JP6599707B2 - Bottle sorting system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention belongs to a technical field related to a bottle sorting system for sorting PET (PET) bottles for recycling from discarded bottles.

  Recently, with regard to PET (polyethylene terephthalate), recycling technology has been completed and commercialized. As PET to be recycled, bottles for beverages and the like discarded from a quantitative aspect are suitable. For this reason, there is a need for a technique for easily and reliably selecting PET bottles from discarded beverage bottles.

  Conventionally, for example, a technique described in Patent Document 1 is known as a technique for selecting a PET bottle from discarded bottles.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a numerical value obtained by scanning a discarded bottle with optical means and extracting and measuring the shape of the vicinity of the mouth from image data, and the shape and dimensions of the vicinity of the mouth set in advance. A bottle sorting system that compares a numerical value and determines whether or not it is a plastic bottle is described.

  The bottle sorting system according to Patent Document 1 can reliably sort a PET bottle by determining whether or not it is a PET bottle from the shape and dimensions near the mouth, which is a unique shape of the PET bottle. It is to make.

JP 2012-88082 A

  However, the bottle sorting system according to Patent Document 1 cannot identify the color of the discarded bottle, and therefore has a problem that it is not possible to sort a transparent plastic bottle that is suitable for recycling. In addition, since bottles of various shapes are provided because sorting is performed by comparison based on the shape and dimensions of the vicinity of the mouth set in advance, there is a problem that the certainty of sorting is low. There is.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a bottle selection system that can reliably select transparent PET bottles from discarded bottles.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the bottle selection system according to the present invention employs means described in each of the claims.

  That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, an optical identification unit having a function of identifying the material and color of the discarded bottle by scanning is provided, and the control unit of the optical identification unit includes a) an image processing step, b A) an identification region specifying step and c) a determination step are programmed, and a) the image processing step is to draw an outline from the image data of the bottle, and b) the identification region specifying step is a drawn outline. Assuming a reference straight line that passes through the center of the mouth of the contour line and is parallel to the neck, the shoulder, trunk, and bottom are specified along the reference straight line, and c) the determination step is specified A first case in which the neck is transparent or white and recognized as PET, and a second case in which the specified neck is not PET but the specified shoulder, torso and bottom are recognized as transparent PET Shoulder and bottom where the neck is not PET A third case in which only the part is recognized as transparent PET, a fourth case in which the specified neck is not PET but only the specified shoulder is recognized as transparent PET, and the specified neck is PET The fifth case in which only the specified bottom portion is recognized as transparent PET is determined as a PET bottle.

  This means uses an optical identification means having a function of identifying the material and color of a discarded bottle by scanning, and identifies the identification area of the bottle by an image processing process and an identification area identification process. By determining whether or not there is a bottle that is crushed and deformed, a transparent plastic bottle can be identified from the material and color.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an optical identification unit having a function of identifying the material and color of the discarded bottle by scanning is provided, and the control unit of the optical identification unit includes: a) an image processing step; b A) an identification region specifying step and c) a determination step are programmed, and a) the image processing step is to draw an outline from the image data of the bottle, and b) the identification region specifying step is a drawn outline. Assuming a reference straight line that passes through the center of the mouth of the contour line and is parallel to the neck, the shoulder, trunk, and bottom are specified along the reference straight line, and c) the determination step is specified The first case in which the neck is transparent or white and is recognized as PET is determined to be a PET bottle, and the identified neck is not PET but the identified shoulder, trunk, and bottom are recognized as transparent PET. Case and identified neck are P A third case in which only the identified shoulder and bottom instead of T are recognized as transparent PET, and a fourth case in which the identified neck is not PET and only the identified shoulder is recognized as transparent PET Then, the determination as a PET bottle is suspended for the fifth case in which the identified neck is not PET but only the identified bottom is transparent PET .
Then, the bottle is inverted, the image processing step and the identification region specifying step are performed, and the specified neck portion is not PET but the specified shoulder portion, trunk portion and bottom portion are recognized as transparent PET. Two cases, a third case in which the identified neck is not PET but only the identified shoulder and bottom are recognized as transparent PET, and the identified neck is not PET but only the identified shoulder is transparent The fourth case that is recognized as PET and the fifth case in which the specified neck is not PET but only the specified bottom is recognized as transparent PET are determined to be PET bottles.

This means uses an optical identification means having a function of identifying the material and color of a discarded bottle by scanning, and identifies the identification area of the bottle by an image processing process and an identification area identification process. By determining whether or not there is a bottle that has been crushed and deformed, a transparent plastic bottle can be identified from the material and color, and the bottle may be less reliable. Is reversed and the identification work is performed again, and when the result of the identification process again becomes the same case, it can be determined as a reliable plastic bottle .

