JP2013158716A - Weight sorting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a low-cost weight sorting device having little restriction on a setting space and capable of performing high-accuracy weighing.SOLUTION: A plurality of containers 6 each supplied with a weighed object 3 are pulled by pulling arms 5 extended from the peripheral end of a rotary disk 4 rotating around a vertical axis x, are conveyed along a circular conveyance route, and are weighed by a weighing conveyor 7 installed to the conveyance route while conveying the containers 7 each storing the weighed object 3 such that the containers 7 draw a horizontal arc-shaped track, and the container 6 is vertically inclined in a sorting position corresponding to a weight rank to which the weight of the weighed object 3 belongs based on the weighed value thereof to discharge the weighed object 3. On the weighing conveyor 7, by the speed difference between the conveyance speed of the weighing conveyor 7 and the conveyance speed by the pulling arm 5, the pulling of the container 6 by the pulling arm 5 is released to bring the container 6 into a release state, and the weighing is performed with high accuracy without being affected by the pulling arm 5.

Description

  The present invention relates to a weight sorting apparatus that measures the weight of an object to be weighed such as agricultural products and marine products such as fruits and seafood, and sorts them into a plurality of weight ranks set in advance according to the measured values.

  As this kind of weight sorting apparatus, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses that an object to be weighed is being transported in the middle of transporting an object to be weighed accommodated in a container along with a container along an endless path such as a chain. A container-type weight sorter that sorts the objects to be weighed into a plurality of weight ranks by a plurality of sorters arranged along the circuit path based on the measured value. A machine is disclosed.

  In this weight sorter, the rounding path includes a forward path for carrying and weighing and sorting by a straight path horizontal to the installation surface with the container facing upward and containing an object to be weighed, and an empty path after sorting. And a return path that returns and conveys the container in a reversed state with the container facing downward on a horizontal straight path with respect to the installation surface, and both ends of the forward path and both ends of the return path are It is comprised so that it may continue with the perpendicular | vertical circular arc-shaped return | turnback path | route.

  For this reason, when trying to increase the number of weight ranks to be sorted and sorted, it is necessary to extend the forward path and increase the number of sorting devices respectively arranged along the forward path, extending the linear forward path, Accordingly, the return path needs to be extended.

  However, if the forward and return routes of the weight sorter are extended in a straight line in one direction, the length of the weight sorter becomes longer in the one direction. It may not be possible to increase. Further, the return path is a path for simply returning an empty container, and does not use space effectively and has a redundant configuration.

  On the other hand, there is also a rotary weight sorter that transports each container that accommodates an object to be weighed along a horizontal circumference (see, for example, Patent Document 2). This weight sorter supplies the objects to be weighed to the containers at a predetermined supply position of the circulation path while circulating the containers each containing the objects to be weighed on the horizontal circumference. Weighing the objects to be weighed within the weighing range, and discharging and distributing the objects to be weighed at each discharge position corresponding to each weight rank within the predetermined discharge range of the circulation path based on the measured value .

  In this rotary type weight sorter, when increasing the number of weight ranks to be sorted and sorted, it is only necessary to increase the radius of the circumference that is the circulation path. Compared to the conventional example in which the route is extended by extending the route, there are less restrictions on the installation space, there is no need for a return route for simply returning the container, and space utilization efficiency is high.

  However, in this rotary type weight sorter, the weight of the objects to be weighed is measured for each of a number of containers each containing the objects to be weighed, and the objects to be weighed are discharged and sorted for each container. In addition, it is necessary to provide weighing means and distribution means using load sensors, and measurement circuits and wirings corresponding to the respective load sensors are also required, so that the configuration becomes complicated and the cost increases accordingly. .

  On the other hand, in Patent Document 3, a load cell is mounted while each container that accommodates an object to be weighed is transported on a stationary rail and a measuring rail arranged along a horizontal circumference. Disclosed is a weight selection device that performs weighing when passing on the weighing rail and discharges an object to be weighed by tilting the container with a guide device when passing a predetermined discharge position based on the measured value. Has been.

JP 2000-266590 A JP-A-5-31464 JP-A 58-52522

  In the weight sorting apparatus of Patent Document 3, since the container is circulated on the rail arranged along the circumference, as in the weight sorter of Patent Document 2, the number of weight ranks to be sorted is increased. Furthermore, there are few restrictions on the installation space, there is no need for a return path for simply returning the container, and the space utilization efficiency is high. In addition, unlike the weight sorter disclosed in Patent Document 2, it is not necessary to provide a weighing unit and a distribution unit for each container.

  However, in the weight sorting apparatus of Patent Document 3, each container is coupled to each of a plurality of arms extending radially from a rotating drive turret, and the container is used when weighing is performed while passing over a weighing rail. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to measure with high accuracy because the container is affected by vibration and friction from the fixed portion and the arm.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described points, and has an object to provide a weight sorting device with less installation space, relatively low cost, and high weighing accuracy. .

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows.

  (1) The weight sorting apparatus of the present invention is arranged in a container pulling means for pulling a plurality of containers in which objects to be weighed are accommodated and circulating around a horizontal circular transfer path, and in the transfer path. A container for storing an object, and a weighing means for weighing the container while conveying the container so as to draw a horizontal arcuate path; and the weighing means arranged at a plurality of locations on the conveyance path, respectively. A plurality of sorting means for sorting the objects to be weighed stored in the container weighed in step (b), and a plurality of sorting means for sorting the objects to be weighed in the container based on the weight of the container weighed by the weighing means. Control means for controlling the distribution means so as to distribute to the corresponding weight ranks among the weight ranks, and the weighing means releases the traction of the container by the container traction means.

