JP2001261007A - Automatic boxing apparatus of fruits - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To dispense with a weighting meter from an automatic weighting and boxing apparatus, to facilitate the maintenance, to weight a box in a more correct manner, and to simplify the structure of a belt conveyor. SOLUTION: This automatic boxing apparatus 61 comprises 24 charging conveyors 72 which are arranged orthogonal to the carrying direction of a grader 24 and continuously provided on a discharge passage 80, a support device 74 having an air cylinder 73 which turnably connects base ends of the charging conveyors 72 to a tip of the discharge passage 80, a roller conveyor 75 to carry a box H to the downstream side, and a box-changing air cylinder 76 provided on each lower area of the charging conveyors 72, the box-changing air cylinder 76 is expanded/contracted in response to the box-changing signal based on the weight of individual oranges K form a control device 50, and when the oranges K or the predetermined weight, for example, 10 kg are boxed, an empty box H is detected by a sensor S, and when it is pushed, the roller conveyor 75 is driven, and the box is subsequently delivered in the predetermined direction by the roller conveyor 75.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic boxing device for fruits, vegetables and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art To explain an example in which a conventional automatic weighing and packing apparatus is incorporated in a tangerine sorting plant system, first, tangerines are received, producer data is registered, containers are separated by a depalletizer, Weigh each producer at container scale, auto damper, visual evaluation table, small ball removal machine to remove small balls that do not become products, dust removal polishing machine, water washing machine, primary drying,
After going through the waxing machine and secondary drying, it reaches the grade hand sorting table.
Conventionally, mandarin oranges are graded by hand on a grade manual sorting table, and the grades are sorted by a grade sorter such as a drum sorter, but recently, tangerines are photographed with a camera and image processing is performed. Content is sorted by sugar / acidity meter, grade (excellent / excellent / excellent) and grade (2S ~ 3L) are discriminated and sorted by both inspections. Then, the product is shipped via a product checker, vibrator, sealing machine, palletizer, and the like.

The above-mentioned automatic weighing boxing apparatus and related inventions include, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 6-69806 (a box packing apparatus in an automatic weighing boxing apparatus for fruits and the like) and Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 7-69806.
As described in Japanese Patent No. 25365 (method and apparatus for weighing and packing long fruits and vegetables such as carrots) and JP-B-61-49166 (supplying apparatus for automatic weighing and boxing apparatus for fruits and the like), various types are used. The invention relating to these automatic weighing and packing devices is based on the premise that the fruit grade and grade are selected on the upstream side but the weight of the fruit is not measured. It is indispensable that the weight is weighed on a box basis for each weight, thereby providing a suitable automatic weighing and boxing device. That is, in the above-described automatic weighing and boxing device of the prior art, the automatic weighing device is entirely equipped with a weighing machine. The weight of each box including is always quantified (for example, 10 kg) with a weighing machine. When a predetermined amount of tangerine is packed in the empty box, it is extruded with an air cylinder and replaced with a new empty box. In the sorting table, sorting by hand, sorting with a drum type sorting machine, or measuring the size, appearance, scratches, color, etc. of tangerine with a camera with an optical sorting device, sorting is done, The weight of the fruits is not weighed individually by the sorter.

[0004]

However, the adjustment of the weighing machine of this automatic weighing and packaging device becomes very complicated when the number of devices is increased. Further, as a conventional disadvantage, the boxes are not switched immediately after reaching a predetermined weight (for example, 10 kg). There is a function called pre-weighing, which has the function of putting in one by one if a fixed amount of 500-600 grams is packed in advance. Even with its function, if the throughput is high, some extra tangerine may get into the box, resulting in inaccurate weighing. Conventionally, there are two belt conveyors in a normal type, and a large number (for example, five) of belt conveyors in a tilting and boxing type in which boxes are packed while being inclined, which is large and complicated. Because, just before the quantification,
For example, if it becomes about 9.5Kg for 10Kg,
Where the flow has been transferred to another box and the boxes have been packed so far, they must be supplied one by one, and an extra belt conveyor is required.

