JP2007331791A - Leveling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a leveling apparatus which properly levels a material, such as food, in a container only through vibrations. <P>SOLUTION: The leveling apparatus levels off the material 2 of grains and powder stored in a square dishlike container 1 to give the material 2 a level surface. The leveling apparatus includes a container holding unit 10 holding the container 1 so that the container 1 can reciprocate a single horizontal direction X, and a vibration generating unit 30 which gives the container holding unit 10 vibrations in the single horizontal direction X. Above the container holding unit 10, a tray 3 is set to position and hold a plurality of containers 1 arranged horizontally thereon. The container holding unit 10 is moved up to the tray 3 to lift the containers 1 from the tray 3, in which state the vibration generating unit 30 is actuated to vibrate the container holding unit 10 in the single horizontal direction X. The vibration generating unit 30 regulates the direction of vibration to cause a vibrating plate 13 to vibrate in the single horizontal direction X by rotating a pair of eccentric weights 31 in reverse to each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a leveling device for leveling the surface height of powdered or granular materials such as food materials and pharmaceutical materials contained in containers.

  A production line for retort food using a heat-resistant plastic container has a leveling process for leveling the granular or powdery food material, which is the material to be leveled, in the container to a uniform height. The leveling device used in this leveling step is in direct contact with the leveling device that vibrates the container using a vibrator or diaphragm (for example, see Patent Document 1) and the material to be leveled contained in the container. A leveling device (for example, refer to Patent Document 2) using a leveling external member such as a pressing plate or a squeegee is common.

For example, in the production line for rice retort foods, there is a step of feeding a fixed amount of washed and soaked rice grains into a round or square dished container. A plurality of containers are arranged on a horizontal tray, and a fixed amount of washed and soaked rice grains are introduced into each of the plurality of containers from a rice feeder, and a fixed amount of rice grains are stored in a pile on the bottom surface of each container. Thereafter, leveling is performed so that the surface height of the piled rice grains is uniform, and a certain amount of rice cooking water is poured into the container. A plurality of containers are brought into the rice cooker together with the tray and cooked. After cooking, the tray and each container are taken out from the kettle, and the openings of the plurality of containers are sealed with a resin film to produce a retort food. Before rice cooking, the piled rice grains in each container are leveled so that the whole quantity of rice grains can be submerged under the surface of the water so that the subsequent rice cooking and film sealing can be performed well.
JP 2004-155516 A JP-A-10-276750

  A leveling device that vibrates a container directly in a horizontal direction with a vibrator may cause leveling spots because the horizontal vibration direction acting on the container is not fixed in one direction. That is, the vibration generated on the rotating shaft of the vibrator is generated in all directions of 360 ° with respect to the rotating direction of the shaft. Therefore, centrifugal force acts on the material to be averaged such as rice grains in the container in the horizontal direction. It may be biased toward the inner wall surface, resulting in uneven spots. In addition, the leveling device that vibrates the container up and down with the vibrator and the diaphragm generates less leveling spots because centrifugal force does not act on the material to be leveled in the container in the horizontal direction. However, in order to vibrate the container up and down, there is a problem that the container and the material to be leveled jump up and down. This jumping can be suppressed by pressing the container with the presser member, but because the rice comes into contact with the presser member, the presser member is washed after each leveling operation, and is placed in the container during the next leveling operation. There is a problem that foreign matter should not be mixed. In addition, when a plurality of containers are arranged on a single long diaphragm and vibrated at the same time, a difference in vibration occurs between the center and both ends of the diaphragm, and uniform leveling operation with the plurality of containers is difficult.

  In addition, a leveling device that presses the surface of the piled material in the container with a flat pressing plate and a squeegee that moves horizontally relative to the material to be smoothed in the container. The leveling device does not have the problems associated with vibration as described above. However, after each leveling operation, clean the external members for leveling, such as the pressure plate and squeegee that come into contact with the material to be leveled in the container, so that no foreign matter enters the container during the leveling operation. There is a problem that must be.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a leveling device capable of appropriately leveling a material to be leveled in a container only by vibration.

