Bean sorting machine

Abstract

To solve such a conventional problem that it was required that abnormality such as color change and so on could be detected in the whole region on an external surface of an object to be sorted.SOLUTION: A bean sorter comprises: transfer means 14 which transfers an object h to be sorted so that the object passes through a measurement object region KT; illumination means 15 which illuminates the measurement object region KT; light reception means 16 which receives light reflected by the object h to be sorted positioned in the measurement object region KT; quality determination means which determines quality of the object h to be sorted; and separation means 18 which separates the object h to be sorted. The quality of the object h to be sorted is determined on the basis of light reception information of one side light reception means positioned at an upper side outer position and the other side light reception means 32 positioned at a lower side outer position.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, the objects to be sorted located in the measurement area are edamame beans, an example of a bean, and light is irradiated from one side of the transport path by an illumination means. An imaging device receives the light from the objects to be sorted, and abnormalities such as discoloration of the objects to be sorted (edamame) are identified from the measurement 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 above-mentioned conventional configuration, the objects to be sorted are illuminated from one side of the transport path, and the light from the objects is used to determine whether there are any abnormalities, such as discoloration, in the objects (edamame soybeans). With this configuration, it is possible to determine abnormalities, such as discoloration, on the outer surface of one side of the pods of the objects to be sorted, but it is not possible to detect abnormalities, such as discoloration, that have occurred on the outer surface of the other side of the pods.

[0005] Therefore, there has been a demand for a system that can detect abnormalities such as discoloration across the entire area of ​​the outer surface of the object to be sorted. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The characteristic configuration of the bean sorting machine according to the present invention is as follows: Longa transport means for transporting the object to be sorted so that the object passes through a measurement target area; and an illumination means for illuminating the measurement target area. a plurality of guide plates arranged on the transfer means in an orientation extending along the transfer direction of the transfer means, which align the objects to be sorted in an orientation in which the longitudinal direction is along the transfer direction and in a sideways orientation in which one wide surface faces upward and the other wide surface faces downward; The measuring device is provided with a light receiving means that receives light that is irradiated by the illumination means and reflected by the objects to be sorted that are positioned in the measurement target area, a quality determining means that determines whether the objects to be sorted are good or bad based on the light reception information of the light receiving means, and a separating means that sorts the objects to be sorted into a normal object recovery section and a defective object recovery section based on the determination result of the quality determining means, and the light receiving means is provided with Measurement area one-side light receiving means located at an upper outer position relative to the Measurement area and an other-side light receiving means located at a lower outer position relative to the one-side light receiving means, and the quality determination means determines whether the sorted object is good or bad based on the light reception information of the one-side light receiving means and the other-side light receiving means.

[0007] According to the present invention, the one-side illumination means irradiates light from an upper outer position onto the objects located in the measurement area, and the light reflected by the objects is received by the one-side light-receiving means. The other-side illumination means irradiates light from a lower outer position onto the objects located in the measurement area, and the light reflected by the objects is received by the other-side light-receiving means. The quality of the objects is then determined based on the light reception information from both the one-side light-receiving means and the other-side light-receiving means.

[0008] As a result, based on the light receiving information from one side of the light receiving means, it is possible to determine abnormalities such as discoloration on the outer surface of one side of the bean pod, and based on the light receiving information from the other side of the light receiving means, it is possible to determine abnormalities such as discoloration on the outer surface of the other side of the bean pod.

[0009] Therefore, it is possible to detect abnormalities such as discoloration across the entire area of ​​the outer surface of the object to be sorted.

[0010] In the present invention, it is preferable that the transport means is configured to transport the objects to be sorted in an attitude in which one wide surface of the objects faces upward and the other wide surface of the objects faces downward when passing through the measurement area, and that the one-side light-receiving means is configured to receive light reflected by the one wide surface, and the other-side light-receiving means is configured to receive light reflected by the other wide surface.

[0011] According to this configuration, the objects to be sorted pass through the measurement area in a posture in which one wide surface faces upward and the other wide surface faces downward, i.e., in a sideways posture, due to the transport operation of the transport means. Thus, one wide surface is illuminated and the reflected light is received, and the other wide surface is illuminated and the reflected light is received.

[0012] In this way, since the wide surface of the sorted item is the measurement target, there is less scattering of reflected light compared to when narrow areas are the target, and abnormalities such as discoloration based on reflected light can be detected efficiently.

[0013] In the present invention, the transport means is preferably provided with an upstream transport section located on the upstream side of the measurement target area in the transport direction, which transports the objects to be sorted along the transport direction and throws the objects to be sorted so that they pass through the measurement target area, and a downstream transport section located on the downstream side of the measurement target area in the transport direction, which receives the objects to be sorted that are thrown and transports the objects to be sorted along the transport direction, and the measurement target area is preferably formed in the space between the upstream transport section and the downstream transport section.

