Bean sorting machine

Abstract

To solve such a conventional problem that disadvantage in which determination of quality has been properly performed and normal objects have been disposed of in vain and so on.SOLUTION: A bean sorter comprises: transfer means 14 which transfers an object h to be sorted so that the object h to be sorted passes through a measurement object region KT; light reception means 16 which is irradiated by illumination means 15, and receives light reflected by the object h to be sorted positioned in the measurement object region KT; and separation means 18 which determines quality of the object h to be sorted on the basis of light reception information of the light reception means 16, and separates the object h to be sorted into a normal object recovery part and a defective object recovery part. Quality determination means is so configured to exclude a region where a breadth external dimension of the object h to be sorted is smaller than a set width from objects for quality determination.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a bean sorting machine for sorting beans such as edamame, peas, and kidney beans. [Background technology]

[0002] In conventional bean sorting machines, edamame beans, an example of a bean, are transported as the object to be sorted so that they pass through a measurement area, the measurement area is illuminated with a lamp, the entire area of ​​the edamame is treated as the measurement object, the light from the edamame beans is measured with a camera to detect the state of damage to the edamame beans (for example, discoloration, etc.), and the edamame beans are distinguished as good or bad based on the detection results (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-128123 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the conventional configuration described above, when detecting discoloration or other conditions of the object being sorted, the entire area of ​​the object is measured, which means that there is a risk that the object being sorted may be mistakenly determined to be defective even though it is not abnormal.

[0005] To explain further, beans such as edamame have pods that contain several beans inside. The pods grow from the stems of the crop, and the stalks of the pods, which are closer to the stems, are thin and tend to be slightly darker than the other parts. With the above-mentioned conventional configuration, even if the stalks are slightly discolored, such items would be identified as defective. However, such discoloration of the stalks alone does not indicate an abnormality, and there is no problem in treating them as non-defective (normal). As a result, the above-mentioned conventional configuration has the disadvantage of identifying items that would be normal and would be discarded as defective.

[0006] Therefore, there has been a demand for a method for properly determining whether a product is good or bad and eliminating the disadvantage of normal products being disposed of unnecessarily. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The pulse sorting machine according to the present invention is characterized by comprising: a transport means for transporting the objects to be sorted so that the objects pass through a measurement target area; an illumination means for illuminating the measurement target area; a light receiving means for receiving light irradiated by the illumination means and reflected by the objects to be sorted located in the measurement target area; and a light receiving means for receiving a light reflected by the objects to be sorted based on light reception information of the light receiving means. Depending on whether or not there is an abnormal discoloration in the object to be sorted, The apparatus is provided with a quality determination means for determining whether the objects to be sorted are good or bad, and a separation means for sorting the objects to a normal object recovery section and a defective object recovery section based on the determination result of the quality determination means, and the quality determination means excludes areas where the external width dimension of the objects to be sorted is smaller than a set width from the objects to be judged as defective. Even if the abnormal discoloration occurs within the area, the product is not considered defective. It's at the point.

[0008] According to the present invention, light is irradiated by the lighting means and reflected by the object to be sorted located in the measurement area, and received by the light receiving means. If it is determined based on the received light information that the object to be sorted has an abnormally discolored area, the object to be sorted is determined to be defective and collected by the defective object collection section.

[0009] However, in the case of beans to be sorted, the stem portion of the external shape has a width dimension smaller than the set width, so the quality determining means excludes the stem portion from the object for determining whether it is defective. As a result, if the handle portion is slightly discolored but the other portions are not discolored, the object is determined to be normal.

[0010] Therefore, if the handle part is only slightly discolored, it is possible to avoid the product being rejected as a defective product unnecessarily, and it is possible to properly determine whether the product is good or bad and to eliminate the disadvantage of non-defective products being disposed of unnecessarily.

