Patent Description:
An identification apparatus that optically identifies a property of a specimen using a spectroscopic analysis is known. Such an identification apparatus is disposed in the middle of a conveyance portion on which specimens are conveyed and is used for, for example, inspection of a product or sorting of waste. The spectroscopic analysis does not necessarily involve processes, which cause reduction in throughput of analysis, such as a vacuum decomposition process, an atmosphere control process, a liquid immersion treatment process, and a drying process, and the spectroscopic analysis makes it possible to identify a property of each specimen in the atmosphere. In view of such advantages, the application of the spectroscopic analysis to sorting of resins in waste has recently been attempted.

In the spectroscopic analysis, absorption spectroscopy for acquiring a light absorption spectrum of a specimen with respect to incident light, and scattering spectroscopy for acquiring a scattering spectrum of a specimen with respect to incident light are known. The scattering spectroscopy is less affected by an optical attenuation in a thickness direction of a specimen and thus is used to identify waste including various specimen sizes and various material contents. Raman scattering spectrometry for dispersing Raman scattered light uses a specific Raman shift in binding of atoms constituting a hydrocarbon or the like and thus is favorably used to identify resins.

A sorting apparatus for sorting identified specimens based on whether a property of each specimen satisfies a predetermined target condition by referring to the predetermined target condition is known.

Raman scattered light for Raman scattering spectrometry has an intensity that is a few orders of magnitude lower than that of elastic scattering components (Rayleigh scattered light) included in secondary light. Accordingly, a method for condensing the primary light as the converging ray and irradiating each specimen with the light is employed to increase a detection sensitivity per unit area. In such a light condensing method, sensitivity enhancement effect can be obtained, while the identification performance varies due to a variation in the intensity of detection light in accordance with a variation in a working distance that is a distance between a light irradiation member and an irradiation surface (detection surface) of each specimen. To relieve variations in the intensity of detection light and the identification performance, it may be desirable to maintain a constant working distance in scattering spectrometry.

<CIT> discuses an identification apparatus in which a conveyance unit that conveys aligned specimens, an identification unit that identifies a material contained in each specimen based on scattered light from each of the conveyed specimens, a guide mechanism, and a translucent plate are provided to maintain a constant distance (working distance) between each specimen and a light irradiation member. <CIT> discusses a technique in which scattered light from a specimen that is pressed against the translucent plate by the guide mechanism is received through the translucent plate, to keep the working distance at a predetermined value.

An identification apparatus configured to stabilize a working distance by keeping a constant distance between each specimen to be conveyed and a light irradiation member is known. <CIT> discusses an identification apparatus that includes a pressing portion, which is disposed with a gap parallel to a conveyor belt at an upstream side of a light-capturing portion for capturing Raman scattered light, and optically identifies each specimen at a working distance with a predetermined variation or less. The pressing portion included in the identification apparatus discussed in <CIT> reduces the variation in the working distance to the predetermined variation or less by pressurizing and fabricating each specimen on a conveyance surface or by laying each specimen on the conveyance surface. <CIT> discloses an identification apparatus having a plurality of illumination optical systems, a plurality of light-capturing optical systems and a computer. The identification apparatus is arranged relative to conveyance means and its operation is based on Raman spectroscopy. <CIT> discloses a posture control conveyor that controls postures of a fed waste plastic and drops this waste plastic onto a transportation conveyor that is placed thereunder. The posture control conveyor comprises a wire extending in a transportation direction of the transportation conveyor. The posture control conveyor operates this wire in an axial direction. The waste plastic rides on the wire, rotates and drops onto the transportation conveyor from both sides of the wire.

In the identification apparatus that adopts the configuration of the guide mechanism for pressing a specimen as discussed in <CIT> and the configuration of the pressing portion as discussed in <CIT>, since there is a concern that some specimens can be caught on the guide mechanism or the pressing portion, the number of identification processes is limited, and some specimens can be elastically deformed, which causes a variation in the position of a light irradiation surface.

The present invention is directed to providing an identification apparatus in which a distance (working distance) between a light detection surface and a light irradiation member is stabilized even in a case where specimens to be conveyed have different sizes or shapes, so that a decrease in the number of inspection processes and deterioration in identification accuracy are less likely to occur. In other words, the present invention has the object to provide an identification apparatus in which variations in the distance between the light detection surface and the light irradiation member can be reduced even in a case where specimens to be conveyed have different sizes or shapes, so that a decrease in the number of inspection processes and deterioration in identification accuracy are less likely to occur.

The above object is solved by an identification apparatus having the features of claim <NUM>. Further developments are stated in the dependent claims.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

An identification apparatus <NUM> according to a first exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>. <FIG> schematically illustrates a configuration example of the identification apparatus <NUM> according to the present exemplary embodiment. <FIG> is a plan view of the identification apparatus <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> as viewed from a positive side in a z-direction. <FIG> illustrates a schematic configuration of a placement unit <NUM> according to the present exemplary embodiment as viewed in a negative direction from a positive side of an x-axis. <FIG> illustrates a schematic configuration of an irradiation member <NUM> according to the present exemplary embodiment as viewed in the negative direction from the positive side of the x-axis. <FIG>, <FIG> correspond to a section B-B', a section C-C', and a section D-D', respectively, which are illustrated in <FIG>.

In the present exemplary embodiment, a -z-direction corresponds to each of a vertical direction and a gravitational direction, an x-direction corresponds to a conveyance direction dc, a y-direction corresponds to a conveyance width direction dw, and an x-y plane corresponds to a horizontal plane. The conveyance width direction dw is parallel to a conveyance surface <NUM> and coincides with the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction dc.

As illustrated in <FIG>, and <FIG>, the identification apparatus <NUM> includes a plurality of irradiation members <NUM>-k (k: <NUM> to <NUM>) that irradiate specimens 900i to be conveyed in the conveyance direction dc with converging rays <NUM>-k (k: <NUM> to <NUM>) with different heights of focal planes <NUM>-k (k: <NUM> to <NUM>). The plurality of irradiation members <NUM>-k (k: <NUM> to <NUM>) is disposed at different positions in the conveyance width direction dw, to correspond to conveyance tracks TRk (k: <NUM> to <NUM>), respectively. The height of each of the focal planes <NUM>-k (k: <NUM> to <NUM>) is included in irradiation conditions for the plurality of irradiation members <NUM>-k (k: <NUM> to <NUM>). Each specimen 900i is supplied to a conveyance unit <NUM> by a feeder <NUM> and is conveyed along the conveyance direction dc by the conveyance unit <NUM>.

The irradiation conditions include at least one of the height of each of the focal planes <NUM>-k (k: <NUM> to <NUM>), a focal length DF, and a working distance WD between the irradiation units <NUM>-k, and optionally at least one of an irradiation light intensity i and an irradiation period. Each conveyance track TRk can also be referred to as the conveyance path TRk.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the identification apparatus <NUM> includes a plurality of light-capturing members <NUM>-k (k: <NUM> to <NUM>) that are disposed at different positions in the conveyance width direction dw and capture scattered light from each specimen 900i. The plurality of light-capturing members <NUM>-k corresponds to the plurality of irradiation members <NUM>-k (k: <NUM> to <NUM>), respectively. As illustrated in <FIG>, the identification apparatus <NUM> also includes an acquisition unit <NUM> that acquires identification information for identifying a property of each specimen 900i based on light captured by the light-capturing members <NUM>-k (k: <NUM> to <NUM>). In a mode in which an arrangement relationship between the irradiation units <NUM>-k and the light-capturing members <NUM>-k included in a light-capturing unit <NUM> to be described below is commonly set among the conveyance tracks TRk, the height of each focal plane <NUM>-k can be replaced by other expressions, such as the height of each detection surface <NUM>-k or the height of an irradiated surface <NUM> of each specimen 900i.

