JP2002238531A - Apparatus for cutting field crop to equal size - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for cutting a field crop to an equal size capable of accurately and surely carrying out operation for cutting the field crop to a prescribed equal size and improving the throughput and cutting speed. SOLUTION: This apparatus is capable of picking up images of silhouettes of a root part Aa and a stem part Ab of each welsh onion A protruding to the left side of a carrying platform 3 of a feed conveyor 2 with an image pickup camera 19 in a device 13 for determining the cutting position, calculating the cutting reference position X of the root part Aa with an image processing unit 20 based on the silhouette image information, storing the position X in a controller 23, moving a rotating blade 14a to a position opposite to the root part Aa of the Welsh onion A based on the stored cutting reference information stored in the controller 23, bringing the rotating blade 14a into contact with the root part Aa stepwise, cutting the root part Aa to a prescribed size, cutting a leaf part Ac of the Welsh onion A with a rotating blade 15a of a leaf part cutting device 15 and cutting the whole length of the Welsh onion A to a prescribed equal size.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a crop sorting apparatus used for trimming long crops such as leek, leek, spinach, asparagus and the like to predetermined dimensions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an apparatus for trimming green onions in the above-mentioned example, there is, for example, an apparatus for cutting the tip of a root portion of green onions placed on a bucket of a sorting conveyor into a predetermined size by a fixed blade fixed at a fixed position. .

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned green onion, the degree of bending of the stem and root varies depending on the growth conditions. Therefore, when the root of the green onion is cut with a fixed blade, the cut amount becomes deeper or shallower. And it is very difficult to cut to a predetermined size. If the root is cut too deeply, not only will the lower leaves peel off naturally, but also the inner liquid will easily seep out from the cut end face of the root tip, so the rate of discoloration and decay will be high, Product value will be lost in a short time. In addition, if the cut amount is too shallow, the connection between the root and the lower leaf increases, so that there is a problem that the resistance when peeling the lower leaf increases and the work is troublesome.

[0004] Alternatively, when the root of a green onion is cut by hand, not only the operation takes time and labor, but also the operator visually judges the cut size of the root, so that the criterion differs depending on the skill of the operator. However, there is a problem that the cut dimensions of the green onion become uneven.

[0005] In view of the above problems, the present invention relatively moves the mounting portion and the cutting means relative to each other by relative moving means based on information detected by the cutting position detecting means, and cuts the cut portion of the agricultural product step by step by a predetermined amount. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a crop sorting apparatus capable of accurately and reliably performing a task of trimming crops to a predetermined size and improving a processing capacity and a processing speed.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A crop trimming device for trimming a crop placed on a mounting portion to a predetermined size by a cutting unit, the cutting position detecting unit detecting a cut portion of the crop, and detection information detected by the cutting position detecting unit. Based on the cutting position determining means for determining a cutting position according to the crop, based on the determination information determined by the cutting position determining means, based on the cutting information, the cutting means at a position facing the cutting position of the crop A crop sorting apparatus comprising a relative moving means for relatively moving the placing section and the cutting means stepwise by a predetermined moving amount.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the relative moving means comprises cutting size detecting means for detecting a cutting size of the crop by the cutting means;
It is a crop cutting device comprising a moving amount control means for controlling driving and stopping of the relative moving means based on the detection information detected by the cutting dimension detecting means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the cutting position detecting means includes an illuminating means for illuminating the cut portion of the crop, and a cutting portion illuminated by the illuminating means. And a cutting position determining means for calculating the cutting position of the crop based on the silhouette information measured by the optical measuring means. Characterized in that it is a crop sorting device.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, a plurality of the placement sections are arranged at predetermined intervals in the feed direction, and the placement sections are arranged in the feed direction. On the other hand, it is a crop sorting apparatus provided so as to be able to move around.

[0010]

According to the present invention, the placing section and the cutting section are relatively moved on the basis of the information detected by the cutting position detecting section, and the cutting section is moved to the cutting portion of the agricultural product placed on the placing section. A plurality of times, the cutting part of the crop is cut stepwise by a predetermined amount, so that the cut amount becomes deeper,
The work of trimming to a predetermined size can be performed accurately and reliably without becoming shallow. In addition, since the cross-sectional area of the cut portion is small and the amount of leaching of the internal solution is small, the freshness of the crop can be kept fresh for a long time, and the commercial value can be prevented from being impaired in a short time. it can.