[0011] In the present invention, the light receiving means is capable of detecting minute discoloration areas having a width smaller than a set unit width, and the pass / fail determining means determines that the item to be sorted is defective if the light receiving means detects more than a set number of minute discoloration areas, and determines that the item to be sorted is normal if the number of minute discoloration areas is less than the set number.

[0012] Beans may have small spots on the surface of the pods. These spots are made up of many very small, minute discolored areas. However, even if there are only a few small discolored areas, it is okay to judge them as good quality.

[0013] Therefore, even if slight discoloration portions are present, if the number of slight discoloration portions is less than a set number, the product is determined to be normal, thereby preventing non-defective products from being wasted.

[0014] In the present invention, it is preferable that the good / bad discrimination means determines that the object to be sorted is defective if the external dimensions in the longitudinal direction of the object obtained based on the light reception information of the light receiving means are smaller than a set value, and determines that the object to be sorted is normal if the external dimensions in the longitudinal direction are larger than the set value.

[0015] In the case of beans, the pods contain multiple beans, but some pods contain only one bean. It is preferable to reject such pods as defective products. Such pods containing one bean (hereinafter sometimes referred to as single-bean pods) have shorter external dimensions in the longitudinal direction than non-defective pods.

[0016] Therefore, with this configuration, if it is determined based on the light reception information from the light receiving means that the outer dimension in the longitudinal direction of the object is smaller than a set value, the object is determined to be defective. As a result, defective objects such as single-grain pods, which have an outer dimension in the longitudinal direction shorter than normal objects, can be properly detected.

[0017] In the present invention, the separation means is provided with an air blowing unit that blows air onto the objects to be separated to move them along a path different from that of the other objects, and it is preferable that the air blowing unit blows air onto the objects toward approximately the center position of the objects in the longitudinal direction.

[0018] According to this configuration, when defective objects among the objects to be sorted are to be separated, air is blown onto the objects identified as defective, causing them to be moved to a different path from the other objects. At that time, the air blowing unit blows air toward approximately the center of the objects in the longitudinal direction, making it possible to accurately move the objects to a different path even with a small amount of air blown out.

[0019] In the present invention, it is preferable that the transport means has multiple transport paths arranged side by side for transporting the sorted items, the light receiving means is capable of detecting the abnormal discoloration portion of each of the sorted items transported along the multiple transport paths, and the good / bad discrimination means is capable of discriminating whether the sorted items transported along the multiple transport paths are defective or normal.

[0020] According to this configuration, the quality of the objects to be sorted can be determined separately and simultaneously on each of the multiple transport paths based on the detection results of the light receiving means, thereby enabling efficient sorting of a large number of objects to be sorted. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of the entire bean sorting machine. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an overall plan view of the bean sorting machine. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a measurement state. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the measurement results of light intensity values. [Figure 8] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the direction of the arrow FW shown in the drawings will be referred to as the "downstream side in the transfer direction," the direction of the arrow BK as the "upstream side in the transfer direction," the direction of the arrow UP as the "upward" direction, and the direction of the arrow DW as the "downward" direction.

[0023] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the bean sorting machine of the present invention includes a supply section 1 into which edamame, an example of a bean harvested and separated from the stem of a crop, is fed, a conveying section 2 that conveys the edamame from the supply section 1 downstream, and a sorting section 3 that sorts the edamame conveyed by the conveying section 2 as sorted material.

[0024] The supply unit 1 is equipped with a hopper 4 into which edamame stored in a container CO is poured, and a supply belt conveyor 5 that is provided at the bottom of the hopper 4 and that loads and transports the edamame. The hopper 4 has a wide loading opening at the top and is open at the top. The hopper 4 is equipped with an inclined guide section 4a that narrows toward the bottom, and is configured to guide the edamame toward the transport and loading surface of the narrow supply belt conveyor 5.

