under the transmission action of meshing with the driven gear 24, it drives the rotating cover 13 to rotate through the first support shaft 19. The rotation direction of the rotating cover 13 is opposite to the running direction of the conveyor belt 4, but the linear velocity direction is the same, thus realizing the transfer and conveying of tobacco sheets. An attraction hood 18 is fixedly installed inside the conveyor belt 4 within the conveyor bracket 1. Multiple equally spaced attraction holes are matrix-shaped on the inner top wall of the attraction hood 18. Two suction tubes 17 are symmetrically fixedly installed on one side of the inner wall of the attraction hood 18. One end of each suction tube 17 extends to the outside of the conveyor bracket 1 and is fixedly connected to the same connecting pipe 16. One end of the connecting pipe 16 extends into the bent pipe 11 and is fixedly connected to the inner wall of one side of the bent pipe 11. When the vacuum pump 10 is activated to generate suction, the connecting pipe 16 connected to the bent pipe 11 has an attraction force. The two suction tubes 17 then cause the attraction hood 18 to have an attraction force. Gas above the conveyor belt 4 is drawn into the attraction hood 18 through the conveyor belt 4, giving the conveyor belt 4 a certain suction force. After the blades fall onto the conveyor belt 4, they adhere tightly and remain flat, improving the accuracy of image capture and recognition.

[0034] This application can be used in the field of tobacco production technology, or in other fields applicable to this application.

[0035] Example 2: Reference Figure 9-11Based on Embodiment 1, an improved AI-based intelligent sorting device for the appearance quality of tobacco flakes is proposed. This device is applied to the field of tobacco production technology. The sorting mechanism is located on one side of a conveyor support 1, including a mounting frame 31. A discharge plate is mounted on the conveyor support 1, and one side of the discharge plate is fixedly connected to the top of one side of the mounting frame 31. A rotating turntable 33 is mounted on the top of the mounting frame 31. A connecting groove 35 is formed on the top of the turntable 33, and a clamping assembly is mounted on the top of the turntable 33. The bottom of the clamping assembly extends into the connecting groove 35 and connects to the inner wall of the connecting groove 35. Multiple unloading plates 32 are fixedly mounted on the mounting frame 31 for conveying tobacco flakes of different qualities. A stepper motor 34 is fixedly mounted on the inner wall of the bottom of the mounting frame 31. The output shaft of the stepper motor 34 is fixedly connected to the center of the bottom of the turntable 33. The stepper motor 34 is electrically connected to a control display screen 27 via a processor. In the initial state, the clamping component is positioned corresponding to the discharge plate. After being photographed and identified, the tobacco flakes are output through the discharge plate and fall onto the clamping component. The clamping component is activated to clamp and position the tobacco flakes, and simultaneously, the stepper motor 34 is started to drive the turntable 33 to rotate. The processor classifies the tobacco flakes into different grades according to a pre-set program. After identification, the grade information is transmitted to the stepper motor 34, which controls the rotation angle of the turntable 33 to move the tobacco flakes to the corresponding unloading plate 32. The reverse drive then releases the clamping component from the clamping position, and the tobacco flakes fall onto the corresponding unloading plate 32, achieving automatic sorting.

