JP2005147842A - Metering device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compactible metering device dispensing with maintenance of a lamp in a feeding mechanism 50 for feeding to meters 25a-25e for metering an article, while moving. <P>SOLUTION: A metering part 13 is equipped with the meters 25a-25e and the feeding mechanism 50. The meters 25a-25e meter the article, while moving. The feeding mechanism 50 has a fixed part 51, a rotary part 55 moving corresponding to movement of the meters 25a-25e, a primary coil 52 provided on the fixed part 51, and a secondary coil 56 provided on the rotary part 55. The feeding mechanism 50 feeds to the primary coil 52, takes out an induced electromotive force from the secondary coil 56, and supplies a power source to the meters 25a-25e. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a weighing device, and more particularly, to a weighing device provided with a weighing device for weighing an article while moving.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an apparatus that measures an article while moving it together with a measuring instrument is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). In the weighing device of Patent Document 1, the weighing instrument is moved around along a predetermined trajectory, and the weight of the article is detected by the weighing instrument between the time when the article is carried into and discharged from the weighing instrument.
And in the measuring device of patent document 1, a solar cell is arranged in a measuring device, the power supply is performed in a measuring device in response to the light from a lamp light source.
JP-A-4-130230

In the measuring device of Patent Document 1, power is supplied to the measuring instrument by applying light from a lamp light source to the solar cell of the measuring instrument.
When such solar power generation (power generation using light) is used, a lamp light source that emits strong light is required. In order to maintain the supply of light from the lamp light source, maintenance considering the life and deterioration of the lamp light source is indispensable. In addition, in power generation using light, it is not possible to secure a sufficient power supply without providing a rechargeable battery as in the weighing device of Patent Document 1, and it is necessary to deploy a photovoltaic panel having a predetermined area. As expected, they cause cost increases and space disadvantages.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a weighing device that does not require lamp maintenance in a power feeding mechanism that feeds power to a weighing instrument that measures an article while moving, and that can be made compact. .

  A weighing apparatus according to a first aspect includes a weighing instrument and a power feeding mechanism. The weighing instrument weighs articles while moving. The power feeding mechanism includes a fixed portion, a movable portion, a primary coil, and a secondary coil. The movable part moves according to the movement of the measuring instrument. The primary coil is provided in the fixed part. The secondary coil is provided in the movable part and faces the primary coil. The power feeding mechanism feeds power to the primary coil, takes out the induced electromotive force with the secondary coil, and supplies power to the measuring instrument.

Here, when electric power is supplied to the primary coil of the fixed part, an induced electromotive force is generated in the secondary coil facing the primary coil, and the induced electromotive force is supplied to the measuring instrument as a power source. Since the primary coil and the secondary coil do not need to be in contact with each other, the movable part can be designed to move freely with respect to the fixed part.
Since the power feeding mechanism is configured by using two coils in this way, it is not necessary to provide a light emitting device such as a lamp, and a weighing device with relatively easy maintenance can be realized. In addition, a photovoltaic panel having a relatively large area necessary for generating power by receiving light is unnecessary, and it is easy to make the power feeding mechanism compact. Furthermore, it is easier to realize a battery-less power feeding mechanism in the configuration in which the induced electromotive force is extracted by the secondary coil than in the present photovoltaic power generation.

A weighing apparatus according to a second aspect is the weighing apparatus according to the first aspect, and includes a plurality of measuring instruments. The power feeding mechanism distributes and supplies power to the plurality of measuring instruments.
Here, two or more measuring instruments correspond to one power supply mechanism, and a high power supply capability of the power supply mechanism is required. However, in this case, since a power supply mechanism that uses two coils to extract the induced electromotive force is used instead of using conventional photovoltaic power generation, a high power supply capability is achieved with a relatively compact power supply structure. It becomes easy.

A weighing device according to a third aspect is the weighing device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the power feeding mechanism further includes a rectifying circuit and a smoothing circuit. The rectifier circuit and the smoothing circuit are provided in a path for supplying power from the secondary coil to the measuring instrument.
Here, induced electromotive force (alternating current) in which the direction and value of current flow change every moment, the direction of current flow is made constant by a rectifier circuit, the voltage is made constant by a smoothing circuit including an electrolytic capacitor, etc. Can be supplied.

A metering device according to a fourth aspect is the metering device according to any one of the first to third aspects, does not include a charging unit, and power is supplied to the meter only from the power feeding mechanism.
Here, it is a so-called battery-less weighing device that does not have a charging unit, but since it has a feeding mechanism that can reliably feed power with two coils, there is almost no risk of power feeding to the weighing instrument being interrupted. . In this way, when the battery is not used, it is possible to easily reduce the cost of the weighing device as compared with a configuration that employs a combination of a power feeding mechanism by photovoltaic power generation and a charging unit.

In addition, when a configuration is used in which power is supplied to the weighing instrument via the battery, the weighing process cannot be performed until the battery is charged to the specified capacity, just after the power is turned on. In the case of an apparatus, the weighing process can be performed immediately after the apparatus is started up.
The measuring device according to claim 5 is the measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the secondary coil rotates in accordance with the movement of the measuring device, but the rotation of the rotating motion It does not move in the direction that intersects the central axis.

  Here, the secondary coil facing the primary coil rotates, but does not move in a direction intersecting the rotation center axis of the rotation. For this reason, the secondary coil of the movable part is not separated from the primary coil of the fixed part, and an electromotive force is always stably induced in the secondary coil. For example, even if the secondary coil rotates around the rotation center axis extending vertically, the secondary coil does not move along the horizontal plane and does not move away from the primary coil.

A weighing device according to a sixth aspect is the weighing device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the weighing device moves along a circular path.
Here, the measuring device goes around.
A weighing device according to a seventh aspect is the weighing device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the weighing device measures the container and the article while moving together with the container containing the article.

