Optical sorting machine and rice hulling and preparation equipment equipped with said optical sorting machine

Abstract

To provide an optical sorter which can remove an object to be sorted as a removal object with good accuracy.SOLUTION: An optical sorter comprises: a chute which is so located as to be inclined to allow an object to be sorted to flow down; a detection part for detecting the object to be sorted; a determination part which determines a kind of the object to be sorted on the basis of a detection result of the detection part; and a removal part which removes the object to be sorted on the basis of a determination result of the determination part. The removal part includes: a plurality of slits for sorting and removal which are orthogonal to a flow-down direction of the object to be sorted and are provided along the flow-down direction; and a plurality of ejector means which are arranged on a lower surface side or an upper surface side of the chute corresponding to the plurality of slits for sorting and removal respectively. The plurality of ejector means remove a specified kind of object to be sorted which is the object to be sorted flowing down on the chute through the slits for sorting and removal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an optical sorting machine that sorts granular materials such as grains and resin pellets based on color, etc., and to a rice hulling and preparation facility equipped with the optical sorting machine. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, optical sorting machines have been known that sort raw materials consisting of grains such as rice and wheat, resin pellets, coffee beans, and other granular materials into good and bad products based on color or the like, and remove foreign matter mixed into the raw materials based on color or the like (see Patent Documents 1 to 3).

[0003] The optical sorting machine described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 is equipped with an inclined chute, and irradiates light from a light source onto granular material that falls from the bottom end of the chute in a fixed trajectory. A sensor receives the reflected light and transmitted light from the granular material to detect defective products and foreign objects. The detected defective products and foreign objects are then removed by an ejector, thereby sorting the raw granular material into good and bad.

[0004] Moreover, the optical sorting machine described in Patent Document 3 is equipped with multiple inclined chutes arranged in series, and separates the objects to be sorted into multiple types by repeatedly selecting and removing the objects that fall from the bottom end of each chute.

[0005] In the optical sorting machine, some of the sorted objects, such as granular objects, that fall from the bottom end of the chute deviate from a fixed falling trajectory due to differences in shape or size, differences in flying attitude in the air, etc. In such cases, there is a problem that the sorted objects to be removed, such as defective products and foreign objects, cannot be accurately removed by the ejector. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-252535 [Patent Document 2] JP 2009-50760 A [Patent Document 3] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 61-171710 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE An object of the present invention is to provide an optical sorting machine capable of removing objects to be removed with high accuracy. Another object of the present invention is to provide a rice hulling and preparation facility that can return highly pure unhulled rice to the rice huller by providing the optical sorting machine in a downstream process of the rice huller. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides A chute arranged at an incline to allow the objects to be sorted to flow downward; A detection unit that detects the objects to be sorted; a discrimination unit that discriminates the type of the object based on a detection result of the detection unit; a removal unit that removes the objects to be sorted based on a discrimination result of the discrimination unit, the removal section includes one sorting and removal slit provided in the chute perpendicular to the flow direction of the objects to be sorted, and one ejector means disposed on the lower or upper side of the chute; The ejector means is characterized in that it removes a specific type of the objects to be sorted that flow down on the chute through the sorting and removal slit.

[0009] The present invention relates to the detection unit includes two optical detection slits provided in the chute perpendicular to the flow direction of the objects to be sorted and along the flow direction, and a pair of optical detection means provided on the upper and lower sides of the chute, One of the pair of optical detection means detects the objects flowing down the chute with a detection position at which one of the two optical detection slits is provided, and the other of the pair of optical detection means detects the objects flowing down the chute with a detection position at which the other of the two optical detection slits is provided. R .

[0010] The present invention relates to the detection unit includes a plurality of optical detection slits provided in the chute along a flow direction perpendicular to a flow direction of the objects to be sorted, and a plurality of optical detection means provided on at least one of an upper surface side and a lower surface side of the chute corresponding to each of the plurality of optical detection slits, The plurality of optical detection means detect the objects flowing down the chute using positions where the corresponding plurality of optical detection slits are provided as detection positions. R .

[0011] The present invention relates to The discrimination unit discriminates the type of the object based on optical information acquired from the object by the optical detection means, It is preferable that a plurality of optical detection means provided on at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the chute acquire optical information in mutually different wavelength ranges from the objects to be sorted.

[0012] The present invention relates to It is preferable that the plurality of optical detection means acquire optical information in different wavelength ranges from the objects to be sorted, such as color information in each wavelength range of visible light, infrared light, ultraviolet light, etc., and shape information such as external shape data.

[0013] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for producing a liquid crystal display comprising: A chute arranged at an incline to allow the objects to be sorted to flow downward; A detection unit that detects the objects to be sorted; a discrimination unit that discriminates the type of the object based on a detection result of the detection unit; a removal unit that removes the objects to be sorted based on a discrimination result of the discrimination unit, the removal section includes a plurality of sorting and removal slits provided in the chute along a flow direction perpendicular to a direction in which the objects to be sorted flow, and a plurality of ejector means disposed on a lower surface side or an upper surface side of the chute corresponding to each of the plurality of sorting and removal slits, The plurality of ejector means are characterized in that they remove specific types of the objects to be sorted that flow down on the chute through the plurality of sorting removal slits.

[0014] The present invention relates to the detection unit includes at least one optical detection slit provided in the chute perpendicular to the flow direction of the objects to be sorted, and an optical detection means provided on at least one of the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the chute corresponding to the optical detection slit, The optical detection means detects the objects flowing down the chute using a position where the optical detection slit is provided as a detection position. R .

[0015] reference The invention is the detection unit includes one optical detection slit provided in the chute perpendicular to a flow direction of the objects to be sorted, and the optical detection means provided on at least one of an upper surface side and a lower surface side of the chute; It is preferable that the optical detection means detects the objects flowing down the chute using a position where the one optical detection slit is provided as the detection position.

[0016] The present invention relates to the detection unit includes two optical detection slits provided in the chute perpendicular to a flow direction of the objects to be sorted along the flow direction, and a pair of optical detection means provided on the upper and lower sides of the chute, One of the pair of optical detection means detects the objects flowing down the chute with a detection position at which one of the two optical detection slits is provided, and the other of the pair of optical detection means detects the objects flowing down the chute with a detection position at which the other of the two optical detection slits is provided. R .

[0017] The present invention relates to the detection unit includes a plurality of optical detection slits provided in the chute along a flow direction perpendicular to a flow direction of the objects to be sorted, and a plurality of optical detection means provided on at least one of an upper surface side and a lower surface side of the chute corresponding to each of the plurality of optical detection slits, The plurality of optical detection means detect the objects flowing down the chute using positions where the corresponding plurality of optical detection slits are provided as detection positions. R .

[0018] The present invention relates to The discrimination unit discriminates the type of the object based on optical information acquired from the object by the optical detection means, It is preferable that a plurality of optical detection means provided on at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the chute acquire optical information in mutually different wavelength ranges from the objects to be sorted.

[0019] The present invention relates to It is preferable that the plurality of optical detection means acquire optical information in different wavelength ranges from the objects to be sorted, such as color information in each wavelength range of visible light, infrared light, ultraviolet light, etc., and shape information such as external shape data.

