JP2005060048A - Pulp distributing device, pulp filling device, and pulp distributing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pulp distributing device capable of supplying pulps into a container by distributing a constant number of the pulps while counting the number of the pulps. <P>SOLUTION: The pulp distributing device 1 comprises a conveyer 5 carrying the pulp 6 to a predetermined distributing position 9 in a line, and carrying the pulp 6 distributed in a plurality of divided passages 11a to 11c provided by dividing a width direction into a plurality of pieces at a distributing position; a counter 7 measuring the number of the pulp carried in the line toward the distributing position; a pulp moving means distributing the pulp carried in the line to the distributing position into either one inlet of the plurality of the divided passages; a guide preventing the pulp carried in each divided passage in a conveyer carrying direction from entering another divided passage; and a shutter 13 provided in a guide discharging side so as to open/close. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a fruit sorting apparatus that counts the number of pulps that are supplied in a row and distributes them into a plurality of rows when filling a large pulp into a container, a pulp filling apparatus including the pulp sorting apparatus, and a pulp sorting method. .

Conventionally, when manufacturing a product in which a predetermined number of large pulps are put in a container such as a metal can or a plastic cup, the number of pulps has been manually supplied to the container manually. In some cases, the capacity is supplied to the container by weighing the soot, but the number varies greatly. Furthermore, although the weight supply using a load cell is also possible, since the pulp is a natural product and individual weight is not constant, number control is impossible.
In addition, as a device that distributes objects supplied in a row, although not for pulp, a distribution device that distributes articles conveyed from the upstream side to a plurality of downstream paths based on quality information obtained by identifying the quality of the articles In the above, an inlet through which the article is sent in a constant posture, a conveying means for conveying the article sent from the inlet at a constant speed in a predetermined direction, and a timing signal is output by detecting the article conveyed by the conveying means A pair of path change plates arranged in parallel with the width of the article; and a detecting means; a pivot means disposed at a position along the conveying direction of the article on the conveying means; and the conveying means And a plurality of passages arranged on the downstream side of the pair of course changing plates and configured by juxtaposing a plurality of partition plates, and after obtaining the timing signal, the number of types is determined in advance based on the type information Together By rotating the pair of course changing plates toward any one of the plurality of distribution angles set in the above manner, thereby changing the course of the article conveyed by the conveying means and moving the article to the plurality of paths. Among them, a sorting device including a control unit that sorts to a predetermined path has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP-A-8-282837

  However, in the sorting apparatus described in Patent Document 1, an appropriate length is required for the course changing plate to change the course, and when pulp of about 15 mm is sorted, a plurality of pulps are included in the course changing plate. In some cases, accurate counting is impossible.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a pulp sorting apparatus that can feed a container by sorting a certain number of pulps while counting the number of pulps.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention transports the pulp in a row to a predetermined sorting position, and the pulp distributed to a plurality of dividing paths provided by dividing the width direction into a plurality at the sorting position. A conveyor for transporting toward the downstream end, a counter for measuring the number of pulp transported in a row toward the sorting position, and an inlet of any of the plurality of split paths for the pulp transported in a row at the sorting position A pulp moving means for distributing to each other, a guide for preventing the pulp transported along each conveyor path along the conveyor transport direction, and a shutter provided on the discharge side of the guide so as to be opened and closed. A flesh sorting apparatus characterized by comprising:
In the pulp sorting apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that the plurality of dividing paths of the conveyor have a configuration in which the conveyance speed on one side in the width direction is higher than the conveyance speed on the other side in the width direction.
The pulp moving means is preferably an air nozzle or a pusher.
The present invention also includes the above-described pulp sorting apparatus, and a filling machine that opens the shutter, fills a container provided at a position where the pulp is supplied, and seals the opening of the container to obtain a product. The pulp filling apparatus characterized by this is provided.
Further, the present invention is directed to conveying the pulp in a row toward a predetermined distribution position on the conveyor, measuring the number of pulps by a counter before reaching the distribution position, and then transferring the pulp that has reached the distribution position to the pulp moving means Are distributed to the entrances of the plurality of dividing paths, and then the pulp distributed to the plurality of dividing paths is conveyed to the downstream end of the conveyor while guiding the pulp of each dividing path so as not to enter the other dividing paths. Provided is a method for distributing pulp, which is characterized by being supplied to a container.
In the pulp distribution method of the present invention, it is preferable that the plurality of dividing paths of the conveyor have a conveyance speed on one side in the width direction higher than a conveyance speed on the other side in the width direction.
The pulp moving means is preferably an air nozzle or a pusher.