In view of the above points, the present invention eliminates the need for a weighing machine from an automatic weighing and boxing device, facilitates maintenance, makes weighing of boxes more accurate, and simplifies the structure of a belt conveyor. That is the task.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the weight of individual fruits and the like is measured in advance on the upstream side instead of packing the fruits and the like in a box while weighing them as in the prior art. The present inventors have found the technical principle of utilizing the weight data, and have made the present invention, thereby successfully removing the weighing machine from the conventional automatic weighing and packing device. That is, the invention according to claim 1 is provided in a sorting machine, and individually weighs the weights of the sorting objects, detects a weight signal indicating the individual weight, and detects the weight signal. The weighted signals are added, and when the added value falls within the range of the target weight, a control unit that generates a box replacement signal for each rank of the sorting target objects, and at least two control signals for each of the ranks Provided above, a feeding conveyor for feeding the sorting object into an empty box, a box changing actuator that inputs the box changing signal from the control unit and performs a box changing operation in response to the box changing signal, An automatic boxing device for fruits and the like, which is provided. In this way, by performing box packing with reference to a box replacement signal from the control device,
Eliminates the necessity of the weighing machine part, enabling accurate weighing, eliminating the complexity of adjusting the weighing machine, eliminating the need for the conventional one-out function, and simplifying the supply mechanism such as a belt conveyor. Can be.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the control section includes an adding section for adding the weight signal detected by the weight detecting section for each rank, and a weight addition value added by the adding section. Determining means for determining whether or not the value falls within the range of the target weight value of the box, signal generating means for generating a box replacement signal with reference to the determination by the determining means, and the sorting object is from the sorting machine. The automatic boxing device for fruits and the like according to claim 1, further comprising output time determining means for determining an output time of the box change signal with reference to a moving time to reach the input position. is there. This makes it possible to achieve the same object as that of the first aspect, and to further accurately output the box change signal.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the charging conveyor is rotatably connected to an end of a conveyor provided in the sorting machine for transferring the discharged sorting objects to the charging conveyor by a support device. And an actuator is connected so as to adjust the degree of rotation of the charging conveyor, and a gap between a charging end of the charging conveyor and the empty box is adjustable.
An automatic boxing device for the described fruits and the like. In addition to achieving the same object as the first aspect, the height adjustment of the charging conveyor is simplified, and the sorting object is not damaged.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the sorting object discharged from the sorting machine is disposed downstream of a sorting machine for determining the rank of the sorting object and sorting the sorting object into the rank. 4. The automatic box packing apparatus for fruits and the like according to claim 1, wherein the boxes are automatically packed in each rank. In addition to achieving the same object as that of the first aspect, it is possible to perform rank selection in consideration of the weight.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An automatic box packing device 61 according to a preferred embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, the automatic packaging device 61 executes automatic packaging of tangerine K (see FIG. 6) as a sorting object. The automatic box packing device 61 is applied to the tangerine fruit sorting equipment 1. The tangerine sorting facility 1 includes a receiving facility 10, a sorting facility 20, a box making facility 40, a control device 50, and a box packing facility 60.
And so on. Here, the target variety is Unshu mandarin orange,
Citrus such as iyokan. The details will be described below.

(Configuration of Receiving Facility 10)
Tangerine K is supplied from the container C to the sorting equipment 20, and the empty container C is collected. That is, the load receiving facility 10 includes a roller conveyor 11 for transporting the load receiving container C, an inclined conveyor 12 connected to the roller conveyor 11, and a roller conveyor 1 connected to the inclined conveyor 12.
3, an automatic damper 14 connected to the roller conveyor 13 and automatically discharging tangerine K by two containers, a roller conveyor 15 connected to the automatic damper 14, a curve conveyor 16 connected to the roller conveyor 15, and a curve conveyor. The wheeler conveyor 17 includes a wheeler conveyor 17 and a free roller 18 connected to the wheeler conveyor 17.

