JP2007050971A - Carrier branching device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a carrier branching device for carrying agricultural products placed on adjacent carriers as kept in a predetermined direction without interference with each other. <P>SOLUTION: Predetermined items of long agricultural products A placed on a tray B being carried via a carrying conveyor 2 as kept in the predetermined direction are measured by a measuring device 4 in a measurement region b. In accordance with measurement information, sorting destination information for the agricultural products A determined by a determining device 5 is stored in coordination with specific information for the tray B. In accordance with the sorting destination information, the tray B on which the agricultural products A are placed is carried out as kept in the predetermined direction to a branching conveyor 7a by a carry-out device 6 in a sorting region c and carried as kept in the predetermined direction. After the agricultural products A are picked out of the tray B carried from the branching conveyor 7a to a communication conveyor 7c and packed in a box, the empty tray B is carried out of the communication conveyor 7c to a return conveyor 7b, carried as kept in the predetermined direction, and carried into a site on the circuit of the carrying conveyor 2 on which the tray B is placed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a transport body branching device used for transporting articles such as agricultural products such as pepper, eggplant, and carrots.

  It has never been sorted by a sorting device that circulates and transports a tray on which a long product as described above is placed, and the mainstream is sorted by a bucket type sorting device, but a drop, a rolling, etc. are given at the time of discharge Therefore, there was a risk of damage to agricultural products. In addition, there is also a long round combined tray like the article mounting body of Patent Document 1, but it is transported in a predetermined direction, and when an agricultural product of a length that protrudes to the side of the tray is placed, it is adjacent The long agricultural products placed on the trays that interfere with each other interfere with each other and cannot be branched. In addition, when a tray on which a long agricultural product is placed is branched in an orthogonal direction like an ordinary sorting device, adjacent agricultural products may interfere with each other and fall, or the placement position of the agricultural product may be shifted. .

JP 2001-139131 A

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a transport body branching apparatus that can sort long agricultural products placed on adjacent transport bodies without causing mutual interference.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transport body branching device, a transport body on which an article can be placed, a transport conveyor that transports a plurality of transported bodies in a predetermined orientation, and a transport body from the transport conveyor. In the transport body branching device provided with the unloading means for unloading and the branching conveyor for transporting the transported body transported from the transporting conveyor, the transporting body can place an article having a length protruding in the width direction. In addition, the branch conveyor is connected to the conveyor in a direction substantially parallel to the inclined surface of the transport body and is engaged with the inclined surface for conveyance. Guide means for guiding the conveyance of the body, and on the conveyance conveyor so that the articles placed on the adjacent conveyance bodies do not interfere when the conveyance body is carried out from the conveyance conveyor to the branch conveyor by the carry-out means. Wherein the unloading while maintaining the orientation of the carrier in.

  According to the present invention, a long article, which is an example of an article, is placed in a state protruding in the width direction with respect to a transport body transported by the transport conveyor, and is transported by the transport conveyor while keeping the transport body in a predetermined direction. . When a transport body on which a long object is placed is transported from the transport conveyor to the branch conveyor by the transport means, the guide means of the branch conveyor is engaged with the inclined surface of the transport body, and the long object placed on the adjacent transport body In order not to interfere with each other, the carrier is branched and conveyed from the conveyor to the branch conveyor while maintaining the orientation of the conveyor on the conveyor.

  The above-mentioned article can be composed of, for example, a long product such as pepper, eggplant, or carrot, or a round product such as fruit (apple, pear, peach, tomato, strawberry, etc.), citrus fruit, or the like. Moreover, a conveyance body can be comprised with a thing in which agricultural products, such as a tray, a bread | pan, a plate, etc. are mounted, for example. Moreover, a conveyance conveyor, a branch conveyor, a return conveyor can be comprised by a belt conveyor, a roller conveyor, a thrust conveyor etc., for example.

  Further, the carry-out means moves, for example, an engagement groove formed on the bottom surface of the carry-out device and the tray, an engagement pin engaged with the engagement groove, and a direction in which the engagement pin is engaged with the engagement groove. It can be configured with driving means such as an air cylinder, a solenoid, and a motor. Moreover, it can also be comprised by the drive means which carries out horizontal rotation or a horizontal movement with respect to the direction in which a conveyance body is carried out, and a pusher of plate shape and rod shape. Moreover, it can also be comprised with the roller which rotates always in the direction in which a conveyance body is carried out or carried in, or rotates only at the time of carrying out or carrying in. Further, the guide means can be constituted by a guide member such as a plate shape or a rail shape that is engaged with the inclined surface of the transport body, for example.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transfer body branching device, in addition to the structure of the first aspect, connected to the branch conveyor a return conveyor that returns the transported body transported to the branch conveyor to the transport conveyor. The return conveyor is characterized in that the transporting body is carried into the transporting conveyor while being kept in the same direction as the transporting body transported on the transporting conveyor.

  According to the present invention, since the transport body carried to the branch conveyor is returned to the transport conveyor while being kept in the same direction as the transport body transported on the transport conveyor by the return conveyor, the article on the transport body is placed. Can be transported in the same direction.