[0014] According to this configuration, after the objects to be sorted are transported by the upstream transport section, they are thrown from the transport end. The thrown objects move through the space between the upstream transport section and the downstream transport section. This space forms a measurement target area. Therefore, since the objects pass through the measurement target area while moving through the air, they can be transported in a stable state without being restricted by surrounding components.

[0015] In the present invention, it is preferable that the objects to be sorted that are released from the upstream conveying section and pass through the measurement target area are subjected to an illumination process by the illumination means and a light receiving process by the light receiving means.

[0016] According to this configuration, the illumination process and the light receiving process can be performed well at the upper outer position and the lower outer position of the measurement target area without being restricted by surrounding members.

[0017] In the present invention, the separation means is provided with an air blowing section that blows air onto the sorted objects to be separated and moves them to a transport path different from that of the other sorted objects, and it is preferable that the air blowing section blows air onto the sorted objects to be separated after they are released from the upstream conveying section, pass through the measurement target area, and before they reach the downstream conveying section.

[0018] According to this configuration, air is blown onto the objects to be sorted as they pass through the measurement area while moving through the air, causing them to move to a different transport path, allowing for accurate separation processing. In addition, by effectively utilizing the area between when the objects are released from the upstream transport section and when they reach the downstream transport section, separation processing can be carried out quickly and efficiently.

[0019] In the present invention, it is preferable that the transport means is provided with multiple transport paths arranged side by side for transporting the sorted items, the lighting means extends long along the direction in which the transport paths are arranged and is configured to illuminate the measurement target area on each of the multiple transport paths, the light receiving means is capable of detecting light from the sorted items being transported along the multiple transport paths, and the good / bad discrimination means is capable of discriminating whether each of the sorted items being transported along the multiple transport paths is defective or normal.

[0020] According to this configuration, it is possible to judge whether the objects to be sorted are good or bad based on the detection results of the light receiving means in each of the multiple transport paths, and it is possible to efficiently perform sorting processing on a large number of objects to be sorted.

[0021] 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 to a path different from that of the other objects, and it is preferable that the air blowing unit is provided separately for each of the multiple transport paths, and that air is blown onto the objects to be sorted toward approximately the center position in the longitudinal direction.

[0022] 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. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [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

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] Next, the selection unit 3 will be described. 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.

[0030] [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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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.

[0034] [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.

[0035] 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.

[0036] Each of the illumination devices 27A, 27B, 28A, and 28B is formed in an elongated shape in the horizontal direction across the multiple transfer paths IK. That is, each of the illumination devices 27A, 27B, 28A, and 28B has a shape that extends long along the arrangement direction of the transfer paths IK. Each of the illumination 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 light emitted from the light-emitting unit 29 to illuminate the measurement target region KT.

[0037] 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.

[0038] 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.

[0039] [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 (16) located at a lower outer position relative to the transfer path IK.

[0040] 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.

[0041] Therefore, the sorted items h that are thrown from the upstream conveyor 19 and pass through the measurement target area KT are subjected to an illumination process (a process of illuminating the sorted items h) by the upper illumination means 27 and the lower illumination means 28, and a light receiving process (a process of receiving reflected light from the sorted items h) by the one-side light receiving device 31 and the other-side light receiving device 32.

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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.

[0044] 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.

[0045] 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.

[0046] 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.

[0047] [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.

[0048] 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.

[0049] [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.

[0050] 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.

[0051] 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 receiving information from the light receiving means 16, i.e., the one-side light receiving device 31 and the other-side light receiving device 32. In other words, the quality determination means 17 is configured by the control program of the control device 36.

[0052] 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 j 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.

[0053] The quality determination means 17 determines whether an area of ​​each of the light receiving devices 31, 32 detects an object to be sorted h based on whether the light quantity value obtained by receiving light at each unit light receiving section is outside the determination value L1 for determining the object to be sorted for each unit light receiving section. For example, as shown in Figures 6(a) and 7(a), an area outside the determination value L1 for determining the object to be sorted is determined to be an object to be sorted h.

[0054] The quality determination means 17 determines whether the light quantity value obtained by receiving light at each unit light-receiving unit is outside the predetermined threshold value L2 for determining abnormality, and if the light quantity value is outside the threshold value L2 for determining abnormality, the area can be detected as an abnormally discolored portion. That is, each light-receiving device 31, 32 can detect a minutely discolored portion 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 (first threshold) or more of unit light-receiving units are consecutively determined to be outside the threshold value L2 for determining abnormality, the object h is determined to be defective.

[0055] The quality determination means 17 determines that an object h to be sorted is defective if the number of unit light-receiving parts determined to be outside the abnormality determination value L2 does not exceed a predetermined number consecutively, but if a set number (second threshold) or more of such parts 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, the presence of many of them makes it possible to visually determine that the entire edamame has been discolored.

[0056] 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.

[0057] As described above, the quality determination means 17 determines that an object h is present when the light quantity value obtained by receiving light at each unit light receiving section of the light receiving device falls below the presence / absence determination level (L1). This reading of the received light quantity 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.

[0058] 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.

