An online grading device for cigar tobacco leaves based on the synergistic effect of visual sensing and chemical composition.

Abstract

This application discloses an online grading device for cigar tobacco leaves based on the synergistic effect of visual sensing and chemical composition, comprising: a conveyor belt system installed on a frame for conveying cigar tobacco leaves; a visual sensing module disposed above the feed end of the conveyor belt system for acquiring appearance images of the cigar tobacco leaves and transmitting the appearance images to a control module; a control module for determining whether the cigar tobacco leaves are appearance-qualified based on the appearance images; a near-infrared spectral detection module disposed behind the visual sensing module and above the conveyor belt system for acquiring chemical composition spectral information of the cigar tobacco leaves; the control module is also used to identify the tobacco leaf grade of the cigar tobacco leaves based on the chemical composition spectral information if the cigar tobacco leaves are appearance-qualified; and a grading and discharging module disposed at the discharge end of the conveyor belt system for grading and discharging the cigar tobacco leaves according to their grade.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of cigar tobacco grading equipment technology, and in particular to an online cigar tobacco grading equipment based on the synergistic effect of visual sensing and chemical components. Background Technology

[0002] The grade of cigar tobacco leaves directly determines the quality of the finished cigar. Traditional cigar tobacco grading methods rely heavily on manual visual inspection, which is not only inefficient but also susceptible to subjective biases, leading to inconsistent grading standards and failing to meet the demands of large-scale, standardized tobacco processing. With the development of visual sensing and near-infrared spectroscopy technologies, their application in tobacco testing has become increasingly widespread. However, current equipment often employs single-method grading based on visual perception or chemical composition alone, resulting in limited accuracy and an inability to comprehensively assess both appearance and internal quality. Therefore, designing a synergistic grading device combining visual sensing and chemical composition detection is crucial for improving the accuracy and efficiency of cigar tobacco leaf grading. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of this, the present application provides an online grading device for cigar tobacco leaves based on the synergistic effect of visual sensing and chemical composition. Through a two-stage collaborative production line design of "visual initial screening to remove defective products and spectral re-examination to determine the grade", it achieves dual control over appearance and internal quality, and improves the scientificity and accuracy of grading.

[0004] According to one aspect of this application, an online grading device for cigar tobacco leaves based on the synergistic effect of visual sensing and chemical composition is provided, comprising: a frame, a conveyor belt system, a visual sensing module, a near-infrared spectroscopy detection module, a control module, and a grading and discharging module; The control module is electrically connected to the conveyor belt system, the vision sensing module, the near-infrared spectroscopy detection module, and the graded discharge module, respectively. The conveyor belt system is installed on the frame and is used to transport cigar tobacco leaves; The visual sensing module is located above the feed end of the conveyor belt system and is used to collect the appearance image of the cigar tobacco leaves and transmit the appearance image to the control module. The control module is used to determine whether the cigar tobacco leaves are qualified tobacco leaves based on the appearance image; The near-infrared spectroscopy detection module is located behind the visual sensing module and above the conveyor belt system, and is used to collect the chemical composition spectral information of the cigar tobacco leaves. The control module is also used to identify the grade of the cigar tobacco leaf based on the chemical composition spectral information if the cigar tobacco leaf belongs to the category of tobacco leaves with acceptable appearance. The grading and discharge module is located at the discharge end of the conveyor belt system and is used to grade and discharge the cigar tobacco leaves according to their grade.

[0005] Optionally, the vision sensing module includes an industrial camera, a light source assembly, and an image acquisition card. The light source assembly is disposed on both sides of the industrial camera to provide illumination for the images captured by the industrial camera. The appearance image captured by the industrial camera is digitized by the image acquisition card and then transmitted to the control module.

[0006] Optionally, the near-infrared spectroscopy detection module includes a near-infrared spectrometer, an optical fiber probe, and a spectral data processing unit. The optical fiber probe faces the conveyor surface of the conveyor belt system. When the cigar tobacco leaves move with the conveyor belt to a position directly below the optical fiber probe, the optical fiber probe emits near-infrared light and receives reflected or projected spectral signals. The spectral data processing unit converts the received spectral signals into digitized chemical composition spectral information and transmits it to the control module.

