JP2001199525A - Article measuring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an article measuring device capable of fairly and accurately measuring specified items of articles. SOLUTION: In a first inspection range b1 of a measuring part (b) set on a transport conveyor 4, the front peripheral surfaces of fruits and vegetables A loaded on conveying bodies 5 are measured by grade measuring devices 22, 23 of an article measuring device 7 to determine the grade. In a second inspection range b2, the fruits and vegetables A are held by a pair of right and left holding bodies 27 for constituting a rotational device 40, and the fruits and vegetables A held by the holding bodies 27, 27 are reversed (approximately 180 deg.) to the approximately same height around the rotational centers B of the holding bodies 27 while being moved in the conveying direction. The back peripheral surfaces of the fruits and vegetables A are measured by a grade measuring device 24 to determine the grade, and the degree of saccharic acid is determined by measuring by a degree of saccharic acid measuring device 25. The fruits and vegetables A held by the holding bodies 27, 27 are rotated and restored (approximately 360 deg.) to the original direction and height while being moved in the conveying direction, holding by the holding bodies 27, 27 is released, and the fruits and vegetables are again loaded on the conveying bodies 5 and conveyed to the next process.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to fruit and vegetables such as tangerines, apples, persimmons, pears, peaches, melons, etc., agricultural products, or
The present invention relates to an article measuring device used for measuring an article having a substantially spherical shape, such as a ball for ball games, food, parts, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an apparatus for measuring fruit and vegetables in the above-described example, as shown in FIG. 9, for example, as shown in FIG. An image of the side peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A reflected by 71 is taken by a camera 72 arranged at the upper part of the transport path. At the same time, the transmitted light that has passed through the fruit and vegetable product A is received by a light receiver 73 disposed at the lower part of the transport path, and the imaging information captured by the camera 72 and the light
There is an apparatus (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-35126) for measuring the rank and sugar acidity of fruit and vegetable product A based on the received light information.

[0003]

However, the above-described apparatus measures a predetermined item of the fruit and vegetable A in a state where the fruit and vegetable A is placed on the tray 70, so that the lower peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A that comes into contact with the tray 70 is measured. For example, even if there is discoloration, decay, scratches, or the like on the back side), it is impossible to take an image with the camera 72, and a predetermined item cannot be measured.

Further, foreign substances such as skin, oil, juice or paper dust, dust, dust and the like of the fruit and vegetable A easily adhere to the mirror body 71 and the light receiver 73, and an image of the fruit and vegetable A reflected by the mirror body 71 is formed. Since the image becomes unclear and the amount of light received by the light receiver 73 decreases, an error may occur between the actual class and the class determined based on the image information. Is difficult.

In view of the above problems, the present invention rotates a pair of left and right holders about the center of rotation of the holders, whereby articles having various sizes are rotated in predetermined directions and heights. It is an object of the present invention to provide an article measuring apparatus capable of performing an operation of measuring an article fairly and accurately while keeping measurement conditions constant.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
An apparatus for measuring a predetermined item of an article loaded on a loading section by a measuring unit, wherein a pair of left and right holding bodies are provided on the upper side of the loading section so as to face a side surface of the article, and each of the holding bodies is A relative movement unit is provided for relatively moving the interval at which the article is held and the interval at which the article is released, and the orientation of the article is changed with respect to each of the holders about the rotation center of the holder. The article measuring apparatus is provided with a holder rotating means that rotates in a predetermined direction.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the pair of left and right holders are moved in the transport direction substantially in synchronism with the transport speed of the transport means for transporting the stacking section. It is an article measuring device provided with a holder moving means for performing the above.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article measuring apparatus in which the holding member is provided with a flexible pressing member facing the side surface of the article, in addition to the configuration of the first or second aspect. There is a feature.

[0009]

According to the article measuring device of the present invention, for example, after measuring the front side of the articles loaded on the loading section by the measuring means, the pair of left and right holders are moved close to the interval at which the articles are held by the relative moving means. To hold the articles loaded on the loading section. Each holder is rotated by the holder rotating means around the rotation center of the holder itself, and the article is rotated in a predetermined direction and height (for example, upside down). After the rotation, after measuring the back surface of the article by the measuring means, the article held by each holding body is rotated to the original direction and height, the holding by each holding body is released, and the measured article is put on the loading section. Load.

