JP2000023508A - Judgement of embryo position in aligned seeding machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for judging an embryo position in a high accuracy in a lined seeding machine for sowing seeds of a plant such as a cucurbitaceous plant having a relatively large ratio of length to width by arranging seeds so as to make the direction of the seeds and the positions of embryos constant. SOLUTION: This lined seeding machine 1 for arranging seeds so as to make the direction of the seeds and the positions of embryos constant judges the embryo position of seed by scanning seeds arranged in the major axis direction and transported and comparing the total length of measured wave shape of seed width obtained by a seed width measuring means 9 for measuring sewed width with the total value of measured data of positions separated in a fixed ratio from the tip and the rear end of wave shape, respectively. The embryo position of seed is judged by measuring the area of the position separated by a fixed distance from the tip and the rear end of seed, respectively based on the whole length of seeds arranged in the major axis direction and transported and comparing the obtained area measured data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an embryo in an alignment sowing machine for sowing seeds having a relatively large length-to-width ratio, such as cucurbits, so that the seed direction and the embryo position are uniform. It relates to a position determination method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The present applicant and the inventor of the present invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-28418 as an aligning sowing machine, a conveying means for conveying seeds one by one and a seed width in order to align seed directions in a long axis direction. A seed direction regulating guide provided on the transport path with a slightly wider interval, a seed width measuring means for measuring the width of seeds transported one by one by the transport means, and a seed width measuring means A seed length is calculated from the measured measurement data and the seed transport speed, and a judging means for judging an embryo side according to a preset condition according to a crop or a variety, and an embryo direction of a seed whose embryo side has been judged are aligned in a predetermined direction. And a sowing means for sowing at a position.

[0003] The seed width measuring means of the above-mentioned arrangement sowing machine compares the seed width at only one position at a certain distance from each of the leading and trailing ends of the obtained seed width measuring waveform with respect to the total length of the obtained seed width measuring waveform. I was

[0004]

However, as a result of a test using an actual apparatus, in this method, the seed width of a seed having a small difference between the front and rear ends is erroneously measured due to the influence of noise or the like. Embryo position was sometimes misjudged. On the other hand, at the stage of the basic test,
No. 10 to 20 from both ends of the seed
%, It was confirmed that a discrimination accuracy of 99% was obtained.

In order to further improve the discrimination accuracy, the present invention performs a comparison not at one point but at multiple points, or a comparison not at a line but at a plane, in a wide range including the above range, thereby obtaining noise and the like. The purpose of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art by preventing the seed width from being erroneously measured and the embryo position from being erroneously determined due to the influence of the above.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides: A seed width measurement waveform obtained by a seed width measurement unit that scans seeds that are conveyed aligned in the longitudinal direction in an alignment sowing machine that seeds the seeds in a uniform direction and embryo position, and measures the width of the seeds. The embryo position of the seed is distinguished by comparing the total value of the measured data up to a position at a certain distance from each of the leading and trailing ends of the waveform with respect to the entire length of the seed.

B. In the seeding machine in which the seeds and the embryo position are uniformly aligned and seeded, with respect to the entire length of the seeds that are aligned and transported in the longitudinal direction, the leading and trailing ends of the seeds are spaced apart from each other by a certain distance. The method is characterized in that the area of the seed is determined by measuring the area and comparing the obtained area measurement data.

[0008]

According to the above-mentioned means, the method for judging the position of embryos in the sorting and seeding machine of the present invention operates as follows.

[0009] Scanning the seeds conveyed aligned in the long axis direction, for a total length of the seed width measurement waveform obtained by the seed width measurement means to measure the width, the leading end of the waveform, a certain percentage away from the rear end of each waveform By judging the embryo position of the seed by comparing the total value of the measurement data up to the position, the difference between the front and rear ends of the seed can be more clearly expressed, and furthermore, the influence of abnormal values due to the influence of noise etc. Since it can be reduced, the discrimination accuracy is improved.

[0010] For the total length of the seeds that are transported aligned in the longitudinal direction, the area of the seed is measured from the leading end and the trailing end to a position separated by a certain distance, and the obtained area measurement data is compared by comparing the obtained area measurement data. By judging the position of the embryo, an imaging device such as a camera for capturing images of both seed ends is used.However, since the content is simply the measurement of the image area, an existing inexpensive image measurement device can be used. The direction of the seed is accurately detected, and the direction of the embryo is accurately determined.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a sorting and sowing machine denoted by reference numeral 1 transfers seeds A fed from a seed feeder 2 which feeds seeds A one by one to a conveying means 3 comprising a first belt conveyor. To transport one by one. A pair of left and right seed direction regulating guides 4 are provided upright on the transport path of the transport means 3 along the length direction thereof. In order to align the direction of the seed A conveyed one by one by the conveying means 3 with the long axis direction, the seed direction regulating guide 4 gradually narrows the left and right interval, and the end portion is slightly wider than the width of the seed A. Have spacing. Seed direction control guide 4
Is provided with a sensor 5 for seed detection.