In addition, since the crop can be cut to the vicinity of the root, for example, at a position reaching the reference cutting position or near the cutting reference position, the connection of the outer skin (lower lobe) is reduced, and the peeling work is reduced. It can be easily performed and the operation can be improved. In addition, since the crops are processed as they are when they are received, no pre-processing is required, and the processing capacity and processing speed of the entire apparatus can be improved.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The drawings show a crop sorting apparatus used for trimming green onion, which is an example of crops, to a predetermined size. In FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the crop sorting apparatus 1 includes:
A pre-treatment step (for example, a washing step) for removing foreign matter remaining on the root portion Aa of the green onion A (for example, white leek), and a post-treatment step (or a sorting step or a shipping step) for stripping and separating the outer leaves Ab.
The leek A in a receiving state, in which foreign matters such as soil and sand remain, is placed one by one on the mounting tables 3 of the feed conveyor 2 by hand (or mechanical work). Place
The sheet is transported to a supply area a, an alignment area b, a measurement area c, and a cutting area d set on the transport path. Moreover, you may use independently as an apparatus which cuts off an unnecessary part of leek A.

The above-mentioned feed conveyor 2 includes a mounting table 3 (for example, a bucket or a tray) on which a long green onion A is mounted.
In addition to being laid between the circling chains 4 stretched on both sides of the conveying path, a number of circulating chains 4 are laid at predetermined intervals with respect to the entire length of the circulating chain 4. In addition, the orbiting chain 4 is rotated in the feed direction via the sprockets 6 and 7 and the drive chain 8 by the driving force of the motor 5 having a deceleration function disposed at the lower end on the end side to feed the mounting tables 3 at a constant speed. Orbit in the direction. Further, the distance between the front and rear and the circling speed (transport speed) of the mounting table 3 may be changed, or the trolley 3 may be intermittently circulated.

The mounting table 3 has a size such that approximately half of the entire length of the green onion A is mounted in a stable state, and is formed in a substantially V-shape when viewed from the side. When loading the leek A, the leek A to be received is placed on the loading table 3 of the feed conveyor 2 by the hand of a worker waiting on the right side of the transport path in the supply area a.
Are placed one by one. At this time, root A of leek A
a and approximately half of the stem Ab are protruded outside the left end of the mounting table 3 and are horizontally mounted in a posture substantially orthogonal to the feeding direction.

At the left side of the conveyance path in the above-mentioned alignment area b, an alignment plate 10 for regulating the root Aa of the green onion A so as to be substantially straight in the feed direction is mounted on the mounting table 3. It stands upright so as to face the tip of the root Aa of A. Further, as another example of the aligning means instead of the aligning plate 10, for example, the root portion Aa of the green onion A may be pressed against the aligning belt rotating in the feeding direction to align.

On the other hand, on the left side of the transport path from the supply area a to the cutting area b, a root holding device for supporting or holding the root Aa side of the green onion A projecting to the left side of the mounting table 3 substantially horizontally and transporting it. 11 and a stalk holding device 12 that supports and holds the stalk Ab side substantially horizontally and conveys the stalk Ab side.
It is arranged in the feed direction substantially in parallel with.

In the measurement area c, a cutting position determining device 13 for measuring (imaging) the root Aa of the leek A and determining the cutting reference position of the root Aa is provided. In the cutting area d,
Based on the determination by the cutting position determination device 13, the root Aa
A root cutting device 14 for trimming the tip and a leaf cutting device 15 for trimming the tip of the leaf Ac are provided.

The above-described root holding device 11 is provided with a receiving belt 11a which is stretched at a lower left portion of the conveying path from the start end to the end.
And a pressing belt 11b which is opposed to the upper surface of the root portion Aa of the green onion A and the receiving surface of the receiving belt 11a and is stretched on the upper left side of the transport path from the end of the alignment area b to the end of the cutting area d.

