JP2005144574A - Cutting device and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cutting device and its method capable of accurately and separately cutting a block-shaped material such as a cheese block in a section having predetermined weight. <P>SOLUTION: This cutting device 1 has a strain gauge 21 for measuring the total weight of the block-shaped material, a servomotor 5 for rotating the block-shaped material, and a sequencer 15. The sequencer 15 has a number calculating part 25 for calculating the number of sections on the basis of a measured value of the strain gauge 21, a turning angle calculating part 26 for calculating a turning angle of the block-shaped material on the basis of a calculation value of this number calculating part 25, and a cut control part 28 for performing cut operation after rotating the block-shaped material only by the turning angle. Thus, the block-shaped material can be cut after rotating the block-shaped material only by the turning angle calculated on the basis of the total weight by measuring the total weight of the block-shaped material. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a cutting apparatus for cutting a block-shaped material such as a cheese block into a plurality of pieces and a method thereof.

Conventionally, as a cutting device for cutting a block material such as a cheese block, for example, a cutter having a base and a frame frame combined in a hinge shape, and a thread wire is stretched over the frame frame It is known that a plurality of pieces are provided and the frame-like frame is rotated in a state where the block-like material is placed on the pedestal, so that the block-like material is cut into a plurality of sections at intervals provided with the cutter (for example, (See Patent Document 1). In addition, there is a type in which the block-shaped material is continuously shredded by moving the block-shaped material so as to contact the rotating cutting blade (see, for example, Patent Document 2). Among these, the latter is mainly used in a processing step at the time of manufacturing a product, and in this case, the processed material is separated and packaged for each predetermined weight to be commercialized.
Special table 2003-522538 gazette Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-27797

By the way, when the block material is shredded, the product weight can be easily adjusted by the amount, but when the block material is cut into a predetermined number of pieces without being shredded. The product weight is determined when the section is cut out.
However, for example, a block-shaped material such as a cheese block may have a large variation in weight and shape, and when this is simply cut into a predetermined number, the variation in the weight of the sections also increases. There is a problem that it becomes NG in the weight check after packaging or the like, or the product weight greatly exceeds the specified weight and the material cost is increased.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cutting apparatus and a method for accurately cutting a block-shaped material such as a cheese block into pieces having a predetermined weight.

  As means for solving the above problems, the present invention provides weight measuring means for measuring the total weight of the block-shaped material, moving means for relatively moving the block-shaped material and a cutter for cutting the block-shaped material, and operation of the moving means. Control means for controlling the cutting operation of the block-shaped material by at least one of the block-shaped material and the cutter, and a cutting device for cutting the block-shaped material into a plurality of sections, wherein the control means includes the A number calculating unit that calculates the number of sections that can be cut out from the block-shaped material with a predetermined weight based on the measurement value of the weight measuring unit, and the block-shaped material and the cutter by the moving unit based on the calculated value of the number calculating unit. The movement amount calculation unit that calculates the relative movement amount, and the block material and the cutter are relative to each other by the movement amount calculated by the movement amount calculation unit. Providing a cutting device characterized in that it comprises a cut control unit for executing the cutting operation after the movement.

  According to this configuration, the total weight of the block-shaped material is measured, and based on this total weight, the number of sections that can be cut out from the block-shaped material with a predetermined weight is calculated, and based on this number, the block-shaped material and The relative movement amount with respect to the cutter is calculated, and the block-shaped material can be cut after the block-shaped material and the cutter are relatively moved by this movement amount.

  In addition, the total weight of the block-shaped material is measured, and based on the total weight, the number of sections that can be cut out from the block-shaped material with a predetermined weight is calculated, and the section is cut out from the block-shaped material based on this number. If there is a surplus piece, the weight of the surplus piece is distributed and added to the weight of each section, and the relative movement amount between the block-shaped material and the cutter is calculated based on each calculation result, and this relative movement is calculated. The block-shaped material may be cut after the block-shaped material and the cutter have moved relative to each other based on the amount.

Each of these actions is cut into a plurality of sections by cutting a substantially disk-shaped block-shaped material along its radial direction, and the moving means is configured to relatively rotate the block-shaped material and the cutter. For example, the block-shaped material is arranged so that its center axis is located on the axis of rotation relative to the cutter, and after measuring the total weight of the block-shaped material, based on this total weight. Thus, the number of sections that can be cut out from the block-like material with a predetermined weight is calculated.
At this time, if an actual section weight can be adjusted within a predetermined range with respect to the predetermined weight, when a piece is generated by cutting the section from the block-shaped material based on the calculated number However, when the weight is distributed and added to the weight of each section within the above range, the entire amount of the block-shaped material can be equally cut.
Next, the relative rotation angle between the block-shaped material and the cutter is calculated based on the calculated number of sections, and after the block-shaped material and the cutter are relatively rotated by this rotation angle, the block-shaped material is moved in the radial direction by the cutter. Is cut along. By repeating this cutting operation over the entire circumference of the block-shaped material, the block-shaped material is cut into fan-shaped slices having a fixed sandwich angle when viewed from above.

  The present invention also provides a weight measuring means for measuring the total weight of the block-shaped material, a moving means for relatively moving the block-shaped material and a cutter for cutting the block-shaped material, and a relative relationship between the block-shaped material and the cutter by the moving means. Dimension measuring means for measuring the dimension of the block-shaped material along at least one direction substantially orthogonal to the moving direction, and controlling the operation of the moving means and the cutting operation of the block-shaped material by at least one of the block-shaped material and the cutter. A cutting device that cuts the block-shaped material into a plurality of sections, and the control means can cut the block-shaped material from the block-shaped material with a predetermined weight based on the measurement value of the weight measuring means. The total number of block-shaped materials is calculated based on the measured value of the number measuring unit and the dimension measuring unit A volume calculation unit, an intercept volume calculation unit for calculating a volume for each of the segments based on a calculation value of the total volume calculation unit and a calculation value of the number calculation unit, and a block-shaped material based on a measurement value of the dimension measurement unit A moving volume calculation unit that calculates the volume of relative movement from the cutting position by the cutter, and the cutting operation is executed when the calculated value of the moving volume calculation unit reaches the calculated value of the intercept volume calculating unit There is provided a cutting device having a cut control unit.