The bottle sorting system according to the present invention specifies an identification area of a bottle by an image processing process and an identification area specifying process using an optical identification means having a function of discriminating the material and color of a discarded bottle. It is possible to determine whether it is a transparent plastic bottle from the material and color, including the case where a crushed and deformed bottle and a film for displaying merchandise are wound around it, etc. There is an effect that a transparent plastic bottle can be more appropriately selected from the bottles.
Further, as claimed in claim 2, the identification area of the bottle is specified by the image processing step and the identification area specifying step by using an optical identification means having a function of identifying the material and color of the discarded bottle by scanning. By determining whether or not the bottle is a plastic bottle, a transparent plastic bottle can be identified from the material and color even if the bottle is crushed and deformed. Since the identification work is performed again after being reversed, there is an effect that a transparent plastic bottle can be selected with high accuracy from the discarded bottles.

Further, as claimed in claim 2, the identification area of the bottle is specified by the image processing step and the identification area specifying step by using an optical identification means having a function of identifying the material and color of the discarded bottle by scanning. By determining whether or not the bottle is a plastic bottle, a transparent plastic bottle can be identified from the material and color even if the bottle is crushed and deformed. Since the identification work is performed again after being reversed, there is an effect that a transparent plastic bottle can be selected with high accuracy from the discarded bottles.
When the result of this re-identification operation also becomes the same case, since it is determined as a reliable plastic bottle, there is an effect that a transparent plastic bottle can be selected fairly reliably from the discarded bottles. is there.

It is a side view of the 1st example of the form for carrying out the bottle sorting system concerning the present invention. FIG. 2 is an output diagram showing one process for sorting in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an output diagram illustrating a process following FIG. 2, and (A) and (B) show the processing order. It is an output diagram which shows the modification of FIG. 3, (A) and the process order are shown to (B). It is a flowchart of each process for the selection of FIG. It is a table | surface of the quality determination by the selection of FIG. It is a flowchart of each process for the sorting of the 2nd example of the form for carrying out the bottle sorting system concerning the present invention.

  Hereinafter, the form for implementing the bottle selection system concerning the present invention is explained based on a drawing.

  FIGS. 1-6 shows the 1st example of the form for implementing the bottle selection system which concerns on this invention.

  In the first example, the bottle P that is reduced in volume after disposal and transported to a sorting factory or the like is selected. That is, the bottle P in a state of being crushed and irregularly deformed is selected.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the first example includes a carriage 1, an optical identification unit 2, and a sorter 3.

  The transport table 1 is composed of an endless belt conveyor, and can dispose of the discarded bottles P and move them in a horizontal direction in a progressive manner.

  The optical identification unit 2 includes a sensor unit 21 and a control unit 22.

  The sensor part 21 of the optical identification means 2 is installed in a gate shape on the carriage 1 and is a light-emitting part and a light-receiving part that identify the color and material of the bottle P by the reflected light from the scanned bottle P. Part, camera, etc. Specifically, it consists of a near infrared sorter and a visible light sorter. The near-infrared sorter detects the light absorption spectrum of the irradiated near-infrared (wavelength range 1100 to 2300 nm) and identifies the material of the bottle P. The visible light sorter detects the reflected light of the irradiated visible light (wavelength range 400 to 700) and identifies the color and shape of the bottle P.

  The control unit 22 of the optical identification unit 2 is connected to the sensor unit 21 and includes a microprocessor that performs spectral processing on the scan data of the sensor unit 21 and performs other processing. The control unit 22 is programmed with an image processing step 22a, an identification region specifying step 22b, and a determining step 22c.

  The image processing step 22a of the control unit 22 includes a contour line Y (FIG. 2B) which is a diagram from the image data X (see FIG. 2A) composed of high-definition dots of the scanned bottle P. )).

