JP2004098036A

JP2004098036A - Fruit and vegetable sorter

Info

Publication number: JP2004098036A
Application number: JP2002267651A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Mobumoto Sugiyama; 杉山　展元; Takaaki Fujimori; 藤森　崇明
Original assignee: NS ENGINEERING KK; NS Engineering Inc
Current assignee: NS ENGINEERING KK; NS Engineering Inc
Priority date: 2002-09-13
Filing date: 2002-09-13
Publication date: 2004-04-02

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fruit and vegetable sorter which can drastically reduce a manufacturing cost of a fruit sorting conveyor line for fruit and vegetables and can achieve the space saving in apparatus installation. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of conveyance trays 14 are horizontally moved to a circumferential state by an endless horizontal circumferential driving means (12) such that various processes are made to be carried out during the movement thereof. The conveyance trays move horizontally and circumferentially and do not therefore include moving processes for useless chains of downward moving sections etc., and the conveyance trays corresponding to the downward moving sections. Conveyance trays tilting means are provided with rotational driving means 76 including rotational startup pieces 84 for selectively holding the conveyance trays to a state of succeeding and holding the inclined holding-down state of the conveyance trays 14 by being directly engaged with the conveyance trays 14 by rotational moving operation and a state of tilting the conveyance trays 14 bv being disengaged from the conveyance trays 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、野菜、果物その他の青果物の選別装置及びその方法に関し、特に、選別対象の青果物を１個づつ搬送トレイ上に載せて搬送しつつそれらの選別、仕分けを行なうバケットコンベアタイプの選別装置及びその方法に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
野菜、果物等の青果物をバケットコンベアにより直列状に複数個配置したトレイ上に載せて搬送しながらそれらの色艶、疵、形状、大きさ、等の等級或いは階級等の測定項目を測定判別し、判別結果に応じてコンベアの後段側に設置したそれぞれの等階級別に割り当てられた排出装置を有する仕分け工程において、等階級付けされた各青果物が搬送される間に、対応する排出装置が起動されて箱詰め工程等の次工程へ排出される青果物の選別装置が公知である。
【０００３】
従来、このような青果物の選別装置として、例えば特公平２−３４６７４号の選別装置が提案されている。この選別装置では、被選別物を搬送する選別コンベアと、バケットコンベアの荷重を秤量する電子秤と、信号指示によりバケットの上部を傾ける排出装置と、を有し、特に、空バケットの風袋重量値を常時記憶更新して正確な選別対象物の正味重量値を得るものである。また、特開平５−２００３６６号においては青果物の重量だけでなく、形状、表面傷の有無、糖度、酸度、熟度を測定して仕分け処理させる選別装置が示されている。
【０００４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
上記の特公平２−３４６７４号や特開平５−２００３６６号に示す選別装置では、例えば特公平２−３４６７４号公報の第１図、第２図に示すように、直線の１ライン状に選別コンベアを配置し、この選別コンベア上に果実そ菜等の被選別物６を一個ずつのせるためのバケット３を等間隔で多数取り付けている。そして、コンベアの上流側に青果物の供給部９を設け、コンベア搬送途中で被選別物の重量を測定しながら、測定結果に応じた仕分け排出口から被選別物を排出するようにしている。この従来の選別コンベアを用いた選別装置では、第２図のように、両端のプーリにコンベア上動部と下動部を形成するようにコンベアチェーンを掛け回して横方向を周回軸として周回移動するので、図１１に示すように、下動部のバケットは実際の選果作業において機能しない部分となり、よって、単位時間当りの装置の稼働率を半減させるものとなっていた。また、下動部に対応するコンベアチェーン部分が必要であり、装置コストを大幅に高いものとしていた。また、青果物の重量、形状、表面傷の有無、糖度．．．等の測定事項を多く設定する現状では、青果物の投入工程と仕分け排出工程の中間にそれらの測定装置を配置させる必要があるから、コンベアラインの長さを長く取らねばならず、長大な装置の設置スペースを必要としていた。さらに、図１２に示すように、これらの選別装置を複数ラインとして並列に配置させる際には、コンベア駆動用のモータがそれぞれについて必要であり、装置コストの低減を阻むものであった。一方、仕分け排出工程において、特定のバケットを指示された排出部で傾動させて排出する際に、特開平５−２００３６６号の図４に示すようにコンベアチェーンに連結したブラケットを介してトレーを上面側に固定させた揺動体を揺動自在に支持させ、指示信号により所要の排出位置でそのトレーを傾動させるものが知られている。しかしながら、この選別装置では揺動体はその幅方向中心位置でブラケットに揺動自在に支持されて、常時トレー上に被選別物を安定状態で載置するために、図示はされていないが、安定走行状態と、傾動状態を切り替え得るための駆動装置を組み込まねばならず、この装置が部品点数が多く、また、機能のわりには複雑でこれが排出工程の各排出コンベア部分のすべてに設置されるから装置全体の高コスト化を招くとともに、保守点検が極めて煩雑でメンテナンスコストも高いものとなる問題があった。
【０００５】
本発明は、上記従来の課題に鑑みてなされたものであり、その一つの目的は、青果物の選果コンベアラインの製造コストを大幅に低減し、かつラインの単位時間当りの稼働効率を大幅に向上させるとともに、装置設置時の省スペース化を達成し得る青果物の選別装置を提供することである。また、本発明の他の目的は、青果物の仕分け排出工程におけるトレイの傾動構成を簡単な構造としつつ、常時のトレイ上の被選別物の安定載置状態から仕分け排出工程でのトレイの傾動動作への引き継ぎを円滑に行なわせて装置コストの低減化を図ることのできる青果物の選別装置を提供することである。
【０００６】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記の課題を解決するために、本発明は、列状に配置された複数の搬送トレイ１４上に載せられて移動する青果物Ｗの評価事項を計測し、計測結果に基づいて所要の等階級に判別して選別仕分する青果物の選別装置において、複数の搬送トレイ１４は、無端水平周回駆動手段（１２）を介して水平方向に周回状に移動し、その移動中に諸工程を行なわせる青果物の選別装置１０から構成される。搬送トレイは水平、周回移動するから下動部等の無駄なチェーンや下動部に対応する搬送トレイの移動工程がなく、装置コストを低減させ、装置の稼働効率を向上させる。また、小さなスペースで長い搬送ラインを形成できる。