  The container is not limited as long as it accommodates the object to be weighed and can sort the object to be weighed by the sorting means, and the shape thereof is arbitrary. For example, the container may be a shallow dish-like container or a deep container. There may be.

  Release of the container pulling may be performed at least over a period in which the weight of the container is measured by the measuring means.

  According to the weight sorting apparatus of the present invention, the plurality of containers are pulled by the container pulling means and are circulated by the horizontal circular transfer path, and the containers in which the objects to be weighed are accommodated by the weighing means arranged in the transfer path. The weight is weighed and distributed to a plurality of weight ranks by distribution means arranged at multiple locations on the transport path. Therefore, if the number of weight ranks to be distributed is increased, the radius of the circular transport path can be increased. Well, there are fewer restrictions due to the installation space than the conventional example in which the forward path and the return path are linearly extended in one direction and the length of the machine is increased in one direction.

  In addition, since the containers containing the objects to be weighed are weighed by the weighing means and distributed by the plurality of distributing means, the conventional example in which the weighing means and the distributing means are provided for each of the many containers each storing the objects to be weighed. In comparison, the configuration can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

  Moreover, the weight of the container containing the object to be weighed is weighed while being transported by the weighing means. In the weighing means, the container is pulled by the container pulling means, so that the container is transported by the weighing means. The container is completely released from the container traction means. Accordingly, the weight of the container in which the object to be weighed is stored can be measured with high accuracy without being affected by vibration, friction, or the like from the container pulling means side.

  (2) In a preferred embodiment of the weight sorting apparatus of the present invention, the container pulling means pulls and conveys the plurality of containers by a plurality of pulling arms extending from a rotating body that rotates about a vertical axis. And the weighing means is a weighing conveyor for weighing the container while being conveyed along the conveyance path, and the weighing means includes a container conveying speed by the pulling arm and a container conveying speed by the weighing conveyor. Due to the speed difference, the traction of the container by the traction arm is released.

  According to this embodiment, a plurality of traction arms that rotate about a vertical axis integrally with a rotating body pull a plurality of containers and convey them in a circular conveyance path. Due to the difference in speed between the transport speed of the container by the arm and the transport speed of the container by the weighing conveyor, the pulling of the container by the pulling arm is released and the container is released, so there is no interference from vibration or friction from the pulling arm side. High accuracy measurement is possible without receiving.

  (3) In another embodiment of the weight selecting apparatus of the present invention, the plurality of containers are supplied with an object to be weighed at a predetermined position of the transport path, and the container pulling means is a guide provided on the container. A roller is supported and guided along the transport path, and has guide rails divided at a plurality of locations on the transport path, and the plurality of distributing means are a plurality of guide rails arranged between the divided guide rails. Each distribution rail has a guide position for supporting and guiding the guide roller provided in the container along the conveyance path, and retreating from the guide position to release the support of the guide roller. The container can be displaced over a retreat position where the container is in a discharge posture for discharging the object to be weighed.

  According to this embodiment, the container pulling means pulls and conveys the guide roller of the container while running on the guide rail, and the weight to which the object to be weighed belongs among the plurality of sorting rails where the guide roller is divided. When reaching the sorting rail corresponding to the rank, the sorting rail is retracted from the guide position for supporting and guiding the guide roller of the container to the retracted position for releasing the support of the guide roller, so that the container is inclined and discharged. And the objects to be weighed can be discharged and distributed.

  (4) In the embodiment of the above (2) or (3), the weighing conveyor constitutes a part of the conveyance path and conveys the container so that the container draws a horizontal arcuate track. It is good also as a structure provided with the curve conveyor to do.

  According to this embodiment, a container can be conveyed by a horizontal arc-shaped conveyance path | route with a curve conveyor.

  (5) In the embodiment of the above (2) or (3), the weighing conveyor has a plurality of endless traveling bodies respectively traveling in parallel straight lines, and the container on the endless traveling body is in a horizontal arc shape. It is good also as a conveyor which makes a running speed mutually differ so that the track | orbit may be drawn.

  According to this embodiment, the containers are weighed while being conveyed so as to draw a horizontal arcuate track by a conveyor that varies the traveling speeds of endless traveling bodies such as a plurality of chains traveling in parallel straight lines. be able to.

  (6) In another embodiment of the weight selection apparatus of the present invention, the weighing conveyor includes a plurality of conveyors each having a set of a plurality of endless traveling bodies respectively traveling in parallel straight lines, and each conveyor The plurality of endless traveling bodies constituting each conveyor are assigned and weighed, and the traveling speed of the plurality of endless traveling bodies is such that the containers on the endless traveling body draw a horizontal arcuate track. They are different from each other.

  According to this embodiment, the weighing conveyor includes a plurality of conveyors each including a plurality of endless traveling bodies that run in parallel straight lines, and corresponding containers are assigned and weighed for each conveyor. , Each conveyor consisting of a plurality of endless traveling bodies substantially constitutes a weighing conveyor, and a plurality of containers can be weighed while being transported corresponding to each conveyor. Ability can be improved.

  According to the present invention, in order to increase the number of weight ranks to which the objects to be weighed are distributed, it is only necessary to increase the radius of the horizontal circular transport path, and the conventional way of extending the forward path and the return path linearly in one direction. Compared to the example, there are fewer restrictions due to the installation space, and the configuration is simplified and the cost is reduced compared to the conventional example in which weighing means and sorting means need to be provided for each of a large number of containers in which objects to be weighed are stored. Can be reduced.

