JP6662807B2 - Internal quality evaluation system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an internal quality evaluation system for evaluating the internal quality of fruits or vegetables avocado like.

  2. Description of the Related Art An internal quality evaluation system that irradiates a fruit or vegetable to be measured with light to receive transmitted light and determines the internal quality of the fruit or vegetable based on the transmitted light is known.

  The internal quality evaluation system includes a tray provided with slits vertically penetrating a receiving seat on which the fruits and vegetables are placed, a transport mechanism for transporting the tray in a transport direction, and a transport route in the transport mechanism. A light-emitting unit that emits measurement light to fruits and vegetables through the slit from below the transport mechanism, a light-receiving unit that receives light transmitted from the light-emitting unit and transmits the fruits and vegetables, and a light-receiving unit. And an evaluation unit for evaluating the internal quality of the fruits and vegetables based on the transmitted light received.

  By the way, if the measurement light projected from the light projecting unit leaks from between the slit and the fruit or vegetable, the light receiving unit will receive light other than the transmitted light transmitted through the fruit or vegetable. Therefore, the quality evaluation accuracy in the evaluation unit is deteriorated.

  As a tray that can prevent such leakage of measurement light, a tray provided with elastic fins around a slit has been proposed (see Patent Document 1 below).

  The tray described in Patent Document 1 has a circular concave shape in plan view that opens upward and a mortar-shaped receiving seat portion provided with a slit (opening) at the center in the radial direction, and is arranged in the circumferential direction with reference to the slit. And a plurality of the elastic fin-shaped pieces fixed to the receiving seat portion.

  Each of the plurality of elastic fins extends radially with respect to the slit, and a radially outer end is a fixed end fixed to the slope of the receiving seat and a radially inner end. Is the free end.

  According to the tray described in Patent Literature 1, when the fruits and vegetables are placed on the receiving seat portion, the elastic fins are in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the fruits and vegetables, whereby the measurement from the light emitting unit is performed. Light can be prevented or reduced from leaking from between the fruit and vegetable and the slit, but the effect of the tray is limited to the case where the measurement target is a roughly spherical fruit or vegetable such as tomato, apple, melon, and pear. You.

  That is, using the tray described in Patent Document 1, the cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the virtual central axis from the top of the fruit to the fruit stem through the largest body diameter is the portion of the fruit stem from the side of the largest body diameter. In the case of measuring the internal quality of fruits and vegetables such as avocado, which has a reduced diameter part on the side of the stalk, the leakage of the measurement light cannot be prevented.

Japanese Patent No. 3660778

The present invention has been made in view of such prior art, and the inside of a fruit or vegetable having a fruit stalk side reduced diameter portion whose cross-sectional shape is reduced from the side of the maximum body diameter portion to the side of the fruit stalk portion The purpose is to provide an internal quality evaluation system that can evaluate quality with high accuracy .

The present invention, in order to achieve the object, the seed in the internal quality evaluation system maximum cylinder diameter to assess the internal quality of fruits or vegetables that have been displaced to the side of Hateitadaki portion than the center of the imaginary central axis which encloses the A transport mechanism, a tray transported by the transport mechanism, a receiving center provided with a slit along the transport direction at the center in the transport width direction, and an imaginary center connecting the apex and the stalk a tray fruits or vegetables shaft is placed on the seat portion in a state where the conveyance direction is formed so as to straddle the slit light projecting measurement light to the placed fruits or vegetables prior Symbol receiving seat A light-emitting unit, a light-receiving unit that receives light transmitted from the light-emitting unit and transmitted through the fruits and vegetables, and an evaluation unit that evaluates the internal quality of the fruits and vegetables based on the transmitted light received by the light-receiving unit. the provided, among the mounting surface of the receiving seat, the tray At a position displaced forward in the transport direction from the central portion in the transport direction, a first elastic member and a second thick portion having a first thick portion so as to be interposed between the fruits and vegetables and the receiving seat portion are provided. A second elastic member is provided with the slit interposed therebetween, and in a state where the largest body diameter portion of the fruits and vegetables is arranged on the wide portion or in the vicinity of the wide portions, the fruit stems and fruit shrinkage of the fruits and vegetables are shrunk. diameter portion to provide internal quality evaluation system that will be placed on the first and second thick portion.