(Configuration of Sorting Facility 20)
A long sorter 24 provided with a predetermined number (three in this case) of lanes 21 to 23, a grade hand sorter 25 for removing extraordinary products in an upstream region of the sorter 24, a belt conveyor 26 for transporting D-class products , A receiving box 27 for receiving D-class products, a dust removing and polishing machine 28 for removing and polishing tangerine K, and a tangerine K for each lane 21
Aligner 28a, sorting machine 2
4 is provided with an image processing device 29 provided with a color camera unit provided at a predetermined position in the upper part of the apparatus 4, and a sugar / acid meter 30.

The sorting machine 24 includes three endless transport members (carriers) 31 to 33 traveling in each of the lanes 21 to 23, and the tangerine K is used by the image processing device 29 to determine the rank (here, grade and rank). Load cell 3 installed in each lane for individually weighing tangerine K after photographing
4. Tangerine K is lined up and randomly distributed for each lane 21 to 23, and is lined up and conveyed one by one for each lane. Although the number of lanes is three, the number can be set as appropriate. As shown in FIG. 4, the endless transport members 31 to 33 have a large number of connecting members 35d having a large number of wheels 35b and a guide wheel 35c.
5b, a plurality of support hands 35 are provided, whereby the tangerine K is transported one by one, and the tangerine K is set to be transported at a speed of 7 per second in each lane. The support hand 35 has a rotatable structure as shown by an arrow in the figure, and is capable of supporting and discharging the tangerine K. The wheels 35b run on rails provided in each of the lanes 21 to 23. The tangerine K is rotated once by the image processing device 29, and information on the entire periphery is captured.
The sorter 24 has three lanes as described above, and
6 is provided. In the drainage area 36, each lane 21-23
26, that is, a total of 78 (26 × 3) fruit outlets 37 are provided. Of the 78 fruit outlets 37, 72
The pieces (24 × 3) are 6 fruit discharge ports provided for each of the 12 kinds of ranks, and 3 of the remaining on the downstream side are small quantity specialty products (here The remaining three are forcible outlets 36b for discharging mandarin oranges K which are not classified (extraordinary products). One image processing device 29 is provided in one lane.
In addition to capturing 10 images for each mandarin orange K, each color, scratch, shape (diameter and the like) is measured by an image processing technique, and measurement data is generated. The control device 50 sets a rank (in this case, a combination of a grade and a rank) in advance by adding the weight data of each tangerine K measured by the load cell 34 and the measurement data of the sugar / acidity meter 30 to the measured data. It is determined based on the reference. The control device 50 is a sugar / acidity meter 30
Also, the measurement time data in the load cell 34 is processed. Further, the image processing device 29 transmits various data such as data indicating which lane 21 to 23 the tangerine K having undergone the image processing has passed and passing time data to the control device 50 described later.
The control device 50 determines the discharge position of the tangerine K with reference to the data, and discharges the tangerine K to the corresponding fruit outlet 37.

Accurate weighing can be realized by adopting the load cell 34 and feeding each one just before the fixed amount. Load cell 3
Since the individual weight of tangerine K is also measured in step 4, various sorting programs can be set. Each lane 21-23
Is equipped with a high-performance sugar / acidity meter 30. The sugar content and the acidity are quickly measured by nondestructive inspection, and the grade is determined based on both the measured data and the image data. With the sugar / acidity meter 30, accurate data can be fed back to the producer, and the reliability is remarkably improved as compared with the conventional sample sampling and destruction measurement.