Here, the article is moved with the container and weighed.
A weighing device according to an eighth aspect is the weighing device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the weighing device outputs the measurement data without using a wire.
Here, power is supplied using primary and secondary coils that may be non-contact, and the weighing data is output from the weighing device without going through a wire, so the moving weighing device can be completely separated from the fixed part. It becomes.

  In the present invention, since the power feeding mechanism is configured using two coils, it is not necessary to provide a light emitting device such as a lamp, and a weighing device with relatively easy maintenance can be realized. In addition, a photovoltaic panel having a relatively large area necessary for generating power by receiving light is unnecessary, and it is easy to make the power feeding mechanism compact.

[First Embodiment]
[Configuration of the entire weighing device]
The weighing device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention measures a measurement object such as food contained in a container C having an opening in the upper portion, and takes out a desired container C from a plurality of stored containers C. The weighing device discharges the object to be weighed from the container C. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the weighing device 10 includes, as main components, a supply unit 12, a weighing unit 13, a stock unit 14, a discharge unit 15, delivery units 16a to 16c, a discharge chute 17, an operation unit. 18, the turning mechanism 19 and the control part 20 which controls operation | movement of the whole weighing apparatus 10 are provided.

  The container C is a cup-shaped container having an open top, and has a collar portion C1 on the outer periphery, and conveys the object to be weighed from the supply position to the discharge position while circulating in the weighing device 10. Further, the container C circulates in the weighing device 10 while being always moved in the weighing unit 13, the stock unit 14, and the discharge unit 15. For this reason, in the measuring device 10 of this embodiment, each process of supply of an object to be measured, weighing, stocking, and discharging is performed on the moving container C. The container C is a metal member or a part of a metal member, and is held in each of the parts 13 to 15 by the magnetic force of the magnets included in the measuring unit 13, the stock unit 14, and the discharge unit 15 described below.

The supply unit 12 puts an object to be weighed by the weighing device 10 into the moving container C.
The weighing unit 13 includes a plurality of weighing devices 25a to 25e (see FIG. 5), and performs weighing of an empty container C in which an object to be weighed is not placed and a container C in which an object to be weighed is placed.
The stock unit 14 stores a plurality of containers C in which objects to be weighed are placed.

The discharge unit 15 reverses the desired container C taken out from the plurality of containers C stored three-dimensionally in the stock unit 14 while moving in the direction of the supply unit 12. Thereby, the to-be-measured object put in the container C can be discharged | emitted to a desired place.
The delivery units 16a to 16c are provided between the weighing unit 13 and the stock unit 14, between the stock unit 14 and the discharge unit 15, and between the discharge unit 15 and the measurement unit 13. Delivery of.

The discharge chute 17 is a funnel-shaped member having an upper portion and a lower portion that are open, and has a lower opening 17 a and is disposed in the vicinity of the discharge portion 15. Further, the discharge chute 17 discharges an object to be measured discharged from the container C inverted in the discharge unit 15 from the lower opening 17a.
The operation unit 18 is input with a set value such as a driving speed by the user, and displays various types of information related to driving and the like.

These main configurations will be described in detail later.
Further, in the weighing device 10 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, along the movement path of the container C, a supply weighing zone R1, a container delivery zone R2, a stock zone R3, a container delivery zone R4, and a discharge zone R5 are provided. And container delivery zone R6 is formed. The container C moves in the order of the zones R1 to R6 and circulates in the weighing device 10. In addition, the dashed-dotted line shown in FIG. 2 has shown the locus | trajectory of the center position of the container C to circulate.

  The supply weighing zone R1 is a portion where the weighing unit 13 supplies the object to be measured to the container C and measures the container C and the object to be weighed. Here, first, an empty container C is weighed. Then, an object to be weighed is introduced into the container C, and the container C containing the object to be weighed is weighed. The container delivery zone R2 is a part that receives the weighed container C from the weighing unit 13 and delivers it to the stock unit 14 in the delivery unit 16a. The stock zone R <b> 3 is a portion that receives the container C from the delivery unit 16 a and stores the container C three-dimensionally in the stock unit 14. Here, the plurality of containers C that have been weighed are three-dimensionally stored, and the plurality of containers C are circulated in the stock unit 14. The container delivery zone R <b> 4 is a part that receives the container C selected by the control unit 20 from the plurality of containers C stored in the stock unit 14 and delivers it to the discharge unit 15. The discharge zone R5 is a portion that discharges the objects to be weighed by turning the container C received from the delivery section 16b while turning it and turning the container C with the lower opening 17a of the discharge chute 17 as a discharge target position. The container delivery zone R <b> 6 is a part that receives the container C that has been emptied by discharging the object to be weighed from the discharge unit 15 and delivers it to the weighing unit 13 again.

In the weighing device 10 of this embodiment, the container C is circulated in the weighing device 10 along the zones R1 to R6 as described above.
Note that “upstream side” and “downstream side” described later indicate the upstream side and the downstream side based on the circulation direction of the container C described above.
[Configuration of supply unit]
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the supply unit 12 is arranged at the upper part of the swiveling trajectory of the container C in the weighing unit 13 in order to put an object to be weighed into the container C swung by the weighing unit 13. Vibration feeder. As shown in FIG. 3, the supply unit 12 includes a trough 21 and a motor box 22, and puts an object to be weighed into a chute 24 provided under the trough 21.

An object to be weighed that is put into the container C is placed on the trough 21. When the drive motor in the motor box 22 rotates, the trough 21 is moved slowly in the X direction shown in FIG. 3 and faster in the Y direction than in the X direction. As a result, the object to be weighed placed on the trough 21 can be continuously conveyed little by little to the chute 24 side.
The object to be weighed is dropped from the trough 21 to the chute 24 and is put into the container C from which the weighing unit 13 is swung. That is, the supply unit 12 puts an object to be weighed into the container C turning around the rotation center axis A11 of the rotation shaft body A1 by the measurement unit 13. Thereby, the speed can be increased compared with the case where the container C is stopped and the object to be weighed is put into the container C.