Preferably, the transport width direction inner edge located on the slit side in the first and second thick portions goes from the side of the maximum trunk diameter portion to the forward direction of the fruit stalk in the transport direction with respect to the transport direction. Has a proximity edge arranged so as to be close to the slit according to

Preferably, the portion forming the neighboring edge of the first and second thick portion gradually adapted wall thickness increases toward the conveying direction front side in.

More preferably, the near edge is configured such that the transport direction front side end portion reaches the slit, the first and the conveying width direction inner edge of the second thick portion, the neighboring edge in addition, it is to have the parallel edges extending in the conveying direction front side in the conveying direction front side end portion of the neighboring edge along the slit.
Portion forming said parallel edges of said first and second thick portion is assumed to have the same thickness as in the transport direction front side end portion of the adjacent edge.

  Preferably, the first and second elastic members have a symmetric shape with respect to the slit.

According to the internal quality evaluation system according to the present invention, the slit provided in the receiving seat portion of the tray has a wide portion at a position displaced rearward in the transport direction from the central portion in the tray transport direction, and further, The placement surface of the receiving seat portion has a first thick portion at a position displaced forward in the transport direction from the central portion in the tray transport direction so as to be interposed between the fruits and vegetables and the receiving seat portion. A state in which a second elastic member having a first elastic member and a second thick portion is provided with the slit interposed therebetween, and a maximum body diameter portion of the fruits and vegetables is arranged on or near the wide portion. in, since fruit梗部and fruit梗側reduced diameter portion of the fruits or vegetables is configured so that is placed on the first and second thick portion, the maximum cylinder diameter of fruits or vegetables from the light projecting unit Sufficiently ensure the amount of incident measuring light due to the presence of the wide portion. , While improving the internal quality evaluation accuracy of the maximum cylinder diameter vicinity, can be effectively prevented or is reduced to leak from between the fruits and vegetables and the slit without measuring light transmitted through the fruits or vegetables from the light projecting unit, Thereby, the accuracy of the internal quality evaluation can be improved.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an internal quality evaluation system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the internal quality evaluation system. FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the internal quality evaluation system taken along the line III-III in FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of the internal quality evaluation system taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view of a tray unit in the internal quality evaluation system. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the tray unit with the fruits and vegetables to be measured placed thereon. FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the tray unit. FIG. 9 is a plan view of a modification of the tray unit. FIG. 10 is a control flow of the control device in the internal quality determination system.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of an internal quality evaluation system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1 and 2 show a schematic plan view and a schematic side view, respectively, of the internal quality evaluation system 1 according to the present embodiment.
FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic sectional views of the internal quality evaluation system 1 taken along lines III-III and IV-IV in FIG. 2, respectively.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the internal quality evaluation system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a tray unit 100 including a tray 101 having a receiving portion 130 on which a fruit or vegetable 300 to be measured is placed; A transport mechanism 10 that transports the unit 100 in the tray transport direction X, a light projecting unit 30 that emits measurement light to the fruits and vegetables 300 that are being transported by the transport mechanism 10, and an illumination unit 30 that irradiates the light. The light-receiving unit 50 includes a light receiving unit 50 that receives the transmitted light of the measurement light that has passed through the fruits and vegetables 300, and an evaluation unit 91 that evaluates the internal quality of the fruits and vegetables 300.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the light projecting unit 30 emits measurement light from one of the upper and lower sides of the transport mechanism 100 to the fruits and vegetables 300 in the measurement area 10 </ b> B provided in the middle of the transport mechanism 10. It is arranged to light.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the light projecting unit 30 is disposed below the transport mechanism 10 and emits measurement light upward.
The measuring light emitted from the light emitting unit 30 is irradiated on the fruits and vegetables 300 through the slit 135 provided in the receiving portion 130 of the tray 101. The detailed configuration of the tray unit 100 will be described later.

  As the light projecting unit 30, for example, a halogen lamp, a xenon lamp, an LED lamp, or the like capable of irradiating light having a wavelength in a near infrared region is used.

  The light receiving unit 50 is arranged so as to face the fruits and vegetables 300 on the measurement area 10 </ b> B on the side opposite to the light emitting unit 30 with the transport mechanism 10 interposed therebetween.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the light emitting unit 30 is disposed below the transport mechanism 10. Therefore, the light receiving unit 50 is disposed above the transport mechanism 10.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the light receiving unit 50 is located above the transport mechanism 10 and at one side and the other side in the transport width direction from the center in the tray transport width direction Y. It has a pair of left and right first and second light receiving units 50 (1) and 50 (2) arranged respectively.