[0020] In addition, in order to achieve the above objectives, reference The invention is A chute arranged at an incline to allow the objects to be sorted to flow downward; A detection unit that detects the objects to be sorted; a discrimination unit that discriminates the type of the object based on a detection result of the detection unit; a removal unit that removes the objects to be sorted based on a discrimination result of the discrimination unit, A plurality of sorting units each having a pair of the detection unit and the removal unit are provided along a flow direction of the objects to be sorted in the chute, Each of the removal sections in the plurality of sorting sections includes at least one sorting and removal slit provided in the chute along the flow direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the objects to be sorted, and an ejector means disposed on the lower surface side or the upper surface side of the chute corresponding to the sorting and removal slit, The ejector means in each of the removal sections is characterized in that it removes specific types of the objects to be sorted that are flowing down on the chute through the respective selection and removal slits.

[0021] reference The invention is Each of the detection units in the plurality of sorting units includes at least one optical detection slit provided in the chute perpendicular to the flow direction of the objects to be sorted, and an optical detection means provided on at least one of the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the chute corresponding to the optical detection slit, It is preferable that the optical detection means in each detection section detects the objects flowing down the chute using a position where the optical detection slit is provided as a detection position.

[0022] reference The invention is each of the detection units includes one of the optical detection slits provided in the chute perpendicular to the flow direction of the objects to be sorted, and two of the optical detection slits provided in the chute perpendicular to the flow direction of the objects to be sorted and along the flow direction, The detection unit including the one optical detection slit further includes the optical detection means provided on at least one of the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the chute, the optical detection means detects the objects flowing down the chute using a position where the one optical detection slit is provided as the detection position; The detection unit including the two optical detection slits further includes a pair of the optical detection means provided on the upper and lower sides of the chute, It is preferable that one of the pair of optical detection means has its detection position at the position where one of the two optical detection slits is provided, and the other of the pair of optical detection means has its detection position at the position where the other of the two optical detection slits is provided, and each detects the sorted objects flowing down the chute.

[0023] reference The invention is The discrimination unit discriminates the type of the object based on optical information acquired from the object by the optical detection means, It is preferable that a plurality of optical detection means provided on at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the chute acquire optical information in mutually different wavelength ranges from the objects to be sorted.

[0024] reference The invention is It is preferable that the plurality of optical detection means acquire optical information in different wavelength ranges from the objects to be sorted, such as color information in each wavelength range of visible light, infrared light, ultraviolet light, etc., and shape information such as external shape data.

[0025] The present invention relates to The optical detection means an illumination means for illuminating a detection position of the object; an imaging means for imaging the object at the detection position; It is preferable that the discrimination section discriminates the type of the object based on an image pickup signal from the imaging means.

[0026] The present invention relates to the discrimination unit discriminates the type of the object based on optical information acquired from the object by the imaging means, The optical detection means comprises at least one of the imaging means, When the optical detection means has a plurality of image capturing means, it is preferable that each image capturing means obtains optical information in a different wavelength range from the objects to be sorted.

[0027] The present invention relates to It is preferable that each of the imaging means acquires optical information in different wavelength ranges from the object, such as color information in each wavelength range of visible light, infrared light, ultraviolet light, etc., and shape information such as external shape data.

[0028] The present invention relates to It is preferable that the ejector means is provided on the lower or upper side of the chute, and the sorted material flowing down the chute is removed by blowing air through the sorting and removal slit onto the upper or lower side of the chute.

[0029] The present invention relates to the ejector means includes an ejector nozzle that selectively ejects air from a plurality of nozzle holes, It is preferable that the ejector nozzle is disposed on the underside of the chute with the nozzle tip facing the sorting and removal slit, and the sorted material flowing down the chute is removed by blowing air through the sorting and removal slit onto the upper side of the chute.

[0030] The present invention relates to the ejector means includes an ejector nozzle that selectively ejects air from a plurality of nozzle holes, It is preferable that the ejector nozzle is disposed on the upper side of the chute with the nozzle tip facing the sorting and removal slit, and the sorted material flowing down the chute is removed by blowing air through the sorting and removal slit onto the lower side of the chute.

[0031] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides A rice hulling and preparation facility that includes any one of the optical sorters described above in a post-process of a rice huller, either integrally or separately. The processed material obtained by removing the hulled rice using the rice huller is used as the materials to be sorted, and the materials to be sorted are sorted using the optical sorting machine.

[0032] The present invention relates to It is preferable that the processed product after the hulling of the unhulled rice by the rice huller is used as the material to be sorted, the unhulled rice is removed by the optical sorter, and the unhulled rice is returned to the rice huller.

[0033] The present invention relates to The processed product after the hulling of the unhulled rice in the rice huller is the sorted material, which is then separated by the optical sorting machine into multiple types, such as good brown rice, green immature grains, sirata (milky grains), unhulled rice, and foreign objects such as stones and glass, and it is preferable that the unhulled rice is returned to the rice huller. Effect of the Invention

[0034] In the optical sorting machine of the present invention, the removal section includes one sorting and removal slit provided in the chute perpendicular to the flow direction of the sorted materials, and one ejector means arranged on the lower or upper side of the chute, and the ejector means removes a specific type of sorted material flowing down the chute through the sorting and removal slit. Therefore, unlike conventional optical sorting machines which remove sorted materials as they fall from the bottom end of the chute, it is possible to remove sorted materials that always flow down the chute in a constant trajectory. Therefore, the optical sorting machine of the present invention can remove specific types of objects to be removed with higher accuracy than conventional optical sorting machines. Furthermore, the optical sorting machine of the present invention can accurately select specific types of objects to be sorted depending on the application or subsequent process.

[0035] In the optical sorting machine of the present invention, the detection section includes two optical detection slits provided in the chute perpendicular to the flow direction of the objects to be sorted along the flow direction, and a pair of optical detection means provided on the upper and lower sides of the chute, one of the pair of optical detection means has a detection position at which one of the two optical detection slits is provided, and the other of the pair of optical detection means has a detection position at which the other of the two optical detection slits is provided, and each detects the objects to be sorted flowing down the chute. So The pair of optical detection means can be provided on the upper and lower sides of the chute so that the optical axis connecting each optical detection means and each detection position is perpendicular to the chute surface, thereby improving the detection accuracy of the sorted materials flowing down the chute.

[0036] In the optical sorting machine of the present invention, the detection section includes a plurality of optical detection slits provided in the chute perpendicular to the flow direction of the objects to be sorted along the flow direction, and a plurality of optical detection means provided on at least one of the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the chute corresponding to each of the plurality of optical detection slits, and the plurality of optical detection means detect the objects to be sorted flowing down the chute using positions at which the corresponding plurality of optical detection slits are provided as detection positions. So A plurality of optical detection means are provided on the same side, at least one of the upper and lower sides, of the chute, and acquire optical information in different wavelength ranges from the sorted objects, such as color information in each wavelength range, such as visible light, infrared light, and ultraviolet light, and shape information such as external shape data, thereby enabling the discrimination unit to distinguish the sorted objects into more types.