  In addition to the structure according to claim 1 or 2, the carrying body branching apparatus according to the invention described in claim 3 is configured such that the carry-out means is on the bottom surface of the carrier, the front is on the branch conveyor side, and the rear is anti-branching. There is an engagement groove on the conveyor side, and an engagement pin that can protrude upward from the loading surface of the transfer body between the transfer conveyor and the branch conveyor, and the engagement pin is formed in the groove of the transfer body. It is characterized by carrying out a conveyance body from a conveyance conveyor to a branch conveyor by engaging.

  According to this invention, the engaging pin constituting the unloading means protrudes on the loading surface of the conveying body between the conveying conveyor and the branch conveyor, and is engaged with the front side of the engaging groove formed on the bottom surface of the conveying body. At the same time, the contact position of the engagement groove with respect to the engagement pin is moved from the front side to the rear side by using the transfer force of the transfer conveyor, and the transfer body is in the same direction as the transfer body that is transferred on the transfer conveyor. The product is moved horizontally in the width direction while being kept at, and then transported from the conveyor to the branch conveyor.

  In addition to the structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the article is an agricultural product, and the carrier is a long produce and a round produce. Both can be mounted. According to the present invention, for example, it can be used for transporting long agricultural products such as pepper, eggplant, and carrots, and round agricultural products such as fruits (apples, pears, peaches, tomatoes, strawberries, etc.) and citrus fruits.

  According to the present invention, since the transport body on which the agricultural product is placed is carried out from the transport conveyor to the branch conveyor while being kept in a predetermined direction, even if the agricultural product placed on the transport body is a long produce, it is adjacent to the transport body. Agricultural products placed on the transporting body are prevented from interfering with each other, agricultural products are not dropped from the transporting body, and damage to the agricultural products can be prevented. In addition, since the same circulation route can be shared by the work for sorting long and round produce, there is no need to install and produce a long sorter and a round sorter. Can be made inexpensive, and the cost can be reduced. In addition, the installation space for the entire apparatus is small, and the layout can be easily performed.

  The present invention aims at branching the transport body on which the agricultural products are placed from the transport conveyor to the branch conveyor without causing the agricultural products placed on the adjacent transport bodies to interfere with each other. While maintaining the orientation, the conveyor was carried out from the conveyor to the branch conveyor, and the guide means was engaged with the inclined surface of the conveyor to keep it in a predetermined orientation.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
In the drawings, the conveying body branching apparatus according to the present invention is applied to an agricultural product sorting apparatus that sorts long or round agricultural products placed on a tray as an example of the conveying body. In this agricultural product sorting apparatus 1, a large number of free trays B on which long or round agricultural products A are placed are arranged on the circulation path formed by the transport conveyor 2, and are divided on the loop circulation path. It is conveyed in a circular manner to the supply area a, the measurement area b, and a plurality of selection areas c... Divided on the circulation path according to the selection information (information such as grade and class). Note that the final sorting area c set on the most downstream side is set as a sorting area for sorting out unqualified products.

  Further, the tray B is regulated to a predetermined placement position, and a pressing member 2a that is in contact with the rear end surface of the tray B from the rear is provided on the placement surface of the transport conveyor 2, and the transport conveyor 2 A large number of trays B are arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction where the trays B are individually placed.

  Further, the guide members 2b, 2b arranged on both sides of the circumference path of the transport conveyor 2 are provided at a height position where they abut on both side end surfaces of the bottom Bb of the tray B, and each branch conveyor 7a ... of each sorting area c ... Except for the corresponding parts, it is installed on the entire circuit path.

  As shown in FIG. 6 to FIG. 9, the tray B is a dual-purpose type that is shared by the sorting of long and round agricultural products A, and the upper part thereof is a mounting portion Be for the agricultural products A. The long agricultural product A can be placed in a horizontal posture protruding left and right with respect to the width direction of the tray B, and an intermediate portion Ba is provided between the bottom portion Bb and the placement portion Be. An inclined surface Bd with respect to the width direction is formed on the front surface of the portion Ba.

  In addition, the bottom Bb of the tray B is formed in a substantially square shape when viewed from below, and the tray A is brought into contact with the guide members 2b and 2b by contacting one end face or both end faces of the bottom Bb with the long produce A. It regulates so that it may convey while keeping in the width direction orthogonal to the circumference path of conveyance conveyor 2.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the engagement groove Bc formed on the bottom surface side of the bottom portion Bb has a depth at which an engagement pin 6a of the discharge device 6 to be described later is allowed to be engaged and a branch conveyor 7a from the conveyor conveyor 2. When the base Bb is formed to have a length that allows transfer to the front and the one side of the bottom Bb is the front (the direction corresponding to the transport direction), the diagonal line extends from the front right corner to the rear left corner of the bottom Bb. The front end of the engagement groove Bc is located on the branch conveyor 7a side, which will be described later, and the rear end of the engagement groove Bc is located on the counter-branch conveyor 7a side.