  In addition, when the container containing the objects to be weighed is transported by the weighing means installed in the transport path, the container pulling means by the container pulling means for pulling the container is released and the container is released. The container on which the object to be weighed by the weighing means is placed can measure the object to be weighed with high accuracy without receiving interference from the container pulling means side.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a weight sorting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows the container, FIG. 2 (a) is a plan view of the container traveling on the auxiliary rail, and FIG. 2 (b) is a side view thereof. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a disc attached to the rotating shaft. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing photo interrupter detection pulses. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the weighing conveyor of FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a transfer state of the container to the weighing conveyor. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the sorting operation by the sorting rail. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which the container after the distribution rides on the guide rail. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the weight sorting apparatus of FIG. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a weight sorting apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a transfer state of containers to each conveyor. FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view showing a weighing conveyor according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is an enlarged plan view of the weighing conveyor of FIG. FIG. 14 is a side view for explaining the drive configuration of the conveyor of FIG. FIG. 15 is a schematic plan view of a weighing conveyor according to still another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 16 is a side view for explaining the drive configuration of the weighing conveyor of FIG. FIG. 17 is a view showing a state where the first container is placed on the weighing conveyor of FIG. 18 is a view showing a state in which the second container is placed on the weighing conveyor of FIG. FIG. 19 is a schematic plan view showing a conveyance state by the weighing conveyor of FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a weight sorting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The weight sorting apparatus 1 according to this embodiment measures an item 3 to be measured, such as seafood or fruit, supplied from a supply conveyor 2, and sorts and sorts it into a plurality of weight ranks according to the weight. It is.

  The weight sorting device 1 is pulled horizontally by a rotating disk 4 rotating around a vertical axis x and a plurality of, in this example, twelve pulling arms 5 extending at equal intervals from the outer peripheral edge of the rotating disk 4. Weighing the 12 containers 6 that are circulated in the direction of arrow A along the circular conveyance path and the weight of each container 6 that is installed in the middle of the conveyance path of these containers 6 and contains the objects 3 to be weighed. Conveyor 7 and each container 6 are supported and guided along the transport path, and are arranged at a position corresponding to a plurality of weight ranks and a pair of inner and outer guide rails 8 and 9 divided at a plurality of locations, A weighing conveyor for the container 6 installed inside a pair of inner and outer sorting rails 10 and 11 for discharging the object 2 in the container 6 after weighing and the guide rails 8 and 9 immediately before the weighing conveyor 7. Assist in boarding 7 And a pair of inner and outer auxiliary rails 12, 13 that.

  In FIG. 1, the traction arm 5 and the container 6 near the weighing conveyor 7 are not shown in order to show the weighing conveyor 7 and the rails 8, 9; Yes.

  A gear 15 is fixed to the rotating shaft 14 of the rotating disk 4, and the gear 15 meshes with a gear 17 coupled to a driving motor 16. The rotating disk 4 is moved by an arrow A by the driving motor 16. It is rotationally driven at a predetermined rotational speed in the clockwise direction shown. The rotating shaft 14 is rotatably supported by a fixed portion (not shown) such as a frame. Further, the drive motor 16 and the rails 8, 9; 10, 11; 12, 13, etc. are also supported by the fixed portion.

  Each pulling arm 5 extends horizontally from the outer peripheral edge of the rotating disk 4 and rotates around the vertical axis x together with the rotating disk 4.

  The container pulling means that pulls the plurality of containers 6 and circulates along a horizontal circular conveyance path includes a rotating disk 4 having a pulling arm 5 and a drive motor 16 that drives the rotating disk 4.

  2A is a plan view of the container 6 on the auxiliary rails 12 and 13 immediately before the weighing conveyor 7, and FIG. 2B is a side view thereof.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 1, the container 6 has an upper opening having an area larger than the area of the bottom surface, and has a recess having a required depth for accommodating the object 3 to be weighed. The container 6 has a slightly longer outer peripheral length than the inner peripheral length of the transport path.

  A container 6 that holds an object to be weighed 3 has a pair of guide rollers 18 that roll on the guide rails 8 and 9 and the distribution rails 10 and 11 at the lower part on the rear (upstream) side in the conveying direction indicated by an arrow A. , 19 are provided. Furthermore, a pair of rear auxiliary rollers 20 and 21 that are coaxial with the guide rollers 18 and 19 and roll on the auxiliary rails 12 and 13 are provided inside thereof, and at the lower part on the front (downstream) side in the transport direction. Are also provided with a pair of front auxiliary rollers 22 and 23 that roll on the auxiliary rails 12 and 13.

  That is, when the container 6 travels on the guide rails 8 and 9 and the distribution rails 10 and 11, only the rear guide rollers 18 and 19 roll on the rails 8 and 9; Immediately before, the rear guide rollers 18 and 19 roll on the rails 8 and 9, and the front and rear auxiliary rollers 22, 23; 20, 21 roll on the auxiliary rails 12 and 13.

  On the shafts of the rollers 18, 19; 20.21; 22, 23, there are provided stoppers (not shown) for preventing the rails 8, 9; 10, 11;

  The container 6 includes a pair of towed portions 6a and 6b extending obliquely upward from the inner peripheral side and the outer peripheral side of the upper end portion of the front portion. As shown in FIG. 5, long holes 24a and 24b are formed in the pulling direction in which the pulling arm 5 is loosely inserted. As for the shape of the long holes 24a and 24b, the inner edges of both ends are arcuate. The pulling arm 5 having a circular cross section has a diameter of the long holes 24a. In the state where it is sufficiently smaller than the width dimension of 24b and has sufficient space, the long holes 24a. 24b is inserted.