[0037] In addition, in the optical sorting machine of the present invention, the removal section includes a plurality of sorting and removal slits provided in the chute perpendicular to the flow direction of the sorted materials and along the flow direction, and a plurality of ejector means arranged on the lower or upper side of the chute corresponding to each of the plurality of sorting and removal slits, and the plurality of ejector means remove specific types of sorted materials flowing down the chute through the plurality of sorting and removal slits.Therefore, unlike conventional optical sorting machines which remove sorted materials as they fall from the bottom end of the chute, it is possible to remove sorted materials that always flow down the chute in a constant trajectory. Therefore, the optical sorting machine of the present invention can remove specific types of objects to be removed with higher accuracy than conventional optical sorting machines. Furthermore, according to the optical sorting machine of the present invention, the multiple ejector means can accurately remove specific types of the sorted materials flowing down the chute by type through the multiple sorting and removal slits, thereby enabling the sorted materials to be accurately separated into multiple types depending on their application or subsequent process.

[0038] In the optical sorting machine of the present invention, the detection section includes at least one optical detection slit provided in the chute perpendicular to the flow direction of the objects to be sorted, and optical detection means provided on at least one of the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the chute corresponding to the optical detection slit, and the optical detection means detects the objects to be sorted flowing down the chute, using the position where the optical detection slit is provided as a detection position. So Unlike conventional optical sorting machines, which detect the objects being sorted as they fall from the bottom of the chute, this machine can detect the objects being sorted as they always flow down the chute in a constant trajectory. Therefore, according to the optical sorting machine of the present invention, the objects to be sorted can be detected more accurately than the conventional optical sorting machines, and therefore the sorting performance can be improved.

[0039] In the optical sorting machine of the present invention, the detection section includes two optical detection slits provided on the chute perpendicular to the flow direction of the objects to be sorted along the flow direction, and a pair of optical detection means provided on the upper and lower sides of the chute, and one of the pair of optical detection means has a position where one of the two optical detection slits is provided as its detection position, and the other of the pair of optical detection means has a position where the other of the two optical detection slits is provided as its detection position, and each detects the objects to be sorted flowing down the chute. So The pair of optical detection means can be provided on the upper and lower sides of the chute so that the optical axis connecting each optical detection means and each detection position is perpendicular to the chute surface, thereby improving the detection accuracy of the sorted materials flowing down the chute.

[0040] In the optical sorting machine of the present invention, the detection section includes a plurality of optical detection slits provided in the chute perpendicular to the flow direction of the objects to be sorted along the flow direction, and a plurality of optical detection means provided on at least one of the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the chute corresponding to each of the plurality of optical detection slits, and the plurality of optical detection means detect the objects to be sorted flowing down the chute using positions at which the corresponding plurality of optical detection slits are provided as detection positions. So A plurality of optical detection means are provided on the same side, at least one of the upper and lower sides, of the chute, and acquire optical information in different wavelength ranges from the sorted objects, such as color information in each wavelength range, such as visible light, infrared light, and ultraviolet light, and shape information such as external shape data, thereby enabling the discrimination unit to distinguish the sorted objects into more types.

[0041] Also, referenceThe optical sorting machine of the invention has a plurality of sorting sections, each of which is a pair of the detection section and the removal section, arranged along the flow direction of the sorted materials in the chute, and each of the removal sections in the plurality of sorting sections includes at least one sorting and removal slit provided in the chute perpendicular to the flow direction of the sorted materials along the flow direction, and an ejector means arranged on the lower or upper side of the chute corresponding to the sorting and removal slit, and each of the ejector means in each removal section removes specific types of sorted materials flowing down the chute through each sorting and removal slit.Therefore, unlike conventional optical sorting machines, which remove sorted materials as they fall from the bottom end of the chute, it is possible to remove sorted materials that always flow down the chute in a constant trajectory. therefore, reference According to the optical sorting machine of the present invention, it is possible to remove specific types of objects to be removed with higher accuracy than conventional optical sorting machines. Also, reference According to the optical sorting machine of the invention, each ejector means in each removal section can accurately remove specific types of the sorted materials flowing down the chute by type through each sorting and removal slit, so that the sorted materials can be accurately separated into multiple types depending on the application and subsequent processes.

[0042] reference In the optical sorting machine of the invention, each of the detection sections in the multiple sorting sections includes at least one optical detection slit provided in the chute perpendicular to the flow direction of the sorted materials, and an optical detection means provided on at least one of the upper and lower sides of the chute corresponding to the optical detection slit, and each of the optical detection means in each detection section detects the sorted materials flowing down the chute using the position where each optical detection slit is provided as a detection position.This makes it possible to detect the sorted materials flowing down the chute in a constant trajectory, unlike conventional optical sorting machines which detect the sorted materials as they fall from the bottom end of the chute. therefore, reference According to the optical sorting machine of the present invention, the objects to be sorted can be detected more accurately than conventional optical sorting machines, and therefore sorting performance can be improved.

[0043] reference In the optical sorting machine of the invention, each of the detection sections in the multiple sorting units includes at least one optical detection slit provided in the chute perpendicular to the flow direction of the sorted materials, and an optical detection means provided on at least one of the upper and lower sides of the chute corresponding to the optical detection slit, and each of the optical detection means in each detection unit detects the sorted materials flowing down the chute using the position where each optical detection slit is provided as a detection position.In this way, the multiple optical detection means provided on the same side, at least one of the upper and lower sides of the chute, acquire optical information in different wavelength ranges from the sorted materials, such as color information in each wavelength range of visible light, infrared light, and ultraviolet light, and shape information such as external shape data, and the discrimination unit can discriminate the sorted materials into a greater number of types.

[0044] The present invention relates to The optical detection means has an illumination means for illuminating a detection position of the object to be sorted and an imaging means for imaging the object to be sorted at the detection position, and the discrimination unit discriminates the type of the object to be sorted based on an imaging signal by the imaging means. The imaging means discriminates the type of the objects to be sorted based on optical information acquired from the objects, and when the optical detection means has at least one imaging means and the optical detection means has a plurality of imaging means, each imaging means acquires optical information in different wavelength ranges from the objects to be sorted, such as color information in each wavelength range of visible light, infrared light, and ultraviolet light, and shape information such as external shape data, the discrimination unit can discriminate the objects to be sorted into more types.

[0045] The rice hulling and preparation equipment of the present invention is a rice hulling and preparation equipment that has any of the above-mentioned optical sorting machines integrated or separately in a downstream process of a rice huller, and the processed products after the hulling of hulled rice in the rice huller are used as the sorted materials, and the optical sorting machine sorts the sorted materials, so that, for example, hulled rice can be accurately removed by the optical sorting machine. Therefore, according to the rice hulling and preparation equipment of the present invention, highly pure unhulled rice can be returned to the rice huller, and good quality brown rice without roughness can be obtained.