[0036] like Figure 11As shown, the clamping assembly includes a limiting frame 41 fixedly installed on the top of the turntable 33, a second support shaft 36 fixedly installed in the connecting groove 35, the second support shaft 36 rotatably connected to a first clamping plate 37, the top of the first clamping plate 37 being flush with the top of the turntable 33, and first connecting frames 38 rotatably connected to both sides of the first clamping plate 37. The tops of both first connecting frames 38 extend above the turntable 33 and rotatably connect to the same second clamping plate 39. The second clamping plate 39 and the first clamping plate 37 cooperate to clamp the cigarette. A second electric push rod 44 is fixedly installed on the inner wall of the top of the limiting frame 41, and a second connecting frame 43 is fixedly installed on the output shaft of the second electric push rod 44. The second connecting frame 43 is slidably connected to the limiting frame 41, and two sliding plates 42 are symmetrically slidably connected inside the limiting frame 41. The second clamping plate 39 is rotatably connected to the two sliding plates 42 respectively. The second electric push rod 44 is activated, causing the second connecting frame 43 to move upward. The two sliding plates 42 pull the second clamping plate 39 to rotate vertically. As the second clamping plate 39 rotates, it drives the first clamping plate 37 to rotate vertically via the two first connecting frames 38, causing the second clamping plate 39 and the first clamping plate 37 to open and close. After the tobacco is moved onto the first clamping plate 37, the second electric push rod 44 is activated, causing the second connecting frame 43 to move downward, driving the second clamping plate 39 and the first clamping plate 37 to rotate horizontally to clamp the tobacco. When the turntable 33 rotates, it moves the tobacco to the position corresponding to the unloading plate 32. Subsequently, when the first clamping plate 37 and the second clamping plate 39 rotate upward, they push the tobacco onto the corresponding unloading plate 32 to achieve unloading. Two torsion springs 40 are symmetrically sleeved on the second support shaft 36. The two ends of the torsion springs 40 are fixedly connected to one side of the first clamping plate 37 and the inner wall of one side of the connecting groove 35, respectively. When the first clamping plate 37 rotates vertically, it applies torque to the torsion spring 40, increasing the elastic potential energy. When the first clamping plate 37 rotates horizontally, it uses the elastic potential energy of the two torsion springs 40 to assist in the rotation, while simultaneously driving the second clamping plate 39 to rotate horizontally to position and clamp the tobacco.

[0037] Working principle: The tobacco flakes to be sorted are placed in the feeding box 6. Supported by the inclined push plate 9, the tobacco flakes are kept at an angle. The first electric push rod 8 is activated to push the inclined push plate 9 closer to the baffle plate 7. The position of the inclined push plate 9 is adjusted according to the amount of tobacco flakes in the feeding box 6 so that the tobacco flakes are in a position that can be attracted to the transfer mechanism. The drive motor 5 is activated to drive the drive roller 2 to rotate, which in turn drives the conveyor belt 4 to run. At the same time, the drive roller 2 drives the transmission shaft 20 to rotate through the synchronous pulley 21 and the synchronous belt 22. The transmission gear 23 on the transmission shaft 20 meshes with the driven gear 24 on the first support shaft 19, which drives the rotating cover 13 to rotate. The direction is opposite to the running direction of the conveyor belt 4, but the linear velocity direction is the same. The vacuum pump 10 is started to generate suction, which, through the bend 11, creates an attractive force on the rotating hood 13. The suction net 14 then attracts the tobacco flakes. After adsorbing the individual tobacco flakes, they are transferred as the rotating hood 13 rotates. When the suction net 14 moves to the position corresponding to the arc-shaped baffle 15, the suction net 14 and the rotating hood 13 are no longer connected, the attractive force disappears, and the tobacco flakes fall onto the conveyor belt 4. Simultaneously, the connecting pipe 16, connected to the bend 11, creates an attractive force on the suction hood 18 through two suction pipes 17, giving the conveyor belt 4 a certain suction force, allowing the tobacco flakes to adhere tightly to the conveyor belt 4 and remain flat. The conveyor belt 4 transports the tobacco flakes to the bottom of the inspection box 26. Two lamps 29 inside the inspection box 26 are powered on to provide illumination. A diffuser 28 softens the light to prevent glare from the tobacco flakes. Two cameras 30 capture images of the tobacco flakes, which are then sent to a processor (STM32H7 series) for recognition. The images are then transmitted to a control display screen 27 to identify the appearance quality of the tobacco flakes. After recognition, the tobacco flakes are output through the discharge plate and fall onto the clamping assembly on the turntable 33. The second electric push rod 44 is activated, causing the second connecting frame 43 to move downwards. Two sliding plates 42 pull the second clamping plate 39 to rotate horizontally, while the two first connecting frames 38 simultaneously drive... The first clamping plate 37 rotates horizontally to reset, clamping the tobacco flakes with the cooperation of the first clamping plate 37 and the second clamping plate 39. The elastic potential energy of the two torsion springs 40 assists the first clamping plate 37 and the second clamping plate 39 in rotating. The processor divides the tobacco flakes into different grades according to the preset program and transmits the grade information to the stepper motor 34. The stepper motor 34 is started to drive the turntable 33 to rotate at the corresponding angle, moving the tobacco flakes to the corresponding unloading plate 32. Then, the second electric push rod 44 is driven in the reverse direction to drive the second connecting frame 43 to move upward, causing the second clamping plate 39 and the first clamping plate 37 to rotate upward, pushing the tobacco flakes onto the corresponding unloading plate 32, thus completing the sorting of tobacco flakes.