  The present invention relates to a leveling device for leveling the surface height of a powdery or granular material to be leveled which is vibrated in a container and holds the container so as to be able to reciprocate in one horizontal direction. And a pair of eccentric weights rotatably mounted in the horizontal direction with respect to the container holding unit, and a straight line connecting the rotation shafts of the pair of eccentric weights coincides with the horizontal direction orthogonal to the reciprocating direction. And a vibration generating unit that rotates the pair of eccentric weights in opposite directions in synchronization with each other and applies vibration in the reciprocating direction to the container holding unit.

  Here, as the material to be leveled, a granular or powdery food material, a pharmaceutical material, a craft material, or the like that is slightly raised when supplied to the bottom surface of the container is applied. As the container, a square or round dish-shaped container that rises when a certain amount of material to be averaged is charged or injected can be applied. One or more containers containing the material to be leveled are attached to the container holding unit in a horizontal state. The container holding unit may have a structure including a horizontal diaphragm that detachably positions and holds one or a plurality of containers. The vibration generating unit vibrates the container holding unit holding the container by reciprocating in one horizontal direction. The vibration generating unit can have a structure in which a pair of eccentric weights are attached to the diaphragm of the container holding unit and the pair of eccentric weights are rotated by a motor. The pair of eccentric weight rotating shafts are gear-coupled to each other, and the pair of eccentric weights are rotated in the opposite directions at the same speed in synchronism with each other, whereby the container holding unit is vibrated in one horizontal direction. This vibration is applied to the container, and the material to be leveled in the container is leveled so that the surface height is uniform. The pair of eccentric weights continuously vibrates in a predetermined horizontal direction to the container holding unit by continuously rotating, and suppresses vibration in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the vibration direction. Therefore, it becomes easy to properly perform vibration in one horizontal direction of the container holding unit and the container, and it becomes easy to properly level the material to be leveled in the container only by vibration. Further, by adjusting the weight and rotation speed of the pair of eccentric weights, the vibration acceleration, amplitude, and vibration frequency of the container can be adjusted so as to match the material and amount of the material to be averaged.

  In this invention, it can be set as the following structure as a leveling apparatus which vibrates a some container simultaneously. Provided above the container holding unit is a tray conveying line that intermittently conveys a tray that horizontally aligns and holds a plurality of containers, and the container holding unit is intermittently conveyed to a fixed position above the container holding unit. By relatively raising the height, a plurality of containers on the tray can be held by the container holding unit, and the container holding unit can be vibrated by the vibration generating unit. In this case, the container holding unit can have a structure integrally including a plurality of container receivers that lift and hold each of the plurality of containers held on the tray by raising relative to the tray.

  The tray here is a horizontal tray that aligns a plurality of containers and holds them horizontally and detachably, and transports the held containers to various manufacturing processes such as a leveling process and a heat treatment process. The tray includes positioning means for positioning and holding the plurality of containers. The container holding unit is raised relative to the tray, and a plurality of containers held on the tray are received on the container holding unit side and held in a state where they are lifted from the tray. The relative vertical movement of the tray and the container holding unit can be performed by moving the container holding unit up and down with respect to the fixed position tray or by moving the tray up and down with respect to the fixed position container holding unit. . Actually, it is desirable to provide a mechanism for moving the container holding unit up and down with respect to the tray at a fixed position by attaching a lifting mechanism for moving the entire unit up and down with a fixed stroke to the container holding unit. A plurality of containers are simultaneously vibrated by the container holding unit, and the materials to be leveled in the plurality of containers are leveled simultaneously. Since the container holding unit vibrates only the container without vibrating the tray, less power is required to vibrate, and the vibration operation is stable.

  Further, in the present invention, the vibration generating unit is an endless motor that transmits a driving shaft of a motor installed at a fixed position on the side of the pair of eccentric weights and a rotational force of the motor driving shaft to the rotating shafts of the pair of eccentric weights. A structure having a belt can be employed. In addition, the vibration generating unit can be provided with an automatic alignment mechanism including a pair of tension spring members that urge the vibration generating unit in the forward and reverse directions perpendicular to the reciprocating direction.

  The motor of the vibration generating unit here is a so-called vibrator, and rotates the drive shaft at a high speed. An endless belt is stretched between the drive shaft and one of the rotation shafts of one eccentric weight. When a pair of eccentric weight rotating shafts are coupled by a gear and one of the rotating shafts is driven to rotate by an endless belt, the other rotating shaft rotates in the opposite direction via the gear. The endless belt absorbs the displacement due to the vertical movement of the container holding unit relative to the vibration generating unit, and stabilizes the transmission of rotational power between the motor drive shaft and the rotating shaft of the eccentric weight. Further, the pair of tension spring materials of the self-aligning mechanism stabilizes the posture of the vibration generating unit when the eccentric weight rotates and when the rotation of the eccentric weight stops, and vibrates the container holding unit in a stable posture.