The control device 50 receives various data from the image processing device 29, the sugar / acidity meter 30, and the load cell 34, and the mandarin orange K put on the support hand 35 has the above-mentioned color, scratch, sugar / acidity, and shape. 12 based on comprehensive judgment of weight, etc.
It is sorted by being discharged to each of the discharge destinations set in 24 ranks (two for each rank). Here, the grades are excellent, excellent, and good, and the ranks are S, M, L, and 2
L, for a total of 12 ranks (eg, excellent S, excellent S, etc.). That is, the tangerine K is automatically drained by rotating the support hand 35 by the drainage device 38 at the drainage opening 37 corresponding to each rank. Tangerine K discharged from the aforementioned fruit discharge port 37
Is sent out to 26 discharge passages 80 (see FIGS. 2 and 5). Each discharge passage 80 has three fruit outlets 37.
, And are arranged orthogonal to the transport direction of the endless transport members 31 to 33. One of the major features of this fruit sorting system is that tangerine K does not roll in every process,
In addition, by preventing damage and deterioration due to dropping, tangerine K is hardly damaged, and there is a great difference in shelf life after shipment. Further, the shock absorbing brushes 39a to 39c are provided at a plurality of positions for each lane, and are arranged so as to wrap the tangerine K or protect them from a shock, and the shock absorbing brush 39d is formed by dropping at the time of fruit discharge. This is to reduce the impact.

(Box Making Equipment 40) As shown in FIG. 1, the box making equipment 40 is provided with a hot melt type semi-automatic box making machine 41, a roller conveyor 42 and a roller conveyor 43, and the production and supply of the box H is also automated. A sensor (not shown) detects the presence or absence of an empty box, and is automatically supplied to a box packing facility 60 described later.

(Configuration of Control Device 50) Next, an electronic control device 50 for controlling sorting, automatic packaging, and the like will be described with reference to FIG. The control device 50 includes a CPU 51,
RAM 52, ROM 53, counter 54, timer 55,
A voice control unit 56 and an input / output interface 57 are connected to a bus 57
a connected to each other. The input / output interface 57 includes an image processing device 29, a sugar / acidity meter 30, a load cell 34, a display device 58, a speaker 59, an auto damper 14, a sorter 24, an input device 59a, a box replacement air cylinder 76, an air cylinder 73, A fruit discharging device 38, a motor M, an air cylinder 73 and the like are connected as necessary, and various input signals and output signals are input and output.
The load cell 34 measures the weight of each tangerine K, detects a weight detection signal, and inputs the signal to the control device 50. The CPU 51 performs an initial setting or a predetermined operation in response to an input signal, and supplies a command signal to each of the above-described units. The RAM 52 stores the weight data M _{1 to} M ₃ weighed by the three load cells 34, the weight data M _{1 to} M ₃ , and the weights corresponding to the twelve ranks, which data are transmitted from the image processing device 29 and are the above-described class data, time data, lane data, and three load cells 34. Various data such as addition data N _{1 to} N ₁₂ are temporarily read and written. The ROM 53 stores read-only programs such as sorting and packing. The control device 50 generates a command to be output to each unit, and outputs the command to send the tangerine K to the fruit outlet 37 in accordance with the rank.
Control signal to be discharged, and a packaging switching signal is generated based on the detection of the load cell 34, and the packaging switching signal is transmitted to the automatic packaging device 6
For example, the control for determining the timing of transmission to the control unit 1 is performed.

The display device 58 comprises a liquid crystal display panel or the like, and is disposed adjacent to the control device 50. The display device 58 displays various messages, symbols, and the like regarding rank selection, packing, and the like. Instead of the liquid crystal display panel, another type of display device such as an LED and a CRT may be used. The speaker 59 outputs various messages regarding rank selection, packing, and the like by voice.

The counter 54 functions as a selection number counting counter. After the power is turned on, the initial value of the selection number count value G of the counter 54 is set to “0”, and a signal from the image processing device 29 is referred to. Each time one tangerine K is image-processed, the tangerine K is incremented in ascending order and repeatedly, and the selected number count value G is displayed on the display device 58 or can be output from the speaker 59 as sound. Further, the target weight (for example, 10 kg in this case) can be set by the input device 59a.

