Adjustable Optical Detection Slit for Grain Sorting Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical sorters face challenges in detecting defective grains and foreign matter with high accuracy, especially when grain sizes vary, leading to potential sorting failures due to insufficient light.
Innovation Solution
The optical sorter incorporates an adjustable optical detection slit and imaging means, ensuring that sorting targets are illuminated and imaged consistently, regardless of size, to maintain accurate detection and prevent sorting failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed optical detection slit is used, then the structure is simple, but the sorting performance deteriorates when grain sizes vary due to insufficient light
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the optical detection slit adjustable rather than fixed. The slit width can be dynamically changed to match different grain sizes, ensuring sufficient light reaches the sensor for reliable detection. This resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to adapt its structure (increasing complexity) to maintain high sorting performance across varying grain sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the slit width to optimize light transmission for different grain sizes. By adjusting this parameter, the system maintains reliable detection performance regardless of whether the grains are large or small, thus resolving the contradiction between fixed structure simplicity and variable performance reliability.
2Measurement precision
If the slit width is narrow, then the detection precision is high, but the light amount becomes insufficient for large grains
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the slit width dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. For small grains, the slit can be narrowed to improve detection precision by reducing background light. For large grains, the slit can be widened to allow sufficient light transmission. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between precision and light amount.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the slit width parameter based on grain size to balance detection precision and light transmission. By optimizing this parameter for different conditions, the system achieves both high precision detection and adequate illumination for various grain sizes.
3Illumination intensity
If the slit width is wide, then the light amount is sufficient, but the detection precision decreases due to edge shadows
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the slit width adjustable. When sufficient light is needed (for large grains or dim conditions), the slit can be widened without permanently compromising precision. When high precision is needed (for small grains or bright conditions), the slit can be narrowed. This temporal separation of requirements resolves the contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the slit width parameter based on specific detection needs. By changing this parameter, the system can prioritize either light transmission or precision detection depending on the grain characteristics, thus resolving the contradiction between these two opposing requirements.
4Measurement precision
If grains fall from the lower end of the chute, then the structure is simple, but the detection accuracy deteriorates due to varying fall paths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the detection system dynamic by allowing adjustment of the detection position along the chute. This enables the system to adapt to different grain trajectories and sizes, maintaining high detection accuracy without requiring a completely fixed grain path. The adjustable detection mechanism compensates for varying fall paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal detection system that can handle various grain types and trajectories. By making the detection position and slit width adjustable, a single chute structure can effectively detect all grain sizes and paths, rather than requiring separate fixed structures for different grain types.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables the optical sorter to detect defective grains and foreign matter with higher accuracy, improving sorting performance and preventing failures caused by varying grain sizes.
Implementation Method 1
reflected light or transmitted light from the grains is received by a sensor
Implementation Method 2
imaging means for imaging the sorting targets at the detection position
Data Source
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AI summary
Included are a chute arranged in an inclined manner to allow sorting targets to flow downward, optical detection means for detecting the sorting targets at a detection position, and ejector means for sorting and removing the sorting targets based on a result of detection of the optical detection means. The chute is provided with an optical detection slit in a direction orthogonal to a flow-down direction of the sorting targets, a slit width of the optical detection slit is adjustable, and the optical detection means images the sorting targets flowing downward on the chute with the imaging means at a position where the optical detection slit is provided as the detection position.