As illustrated in <FIG>, and <FIG>, the identification apparatus <NUM> also includes the placement unit <NUM> on which each specimen 900i is placed at a position corresponding to any one of the plurality of irradiation members <NUM>-k (k: <NUM> to <NUM>) in accordance with a height hi of the specimen 900i. The placement unit <NUM> according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a plurality of gap gates <NUM>-k (k: <NUM> to <NUM>) that are disposed at an upstream side of the plurality of irradiation members <NUM>-k (k: <NUM> to <NUM>) in the conveyance direction dc and have different gaps (gap heights), respectively, from the conveyance surface <NUM>.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the position where each specimen 900i is placed on the placement unit <NUM> to correspond to any one of the plurality of irradiation members <NUM>-k (k: <NUM> to <NUM>) is determined depending on a characteristic value of the specimen 900i. According to the claimed invention, the height hi of each specimen 900i is used as the characteristic value and the characteristic value is included in a geometric characteristic of the specimen 900i.

Outside the scope of the claimed invention, the type of the characteristic value is not limited to the height, but instead other characteristics may be adopted in place of the height. Examples of the characteristic value based on which the position of each specimen 900i on the placement unit <NUM> is determined include a geometric characteristic, a mechanical characteristic, and an optical characteristic. The geometric characteristic includes at least one of an outer shape, including a size and an aspect ratio, a surface roughness, a specific gravity, and a mass of each specimen 900i. The mechanical characteristic includes at least one of a modulus of elasticity, a viscosity, a linear expansion coefficient, a Poisson ratio, a rigidity, a stress, and a distortion distribution of each specimen 900i. The optical characteristic includes at least one of a spectral reflectance including a reflection spectrum, a haze value, a refractive index, and an optical density of the specimen 900i.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the identification apparatus <NUM> also includes a conveyance unit <NUM> including a conveyor belt for conveying each specimen 900i in the x-direction at a conveyance speed vc, and a sorting device <NUM> that is disposed at a downstream side in the conveyance direction dc of the conveyance unit <NUM>.

The plurality of irradiation members <NUM>-k (k: <NUM> to <NUM>), the plurality of light-capturing members <NUM>-k (k: <NUM> to <NUM>), and the plurality of gap gates <NUM>-k (k: <NUM> to <NUM>), which are provided corresponding to the respective conveyance tracks TRk (k: <NUM> to <NUM>), are collectively referred to as the irradiation unit <NUM>, the light-capturing member <NUM>, and the placement unit <NUM>, respectively.

Next, components included in the identification apparatus <NUM> will be described in detail.

The identification apparatus <NUM> includes a spectroscopic information acquisition unit <NUM> that acquires spectroscopic information in association with light captured from each specimen 900i. The spectroscopic information acquisition unit <NUM> is a unit that acquires a Raman shift based on a wave number difference between Raman scattered light included in secondary light from each specimen 900i and excitation light included in primary light from the specimen 900i.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the spectroscopic information acquisition unit <NUM> includes the irradiation unit <NUM> that irradiates each specimen 900i with a converging ray <NUM>, and the light-capturing member <NUM> that captures the secondary light from the specimen 900i. The irradiation unit <NUM> and the light-capturing member <NUM> according to the present exemplary embodiment are coaxially disposed and the irradiation unit <NUM> is optically coupled to a light source <NUM> including a laser light source, via an optical fiber <NUM>. The light-capturing member <NUM> is optically coupled to a spectral image acquisition unit <NUM> so that the spectroscopic information acquisition unit <NUM> can acquire optical information in association with light reflected on a material contained in the specimen 900i.

<FIG> schematically illustrates a configuration example of the spectroscopic information acquisition unit <NUM>. The spectroscopic information acquisition unit <NUM> includes the light-capturing unit <NUM> including the irradiation unit <NUM> that irradiates each specimen 900i with light and the light-capturing member <NUM> that captures Raman scattered light from the specimen 900i. The irradiation unit <NUM> and the light-capturing member <NUM> are coaxially disposed on a specimen side (objective side) as viewed from a dichroic mirror. Even in a case where an irradiation surface of each specimen 900i has a difference in height or is tilted, misregistration between the center of an irradiation spot and the center of a light flux of scattered light to be captured is less likely to occur.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the irradiation unit <NUM> includes a plurality of irradiation members <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM>. The plurality of irradiation members <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> corresponds to the conveyance tracks TR1 to TR4, respectively, and is disposed above the conveyance unit <NUM> at predetermined distances WD-<NUM> to WD-<NUM>, respectively, which are different from each other, from the conveyance surface <NUM> of the conveyor belt.

The irradiation units <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> are disposed to focus converging rays <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> on an upper surface of each specimen 900i, to increase the scattering intensity of Raman scattered light that is a few orders of magnitude lower than that of Rayleigh scattered light. A unit including the irradiation unit <NUM> and the light source <NUM> can also be referred to as an irradiation optical system. Some of reference symbols denoting the focal planes <NUM>-k in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, each illustrating a plurality of elements arranged in the conveyance width direction dw are omitted for ease of understanding.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the irradiation unit <NUM> includes an objective lens <NUM>, a dichroic mirror <NUM>, a collimator lens <NUM>, a cylindrical lens <NUM>, and a reflection mirror <NUM>. As the objective lens <NUM>, for example, a convex lens, a collimator lens, a concave lens, or a zoom lens can be adopted.

Synthetic quartz can be used as a glass material for the collimator lens <NUM>, the cylindrical lens <NUM>, the objective lens <NUM>, and the like. These lenses are irradiated with high-output light from the light source <NUM>. The use of a lens made of synthetic quartz as a glass material makes it possible to reduce background components of fluorescence or Raman scattered light.

In the irradiation unit <NUM>, the objective lens <NUM> acts as a condenser lens that focuses light from the light source <NUM> on each specimen 900i. The objective lens <NUM> forms the focal plane <NUM>, a focal point (focal spot) with a focus diameter ϕ (not illustrated), and a depth of focus ΔDF at a position that is apart from the objective lens <NUM> by the focal length DF and corresponds to a numerical aperture NA. The collimator lens <NUM> and the cylindrical lens <NUM> shape emitted light from the light source <NUM> into parallel light by reducing spreading of the emitted light. As the cylindrical lens <NUM>, other collimating optical elements, such as an anamorphic prism pair, may also be used. In the irradiation unit <NUM>, a wavelength filter, such as a laser line filter, may be disposed at a position corresponding to a pupil surface of the irradiation unit <NUM>. With this configuration, the wavelength characteristic of light irradiated on each specimen 900i by the irradiation unit <NUM> can be improved.

As illustrated in <FIG>, at least a part of the irradiation unit <NUM> can be shared with the light-capturing member <NUM>. Since the light-capturing member <NUM> and the irradiation unit <NUM> according to the present exemplary embodiment are coaxially disposed, the objective lens <NUM> and the dichroic mirror <NUM> are shared with the light-capturing member <NUM> and the irradiation unit <NUM>.

