JPH09264851A - Evaluator for grain particle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To properly evaluate the quality of grain particles by a transmission image formed by transmitted light from the center part of the grain particle to prevent improper evaluation of the quality of the grain particle as caused by undesired transmission light from the peripheral part of the grain particle. SOLUTION: A transmission light through a location S intended for existence of grain particles (k) illuminated by a lighting means 2 such as white light source 2a is taken by an image pickup means 3 per pixel with the size thereof smaller than that of each grain particle. Thus, the quality such as acceptance of the grain particle is evaluated according to the quantity of the transmission light with a specified wavelength component passing through a filter means 8 based on image information corresponding to an evaluation range as specified range containing the center part in the existing area of each grain particle.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a grain evaluation device for evaluating the quality of a grain based on the amount of transmitted light of a specific wavelength component transmitted through the grain.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the above-mentioned grain evaluation apparatus, for example, rice grains (brown rice) as grains to be evaluated are transferred in a row while being illuminated with illumination light of a specific wavelength from the lateral direction to transmit the grains. The quality of rice grains is determined based on the amount of transmitted light when the transmitted light is received by a light receiving element such as a silicon photocell (for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-7335).
4 gazette).

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, since the transmitted light transmitted through the whole grain is received, the amount of transmitted light is such that the central portion of the grain is thick enough. Light that has been transmitted through the grain and is transmitted through the thin part of the peripheral part of the grain, and is affected by the unevenness of the grain surface, that is, the amount of information about the grain is small but noise-like information. Since there is also light containing, there is a possibility that the quality evaluation of the grain may be inappropriate.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to eliminate the disadvantages of the above-mentioned prior art by the influence of unnecessary transmitted light from the peripheral portion of the grain. It is to prevent the quality evaluation from becoming inappropriate.

[0005]

According to the structure of claim 1, the transmission image when the illumination light is transmitted through the planned location of the grain has a unit of a pixel having a size smaller than the size of the grain. The image information corresponding to the evaluation target range extracted as a predetermined range including the central portion of the area where the grain is captured in the captured image information, that is, the specific wavelength component of each pixel in the evaluation target range Grain quality is evaluated by the amount of light transmitted.

Therefore, since only the image in the predetermined range including the center portion of the transmission image of the grain is to be evaluated, the grain is transmitted in order to process the amount of light transmitted through the whole grain as in the conventional case. The quality evaluation of grain is inappropriate due to the transmitted light that passes through the thin peripheral part of the grain and is also influenced by the unevenness of the grain surface and contains unnecessary and noise-like information. It is possible to carry out a good quality evaluation without any problem.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the quality of the grain is evaluated by the magnitude of the transmitted light amount of the light of the specific wavelength component for each pixel within the evaluation target range.

Therefore, the quality evaluation such as the quality of the grain can be judged based on the magnitude of the amount of transmitted light under a clear standard, and the preferable means of claim 1 can be obtained.

According to the configuration of claim 3, claim 1 or 2
In, the quality of the grain is evaluated by the variation in the transmitted light amount of the light of the specific wavelength component for each pixel in the evaluation target range.

Therefore, for example, when the quality of the grain is evaluated only by the magnitude of the amount of transmitted light in the range to be evaluated, even if there is a portion where the amount of transmitted light is extremely small, that is, a portion of poor quality exists, When the size of the transmitted light amount is an average value, it may not be judged as a defect, whereas the variation in the transmitted light amount due to the extremely small amount of the transmitted light is large and thus the defective grain. Therefore, the preferred means of claim 1 or 2 can be obtained.

According to the structure of claim 4, in claim 1, 2 or 3, the first specific wavelength component contained in the range of 400 nm to 500 nm and the second specific wavelength component contained in the range of 630 nm to 680 nm. Among the information on the amount of transmitted light when the light of each of the two wavelength components passes through the evaluation target range of the grain, the quality of the rice grain is determined by the amount of transmitted light of one wavelength component or both wavelength components. evaluate.

Therefore, the information on the amount of transmitted light of the above-mentioned two wavelength components suitable for evaluation of rice grains can be appropriately selected and used so that more appropriate evaluation can be performed while judging the state of rice grains, Therefore, the preferred means of claim 1, 2 or 3 can be obtained.

According to the structure of claim 5, the rice grain according to claim 4, wherein the transmitted light amount of at least one of the light of the two wavelength components of the first and second specific wavelength components is larger than the set value. Is determined to be a non-defective product, and rice grains whose transmitted light amount is smaller than the set value are determined to be defective products.