[0007] Optionally, the conveyor belt system includes a drive motor, a drive roller, a driven roller, and a conveyor belt. The drive motor is electrically connected to the control module. The conveyor belt is fitted onto the drive roller and the driven roller. The conveyor belt is provided with multiple dividing grooves for limiting the position of cigar tobacco leaves.

[0008] Optionally, the grading and discharge module includes a number of liftable discharge conveyor belts equal to the number of tobacco leaf grades. Each discharge conveyor belt is arranged side by side at the discharge end of the conveyor belt of the conveyor belt system and is perpendicular to the running direction of the conveyor belt of the conveyor belt system. The outlet of the discharge conveyor belt is located above the collection basket of the corresponding tobacco leaf grade.

[0009] Optionally, the discharge conveyor belt is used to lift the cigar tobacco leaves at the front end so that they slide down into the corresponding collection basket by gravity.

[0010] Optionally, the grading and discharge module includes push rods of the same number as the tobacco leaf grades. Each push rod is arranged along one side of the conveyor belt of the conveyor belt system. A guide chute is respectively provided on the other side of the conveyor belt system and for each push rod. The end of the guide chute is connected to a collection basket corresponding to the tobacco leaf grade.

[0011] Optionally, the pusher is used to push the cigar tobacco leaves on the conveyor belt of the conveyor belt system away from the conveyor belt system, so that the pushed-away cigar tobacco leaves slide down the corresponding guide chute into the corresponding collection basket by gravity.

[0012] Optionally, the tobacco leaf grades include multiple tobacco leaf grades that meet appearance standards and one tobacco leaf grade that does not meet appearance standards.

[0013] Optionally, the control module stores a cigar tobacco leaf appearance quality model and a chemical composition model. The cigar tobacco leaf appearance quality model is used to determine whether the appearance quality of the cigar tobacco leaf is qualified based on the appearance image of the cigar tobacco leaf, and the chemical composition model is used to determine the tobacco leaf grade of the cigar tobacco leaf based on the chemical composition spectral information of the cigar tobacco leaf.

[0014] By employing the above technical solution, this application provides an online grading device for cigar tobacco leaves based on the synergistic effect of visual sensing and chemical composition. A visual sensing module is installed above the feed end of the conveyor belt system to first acquire images of the cigar tobacco leaves' appearance to determine whether they are visually acceptable. A near-infrared spectroscopy detection module then acquires the internal chemical composition spectral information of the visually acceptable leaves to accurately identify their specific grade. Finally, the grading and discharge module automatically sorts the leaves to the corresponding collection baskets based on the comprehensive judgment results. This application, through a two-stage collaborative production line design of "visual initial screening to remove defective products and spectral re-inspection to refine the grade," achieves dual control over both appearance and internal quality, improving the scientific accuracy of grading. It also avoids ineffective spectral detection of visually unacceptable leaves, optimizes system computing power allocation and detection efficiency, thereby improving the efficiency of automated operations while ensuring high-precision grading.

[0015] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of this application. In order to better understand the technical means of this application and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, and to make the above and other objects, features and advantages of this application more obvious and understandable, specific embodiments of this application are given below. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of this application and form part of this application, illustrate exemplary embodiments and are used to explain this application, but do not constitute an undue limitation of this application. In the drawings: Figure 1 This illustration shows a schematic diagram of an online grading device for cigar tobacco leaves based on the synergistic effect of visual sensing and chemical components, provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in the embodiments of the present application can be combined with each other.

