Intelligent pepper color sorter based on image recognition

Abstract

The utility model discloses an intelligent pepper color sorter based on image recognition. The intelligent pepper color sorter comprises a color sorting box, a first cleaning mechanism, a second cleaning mechanism, a splitter plate, a color sorting mechanism and a control box, wherein the first cleaning mechanism, the second cleaning mechanism, the splitter plate, the color sorting mechanism and the control box are arranged in the color sorting box; a feeding hopper, a first discharging hopper and a second discharging hopper are arranged on the color sorting box; the first cleaning mechanism comprises a sliding material cleaning plate, a first cleaning liquid collecting box and a plurality of first spraying heads; the second cleaning mechanism comprises a cleaning conveying belt, a second cleaning liquid collecting box and a plurality of second spraying heads; sewage generated by cleaning of the first cleaning mechanism and the second cleaning mechanism is recycled through a sewage recycling assembly; the shunting plate comprises an inclined box body and a shunting block; the color sorting mechanism comprises a color sorting recognizer, a pepper pushing-out assembly, two upper-layer conveying belts and a lower-layer conveying belt. After being cleaned, the hot peppers enter the splitter plate to form two narrow channels for conveying the hot peppers, bad hot peppers are brushed out of the upper-layer conveying belt through the hot pepper pushing-out assembly and fall onto the lower-layer conveying belt, layered conveying is carried out, and screening is more accurate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of chili pepper sorting technology, and in particular to a smart chili pepper color sorter based on image recognition. Background Technology

[0002] Photoelectric color sorters are non-destructive sorting devices used for the quality inspection and grading of bulk materials. They are widely used in industries such as grain, food, pigments, and chemicals. They are highly effective at separating difficult-to-sort materials such as recycled plastic flakes, plastic granules, corn, various beans, various types of rice, ores, chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, garlic cloves, sunflower seeds, raisins, seeds, traditional Chinese medicine, dried shrimp, shrimp shells, anchovies, glass, metals, and rods of the same color, as well as other harmful impurities and special materials. Existing chili pepper color sorter technology has the following problems: Current chili pepper color sorters generally sort based on color differences. However, if the chili peppers are not thoroughly cleaned, the color difference between good and inferior peppers may be minimal, leading to uneven classification. Furthermore, removing inferior chili peppers and minimizing the amount of good peppers removed during the screening process is relatively difficult, generally resulting in a certain number of good peppers being removed along with the inferior ones. Utility Model Content

[0003] This invention aims to at least partially solve one of the technical problems in related technologies. Therefore, one objective of this invention is to propose an intelligent chili pepper color sorter based on image recognition, which solves problems such as low sorting accuracy and the problem of a large number of good chilies being rejected during the sorting process.

[0004] According to the present invention, a chili intelligent color sorter based on image recognition is provided, comprising a color sorting box, a first cleaning mechanism, a second cleaning mechanism disposed in the color sorting box, a diverting plate, a color sorting mechanism, and a control box;

[0005] The color sorting box has a feeding hopper at the top center of the left side wall, and the lower half of the right side wall of the color sorting box has a first discharge hopper and a second discharge hopper from top to bottom.

[0006] The first cleaning mechanism includes a material cleaning plate, a first cleaning liquid collection box, and multiple first spray heads. A first water supply pipe is inserted into the top of the first cleaning liquid collection box and passes through the top wall of the color sorting box to the outside. The first cleaning liquid collection box is installed on the inner top wall of the color sorting box through a connecting rod. Multiple first spray heads are evenly distributed on the bottom wall of the first cleaning liquid collection box. The material cleaning plate is fixed from the inner left side wall of the color sorting box below the feeding hopper and tilts downward. First leakage holes are evenly distributed on the material cleaning plate directly below the multiple first spray heads. A vibration motor is provided at the bottom of the lower half of the material cleaning plate.