  In the present invention, a rectangular dish-shaped container having an inner wall surface parallel to one direction in which the container holding unit reciprocates can be applied as the container for storing the material to be averaged. Moreover, the food material of the rice grain before rice cooking can be applied to the material to be averaged accommodated in this container.

  The container here is a substantially rectangular square dish-shaped container in which the corners of the inner wall surfaces of the four sides are rounded. A fixed amount of washed and soaked rice grains is contained in the container, and the container is vibrated in one horizontal direction. Then, the rice grains are leveled along two opposing inner wall surfaces parallel to the vibration direction of the container, and the whole is leveled well.

  According to the present invention, the container holding unit is vibrated accurately in one horizontal direction by the rotation of the pair of eccentric weights of the vibration generating unit, and the container is placed in the container by adjusting the weight and the rotation speed of the pair of eccentric weights. Since it can be vibrated with the amplitude, vibration acceleration and vibration frequency suitable for the material and amount of the material to be leveled, the leveling operation to keep the surface level of the material to be leveled in the container constant and accurate. It can produce an excellent effect that can be done.

  In addition, since the leveling operation can be performed only by vibrating the container in one horizontal direction, it is not necessary to contact an external member such as a pressing plate with the material to be leveled in the container, and the external member is required for each leveling operation. An extra work step such as washing can be omitted. Furthermore, food materials such as rice grains that do not want to be mixed with foreign substances due to contact with external members can be accurately leveled only by applying vibration, which is advantageous for food hygiene management.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The leveling apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 applies vibrations in the horizontal direction to a plurality of containers 1 at the same time so that the surface level of the powdery or granular material 2 contained in each container 1 is equalized. Level. This leveling device is installed in a production line for rice retort food, and holds a container 1 so as to reciprocate in a horizontal direction X, and a horizontal direction in the container holding unit 10. A vibration generating unit 30 that applies vibration to X is included.

  A tray transport line L for intermittently transporting the tray 3 for positioning and holding the plurality of containers 1 in a horizontal alignment is installed above the container holding unit 10. The tray transport line L includes a transport body 4 indicated by a chain line in FIG. 1, supports the tray 3 horizontally with the transport body 4, and intermittently transports in the direction of the horizontal tray transport line L. When the tray transport line L is a production line for rice retort food, the leveling material 2 (rice washed and soaked rice grains) contained in the container 1 is placed at a fixed position of the tray transport line L by vibration alone. Position P is set. A working position is set in front of the leveling position P, in which a fixed amount of washed rice and soaked rice grains are put into a plurality of containers on the tray. After the leveling position P, a work position for injecting rice cooking water into the container is installed. The tray 3 is intermittently conveyed to each of the plurality of work positions while holding the plurality of containers 1 horizontally, and rice retort food is manufactured.

  At the leveling position P of the tray transfer line L, the container holding unit 10 and the vibration generating unit 30 are installed in a two-stage structure. The tray 3 holding the plurality of containers 1 is intermittently fed through the tray conveyance line L, and the tray 3 is intermittently conveyed to the leveling position P one by one and stopped. When the single tray 3 is stopped at the leveling position P, the container holding unit 10 and the vibration generating unit 30 are operated, and the plurality of containers 1 held on the tray 3 are lifted from the tray 3 and moved to the container holding unit 10 side. Retained. The container holding unit 10 holding the plurality of containers 1 is vibrated by the vibration generating unit 30, and each of the plurality of containers 1 reciprocates in one horizontal direction X and vibrates.

  The container 1 is a heat resistant plastic container. The container 1 integrally has a flange portion 1b at an upper end opening edge of a square dish-shaped container body 1a. A fixed amount of rice grains of the material to be leveled 2 is stored in a pile on the bottom surface of the container body 1a. The container main body 1a includes, for example, a flat rectangular bottom surface 1c as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, and four inner wall surfaces 1d to 1g that are bent upward in a quarter arc shape from four sides of the bottom surface 1c and extend upward. Have The opposing two inner wall surfaces 1d and 1f are slightly longer than the other opposing two inner wall surfaces 1e and 1g, and the cross section 1 is between the adjacent two inner wall surfaces 1d and 1e, 1e and 1f, 1f and 1g, and 1g and 1d. / 4 Arc-shaped bent wall surface. A plurality of containers 1 are arranged on the tray 3 such that the longer two inner wall surfaces 1d and 1f are parallel to the reciprocating direction (horizontal direction X) of the container holding unit 10.