Therefore, only the quality of the rice grain can be clearly and quickly evaluated.
Is obtained.

According to the structure of claim 6, in claim 5, due to the difference in the amount of transmitted light for the light of the first specific wavelength component or the difference in the amount of transmitted light for the light of the second specific wavelength component, good quality rice And immature rice.

Therefore, finer quality evaluation of good rice can be performed, and the preferred means of claim 5 can be obtained.

According to the configuration of claim 7, claim 5 or 6
In, the dead rice in the defective product, the colored rice and the damaged rice are distinguished from each other by the difference in the amount of transmitted light with respect to the light of the second specific wavelength component.

Therefore, the quality of the defective rice can be evaluated more finely, and the preferred means of claim 5 or 6 can be obtained.

According to the structure of claim 8, claims 1, 2,
In 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, only the light of a specific wavelength component of the light of the wide range of wavelengths emitted from the wide wavelength light source is in the light path from the wide wavelength light source to the imaging means. After passing through the provided filter means, it is projected as illumination light on the planned location of the grain, and a transmission image of the light of the specific wavelength component transmitted through the planned location of the grain is captured by the imaging means.

Therefore, as compared with the case where the grain illuminated by the white light source is imaged by the color type image pickup means without using the white light source and the filter means, the black and white type inexpensive image pickup means can be used, and , It is difficult to obtain high-luminance light with an optimum wavelength component when switching a monochromatic light source such as an LED or the like to emit light of a specific wavelength component. It is possible to increase the brightness, and therefore, the claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Or 7 suitable means are obtained.

According to the structure of claim 9, claims 1, 2 and
3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, on the planned location of each grain in the grain layer in which various numbers of grains to be evaluated are held in a state of being arranged in a plane in a single layer state. The position is discriminated, and the quality of the grain is evaluated by the amount of transmitted light in the evaluation target range of each grain whose position is discriminated.

Therefore, since the quality of each grain is evaluated by holding a plurality of grains arranged side by side, it is possible to evaluate the quality of a large number of grains as compared with, for example, holding and evaluating one grain at a time. Can be carried out quickly, and therefore, the claims 1, 2 and
3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 suitable means are obtained.

According to the structure of claim 10, in claim 9, the light of a wide wavelength range emitted from the wide wavelength light source is
It does not pass through the filter means that has exited from the light path between the wide-wavelength light source and the image pickup means, and is projected as the illumination light as it is to the planned location of the grain, and the light transmitted through the planned location of the grain The transparent image is captured by the image capturing means,
If the transmitted light amount is less than the set value, the grain exists, and if the transmitted light amount is greater than the set value, the grain does not exist, and the presence position of each grain in the grain layer is determined, and the presence position is The quality is evaluated for each determined grain.

Therefore, the position of each grain in the grain layer can be accurately discriminated by the white light by utilizing the wide wavelength light source and the image pickup means provided for grain quality evaluation. The preferred measure of Item 9 can be obtained.

[0025]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the grain evaluation apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings in which rice grains are used as grains to be evaluated.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a transparent glass support plate 1 for placing and holding a plurality of rice grains k at the planned location S is provided, and below the support plate 1 is provided. ,
An illuminating light source 2 as an illuminating means for projecting illuminating light to the planned location S is provided in an upward state, and is provided above the support plate 1 with an imaging lens 3a and a CCD image pickup device 3b in a downward direction. A monochrome CCD camera 3 in the image pickup direction is provided. From the above, the grain holding means capable of holding a grain layer in which a plurality of rice grains are arranged in a plane in a single layer at the rice grain planned location S is constituted by the support plate 1 and the illumination light source. The CCD camera 3 is configured as an image pickup unit that picks up a transmission image when the illumination light from 2 passes through the planned location S of the rice grain k in units of pixels having a size smaller than the size of the grain k. It In addition, here, the planned location S of rice grains k is formed in a size such that a predetermined number of rice grains k are present. However, when the number of rice grains k is different, or when there is only one rice grain k, etc. Are formed in a size corresponding to the number.

The illumination light source 2 is composed of a white lamp 2a as a wide wavelength light source which emits light of a wide range of wavelengths. Then, a bandpass filter 8 as a filter means that can switch to a state in which only the light of a specific wavelength component of the emission wavelength of the white lamp 2a is passed and the CCD camera 3 receives the light is provided from the illumination light source 2 to the CCD.
It is provided in the light path to the camera 3 (specifically, at the facing position of the CCD camera 3).