[0007] The second cleaning mechanism includes a cleaning conveyor belt, a second cleaning collection box, and multiple second spray heads. A second water supply pipe is inserted into the top of the second cleaning collection box and passes through the top wall of the color sorting box to the outside. The second cleaning collection box is installed on the inner top wall of the color sorting box via a connecting rod. Multiple second spray heads are evenly distributed on the bottom wall of the second cleaning collection box, and the multiple second spray heads face downwards to target the front half of the cleaning conveyor belt. A hot air blower is provided above the rear half of the cleaning conveyor belt and is fixed to the inner top wall of the color sorting box via a connecting rod. The output end of the material cleaning plate is located above the input end of the cleaning conveyor belt.

[0008] The wastewater from the first and second cleaning units is recycled through a wastewater recovery assembly.

[0009] The diverter plate includes an inclined box and a diverter block. The output end of the inclined box has no sidewalls, and a triangular diverter block is provided on the output end of the inclined box. The diverter block divides the output end of the inclined box into two narrowed output ports.

[0010] The color sorting mechanism includes a color sorter, a chili pepper ejection assembly, two upper conveyor belts, and a lower conveyor belt. The input ends of the two upper conveyor belts are located below the corresponding two output ports. Each upper conveyor belt has two color sorters and two chili pepper ejection assemblies arranged at intervals. Each color sorter is located in front of the chili pepper ejection assembly. The width of the lower conveyor belt is greater than the sum of the widths of the two upper conveyor belts and is located below the two upper conveyor belts. The output ends of the two upper conveyor belts are located above the input end of the first discharge hopper, and the output end of the lower conveyor belt is located above the second discharge hopper.

[0011] The control box is used to control the operation of the entire color sorter and is electrically connected to the control panel on one side wall of the color sorter.

[0012] In some embodiments of this utility model, the wastewater recycling assembly includes a first recycling box, a second recycling box, and a third recycling box, all three boxes having openings at the top. The first recycling box is located below a first leakage hole, and the opening of the box is larger than the area enclosed by the first leakage hole. The second recycling box is located between two layers of the washing conveyor belt, and the width of the second recycling box is greater than the width of the washing conveyor belt. The length of the second recycling box is less than the gap between the two conveying rollers on the washing conveyor belt. The bottoms of both the first and second recycling boxes are connected to the third recycling box through pipes. The bottom of the third recycling box is provided with a drain pipe, and the drain pipe penetrates the side wall of the color sorting box to the outside.

[0013] In some other embodiments of this utility model, the cleaning conveyor belt includes a first drive roller, a second drive roller, and a conveying cleaning belt. The first drive roller and the second drive roller both taper smoothly from both ends to the middle. The conveying cleaning belt is fitted onto the first drive roller and the second drive roller. The middle position of the conveying cleaning belt is concave. The conveying cleaning belt has second leakage holes evenly distributed on it.

[0014] In some other embodiments of this utility model, the color sorter is a photoelectric color sorter.

[0015] In some other embodiments of this utility model, the controller inside the control box is equipped with a database, which stores data on the different colors of different chili peppers.

[0016] In some other embodiments of this utility model, the chili-pushing assembly includes an inverted U-shaped frame, a push plate, a servo motor, a lead screw, and a limiting slide bar. The inner side of the inverted U-shaped frame is provided with two parallel limiting slide bars. The upper half of the push plate is movably fitted onto the two limiting slide bars on both sides. The two ends of the lead screw are rotatably mounted on the two side plates of the inverted U-shaped frame. The lead screw spirally passes through the push plate. A servo motor is fixedly installed on one vertical plate of the inverted U-shaped frame. The servo motor shaft is connected to one end of the lead screw. The bottom edge of the push plate is provided with a brush that contacts the upper conveyor belt.