  As described above, by providing the first and second light receiving units 50 (1) as the light receiving unit 50, even when the fruits and vegetables 300 have the large seed 310, the “dead spot” due to the seed is minimized. Can be prevented.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the internal quality evaluation system 1 according to the present embodiment includes the light receiving unit 50 (in the present embodiment, the first and second light receiving units 50 (1), 50 (2) )), And a spectroscopic device 70 that splits the transmitted light from the fruits and vegetables 300 received by the light receiving unit 50 to generate spectral information such as a spectral signal.

  In this case, the first and second light receiving units 50 (1) and 50 (2) may be, for example, the front ends of optical fibers optically connected to the spectroscopic device 70 at the rear ends.

  The first and second light receiving units 50 (1) and 50 (2) have the same distance from the fruits and vegetables 300 so that they can receive the transmitted light of the fruits and vegetables 300 under the same conditions.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the spectroscopic device 70 mixes the light received by the first and second light receiving units 50 (1) and 50 (2) in a mixed state. It has a common spectroscope 71 for inputting, but instead of this, the spectroscope 70 is optically connected to the first light receiving unit 50 (1) and connected to the first light receiving unit 50 (1). A first spectroscope that splits the transmitted light received by the first spectroscope to generate first spectral information, and is optically connected to the second light receiving unit 50 (2). It is also possible to make a modification to have a second spectroscope that splits the received transmitted light to generate second spectral information.

  According to such a modification, the internal quality of one side in the transport width direction of the fruits and vegetables 300 is determined based on the first spectral information, and the internal quality of the other side in the transport width direction of the fruits and vegetables 300 based on the second spectral information. Can be determined.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, the front end of the optical fiber whose rear end is optically connected to the spectroscopic device 70 is connected to the light receiving section 50 (the first and second light receiving sections 50 (1), 50 (1), 50). Although the present invention is operated as (2)), the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and a hyperspectral camera or a multispectral camera can be operated as the light receiving unit 50. In this case, the spectrometer 70 is omitted.

The transport mechanism 10 is configured to transport a plurality of the tray units 100 in a tray transport direction X in a serial state.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transport mechanism 10 includes a driving rotator 11 such as a driving sprocket, a driven rotator 12 such as a driven sprocket, and the driving rotator 11 and the driving rotator 11. A first endless body 15 (1) such as a chain wound around one side of the driven rotating body in the conveying width direction, a chain wound around the other side of the driving rotating body 11 and the driven rotating body in the conveying width direction, or the like. And the second endless body 15 (2).

  The tray unit 100 has the receiving seat 130, and the tray 101 transported by the transport mechanism 10, and first and second elastic members 150 (1) disposed on the receiving seat 130 of the tray 101. ), 150 (2).

  In the tray 101, both ends of a front connecting rod 120 and a rear connecting rod 122 that are disposed along the transport width direction Y before and after the tray transport direction X are the first and second endless bodies 15 (1). By being connected to 15 (2), it is transported endlessly by the transport mechanism 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transport mechanism 10 transports the tray unit 100 in a posture in which the mounting surface of the receiving seat 130 faces upward, and the mounting of the fruits and vegetables 300 on the mounting surface described above is performed. A possible mounting area 10A, a measuring area 10B provided on the downstream side in the conveying direction from the mounting area 10A for transporting the tray unit 100 with the mounting surface facing upward, and a mounting area The tray unit 100 is transported with the surface facing upward, and the sorting area 10C provided on the downstream side in the transport direction from the measurement area 10B, and the tray unit 100 that has passed through the sorting area 10C is placed in the placement area 10A. And an endless transport path including a return area 10D for returning to the original position.

The evaluation unit 91 evaluates the internal quality of the fruits and vegetables 300 based on the transmitted light received by the light receiving unit 50.
As described above, the internal quality evaluation system 1 according to the present embodiment includes the spectroscopic device 70, and therefore, the evaluation unit 91 determines the internal quality of the fruits and vegetables 300 based on the spectral information from the spectroscopic device 70. I do.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the internal quality evaluation system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a control device 90, and the control device 90 functions as the evaluation unit 91.

