JP2005014973A - Sorting and packaging apparatus for agricultural product - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sorting and packaging apparatus for agricultural products, which reduces a time gap between the end and the start of packaging the agricultural products before and after a change in changing a kind or list of the agricultural products. <P>SOLUTION: According to a free-tray method sorting and packaging apparatus for the agricultural products, sorting apparatuses are arranged vertically at three stages to devide into a plurality of groups of pool conveyors at respective stages. Each of pool conveyor groups devided into groups is provided with a boxing unit and a delivery unit is placed between the group conveyor and the boxing unit to selectively connect the conveyor on each stage to the boxing unit for delivering the agricultural products on the pool conveyors to the boxing unit at each stage. When the kind or list of the agricultural products is changed, a pool conveyor not pooled with the agricultural products for pre-change package is selected while the packaging of the same agricultural products before changing is executed, and the conveyor not pooled with the agricultural products for pre-change package is pooled with agricultural products for post-change package. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

演算部と仕分け制御部とから構成される演算制御装置７は、箱詰装置１５に供給して箱詰するために必要な個数を各プールコンベア１２毎に計算し、箱詰包装単位（例えば一箱分）にプールされたプールコンベア１２から包装単位数の農産物を箱詰装置１５に払い出すように、送出コンベア１６を駆動するシリンダー装置１７と、該当するレーンのストッパー装置１３とを駆動制御する。
【００６３】
箱詰装置１５に供給された所定個数の農産物は、箱詰プールコンベア２０上でプールされ、農産物移載装置２１により箱詰態様（トレイパックの凹部の列数×行数）に合わせて所定個数の農産物が包装箱Ｅ内に移載されて箱詰される。
【００６４】
ところで、現在、選別から仕分けを経て箱詰を行っている農産物の品種をＡ品種とすると、Ａ品種と異なる品種であるＢ品種に切り換える際に、Ａ品種とＢ品種とが混ざらないようにするために、上下３段構成の全てのプールコンベア群Ｃから全ての農産物が排出されるのを待ってＢ品種を各段の農産物供給部４に供給していたのでは、品種の切り換えに要する時間が長くなる。
【００６５】
そこで、Ａ品種からＢ品種への切り替えを行う際に、Ａ品種をプールしているプールコンベア１２の中から端数処理をかけられた系列のレーン（特定のレーン）を選び、この特定のレーンに対する排出装置１１からの農産物の払い出しを禁止すると共に、当該特定のレーン内にプールしている農産物を他のレーンに優先して箱詰装置に排出して空の状態を早期に作り出し、この空のレーンにＢ品種をプールさせる。
【００６６】
なお、本明細書中で、複数のレーンに残った農産物中で、同一等階級の農産物が一箱に要する箱詰個数に満たない個数になる詰め合わせ計算を端数処理と称し、本実施の形態では特に上記した特定レーンの農産物を優先的に箱詰して早期に当該特定レーンを空の状態にするように演算する。
【００６７】
具体的には、上下３段の仕分け装置１と、これらの各段の仕分け装置１にそれぞれ連結される選別装置２において、下段の仕分け装置１とこれに連結される選別装置２とを第１系列選別仕分け装置、中段の仕分け装置１とこれに連結される選別装置２とを第２系列選別仕分け装置、上段の仕分け装置１とこれに連結される選別装置２とを第３系列選別仕分け装置とすると、例えば第１系列の農産物供給装置４においては品種Ａの供給が終了し、第１系列の仕分けコンベア９から品種Ａが全てプールコンベア群Ｃに排出されたのを作業者が確認すると、次の品種Ｂを選別するために農産物供給装置４の付近に配置した操作卓２４を作業者が操作して、第１系列選別仕分け装置について品種Ａから品種Ｂに切り換わることを演算制御装置７に通知する。
【００６８】
また、第２系列選別仕分け装置と第３系列選別仕分け装置の農産物供給部４に対する品種Ａの農産物の供給は継続する。
【００６９】
この端数処理を例えば、表１の場合を例にして説明する。なお、表１は説明簡略化のために図１と異なるレーン数（１系列におけるレーン数は実際には６レーンとしているが、表１ではその半分の３レーンとしている）また、箱詰個数は４個を一箱とし、Ｒはレーンを示す。
【００７０】
第１系列選別仕分け装置には、端数処理の指示が出力されたので、演算処理装置７は、第１レーンと第３レーンにプールされている農産物を第２、第３系列の第４〜第９レーンに優先して箱詰装置１５に排出するための計算を以下のように行う。
【００７１】
例１．第１系列選別仕分け装置のみに端数処理が指示された場合は、
（１） 優３Ｌについて、一箱の農産物個数を４とすると、「１Ｒ上の３個＋９Ｒ上の１個」の組み合わせが選択され、
（２） 秀３Ｌについて、一箱の農産物個数を４とすると、「３Ｒ上の３個＋５Ｒ上の１個」の組み合わせが選択される。この場合、送出コンベア１６の傾動動作を下段と中段のプールコンベア群Ｃの間だけで行えば良く、箱詰包装装置１５に対する農産物の払い出しに要する時間を短縮することができる。
【００７２】
これにより、第１系列選別仕分け装置の各レーンからは農産物が全て箱詰装置１５に払い出されたことになり、この空となった第１系列選別仕分け装置の第１、第２、第３レーンで構成されるプールコンベア群Ｃに次の品種Ｂの農産物をプールすることが可能となる。
【００７３】
なお、表１において、第２レーンは既に空状態にあるが、これは予め空としている場合、或いは仕分けの比率によって既に空となる場合、又は一箱分に相当する個数の農産物を箱詰装置１５に向けて払い出した直後である場合がある。
【００７４】
第１系列選別仕分け装置の仕分けコンベア９から品種Ａの農産物が全てプールコンベア群Ｃに排出されたことを確認した後に第１系列選別仕分け装置に端数処理の指示を行うのを待って、第１系列選別仕分け装置の農産物供給部４に品種Ｂの農産物を供給する。品種Ｂが農産物供給部４に供給されて計測装置６により計測された農産物は受皿Ｄと共に、仕分けコンベア９に搬送されている間に、第１系列選別仕分け装置の各プールコンベア群Ｃにおける各レーンが端数処理によって次々に空となり、空となったレーンに対し順次割り当てられた品種Ｂの仕分け区分の農産物が排出装置１１により払い出されてプールされる。
【００７５】
なお、品種Ａの農産物が残っているレーンには品種Ｂの農産物を払い出すことができないので、当該レーンに対応する排出装置１１を非駆動状態とし、このレーンが端数処理或いは強制払い出しによって空になるのを待つ。
【００７６】
なお、このような場合に、各プールコンベア群Ｃに予備のプールコンベアを設けるか、あるいは端数処理の指示が行われる系列のプールコンベア群Ｃの一つのレーンを空としておくことにより、品種Ｂの農産物を仕分けコンベア９上を周回移動させることなく予備のプールコンベアあるいは空のレーンに払い出しすることで、仕分けコンベア９上に農産物が溢れることを避けることができるようにしても良い。
【００７７】
第１系列選別仕分け装置のレーンにプールされている農産物を第２系列、第３系列選別仕分け装置のレーンに優先して箱詰装置１５に払い出すため、第１系列選別仕分け装置のレーンは早めに空となるが、第２系列選別仕分け装置と第３系列選別仕分け装置ではまだ品種Ａに対して選別仕分け処理が行われ、各箱詰装置１５では箱詰包装処理が行われるのに並行して、第１系列選別仕分け装置の各レーンに対しては品種Ｂの農産物がプールされる。
【００７８】
そして、第２系列、第３系列選別仕分け装置の各仕分けコンベア９上から農産物が全てプールコンベア群Ｃに払い出されたことを作業者が確認後、夫々の農産物供給部４の近くに配置した操作卓２４を作業者が操作して品種Ｂの供給開始を演算制御装置７に通知する。これにより、以後供給する農産物が品種Ｂであることを各農産物の等階級と共に演算制御装置７が記憶する。
【００７９】
この品種Ｂの供給開始を演算制御装置に指示した後、第２系列、第３系列選別仕分け装置の各レーンに品種Ａの農産物がプールされていても、品種Ｂの農産物を第２系列、第３系列選別仕分け装置の各農産物供給部に供給することができる。これにより、第２系列、第３系列選別仕分け装置では、品種Ｂの計測処理が行われ、夫々の仕分けコンベア９に品種Ｂの農産物が搬送され、第２、第３系列選別仕分け装置の空となった各レーンには、当該レーンに割り付けられた仕分け区分の品種Ｂの農産物が排出装置１１により払い出しされてプールされる。
【００８０】
そして、第２、第３系列選別仕分け装置の各レーンにプールされていた品種Ａの農産物が全て箱詰装置に払い出されて箱詰包装処理が行われ、最終的に１箱の包装個数に満たない品種Ａの農産物が包装箱に仮箱詰される。
【００８１】
表１に示す場合、品種切り替えの際、従来では各レーン毎に仮箱詰を行っていたので、第１レーンの３Ｌ：優３個で１箱、第３レーンの３Ｌ：秀３個で１箱、第５レーンの３Ｌ：秀２個で１箱、第７レーンの３Ｌ：秀３個で１箱、第９レーンの３Ｌ：優３個で１箱というように、この一つのマトリックスプールコンベア群Ｍで５箱の仮箱詰が発生する。
【００８２】