  Thus, since the container 6 has the one end side of the pulling arm 5 of the rotating disk 4 loosely inserted in the long holes 24a, 24b of the to-be-towed parts 6a, 6b, the rotating disk 4 is rotated by the rotation of the rotating disk 4. Traction arm 5 moves in the direction of arrow A, so that traction arm 5 comes into contact with the inner edge on the front side in the conveying direction of each of the long holes 24a, 24b of the to-be-towed parts 6a, 6b. Is pulled in the direction of arrow A. Accordingly, each container 6 is pulled by each pulling arm 5 by the rotation of the rotary disk 4 and is transported along a horizontal circular transport path.

  As shown in the plan view of FIG. 3, a disk 45 that rotates integrally with the rotating shaft 14 is attached to the rotating shaft 14 of the rotating disk 4. Twelve through holes 46 are formed at equal intervals along the circumferential direction, and one notch wider than the through hole 46 is formed on an extension line connecting the center of the disk 45 and one through hole 46. 47 is formed.

  Two sets of photo-interrupters (not shown) composed of light projecting and receiving elements for detecting the through holes 46 and the notches 47 of the disk 45 are fixedly installed so as to face the outer peripheral edge of the disk 45. Has been. The two sets of photo interrupters detect the cutout 47 and the twelve through holes 46 of the disk 45 that pass through the installation position, respectively, and the container 6 rotates once around the vertical axis x. Further, a detection pulse Rp shown in FIG. 4A is output once from a photo interrupter that detects the notch 47 of the disk 45 by rotating the disk 45 once, and detects the through hole 46 of the disk 45. The detection pulse Tp shown in FIG. 4B is output from the photo interrupter 12 times corresponding to each container 6.

  In the control device described later, based on this detection pulse, each time the 12 containers 6 arrive at a predetermined position in accordance with the rotation operation of the rotating disk 4, the containers 6 are specified. Further, by subtracting the tare weight from the weight of the container 6 storing the objects to be weighed 3 stored in the control device in advance and adjusted by the weighing conveyor 7 at the time of adjustment before the operation operation, the tare weight of each container 6 is obtained. The weight of the object to be weighed 3 is obtained, and the weight rank to which it belongs is determined using the boundary value of the weight rank set in advance.

  The objects to be weighed 3 are supplied to the containers 6 one by one from the supply conveyor 2 that is intermittently or continuously driven in the direction of the arrow B in the preceding stage of the weighing conveyor 7 shown in FIG. . That is, every time the container 6 reaches the lower end of the conveyance of the supply conveyor 2, the supply conveyor 2 is driven, and the object 3 is supplied from the supply conveyor 2 to the container 6.

  The weighing conveyor 7 includes a curve conveyor 25 having a curve angle of 30 degrees with a curved belt stretched in a fan shape. The curved conveyor 25 is disposed in the middle of the circular conveyance path, and the container 6 that is pulled and conveyed by the pulling arm 5 of the rotating disk 4 so as to draw a horizontal arc-shaped track is used for the posture of the container 6. The weight of the container 6 is weighed while being conveyed so as to draw a horizontal arcuate track on the weighing conveyor 7 so that the change does not change.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the weighing conveyor 7 includes a curve conveyor 25 and a load cell 26 as a load sensor that measures a load applied to the curve conveyor 25.

  In the curve conveyor 25, a curve belt 29 is wound between a driving roller 27 and a driven roller 28, and the driving power of the driving motor 30 is transmitted to the driving roller 27 by belt transmission. . The curve conveyor 25 is supported on one end side of the load cell 26 via the curve conveyor support tool 31, and the other end side of the load cell 26 is supported on the base 33 via the load cell support tool 32.

  A pair of guide rails 8 and 9 shown in FIG. 1 includes a section in which the weighing conveyor 7 is installed, a required section after the final distribution, and a plurality of distribution rails 10 in the circular conveyance path of the container 6. In the section where 11 is installed, it is not installed and is divided. The guide rails 8 and 9 support the guide rollers 18 and 19 at the rear of the container 6 and guide the container 6 along the circumference.

  The plurality of sorting rails 10 and 11 are used to sort the objects to be weighed 3 accommodated in the containers 6 according to their weight ranks, and are installed at equal intervals along the conveyance path of the containers 6. The distribution rails 10 and 11 at each installation location correspond to a plurality of weight ranks. As will be described later, the distribution rails 10 and 11 support the guide rollers 18 and 19 of the container 6 and guide the container 6 along the circumference, and the guide rollers 18 are retracted from the guide position. , 19 is disengaged, and the container 6 can be rotationally displaced over the retreat position where the container 6 is placed in an inclined discharge posture for discharging the object 3 to be measured. That is, the distribution rails 10 and 11 can be displaced to the retreat position where the other end side is pivoted downward with the other end turned downward, and retracted from the transport path in this way. The guide rollers 18 and 19 of the container 6 lose support from the sorting rails 10 and 11, are suspended by the pulling arm 5, have a discharging posture inclined substantially vertically, and discharge the object 3 to be weighed. The distribution rails 10 and 11 rotated downward are returned and rotated to return to the horizontal guide position to reconfigure the conveyance path, and are provided for the container 6 to be conveyed next.

  The auxiliary rails 12 and 13 installed immediately before the weighing conveyor 7 are configured to smoothly transfer the containers 6 to the weighing conveyor 7 with the posture of the containers 6 running on the guide rails 8 and 9 being horizontal.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of a state in which the container 6 is transferred from the guide rails 8 and 9 to the weighing conveyor 7 via the auxiliary rails 12 and 13 as viewed from the inner peripheral side.