A second belt conveyor 6 is provided at the end of the first belt conveyor 3 of the conveyor means, and the end of the seed direction regulating guide 4 is provided at the start end of the second belt conveyor 6. The sensor 7 for seed detection is provided immediately after the end of the seed direction regulating guide 4. On the second belt conveyor 6 behind the seed detection sensor 7, a seed direction correcting mechanism 8, a seed width measuring means 9, a seed sorting mechanism 10, a sowing means 12, and the like are provided in this order.

When the seed detecting sensor 7 detects the seed A, the seed direction correcting mechanism 8 causes the pair of seed direction correcting plates to approach each other from both sides of the seed A, This is to correct the seed A, whose attitude has been controlled in the direction, so as to control the attitude more reliably.

The seed width measuring means 9 measures the seed width by applying a laser beam to the seeds A conveyed one by one by the second belt conveyor 6 and scanning them. Then, the seed length is calculated from the data obtained by the seed width measuring means 9 and the seed transport speed (the moving speed of the second belt conveyor 6). Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the total length L of the obtained seed width measurement waveform is compared with the total value of the measurement data from the leading end and the end of the waveform to a position S that is a fixed distance away from each of the seeds. Determine the position of the embryo.

The seed sorting mechanism 10 is provided between the seed width measuring means 9 and the sowing means 12, and is preset according to the seed width and the seed length obtained from the seed width measuring means 10 and the crop or variety. The respective sizes are compared, and those having a size smaller than the set size or larger than the set size are determined as defective seeds, and the defective seeds are discharged to one side of the second belt conveyor 6 by, for example, wind pressure to store the defective seeds. Box 11
Housed in

The seeding means 12 discriminates the embryo side by the seed width measuring means 9, sucks the seed A having passed through the seed sorting mechanism 10, and can freely move up and down, rotate horizontally, move back and forth and left and right. The seed A is sown at a predetermined position in the seedling raising box 14 by aligning the direction of the embryo of the seed A by the sowing mechanism 13.

The above-mentioned seed feeder 2, conveying means 3 (first belt conveyor), sensors 5 and 7 for detecting seeds, second belt conveyor 6, seed direction correcting mechanism 8, seed width measuring means 9, seed sorting mechanism The seeding means 12 and the like are connected to a discriminating means (microcomputer) 15 for input and output. The determining means 15 includes sensors 5 and 7 for detecting seeds.
And input from the seed width measuring means 9 to be determined and transmitted to the seed feeder 2, the conveying means (first belt conveyor) 3 and the second belt conveyor 6, the seed direction correcting mechanism 8, the seed sorting mechanism 10, and the sowing means 12. Is output.

As another means for judging the embryo position of the seed according to the present invention, it may be configured as in a second embodiment shown in FIG. That is, photoelectric sensors 16, 16 serving as seed detection sensors are installed at positions opposite to the left and right with respect to the seeds A transported aligned in the longitudinal direction, and are located above the photoelectric sensors 16, 16. A camera 19 of an image sensor 17 is provided in place of the seed width measuring means 9 of the first embodiment, and an image of the seed A is taken into an image processing window 18 of the image sensor 17 within a certain range. And as also shown in FIGS. 4 and 5,
The image processing window 18 is set so that the left and right area areas are equal with the optical axis 16a of the photoelectric sensors 16 and 16 as the center line within a range where the image of the seed A is captured in a certain range. The size of this window 18 is
At the time of ON and OFF of 6 and 16, the seed A image up to a position away from each seed A end by a certain distance is displayed in window 1
8 is set.

In the second embodiment, FIG.
As shown in the figure, with respect to the entire length of the seed A, the area from the leading end and the trailing end of the seed to a position separated by a certain distance is measured, and the obtained area measurement data 1 and 2 are compared by the discriminating means 15. Thus, the position of the embryo in the seed is determined. As shown in FIG. 6, area data 1 <area data 2, and the area data 1 side is determined to be embryo side Aa and the area data 2 side is determined to be cotyledon side Ab.

Next, the operation of the sorting and sowing machine 1 configured as described above will be described.

The sorting and sowing machine 1 includes a discriminating means (microcomputer) 1
Operated by 5 inputs and outputs. The seed feeder 2 is operated to feed out the seeds A one by one, and is discharged onto the first belt conveyor 3 of the operating conveying means and conveyed. When the seeds A to be conveyed are detected by the sensor 5 for seed detection, the operation of the seed feeder 2 is stopped, and after a certain period of time, the seed feeder 2 is operated. When the seed detection sensor 5 does not detect the seed, the seed feeder 2 is operated. Unless a predetermined time has elapsed since the operation of the seed feeder 2 was stopped, the operation of the seed feeder 2 remains stopped.

The seeds A transported one by one at regular intervals by the first belt conveyer 3
4 that is aligned in the longitudinal direction when passing between the four
Transported on the belt conveyor 6. This carried seed A
Is detected by the seed detection sensor 7, and the operation of the second belt conveyor 6 is stopped. Sensor 7 for seed detection
Does not detect the seed A, the second belt conveyor 6 continues to operate. When the operation of the second belt conveyor 6 stops, the seed direction correcting mechanism 8 operates to control the long axis posture of the seed A with higher accuracy.