しかし、本実施の形態では、端数処理を行うため、最終的には第９レーンの３Ｌ：優３個の１箱だけが端数として残り、この端数３個が仮箱詰され、また３Ｌの秀については過不足なく全て箱詰される。
【００８３】
したがって、従来では５箱の仮箱詰が生じていたが、本実施の形態では仮箱詰が１個に減り、多数の仮の包装箱が散乱するという状況がなくなる。
【００８４】
このように、品種Ａの農産物に対する最終の箱詰包装処理が終了すると、マトリックスプールコンベア群Ｍには品種Ｂの農産物のみがプールされているため、品種Ａの箱詰包装の終了後、直ちに品種Ｂの農産物を箱詰装置１５に供給し、品種Ｂの箱詰包装処理を行うことが可能となる。
【００８５】
なお、上述の例１における端数処理の指示は第１系列選別仕分け装置のみについて行うようにしているが、第１、第２系列選別仕分け装置、あるいは全系列（第１〜第３系列選別仕分け装置）に対して端数処理の指示を行うようにすることもでき、例２、例３に端数処理の計算例を示す。
【００８６】
例２．第１、第２系列選別仕分け装置に端数処理を指示した場合
（１） 優３Ｌについて、一箱の農産物個数を４とすると、「１Ｒ上の３個＋９Ｒ上の１個」の組み合わせが選択され、
（２）秀３Ｌについて、一箱の農産物の個数を４とすると、「３Ｒ上の３個＋５Ｒ上の１個」の組み合わせが選択され、
（３）秀３Ｌについて、一箱の農産物の個数を４とすると、「５Ｒ上の１個＋７Ｒ上の３個」の組み合わせが選択される。
【００８７】
この場合、第１系列選別仕分け装置及び第２系列選別仕分け装置の各農産物供給部４の近くに配置した各操作卓２４を夫々作業者が操作して演算制御装置７に端数処理の指示を通知する。
【００８８】
例３．全系列選別仕分け装置に端数処理を指示した場合
（１） 優３Ｌについて、一箱の農産物の個数を４とすると、「１Ｒ上の３個＋９Ｒ上の１個」の組み合わせが選択され、
（２） 秀３Ｌについて、一箱の農産物の個数を４とすると、「３Ｒ上の３個＋５Ｒ上の１個」の組み合わせが選択され、
（３） 秀３Ｌについて、一箱の農産物の個数を４とすると、「５Ｒ上の１個＋７Ｒ上の３個」の組み合わせが選択され、
（４） 優３Ｌについて、一箱の農産物の個数を２とすると、「９Ｒ上の２個」の組み合わせが選択される。
【００８９】
図５は演算制御装置７による上記した端数処理および箱詰処理の動作を説明するフローチャートである。
【００９０】
端数詰合処理が開始されると、ステップ（以下Ｓと略す）１において、各マトリックスプールコンベア群Ｍを一つの領域として、１レーンを構成するプールコンベア上の農産物の個数を集計する。
【００９１】
Ｓ２において、各マトリックスプールコンベア群Ｍ内でのプールコンベア１２上にプールされている農産物の個数に基づいて、端数処理の指示された系列のレーンを優先的に空とする詰合わせ計算を行い、マトリックスプールコンベア群Ｍのいずれのレーンからどれだけの個数を払い出すかを求め、シリンダー装置１７及び該当するレーンのストッパー装置１３を制御する。
【００９２】
Ｓ３において、ストッパー装置１３に対してストッパー解除を指示し、農産物の払い出しを行い、所定個数の払い出しが行われるとストッパーを動作させて農産物の払い出しを阻止する。その際、箱詰装置１５に払い出し指示を行い（Ｓ７）、箱詰を行わせ（Ｓ９）、箱詰が完了すると箱詰完了を指示する（Ｓ９）。
【００９３】
箱詰が完了すると（Ｓ４）、マトリックスプールコンベア群Ｍの各レーンにプールされている農産物の個数データを修正し（Ｓ５）、この一連の動作を端数処理が終了するまで行う（Ｓ６）。
【００９４】
本実施の形態において、品種Ａから品種Ｂへの切り替え動作を図６に示すフローチャートに基づいて説明する。
【００９５】
現在、操作卓２４を操作して品種Ａの端数処理を指示すると、演算制御装置７の仕分け制御部は端数処理の指示を受けて（Ｓ１４）、品種Ａの農産物の端数を集めて所定の箱詰個数となる端数箱詰の指示を行う（Ｓ１５）。
【００９６】
そして、Ｓ１６において、バーコードリーダー１０にて仕分けコンベア９上を搬送される農産物を載せた受皿Ｄのバーコードにより読み取ることでその農産物の品種を判別し、読み取った農産物の品種が品種Ａであれば、品種Ａについて該当する仕分け区分のプールコンベアを検索し（Ｓ１７）、品種Ａの農産物を排出装置１１により所定のプールコンベアに払い出す仕分け処理を行う（Ｓ１９）。
【００９７】
また、操作卓２４で品種を品種Ａから品種Ｂに切り替えたことが仕分け制御部に送信された場合、仕分けコンベア９上を搬送する農産物の品種をその受皿Ｄのバーコードをバーコードリーダー１０により読み取ることで認識すると、空のプールコンベアを検索し、この空のプールコンベアを品種Ｂの特定の仕分け区分の農産物をプールするために割り付け（Ｓ１８）、品種Ｂの農産物をプールするために仕分け排出する（Ｓ１９）。
【００９８】
なお、操作卓２４では、端数処理の指示後、品種Ｂへの切り替え操作を演算制御装置７等に指示する。
【００９９】
なお、上記した実施の形態は、農産物の品種を品種Ａから品種Ｂに切り替える場合を例にして説明したが、品目の切り替えを行う場合も同様である。
【０１００】
なお、品目メロンについて品種としては、「アンデス」、「プリンス」、「アールス」。品目トマトについて品種としては「ファースト」、「桃太郎」。品目桃について品種としては「白鳳」、「あかつき」、「千曲」等がある。
【０１０１】
また、品目別選別、例えば「桃」「梨」「りんご」においては、トレイパックについて共通化（個数が同じもの）している。
【０１０２】
【発明の効果】
請求項１に係る発明によれば、仕分けコンベア上を搬送する農産物については等級、階級の他に品種又は品目の項目が記憶されているので、例えば品種Ａの農産物に続いて異なる品種Ｂを搬送しても、例えば農産物の品種の切り替えの際に、切り替え前の品種Ａの農産物がプールされていない空のプールコンベアに切り替え後の品種Ｂの農産物をプールさせることができる。このため、切り替え前の品種Ａの農産物の包装処理と並行して切り替え後の品種Ｂの農産物についての選別仕分け処理が行え、切り替え前の農産物の包装処理が進めば空となるプールコンベアも増え、これに応じて切り替え後の農産物が占めるプールコンベアの割合が増えるので、切り替え前の農産物の包装処理に並行して切り替え後の農産物の包装処理も可能となり、切り替え前の農産物包装処理が終了すると、直ちに切り替え後の農産物の包装処理を実行することができ、切り替え前の農産物の包装終了から切り替え後の農産物の包装開始までに要する時間が短縮できる。
【０１０３】
請求項２に係る発明によれば、例えば上段、中段、下段の３系列の仕分け装置によって仕分け部を構成することができ、例えば１系列における６レーンのプールコンベアを３系列合わせたものを一つのグループとすると、一つのプールコンベア群には１８レーンのプールコンベアが存在する。そして、農産物の品種又は品目の切り替えの際に、１８レーンのプールコンベアの中で各系列毎に１又は複数の空のプールコンベアを用意しておけば、上記した第１の構成と同様に、切り替え後の農産物は空のプールコンベアにプールされ、切り替え前の農産物は、送出装置によって包装部に送出されて包装され、一度に大量の農産物を処理できる仕分け部を備えた農産物の選別包装装置に対して農産物の品種或いは品目の切り替えを短時間で行うことができる。
【０１０４】
請求項３に係る発明によれば、複数系列の仕分け装置の中で、例えば一つの系列の仕分け装置について農産物の切り替えを指示するが、他の系列の仕分け装置については切り替えを行うことなく作業を継続させることができ、品種あるいは品目の異なる農産物を異なるプールコンベアに同時並行的にプールさせる際、切り替えの指示された系列のプールコンベアに切り替え後の農産物をプールさせるので、切り替えが指示されていない系列の仕分け装置を用いた切り替え前の農産物の包装作業に支障を生じさせることがなく、順に切り替えの指示がなされていない系列の仕分け装置に対して農産物の切り替えを指示することにより、空となるプールコンベアを順に増やし、切り替え前の農産物の包装終了から切り替え後の農産物の包装開始までに要する時間が短縮できる。
【０１０５】
請求項４に係る発明によれば、例えば３系列に渡る一つのプールコンベア群における複数のプールコンベアには、例えば階級が３Ｌの品種「アンデス」のメロンが等級（優、秀等）別にプールされている場合、品種を「プリンス」に切り替え、農産物の切り替え指示を例えば上下３段構成の下段の仕分け装置に指示したとすると、該下段の仕分け装置のプールコンベアにプールされている切り替え前の農産物から包装部に排出されるので、下段のプールコンベアが他の系列のプールコンベアよりも早期に空となり、農産物の切り替えが指示された下段の空のプールコンベアに切り替え後の農産物がプールされる。
【０１０６】
また、端数処理によって、同一仕分け区分の農産物を最終的に端数が出るまで所定個数での箱詰が行えるので、箱詰個数に満たない端数個の農産物を仮に収容した箱の個数を大幅に削減することができ、包装部の周囲を整頓することができた。
【０１０７】
さらに、従来では端数の農産物を複数の包装箱に仮に収容し、後でこれらの農産物を手作業で箱詰し、最終的に端数の出たものを一箱に収容していたが、このような作業が自動化され、その分作業者を農産物の供給に投入することができ、農産物の迅速な供給を行うことができる。
【０１０８】
請求項５に係る発明によれば、予め空のプールコンベアが存在するので、切り替え後の農産物を迅速にプールコンベアにプールさせることができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の実施の形態による農産物の選別包装装置の平面図。
【図２】図１に示す排出装置から箱詰装置の間の平面図。
【図３】図１のＡ−Ａ線に沿った側面図。
【図４】図１の演算制御装置に記憶される農産物のデータを示す図。
【図５】図１の演算制御装置が実行する端数詰合処理及び箱詰装置の動作を示すフローチャートである。
【図６】図１の演算制御装置の仕分け制御部が実行する仕分け排出処理と操作卓の操作出力を示すフローチャートである。
【符号の説明】
Ｃ（Ｃ１〜Ｃ６） プールコンベア群
Ｄ 受皿
Ｅ 包装箱
Ｍ マトリックスプールコンベア群
Ｐ１ 作業者
Ｒ レーン
１ 仕分け装置
２ 選別装置
３ 選別コンベア
４ 農産物供給部
５ａ、５ａ 分岐選別コンベア
６ 計測装置
７ 演算制御装置
８ａ、８ｂ バーコードリーダー
９ 仕分けコンベア
９ａ 払い出し搬送路
９ｂ リターン搬送路
１０ 払い出し用バーコードリーダー
１１ 排出装置
１１ａ 回転体
１２ａ〜１２ｆ プールコンベア
１３ ストッパー装置
１３ａ ストッパー部材
１４ 払い出し制御装置
１５（１５ａ〜１５ｆ） 箱詰装置
１６（１６ａ〜１６ｆ） 送出コンベア
１７ シリンダー装置
１７ａ シリンダーロッド
１８（１８ａ、１８ｂ、１８ｃ、１８ｄ） トレイパック積載部
１９ トレイパック移載装置
２０ 箱詰プールコンベア
２１ 農産物移載装置
２２ 受皿排出用ストッパー