  In the container 6, only the pair of guide rollers 18 and 19 roll on the guide rails 8 and 9 on the upstream side in the transport direction (left side in FIG. 6) with respect to the auxiliary rails 12 and 13, and are transported by the pulling arm 5. Is done. In this position, since the auxiliary rails 12 and 13 are not installed, the rear auxiliary rollers 20 and 21 and the front auxiliary rollers 22 and 23 inside the guide rollers 18 and 19 are not supported by the rails. For this reason, the container 6 is transported in a state where the front portion is slightly inclined downward.

  Next, when the container 6 is transported to the position where the auxiliary rails 12 and 13 are installed, the front and rear auxiliary rollers 22, 23; 20, 21 sequentially run on the auxiliary rails 12, 13. The container 6 is adjusted to a horizontal posture and conveyed.

  The auxiliary rails 12 and 13 have a height at the end on the upstream side in the transport direction so that the auxiliary rollers 22 and 23; 20 and 21 at the front and rear of the container 6 can run smoothly. The inclined surfaces 12a and 13a gradually increase along the downstream side.

  The container 6 is smoothly transferred to the weighing conveyor 7 in this horizontal posture with little impact, and its weight is measured while being conveyed by the weighing conveyor 7.

  In this embodiment, in order to perform measurement with the weighing conveyor 7 with high accuracy, the following is performed.

  That is, the conveying speed of the container 6 by the weighing conveyor 7 is set slightly faster than the conveying speed of the container 6 by the pulling arm 5. This difference in speed is caused by the difference in the distance of movement between the container 6 and the traction arm 5 that occurs while the container 6 is supported by the weighing conveyor 7 and is transferred to the long holes 24a of the towed portions 6a and 6b of the container 6. It is below the length which the traction arm 5 can move within 24b.

  Accordingly, when the container 6 is transferred to and supported by the weighing conveyor 7, the conveyance speed of the weighing conveyor 7 is faster than the conveyance speed of the container 6 by the pulling arm 5. Since the traction arm 5 is in contact with the inner edges of the long holes 24a and 24b of the 6b, the traction arm 5 is positioned in the long holes 24a and 24b without contacting the inner edges of the long holes 24a and 24b. Thus, the container 6 is in a released state in which it is completely detached from the pulling arm 5. As the container 6 is transported, the pulling arm 5 moves in the long holes 24a and 24b, but the container 6 reaches the end of the weighing conveyor 7 until it comes into contact with the front edge of the long holes 24a and 24b. Therefore, on the weighing conveyor 7, the container 6 is in a released state in which it is completely detached from the pulling arm 5 side.

  As a result, the weighing conveyor 7 can measure the weight of the container 6 containing the object 3 with high accuracy without being influenced from the traction arm 5 side.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the discharging operation by the sorting rails 10 and 11 for discharging and distributing the objects to be weighed 3 accommodated in the containers 6 weighed by the weighing conveyor 7 at positions corresponding to a plurality of weight ranks. FIG.

  When the guide rollers 18 and 19 of the container 6 reach the distribution rails 10 and 11 corresponding to the weight rank to which the weight of the object to be measured 3 belongs, the distribution rails 10 and 11 are moved from the horizontal guide position to the end. The rotary shafts 10a and 11a on the side are rotated about 90 degrees downward to be retreated to the retreat position. As a result, the guide rollers 18 and 19 of the container 6 lose support by the sorting rails 10.11, and the container 6 drops from the rails and is suspended between the rails by the traction arm 5 and has a vertically inclined discharge posture. Become. As a result, the object to be weighed 3 accommodated in the container 6 slides downward and is accommodated in an unillustrated accommodation box or the like. The distribution rails 10 and 11 return to the guide position and return to the guide position when a certain time elapses, and again form a horizontal conveyance path through which the container 6 can travel. The distribution rails 10 and 11 are driven by an actuator such as an air cylinder (not shown).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the container 6 transported while being suspended from the pulling arm 5 rides again on the guide rails 8 and 9 installed on the downstream side in the transport direction from the final distribution position. Be transported. End portions on the upstream side (left side in FIG. 8) of the guide rails 8 and 9 are inclined surfaces 8a and 9a whose height gradually increases, and the guide rollers 18 and 19 of the container 6 are You can get on smoothly.

  The container 6 when being transported by the pulling arm 5 is supported by the pulling arm 5 on the left and right sides of the front of the container 6, so that the container 6 may be supported at one place. The rail on one side of the rails 9 and 11 on the outer peripheral side or the rails 8 and 10 on the inner peripheral side may not be provided. Accordingly, any one of the guide rollers 18.19 may be omitted.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the weight sorting apparatus 1 of this embodiment.

  The weight sorting apparatus 1 includes a control device 34 as a control unit. The control device 34 includes a control unit 35 including a CPU and set values such as a boundary value that defines a control program and a plurality of weight ranks. And a storage unit 36 composed of a ROM, a RAM, or the like that temporarily stores data during calculation.

  The control unit 35 receives detection outputs of the two sets of photo interrupters 37 described above, and also receives a load signal from the load cell 26 of the weighing conveyor 7 via an A / D converter 38.

  In addition, information necessary for operation and operation of the weight sorting apparatus 1, for example, information such as the boundary value that defines the weight rank described above, is set and input to the control unit 35 by an operation indicator 39 including, for example, a touch panel display. can do. The operation indicator 39 can display a set value, a weight value of the object 3 to be measured, total data, and the like.