More specifically, the control device 90 previously stores threshold data relating to a specific internal quality such as a sugar content.
Then, the control device 90 evaluates the internal quality of the fruits and vegetables 300 based on a comparison between the spectral information of the fruits and vegetables 300 placed on one tray unit 100 and the threshold data received from the spectral device 70. Do.

Here, a detailed configuration of the tray unit 100 will be described.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the tray unit 100.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the tray unit 100 with the fruits and vegetables 300 placed thereon, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in FIG.
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the tray unit 100.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 3 to 8, the tray unit 100 has the receiving seat 130, and in addition to the tray 101 transported by the transport mechanism 10, the loading of the receiving seat 130 First and second elastic members 150 (1) and 150 (2) are provided on the mounting surface.

  The tray 101 has a base 110 supported and transported by the transport mechanism 10, and a receiving seat 130 connected to the base 110 and including a mounting surface on which the fruits and vegetables 300 are mounted.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 8, the base 110 includes first and second side walls 111 and 112 separated in the conveyance width direction Y of the conveyance mechanism 10, and the first and second side walls 111 and 112. It has a front connecting portion 113 connecting the front sides of the second side walls 111 and 112 in the conveying direction, and a rear connecting portion 114 connecting the rear sides of the first and second side walls 111 and 112 in the conveying direction. .

  The front and rear connecting rods 120 and 122 along the transport width direction of the transport mechanism 10 are supported on the front side and the rear side in the transport direction of the base 110, respectively.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 8, the receiving seat portion 130 is provided with the slit 135 along the tray conveying direction X substantially at the center in the conveying width direction, and the slit 135 is provided in the receiving seat portion. At least a part is closed by the fruits and vegetables 300 placed on 130.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the fruits and vegetables 300 to be measured have a top portion 301, a maximum trunk diameter portion 305, and a top portion 302, and the receiving seat portion 130 is a top portion. When the fruit or vegetable 300 is placed in a state where the virtual center axis 300L of the fruit or vegetable 300 extending from 301 through the maximum trunk diameter portion 305 to the fruit stalk 302 extends along the transport direction X, the fruit or vegetable 300 passes through the slit 135. The fruits and vegetables 300 are supported so as to be straddled.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 and 8, the receiving seat portion 130 has a pivot shaft along the transport direction X on one side outward and the other side outward in the transport width direction. 132 (1) and 132 (2) have a pair of first and second receiving members 131 (1) and 131 (2) rotatably supported by the base 110, and the first and second receiving members 131 (1) and 131 (2) are provided. The two receiving members 131 (1) and 131 (2) are configured such that the slit 135 is defined between mutually facing edges.

  The first and second receiving members 131 (1) and 131 (2) define the slit 135 so that the fruit and vegetable 300 straddles the slit 135 with the virtual center axis 300L along the transport direction X. And a discharge posture in which the fruits and vegetables 300 are rotated downward around the corresponding pivots 132 (1) and 132 (2) to drop the fruits and vegetables 300 downward. Can be taken.

  In the present embodiment, the internal quality of the fruits and vegetables 300 such as avocado, in which the maximum body diameter portion 305 containing the seed 310 is displaced from the center 300M toward the fruit top 301 or the fruit stalk 302 with respect to the virtual center axis direction. In order to be able to evaluate with high accuracy, the following configuration is adopted.

  That is, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 and the like, in the present embodiment, the slit 135 is displaced from the central portion 100M of the tray 130 in the tray transport direction by a predetermined distance in the tray transport direction X. 100D has a wide portion 140 having a slit width larger than the reference slit width.

  The wide portion 140 is arranged such that when the fruits and vegetables 300 are placed on the receiving seat portion 130, they are located immediately below or near the maximum body diameter portion 305 of the fruits and vegetables 300.

In the fruits and vegetables 300 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the maximum body diameter portion 305 is displaced from the approximate center 30M in the virtual center axis direction toward the top portion 301.
In this case, when the fruits and vegetables 300 are placed on the receiving seat portion 130 such that the virtual center axis 300L is along the transport direction X and the fruit stem 302 is located on the forward side in the transport direction, the maximum trunk diameter portion 305 becomes It is located on the rear side in the transport direction from the central portion 100M in the tray transport direction.
Accordingly, the wide portion 140 is arranged rearward in the transport direction from the central portion 100M in the tray transport direction accordingly.