As shown in FIG. 3, the bandpass filter 8 includes the first bandpass filter 8 included in the range of 400 nm to 500 nm.
The specific wavelength component (around 450 nm) and the second specific wavelength component (65 included in the range of 630 nm to 680 nm)
A disk provided with a filter portion 8a that transmits each light of about 0 nm) is rotated by the filter switching motor 7, and each filter portion 8a is positioned in front of the imaging lens 3a. Further, the bandpass filter 8 is
It is configured so that it can be inserted into and removed from the light path from the illumination light source 2 to the CCD camera 3. That is, when the light from the white lamp 2a is used as it is, the band pass filter 8 is removed from the path of the light from the illumination light source 2 to the CCD camera 3 so that the cutout portion where the filter portion 8a is not formed is formed. The filter switching motor 7 operates so as to be positioned in front of the imaging lens 3a.

The control configuration will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, a control device 5 utilizing a microcomputer is provided, and the image pickup image signal of the CCD camera 3 is input to the control device 5. On the other hand, the control device 5 outputs a drive signal for the filter switching motor 7 and an image signal for the television monitor 9 for displaying various kinds of information as described later.

A position discriminating means for discriminating the existing position on the planned existing place S for each rice grain k in the grain layer based on the image information of the CCD camera 3 using the control device 5. 100 are configured. Specifically, with the bandpass filter 8 leaving the light path from the illumination light source 2 to the CCD camera 3, the illumination light (from the white lamp 2a) that has passed through the grain layer at the planned existence location S. When the amount of transmitted light is smaller than the set value, the existence of the rice grain k is detected, and the existing position of each rice grain is determined. Then, the position of each rice grain k whose position has been determined is displayed on the screen of the television monitor 9.

The position discrimination of the rice grain will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the horizontal direction of the planned existing location S having a rectangular shape is set to the X direction and the vertical direction is set to the Y direction, and the CCD image pickup device 3b of the CCD camera 3 is set to X in each scanning line along the Y direction.
When scanning is driven along the direction, an output waveform for each pixel p is obtained. In the figure, x0 indicates the light intensity level of the transmitted light in the portion where the rice grain k does not exist, and x1 indicates the light intensity level of the rice grain k existence determination that the rice grain k exists when the amount of transmitted light becomes smaller than this, so as shown in FIG. In addition, the position of each rice grain k is specified by setting the image region in which the pixels p of the light amount level smaller than the light amount level x1 of the rice grain presence / absence determination are continuous as the existence region of each rice grain k. Note that x2 indicates a light amount level at which it is determined that a defective substance such as colored rice or a foreign substance that is not a normal rice grain k exists if the transmitted light amount is smaller than this.

Further, by using the control device 5, the CC
Based on the imaged image information of the D camera 3, within a region where rice grains k are present (a group of pixels p corresponding to each rice grain k), as shown in FIG. As the evaluation target range ht, and based on the image information corresponding to the evaluation target range ht, that is, the evaluation target for the light of at least one wavelength component of the light of the first and second specific wavelength components. A quality evaluation unit 200 that evaluates the quality of the rice grain k is configured based on the amount of transmitted light of each pixel p within the range ht. The evaluation target range ht is set to be, for example, about one-third of the size of the rice grain k around the midpoint position of the width ΔX in the X direction and the width ΔY in the Y direction of the existing region of the rice grain k. Set. And
The quality evaluation means 200 evaluates the quality of each rice grain based on the information of the position determination means 100 based on the amount of transmitted light obtained from the transmission image for each rice grain k whose position in the grain layer is determined.

In practice, the amount of transmitted light is determined by the transmittance. That is, the level of the amount of transmitted light when the rice grains k are present is expressed in percent with reference to the amount of transmitted light when the rice grains k are not present on the support plate 1. As specific contents of the evaluation, first, the transmittance for the light of the first and second specific wavelength components (meaning the average value of the transmittance at each pixel p within the evaluation target range ht) is set to the set value. A rice grain larger than this is determined as a good product, and a rice grain whose transmittance is smaller than the set value is determined as a defective product. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, with respect to the light of the first specific wavelength component (around 450 nm), the transmittances of the good rice a and b are between approximately 40% and 60%, whereas the transmittance is poor. Since the transmittance of rice c, d, and e is approximately between 25% and 20%, the quality of the rice grain can be determined by setting the set value to approximately 33%, and the second specific wavelength component (near 650 nm) can be determined. For light, fine rice a, b
Of the defective rice c, d, and e is approximately 52% to 28%.
Since it is in the range of%, it is possible to judge the quality of the rice grain if the set value is set to a transmittance of about 63%.

