Design and implementation of an online length detection device for reconstituted cut tobacco based on machine vision

In order to address the drawbacks of using offline and manual methods to measure the length of reconstituted cut tobacco using thick pulp method, an online automatic detection device is designed in the paper. A cut tobacco sampling and spreading out process is designed. Cut tobacco sampling is completed by using a robotic arm. Cut tobacco feeding is completed by simulating the manual shaking movement. A two-stage conveyor belt keeps spreading out tobacco leaves. A tobacco leaves image acquisition device have been designed to collect diluted cut tobacco. A software system has been developed, specifically for the case of a small amount of cross cut tobacco. A stitching algorithm based on sub pixel skeleton contour slope has been proposed to separate a single cut tobacco and facilitate tobacco length detection. The test results indicate that the system has the advantages of automation, online detection, and high measurement accuracy, which can meet the requirements of the production process of reconstituted tobacco leaves.