[0017] In this invention, the chili peppers are thoroughly cleaned by two cleaning mechanisms, removing dust from their surface before being dried. This reduces the amount of moisture they carry. After cleaning, the chili peppers enter a diversion plate, forming two narrow channels for transport. The chili peppers are then individually conveyed onto the upper conveyor belt. After being identified by a color sorter, chili peppers with poor color are brushed off the upper conveyor belt by a chili pepper ejection assembly and fall onto the lower conveyor belt for stratified transport. This prevents the chili peppers from clustering and avoids carrying away too many good chili peppers during the brushing process, resulting in more accurate sorting. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate the present invention and form part of the specification. They are used together with the embodiments of the present invention to explain the present invention, but do not constitute a limitation thereof. In the drawings:

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an intelligent chili pepper color sorter based on image recognition proposed in this utility model.

[0020] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of an intelligent chili pepper color sorter based on image recognition proposed in this utility model.

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the cleaning conveyor belt proposed in this utility model.

[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the flow divider and color sorting mechanism proposed in this utility model.

[0023] In the diagram: 1. Color sorter; 11. First water supply pipe; 111. First cleaning liquid collection box; 12. Second water supply pipe; 121. Second cleaning liquid collection box; 13. Feed hopper; 14. Control panel; 15. Drain pipe; 16. First discharge hopper; 17. Second discharge hopper; 2. Sliding cleaning plate; 21. First leakage hole; 22. Vibrating motor; 3. First recycling box; 4. Cleaning conveyor belt; 401. First drive roller; 402. 41. Second drive roller; 42. Second recycling box; 43. Hot air blower; 44. Conveying and cleaning belt; 45. Second drain hole; 5. Third recycling box; 6. Diverter plate; 66. Diverter block; 67. Output port; 78. Control box; 79. Color sorter; 80. Chili ejector assembly; 81. Inverted frame; 82. Push plate; 82. Brush; 83. Lead screw; 84. Limiting slide bar; 9. Upper conveyor belt; 10. Lower conveyor belt. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments.

[0025] Examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0026] Reference Figure 1-4 A chili intelligent color sorter based on image recognition includes a color sorting box 1, a first cleaning mechanism, a second cleaning mechanism, a diverter plate 6, a color sorting mechanism, and a control box 7 disposed within the color sorting box 1.

[0027] The color sorting box 1 has a feeding hopper 13 at the top center of the left side wall, and the lower half of the right side wall of the color sorting box 1 has a first discharge hopper 16 and a second discharge hopper 17 arranged from top to bottom.

[0028] The first cleaning mechanism includes a material cleaning plate 2, a first cleaning liquid collection box 111, and multiple first spray heads. A first water supply pipe 11 is inserted into the top of the first cleaning liquid collection box 111 and the first water supply pipe 11 passes through the top wall of the color sorting box 1 to the outside. The first cleaning liquid collection box 111 is installed on the inner top wall of the color sorting box 1 through a connecting rod. Multiple first spray heads are evenly distributed on the bottom wall of the first cleaning liquid collection box 111. The material cleaning plate 2 is fixed from the inner left side wall of the color sorting box 1 below the feeding hopper 13 and tilts downward. First leakage holes 21 are evenly distributed on the material cleaning plate 2 directly below the multiple first spray heads. A vibration motor 22 is provided at the bottom of the lower half of the material cleaning plate 2.

[0029] Chili peppers are slowly poured into the feeding hopper 13 and slide down the sliding cleaning plate 2 (which has baffles on both sides). During the descent, the first cleaning liquid collection box 111 sprays water evenly from multiple first spray heads, similar to a shower head. The water is sprayed onto the chili peppers to clean them. Most of the water flows down from the first drain hole 21, and some is output from the output end of the sliding cleaning plate 2. The vibration process helps the chili peppers to spread evenly and flow before being transported to the cleaning conveyor belt 4.

