A citrus fruit sorting machine

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of sugar orange sorting machines, it includes workbench, detection support is fixedly connected on the workbench, three industrial high-speed cameras are fixedly connected in the detection support, lamp tube is fixedly connected in the middle of both sides of the detection support;Three pneumatic nozzles are fixedly connected with workbench left side rear end, special grade fruit conveying way, ordinary fruit conveying way and blemished fruit conveying way are fixedly connected with workbench left side front end, three fruit feeding pipes are fixedly connected with workbench left end, fruit basket is equipped below the fruit feeding pipe, the comprehensive appearance data of sugar orange in conveying is collected by industrial high-speed camera cooperation special lamp tube lighting, based on image analysis result, programming system determines fruit grade, and real-time instruction corresponding position pneumatic nozzle starts, fruit is blown into corresponding conveying way, this automatic process significantly improves sorting efficiency and precision, while effectively reduces artificial cost and sorting error rate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of fresh fruit testing and food testing technology, and in particular to a tangerine sorting machine. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional tangerine sorting mainly relies on manual visual screening or mechanical drum sieving, which has three major drawbacks: First, manual sorting is inefficient and prone to subjective errors, failing to meet the needs of large-scale processing; second, drum-type equipment results in a high rate of fruit collision damage, severely impacting the commercial value; and third, existing machinery can only perform coarse size sorting, completely failing to detect key quality indicators such as misshapen fruit, mold spots, and sunburn. With the increasing demands for standardization of fruits due to consumption upgrades and the strengthening of export pesticide residue traceability regulations, there is an urgent need to develop intelligent sorting equipment that integrates non-destructive testing, multi-dimensional grading, and low-damage treatment.

[0003] A search revealed Chinese Patent Publication No. CN222267910U, which discloses a fruit sorting machine. The machine includes a frame with a feeding rack fixedly mounted on its upper surface. The feeding rack has a first discharge port and a second discharge port at its ends. A first cylinder, a second cylinder, and a third cylinder are fixedly mounted on the front side of the upper surface of the frame. A fifth cylinder is fixedly mounted inside a fixed block. A fruit diameter measuring instrument is fixedly mounted on the output shaft end of the fifth cylinder, and a third push plate is fixedly mounted on the output shaft end of the fourth cylinder. This invention proposes a fruit sorting machine where, when the fruit diameter is large, the third cylinder operates, causing the second push plate to move outward, pushing the fruit to the first discharge port. At the outlet, when the fruit diameter is small, the fourth cylinder drives the third pusher plate to move outward, pushing the fruit to the second discharge port. The fruit then enters the basket through the second discharge port, thus achieving fruit sorting. During this process, there will be no jamming, and the fruit will not be damaged. This patent uses a cylinder-driven pusher plate structure for sorting and pushing, which is precise and reliable, effectively avoiding jamming during the sorting process. It also uses a non-contact fruit diameter measuring instrument to identify the size, and the pusher plate gently pushes the fruit to the corresponding outlet, avoiding damage to the fruit throughout the process and ensuring the quality of the sorted fruit. However, it still cannot completely detect key quality indicators such as mold and sunburn. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a mandarin orange sorting machine that solves the problem that fruit sorting machines cannot fully detect key quality indicators such as mold spots and sunburn when screening mandarin oranges.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, a tangerine sorting machine is provided, including a workbench, a detection bracket fixedly connected to the workbench, three industrial high-speed cameras fixedly connected inside the detection bracket, and lamp tubes fixedly connected to the middle of both sides of the detection bracket.

[0006] Three pneumatic nozzles are fixedly connected to the rear left side of the workbench. A premium fruit conveyor, a regular fruit conveyor, and a defective fruit conveyor are fixedly connected to the front left side of the workbench. Three fruit delivery pipes are fixedly connected to the left end of the workbench, and fruit baskets are provided below each of the fruit delivery pipes.

[0007] According to the aforementioned tangerine sorting machine, a drive roller is rotatably connected to the left side of the worktable, and a driven roller is rotatably connected to the right side of the worktable. The drive roller and the driven roller are tensioned by belts.

[0008] According to the aforementioned tangerine sorting machine, a motor bracket is fixedly connected to the rear end of the worktable, a motor is fixedly connected to the motor bracket, and the output end of the motor is fixedly connected to the drive roller.

[0009] According to the aforementioned mandarin orange sorting machine, the workbench is provided with a single-row conveyor, and the single-row conveyor is provided with a V-shaped guide groove.