【０００７】
また、無端周回駆動手段（１２）に支持されて直列状に配置された搬送トレイ１４は、支持体４６に中間位置を枢支されて周回軌道のいずれかの側に傾動付勢されつつ傾動自在に支持されており、搬送トレイ１４の周回軌道の長手方向に沿って設けられ常時搬送トレイに係合しつつ該搬送トレイが傾動しないようにする傾動抑え手段（３６ｂ）と、選別仕分け工程に設けられ、傾動抑え手段（３６ｂ）による搬送トレイ１４の傾動抑え状態を引き継いで保持する状態と、指示信号に基づいて搬送トレイ１４の傾動抑え状態を解除して搬送トレイを傾動させ青果物Ｗを搬送トレイから排出させる状態と、を選択的に行なわせる搬送トレイ傾動手段と、を備え、搬送トレイ傾動手段は、回転動作により直接に搬送トレイ１４に係合して該搬送トレイの傾動抑え状態を引き継いで保持する状態と、搬送トレイとの係合を離脱して搬送トレイを傾動させる状態と、を選択的に保持させる回転起動片８４を含む回転駆動手段７６を備えた構成としても良い。回転駆動手段により直接に搬送されてくる搬送トレイの傾動を抑える状態と、抑え状態を解除する状態と、に向けて作動させるから投入部等での傾動抑え状態から選別仕分け部でのトレーの傾動抑え並びに排出回動での引き継ぎが極めて簡単な構成で円滑に行なえる。また、部品点数が少なくなって、メンテナンスが簡単で部品交換等も少なくなる。
【０００８】
また、その際、回転駆動手段７６は、回転起動片８４の回転中心に連結する回動軸（８２）を含む駆動装置８０を有すると良い。これによって、駆動装置の回転力で直接に回転起動片を回動させて、搬送トレイの傾動抑え、あるいは解除による傾動動作を実現する。回転起動片は抑えと解除のみの作用でよいから、その駆動装置の回転トルクは小さくてもよく、例えばロータリーソレノイド等の低コストで故障を生じにくい装置を適用することができる。
【０００９】
さらに、回転起動片８４は、搬送トレイ１４の端部に上面側から庇状に突出して搬送トレイの傾動抑え保持を行なうようにすると良い。回転起動片の具体的な形状、構成は限定的なものではない。搬送トレイの上面の水平保持と傾動を投入部等と選別仕分け部とで円滑に移行できるようにすれば良く、例えば搬送トレイの係合用ローラに係合する同一空間位置に設定される水平面を有するような構成であれば良い。
【００１０】
また、無端水平周回駆動手段（１２）は、搬送トレイ１４を支持する水平基体５０と、水平基体を挟持案内する挟持案内手段（４４）と、を含むとよい。これによって、搬送トレイの水平周回駆動を円滑に行なわせる。
【００１１】
さらに、搬送トレイ１４は、常時傾動方向に傾動付勢されるように幅方向の中心から変位した位置において支持体（４８）に傾動自在に支持された構成とするとよい。スプリングやゴム等の付勢用の弾性部材等を用いることなく、単なる枢支構成だけで搬送トレイの傾動側への傾動付勢を行なえるから、選別仕分け部における搬送トレイの水平保持、傾動側への作動構成を簡単にし得る。
【００１２】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、添付図面に基づいて本発明に係る青果物の選別装置の実施の形態について説明する。本発明は、トマト、茄子、ピーマン、梨、メロン等の野菜や果物を含む青果物をコンベアラインで搬送しながらそれらの等階級を測定し、その結果に応じて後段側で格付けされた等階級ごとに設定された排出部に仕分け排出される青果物の選別装置であり、特に、本発明では、コンベアラインで搬送されるトレイを水平周回状に駆動させながら諸工程を行なわせる点、回転駆動手段により搬送中のトレイに直接に係合しながらトレイの傾動あるいは水平状態保持を行なう点、等が主な特徴点である。
【００１３】
図１は、本発明の実施形態の青果物の選別装置（以下「選別装置１０」という）の平面説明図であり、図において、選別装置１０は、水平方向に環状に周回駆動する無端水平周回駆動装置１２と、該無端水平周回駆動装置に列状に連続して取り付けられて水平方向に周回移動する搬送トレイ１４と、を備えている。図１に置いて、本実施形態の選別装置１０は、両端側に周回反転部１６Ａ、１６Ｂを形成し、一方向に長い直線部１８Ａ、１８Ｂを有してそれらが連続した１本のコンベアラインを形成するように環状に設置されている。実施形態において、例えば反時計方向回りに周回するコンベアラインの直線部１８Ａ、１８Ｂのそれぞれの略中央位置には被選別物である例えばトマト等のワークＷの重量、形状、大きさ、傷の有無などを測定する測定部２０が設置され、それぞれの測定部の上流側には被選別物の投入部２２、下流側には選別仕分け部２４が設置されている。
【００１４】
図２は、実施形態の無端水平周回駆動装置１２の部分を平面視した説明図であり、図において、無端水平周回駆動装置１２は、四角形隅部位置に設置され、図示しない機枠に縦方向を軸として回転自在に軸支された４個の回転軸２６と、それらの回転軸２６に固定されたスプロケット２８に調帯されて水平方向、長四角形状に周回するように環状に掛け回されたコンベアチェーン３０と、を備えている。隅部位置の１つのスプロケット２８は、駆動モータ３２に連動駆動される駆動スプロケット３４にチェーン連結されており、駆動モータ３２の回転駆動により駆動スプロケット３４を介してコンベアチェーン３０を水平方向に周回駆動させる。そして、このコンベアチェーン３０の上部において、実施形態では、直列状、等間隔にワークＷを１個ずつ載せるための搬送トレイ１４が図３に示すように連結されており、コンベアチェーン３０の周回駆動に伴って水平方向に周回状に移動する。
【００１５】
搬送トレイ１４は、図３、図４に示すように、コンベアラインの長手方向に沿って長く設けられた左右のカバー３６の内側において長手方向に案内されるように設けられている。そして、測定部２０において、ワークＷの重量、形状、大きさ、傷の有無などが測定され、選別仕分け部２４において、測定部２０での測定結果で等階級ごとに格付けされた特定のワークを載せた搬送トレイを傾動動作させて、それらの格付け区別された仕分け排出口から排出させるようにする。
【００１６】
より詳しくは、ワークの投入部での搬送コンベア部分を示す図４において、無端水平周回駆動装置１２を含む搬送コンベア３８は、作業者Ｍが立った状態でワークＷの投入作業を行ないやすいように人の腰程度の高さ位置で設定された支持台４０上に立設され、コンベアラインの長手方向と直交方向となる幅方向Ｈについて、左右に対向する位置に離隔してコンベアラインの長手方向に沿って長く設けられた左右のカバー３６を有し、それらの左右のカバー３６の内側に搬送トレイ１４が直列状、等間隔に連結して設置されている。傾動側のカバー３６ａは、作業者Ｍが青果物の投入作業を行なう際の保護カバーであり、機能的には、このカバー３６ａは取り外しても良い。図において、対向するカバー３６ａ、３６ｂの内側には取付部材４２を介して離隔対向位置に２個の挟持レール４４が搬送コンベアの長手方向に沿って周回状に設けられている。挟持レール４４は、搬送トレイ１４の水平方向の周回移動を案内する周回案内手段である。そして、この挟持レール４４間に挟まれて案内されるように移動支持体４６が設けられ、該移動支持体４６の上面側に支持片４８を介して搬送トレイ１４が傾動自在に設けられるとともに、下面側はコンベアチェーン３０に連結されている。移動支持体４６は、搬送トレイ１４を傾動自在としつつ支持するトレイの移動支持手段である。
【００１７】
移動支持体４６は、搬送トレイと同様の上下に離隔して配置された縦長六角形の上下基体５０と、それらの対向する４つの隅部位置において上下基体の間に挟まれるように配置され、それぞれ両側の挟持レール４４に２個一対で、２対、対向して４箇所に配置された接摺プーリ５２と、を有している。上下基体５０はそれぞれ軸ピン５４を介して同じ水平位置で離隔固定されるように上下連結固定されており、それらの軸ピン５４に接摺プーリ５２が遊転自在に軸支されている。そして、これらの接摺プーリ５２の溝に挟持レール４４が嵌るように係合しており、これによって、移動支持体４６を挟持レール４４により安定してかつ、上面を水平に保持させながら水平方向に周回移動する。
【００１８】
図４、６、７において、移動支持体４６は、無端水平周回駆動装置１２の周回軌道に沿って周回状に等間隔で連続して多数配置されている。移動支持体４６の下基体５０ａの幅方向の中央下面側にコンベアラインを形成するように周回配置されたコンベアチェーン３０にそれぞれの移動支持体４６が連結され、コンベアチェーンが駆動されることにより移動支持体４６は周回移動する。