２３（２３ａ〜２３ｆ） 受皿回収コンベア
２４ 操作卓
２５ 合流用受皿回収コンベア[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an agricultural product sorting and packaging apparatus suitable for use in a fruit selection field for sorting and shipping agricultural products such as apples, strawberries, pears, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, etc., especially in the same item. The present invention relates to an agricultural product sorting and packaging apparatus that enables rapid sorting and packaging of agricultural products after switching between varieties and items.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a sorting and packaging apparatus for agricultural products, there is a type using a tray called a free tray type (Patent Document 1). This tray is provided with, for example, a barcode as identification information unique to each tray on the outer peripheral surface, and an empty tray is sequentially supplied to the upstream side of the sorting conveyor. Then, the worker places the agricultural product brought from the producer into the fruit selection site on the empty tray on the sorting conveyor in the agricultural product supply unit.
[0003]
A measuring device for determining a sorting category for sorting agricultural products is arranged downstream from the agricultural product supply unit in the conveying direction of the sorting conveyor, and a measurement result measured by the measuring device is input to the arithmetic processing unit. In addition, a barcode reader that reads the barcode of the tray on which the agricultural products carried on the sorting conveyor are placed is arranged at the entrance or the exit side of the measurement device, and the measurement result of the measurement device and the barcode The unique information is associated with each other and stored in the memory of the arithmetic processing unit.
[0004]
Agricultural products on the trays that have passed through this measuring device and are conveyed on the sorting conveyor are already graded (excellent, excellent, etc.) and class (LL, L, M, S, etc.) based on the measurement results by the measuring device. It has been judged.
[0005]
The tray containing agricultural products that has passed through the measuring device is transferred from the sorting conveyor to the sorting conveyor. A plurality of discharge devices are provided in the transport path of the sorting conveyor along the transport direction, and a discharge device for discharging the trays containing agricultural products moving on the sorting conveyor to the side pool conveyor for each sorting section is provided. It has been. This discharge device is designed to be able to discharge trays with different sorts of produce for each of the corresponding two pool conveyors. Each pool conveyer packs the produce with the same sort category. The number of units is to be pooled.
[0006]
An apparatus configuration including the agricultural product supply unit, the measuring device, and the sorting conveyor provided along the sorting conveyor is hereinafter referred to as a sorting device, and also includes the sorting conveyor, the plurality of discharging devices, and the plurality of pool conveyors. When the apparatus configuration is referred to as a sorting device, the sorting device and the sorting device are arranged in a substantially planar manner, and a configuration is proposed in which the sorting device is arranged in a plurality of stages up and down. Moreover, the stopper which controls discharge | emission of the saucer containing agricultural products is each provided in the front-end | tip part of each pool conveyor.
[0007]
In a configuration in which such sorting devices are arranged in a plurality of stages, for example, in three stages, one pool conveyor group is arranged in the vertical direction, and each pool conveyor group has the same sorting category. One boxing device has a distance in front of the pool conveyor group with respect to each of the pool conveyor groups arranged in the vertical direction, and is arranged at substantially the same level as the pool conveyor group in the middle stage, for example. Has been.
[0008]
A delivery conveyor that selectively connects the upper, middle or lower pool conveyor groups of the pool conveyor group and the boxing devices is attached to be tiltable in the vertical direction. When the upper pool conveyor is set to each lane, the stoppers of the upper pool conveyors are released, and the trays containing the agricultural products pooled on the upper pool conveyors pass through the delivery conveyor. Agricultural products conveyed to the apparatus and suspended and held by a predetermined number of pieces at a time by the suction means are boxed on a tray pack automatically loaded in a packaging box.
