Fruits sorting apparatus and fruits sorting method

{
  "publication_number": "US9789518B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Fruits sorting apparatus and fruits sorting method",
  "abstract": "A fruits sorting apparatus includes: a conveyance device configured to convey a plurality of charged fruits from a detection area located on an upstream side to a sorting area disposed on a downstream side; an imaging device configured to photograph the fruits in the detection area of the conveyance device; a processor configured to detect a rotten fruit and a nonstandard fruit having an irregular shape or size based on images of the fruits and vegetables imaged by the imaging device; and a robot configured to pick up the rotten fruit and the nonstandard fruit detected by the processor in the sorting area.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A fruit sorting apparatus comprising: a conveyor configured to convey a plurality of charged fruits from a detection area located on an upstream side to a sorting area located on a downstream side; a CCD camera configured to photograph the fruits in the detection area of the conveyer; a computer configured to detect a rotten fruit and a nonstandard fruit having an irregular shape or size based on images of the fruits photographed by the CCD camera; a robot controller configured to control a robot, and wherein the robot is configured to pick up the rotten fruit and the nonstandard fruit detected by the computer in the sorting area, and wherein the computer assigns an identification symbol to each of the fruits conveyed in the detection area and tracks movement of the each of the fruits, and, when the rotten fruit or the nonstandard fruit is conveyed from the detection area to the sorting area, sends out the identification symbol of the rotten fruit or the nonstandard fruit, data of timing of charging into the sorting area, and data of a position in a horizontal direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the conveyer to the robot controller.",
    "2. The fruit and vegetable sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor conveys the fruits while rotating the fruits in the detection area and conveys the fruits in a stopped state in the sorting area.",
    "3. The fruit sorting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the computer acquires a plurality of images of a plurality of faces of each fruit photographed by the CCD camera in the detection area and detects the rotten fruit based on the plurality of the images.",
    "4. The fruit sorting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the computer acquires images of a plurality of faces photographed by the CCD camera in the detection area for each of the fruits and detects the nonstandard fruit based on the plurality of the images.",
    "5. The fruit sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the robot controller issues a pickup instruction for picking up the rotten fruit or the nonstandard fruit to the robot based on the identification symbol, the data of the timing, and the data of the position sent out from the computer.",
    "6. The fruit and vegetable sorting apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: a fruits disposal box for rotten fruits, into which the rotten fruit picked up by the robot is discarded; and a fruit disposal box for nonstandard fruits, into which the nonstandard fruit picked up by the robot is discarded.",
    "7. The fruit sorting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each of the fruits disposal box for rotten fruits and the fruits disposal box for nonstandard fruits is arranged on a right outer side and a left outer side of the sorting area of the conveyor in the conveyance direction, and the robot controller controls the robot such that the rotten fruit is discarded into the fruits disposal box for rotten fruits arranged on the right outer side or the left outer side in accordance with the data of the position of the rotten fruit when the robot picks up the rotten fruit, and the nonstandard fruit is discarded into the fruits disposal box for nonstandard fruits arranged on the right outer side or the left outer side in accordance with the data of the position of the nonstandard fruit when the robot picks up the nonstandard fruit.",
    "8. A fruits sorting method comprising: imaging a plurality of charged fruits in a detection area located in the middle of conveyance executed by a conveyor by using CCD camera; detecting a rotten fruit and a nonstandard fruit having an irregular shape or size based on images acquired by the CCD camera; picking up the rotten fruit and the nonstandard fruit detected in a sorting area located on a downstream side of the detection area by using a robot; and assigning an identification symbol to each of the fruits conveyed in the detection area, tracking movement of the each of the fruits, and, when the rotten fruit or the nonstandard fruit is conveyed from the detection area to the sorting area, acquiring the identification symbol of the rotten fruit or the nonstandard fruit, data of timing of charging into the sorting area, and data of a position in a horizontal direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the conveyor.",
    "9. The fruits sorting method according to claim 8, wherein the fruits are conveyed while being rotated in the detection area, and the fruits are conveyed in a stopped state in the sorting area.",
    "10. The fruits sorting method according to claim 8, wherein the rotten fruit or the nonstandard fruit is picked up in the sorting area by the robot based on the identification symbol, the data of the timing, and the data of the position that are acquired.",
    "11. The fruits sorting method according to claim 10, further comprising discarding the rotten fruits picked up by the robot into a fruits disposal box for rotten fruits and discarding the nonstandard fruit picked up by the robot into a fruit disposal box for nonstandard fruits.",
    "12. The fruits sorting method according to claim 10, wherein the rotten fruit picked up by the robot is discarded into the fruit disposal box for rotten fruits arranged on the right outer side or the left outer side in accordance with the data of the position, and the nonstandard fruit picked up by the robot is discarded into the fruit disposal box for nonstandard fruits arranged on the right outer side or the left outer side in accordance with the data of the position."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Technical Field\n\nThe present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for sorting and removing fruits in a case where the collected fruits such as mandarin oranges are rotten or nonstandard.\n\nRelated Art\n\nWhen collected fruits such as mandarin oranges arrive at a fruit sorting place, the fruits flow to a fruit sorting apparatus configured by a conveyance device. In an upstream process, the fruit sorting apparatus sorts and removes rotten fruits and nonstandard fruits having nonstandard sizes or shapes so as not to allow them to flow to a downstream process. Usually, such a sorting operation is manually performed by about four to eight workers through visual observation.\n\nHowever, such a sorting process is performed by individual workers determining the degree of a rotten state or the degree of a nonstandard shape or size of each of fruits. Accordingly, non-uniformity of the accuracy can easily occur. In addition, it takes too long for the sorting process, and there are also cases where rotten fruits and nonstandard fruits that have been overlooked from the sorting process are transferred to the downstream process.\n\nIn addition, the population engaging in the agricultural industry decreases year by year, and most of the workers are aging. Currently, while there is a problem of labor shortage, a further challenging situation is expected in the years to come.",
  "cpc": [
    "B07C 5/3422",
    "B07C 2501/009",
    "B07C 5/362",
    "B25J 9/1697",
    "G05B 2219/39106",
    "G05B 2219/45105"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B07C 5/00",
    "B07C 5/342",
    "B07C 5/36",
    "B25J 9/16"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Nireco Corp"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Nobusuke Iino"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-04-28",
  "publication_date": "2017-10-17",
  "grant_date": "2017-10-17",
  "priority_date": "2015-05-27",
  "application_number": "US-201615140851-A",
  "family_id": "57399584",
  "cited_by_count": 21,
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}