  The first to third motor drive circuits 40 to 42 drive the motor 16 of the rotating disk 4, the motor 30 of the weighing conveyor 7, and the motor of the supply conveyor 2, respectively. These motor drive circuits 40 to 42 are controlled. Controlled by the unit 35.

  The plurality of distribution rail driving units 43 drive the above-described actuators that rotate the plurality of distribution rails 10 and 11, and these distribution rail driving units 43 are controlled by the control unit 35.

  Based on the load signal from the load cell 26 input via the A / D converter 38 and the detection pulse of the photo interrupter 37, the control unit 35 is a weight to which the weight of the object to be weighed 3 accommodated in the container 6 belongs. When the rank is determined and the distribution rails 10 and 11 corresponding to the weight rank are reached, the distribution rail drive unit 43 is driven. As a result, the distribution rails 10 and 11 are rotated from the horizontal guide position to the lower retreat position, and the guide rollers 18 and 19 of the container 6 are not supported by the distribution rail 10.11 and are inclined substantially vertically. The object to be weighed 3 is discharged. Thereafter, the control unit 35 rotates the sorting rails 10 and 11 back to the horizontal guide position. Further, when the container 6 reaches the lower end of the conveyance of the supply conveyor 2, the control unit 35 drives the supply conveyor 2 via the third motor drive circuit 42 and supplies the objects to be weighed 3 to the container 6.

  Next, operation | movement of the weight selection apparatus 1 of this embodiment is demonstrated. First, as shown in FIG. 1, when the container 6 is pulled and transported by the pulling arm 5 and transported below the supply position of the object to be weighed 3, that is, below the transport end of the supply conveyor 2, The objects 3 are supplied in one unit of measurement, for example one by one. When the container 6 is transported to the position where the auxiliary rails 12 and 13 are installed, the front and rear auxiliary rollers 22 and 23; 20, 21 sequentially run on the auxiliary rails 12 and 13, The container 6 is in a horizontal posture as described above, and is transferred while drawing an arc-shaped track on the weighing conveyor 7 in this horizontal posture, and is transported while drawing a horizontal arc-shaped track on the weighing conveyor 7. At the same time, the weight of the container 6 containing the object 3 is weighed.

  At this time, the container 6 transported by the pulling arm 5 is transported on the weighing conveyor 7 while maintaining an arc-shaped track in the same posture as before, so that the container 6 is only on the weighing conveyor 7. There is no loss of time. In the weighing conveyor 7, the container 6 is in a released state in which the traction by the traction arm 5 is released as described above because the conveyance speed of the measurement conveyor 7 is faster than the conveyance speed by the traction arm 5. The weight of the container 6 in which the object to be weighed 3 is accommodated can be measured with high accuracy without receiving interference such as vibration and friction from the 5 side. Further, the container 6 being sent out from the weighing conveyor 7 is pulled again while coming into contact with the pulling arm 5 while drawing an arcuate track, but also on the weighing conveyor 7 only for delivery to the pulling arm 5. There is no loss of time.

  Next, based on the weight of the object 3 accommodated in the container 6, the weight rank to which the weight belongs is determined, and the guide rollers 18, 19 of the container 6 are placed on the sorting rails 10, 11 corresponding to the weight rank. , The sorting rail 10.11 is rotated from the horizontal guide position to the lower retracted position. As a result, the container 6 loses the support of the sorting rails 10 and 11 and is tilted to the state where it is suspended by the pulling arm 5 to discharge the object 3 to be weighed. The distribution rails 10 and 11 rotated downward are returned and rotated to the guide position to form a horizontal conveyance path. The container 6 from which the object to be weighed 3 is discharged is conveyed in an inclined state, and the guide rollers 18 and 19 are again carried on the guide rails 8 and 9 installed after the final distribution position, and are again conveyed. A new object to be weighed 3 is supplied and the above operation is repeated.

  In this embodiment, the traction arm 5 is inserted into the elongated holes 24a and 24b of the to-be-towed parts 6a and 6b of the container 6 to pull the container 6. However, as another embodiment of the present invention, for example, A part may be chucked and pulled by a chucking mechanism, and the chucking may be released on the weighing conveyor 7, or the container may be sucked and pulled by electromagnetic induction on the weighing conveyor 7. Then, the suction may be released.

(Embodiment 2)
Figure 10 is a schematic plan view of the weight selecting apparatus 1 ₁ of another embodiment of the present invention, portions corresponding to FIG. 1, the same reference characters.

  In the above-described embodiment, the auxiliary rails 12 and 13 are installed in the front stage of the weighing conveyor 7, and the auxiliary rollers 22 and 23; 20 and 21 are provided on the front and rear of the container 6. In this embodiment, The auxiliary rails 12, 13 and the auxiliary rollers 22, 23; 20, 21 are not provided.

  In this embodiment, an infeed conveyor 44 that conveys the containers 6 at the same speed as the weighing conveyor 7 is installed in the preceding stage of the weighing conveyor 7.

  The feeding conveyor 44 is a curved conveyor having a curved belt stretched in a fan shape and having a curve angle of 30 degrees. The container 6 is conveyed along an arc-shaped conveying path and is fed to the weighing conveyor 7.

  FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of a state in which the container 6 is transferred from the guide rails 8 and 9 to the weighing conveyor 7 via the feeding conveyor 44 as viewed from the inner peripheral side.