[0018] This embodiment provides an online grading device for cigar tobacco leaves based on the synergistic effect of visual sensing and chemical components, such as... Figure 1As shown, it includes: frame 1, conveyor belt conveying system 2, vision sensing module 3, near-infrared spectroscopy detection module 4, control module 5, and graded discharge module 6; The control module 5 is electrically connected to the conveyor belt system 2, the vision sensing module 3, the near-infrared spectroscopy detection module 4, and the graded discharge module 6, respectively. The conveyor belt system 2 is installed on the frame 1 and is used to transport cigar tobacco leaves; The visual sensing module 3 is located above the feed end of the conveyor belt system 2 and is used to collect the appearance image of the cigar tobacco leaves and transmit the appearance image to the control module 5. The control module 5 is used to determine whether the cigar tobacco leaves are qualified tobacco leaves based on the appearance image. The near-infrared spectroscopy detection module 4 is located behind the visual sensing module 3 and above the conveyor belt system 2, and is used to collect the chemical composition spectral information of the cigar tobacco leaves. The control module 5 is also used to identify the grade of the cigar tobacco leaf based on the chemical composition spectral information if the cigar tobacco leaf belongs to the tobacco leaf with qualified appearance. The grading and discharge module 6 is located at the discharge end of the conveyor belt system 2 and is used to grade and discharge the cigar tobacco leaves according to the tobacco leaf grade.

[0019] This application discloses an automatic grading device for cigar tobacco leaves based on the synergistic effect of vision and near-infrared spectroscopy. The device combines appearance image detection and internal chemical composition detection through an assembly line design. Cigar tobacco leaves first undergo initial appearance screening by a vision module. Only leaves that pass the appearance test are then subjected to subsequent near-infrared spectroscopy analysis to determine their internal quality grade. Finally, the grading and discharging module 6 automatically sorts the tobacco leaves into different collection baskets based on the judgment results. This solution solves the problems of high subjectivity, low efficiency, and incomplete detection by a single sensor in traditional manual grading.

[0020] Specifically, the equipment includes a frame 1, a conveyor belt system 2, a vision sensing module 3, a near-infrared spectroscopy detection module 4, a control module 5, and a grading and discharge module 6. The frame 1 serves as the physical support framework for the entire equipment. The conveyor belt system 2, mounted on the frame 1, carries the cigar tobacco leaves and guides them sequentially through various inspection stations and discharge ports along a predetermined path, enabling automated assembly line operation. The control module 5 stores a cigar tobacco leaf appearance quality model and a chemical composition model. The appearance quality model determines whether the cigar tobacco leaves meet appearance quality standards based on their appearance images, while the chemical composition model determines the grade of the cigar tobacco leaves based on their chemical composition spectral information. The first inspection station is equipped with the vision sensing module 3, positioned above the feed end of the conveyor belt. As soon as the cigar tobacco leaves are placed on the conveyor belt, this module immediately captures a high-resolution image of the leaves' appearance, capturing features such as color, shape, size, integrity, and oil content, and transmits the acquired image to the control module 5 in real time. The control module 5 receives the appearance image of the cigar tobacco leaf from the vision module, analyzes it using the built-in cigar tobacco leaf appearance quality model, and determines whether the appearance of the tobacco leaf is acceptable (e.g., whether there is mold, damage, or substandard color). If the appearance is deemed unacceptable, the control module 5 records this information and can avoid initiating subsequent high-precision spectral detection (saving time and computing power). If the appearance is deemed acceptable, when the tobacco leaf continues to the near-infrared detection station, the control module 5 receives the chemical composition spectral information of the cigar tobacco leaf collected by the near-infrared spectral detection module 4, and calls the built-in chemical composition model to identify the specific tobacco leaf grade (such as grade 1, 2, 3, etc.). The second detection station is equipped with the near-infrared spectral detection module 4, specifically located behind (downstream) the visual sensing module 3, also above the conveyor belt. Using near-infrared spectroscopy technology, it non-contactly detects the chemical components inside the tobacco leaf, such as the content of nicotine, total sugar, chlorine, potassium, etc. This module can normally be in standby trigger state. When the control module 5 indicates that a tobacco leaf is "appearance acceptable," this module collects the spectrum of the tobacco leaf. Alternatively, data can be collected as all tobacco leaves pass through, but control module 5 only processes data from leaves that meet appearance standards; or control module 5 can process all spectral information but only record the processing results for leaves that do not meet appearance standards without grading them, and then transmit the spectral information back to control module 5. The grading and discharge module 6 is located at the discharge end of the conveyor belt system 2. It performs physical sorting according to the instructions issued by control module 5. When inspected tobacco leaves arrive at the discharge end, this module guides them to the corresponding grade collection basket. The sorting is based on the comprehensive judgment of control module 5. The tobacco leaf grades include multiple grades that meet appearance standards and one grade that does not meet appearance standards.For example, cigar tobacco leaves are graded into 10 levels. Levels 1-9 represent the nine quality levels of tobacco leaves, from best to worst, that meet appearance standards, while level 10 represents tobacco leaves that do not meet appearance standards. Through the combination and synergistic operation of these features, this solution logically combines external quality and internal component quality through control module 5, achieving dual control over both appearance and internal quality. This results in more comprehensive, scientific, and accurate grading results that better align with actual industrial grading standards for cigar tobacco leaves. The "visual initial screening," "spectral re-inspection," and "automatic sorting" stations are connected in series via a conveyor belt, achieving full automation of the tobacco leaf processing from input to sorting, eliminating the need for manual intervention. In particular, the logic of visual inspection followed by spectral analysis avoids unnecessary and complex spectral analysis of tobacco leaves that already fail to meet appearance standards, saving inspection time and increasing the throughput of the entire production line.