  Further, the intermediate portion Ba of the tray B is formed so that the horizontal cross section is a hexagon when viewed from above, and the inclined surface Bd of the intermediate portion Ba is brought into contact with guide members 7A and 7B described later. In addition, slopes Bd1 and Bd2 connected at an inner angle of 120 degrees are formed on the front surface of the inclined surface Bd corresponding to the conveying direction, and connected to the rear surface of the intermediate portion Ba at an inner angle of the same angle. Slopes Bd3 and Bd4 are formed. That is, when the slopes Bd2 and Bd3 and the slopes Bd1 and Bd4 of the inclined surface Bd are formed in parallel, and the tray B is conveyed on the branch conveyor 7a, the guide members provided in parallel along the branch conveyor 7a. When the inclined surfaces Bd2 and Bd3 of the inclined surface Bd are brought into contact with 7A and 7A, the tray B is regulated in the direction on the conveying conveyor 2 in the sorting region c, and when the tray B is conveyed on the return conveyor 7b. When the inclined surfaces Bd1 and Bd4 or the inclined surfaces Bd2 and Bd3 of the inclined surface Bd abut on the guide members 7B and 7B of the return conveyor 7b, the tray B is regulated in the direction on the conveying conveyor 2 in the sorting region c.

  Further, the mounting portion Be provided at the upper center of the tray B is formed in a substantially circular shape when viewed from above by a flexible elastic body such as synthetic rubber, and the hole Bf formed in the central portion is the center. The plurality of cut portions Bg... Are radially formed at a predetermined angle, and are provided so that the round produce A having various sizes and shapes can be deformed to be placed in a stable posture.

  The pair of left and right receiving portions Bh, Bh provided on both sides of the mounting portion Be are formed in a smooth concave shape (for example, an arc shape, a U shape) or a curved shape when viewed from the side, and produce A Is provided at a height to be placed above the placement portion Be. That is, the both ends of the bottom Bb of the tray B are brought into contact with the guide members 2b and 2b, so that the tray B is regulated so that the receiving portions Bh and Bh of the tray B and the both sides of the transport conveyor 2 correspond to each other. Is done.

  In addition, although the receiving surface of the receiving part Bh is covered or formed with a flexible elastic body such as synthetic rubber, for example, the receiving part Bh itself has elasticity necessary to support the agricultural product A. You may form with a body. Further, if it is possible to keep the tray B in a predetermined direction, the bottom Bb may be formed in the same hexagon as the intermediate portion Ba or other shapes.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the worker D arranged in the supply area a picks up each agricultural product A conveyed by the cargo receiving conveyor 3 provided on the side of the supply area a of the transfer conveyor 2 one by one. , The external items of produce A (for example, size, color, shape, weight, sugar content, softness, water level, scratches, etc.) are viewed by the operator D and individually based on personal criteria Judgment.

  And when each tray B ... is transported to each carrying area classified by class on the circulation route of the supply area a, it corresponds to each carrying area based on personal judgment by the operator D The same level of agricultural products A are loaded one by one by the hand of the worker D, and both ends of the long agricultural product A protrude outward from both side edges of the tray B. It is placed in a state where it protrudes substantially evenly. Alternatively, the trays B on which the agricultural products A are placed may be placed on a plurality of placement positions in the width direction set on the transport conveyor 2 by shifting the placement positions of the trays B in the width direction. In this case, an alignment means for aligning the trays B in one row is provided on the front side of the measurement region b.

  And when each agricultural product A ... is placed on each tray B ... in each hand-carrying area, each sorting information set for each hand-carrying area is stored in each hand-carrying area in correspondence with the placement. The information is stored in the determination device 5 in association with the unique information of each tray B.

  Further, the transport conveyor 2 is configured so that each of the plurality of agricultural products A ... accommodated in the containers transported by the cargo receiving conveyor 3 is taken out by the operator E or is held by transfer means such as a suction pad or an arm. You may transfer to each tray B ... conveyed.

  The measurement device 4 arranged in the measurement region b is configured to receive external measurement information obtained by photographing the outer surface of the produce A such as the upper peripheral surface, the lower peripheral surface, and the side peripheral surface with a photographing camera, and transmitted light transmitted through the produce A. The internal measurement information photographed by the photographing camera and the weight measurement information of the produce A itself calculated by measuring the weight of the entire tray B including the produce A by the load cell are associated with the unique information of each tray B ... Store in 5.

  The determination device 5 is an item (for example, hue) necessary for grading the produce A based on the artificial selection information by the worker D in the supply area a and the electrical measurement information by the measurement apparatus 4 in the measurement area b. , Damage, size, shape, height, width, volume, flatness, sugar content, acidity, moisture content, maturity, decay, cavity, extraordinary, etc.) are individually determined and placed on each tray B… In addition, the sorting destination of each agricultural product A ... is determined, and the rating and sorting destination information of each agricultural product A ... are stored in association with the unique information of each tray B ....

  In addition, the sorting information determined by the determination device 5 is recorded on a recording medium attached to the tray B itself, or the address information set in the tray placement portion of the transport conveyor 2 that moves in correspondence with the tray B; You may memorize | store correspondingly, or you may record on the recording medium attached to the tray mounting part.

  In addition, when reading the unique information of each tray B ... conveyed to the supply area a, various information stored in the determination device 5 corresponding to the unique information of each tray B ... is erased or overwritten with new information. Etc. to reset to the initial state.