[0046] The rice hulling and preparation equipment of the present invention is a rice hulling and preparation equipment that has any of the above-mentioned optical sorting machines integrated or separately in a downstream process of a rice huller, and the processed products after the hulling of unhulled rice in the rice huller are used as the sorted materials, and the optical sorting machine sorts the sorted materials.Therefore, for example, the optical sorting machine can accurately remove green immature grains, sirata (milky grains), unhulled rice, foreign matter such as stones and glass, etc. by type, and accurately separate the rice into multiple types, such as good brown rice, green immature grains, sirata (milky grains), unhulled rice, foreign matter such as stones and glass, etc. Therefore, according to the rice hulling and preparation equipment of the present invention, highly pure unhulled rice can be returned to the rice huller, and good quality brown rice without roughness can be obtained. In addition, according to the rice hulling and preparation equipment of the present invention, it is possible to recover quality brown rice, green immature grains, white grains (milky white grains), foreign matter, etc. other than the unhulled rice without returning them to the rice huller. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0047] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of an optical sorting machine. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an optical sorting machine according to the present invention, illustrating a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a chute according to a first reference embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the second embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a reference embodiment 3. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a reference embodiment 5. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a reference embodiment 6. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a reference embodiment 7. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of Reference Example 8. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of Reference Example 9. [Figure 12] 1 is a schematic diagram of the rice hulling and preparation equipment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 13] 1 is a schematic diagram of the rice hulling and preparation equipment of the present invention. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0048] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. [Optical sorting machine] FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional side view of an example of an optical sorting machine. The optical sorting machine 1 shown in Figure 1 comprises a granular material supplying section 2 that supplies raw granular material, a chute 3 that is arranged at an angle to allow the granular material to flow down, an optical sorting section 4 that detects the granular material flowing down the chute 3 and sorts the granular material based on the detection results, a discrimination section 5 that discriminates the type of the granular material based on the detection results of the granular material, and a discharge hopper 6 that discharges the granular material sorted by the optical sorting section 4 based on the discrimination results of the discrimination section 5.

[0049] The granular material supplying section 2 includes a raw material tank (not shown) and a vibration feeder 21 that supplies the granular material stored in the raw material tank to the chute 3.

[0050] The chute 3 has a predetermined width and is disposed at an incline below the tip end of the vibrating feeder 21, and allows the granular material fed from the vibrating feeder 21 to flow down naturally.

[0051] The optical sorting unit 4 includes optical detection devices 41 a and 41 b disposed on at least one of the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the chute 3 . Here, an example in which a pair of optical detection devices 41a, 41b are disposed on the upper and lower sides of the chute 3 is shown. The discrimination unit 5 discriminates the type of the granular matter based on an imaging signal from the imaging means in the optical detection devices 41a and 41b. The optical sorting unit 4 includes an ejector device 43 that removes a specific type of particulate matter based on the discrimination result of the discrimination unit 5 .

[0052] The discharge hopper 6 includes a first discharge passage 61 and a second discharge passage 62 for separating and discharging the specific type of granular material removed by the ejector device 43 from other types of granular material.

[0053] In the optical sorting machine 1, the granular material stored in the raw material tank of the granular material supply section 2 is continuously supplied to the chute 3 by the vibrating feeder 21, and flows down naturally in a continuous manner while spreading in the width direction over the surface of the chute 3.

[0054] In the optical sorting section 4, the granular material flowing down the chute 3 is imaged by the imaging means of the pair of optical detection devices 41a, 41b, and in the discrimination section 5, the signal level of the optical information, including color information such as light intensity and color components in the imaging signal of the imaging means, and shape information such as external shape data, is compared with a threshold value to determine the type, and a specific type of granular material is removed by injecting air from the ejector device 43 based on a removal signal sent from the discrimination section 5, and the specific type of granular material is sorted from other types of granular material.

[0055] The specific type of granular matter is discharged from a first discharge passage 61 of the discharge hopper 6, while the other types of granular matter are discharged from a second discharge passage 62 of the discharge hopper 6.

[0056] <Embodiments of the present invention> FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an example of an optical sorting machine of the present invention. reference FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the first embodiment. reference 1 is a schematic perspective view of a chute according to a first embodiment. In the optical sorting machine of the present invention, the optical sorting unit 4 includes a detection unit that detects granular matter and a removal unit that removes the granular matter based on the discrimination result of the discrimination unit 5, in pairs.

[0057] The detection section includes at least one optical detection slit 31 which is arranged perpendicular to the flow direction of the granular material and opens continuously in the width direction of the chute 3, and an optical detection device which is arranged on at least one of the upper and lower sides of the chute 3 corresponding to the optical detection slit 31, here a pair of optical detection devices 41a, 41b which are arranged on the upper and lower sides of the chute 3, and the optical detection devices 41a, 41b detect the granular material flowing down the chute 3, with the position where the optical detection slit 31 is arranged being a detection position O.

[0058] The removal section also includes at least one sorting and removal slit 32 provided in the chute 3 perpendicular to the flow direction of the granular material, and at least one ejector device 43 arranged on the lower or upper side of the chute 3 corresponding to the sorting and removal slit 32, and based on the discrimination result of the discrimination section 5, the ejector device 43 removes a specific type of granular material to be removed, which is flowing down the chute 3, by spraying air through the sorting and removal slit 32 onto the upper or lower side of the chute.

[0059] In the optical sorting section 4, the optical detection devices 41a, 41b each have a built-in line sensor or area sensor such as a CCD that can detect the granular material flowing down the chute 3 in a state spreading in the width direction, and are equipped with imaging means 411a, 411b such as a CCD camera that can receive light in wavelength ranges such as near-infrared (NIR), visible light or ultraviolet light, lighting means 412a, 412b such as an LED light source or fluorescent lamp that illuminates a detection position O on the chute 3 where the granular material flows down, and a background that serves as the background when the imaging means 411a, 411b images the granular material at the detection position O.

[0060] Similarly to the optical detection devices 41a and 41b, the ejector device 43 is capable of handling granular material flowing down the chute 3 in a state spreading in the width direction, and is equipped with an ejector nozzle 431 that can selectively spray air from a plurality of nozzle holes formed in the width direction, and an ejector drive device (not shown) that sprays air from the ejector nozzle 431 based on a removal signal sent from the discrimination unit 5.

[0061] The optical detection devices 41a, 41b are arranged so that the position where the optical detection slit 31 is provided on the chute 3 corresponds to the detection position O, and the granular material flowing down the chute 3 is illuminated from the upper and lower sides of the chute 3 at the detection position O by the illumination means 412a, 412b and imaged by the imaging means 411a, 411b.

[0062] In addition, the ejector device 43 is arranged so that the tip of the ejector nozzle 431 abuts or is close to the underside of the chute 3 and multiple nozzle holes of the ejector nozzle 431 directly or indirectly communicate with the sorting and removal slit 32, and granular matter flowing down the chute 3 that has been identified as a specific type is removed by spraying air onto the upper side of the chute 3 through the sorting and removal slit 32.

[0063] Among the granular matter flowing down the chute 3, those determined to be of the specific type are discharged from the first discharge passage 61 of the discharge hopper 6, and those determined to be of other types are discharged from the second discharge passage 62 of the discharge hopper 6.

[0064] Here, the imaging means 411a, 411b are assumed to have a built-in line sensor or area sensor, but if a line sensor is built in, granular matter can be detected with high accuracy even if the slit width of the optical detection slit 31 is smaller than if an area sensor is built in.

[0065] In addition, the lighting means 412a, 412b are configured to use LED light sources, fluorescent lamps, etc., and when an LED light source is used, the light is less likely to disperse due to its characteristics. Therefore, when imaging granular material flowing down the chute 3 at the detection position O with the imaging means 411a, 411b, a sufficient amount of light can be secured even if the slit width of the optical detection slit 31 is smaller than when a fluorescent lamp is used. Even when fluorescent lamps are used as the lighting means 412a and 412b, the same effect as that of an LED light source can be obtained by concentrating the light.