Next, good quality rice and immature rice in non-defective products are distinguished from each other by the difference in the transmittance of the first specific wavelength component or the second specific wavelength component to the light, and the transmission of the second specific wavelength component to the light is performed. The rate distinguishes dead rice in defective products from colored rice and damaged rice. That is, FIG.
As shown in, the transmittance of the good quality rice a for the light of the first specific wavelength component (around 450 nm) is about 57%, the transmittance of the unripe rice b is about 44%, and the second specific wavelength component (650
The transmittance of good quality rice a is about 85% and the transmittance of immature rice b is about 75% with respect to light having a wavelength of around nm). Much larger than the second specific wavelength component (650 n
m), the transmittance of dead rice e is about 28%, while the transmittance of colored rice d and damaged rice c is 47%.
It can be distinguished because it is much larger, about 52%.

The quality evaluation means 200 is configured to evaluate the quality of the rice grain k based on the variation in the amount of transmitted light of each pixel p within the evaluation target range ht. That is, since the average value of the transmittance of each pixel p within the evaluation target range ht is determined as described above, the variation of the transmitted light amount is determined based on the standard deviation with respect to the average value. Specifically, regarding the damaged rice and the colored rice in the defective rice, since the standard deviation of the damaged rice is larger than the standard deviation of the colored rice, the damaged rice and the colored rice in the defective rice can be distinguished.

Then, the control device 5 distinguishes between the good rice and the bad rice by distinguishing between the good rice and the bad rice by, for example, changing the color of the various evaluation results of the rice grains on the screen of the television monitor 9. Display while distinguishing rice of various qualities.

[Other Embodiments] In the above embodiment, the illuminating means 2 is constituted by the wide wavelength light source 2a which emits light of a wide range of wavelengths, and the specific wavelength component of the emission wavelength of the wide wavelength light source 2a. The illumination light of the specific wavelength component is generated by the filter means 8 which is switched so that only the light of the specific wavelength component is transmitted.
It is also possible to use a single wavelength light source such as an ED. Further, the specific wavelength component is not limited to the first specific wavelength component around 450 nm and the second specific wavelength component around 650 nm as in the above embodiment, and depending on the type of grain to be evaluated and the like. It can be set to an appropriate wavelength component. The first specific wavelength component is from 400 nm to 5 except 450 nm.
Any wavelength included in the range of 00 nm may be used, and the second specific wavelength component may be 630 nm to 680 nm other than 650 nm.
Any wavelength may be included within the range. Also, the installation position of the filter means 8 is not limited to the position immediately before the image pickup means 3 as in the above-described embodiment, but is, for example, the light projection side position of the lighting means 2 or the lower position of the support plate 1 and the like. To image pickup means 3
Can be set as appropriate.

In the above embodiment, the image pickup means 3 is composed of a CCD camera (black and white type), but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be an image pickup tube type television camera or the like. or,
Instead of a black-and-white type imaging unit, a color type imaging unit (such as a color CCD camera) may be used.
Is composed of a wide-wavelength light source 2a that emits light of a wide range of wavelengths, and the filter means 8 is unnecessary.

In the above embodiment, in order to evaluate the quality of the grain, the evaluation target range ht set in a predetermined range including the center of the region where the grain exists on the image is formed in a rectangular shape. The grain size is not limited to about one-third of the grain and can be set larger or smaller than this. Also, the center of the existing area may be the center of gravity position of the existing area other than the center point positions in the horizontal and vertical directions of the screen.

In the above embodiment, the magnitude of the amount of transmitted light of each pixel is judged by the transmittance, but the invention is not limited to this, and the output of the image pickup means (CCD camera) is represented by a digital value such as 8 bits. It may be one.

In the above embodiment, when the quality of the grain is evaluated by the size of the transmitted light amount of each pixel within the evaluation target range ht, the average value of the transmitted light amount (transmittance) of each pixel is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a range of an appropriate transmitted light amount (transmittance) may be set and the quality of the grain may be evaluated by the number of pixels outside the range.

In the above embodiment, the variation in the amount of transmitted light of each pixel is judged by the standard deviation, but the invention is not limited to this, and it may be dispersion.

In the above embodiment, a plurality of grains are held at the planned location S for evaluation, but one grain instead of a plurality of grains may be held for evaluation. . In this case, the position discriminating means 100 for each grain on the planned existence location S is not necessary, and the filter means 8 is configured to be insertable and retractable with respect to the light path from the illumination means 2 to the imaging means 3. It is not necessary (it can be left inserted).