The above-mentioned receiving belt 11a faces the lower surface of the root Aa of the leek A projecting to the left side of the mounting table 3 (the lower surface of the stem Aa near the root Aa), and is substantially opposed to the mounting surface of the mounting table 3. It is stretched at a horizontal level, and supports the root Aa of the green onion A substantially horizontally and transports it. On the other hand, the holding belt 11b is stretched facing the receiving surface of the receiving belt 11a and the upper surface of the root Aa of the green onion A supported by the receiving belt 11a.
Of the belts 11a and 11b, and is transported while being held in a state of protruding to the left side of the belts 11a and 11b.

The above-mentioned stalk holding device 12 is provided with a receiving belt 12a stretched at a lower left portion of the conveying path from the start end to the end.
And a pressing belt 12b that is opposed to the upper surface of the stem Ab of the green onion A and the receiving surface of the receiving belt 12a and is stretched on the upper left side of the transport path from the end of the alignment area b to the end of the cutting area d. Further, the belts 12a and 12b are close to the left end of the mounting table 3 at a predetermined interval, and are stretched at predetermined intervals to the belts 11a and 11b.

The above-mentioned receiving belt 12a faces the lower surface of the stem Ab of the green onion A projecting to the left side of the mounting table 3, and is stretched to a height substantially horizontal to the mounting surface of the mounting table 3. Then, the stem Ab of the green onion A is transported while being supported substantially horizontally. On the other hand, the holding belt 12b is stretched facing the receiving surface of the receiving belt 12a and the upper surface of the stem Ab of the green onion A supported by the receiving belt 12a, and presses the stem Ab of the green onion A,
The belts 11a and 11b are transported while being held in a state of protruding to the left side.

The aforementioned belts 11a, 11b, 12a, 1
2b is formed of a member having flexibility and contact resistance necessary for holding the leek A in a fixed posture, and is substantially synchronized with the feed speed of the feed conveyor 2 by the motor 5 or other driving means. And are rotated in conjunction with the feed direction or independently.

The above-mentioned belts 11a, 11b, 12
a, 12b may be urged in the direction of pressing the root Aa and the stem Ab of the green onion A. Further, the belts 11a, 11
The receiving surfaces of the b, 12a, 12b or the belt itself may be formed of a flexible member such as sponge rubber or urethane rubber. In addition, as another example of the holding unit instead of the belt, the leek A may be held and transported by, for example, a chuck or an arm.

As shown in FIG. 4, the cutting position judging device 13 includes a light-shielding chamber 16 surrounding substantially the entire measurement area c.
Inside, a light source 17 composed of, for example, a halogen lamp, an ultraviolet lamp, a fluorescent lamp, an incandescent lamp, etc., a reflection plate 18 for reflecting light emitted from the light source 17, and a CCD camera, a digital camera or the like are provided. Black and white (monochrome)
And an imaging camera 19 (or a color imaging camera).

The above-mentioned light-shielding chamber 16 is composed of a light-shielding plate 16a surrounding the upper, side and lower parts of the sorting conveyor 2, and a light-shielding dome 16b surrounding the imaging camera 19. It is covered with a member of low color or coloration in high black.

The light source 17 is disposed singly or plurally so as to be substantially perpendicular to the reflection surface of the reflection plate 18. The reflection plate 18 is connected to the root Aa of the green onion A projecting to the left side of the mounting table 3. It is arranged at the lower part of the transport path facing the lower surface side with the stem Ab,
The light emitted from the light source 17 is inclined at an angle (for example, approximately 45 degrees) at which the light emitted from the light source 17 is reflected by the reflection plate 18 and directed toward the root Aa and the stem Ab of the green onion A.

The reflecting surface of the reflecting plate 18 is processed so as to have a white glossy state or a state in which a predetermined reflection can be obtained, so that the light from the light source 17 is reflected substantially uniformly. In addition, as long as the light from the light source 17 is reflected substantially uniformly, for example, a reflecting means such as a screen (curtain), a mirror, or a prism may be used.

The above-mentioned imaging camera 19 is disposed on the upper part of the transport path facing the root Aa and the stem Ab of the green onion A projecting to the left side of the mounting table 3, and exposes the root Aa held by the root holding device 11. Part, root holding device 11 and stem holding device 1
2 and a silhouette (image) including the above-described belts 11a, 11b, 12a, and 12b, and outputs the silhouette image information to an image processing device 20 described later. I do. In addition, the imaging camera 19
As another example of the optical measuring means instead of, a photoelectric sensor, an image sensor, a video camera, an image element, or the like may be used.