The identification area specifying step 22b of the control unit 22 includes a reference straight line L1 that passes through the center of the mouth Ya that is difficult to deform and easily recognize the drawn outline Y, and is parallel to the neck Yb (FIG. 3A). The shoulder Yc, the trunk Yd, and the bottom Ye are specified along the reference straight line L1.
About this specification, let the direction be a seat part (flange part) Yf side, and let it be a shoulder part Yc, a trunk part Yd, and a bottom part Ye along a certain length.
Furthermore, a dividing line L2 passing through the mouth Ya, a dividing line L3 passing through the boundary between the seat Yf and the shoulder Yc, a dividing line L4 passing through the boundary between the shoulder Yc and the trunk Yd, and the trunk Yd It is assumed that a dividing line L5 passing through the boundary with the bottom Ye and a dividing line L6 passing through the end of the bottom Ye are orthogonal to the reference line L1. In the outer contour Y, the portion surrounded by the divided straight lines L2 and L3 is the identification area A of the neck Yb, the portion surrounded by the divided straight lines L3 and L4 is the identification area B of the shoulder Yc, and the divided straight line L4 , L5 is the identification region C of the body Yd, and the portion surrounded by the dividing lines L5, L6 is the identification region D of the bottom Ye. If the method for specifying the regions A, B, C, and D using the reference straight line L1 and the divided straight lines L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, and L6 is adopted, the shoulder portion Yc and the trunk portion Yd as shown in FIG. , Even when the bottom portion Ye is greatly deformed.

As shown in FIG. 6, the determination step 22c of the control unit 22 includes a first case where the identified neck Yb (region A) is transparent or white and recognized as PET, and the identified neck Yb (region A) A second case in which the identified shoulder Yc (region B), trunk Yd (region C), and bottom Ye (region D), not PET, is recognized as transparent PET, and the identified neck Yb (region A) ) Is not PET but the specified shoulder Yc (region B) and bottom Ye (region D) are the only cases recognized as transparent PET, and the specified neck Yb (region A) is not PET. Only the identified shoulder portion Yc (region B) is recognized as transparent PET, and the identified neck portion Yb (region A) is not PET but only the specified bottom portion Ye (region D) is transparent. About PET bottle (good) about the fifth case recognized as PET It determines that.
On the other hand, in this determination step 22c, as shown in FIG. 6, the specified neck portion Yb (region A) is not PET but only the specified shoulder portion Yc (region B) and trunk portion Yd (region C) are transparent. Only the sixth case recognized as a PET and the identified neck Yb (region A) are not PET but only the specified body Yd (region C) and bottom Ye (region D) are recognized as transparent PET. A seventh case, an eighth case in which the identified neck Yb (region A) is not PET but only the identified trunk Yd (region C) is recognized as transparent PET, and the identified neck Yb (region) For the ninth case where A) is not PET but the identified shoulder Yc (region B), trunk Yd (region C), and bottom Ye (region D) are not transparent PET, It is determined that it is not (No).

Regarding the determination criteria of the determination step 22c of the control unit 22 described above, if the neck portion Yb (region A) is transparent PET, the whole is transparent PET,
Even if the whole except the neck Yb (region A) is transparent PET, there is a bottle P in which only the neck Yb (region A) is white by heat treatment,
In rare cases, transparent PET is used as a product display film (label) wound around the body Yd (region C), and a product display film wrapped around the body Yd (region C). (Regardless of whether it is PET or not), it is assumed that other parts may be covered by the deformation of crushing.
Assuming this, for the third to fifth cases, the shoulder Yc (region B) or the bottom Ye (region D) is recognized as transparent PET, and the body Yd (region C) is transparent. If the PET is not recognized, it is determined as a PET bottle to be selected. However, in the sixth to eighth cases, even if the shoulder Yc (region B) or the bottom Ye (region D) is recognized as transparent PET, the trunk portion Yd (region C). Is recognized as transparent PET, a film for product display or the like is covered with region B or region D, which may be recognized as transparent PET, and is excluded from selection. .
In the second case where the shoulder Yc (region B), the bottom Ye (region D) and the body Yd (region C) are all recognized as transparent PET, it is determined as a PET bottle to be selected, and conversely In the ninth case where all are not recognized as transparent PET, it is naturally excluded from the selection.
The reason why the transparent PET is selected is that the present invention aims to regenerate the PET from the waste PET, to exclude other PE, PP, PV, etc., and to be transparent. This is because colored PET causes color mixing.

  The sorter 3 is installed at the terminal end of the carrier 1 and sorts bottles by air means or the like. The sorter 3 is driven based on the determination of the quality of the PET bottles in the control unit 22 of the optical identification means 2.

  According to the first example, as shown in FIG. 5, the discarded bottle P is scanned by the sensor unit 21 of the optical identification unit 2 while being moved on the carriage 1. Scan data scanned by the sensor unit 21 of the optical identification unit 2 is transmitted to the control unit 22. The control unit 22 of the optical identification unit 2 that has received the scan data extracts the image data X, and the image processing step 22a, the identification region specifying step 22b, and the determination step 22c are sequentially executed, and the sorter 3 performs Instruct sorting.