According to the article measuring device of the second aspect, in addition to the operation of the first aspect, the pair of right and left holders are moved in the transport direction substantially synchronously with the transporter by the holder transporter. It rotates in a predetermined direction while holding the articles loaded on the loading section.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the first or second aspect, the article measuring device deforms and holds the pressing member attached to the holder to a shape substantially corresponding to the outer surface of the article.

[0012]

According to the present invention, the article held by the pair of right and left holders is rotated in any direction about the rotation center of the holder itself. Articles having various sizes can be rotated to predetermined directions and heights without displacing the rotation center.
In addition, the conditions at the time of measurement can be kept constant, and the work of measuring a predetermined item of the article can be performed fairly and accurately.

In addition, since the pair of left and right holders are moved in the transport direction while holding the articles loaded on the loading section and rotating in a predetermined direction, the measuring operation can be performed continuously, and the efficiency of the operation can be improved. Can be planned. In addition, since the loading section and the respective holders move in the transport direction substantially in synchronization with each other, the articles held by the respective holders rotate above the loading section and can be loaded on the same loading section and the same loading position. .

Further, since the pressing member is deformed and held in a shape substantially corresponding to the outer surface of the article, articles having various sizes and shapes can be reliably held. In addition, a pressing force necessary to hold a soft article such as a tomato or the like is obtained, and the article can be reliably prevented from being crushed or deformed.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The drawing shows, as an example of an article, an article measuring apparatus used for measuring predetermined items of fruit and vegetables, and in FIG. 1, this article measuring apparatus 7 is distributed to a measuring section b set on a conveyor 4. The predetermined items of the fruit and vegetables A loaded on the carrier 5 (for example, a free tray or a cup) are individually measured. Further, in place of the above-described carrier 5, for example, a carrier having a holding function (Japanese Patent Application No. 11-272127) may be used to carry the carrier.

The above-mentioned conveyor 4 is a supply conveyor 4
a, a distribution conveyor 4c is connected to the sorting units c set on the transmission conveyor 4b, and an alignment conveyor 4d is connected to the distribution conveyor 4c.

The alignment conveyor 4d is connected to the return conveyor 4
e, the regression conveyor 4e is connected to the supply conveyor 4a, and the conveyance body 5 formed in a substantially square (or substantially circle) when viewed from above is provided with a supply unit a set on a conveyance path, a measurement unit b , To the sorting section c, the arranging section d, and the boxing section e. The transport conveyor 4 is configured by a chain conveyor or a belt conveyor, but may be configured by, for example, a roller conveyor, a thrust conveyor, or the like.

The supply conveyor 4 disposed in the supply section a described above.
In a, a plurality of (for example, three rows) carriers 5 returned from the box packing unit e are arranged and transported. Further, for example, the transport bodies 5 stacked vertically may be separated and aligned by a separator (not shown).

For example, fruits and vegetables A to be received are loaded one by one on the transport bodies 5 arranged in a plurality. As another loading method instead of the manual operation, for example, the fruits and vegetables A may be held by the adsorbent or the arm and loaded on the carrier 5.

The box packing machine 6 arranged in the box packing section e described above.
When a predetermined number of transporters 5 are aligned on the alignment conveyor 4d, the fruits and vegetables A loaded on the transporters 5 are adsorbed by an adsorber connected to negative pressure generating means such as an intake blower or a vacuum pump. It is held and packed in a box (not shown) supplied from the box making process.

The packed box is transported to the next step (for example, a shipping step or a storage step) through a sealing step. On the other hand, the empty transport bodies 5 are arranged in a line by the regression conveyor 4e and transported to the supply unit a. Further, the transport bodies 5 may be stacked vertically and transported to the supply unit a.

The article measuring device 7 arranged in the measuring section b
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the light-shielding chamber 20 is disposed in a first measurement area b1 and a second measurement area b2 set on the feed conveyor 4b.

A light source 21 (for example, a halogen lamp) disposed in the regions b1 and b2 is provided with the upper peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A loaded on the carrier 5 and the fruit and vegetable A rotated by a rotating device 26 described later. Light is applied to the lower peripheral surface or the side peripheral surface.
Further, the light of the light source 21 may be irradiated to the fruit and vegetable A through the hole formed in the carrier 5, and as another illuminating means instead of the light source 21, for example, an ultraviolet lamp or an incandescent lamp may be used. .

An equal-grade measuring device 22 disposed (substantially directly above) the upper part of the transport path in the area b 1, and a four-grade equal-grade measuring device disposed on both sides of the transport path (for example, obliquely around the fruit and vegetable A). Reference numeral 23 denotes an image of the upper peripheral surface (front surface side) and the side peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable product A loaded on the carrier 5.