【００１９】
図４において、移動支持体４６の上基体５０ａの上面であって、搬送トレイ１４の幅Ｈ−１の中心からいずれかの幅方向に変位した位置において、支持片４８が立設固定されている。そして、この支持片４８と搬送トレイ１４の下面から垂下された取付部とが横軸５６により横方向を軸として回動自在に接続されており、これによって、図５に示すように搬送トレイ１４は、常時傾動方向に傾動付勢された状態で傾動自在に支持されている。すなわち、搬送トレイ１４は、搬送トレイ１４の重心位置からトレイが傾いて上がる側にずれた位置で横軸５６により回動自在に支持されているので搬送トレイ１４は、自然に傾動側Ｌに傾動する作用を受ける。搬送トレイが傾動する側Ｌは、搬送コンベアの後段側の排出口が設けられる側であり、任意に設定されるが、実施形態では、環状の搬送コンベアの外側が傾動側Ｌとして設定されている。
【００２０】
図４において、搬送トレイ１４は、常時のワークの搬送時は支持片４８に対して上面をＴ字状に水平に保持するように配置されている。搬送トレイ１４は、図３、７に示すように、縦長六角形形状の扁平板体で中央部にワークを載せるための凹部が形成されている。図３〜図６において、この搬送トレイの一端側から突出する突出部材５８の端部にローラ６０が遊転自在に支持されている。ローラ６０は、搬送トレイ１４の非傾動側Ｋのカバー３６ｂの下面に遊転自在に係合するとともに、後述する回転駆動手段の回転軌道片の下面側にも遊転自在に係合する遊転体である。
【００２１】
図４において、搬送トレイ１４の非傾動側Ｋのカバー３６ｂは、その立ち上がり部に接続されて上端部が軌道の内側方向に庇状に突出する庇部６２が設けられている。この非傾動側Ｋのカバー３６ｂは、搬送コンベアラインの長手方向に沿って全周にわたり形成されている。そして、搬送トレイの端部のローラ６０がこの庇部６２の下面側に位置して配置されている。これによって、移動支持体４６に支持された搬送トレイ１４が周回移動する際にこの庇部６２の下面側で転動自在に係合し、搬送トレイを円滑に移動させる。非傾動側Ｋのカバー３６ｂは、搬送トレイの周回軌道の長手方向に沿って長く設けられ、常時搬送トレイ１４に係合しつつ該搬送トレイの周回移動中に傾動しないようにする傾動抑え手段である。したがって、単なる保護カバーとしてではなく、傾動押え機能を備えた構成であれば良く、その具体的形状、構造は任意に設定してよい。ワークの投入工程以降等の搬送トレイによる常時のワークの搬送時には、図４のように、傾動付勢された搬送トレイの非傾動側を傾動抑え手段で押えてかつ傾動させない状態での搬送トレイの周回移動を保持させる。
【００２２】
一方、図３、図６において、選別仕分け部２４の平面視構成が示されており、この選別仕分け部において、搬送中に青果物の評価事項が計測されて、その計測結果に基づいて所要の等階級に判別された各青果物としてのワークが設定された等階級別の排出口から仕分け排出される。選別仕分け部２４では、搬送トレイ１４の傾動側Ｌ、すなわち、環状の搬送コンベアの外側において、ワークの等階級ごとの排出位置に排出コンベア６４、傾斜受板６６が設置されている。例えば、図６で形状がＬ、Ｍ、Ｓサイズのうちの（Ｌ）で、重量が１００ｇ〜１３０ｇの（Ｂ）で、傷がなしの（Ｘ）に対応する排出口６８が設定されて、同様にサイズランク、重量ランク、表面傷の有無により設定された複数の排出部７０が仕切り板７２に仕切られて隣接して並設されている。図６において、非傾動側Ｋのカバー３６ｂは、各排出部７０に対応する位置でそれぞれ一部が切欠されて開放部７４が形成されている。そして、各開放部７４に回転駆動手段７６が設置されている。この選別仕分け部２４では、被傾動側Ｋには投入部２２と同一の構成の庇部６２を有するカバー３６ｂが搬送コンベアの長手方向に沿って配置され、ワークの排出位置に対応する位置にこのカバー３６ｂの一部を切り開いて間欠状に設けた開放部７４に搬送トレイ傾動手段が設置されている。なお、選別仕分け部でカバー３６ａの立ち上がり部分は設けられておらず、取付部材４２の上に傾斜受板６６が傾斜状に配置されている。
【００２３】
図５において、回転駆動手段７６は、選別仕分け工程に設けられ、傾動抑え手段による搬送トレイの傾動抑え状態を引き継いで保持する状態と、制御部７８からの電気的な指示信号に基づいて搬送トレイの傾動抑え状態を解除して搬送トレイを傾動させて青果物を搬送トレイから排出させる状態と、を選択的に行なう搬送トレイ傾動手段であり、実施形態では、この回転駆動手段７６は、回転駆動装置８０と、その出力軸８２に連結固定されてカバー３６ｂの庇部６２と同様に搬送トレイにその下面側を係合させる回転起動片８４と、を備えている。回転駆動装置８０は、実施形態において磁気吸引力による直線運動を回転運動に変換して軸回転力を出力するロータリーソレノイドが用いられ、その出力軸８２としての回転軸を有している。そして、出力軸８２に逆Ｌ形状の回転起動片８４の一端が固定され、これによって、出力軸８２の回転により回転起動片８４の他端側が搬送トレイ１４の端部、すなわち、ローラ６０の上面側に庇状に被さる位置と、図５の鎖線示のように、庇状に突出する状態から回転して係合を離脱させるように退避する位置と、に選択的に位置を変化させ得るようになっている。なお、８５は、トレイ検出用センサであり、光センサ等から構成されて、光軸を移動支持体４６の下基体５０ｂが切るとその通過タイミング信号が制御部８８に供給される。
【００２４】
回転起動片８４が搬送トレイ１４のローラ６０の上面に庇状に突出して係合する状態では、図４の投入部２２でのカバー３６ｂの庇部６２と同様に逆Ｌ字状にローラ６０の上面から被さって上面側から搬送トレイ１４の傾動方向への作動を抑えている。すなわち、回転起動片８４は、回転動作により直接に搬送トレイに係合して該搬送トレイの傾動抑え状態を引き継いで保持する状態と、搬送トレイとの係合を離脱して搬送トレイを傾動させる状態と、を選択的に保持させる。ロータリーソレノイドの出力軸８２は、回転起動片８４のＬ字片の一端に直結されて、ソレノイドの起動により回転起動片を直接に回動させ、かつ、搬送トレイの一端側に直接に係合して傾動抑え状態を保持する。したがって、回転起動片８４の回動動作のみで搬送トレイの傾動抑え状態を引き継いで保持する状態と、搬送トレイを傾動させる状態と、を選択的に保持させ得るので、選別仕分け部における搬送トレイの傾動機構としては、回転駆動装置としてのロータリーソレノイドと回転起動片だけの極めて簡単な構造とし得る。よって、装置の低コスト化を実現し得るとともに、部品点数が少なく、保守、点検を極めて簡単に短時間で行なえる。回転起動片８４のロ−ラ６０上面に係合するＬ字片は、ローラ６０に係合する状態では、投入部側のカバー３６ｂの庇部６２と同じ断面位置の水平係合面を有している。回転起動片は、逆Ｌ字の立ち上がり片と、他のＬ字片の直角板構成であるが、具体的な形状や組み付け構成は任意に設定してよい。
【００２５】
なお、測定部２０には、形状、重量、傷の有無等を測定するための一部図示しない測定装置が設定されている。８６は測定部２０においてワークの形状を測定するための画像データ取得用のカメラ、７８は制御部であり、電子秤や傷の有無の画像データ測定用の機器に接続されるとともに、搬送コンベア後段側の選別仕分け部でのトレー特定用センサや、各ロータリーソレノイドに電気的に接続されて、測定結果に基づいた所要の等階級判別結果に対応する指示信号を供給し、ロータリーソレノイドを回転駆動させて対応する排出部７０から特定のワークを仕分け排出する。
【００２６】
次に、本実施形態の選別装置１０の作用について説明すると、図２の駆動モータ３２の駆動により、駆動スプロケット３４を介してコンベアチェーン３０を水平方向に周回駆動させる。すると、コンベアチェーン３０に連結固定されて列状に配置された搬送トレイ１４も水平方向に周回移動する。無端水平周回駆動装置により、水平方向の周回移動であるから、従来のような上動部と下動部による下動部側の無駄なチェーン移動、あるいは搬送トレイの戻り用の移動工程がなく、搬送トレイの移動中、常時、投入・測定・選別仕分け工程を行なえる。また、ループ状に搬送コンベアを設置するので、小さなスペースに装置を設置して、長いコンベアラインを形成し得る。
【００２７】
投入部２２で作業者Ｍが例えば手作業で１個づつワークを搬送トレイ１４の凹部に載せていく。投入部２２や測定部２０等では、搬送トレイの一端に軸支したローラ６０がカバー３６ｂの下面側において遊転自在に係合しながら、円滑に移動する。この際、カバー３６ｂの庇部６２により、傾動側Ｌに付勢された搬送トレイの傾動動作を抑えながら、水平、周回移動を行なわせる。測定部２０で形状、重量、表面傷等の事項を測定されて、どのトレイ上に載置したワークがどのような等級、階級であるかが制御部７８で判定され、それらの判定結果により、シフト送りされて通過位置が記憶更新されるいずれの搬送トレイを、その排出部７０に対応するいずれの回転駆動装置８０で傾動させるかが決定されて、搬送トレイの通過タイミングで回転駆動装置の駆動信号が供給される。