When the operation of the seed direction correcting mechanism 8 is completed,
The second belt conveyor 6 is operated to transport the seed A. In the first embodiment (FIG. 1), the seed width measuring means 9 is operated to irradiate the seed A with a laser beam and scan to measure the seed width. And the obtained measurement data and the seed transport speed (second
The seed length is calculated by the determining means 15 from the moving speed of the belt conveyor 6). Then, the embryo position of the seed is determined by comparing the total value of the measured data from the leading end and the end of the waveform to the position S at a fixed distance from each of the total length L of the obtained seed width measurement waveform (FIG. 2).

In the second embodiment (FIG. 3), the photoelectric sensor 1
When the switches 6 and 16 are turned on, the camera 19 takes in the first seed image into the image sensor 17, and the seed image in the image processing window 17 is as shown in FIG. The area data 1 is obtained by measuring the seed area in the window 17. When the photoelectric sensors 16 and 16 are turned off, the camera 19 takes in the second seed image, and the seed image in the window 17 is as shown in FIG. Then, the seed area in the window 17 is measured to obtain area data 2. The obtained area measurement data 1,
2 is compared by the discriminating means 15 to determine the embryo position of the seed as shown in FIG. 6, and the smaller one is determined as the embryo side (Aa). The time required for calculating the embryo direction of the seed A is 0.1 second or less per grain.

When the seed A is determined to be a proper seed based on the data from the seed width measuring means 9 or the image sensor 17, the seed A is transferred to the seed selection mechanism 1 which is not activated.
The seed A is sucked by the seeding mechanism 13 of the seeding means 12 after passing through the front side of the seed A. When the direction of the embryo of the seed A matches, it is kept as it is. After being rotated by 180 ° in the embodiment to correct the direction of the embryo, it is moved to a predetermined position in the seedling raising box 14 and seeded. When the seed A is determined to be a defective seed, the seed selection mechanism 10 is operated and removed to the defective seed storage box 11.

[0027]

As described above, according to the method for judging the position of the embryo in the aligned seeder according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

[0028] Scanning the seeds conveyed aligned in the long axis direction, for a total length of the seed width measurement waveform obtained by the seed width measurement means to measure the width, the leading end of the waveform, a certain percentage away from the rear end of each waveform By comparing the total value of the measured data up to the position, the embryo position of the seed is determined, so that the difference between the front and rear ends of the seed can be more clearly shown, and the influence of abnormal values due to noise etc. is reduced Therefore, the discrimination accuracy is improved. Then, the seed direction can be determined at low cost, at high speed, and with high accuracy, and the seeds can be seeded at a predetermined position with the embryo direction aligned.

[0029] For the total length of the seeds that are transported aligned in the longitudinal direction, the area of the seed is measured from the leading end and the trailing end to a position separated by a certain distance, and the obtained area measurement data is compared by comparing the obtained area measurement data. Since the position of the embryo is determined, an imaging device such as a camera for capturing images of both seed ends is required.However, since the content of the image is simply measured, an existing inexpensive image measurement device must be used. It is possible to accurately detect the direction of the seed, accurately determine the direction of the embryo, and perform high-precision seeding.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a first embodiment of a sorting and seeding machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 Determination of seed embryo position (seed width) according to the first embodiment
FIG.

FIG. 3 is an overall configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the sorting and seeding machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a first image capturing state of seed embryo position determination (seed area) according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a second image capturing state.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram comparing the size of the seed area data.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sorting and seeding machine 2 Seed feeder 3 Conveying means (1st belt conveyor) 4 Seed direction regulation guide 5, 7 Sensor (for seed detection) 6 2nd belt conveyor 8 Seed direction correction mechanism 9 Seed width measuring means 10 Seed sorting Mechanism 11 defective seed storage box 12 seeding means 13 seeding mechanism 14 seedling raising box 15 discriminating means (microcomputer) 16 photoelectric sensor (seed detection sensor) 17 image sensor 18 image processing window 19 camera A seed L total length of seed S seed waveform Position at a certain distance from the tip and end Aa embryo side Ab cotyledon side

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 2B051 AA01 AB01 AC01 BA11 2B054 AA04 AA05 BA01 BB03 CA06 DD01 EA02 EA14 EA15 EA17 EA24 2F065 AA22 CC00 DD04 FF04 FF26 GG04 JJ03 MM11 MM22 PP15 QQTT SS13 TT01

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An aligning and sowing machine for sowing seeds in which the direction and embryo position of the seeds are uniformly aligned is obtained by a seed width measuring means for scanning seeds transported aligned in the longitudinal direction and measuring the width thereof. For the entire length of the seed width measurement waveform, the seed embryo position is distinguished by comparing the total value of the measurement data up to a position separated by a fixed percentage from each of the leading and trailing ends of the waveform. Embryo position discrimination method in the aligned seeder. 2. An aligning and sowing machine for sowing a seed in a uniform direction and embryo position, wherein:
In the aligned sowing machine characterized by measuring the area from the front end of the seed to the position at a fixed distance from each of the rear end, and by comparing the obtained area measurement data to determine the embryo position of the seed Embryo position determination method.