The class measuring device 24 disposed above (substantially right above) the transport path in the area b2 is a fruit and vegetable product rotated by a rotating device 26 to a predetermined angle (in a range from about 90 degrees to about 270 degrees). The upper peripheral surface (back side) of A is imaged.

The sugar acidity measuring device 25 disposed in the upper part of the conveying path behind the device 24 is provided with a light shielding member 32 when the light shielding member 32 is brought into close contact with the upper peripheral surface (back side) of the fruit and vegetable A rotated by the rotating device 26. The transmitted light passing through the fruit and vegetable A is received through the light receiving window 32a formed in the window 32. Also, the measuring device 2
Although 2 to 25 are constituted by CCD cameras, for example, image sensors, video cameras and the like may be used.

Feeding conveyor 4 corresponding to the center of region b2
A part of b is erected at a position lower than the front and rear conveyance heights, and the conveyance body 5 is conveyed at predetermined intervals to the fruit and vegetables A held by the holding bodies 27 and 27.

The information reading device 37 disposed below the transport path in the areas b1 and b2 is provided with a recording medium (data carrier) attached to the transport body 5 in correspondence with the measurement by the devices 22 to 25.
Is read and stored in the apparatus main body 44 in association with the above-described measurement information and the information of the carrier 5. Further, as an information recording means in place of the recording medium (non-contact information recording device), for example, a bar code or a magnetic card may be used.

The information writing device 38 disposed below the transport path behind the device 25 stores the sorting information (eg, grade, sugar acidity, variety, producer, etc.) stored in the device main body 44 into the transport body 5. Write to recording media.

On the other hand, the information reading device 40 provided in the sorting section c outputs information read from the recording medium of the carrier 5 to the device main body 44. The device main body 44 drives the sorting device 42 based on the information, and sorts the transport body 5 to the distribution conveyor 4b of the class corresponding to the determination.

The information reading device 41 arranged in the alignment section d outputs information read from the recording medium of the carrier 5 to the device main body 44. The device main body 44 drives the sorting device 43 based on the information, and sorts the transport body 5 to the grade-specific sorting units set on the sorting conveyor 4c.

The above-described apparatus main body 44 includes the apparatuses 22, 23,
The image information of the fruit and vegetable A taken at 24 and the class information stored in advance (for example, hue, damage, maturity, size, shape,
Height, width, volume, flatness, rotting, floating skin, non-standard, etc.) to determine the class. And device 2
5. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising comparing the light receiving information of the transmitted light received in step 5 with the sugar acidity information stored in advance to determine the sugar acidity, and correlating the determination information with the unique or arbitrary information of the carrier 5. It is stored in the main body 44.

As other writing and reading means in place of the devices 37, 38, 40, and 41 (non-contact type communication devices), for example, an electromagnetic induction communication device, an optical communication device, a radio communication device, or the like may be used. Non-contact type reading means such as a reader or a magnetic head may be used.

As another method of sorting the transport body 5, for example, an individual address or a recording medium is attached to the feed conveyor 4b, the address or time lag of the transport body 5 is counted, and information attached to the transport body 5 (for example, Text, emboss, color scheme, etc.)
May be read by optical reading means.

The rotating device 26 disposed in the above-mentioned area b2
As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the fruit and vegetables A loaded on the carrier 5 are transported above the carrier 5 transported by the feed conveyor 4b, and are located on the side of the transport path in the area b2. And is rotated by a predetermined angle while being held by a pair of left and right holding members 27 arranged in the moving direction and moving in the transport direction.

Since the above-mentioned holding members 27 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the transport path, the mounting structure of one of the holding members 27 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

A tubular member 28 is installed between chains 29, 29 stretched on the side of the conveying path, and
They are arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction substantially corresponding to the transport body 5 transported by the feed conveyor 4b with respect to the entire length.

The chain 29 is rotated by a motor equipped with a speed reducer (not shown) in conjunction with or independently of the feed conveyor 4b, and the center of rotation B of the holder 27 is made substantially coincident with the central mounting surface of the carrier 5. Then, while maintaining the height opposed to the side surface of the fruit and vegetable product A loaded on the transport body 5, the orbit moves substantially synchronously in the transport direction.

A movable base 30 fixed to the lower part of the cylindrical member 28 is connected to a guide shaft 3
1 and is mounted so as to be horizontally movable in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction.