The light source <NUM> is a light source that emits excitation light to the irradiation unit <NUM> via the optical fiber <NUM>. In the irradiation optical system for dispersing Raman scattered light, a laser light source with a wavelength ranging from <NUM> to <NUM> is used as the light source <NUM>. In Raman scattering, the excitation efficiency increases as the wavelength decreases, and fluorescence components serving as background components are reduced as the wavelength increases.

As the excitation wavelength of the laser light source applied as the light source <NUM>, it may be desirable to select a wavelength with which a clear difference in a Raman shift between a target material and a non-target material can be obtained. At least one of <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be used. While the present exemplary embodiment illustrates an example where a semiconductor laser is used as the light source <NUM> for the irradiation unit <NUM>, the present exemplary embodiment is not limited to this example. Other laser light sources, such as a semiconductor excitation solid laser and a gas laser, can also be used.

The light-capturing members <NUM>-k are disposed above the conveyance surface <NUM> to capture the secondary light from the upper surface of each specimen 900i conveyed by the conveyance unit <NUM>. In other words, the light-capturing members <NUM>-k are disposed above the respective conveyance tracks TRk corresponding to an irradiation area for the converging rays <NUM>-k from the irradiation units <NUM>-k so that the secondary light from the upper surface of each specimen 900i passing the irradiation area can be captured.

The light-capturing member <NUM> includes the objective lens <NUM>, the dichroic mirror <NUM>, an imaging lens <NUM>, and the optical fiber <NUM>. Like in the irradiation unit <NUM>, examples of the objective lens <NUM> in the light-capturing member <NUM> include a convex lens, a collimator lens, a concave lens, and a zoom lens. To reduce unwanted light in spectral measurement, the light-capturing member <NUM> may include a wavelength filter, such as a band-pass filter or a long-path filter, to reduce excitation light components included in the primary light (the converging ray).

The light-capturing member <NUM> includes the objective lens <NUM> with a large numerical aperture to secure the light capturing efficiency. A numerical aperture ranging from <NUM> to <NUM> is adopted as the numerical aperture of the objective lens <NUM> in the light-capturing member <NUM>. Specifically, B-<NUM> that is manufactured by SCHOTT Corporation and has an effective lens diameter of ϕ25 mm, a focal length of <NUM>, and a numerical aperture of <NUM> can be used as the objective lens <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the spectral image acquisition unit <NUM> includes an imaging lens <NUM>, a long-path filter <NUM>, a spectral element <NUM>, and an image capturing device <NUM>, which are disposed in this order from the side of the light-capturing member <NUM>. The spectral element <NUM> and the image capturing device <NUM> are disposed to disperse light captured by the light-capturing member <NUM> via an imaging lens <NUM>, and to project a continuous spectrum in a row direction or a column direction of a light-receiving element array of the image capturing device <NUM>. As the image capturing device <NUM>, a charge-coupled device (CCD) sensor, a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor, or the like in which light-receiving elements are arranged one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally is adopted. The spectral element <NUM> can also be referred to as a diffraction grating.

The imaging lens <NUM> shapes the light transmitted from the light-capturing member <NUM> via the optical fiber <NUM> into parallel light. The long-path filter <NUM> captures the light and reduces excitation light components included in the captured light, and allows Raman scattered light to pass. The spectral element <NUM> captures the light, disperses the captured light and causes wavelength components to be dispersed in a fan-like fashion. The imaging lens <NUM> projects the light dispersed by the spectral element <NUM> on the image capturing device <NUM>. A Rowland arrangement or Czerny-Turner system is adopted for the spectral element <NUM>.

The image capturing device <NUM> acquires spectroscopic information Si in association with each specimen 900i in consideration of a captured spectral image, a photoelectric conversion characteristic of an image sensor included in the image capturing device <NUM>, a transmission characteristic of an optical system, and the like. In the present exemplary embodiment, a spectral element (e.g., a diffraction grating) and an image sensor are used for the spectral element <NUM>. Alternatively, Fourier transform processing may be executed after an interference figure is acquired by a photodetector, to calculate a spectrum. More alternatively, a plurality of different band-pass filters may be provided to detect the intensity of each transmitted light beam, to acquire spectroscopic information. A mode in which the spectral element <NUM> detects the intensity of each transmitted light beam while changing the wavelength of the light source <NUM> to acquire a spectrum is also included in a modified example of the present exemplary embodiment. In addition, the spectral element <NUM> may acquire polarization information, including circular dichroism or optical rotatory dispersion, in addition to a spectrum.

The spectroscopic information acquisition unit <NUM> includes a material information reference unit <NUM> that acquires material information in association with each specimen 900i, based on the spectroscopic information Si acquired by the spectral image acquisition unit <NUM>. The material information reference unit <NUM> refers to a material database (not illustrated) on which reference data on Raman scattered light is recorded, and acquires material information Mi based on which a material contained in each specimen 900i is identified by a similarity between the spectroscopic information Si and the reference data. The spectroscopic information acquisition unit <NUM> stores at least one of the spectroscopic information Si and the material information Mi in a first storage unit <NUM> via an instruction unit <NUM> to be described below.

The material database to be referenced by the material information reference unit <NUM> may be stored in a local server included in the identification apparatus <NUM>, or may be stored in a remote server that is accessible via the Internet or an intranet.

As described above, the spectroscopic information acquisition unit <NUM> can acquire the material information Mi indicating a material, a mixture of an additive or an impurity component, and the like, which are contained in each specimen 900i.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a form information acquisition unit <NUM> includes a camera <NUM> and an image processing unit <NUM>. The camera <NUM> is disposed such that an image capturing field of view <NUM> overlaps the conveyance unit <NUM>. The image processing unit <NUM> processes an image of each specimen 900i captured by the camera <NUM>. The form information acquisition unit <NUM> acquires form information Fi in association with each specimen 900i. Like the material information Mi, the form information Fi is information in association with a property of each specimen 900i.

The image processing unit <NUM> performs image processing, including contrast and contour extraction, and acquires a length in the conveyance direction dc, a reflection color, a shape, and a mixing degree of materials, and the like of each specimen 900i. The image processing unit <NUM> can also be referred to as an element configured to perform processing for acquiring information in association with the size of each specimen 900i. The form information acquisition unit <NUM> can include a photointerrupter or a laser interferometer in place of the camera <NUM>. The form information acquisition unit <NUM> can also be referred to as an image capturing portion.

The acquisition unit <NUM> acquires identification information Di indicating whether each specimen 900i is a target specimen or a non-target specimen based on the material information Mi or the spectroscopic information Si acquired by the spectroscopic information acquisition unit <NUM> and the form information Fi acquired by the form information acquisition unit <NUM>. The acquisition unit <NUM> outputs the acquired identification information Di to the instruction unit <NUM>. While, the non-target specimen is identified as a specimen with a low content of target material, the acquisition unit <NUM> can provide an additional identification information Di based on the content of a second target material.

In other words, the acquisition unit <NUM> identifies a property of each specimen 900i based on the Raman spectrum included in the secondary light captured by the light-capturing member <NUM>. In other words, the acquisition unit <NUM> according to the present exemplary embodiment identifies a property of each specimen 900i based on an image of the specimen 900i acquired by the camera <NUM> and the Raman spectrum included in the secondary light captured by the light-capturing member <NUM>.