The chute 24 is a stainless steel part whose upper and lower portions are opened. The chute 24 collects the objects to be weighed from the trough 21 and removes the objects to be weighed from directly above the container C swiveling in the weighing unit 13. Drop it.
[Configuration of weighing unit]
The weighing unit 13 is a device for weighing an object to be weighed in the container C, and is arranged on the downstream side of the discharge unit 15 and the upstream side of the stock unit 14 as shown in FIG. . As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the measuring unit 13 includes five measuring instruments 25 a to 25 e and a holder 28 provided corresponding to each measuring instrument 25 a to 25 e. And the measurement part 13 turns these measuring instruments 25a-25e etc. centering on the rotation center axis | shaft A11 of rotating shaft A1 to which the rotational drive force from the turning mechanism 19 mentioned later was transmitted. That is, the weighing unit 13 also has a function as a transport mechanism for the container C. The turning mechanism 19 that turns the measuring shafts 25a to 25e by rotating the rotary shaft A1 will be described in detail later.

  As shown in FIG. 4, each of the measuring instruments 25 a to 25 e has a load cell 27 in a circular box 26. As shown in FIG. 16, each load cell 27 includes a strain generating body 27a, a strain gauge 27b, and a bridge circuit 27c. As for the strain body 27a, the edge part of the inner peripheral side is fixed to the circular box 26, and the edge part of the outer peripheral side is a free end. When a load acts on the free end of the strain generating body 27a, the strain gauge 27b attached to the strain generating body 27a replaces the strain of the strain generating body 27a with a change in electrical resistance, and the bridge circuit 27c changes the electrical resistance. Is replaced with a voltage change and output. That is, the load cell 27 outputs the load (weight) as a voltage change.

The power feeding mechanism 50 supplies power to the load cells 27 of the measuring instruments 25a to 25e. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 16, the power feeding mechanism 50 mainly includes an external power source 29, a frequency / voltage conversion circuit 29 a, a primary coil 52, a secondary coil 56, a rectifier circuit 58, and a smoothing circuit 59. It is composed of
The external power source 29 is a power source such as AC 200V, AC 100V, and DC 24V. The frequency / voltage conversion circuit 29 a switches to create high-frequency alternating current, and supplies this high-frequency alternating current to the primary coil 52. The primary coil 52 and the secondary coil 56 are provided in order to supply the operation power of the load cell 27 in a non-contact manner and to transmit the output signal of the load cell 27 in a non-contact manner. The primary coil 52 is fixed to the fixed part 51, and the secondary coil 56 is integrated with a rotating part (movable part) 55. The rotating unit 55 rotates together with the rotary shaft A1 and the circular box 26 that turn the measuring instruments 25a to 25e. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, a secondary coil 56 is disposed slightly above the primary coil 52, and a rotation center axis A <b> 11 extending through the primary coil 52 and the secondary coil 56 in the vertical direction is provided. Only the secondary coil 56 rotates (spins) at the center. That is, the secondary coil 56 rotates in accordance with the rotation of the rotary shaft A1, but does not move away from the primary coil 52 due to its movement, and the distance from the primary coil 52 is always kept substantially constant. That is, the secondary coil 56 rotates in response to the turning movement of the measuring instruments 25a to 25e, but moves in a direction (horizontal direction, etc.) intersecting the rotation center axis A11 that is the rotation center axis of the rotation movement. do not do.

  When power is supplied to the primary coil 52 from the external power source 29 via the frequency / voltage conversion circuit 29a, an induced electromotive force (alternating current) is generated in the secondary coil 56 facing the primary coil 52 by the magnetic field generated by the primary coil 52, The induced electromotive force is supplied as a power source to the load cell 27 and the amplifier 27d of the measuring instruments 25a to 25e. However, the induced electromotive force generated in the secondary coil 56 is not supplied to the load cell 27 as it is, but is supplied via the rectifier circuit 58 and the smoothing circuit 59. That is, the rectifier circuit 58 and the smoothing circuit 59 are provided in the power supply path from the secondary coil 56 to the load cells 27 of the measuring instruments 25a to 25e. The induced electromotive force in which the direction and value of current flow change from moment to moment, after leaving the secondary coil 56, the direction in which the current flows is first changed to a certain direction by a rectifier circuit 58 having a diode. The voltage is made constant by the smoothing circuit 59, and is further supplied to each load cell 27 and the like as a stable power source by a regulator. Since stable power is supplied in this way, the operation reliability of the load cell 27 having a weak output signal is increased.

Note that the power supply mechanism 50 does not include a charger or the like for charging because the power supply mechanism 50 can reliably supply power to the load cell 27 and the like even without contact by the primary coil 52 and the secondary coil 56 facing each other in close proximity. . Further, a charger or the like other than the power supply mechanism 50 does not exist in the measuring unit 13.
As shown in FIG. 16, the signal output from the load cell 27 is amplified by the amplifier 27d, digitized by the A / D converter 27e, and transferred to the secondary coil 56 as serial communication. At this time, the signal for serial communication is modulated by the modulation circuit 27f, transferred from the secondary coil 56 to the primary coil 52 in a non-contact manner without being wired, and then demodulated by the demodulation circuit 27g. The signal thus restored to the original serial data is sent to the control unit 20 of the weighing device 10. Thus, by sending a signal from the load cell 27 to the control unit 20, it is possible to suppress noise from being superimposed on a weak output signal from the load cell 27. Here, filtering is also performed in order to minimize the amount of communication data. Instead of using the primary coil 52 and the secondary coil 56 to transmit signals without contact, serial communication may be performed using infrared rays.

  The measuring instruments 25a to 25e measure the container C held by the holder 28 while turning by the load cell 27 arranged in the circular box 26, respectively. That is, the measuring instruments 25a to 25e rotate around the rotation center axis A11 together with the rotation shaft body A1 and the circular box 26, thereby drawing a circular orbit along a horizontal plane. As a result, the weighing is performed while turning toward the stock unit 14 where the next process is performed, and therefore the process from weighing to stocking can be speeded up. Further, even when weighing while moving, the time until turning to the delivery position in the delivery unit 16a provided between the weighing unit 13 and the stock unit 14 is sufficiently secured as the time for measuring. it can.