[0066] The slit width of the optical detection slit 31 provided in the chute 3 can be set taking into consideration the size of the sensor element, the amount of light received by the sensor, the inclination angle of the chute, the weight and size of the granular material flowing down the chute, etc., and can be 1 to 2 mm, for example, in the case of rice grains.

[0067] Furthermore, the slit width of the selective removal slit 32 provided in the chute 3 can be set to a width that can reliably remove the granular matter classified as the specific type. Although the sorting and removal slits 32 are configured to open continuously in the width direction of the chute 3, they may also be opened intermittently in the width direction of the chute 3 in correspondence with the multiple nozzle holes of the ejector nozzle 431.

[0068] <Embodiment 1> In the optical sorting machine of embodiment 1 of the present invention, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the optical sorting unit 4 includes a removal unit that includes one sorting and removal slit 32 provided in the chute 3 perpendicular to the flow direction of the granular material, and one ejector device 43 arranged on the lower or upper side of the chute 3, and the ejector device 43 removes a specific type of granular material flowing down the chute 3 via the sorting and removal slit 32.

[0069] ( reference Example 1) As shown in Figs. reference In Example 1, the detection section includes one optical detection slit 31 provided in the chute 3 perpendicular to the flow direction of the granular material, and a pair of optical detection devices 41a, 41b provided on the upper and lower sides of the chute 3.

[0070] reference In Example 1, the detection unit has the pair of optical detection devices 41a, 41b, which detect the position where the one optical detection slit 31 is provided, and captures images of granular material flowing down the chute 3 from the upper and lower sides of the chute 3 using the imaging means 411a, 411b.

[0071] reference In the first embodiment, the discrimination unit 5 discriminates the type of the granular matter based on the imaging signals of the imaging means 411a and 411b in the optical detection devices 41a and 41b.

[0072] reference In Example 1, the removal section has the ejector device 43 remove granular matter flowing down the chute 3 that has been identified as a specific type by the discrimination section 5 by injecting air onto the upper surface of the chute 3 through the sorting and removal slit 32.

[0073] Example 2 FIG. 4 shows an explanatory diagram of the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the detection unit includes two optical detection slits 311 and 312 provided in the chute 3 along the flow direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the granular material, reference This is different from the first embodiment.

[0074] In Example 2, the detection section includes two optical detection slits 311, 312 provided in the chute 3 perpendicular to the flow direction of the granular material and along the flow direction, and a pair of optical detection devices 41a, 41b provided on the upper and lower sides of the chute 3.

[0075] In Example 2, the detection unit has an optical detection device 41a provided on the upper surface side of the chute 3, and the position where the optical detection slit 311 is provided on the upstream side of the chute 3 is used as a detection position, and the granular material flowing down the chute 3 is imaged from the upper surface side of the chute by the imaging means 411a.

[0076] In addition, in Example 2, the detection unit has an optical detection device 41b provided on the underside of the chute 3, and captures an image of granular material flowing down the chute 3 from the underside of the chute 3 using the imaging means 411b, with the position where the optical detection slit 312 is provided on the downstream side of the chute 3 as a detection position.

[0077] In the second embodiment, the discrimination unit 5 discriminates the type of the granular matter based on the imaging signals of the imaging means 411a and 411b in the optical detection devices 41a and 41b.

[0078] In Example 2, the removal section has the ejector device 43 remove granular matter flowing down the chute 3 that has been identified as a specific type by the discrimination section 5 by injecting air onto the upper surface of the chute 3 through the sorting and removal slit 32.

[0079] Here, since the pair of optical detection devices 41a and 41b each have a background, reference In the case of the first embodiment, it is difficult to make the optical axis connecting the imaging means 411a, 411b and the detection position O perpendicular to the chute surface in the detection unit. In contrast, according to Example 2, the pair of optical detection devices 41a, 41b can be provided on the upper and lower sides of the chute 3 so that the optical axes connecting each of the imaging means 411a, 411b and each of the detection positions are perpendicular to the chute surface, thereby improving the detection accuracy of the granular material flowing down the chute 3.

[0080] In the optical sorting machine of embodiment 1 of the present invention, the removal section includes one sorting and removal slit 32 provided in the chute 3 perpendicular to the flow direction of the granular material, and one ejector device 43 arranged on the lower or upper side of the chute 3 corresponding to the sorting and removal slit 32, and the ejector device 43 removes a specific type of granular material flowing down the chute 3 via the sorting and removal slit 32. Therefore, unlike conventional optical sorting machines which remove granular material as it falls from the bottom end of the chute, it is possible to remove granular material flowing down the chute 3 in a constant trajectory. Therefore, the optical sorting machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention can remove specific types of granular matter to be removed with higher accuracy than conventional optical sorting machines. Moreover, according to the optical sorting machine of the first embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to accurately sort specific types of granular matter according to the intended use or subsequent process.

[0081] In the optical sorting machine of embodiment 1 of the present invention, the detection unit includes a plurality of optical detection slits 31 provided in the chute 3 perpendicular to the flow direction of the granular material and along the flow direction, and a plurality of optical detection devices 41a, 41b provided on at least one of the upper and lower sides of the chute 3 corresponding to each of the plurality of optical detection slits 31, and the plurality of optical detection devices 41a, 41b detect the granular material flowing down the chute 3 using the positions at which the corresponding plurality of optical detection slits 31 are provided as detection positions. In this way, the plurality of optical detection devices 41a, 41b provided on the same side, at least one of the upper and lower sides of the chute 3, acquire optical information in different wavelength ranges from the granular material, such as color information in each wavelength range of visible light, infrared light, and ultraviolet light, and shape information such as external shape data, and the discrimination unit 5 is able to discriminate the granular material into more types.

[0082] <Embodiment 2> In the optical sorting machine of embodiment 2 of the present invention, the optical sorting unit 4 includes a plurality of sorting and removal slits 32 provided in the chute 3 perpendicular to the flow direction of the granular material along the flow direction, and a plurality of ejector devices 43 arranged on the lower or upper side of the chute 3 corresponding to each of the plurality of sorting and removal slits 32, and the plurality of ejector devices 43 remove specific types of granular material flowing down the chute 3 by type via the plurality of sorting and removal slits 32.

[0083] ( reference Example 3) Figure 5 shows reference 1 shows an explanatory diagram of a third embodiment. reference In the third embodiment, the removal section includes two sorting and removal slits 321, 322 provided in the chute 3 along the flow direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the granular material, reference This is different from the first embodiment.

[0084] reference In Example 3, the removal section includes two sorting and removal slits 321, 322 provided in the chute 3 perpendicular to the flow direction of the granular material and along the flow direction, and two ejector devices 43 arranged on the underside of the chute 3 corresponding to the two sorting and removal slits 321, 322.

[0085] reference In Example 3, the removal section has each ejector device 43 remove granular matter flowing down the chute 3 that has been identified as a specific type by the discrimination section 5 by injecting air onto the upper surface of the chute 3 through each of the sorting and removal slits 321, 322, by type.