The spectroscopic information acquisition unit <NUM> and the form information acquisition unit <NUM> according to the present exemplary embodiment can be replaced by a hyperspectral camera or a multiband camera with which form information and spectroscopic information can be acquired from a captured image. In other words, an identification apparatus (not illustrated) according to this modified example includes a detection system that can read out material information and form information and acquire multi-dimensional data.

The identification apparatus <NUM> includes a control unit <NUM> including the instruction unit <NUM> that controls a sorting operation to be performed by the sorting device <NUM> based on the property of each specimen 900i, a second storage unit <NUM> that stores conditions for controlling the sorting operation, and the first storage unit <NUM> that stores the property of each specimen 900i. The control unit <NUM> also includes a display unit <NUM> that provides a graphical user interface (GUI) which is used by a user to designate control conditions. The display unit <NUM> may display information acquired by the acquisition unit <NUM>.

The first storage unit <NUM> is configured to store, for each specimen 900i, the identification information Di, the material information Mi, the spectroscopic information Si, and the form information Fi in association with a timing tp of when each specimen 900i passes the irradiation area for the converging rays <NUM>-k.

The second storage unit <NUM> is configured to store, for each specimen 900i, control conditions that correspond to the identification information Di and are used to control an intensity Is of the sorting operation to be performed by the sorting device <NUM>. The control conditions include formats, such as a table that can be referenced, an algebraically expressed general formula, and statistical information obtained by machine learning.

The instruction unit <NUM> estimates a passage time tp of specimen 900i passing through a processing area where sorting processing is performed by the sorting device <NUM>, in accordance with the identification information Di acquired from the acquisition unit <NUM> and the material and size of each specimen 900i, and generates a command for controlling the sorting operation to be performed by the sorting device <NUM>. The passage time tp of each specimen 900i passing through the processing area can be estimated based on at least one of a signal from the form information acquisition unit <NUM>, a signal from the spectroscopic information acquisition unit <NUM>, and a signal from a specimen sensor (not illustrated) provided in the conveyance unit <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the sorting device <NUM> includes air nozzles <NUM> for discharging compressed air in a predetermined discharge period at a predetermined discharge rate and a predetermined discharge flowrate, and a sorting control unit <NUM> that controls a solenoid valve (not illustrated) included in each air nozzle <NUM>. The sorting control unit <NUM> receives a control signal from the instruction unit <NUM> in the identification apparatus <NUM>. The sorting operation by the sorting device <NUM> according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a fluid discharge operation. Examples of fluid to be discharged in the fluid discharge operation include air, dry nitrogen, inert gas, such as rare gas, liquid, and gas-liquid mixture fluid (aerosol). The sorting device <NUM> collects the specimens 900i into one of a target collection basket <NUM>, a non-target collection basket A <NUM>, and a non-target collection basket B <NUM>, based on the property of each specimen 900i in accordance with the control signal received from the instruction unit <NUM>.

In the sorting device <NUM>, a discharge device that discharges fluid can be replaced by a flap gate that opens and closes at a predetermined angular speed, a shutter that opens and closes at a predetermined speed, or the like. The form information acquisition unit <NUM>, the spectroscopic information acquisition unit <NUM>, and the sorting device <NUM>, which are included in the identification apparatus <NUM>, and the components of these units are arranged in parallel at different positions in the conveyance width direction dw of the conveyance unit <NUM>, whereby the integration level of the system can be improved and the processing speed can be increased.

The conveyance unit <NUM> is a conveyance unit that conveys the plurality of specimens 900i (i = <NUM>, <NUM>, ···) sequentially supplied from the feeder <NUM> in the conveyance direction dc (x-direction in <FIG>) at the predetermined conveyance speed vc. The conveyance unit <NUM> and the feeder <NUM> are included in the conveyance unit that conveys each specimen 900i.

The conveyance unit <NUM> according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a conveyance belt that conveys each specimen 900i supplied from the feeder <NUM> at the predetermined conveyance speed vc in the conveyance direction dc. The conveyance unit <NUM> linearly conveys each specimen 900i on the conveyance surface <NUM>. In a modified example, the conveyance unit <NUM> can be replaced by a revolving table type feeder that conveys the specimens 900i outward in a spiral manner, a vibration feeder provided with a vibrator for moving each specimen 900i in a predetermined direction, a conveyor roller formed of a plurality of rollers, or the like.

Since the conveyance unit <NUM> causes each specimen 900i to move such that the specimen 900i passes through the image capturing field of view <NUM> of the camera <NUM>, the conveyance unit <NUM> can also be referred to as the placement unit <NUM> for the form information acquisition unit <NUM>.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, in the case of using a conveyor belt, <NUM> to <NUM>/s can be applied as the conveyance speed vc of the conveyance unit <NUM>.

A mode in which classification processing for filtering the shape or size of each specimen 900i is performed as preprocessing for the supply process by the feeder <NUM> is also included in a modified example of the identification method using the identification apparatus <NUM> according to the present exemplary embodiment. As a unit for performing preprocessing, a vibration conveyor, a vibration sieve, a crusher/grain-grader, and the like may be used.

Next, the arrangement relationship between the placement unit <NUM> and the irradiation unit <NUM> according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described.

A first characteristic value for the placement unit <NUM> according to the present exemplary embodiment is the height hi of each specimen 900i from the conveyance surface <NUM> when the specimen 900i is placed on the conveyance surface <NUM>. In the placement unit <NUM> according to the present exemplary embodiment, each specimen 900i is not placed by an operation for placing the specimen 900i at a predetermined position in the conveyance width direction dw based on a measurement value of the height hi of the specimen 900i. The placement unit <NUM> according to the present exemplary embodiment is installed in the identification apparatus <NUM> such that the position of the identification apparatus <NUM> relative to the conveyance unit <NUM> is not changed, and includes a plurality of gap gates <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> with different gaps from the conveyance surface <NUM>. The placement unit <NUM> including the gap gates <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> places each specimen 900i at a predetermined position in the conveyance width direction dw. In other words, the placement unit <NUM> is a static placement unit on which each specimen 900i is placed at a predetermined position in the conveyance width direction dw, based on a geometric arrangement relationship with the conveyance unit <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the placement unit <NUM> according to the present exemplary embodiment is a static gap gate with a varying height at which each specimen 900i can pass in the conveyance width direction dw. The placement unit <NUM> serving as the static gap gate is disposed obliquely to each of the conveyance direction dc and the conveyance width direction dw of the conveyance unit <NUM> so that the height at which each specimen 900i can pass not only in the conveyance width direction dw, but also in the conveyance direction dc is varied.

The placement unit <NUM> includes the plurality of gap gates <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> in which the area of the corresponding gap from the conveyance surface <NUM> of the conveyance unit <NUM> is gradually increased from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveyance direction dc. On the other hand, the placement unit <NUM> includes the plurality of gap gates <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> in which the area of the corresponding gap from the conveyance surface <NUM> of the conveyance unit <NUM> is gradually increased from the conveyance track TR1 that is closest to the feeder <NUM> toward the conveyance track TR4 in the conveyance width direction dw.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the difference between the gaps of the gap gates <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> is set to match a difference ΔWD between working distances WD of the irradiation units <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM>. Specifically, the gap in the height direction of each of the gap gates <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> which correspond to the conveyance tracks TR1 to TR4, respectively, and through which the specimen 900i can pass matches the height of each of focal planes <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the height of each of the conveyance tracks TRk corresponding to the gap gates <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM>, respectively, matches the height of each of the focal planes <NUM>-k (k: <NUM> to <NUM>) of the respective conveyance tracks TRk.