  On the other hand, in each sorting area c..., The unique information of the tray B is read by reading means such as a non-contact type communication device, and the rating and sorting destination of the produce A stored in correspondence with the unique information of the tray B And the selection information for each equal class set for each selection region c are compared by the determination device 5 to determine whether or not they are the same selection information.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, each sorting region c... The unloading device 6 arranged at the lower end of the circulation path at the upstream end is a branch that constitutes a return path arranged at the right side of the circulation path of the conveyor 2. Provided corresponding to the conveyor 7a, the tray B between the transfer conveyor 2 and the branch conveyor 7a protrudes on the mounting surface on which the tray B is mounted and is engaged with the engaging groove Bc on the bottom surface of the tray B. The raised position where the engaging pin 6a is engaged with the engaging groove Bc of the tray B conveyed by the conveying conveyor 2 by the raising and lowering operation of the extending and retracting cylinder 6b arranged at the lower part of the path, and the engagement of the tray B It moves up and down to the lowered position where engagement with the groove Bc is avoided.

  That is, when it is determined by the determination device 5 that the sorting information of the produce A placed on the tray B is different from the sorting information set in the sorting area c, the carry-out device 6 is not driven and the engagement pin is driven. 6a is made to stand by in the descent | fall position where engagement is avoided with respect to the engagement groove | channel Bc of the tray B which the conveyance conveyor 2 conveys.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the sorting information of the produce A placed on the tray B matches the sorting information of the sorting area c, the raising / lowering cylinder 6b is moved up so that the engaging pin 6a is moved to the tray B. It moves to the raised position engaged with the engaging groove Bc, and engages with the front engaging groove Bc of the tray B conveyed by the conveyor 2. The tray B tries to go straight in the transport direction by the transport force of the transport conveyor 2, but the contact position of the engagement groove Bc with the engagement pin 6a moves in an oblique direction from the front end to the rear end. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 5A, 5 </ b> B, and 5 </ b> C, the tray B moves horizontally in the width direction while being kept in the direction of conveyance on the conveyance conveyor 2, and from the conveyance conveyor 2. It is carried out toward the branch conveyor 7a.

  Further, when the tray B is transferred to the branching conveyor 7a, the inclined surface Bd2 of one inclined surface Bd with respect to the width direction of the intermediate portion Ba abuts on the guide member 7A of the branching conveyor 7a, and the tray B is transported on the transporting conveyor 2 It is regulated by the direction.

  Further, immediately before the contact position of the engagement groove Bc with respect to the engagement pin 6a reaches the rear end, the retracting cylinder 6b is moved down to move the engagement pin 6a from the engagement groove Bc of the tray B. The tray B is extracted and transferred from the transport conveyor 2 to the branching conveyor 7a while being kept in the direction on the transport conveyor 2.

  Further, the unloading device 6 arranged in the extra sorting area c is based on the determination by the judging device 5 and the branch conveyor in which the tray B on which the unusable agricultural product A is placed is arranged on the right side of the circulation path of the transport conveyor 2. Transfer to 7a. The worker E arranged in the unselected sorting area c picks up and removes the agricultural product A on the tray B by hand. In addition, the tray B from which the agricultural product A has been taken out is carried (or returned) to a place corresponding to the address where the tray B on the conveyor 2 is placed.

  In addition, the detection sensor S1 disposed on the upstream side of the carry-out device 6 detects whether or not the tray B on which the agricultural product A of the same class corresponding to the determination by the determination device 5 is transported, and the selection of the selection region c When it is detected that the tray B on which the agricultural product A corresponding to the information is loaded has been transported, the carry-out device 6 is driven to carry out the tray B on which the agricultural product A is loaded from the conveyor 2 to the branch conveyor 7a. To do.

  The detection sensor S2 disposed at the upstream end of the branch conveyor 7a detects whether or not the tray B is carried out from the transport conveyor 2 to the branch conveyor 7a, and detects that the tray B has been carried out to the branch conveyor 7a. Detect (or confirm).

  In addition, you may carry out the tray B in which the agricultural product A was mounted, maintaining the direction on the conveyance conveyor 2 from the conveyance conveyor 2 to the branch conveyor 7a by carrying-out means, such as a pusher and a sorting member, for example.

  The return conveyor 7 is composed of a branch conveyor 7a, a return conveyor 7b, and a connecting conveyor 7c. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the branch for storing the tray B on which the produce A is placed is stored. The conveyor 7a is disposed obliquely forward to the right with respect to the right side of the circulation path at the upstream end of the sorting area c set on the conveyor 2, and is substantially parallel to the inclined surface Bd2 or Bd3 of the inclined surface Bd of the tray B. The guide member 7A is connected to the conveyor 2 in the direction and engages with the inclined surface Bd2 or Bd3 to keep the tray B in a predetermined direction.

  Moreover, the return conveyor 7b which stores the empty tray B in which the agricultural product A is not mounted is arrange | positioned in parallel with the branch conveyor 7a with respect to the circumference path right side of the downstream edge part of the selection area | region c, and the return conveyor 7b. The return side end of the tray B is connected to the conveyor 2 from the diagonally right rear side to the diagonally left front side, and is associated with the slopes Bd2 and Bd3 of the slope Bd of the tray B or the slopes Bd1 and Bd4 of the slope Bd. In addition, a guide member 7B for keeping the tray B in a predetermined direction is provided.