According to the present invention, while counting the number of pulp, a predetermined number can be sorted and automatically supplied to the container. By automating the filling of the pulp, labor saving and high efficiency can be achieved.
Also, by automating the filling of the pulp, the risk of secondary contamination can be reduced because the pulp is not supplied manually.

  1 and 2 are views showing an embodiment of a pulp sorting apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the pulp sorting apparatus 1, FIG. 2 is a front view thereof, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view for explaining the conveying system of the conveyor 5.

  1 and 2 conveys the pulp 6 in a row to a predetermined distribution position 9 and distributes the pulp 6 to a plurality of division paths provided by dividing the width direction into a plurality of divisions. A conveyor 5 that conveys the obtained pulp 6 toward the downstream end, a counter 7 that measures the number of the pulp 6 that is conveyed in a row toward the sorting position 9, and a pulp 6 that is conveyed in a row to the sorting position 9 An air nozzle 8 serving as a pulp moving means that distributes to any one of the inlets of the plurality of divided paths 11a to c, and a pulp 6 that is transported along each conveyor path 11a to c along the conveying direction of the conveyor 5 to other divided paths. The guide 10 is configured to be prevented from entering, and the shutter 13 is provided on the discharge side of the guide 10 so as to be opened and closed.

As the conveyor 5, a belt conveyor or the like conventionally used in the food manufacturing field can be used.
As the counter 7, it is possible to use a well-known device that can individually detect the flesh 6 conveyed in a row on the conveyor 5 in an optical, acoustic or electrical contactless manner and measure the number of the pieces. .

  As the air nozzle 8 (pulp moving means), high-pressure air is supplied from an air compressor (not shown), air is blown onto the pulp 6 with a pressing strength that does not damage the pulp 6, and the pulp 6 at the center is connected to the width of the conveyor 5. It is designed to move in the direction. In this example, two air nozzles 8 are arranged at the sorting position 9, and when the air nozzles 8 are driven to blow air, the pulp 6 at the center is in the width direction of the conveyor 5 (hereinafter abbreviated as the width direction). When it is moved to the dividing path 11a on the side or the dividing path 11c on the other side in the width direction and air is not blown, the pulp 6 is configured to be sent to the central dividing path 11b. The pulp moving means is not limited to the air nozzle 8, and a pusher that is driven forward and backward by an air cylinder can be used.

  The guide 10 only has to be able to prevent the pulp 6 transported along each of the dividing paths 11a to 11c along the conveying direction of the conveyor 5 from entering another dividing path. In this example, the guide 5 is divided into three pieces along the width direction. A guide 10 is provided which divides each of the dividing paths 11a to 11c in a wall shape. A roof 12 is provided on the guide 10.

  The shutter 13 temporarily retains the pulp 6 conveyed along the respective dividing paths 11 a to 11 c, discharges it at an appropriate timing, and can supply it to the containers 4 arranged near the downstream end of the conveyor 5. ing. The shutter 13 is normally opened when a predetermined number of pulps 6 can be supplied from each of the three divided paths 11a to 11c, and the pulp 6 is simultaneously removed from the three divided paths 11a to 11c. It sets so that it may supply to the container 4 arrange | positioned corresponding to c.

  The pulp 6 to be distributed in the present invention is not particularly limited, but a large pulp 6 having a size of 15 mm or more such as peach, loquat, mandarin, grapefruit, orange, grape, cherry, strawberry, melon, kiwi and the like is preferable.

  The pulp filling apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 3 fills the pulp sorting apparatus 1 and the container 4 provided at a position where the shutter 13 is opened and the pulp 6 is supplied, and the opening of the container 4 is sealed and packaged. And a filling machine 3 for obtaining a product.