  The holder 28 includes a bottom plate 28a that supports the bottom surface of the container C from below and a U-shaped member 28b. And the container C is hold | maintained between the baseplate 28a and the U-shaped member 28b by covering the U-shaped member 28b along the collar part C1 formed in the outer periphery of the container C. Further, a magnet (permanent magnet) is embedded in the bottom plate 28 a of the holder 28. For this reason, the metal container C can be held by the magnetic force of the magnet. The magnet may be embedded not on the bottom plate 28a but on the side wall, or may be embedded on both the bottom plate 28a and the side wall. The same applies to holders 31 and 35 shown below.

The weighing is performed in a state where the container C and the weighing devices 25a to 25e are relatively stopped. That is, the container C and the measuring devices 25a to 25e are measured while moving at the same speed. As a result, even when the container C is being moved, accurate weighing can be performed in the same manner as when the container C is stopped and weighed.
The container C may be made of resin, or the holder 28 may hold the container C other than a magnet.

  Further, the weighing unit 13 receives the container C that has been emptied by discharging the object to be measured in the discharge unit 15 from the delivery unit 16c, and measures the empty container C while lowering the chute 24 that the supply unit 12 includes. Move to just below the opening 24a. In this way, the weighing unit 13 receives the container C that has completed the process from weighing to discharging, and sends it again to the process from weighing to discharging. For this reason, the container C can be circulated in the weighing device 10.

[Composition of stock section]
The stock unit 14 is a device for storing a plurality of containers C weighed in the weighing unit 13, and is disposed on the downstream side of the weighing unit 13 and on the upstream side of the discharge unit 15 as shown in FIG. 2. Yes. For this reason, the stock unit 14 can immediately deliver the container C selected by the control unit 20 (see FIG. 1) to the discharge unit 15. Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the stock unit 14 includes five storage units 30 that can hold five containers C in the vertical direction. And these accumulation | storage parts 30 are arrange | positioned at equal intervals in the circumferential direction centering | focusing on the rotation center axis | shaft of rotating shaft body A2.

  The storage unit 30 has five holders 31 arranged in the vertical direction in order to hold the five containers C in the vertical direction. The holder 31 includes a bottom plate 31a that supports the bottom surface of the container C from below and a U-shaped member 31b, similar to the holder 28 of the measuring unit 13. The holder 31 also holds the metallic container C by the magnetic force of the magnet embedded in the bottom plate 31a.

  In addition, the stock unit 14 rotates the storage unit 30 around the rotation center axis of the rotary shaft body A2. Accordingly, the stock unit 14 has a function as a transport mechanism for the container C, similarly to the weighing unit 13. Further, since the container C is always stored while being swung in the horizontal direction, when the container C is selected by the control unit 20, the selected container C can be immediately delivered from the stock unit 14 to the delivery unit 16b. .

Further, the stock unit 14 includes a mechanism 34 that moves the storage unit 30 in the vertical direction.
The mechanism 34 includes a shaft 32 in which a thread groove is formed, a motor (not shown) that is disposed below the shaft 32 and rotates the shaft 32, and a connection member 33 that connects the storage unit 30 and the shaft 32. I have. In this mechanism 34, the connecting member 33 attached to the shaft 32 is moved up and down by causing the motor 32 attached to the lower part of the five shafts 32 to reverse the shaft 32 in the normal direction. Specifically, the motor that rotates the shaft 32 normally rotates the shaft 32 at all times so as to synchronize with the rotational speed of the rotary shaft body A2. Thereby, the shaft 32 can be relatively non-rotated while rotating around the rotary shaft body A2. Here, when the container C is moved in the vertical direction, the rotational speed of the motor that is constantly rotating is increased or decreased to cause the shaft 32 to rotate forward or reverse relative to the rotating shaft body A2. Or Thereby, the container C hold | maintained at the storage part 30 with the connection member 33 can be moved to a perpendicular direction.

  Further, by providing the stock unit 14 with a mechanism 34 that moves the containers C in the vertical direction, the stock unit 14 can store a plurality of containers C in a three-dimensional manner. Further, the container C moved horizontally from the delivery unit 16a is stored in the vertical direction, and the container C stored in the vertical direction is moved in the horizontal direction and delivered to the delivery unit 16b. Can intersect with the direction of accumulating. The five accumulation | storage parts 30 are located between 3F-7F shown in FIG. 6 at the time of a driving | operation start. And according to the selection request | requirement of the container C from the control part 20, it moves to the perpendicular direction between 1F-9F, holding the container C of 5 steps | paragraphs. In addition, the display of 1F-9F shown in FIG. 6 shows the hierarchy in which the container C is located in the vertical direction.

  Moreover, in the weighing | measuring apparatus 10 of this embodiment, in the accumulation | storage part 30 holding the five containers C in the perpendicular direction, in the height of 5F part equivalent to the center part of the accumulation | storage part 30 at the time of an operation start, Receive and deliver. Thereby, even if it takes out the container C currently hold | maintained at which hierarchy, the moving distance of the accumulation | storage part 30 in the vertical direction can be restrained within the upper and lower 2 hierarchy centering on 5F.

  The stock unit 14 receives and delivers the container C at the same level (height). That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the container C is received from the delivery unit 16a at a level of 5F, and the container C is delivered to the delivery unit 16b at the level of 5F. In this manner, by receiving and delivering the container C at the same height, after the container C is discharged, the position of the container C can be simply swiveled around the rotation center axis of the rotation shaft body A2. A new container C can be additionally replenished.

[Structure of discharge section]
The discharge unit 15 is a device for discharging the object to be weighed that has been conveyed in the state of being put in the container C from the container C. As shown in FIG. 2, it is arranged downstream of the stock unit 14 and upstream of the measuring unit 13. 8 and 9, the discharge unit 15 includes five holders 35, five shafts 36, an inclined plate 37, a rotary shaft A3, and a reversing mechanism 38.