[0009]
In addition, by switching the position of the pool conveyor group to which the delivery conveyor is connected, it is possible to supply the tray containing agricultural products to the boxing device substantially continuously.
[0010]
Such a sorting and packaging device in which sorting devices are arranged in multiple stages can, for example, sort agricultural products of one variety at a time by a plurality of sorting devices, and sort into a predetermined sorting category by a plurality of sorting devices and pool them. As a result, it has the advantage that a large amount of agricultural products can be selected and packaged in a short time without increasing the flat installation area.
[0011]
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-10-175610
[0012]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the agricultural products such as fruits, there are several kinds of varieties even in the same item, and these sorting operations are usually performed for each kind. In such a conventional sorting and packaging apparatus for agricultural products, the kind A to the kind B In order to prevent the product types A and B from being mixed when switching to the first, the supply of the next product type B to the supply unit in each sorting device is first stopped and already placed on the tray on the sorting conveyor. The agricultural product of the cultivar A is subjected to measurement processing by the measuring device as it is, and is subjected to sorting processing and discharged as usual to the pool conveyor in a predetermined sorting category. This state is performed simultaneously for all sorting devices in the vertical direction.
[0013]
If the upper, middle, and lower pool conveyor groups in the pool conveyor group that are vertically spaced and aligned are, for example, 6 lanes each, the pool conveyor group that is vertically spaced and aligned is a total of 18 lanes. There is a pool conveyor, and the pool conveyors are classified and sorted by classification (classification, class).
[0014]
Agricultural products of variety A remaining on each of the upper, middle and lower pool conveyor groups in one stacked pool conveyor group are sent to the boxing device according to sorting category, and boxed according to sorting category for each stage. If a fraction less than the number of boxes is generated, this fraction is taken in the packaging box for the time being, and each packaging box (hereinafter referred to as a fraction packaging box) containing the agricultural products less than the predetermined number is stored. Temporary storage in the vicinity of the place where the filling device is located or another designated place, or carry out the fraction packaging box by a carry-out conveyor for carrying out the packed box and put it in one place Storage methods such as temporary storage.
[0015]
Also, for example, in production areas where fruits of multiple items can be harvested at the same time, the above-mentioned varieties can be used when switching items because of the requirement to efficiently select the fruits of multiple items that arrive at the selection yard. The same work as when switching is done.
[0016]
However, since such fraction packaging boxes are individually accommodated in the packaging box in each boxing device if the stage positions are different even in the same sorting section, the number of fraction packaging boxes increases.
[0017]
For this reason, there were the following problems.
[0018]
1 Each sorting device is in a suspended state until the fraction of agricultural products on all pool conveyors that have existed is removed, and the sorting and sorting of the next varieties or items of agricultural products is not performed. It was.
[0019]
2 It took time and effort to store the fraction packaging box.
[0020]
3. In order to reduce the number of fraction packaging boxes, the processing of placing agricultural products in multiple fraction packaging boxes containing agricultural products of the same sorting category in one box as much as possible is performed manually. Tended to be messy.
[0021]
4. When the number of varieties or items was changed, the work time required for switching, such as removing fractions of agricultural products, was increased by that amount, and the sorting / sorting ability could be lowered.
[0022]
The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and it is possible to make as much time as possible until the agricultural products after the switching are actually sorted and the packaging standby state is entered after the switching instruction of the varieties or items of the agricultural products is made. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an agricultural product sorting and packaging apparatus which can be shortened and can improve the work efficiency from sorting and sorting to boxing.
[0023]
In addition, by effectively utilizing the feature that a plurality of sorting devices are arranged in parallel, it is possible to perform sorting and sorting processing in parallel on the agricultural products before and after switching of varieties or items. It is an object of the present invention to provide an agricultural product sorting and packaging apparatus capable of reducing the downtime of sorting and sorting processing when switching items and improving processing efficiency.
[0024]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The first configuration of the invention according to the present application, as described in claim 1, has a sorting conveyor for transporting a receiving tray containing agricultural products for which the grade, class and variety of the agricultural products, or the sorting classification by item have been determined, A sorting device that discharges agricultural products by sorting category to a pool conveyor provided in a large number along the conveying path of the sorting conveyor, a packaging unit that packages agricultural products on a tray transported from the pool conveyor, and a variety or item of agricultural products , While selecting the pool conveyor on which the agricultural products before the switching are not pooled, the packaging conveyors on which the agricultural products before the switching are not pooled are placed on the sorting conveyor. A sorting and packaging device for agricultural products, characterized by having sorting control means for pooling the agricultural products after switching to move That.
[0025]
In this first configuration, since the items of varieties or items are stored in addition to the grade and class for the agricultural products conveyed on the sorting conveyor, for example, different varieties B are conveyed following the agricultural products of varieties A. For example, when switching agricultural products, prepare an empty pool conveyor in which the agricultural products of the varieties A before switching are not pooled, and switch the agricultural products of the varieties B after switching to this empty pool conveyor. Along with the packaging processing of the previous cultivar A, the sorting and processing of the varieties B after switching can be performed, and if the packaging processing of the agricultural products before switching proceeds, the number of empty pool conveyors will increase. The proportion of pool conveyors that occupy increases, and packaging processing of agricultural products after switching is possible in parallel with packaging processing of agricultural products before switching. When agricultural packaging process is completed, it is possible to immediately perform the packaging process of agricultural products after the switching.
[0026]
The grade, class and variety or item of the agricultural product is stored in the sorting control means constituted by a personal computer or the like in correspondence with the identification information unique to the saucer provided in the saucer when the classification of the produce is determined. . And the sorting control means reads the grade, class and variety or item from the specific information of the tray read by the barcode reader provided in the sorting device for the tray containing agricultural products conveyed on the sorting conveyor, Alternatively, the sorting signal for each item is sent to the corresponding discharge device and discharged to a predetermined pool conveyor for pooling.
[0027]
Further, by providing an information storage medium such as an ID tag for each tray instead of the barcode provided on the tray, it is possible to directly store or read the sorting category for each tray.
[0028]
The second configuration of the invention according to the present application, as described in claim 2, has a sorting conveyor for transporting a receiving tray containing agricultural products for which the grade, class, and variety of the agricultural products, or the sorting classification for each item have been determined, A sorting device that discharges agricultural products by sorting category into a plurality of pool conveyors provided along the conveying path of the sorting conveyor is made into one series, a sorting unit composed of a plurality of sorting devices, and a number of sorting devices in each of the sorting devices The pool conveyor is divided into a plurality of groups so as to include each series of pool conveyors, and is arranged for each group of pool conveyors divided into groups, and a packaging unit that wraps agricultural products on the trays conveyed from the pool conveyor, Each system is provided with a receiving tray containing agricultural products that are respectively arranged between the packaging sections and the pool conveyor groups and pooled on the pool conveyor. A feeding device that selectively sends out to the packaging unit every time, and a pool conveyor on which the agricultural products before the switching are not pooled while performing the packaging process on the agricultural products before the switching when switching the varieties or items of the agricultural products And a sorting control unit for selecting and pooling the farm products after switching, which moves on the sorting conveyor to a pool conveyor where the farm products before switching are not pooled.
[0029]
In this second configuration, for example, a sorting unit can be configured by a three-line sorting device of an upper stage, a middle stage, and a lower stage. For example, a combination of three series of 6-lane pool conveyors in one series is a group. There is an 18-lane pool conveyor in one pool conveyor group. And, when changing the varieties or items of agricultural products, if one or more empty pool conveyors are prepared for each series in the 18-lane pool conveyor, as in the first configuration described above, The agricultural products after the switching are pooled on an empty pool conveyor, and the agricultural products before the switching are sent to the packaging unit by the sending device and packaged.
[0030]
According to a third configuration of the invention of the present application, as described in claim 3, in the second configuration described above, the sorting control unit is configured such that the sort control unit includes a product type or an item for each series with respect to the multiple series sorter. The switching instruction is performed.