As shown in FIG. 5, the image processing device 20 connected to the above-mentioned imaging camera 19 binarizes the black-and-white silhouette image captured by the imaging camera 19, and performs the above-mentioned belts 11a, 11b, 12a. , 12b except for the images, the stem diameter and the root amount of the green onion A are calculated, and the calculated information is compared with reference information stored in advance to calculate the root Aa.
Is calculated, and the calculated information is used as the control device 2
Output to 3. Further, the area of the exposed portion of the root and the stem may be calculated. Furthermore, the control device 23 can also perform the calculation processing of the stem diameter and root amount of the green onion A and the cutting reference position X.

The address reading reader 21 provided on the side of the transport path in the measurement area c and the address read reader 22 provided on the side of the transport path in the cutting area d correspond to the imaging by the imaging camera 19. The address information set in correspondence with the mounting table 3 or the mounting table 3 is read, and the address information is output to the control device 23.

As an identification means instead of the address information,
For example, reading the unique information (address or carrier number) of the mounting table 3 itself or a recording medium (for example, a barcode, an ID card, a magnetic card, etc.) attached to the mounting table 3,
The cutting position information and other measurement information may be recorded on a recording medium.

The above-described root cutting device 14 includes, for example, a rotary blade 14a inclined in two-dimensional directions of a vertical direction and a horizontal direction.
Is mounted on a movable table 14c disposed on the lower left side of the transport path facing the root Aa of the green onion A projecting to the left side of the mounting table 3,
The motor 14b fixed to the movable base 14c rotates at a high speed at a constant speed.

The movable table 14c is attached to a support table 14d disposed at the lower left portion of the transport path, and the support table 14d
The servomotor 14e (or a motor such as a stepping motor or a linear motor) with a rotation amount detection function fixed to the front side moves back and forth (for example, in millimeters) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the feed direction. Driving and stopping of the motor 14b and the servomotor 14e are controlled by a control device 23 described later, and as shown by a virtual line in FIG.
Based on the cutting reference position X calculated for each leek A, it moves stepwise at high speed (for example, approximately 0.3 seconds) in a direction facing the tip of the root Aa. The side and upper part of the rotary blade 14a are surrounded by a cover 14f.

The leaf cutting device 15 is displaced by one pitch (one mounting table 3) in the feed direction with respect to the root cutting device 14 described above. Attached to a movable table 15c disposed on the upper right side of the transport path facing the leaf portion Ac of the green onion A protruding to the right side, and rotated at a high speed at a constant speed by a motor 15b fixed to the movable table 15c. Further, the rotary blade 15a may be moved back and forth in a direction substantially perpendicular to the feed direction in the same manner as the rotary blade 14a described above.

The movable table 15c is mounted on a support table 15d disposed at the lower left portion of the transport path, and the rotary blade 15a is moved back and forth in a direction substantially perpendicular to the feed direction to variably adjust the cutting dimension of the leaf Ac. I do. The driving and stopping of the motor 15b are controlled by a control device 23 described later, and the side and upper part of the rotary blade 15a are surrounded by a cover 15f. At the lower part of the cutting area d, a collecting unit (for example, a collecting box or a collecting bag) for introducing the cut unnecessary part is provided.

The rotary blades 14a and 15a are pivotally supported at a predetermined angle with respect to the one-dimensional direction or the two-dimensional direction. As another example of the cutting means in place of the rotary blades 14a and 15a, cutting may be performed substantially linearly using, for example, a cutter, a wire cutter, a band saw, scissors, or the like. Further, as another example of the moving means instead of the motor 14e, for example, a solenoid, an air cylinder, a cam, a chain, or the like may be used.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the crop sorting apparatus 1. The control unit 23 includes a CPU, a ROM,
The AM is built in, and the CPU operates according to a program stored in the ROM (or PROM), and the feed conveyor 2, the root cutting device 14, the servomotor 14e, the leaf cutting device 15, the imaging camera 19, It controls the drive and stop of the image processing device 20 and the address reading readers 21 and 22. Further, instead of the control device 23, for example, a personal computer or another processing device may be used.