The placement unit <NUM> according to the present exemplary embodiment sorts the plurality of specimens 900i that are supplied from the feeder <NUM> and conveyed along the conveyance track TR1 into four height levels corresponding to the static gap gates <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM>, respectively, and places the specimens 900i on any one of the conveyance tracks TR1 to TR4. Specifically, the placement unit <NUM> includes the static gap gates <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> each including a portion in which a condition of height (gap condition) from the conveyance surface <NUM> for allowing each specimen 900i to pass is different. As illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, the height of each of the static gap gates <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> corresponds to the height of each of the focal planes <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> of the irradiation units <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> disposed on the conveyance tracks TR1 to TR4, respectively. The static gap gates <NUM>-k (k: <NUM> to <NUM>) can also be referred to as the stationary gap gates <NUM>-k (k: <NUM> to <NUM>).

The irradiation units <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> irradiate light condensed on the focal planes <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> to increase the intensity of detection light per unit irradiation area. The spectroscopic information acquisition unit <NUM> corresponding to a detection unit includes light-capturing members <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> that are disposed coaxially with the irradiation units <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM>, respectively, on the conveyance tracks TR1 to TR4. The light-capturing members <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> each include an objective lens for forming an image on a detection surface so that scattered light from the focal planes <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> of the irradiation units <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> can be effectively captured.

Accordingly, the height of the detection surface of each of the conveyance tracks TR1 to TR4 matches the height of each of the focal planes <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> of the irradiation units <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM>. Specifically, as illustrated in <FIG>, the height of each of the gap gates <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> matches the height of each of the focal planes <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> on the respective conveyance tracks TR1 to TR4. In other words, as illustrated in <FIG>, the height of each of the gap gates <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> matches the height of each of the detection surfaces <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> on the respective conveyance tracks TR1 to TR4.

Each specimen 900i that is supplied from the feeder <NUM> via a supply area <NUM> and is started to be conveyed is placed on a predetermined one of the conveyance tracks TR1 to TR4 in accordance with the height hi of each specimen 900i through the gaps of the gap gates <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM>, the area of which is gradually increased. The height hi of each specimen 900i conveyed to the conveyance track TRk among the conveyance tracks TR1 to TR4 matches the height of each focal plane <NUM>-k of the corresponding irradiation member <NUM>-k included in the spectroscopic information acquisition unit <NUM>. Accordingly, the image of the irradiation light <NUM>-k is formed on the upper surface of the specimen 900i placed on the conveyance track TRk by the placement unit <NUM>, and the light-capturing member <NUM>-k can capture scattered light from the specimen 900i with a sufficient scattering light intensity. <FIG> corresponds to a case where the conveyance track number k is <NUM>.

Thus, the arrangement of the placement unit <NUM> and the detection unit (spectroscopic information acquisition unit) makes it possible to reduce variations in the spot diameter of the irradiation light <NUM> on the irradiation surface of each specimen 900i and to reduce variations in the intensity of Raman scattered light even when the specimens 900i have different sizes. The working distance WD between the irradiation units <NUM>-k is determined in consideration of the light focusing operation of the irradiation units <NUM>-k, variations in the spectral reflectance of each specimen 900i, and the like. The working distance WD in a range from <NUM> to <NUM> can be adopted.

Unlike the identification apparatus of the related art including the pressing unit, the identification apparatus <NUM> includes no pressing force application mechanism that can cause each specimen 900i to be deformed. Accordingly, the identification apparatus <NUM> can capture secondary light from a predetermined focal plane with a high detection intensity without being adversely affected variations in the height of the detection surface due to deformation of each specimen 900i. Therefore, the identification apparatus <NUM> according to the present exemplary embodiment is an identification apparatus in which a decrease in the number of inspection processes and deterioration in identification accuracy are less likely to occur even when the specimens 900i to be conveyed have different sizes or shapes.

Next, modified examples <NUM> to <NUM> of the static placement unit <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>, and an irradiation member <NUM> corresponding to the placement unit <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

The difference ΔWD between the working distances WD of gap gates <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> corresponding to the conveyance tracks TR1 to TR4, respectively, in a placement unit <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is similar to that in the placement unit <NUM>. Specifically, the gap in the height direction of each of the gap gates <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> which correspond to the conveyance tracks TR1 to TR4, respectively, and through which each specimen 900i pass matches the height of each of the focal plane <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM>. On the other hand, the placement unit <NUM> differs from the placement unit <NUM> in that the difference between the gaps of the corresponding gap gates <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> in the vicinity of a median of a height distribution of a group of specimens 900i is set to be smaller than the difference between the gaps of the gap gates <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> in the placement unit <NUM>. In other words, the placement unit <NUM> differs from the placement unit <NUM> in that the gap of each of the gap gates <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> in the conveyance width direction dw of the placement unit <NUM> is changed linearly, while the gap of each of the gap gates <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> in the placement unit <NUM> is changed non-linearly.

According to the placement unit <NUM>, when the sizes of the group of specimens 900i have values in a normal distribution, a distribution ratio for sorting high-frequency components of the specimen group can be set to be higher than that in the placement unit <NUM> without concentrating the high-frequency components only on the conveyance tracks TR2 and TR3.

Specifically, in the modified example of the identification apparatus <NUM> including the placement unit <NUM>, the number of conveyance processes per unit time for each of the conveyance tracks TR1 to TR4 can be leveled among the conveyance tracks TR1 to TR4, and the conveyance speed is less likely to be limited due to a specific conveyance track identification ability.

Like in the placement unit <NUM>, in the placement unit <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, the difference between gaps corresponding to the conveyance tracks TR1 to TR4 matches the difference ΔWD between the working distances WD of the irradiation units <NUM>. Specifically, the gap in the height direction of each of gap gates <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> which correspond to the conveyance tracks TR1 to TR4, respectively, and through which each specimen 900i can pass matches the height of each of the focal planes <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM>. On the other hand, the placement unit <NUM> differs from the placement unit <NUM> in that the placement unit <NUM> includes a single blade with a gap that is linearly changed in the conveyance width direction dw.

In the placement unit <NUM>, the gap is continuously changed in the conveyance width direction dw, and thus each specimen 900i is less likely to be caught on a step (discontinuous portion) of the gap. Accordingly, it is expected that the operating rate of the conveyance operation to be performed by the conveyance unit <NUM> can be increased. When an angle θ formed between a single blade of the placement unit <NUM> and the conveyance surface <NUM> along the conveyance width direction dw is represented by <NUM>° ± α (where <NUM> < α < <NUM>°), <NUM>° < α < <NUM>° is selected. The value α is appropriately set based on a track interval between the conveyance tracks TR-k, the conveyance speed vc, statistical information, including the geometric characteristic and mechanical characteristic of the group of specimens 900i (i = <NUM>, <NUM>, ···), and the like. The geometric information in association with each specimen 900i includes a diameter and a sectional area, and the mechanical characteristic of each specimen 900i includes at least one of a modulus of elasticity, a rigidity ratio, and a fracture toughness. The statistical information in association with each specimen 900i includes an average value, a median, a standard deviation, and a covariance.