[0031]
In the third configuration, for example, the switching of agricultural products is instructed for the sorting device of one series among the sorting devices of a plurality of series, but the work is continued without switching for the sorting apparatus of the other series. When pooling agricultural products of different varieties or items on different pool conveyors at the same time, the grouped agricultural products are switched to the pool conveyor of the group that has been instructed to switch. An empty pool conveyor can be provided by instructing the switching of agricultural products to a sorting device of a series that is not instructed to switch in order without causing any trouble in the packaging work of agricultural products before switching using the device. Increase in order, from the end of packaging of agricultural products before switching to the start of packaging of agricultural products after switching Time can be shortened.
[0032]
According to a fourth configuration of the invention of the present application, as described in claim 4, in the second or third configuration described above, the sorting control unit is configured to switch each of the varieties or items of agricultural products when switching When the number of agricultural products before switching that are pooled on the pool conveyor is counted, and the combination calculation satisfying the number of boxed packaging of one box is performed based on the result of the counting, the pool in the one or more series sorting device It is characterized in that the combination calculation of the fraction processing in which the conveyor is emptied early is performed.
[0033]
In the fourth configuration, for example, in a plurality of pool conveyors in one pool conveyor group in three series, for example, melons of the class “Andes” having a class of 3L are pooled by grade (excellent, excellent). If the varieties are switched to “Prince” and an instruction to change the produce is given to the lower sorting device of, for example, the upper and lower three-tier configuration, the packaging product is switched from the farm products before the switching stored in the pool conveyor of the lower sorting device. Therefore, the lower-stage pool conveyor is emptied earlier than the other series of pool conveyors, and the farm products after switching to the lower-stage empty pool conveyor instructed to switch farm products are pooled.
[0034]
In addition, the rounding process allows for the boxing of a certain number of agricultural products in the same sorting category until the final rounding is reached, so the number of boxes that temporarily contain fractional agricultural products that are less than the number of boxes is greatly reduced. It was possible to organize the area around the packaging.
[0035]
Furthermore, in the past, fractional agricultural products were temporarily stored in a plurality of packaging boxes, and these agricultural products were later boxed manually, and finally the fractional products were stored in one box. Therefore, it is possible to automate the work and to input the worker to supply the agricultural product, and to supply the agricultural product quickly.
[0036]
A fifth configuration of the invention according to the present application is the pool according to any one of the above-described configurations, wherein the sorting control unit does not assign a sorting division before switching the variety or item of the agricultural product. A conveyor is set in advance.
[0037]
In this 5th structure, since an empty pool conveyor exists previously, the agricultural products after switching can be rapidly pooled on a pool conveyor.
[0038]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings.
[0039]
1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a produce sorting and packaging apparatus and a block diagram of a control system, and FIG. 2 is a single boxing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an AA arrow view of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a discharge device, a pool conveyor, a sorting conveyor, and the like corresponding thereto.
[0040]
The agricultural product sorting and packaging apparatus in the present embodiment uses a receiving tray D called a free tray type, and has a mechanical configuration substantially similar to the conventional example described above.
[0041]
The agricultural product sorting and packaging apparatus according to the present embodiment has the sorting apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 arranged in three stages vertically, and the sorting apparatus 1 in each stage is arranged on substantially the same plane. The trays D on which the measured agricultural products are placed are transferred from the sorting conveyors 3 of the sorting devices 2 of the respective stages to the sorting conveyors 9 of the sorting apparatuses 1 of the corresponding stages.
[0042]
Since the sorting apparatus 2 of each stage has the same configuration, the sorting apparatus 2 for the upper stage shown in FIG. 1 will be described below.
[0043]
The agricultural product supply unit 4 of the sorting device 2 is configured in a two-row manner, and the worker P1 places the agricultural products on an empty tray D supplied to the two branching sorting conveyors 5a and 5a. On the downstream side of each branch sorting conveyor 5a, 5b in the transport direction, a measuring device 6 is arranged corresponding to each branch sorting conveyor 5a, 5b, the measurement corresponding to the measurement item is executed, and the measurement result is obtained from the sorting packaging device. It is output to the arithmetic and control unit 7 that controls the whole. In addition, on the exit side of the measuring device 6, unique identification information of a tray on which the measured agricultural products conveyed on the branch sorting conveyors 5a and 5b are placed, for example, barcode readers 8a and 8b for reading barcodes are arranged. Then, the read unique identification information of the saucer is output to the arithmetic and control unit 7.
[0044]
In this arithmetic and control unit 7, as shown in FIG. 4, the address number as the unique identification information of the saucer and the measurement result of the produce on the saucer are stored in the memory unit of the arithmetic and control unit 7 as write data. It is supposed to be. The items to be written shown in FIG. 4 are varieties, classes, and grades, but items such as producers are also written, and items such as varieties and producers are arranged near the agricultural product supply unit 4. Etc. are input to the arithmetic and control unit 7.
[0045]
The two branch sorting conveyors 5a and 5b are connected to the one sorting conveyor 3 on the downstream side in the transport direction, and the tray D on which the agricultural products transported on the two branch sorting conveyors 5a and 5b are placed. Join the book sorting conveyor 3. And the front-end | tip part of the selection conveyor 3 is connected to the sorting conveyor 9 of the endless structure of the sorting apparatus 1, and the receiving tray D with the agricultural product in which the sorting classification was discriminated is conveyed clockwise in the figure.
[0046]
The sorting conveyor 9 has an endless configuration including a payout conveyance path 9a for paying out the tray D to be conveyed by the discharge device, and a return conveyance path 9b for returning the tray D to the original start position from the end of the payout conveyance path 9a. Therefore, the bar code of the tray D immediately after passing through the starting end position is read by the dispensing bar code reader 10, and the unique identification information of the read tray D is output to the arithmetic and control unit 7.
[0047]
A plurality of discharge devices 11 are arranged along the payout conveyance path 9a of the sort conveyor 9, and when a sort signal is input from the sort control unit of the arithmetic control device 7, the discharge device to which the sort signal is input 11 is discharged to the determined side of the two side pool conveyors 12, for example, the pool conveyors 12a and 12b. In addition, although the discharge device 11 is made into one unit with respect to these two pool conveyors 12 (12a and 12b, 12c and 12d, and 12e and 12f), the discharge device 11 is connected to either pool by a sorting signal. It can be discharged to the conveyor 12 (12a or 12b, 12c or 12d, 12e or 12f).
[0048]
As shown in FIG. 2, the discharge device 11 is provided with a plurality of electromagnets on the outer periphery of a rotating body 11a that always rotates in the direction of the arrow, and the produce on the tray D that passes through the payout conveyance path 9a is, for example, pool conveyors 12a and 12b. In the case of the agricultural product of the sorting category to be dispensed to one of the pool conveyors 12a, the sorting signal is input to the discharging device 11 at the timing when the tray D reaches the discharging device 11. Then, the electromagnet attracting the tray D rotates clockwise together with the rotating body 11a, and the electromagnet is turned off at an early timing, so that the electromagnet is paid out to the pool conveyor 12a substantially straight along the arrow indicated by a straight line. . In addition, in the case of the agricultural product of the sorting category to be dispensed to the other pool conveyor 12b, the tray D is dispensed to the left pool conveyor 12b by cutting off the current to the electromagnet at the position where the rotating body 11a further rotates. It is.
[0049]
In the present embodiment, a plurality of lanes R arranged side by side are set as one pool conveyor group C, and a plurality of the pool conveyor groups C (C1 to C6) are arranged side by side.
[0050]
As shown in FIG. 3, the pool conveyor 12 of each lane constituting each of the plurality of pool conveyor groups C has a stopper device 13 attached to the discharge end portion as shown in FIG. 3, and the operation of the stopper device 13 is controlled by the dispensing control device 14. It has come to be. When a stopper operation signal is output from the dispensing control device 14 to the stopper device 13 in order to temporarily stop the discharge of the receiving tray D on which the agricultural products are placed, the stopper member 13a protrudes upward and reaches the tip on the pool conveyor. By abutting on the receiving tray D on which the agricultural product is placed, the movement in the transport direction from the receiving tray D to the rear receiving tray D is prevented. Further, when a stopper release signal is output from the dispensing control device 14 to the stopper device 13, the stopper member 13a moves downward to release the contact with the leading tray D, and the stopper member 13a subsequently protrudes upward. The tray D on the pool conveyor 12 is discharged.