The timer 55 controls the time, and performs arithmetic processing relating to time, such as the elapsed time from a predetermined time or the current time. Voice control unit 5
Reference numeral 6 denotes a sound source IC, an amplifier, and the like.
And the like.

The CPU 51 performs processing such as adding the measured weight data, generating a box change signal when the weight is within the target weight range, and outputting the box change signal to the automatic box packing device 61. This will be described later in detail together with a flowchart.

(Explanation of the Box Sealing Facility 60) Next, the box sealing facility 60 will be described. A plurality of boxing and sealing facilities 60 (here 24 are provided corresponding to the above-mentioned outlet 37)
Tangerine K belonging to the same rank
In a box H, which is characterized in that a weighing machine is eliminated. The load cell 34 provided in the sorter 24 weighs in advance the individual weight of the flowing mandarin orange K, that is, individually weighs it before the box H is filled with fruits and the like, and enters the range of the value of the predetermined weight. Then, a box switching signal is transmitted to the automatic box packing device 61, and the box switching air cylinder 76 is driven to switch the box H according to the box switching signal.

The box packing and sealing equipment 60 is provided with a box H in which tangerine K has been completely packed, which is discharged from the automatic box packing device 61.
Conveyors 62 to 66 for discharging the water to the downstream side, a vibrator 67 connected to the roller conveyor 66, a hot melt type automatic sealing machine 68 connected to the vibrator 67, and an automatic sealing machine 68. Roller conveyor 6 installed continuously
9 and a free roller 70, a compressor 71 as an air supply source, and the like.

(Explanation of Automatic Box Packing Device 61) The automatic box packing device 61 may be either a flat type or a tilt type, but here, a flat type structure is adopted. In any case, the weighing machine provided in the conventional apparatus can be eliminated. The automatic box packing device 61, which is a feature of the present embodiment, will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8. The 24 belts are arranged orthogonal to the conveying direction of the sorting machine 24 and connected to the discharge passage 80. A support device 74 including an input conveyor 72 composed of a conveyor, an air cylinder 73 that rotatably connects the base end of the input conveyor 72 to the distal end of the discharge passage 80, and a roller that transports the box H to the downstream side. It is composed of a box replacement air cylinder 76 (see FIG. 6) provided in a lower area of the conveyor 75 and the loading conveyor 72, respectively. The roller conveyor 43 is arranged in a region below the input conveyor 72 at right angles thereto. As shown by arrows A and B in FIG. 5, the sorter 24 is set so that tangerines K are alternately fed to the two input conveyors 72 for the same rank of excellent S here. For example, one A
Assuming that the weight of the tangerine K packed in the box HA on the side becomes 10 kg, the sorter 24 is set so that the last tangerine K drops here, and the next tangerine K drops into the box HB on the B side. . This is to secure time for changing boxes.
In short, two predetermined items are provided, and the tangerine K is packed in the box H by switching repeatedly and alternately. Such a configuration is not limited to two lines, and three or more lines may be provided. Details of the switching signal for instructing switching will be described later.

The lower part of each feeding conveyor 72 and the base of the roller conveyor 75 are connected by two air cylinders 73 so that they expand and contract. The support device 74 connects the rear end of each of the input conveyors 72 and the front end of the discharge passage 80, and the support device 74 can swing about the fulcrum. Thereby, the adjustment according to the height of the box H can be performed by simply raising and lowering the charging conveyor 72 by hand. That is, if the box capacity of the box H is different, the height of the box H naturally changes. For example, FIG. 6 corresponds to a box capacity of 10 kg, FIG. 7 corresponds to 7.5 kg, and FIG. 8 corresponds to 5 kg. Correspondingly, the size of the box H is known in advance, but in accordance with the quantification of the box H, by changing the inclination angle of the charging conveyor 72, it is adapted to the height of the box H, and the damage of the tangerine K is reduced. Reduce it. Although the above-described height adjustment is manually set, it can be set to be driven by a push button or the like. Further, a sensor for detecting the height of the box may be provided, and the inclination of the charging conveyor 72 may be automatically adjusted according to the detection signal of the sensor.