[0030] The second cleaning mechanism includes a cleaning conveyor belt 4, a second cleaning liquid collection box 121, and multiple second spray heads. A second water supply pipe 12 is inserted into the top of the second cleaning liquid collection box 121 and passes through the top wall of the color sorting box 1 to the outside. The second cleaning liquid collection box 121 is installed on the inner top wall of the color sorting box 1 through a connecting rod. Multiple second spray heads are evenly distributed on the bottom wall of the second cleaning liquid collection box 121, and the multiple second spray heads face downwards to target the front half of the cleaning conveyor belt 4. A hot air blower 42 is provided above the rear half of the cleaning conveyor belt 4 and the hot air blower 42 is fixed to the inner top wall of the color sorting box 1 through a connecting rod. The output end of the sliding cleaning plate 2 is located above the input end of the cleaning conveyor belt 4.

[0031] Similar to the first cleaning mechanism's spray cleaning, the second cleaning collection box 121 sprays water droplets through multiple second spray heads for secondary cleaning, and then blows dry the water in the latter half, greatly reducing the amount of water carried.

[0032] The wastewater from the first and second cleaning units is recycled through a wastewater recovery assembly.

[0033] The diverter plate 6 includes an inclined box and a diverter block 61. The output end of the inclined box has no sidewalls. A triangular diverter block 61 is provided on the output end of the inclined box. The diverter block 61 divides the output end of the inclined box into two narrowed output ports 62.

[0034] A vibrating button is set at the bottom of the tilted box, and the chili peppers are evenly distributed and output from the two output ports 62, falling onto the two upper conveyor belts 9 respectively.

[0035] The color sorting mechanism includes a color sorter 71, a chili pepper ejection assembly 8, two upper conveyor belts 9, and a lower conveyor belt 10. The input ends of the two upper conveyor belts 9 are located below the corresponding two output ports 62. Each upper conveyor belt 9 is provided with two color sorters 71 and two chili pepper ejection assemblies 8, which are spaced apart from each other. Each color sorter 71 is located in front of the chili pepper ejection assembly 8. The width of the lower conveyor belt 10 is greater than the sum of the widths of the two upper conveyor belts 9 and is located below the two upper conveyor belts 9. The output ends of the two upper conveyor belts 9 are located above the input end of the first discharge hopper 16, and the output end of the lower conveyor belt 10 is located above the second discharge hopper 17.

[0036] The color sorter 71 can identify the color of the chili peppers. When it determines that the color does not match, it activates the chili pepper ejection assembly 8 to eject the chili peppers, which then fall onto the lower conveyor belt 10. Each upper conveyor belt 9 has two screening processes, resulting in higher screening accuracy.

[0037] The control box 7 is used to control the operation of the entire color sorter and is electrically connected to the control panel 14 on one side wall of the color sorter 1.

[0038] The wastewater recycling assembly includes a first recycling box 3, a second recycling box 41, and a third recycling box 5, all three boxes having openings at the top. The first recycling box 3 is located below the first leakage hole 21, and the opening of the box is larger than the area enclosed by the first leakage hole 21. The second recycling box 41 is located between the two layers of the cleaning conveyor belt 4, and the width of the second recycling box 41 is greater than the width of the cleaning conveyor belt 4. The length of the second recycling box 41 is less than the gap between the two conveying rollers on the cleaning conveyor belt 4. The bottoms of the first recycling box 3 and the second recycling box 41 are connected to the third recycling box 5 through pipes. The bottom of the third recycling box 5 is provided with a drain pipe 15, which penetrates the side wall of the color sorting box 1 to the outside.

[0039] The falling water falls into the first recycling box 3 and the second recycling box 41 respectively. The second recycling box 41 is wider than the washing conveyor belt 4, which can improve the water recovery rate. It also has a pipe on the side wall for direct flow.

[0040] The cleaning conveyor belt 4 includes a first drive roller 401, a second drive roller 402, and a conveying cleaning belt 43. The first drive roller 401 and the second drive roller 402 both taper smoothly from both ends to the middle. The conveying cleaning belt 43 is fitted on the first drive roller 401 and the second drive roller 402. The middle position of the conveying cleaning belt 43 is concave. Second leakage holes 431 are evenly distributed on the conveying cleaning belt 43.