Like in the placement units <NUM> to <NUM>, in a placement unit <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, the difference between the gaps corresponding to the conveyance tracks TR1 to TR4 matches the difference ΔWD between the working distances WD of the irradiation units <NUM>. Specifically, the gap in the height direction of each of gap gates <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> which correspond to the conveyance tracks TR1 to TR4, respectively, and through which each specimen 900i can pass matches the height of each of the focal planes <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM>. On the other hand, the placement unit <NUM> differs from the placement unit <NUM> in that the placement unit <NUM> includes gap gates <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> corresponding to the conveyance tracks TR1 to TR4 disposed at irregular track intervals.

The placement unit <NUM> and the irradiation unit <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, respectively, are disposed corresponding to the conveyance tracks TR1 to TR4 including a non-linear track interval in which the interval between the conveyance tracks TR2 and TR3 is narrower than the interval between the conveyance tracks TR1 and TR2 and the interval between the conveyance tracks TR3 and TR4.

A placement unit <NUM> and the conveyance tracks TR2 to TR4 according to the present modified example are configured such that the widths in the conveyance width direction dw of the gap gates <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> are sequentially increased along with an increase in the area of the gap in the direction from the gap gate <NUM>-<NUM> to the gap gate <NUM>-<NUM>. As a result, the placement unit <NUM> and the conveyance tracks TR1 to TR4 according to the present modified example are configured in consideration of a distribution of shapes of the group of specimens 900i with a positive correlation between the width and the height of each specimen 900i, and the conveyance tracks can be disposed at a high density in the conveyance width direction dw.

Next, other modified examples, placement units <NUM> to <NUM>, of the static placement unit <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

The placement unit <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is similar to the placement unit <NUM> in that the area of each of gaps is continuously increased across the conveyance tracks TR1 to TR4. The placement unit <NUM> differs from the placement unit <NUM> in that the placement unit <NUM> includes an annular rubber belt 54b that is rotatably provided near a stationary gap blade 54a.

According to the placement unit <NUM>, when each specimen 900i conveyed in the direction from the upstream side to the downstream side of the conveyance unit <NUM> comes into contacts with the placement unit <NUM>, the specimen 900i can be more smoothly moved in the conveyance width direction dw than in the placement unit <NUM> by the rotation of the annular rubber belt 54b. In <FIG> and <FIG>, the conveyance direction dc coincides with a direction from a back side to a front side of a drawing sheet.

The placement units <NUM> to <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, respectively, are modified examples of the placement unit <NUM> in which the movement of each specimen 900i is accelerated in the conveyance width direction dw.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the placement unit <NUM> differs from the placement unit <NUM> in that the placement unit <NUM> includes a base 55a provided across the conveyance tracks TR1 to TR4 with a gap tilted with respect to the conveyance surface <NUM>, and a nine-wheel disc 55b disposed in the longitudinal direction of the base 55a.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the placement unit <NUM> differs from the placement unit <NUM> in that the placement unit <NUM> includes a support shaft 56a that is tilted with respect to the conveyance surface <NUM> toward the conveyance tracks TR1 to TR4, and a rubber roller 56b that is rotatably supported in association with the support shaft 56a. The rubber roller 56b can be replaced by another elastic body having flexibility, such as a sponge.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the placement unit <NUM> is a modified example of the placement unit <NUM>. The placement unit <NUM> differs from the placement unit <NUM> in that the placement unit <NUM> includes a support shaft 57a disposed in parallel to the conveyance surface <NUM>, and rubber rollers 57b to 57e that are rotatably supported by the support shaft 57a and have different radii to form different gaps for the respective conveyance tracks TR1 to TR4.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the placement unit <NUM> is a modified example of the placement unit <NUM>. The placement unit <NUM> differs from the placement unit <NUM> in that the placement unit <NUM> includes a support shaft 58a disposed with a tilt with respect to the conveyance surface <NUM>, and a brush roller 58b that is rotatably supported by the support shaft 58a and is disposed such that the area of the gap is gradually increased on the respective conveyance tracks TR1 to TR4. An elastic brush made of a resin, metal, or the like is adopted as the brush roller 58b. With the placement unit <NUM> including the brush roller 58b, it is expected that the heights of the specimens 900i can be sorted without being adversely affected by an attachment, a protrusion, or the like locally projecting from the surface of each specimen 900i.

An identification apparatus <NUM> according to a second exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG> each schematically illustrate a configuration example of the identification apparatus <NUM> according to the second exemplary embodiment.

The identification apparatus <NUM> differs from the identification apparatus <NUM> in that not only a specimen height (z-direction), but also a specimen width in the conveyance width direction dw (y-direction) are set as size conditions based on which the specimens 900i are sorted by a placement unit <NUM>.

The identification apparatus <NUM> includes the placement unit <NUM> for sorting the specimens 900i into conveyance tracks TR1 to TR8 in accordance with the specimen height, and an oblique guide <NUM> for sorting the specimens 900i into the conveyance tracks TR1 to TR4 and the conveyance tracks TR5 to TR8 in accordance with the specimen width.

The placement unit <NUM> includes gap gates <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> that are arranged along a chevron shape (V-shape) including an inflection point bp between the adjacent conveyance tracks TR1 and TR5 at a central portion in the conveyance width direction dw. The inflection point bp matches a boundary between the adjacent gap gates <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the gap gates <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> are installed in this order such that the area of each gap formed between each gap gate and the conveyance surface <NUM> is linearly increased in the outward direction from the center in the conveyance width direction dw of the conveyance unit <NUM>. Similarly, as illustrated in <FIG>, the gap gates <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> are installed in this order such that the area of each gap formed between each gap gate and the conveyance surface <NUM> is linearly increased in the outward direction from the center in the conveyance width direction dw of the conveyance unit <NUM>.

The gap gates <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> each include a gap with respect to the conveyance surface <NUM>, to correspond to the difference ΔWD between the working distances WD of irradiation members <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. Similarly, the gap gates <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> each include a gap with respect to the conveyance surface <NUM>, to correspond to the working distance difference ΔWD between irradiation members <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. In other words, the gap in the height direction of each of the gap gates <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> which correspond to the conveyance tracks TR1 to TR8, respectively, and through which each specimen 900i can pass matches the height of each of the focal planes <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM>.

The oblique guide <NUM> is a guide member provided obliquely to each of the conveyance width direction dw and the conveyance direction dc so that each specimen 900i can be guided from the supply area <NUM> between the conveyance tracks TR3 and TR4 to a location in the vicinity of the middle portion between the conveyance tracks TR1 and TR5. The oblique guide <NUM> is installed such that each specimen 900i can slidably move from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveyance direction dc and in the direction from the conveyance track TR4 to the conveyance track TR1. A guide end ge of the oblique guide <NUM> that is at the downstream side in the conveyance width direction dw is disposed at a location that is apart from the inflection point bp of the placement unit <NUM> having the chevron shape by an offset width ds which is a predetermined width.

Each specimen 900i having a width that is twice as large as the offset width ds is sorted into the conveyance track TR5 that is far from the guide end ge relative to the inflection point bp of the placement unit <NUM>. On the other hand, each specimen 900i having a width less than the twice of the offset width ds is sorted into the conveyance track TR1 that is near the oblique guide <NUM> relative to the inflection point bp of the placement unit <NUM>. Conditions for sorting the specimen widths of the specimens 900i in the conveyance width direction dw can be adjusted by changing the offset width ds of the inflection point bp of each of the guide end ge of the oblique guide <NUM> and the placement unit <NUM> having the chevron shape.