  According to this configuration, the total weight of the block-shaped material is measured, and the number of pieces that can be cut out from the block-shaped material with a predetermined weight is calculated based on the total weight. The orthogonal dimension along at least one direction substantially orthogonal to the relative movement direction is measured, and the total volume of the block-shaped material is calculated based on the orthogonal dimension. The number of pieces thus calculated and the entire block-shaped material are calculated. While calculating the volume of the section for each section based on the product, and calculating the volume of the relative movement from the cutting position by the cutter of the block-shaped material based on the orthogonal dimension, When the volume is reached, the block-shaped material can be cut.

This action is to cut a substantially disc-shaped block-shaped material into a plurality of sections by cutting along the radial direction, and the moving means is configured to relatively rotate the block-shaped material and the cutter. The cutting device will be described as an example. First, the block-shaped material is arranged so that the center axis thereof is located on the rotation axis relative to the cutter, and the total weight of the block-shaped material is measured and based on this total weight. Thus, the number of sections that can be cut out from the block-like material with a predetermined weight is calculated. On the other hand, as a dimension along the direction substantially orthogonal to the relative rotation direction of the block-shaped material and the cutter, for example, the thickness along the central axis of the block-shaped material is measured, and the entire block-shaped material is based on this thickness. The product is calculated. At this time, for example, a value input in advance is used as the radius of the block-shaped material.
Next, a section volume for each section is calculated based on the calculated number of sections and the total volume of the block-shaped material, and the volume of relative rotation from the cutting position of the block-shaped material by the cutter is calculated based on the thickness. When the calculated volume of the relative rotation reaches the section volume, the block-shaped material is cut along the radial direction by the cutter. By repeating this cutting operation over the entire circumference of the block-shaped material, the block-shaped material is cut into fan-shaped pieces each in a top view having a certain volume.

According to the present invention, even when there is a large variation in the weight of the block-shaped material, the block-shaped material and the cutter can be cut while moving relative to each other based on the actual weight. Can be cut out accurately. At this time, by distributing the weight of the surplus pieces to the weight of each piece, the entire amount of the block-shaped material can be evenly divided without much.
Further, according to the present invention, even when the variation in the weight and shape of the block-shaped material is large, the volume of the slice is calculated based on the actual weight and the orthogonal dimension to the relative movement direction, and the volume of the relative movement is calculated in this volume. By performing the cut every time, the section having a predetermined weight can be cut out more accurately from the block-shaped material.

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In FIG. 1, the code | symbol 1 shows the automatic type cheese cutting apparatus (henceforth only a cutting apparatus) which cuts the cheese block (block-shaped material) 2 into a some piece | section. This cutting device 1 has a rotation support base 6 that is rotationally driven by a servo motor (moving means) 5 inside a frame 4 that serves as a base, and a rotary disk base 7 that is detachably attached to the rotation support base 7. While rotating the substantially disk-shaped cheese block 2 mounted on the top, it cuts along the radial direction of the cheese block 2 with the knife (cutter) 8 which moves up and down. As a result, the cheese block 2 is cut into a plurality of sections having a fan shape when viewed from above (indicated by 2a in FIGS. 13 and 14). The rotation support base 6 and the rotation disk base 7 rotate around the rotation axis C of the servo motor 5 along the vertical direction. Moreover, the cheese block 2 is arrange | positioned so that the center axis line may be located on the rotation axis C.

  An air cylinder 11 is provided on a support column 10 erected on the upper side of the side wall 9 on the right side of the frame 4 in the drawing so that its longitudinal direction is along the vertical direction. The knife 8 is connected to the air cylinder 11, and the knife 8 moves up and down by the operation of the air cylinder 11. The knife 8 extends from the vicinity of the air cylinder 11 to the vicinity of the rotation axis C substantially parallel to the radial direction of the rotating disk base 7, and is forcibly activated by the operation of the air cylinder 11 from the position above the cheese block 2. By descending, the cheese block 2 is pushed out along its radial direction. Here, it can be said that the knife 8 provided on the frame 4 side and the cheese block 2 that rotates with respect to the frame 4 while being placed on the rotating disk base 7 rotate relative to each other.

Further, the support 10 is disposed above the cheese block 2 to hold the cheese block 2 and the rotating disk base 7 from above, and the rotating disk base 7 attached to the tip of the pressing plate 12 has substantially the same diameter. A circular pressing plate 13 is provided. The presser plate 12 and the circular presser plate 13 are formed with slits 14 through which the rising and lowering knife 8 can pass (see FIGS. 4, 5, and 10).
The vertical movement of the knife 8 by the air cylinder 11 and the rotation of the cheese block 2 by the servo motor 5 are controlled by, for example, a sequencer (control means) 15 disposed inside the frame 4. For example, on the side wall 9 of the frame 4, an operation switch 16 such as a measurement start button 17 a, a measurement end button 17 b, and a cut start switch 18 is provided.

  Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 together, eight insertion legs 19 arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction respectively stand downward on the lower surface side of the outer peripheral portion of the rotating disk base 7. Established. On the other hand, on the upper surface side of the outer peripheral portion of the rotation support base 6, support grooves 20 corresponding to the insertion legs 19 are respectively recessed. Each support groove 20 is formed long in the circumferential direction with respect to the insertion leg 19, and when the rotary disk base 7 is attached to the rotation support base 6, the corresponding insertion leg 19 can be received. A strain gauge (weight measuring means) 21 is provided at the bottom of each support groove 20, and the rotary disk base 7 is supported with the lower end of the insertion leg 19 in contact with the upper surface of the strain gauge 21. .