The box change air cylinder 76 expands and contracts in response to a box change signal. That is, assuming that tangerine K of a predetermined weight, for example, 10 kg, has been entered, an empty box H is detected by the sensor S and pressed. Then, since the roller conveyor 75 is being driven, the roller conveyor 75 is pushed out in a predetermined direction after being pressed. At this time, there is a stamping machine (not shown). Sealing is pressing a stamp showing the rank.

Next, the program and operation of the automatic box packing device 61 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. First, the control device 50 is connected to a power source,
When power is supplied to each circuit from a power supply unit (not shown), C
The PU 51 performs a series of initial settings such as resetting a counter and a flag. Here, the various count values and the initial values of the flags are all “0”. In the following flowcharts and descriptions thereof, “step” is simply abbreviated as “S”.

The automatic packaging control program and the like characteristic of the present embodiment are stored in the ROM 53 and are read out and executed in accordance with a command from the CPU 51.
The CPU 51 activates the main process shown in FIG. 10 every time a reset is started by a hardware interrupt during the operation of the automatic packaging device 61. First, when the process is started, a motor driving process of the sorter 24, the roller conveyor and the like is performed (S1), and a fruit sorting process is performed (S1).
2) Automatic packaging processing is performed (S3), other processing (subroutine is not shown) is performed (S4), and a standby (subroutine is not shown) is performed until the main routine is started next time (S5). The main feature of this routine lies in the fruit sorting process (S2) and the automatic box packing process (S3). In the present embodiment, the motor driving process (S
1), Others (S4) and Standby (S5) are performed in the same manner as a general technique, and the description will be appropriately omitted.

The fruit selection process (S2) will be described with reference to FIG. It is determined whether or not data has been input from the image processing device 29, the sugar / acidity meter 30, and the load cell 34 (S
20), if YES, fruit sorting determination processing of tangerine K is performed according to the set criteria (S21), and a fruit outlet 37 from which tangerine K is discharged is determined (S21), and the fruit outlet 37 is sorted and discharged by the corresponding fruit outlet 37. A command is transmitted to the fruit discharging device 38 (S22), and the process returns. If NO in S20, the process returns to the return.

The automatic packaging process (S3) of FIG. 12 will be described. It is determined whether or not a signal has been input from the load cell 34 (S30). If YES, the weight data M _{1 to} M ₃ weighed by the _three load cells 34, the passing times T _{1 to} T ₃ of the load cell 34 of tangerine K, and tangerine K is stored like lane position data R ₁ to R ₃ which has been conveyed to the RAM 52 (S31), the weight data M ₁ ~M ₃ oranges K added by distributing each rank of 12 types, 12 kinds of performs a process of calculating the weight added data N ₁ to N _{1 2} corresponding to the rank (S32). Next, a feeling process is performed (S33). That is, the weight data M _{1 to} M ₃ are added, and at the final stage, 10
Select the tangerine K with the weight closest to the Kg setting. Excessively heavy tangerine K passes through the fruit discharge area 36 as it is, and instead drains light tangerine K. And
If the added weight falls within the target weight range, the lane 21
23, a box change signal to be instructed to the box change air cylinder 76 of the automatic box packing device 61 is generated (S34). Next, the box change time is determined in consideration of the time required from the measurement in the load cell 34 to the tangerine K inlet of the automatic box packing device 61 (depending on the position of each fruit outlet 37) (S35). This required time can be calculated based on the transport speed and distance of the endless transport members 31 to 33. In addition, since the configuration is such that the tangerine K is instructed to be alternately discharged to the two fruit outlets 37 belonging to one rank, it is determined whether or not to switch the route (S36). If YES, a path switching signal is generated and the automatic packing device 61
Is changed (S37). This is to secure time for changing the boxes by the automatic box packing device 61. Next, it is determined whether it is time to switch the box H (S3).
8). If YES, a switching signal is output to the box change air cylinder 76 to drive the box change and execute the box change (S39). It is determined whether or not the box change has been completed (S40). If YES, the weight addition value belonging to the rank is cleared (S41), and the process returns to the return. NO in S30, S36, S38
If so, exit. If NO in S40, S40
Is repeated.