  According to such a configuration, it is possible to sufficiently secure the amount of measurement light that is incident on the maximum body diameter portion 305 from the light projecting portion 30 by the presence of the wide portion 140. The internal quality in the vicinity can be accurately evaluated.

  In the present embodiment, a notch is formed at a position displaced rearward in the tray transport direction from the central portion 100M in the tray transport direction among the opposing edges of the first and second receiving members 131 (1) and 131 (2). A notch 133 is provided, and the wide portion 140 is formed by the notch 133.

As shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, the receiving seat portion 130 has a concave portion that opens upward, with the central portion in the tray transport direction 100M and the central portion in the tray width direction being the deepest portion. It has been.
With such a configuration, it is possible to stabilize the posture of the fruits and vegetables 300 while being placed on the receiving seat 130.

  The first and second elastic members 150 (1) and 150 (2) are disposed on the mounting surface of the receiving seat portion 130 on one side and the other side in the conveyance width direction from the slit 135, respectively. The fruits and vegetables 300 are mounted on the receiving seat 130 via the first and second elastic members 150 (1) and 150 (2).

  In the present embodiment, in the first elastic member 150 (1), the edge 151 (1) on the inner side in the transport width direction is along the edge 135 (1) on the one side in the transport width direction of the slit 135. .

  That is, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 8, the first elastic member 150 (1) is provided with a first inner edge 151 along the edge 135 (1) on one side in the conveyance width direction of the slit 135. (1) A first outer edge 152 (1) along the transport direction X at a position separated by a predetermined distance from the first inner edge 151 (1) to one side in the transport width direction, and the first inner edge. A first front edge 153 (1) connecting the front ends of the edge 151 (1) and the first outer edge 152 (1) in the transport direction, and the first inner edge 151 (1) and the first inner edge 151 (1). It is a sheet of uniform thickness having a shape defined by a first rear edge 154 (1) connecting the rear ends of the outer edges 152 (1) in the transport direction.

  Similarly, in the second elastic member 150 (2), the edge 151 (2) on the inner side in the transport width direction is along the edge 135 (2) on the other side in the transport width direction of the slit 135.

  That is, the second elastic member 150 (2) includes a second inner edge 151 (2) along the edge 135 (2) on the other side in the conveyance width direction of the slit 135, and the second inner edge 151 (2). ), The second outer edge 152 (2), the second inner edge 151 (2), and the second outer edge 152 along the transport direction X at a position separated from the other side in the transport width direction by a predetermined distance. (2) a second front edge 152 (3) connecting the front ends in the conveyance direction, and a rear end in the conveyance direction of the second inner edge 151 (2) and the second outer edge 152 (2). It is a sheet of uniform thickness having a shape defined by a second rear edge 154 (2) connecting the two.

  In the present embodiment, the first and second elastic members 150 (1) and 150 (2) have a rectangular shape in plan view, except for a portion of the slit 135 corresponding to the wide portion 140.

  In the present embodiment, the fruits and vegetables 300 to be measured have a cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the virtual central axis 300L, such as avocado, that goes from the side of the maximum body diameter portion 305 to the side of the fruit stalk 302. In order to effectively prevent or reduce the leakage of measurement light from between the orifice-side reduced diameter portion 303 and the slit 135, even if the And the following configuration.

  As shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 8, the first elastic member 150 (1) is located at a position corresponding to the corneal-side reduced diameter portion 303 in the transport direction X, and the first thick portion 160 (1). have.

  That is, the first elastic member 150 (1) includes the first inner edge 151 (1), the first outer edge 152 (1), the first front edge 153 (1), and the first rear edge. A first sheet portion 155 (1) having a uniform thickness defined by 154 (1), and an upper surface of the first sheet portion 155 (1) so as to correspond to the keratoid-side reduced diameter portion 303 in the transport direction X. And the first thick portion 160 (1) disposed at

  The first thick portion 160 (1) may be integrally formed with the first sheet portion 155 (1), or may be formed separately from the first sheet portion 155 (1). It is also possible to fix to one sheet part 155 (1) by sticking or the like.

  Similarly, the second elastic member 150 (2) has a second thick portion 160 (2) at a position corresponding to the limb-side reduced diameter portion 303 in the transport direction X.