 In the container 6, the pair of guide rollers 18 and 19 roll on the guide rails 8 and 9 and are transported by the pulling arm 5 on the upstream side (left side in FIG. 11) in the transport direction from the infeed conveyor 44. . At this position, only the rear guide rollers 18 and 19 are supported by the guide rails 8 and 9, so that the container 6 is conveyed with the front portion slightly inclined downward.

  The heights of the conveying surfaces of the feeding conveyor 44 and the weighing conveyor 7 are substantially the same as the bottom surface of the container 6 in the horizontal state, and the container 6 is conveyed to a position where the feeding conveyor 44 is installed. Then, the bottom surface of the container 6 is placed on the conveying surface of the feeding conveyor 44 and conveyed in a horizontal posture. The containers 6 conveyed in a horizontal posture by the feeding conveyor 44 are smoothly transferred to the weighing conveyor 7 having the same conveying speed with little impact, and the weight thereof is weighed while being conveyed.

  Other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment. Similarly to the above-described embodiment, the rails 9 and 11 provided on the outer peripheral side or the rails 8 and 10 provided on the inner peripheral side may not be provided, and accordingly, the guide roller Any one of the rollers of 18.19 may be omitted.

(Embodiment 3)
In each of the above-described embodiments, the weighing conveyor 7 is conveyed by an arc-shaped conveyance path using a curve conveyor. However, as another embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of chains having different lengths are used instead of the curve conveyor. An endless traveling body such as an endless traveling body is configured by a conveyor that travels linearly at different traveling speeds, and a container 6 placed on a plurality of endless traveling bodies is arranged such that the container 6 draws an arc-shaped track. It may be conveyed.

12, by such a conveyor, is a schematic plan view of a portion of the structure was conveying path weighing conveyor 7 _1.

The weighing conveyor 7 ₁ of this embodiment has two chains 7 ₁ a. 7 ₁ b is provided, and each of the chains 7 ₁ a and 7 ₁ b travels along a straight traveling path parallel to each other in plan view, and the length of the inner peripheral chain 7 ₁ b is short. It has become.

The weighing conveyor _71, as shown enlarged in FIG. 13, in plan view trapezoidal supporting base 50, two parallel straight running grooves 51a, 51b are formed, the running grooves 51a, 51b is provided with the above-described chains 7 ₁ a and 7 ₁ b driven by a motor (not shown) so as to be able to run. Similar to the weighing conveyor 7 of the above-described embodiment, the support base 50 is supported by the fixed portion via a load cell (not shown).

The running grooves 51a, 51b are chains 7 ₁ a, 7 a little wider than the width of ₁ b, is formed slightly shallower than the height of the chain 7 ₁ a, 7 ₁ b, running grooves 51a, 51b The container 6 is transported in a state where the container 6 is placed on the chains 7 ₁ a and 7 ₁ b protruding from the bottom, that is, the bottom surface of the container 6 is supported by the chains 7 ₁ a and 7 ₁ b.

Here, the length of the part on which the container 6 is placed on the transport surface on the support base 50 of the two chains 7 ₁ a and 7 ₁ b is defined as La and Lb, and each chain 7 ₁ a and 7 ₁ b If the traveling speed of Va is V, Vb, the residence time of the container 6 on each of the outer peripheral side and inner peripheral side chains 7 ₁ a and 7 ₁ b on the bottom surface of the container 6 should be equal.
La / Va = Lb / Vb
The traveling speeds Va and Vb are set so that Note that Va> Vb.

As shown in FIG. 14, the chains 7 ₁ a and 7 ₁ b are respectively wound around sprockets 52 a and 52 b that are driven coaxially by a motor (not shown), and the tension is adjusted by a chain tensioner 53.

  The sprockets 52a and 52b have the same pitch, and the number of teeth is manufactured so as to correspond to the traveling speeds Va and Vb of the above relations.

That is, when the number of teeth of the sprockets 52a and 52b is Ca and Cb,
Va / Vb = Cb / Ca
It is produced in the relationship.

The container 6 of this embodiment includes only outer peripheral guide rollers 18 and 19 as in the second embodiment described above, and does not include an inner peripheral auxiliary roller. As shown in FIG. 6 the bottom of is conveyed supported by the narrowing conveyor 44 feed, it is written sent to the weighing conveyor ₇₁ through the crossover rollers 54 while drawing an arcuate track.

Container 6 which is incorporated sent to the weighing conveyor ₇₁ is the outer circumferential side is fast, by the inner peripheral side is conveyed slowly, is metered is conveyed to still an arc-shaped trajectory on the weighing conveyor 7 ₁ . After passing through the weighing conveyor ₇₁ again, is supported on the guide rails 8 and 9, the passing of the pulling arm 5 so as to be conveyed drawing a horizontal arcuate trajectory is performed.

The pulled part 6a on the inner periphery of the circular path drawn by the container 6 carried by the weighing conveyor _71. Speed of mounting position of 6b is so slightly faster as the speed of the motor than the speed of the circular orbit of the pulling arm 5 at each position is set, the container 6, is on the weighing conveyor _71, pulling arm without receiving any interference force from 5 side, moved by only the conveying force by the weighing conveyor ₇₁ can be metered with high accuracy.

  Note that the endless traveling body is not limited to a chain, and may be a wire, a string, or the like.

  Other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 15 is a schematic plan view showing a weighing conveyor 55 according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

  The weighing conveyor 55 of this embodiment has four first to fourth support portions 56 to 59 extending in parallel with each other, and the length of the support portion on the inner peripheral side is shorter. Each support part 56-59 is each provided with the running grooves 56a-59a extended in the mutually parallel linear form, respectively, and the chains 56b-59b as an endless running body each drive | work each running groove 56a-59a.