  Further, between the end of the branch conveyor 7a and the end of the return conveyor 7b is connected by the connecting conveyor 7c corresponding to the take-out area d set on the return path of the return conveyor 7, and the circulation of the conveyor 2 It branches off from the route and communicates with the circuit route again through the take-out area d. Thus, the return path is configured by the return conveyor 7.

  The pair of left and right guide members 7A and 7A arranged on both sides of the return path of the branching conveyor 7a and the pair of left and right guide members 7B and 7B arranged on both sides of the return path of the return conveyor 7b are inclined with respect to the tray B. It is provided at a height position in contact with the surface Bd.

  The guide members 7A and 7A are brought into contact with the inclined surfaces Bd2 and Bd3 of the inclined surface Bd of the tray B when the tray B is carried out from the conveyor 2 to the branch conveyor 7a, While being regulated in the same direction as when transported by the transport conveyor 2, the transport guide is performed to the contact conveyor 7c corresponding to the take-out area d set on the return path.

  The guide members 7B and 7B are brought into contact with the inclined surfaces Bd2 and Bd3 of the inclined surface Bd of the tray B when the tray B is carried out from the connecting conveyor 7c to the returning conveyor 7b, and the tray B is bent by the returning conveyor 7b. When transporting to the return side end through the portion, the tray B that is in contact with the inclined surfaces Bd1 and Bd4 of the inclined surface Bd of the tray B and is transported by the return conveyor 7b is oriented in the same direction as when transported by the transport conveyor 2. While being regulated, the carry-in guide is performed to a place on the circulation path of the transport conveyor 2 on which the tray B is placed.

  Each pull-in roller 10a arranged between the conveyor 2 and the branch conveyor 7a always rotates in the direction in which the tray B is unloaded from the conveyor 2 toward the branch conveyor 7a. You may rotate only at the time of carrying out in conjunction with operation. Each of the feeding rollers 10b arranged between the transport conveyor 2 and the return conveyor 7b always rotates in the direction in which an empty tray B is carried from the return conveyor 7b toward the transfer conveyor 2, and the return conveyor 7b. The conveying rollers 10c and 10c arranged in the curved portion of the sheet are always rotated so that the empty tray B is conveyed while being kept in a predetermined direction, but only when the feeding roller 10b and the conveying roller 10c are carried in. May be. The trays B in the return path are all kept in the same direction as the direction on the transport conveyor 2.

  Further, the branching conveyor 7a and the return conveyor 7b convey the tray B so that the speed component in the same direction as the conveying direction of the conveying conveyor 2 is substantially equal to or higher than the conveying speed of the conveying conveyor 2. Further, the drawing roller 10a, the feeding roller 10b, and the conveying roller 10c are set to the same conveying speed as that of the branching conveyor 7a and the return conveyor 7b. I try to avoid mutual interference. The connecting conveyor 7c conveys the tray B later than the branch conveyor 7a and the return conveyor 7b.

  The stopper 11a disposed at the take-out side end of the branch conveyor 7a is a front / rear cylinder 11A disposed on the path side when all the trays B ... are unloaded from the connecting conveyor 7c or detected by the sensor. Are moved to a position where contact with the tray B is avoided, and the three trays B on which the agricultural products A are placed are transferred from the branch conveyor 7a to the connecting conveyor 7c and taken out on the connecting conveyor 7c. It stops in the area | region d with the stopper 11b. When the three trays B are placed on the contact conveyor 7c, the subsequent trays B are stopped by the stopper 11a that has been moved to a position where the trays B come into contact with the tray B.

  The connecting conveyor 7c is provided in parallel with the conveying conveyor 2 in the sorting area c. The detection sensor S3 arranged between the start side end and the end side end of the connection conveyor 7c has the produce A on each tray B ... stopped by a stopper 11b arranged at the return side end of the connection conveyor 7c. When it is detected whether or not the agricultural product A placed on the tray B is taken out by the hand of the operator E and it is detected that the agricultural product A does not exist on the tray B, the stopper 11b is routed. The front and rear cylinders 11B arranged on the side portions are retracted to a position where contact with the tray B is avoided, and the empty tray B from which the produce A has been taken out is conveyed from the connecting conveyor 7c to the return conveyor 7b. Note that an appropriate number of empty trays B on which no produce A is placed are supplied or stopped in advance on the return conveyor 7b.

  The detection sensor S4 arranged at the downstream end of the sorting area c is configured to convey a conveyor when a signal for detecting (or confirming) that the tray B has been carried out to the branch conveyor 7a in the return path is output from the detection sensor S2. When it is detected whether or not the tray B is placed on 2 and it is detected that an empty space (or placement surface) corresponding to the address on which the tray B on the conveyor 2 is placed arrives The stopper 11c arranged at the end of the return path of the return conveyor 7b is retracted to a position where it can be prevented from coming into contact with the tray B by the front and rear cylinders 11C arranged on the side of the path, and is stopped on the return conveyor 7b. The empty tray B is immediately carried into an empty space corresponding to the address where the tray B on the conveyor 2 is placed. The next tray B is stopped by the stopper 11c that has been moved to a position where it comes into contact with the tray B.