  That is, the second elastic member 150 (2) includes the second inner edge 151 (2), the second outer edge 152 (2), the second front edge 153 (2), and the second rear edge. A second sheet portion 155 (2) having a uniform thickness defined by the second sheet portion 155 (2) and an upper surface of the second sheet portion 155 (2) so as to correspond to the constriction-side reduced diameter portion 303 in the transport direction X. And the second thick portion 160 (2) disposed in the second portion.

  The second thick portion 160 (2) may be formed integrally with the second sheet portion 155 (2), or may be formed separately from the second sheet portion 155 (2). It is also possible to adhere to the two-sheet part 155 (2) by sticking or the like.

  As shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, the inner edge 161 (1) in the transport width direction located on the slit side of the first thick portion 160 (1) is the maximum body diameter portion 305 in the transport direction X. Has a proximity edge 162 (1) approaching the slit 135 as going from the side to the side of the fruit stalk 302 on one side in the transport direction.

  Similarly, the inner edge 161 (2) of the second thick portion 160 (2) located on the slit side in the transport width direction is located on one side in the transport direction from the side of the maximum body diameter portion 305 in the transport direction X. It has a proximity edge 162 (2) that approaches the slit 135 as it goes to the side of the infarct 302.

  By providing such a configuration, it is possible to effectively prevent or reduce the leakage of the measurement light from between the corneal-side reduced diameter portion 303 reduced in diameter from the maximum trunk diameter portion 305 and the slit 135. it can.

  That is, the placement posture of the fruits and vegetables 300 with respect to the receiving seat portion 130 is the receiving seat portion 135 of the maximum body diameter portion 305 (in the present embodiment, the first and second elastic members 150 (19, 150 (2)). ) Is determined by the sitting state.

  In the case where the measurement target fruit and vegetable 300 has a fruit stalk-side reduced diameter portion 303 whose diameter is reduced from the side of the maximum body diameter portion 305 to the side of the fruit stalk 302, a gap between the maximum body diameter portion 305 and the slit 135 Although a gap is not or hardly formed, a gap is easily formed between the corneal-side reduced diameter portion 303 and the slit 135.

  The first and second thick portions 160 (1) and 160 (2) can effectively fill a gap between the corneal-side reduced diameter portion 303 and the slit 135, and measurement light leaks from this gap. This can be effectively prevented or reduced.

As described above, in the avocado, the maximum trunk diameter portion 305 is displaced to the side of the top portion 301 from the center in the virtual central axis direction.
Therefore, the fruits and vegetables 300 are placed on the receiving seat 130 in a state where the fruit stem 302 is directed to one side in the transport direction (for example, the front side in the transport direction) and the vertex 301 is directed to the other side in the transport direction (for example, the rear side in the transport direction). In the case of mounting, the wide portion 140 provided corresponding to the maximum body diameter portion 305 is located on the other side in the transport direction (rear side in the transport direction) with respect to the central portion 100M of the receiving seat portion 130 in the transport direction. The first and second thick portions 160 (1) and 160 (2) are disposed on one side in the transport direction (forward side in the transport direction) with respect to the wide portion 140.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in the present embodiment, the proximity edges 162 (1) and 162 (2) of the first and second thick portions 160 (1) and 160 (2) are formed. The portion to be formed is configured such that the thickness gradually increases toward one side in the transport direction (the front side in the transport direction in the present embodiment).

  By providing such a configuration, even if there is an individual difference regarding the shape of the fruit or vegetable 300 to be measured, leakage of the measurement light from between the orifice-side reduced diameter portion 303 and the slit 135 is more effectively prevented or Can be reduced.

  As shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 8, one edge of the proximity edges 162 (1) and 162 (2) in the transport direction reaches the slit 135.

In addition, the first thick portion 160 (1) is configured such that the inner edge 161 (1) in the transport width direction has a transport direction of the proximity edge 162 (1) in addition to the proximity edge 162 (1). It is configured to have a parallel edge 163 (1) extending from one end to one side in the transport direction along the slit 135.
The portion forming the parallel edge 163 (1) of the first thick portion 160 (1) has the same thickness as the thickness of the adjacent edge 162 (1) at one end in the transport direction.