The irradiation units <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> illustrated in <FIG> further increase the illuminance on the focal plane of irradiation light than in the irradiation units <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM>, to correspond to the difference in a specimen width wi sorted by the oblique guide <NUM>. In other words, the irradiation units <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> have the enhanced focus diameter and the enhanced irradiation intensity of converging rays <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM>. Each specimen 900i having a larger projection area as viewed along the conveyance direction dc is irradiated with irradiation light with a higher intensity than that of the specimen 900i having a smaller projection area. In this case, a projection area Spi of each specimen 900i as viewed along the conveyance direction dc can also be referred to as a projection area viewed along the conveyance direction dc. The projection area Spi of each specimen 900i as viewed from the downstream side of the conveyance direction dc matches the product of the height hi of the specimen 900i and the width wi of the specimen 900i.

The identification apparatus <NUM> according to the present exemplary embodiment includes the placement unit <NUM> having the chevron shape on which the specimens 900i are placed at different positions in the conveyance width direction dw, to correspond to a height of a focal plane <NUM> of an irradiation member <NUM> depending on the height hi of the specimen 900i. The identification apparatus <NUM> also includes the oblique guide <NUM> by which the specimens 900i are placed at different positions in the conveyance width direction dw, to correspond to the light irradiation intensity of the irradiation unit <NUM> in accordance with the width wi of each specimen 900i.

Accordingly, like the identification apparatus <NUM> according to the first exemplary embodiment, the identification apparatus <NUM> according to the present exemplary embodiment is an identification apparatus in which a decrease in the throughput numbers of inspection processes and deterioration in identification accuracy are less likely to occur even in a case where the specimens 900i to be conveyed have different sizes or shapes. Unlike the identification apparatus of the related art including the pressing unit, the identification apparatus <NUM> includes no pressing force application mechanism that can cause each specimen 900i to be deformed. Accordingly, the identification apparatus <NUM> can capture secondary light from a predetermined focal plane with a high detection intensity without being adversely affected by variations in the height of the detection surface due to deformation of each specimen 900i.

An identification apparatus <NUM> according to a third exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. <FIG> each schematically illustrate a configuration example of the identification apparatus <NUM> according to the third exemplary embodiment. <FIG> each schematically illustrate an operation of a placement unit according to the present exemplary embodiment.

The identification apparatus <NUM> differs from the identification apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM> in that the identification apparatus <NUM> includes a placement unit 50AG including a plurality of movable gates for selectively performing an opening and closing operation so that the specimens 900i can be sorted into any one of the conveyance tracks TR1 to TR4 based on a detected specimen size.

Further, the identification apparatus <NUM> differs from the identification apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM> in that a form information acquisition unit <NUM> for detecting the size of each specimen 900i is disposed corresponding only to the conveyance track TR1 at the upstream side in the conveyance direction dc of the placement unit 50AG. The form information acquisition unit <NUM> includes a stereo camera <NUM> disposed such that the image capturing field of view overlaps the conveyance track TR1, and an image processing unit <NUM> that performs image processing on a specimen image captured by the stereo camera <NUM>. The form information acquisition unit <NUM> acquires the form information Fi including the height hi of each specimen 900i.

The identification apparatus <NUM> differs from the identification apparatus <NUM> in that the instruction unit <NUM> instructs the placement unit 50AG to control the opened or closed state of each of movable gates 50AG-k (k: <NUM> to <NUM>) based on information in association with the height hi of the specimen 900i acquired by the form information acquisition unit <NUM>.

Next, an identification operation of the identification apparatus <NUM> in accordance with a conveyance flow of the group of specimens 900i will be described with reference to <FIG>, and <FIG>.

Like in the first exemplary embodiment, the feeder <NUM> sequentially supplies the group of plurality of accommodated specimens 900i to the supply area <NUM> on the conveyance track TR1 of the conveyance unit <NUM> at predetermined time intervals. Each specimen 900i supplied onto the conveyance surface <NUM> of the conveyor belt by the feeder <NUM> is conveyed in the conveyance direction dc along the conveyance track TR1, and passes through an image capturing field of view <NUM> of the stereo camera <NUM>.

The form information acquisition unit <NUM> acquires the form information Fi including the height hi of the specimen 900i based on the image captured by the stereo camera <NUM>, and outputs the acquired form information Fi to the instruction unit <NUM>.

The instruction unit <NUM> estimates a time tr of when each specimen 900i reaches the movable gate 50AG-<NUM>, based on the length Li of the specimen 900i included in the form information Fi and the conveyance speed vc. Next, the instruction unit <NUM> outputs a command signal to the placement unit 50AG so that the movable gates 50AG-k (k: <NUM> to <NUM>) are brought into any one of the opened and closed states illustrated in <FIG> at the estimated arrival time tr based on the height hi of the specimen 900i included in the form information Fi. The instruction unit <NUM> can also be referred to as a gate control unit that controls the opened or closed state of each of the movable gates 50AG-k (k: <NUM> to <NUM>) in the placement unit 50AG. As a result, each specimen 900i is placed on any one of the conveyance tracks TR1 to TR4 where the height hi substantially matches the height of each of the focal planes <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> of the irradiation units <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM>. The height (gap) with respect to the conveyance surface <NUM> at a lower end of each movable gate when the movable gates 50AG-k (k: <NUM> to <NUM>) are opened corresponds to the height of each of the focal planes <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM>.

In <FIG>, the height hi of each specimen 900i is represented by a height hj, and reference symbol "j" denotes the order in which the specimen 900i is conveyed on the conveyance track TRk of interest. Similarly, in <FIG>, the length Li of the specimen 900i is represented by a length Lj, and reference symbol "j" denotes the order in which the specimen 900i is conveyed.

Specimen groups <NUM>j-<NUM> to <NUM>j+<NUM> illustrated in <FIG> represent specimen groups that pass through the movable gate 50AG-<NUM> illustrated in <FIG> at different times and are conveyed on the conveyance track TR1. In the example illustrated in <FIG>, each specimen <NUM>j that has passed through the movable gate 50AG-<NUM> is irradiated with converging rays (primary light) from the irradiation unit <NUM>-<NUM> in an in-focus state, and scattered light (secondary light) is captured by the light-capturing member <NUM>-<NUM>.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the in-focus state corresponds to a state where the height of the focal plane <NUM>-k of the converging ray <NUM>-k on the irradiation unit <NUM>-k substantially matches the height of the irradiated surface of the specimen 900i. In the present exemplary embodiment, the in-focus state corresponds to a state where the depth of focus ΔDF of the converging ray <NUM>-k on the irradiation unit <NUM>-k overlaps the height of the irradiated surface of the specimen 900i in the optical axis direction of the converging rays <NUM>-k.

Like in the first exemplary embodiment, the spectral image acquisition unit <NUM> included in the spectroscopic information acquisition unit <NUM> acquires the spectroscopic information Si in association with each specimen 900i, based on the light acquired by the light-capturing member <NUM>-<NUM>. Next, the material information reference unit <NUM> included in the spectroscopic information acquisition unit <NUM> acquires the material information Mi in association with each specimen 900i, based on the acquired spectroscopic information Si. The material information reference unit <NUM> refers to a material database (not illustrated) on which reference data in association with Raman scattered light is recorded, and acquires the material information Mi in which a material contained in the specimen 900i is identified, based on a similarity between the spectroscopic information Si and the reference data. The spectroscopic information acquisition unit <NUM> stores at least one of the spectroscopic information Si and the material information Mi in the first storage unit <NUM> via the instruction unit <NUM>.