A wheel 32 (for example, a roller) attached to the lower portion of the movable base 30 is guided by a support rail 33 provided on the side of the conveyance path, and is moved to a start end f, an intermediate portion g, and an end end h. Then, the cylindrical member 28 is moved in the direction in which the holding body 27 is pressed against the side of the fruit and vegetable A loaded on the carrier 5 and the direction in which the pressing is released.

The above-mentioned support rail 33 is installed symmetrically with respect to the transport path as the center, and as shown in FIG.
Is stretched at intervals gradually narrowing in the transport direction, and the tubular member 28 is moved in a direction facing the side of the fruit and vegetable A, and the holding body 27 is pressed against the side of the fruit and vegetable A.

The intermediate portion g is provided at a constant interval in the transport direction, and the cylindrical member 28 is regulated to a position close to a predetermined interval with respect to the side edge of the feed conveyor 4b. 27 is kept pressed against fruit vegetable A.

The end portion h is erected at an interval gradually widening in the transport direction, the cylindrical member 28 is moved in a direction to be separated from the fruit and vegetable A, and the holding body 27 is fed to the conveyor. 4b is retracted outside the side edge.

Left and right support rails 3 installed under the transport path
4 regulates the cylindrical member 28 at a position separated by a predetermined distance from the side edge of the feed conveyor 4b, and guides the holding body 27 to a state where it is retracted outside the side edge of the feed conveyor 4b. .

A bearing member 51 is rotatably supported at both ends of the cylindrical member 28, and a support shaft 52 having a rectangular cross section is inserted through a square shaft hole 53 formed in the bearing member 51, and the support shaft 52 is rotated.
Is fixed to the center portion on the back side of the holding body 27 formed in a substantially disk shape, and the holding body 27 is moved forward and backward in the direction facing the side surface of the fruit and vegetable A loaded on the carrier 5. It is provided as possible.

The coil spring 54 wound around the support shaft 52 urges the holding body 27 in a direction in which the holder 27 is pressed against the side surface of the fruit and vegetable A, and the elasticity accumulated in the coil spring 54 depends on the support shaft. Variable adjustment is performed by an adjustment member 55 fixed to 52. Further, as another pressing means instead of the coil spring 54, for example, an air cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder may be used.

The holding surface of the holding body 27 is provided with a flexible pressing member 27a such as urethane rubber, sponge rubber, or silicone rubber. Also, the holding body 27
May be changed according to the size and shape of the fruit and vegetable product A.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS.
7 (for example, rollers) are pivotally attached to both ends of a support plate 56 fixed to the outer end of the bearing member 51, and the outer and inner end support plates 5
6 is substantially orthogonal to the support shaft 52 (for example, approximately 90 degrees)
Angle. Further, for example, a member having a small contact resistance may be used instead of the ring bodies 32 and 57.

The guide members 58 and 59, which are provided above the transport path in the area b2, are symmetrically provided about the transport path, and are disposed at predetermined intervals in the front and rear portions.

The guide members 58 and 59 are inclined so as to gradually lower from the start end to the end in the transport direction. When the support plate 56 on the inner end side stands upright,
When the ring body 57 abuts on the inner guide member 58 and the outer end side support plate 56 stands upright, the ring body 57 abuts on the outer guide member 59 and is disposed above the transport body 5. The holder 27 is rotated by a predetermined angle (for example, approximately 60 degrees to approximately 90 degrees) about the rotation center B of the holder 27.

The ring members 57 attached to the inner and outer end support plates 56 are connected to guide members 5 erected on the front side and the rear side.
8 and 59, the holder 27 is moved to, for example, approximately 90 degrees,
It rotates in the order of approximately 180 degrees, approximately 270 degrees, and approximately 360 degrees.
Further, the rotation angle of the holding member 27 is changed by changing the inclination of the members 58 and 59, and the length of the members 58 and 59 is changed by changing the length of the members 58 and 59 so as to change the distance maintained in the state of being rotated at an arbitrary angle. And so on.

A plurality of housing portions 61 are formed on the closing member 60 fixed to the outer end side of the cylindrical member 28 with the support shaft 52 as the center, and the sphere 62 is held so as to be able to protrude and retract from the housing portion 61. Due to the elasticity of the coil spring 63 compressed and loaded in the housing portion 61, the coil spring 63 is urged in a direction in which the coil spring 63 is locked to the concave portion 64 formed in the bearing member 51, thereby rotating and holding the holder 27 at a predetermined angle. I do. Further, the recesses 64 may be connected by a shallow groove.