[0041] The concave conveyor belt 43 facilitates the collection of chili peppers and also helps to collect water, preventing water from flowing outwards.

[0042] The color sorting and identification device 71 is a photoelectric color sorter. It is available on the market; conventional chili peppers are typically sorted using color sorters, which are more suitable than photoelectric color sorters.

[0043] The controller inside the control box 7 is equipped with a database that stores data on the different colors of various chili peppers. By establishing an image database of chili pepper varieties and the different colors of each variety, image recognition is used for filtering.

[0044] The chili-pushing assembly 8 includes an inverted U-shaped frame 81, a push plate 82, a servo motor, a lead screw 83, and limiting slide rods 84. The inverted U-shaped frame 81 has two parallel limiting slide rods 84 on its inner side. The upper half of the push plate 82 is movably fitted onto the two limiting slide rods 84 on both sides. The two ends of the lead screw 83 are rotatably mounted on the two side plates of the inverted U-shaped frame 81. The lead screw 83 spirally passes through the push plate 82. A servo motor is fixedly installed on one side vertical plate of the inverted U-shaped frame 81. The servo motor shaft is connected to one end of the lead screw 83. The bottom of the push plate 82 is provided with a brush 821 that contacts the upper conveyor belt 9.

[0045] A servo motor drives a lead screw to move a pusher plate 82. A brush 821 pushes the chili peppers off the upper conveyor belt 9 and onto the lower conveyor belt 10. Thus, the first discharge hopper 16 outputs qualified chili peppers, while the second discharge hopper 17 outputs unqualified chili peppers. The brushes are relatively short, less than 1 cm, primarily to prevent them from getting stuck on the conveyor belt.

[0046] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model, but the protection scope of the present utility model is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or changes made by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present utility model, based on the technical solution and the inventive concept of the present utility model, should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A chili pepper intelligent color sorter based on image recognition, characterized in that: It includes a color sorting box (1), a first cleaning mechanism, a second cleaning mechanism, a flow divider (6), a color sorting mechanism, and a control box (7) disposed within the color sorting box (1); The color sorting box (1) has a feeding hopper (13) at the top center of the left side wall, and the lower half of the right side wall of the color sorting box (1) has a first discharge hopper (16) and a second discharge hopper (17) arranged from top to bottom. The first cleaning mechanism includes a material cleaning plate (2), a first cleaning liquid collection box (111) and a plurality of first spray heads. The top of the first cleaning liquid collection box (111) is connected to a first water supply pipe (11) and the first water supply pipe (11) passes through the top wall of the color sorting box (1) to the outside. The first cleaning liquid collection box (111) is installed on the inner top wall of the color sorting box (1) by a connecting rod. A plurality of first spray heads are evenly distributed on the bottom wall of the first cleaning liquid collection box (111). The material cleaning plate (2) is fixed from the inner left side wall of the color sorting box (1) below the feeding hopper (13) and tilted downward. A first leakage hole (21) is evenly distributed on the material cleaning plate (2) directly below the plurality of first spray heads. The material cleaning plate (2) is provided with a vibration motor (22) at the bottom of the lower half. The second cleaning mechanism includes a cleaning conveyor belt (4), a second cleaning collection box (121), and multiple second spray heads. A second water supply pipe (12) is inserted into the top of the second cleaning collection box (121) and the second water supply pipe (12) passes through the top wall of the color sorting box (1) to the outside. The second cleaning collection box (121) is installed on the inner top wall of the color sorting box (1) by a connecting rod. Multiple second spray heads are evenly distributed on the bottom wall of the second cleaning collection box (121). The multiple second spray heads face downwards and target the front half of the cleaning conveyor belt (4). A hot air blower (42) is provided above the rear half of the cleaning conveyor belt (4) and the hot air blower (42) is fixed to the inner top wall of the color sorting box (1) by a connecting rod. The output end of the sliding cleaning plate (2) is located above the input end of the cleaning conveyor belt (4). The wastewater from the first and second cleaning units is recycled through a wastewater recovery assembly. The diverter plate (6) includes an inclined box and a diverter block (61). The output end of the inclined box has no sidewalls. A triangular diverter block (61) is provided on the output end of the inclined box. The diverter block (61) divides the output end of the inclined box into two narrowed output ports (62). The color sorting mechanism includes a color sorter (71), a chili pepper ejection assembly (8), two upper conveyor belts (9) and a lower conveyor belt (10). The input ends of the two upper conveyor belts (9) are located below the corresponding two output ports (62). Each upper conveyor belt (9) is provided with two color sorters (71) and two chili pepper ejection assemblies (8) and they are spaced apart from each other. Each color sorter (71) is located in front of the chili pepper ejection assembly (8). The width of the lower conveyor belt (10) is greater than the sum of the widths of the two upper conveyor belts (9) and is located below the two upper conveyor belts (9). The output ends of the two upper conveyor belts (9) are located above the input end of the first discharge hopper (16), and the output end of the lower conveyor belt (10) is located above the second discharge hopper (17). The control box (7) is used to control the operation of the entire color sorter and is electrically connected to the control panel (14) on one side wall of the color sorter (1).