[0021] By applying the technical solution of this embodiment, a visual sensing module 3 is installed above the feeding end of the conveyor belt system 2 to first collect images of the appearance of cigar tobacco leaves to determine whether they are visually acceptable. A near-infrared spectroscopy detection module 4 is then used to collect the internal chemical composition spectral information of the visually acceptable tobacco leaves to accurately identify the specific grade. Finally, the grading and discharge module 6 automatically sorts the leaves to the corresponding collection baskets based on the comprehensive judgment results. This embodiment of the application achieves dual control over both appearance and internal quality through a two-stage collaborative production line design of "visual initial screening to remove defective products and spectral re-inspection to determine the grade," improving the scientific accuracy of grading. It also avoids ineffective spectral detection of visually unacceptable tobacco leaves, optimizes system computing power allocation and detection efficiency, thereby improving the efficiency of automated operations while ensuring high-precision grading.

[0022] In this embodiment of the application, optionally, the visual sensing module 3 includes an industrial camera, a light source component and an image acquisition card. The light source component is disposed on both sides of the industrial camera to provide illumination for the industrial camera to acquire images. The appearance image captured by the industrial camera is digitized by the image acquisition card and then transmitted to the control module 5.

[0023] In this embodiment, the visual sensing module 3 includes an industrial camera, a light source assembly, and an image acquisition card. The industrial camera is responsible for capturing high-definition images of the tobacco leaves. Unlike ordinary cameras, industrial cameras feature high frame rates, high resolution, and high stability, enabling them to clearly capture subtle features such as color, texture, damage, and mold on the surface of the tobacco leaves. The light source assembly is arranged on both sides of the industrial camera. The core function of this symmetrical lighting design is to eliminate shadows and reflections. When the surface of the tobacco leaves is uneven, a single-sided light source is prone to producing shadows, while light sources on both sides can evenly illuminate the surface of the tobacco leaves, ensuring that the captured images have true colors and clear details, and avoiding errors in subsequent image analysis due to uneven lighting. The image acquisition card, as a hardware interface, is responsible for acquiring and converting the analog or digital signals captured by the industrial camera into digital image data in real time, and transmitting it to the control module 5 (e.g., an industrial computer or PLC) in a high-bandwidth, low-latency manner. It ensures that image data is not lost or delayed when the conveyor belt moves at high speed. Specifically, industrial cameras can be, for example, the Hikvision MV-CA050-10GM (5-megapixel gigabit Ethernet camera) or the Basler acA1300-75gm (1.3-megapixel high frame rate camera). The light source can be an LED machine vision light source, specifically a strip light source. For example, two high-brightness LED strip light sources can be installed parallel and symmetrically on the left and right sides of the industrial camera. To accommodate different tobacco leaf colors (such as cyan or brown), the light source color temperature can be white light (approximately 6000K-6500K) to maximize the reproduction of the tobacco leaf's true color. The image acquisition card should be compatible with the camera interface. If the camera has a gigabit Ethernet port (GigE), a gigabit Ethernet card should be used; if it has a Camera Link interface, a dedicated Camera Link acquisition card is required. Examples include the Intel EXPI9301CT (gigabit Ethernet card for GigE cameras) or the MicroEnable 4 fiber optic acquisition card (for high-speed line scan cameras). This embodiment of the application achieves uniform illumination by arranging the light source on both sides of the camera, effectively avoiding shadows caused by the curled edges of the tobacco leaves and possible light spot reflections. This ensures that the acquired appearance images have true colors and clear details, providing a high-quality data foundation for subsequent "appearance qualification judgment." Using a dedicated image acquisition card for data transmission reduces the CPU load, ensuring that continuously captured image data on the high-speed conveyor belt can be transmitted to the control module 5 without loss and with low latency. This avoids frame drops or image stuttering caused by data transmission bottlenecks, thereby ensuring the smoothness of the entire production line grading operation.