【００２８】
図５での選別仕分け部において、当該回転駆動手段７６の回転起動片８４の１つのＬ字片が、常時は、投入部側のカバー３６ｂと同様の構成で搬送トレイ１４のローラ６０を下面側に抑え込むようにして庇状に突出して、投入部でのカバー３６ｂの庇部による傾動抑え状態を引き継ぎながら、搬送トレイの上面を水平状態に保持させつつワークを搬送させる。駆動信号が供給されて当該の回転駆動装置が回転作動すると、回転起動片８４を直接に回動させ開放させるように回動してローラ６０との係合を離脱させる。すると、幅方向のずれた位置で遊転自在に軸支された搬送トレイは、ストッパ９０で制止されるまで傾動側Ｌに回動し、その上に載せたワークを傾斜受板６６に移乗させ、排出コンベア６４により排出させる。傾動した搬送トレイは図示しない復帰レールを経て水平状態に復帰され、カバー３６ｂの庇部６２の下面にローラ６０を係合させるように移動して、再び、投入部へ周回移動し、これを循環的に繰り返すものである。
【００２９】
上記のようにして、複数の搬送搬送トレイを水平方向に周回状に移動させつつ周回軌道の両側に必要に応じて、任意に青果物の投入スペースと、選別仕分けスペースと、を確保させ得る。
【００３０】
なお、図１０は、水平環状の搬送コンベアラインでの投入部２２、測定部２０、選別仕分け部２４の他のレイアウト構成を示している。
【００３１】
以上説明した本発明の青果物の選別装置は上記した実施の形態の構成に限定されるものではなく、特許請求の範囲に記載した発明の本質を逸脱しない範囲における改変も本発明に含まれる。
【００３２】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように、本発明の青果物の選別装置によれば、列状に配置された複数の搬送トレイ上に載せられて移動する青果物の評価事項を計測し、計測結果に基づいて所要の等階級に判別して選別仕分する青果物の選別装置において、複数の搬送トレイは、無端水平周回駆動手段を介して水平方向に周回状に移動し、その移動中に諸工程を行なわせる構成であるから、横方向を周回軸とする従来の選別装置に比較して下動部による無駄な移動工程がなく、青果物の選果コンベアラインの製造コストを大幅に低減し、かつラインの単位時間当りの稼働効率を大幅に向上させるとともに、装置設置時の省スペース化を達成し得る。
【００３３】
また、無端周回駆動手段に支持されて直列状に配置された搬送トレイは、支持体に中間位置を枢支されて周回軌道のいずれかの側に傾動付勢されつつ傾動自在に支持されており、搬送トレイの周回軌道の長手方向に沿って設けられ常時搬送トレイに係合しつつ該搬送トレイが傾動しないようにする傾動抑え手段と、選別仕分け工程に設けられ、傾動抑え手段による搬送トレイの傾動抑え状態を引き継いで保持する状態と、指示信号に基づいて搬送トレイの傾動抑え状態を解除して搬送トレイを傾動させ青果物を搬送トレイから排出させる状態と、を選択的に行なわせる搬送トレイ傾動手段と、を備え、搬送トレイ傾動手段は、回転動作により直接に搬送トレイに係合して該搬送トレイの傾動抑え状態を引き継いで保持する状態と、搬送トレイとの係合を離脱して搬送トレイを傾動させる状態と、を選択的に保持させる回転起動片を含む回転駆動手段を備えた構成とすることにより、青果物の仕分け排出工程におけるトレイの傾動構成を簡単な構造としつつ、常時のトレイ上の被選別物の安定載置状態から仕分け排出工程でのトレイの傾動動作への引き継ぎを円滑に行なわせて装置コストの大幅な低減化を達成できる。
【００３４】
また、回転駆動手段は、回転起動片の回転中心に連結する回動軸を含む駆動装置を有する構成とすることにより、回転駆動装置の回転動作のみで搬送トレイの傾動の起動及び傾動抑え保持を行なえ、傾動機構の簡単化を実効化あらしめる。
【００３５】
また、回転起動片は、搬送トレイの端部に上面側から庇状に突出して搬送トレイの傾動抑え保持を行なうように設けられた構成とすることにより、回転駆動手段による傾動作動及び傾動抑え保持の機構を簡単な構成とし得ると同時に、投入部などでの搬送トレイの水平保持状態から、回転駆動手段での傾動、あるいは傾動抑えの切替構造を無駄なくかつ簡単な構造で実現し得る。
【００３６】
また、無端水平周回駆動手段は、搬送トレイを支持する水平基体と、水平基体を挟持案内する挟持案内手段と、を含む構成とすることにより、搬送トレイの無端水平周回移動を具体的に実現し得る。
【００３７】
さらに、搬送トレイは、常時傾動方向に傾動付勢されるように幅方向の中心から変位した位置において支持体に傾動自在に支持された構成とすることにより、搬送トレイの傾動側への傾動付勢の構成をバネ等の外部付勢機構を用いることなく、極めて簡単に行なえ、構造の簡易化を実現し得る。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の青果物の選別装置の一実施形態の平面構成説明図である。
【図２】図１の装置の無端水平周回駆動装置部分の一部省略平面説明図である。
【図３】図１の選別装置の投入部及び選別仕分け部を拡大して示した一部省略平面説明図である。
【図４】図１の選別装置の投入部の部分の拡大断面説明図である。
【図５】図１の選別装置の選別仕分け部の部分の拡大断面説明図である。
【図６】図１の選別装置の選別仕分け部の部分の拡大平面説明図である。
【図７】図１の搬送コンベアの一部拡大正面説明図である。
【図８】図１の選別装置の測定部を含む一部省略拡大正面説明図である。
【図９】図１の選別装置の測定部の概念構成説明図である。
【図１０】図１の青果物の選別装置の諸工程のレイアウトを変えた実施形態の平面構成説明図である。
【図１１】従来の選別コンベアの構成を略示する正面説明図である。
【図１２】従来の選別コンベアの設置例を示す平面説明図である。
【符号の説明】
１０　青果物の選別装置、１２　無端水平周回駆動装置、１４　搬送トレイ、２０測定部、２２　投入部、２４　選別仕分け部、３０　コンベアチェーン、３６ａ，３６ｂ　カバー、３８　搬送コンベア、４４　挟持レール、４６　移動支持体、５０　基体、５６　横軸、６０　ローラ、６２　庇部、７６　回転駆動手段、８０　回転駆動装置、８２　出力軸、８４　回転起動片[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for sorting vegetables, fruits, and other fruits and vegetables, and more particularly, to a bucket conveyor type sorting apparatus that sorts and sorts fruits and vegetables to be sorted while placing them on a transport tray one by one. And its method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Vegetables, fruits and other fruits and vegetables are placed on trays arranged in series by a bucket conveyor and conveyed, while measuring and determining the measurement items such as color gloss, scratches, shape, size, etc. In the sorting process having the discharge devices assigned to each of the grades installed on the rear side of the conveyor according to the determination result, the corresponding discharge device is activated while each of the graded fruits and vegetables is transported. There is known an apparatus for sorting fruits and vegetables discharged to a next step such as a box packing step.