[0051]
As described above, the sorting device 1 is arranged in three stages in the vertical direction, and the pool conveyor group C is also installed with the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, and the position of the tip aligned. A set of the upper, middle and lower pool conveyor groups C aligned in the vertical direction is referred to as a matrix pool conveyor group M.
[0052]
Therefore, in the case of this embodiment, it is composed of six matrix pool conveyor groups M.
[0053]
In front of each matrix pool conveyor group M, a boxing device 15 (15a to 15f) is arranged at a distance, and in the case of the present embodiment, referring to FIG. From the left, the boxing devices 15a to 15d corresponding to the four matrix pool conveyor groups M (each composed of the pool conveyor groups C1 to C4) are automatic boxing devices, and the boxing devices 15e and 15f are manual boxing devices. It is said.
[0054]
Between the matrix pool conveyor group M and the boxing devices 15a to 15d, as shown in FIG. 3, a single-stage delivery conveyor 16 (16a to 16f) composed of a conveyor of a plurality of lanes is arranged. These feeding conveyors 16 are tilted with the packing device 15 side as a fulcrum, so that the tip of the tilting side is selectively connected to one of the upper and lower pool conveyor groups C, and the connected pool conveyor groups Each lane of C and each lane of the delivery conveyor 16 are connected, and by receiving a stopper release signal to the stopper device 13 provided at the tip of each pool conveyor 12 of the connected pool conveyor group C, the tray D on which the agricultural products are placed. Is supplied to the boxing device 15 from each lane of the pool conveyor group C via each lane of the delivery conveyor 16.
[0055]
On the front end side of the delivery conveyor 16, a lifting and lowering cylinder device 17 is disposed, and the delivery conveyor 16 is tilted by moving the cylinder rod 17a up and down.
[0056]
When the tilt control signal for connecting to the upper, middle or lower pool conveyor group C is output from the payout control device 14, the cylinder device 17 is driven, and the designated upper, middle or lower stage is instructed. To any one of the pool conveyor groups C.
[0057]
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the delivery conveyor 16 is installed in accordance with the middle pool conveyor group C, and the delivery conveyor 16 is connected to the middle pool conveyor group C in a horizontal posture. ing.
[0058]
As shown in FIG. 2, the boxing device 15 does not have a fixed sorting section, but has a plurality of types of tray packs so as to support a plurality of sorting sections (for example, L, M, S, SS, etc.). A tray pack stacking unit 18 (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d), a tray pack transfer device 19 for transferring the tray pack of the tray pack stacking unit 18 to the packaging box E supplied to the packing position, A boxed pool conveyor 20 for pooling the receiving tray D on which the agricultural products supplied from the delivery conveyor 16 are placed, and a predetermined number of agricultural products on the receiving tray D pooled in the boxed pool conveyor 20 are picked up and taken up at a time, and then packed. It has an agricultural product transfer device 21 that transfers to a tray pack in the box E and packs a predetermined number of boxes.
[0059]
A tray discharge stopper 22 is provided at the front end of the boxed pool conveyor 20. When a tray discharge signal is output from the dispensing control device 14 to the tray discharge stopper 22, agricultural products are picked up for emptying and empty. The tray D that has become is discharged to a tray collection conveyor 23 (23a to 23f) provided for each boxing device, and the empty tray D from these tray collection conveyors 23 (23a to 23f) is a tray collection conveyor for merging. 25 is fed again to the branch sorting conveyors 5a and 5a of the agricultural product supply unit 4.
[0060]
Agricultural products pooled in the upper and lower three lanes of the plurality of rows constituting each matrix pool conveyor group M described above are counted for each lane by the arithmetic and control unit 7 when discharged to each lane by the discharge device 11, for example. Is managed. Of course, a dedicated number sensor may be provided in each lane, and the farm products pooled in each lane may be counted.
[0061]
Table 1 shows an example of management.
[0062]
[Table 1]

The calculation control device 7 composed of a calculation unit and a sorting control unit calculates the number required for each box conveyor 12 to be supplied to the boxing device 15 and packed in a box, and a boxed packaging unit (for example, one unit) The cylinder device 17 for driving the delivery conveyor 16 and the stopper device 13 for the corresponding lane are driven and controlled so as to pay out the packaging unit number of agricultural products from the pool conveyor 12 pooled in the box) to the boxing device 15. .
[0063]
A predetermined number of agricultural products supplied to the boxing device 15 are pooled on the boxing pool conveyor 20 and are predetermined by the agricultural product transfer device 21 in accordance with the packing mode (the number of rows of recessed portions of the tray pack × the number of rows). Agricultural products are transferred into the packaging box E and boxed.
[0064]
By the way, if the type of agricultural products currently boxed after sorting from sorting is A type, when changing to B type which is different from A type, A type and B type are not mixed. Therefore, in the case where all the agricultural products are discharged from all the pool conveyor groups C having the upper and lower three-stage configuration, and the B variety is supplied to the agricultural product supply unit 4 in each stage, the time required for switching the variety Becomes longer.
[0065]
Therefore, when switching from the A type to the B type, a lane of a series (specific lane) that has been rounded is selected from the pool conveyor 12 that pools the A type, and this specific lane is selected. In addition to prohibiting the delivery of agricultural products from the discharge device 11, the agricultural products pooled in the specific lane are discharged to the boxing device in preference to other lanes to create an empty state at an early stage. Pool B varieties in the lane.
[0066]
In this specification, among the agricultural products remaining in a plurality of lanes, assortment calculation in which agricultural products of the same class are less than the number of packaging required for one box is referred to as fraction processing, and in this embodiment In particular, calculation is performed so that the agricultural products in the specific lane described above are preferentially packed and the specific lane is emptied at an early stage.
[0067]
Specifically, in the upper and lower three-stage sorting device 1 and the sorting device 2 connected to each of the respective sorting devices 1, the lower sorting device 1 and the sorting device 2 connected to the first sorting device 2 are first connected. Series sorting / sorting device, middle sorting device 1 and sorting device 2 connected thereto are second sorting sorting device, and upper sorting device 1 and sorting device 2 linked thereto are third sorting sorting device Then, for example, when the operator confirms that the supply of the variety A has been completed in the first-line agricultural product supply apparatus 4 and the variety A has been discharged from the first-line sorting conveyor 9 to the pool conveyor group C, In order to select the next variety B, the operator operates the console 24 arranged in the vicinity of the agricultural product supply device 4 to switch the variety A to the variety B for the first line sorting / sorting device 7. Notify That.
[0068]
In addition, the supply of the agricultural product of the variety A to the agricultural product supply unit 4 of the second series sorting / sorting device continues.
[0069]
This fraction processing will be described by taking the case of Table 1 as an example. Table 1 has a different number of lanes from FIG. 1 for the sake of simplicity (the number of lanes in one series is actually 6 lanes, but in Table 1, it is 3 lanes that is half that). Four boxes form one box, and R indicates a lane.
[0070]
Since the instruction for fraction processing is output to the first line sorting / sorting apparatus, the arithmetic processing unit 7 outputs the agricultural products pooled in the first lane and the third lane to the fourth to fourth lines of the second and third lines. Calculation for discharging to the boxing device 15 with priority over 9 lanes is performed as follows.
[0071]
Example 1. If fraction processing is instructed only to the first line sorting / sorting device,
(1) For 3L, if the number of agricultural products in a box is 4, the combination of “3 on 1R + 1 on 9R” is selected.
(2) For Shu 3L, if the number of agricultural products in a box is 4, a combination of “3 on 3R + 1 on 5R” is selected. In this case, the tilting operation of the delivery conveyor 16 may be performed only between the lower and middle pool conveyor groups C, and the time required for paying out the agricultural products to the box packaging apparatus 15 can be shortened.
[0072]
As a result, all the agricultural products are paid out to the boxing device 15 from each lane of the first line sorting apparatus, and the first, second, and third lines of the first line sorting apparatus become empty. It becomes possible to pool agricultural products of the next variety B on the pool conveyor group C constituted by lanes.