[0024] Optionally, in this embodiment, the near-infrared spectroscopy detection module 4 includes a near-infrared spectrometer, an optical fiber probe, and a spectral data processing unit. The optical fiber probe faces the conveyor surface of the conveyor belt system 2. When the cigar tobacco leaves move with the conveyor belt to a position directly below the optical fiber probe, the optical fiber probe emits near-infrared light and receives reflected or projected spectral signals. The spectral data processing unit converts the received spectral signals into digitized chemical composition spectral information and transmits it to the control module 5.

[0025] In this embodiment, the near-infrared spectroscopy detection module 4 includes a near-infrared spectrometer, a fiber optic probe, and a spectral data processing unit. It acquires chemical composition data of the tobacco leaves through non-contact optical detection. The near-infrared spectrometer has a built-in light source and spectroscopic elements. It generates near-infrared light in specific wavelengths and receives the light signals returned from the tobacco leaves for preliminary spectral analysis. Different chemical components (such as nicotine and total sugar) have different absorption characteristics for near-infrared light, thus forming unique spectral curves. The fiber optic probe, as a light transmission device, has its end facing the conveyor belt surface, illuminating the surface of the passing cigar tobacco leaves with the near-infrared light generated by the spectrometer (or penetrating the tobacco leaves), and collecting reflected or transmitted light carrying chemical composition information, which is then transmitted back to the spectrometer. This design achieves physical isolation between the detection unit and the tobacco leaves, facilitating installation and debugging on the production line. The spectral data processing unit is a dedicated signal processing hardware. It converts the analog light signals received by the spectrometer into digital spectral information (i.e., spectral data containing absorption values ​​at each wavelength) and transmits it to the main control module 5 through a communication interface. Near-infrared spectrometers can be miniature fiber optic spectrometers based on grating-based spectral dispersive technology. Examples include the OceanInsight Flame-NIR series (high resolution, suitable for solid sample detection) or the Fuxiang Optics NIR17S (integrated with a high-performance InGaAs detector, covering the 900-1700nm band, suitable for detecting CH, OH, and other group characteristics in organic matter). These devices are characterized by their small size, high speed, and suitability for online detection. Fiber optic probes can be either reflective or transmissive. For example, the OceanInsight R600-7-VIS-NIR (six-core reflective probe) typically features a sapphire window at the probe tip to prevent tobacco debris from contaminating the optical path. This probe can be mounted on a bracket above the conveyor belt, approximately 2-5cm from the conveyor belt surface, ensuring signal strength and avoiding contact with tobacco leaves. The spectral data processing unit can be an embedded processor integrated within the spectrometer or an external small industrial computer. For example, the spectrometer connects to a Raspberry Pi or a dedicated data processing module of a PLC via USB or Ethernet, running customized firmware to handle analog-to-digital conversion and averaging of the spectral data (improving the signal-to-noise ratio). The packaged spectral data is then sent to the main control module 5 via Modbus or TCP / IP protocols. Utilizing the penetrating power of near-infrared light and the long-range transmission capability of the fiber optic probe, chemical composition detection can be completed instantly as the tobacco leaves pass through the conveyor belt at high speed, eliminating the need for destructive pretreatment such as crushing or chemical dissolving. This ensures the integrity of the tobacco leaves while meeting the high-speed cycle requirements of the production line. The vertical arrangement of the fiber optic probe facing the conveyor surface ensures stable coupling between the optical path and the tobacco leaf surface, reducing spectral acquisition errors caused by leaf tilting or shaking.Meanwhile, the spectral data processing unit digitizes and preprocesses the raw signal, eliminating signal attenuation and interference during transmission, providing high-quality chemical characteristic data for control module 5. The use of fiber optic transmission allows the precision spectrometer to be installed away from the production line (e.g., in an electrical control cabinet), exposing only the small fiber optic probe to the tobacco environment. This protects the precision instrument from vibration, dust, and temperature and humidity variations, while simplifying the mechanical structure above the production line and reducing equipment failure rates and maintenance costs.