[0003]
Conventionally, as such an apparatus for sorting fruits and vegetables, for example, a sorting apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-36774 has been proposed. This sorting apparatus has a sorting conveyor that conveys an object to be sorted, an electronic scale that weighs the load of the bucket conveyor, and a discharge device that tilts the upper part of the bucket according to a signal instruction, and particularly, a tare weight value of an empty bucket. Is constantly stored and updated to obtain an accurate net weight value of the object to be sorted. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-200366 discloses a sorting apparatus that measures not only the weight of fruits and vegetables but also the shape, presence or absence of surface flaws, sugar content, acidity, and ripeness for sorting.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the sorting apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-36774 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-200366, for example, as shown in FIGS. And a large number of buckets 3 are arranged at regular intervals on the sorting conveyor to place sorting objects 6 such as fruit greens one by one. A supply unit 9 for fruits and vegetables is provided on the upstream side of the conveyor, and while the weight of the sorting object is measured during the conveyance of the conveyor, the sorting object is discharged from the sorting and discharging port according to the measurement result. In this conventional sorting apparatus using a sorting conveyor, as shown in FIG. 2, a conveyor chain is wrapped around pulleys at both ends so as to form an upper moving part and a lower moving part, and the orbit moves around the horizontal direction as a circling axis. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, the bucket of the lower moving portion becomes a portion that does not function in the actual fruit sorting work, and therefore, the operation rate of the apparatus per unit time is halved. In addition, a conveyor chain corresponding to the lower moving part is required, and the cost of the apparatus is significantly increased. In addition, the weight, shape, presence or absence of surface scratches, sugar content of the fruits and vegetables. . . In the current situation where many measurement items such as are set, it is necessary to arrange those measuring devices in the middle of the fruit and vegetable input process and the sorting and discharging process, so the length of the conveyor line must be long, and Installation space was required. Further, as shown in FIG. 12, when these sorting devices are arranged in parallel as a plurality of lines, a motor for driving the conveyor is required for each of them, which hinders a reduction in device cost. On the other hand, in the sorting and discharging step, when a specific bucket is tilted and discharged at the specified discharging section, the tray is placed on the upper surface via a bracket connected to a conveyor chain as shown in FIG. 4 of JP-A-5-200366. There is known an apparatus in which a swinging body fixed to a side is swingably supported, and the tray is tilted at a required discharge position by an instruction signal. However, in this sorting apparatus, the swinging body is swingably supported by the bracket at the center position in the width direction, and is not shown in the drawing to stably place the sorting object on the tray in a stable state. It is necessary to incorporate a drive device that can switch between the running state and the tilting state, this device has a large number of parts, and its function is complicated, and it is installed in every discharge conveyor part of the discharge process There has been a problem that the cost of the entire apparatus is increased, maintenance and inspection are extremely complicated, and the maintenance cost is high.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and one of its objects is to significantly reduce the production cost of a fruit and vegetable sorting conveyor line and greatly increase the operating efficiency per unit time of the line. It is an object of the present invention to provide a fruit and vegetable sorting apparatus capable of improving the space saving in installation of the apparatus. Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple structure for tilting the tray in the sorting / discharging process of fruits and vegetables, and to perform the tilting operation of the tray in the sorting / discharging process from the state where the sorted objects are always stably placed on the tray. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for sorting fruits and vegetables, which can be smoothly transferred to a vegetable and can reduce the apparatus cost.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention measures evaluation items of fruits and vegetables W that are placed and moved on a plurality of transport trays 14 arranged in a row, and based on the measurement result, a required class is determined. In an apparatus for sorting fruits and vegetables for discriminating and sorting, a plurality of transport trays 14 move horizontally in a circular shape via an endless horizontal orbiting drive means (12) to carry out various processes during the movement. It comprises a sorting device 10. Since the transfer tray moves horizontally and orbitally, there is no useless chain such as a lower moving portion or a process of moving the transfer tray corresponding to the lower moving portion, thereby reducing the cost of the apparatus and improving the operation efficiency of the apparatus. Further, a long transport line can be formed in a small space.
[0007]
The transport tray 14 supported by the endless orbiting drive means (12) and arranged in series is tiltable and biasable to any side of the orbital path while being pivotally supported at an intermediate position by the support 46. Tilting suppressing means (36b) provided along the longitudinal direction of the orbit of the transport tray 14 and always engaging with the transport tray so as to prevent the transport tray from tilting; provided in the sorting / sorting step. Then, the state in which the tilting restraining means (36b) takes over and holds the tilting restraint state of the transport tray 14 and the state in which the tilting restraint state of the transport tray 14 is released based on the instruction signal are tilted to tilt the transport tray, and the fruits and vegetables W are transported to the transport tray. And a transfer tray tilting means for selectively performing the discharge from the transfer tray. A rotation driving means 76 including a rotation starting piece 84 for selectively holding a state in which the state of holding the tilting of the transfer tray is taken over and a state of releasing the engagement with the transfer tray and tilting the transfer tray. It is good. The tray is tilted at the sorting section from the tilt-suppressed state at the input section etc. because it is operated toward the state where the tilting of the transport tray directly conveyed by the rotary drive means is suppressed and the state where the suppressed state is released. Suppression and takeover by discharge rotation can be performed smoothly with an extremely simple configuration. Also, the number of parts is reduced, maintenance is easy, and parts replacement and the like are reduced.
[0008]
In this case, the rotation driving means 76 may include a driving device 80 including a rotation shaft (82) connected to the rotation center of the rotation starting piece 84. Thus, the rotation starting piece is directly rotated by the rotational force of the driving device, thereby suppressing or tilting the transport tray to realize the tilting operation. Since the rotation starting piece only needs to be operated by pressing and releasing, the rotation torque of the driving device may be small. For example, a low-cost device such as a rotary solenoid that does not easily cause a failure can be applied.
[0009]
Further, it is preferable that the rotation starting piece 84 protrude from the upper surface side at the end of the transport tray 14 in an eaves shape so as to hold and hold the transport tray. The specific shape and configuration of the rotation starting piece are not limited. The horizontal holding and tilting of the upper surface of the transport tray may be smoothly shifted between the loading section and the sorting section, for example, having a horizontal plane set at the same spatial position engaging with the engaging roller of the transport tray. Such a configuration may be used.
[0010]
In addition, the endless horizontal rotation driving means (12) may include a horizontal base 50 for supporting the transport tray 14, and a nipping guide means (44) for nipping and guiding the horizontal base. Thereby, the horizontal orbit driving of the transport tray is smoothly performed.