  When cutting the cheese block 2, with the cheese pressed by the pressing plate 12 and the circular pressing plate 13, as shown in FIG. 4, the air cylinder 11 is operated to forcibly lower the knife 8, The cheese block 2 is cut along the radial direction (that is, along the radial direction) from the central axis to the outer periphery. Here, a position immediately below the knife 8 is a cutting position by the knife 8. For convenience of illustration, the circular pressing plate 13 is shown only in FIG.

The presser plate 12 and the circular presser plate 13 are configured to press the cheese block 2 with a predetermined load as the knife 8 descends, and release the cheese block 2 as the knife 8 moves up.
After cutting the cheese block 2, the knife 8 is raised by the operation of the air cylinder 11 and the pressing of the cheese block 2 is released to rotate the cheese block 2 as shown in FIG. Can be moved to the cutting position by the knife 8. Here, a series of operations in which the knife 8 descends and rises after cutting the cheese block 2 is defined as a single cutting operation by the knife 8.

Here, the rotation support base 6 rotates clockwise (clockwise) when viewed from the top during its normal rotation, and the direction of the normal rotation is indicated by an arrow B in FIGS. 6 (a), 6 (b), and 6 (c). Show.
As shown in FIG. 6A, the strain gauge 21 is disposed on the downstream side in the forward rotation direction of each support groove 20 (the right side in FIG. 6A). By supporting the rotary disk base 7 with the lower end of the insertion leg 19 in contact with the upper surface of the strain gauge 21, the total weight of the rotary disk base 7 and the cheese block 2 can be measured. At this time, the lower surface of the rotary disk base 7 is separated from the upper surface of the rotary support base 6.

  In addition, an engaging member 22 is provided at a position upstream of the strain gauge 21 of each support groove 20 in the positive rotation direction and is biased upward by a spring or the like. The engaging member 22 is formed so as to be smoothly changed via the member-side guide surface 22a so that the portion on the strain gauge 21 side protrudes upward from the upper surface of the strain gauge 21. On the other hand, a leg-side guide surface 19a is formed on the distal end side of each insertion leg 19 of the rotary disk base 7 so as to face the member-side guide surface 22a. Then, in a state where the rotation of the rotary disk base 7 is restricted (for example, a state where it is pressed together with the cheese block 2 by the pressing plate 12), the rotation support base 6 rotates in the reverse direction (rotates counterclockwise as viewed from above). As shown in FIG. 6B, the guide surfaces 19a and 22a are in sliding contact with each other, and the insertion leg 19 pushes the engaging member 22 downward against the urging force acting on the engaging member 22. Yes.

  Further, an engagement recess 23 formed deeper than the length of the insertion leg 19 is provided on the upstream side of each support groove 20 in the positive rotation direction (the portion upstream of the engagement member 22 in the positive rotation direction). Yes. As shown in FIG. 6C, each insertion leg 19 that has passed over the engagement member 22 and moved to the upstream side in the forward rotation direction of the support groove 20 is fitted into the engagement recess 23. The engaging member 22 is elastically restored upward, and the rotary disk base 7 is supported in a state where the lower surface thereof is in contact with the upper surface of the rotary support base 6. At this time, each leg portion is sandwiched between the side wall of the engagement recess 23 and the engagement member 22, so that the rotary disk base 7 is engaged with the rotation support base 6 in a state in which movement in the rotation direction is restricted, The rotation support base 6 and the rotation disk base 7 are in a state where they can rotate together.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the sequencer 15 includes a number calculating unit 25 that calculates the number of slices that can be cut out from the cheese block 2 with a predetermined weight based on the measured value of the strain gauge 21 (total weight of the cheese block 2). A rotation angle calculation unit (movement amount calculation unit) 26 that calculates the rotation angle of the cheese block 2 by the servo motor 5 based on the calculated value of the number calculation unit 25, and a cheese block based on the calculation value of the rotation angle calculation unit 26 A drive control unit 27 that drives and controls the servo motor 5 to rotate the motor 2, and a cut control unit 28 that executes the cutting operation by the knife 8 after the cheese block 2 rotates by the rotation angle calculated by the rotation angle calculation unit 26. Have.

  In the number calculation unit 25, in addition to the measured value of the strain gauge 21, a specified weight that serves as a reference value for the section weight after cutting, and a specification that specifies an adjustable range of the actual section weight with respect to this specified weight. The range can be input from input means 29 such as a keyboard. The number calculating unit 25 calculates the number of sections that can be cut out with a specified weight from the measured value of the strain gauge 21 when the measurement start button 17a in the operation switch 16 is pressed, and the weight of the cut out section. Is determined to be within the specified range, and whether the whole amount of the cheese block 2 can be cut evenly by adjusting the section weight within the specified range.

  And even if a surplus piece (indicated by 2b in FIG. 14) is generated when the slice is cut out from the cheese block 2 based on the calculated number, the slice weight is set within the preset specified range. By making the weight of the remainder piece evenly distributed and added to the specified weight, the entire amount of the cheese block 2 can be cut evenly without much. When the number of slices and the slice weight are determined, the rotation angle calculation unit 26 calculates the rotation angle of the cheese block 2 based on the results. After such calculation is completed, when the measurement end button 17b is pressed, the drive control unit 27 reversely rotates the rotation support base 6 to engage the rotation disk base 7 and the cut control unit 28 The knife 8 is activated and the first cut of the cheese block 2 is performed. The state in which the first cut is executed is a state where the rotation angle of the cheese block 2 is 0 °.