Similarly, in the second thick portion 160 (2), the inner edge 161 (2) in the transport width direction has one edge in the transport direction of the adjacent edge 162 (2) in addition to the adjacent edge 162 (2). It is configured to have a parallel edge 163 (2) extending from the side end to one side in the transport direction along the slit 135.
The portion forming the parallel edge 163 (2) of the second thick portion 160 (2) has the same thickness as the thickness of the adjacent edge 162 (2) at one end in the transport direction.

  By providing such a configuration, individual differences relating to the shape of the measurement target fruits and vegetables 300 can be further absorbed, and a gap can be effectively prevented or reduced from occurring between the fruit-inferior-side reduced diameter portion 303 and the slit 135.

  As shown in FIG. 5 and the like, in the present embodiment, the first and second elastic members 150 (1) and 150 (2) have a symmetric shape with respect to the slit 135. Thus, the manufacturing cost of the first and second elastic members 150 (1) and 150 (2) is reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the near edges 162 (1) and 162 (2) have a linear shape as shown in FIG. 5 and the like. However, as shown in FIG. The edges 162 (1) and 162 (2) can have a curved shape.

Here, the operation of the internal quality evaluation system 1 will be described.
FIG. 10 shows a control flow of the control device 90.

  In the placement area 10 </ b> A of the transport mechanism 10, an operator places a fruit or vegetable 300 such as avocado as a measurement target on the tray unit 100.

  As shown in FIG. 10, when the internal quality evaluation system 1 is activated, the control device 90 causes the light emitting unit 30 to emit light (step S1). As described above, by causing the light emitting unit 30 to emit light in accordance with the operation state of the internal quality evaluation system 1, the measurement light emitted by the light emitting unit 30 can be stabilized.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the internal quality evaluation system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a measurement area for detecting that one tray unit 100 transported by the transport mechanism 10 has reached the measurement area 10B. A sensor 190 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 10, when the control device 90 detects that one tray unit 100 has reached the measurement region 10B based on a signal from the measurement region sensor 190 (step S2), the control device 90 performs the first and second operations. The spectral information of the transmitted light received by the light receiving units 50 (1) and 50 (2) is input from the spectral device 70 (Step S3).

The control device 90 performs quality evaluation of the fruits and vegetables 300 placed on the one tray 100 based on the spectral information (step S4).
Specifically, the control device 90 previously stores threshold data relating to specific internal quality such as sugar content, and the control device 90 is placed on one tray 100 unit received from the spectroscopic device 70. Based on a comparison between the spectral information of the fruits and vegetables 300 and the threshold data, the internal quality of the fruits and vegetables 300 is evaluated.

  For example, when the spectral information from the spectral device 70 is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, the control device 90 determines that there is a failure inside the fruit or vegetable 300.

  In the configuration in which the spectroscopic device 70 includes the first and second spectroscopes, the control device 90 determines that the spectroscopic information from the first spectroscope is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, and that the spectroscopic device 70 has one side in the conveyance width direction. Is determined to be faulty, and if the spectral information from the second spectroscope is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, it is determined that a fault exists on the other side in the transport width direction.

  When the measurement area sensor 190 is capable of detecting the identification information of one tray unit 100, the control device 90 outputs the internal quality evaluation result of the fruits and vegetables 300 placed on the one tray unit 100. Is stored in association with the identification information of the one tray unit 100.

Preferably, the measurement space 20 including the one tray unit 100, the light projecting unit 30, the first light receiving unit 50 (1), and the second light receiving unit 50 (2) that has reached the measurement region 10B is in a dark room state. be able to.
According to such a configuration, the influence of disturbance light can be prevented or reduced as much as possible.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the internal quality evaluation system 1 according to the present embodiment further detects that one tray unit 100 transported by the transport mechanism 10 has reached the sorting area 10C. A sorting area sensor 192 is provided.

  When the sorting area sensor 192 is capable of detecting the identification information of one tray unit 100, the control device 90 sets the one tray unit 100 to the sorting area based on the detection signal of the sorting area sensor 10C. When the arrival at 10C is detected (step S5), the internal quality evaluation stored in association with the identification information of the one tray unit 100 is read.