  The tray 3 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 includes a rectangular frame portion 3a that is long in one horizontal direction X and a plurality of container mounting portions 3b that are fixed in parallel between two opposing frames of the rectangular frame portion 3a. The container mounting portion 3b has a lip groove steel shape, and a plurality of containers 1 are positioned in a row on each container mounting portion 3b and are detachably held. Each container mounting portion 3b holds six containers 1, and a total of 6 × 4 = 24 containers 1 are held in the entire tray. For example, a cross-shaped work hole 5 as shown in FIG. 8 is formed in the container mounting portion of each container mounting portion 3b. The work hole 5 is a hole through which a cross-shaped container receiver 16 (described later) provided in the container holding unit 10 passes vertically.

  The container holding unit 10 includes an elevating mechanism 11 installed at a fixed position below the leveling position P, a horizontal rectangular frame elevating table 12 supported by the elevating mechanism 11 and moving up and down with a fixed stroke, and an elevating table 12 A horizontal diaphragm 13 is provided so as to be capable of reciprocating in one horizontal direction X. The elevating mechanism 11 includes a pair of cylinders 11a arranged in a horizontal direction X, and an elevating rod 11b extending right above each cylinder 11a. The lifting platform 12 is fixed to the upper ends of the pair of lifting rods 11b. Outer guides 14 parallel to one horizontal direction X are installed on the four corners of the rectangular frame-shaped lifting platform 12. Inner guides 15 parallel to one horizontal direction X are installed at two locations on the left and right sides of the center of the lifting platform 12. Each of the four outer guides 14 and the two inner guides 15 is an LM guide that supports the diaphragm 13 so as to reciprocate in one horizontal direction X. The outer guide 14 has a lower rail fixed on the lifting platform 12 and an upper rail fixed on the lower surface of the diaphragm 13 fitted so as to be capable of relative reciprocation in the horizontal direction X. The inner guide 15 has a lower rail fixed on the lifting platform 12 and an upper rail fixed on the lower surface of the diaphragm 13 fitted so as to be capable of relative reciprocation in a horizontal direction X. Each of such a plurality of guides 14 and 15 holds the diaphragm 13 on the lifting platform 12 in a stable horizontal posture and regulates the vibration direction in one horizontal direction X.

  The vibration plate 13 is a hard rectangular plate, and container receivers 16 are projected from a plurality of locations (6 × 4 = 24 locations) on the upper surface. The container receiver 16 has a support column 16a fixed to the diaphragm 13 so that the height can be adjusted, and a cross-shaped receiver 16b fixed to the upper end of the support column 16a. The receiving portion 16b receives one container 1 from below and holds it in a horizontal posture, and has a locking claw piece 16c that abuts against the central portion of the outer wall surface of the four sides of the container 1. By locking the four locking claw pieces 16c to the four outer wall surfaces of the container 1, the container 1 is stably held in the receiving part 16b without being displaced, and the horizontal vibration of the receiving part 16b is applied to the container 1. Directly transmitted. When the tray 3 is intermittently transported to the leveling position P of the tray transport line L and stopped, 6 × 4 = 24 locations on the diaphragm 13 are directly below the 6 × 4 = 24 work holes 5 of the tray 3. A container receiver 16 is located. When the elevating mechanism 11 raises the elevating platform 12 by a fixed stroke in this state, the diaphragm 13 rises integrally with the elevating platform 12, and the receiving portion 16b of each container receiver 16 moves the corresponding work hole 5 of the tray 3 upward. To penetrate. While the receiving part 16b penetrates the work hole 5, the container 1 mounted in the vicinity of the work hole 5 is held by the receiving part 16b, and the container 1 is lifted from the tray 3 as it is. In this state, the container holding unit 10 is vibrated in the horizontal direction X by the vibration generating unit 30 in a state where the container 1 is lifted above the tray 3.