  That is, using the optical identification means 2 having the function of identifying the material and color of the discarded bottle P by scanning, the identification area of the bottle P is specified by the image processing process and the identification area specifying process, and the PET bottle is specified. It is determined whether or not. For this reason, even if the bottle P is crushed and deformed, the transparent plastic bottle can be identified from the material and the color, and the transparent plastic bottle can be reliably selected from the discarded bottle P. .

  FIG. 7 shows a second example of an embodiment for carrying out the bottle sorting system according to the present invention.

In the second example, in the case of the second case to the fifth case described above, the determination step 22c of the control unit 22 instructs to execute the identification operation again after suspending the determination and inverting the bottle.
Then, when any of the second case to the fifth case is recognized again, it is determined as a plastic bottle. Of course, when any of the sixth to ninth cases is recognized, it is determined that the bottle is not a plastic bottle (no).
By re-identification by this inversion, the angle for discriminating the color and material of the bottle P of the sensor part 21 of the optical identification means 2 comprising a near-infrared sorter and a visible light sorter becomes completely different, and the new missing in the previous time It is possible to distinguish from various viewpoints.

  When performing the re-identification operation, the bottle number is assigned to each bottle, the image data X and the case are stored, and the re-identification operation is performed from the symmetrical image data X. Confirm that it is a thing. Further, the apparatus can be configured by providing the sorter 3 with the return mechanism of the bottle P or the second sensor unit 21 of the optical identification means 2.

  According to the second example, the product display film (transparent PET) wound around the body portion Yd (region C) is covered to other parts due to the deformation of crushing. It is possible to avoid errors based on the error and further improve the sorting accuracy.

  As described above, in addition to the illustrated examples, it is also possible to employ another identification means for the second identification operation in the second example.

2 Optical identification means 21 Sensor unit 22 Control unit 22a Image processing step 22b Identification region specifying step 22c Determination step P Bottle X Image data Y Outline contour line Ya Mouth portion Yb Neck portion (region A)
Yc shoulder (region B)
Yd trunk (region C)
Ye bottom (region D)

Claims (2)

Optical discriminating means having a function of discriminating the material and color of discarded bottles by scanning,
The control unit of the optical identification means is programmed with a) an image processing step, b) an identification region specifying step, and c) a determination step,
a) The image processing step is to draw an outline outline from the image data of the bottle,
b) The identification area specifying step specifies a shoulder, body, and bottom along the reference line assuming a reference line that passes through the center of the mouth of the drawn outline and is parallel to the neck. And
c) The determination step recognizes the first case in which the identified neck is transparent or white and recognized as PET, and the identified neck is not PET but the identified shoulder, trunk, and bottom are transparent PET. The identified second case, the third case in which the identified neck is not PET but only the identified shoulder and bottom are recognized as transparent PET, and the identified neck is not PET but the identified shoulder Only the fourth case that is recognized as transparent PET and the fifth case in which the specified neck is not PET but only the specified bottom is recognized as transparent PET are determined as PET bottles.
A bottle sorting system characterized by that. Optical discriminating means having a function of discriminating the material and color of discarded bottles by scanning,
The control unit of the optical identification means is programmed with a) an image processing step, b) an identification region specifying step, and c) a determination step.
a) The image processing step is to draw an outline outline from the image data of the bottle,
b) The identification area specifying step specifies a shoulder, body, and bottom along the reference line assuming a reference line that passes through the center of the mouth of the drawn outline and is parallel to the neck. And
c) The determining step determines that the identified neck is a PET bottle for the first case that is transparent or white and recognized as PET,
A second case in which the identified neck is not PET but the identified shoulder, torso and bottom are recognized as transparent PET, and the identified neck is not PET but only the identified shoulder and bottom. A third case recognized as transparent PET, a fourth case where the identified neck was not PET and only the identified shoulder was recognized as transparent PET, and the identified neck was identified not as PET With respect to the fifth case where only the bottom is recognized as transparent PET , the determination as a PET bottle is suspended,
The bottle is inverted, the image processing step and the identification region specifying step are performed, and the specified neck is not PET, but the specified shoulder, trunk, and bottom are recognized as transparent PET. A third case in which the identified neck is not PET but only the identified shoulder and bottom are recognized as transparent PET, and the identified neck is not PET and only the identified shoulder is transparent PET A fourth case recognized as a PET bottle and a fifth case in which the specified neck is not PET but only the specified bottom is recognized as transparent PET, is determined to be a PET bottle.
A bottle sorting system characterized by that.