[0026] Optionally, in this embodiment, the conveyor belt conveying system 2 includes a drive motor 21, a drive roller 22, a driven roller 23, and a conveyor belt 24. The drive motor 21 is electrically connected to the control module 5. The conveyor belt 2 is sleeved on the drive roller 22 and the driven roller 23. The conveyor belt is provided with a plurality of dividing grooves 25 for limiting the cigar tobacco leaves.

[0027] In this embodiment, the conveyor belt system 2 specifically includes a drive motor 21, a drive roller 22, a driven roller 23, and a conveyor belt 24. The drive motor 21 is controlled by the main control module 5 and can precisely control its start, stop, and operating speed. The drive roller 22 transmits the rotational force of the motor to the conveyor belt, while the driven roller 23 is responsible for supporting and tensioning the conveyor belt to ensure smooth operation. The surface of the conveyor belt 24 is provided with multiple dividing slots 25. These dividing slots 25 form independent loading units. Operators or feeding mechanisms place cigar tobacco leaves one by one into the dividing slots 25, ensuring that each tobacco leaf has a fixed, non-interfering position throughout the conveying process. Furthermore, since the drive motor is electrically connected to the control module 5, the control module 5 can accurately know the current physical position of each dividing slot 25 (e.g., by recording the number of pulses through an encoder), thereby accurately associating the collected data with the corresponding tobacco leaf when triggered by visual or spectral detection.

[0028] Optionally, in this embodiment, the grading and discharging module 6 includes a number of liftable discharging conveyor belts 61 equal to the number of tobacco leaf grades. Each discharging conveyor belt 61 is arranged side-by-side at the discharging end of the conveyor belt 24 of the conveyor belt system 2, and is perpendicular to the running direction of the conveyor belt 24. The outlet of each discharging conveyor belt 61 is located above the collection basket corresponding to the tobacco leaf grade. The discharging conveyor belt 61 is used to lift the cigar tobacco leaves at its front end, causing them to slide down into the corresponding collection basket by gravity.