[0010] According to the aforementioned mandarin orange sorting machine, a fruit feeding module support leg is fixedly connected to the bottom right end of the single-row conveyor, and a fruit feeding pipe is fixedly connected to the single-row conveyor, with a valve opened on the fruit feeding pipe.

[0011] According to the aforementioned mandarin orange sorting machine, an air compressor is provided on the left side of the workbench, and an air compressor motor is fixedly connected to the air compressor.

[0012] According to the aforementioned mandarin orange sorting machine, an air supply pipe is fixedly connected to the air compressor, and the air supply pipe is fixedly connected to the worktable.

[0013] According to the aforementioned mandarin orange sorting machine, sorting module support legs are fixedly connected to the four corners of the bottom of the workbench.

[0014] The above-mentioned solution has the following beneficial effects:

[0015] 1. This equipment utilizes an industrial high-speed camera with dedicated lighting to automatically and efficiently collect comprehensive appearance data of each tangerine during transport. Based on the image analysis results, the programming system accurately determines the fruit grade and in real time instructs the corresponding pneumatic nozzles to start, blowing the fruit into the conveyor channels for premium, ordinary, or defective fruit. This automated process completely replaces traditional manual visual sorting, significantly improving sorting efficiency and accuracy, while effectively reducing labor costs and sorting error rates.

[0016] 2. This equipment adopts a single-row conveyor design with a V-shaped guide trough to ensure that the mandarin oranges are transported in a single, orderly and stable manner during the inspection and sorting process. This avoids collisions and squeezing between fruits, effectively reducing mechanical damage. At the same time, the non-contact pneumatic spray sorting method has minimal impact on the fruit surface, further protecting the integrity of the peel and maintaining the commercial value and shelf life of the mandarin oranges.

[0017] Additional aspects and advantages of this invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments;

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a mandarin orange sorting machine according to this utility model;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the sorting module of a mandarin orange sorting machine according to the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a front view of a mandarin orange sorting machine according to the present invention;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a side view of a mandarin orange sorting machine according to the present invention;

[0023] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the air compressor connection for a mandarin orange sorting machine according to this utility model.

[0024] Legend:

[0025] 1. Premium fruit conveyor; 2. Regular fruit conveyor; 3. Defective fruit conveyor; 4. Fruit basket; 5. Workbench; 6. Fruit delivery pipe; 7. Valve; 8. Fruit delivery module support leg; 9. Pneumatic nozzle; 10. Drive roller; 11. Industrial high-speed camera; 12. Lamp tube; 13. Driven roller; 14. Detection bracket; 15. Single-row conveyor; 16. Belt; 17. V-shaped guide trough; 18. Motor; 19. Motor bracket; 20. Sorting module support leg; 21. Air compressor; 22. Air delivery pipe; 23. Air compressor motor. Detailed Implementation

[0026] This section will describe in detail the specific embodiments of the present utility model. The preferred embodiments of the present utility model are shown in the accompanying drawings. The purpose of the drawings is to supplement the textual description with graphics, so that people can intuitively and vividly understand each technical feature and the overall technical solution of the present utility model, but they should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present utility model.

[0027] Reference Figure 1-4 This utility model provides a tangerine sorting machine, which includes a workbench 5. A detection bracket 14 is fixedly connected to the workbench 5. Three industrial high-speed cameras 11 are fixedly connected inside the detection bracket 14. Lamp tubes 12 are fixedly connected to the middle of both sides of the detection bracket 14. Under the condition that the industrial high-speed cameras 11 provide stable, uniform and high-brightness illumination, they take high-speed pictures of the fruits passing below. Each camera works together to provide stereo vision, accurately capture the surface features and defects of the fruits, and high-speed shooting ensures clear imaging even when the fruits are moving quickly.

[0028] Three pneumatic nozzles 9 are fixedly connected to the rear left side of the workbench 5. A premium fruit conveyor 1, a regular fruit conveyor 2, and a defective fruit conveyor 3 are fixedly connected to the front left side of the workbench 5. Three fruit delivery pipes 6 are fixedly connected to the left end of the workbench 5. Each fruit delivery pipe 6 has a fruit basket 4 below it. The three pneumatic nozzles 9 are precisely aligned with the entrance areas of the three fruit delivery pipes 6. After the vision system completes the grade determination of a single fruit, the control system, based on the determination result, instantly triggers the corresponding pneumatic nozzle 9 when the fruit reaches the sorting position below the corresponding nozzle. Compressed air is ejected at high speed from the nozzle, generating a precise airflow impact force that blows the fruit away from its conveying path, causing it to fall into the corresponding fruit delivery pipe 6 below. The fruit slides down the fruit delivery pipe 6 and finally falls into the fruit basket 4 corresponding to its grade, achieving automatic sorting and collection.