[0025] The conveying section 2 is equipped with a lifting conveyor 6 with a locking protrusion that locks and conveys the edamame beans sent out from the end of the supply belt conveyor 5 upward, and an oscillating conveying section 7 that receives the edamame beans sent out from the conveying end of the lifting conveyor 6 and oscillates and conveys them toward the downstream side in the conveying direction.

[0026] The swinging transfer section 7 is equipped with a transfer body 8 having multiple rows of horizontally arranged transfer paths IK for transferring the edamame beans sent out from the lifting conveyor 6, and a swinging operation mechanism 9 for swinging the transfer body 8. The transfer body 8 has multiple rows of horizontally arranged alignment grooves 10 that extend along the transfer direction and are large enough for the edamame beans to enter, with each groove 10 forming a transfer path IK. The swinging operation mechanism 9 includes a swinging link mechanism 11 that supports the transfer body 8 so that it can swing back and forth, an eccentric cam 12 for swinging operation, and an electric motor 13 that drives the eccentric cam 12, and swings the transfer body 8 back and forth with a small stroke to swing and transfer the edamame beans. By swinging and transferring the edamame beans, their orientation is aligned so that their longitudinal direction faces the transfer direction.

[0027] Next, the selection unit 3 will be described.

[0028] The sorting section 3 is equipped with a transport means 14 that transports the edamame beans as the sorted objects h so that they pass through the measurement target area KT, an illumination means 15 that illuminates the measurement target area KT, a light receiving means 16 that receives light that is irradiated by the illumination means 15 and reflected by the edamame beans located in the measurement target area KT, a quality discrimination means 17 that discriminates whether the sorted objects h are good or bad based on the light reception information of the light receiving means 16, and a separation means 18 that sorts the edamame beans into a normal object collection section and a defective object collection section based on the discrimination result of the quality discrimination means 17.

[0029] [Transportation means] The transfer means 14 is equipped with an upstream-side transfer conveyor 19 as an upstream-side transfer section located on the upstream side of the measurement target area KT in the transfer direction to transfer the objects h along the transfer direction and throw the objects h so that they pass through the measurement target area KT, and a downstream-side transfer conveyor 20 as a downstream-side transfer section located on the downstream side of the measurement target area KT in the transfer direction to receive the thrown objects h and transfer the objects h along the transfer direction. The measurement target area KT is formed in the space between the upstream-side transfer conveyor 19 and the downstream-side transfer conveyor 20.

[0030] As shown in Figure 3, the upstream-side conveyor 19 is driven to rotate at high speed by power transmitted from an electric motor 21 provided below via a transmission belt 22. By rotating at high speed, the upstream-side conveyor 19 can throw the objects to be sorted (h) being placed and transported from the end of the transport to the downstream side in the transfer direction. The thrown objects to be sorted (h) can travel in the air to the start of the transport of the downstream-side conveyor 20, which is separated by a space. This upstream-side conveyor 19 is composed of a wide belt conveyor.

[0031] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, above the transport and placement surface of the upstream transport conveyor 19, a plurality of guide plates 23 are provided close to the transport and placement surface, separating the plurality of transfer paths IK. The plurality of transfer paths IK separated by the guide plates 23 are arranged so as to correspond to and be connected to the plurality of transfer paths IK in the swinging transport section. The guide plates 23 are supported in a fixed position by a storage case 24, an upper support 25, etc. The width of the plurality of transfer paths IK is greater than the width of the edamame soybeans serving as the objects to be sorted h. Therefore, the upstream transport conveyor 19 is configured to transport the objects to be sorted h (edamame) in a horizontal position, that is, with one wide surface facing upward and the other wide surface facing downward.

[0032] Meanwhile, the downstream-side conveyor 20 is driven to rotate at a low speed by the power of the electric motor 21 transmitted via a gear-type reduction mechanism 26. The downstream-side conveyor 20 rotates at a low speed to load and transport the objects to be sorted (h). The downstream-side conveyor 20 is formed long in the transport direction, allowing workers to visually and manually remove defective objects as they are loaded and transported. Here, defects that cannot be measured by the sorting unit 3, such as deformed pods with deformed outer shapes and cracked pods, can be removed. Normal objects (non-defective products) can be collected in containers or the like from the end of the downstream-side conveyor 20.