  Specific examples of the vibration generating unit 30 are shown in FIGS. The vibration generating unit 30 includes a pair of eccentric weights 31 pivotally attached to the center of the lower surface of the diaphragm 13 of the container holding unit 10, a rotation drive mechanism 32 that rotates the pair of eccentric weights 31, and an automatic alignment mechanism 33. Have.

  The pair of eccentric weights 31 are horizontal unbalanced weights fixed to each of a pair of parallel rotating shafts 35 that are rotatably connected to the center of the lower surface of the diaphragm 13. The pair of rotating shafts 35 are arranged in parallel with the diaphragm 13 so that the straight line connecting the center lines of the pair of rotating shafts 35 coincides with the horizontal direction orthogonal to the reciprocating direction (one horizontal direction X) of the diaphragm 13. Connected to A spur gear 36 is coaxially fixed to each of the rotation shafts 35 of the pair of eccentric weights 31. The pair of spur gears 36 mesh with each other. A pulley 37 is coaxially fixed to one of the pair of rotating shafts 35. When the pulley 37 is rotated by the rotation drive mechanism 32, the pair of rotating shafts 35 rotate in opposite directions with the phase synchronized, and the pair of eccentric weights 31 integrally with the rotating shaft 35 synchronize with each other and reverse with each other. Rotate in the direction. By the rotation of the pair of eccentric weights 31, the vibration restricted in the horizontal one direction X is given to the diaphragm 13 as will be described later with reference to FIG. 7. The weight and rotation speed of the pair of eccentric weights 31 can be adjusted, and the amplitude, vibration acceleration, and vibration frequency of the diaphragm 13 are appropriately adjusted by adjusting the weight and rotation speed.

  The rotational drive mechanism 32 transmits the rotational force of the motor 41 installed at a fixed position on the side in the arrangement direction of the pair of eccentric weights 31 and the motor speed reduction unit 42 to one rotary shaft 35 of the pair of eccentric weights 31. An endless belt 44 is provided. The endless belt 44 is a timing belt stretched between the pulley 37 of one rotating shaft 35 and the pulley 43 on the motor side. The endless belt 44 is integrated with an eccentric weight 31 that moves up and down with respect to the drive shaft 42 at a fixed position, and is set to a length sufficient to absorb the horizontal displacement of the eccentric weight 31 that oscillates in one horizontal direction X. Is done.

  The self-aligning mechanism 33 includes a pair of tension spring members 55 that constantly urge the vibration generating unit 30 in the horizontal direction X in the forward direction (+ X direction) and in the reverse direction (−X direction). The pair of tension spring members 55 are arranged in a straight line in one horizontal direction X, each outer end is connected to a spring support 56 fixed to the lower surface of the lifting platform 12, and each inner end is connected to the lower surface of the diaphragm 13. It is connected to a fixed spring mounting portion 57. The pair of tension springs 55 stabilizes the position of the diaphragm 13 when the diaphragm 13 is not vibrating with respect to the lifting platform 12 at a fixed position (automatic alignment). Further, the pair of tension spring members 55 stabilizes the posture of the diaphragm 13 at the start of vibration in which the pair of eccentric weights 31 rotates and at the time of vibration stop in which the rotation of the pair of eccentric weights 31 stops. Thereby, the container generating unit is vibrated in a more stable posture by the vibration generating unit 30.

  Next, the leveling operation by the leveling device of the above embodiment will be described.

  When the tray 3 holding the plurality of containers 1 is carried into the leveling position P of the tray transfer line L and stopped, the lifting mechanism 11 of the container holding unit 10 is operated, and the lifting platform 12 is moved to the lower limit of FIGS. Raise the fixed stroke from the position. As the elevator 12 rises, the diaphragm 13 and the container receiver 16 rise together. This rising process is shown in FIGS. 9 (A) and 9 (B) and FIGS. 10 (A) and 10 (B). 9A and 10A show the container receiver 16 in the lower limit position, and the container receiver 16 is located directly below the work hole 5 formed in the container mounting portion 3b of the tray 3. FIG. As shown in FIG. 11A, the container 1 that is positioned and held in the container mounting portion 3b of the tray 3 contains a certain amount of the material to be leveled 2 therein. At this time, the material to be leveled 2 is slightly piled up. When the container receiver 16 rises together with the diaphragm 13, the cross-shaped receiving portion 16b of the container receiver 16 penetrates the work hole 5 upward. During this penetration, the receiving part 16b receives the container 1 held by the container mounting part 3b from below and holds it as it is. When the diaphragm 13 and the container receiver 16 are raised to the upper limit position, the receiving part 16b lifts the container 1 from the container mounting part 3b and separates it from the container mounting part 3b as shown in FIGS. 9B and 10B. . In this state, the vibration generating unit 30 starts to operate.

