PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for cutting off herb roots in which the positions of the herbs are never shifted when a blade comes into abutment with the herb root, even if used for herbs of hard roots, and the boundary between the herb root and the stem can be cleanly cut, and the roots are not damaged by mistake or are not cut off even in such an irregular state as detecting only the roots when processing multiple herbs and not cutting off the roots.SOLUTION: A herb root cutting-off apparatus 1 is characterized by comprising: a support mechanism 2 for holding the side surface of a herb with a first conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt, and sequentially conveying it cutting scissors 3 positioned at the herb root side held by the support mechanism, and cutting a herb root by the opening and closing of the blade an imaging device 4 for taking an image of the herb conveyed by the support mechanism 2 image analysis means 5 for determining a cutting position of the herb based on the image taken by the imaging device 4 and a drive device 6 for driving the cutting scissors 3 in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the support mechanism 2 based on results of the image analysis means 5.COPYRIGHT: (C)2015,JPO&INPIT【課題】根の堅い薬草に使用しても、刃が薬草の根に当接したときに薬草の位置がずれることなく薬草の根と茎の境界を綺麗に切断することができ、複数の薬草を処理する際において根のみしか検知できず切除しないなどイレギュラーの状態においても誤って根を傷つけない、又は、切除しない薬草の根切除装置を提供する。【解決手段】第1搬送ベルトと第2搬送ベルトとで薬草の側面を挟持し、順次搬送する支持機構2と、支持機構によって挟持される薬草の根側に位置し、薬草の根を刃の開閉により切断する切断ハサミ3と、支持機構2によって搬送される薬草を撮影する撮像装置4と、撮像装置4により撮影された画像に基づいて、薬草の切断位置を判断する画像解析手段5と、画像解析手段5の結果に基づいて、切断ハサミ3を支持機構2の搬送方向と直交する方向に駆動させる駆動装置6と、を具備することを特徴とする薬草の根切除装置1により解決することができた。【選択図】図1