The length of the placed in part of the container 6 of each chain 56B～59b in the transport plane of the support portions 56 to 59, L ₁ and ~L _4, the traveling speed of each chain 56b~59b V ₁ ~V ₄ Then, like the above-mentioned embodiment,
_{L 1 / V 1 = L 2} / V 2 = L 3 / V 3 = L 4 / V 4
The traveling speeds V ₁ , V ₂ , V ₃ and V ₄ are set so that

  The alternate first and third support portions 56 and 58 are connected to each other at the lower portion thereof, and similarly, the second and fourth support portions 57 and 59 are connected to each other at the lower portion thereof.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the first connecting portion 60 of the first and third support portions 56 and 58 is supported by a fixed portion via a first load cell 61 to constitute a first weighing conveyor 62, The second connecting portion 63 of the fourth support portions 57 and 59 is supported by the fixed portion via the second load cell 64 to constitute the second weighing conveyor 65.

The chains 56b to 59b are respectively wound around sprockets 66 to 69 that are driven coaxially by a motor (not shown). The sprockets 66 to 69 have the same pitch and the number of teeth is the traveling speed of the above relationship. It is manufactured so as to correspond to V _{1 to} V ₄ , respectively.

Vessel 6 is first made from the second container 6 _1, 6 ₂ corresponding to the first, second weighing conveyors 62 and 65, as shown in FIG. 17, the first container ₆₁ of the bottom surface, the first chain 56b of the weighing conveyor 62, the corresponding mounting portion 6 ₁ a to 58b is projected along the conveying direction, the second container 6 ₂ of the bottom, as shown in FIG. 18, the second metering conveyor 65 A mounting portion 6 ₂ a corresponding to the chains 57b and 59b is provided so as to project along the transport direction.

That is, the first container ₆₁ is two chains 56b of the first metering conveyor 62, on the 58b, is conveyed in a state of being placed so as to span, ₂ second container 6, the second weighing conveyor 65 The two chains 57b and 59b are transported in a state of being placed so as to straddle.

The first and second containers 6 ₁ and 6 ₂ are alternately positioned along the circumferential direction, are pulled by the pulling arm 5 and are alternately fed onto the weighing conveyor 55.

Thus the first, second weighing conveyors 62 and 65, since the first container ₆₁ and second container 6 ₂ can be individually independently metered, as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 19, the weighing conveyor 55 In addition, both the first and second containers 6 ₁ and 6 ₂ may be placed, and therefore, the container conveyance interval can be made narrower than in the above-described embodiments. Therefore, it is possible to increase the processing capability while maintaining the same high measurement accuracy as in the above-described embodiments.

1,1 ₁ Weight sorting device 2 feed conveyor 3 the articles 4 rotary disk 5 pulling arm 6 containers 7,7 _1, 55 weighing conveyor 8, 9 guide rails 10, 11 the distribution rail 12, 13 auxiliary tracks 18 and 19 guide rollers 20 through 23 the auxiliary Rollers 24a, 24b Long holes 25 Curve conveyor 26 Load cell 34 Controller 44 Feed conveyor

Claims (6)

A container pulling means for pulling a plurality of containers in which objects to be weighed are stored and circulating around a horizontal circular conveyance path;
A weighing unit arranged in the conveyance path and weighing the container while conveying the container to be weighed so that the container draws a horizontal arcuate path; and
A plurality of sorting means that are arranged at a plurality of locations of the transport path and sort the objects to be weighed stored in the containers weighed by the weighing means;
Based on the weight of the container weighed by the weighing means, the distribution means is controlled to distribute the object to be weighed contained in the container to a corresponding weight rank among a plurality of weight ranks. Control means,
In the weighing means, the traction of the container by the container traction means is released.
A weight sorter characterized by that. The container pulling means pulls and conveys the plurality of containers by a plurality of pulling arms extending from a rotating body that rotates around a vertical axis.
The weighing means is a weighing conveyor for weighing the container while conveying the container along the conveying path;
In the weighing means, the traction of the container by the traction arm is released by the difference in speed between the conveyance speed of the container by the traction arm and the conveyance speed of the container by the weighing conveyor.
The weight selection apparatus according to claim 1. The objects to be weighed are supplied to the plurality of containers at a predetermined position of the transport path,
The container pulling means supports and guides a guide roller provided in the container along the conveyance path, and has guide rails divided at a plurality of locations on the conveyance path,
The plurality of distribution means have a plurality of distribution rails arranged between the divided guide rails, and each distribution rail supports and guides the guide rollers provided in the container along a conveyance path. By disengaging the position and the support of the guide roller by retreating from the guide position, the position of the container can be displaced over a retreat position where the container is discharged to discharge the object to be weighed.
The weight selection apparatus according to claim 2. The weighing conveyor includes a curved conveyor that forms a part of the conveyance path and conveys the container so that the container draws a horizontal arcuate path.
The weight selection apparatus according to claim 2 or 3. The weighing conveyor is a conveyor that moves a plurality of endless traveling bodies that respectively travel in parallel straight lines, with different traveling speeds so that the container on the endless traveling body forms a horizontal arc-shaped track. ,
The weight selection apparatus according to claim 2 or 3. The weighing conveyor includes a plurality of conveyors each having a set of a plurality of endless traveling bodies that respectively run in parallel straight lines, and the corresponding containers are assigned and weighed for each of the conveyors. The plurality of endless traveling bodies constituting the traveling speeds of the containers on the endless traveling body are different from each other so that the container draws a horizontal arcuate track,
The weight selection apparatus according to claim 2 or 3.

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