[0011]
Further, the transport tray 14 may be configured to be tiltably supported by the support (48) at a position displaced from the center in the width direction so as to be constantly biased in the tilting direction. The transport tray can be tilted and biased to the tilting side only with a simple pivot structure without using an elastic member for biasing such as a spring or rubber. Operating configuration can be simplified.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of an apparatus for sorting fruits and vegetables according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention measures vegetables and fruits including vegetables and fruits such as tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, pears, and melons while conveying them on a conveyor line, and measures their grades according to the results. It is a device for sorting fruits and vegetables that are sorted and discharged to a discharge unit set in the present invention, and in particular, in the present invention, a point that a tray conveyed on a conveyor line is driven in a horizontal orbit and various steps are performed. The main feature is that the tray is tilted or held horizontally while directly engaging with the tray being conveyed.
[0013]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory plan view of an apparatus for sorting fruits and vegetables (hereinafter, referred to as a "selection apparatus 10") according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the selection apparatus 10 is an endless horizontal orbital drive that is driven to orbit horizontally in a horizontal direction. The apparatus includes a device 12 and a transport tray 14 which is continuously attached in a row to the endless horizontal orbiting driving device and moves in a horizontal direction. In FIG. 1, the sorting apparatus 10 of the present embodiment has one conveyer line in which orbital reversing portions 16A and 16B are formed on both end sides and long straight portions 18A and 18B are provided in one direction. Are installed in an annular shape so as to form In the embodiment, for example, the weight, the shape, the size, and the presence or absence of a scratch of a work W such as a tomato, which is a sorting object, is located at substantially the center of each of the straight portions 18A and 18B of the conveyor line that rotates in a counterclockwise direction. A measuring section 20 for measuring the like is installed, an input section 22 for an object to be sorted is installed upstream of each measuring section, and a sorting section 24 is installed downstream.
[0014]
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a part of the endless horizontal orbiting drive device 12 of the embodiment as viewed in plan. In the figure, the endless horizontal orbital drive device 12 is installed at a square corner position, and is vertically attached to a machine frame (not shown). Are tuned by four rotating shafts 26 rotatably supported on the shafts, and sprockets 28 fixed to the rotating shafts 26, and are looped around in an annular shape so as to orbit horizontally and in a rectangular shape. Conveyor chain 30. One sprocket 28 at the corner position is chain-coupled to a driving sprocket 34 that is driven in conjunction with a driving motor 32, and drives the conveyor chain 30 to circulate in the horizontal direction via the driving sprocket 34 when the driving motor 32 rotates. Let it. In the upper part of the conveyor chain 30, in the embodiment, the transfer trays 14 for placing the works W one by one in series and at equal intervals are connected as shown in FIG. Moves in a horizontal orbit in the horizontal direction.
[0015]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the transport tray 14 is provided so as to be guided in the longitudinal direction inside the left and right covers 36 that are long provided along the longitudinal direction of the conveyor line. Then, the measuring unit 20 measures the weight, shape, size, presence or absence of a flaw, and the like of the work W, and the sorting / sorting unit 24 sorts the specific work, which has been classified for each rank, based on the measurement result of the measuring unit 20. The loaded transport trays are tilted so as to be discharged from the sorting / discharging ports classified according to their rating.
[0016]
More specifically, in FIG. 4 showing the transport conveyor portion at the work loading section, the transport conveyor 38 including the endless horizontal orbiting drive device 12 is designed to facilitate the work of loading the work W while the worker M is standing. It is erected on a support table 40 set at a height about the waist of a person, and in a width direction H, which is a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the conveyor line, is separated from a position facing left and right in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor line. The right and left covers 36 are provided long along the right side, and the transport trays 14 are installed inside the left and right covers 36 in series and at equal intervals. The cover 36a on the tilting side is a protective cover when the worker M performs the work of putting fruits and vegetables, and the cover 36a may be functionally removed. In the figure, two sandwiching rails 44 are provided in a circulating shape along the longitudinal direction of the transport conveyor at opposed positions separated from each other via the mounting member 42 inside the facing covers 36a and 36b. The holding rail 44 is a circling guide unit that guides the conveying tray 14 to circulate in the horizontal direction. A movable support 46 is provided so as to be sandwiched and guided between the holding rails 44, and the transport tray 14 is provided on the upper surface side of the movable support 46 via a support piece 48 so as to be tiltable. The lower surface is connected to the conveyor chain 30. The moving support 46 is a tray moving supporting unit that supports the transport tray 14 while allowing it to tilt.
[0017]
The moving support 46 is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the upper and lower substrates at the four corner positions opposed to each other by the vertically long hexagonal upper and lower substrates 50 which are arranged vertically separated like the transport tray, and opposed to each other, Each of the two holding rails 44 on both sides has two pairs of contact pulleys 52 disposed at four locations facing each other. The upper and lower bases 50 are vertically connected and fixed via shaft pins 54 so as to be separated and fixed at the same horizontal position, and the sliding pulleys 52 are rotatably supported by the shaft pins 54. The holding rails 44 are engaged with the grooves of these contact pulleys 52 so that the holding rails 44 are fitted into the grooves, so that the moving support 46 can be stably held by the holding rails 44 and the upper surface can be held horizontally. Move around.
[0018]
4, 6, and 7, a large number of moving supports 46 are continuously arranged at regular intervals in a circular shape along the orbit of the endless horizontal orbiting drive device 12. Each of the moving supports 46 is connected to a conveyor chain 30 which is arranged so as to form a conveyor line on the lower surface side of the lower base 50a in the width direction of the lower base 50a of the moving support 46, and is moved by driving the conveyor chain. The support 46 moves around.
[0019]
In FIG. 4, a support piece 48 is erected and fixed on the upper surface of the upper base 50 a of the movable support 46 at a position displaced in any width direction from the center of the width H- 1 of the transport tray 14. . The support piece 48 and a mounting portion suspended from the lower surface of the transport tray 14 are rotatably connected to each other by a horizontal shaft 56 about a horizontal direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. Are supported to be tiltable in a state of being constantly biased and biased in the tilting direction. That is, the transport tray 14 is rotatably supported by the horizontal shaft 56 at a position shifted from the center of gravity of the transport tray 14 to a position where the tray tilts and rises, so that the transport tray 14 naturally tilts to the tilting side L. Be acted upon. The side L on which the transport tray is tilted is a side provided with a discharge port at the latter stage of the transport conveyor, and is arbitrarily set. In the embodiment, the outside of the annular transport conveyor is set as the tilt side L. .
[0020]
In FIG. 4, the transport tray 14 is arranged so as to hold the upper surface horizontally in a T-shape with respect to the support piece 48 during the normal transport of the work. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the transport tray 14 is a flat plate having a vertically long hexagonal shape, and has a concave portion for placing a work at the center thereof. 3 to 6, a roller 60 is freely rotatably supported at an end of a protruding member 58 protruding from one end of the transport tray. The roller 60 is rotatably engaged with the lower surface of the cover 36b on the non-tilt side K of the transport tray 14 and is also freely rotatably engaged with the lower surface of a rotating orbit piece of the rotation driving means described later. Body.
