Device and method for classifying seeds

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device and method for classifying seeds, for example coffee seeds. The device is characterised by: a seed-feeding mechanism; a seed-containing mechanism connected to the seed-feeding mechanism; an electronic seed-viewing system operationally disposed in the seed-containing mechanism; a seed-ejecting mechanism connected to the outlet of the seed-containing mechanism, the electronic seed-viewing system having a central processing unit that implements methods for classifying seeds. The method is characterised by the steps of: a) obtaining a digital image of the seed; b) storing the RGB components of the image obtained in step a); c) generating a histogram for each colorimetric and luminosity component of the histogram of step b); d) determining the thresholding point according to Otsu's method; e) obtaining a binary image; f) removing areas; g) obtaining the edges; h) obtaining the vectors corresponding to the seeds; i) identifying black seeds; j) identifying seeds with fermentation- and immaturity-related defects; k) identifying seeds with mechanical damage; and l) actuating a seed-ejecting mechanism, activating actuators for black seeds, actuators for seeds with fermentation- and immaturity-related defects and actuators for seeds with mechanical damage.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.