[0059] The quality determination means 17 is configured to exclude areas of the 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 near the stem is thin and tends to be slightly darker than other portions. The outer width dimension of such stalk portions is smaller than the set width q. Therefore, by excluding areas of the 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.

[0060] 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.

[0061] 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.

[0062] 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.

[0063] [Another embodiment] (1) In the above embodiment, the transfer means 14 is configured to transfer the objects h to be sorted in an orientation in which one wide side of the objects h faces upward and the other wide side of the objects h faces downward when passing through the measurement target area KT, but this configuration is not limited to this, and the orientation of the objects h to be sorted when passing through the measurement target area KT is not limited to the above configuration.

[0064] (2) In the above embodiment, the transfer means 14 is configured to include an upstream conveying section 19 that throws the sorted material h. However, instead of this configuration, for example, the sorted material h may be dropped downward from the end of the conveying path, with the measurement area being formed while it is falling. Also, various configurations can be adopted, such as a configuration in which the sorted material h is slid along by an inclined guide member and guided directly downward from the lower end.

[0065] (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.

[0066] (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.

[0067] (5) In the above embodiment, the configuration includes an upstream lighting device (27A, 28A) that illuminates the objects h located in the measurement target area KT from the upstream side in the transport direction, and a downstream lighting device (27B, 28B) that illuminates the objects h located in the measurement target area KT from the downstream side in the transport direction. However, instead of this configuration, the configuration may include a left / right one-side lighting device that illuminates the objects h from one side in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction, and a left / right other-side lighting device that illuminates the objects h from the other side in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction.

[0068] (6) 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.

[0069] (7) 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.

[0070] (8) In the above embodiment, the illuminating means 15 is provided with the diffusion plate 30. However, various configurations such as a surface-emitting LED display or a fluorescent lamp may be employed as the light-emitting unit without providing a diffusion plate.

[0071] (9) 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]

[0072] The present invention can be applied to a bean sorting machine for sorting beans such as edamame, peas, and kidney beans. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 14 Means of transport 15 Lighting means 16 Light receiving means 17. Means of determining quality 18 Separation means 19 Upstream conveyor (upstream conveying section) 20 Downstream conveyor (downstream conveyor section) 31 One side light receiving device (one side light receiving means) 32 Other side light receiving device (other side light receiving means) 34 Air outlet h Items to be sorted IK Transfer Path KT measurement area

Claims

1. A transport means for transporting a long object to be sorted so that the object passes through a measurement target area; an illumination means for illuminating the measurement target area; a plurality of guide plates arranged on the transfer means in an orientation extending along the transfer direction of the transfer means, which align the objects to be sorted in an orientation in which the longitudinal direction is along the transfer direction and in a sideways orientation in which one wide surface faces upward and the other wide surface faces downward; 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 objects to be sorted are good or bad based on the light reception information of 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 light receiving means includes one side light receiving means located at an upper outer position relative to the measurement target area, and another side light receiving means located at a lower outer position relative to the measurement target area, The bean sorting machine, wherein the quality determining means determines whether the objects to be sorted are good or bad based on light reception information from the one-side light receiving means and the other-side light receiving means.

2. the transport means is configured to transport the objects in an orientation in which one wide surface of the objects faces upward and the other wide surface of the objects faces downward when the objects pass through the measurement area, The one-side light receiving means is configured to receive light reflected by the one wide surface, 2. The bean sorter according to claim 1, wherein the other-side light receiving means is configured to receive light reflected by the other wide surface.

3. The transfer means an upstream-side transport unit that is located upstream of the measurement target area in the transport direction and transports the objects along the transport direction and throws the objects so that they pass through the measurement target area; a downstream-side conveying unit that is located downstream in the transfer direction of the measurement target area, receives the thrown objects to be sorted, and conveys the objects along the transfer direction, The bean sorter according to claim 1, wherein the measurement target area is formed in a space between the upstream conveying section and the downstream conveying section.

4. The bean sorting machine of claim 3, wherein the sorted objects thrown from the upstream conveying section and passing through the measurement target area are illuminated by the lighting means and light-receiving processed by the light-receiving means.

5. The separating means is provided with an air blowing unit that blows air onto the objects to be separated to move them to a transport path different from that of other objects to be sorted, The bean sorting machine of claim 3, wherein the air blowing section blows air onto the sorted object to be separated after it is released from the upstream conveying section, passes through the measurement target area, and reaches the downstream conveying section.

6. 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 illumination means is configured to extend long along the direction in which the transfer paths are arranged and illuminate the measurement target region on each of the plurality of transfer paths; the light receiving means is capable of detecting light from the objects to be sorted being transported along the plurality of transport paths; 6. The bean sorting machine according to claim 1, wherein the quality determining means is capable of determining whether each of the objects to be sorted transported along the plurality of transport paths is a defective object or a normal object.

7. 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 claim 6, wherein the air blowing section is provided for each of the plurality of transport paths, and blows air toward a substantially central position in the longitudinal direction of the objects to be sorted.

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