As said container 4, a metal can container, a plastic cup container, etc. are used.
As the filling machine 3, various well-known filling machines 3 in the field of food production can be used, and can be appropriately selected and used according to the container 4 to be used. When a plastic cup container is used as the container 4, a filling machine 3 is used in which a predetermined number of pulps 6 are filled in the cup, and then a plastic film is heat-sealed to a flange formed on the upper edge of the cup and sealed. .

Next, as an example of the pulp sorting method according to the present invention, a case where the pulp sorting method is implemented using the above-described pulp sorting apparatus 1 and the pulp filling apparatus 2 including the same will be described.
In the pulp sorting method of the present invention, first, the pulp 6 is conveyed in a row toward the predetermined sorting position 9 on the conveyor 5 and the number of the pulp 6 is measured by the counter 7 until the sorting position 9 is reached.

  Next, the pulp 6 that has reached the distribution position 9 is moved toward the inlets of the three division paths 11a to 11c by air blowing from the air nozzle 8, and distributed. This sorting is arranged on the other side in the width direction of the pulp 6 at the center when the pulp 6 is moved toward the entrance of the dividing path 11a on one side in the width direction among the three dividing paths 11a to 11c. Air is blown from the air nozzle 8. When the pulp 6 is moved toward the inlet of the dividing path 11c on the other side in the width direction, air is blown from an air nozzle 8 disposed on one side in the width direction of the pulp 6 at the center. When the pulp 6 is moved to the entrance of the central dividing path 11b, air blowing from both air nozzles 8 is not performed. As a result, the pulp 6 supplied in one row can be distributed to the supply line to the three rows of containers 4. The start / stop switching of the air blowing from the air nozzle 8 can be automatically performed in accordance with the detection of the pulp 6 by the counter 7 in accordance with an operation program stored in advance in a control unit (not shown).

  Next, the pulp 6 distributed to the three dividing paths 11a to 11c is conveyed to the downstream end of the conveyor 5 while guiding the pulp 10 so that the pulp 6 of each dividing path 11a to 11c does not enter the other dividing paths, One or a plurality of pulp 6 is supplied to the container 4 through a shutter 13 provided above the downstream end of the conveyor 5. Thereafter, the container 4 filled with the pulp 6 is filled with other pulp 6 or syrup liquid as necessary, and then the opening is sealed. By changing the length of the guide 10, it is possible to prevent the pulp 6 from bouncing and entering other dividing paths.

According to the present invention, while counting the number of the pulp 6, a predetermined number can be sorted and automatically supplied to the container 4. By automating the filling of the pulp 6, labor saving and high efficiency can be achieved. Can do.
Moreover, since the filling of the pulp 6 is automated, the pulp 6 is not manually supplied, so that the risk of secondary contamination can be reduced.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a moving method of the conveyor 5 that can be applied in the present invention.
The movement method shown in FIG. 4A illustrates the case where a normal conveyor 5 is used. In the method (A), the conveying speeds of the three dividing paths 11a to 11c of the conveyor 5 are the same. In the illustrated example, the pulp 6 supplied in a row is first moved to the dividing path 11a on one side in the width direction, and a predetermined number (three in the illustrated example) of the pulp 6 is continuously moved to the same dividing path 11a. After that, the moving direction is changed to move a predetermined number to the central dividing path 11b, and then the moving direction is changed to move a predetermined number to the dividing path 11b on the other side in the width direction.

  In the method (A), since the conveying speeds of the three dividing paths 11a to 11c of the conveyor 5 are the same, the first dividing path 11a on the one side in the width direction in which a predetermined number of pulps 6 are put first is used. Then, the pulp 6 reaches the shutter 13, and then the pulp 6 reaches the shutter 13 in the central dividing path 11 b and finally the dividing path 11 c on the other side in the width direction. Accordingly, when a predetermined number of pulps 6 are supplied to the container 4 from the three dividing paths 11a to 11c toward the container 4 at the same time, the time required for the pulp 6 to reach the shutter 13 is shifted by the respective dividing paths 11a to 11c. It will be.