[0073]
In Table 1, the second lane is already empty, but this is already empty, or if it is already empty depending on the sorting ratio, or the number of agricultural products corresponding to one box is packed in a boxing device. In some cases, it may be immediately after paying out toward 15.
[0074]
After confirming that all the agricultural products of the cultivar A are discharged from the sorting conveyor 9 of the first line sorting / sorting apparatus to the pool conveyor group C, the first line sorting / sorting apparatus waits for a fractional processing instruction to be issued. The produce B is supplied to the produce supply unit 4 of the line sorting / sorting apparatus. While the product B is supplied to the agricultural product supply unit 4 and the agricultural product measured by the measuring device 6 is being transferred to the sorting conveyor 9 together with the receiving tray D, each lane in each pool conveyor group C of the first system sorting and sorting device. Are emptied one after another by the rounding process, and the agricultural products in the sort category of the varieties B sequentially assigned to the emptied lane are paid out by the discharging device 11 and pooled.
[0075]
In addition, since the produce B cannot be dispensed to the lane where the produce A remains, the discharge device 11 corresponding to the lane is set to the non-driven state, and the lane is emptied by fractional processing or forced delivery. Wait for it to become.
[0076]
In such a case, each pool conveyor group C is provided with a spare pool conveyor, or one lane of the group of pool conveyor groups C in which the fraction processing instruction is given is emptied, so that It may be possible to avoid overflowing agricultural products on the sorting conveyor 9 by paying out the agricultural products to a spare pool conveyor or an empty lane without moving around the sorting conveyor 9.
[0077]
Agricultural products pooled in the lane of the first line sorting / sorting device are paid out to the boxing device 15 in preference to the lanes of the second line / third line sorting / sorting device, so the lane of the first line sorting / sorting device is advanced. However, the sorting sorting process is still performed on the product type A in the second sort sorting apparatus and the third sort sorting apparatus, and each boxing device 15 performs the box packing process in parallel. Thus, the varieties of agricultural products B are pooled for each lane of the first line sorting apparatus.
[0078]
And after an operator confirmed that all the agricultural products were paid out to the pool conveyor group C from each sorting conveyor 9 of the 2nd series and the 3rd series sorting sorter, it arranged near each agricultural product supply part 4. The operator operates the console 24 to notify the arithmetic and control unit 7 of the supply start of the product type B. Thereby, the arithmetic and control unit 7 stores that the agricultural product to be supplied thereafter is the variety B together with the equal class of each agricultural product.
[0079]
After instructing the arithmetic and control unit to start supplying the variety B, the agricultural products of the variety B are stored in the second and third lines even if the agricultural products of the variety A are pooled in the lanes of the second and third line sorting / sorting devices. It can be supplied to each agricultural product supply unit of the three-line sorting / sorting device. As a result, in the second and third line sorting / sorting devices, the type B measurement process is performed, and the agricultural products of the kind B are conveyed to the respective sorting conveyors 9, and the second and third line sorting / sorting devices are empty. In each lane, the agricultural products of the sort B assigned to the lane are paid out by the discharging device 11 and pooled.
[0080]
Then, all the agricultural products of variety A that have been pooled in each lane of the second and third line sorting / sorting devices are delivered to the boxing device, and the boxing and packaging process is performed. Agricultural products of less than variety A are temporarily packed in a packaging box.
[0081]
In the case shown in Table 1, when the product type was changed, a temporary box was conventionally packed for each lane. Therefore, 3L in the first lane: 1 box for 3 excellent lanes, 3L for the third lane: 1 for 3 excellent lanes 3L on the 5th lane: 1 box for 2 Shu, 3L on the 7th lane: 3 boxes on the 3rd lane, 3L on the 9th lane: 3 boxes on the 9th lane: 1 box for this one matrix pool conveyor In group M, 5 boxes are temporarily packed.
[0082]
However, in the present embodiment, since fraction processing is performed, finally, only 3L in the 9th lane: only one box of 3 remains as a fraction, 3 fractions are temporarily packed, and 3L is excellent. All items are packed without excess or deficiency.
[0083]
Therefore, five temporary boxes have conventionally been packed, but in this embodiment, the number of temporary boxes is reduced to one, and the situation where many temporary packaging boxes are scattered is eliminated.
[0084]
Thus, when the final box packaging process for the agricultural products of the variety A is completed, only the agricultural products of the variety B are pooled in the matrix pool conveyor group M. It becomes possible to supply the agricultural products of B to the boxing device 15 and perform the boxing and packaging processing of the variety B.
[0085]
Note that the fraction processing instruction in Example 1 described above is performed only for the first series sorting / sorting apparatus, but the first and second series sorting / sorting apparatuses or all series (first to third series sorting / sorting apparatuses). ) May be instructed to perform fraction processing. Examples 2 and 3 show calculation examples of fraction processing.
[0086]
Example 2. When fraction processing is instructed to the first and second system sorting and sorting device
(1) For 3L, if the number of agricultural products in a box is 4, the combination of “3 on 1R + 1 on 9R” is selected.
(2) For Shu 3L, if the number of agricultural products in a box is 4, the combination of “3 on 3R + 1 on 5R” is selected.
(3) For Shu 3L, if the number of agricultural products in a box is 4, a combination of “1 on 5R + 3 on 7R” is selected.
[0087]
In this case, the operator operates each console 24 arranged near each agricultural product supply unit 4 of the first series sorting apparatus and the second series sorting apparatus to notify the arithmetic control device 7 of the instruction for fraction processing. To do.
[0088]
Example 3 When fraction processing is instructed to the entire system sorting and sorting device
(1) For 3L, if the number of agricultural products in a box is 4, the combination of “3 on 1R + 1 on 9R” is selected.
(2) For Shu 3L, if the number of agricultural products in a box is 4, the combination of “3 on 3R + 1 on 5R” is selected.
(3) For Shu 3L, if the number of agricultural products in a box is 4, the combination of “1 on 5R + 3 on 7R” is selected,
(4) For 3L, if the number of agricultural products in a box is 2, a combination of “2 on 9R” is selected.
[0089]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operations of the fraction processing and the boxing processing described above by the arithmetic control device 7.
[0090]
When the fraction filling process is started, in step (hereinafter abbreviated as S) 1, each matrix pool conveyor group M is regarded as one area, and the number of agricultural products on the pool conveyor constituting one lane is totaled.
[0091]
In S2, based on the number of agricultural products pooled on the pool conveyor 12 in each matrix pool conveyor group M, the assembling calculation for preferentially emptying the lane of the series instructed for the rounding process is performed. The number of lanes to be paid out from which lane of the matrix pool conveyor group M is determined, and the cylinder device 17 and the stopper device 13 in the corresponding lane are controlled.
[0092]
In S3, the stopper device 13 is instructed to release the stopper, and the agricultural product is paid out. When a predetermined number of payouts are performed, the stopper is operated to prevent the agricultural product from being paid out. At that time, a dispensing instruction is given to the packaging device 15 (S7), packaging is performed (S9), and completion of packaging is instructed when packaging is completed (S9).
[0093]
When boxing is completed (S4), the number data of agricultural products pooled in each lane of the matrix pool conveyor group M is corrected (S5), and this series of operations is performed until the fraction processing is completed (S6).
[0094]
In the present embodiment, the switching operation from product type A to product type B will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0095]
At present, when the console 24 is operated to instruct the fraction processing of the variety A, the sorting control unit of the arithmetic and control unit 7 receives the instruction of the fraction processing (S14), collects the fractions of the agricultural products of the variety A and collects the predetermined box. An instruction is given for the fraction box packing to be the number of packing (S15).
[0096]
In S16, the bar code reader 10 reads the bar code of the tray D on which the agricultural products conveyed on the sorting conveyor 9 are read to determine the type of the agricultural product. For example, a pool conveyor of the corresponding sorting category for the product type A is searched (S17), and a sorting process for paying out the agricultural products of the product type A to the predetermined pool conveyor by the discharge device 11 is performed (S19).
[0097]
In addition, when the fact that the kind is switched from the kind A to the kind B on the console 24 is transmitted to the sorting control unit, the bar code reader 10 displays the bar code of the tray D for the kind of the agricultural product conveyed on the sorting conveyor 9. When it is recognized by reading, an empty pool conveyor is searched, and the empty pool conveyor is allocated to pool agricultural products of a specific sorting category of the variety B (S18), and sorted and discharged to pool the agricultural products of the variety B. (S19).