[0086] Example 4 FIG. 6 shows an explanatory diagram of the fourth embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, the detection unit includes two optical detection slits 311 and 312 provided in the chute 3 along the flow direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the granular material, reference This is different from the third embodiment.

[0087] In Example 4, similar to Example 2, the detection section includes two optical detection slits 311, 312 provided in the chute 3 perpendicular to the flow direction of the granular material and along the flow direction, and a pair of optical detection devices 41a, 41b provided on the upper and lower sides of the chute 3.

[0088] In Example 4, the removal section has each ejector device 43 remove granular matter flowing down the chute 3 that has been identified as a specific type by the discrimination section 5 by injecting air onto the upper surface of the chute 3 through the sorting and removal slits 321, 322, by type.

[0089] According to Example 4, similarly to Example 2, the pair of optical detection devices 41a, 41b can be provided on the upper and lower sides of the chute 3 so that the optical axes connecting each of the imaging means 411a, 411b and each of the detection positions are perpendicular to the surface of the chute 3, thereby improving the detection accuracy of the granular material flowing down the chute 3.

[0090] ( reference Example 5) Figure 7 shows reference 1 shows an explanatory diagram of Example 5. reference In the fifth embodiment, the detection unit is configured such that a pair of optical detection devices 41a, 41b provided on the upper and lower sides of the chute 3 each have two imaging means 411a, 411b. reference This is different from the third embodiment.

[0091] referenceIn Example 5, the detection unit has the imaging means 411a, 411b in each optical detection device 41a, 41b acquiring different optical information from the granular matter, such as color information in each wavelength range of visible light, infrared light, ultraviolet light, etc., and shape information such as external shape data, and the discrimination unit 5 discriminates the type of the granular matter based on the optical information acquired from the granular matter by each imaging means 411a, 411b, so that the granular matter can be distinguished into more types.

[0092] ( reference Example 6) Figure 8 reference 1 shows an explanatory diagram of Example 6. reference In the sixth embodiment, the detection unit includes the optical detection device 41a provided only on the upper surface side of the chute 3. reference This is different from the third embodiment.

[0093] The detection unit may include an optical detection device 41 b provided only on the lower surface side of the chute 3 .

[0094] ( reference Example 7) Figure 9 shows reference 1 shows an explanatory diagram of Example 7. reference In the seventh embodiment, the removal unit includes two ejector devices 43 disposed on the upper surface side of the chute. reference This is different from the third embodiment.

[0095] reference In the seventh embodiment, the removal section includes two ejector devices 43 disposed on the upper surface side of the chute 3 in correspondence with the two sorting and removal slits 321, 322.

[0096] the above reference In the third to seventh embodiments, the removal section includes two selection removal slits 321 and 322, but it may include three or more selection removal slits 32. If the removal section includes three or more sorting and removal slits 32 and three or more ejector devices 43 arranged on the lower or upper side of the chute 3 corresponding to each sorting and removal slit 32, it becomes possible to separate granular material into many types.

[0097] Furthermore, if the granular material is white rice, in addition to grading it, it can be separated into, for example, black spots, grass seeds, white slats (milky grains), colored grains, and foreign matter such as stones and glass.The black spots and grass seeds can be used as feed, the white slats (milky grains) and colored grains can be reused for rice crackers, and the foreign matter such as stones and glass can be discarded.

[0098] Furthermore, if the granular material is brown rice, it can be separated into not only good brown rice, but also, for example, green immature grains, sirata (milky grains), unhulled rice, and foreign matter such as stones and glass.The unhulled rice can then be returned to the rice huller, the green immature grains and sirata (milky grains) can be reused for rice crackers, and the foreign matter such as stones and glass can be discarded.

[0099] In the optical sorting machine of embodiment 2 of the present invention, the removal section includes a plurality of sorting and removal slits 32 provided in the chute 3 perpendicular to the flow direction of the granular material and along the flow direction, and a plurality of ejector devices 43 arranged on the underside or upper side of the chute 3 corresponding to each of the plurality of sorting and removal slits 32. The plurality of ejector devices 43 remove specific types of sorted material among the granular material flowing down the chute 3 via the plurality of sorting and removal slits 32. Therefore, unlike conventional optical sorting machines that remove granular material as it falls from the bottom end of the chute, it is possible to remove granular material flowing down the chute 3 in a constant trajectory. Therefore, according to the optical sorting machine of the second embodiment of the present invention, the granular matter to be removed can be removed with higher accuracy than the conventional optical sorting machine. Furthermore, according to the optical sorting machine of embodiment 2 of the present invention, the multiple ejector devices 43 can accurately remove specific types of sorted material among the granular material flowing down the chute 3 through the multiple sorting and removal slits 32, so that the granular material can be accurately separated into multiple types depending on the application or subsequent process.

[0100] In the optical sorting machine of embodiment 2 of the present invention, the detection section includes at least one optical detection slit 31 provided in the chute 3 perpendicular to the flow direction of the granular material, and optical detection devices 41a, 41b provided on at least one of the upper and lower sides of the chute 3 corresponding to the optical detection slit 31, and the optical detection devices 41a, 41b detect the granular material flowing down the chute 3 using the position where the optical detection slit 31 is provided as a detection position.Therefore, unlike conventional optical sorting machines which detect granular material as it falls from the bottom end of the chute, it is possible to detect granular material flowing down the chute 3 in a constant trajectory. Therefore, according to the optical sorting machine of the second embodiment of the present invention, granular matter to be removed can be detected with higher accuracy than conventional optical sorting machines, and therefore sorting performance can be improved.

[0101] In the optical sorting machine of embodiment 2 of the present invention, the detection unit includes a plurality of optical detection slits 31 provided in the chute 3 perpendicular to the flow direction of the granular material and along the flow direction, and a plurality of optical detection devices 41a, 41b provided on at least one of the upper and lower sides of the chute 3 corresponding to each of the plurality of optical detection slits 31, and the plurality of optical detection devices 41a, 41b detect the granular material flowing down the chute 3 using the positions at which the corresponding plurality of optical detection slits 31 are provided as detection positions.In this way, the plurality of optical detection devices 41a, 41b provided on the same side, at least one of the upper and lower sides of the chute 3, acquire different optical information from the granular material, such as color information in each wavelength range of visible light, infrared light, ultraviolet light, etc., and shape information such as external shape data, and the discrimination unit 5 is able to discriminate the granular material into more types.

[0102] <Reference embodiment 3> The optical sorting machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of sorting units, each of which is a pair of the detection unit and the removal unit, arranged along the direction in which the granular material flows down the chute 3. In the optical sorting machine of reference embodiment 3 of the present invention, each removal section in the multiple sorting units includes at least one sorting and removal slit 32 provided in the chute 3 perpendicular to the flow direction of the granular material along the flow direction, and an ejector device 43 arranged on the lower or upper side of the chute 3 corresponding to the sorting and removal slit 32, and each ejector device 43 in each removal unit removes specific types of granular material from the granular material flowing down the chute 3 by type via each sorting and removal slit 32.

[0103] ( reference Example 8) Figure 10 shows reference 1 shows an explanatory diagram of Example 8. reference In Example 8, the sorting unit comprises: referenceThe detection unit and removal unit of the first embodiment are paired, and a plurality of the sorting units are provided along the flow direction of the granular material in the chute 3.