[0021]
In FIG. 4, the cover 36b on the non-tilt side K of the transport tray 14 is provided with an eave portion 62 which is connected to its rising portion and whose upper end protrudes in the shape of an eave inward of the track. The cover 36b on the non-tilt side K is formed over the entire circumference along the longitudinal direction of the conveyor line. A roller 60 at the end of the transport tray is located on the lower surface side of the eave portion 62. As a result, when the transport tray 14 supported by the moving support 46 moves around, the lower surface side of the eave portion 62 is rollably engaged with the transport tray 14 to move the transport tray smoothly. The cover 36b of the non-tilt side K is provided with a long length along the longitudinal direction of the orbit of the transport tray, and is a tilt suppressing means that always engages with the transport tray 14 and does not tilt during the orbital movement of the transport tray. is there. Therefore, the configuration is not limited to a mere protective cover, but may be any configuration having a tilting and holding function, and its specific shape and structure may be arbitrarily set. When the work tray is constantly transferred by the transfer tray after the work loading step or the like, as shown in FIG. 4, the non-tilted side of the tilted and urged transfer tray is pressed by the tilt suppressing means and the transfer tray is not tilted. Keep the orbital movement.
[0022]
On the other hand, FIGS. 3 and 6 show a plan view configuration of the sorting / sorting section 24. In the sorting / sorting section, evaluation items of the fruits and vegetables are measured during transportation, and the necessary and the like are determined based on the measurement result. The work as each fruit and vegetable determined in the class is sorted and discharged from the outlet for each class in which the work is set. In the sorting and sorting section 24, a discharge conveyor 64 and an inclined receiving plate 66 are installed at the tilt side L of the transfer tray 14, that is, outside the annular transfer conveyor, at discharge positions for each grade of work. For example, in FIG. 6, the discharge port 68 corresponding to the shape (L) of the L, M, and S sizes, the weight (B) of 100 g to 130 g, and no damage (X) is set. Similarly, a plurality of discharge units 70 set according to the size rank, the weight rank, and the presence / absence of surface flaws are partitioned by a partition plate 72 and arranged adjacent to each other. In FIG. 6, the cover 36 b on the non-tilt side K is partially cut away at a position corresponding to each discharge unit 70 to form an opening 74. Further, a rotation driving means 76 is provided in each opening 74. In the sorting / sorting section 24, a cover 36b having an eaves section 62 having the same configuration as that of the input section 22 is arranged on the tilted side K along the longitudinal direction of the conveyor, and the cover 36b is located at a position corresponding to the workpiece discharge position. A transfer tray tilting means is provided in an open portion 74 which is formed by cutting a part of the cover 36b and providing it intermittently. In addition, the rising portion of the cover 36a is not provided in the sorting section, and the inclined receiving plate 66 is arranged on the mounting member 42 in an inclined manner.
[0023]
In FIG. 5, the rotation driving unit 76 is provided in the sorting process, the state in which the tilt suppressing unit takes over the holding state of the transfer tray by the tilt holding unit, and the transfer tray based on the electric instruction signal from the control unit 78. And the state in which the tilting restraint state is released and the transport tray is tilted to discharge the fruits and vegetables from the transport tray. In the embodiment, the rotary drive unit 76 includes a rotary drive unit. 80, and a rotation starting piece 84 that is connected and fixed to the output shaft 82 and engages the lower surface side of the transport tray in the same manner as the eaves 62 of the cover 36b. In the embodiment, the rotary drive device 80 uses a rotary solenoid that converts a linear motion due to a magnetic attraction force into a rotary motion and outputs a shaft rotational force, and has a rotary shaft as an output shaft 82 thereof. Then, one end of the inverted L-shaped rotation start piece 84 is fixed to the output shaft 82, whereby the other end of the rotation start piece 84 is rotated by the output shaft 82 so that the other end side of the conveyance tray 14, that is, the upper surface of the roller 60. The position can be selectively changed between a position that covers the side in an eaves-like shape and a position that retreats so as to disengage by rotating from a state of protruding in an eaves-like shape as shown by a chain line in FIG. It has become. Reference numeral 85 denotes a tray detection sensor, which is composed of an optical sensor and the like. When the lower base 50b of the movable support 46 cuts the optical axis, a passage timing signal is supplied to the control unit 88.
[0024]
In a state in which the rotation starting piece 84 protrudes and engages with the upper surface of the roller 60 of the transport tray 14 in an eaves-like manner, the roller 60 is formed in an inverted L-shape similarly to the eaves part 62 of the cover 36b in the input section 22 in FIG. The operation of the transport tray 14 in the tilting direction from the upper surface side is suppressed by covering from the upper surface. In other words, the rotation starting piece 84 directly engages with the transport tray by the rotation operation to take over and hold the transport tray in a state where the tilting is suppressed, and releases the engagement with the transport tray to tilt the transport tray. State is selectively held. The output shaft 82 of the rotary solenoid is directly connected to one end of the L-shaped piece of the rotation starting piece 84 to directly rotate the rotation starting piece by the actuation of the solenoid, and directly engages with one end side of the transport tray. To maintain the tilting state. Therefore, the state in which the tilting of the transport tray is suppressed and held by only the rotation of the rotation starting piece 84 and the state in which the transport tray is tilted can be selectively held, so that the transport tray in the sorting section can be selectively held. The tilting mechanism may have an extremely simple structure consisting only of a rotary solenoid as a rotary drive and a rotary actuating piece. Therefore, the cost of the apparatus can be reduced, the number of parts is small, and maintenance and inspection can be performed extremely easily and in a short time. The L-shaped piece that engages with the upper surface of the roller 60 of the rotation starting piece 84 has a horizontal engaging surface in the same cross-sectional position as the eaves 62 of the cover 36b on the input section when engaged with the roller 60. ing. The rotation starting piece has a right L-shaped upright piece and another L-shaped piece having a right-angle plate configuration, but a specific shape and an assembling configuration may be arbitrarily set.
[0025]
The measuring unit 20 is provided with a measuring device (not shown) for measuring the shape, weight, presence or absence of a flaw, and the like. Reference numeral 86 denotes a camera for obtaining image data for measuring the shape of the work in the measuring unit 20, and 78 denotes a control unit, which is connected to an electronic scale and a device for measuring image data for the presence or absence of a flaw, and is connected to a rear stage of the conveyor. It is electrically connected to the tray identification sensor in the sorting section on the side and each rotary solenoid, supplies an instruction signal corresponding to the required class classification result based on the measurement result, and rotates the rotary solenoid. Then, a specific work is sorted and discharged from the corresponding discharge unit 70.
[0026]
Next, the operation of the selection device 10 of the present embodiment will be described. The conveyor chain 30 is driven to rotate in the horizontal direction via the drive sprocket 34 by the drive of the drive motor 32 in FIG. Then, the transport trays 14 connected and fixed to the conveyor chain 30 and arranged in a row also circulate in the horizontal direction. By the endless horizontal orbital driving device, since it is a horizontal orbital movement, there is no needless chain movement of the lower moving part side by the upper moving part and the lower moving part, or a moving step for returning the transport tray as in the conventional case, The loading, measuring, and sorting process can be performed at all times while the transport tray is moving. In addition, since the transport conveyor is installed in a loop, the apparatus can be installed in a small space to form a long conveyor line.
[0027]
The worker M places the workpieces one by one in the recesses of the transport tray 14 by the input section 22 by manual operation, for example. In the input section 22, the measuring section 20, and the like, the roller 60 pivotally supported at one end of the transport tray smoothly moves while freely engaging with the lower surface of the cover 36b. At this time, the eave portion 62 of the cover 36b causes the transport tray urged to the tilting side L to perform horizontal and circling movement while suppressing the tilting operation. Items such as shape, weight, and surface scratches are measured by the measuring unit 20, and what kind and grade of the work placed on which tray is determined by the control unit 78. Based on the results of those determinations, It is determined which one of the transport trays whose shift positions are to be stored and updated by the shift feeding is tilted by which of the rotary drive units 80 corresponding to the discharge unit 70, and the drive of the rotary drive unit is performed at the passage timing of the transport tray. A signal is provided.