  Further, after the rotary disk base 7 is engaged and the first cut by the knife 8 is performed, the cut start switch 18 is turned on, whereby the drive control unit 27 controls the servo motor 5 to drive the rotary support base. 6. After rotating the rotating disk base 7 and the cheese block 2 by the rotation angle calculated by the rotation angle calculation unit 26, a command signal is output from the drive control unit 27 to the cut control unit 28, and the cut control unit 28 The cutting operation by the knife 8 is executed. By repeating this over the entire circumference of the cheese block 2, the cheese block 2 is automatically cut into a predetermined number of slices. When the necessary cut is completed over the entire circumference of the cheese block 2, the cut start switch 18 is automatically turned OFF, and the cheese block 2 cut at this time can be taken out together with the rotating disk base 7.

Next, based on the flowchart of FIG. 8, the procedure at the time of cutting the cheese block 2 into a some piece | section using this cutting apparatus 1 is demonstrated.
First, the disk-shaped cheese block 2 is placed on the rotating disk base 7 set in a state in which the weight can be measured in advance on the rotating support base 6 (step S1). The cheese block 2 is arranged such that its central axis is located on the rotation axis C, that is, on the relative rotation axis with the knife 8. At this time, the rotary disk base 7 is supported in a state where the lower end of each insertion leg 19 is in contact with the upper surface of the strain gauge 21 of the rotary support base 6. Further, for example, at this time, the specified weight and specified range of the section are input (step S2).

  Next, when the measurement start button 17a is pressed (step S3), the total weight of the rotating disk base 7 and the cheese block 2 is measured by the strain gauge 21, and the rotation disk base 7 set in advance from the total weight is measured. By subtracting the weight, the total weight of the cheese block 2 is measured. At this time, the number calculation unit 25 of the sequencer 15 calculates the number and weight of the slices based on the total weight, the specified weight, and the specified range of the cheese block 2, and the rotation angle based on these calculated values. The calculation unit 26 calculates the rotation angle for each cutting operation of the cheese block 2 (step S4).

  For example, when the total weight of the cheese block 2 is 355 g and the specified weight is 30 g, the number of slices that can be cut out is 355/30 = 11 pieces + 25 g. Rotate the block 2 by 360 / 11≈32.7 ° and cut it into 11 equal parts, or the rotation angle of the cheese block 2 required to cut out a 30 g slice (30/355) × 360 It is determined whether 11 slices are cut out by setting ≈30.4 ° and adding a margin to rotate the cheese block 2 by 31 to 32 ° and performing cutting.

  At this time, taking into account the product weight error when the section is commercialized, in order to prevent this from falling below the displayed weight of the product and to suppress an increase in material costs, for example, a specified section weight range is specified. If the weight is increased by 2% or more and less than 6%, the lower limit of the section weight is 30 g × 1.02 = 30.6 g, and the upper limit is 30 g × 1.06 = 31.8 g. In the case of 11 equal division, 355/11 ≒ 32.3g, it becomes out of the specified range and becomes NG. ≈30.6 to (32/360) × 355≈31.6, which is within the specified range and is OK. When the section weights in both the cut patterns are both within the specified range, it is desirable to set the whole amount of the cheese block 2 so as not to be cut out evenly. As described above, the cut pattern of the cheese block 2, that is, the number and weight of the slices, and the rotation angle of the cheese block 2 are determined based on a predetermined range that is appropriately set.

  Next, when the measurement end button 17b is pressed (step S5), first, the drive control unit 27 reversely rotates the rotation support base 6 and engages the rotary disk base 7 with it. 8 is operated, and the first cut at the rotation angle 0 ° of the cheese block 2 is executed (step S6). At this time, the rotary disk base 7 is supported with its lower surface in contact with the upper surface of the rotary support base 6, so that the load when the knife 8 is lowered to push the cheese block 2 down is input to the strain gauge 21. It will not be damaged.

  Next, every time the cut start switch 18 is turned on (step S7), the drive control unit 27 rotates the rotation support base 6 forward, and the cheese block 2 is rotated by the rotation angle calculated by the rotation angle calculation unit 26. Then, the servo motor 5 is stopped for a predetermined time, and the cutting operation is performed (step S8). After repeating this, the cheese block 2 is intermittently rotated 360 °, and then the cut start switch 18 is automatically turned OFF (step S9). At this time, the cheese block 2 has been cut into fan-shaped sections having a fixed sandwich angle when viewed from above, and the cheese block 2 is cut by removing them together with the rotating disk base 7 from the cutting device 1 (step S10). The work is finished. Note that, as in this embodiment, a method of equally dividing the slice based on the rotation angle of the cheese block 2 is referred to as an equiangular division method in the following description.

  Next, processing until the sequencer 15 calculates the number and weight of the slices and the rotation angle of the cheese block 2 will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. Here, the specified range used in the following description is 3% or more of the specified weight and less than 5%.

  First, the maximum number N of slices that can be cut out from the cheese block 2 with a specified weight is calculated (step S11). Next, as a process for adjusting the section weight so as to eliminate the extra piece when the cheese block 2 is cut within the specified range inputted in advance, the section weight assuming that the total amount of the cheese block 2 is first divided into N equal parts. Is greater than or equal to 3% of the specified weight (step S12). At this time, if the section weight is greater than or equal to 3% of the specified weight (YES), it is further determined whether or not the section weight is less than 5% greater than the specified weight (step S13).

