Grain Appearance Measuring Apparatus Pseudo Visual Check
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for optical grain checks using a sample pan are time-consuming and inefficient, requiring separate imaging and loading of grains, and lack a practical way to create and display aggregate images of grains on the sample pan.
Innovation Solution
A grain appearance measuring apparatus that images grains, analyzes image information, processes it to form an aggregate image with densely arranged grain images, and saves or displays this image with an outer frame matching the sample pan's shape and gap color, allowing for pseudo visual checks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If grains are imaged using an imaging apparatus and sorted using image information, then optical check efficiency is improved, but the ability to perform visual checks using a sample pan is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a pseudo image that copies the visual appearance of grains loaded on a sample pan. The processing means generates this pseudo image by arranging extracted grain images in a densely packed configuration that mimics how grains would naturally be arranged on a sample pan during visual inspection, thereby preserving the visual check capability in digital form
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the advantages of both optical imaging and visual sample pan inspection by combining extracted grain images into a single aggregate pseudo image. This merged representation allows users to perform both optical checks (through automated image analysis) and visual checks (through the pseudo image display) simultaneously
2Ease of operation
If sample grains are loaded on a sample pan and then imaged using imaging means, then visual check capability is maintained, but time and effort are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary action by extracting individual grain images from the initial scan image before creating the pseudo image. The processing means identifies and extracts grain images in units of grains from the original imaging result, preparing them in advance for efficient arrangement into the pseudo image without requiring physical grain manipulation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical process of physically loading grains onto a sample pan with a digital processing system. The processing means automatically extracts and arranges grain images computationally, substituting the manual mechanical operation of grain handling with automated image processing algorithms
3Measurement precision
If grain images are arranged in a densely packed state to form an aggregate image, then pseudo visual check accuracy is improved, but image processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies parameter changes by allowing the area set value (which controls the degree of overlap between grain images in the pseudo image) to be adjusted. The processing means uses this parameter to control the overlapping area between adjacent grain images, enabling optimization between visual accuracy and processing complexity based on specific inspection requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the image processing into distinct functional modules: extraction of individual grain images from the original image, arrangement of these extracted images in units of grains, and controlled overlapping to create the final pseudo image. This segmentation simplifies the overall processing complexity by breaking down the complex task into manageable sequential steps
Data Source
AI summary
A technical object is to enable optical checks to be performed while allowing visual checks using a sample pan to be performed in a pseudo manner using an aggregate image (pseudo image) depicting grains loaded on the sample pan, by optically checking the grains using image information on the grains imaged by an imaging apparatus and creating the aggregate image using the image information. Thus, a grain appearance measuring apparatus includes imaging means for imaging a plurality of grains, analysis means for analyzing image information on the grains imaged by the imaging means in units of grains, processing means for processing the image information to form an aggregate image of the grains, and means for saving and/or displaying the aggregate image processed by the processing means. The processing means extracts grain images from the image information in units of grains and arranges the extracted grain images in units of grains, in a close state where the grain images are close to one another to form an aggregate image of the grain images.