  Based on the determination by the determination device 5, the worker E arranged in each of the extraction areas d... Picks up and picks up the agricultural products A on the trays B stopped on the return path communication conveyor 7 c by hand. Boxes are arranged in line with the containers C supplied by the carry-in conveyor 8 arranged on the side of the region d. In addition, when a container C packed with a predetermined number of each agricultural product A ... is unloaded from the boxing unit, it is temporarily stopped by a stopper and joined with another container C conveyed by an unloading conveyor 9 described later.

  In the embodiment, each agricultural product A on each tray B ... carried out to each regression path of each sorting area c, c is boxed by one person, but when the quantity of the target agricultural product A increases, In one sorting area c, one kind of agricultural product A is boxed by one person. Further, when the quantity of the produce A is larger than the processing capacity of one person, the produce A of the same class is boxed in each of the plurality of sorting areas c... Work contents can be changed.

  In addition, the eyes of the worker E who waits in the take-out area d for a display (for example, a monitor, an electric bulletin board, etc.) that displays information (grade, class, producer number, etc.) related to the produce A placed on the tray B. It may be provided at a location suitable for reading by a computer, and can also be applied to a traceability system.

  In addition, the carry-in conveyor 8 disposed on the container carry-in side of the take-out area d supplies a container-type container C formed in a size and shape in which a predetermined number of agricultural products A are aligned and accommodated. As an alternative to the container C, for example, a cardboard box, a synthetic resin container, or a metal container may be used. On the other hand, the carry-out conveyor 9 arranged on the container carry-out side of the take-out area d conveys the container C packed with a predetermined number of each agricultural product A ... to the next process (for example, a shipping process, a storage process, etc.).

  Further, when a measurement error by the measuring device 4 occurs, the leftover sensor S5 in which the leftover agricultural product A placed on the tray B is placed between the extra sorting area c and the supply area a without being classified. Based on the detection, the measurement result of the agricultural product A measured in the next or next week is invalidated, and the producer information and artificial selection information determined at the first measurement are validated.

  The long container C and the round container C have, for example, a concave portion formed in a size and a shape corresponding to the long and round agricultural product A in which the agricultural product A is individually accommodated. A plurality of cushioning members having flexibility that are laid are arranged at predetermined intervals with respect to the entire top surface.

  The illustrated embodiment is configured as described above, and the sorting operation by the agricultural product sorting apparatus 1 will be described below.

  First, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, both end surfaces of the bottom Bb of the tray B conveyed by the conveyor 2 are brought into contact with the guide members 2b and 2b, and all the trays B are regulated in a predetermined direction. Transport along the circuit path. In the supply area a, a large number of each of the agricultural products A conveyed by the consignment conveyor 3 are picked up one by one with the hand of the operator D, and the external items of the agricultural product A are individually determined with the eyes of the operator D. Each farm product A ... of the same class corresponding to the carry-on area is placed in a state in which both end portions of each farm product A ... are projected substantially equally to the left and right with respect to the width direction of each tray B ... Place one by one. In addition, each sorting information corresponding to the equal class set for each carry-on area is stored in the determination device 5 in association with the unique information of each tray B ... conveyed to each carry-on area.

  Next, in the measurement area b, the measurement device 4 measures the items necessary to rank each agricultural product A ... placed on each tray B ..., and the measurement information of the measured agricultural product A is used for each tray B. Are stored in the determination device 5 in association with the unique information.

  The determination device 5 individually determines the equal class of each produce A ... based on the artificial selection information by the worker D in the supply region a and the electrical measurement information by the measurement device 4 in the measurement region b. The sorting destination of each agricultural product A ... placed on the tray B ... is determined, and the rating and sorting information of each agricultural product A ... are stored in association with the unique information of each tray B ....

  Next, on the upstream side of the unloading device 6 arranged in each sorting area c..., The unique information of each tray B is read by reading means such as a non-contact type communication device and corresponds to the unique information of each tray B. The information of the classification and sorting destination of each agricultural product A ... stored in this way is compared with each sorting information set for each sorting area c ... by the determining device 5 and the same sorting information is obtained. It is determined whether or not.

  When it is determined that the sorting information of the agricultural product A placed on the tray B is different from the sorting information set in the sorting area c, or when it is determined that there is no agricultural product A on the tray B, 6 is not driven, and the tray B on which the produce A is placed is transported to the respective sorting areas c... On the downstream side while being placed on the transport conveyor 2.

  When it is determined that the sorting information of the agricultural product A placed on the tray B matches the sorting information of the sorting area c, and the detection sensor S1 detects that the tray B carrying the agricultural product A is conveyed, 3. As shown in FIG. 5, the carry-out device 6 is driven to engage the engaging pin 6a with the front end of the engaging groove Bc of the tray B conveyed by the conveying conveyor 2, The tray B on which the produce A is placed is kept in the orientation on the conveyor 2 so that the produce A placed on the adjacent tray B does not interfere with each other by the contact between the 6a and the engaging groove Bc. It is moved horizontally in the width direction and transferred to the branch conveyor 7a of the return path arranged on the right side of the circulation path of the transport conveyor 2, and immediately before the engagement pin 6a reaches the rear end of the engagement groove Bc. , The engaging pin 6a is inserted into the engaging groove Bc of the tray B. Withdrawn.