  Here, if the slice weight is less than 5% increase of the prescribed weight (YES), the slice weight will be within the prescribed range even if the cheese block 2 is divided into N equal parts. It is determined to be equally divided into N (step S14). That is, the number calculation unit 25 calculates the number of slices that can be cut out from the cheese block 2 as N. In this way, dividing the entire amount of the cheese block 2 uniformly without any difficulty is referred to as a whole amount equal division method (see FIG. 13). At this time, the weight of the surplus piece generated when the N pieces of the prescribed weight are cut out from the cheese block 2 is equally divided into N pieces, and is equally distributed and added to the weight of each piece.

  Finally, the rotation angle calculation unit 26 calculates a value obtained at 360 ° / N as the rotation angle (step S15), and the series of processes ends.

  In step S12, when the section weight is less than 3% of the specified weight (NO), N−1 pieces of weight within a specified range (for example, 3% higher than the specified weight) are obtained. In order to cut out the slice from the cheese block 2 (step S16), the number calculation unit 25 calculates the number of slices as N-1. At this time, a surplus piece is generated in addition to the N-1 pieces. Since the surplus piece can be used for other products, the weight of the slice is the lower limit. It is desirable to increase the specified weight by 3%. In this way, the division of the cheese block 2 so as to generate a surplus piece is referred to as a non-total amount equal division method in the following description (see FIG. 14).

  Next, the rotation angle calculation unit 26 calculates a value obtained by {(total weight of cheese block 2−remaining piece weight) / total weight of cheese block 2 × 360 ° / N−1 as the rotation angle. (Step S17), a series of processing ends.

  Furthermore, in the above step S13, when the section weight is 5% or more of the specified weight (NO), the section weight is a weight within a specified range (for example, a weight that is 3% of the specified weight as the lower limit value). In order to cut out N pieces from the cheese block 2 (step S18), the number calculating unit 25 calculates the number of pieces as N pieces. The surplus pieces generated at this time are used for other purposes as described above.

  Next, the rotation angle calculation unit 26 calculates a value obtained by {(total weight of cheese block 2−remaining piece weight) / total weight of cheese block 2} × 360 ° / N as the rotation angle (step S19), a series of processing ends.

  Here, as a specific example of the whole amount equal division method in the equiangular division method, the total weight of the cheese block 2 is 250 g, the prescribed weight of the slice is 30 g, and the prescribed range of the slice is more than 3% and less than 5% more than the prescribed weight. For example, the maximum number of slices that can be cut out with a specified weight is the remainder of 250/30 = 8 pieces + 10 g, and one piece when the cheese block 2 is equally divided based on this number. Is calculated as 250 / 8≈31.3 g. The weight increased by 3% of the specified weight is 30.9 g, and the weight increased by 5% of the specified weight is 31.5 g. Therefore, the weight increased by 3% of the specified weight <total equal weight <the weight increased by 5% of the specified weight. Is cut every 360/8 = 45 ° and is evenly divided.

  Further, as a specific example of the non-total amount equal division method in the equiangular division method, the total weight of the cheese block 2 is 240 g, the prescribed weight of the slice is 30 g, and the prescribed range of the slice is more than 3% and less than 5% more than the prescribed weight. For example, the maximum number of slices that can be cut out with a specified weight is 240/30 = 8. However, when the cheese block 2 is divided into eight equal parts, the specified weight is 30 g. The weight is less than 30.9 g, which is 3% of the weight, so that the weight of one slice is set to 30.9 g, and then 8-1 = 7 pieces are cut out from the cheese block 2, and the remainder at this time The weight of the piece is 23.7 g. Then, every time the cheese block 2 rotates {(240-23.7) / 240} × 360 ° / 7≈46.4 °, the cutting operation by the knife 8 is performed, and seven pieces are cut out from the cheese block 2. It is.

At this time, when the servo motor 5 having one pulse of 0.1 ° is used and the rotation angle of the cheese block 2 is 46.4 °, the servo motor 5 stops every 464 pulses. The cheese block 2 is cut.
When the measurement end button 17b is pressed, the sequencer 15 outputs a pulse of, for example, a frequency of 100 Hz for 0.5 seconds to drive the servo motor 5, and the rotation support base 6 rotates 5 ° counterclockwise. Each insertion leg 19 of the rotary disk base 7 moves from above the strain gauge 21 and is inserted into the engagement recess 23, and the rotary disk base 7 engages with the rotation support base 6.

  Further, when the cut start switch 18 is turned ON, the servo motor 5 accelerates / decelerates the first and last 30 counts of the 464 pulses, and drives in accordance with the 300 Hz pulse output from the sequencer 15 during that time. And it stops for 1 second in the state positioned every 464 pulses, and the cutting operation by the knife 8 is performed in the meantime, and the cheese block 2 is cut. Each time the cutting operation of the knife 8 is performed, the count advances in the sequencer 15, and after the number of times corresponding to the number calculated by the number calculating unit 25 (seven times in this case) is finished, the cheese block 2 is rotated. The servo motor 5 stops at a position where the angle is 360 °.

  According to the first embodiment, the cutting device 1 includes a strain gauge 21 that measures the total weight of the cheese block 2, a servo motor 5 that relatively rotates the cheese block 2 and the knife 8 that cuts the cheese block 2, and the servo. The sequencer 15 that controls the operation of the motor 5 and the cutting operation of the cheese block 2 by the knife 8 is provided, and the number of slices that the sequencer 15 can cut out from the cheese block 2 with a specified weight based on the measured value of the strain gauge 21 The number calculation unit 25 for calculating the rotation angle, the rotation angle calculation unit 26 for calculating the relative rotation angle between the cheese block 2 and the knife 8 by the servo motor 5 based on the calculated value of the number calculation unit 25, and the rotation angle calculation unit 26 After the cheese block 2 and the knife 8 rotate relative to each other based on the calculated value, the cutting operation by the knife 8 is executed. It will have a Tsu preparative controller 28.