  As the diaphragm 13 is raised, the pair of eccentric weights 31 of the vibration generating unit 30 are also raised integrally with the diaphragm 13. Since the motor 41 of the vibration generating unit 30 is located on the lifting platform 12, the eccentric weight 31 is similarly raised with respect to the motor 41.

  The motor 41 of the vibration generating unit 30 operates, the drive shaft 42 rotates in a predetermined direction, and the pair of eccentric weights 31 rotate in the opposite directions and at the same speed in phase with each other. The procedure is shown in FIGS. FIG. 7C is a plan view of the endless belt 44, and transmits the rotational force of the pulley 43 of the drive shaft 42 to the pulley 37 of one rotating shaft 35 of the pair of eccentric weights 31. The rotational force of one rotating shaft 35 is transmitted to the other rotating shaft 35 via a pair of spur gears 36 shown in FIG. 7B, and the pair of rotating shafts 35 rotate in opposite directions. Together with the rotation of the pair of rotating shafts 35, the pair of eccentric weights 31 rotate in opposite directions along the horizontal plane.

  The pair of eccentric weights 31 shown by the solid line in FIG. 7A-1 are both rotated and moved in the positive direction of the horizontal one direction X (+ X direction). A vibration force is applied to the shaft 35 in the positive direction of the horizontal one direction X, and the diaphragm 13 vibrates in the positive direction of the horizontal one direction X. When the pair of eccentric weights 31 in FIG. 7A-1 are rotated by 180 °, the pair of eccentric weights 31 are opposite to the horizontal one direction X as shown by the chain line in FIG. 7A-1 (the −X direction). ) To rotate. At this time, vibration force is applied to the pair of rotating shafts 35 in the opposite direction of the horizontal one direction X by the centrifugal force of the eccentric weights 31, and the diaphragm 13 vibrates in the opposite direction of the horizontal one direction X.

  A pair of eccentric weights 31 shown by the solid line in FIG. 7A-2 are those when both are rotated from the horizontal direction X at + 90 ° and −90 °. Since both of them rotate and move inward, a vibration force is applied to the pair of rotating shafts 35 in the horizontal inward direction orthogonal to the horizontal one direction X. 13 through each other. Even when the pair of eccentric weights 31 rotate 180 ° and rotate outward with respect to each other as indicated by a chain line in FIG. 7A-2, the vibration forces acting on the rotating shaft 35 cancel each other.

  As described above, the pair of eccentric weights 31 rotate in the horizontal direction, so that the diaphragm 13 actively vibrates in one horizontal direction X, and the horizontal vibration orthogonal to the horizontal one direction X is actively suppressed. Is done. In addition, since the diaphragm 13 is held in the horizontal one direction X by the plurality of guides 14 and 15 on the lifting platform 12, the diaphragm 13 is stably regulated and vibrates stably. The vibration of the diaphragm 13 is directly transmitted to each of the plurality of containers 1 via the plurality of container receivers 16. Since each container 1 is held so that the four outer wall surfaces are sandwiched by the receiving portion 16b of the container receiver 16, it vibrates integrally with the container receiver 16 without rattling against the receiving portion 16b.

  As shown in FIG. 12, a horizontal direction X that is a vibration direction of the container 1 is a direction parallel to the long inner wall surfaces 1 d and 1 f of the square dish-shaped container 1. Therefore, the material to be leveled 2 in the container 1 spreads in the direction parallel to the two inner wall surfaces 1d and 1f, and is finally leveled so that the surface height is uniform as shown in FIG.