  The holder 35 includes a bottom plate 35a for supporting the bottom surface of the container C from below and a U-shaped member 35b, similar to the holder 28 of the weighing unit 13 and the holder 31 of the stock unit 14, in order to hold the container C. Yes. The holder 35 also holds the metal container C by the magnetic force of the magnet embedded in the bottom plate 35a. In addition, five holders 35 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction around the rotation shaft body A3, and turn around the rotation center axis of the rotation shaft body A3.

Holders 35 are attached to the upper ends of the shafts 36, respectively, and the interior extending in the vertical direction is a hollow metal cylinder. Inside the shaft 36, components such as a cam and a gear constituting a reversing mechanism 38 for reversing the holder 35 are provided.
As shown in FIGS. 10A to 10F, the inclined plates 37 are respectively attached to the lower portions of the five shafts 36 turning in parallel around the rotation center axis of the rotary shaft body A3. The guide part 39 is lifted along the inclined surface of the inclined plate 37. Thereby, the container C hold | maintained at the holder 35 with the holder 35 attached to the upper end part of the shaft 36 can be moved to a perpendicular direction.

  The reversing mechanism 38 drives the cam or gear of the reversing mechanism 38 provided inside the shaft 36 to discharge the object P to be weighed from the container C, so that the holder holding the container C is 180 degrees. Rotate. Further, the reversing mechanism 38 is a timing for rotating the container C in the control unit 20 (see FIG. 1) so that the measurement object P is discharged toward a desired discharge position in the discharge chute 17, that is, the lower opening 17a. Is controlled. The container C that has been reversed so that the opening is directed downward by the reversing mechanism 38 is held by the collar portion C1 being supported from below by the U-shaped member 35b of the holder 35.

  The rotary shaft A3 rotates the container C together with the holder 35. Thereby, similarly to the measurement unit 13 and the stock unit 14, the discharge unit 15 receives a rotational driving force from a turning mechanism 19 described later, and has a function as a transport mechanism for the container C. The rotating shaft A3 rotates in synchronization with the other rotating shafts A1, A2, A4 by the rotational driving force from the rotating motor M1 provided in the turning mechanism 19 described later.

  In the weighing device 10 of the present embodiment, the discharge unit 15 discharges the object P from the container C while rotating the container C around the rotation center axis of the rotary shaft body A3. For this reason, the to-be-measured item P in the container C is discharged | emitted from the container C in the state to which the centrifugal force was applied. Therefore, it is provided in the central portion of the discharge chute 17 arranged in the tangential direction of the turning trajectory centering on the rotary shaft A3 in a state where centrifugal force and gravity are applied to the object to be measured discharged from the container C. The object P can be freely dropped in the vicinity of the lower opening 17a.

[Configuration of delivery section]
As shown in FIG. 2, the delivery units 16 a to 16 c are arranged between the weighing unit 13 and the stock unit 14, between the stock unit 14 and the discharge unit 15, and between the discharge unit 15 and the measurement unit 13, respectively. ing. And the height in which the delivery parts 16a-16c are arrange | positioned is all the positions corresponded to the hierarchy of 5F shown in FIG.

  The delivery unit 16 a is provided between the weighing unit 13 and the stock unit 14, receives the weighed container C from the weighing unit 13, and delivers it to the stock unit 14. The delivery unit 16b is provided between the stock unit 14 and the discharge unit 15, and is selected by the control unit 20 (see FIG. 1), and the desired container C that has moved to the position 5F in FIG. 14 and delivered to the discharge unit 15. The delivery unit 16 c is provided between the discharge unit 15 and the weighing unit 13. The delivery unit 16 c receives an empty container C from which the object to be weighed is discharged from the discharge unit 15 and delivers it to the measurement unit 13. Thus, the delivery part 16a-16c delivers the container C between each process, such as measurement, stock, discharge | emission, so that the container C can be circulated in the weighing device 10.

  Moreover, the delivery parts 16a-16c are each provided with the upper board 41, the lower board 42, and the three rotating shaft bodies A4, as shown in FIG. The upper plate 41 has three arc portions 44 along the outer peripheral surface of the container C, and holds three containers C in the arc portion 44. The lower plate 42 has six protrusions 43, and the container C is inserted between the two protrusions 43 to support the container C from below. The three rotary shaft bodies A4 receive a rotational driving force from a turning mechanism 19 described later, and rotate the delivery units 16a to 16c so that the delivery units 16a to 16c are synchronized. Thereby, the delivery parts 16a-16c have the function as a conveyance mechanism of the container C with the function to deliver the container C between each part. In addition, the rotation direction of the delivery parts 16a-16c is a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the measurement part 13, the stock part 14, and the discharge part 15. Thereby, the container C is moved in the same direction on the side where each of the delivery parts 16a to 16c and the weighing part 13 etc. deliver the adjacent container C. Therefore, the delivery of the container C can be performed smoothly.

Here, as a member used for delivery of the container C, a claw member 45 is provided in the vicinity of the delivery parts 16a to 16c as shown in FIG.
The claw member 45 is a member having a claw 46 protruding in the vicinity of each of the delivery portions 16a to 16c. And it is fixedly arranged at the height position corresponding to the level of 5F shown in FIG. 6 which is a substantially central portion among the weighing unit 13, the stock unit 14 and the discharge unit 15 where the container C is received and delivered. Has been.

  In the weighing device 10 of the present embodiment, for example, the container C selected by the control unit 20 from the plurality of containers C rotating in the stock unit 14 shown in FIG. To the vertical direction. The claw 46 of the claw member 45 protrudes at a height position corresponding to the level of 5F from which the container C to be taken out has moved. For this reason, the direction of movement of the container C to be taken out toward the delivery unit 16b is changed by guiding the container C so that the claw 46 deviates from the turning trajectory in the stock unit 14. Thereby, holding | maintenance of the container C in the stock part 14 is cancelled | released, and the container C can be guide | induced to the direction of the delivery part 16b.