  During transfer, the inclined surface Bd2 of the inclined surface Bd of the tray B is brought into contact with the guide member 7A of the branching conveyor 7a, and the tray B is kept in the direction on the conveying conveyor 2 so that the branching conveyor 7a is more than the conveying conveyor 2. It conveys quickly and avoids interference (contact, contact, etc.) between the agricultural products A adjacent to each other at the time of unloading. Further, the inclined surfaces Bd2 of each tray B are brought into contact with the downstream guide member 7A, and the side surfaces of the respective trays B placed in front and rear are brought into contact with each other so as to be placed on each tray B. Agricultural products A are kept at a predetermined interval where mutual interference is avoided.

  In addition, the detection sensor S2 reliably detects (or confirms) that the tray B has been carried out to the branch conveyor 7a. Further, the agricultural products A having the same rating information and different rating information may be distributed and supplied so that the number of trays B stored on the branch conveyors 7a and 7a is substantially equal.

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, when the tray B is carried out from the contact conveyor 7 c or does not exist, the stopper 11 a is retracted and each of the three trays on which the produce A is placed is placed. B ... is transferred from the branch conveyor 7a to the connecting conveyor 7c and stopped in the take-out area d by the stopper 11b, and each subsequent tray B ... is stopped by the stopper 11a, and then placed in each tray B in the take-out area d. Each mounted agricultural product A is picked up by the hand of the worker E and boxed one by one in the container C supplied by the carry-in conveyor 8. And one worker E moves to each sorting area c, c adjacent to each other, and each farm product A on each tray B ... stored in the take-out area d of each communication conveyor 7c, 7c is one person. Pack it in a box.

  When the agricultural products A are removed from all the trays B by the hand of the worker E, the detection sensor S3 detects that the agricultural products A are not present on the trays B, and based on the detection, the stopper 11b is moved backward, Each of the empty trays B taken out from the connecting conveyor 7c is transferred to the high-speed return conveyor 7b and conveyed, and the inclined surfaces Bd2 and Bd3 of the inclined surface Bd of the tray B are transferred to the guide members of the return conveyor 7b. 7B and 7B are brought into contact with the conveyor 2 while being kept in the orientation on the conveyor 2.

  Further, while the side surfaces of the trays B placed in front and rear are brought into contact with each other and kept in a predetermined direction, they are transported by the return conveyor 7b, and when transported to the curved portion of the return conveyor 7b, The inclined surfaces Bd2 and Bd3 of the inclined surface Bd are brought into contact with the guide members 7B and 7B provided on both sides of the return conveyor 7b, so that the tray B conveyed by the return conveyor 7b is oriented in the same direction as that of the conveyance by the conveyance conveyor 2. When regulating and transporting from the curved portion to the return side end, the tray B that the return conveyor 7b transports by bringing the inclined surfaces Bd1 and Bd4 of the inclined surface Bd of the tray B into contact with the guide members 7B and 7B, It is regulated and conveyed in the same direction as the conveyance by the conveyance conveyor 2. Moreover, when each tray B ... on the communication conveyor 7c that has become empty is carried out to the return conveyor 7b, the next tray B ... is conveyed from the branch conveyor 7a to the communication conveyor 7c and stopped by the stopper 11b.

  Next, when a signal for detecting that the tray B has been carried out to the branching conveyor 7a is output from the detection sensor S2, the detection sensor S4 detects whether or not the tray B is placed on the conveyor 2. When it is detected that an empty space corresponding to the address where the tray B on the conveyor 2 is placed has arrived, the stopper 11c of the return conveyor 7b is retracted and supplied or stopped in advance on the return conveyor 7b. The empty tray B is immediately carried into a place on the circulation path of the conveyor 2 corresponding to the address where the tray B is placed. When an empty tray B is loaded, the next tray B is stopped by the stopper 11c.

  In addition, when the branch conveyor 7a is filled with a large number of trays B, or when the tray B stored on the return conveyor 7b runs out, the tray B on which the crop A corresponding to the sorting area c is placed. Even if it exists, it does not carry out to the branching conveyor 7a of the selection area | region c, but it circulates on the conveyance conveyor 2, and discharges it in the next or next week. Further, based on the detection of the produce A by the left sensor S5, the measurement result of the produce A measured in the next or next week is invalidated and the measurement result determined at the first measurement is held.

  Next, when a container C in which a predetermined number of each agricultural product A is packed is taken out from the take-out area d, it is temporarily stopped by a stopper and joined with another container C conveyed by the carry-out conveyor 9 to the next process (for example, a shipping process) , Storage process, etc.).

  When two types of agricultural products A having different classes are selected, a tray B on which one type of agricultural product A is placed and a tray B on which the other type of agricultural product A is placed are used in a regression path. It distributes and supplies to each branch conveyor 7a, 7a according to equal classes. Each agricultural product A ... is taken out from each tray B ... distributed to each communication conveyor 7c, 7c, and one type of agricultural product A is boxed in one container C supplied to the extraction area d, and the other type The agricultural product A is boxed in the other container C.

  In the same manner, based on the determination by the determination device 5 in each sorting area c, the operation of sorting the agricultural products A placed on the trays B transported by the transport conveyor 2 by equal class is continued. Do it. Further, the unusable agricultural product A conveyed to the final unsorted sorting area c is picked up by the operator E and collected or removed.