In the above embodiment, the evaluation device is configured to display the position of each grain determined based on the captured image information and the result of the quality evaluation for each grain on the television monitor 9, but not necessarily. , It is not necessary to display it on the TV monitor 9, and for example, the evaluation result is displayed as a number,
Alternatively, it may be printed out.

It should be noted that although reference numerals are given in the claims for convenience of comparison with the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the configurations of the accompanying drawings by the entry.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a grain evaluation device.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a bandpass filter.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control configuration.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining position determination of grain

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of quality evaluation of rice grains.

[Figure 7] Illustration of quality evaluation of rice grains

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Grain Holding Means 2 Illuminating Means 2a Wide Wavelength Light Source 3 Imaging Means 8 Filter Means 100 Position Discriminating Means 200 Quality Evaluating Means

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A grain evaluation device for evaluating the quality of a grain based on the amount of transmitted light of a specific wavelength component that transmits through the grain, the lighting device projecting illumination light onto a planned location of the grain. Means (2), and an image pickup means (3) for picking up a transmission image when the illumination light from the illumination means (2) has passed through the planned existence location, in units of pixels having a size smaller than the grain size. ) And an image corresponding to the evaluation target range by extracting, as the evaluation target range, a predetermined range including the central portion of the existing region of the grain based on the imaged image information of the imaging unit (3). A grain evaluation device provided with a quality evaluation means (200) for evaluating the quality of the grain based on the information. 2. The quality evaluation means (200) is configured to evaluate the quality of the grain according to the amount of transmitted light of each pixel in the evaluation target range.
The described grain evaluation device. 3. The quality evaluation means (200) determines the amount of transmitted light of each pixel in the evaluation target range,
The grain evaluation device according to claim 1 or 2, which is configured to perform quality evaluation of the grain. 4. The quality evaluation means (200) uses a first specific wavelength component included in a range of 400 nm to 500 nm and a second specific wavelength included in a range of 630 nm to 680 nm as grains to be evaluated for rice grains. The grain evaluation device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, which is configured to evaluate the quality of the rice grain based on the information on the amount of transmitted light with respect to the light of at least one wavelength component of the light of the wavelength component. 5. The quality evaluation means (200) determines that a rice grain whose amount of transmitted light with respect to the light of the first and second specific wavelength components is larger than a set value is a good product, and the amount of transmitted light is smaller than the set value. The grain evaluation device according to claim 4, which is configured to determine a rice grain as a defective product. 6. The quality evaluation means (200) determines whether good quality rice and immature rice are non-defective according to the difference in the amount of transmitted light with respect to the light of the first specific wavelength component or the difference in the amount of transmitted light with respect to the light of the second specific wavelength component. The grain evaluation device according to claim 5, wherein the grain evaluation device is configured to distinguish between. 7. The quality evaluation means (200) is configured to distinguish between dead rice in defective products and colored rice and damaged rice by the difference in the amount of transmitted light with respect to the light of the second specific wavelength component. The grain evaluation device according to claim 5 or 6. 8. The illuminating means (2) comprises a wide wavelength light source (2a) which emits light in a wide range of wavelengths, and the specific wavelength component of the emission wavelength of the wide wavelength light source (2a). A filter means (8) that can be switched to a state in which only the light of (1) is received by the image pickup means (3) is provided in the light path from the illumination means (2) to the image pickup means (3). The grain evaluation device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7. 9. A grain holding means (1) capable of holding a grain layer in which a plurality of grains are arranged in a plane in a single layer at the planned location, and an image pickup by the image pickup means (3). Position determination means (100) for determining the existence position on the planned existence position of each grain in the grain layer based on the image information is provided, and the quality evaluation means (200) is configured to detect the position. Discrimination means (1
00) is configured to perform quality evaluation of the grain based on the amount of transmitted light obtained by a transmission image for each grain whose position in the grain layer has been determined. The grain evaluation device according to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8. 10. The position discriminating means (100), wherein the filter means (8) is provided so as to be insertable into and retractable from a light path from the illuminating means (2) to the imaging means (3). Is the transmission of the illumination light that has passed through the grain layer at the planned location in the state where the filter means (8) has exited the light path from the illumination means (2) to the imaging means (3). The grain evaluation device according to claim 9, wherein the grain evaluation device is configured to detect the presence of a grain when the light amount is smaller than a set value and determine the presence position of each grain.