[0029] A drive roller 10 is tumbling connected to the left side of the workbench 5, and a driven roller 13 is tumbling connected to the right side of the workbench 5. A belt 16 is tensioned between the drive roller 10 and the driven roller 13. The drive roller 10 and the driven roller 13 constitute the two fulcrums of the conveying system. The belt 16 is tightly tensioned on these two rollers. When the drive roller 10 rotates, it drives the belt 16 to circulate through friction. The fruit is placed on the upper surface of the belt 16 and is carried by the moving belt 16 and smoothly conveyed forward in a set direction, passing through the detection area and the sorting area in sequence.

[0030] A motor bracket 19 is fixedly connected to the rear end of the workbench 5. A motor 18 is fixedly connected to the motor bracket 19. The output end of the motor 18 is fixedly connected to the drive roller 10. The motor 18 serves as the power source for the entire conveying system. Its output shaft is directly connected to the shaft of the drive roller 10. After the motor 18 starts, its rotational power is directly transmitted to the drive roller 10, driving the drive roller 10 to rotate. The speed control of the motor 18 determines the speed of the drive roller 10, thereby precisely controlling the conveying speed of the belt 16 to adapt to different processing efficiency requirements.

[0031] The workbench 5 is equipped with a single-row conveyor 15, on which a V-shaped guide trough 17 is opened. The single-row conveyor 15 is located above the workbench 5 and is a pre-processing channel for fruits before they enter the main conveying system. Its core is the V-shaped guide trough 17 that runs through the entire conveyor. This V-shaped structure can effectively constrain randomly poured fruits, forcing them to line up in a single row along the bottom of the guide trough and adjust their orientation. This ensures that the fruits enter the subsequent visual inspection area and pneumatic sorting area one after another in an orderly manner, avoiding overlap and crowding. It is a key pre-step to ensure high-speed and accurate inspection and sorting.

[0032] A fruit-feeding module support leg 8 is fixedly connected to the bottom right end of the single conveyor 15. A fruit-feeding pipe 6 is fixedly connected to the single conveyor 15, and a valve 7 is installed on the fruit-feeding pipe 6. The fruit-feeding module support leg 8 stably supports the single conveyor 15 at a certain height above the workbench 5. The fruit-feeding pipe 6 on the single conveyor 15 is the inlet for the fruit. The valve 7 is installed on the fruit-feeding pipe 6. The control system controls the opening and closing of the valve 7 according to the real-time status of the main conveyor line. When the main conveyor line is ready to receive the next fruit, the valve 7 opens, allowing the fruit queuing at the end of the single conveyor 15 to fall into the fruit-feeding pipe 6 under gravity and eventually slide down onto the belt 16 running below. When it is necessary to pause feeding, the valve 7 closes to prevent subsequent fruit from falling, thus playing a buffering and throttling role.

[0033] An air compressor 21 is installed on the left side of the workbench 5. An air compressor motor 23 is fixedly connected to the air compressor 21. The air compressor 21 is the power source for the pneumatic actuator of the sorting system. The air compressor motor 23 drives the compression mechanism inside the air compressor 21 to compress the intake air, increase its pressure, and store the compressed air in the connected air tank. The continuously running air compressor 21 ensures that the air tank always maintains sufficient pressure and flow of compressed air to meet the instantaneous high-speed jet requirements of the pneumatic nozzle 9.

[0034] An air supply pipe 22 is fixedly connected to the air compressor 21. The air supply pipe 22 is fixedly connected to the workbench 5. One end of the air supply pipe 22 is connected to the exhaust port of the air compressor 21, and the other end is fixed to the workbench 5. It stably and reliably delivers the compressed air generated by the air compressor 21 to the places on the workbench 5 that need compressed air, and finally connects to the air inlet of the control valve group of the pneumatic nozzle 9 installed in the sorting area. This pipe is a high-speed passage for compressed air to reach the actuator from the source.

[0035] The four corners of the bottom of the workbench 5 are fixedly connected with sorting module support legs 20. The four sturdy sorting module support legs 20 are vertically installed at the four corners of the bottom of the workbench 5, which stably support the entire sorting system on the ground.