The RAM stores cutting reference position information output from the image processing apparatus 20 and address reading readers 21 and 22.
Is stored in correspondence with the address information of the mounting table 3 read in step (1) and the moving amount of the rotary blade 14a output from the root cutting device 14.

The above-described control device 23 controls the servo motor 14
e, the rotary blade 14a
Of the rotary blade 1 is calculated by comparing the cutting position information stored in the RAM with the cutting reference position information stored in advance and using the position along the alignment plate 10 as a reference point.
The moving distance until the base 4a reaches the cutting reference position X of the root Aa is calculated, and the cutting distance information of the root Aa corresponding to the moving distance is stored.

Further, the address information of the mounting table 3 output from the address reading reader 22 is compared with the address information stored in the RAM, and it is determined whether the mounting table 3 has the same address information. When it is confirmed that the mounting table 3 corresponds to the determination, the servo motor 14e is intermittently rotated by a predetermined amount based on the cutting dimension information stored in the RAM, and the rotary blade 14a reaches the reference cutting position X. The tip of the root Aa is cut to a predetermined size by gradually moving to a position or a position close to the reference cutting position X. Further, the disconnection information stored in the RAM is deleted or overwritten when returning from the end side to the start side.

As another method for determining the cutting dimension, for example, the root Aa of the green onion A cut by the root cutting device 14 is imaged by the imaging camera 19 and based on the image information output from the imaging camera 19. And root A
The cutting dimension of a may be detected and determined by the image processing apparatus 20, and based on the determination, the rotary blade 14a may be brought into contact with the root Aa a plurality of times to cut the root Aa little by little.

The illustrated embodiment is configured as described above, and the operation of trimming green onion A to a predetermined size by the crop trimming device 1 will be described below.

First, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, in the supply area a, the green onions A received by the producers are placed one by one on the mounting bases 3... Of the feed conveyor 2. , The root Aa of the green onion A protrudes to the left side of the mounting table 3. At the time of transport or placement, the tips of the roots Aa of the leeks A are brought into contact with the aligning plate 10 in the aligning area b, and are aligned so as to be substantially straight in the feed direction. Subsequently, the root Aa and the stem Aa of the green onion A projecting to the left side of the mounting table 3 are connected to the belts 11 a and 11 b of the root holding device 11 and the belt 12 of the stem holding device 12.
a and 12b are conveyed while being pressed and held in a substantially horizontal state.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, in the measurement area c, the light emitted from the light source 17 of the cutting position determination device 13 is reflected by the reflector 18 so that the light is reflected on the left side of the mounting table 3. Irradiate the protruding root Aa and stem Ab of the green onion A, expose the root Aa held by the root holding device 11, and the stem A held by the root holding device 11 and the stem holding device 12.
The silhouette (shadow) with the exposed portion b is imaged by the imaging camera 19.

At the same time, as shown in FIG. 5, the silhouette image picked up by
, And the above-mentioned belts 11a, 11b, 12
Except for the images a and 12b, the stem diameter and the root amount of the green onion A are calculated, and the calculated information is compared with reference information stored in advance to calculate the cutting reference position X of the root Aa. . In addition, the control unit 23 stores the above-described cutting reference position information and the address information of the mounting table 3 read by the address reading reader 21 in association with each other.

Next, in the cutting area d, the control device 23
Reads the cutting reference position information corresponding to the address information of the mounting table 3 read by the address reading reader 22, and drives the servo motor 14e of the root cutting device 14 by a predetermined amount based on the cutting dimension information stored in advance. . That is, the rotary blade 14a of the root cutting device 14 instantaneously moves at a high speed to a position facing the root Aa of the green onion A projecting to the left side of the root holding device 11. As shown in FIG. 6, the rotary blade 14a
Is abutted against the tip of the root Aa a plurality of times in a stepwise manner, and the work of cutting the root Aa little by little by the dimension indicated by the imaginary line is instantaneously performed. Cut to a close position.

Subsequently, a green onion A protruding from the right side of the mounting table 3
Is cut by the rotary blade 15a of the leaf cutting device 15 to trim the entire length of the green onion A to a predetermined size, and then remove the trimmed green onion A from the mounting table 3 or remove the green onion A from the mounting table 3. It is supplied to the post-processing step by releasing it. Hereinafter, in the same manner as described above, the onion A trimming operation is continuously performed.