Thereby, the substantially disc-shaped cheese block 2 is arranged so that its central axis is located on the rotation axis C, and after the total weight of the cheese block 2 is measured, the cheese block 2 is defined based on the total weight. The number of sections that can be cut out by weight is calculated.
At this time, if the actual section weight can be adjusted within the specified range with respect to the specified weight, even if a piece is generated by cutting the section from the cheese block 2 based on the calculated number, By assigning and adding the weight to the weight of each slice within the specified range, the entire amount of the cheese block 2 can be evenly cut.
Next, the relative rotation angle between the cheese block 2 and the knife 8 is calculated based on the calculated number of slices. After the cheese block 2 and the knife 8 are relatively rotated by this rotation angle, the cheese block 2 is moved by the knife 8. Cut along the radial direction. By repeating this cutting operation over the entire circumference of the cheese block 2, the cheese block 2 is cut into fan-shaped slices having a fixed pinch angle when viewed from above.

For this reason, even when the weight variation of the cheese block 2 is large, the cheese block 2 and the knife 8 can be cut while being relatively rotated based on the actual weight. There is an effect that can be cut out.
Moreover, there is an effect that the whole amount of the cheese block 2 can be evenly divided without being excessively set by setting the specified range so that the weight of the remaining piece can be distributed to the weight of the slice.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The cutting apparatus 101 in this second embodiment includes a distance sensor (dimension measuring means) 124 that measures the thickness along the central axis of the cheese block 2, thereby measuring the thickness of the cheese block 2 and this thickness. The total volume of the cheese block 2 is calculated based on the length, the volume of the slice for each slice is calculated based on the number of pieces and the total volume of the cheese block 2, and the cheese block 2 is calculated based on the thickness of the cheese block 2. Except for calculating the volume of the relative rotation from the cutting position by the knife 8, except that the cheese block 2 is cut when the volume of the relative rotation reaches the slice volume. It is the same as the cutting device 1 in one embodiment, and the same reference numerals are given to the same parts and the description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the part located above the outer peripheral part of the cheese block 2 in the cutting apparatus 101, it was arrange | positioned so that it might become predetermined | prescribed height from the upper surface of the rotary disk stand 7 in the state which can measure weight. The distance sensor 124 is provided in a state of being attached to the presser plate 12, for example. The distance sensor 124 can measure the distance from the upper surface of the outer peripheral portion of the cheese block 2 positioned below the distance sensor 124, and further subtracts this measured value from the height of the distance sensor 124 from the upper surface of the rotating disk base 7. The thickness of the cheese block 2 can be measured.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the sequencer (control means) 115 that controls the vertical movement of the knife 8 by the air cylinder 11 and the rotation of the cheese block 2 by the servomotor 5 in the cutting device 101 is used to measure the measured value of the strain gauge 21. A total number calculating unit 125 that calculates the number of slices that can be cut out from the cheese block 2 with a predetermined weight, a total volume calculating unit 126 that calculates the total volume of the cheese block 2 based on the measured value of the distance sensor 124, and the total An intercept volume calculator 130 that calculates the volume of each slice based on the calculated value of the product calculator 126 and the calculated value of the number calculator 125, and a drive controller 127 that drives and controls the servo motor 5 to rotate the cheese block 2. Based on the measured value of the distance sensor 124, the relative rotation from the cutting position of the cheese block 2 by the knife 8 A movement volume calculation unit 131 that calculates the volume, and a cut control unit 128 that executes the cutting operation by the knife 8 when the calculated value of the movement volume calculation unit 131 reaches the calculation value of the intercept volume calculation unit 130. Have.

  In addition to the measurement value of the distance sensor 124, the radius of the cheese block 2 is input from the input unit 29 to the total volume calculation unit 126 and the movement volume calculation unit 131. The total volume of the cheese block 2 is calculated from the radius and thickness of the cheese block 2. Further, the volume of the relative rotation is calculated by integrating the volume of the cheese block 2 at a minute rotation angle. Specifically, when the rotation support base 6 is rotated by a minute angle dw and is a minute volume dv, the radius is r and the thickness is h, dv = 1/2 (r · r · h · dw). The volume for relative rotation is calculated by integrating these. In this embodiment, the radius of the cheese block 2 is set to a predetermined value input in advance. Further, the thickness of the cheese block 2 is calculated by continuously measuring the distance from the upper surface of the cheese block 2 by a distance sensor 124 for each constant angle (a minute angle of about 0.5 to 1 °). Say it.

Next, based on the flowchart of FIG. 12, the procedure for dividing the cheese block 2 into a plurality of slices using the cutting device 1 will be described.
First, a disk-shaped cheese block 2 is placed on a rotating disk base 7 set in a state in which the weight can be measured in advance on the rotating support base 6 so that the central axis thereof is positioned on the rotational axis C of the rotational support base 6. (Step S21). At this time, the rotating disk base 7 is in a state in which the total weight of the rotating disk base 7 and the cheese block 2 can be measured by the strain gauge 21. Further, for example, at this time, the specified weight and the specified range of the slice are input (step 22), and the radius of the cheese block 2 is input (step S23).

Next, when the measurement start button 17a is pressed (step S24), the total weight is measured by the strain gauge 21, and the total weight of the cheese block 2 is measured based on this. At this time, the number calculation unit 125 of the sequencer 115 calculates the number and weight of the slices based on the total weight, the specified weight, and the specified range of the cheese block 2 (step S25).
Thereafter, the distance sensor 124 continuously measures the thickness of the cheese block 2 while the drive control unit rotates the rotation support base 6 counterclockwise, for example, counterclockwise in a top view to rotate the cheese block 2 360 °. Thus, the average thickness of the entire cheese block 2 is calculated, and the total volume of the cheese block 2 is calculated based on the average thickness (step 26). Thereafter, the intercept volume calculating unit 130 calculates the intercept volume for each intercept based on the calculated value of the total volume calculating unit 126 and the calculated value of the number calculating unit 125 (step S27).