[0033] [Lighting means] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the lighting means 15 is provided with an upper lighting means 27 as one-side lighting means located at an upper outer position relative to the transfer path IK when the object h passes through the measurement target area KT, and a lower lighting means 28 as the other-side lighting means located at a lower outer position relative to the transfer path IK when the object h passes through the measurement target area KT.

[0034] The upper illumination means 27 is provided with a first upper illumination device 27A that illuminates the objects h located in the measurement target area KT from the upstream side in the transfer direction, and a second upper illumination device 27B that illuminates the objects h located in the measurement target area KT from the downstream side in the transfer direction. The lower illumination means 28 is provided with a first lower illumination device 28A that illuminates the objects h located in the measurement target area KT from the upstream side in the transfer direction, and a second lower illumination device 28B that illuminates the objects h located in the measurement target area KT from the downstream side in the transfer direction. That is, the illumination means 15 is provided with a total of four illumination devices 27A, 27B, 28A, 28B, two on the upper side and two on the lower side of the measurement target area KT.

[0035] Each of the lighting devices 27A, 27B, 28A, and 28B is formed in an elongated shape extending horizontally across the multiple transport paths IK. That is, each of the lighting devices 27A, 27B, 28A, and 28B has a shape that extends long along the direction in which the transport paths IK are arranged. Each of the lighting devices 27A, 27B, 28A, and 28B is equipped with a light-emitting unit 29 formed of an LED or the like, and a diffusion plate 30 that diffuses the light emitted from the light-emitting unit 29 to illuminate the measurement target region KT. Each of the lighting devices 27A, 27B, 28A, and 28B uses a green light emission color to match the spectral reflectance characteristics of the surface of edamame soybeans.

[0036] By arranging the four lighting devices 27A, 27B, 28A, 28B as described above, the first upper lighting device 27A illuminates one wide surface of the objects h from an obliquely upward direction on the upside, and the second upper lighting device 27B illuminates one wide surface of the objects h from an obliquely upward direction on the downside. Also, the first lower lighting device 28A illuminates the other wide surface of the objects h from an obliquely downward direction on the upside, and the second lower lighting device 28B illuminates one wide surface of the objects h from an obliquely downward direction on the downside.

[0037] By illuminating the object to be sorted h in this manner, even if an abnormally discolored area j exists in a recessed area u of the pod that does not contain any beans, as shown in Figure 8, sufficient illumination light for measurement can be supplied to the recessed area u, making it possible to properly detect the abnormally discolored area j due to changes in the amount of light.

[0038] [Light receiving means] As shown in Figure 1, the light receiving means 16 is provided with a one-side light receiving device 31 as one-side light receiving means located at an upper outer position relative to the transfer path IK, and a other-side light receiving device 32 as the other-side light receiving means located at a lower outer position relative to the transfer path IK.

[0039] The one-side light receiving device 31 is configured to receive light that is illuminated by the upper lighting means 27 and reflected by the objects h to be sorted. The other-side light receiving device 32 is configured to receive light that is illuminated by the lower lighting means 28 and reflected by the objects h to be sorted.

[0040] Therefore, the sorted object h thrown from the upstream conveying conveyor 19 and passing through the measurement target area KT is subjected to illumination processing by the upper lighting means 27 and the lower lighting means 28, and light receiving processing by the one-side light receiving device 31 and the other-side light receiving device 32.