[0036] Working Principle: During operation, workers pour tangerines into the fruit delivery pipe 6. The valve 7 controls the quantity of tangerines fed. As the tangerines fall into the single-track conveyor 15, the V-shaped guide groove 17 inside the conveyor 15 ensures each tangerine is transported in a single, unidirectional manner. At this time, the rotation of the motor 18 drives the driven roller 13 via the output roller 10, causing the belt 16 to move unidirectionally. The tangerines, arranged in a single track, fall onto the belt 16 and move into the inspection bracket 14. The lamps 12 inside the inspection bracket 14 illuminate each tangerine. Three high-speed industrial cameras 11 at the top capture and record the size, mold, sunburn, and other defects of each tangerine. The data is then imported, processed, and analyzed to assess the quality of each fruit. After exiting the inspection bracket 14, the pneumatic nozzle 9, controlled by a programming system, categorizes each fruit into premium, ordinary, and defective grades based on the data captured by the high-speed industrial cameras 11. When a fruit arrives at the nozzle, the airflow provided by the air compressor 21 sprays the fruit into the corresponding conveyor channel, where it is collected by each fruit basket 4. This mandarin orange sorting machine achieves efficient and accurate grading and fruit quality protection through automated design: The equipment uses an industrial high-speed camera 11 on the detection bracket 14, along with lighting from the lamp tube 12, to collect real-time appearance data such as the size, mold spots, and sunburn of the mandarin oranges during transport. The programming system accurately determines the grade based on this data and controls the corresponding pneumatic nozzles 9 to blow the fruit into the conveyor channels for premium, ordinary, or defective fruits. This process completely replaces manual sorting, significantly improving sorting speed, objectivity, and consistency, while reducing labor costs and error rates. At the same time, the V-shaped guide groove 17 of the single-row conveyor channel 15 ensures that the fruit is transported in an orderly manner in a single row, avoiding collision damage. Non-contact pneumatic sorting maximizes the protection of the fruit peel integrity. After grading, the fruit falls directly into the corresponding fruit basket 4 through the conveyor channel, achieving physical isolation and optimizing subsequent packaging, storage, transportation, and sales processes.

[0037] The embodiments of the present utility model have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present utility model is not limited to the above embodiments. Within the scope of knowledge possessed by those skilled in the art, various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A tangerine sorting machine, comprising: The workbench (5) is characterized in that a detection bracket (14) is fixedly connected on the workbench (5), three industrial high-speed cameras (11) are fixedly connected inside the detection bracket (14), and lamp tubes (12) are fixedly connected to the middle of both sides of the detection bracket (14). Three pneumatic nozzles (9) are fixedly connected to the rear left side of the workbench (5). A premium fruit conveying channel (1), a regular fruit conveying channel (2), and a defective fruit conveying channel (3) are fixedly connected to the front left side of the workbench (5). Three fruit delivery pipes (6) are fixedly connected to the left end of the workbench (5). Fruit baskets (4) are provided below each of the fruit delivery pipes (6).

2. The tangerine sorting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The workbench (5) is slidably connected to a drive roller (10) on the left side and to a driven roller (13) on the right side. The drive roller (10) and the driven roller (13) are tensioned by a belt (16).

3. The tangerine sorting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The workbench (5) is fixedly connected to a motor bracket (19) at its rear end. A motor (18) is fixedly connected to the motor bracket (19). The output end of the motor (18) is fixedly connected to the drive roller (10).

4. The tangerine sorting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The workbench (5) is provided with a single-row conveyor (15), and the single-row conveyor (15) is provided with a V-shaped guide groove (17).

5. A tangerine sorting machine according to claim 4, characterized in that, The bottom right end of the single-row conveyor (15) is fixedly connected to a fruit delivery module support leg (8), and a fruit delivery pipe (6) is fixedly connected to the single-row conveyor (15). A valve (7) is provided on the fruit delivery pipe (6).

6. A tangerine sorting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, An air compressor (21) is provided on the left side of the workbench (5), and an air compressor motor (23) is fixedly connected to the air compressor (21).

7. A tangerine sorting machine according to claim 6, characterized in that, An air supply pipe (22) is fixedly connected to the air compressor (21), and the air supply pipe (22) is fixedly connected to the workbench (5).

8. A tangerine sorting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The workbench (5) is fixedly connected to four corners at the bottom with sorting module support legs (20).

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