2. The intelligent chili pepper color sorter based on image recognition according to claim 1, characterized in that: The wastewater recycling assembly includes a first recycling box (3), a second recycling box (41), and a third recycling box (5), and all three boxes have openings at the top. The first recycling box (3) is located below the first leakage hole (21), and the opening of the box is larger than the area enclosed by the first leakage hole (21). The second recycling box (41) is located between the two layers of the washing conveyor belt (4). The width of the second recycling box (41) is greater than the width of the washing conveyor belt (4). The length of the second recycling box (41) is less than the gap between the two conveying rollers on the washing conveyor belt (4). The bottoms of the first recycling box (3) and the second recycling box (41) are connected to the third recycling box (5) through pipes. The bottom of the third recycling box (5) is provided with a drain pipe (15), and the drain pipe (15) passes through the side wall of the color sorting box (1) to the outside.

3. The intelligent chili pepper color sorter based on image recognition according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cleaning conveyor belt (4) includes a first drive roller (401), a second drive roller (402), and a conveying cleaning belt (43). The first drive roller (401) and the second drive roller (402) both taper smoothly from both ends to the middle. The conveying cleaning belt (43) is fitted on the first drive roller (401) and the second drive roller (402). The middle position of the conveying cleaning belt (43) is concave. The conveying cleaning belt (43) has second leakage holes (431) evenly distributed on it.

4. The intelligent chili pepper color sorter based on image recognition according to claim 1, characterized in that: The color sorter (71) is an optoelectronic color sorter.

5. A chili intelligent color sorter based on image recognition according to claim 1, characterized in that: The controller inside the control box (7) is equipped with a database, which stores data on the different colors of different chili peppers.

6. A chili intelligent color sorter based on image recognition according to claim 1, characterized in that: The chili-pushing assembly (8) includes an inverted U-shaped frame (81), a push plate (82), a servo motor, a lead screw (83), and a limiting slide bar (84). The inverted U-shaped frame (81) has two parallel limiting slide bars (84) on its inner side. The upper half of the push plate (82) is movably fitted on the two limiting slide bars (84) on both sides. The two ends of the lead screw (83) are rotatably mounted on the two side plates of the inverted U-shaped frame (81). The lead screw (83) spirally passes through the push plate (82). A servo motor is fixedly installed on one side vertical plate of the inverted U-shaped frame (81). The servo motor shaft is connected to one end of the lead screw (83). The bottom edge of the push plate (82) is provided with a brush (821) that contacts the upper conveyor belt (9).

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