  As described above, each tray B on which the long produce A is placed in the width direction is carried out from the transport conveyor 2 to the branch conveyor 7a while being kept in a predetermined direction. The placed agricultural products A are prevented from interfering with each other, the agricultural products A are not dropped from the tray B, and damage to the agricultural products A can be prevented. In addition, since the same circulation route can be shared by the work of sorting the long and round produce A, there is no need to install and produce a long sorter and a round sorter, and the entire apparatus is produced. Costs can be reduced and costs can be reduced. In addition, the installation space for the entire apparatus is small, and the layout can be easily performed.

  FIG. 11 shows another example in which the produce A placed on the tray B is mechanically boxed by the boxing device 12 in the take-out area d set on the regression path. The boxing device 12 includes, for example, an intake blower, a vacuum A plurality of (or single) suction pads 13 connected to a negative pressure generator (not shown) such as a pump are vertically suspended from the suction unit 14 so that the entire suction unit 14 is set on the return path. A reciprocating movement is provided between the suction position in the region d and the accommodation position set on the side of the return path.

  That is, after stopping the three trays B on which the agricultural products A are placed on the suction position set on the communication conveyor 7c by the stopper 11b, the agricultural products A placed on the tray B are placed on the upper portion of the suction position. The suction pad 13 of the suction unit 14 that is waiting is sucked and held, rotated horizontally (approximately 90 degrees), and stored one by one (or three) in the container C supplied to the storage position on the side of the communication conveyor 7c. . After the operation of storing the produce A is completed, the suction holding by the suction pad 13 is released, and the suction unit 14 is returned to the upper position of the suction position.

  Thereafter, in the same manner as described above, the suction unit 14 is reciprocated so that a predetermined number of each of the agricultural products A are aligned and accommodated in the container C. It becomes unnecessary and can save labor and increase efficiency. Further, the agricultural product A sucked and held by the suction pad 13 may be accommodated in the container C while being aligned in the take-out area d without rotating horizontally.

In the correspondence between the configuration of the present invention and the above-described embodiment,
The article of this invention corresponds to agricultural product A,
Similarly,
The carrier corresponds to tray B,
The groove of the carrier corresponds to the engagement groove Bc of the tray B,
The carry-out means corresponds to the engagement pin 6a of the carry-out device 6,
The guide means corresponds to the guide member 7A,
The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, but can be applied based on the technical idea shown in the claims, and many embodiments can be obtained.

The top view which shows the whole structure of an agricultural-product sorting apparatus. The top view which shows branch operation | movement of the tray by a branch conveyor. The top view which shows the operation | movement which carries out a tray from a conveyance conveyor. The top view which shows the operation | movement which carries a tray in a conveyance conveyor. The top view which shows the carrying out operation | movement of the tray by a carrying out apparatus. The perspective view which shows the external appearance of a tray. The side view which shows the state which mounted the agricultural product on the tray. The front view which shows the state which mounted the agricultural product on the tray. The top view which shows the state which mounted the agricultural product on the tray. The bottom view which shows the engaging groove formed in the bottom face of a tray. The side view which shows the boxing operation | movement of the agricultural product by a boxing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

A ... produce B ... tray Bc ... engagement groove Bd ... inclined surface Bh ... receiving part C ... container 1 ... produce sorting device 2 ... transport conveyor 4 ... measuring device 5 ... determination device 6 ... unloading device 6a ... engagement pin 7 ... Return conveyor 7a ... Branch conveyor 7b ... Return conveyor 7c ... Communication conveyor 7A ... Guide member 12 ... Boxing device 13 ... Suction pad 14 ... Suction unit

Claims (4)

A carrier on which an article can be placed;
A transport conveyor for transporting a plurality of mounted carriers in a predetermined orientation;
Unloading means for unloading the transfer body from the transfer conveyor;
A branch conveyor for transporting the transported body from the transport conveyor;
In the carrier branching device provided with
The carrier can place an article having a length protruding in the width direction, and has an inclined surface with respect to the width direction on the front surface thereof.
The branching conveyor is connected to the conveying conveyor in a direction substantially parallel to the inclined surface of the conveying member, and includes guide means that engages with the inclined surface and guides the conveying of the conveying member. When unloading the conveyor from the branch conveyor
A transport body branching apparatus that carries out the transport body while maintaining the orientation of the transport body on the transport conveyor so that articles placed on adjacent transport bodies do not interfere with each other. A return conveyor is connected to the branch conveyor for returning the transported body transported to the branch conveyor to the transport conveyor. The return conveyor is transferred to the transport conveyor while keeping the transport body in the same direction as the transported body on the transport conveyor. The transport body branching apparatus according to claim 1 to be carried in. The unloading means is
On the bottom surface of the carrier, the front is a branch conveyor side and the rear is an anti-branch conveyor side,
An engagement pin that can protrude upward from a placement surface on which a carrier is placed between the conveyor and the branch conveyor;
The transport body branching device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the engaging body is carried out from the transport conveyor to the branch conveyor by engaging the engaging pin with a groove of the transport body. 4. The transport body branching apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the article is an agricultural product, and the transport body is capable of placing both a long product and a round product.

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