  Alternatively, if the sorting area sensor 192 detects that the tray unit 100 has reached the sorting area 10C, but cannot detect the identification information of the tray unit 100, the control device 90 sends one tray unit. One tray unit 100 that has reached the sorting area 10C is identified based on the elapsed time from the passage of the 100 measurement areas 10B and the transport speed of the transport unit 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the internal quality evaluation system 1 according to the present embodiment further includes display means 95 such as a monitor for visually displaying the evaluation result of the fruits and vegetables 300 by the control device 90. ing.
In this case, the control device 90 displays the internal quality evaluation result of the fruits and vegetables 300 placed on one tray unit 100 which has reached the sorting area 10C on the display means 95 (step S6).

  According to such a configuration, the worker can sort the fruits and vegetables 300 on the one tray unit 100 based on the evaluation result displayed on the display means 95.

Alternatively, the internal quality evaluation system 1 may include a payout mechanism (not shown) that pays out the fruits and vegetables 300 from the transport mechanism 10 to the corresponding sorting position in the sorting area 10C.
In this modification, the control device 90 operates the payout mechanism based on the evaluation result of the internal quality to discharge the fruits and vegetables to the corresponding sorting destination.

1 Internal Quality Evaluation System 10 Transport Mechanism 10B Measurement Area 30 Light Projecting Unit 50 (1) First Light Receiving Unit 50 (2) Second Light Receiving Unit 91 Evaluation Unit 100 Tray Unit 101 Tray 130 Receiving Seat 135 Slit 140 Wide Part 150 ( 1) First elastic member 150 (2) Second elastic member 160 (1) First thick portion 160 (2) Second thick portion 161 (1), 161 (2) Inner edge 162 (1) in the conveyance width direction ), 162 (2) Proximity edge 163 (1), 163 (2) Parallel edge 300 Fruits and vegetables 301 Fruit crest 302 Fruit bleeding part 303 Fruit bleeding side reduced diameter part 305 Maximum trunk diameter part X Transport direction Y Transport width direction

Claims (5)

An internal quality assessment system maximum cylinder diameter to assess the internal quality of fruits or vegetables that have been displaced to the side of Hateitadaki portion than the center of the imaginary central axis which encloses the seed,
A transport mechanism and a tray transported by the transport mechanism, the tray having a receiving seat portion provided with a slit along the transport direction at the center in the transport width direction, and a virtual central axis connecting the apex portion and the fruit stem portion is transported. projection for projecting measurement light to the tray and, fruits or vegetables placed before Symbol receiving seat for the fruits or vegetables placed in the receiving seat in a state along the direction is configured so as to straddle the slit Department and
A light-receiving unit that receives transmitted light that has been transmitted from the light-emitting unit and transmitted through the fruits and vegetables, and an evaluation unit that evaluates the internal quality of the fruits and vegetables based on the transmitted light received by the light-receiving unit,
The slit has a wide portion at a position displaced rearward in the transport direction from a central portion in the tray transport direction,
The placement surface of the receiving seat portion has a first thick portion at a position displaced forward in the transport direction from the central portion in the tray transport direction so as to be interposed between the fruits and vegetables and the receiving seat portion. A state in which a second elastic member having a first elastic member and a second thick portion is provided with the slit interposed therebetween, and a maximum body diameter portion of the fruits and vegetables is arranged on or near the wide portion. in internal quality evaluation system, characterized in that the fruit梗部and fruit梗側reduced diameter portion of the fruits or vegetables are placed on the first and second thick portion. The transport width direction inner edge located on the slit side in the first and second thick portions is configured such that the slit extends from the side of the maximum body diameter portion in the transport direction to the front of the fruit stalk portion in the transport direction. internal quality evaluation system according to claim 1, characterized that you have have arranged proximate edges so as to approach the. Said portion forming the neighboring edge of the first and second thick portion, the internal quality evaluation system according to claim 2, characterized in gradually the thickness is increased toward the conveying direction front side in . The proximity edges, the conveying direction before side end portion and reaches the slit,
The conveying width direction inner edge of said first and second thick portions in addition to the neighboring edge, extending in the conveying direction front side in the conveying direction front side end portion of the neighboring edge along the slit With parallel edges,
Portion forming said parallel edges of said first and second thick portion, to claim 3, characterized in that it has the same thickness as in the transport direction front side end portion of the neighboring edge Internal quality evaluation system as described. The internal quality evaluation system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the first and second elastic members have a symmetric shape with respect to the slit.

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