[0038] However, as is well known to those skilled in the art, the working principles and wiring methods of the drive motor 5, the first electric push rod 8, the vacuum pump 10, the control display screen 27, the lamp tube 29, the camera 30, the stepper motor 34, and the second electric push rod 44 are commonplace and belong to conventional means or common knowledge. They will not be described in detail here. Those skilled in the art can make any selections according to their needs or convenience.

[0039] The above are merely specific embodiments of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. In the absence of conflict, the embodiments and features of the embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An AI-based intelligent sorting device for the appearance quality of tobacco flakes, comprising a conveying bracket (1), wherein a driving roller (2) and a driven roller (3) are rotatably connected inside the conveying bracket (1), and the same conveying mesh belt (4) is driven and sleeved on the driving roller (2) and the driven roller (3) for conveying the sorted tobacco flakes, and a drive motor (5) is fixedly installed on one side of the conveying bracket (1), wherein the output shaft of the drive motor (5) extends into the conveying bracket (1) and is fixedly connected to one end of the driving roller (2), characterized in that, The conveying support (1) is equipped with an identification mechanism for identifying tobacco leaves, which detects the quality of the tobacco leaves from an appearance perspective. The sorting equipment also includes: A feeding mechanism is installed on the conveying support (1) for feeding the tobacco leaves that need to be identified and detected; The transfer mechanism is installed on the conveyor support (1). The other end of the active roller (2) extends to the outside of the conveyor support (1) and is connected to the transfer mechanism to drive the transfer mechanism to run, so as to transfer the single piece of tobacco to the conveyor belt (4). The sorting mechanism located on one side of the conveyor support (1) is used to classify tobacco leaves of different qualities.

2. The AI-based intelligent sorting equipment for tobacco appearance quality according to claim 1, characterized in that, The identification mechanism includes a detection box (26) fixedly installed on a conveying bracket (1). A control display screen (27) is installed on one side of the detection box (26). Two lamp tubes (29) are symmetrically fixedly installed on the top inner wall of the detection box (26) to provide illumination when the tobacco is photographed and identified. A soft light plate (28) for covering the two lamp tubes (29) is fixedly installed inside the detection box (26). Two cameras (30) located below the soft light plate (28) are also symmetrically fixedly installed inside the detection box (26). Both cameras (30) are electrically connected to the control display screen (27) through a processor.

3. The AI-based intelligent sorting equipment for tobacco appearance quality according to claim 2, characterized in that, The feeding mechanism includes a feeding box (6) fixedly installed on the conveying bracket (1). An inclined baffle plate (7) is fixedly installed inside the feeding box (6) to limit and block the tobacco. A first electric push rod (8) is fixedly installed on one side of the feeding box (6). The output shaft of the first electric push rod (8) extends into the baffle plate (7) and is fixedly installed with an inclined push plate (9). The inclined push plate (9) contacts the inner wall of the feeding box (6). The side of the inclined push plate (9) close to the baffle plate (7) is set as an inclined surface.

4. The AI-based intelligent sorting equipment for tobacco appearance quality according to claim 3, characterized in that, The transfer mechanism includes a vacuum pump (10) fixedly installed on one side of the conveying bracket (1), a bent pipe (11) fixedly installed on the suction end of the vacuum pump (10), a sealing plate (12) fixedly sleeved on one end of the bent pipe (11), an arc-shaped baffle (15) fixedly installed on one side of the sealing plate (12), and a rotating cover (13). The arc-shaped baffle (15) is located inside the rotating cover (13) and is tightly fitted to the inner wall of the rotating cover (13). The sealing plate (12) is tightly rotatably connected to the opening of the rotating cover (13). Multiple suction net covers (14) are fixedly installed through the inner wall of the rotating cover (13) at equal intervals. A transmission assembly is installed on the other side of the conveying bracket (1). The transmission assembly is connected to the center position of one side of the active roller (2) and the rotating cover (13) respectively.