  On the other hand, in the movement system shown in FIG. 4B, the conveying speed of the conveyor 5 is changed for each of the dividing paths 11a to 11c, and a predetermined number of pulp 6 is simultaneously supplied to the container 4 in each of the dividing paths 11a to 11c. It can be done. In the illustration of FIG. 4 (B), it is comprised so that the conveyance speed of the conveyor 5 may raise gradually toward the other side from the width direction one side. That is, the conveyance speeds of the respective divided paths 11a to 11c have a relationship of 11a <11b <11c.

  In this way, by using the conveyor 5 whose conveying speed varies along the width direction and distributing the pulp 6 as in the case of (A), a predetermined number of the pulp 6 can be simultaneously supplied toward the container 4. . As in the case of (A), a predetermined number of pulps 6 are moved to the dividing path 11a on one side in the width direction, and then the moving direction is changed to the dividing path 11b at the center and then the dividing path 11c on the other side in the width direction. A predetermined number of pulps 6 are sequentially moved and conveyed in the respective divided paths 11a to 11c. Since the conveyance speeds of the respective division paths 11a to 11c are in a relationship of 11a <11b <11c, the pulp 6 is conveyed through the division paths 11a to 11c, and the pulp 6 is simultaneously moved to the shutter 13 in the respective division paths 11a to 11c. Can be reached. By adopting such a configuration, a predetermined number of pulps 6 can be simultaneously supplied to the container 4 in each of the dividing paths 11a to 11c, and the filling process can be performed smoothly and at high speed.

  In the above example, the case where the pulp 6 conveyed in one row is distributed to the three division paths 11a to 11c is illustrated, but the number of distribution is not limited to this example, and may be 2 or 4 or more. it can. By adjusting the angle of the air nozzle 8 and the length of the guide 10, supply to four or more dividing paths is possible, but the width of the conveyor 5 becomes wide and the synchronism at the discharge port cannot be secured. This is not practical because the amount of air must be changed according to the distance to be distributed.

It is a top view which shows one Embodiment of the pulp distribution apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a front view of the same pulp distribution apparatus. It is a side view of the pulp filling apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a top view for demonstrating the conveyor conveyance system in this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Flesh distribution apparatus, 2 ... Flesh filling apparatus, 3 ... Filling machine, 4 ... Container, 5 ... Conveyor, 7 ... Flesh, 7 ... Counter, 8 ... Air nozzle (pulp movement means), 9 ... Distribution position, 10 ... Guide, 11a-c ... Dividing path, 12 ... Roof, 13 ... Shutter.

Claims (7)

  A conveyor that conveys the pulp in a row to a predetermined distribution position, and conveys the pulp distributed to a plurality of division paths provided by dividing the width direction into a plurality of division paths at the distribution position, and the distribution A counter for measuring the number of pulps conveyed in a row toward the position, a pulp moving means for distributing the pulp conveyed in a row to the sorting position to one of the inlets of the plurality of division paths, and each of the division paths A pulp sorting apparatus comprising: a guide that prevents the pulp transported along the conveyor transport direction from entering another dividing path; and a shutter that can be opened and closed on a discharge side of the guide.   2. The fruit sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of division paths of the conveyor have a conveyance speed on one side in the width direction higher than a conveyance speed on the other side in the width direction.   The pulp sorting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pulp moving means is an air nozzle or a pusher.   A pulp sorting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, and a filling machine for filling a container provided at a position to which the pulp is supplied by opening the shutter and sealingly wrapping the opening of the container to obtain a product A pulp filling device characterized by comprising:   The pulp is transported on a conveyor toward a predetermined sorting position in a row, the number of pulps is measured by a counter until reaching the sorting position, and then the pulp that has reached the sorting position is divided into a plurality of dividing paths by a pulp moving means. The pulp distributed to a plurality of dividing paths, then transported to the downstream end of the conveyor while guiding the pulp of each dividing path so that it does not enter the other dividing path, and supply the pulp to the container Flesh sorting method characterized by   The pulp dividing method according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of division paths of the conveyor have a conveyance speed on one side in the width direction higher than a conveyance speed on the other side in the width direction. The pulp sorting method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the pulp moving means is an air nozzle or a pusher.

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