[0098]
Note that the console 24 instructs the arithmetic control device 7 or the like to perform switching operation to the product type B after instructing the fraction processing.
[0099]
Although the above embodiment has been described by taking as an example the case where the variety of agricultural products is switched from the variety A to the variety B, the same applies to the case where the items are switched.
[0100]
The varieties of the item melon are "Andes", "Prince", and "Earls". As for the variety of tomatoes, “First” and “Momotaro” are the varieties. There are “Shirakaba”, “Akatsuki”, “Chikuma” etc. as varieties for the item peach.
[0101]
In addition, in the sorting by item, for example, “peach”, “pear”, and “apple”, the tray packs are shared (the same number).
[0102]
【The invention's effect】
According to the invention according to claim 1, since the items of the varieties or items are stored in addition to the grade and the class for the agricultural products conveyed on the sorting conveyor, for example, the different varieties B are conveyed following the agricultural products of the varieties A. Even when, for example, the varieties of agricultural products are switched, the agricultural products of the varieties B after switching can be pooled to an empty pool conveyor in which the agricultural products of the varieties A before switching are not pooled. For this reason, it is possible to perform sorting and sorting processing for the agricultural products of the varieties B after the switching in parallel with the packaging processing of the agricultural products of the varieties A before the switching. Since the proportion of the pool conveyor occupied by the agricultural products after switching increases accordingly, packaging processing of the agricultural products after switching is possible in parallel with the packaging processing of agricultural products before switching, and when the agricultural product packaging processing before switching is completed, The packaging process of the agricultural product after switching can be executed immediately, and the time required from the end of packaging of the agricultural product before switching to the start of packaging of the agricultural product after switching can be shortened.
[0103]
According to the invention according to claim 2, for example, a sorting unit can be configured by a three-line sorting device of, for example, the upper stage, the middle stage, and the lower stage. As a group, there are 18 lane pool conveyors in one pool conveyor group. And, when changing the varieties or items of agricultural products, if one or more empty pool conveyors are prepared for each series in the 18-lane pool conveyor, as in the first configuration described above, Agricultural products after switching are pooled on an empty pool conveyor. Agricultural products before switching are sent to a packaging unit by a sending device and packaged, and the sorting and packaging device for agricultural products is provided with a sorting unit that can process a large amount of agricultural products at once. On the other hand, it is possible to change the variety or item of agricultural products in a short time.
[0104]
According to the third aspect of the invention, among a plurality of sorting devices, for example, the switching of agricultural products is instructed for one sorting device, but the other sorting devices are operated without switching. When pooling agricultural products of different varieties or items on different pool conveyors at the same time, the switched agricultural products are pooled to the pool conveyor of which switching is instructed, so switching is not instructed. It becomes empty by instructing the switching of agricultural products to the sorting device that has not been instructed in order without causing any trouble in the packaging work of agricultural products before switching using the sorting device of the series. Increase the number of pool conveyors in order, from the end of packaging of agricultural products before switching to the start of packaging of agricultural products after switching. It can shorten the time required to.
[0105]
According to the invention of claim 4, for example, in a plurality of pool conveyors in one pool conveyor group in three series, for example, melons of the class “Andes” having a rank of 3 L are pooled by grade (excellent, excellent, etc.). If the varieties are switched to “Prince” and an instruction to change the agricultural product is given to the lower sorting device, for example, the upper and lower three-tier configuration, the agricultural products before switching that are pooled on the pool conveyor of the lower sorting device The lower pool conveyor is emptied earlier than other series pool conveyors, and the farm products after switching to the lower empty pool conveyor instructed to switch agricultural products are pooled.
[0106]
In addition, the rounding process allows for the boxing of a certain number of agricultural products in the same sorting category until the final rounding is reached, so the number of boxes that temporarily contain fractional agricultural products that are less than the number of boxes is greatly reduced. It was possible to organize the area around the packaging.
[0107]
Furthermore, in the past, fractional agricultural products were temporarily stored in a plurality of packaging boxes, and these agricultural products were later boxed manually, and finally the fractional products were stored in one box. Therefore, it is possible to automate the work and to input the worker to supply the agricultural product, and to supply the agricultural product quickly.
[0108]
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 5, since an empty pool conveyor exists previously, the agricultural products after switching can be rapidly pooled on a pool conveyor.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of an agricultural product sorting and packaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view between the discharging device and the boxing device shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a side view taken along the line AA in FIG.
4 is a diagram showing agricultural product data stored in the arithmetic and control unit of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing fraction filling processing and operation of the boxing device executed by the arithmetic and control unit of FIG. 1;
6 is a flowchart showing sorting discharge processing executed by a sorting control unit of the arithmetic and control unit of FIG. 1 and operation output of a console. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
C (C1-C6) Pool conveyor group
D saucer
E Packaging box
M Matrix pool conveyor group
P1 worker
R lane
1 Sorting device
2 sorter
3 sorting conveyor
4 Agricultural Products Supply Department
5a, 5a Branch sorting conveyor
6 Measuring device
7 Arithmetic control device
8a, 8b Barcode reader
9 Sorting conveyor
9a Discharge delivery path
9b Return transport path
10 Bar code reader for payout
11 Discharge device
11a Rotating body
12a-12f Pool conveyor
13 Stopper device
13a Stopper member
14 Dispensing control device
15 (15a-15f) Packing device
16 (16a-16f) Delivery conveyor
17 Cylinder device
17a Cylinder rod
18 (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d) Tray pack stacking section
19 Tray pack transfer device
20 Packed pool conveyor
21 Agricultural product transfer equipment
22 Stopper discharge stopper
23 (23a-23f) Dish collection conveyor
24 console
25 Conveyor tray collection conveyor

Claims (5)

Agricultural products have a sorting conveyor for transporting trays containing agricultural products whose grades, classes and varieties or items have been sorted by category, and produce products according to sorting categories in a large number of pool conveyors along the sorting conveyor's transport path. A sorting device for discharging;
A packaging unit for packaging agricultural products on a tray conveyed from the pool conveyor;
When switching the varieties or items of agricultural products, a pool conveyor in which the agricultural products before the switching are not pooled is selected while performing packaging processing on the agricultural products before the switching, and the agricultural products before the switching are selected as pool conveyors in which the agricultural products are not pooled. A sorting and packaging apparatus for agricultural products, comprising sorting control means for pooling farm products after switching that move on the sorting conveyor. Agricultural products have a sorting conveyor for transporting trays containing agricultural products whose grades, classes and varieties or items have been sorted by category. Agricultural products are sorted according to sorting categories in a pool conveyor provided along the transport path of the sorting conveyor. Sorting devices to be discharged into one line, a sorting unit composed of multiple lines of sorting devices,
A large number of pool conveyors in the sorting devices of each series are divided into a plurality of groups so as to include each series of pool conveyors, arranged on each pool conveyor group divided into groups, and on a tray that is conveyed from the pool conveyor A packaging section for packaging agricultural products,
A feeding device that is arranged between each of the packaging units and each of the pool conveyor groups, and selectively sends the trays containing agricultural products pooled on the pool conveyor to the packaging unit for each series,
When switching the varieties or items of agricultural products, a pool conveyor in which the agricultural products before the switching are not pooled is selected while performing packaging processing on the agricultural products before the switching, and the agricultural products before the switching are selected as pool conveyors in which the agricultural products are not pooled. A sorting and packaging apparatus for agricultural products, comprising sorting control means for pooling farm products after switching that move on the sorting conveyor. 3. The agricultural product sorting and packaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sorting control unit instructs the plurality of sorting apparatuses to switch varieties or items for each series. The sorting control means counts the number of agricultural products before switching that are pooled on each of the pool conveyors at the time of switching agricultural product varieties or items, and based on the result of the counting, the number of packed packaging in one box is calculated. 4. The agricultural product sorting and packaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, when performing the combination operation to satisfy, the combination processing of the fraction processing in which the pool conveyor in the one or more series sorting device is emptied early is performed. . 5. The agricultural product sorting and packaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sorting control unit sets in advance a pool conveyor to which no sorting category is assigned before switching the type or item of the agricultural product.

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