[0041] Although not shown, each light-receiving device 31, 32 includes a light-receiving sensor with a resolution smaller than the size of very small discoloration spots (e.g., approximately 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm wide) that occur on edamame soybeans. The light-receiving sensor has a plurality of unit light-receiving elements arranged in a line corresponding to a wide measurement target area KT, and a condenser lens that directs the received light to the unit light-receiving elements with a viewing angle in the direction of the transfer path IK, i.e., the width direction of the device. The light-receiving sensor is constructed using a CCD. Furthermore, the one-side light-receiving device 31 is located above and away from the measurement target area KT in order to receive light across the entire width of the measurement target area KT in the width direction of the device. Similarly, the other-side light-receiving device 32 is located below and away from the measurement target area KT.

[0042] Each light receiving device 31, 32 is capable of detecting light from the objects to be sorted h being transported along the multiple transport paths IK, and is capable of detecting minute discoloration portions having a width smaller than the set unit width for each of the objects to be sorted h being transported along the multiple transport paths IK.

[0043] When the light receiving devices 31, 32 receive light reflected from the objects h to be sorted, a background light amount adjustment unit 33 capable of adjusting the amount of background light is provided in a location that corresponds to the background when the measurement target location is viewed from each light receiving device. Although a detailed description of the configuration will be omitted, the background light amount adjustment unit 33 can adjust the amount of background light so that the objects h to be sorted can be distinguished from the background and will not be detected as defective locations.

[0044] Each light receiving device 31, 32 can simultaneously receive light across the entire width of the measurement target area KT in the device's horizontal direction, and can sequentially measure different locations in the longitudinal direction of the sorted object as the object is transported.

[0045] The lighting means 15 and the light receiving means 16 are covered by a storage case 24 made of a light-blocking material so that they are not affected by external light.

[0046] [Separation means] The separating means 18 is equipped with an air blowing unit 34 that blows air onto the objects h to be separated, causing them to move along a path different from that of the other objects h. Compressed air supplied from an air compressor (not shown) is supplied to the air blowing unit 34 via a control valve 35, and air is forcefully blown out from the tip of a thin nozzle 34a of the air blowing unit 34. The air blowing unit 34 blows air onto the objects h to be separated after they have been thrown by the upstream conveyor 19, passed through the measurement target area KT, and before they reach the downstream conveyor 20.

[0047] 4, the air blowing unit 34 is provided for each of the multiple transfer paths IK, and is configured to blow air toward the approximate center position in the longitudinal direction of the objects h. The timing at which the approximate center position in the longitudinal direction of the objects h reaches the air blowing position is determined by the control device 36, which will be described later.

[0048] [Control device] A control device 36 is provided to control the operation of each part based on operation commands from an operation panel 37 provided on the side of the upstream transport conveyor 19. The control device 36 is equipped with a microcomputer and controls the operation of each part according to a preset control program.

[0049] 5, measurement information from each of light receiving devices 31 and 32 and operation information from operation panel 37 are input to control device 36. Control device 36 outputs drive signals for turning on a plurality of lighting devices 27A, 27B, 28A, and 28B, and a drive signal for control valve 35 for controlling the operation of air blowing unit 34.

[0050] The control device 36 is used to configure a quality determination means 17 that determines whether the objects h are good or bad based on the light reception information of the light receiving means 16 (each of the light receiving devices 31, 32). That is, the quality determination means 17 is configured by a control program of the control device 36.

[0051] The quality determining means 17 will be explained. The quality determining means 17 is configured to determine the quality of the objects h depending on whether or not there is an abnormally discolored portion in the objects h, based on the light reception information of the multiple light receiving devices 31, 32. The multiple light receiving devices 31, 32 can detect an abnormally discolored portion in each of the objects h transported along the multiple transport paths IK, and the quality determining means 17 can determine whether each of the objects h transported along the multiple transport paths IK is defective or normal.

[0052] The quality determining means 17 determines whether an area of ​​each of the light receiving devices 31, 32 detects an object h based on whether the light quantity value obtained by receiving light at each unit light receiving section is below a determination value L1 for determining an object h for each unit light receiving section. For example, as shown in Figures 6(a) and 7(a), an area below the determination value L1 for determining an object h is determined to be an object h.