5. The AI-based intelligent sorting equipment for tobacco appearance quality according to claim 4, characterized in that, The transmission assembly includes a gear component installed on the other side of the conveying bracket (1), a first support shaft (19) rotatably connected to the feeding box (6), one end of the first support shaft (19) is fixedly connected to the center position of one side of the connecting groove (35), the gear component is connected to the first support shaft (19), a synchronous wheel (21) is fixedly sleeved on both the gear component and the drive roller (2), the same synchronous belt (22) is driven on the two synchronous wheels (21), and a protective cover (25) is also fixedly installed on the other side of the conveying bracket (1). The protective cover (25) is used to protect the gear component, the two synchronous wheels (21) and the synchronous belt (22) to avoid transmission failure.

6. The AI-based intelligent sorting equipment for tobacco appearance quality according to claim 5, characterized in that, The gear component includes a drive shaft (20) rotatably connected to the other side of the conveying bracket (1). The drive shaft (20) passes through the corresponding synchronous pulley (21) and is fixedly connected to the synchronous pulley (21). A drive gear (23) is fixedly sleeved on the drive shaft (20), and a driven gear (24) is fixedly sleeved on the first support shaft (19). The drive gear (23) meshes with the driven gear (24).

7. The AI-based intelligent sorting equipment for tobacco appearance quality according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The conveying support (1) is fixedly installed with an attraction hood (18) located inside the conveying mesh belt (4). The top inner wall of the attraction hood (18) is provided with multiple equally spaced attraction holes in a matrix pattern. Two suction tubes (17) are symmetrically fixedly installed on one side inner wall of the attraction hood (18). One end of each suction tube (17) extends to the outside of the conveying support (1) and is fixedly connected to the same connecting pipe (16). One end of the connecting pipe (16) extends into the bent pipe (11) and is fixedly connected to one side inner wall of the bent pipe (11).

8. The AI-based intelligent sorting equipment for tobacco appearance quality according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sorting mechanism includes a mounting frame (31) set on one side of the conveying support (1). A discharge plate is set on the conveying support (1). One side of the discharge plate is fixedly connected to the top of one side of the mounting frame (31). A turntable (33) is rotatably embedded on the top of the mounting frame (31). A connecting groove (35) is opened on the top of the turntable (33). A clamping component is set on the top of the turntable (33) to clamp the tobacco flakes conveyed to the turntable (33). The bottom of the clamping component extends into the connecting groove (35) and is connected to the inner wall of the connecting groove (35). Multiple unloading plates (32) are fixedly installed on the mounting frame (31) for conveying tobacco flakes of different qualities. A stepper motor (34) is fixedly installed on the bottom inner wall of the mounting frame (31). The output shaft of the stepper motor (34) is fixedly connected to the bottom center of the turntable (33). The stepper motor (34) is electrically connected to the control display screen (27) through a processor.

9. The AI-based intelligent sorting equipment for tobacco appearance quality according to claim 8, characterized in that, The clamping assembly includes a limiting frame (41) fixedly installed on the top of the turntable (33), a second support shaft (36) fixedly installed in the connecting groove (35), and a first clamping plate (37) rotatably connected to the second support shaft (36). The top of the first clamping plate (37) is flush with the top of the turntable (33). A first connecting frame (38) is rotatably connected to both sides of the first clamping plate (37). The tops of the two first connecting frames (38) extend above the turntable (33) and are rotatably connected to the same second support shaft (41). The clamping plate (39), the second clamping plate (39) and the first clamping plate (37) cooperate to clamp the cigarette. A second electric push rod (44) is fixedly installed on the top inner wall of the limiting frame (41). A second connecting frame (43) is fixedly installed on the output shaft of the second electric push rod (44). The second connecting frame (43) is slidably connected to the limiting frame (41). Two sliding plates (42) are symmetrically slidably connected inside the limiting frame (41). The second clamping plate (39) is rotatably connected to the two sliding plates (42) respectively.

10. The AI-based intelligent sorting equipment for tobacco appearance quality according to claim 9, characterized in that, Two torsion springs (40) are symmetrically sleeved on the second support shaft (36). The two ends of the torsion springs (40) are fixedly connected to one side of the first clamping plate (37) and the inner wall of one side of the connecting groove (35), respectively.

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