  As described above, even when the container C is held by the magnetic force of the permanent magnet as in the present embodiment, the container C is forcibly released from the delivery unit 16b using the claw member 45. C can be easily released. Therefore, even if it does not electrically control the holding release of the container C using an electromagnet, the holding of the container C can be released with a simple configuration, and the container C can be delivered.

Similarly, in the other delivery parts 16a and 16c, using the claw 46 of the claw member 45, the holding of the container C held in the weighing part 13 and the container C held in the discharge part 15 is released, The container C is delivered between the weighing unit 13 and the stock unit 14 and between the discharge unit 15 and the weighing unit 13.
[Configuration of swivel mechanism]
The swivel mechanism 19 provided in the weighing device 10 of the present embodiment is a mechanism that applies a rotational driving force to the weighing unit 13, the stock unit 14, the discharge unit 15, and the delivery units 16a to 16c described above. As shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 12, the turning mechanism 19 includes a rotation motor M1 and a transmission unit 19a.

  The transmission unit 19a is configured to rotate the rotating shaft A1 that rotates the measuring unit 13, the rotating shaft A2 that rotates the stock unit 14, the rotating shaft A3 that rotates the discharge unit 15, and the rotating shaft A4 that rotates the delivery unit. The rotational driving force of the rotary motor M1 is transmitted through gears, pulleys, and a belt (not shown). And rotating shaft body A1-A4 is rotated so that the measurement part 13, the stock part 14, and the discharge part 15 may synchronize. Thus, since each part which delivers the container C is rotating in the synchronized state, each adjacent part is turning the container C at the same speed. For this reason, the delivery of the container C held in each part can be performed smoothly.

As described above, the rotary shaft body A4 is for rotating the delivery units 16a to 16c that rotate in the direction opposite to the measuring unit 13, the stock unit 14, and the discharge unit 15. For this reason, in the measuring device 10 of this embodiment, about the rotating shaft body A4, in the transmission part 19a, the rotation direction is converted into reverse rotation and the rotational driving force is transmitted.
[Operation from Weighing to Discharging by the Weighing Device of this Embodiment]
Here, the flow of processing performed by the weighing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. In addition, each process performed according to the flowchart shown below is the control flow controlled by the control part 20 (refer FIG. 1).

First, the supply and weighing process in the weighing unit 13 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
The weighing unit 13 receives an empty container C from the delivery unit 16c in step (hereinafter referred to as S) 1. In S <b> 2, the empty container C is weighed before the object to be weighed is supplied by the supply unit 12. Subsequently, in S <b> 3, the objects to be weighed are sequentially introduced into the container C that is being swung by the weighing unit 13 by the supply unit 12. In S4, the weighing unit 13 measures the container C containing the object to be weighed. Here, the weighing object can be weighed by subtracting the weighing result of the empty container C from the weighing result of the container C containing the weighing object. Finally, in S5, the weighed container C is delivered to the delivery unit 16a.

The weighing unit 13 transmits the measurement result to the control unit 20. The control unit 20 stores the received measurement result of the object to be measured in a storage unit such as a ROM or a RAM, and accumulates data for performing combination weighing.
Next, the accumulation | storage process of the container C in the stock part 14 is demonstrated using the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In the stock unit 14, in S <b> 11, the weighed container C is received from the delivery unit 16 a by the holder 31 of the storage unit 30. Subsequently, in S <b> 12, the container C is circulated (standby) in the stock unit 14 while being held in the storage unit 30 until the received container C is selected by the control unit 20. In S13, when a selection request is received from the control unit 20, in S14, the container C that has received the selection request is moved in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 6, the container C selected at this time is moved to a height position corresponding to the 5F layer of the delivery unit 16b. Next, in S15, the container C requested to be selected is delivered to the delivery unit 16b. Here, the container C delivered to the delivery unit 16b proceeds to S21 shown in FIG. Although not included in the flowchart, in the stock unit 14, the storage unit 30 is configured to additionally replenish a new container C from the measuring unit 13 at the position of the storage unit 30 that has held the delivered container C. Is rotated around the rotary shaft A2 to the position of the delivery portion 16a while maintaining the height position as it is. Then, a newly weighed container C is additionally replenished to the position from the delivery unit 16a.

  In the weighing device 10 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the container C is received and delivered in the stock section 14 at the same height (5F portion in FIG. 6). For this reason, the process from the delivery of the container C to the receipt of a new container C can be smoothly performed by simply turning the storage unit 30 as it is. Further, in the storage unit 30, a new container C is additionally replenished at the position where the delivered container C was held. For this reason, the additional replenishment of the container C can be performed without moving the storage unit 30 in the vertical direction. Therefore, the movement amount of the container C can be reduced, the impact applied to the object to be weighed in the container C can be reduced, and the object to be weighed can be protected.

Finally, the step of discharging the object to be weighed from the container C in the discharge unit 15 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 15 and FIGS. 10 (a) to 10 (f).
As shown in FIG. 10A, the discharge unit 15 receives the container C requested to be selected from the delivery unit 16b by the holder 35 in S21. In S22, as shown in FIG. 10 (b), the container C is raised while turning around the rotary shaft A3, and the container C starts to rotate simultaneously with the rise. The position of the container C on the plane at this time is a “container rotation start” position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 10 (c), the container C is further rotated as it rises, and as shown in FIG. 10 (d), the container C is completely rotated 180 degrees until it rises to the highest point. Turn container C upside down so that it faces downward. Subsequently, in S23, as shown in FIG. 10E, after the container C is inverted 180 degrees, the container C is lowered as it is. The position of the container C on the plane at this time is a “container downward final point” indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Here, the object to be weighed departs from the swirling trajectory of the container C in the discharge portion 15 and is discharged toward the vicinity of the central portion of the discharge chute 17 arranged in the tangential direction of the swirling track. The position of the container C on the plane at this time is a “discharge complete” position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Then, in S24, as shown in FIG. 10 (f), the container C from which the object to be weighed is rotated 180 degrees again to return the opening to the upward state. Finally, in S25, the container C is delivered to the delivery unit 16c.