Next, the entire operation of the tangerine fruit sorting equipment 1 will be described in chronological order. At the time of receiving the tangerine K, producer data such as date and time, producer name, variety, and number of containers are registered in the server, a slip is issued, and producer management is performed. Container C is transported to the second floor by a container elevator and weighed on a container scale. The sent tangerine K is automatically sent to the sorter 24 by the automatic damper 14 every two containers, and the graded manual sorter 25 removes only the extraordinary items. The tangerines K distributed to the lanes 21 to 23 by the aligner 28a are conveyed one by one by the support hand 35 and sent to the sorter 24 having the image processing device 29. In the color camera section of the image processing device 29, the tangerine K is fully rotated, information on the entire circumference of the tangerine K (10 images) is captured, and information such as color, shape, scratch, and diameter is acquired. Are weighed individually. These data are processed by the image processing device 29.
The sugar / acid content is measured by the sugar / acid content meter 30, and the measurement data is transmitted to the control device 50. The control device 50 determines the rank of tangerine K based on the transmitted data.
Rank is grade (excellent, excellent, good), rank (S, M, L, 2
There are 12 types depending on the combination of L). The tangerine K whose rank has been determined is automatically discharged to the fruit discharge port 37 corresponding to each rank, and discharged to the automatic boxing device 61. Tangerine K, a specialty product, is led to the fruit outlet 36a, and tangerine K outside the sorting criteria is led to the forced outlet 36b. Since the sorter 24 also measures individual weights, the control device 50 can add the weights of tangerine K belonging to the same rank, and can set an optimal program for packing. Thereby, the weighing machine can be deleted from the automatic box packing device 61. Tangerine K is conveyed to the input conveyor 72 via the discharge passage 80,
It is put into the box H. The inclination angle of the charging conveyor 72 is manually set in advance by the action of the air cylinder 73.
When the box capacity is 10 kg (Fig. 6), it is almost horizontal, 7.5K
In the case of g (FIG. 7), the inclination angle is large. When the added value of the weight of tangerine K belonging to the same rank falls within the target range, FIG.
As shown by arrows A and B, the routes (the positions of the fruit outlet 37 and the charging conveyor 72) are alternately changed to secure time for packing. When the packing is completed, the box H is pushed out by the box replacement air cylinder 76, conveyed by the roller conveyor 75, and then conveyed by the roller conveyor 62.

(Effects of the Embodiment) According to this embodiment having the above-described configuration, the measurement for boxing tangerine K becomes accurate. In addition, since the weighing machine is eliminated from the automatic box packing device 61, the complexity of adjusting the weighing machine is eliminated, the height of the charging conveyor 72 can be easily adjusted, and the tangerine K is not damaged. Since there is only one charging conveyor 72, the structure can be extremely simplified.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that many changes and the like can be made. (1) In the present embodiment, the automatic packaging control is executed by the CPU 51 by program control. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a part or all of the control is performed by a CMOS or TTL LSI logic (so-called hardware).
May be formed. (2) In the present embodiment, tangerine K is taken as an example, but it can be applied to various sorts of objects such as fruits, vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, peppers, persimmons, etc. It is not limited to the form, and appropriate design change is required depending on the type.

[0034]

According to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the weighing machine is eliminated from the automatic weighing boxing device, maintenance is facilitated, the weighing of the boxes is made more accurate, and the structure of the belt conveyor is simplified. Therefore, the industrial utility value of the present invention is extremely large.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a tangerine sorting facility to which an automatic box packing device of the present embodiment is applied.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the tangerine fruit sorting equipment.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the tangerine fruit sorting equipment.