As described above, like in the first exemplary embodiment, the spectroscopic information acquisition unit <NUM> acquires the material information Mi indicating a material contained in each specimen 900i, a mixture of an additive or an impurity component, and the like.

Next, like in the first exemplary embodiment, the instruction unit <NUM> included in the control unit <NUM> outputs a command signal for instructing the sorting operation of an air nozzle <NUM>-<NUM> to the sorting device <NUM> based on the form information Fi, the material information Mi, and the estimated passage time tp. As a result, based on the identification result acquired by the acquisition unit <NUM>, the specimens 900i are sorted into any one of the predetermined collection baskets <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> by the air nozzle <NUM>-<NUM>.

Accordingly, like the identification apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM> according to the first and second exemplary embodiment, respectively, the identification apparatus <NUM> according to the present exemplary embodiment is an identification apparatus in which a decrease in the throughput numbers of inspection processes and deterioration in identification accuracy are less likely to occur even in a case where the specimens 900i to be conveyed have different sizes or shapes. Unlike the identification apparatus of the related art including the pressing unit, the identification apparatus <NUM> includes no pressing force application mechanism that can cause each specimen 900i to be deformed, and can set the height of the light irradiation surface (detection surface) corresponding to the height hi of each specimen 900i to match the height of the focal plane <NUM> of the irradiation unit <NUM>. Therefore, the identification apparatus <NUM> can capture secondary light from a predetermined focal plane with a high detection intensity without being adversely affected by variations in the height of the detection surface due to deformation of each specimen 900i.

The movable gates 50AG-k (k: <NUM> to <NUM>) can be replaced by other movable gates, such as a flap type gate including a shutter that is rotated in association with a predetermined rotation axis, or a folding type gate that can be rolled up like a roller screen.

Light fluxes of the converging rays <NUM> and <NUM> irradiated from the irradiation units <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, are illustrated using an isosceles triangle based on a conical model, for ease of explanation, to indicate the position of the focal plane <NUM> in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>. On the other hand, light fluxes of the converging rays <NUM> and <NUM> irradiated from the irradiation units <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, have a shape of one-sheet hyperboloid of rotation in implementation, and form the focal spot with the predetermined focus diameter ϕ and the depth of focus ΔDF on the focal plane <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a section of the converging ray <NUM> that is parallel to a y-z plane and forms the focal plane <NUM> at the position corresponding to the focal length DF from the objective lens <NUM> in the irradiation unit <NUM>. The converging ray <NUM> is represented by an area surrounded by a hyperbola on the y-z plane. In the present exemplary embodiment, a light flux diameter condition obtained by multiplying the focus diameter ϕ by a square root of <NUM> (SQRT(<NUM>) × ϕ), i.e., the range of the length of the light flux on the optical axis corresponding to a light intensity that is <NUM> times or more the light intensity per unit irradiation area on the focal plane <NUM> is set as the depth of focus ΔDF.

In a case where the height hi of the specimen 900i corresponds to a position overlapping the depth of focus ΔDF of the irradiated surface <NUM> corresponding to any one of the conveyance tracks TRk, the specimen 900i is in the in-focus state for any one of the converging rays <NUM>-k (k = <NUM> to <NUM>). Accordingly, the identification apparatuses <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> according to the first to third exemplary embodiments, respectively, can capture light with a high scattering light intensity and can identify each specimen 900i with a high spectral accuracy even when the specimens 900i have different heights.

Accordingly, as illustrated in <FIG>, in a case where the height of the focal plane <NUM> is shifted such that the depth of focus ΔDF of the focal plane <NUM>-k in each of irradiation members <NUM>-k and <NUM>-k is continuous in the height direction, the identification apparatuses <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> in which the depth of focus ΔDF is substantially expanded can be provided. The ratio of the depth of focus ΔDF to the focal length DF is limited by the numerical aperture NA of the objective lens <NUM>. However, if multiple rows (K rows) of irradiation units with the focal length DF are formed, the depth of focus that is expanded to a maximum size, i.e., a size that is K times that of the depth of focus can be obtained.

In other words, in a case where the height hi of the specimen 900i corresponds to a position overlapping the depth of focus ΔDF of the focal plane <NUM>-k corresponding to the conveyance track TRk, the height hi of each specimen 900i substantially matches the height of the focal plane <NUM>-k corresponding to the conveyance track TRk. In other words, in a case where the height hi of the specimen 900i corresponds to a position overlapping the depth of focus ΔDF of the focal plane <NUM>-k corresponding to the conveyance track TRk, the height hi of each specimen 900i corresponds to the height of the focal plane <NUM>-k corresponding to the conveyance track TRk.

A modified example in which the placement unit is implemented by combining the static gap gate and the movable gate, the opened or closed state of which is controlled, is included in exemplary embodiments of the identification apparatus according to the present invention.

A mode in which a reflection spectrum (color) of a specimen acquired using a hyperspectral camera as the form information acquisition unit <NUM> is acquired as a characteristic value for the specimen, and an irradiation condition for the irradiation unit on each conveyance track TRk or a light capturing condition for the light-capturing unit is changed is a modified example of the third exemplary embodiment. It is known that Raman scattering intensities of reflection spectrum in a visible range have a positive correlation. For a black specimen with a low Raman scattering intensity, a deficient spectral identification ability can be relieved by increasing the light intensity per unit irradiation area of converging rays from the irradiation units. Similarly, for a white specimen with a high Raman scattering intensity, the spectral identification ability can be secured by relatively decreasing the light intensity per unit irradiation area of converging rays from the irradiation units so that saturation is less likely to occur in a detector or an amplification unit that amplifies a signal from the detector.

A mode in which a light irradiation unit (not illustrated) that can switch between irradiation and non-irradiation of light including an emission spectrum in a range from a blue color gamut to an ultraviolet color gamut is provided at a position overlapping the image capturing field of view <NUM> of the form information acquisition unit <NUM> and fluorescence information is acquired from a specimen can also be adopted as a modified example of the present exemplary embodiment. In this modified example, a mode in which an irradiation condition, such as an irradiation spectrum, from each irradiation unit is changed to correspond to fluorescence information is adopted.

Claim 1:
An identification apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
a plurality of irradiation means (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>) disposed at different positions in a conveyance width direction to irradiate a specimen (900i) with a converging ray in different irradiation conditions, the specimen (900i) being conveyed in a predetermined conveyance direction by conveyance means (<NUM>);
a plurality of light-capturing means (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>) for capturing scattered light from the specimen (900i), each of the plurality of light-capturing means (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>) corresponding to a different one of the plurality of irradiation means (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>);
acquisition means (<NUM>) for acquiring identification information for identifying a property of the specimen (900i), based on the light captured by the light-capturing means (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>);
characterized by
placement means (<NUM>) for placing the specimen (900i) on a position corresponding to any one of the plurality of irradiation means (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>) in accordance with a height of the specimen (900i) at an upstream side of the plurality of irradiation means (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>) in the conveyance direction,
wherein the irradiation condition includes at least one of a height of a focal plane (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>), a focal length, and a working distance (WD) between the irradiation means (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>) and the specimen (900i),
wherein the irradiation means (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>) are adapted to provide focal planes (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>) with different heights, and
wherein the placement means (<NUM>) is disposed at the upstream side of the plurality of irradiation means (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>) in the conveyance direction.