[0029] In this embodiment, such as Figure 1As shown, the graded discharge module 6 can be implemented using a liftable discharge conveyor 61. This combines the longitudinal conveying of the main conveyor belt 24 with the lateral collection of multiple discharge conveyor belts 61. These multiple discharge conveyor belts 61 are arranged side-by-side at the discharge end of the main conveyor belt system 2, and their running direction is perpendicular to the main conveyor belt 24. This vertical arrangement forms a comb-like structure, allowing the tobacco leaves on the main conveyor belt 24 to enter different lateral channels upon reaching the end, according to instructions. The number of discharge conveyor belts 61 is the same as the preset number of tobacco leaf grades. For example, if the tobacco leaves are divided into grades 1 to 10, then 10 parallel discharge conveyor belts 61 are set accordingly. These discharge conveyor belts 61 have a liftable function. Initially, their inlet end is lower than the main conveyor belt 24. When the control module 5 determines that a tobacco leaf belongs to a certain grade (e.g., grade 1), when the tobacco leaf travels with the main conveyor belt 24 to the inlet position of the corresponding grade's discharge conveyor belt, the front end of that discharge conveyor belt 61 performs a lifting action. The outlet of the discharge conveyor belt 61 is suspended above the corresponding grade of collection basket. After being received, the tobacco leaves slide from the outlet end into the collection basket by the operation of the discharge conveyor belt 61 or by gravity. Specifically, photoelectric switches or encoders can be installed at the end of the main conveyor belt 24 or at each discharge port to accurately determine whether the tobacco leaves have reached the lifting position, ensuring that the timing of the lifting action is accurate.

[0030] Optionally, in this embodiment, the grading and discharging module 6 includes pushers of the same number as the tobacco leaf grades. Each pusher is arranged along one side of the conveyor belt of the conveyor belt system 2, and a guide chute is respectively provided on the other side of the conveyor belt of the conveyor belt system 2 corresponding to each pusher. The end of the guide chute is connected to the collection basket corresponding to the tobacco leaf grade. The pushers are used to push the cigar tobacco leaves on the conveyor belt of the conveyor belt system 2 away from the conveyor belt of the conveyor belt system 2, so that the pushed-away cigar tobacco leaves slide down the corresponding guide chute into the corresponding collection basket by gravity.

[0031] In this embodiment, the graded discharge module 6 can be implemented using a side-push type push rod combined with a guide chute. Specifically, it can adopt an opposing layout of push rod on one side and guide chute on the other side. Multiple push rods are arranged longitudinally along one side of the main conveyor belt; on the other side of the main conveyor belt, an independent guide chute is set at the position directly opposite each push rod. The number of push rods and guide chute is the same as the number of preset tobacco leaf grades. Each grade corresponds to a dedicated push rod and guide chute combination. For example, Grade 1 tobacco leaves correspond to push rod No. 1 and guide chute No. 1, and Grade 2 tobacco leaves correspond to push rod No. 2 and guide chute No. 2. When the control module 5 determines that a tobacco leaf belongs to a specific grade (such as Grade 2), the system will track the position of the tobacco leaf on the conveyor belt. When it runs to the position of push rod No. 2 corresponding to that grade, the control module 5 triggers the push rod action. The push rod extends forward, contacts the tobacco leaf from the side, and pushes it away from the main conveyor belt. The pushed tobacco leaf loses the support of the conveyor belt and falls into or slides into the opposite guide chute No. 2. The feed chute is an inclined, smooth slide. After the tobacco leaves enter, they automatically slide down to the corresponding grade collection basket connected at the end by gravity.

[0032] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0033] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of this patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An online grading device for cigar tobacco leaves based on the synergistic effect of visual sensing and chemical composition, characterized in that, include: The system includes a frame, a conveyor belt system, a vision sensing module, a near-infrared spectroscopy detection module, a control module, and a grading and discharge module. The control module is electrically connected to the conveyor belt system, the vision sensing module, the near-infrared spectroscopy detection module, and the graded discharge module, respectively. The conveyor belt system is installed on the frame and is used to transport cigar tobacco leaves; The visual sensing module is located above the feed end of the conveyor belt system and is used to collect the appearance image of the cigar tobacco leaves and transmit the appearance image to the control module. The control module is used to determine whether the cigar tobacco leaves are qualified tobacco leaves based on the appearance image; The near-infrared spectroscopy detection module is located behind the visual sensing module and above the conveyor belt system, and is used to collect the chemical composition spectral information of the cigar tobacco leaves. The control module is also used to identify the grade of the cigar tobacco leaf based on the chemical composition spectral information if the cigar tobacco leaf belongs to the category of tobacco leaves with acceptable appearance. The grading and discharge module is located at the discharge end of the conveyor belt system and is used to grade and discharge the cigar tobacco leaves according to their grade.