For example, the radius of the cheese block 2 is 60 mm (corresponding to the standard value of a general process cheese), the total weight is 230 g, the specified weight is 30 g, and the average thickness is calculated by the thickness measuring unit. In the case where is 25 mm, for example, the total volume of the cheese block 2 is 282600 cubic millimeters = 282.6 ml.
On the other hand, the number of sections that can be cut out is 230/30 = 7 + 20 g. Here, it is determined whether the cheese block 2 is to be cut by the equal amount dividing method for dividing the cheese block 2 into seven equal parts or by the non-total amount equal dividing method.

  At this time, if the specified range of the section weight is increased by 3% or more and less than 5% of the specified weight, the upper limit value of the section weight is 30 g × 1.03 = 30.9 g, and the lower limit value is 30 g × 1.05 = 31. .5 g. Then, when the cheese block 2 is divided into seven equal parts as described above, 230 / 7≈32.86 g, which is outside the specified range and becomes NG. Will be cut out. The intercept weight at this time is increased by 3% of the specified weight, that is, 30.9 g, and the intercept volume is (30.9 / 230) × 282.6≈38 ml.

  Next, when the measurement end button 17b is pressed (step 28), the rotation support base 6 rotates in the reverse direction and the rotary disk base 7 is engaged therewith, and then the cut control unit operates the knife 8 and the cheese block. The first cut at a rotation angle 0 of 2 is executed (step S29).

  Next, when the cut start switch 18 is turned on (step S30), the rotation support base 6 is rotated forward. At this time, the cheese block 2 is rotated by a minute angle of, for example, about 0.5 to 1 °. By measuring the thickness continuously every time, the average thickness for the relative rotation from the cutting position by the knife 8 of the cheese block 2 is calculated. By integrating the volume of the cheese block 2 for each minute angle calculated based on the average thickness, the volume for the relative rotation is calculated.

  Then, every time the volume of the cheese block 2 corresponding to the relative rotation reaches the slice volume, the servo motor 5 is stopped for a certain time and the cutting operation is performed (step S31). After repeating this, the cheese block 2 is intermittently rotated 360 °, and then the cut start switch 18 is automatically turned OFF (step S32). Thereafter, the cheese block 2 cut out together with the rotating disk base 7 is taken out from the cutting device 1 (step S33), and the cutting operation of the cheese block 2 is completed. Note that, as in this embodiment, the method of dividing the cheese block 2 into equal sections based on the volume is referred to as an equal volume division method in the following description.

  According to the second embodiment, the cutting device 1 has a strain gauge 21 that measures the total weight of the cheese block 2, a servo motor 5 that relatively rotates the cheese block 2 and the knife 8 that cuts the cheese block 2, and the cheese block. 2 and a sequencer 115 for controlling the operation of the rotary disk base 7 and the cutting operation of the cheese block 2 by the knife 8, and the sequencer 115 sets the measured value of the strain gauge 21. A total number calculating unit 125 that calculates the number of slices that can be cut out from the cheese block 2 with a predetermined weight, a total volume calculating unit 126 that calculates the total volume of the cheese block 2 based on the measured value of the distance sensor 124, and the total An intercept volume calculator that calculates a volume for each intercept based on the calculated value of the product calculator 126 and the calculated value of the number calculator 125 30 and a movement volume calculation unit 131 for calculating the volume of relative rotation from the cutting position of the cheese block 2 by the knife 8 based on the measurement value of the distance sensor 124, and the calculated value of the movement volume calculation unit 131 is A cut control unit that executes the cutting operation by the knife 8 when the calculated value of the section volume calculation unit 130 is reached.

Thereby, the substantially disc-shaped cheese block 2 is arranged so that the central axis thereof is positioned on the rotation axis C, and the total weight of the cheese block 2 is measured, and the cheese block 2 is determined based on the total weight. The number of sections that can be cut out with the weight of is calculated. On the other hand, as a dimension along the direction substantially orthogonal to the relative rotation direction of the cheese block 2 and the knife 8, for example, the thickness along the central axis of the cheese block 2 is measured, and the cheese block 2 is measured based on this thickness. The total volume is calculated. At this time, for example, a value input in advance is used as the radius of the cheese block 2.
Next, the volume of the slice for each slice is calculated based on the calculated number of slices and the total volume of the cheese block 2, and the volume of the relative rotation from the cut position by the knife 8 of the cheese block 2 based on the thickness. Is calculated, and the cheese block 2 is cut along the radial direction by the knife 8 when the volume of the relative rotation reaches the slice volume. By repeating this cutting operation over the entire circumference of the cheese block 2, the cheese block 2 is cut into fan-shaped slices in a top view each having a certain volume.

  For this reason, even when the variation in the weight and shape of the cheese block 2 is large, the volume of the slice can be calculated based on the actual weight and thickness, and can be cut every time the volume of the relative movement reaches this volume. Therefore, there is an effect that a section having a predetermined weight can be cut out from the cheese block 2 more accurately.

In addition, this invention is not restricted to said each Example, For example, it can apply also to the cutting device which linearly moves a rectangular parallelepiped cheese block and a knife. Moreover, you may comprise so that a knife may be moved instead of a cheese block. Furthermore, instead of a knife, a rotary cutter or the like may be used. Further, the cheese block may be cut by moving the cheese block toward a fixed knife.
Moreover, although the thickness is measured as the dimension of the cheese block along at least one direction substantially orthogonal to the relative movement (rotation) direction between the cheese block and the knife, the thickness of the cheese block is input in advance as a standard value. Instead, if the radius of the cheese block is measured, or if both the thickness and the radius are measured, the radius of the cheese block varies, or even when it is formed in an elliptical shape in top view, A section having a predetermined weight can be accurately cut out.
Further, in the equal volume division method of the second embodiment, the volume may be calculated by directly integrating the volumes for each minute angle without calculating the volume based on the average value of the thickness of the cheese block. And the structure in each said Example is an example, and it cannot be overemphasized that it can change suitably in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention as well as being applicable also to materials on blocks other than a cheese block.