[0104] ( reference Example 9) Figure 11 shows reference 1 shows an explanatory diagram of Example 9. reference In Example 9, the sorting unit comprises: reference A first sorting unit in which the detection unit and removal unit of Example 1 are paired, and a second sorting unit in which the detection unit and removal unit of Example 2 are paired, reference A plurality of third sorting sections each having a pair of a detection section and a removal section as in the third embodiment are provided along the flow direction of the granular material in the chute 3.

[0105] The present invention reference The optical sorting machine of embodiment 3 has a plurality of sorting sections, each of which is a pair of the detection section and the removal section, arranged along the flow direction of the granular material in the chute 3, and each of the removal sections in the plurality of sorting sections includes at least one sorting and removal slit 32 provided in the chute 3 perpendicular to the flow direction of the granular material along the flow direction, and an ejector device 43 arranged on the lower or upper side of the chute 3 corresponding to the sorting and removal slit 32. Each of the ejector devices 43 in each removal section removes a specific type of granular material flowing down the chute 3 through each sorting and removal slit 32. Therefore, unlike conventional optical sorting machines which remove granular material as it falls from the bottom end of the chute, it is possible to remove granular material flowing down the chute 3 in a constant trajectory. Therefore, the present invention reference The optical sorting machine of the third embodiment can remove granular matter to be removed with higher accuracy than conventional optical sorting machines. In addition, the present invention referenceAccording to the optical sorting machine of embodiment 3, each ejector device 43 in each removal section can accurately remove specific types of granular material flowing down the chute 3 by type through each sorting and removal slit 32, so that the sorted materials can be accurately separated into multiple types depending on the application and subsequent process.

[0106] The present invention reference In the optical sorting machine of embodiment 3, each of the detection sections in the multiple sorting units includes at least one optical detection slit 31 provided in the chute perpendicular to the flow direction of the granular material, and optical detection devices 41a, 41b provided on at least one of the upper and lower sides of the chute 3 corresponding to the optical detection slit 31, and each of the optical detection devices 41a, 41b in each detection unit detects the granular material flowing down the chute 3 using the position where each optical detection slit 31 is provided as a detection position.Therefore, unlike conventional optical sorting machines which detect granular material as it falls from the bottom end of the chute, it is possible to detect granular material flowing down the chute 3 in a constant trajectory. Therefore, the present invention reference According to the optical sorting machine of the third embodiment, granular matter to be removed can be detected with higher accuracy than conventional optical sorting machines, and therefore sorting performance can be improved.

[0107] The present invention referenceIn the optical sorting machine of embodiment 3, each of the detection units in the multiple sorting sections includes at least one optical detection slit 31 provided in the chute 3 perpendicular to the flow direction of the granular material, and optical detection devices 41a, 41b provided on at least one of the upper and lower sides of the chute 3 corresponding to the optical detection slit 31, and each of the optical detection devices 41a, 41b in each detection unit detects the granular material flowing down the chute 3 using the position where each optical detection slit 31 is provided as a detection position.Therefore, the multiple optical detection devices 41a, 41b provided on the same side, at least one of the upper and lower sides of the chute 3, acquire different optical information from the granular material, such as color information in each wavelength range of visible light, infrared light, ultraviolet light, etc., and shape information such as external shape data, and the discrimination unit 5 is able to discriminate the granular material into more types.

[0108] In the optical sorting machine of the present invention described above, the ejector device 43 has an ejector nozzle 431, and is exemplified as one that removes granular material by spraying air, but it is also possible to use one that removes granular material by suction with a suction device, or one that removes granular material by mechanical action.

[0109] [Rice hulling and preparation equipment] 12 and 13 are schematic explanatory diagrams showing an example of the rice hulling and preparation equipment of the present invention. The rice hulling and preparation equipment 7 of the present invention includes the optical sorter 9 of the present invention described above, either integrally or separately, in a downstream process of the rice huller 8 that does not have a vibration sorting section. The rice huller 8 can typically be a roll type having a hulling section 83 in which a pair of hulling rolls 83a, 83b for hulling unhulled rice are arranged to rotate inward at different speeds, or an impeller type rice huller having a hulling section in which unhulled rice is delivered by a rotating impeller and collided against a wall surface. Here, a case where a roll type rice huller is used as the rice huller 8 is taken as an example, and the rice hulling and preparation equipment 7 shown in Fig. 12 shows an example in which the optical sorter 9 of the present invention described above is integrally provided in a downstream process of the roll type rice huller 8 that does not have a oscillating sorting section. Also, the rice hulling and preparation equipment 7 shown in Fig. 13 shows an example in which the optical sorter 9 of the present invention described above is separately provided in a downstream process of the roll type rice huller 8 that does not have a oscillating sorting section.

[0110] In the rice hulling and preparation equipment 7 of the present invention, in the roll-type rice huller 8, dried unhulled rice is hulled (dehulled) in the hulling section 83 to prepare brown rice. At that time, the rice husks are discharged outside the machine by the action of the suction fan 85. On the other hand, the processed material prepared into the brown rice includes, for example, good brown rice, green immature grains, white rice (milky grains), unhulled rice, and foreign matter such as stones and glass.

[0111] The rice hulling and preparation equipment 7 of the present invention is equipped with the optical sorting machine 9 of the present invention described above, so that the processed material is treated as the sorted material, and the unhulled rice can be accurately removed by the optical sorting machine 9, and the unhulled rice can be returned to the roll-type rice huller 8 via a return path.

[0112] In addition, since the rice hulling and preparation equipment 7 of the present invention is equipped with the optical sorting machine 9 of the present invention described above, the processed material is treated as the sorted material and accurately separated by the optical sorting machine 9 into good quality brown rice, green immature grains, sirata (milky grains), unhulled rice, and foreign matter such as stones and glass, and the unhulled rice can be returned to the roll-type rice huller 8 via a return path. Furthermore, it is possible to recover non-hulled rice, such as good quality brown rice, green immature grains, white grains (milky white grains), and foreign matter such as stones and glass, without returning them to the rice huller 8.

[0113] If brown rice were to be mixed in with the unhulled rice being returned to the roll-type rice huller 8, the brown rice would become loose and may mix with the good brown rice during subsequent sorting, lowering the quality of the brown rice. However, according to the rice hulling and preparation equipment 7 of the present invention, the unhulled rice can be accurately sorted using the optical sorter 9, so that only highly pure unhulled rice can be returned to the roll-type rice huller 8, and good quality brown rice without loose rice can be obtained.

[0114] The rice hulling and preparation equipment 7 of the present invention is equipped with an optical sorter 9 downstream of the rice huller 8, and can calculate the hulling rate from the optical information of unhulled rice (count number, image area), calculate the broken rice rate from the optical information of broken rice (count number, image area), and detect skin slippage from the surface information of brown rice. Then, based on the calculation results of the hulling rate and broken rice rate, and the data on the detection results of skin slippage, it is possible to adjust the roll gap in the case of a roll type rice huller, adjust the rotation speed in the case of an impeller type rice huller, and adjust the raw material flow rate of the rice huller 8. As a result, the rice hulling and preparation equipment 7 of the present invention can feed back information on the sorted materials sorted by the optical sorter 9 to the rice huller 8 in real time.