[0053] The quality determination means 17 determines whether the light quantity value obtained by receiving light at each unit light-receiving unit is below a predetermined threshold value L2 for determining abnormality, and if the light quantity value is below the threshold value L2 for determining abnormality, the area can be detected as an abnormally discolored area. That is, each light-receiving device 31, 32 can detect a minutely discolored area having a width smaller than the set unit width corresponding to each unit light-receiving unit. In this case, for example, as shown in Figures 6(b) and 7(b), if a predetermined number or more unit light-receiving units are consecutively determined to have a light quantity below the threshold value L2 for determining abnormality (first threshold value), the object h is determined to be defective.

[0054] The quality determination means 17 determines that an object h is defective if the number of unit light-receiving parts determined to be below the abnormality determination value L2 does not exceed a predetermined number consecutively, but if a set number (second threshold value) or more of these are detected in the same object h to be sorted. This is because even if a single minute discoloration part has a width smaller than the set unit width, if there are many of them, it can be determined by visual inspection that a large part of the edamame is discolored.

[0055] Furthermore, the good / bad discrimination means 17 determines that the object h to be sorted is defective if the external dimensions in the longitudinal direction of the object h obtained based on the light receiving information of the light receiving devices 31, 32 are smaller than a set value, and determines that the object h to be sorted is normal if the external dimensions in the longitudinal direction are larger than the set value.

[0056] As described above, the quality determination means 17 determines that an object h is present when the light intensity value obtained by receiving light at each unit light receiving section of the light receiving devices 31, 32 falls below the presence / absence determination level (L1). This reading of the amount of received light is then repeatedly performed as the object h is transported. Since the throwing speed of the object h is known in advance, it is possible to calculate the external dimensions of the object h in its longitudinal direction. In addition to the external dimensions in the longitudinal direction, the external width dimension of the object h can also be calculated.

[0057] If the external dimensions in the longitudinal direction of the object to be sorted h are smaller than a preset value, it can be determined to be a defective product, for example, a single bean pod with only one bean inside, and such object to be sorted h is determined to be a defective product.

[0058] The quality determination means 17 is configured to exclude areas of the sorted object h where the outer width dimension is smaller than the set width from the target for defect determination. That is, as shown in Figures 6(c) and 7(c), the stalk portion of the pod close to the stem is thin and more likely to become discolored than other parts. The outer width dimension of such stalk portion is smaller than the set width q. Therefore, by excluding areas of the sorted object h where the outer width dimension is smaller than the set width q from the target for defect determination, even if the stalk portion is discolored, it will not be treated as defective.

[0059] The control device 36 outputs a drive signal to the control valve 35 so that the air blowing section 34 blows air onto the objects h that have been determined to be defective by the quality determination means 17, causing them to move along a path different from that of the other objects h.

[0060] At this time, the movement speed of the thrown object h is known in advance, so it is possible to calculate the movement time of the object h that has been determined to be a defective object, from the measurement target area KT to the air blowing position by the air blowing unit 34. Therefore, a drive signal is output to the control valve 35 so that air is blown out at the timing when the center position in the longitudinal direction of the object h to be separated reaches the air blowing position.

[0061] 1 and 3, the sorted objects h (defective objects) that have been blown with air are pushed downward and collected in a defective container 38 provided below as a defective object collection section. The sorted objects h (normal objects) that have not been blown with air are transferred toward the downstream transfer conveyor 20 and can be collected from the transfer terminal of the downstream transfer conveyor 20 by a collection container (not shown) or the like that serves as a normal object collection section.

[0062] [Another embodiment] (1) In the above embodiment, the pass / fail discrimination means 17 determines that the item h to be sorted is defective if a set number or more of minute discoloration areas are detected, even if the minute discoloration areas are not continuous. However, it is also possible not to determine that the item h is defective if the minute discoloration areas are not continuous.