As described above, the turning movement of the container C is performed by transmitting the rotational driving force from the rotation motor M1 in the turning mechanism 19 to each of the rotary shaft bodies A1 to A4. On the other hand, the raising and lowering of the container C, that is, the movement in the vertical direction is performed by moving the guide portion 39 attached to the lower portion of the shaft 36 along the inclined plate 37.
In the weighing device 10 of the present embodiment, as described above, when the object to be weighed is discharged from the container C, the discharge unit 15 moves the container C in the vertical direction and rotates it 180 degrees. Thereby, the inertia force of the perpendicular direction upward can be given with respect to a to-be-measured object. For this reason, even when a plurality of objects to be weighed are contained in the container C, the objects to be weighed become solid at the bottom of the container C, and the objects to be weighed are discharged from the container C immediately after the container C is rotated. And the occurrence of tailing can be prevented.

  Furthermore, in the weighing device 10 of the present embodiment, after the discharge unit 15 reverses the container C by 180 degrees, the container C is moved in the vertically downward direction. Usually, when a plurality of objects to be weighed such as potato chips are put in the container C, when the container C is simply reversed and a plurality of objects to be weighed are discharged from the container C, the container C is first discharged from the container C. There is a time difference between the weighing object and the weighing object finally discharged from the container C. In this case, since the object to be weighed is discharged from the container C in the form of an elongated band, a so-called tailing problem occurs. Therefore, in the weighing device 10 according to the present embodiment, the discharge unit 15 moves the container C vertically downward after the container C is reversed, and among the plurality of objects to be weighed, the object to be discharged with a delay from the container C. A downward force can be applied to the vertical direction. Therefore, the time difference between the discharge of the object to be weighed first from the container C and the discharge of the object to be weighed finally from the container C can be eliminated, and the problem of tailing can be solved.

[Main features of weighing device of this embodiment]
(1)
In the weighing unit 13 of the weighing device 10, the power feeding mechanism 50 is configured by using the two coils 52 and 56, so there is no need to provide a light emitting device such as a lamp to perform solar power generation, and relatively maintenance is performed. Has become easier.

In addition, a photovoltaic panel having a relatively large area necessary for generating power by receiving light is unnecessary, and the power feeding mechanism 50 is made compact.
(2)
In the weighing unit 13 of the weighing device 10, the five weighing devices 25 a to 25 e correspond to one feeding mechanism 50, and the feeding mechanism 50 requires a high power supply capability.

In view of this, here, not the conventional photovoltaic power generation is used, but the feeding mechanism 50 that takes out the induced electromotive force using the two coils 52 and 56 is used. For this reason, high power supply capability can be achieved with a relatively compact configuration of the power supply mechanism 50.
Further, here, a continuous power supply is secured by the configuration using the two coils 52 and 56, and the batteryless power supply mechanism 50 is realized. Thus, since it is battery-less, compared with the structure which employ | adopts the combination of the electric power feeding mechanism and photocharging part by photovoltaic power generation, the initial installation cost and maintenance cost of the weighing | measuring device 10 can be held down. In addition, in the case of adopting a configuration in which power is supplied to the weighing instrument via the battery, the weighing process cannot be performed while the battery is being charged, but in the battery-less weighing unit 13, the weighing is performed immediately after the weighing device 10 is started up. Can be processed.

(3)
In the power feeding mechanism 50 of the weighing unit 13 of the weighing device 10, the secondary coil 56 facing the primary coil 52 rotates, but along the horizontal direction intersecting the rotation center axis A11 of the rotation. Does not move. For this reason, the secondary coil 56 of the rotation part 55 does not leave | separate from the primary coil 52 of the fixing | fixed part 51, and an electromotive force is always induced in the secondary coil 56 stably.

[Second Embodiment]
Another embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17.
The combination weighing device 60 according to the present embodiment sorts articles such as food and industrial products into a plurality of containers having openings in the upper part, and combines them so that the total weight of articles contained in each container falls within a predetermined weight range. An apparatus for selecting a container and discharging a plurality of articles in a predetermined weight range.

As shown in FIG. 16, the combination weighing device 60 includes four weighing devices 10 according to the first embodiment and a discharge chute 17.
In addition, the combination weighing device 60 includes the control unit 20 connected to the four weighing devices 10 in one of the weighing devices 10.
The control unit 20 receives data from the weighing unit 13 that is measured by the weighing units 13 of the four weighing devices 10 and is stored in the stock unit 14. Then, the combination of the objects to be weighed is added so that the weight of the objects to be weighed stored in the container C in the stock unit 14 of the four weighing devices 10 is added to be within the desired weight range. Do. Here, when the control unit 20 determines a combination within a desired weight range, the container C in which the objects to be weighed in the combination used in the combination are selected from each weighing device 10 and taken out from the stock unit 14. Then, a desired object to be weighed is discharged from the container C in the discharge unit 15 and thrown into the discharge chute 17.

The combination weighing by the combination weighing device 60 of the present embodiment is performed in a state where the four weighing devices 10a to 10d are arranged so as to surround the discharge chute 17, as shown in FIG.
Each of the weighing devices 10a to 10d includes the weighing units 13a to 13d, the stock units 14a to 14d, and the discharge units 15a to 15d described in the first embodiment. The stock units 14a to 14d each have five rows of storage units 30aa to 30de that hold the five containers C in the vertical direction as described above.

  Further, in the combination weighing device 60 of the present embodiment, only the weighing device 10a has the control unit 20 provided in the weighing device 10 of the first embodiment, and here, the operation of the four weighing devices 10 is controlled. I do. That is, the control unit 20 in the weighing device 10a performs a combination of the weights of the objects to be weighed stored in the plurality of containers C stored in the stock units 14a to 14d included in the four weighing devices 10a to 10d. Is called. Then, the objects to be weighed from three or four of the weighing devices 10a to 10d are directed to the lower opening 17a of the discharge chute 17 so that the total of the objects to be weighed falls within a desired weight range. Discharged.