2. The online grading device for cigar tobacco leaves based on the synergistic effect of visual sensing and chemical components as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The vision sensing module includes an industrial camera, a light source assembly, and an image acquisition card. The light source assembly is located on both sides of the industrial camera to provide illumination for the images captured by the industrial camera. The appearance image captured by the industrial camera is digitized by the image acquisition card and then transmitted to the control module.

3. The online grading device for cigar tobacco leaves based on the synergistic effect of visual sensing and chemical components as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The near-infrared spectroscopy detection module includes a near-infrared spectrometer, a fiber optic probe, and a spectral data processing unit. The fiber optic probe faces the conveyor surface of the conveyor belt system. When the cigar tobacco leaves move with the conveyor belt to a position directly below the fiber optic probe, the fiber optic probe emits near-infrared light and receives reflected or projected spectral signals. The spectral data processing unit converts the received spectral signals into digitized chemical composition spectral information and transmits it to the control module.

4. The online grading device for cigar tobacco leaves based on the synergistic effect of visual sensing and chemical components as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The conveyor belt system includes a drive motor, a drive roller, a driven roller, and a conveyor belt. The drive motor is electrically connected to the control module. The conveyor belt is fitted onto the drive roller and the driven roller. The conveyor belt is provided with multiple dividing grooves for limiting the position of cigar tobacco leaves.

5. The online grading device for cigar tobacco leaves based on the synergistic effect of visual sensing and chemical composition according to claim 4, characterized in that, The graded discharge module includes a number of liftable discharge conveyor belts equal to the number of tobacco leaf grades. Each discharge conveyor belt is arranged side by side at the discharge end of the conveyor belt of the conveyor belt system and is perpendicular to the running direction of the conveyor belt of the conveyor belt system. The outlet of the discharge conveyor belt is located above the collection basket of the corresponding tobacco leaf grade.

6. The online grading device for cigar tobacco leaves based on the synergistic effect of visual sensing and chemical components according to claim 5, characterized in that, The discharge conveyor belt is used to lift the cigar tobacco leaves at the front end so that they slide down into the corresponding collection basket by gravity.

7. The online grading device for cigar tobacco leaves based on the synergistic effect of visual sensing and chemical components according to claim 4, characterized in that, The graded discharge module includes push rods of the same number as the tobacco leaf grades. Each push rod is arranged along one side of the conveyor belt of the conveyor belt system. A guide trough is provided on the other side of the conveyor belt system corresponding to each push rod. The end of the guide trough is connected to the collection basket corresponding to the tobacco leaf grade.

8. The online grading device for cigar tobacco leaves based on the synergistic effect of visual sensing and chemical components according to claim 7, characterized in that, The pusher is used to push the cigar tobacco leaves on the conveyor belt of the conveyor belt system away from the conveyor belt system, so that the pushed-away cigar tobacco leaves slide down the corresponding guide chute by gravity into the corresponding collection basket.

9. The online grading device for cigar tobacco leaves based on the synergistic effect of visual sensing and chemical composition according to claim 5 or 7, characterized in that, Tobacco leaf grades include multiple grades that meet appearance standards and one grade that does not meet appearance standards.

10. The online grading device for cigar tobacco leaves based on the synergistic effect of visual sensing and chemical components according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control module stores a cigar tobacco leaf appearance quality model and a chemical composition model. The cigar tobacco leaf appearance quality model is used to determine whether the appearance quality of the cigar tobacco leaf is qualified based on the appearance image of the cigar tobacco leaf, and the chemical composition model is used to determine the tobacco leaf grade of the cigar tobacco leaf based on the chemical composition spectral information of the cigar tobacco leaf.

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