The light-blocking member 35 is attached at a predetermined interval to the entire length of the chain 36 stretched over the transport path, and the chain 36 is provided with a motor with a speed reducer (not shown).
Is rotated in the transport direction substantially in synchronization with the rotation speed of the holding body 27, and is held at a predetermined angle (about 180 degrees) by the holding bodies 27 and 27.
It is pressed against the upper peripheral surface (back side) of the fruit vegetable A rotated (upside down) in degrees.

The light shielding member 35 is made of, for example, synthetic rubber,
The light receiving window 3 is formed of a flexible member such as a soft resin, and has a light receiving window 3 at the center thereof for guiding the transmitted light transmitted through the fruit and vegetable A.
5a is formed. Further, an endless belt such as a belt may be used instead of the chains 29 and 36.

The illustrated embodiment is configured as described above, and the operation of the article measuring device 7 when measuring a predetermined item of fruit and vegetable A will be described below. First, as shown in FIG. 1, fruit and vegetable products A are loaded one by one on transport bodies 5... Transported by a supply conveyor 4a, and then the transport bodies 5. Conveyed to section b.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG.
Is imaged by the equal-grade measuring devices 22 and 23 provided in the first measuring area b1 of the measuring section a, and the imaged information and the individual or optional information of the carrier 5 read by the information reading device 37 are taken. Is stored in the apparatus main body 44 in association with the information.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the pair of right and left holders 27 constituting the rotating device 40 are placed on the carrier 5 in close proximity to a narrow space while being moved in the transport direction. Fruit products A having various sizes (for example, large, medium, and small).

At the same time, as shown in FIG. 7, the loop body 57 attached to the inner and outer end support plates 56 is brought into contact with the front guide members 58 and 59, and is held by the holding members 27 and 27. The held large, medium and small fruit vegetables A are rotated about the rotation center B of the holder 27 in the order of approximately 90 degrees and approximately 180 degrees.

Further, the rear side peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A held by the holding members 27, 27 is imaged by the equal-grade measuring device 24, and the imaged information and the individual or optional information of the carrier 5 read by the information reading device 37. Is stored in the apparatus main body 44 in association with the information. Further, when the fruit and vegetable A held by the holders 27 and 27 is lifted to a predetermined height, the rear side peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A may be imaged obliquely from below by the equal rank measuring device 24.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 8, the upper peripheral surface (rear surface side) of the large, medium and small fruit vegetables A which are turned upside down (about 180 degrees).
The light-shielding member 35 is pressed against the
, The transmitted light that has passed through the fruit and vegetable A is received by the sugar acidity measuring device 25, and the received light information is associated with the personal or optional information of the carrier 5 read by the information reading device 37. It is stored in the device main body 44.

Next, the annular body 57 attached to the inner and outer end support plates 56 is sequentially brought into contact with the guide members 58 and 59 on the rear side, and the fruits and vegetables A held by the holders 27 and 27 are held. About 2
The fruit and vegetable A is rotated to the original state by rotating by about 360 degrees by 70 degrees. At the same time, as shown in FIG.
Are separated from each other at an interval at which the holding of the fruit and vegetable A is released, and the fruit and vegetable A is stacked on the carrier 5.

On the other hand, the device main body 44 comprises the devices 22, 23,
By comparing the image information captured at 24, the light reception information received by the device 25, and the previously stored equivalent class information and sugar acidity information, the equivalent class and the sugar acidity are determined. In addition, when the information writing device 38 faces the storage medium of the carrier 5, the determination information stored in the apparatus main body 44 is written in association with the unique or arbitrary information of the carrier 5.

Next, when the transport body 5 is transported to the sorting section c, based on the information read by the information reader 40,
The sorting device 42 is driven to sort and supply the transport body 5 to the distribution conveyor 4c corresponding to the determination. If different from the determination, the sorting device 42 is not driven, and is conveyed to the next sorting unit c.

Next, on the basis of the information read by the information reading device 41, the sorting device 43 is driven to sort and supply the carrier 5 to the graded sorting section of the sorting conveyor 4d. Further, the carrier 5 may be sorted according to the sugar acidity.

Next, the box packing machine 6 is driven to pack the fruits and vegetables A arranged according to the same rank. The packed box is conveyed to the next step via a sealing step. On the other hand, the empty conveyor 5 is supplied to the supply conveyor 4a via the return conveyor 4e.
To return. Hereinafter, in the same manner as described above, the measurement operation and the sorting operation of the fruit and vegetable A are continuously performed.