[0115] In addition, depending on the condition of the raw material, such as a high ratio of damaged grains, the hulling and preparation equipment 7 of the present invention may be provided with a coarse selection machine prior to hulling. Furthermore, the rice hulling and preparation equipment 7 of the present invention may be provided with a grain sorter between the rice huller 8 and the optical sorter 9. This reduces damaged grains and allows processing without putting a load on the optical sorter 9.

[0116] In the case where the rice hulling and preparation equipment 7 of the present invention is an integrated unit of the rice huller 8 and the optical sorter 9, a coarse sorter, a wind sorter, a grain sorter, and a weighing machine can be added depending on the installation space to form a unit in any combination. The unit can be of any type, such as vertical or horizontal. Furthermore, by replacing the elevator with a grain sorter that allows the raw materials to flow from bottom to top, it is possible to reduce the installation space.

[0117] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the configuration can be appropriately modified without departing from the scope of the invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0118] INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The optical sorting machine of the present invention can accurately remove specific types of objects to be sorted, and therefore can be effectively used for a variety of purposes, such as being provided for a post-processing step of a rice huller in rice hulling preparation equipment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0119] 1 Optical sorting machine 2 Granule supply section 21 Vibration feeder 3 SHOTS 31 Optical detection slit 311 Optical detection slit 312 Optical detection slit 32 Slit for selective removal 321 Slit for selective removal 322 Slit for selective removal 4. Optical sorting section 41a, 41b Optical detection device 411a, 411b Imaging means 412a,412b Lighting means 43 Ejector device 431 Ejector Nozzle 5 Discrimination device 6 Discharge hopper 61 1st discharge channel 62 2nd discharge path 7. Hulling and preparation equipment 8. Rice huller (roll type rice huller) 83 Hulling Department 83a, 83b Husked roll 85 Suction fan 9 Optical sorting machine

Claims

1. A chute arranged at an incline to allow the objects to be sorted to flow downward; A detection unit that detects the objects to be sorted; a discrimination unit that discriminates the type of the object based on a detection result of the detection unit; a removal unit that removes the objects to be sorted based on a discrimination result of the discrimination unit, the detection unit includes two optical detection slits provided in the chute perpendicular to a flow direction of the objects to be sorted and along the flow direction, and a pair of optical detection means provided on the upper and lower sides of the chute, one of the pair of optical detection means detects the objects flowing down the chute using a position where one of the two optical detection slits is provided as a detection position, and the other of the pair of optical detection means detects a position where the other of the two optical detection slits is provided as a detection position, the removal section includes one sorting and removal slit provided in the chute perpendicular to the flow direction of the objects to be sorted, and one ejector means disposed on the lower or upper side of the chute; The optical sorting machine is characterized in that the ejector means removes a specific type of the objects to be sorted that flow down on the chute through the sorting and removal slit.

2. A chute arranged at an incline to allow the objects to be sorted to flow downward; A detection unit that detects the objects to be sorted; a discrimination unit that discriminates the type of the object based on a detection result of the detection unit; a removal unit that removes the objects to be sorted based on a discrimination result of the discrimination unit, the detection unit includes a plurality of optical detection slits provided in the chute along a flow direction perpendicular to a flow direction of the objects to be sorted, and a plurality of optical detection means provided on at least one of an upper surface side and a lower surface side of the chute corresponding to each of the plurality of optical detection slits, the plurality of optical detection means detect the objects flowing down the chute using positions where the corresponding plurality of optical detection slits are provided as detection positions; the removal section includes one sorting and removal slit provided in the chute perpendicular to the flow direction of the objects to be sorted, and one ejector means disposed on the lower or upper side of the chute; The optical sorting machine is characterized in that the ejector means removes a specific type of the objects to be sorted that flow down on the chute through the sorting and removal slit.

3. The discrimination unit discriminates the type of the object based on optical information acquired from the object by the optical detection means, 3. The optical sorting machine according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of optical detection means provided on at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the chute acquire optical information in mutually different wavelength ranges from the objects to be sorted.

4. A chute arranged at an incline to allow the objects to be sorted to flow downward; A detection unit that detects the objects to be sorted; a discrimination unit that discriminates the type of the object based on a detection result of the detection unit; a removal unit that removes the objects to be sorted based on a discrimination result of the discrimination unit, the detection unit includes at least one optical detection slit provided in the chute perpendicular to the downward flow direction of the objects to be sorted, and optical detection means provided on at least one of the upper and lower sides of the chute corresponding to the optical detection slit, the detection unit including two optical detection slits provided in the chute perpendicular to the downward flow direction of the objects to be sorted and along the downward flow direction, and a pair of the optical detection means provided on the upper and lower sides of the chute; one of the pair of optical detection means detects the objects flowing down the chute using a position where one of the two optical detection slits is provided as a detection position, and the other of the pair of optical detection means detects a position where the other of the two optical detection slits is provided as a detection position, the removal section includes a plurality of sorting and removal slits provided in the chute along a flow direction perpendicular to a direction in which the objects to be sorted flow, and a plurality of ejector means disposed on a lower surface side or an upper surface side of the chute corresponding to each of the plurality of sorting and removal slits, The optical sorting machine is characterized in that the plurality of ejector means remove specific types of the objects to be sorted that are flowing down on the chute through the plurality of sorting removal slits.

5. A chute arranged at an incline to allow the objects to be sorted to flow downward; A detection unit that detects the objects to be sorted; a discrimination unit that discriminates the type of the object based on a detection result of the detection unit; a removal unit that removes the objects to be sorted based on a discrimination result of the discrimination unit, the detection unit includes at least one optical detection slit provided in the chute perpendicular to the downward flow direction of the sorted objects, and optical detection means provided on at least one of the upper and lower sides of the chute corresponding to the optical detection slit, a plurality of optical detection slits provided in the chute perpendicular to the downward flow direction of the sorted objects and along the downward flow direction, and a plurality of the optical detection means provided on at least one of the upper and lower sides of the chute corresponding to each of the plurality of optical detection slits, the plurality of optical detection means detect the objects flowing down the chute using positions where the corresponding plurality of optical detection slits are provided as detection positions; the removal section includes a plurality of sorting and removal slits provided in the chute along a flow direction perpendicular to a direction in which the objects to be sorted flow, and a plurality of ejector means disposed on a lower surface side or an upper surface side of the chute corresponding to each of the plurality of sorting and removal slits, The optical sorting machine is characterized in that the plurality of ejector means remove specific types of the objects to be sorted that are flowing down on the chute through the plurality of sorting removal slits.

6. The discrimination unit discriminates the type of the object based on optical information acquired from the object by the optical detection means, 6. The optical sorting machine according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of optical detection means provided on at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the chute acquire optical information in mutually different wavelength ranges from the objects to be sorted.

7. A rice hulling and preparation facility comprising an optical sorter according to any one of claims 1 to 6, either integrally or separately in a post-process of a rice huller, A rice hulling and preparation facility in which the processed material after husking of unhulled rice by the rice huller is treated as the sorted material, and the sorted material is sorted by the optical sorting machine.

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