Scrap determination system and scrap determination method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12330190-B2
Application number	US-202117997368-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 23, 2021
Priority date	Apr 30, 2020
Publication date	Jun 17, 2025
Grant date	Jun 17, 2025

Abstract

Provided are a scrap determination system and method that can improve scrap determination techniques. A scrap determination system (1) comprises: a first scrap determination model (221) generated using teaching data including first learning images, and determines, based on a camera image, grade of scrap in the image and a ratio of the grade; a second scrap determination model (222) generated using teaching data including second learning images, and determines, based on the image, grade of scrap in the image and a ratio of the grade; a selection model (223) configured to determine which of the first scrap determination model (221) and the second scrap determination model (222) is to be used, based on the image; and an output section (24) configured to output information of each grade of scrap and a ratio of the grade determined based on the image using the model selected by the selection model (223).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A scrap determination system comprising:
an acquisition section configured to acquire a camera image including scrap;
a first scrap determination model generated using teaching data including first learning images, and configured to determine, based on the camera image, each of the grade of the scrap included in the camera image and a ratio of the grade;
a second scrap determination model generated using teaching data including second learning images different from the first learning images, and configured to determine, based on the camera image, each of the grade of the scrap included in the camera image and a ratio of the grade;
a selection model configured to determine which of the first scrap determination model and the second scrap determination model is to be used, based on the camera image; and
an output section configured to output information of each grade of the scrap and a ratio of the grade determined based on the camera image using a model selected by the selection model out of the first scrap determination model and the second scrap determination model.

2. The scrap determination system according to claim 1 , wherein the first learning images are each an image of single-grade iron scrap, and
when determining each of the grade of the scrap included in the camera image and a ratio of the grade using the first scrap determination model, the ratio of the grade is determined based on an area ratio of scrap of the grade in the camera image.

3. The scrap determination system according to claim 1 , wherein the second learning images are each an image of mixed-grade iron scrap.

4. The scrap determination system according to claim 1 , wherein the first learning images, the second learning images, and the camera image are each normalized based on zoom information corresponding to the camera image.

5. The scrap determination system according to claim 4 , wherein the first learning images, the second learning images, and the camera image are each normalized to a magnification factor that differs depending on the zoom information corresponding to the camera image.

6. The scrap determination system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first scrap determination model, the second scrap determination model, and the selection model is relearned based on the camera image and the information output by the output section.

7. A scrap determination method that uses: a first scrap determination model generated using teaching data including first learning images, and configured to determine, based on a camera image including scrap, each of the grade of the scrap included in the camera image and a ratio of the grade; and a second scrap determination model generated using teaching data including second learning images different from the first learning images, and configured to determine, based on the camera image, each of the grade of the scrap included in the camera image and a ratio of the grade, the scrap determination method comprising:
acquiring the camera image;
selecting, based on the camera image, which of the first scrap determination model and the second scrap determination model is to be used, by a selection model; and
outputting information of each grade of the scrap and a ratio of the grade determined based on the camera image using a model selected by the selection model out of the first scrap determination model and the second scrap determination model.

8. The scrap determination system according to claim 2 , wherein the second learning images are each an image of mixed-grade iron scrap.

9. The scrap determination system according to claim 2 , wherein the first learning images, the second learning images, and the camera image are each normalized based on zoom information corresponding to the camera image.

10. The scrap determination system according to claim 9 , wherein the first learning images, the second learning images, and the camera image are each normalized to a magnification factor that differs depending on the zoom information corresponding to the camera image.

11. The scrap determination system according to claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first scrap determination model, the second scrap determination model, and the selection model is relearned based on the camera image and the information output by the output section.

Assignees

• Jfe Steel Corp

Inventors

• Kishimoto Yasuo
• Ogasawara Futoshi
• Takao Yasuyoshi

Classifications

• B07C2501/0054

  Sorting of waste or refuse · CPC title

• H04N23/69

  Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming · CPC title

• G06T7/62

  of area, perimeter, diameter or volume · CPC title

• Y02P10/20

  Recycling · CPC title

• Y02W90/00

  Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation · CPC title