As described above, based on the judgment by the cutting position judging device 13, the rotary blade 14 a of the root cutting device 14 is moved stepwise with respect to the root Aa of the green onion A mounted on the mounting table 3 of the feed conveyor 2. A plurality of times, and the root Aa is cut little by little to the vicinity of the root, so that the work of trimming to a predetermined size can be performed accurately and reliably. In addition, since the cutting area at the tip of the root Aa is small and the amount of leaching of the internal solution is small, the green onion A
Can be kept in a fresh state for a long period of time, and the commercial value can be prevented from being impaired in a short period of time.

Further, since the root portion Aa of the green onion A can be cut to a position close to the reference cutting position X or a position close to the cutting reference position X, the connecting portion of the outer skin (lower lobe) is reduced. In addition, the peeling operation can be easily performed, and the operation can be improved. In addition, since the onion A is subjected to the trimming process as it is at the time of receiving the cargo, no preprocessing is required, and the processing capacity and processing speed of the entire apparatus can be improved.

In the correspondence between the structure of the present invention and the above-described embodiment, the agricultural products of the present invention correspond to the long agricultural products such as green onion A, chive, spinach, asparagus, etc. of the present embodiment. The mounting section corresponds to the mounting table 3, a bucket, a tray, and the like, the cutting means corresponds to the root cutting device 14 and the rotary blade 14a, and the cutting position detecting means includes the light source 17 (illuminating means) and the imaging camera 19 ( The relative moving means corresponds to the servomotor 14b (cutting size detecting means) and the control device 23 (moving amount controlling means), and the cutting position determining means corresponds to the cutting position determining device. 13, the cutting position calculating means corresponds to the image processing apparatus 20 and the CPU incorporated in the apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment.

The configuration of the crop sorting apparatus 1 described above can be applied to, for example, an operation of trimming the root Aa and the leaf Ac of the green onion A, which are held substantially vertically, to a predetermined size.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a leek cutting operation performed by a crop sorting apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a leek measuring operation and a trimming operation.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a leek transport operation and a trimming operation.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a leek measuring operation by the cutting position determination device.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a green onion silhouette image captured by the image processing apparatus.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view showing a leek cutting operation by the root cutting device.

FIG. 7 is a control circuit block diagram of the crop sorting apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A: Leek Aa: Root Ab: Stalk Ac: Leaf X: Cutting reference position 1: Crop sorting device 2: Feeding conveyor 3: Mounting table 13: Cutting position determination device 14: Root cutting device 15: Leaf cutting device 14a, 15a ... Rotating blade 17 ... Light source 18 ... Reflecting plate 19 ... Imaging camera 20 ... Image processing device 23 ... Control device

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yukimitsu Konishi 66th Takaoka-cho, Matsuyama-shi, Ehime F-term in Technoishi Co., Ltd. (Reference) 4B061 AA02 AB04 AB06 AB08 BA03 CB05 CB07 CB13 CB16

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A crop trimming device for trimming crops placed on a mounting portion to a predetermined size by cutting means, wherein the cutting position detecting means detects a cut portion of the crop, and the cutting position detecting means. Based on the detection information detected by
The cutting position determining means for determining a cutting position according to the crop, and the cutting information is determined based on the determination information determined by the cutting position determining means, at a position where the cutting means is opposed to the cutting position of the crop, A crop sorting apparatus comprising: a relative moving means for relatively moving the section and the cutting means in a stepwise manner by a predetermined moving amount. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said relative moving means includes a cutting dimension detecting means for detecting a cutting dimension of the crop by said cutting means, and detection information detected by said cutting dimension detecting means.
2. The crop sorting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a moving amount control unit that controls driving and stopping of the relative moving unit. 3. The cutting position detecting means comprises: illuminating means for illuminating a cut portion of the crop; and optical measuring means for measuring a silhouette of the cut portion illuminated by the illuminating means, wherein the cutting position is determined. 2. The crop sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said judging means comprises cutting position calculating means for calculating a cutting position of said crop based on silhouette information measured by said optical measuring means. 4. The crop sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the placement units are arranged at predetermined intervals in the feed direction, and the placement units are provided so as to be able to move around in the feed direction. .