Color Sorting System Combining Area and Line Scan Imaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing color sorting methods for small-grain agricultural products face challenges in achieving accurate sorting due to the high-speed free-fall of materials, which complicates area scan image capture and pneumatic sorting, resulting in poor accuracy and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A color sorting method combining area scanning and line scanning photoelectric characteristics, where an area scan camera identifies unqualified products and provides positioning parameters for a line scan camera to accurately position and a pneumatic sorting mechanism to eject airflow, ensuring precise sorting of unqualified products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an area scan camera is used to capture images of high-speed free-falling materials, then high-resolution imaging is achieved, but the sorting accuracy deteriorates due to difficulty in accurate image capture and time-consuming signal analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the imaging process into two distinct phases: area scanning for comprehensive quality identification and line scanning for precise positioning. The area scan camera captures full images for defect detection, while the line scan camera captures only the critical falling trajectory information, dividing the detection functions to resolve the contradiction between resolution and sorting accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The area scan camera performs preliminary quality identification before the materials enter the free-fall sorting phase. By identifying unqualified materials in advance during the conveyor belt transport phase, the system prepares positioning parameters that guide the subsequent line scan camera and pneumatic sorting mechanism, ensuring accurate sorting without relying solely on real-time analysis during fast free-fall
2Productivity
If a line scan camera is used for mass color sorting of high-speed moving materials, then sorting speed is improved, but the analysis accuracy deteriorates due to inability to analyze all surface areas of granular materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the detection task between area scan and line scan cameras, with each performing its specialized function. The area scan camera handles comprehensive surface analysis for quality determination, while the line scan camera handles rapid trajectory tracking and positioning, allowing both speed and accuracy requirements to be met through functional segmentation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the strengths of both area scan and line scan imaging technologies into a unified sorting system. The area scan provides comprehensive quality assessment while the line scan provides rapid positioning data, and their combined information is integrated to control the pneumatic sorting mechanism, achieving both high speed and high accuracy
3Productivity
If materials are forced into single-layer waterfall-like free-fall state for high-efficiency sorting, then processing speed is improved, but the sorting accuracy deteriorates due to different falling speeds at different heights making pneumatic sorting difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification and positioning of unqualified materials while they are still on the conveyor belt before free-fall begins. By calculating the falling time and trajectory in advance, the system determines exactly when and where to activate the pneumatic sorting mechanism, ensuring accurate sorting despite the accelerated free-fall conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses real-time feedback from both area scan and line scan camera data to dynamically adjust the pneumatic sorting control. The line scan camera continuously monitors the falling materials and provides feedback on their actual trajectory, allowing the control system to compensate for variations in falling speed and ensure precise sorting timing
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 method enhances sorting accuracy and speed by leveraging high-resolution area scan images and fast line scan signals, enabling effective identification and elimination of unqualified products during free fall, thereby improving the overall color sorting process.
Implementation Method 1
an area scan camera identifies unqualified products and provides positioning parameters
Implementation Method 2
a line scan camera to accurately position and a pneumatic sorting mechanism
Implementation Method 3
pneumatic sorting mechanism to eject airflow, ensuring precise sorting of unqualified products
Implementation Method 4
The free falling of the agricultural product materials is a process of continuous acceleration of gravity
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention belongs to the technical field of quality detection of agricultural products, and in particular to a color sorting method for small-grain agricultural products combining an area scanning photoelectric characteristic and a line scanning photoelectric characteristic. The method mainly includes area scanning identification on the grain agricultural products, line scanning positioning on unqualified agricultural products during falling of the agricultural products, and pneumatic sorting on the unqualified agricultural products. The present invention obtains an area scan image of grain agricultural product materials on a conveyor belt by using an area scan camera, which can accurately extract area array features of the materials and realize accurate identification of the unqualified materials. At the same time, the present invention can provide key parameters for accurate positioning during free falling of the materials while identifying the unqualified materials by using the area scan image, and can cooperate with the line scan positioning camera and the pneumatic nozzle to achieve high-speed elimination of the unqualified materials. The present invention solves the problem that an existing color sorting method has high sorting speed but poor accuracy for the small-grain agricultural products, can improve the color sorting accuracy for the unqualified materials while ensuring the color sorting speed, and has broad application prospects. 1/2