As described above, the pair of left and right holders 27 is
Since the rotation about the rotation center B of the holder 27 is performed at an arbitrary angle, the rotation center B of the holder 27 is not displaced even if the size of the fruit and vegetable A changes, and the fruits and vegetables having various sizes are not displaced. A can be rotated to a predetermined orientation and height.
In addition, the conditions at the time of measurement can be kept constant, and fruit vegetables A
The operation of measuring the predetermined item can be performed fairly and accurately.

Further, since the fruits and vegetables A loaded on the carrier 5 are held and rotated while moving the holders 27, 27 in the transport direction, the measuring operation can be performed continuously, and the efficiency of the operation is improved. Can be planned. In addition, since the transport body 5 and the holder 27 move in the transport direction substantially in synchronization with each other, the fruit and vegetables A held by the holders 27, 27 are rotated above the transport body 5, and the same transport body 5 and the same stack are loaded. Position.

Further, the pressing member 27a of the holding body 27 is
Since the fruits and vegetables A are deformed and held in a shape substantially corresponding to the outer surface, the fruits and vegetables A having various sizes and shapes can be reliably held. In addition, a pressing force necessary to hold a soft fruit vegetable A such as a tomato or the like is obtained, and the fruit vegetable A can be reliably prevented from being crushed or deformed.

In the correspondence between the structure of the present invention and the above-described embodiment, the article of the present invention corresponds to the fruit and vegetable product A of the embodiment, and similarly, the loading section is formed by the transfer member 5 or the transfer conveyor 4. The transport means corresponds to the transport surface, the transport means corresponds to the transport conveyor 4, and the measuring means are the equal-grade measuring devices 22, 23, 24.
And the sugar acidity measuring device 25, and the relative moving means
The cylindrical member 28, the movable base 30, the guide shaft 31, the wheel body 32, the support rails 33 and 34, the bearing member 51, and the support shaft 52 correspond to each other. When,
Although the ring body 57 and the guide members 58 and 59 correspond to each other, and the holding body moving means corresponds to the chain 29, the present invention
It is not limited only to the configuration of the above embodiment.

The above-described article measuring device 7 includes, for example, a bucket conveyor, a roller conveyor, and a keyboard-type conveyor (Patent No. 2
No. 824046) can also be used for the operation of measuring a predetermined item of the fruit and vegetable product A conveyed by, for example, Japanese Patent No.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an arrangement state of an article measuring device.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a front and back measurement state of fruit and vegetables;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a measurement state of fruit and vegetables in a first measurement area.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a rotating operation of fruit and vegetables in a second measurement area.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a holding state by a pair of left and right holding bodies.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a mounting state of the holding body.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing the rotation operation of the tubular member.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a rotating state of fruit and vegetables by the holder.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing a measuring method using a conventional measuring device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A: Fruit vegetables B: Center of rotation 4: Conveyor 4b: Conveyor 5: Conveyor 7: Article measuring device 22, 23, 24: Grade measuring device 25: Sugar acidity measuring device 26: Rotating device 27: Holder 27a ... Pressing member 28 ... Cylinder member 29 ... Chain 31 ... Guide shaft 32,57 ... Ring body 33,34 ... Support rail 35 ... Light shielding member 44 ... Device body 51 ... Bearing member 52 ... Support shaft 56 ... Support plate 58,59 … Guide members

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page F term (reference) 3F079 AC21 AC23 AD23 CA21 CA23 CA29 CA34 CA41 CB25 CB30 CB35 CC05 CC11 CC12 CC13 DA18 3F081 AA12 AA46 BA01 BB01 BB03 BD02 BD15 BD16 BD17 BE03 BF06 CA04 CA47 CA49 CC06 CC08 CC10 DA02

Claims (3)

[Claims] An apparatus for measuring a predetermined item of an article loaded on a loading section by a measuring means, wherein a pair of left and right holders are provided above the loading section so as to face a side surface of the article. Each holder is provided with relative movement means for relatively moving an interval at which the article is held and an interval at which the article is released from being held, and each of the holders is an article about the center of rotation of the holder. An article measuring apparatus provided with a holder rotating means that rotates in a direction in which the direction of the object is changed. 2. An article measuring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a holder moving means for moving said pair of left and right holders in a conveying direction substantially in synchronization with a conveying speed of said conveying means for conveying said loading section. 3. The article measuring device according to claim 1, wherein a flexible pressing member is attached to the holding body so as to face the side surface of the article.