[0028]
In the sorting section shown in FIG. 5, one L-shaped piece of the rotation starting piece 84 of the rotation driving means 76 always has the same structure as the cover 36b on the loading section side and the roller 60 of the transport tray 14 on the lower side. The work is conveyed while maintaining the upper surface of the conveyance tray in a horizontal state while taking over the state in which the cover 36b is prevented from tilting by the eaves of the cover 36b in the input section. When the drive signal is supplied and the rotation drive device rotates, the rotation start piece 84 is directly rotated and opened to be released, and the engagement with the roller 60 is released. Then, the transport tray rotatably supported at the position shifted in the width direction rotates to the tilting side L until stopped by the stopper 90, and the work placed thereon is transferred to the tilt receiving plate 66. Is discharged by the discharge conveyor 64. The tilted transport tray is returned to a horizontal state via a return rail (not shown), moves so as to engage the roller 60 with the lower surface of the eave portion 62 of the cover 36b, and moves again to the input portion to circulate the same. It is something that repeats.
[0029]
As described above, it is possible to arbitrarily secure a space for inputting fruits and vegetables and a sorting / sorting space on both sides of the orbit while moving the plurality of conveying / transporting trays in the horizontal direction.
[0030]
FIG. 10 shows another layout configuration of the input unit 22, the measuring unit 20, and the sorting / sorting unit 24 in the horizontal annular conveyor line.
[0031]
The apparatus for sorting fruits and vegetables of the present invention described above is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, but includes modifications that do not depart from the essence of the invention described in the claims.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the fruit and vegetable sorting apparatus of the present invention, evaluation items of fruits and vegetables placed and moved on a plurality of transport trays arranged in a row are measured, and necessary evaluations are performed based on the measurement results. In the fruit and vegetable sorting apparatus that sorts and sorts products by class, the plurality of transport trays move horizontally in a circular shape via endless horizontal orbital driving means, and perform various steps during the movement. Compared with the conventional sorting device that uses a horizontal rotation axis, there is no unnecessary moving process by the lower moving part, the production cost of the fruit and fruit sorting conveyor line is greatly reduced, and the line operates per unit time. Efficiency can be greatly improved and space saving can be achieved when installing the apparatus.
[0033]
Further, the transport trays supported by the endless orbital driving means and arranged in series are supported in a tiltable manner while being pivotally supported at an intermediate position by a supporter and tilted to any side of the orbital track. A tilt restraining means provided along the longitudinal direction of the orbit of the transport tray and always engaging with the transport tray so as to prevent the transport tray from tilting; and A transport tray tilt that selectively performs a state in which the tilt restraint state is taken over and held, and a state in which the transport tray is released from the transport tray by tilting the transport tray by releasing the tilt restraint state of the transport tray based on the instruction signal. A transfer tray tilting means, which is directly engaged with the transport tray by a rotation operation to take over and hold the tilted state of the transport tray; and The tilting configuration of the tray in the sorting / discharging process of fruits and vegetables is simplified by using a configuration in which the state in which the transport tray is tilted by disengaging the tray and a rotary drive unit including a rotation starting piece for selectively holding the tray are simplified. In addition to the above-mentioned structure, it is possible to smoothly carry over from the stable placement of the objects to be sorted on the tray to the tilting operation of the tray in the sorting and discharging process, thereby achieving a significant reduction in apparatus cost.
[0034]
Further, the rotation driving means has a driving device including a rotation shaft connected to the rotation center of the rotation starting piece, so that the rotation of the rotation driving device alone starts the tilting of the transport tray and suppresses and holds the tilt. Simplification of the tilting mechanism.
[0035]
In addition, the rotation starting piece is provided at the end of the transport tray so as to protrude from the upper surface side in an eaves shape so as to hold and hold the transfer tray by tilting. In addition to the simple structure of this mechanism, the switching structure for tilting or suppressing tilting by the rotation driving means from the horizontal holding state of the transport tray at the loading section or the like can be realized with a simple structure without waste.
[0036]
In addition, the endless horizontal orbiting driving means specifically includes an endless horizontal orbital movement of the transport tray by including a horizontal base supporting the transport tray and a nipping guide means for nipping and guiding the horizontal base. obtain.
[0037]
Further, the transport tray is tiltably biased in the tilting direction and is supported by the support at a position displaced from the center in the width direction so that the transport tray is tilted to the tilting side. The structure of the force can be extremely easily performed without using an external urging mechanism such as a spring, and the structure can be simplified.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory plan view of an embodiment of an apparatus for sorting fruits and vegetables of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a partially omitted plan explanatory view of an endless horizontal orbital driving device portion of the device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view showing a part of the sorting unit shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional explanatory view of a portion of an input section of the sorting device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional explanatory view of a sorting / sorting section of the sorting apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan explanatory view of a part of a sorting part of the sorting device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged front explanatory view of the transport conveyor of FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is a partially omitted enlarged front explanatory view including a measuring unit of the sorting device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a conceptual configuration of a measuring unit of the sorting device of FIG. 1;
10 is an explanatory plan view of an embodiment in which the layout of various steps of the fruit and vegetable sorting apparatus of FIG. 1 is changed.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory front view schematically showing a configuration of a conventional sorting conveyor.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory plan view showing an installation example of a conventional sorting conveyor.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Fruit and Vegetable Sorting Device, 12 Endless Horizontal Orbital Drive, 14 Transport Tray, 20 Measuring Unit, 22 Input Unit, 24 Sorting and Sorting Unit, 30 Conveyor Chain, 36a, 36b Cover, 38 Transport Conveyor, 44 Holding Rail, 46 Moving Support Body, 50 base, 56 horizontal axis, 60 rollers, 62 eaves, 76 rotation drive means, 80 rotation drive, 82 output shaft, 84 rotation starter

Claims

In a fruit and vegetable sorting apparatus that measures evaluation items of fruits and vegetables placed on a plurality of transport trays arranged in a row and determines and sorts them into required equal grades based on the measurement result,
An apparatus for sorting fruits and vegetables, wherein a plurality of transport trays move horizontally in a circular manner via endless horizontal orbital driving means, and perform various steps during the movement.

The transport trays supported by the endless orbital drive means and arranged in series are supported in a tiltable manner while being pivotally supported at an intermediate position by a support and tilted and biased to any side of the orbital track.
Tilt suppressing means provided along the longitudinal direction of the orbit of the transport tray and always engaging with the transport tray so as to prevent the transport tray from tilting,
It is provided in the sorting process, and the state in which the tilting restraining means is taken over and held by the tilting restraint means, and the tilting restraint state of the transport tray is released based on the instruction signal to tilt the transport tray and the fruits and vegetables from the transporting tray. A discharge tray, and a transport tray tilting means for selectively performing the discharge state,
The transport tray tilting means directly engages the transport tray by the rotation operation to take over and hold the transport tray in a state of suppressing tilting, and a state in which the transport tray is disengaged from the transport tray and tilts the transport tray. 2. The apparatus for sorting fruits and vegetables according to claim 1, further comprising a rotation driving means including a rotation starting piece for selectively holding the fruits and vegetables.

3. The fruit and vegetable sorting device according to claim 2, wherein the rotation driving means includes a driving device including a rotation shaft connected to a rotation center of the rotation starting piece.

The fruit and vegetable sorting apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the rotation activation piece is provided at an end of the transport tray so as to protrude from an upper surface side in an eave shape so as to hold and tilt the transport tray.

The fruit and vegetable sorting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the endless horizontal orbital driving means includes a horizontal substrate that supports the transport tray, and a nipping guide that nipping and guiding the horizontal substrate.

The fruit and vegetable sorting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the transport tray is tiltably supported by the support at a position displaced from the center in the width direction so as to be constantly biased in the tilt direction.