In the combination weighing device 60 including the four weighing devices 10a to 10d as described above, for example, from the five containers C held in the vertical direction in the accumulation unit 30ac provided in the stock unit 14a of the weighing device 10a. A container C containing an object to be weighed in a desired weight is delivered to the discharge unit 15a.
At the same time, in the other weighing devices 10b to 10d, the desired weight necessary for combination weighing is similarly selected from the five containers C held in the storage units 30bc to 30dc in the stock units 14b to 14d. The container C containing the objects to be weighed is delivered to the discharge units 15b to 15d.

Subsequently, in each of the weighing devices 10a to 10d, five containers C that are respectively held by the four storage units 30ad to 30dd included in the stock units 14a to 14d, that is, 20 containers C are used. Combination weighing is performed.
Hereinafter, combination weighing is performed in the 20 containers C in the same manner for the storage units 30ae to 30de, the storage units 30aa to 30da, and the storage units 30ab to 30db.

  In the combination weighing device 60 of the present embodiment, as described above, among the storage units 30aa to 30de included in the stock units 14a to 14d, the storage units 30aa, 30ba, 30ca, 30da and the storage units 30ab, 30bb, 30cb, 30db, storage units 30ac, 30bc, 30cc, 30dc and storage units 30da, 30db, 30dc, 30dd and storage units 30ae, 30be, 30ce, 30de are set as one set, and combination weighing is performed.

Further, for example, in the case where combination weighing is performed by discharging the objects to be weighed from only three weighing devices 10a to 10c among the four weighing devices 10a to 10d, the weighing device 10d that does not perform discharging is discharged. The container C is not reversed in the portion 15d.
In this way, by waiting for the stock units 14a to 14d to rotate once by performing combination weighing in the plurality of containers C held in the corresponding storage units 30 in the stock units 14a to 14d, respectively. And continuous combination weighing can be performed.

In this combination, the objects to be weighed may be discharged from each of the four weighing devices 10, or if there is a container C in which an object to be weighed within a desired weight range is placed from the beginning. It may be discharged from one weighing device 10.
As a result, an object to be weighed can be discharged within a desired weight range. In this way, by combining the four weighing devices 10 of the first embodiment, for example, high-speed processing exceeding 200 times per minute can be performed.

[Other Embodiments]
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary of invention.
(A)
In the first embodiment, each of the weighing unit 13, the stock unit 14, and the discharge unit 15 has a function as a conveyance mechanism for the container C. For example, the weighing device 10 and the conveyance mechanism are a single mechanism. An example of the configuration has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the weighing unit 13 or the like, a transport mechanism for the container C may be provided as a separate mechanism.

(B)
In the second embodiment, the combination weighing device 60 including four weighing devices 10 has been described, but the combination weighing device of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, one weighing device 10 can function as an automatic weighing device or can function as a combination weighing device. However, in order to process the steps from weighing to discharging at high speed, it is more preferable to provide a plurality of weighing devices 10 as in the second embodiment. For example, in the combination weighing device 60 of the second embodiment, a capability of 240 times / minute can be secured. Therefore, the combination weighing may be performed by determining the number of the weighing devices 10 according to the desired discharge capacity.

  The weighing device according to the present invention can be designed so that the movable part can move freely with respect to the fixed part of the power feeding mechanism, and has an effect that the maintenance becomes relatively easy, and the goods are weighed while moving. It is useful as a measuring device equipped with a measuring instrument.

1 is a front view showing a weighing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The top view which shows a measuring device. The side view which shows the supply part with which a measuring apparatus is provided. The partial cross section figure in the side view which shows the measurement part with which the measurement apparatus is provided. The top view which shows a measurement part. The side view which shows the stock part with which a measuring device is provided. The top view which shows a stock part. The side view which shows the discharge part with which a measuring apparatus is provided. The top view which shows a discharge part. (A)-(f) is a figure which shows the discharge method by the discharge part shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. (A) is a top view which shows a delivery part, (b) is a side view which shows a delivery part. The side view which shows a turning mechanism. The flowchart which shows the operation | movement in the supply by a measurement apparatus and a measurement process. The flowchart which shows the operation | movement in the stock process by a measuring device. The flowchart which shows the operation | movement in the discharge process by a measuring device. The block diagram which shows the electric power feeding mechanism in a measurement part. The perspective view which shows the combination weighing | measuring apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The top view which shows the operation | movement which performs combination measurement by a combination measurement apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Weighing device 12 Supply part 13 Weighing part 20 Control part 25a-25e Weighing instrument 27 Load cell 29 External power supply 50 Power supply mechanism 51 Fixed part 52 Primary coil 55 Rotating part (movable part)
56 Secondary coil 58 Rectifier circuit 59 Smoothing circuit A11 Rotation center axis C Container

Claims (8)

A weighing instrument that weighs items while moving;
The primary coil has a fixed part, a movable part that moves according to the movement of the measuring instrument, a primary coil that is provided in the fixed part, and a secondary coil that is provided in the movable part and faces the primary coil. A power feeding mechanism that feeds power to the scale and takes out the induced electromotive force in the secondary coil and supplies power to the measuring instrument;
Weighing device equipped with. A plurality of the measuring instruments;
The power supply mechanism distributes and supplies power to the plurality of measuring devices;
The weighing device according to claim 1. The power supply mechanism further includes a rectifier circuit and a smoothing circuit provided in a path for supplying power from the secondary coil to the measuring instrument.
The weighing device according to claim 1 or 2. Power is supplied to the measuring instrument only from the power supply mechanism and does not include a charging unit.
The weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The secondary coil rotates in accordance with the movement of the measuring instrument, but does not move in a direction intersecting the rotation center axis of the rotation.
The weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The weigher moves along a circular path,
The weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The measuring device measures the container and the article while moving with the container containing the article.
The weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The weighing device outputs weighing data without going through a wire.
The weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

Images