[0063] (2) In the above embodiment, if the outer dimension of the object h in the longitudinal direction is smaller than a set value based on the detection result of the light receiving means 16, the object is determined to be defective. However, such determination may not be made. In this case, it is preferable to determine whether the outer dimension is abnormal in another sorting process.

[0064] (3) In the above embodiment, the air blowing section 34 blows air toward approximately the center position in the longitudinal direction of the sorted object h. However, this configuration is not limited to this. For example, the width of the air blown from the nozzle may be widened so as to blow air over the entire sorted object h.

[0065] (4) In the above embodiment, the transfer path IK for transferring the objects h is configured to be arranged in multiple rows side by side, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration and may be configured such that only one row of the transfer path IK is provided.

[0066] (5) In the above embodiment, the lighting means 15 is provided with an upper lighting means 27 and a lower lighting means 28, and the light receiving means 16 is provided with a one-side light receiving device 31 and an other-side light receiving device 32. However, this configuration is not limited to this, and it is also possible to provide only one of the upper lighting means 27 and the lower lighting means 28, or to provide only one of the one-side light receiving device 31 and the other-side light receiving device 32.

[0067] (6) In the above embodiment, the lighting device is provided with the diffusion plate 30. However, various configurations can be adopted without the diffusion plate, such as a surface-emitting LED display or a fluorescent lamp as the light-emitting unit.

[0068] (7) In the above embodiment, the sorting process was performed using edamame as the object to be sorted. However, the object to be sorted is not limited to edamame, and beans such as peas, kidney beans, fava beans, and peanuts may also be sorted. [Industrial Applicability]

[0069] The present invention can be applied to a bean sorting machine for sorting beans such as edamame, peas, and kidney beans. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 14 Means of transport 15 Lighting means 16 Light receiving means 17. Means of determining quality 18 Separation means 34 Air outlet h Items to be sorted j Abnormally discolored area IK Transfer Path KT measurement area

Claims

1. a transport means for transporting the object to be sorted so that the object passes through a measurement target area; an illumination means for illuminating the measurement target area; a light receiving means for receiving light that is irradiated by the illumination means and reflected by the objects to be sorted located in the measurement target area; a quality determining means for determining whether the object to be sorted is good or bad depending on whether or not there is an abnormally discolored portion in the object based on the light reception information from the light receiving means; a separating means for sorting the objects to be sorted into a normal object collecting section and a defective object collecting section based on the result of the judgment by the good / bad judgment means, The pass / fail determination means of this bean sorting machine excludes areas where the width outer dimension of the sorted item is smaller than a set width from the target for defect determination, and does not treat the area as defective even if it contains an abnormally discolored portion.

2. the light receiving means is capable of detecting a minute discoloration portion having a width smaller than a set unit width, The bean sorting machine described in claim 1, wherein the good / bad discrimination means determines that the sorted item is defective if the light receiving means detects a set number or more of the minute discoloration areas, and determines that the sorted item is normal if the number of the minute discoloration areas is less than the set number.

3. The bean sorting machine of claim 1, wherein the good / bad discrimination means determines that the object to be sorted is defective if the external dimensions in the longitudinal direction of the object obtained based on the light receiving information of the light receiving means are smaller than a set value, and determines that the object to be sorted is normal if the external dimensions in the longitudinal direction are larger than the set value.

4. The separating means is provided with an air blowing unit that blows air onto the objects to be separated to move them to a path different from that of other objects to be sorted, The pulse sorter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the air blowing section blows air toward a substantially central position of the objects to be sorted in a longitudinal direction of the objects.

5. The transfer means is provided with a plurality of rows of transfer paths arranged side by side for transferring the objects to be sorted, the light receiving means is capable of detecting the abnormally discolored portion for each of the objects to be sorted transported along the plurality of transport paths, The pulse sorter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the quality determining means is capable of determining whether the objects to be sorted transported along the plurality of transport paths are defective or normal.

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