4A is a perspective view of a support hand, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view of a sorting machine.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged plan view of the sorting machine and the automatic box packing device.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the same (in the case of a box capacity of 10 kg).

FIG. 7 is a side view of the same (in the case of a box capacity of 7.5 kg).

FIG. 8 is a side view of the same (in the case of a box capacity of 5.0 kg).

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a control device of the tangerine fruit sorting facility.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of “main processing” executed in the control device.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of “result selection processing” executed in the control device.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a “packing process” executed by the control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Tangerine sorting equipment 10 ... Receiving equipment 20 ... Sorting equipment 40 ... Box-making equipment 50 ... Control device 60 ... Box packing and sealing equipment C ... Container 21-23 ... Lane 24 ... Sorting machine 25 ... Grade hand sorting machine 26 ... Belt conveyor 27 ... Receiving box 28 ... Dust removal grinder 29 ... Image processing apparatus 30 ... Sugar / acidity meter 31-33 ... Endless transport member 34 ... Load cell 35 ... Support hand 36 ... Fruit area 37,36a ... Fruit port 36b ... Compulsory discharge port 38 ... Fruit discharging device 39a-39d ... Shock absorbing brush 51 ... CPU 52 ... RAM 53 ... ROM 54 ... Counter 55 ... Timer 56 ... Voice control unit 57 ... Input / output interface 57a ... Bus 61 ... Automatic box packing device 62 ~ 66 ... roller conveyor 67 ... vibrator 68 ... automatic sealing machine 69 ... roller conveyor 70 ... free roller 71 ... compressor 8 ... discharge passage 72 ... feed conveyor 73 ... air cylinder 74 ... supporting device 75 ... roller conveyor 76 ... Hakokawa air cylinders S ... sensor K ... mandarin

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on front page F term (reference) 3E003 AA01 AB02 BA02 BA03 BB02 BC01 BD02 CA02 CA10 CB02 CB05 CB06 DA02 DA03 DA07 3E028 AA02 BA01 BA02 CA02 GA02 GA06 HA02 3E054 AA10 CA08 EA01 FA04 FB03 FE03 GA01 GB04 GC02 HA02

Claims (4)

[Claims] A weight detecting unit provided in the sorting machine for individually weighing the weights of the objects to be sorted, and detecting a weight signal indicating the individual weight; and detecting the weight signal detected by the weight detecting unit. When the added value falls within the range of the target weight, a control unit that generates a box replacement signal for each rank of the sorting target object, and at least two or more provided for each of the ranks, A feeding conveyor for feeding the sorting target object, and a box replacement actuator that inputs the box replacement signal from the control unit and performs a box replacement operation in response to the box replacement signal. Automatic boxing equipment for fruits. 2. The control section comprises: an adding section for adding the weight signals detected by the weight detecting section for each of the ranks; and a weight added value added by the adding section is a target weight of the boxed package. Determining means for determining whether or not the value falls within a value range; signal generating means for generating a box change signal with reference to the determination by the determining means; and The automatic boxing device for fruits and the like according to claim 1, further comprising: output time determining means for determining an output time of the box change signal with reference to a moving time. 3. The loading conveyor, wherein the loading conveyor is rotatably connected to an end of a transport conveyor for transporting the discharged sorting objects to the loading conveyor by a support device, and the actuator is provided with an actuator. 2. The automatic feeding of fruits and the like according to claim 1, wherein the feeding conveyor is connected so as to adjust the degree of rotation, and a gap between the input end of the feeding conveyor and the empty box is adjustable. Boxing equipment. 4. A sorting machine for judging the rank of said sorting object and sorting said sorting object into said rank, and automatically placing said sorting object discharged from said sorting machine in a box according to said rank. The automatic boxing apparatus for fruits and the like according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the box is packed in a box.