  When the material to be leveled 2 is washed and soaked rice grains, the amplitude of vibration required for the leveling is preferably ± 0.5 mm. The displacement of the diaphragm 13 due to such horizontal vibration in one horizontal direction X is absorbed by a minute displacement of the endless belt 44, and the rotational force transmission function of the endless belt 44 is not impaired. Further, the vibration time of the container 1 is approximately 1 to 3 seconds although it depends on the material and amount of the washed and soaked rice grains as the material 2 to be leveled. Furthermore, there are optimum vibration conditions (amplitude, vibration acceleration, vibration frequency) determined by the material and amount of the material 2 to be leveled, and the weight and rotation speed (motor rotation speed) of the pair of eccentric weights 31 to meet these conditions. ) Can be set and desirable. By setting the vibration conditions in this way, it is possible to shorten the time for one vibration.

  In addition, although the vibration direction of the container 1 is set in a direction parallel to the long inner wall surfaces 1d and 1f in the container, the material to be leveled 2 may be set in a direction parallel to the other two inner wall surfaces 1e and 1g. Can be leveled. However, in this case, it takes a little time because it is spread and smoothed to the inner wall surfaces 1d and 1f. Moreover, although the container 1 was demonstrated in the shape of a square dish, even in other shapes, for example, a round dish-shaped container (not shown), it is possible to satisfactorily level the washed and soaked rice grains.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is a top view of the leveling apparatus and tray which shows embodiment of this invention. 1 is a side view of the device. 1 is a front view of the apparatus. 1 is a front view for explaining a vibration generating unit of the apparatus. FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged side view of the vibration generating unit of FIG. 4. It is a top view of the eccentric weight part of the vibration generation unit of FIG. (A-1)-(C) is a partial top view for demonstrating the operation | movement in each part of the vibration generation unit of FIG. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged plan view of a tray in the apparatus of FIG. 1. (A) is the elements on larger scale of the tray in FIG. 1 apparatus, (B) is sectional drawing at the time of operation | movement. (A) is a partial expanded sectional view from the other direction of the tray in FIG. 1 apparatus, (B) is sectional drawing at the time of operation | movement. (A) is a side view of a container and a container receiver before vibration, and (B) is a side view after vibration. It is an enlarged plan view of a container.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container 2 Material to be weighed, Rice grain 3 Tray 3a Frame part 3b Container mounting part 5 Work hole 10 Container holding unit 11 Lifting mechanism 12 Lifting base 13 Vibration plate 14, 15 Guide 16 Container receiver 30 Vibration generating unit 31 Eccentric weight 32 Rotation Drive mechanism 33 Self-aligning mechanism 35 Rotating shaft 36 Spur gear 37 Pulley 41 Motor 43 Pulley 44 Endless belt, timing belt 55 Tension spring material 56 Spring support 57 Spring mounting portion L Tray transport line P Leveling position X Horizontal one direction

Claims (7)

A leveling device for leveling the surface height of the powdery or granular material to be leveled that is vibrated in the container and accommodated in the container,
A container holding unit for holding the container so as to be capable of reciprocating in a horizontal direction;
A pair of eccentric weights pivotally attached to the container holding unit so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction, and a straight line connecting the rotation axes of the pair of eccentric weights is made to coincide with the horizontal direction perpendicular to the reciprocating direction. And a vibration generating unit that rotates the pair of eccentric weights in opposite directions with the phases synchronized with each other, and applies vibration in the reciprocating direction to the container holding unit;
A leveling device characterized by comprising:   Provided above the container holding unit is a tray conveying line that intermittently conveys a tray for positioning and holding the plurality of containers horizontally aligned with respect to the tray that is intermittently conveyed to a fixed position above the container holding unit. 2. The plurality of containers on the tray are held by the container holding unit by relatively raising the container holding unit, and the container holding unit is vibrated by the vibration generating unit. The leveling device described.   3. The container holding unit integrally includes a plurality of container receivers that lift and hold each of the plurality of containers held on the tray by being lifted relative to the tray. Leveling device.   The vibration generating unit includes a motor drive shaft installed at a fixed position on the side of the pair of eccentric weights, and an endless belt that transmits the rotational force of the motor drive shaft to the rotation shaft of the eccentric weight. The leveling device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that   2. The vibration generating unit includes an automatic alignment mechanism including a pair of tension spring members that urge the vibration generating unit in a forward direction and a reverse direction perpendicular to the reciprocating direction. The leveling apparatus in any one of -4.   The leveling device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the container is a square dish-shaped container having an inner wall surface parallel to the reciprocating direction.   The leveling apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the material to be leveled is a rice grain food material before cooking.

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