It is a front view of the cutting device in the 1st example of the present invention. It is a top view of the rotary disk stand of the said cutting apparatus. It is a top view of the rotation support stand of the said cutting apparatus. It is a 1st perspective view which shows the cutting operation of the said cutting device. It is a 2nd perspective view which shows the cutting operation of the said cutting apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flow until a rotation disc stand engages with the said rotation support stand, (a) is a state in which the weight of a rotation disc stand can be measured, (b) is a state from (a) to a rotation support stand. The state which started to rotate in the reverse direction, (c) shows the state where the rotary disk base is engaged with the rotary support base. It is a block diagram which shows the main structures of the said cutting apparatus. It is a flowchart figure which shows the procedure which cuts a cheese block with the said cutting apparatus. It is a flowchart figure which shows the process until the number and weight of a slice, and the rotation angle of a cheese block are calculated. It is a perspective view which shows the cutting operation of the cutting apparatus in 2nd Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the main structures of the cutting apparatus in 2nd Example. It is a flowchart figure which shows the procedure which cuts a cheese block with the cutting apparatus in a 2nd Example. It is a top view at the time of dividing a cheese block by the equal amount division system. It is a top view at the time of dividing a cheese block by a non-total amount equal division system.

Explanation of symbols

1,101 Cutting device 2 Cheese block (block material)
2a section 2b remainder 5 servo motor (moving means)
8 Knives (cutters)
15,115 Sequencer (control means)
21 Strain gauge (weight measuring means)
25, 125 Number calculation unit 26 Rotation angle calculation unit (movement amount calculation unit)
28, 128 Cut control unit 124 Distance sensor (dimension measuring means)
126 Total Volume Calculation Unit 130 Section Volume Calculation Unit 131 Movement Volume Calculation Unit

Claims (6)

Weight measuring means for measuring the total weight of the block-shaped material, moving means for relatively moving the block-shaped material and a cutter for cutting the block-shaped material, and the operation of the moving means and the block by at least one of the block-shaped material and the cutter A cutting device for cutting the block-shaped material into a plurality of sections.
The control means calculates the number of sections that can be cut out from the block-shaped material with a predetermined weight based on the measured value of the weight measuring means, and the block by the moving means based on the calculated value of the number calculating section A movement amount calculation unit that calculates a relative movement amount between the sheet material and the cutter, and a cut control unit that executes the cutting operation after the block material and the cutter move relative to each other by the movement amount calculated by the movement amount calculation unit; A cutting apparatus comprising: Weight measuring means for measuring the total weight of the block-shaped material, moving means for relatively moving the block-shaped material and a cutter for cutting the block-shaped material, and a relative moving direction of the block-shaped material and the cutter by the moving means is substantially orthogonal. Dimension measuring means for measuring the dimension of the block-shaped material along at least one direction, and control means for controlling the operation of the moving means and the cutting operation of the block-shaped material by at least one of the block-shaped material and the cutter. A cutting device for cutting the block-shaped material into a plurality of sections,
The control means calculates a number of sections that can be cut out from the block-shaped material with a predetermined weight based on the measured value of the weight measuring means, and the entire block-shaped material based on the measured value of the dimension measuring means A total volume calculation unit for calculating a product, a slice volume calculation unit for calculating a volume for each slice based on a calculation value of the total product calculation unit and a calculation value of the number calculation unit, and a measurement value of the dimension measurement unit Based on the movement volume calculation unit that calculates the volume of the relative movement from the cutting position by the cutter of the block-shaped material, and when the calculated value of the movement volume calculation unit reaches the calculation value of the slice volume calculation unit A cutting apparatus comprising: a cut control unit that executes a cutting operation.   2. The substantially disk-shaped block-shaped material is cut into a plurality of sections by cutting along the radial direction, and the moving means relatively rotates the block-shaped material and the cutter. Or the cutting apparatus of Claim 2.   Measure the total weight of the block-shaped material, calculate the number of slices that can be cut out from the block-shaped material with a predetermined weight based on this total weight, and based on this number, the relative amount of movement between the block-shaped material and the cutter The cutting method is characterized in that the block-shaped material is cut after the block-shaped material and the cutter are relatively moved by this movement amount.   Measure the total weight of the block-shaped material, calculate the number of sections that can be cut out from the block-shaped material with a predetermined weight based on this total weight, and cut out the section from the block-shaped material based on this number. When a piece is generated, the weight of the remaining piece is distributed and added to the weight of each section, and the relative movement amount between the block-shaped material and the cutter is calculated based on each calculation result. A cutting method, wherein the block-shaped material is cut after the sheet-shaped material and the cutter are relatively moved. While measuring the total weight of the block-shaped material and calculating the number of sections that can be cut out from the block-shaped material with a predetermined weight based on this total weight, it is substantially orthogonal to the relative movement direction of the block-shaped material with the cutter. And measuring the orthogonal dimension along at least one direction, calculating the total volume of the block-shaped material based on the orthogonal dimension, and calculating the section based on the number of sections calculated in this way and the total volume of the block-shaped material. When calculating the volume of each section and calculating the volume of relative movement from the cutting position by the cutter of the block-shaped material based on the orthogonal dimension, at the time when the volume of this relative movement reaches the section volume A cutting method comprising cutting the block-shaped material.

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