JP2013250143A - Combination measuring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a combination measuring device capable of precisely determining that an article stays at an article conveyance part.SOLUTION: A combination measuring device 100 includes article conveyance parts 10, 20, a camera 60, and a control part 82. The article conveyance parts have placement parts 11, 21 on which many articles are placed, and the placement parts are vibrated to convey the many articles to a measuring hopper 40. A camera picks up a conveyance part image. The conveyance part image is an image of the article conveyance parts which convey the many articles. The control part acquires differences between two conveyance part images picked up at different time points and determines a staying region of the many articles at the article conveyance parts on the basis of the differences.

Description

  The present invention relates to a combination weighing device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a combination weighing device that selects a combination of articles having a predetermined weight by weighing the articles with a plurality of weighing hoppers. The combination weighing device includes, for example, a plurality of weighing hoppers and an article conveyance unit that conveys articles to the plurality of weighing hoppers as disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-96590). The combination weighing device selects an article having a predetermined weight from each article weighed by each of the plurality of weighing hoppers and discharges the article from the weighing hopper holding the article, thereby obtaining the article having a predetermined weight.

  By the way, in order to maintain the production capacity and weighing accuracy of the combination weighing device, it is necessary to stably convey a certain amount of articles to the weighing hopper. In the above Patent Document 1, in order to stably convey an article from the article conveying unit to the weighing hopper, based on the measured value of the article to be weighed by each weighing hopper and the weight value of the article to be conveyed by the article conveying unit. Techniques have been proposed for determining the presence or absence of an article in an article transport unit. However, with the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to accurately determine the retention of articles in the article transport unit.

  Then, the subject of this invention is providing the combination weighing | measuring apparatus which can determine the residence of the articles | goods in an article conveyance part accurately.

  The combination weighing device according to the present invention includes an article transport unit, a camera, and a control unit. The article transport unit includes a placement unit on which a number of articles are placed, and the placement unit is vibrated to transport a number of articles to the weighing hopper. The camera captures the conveyance unit image. The conveyance unit image is an image of an article conveyance unit that conveys a large number of articles. A control part acquires the difference of two conveyance part images from which imaging time differs, and determines the retention area | region of many articles | goods in an article conveyance part based on a difference. Thereby, it is possible to accurately determine the retention of the article in the article transport unit.

  Furthermore, the combination weighing device according to the present invention preferably includes a conveyance unit image data storage area. The transport unit image data storage area stores data related to a plurality of transport unit images captured by the camera. Moreover, it is preferable that a control part has a non-moving area specific | specification part and a determination part. The non-moving area specifying unit specifies the non-moving area based on a difference between two conveying unit images having different imaging times among the conveying unit images stored in the conveying unit image data storage area. The non-moving region is a region where a large number of articles are not moving in the article transport unit. The determination unit determines a residence area of a large number of articles based on the immovable area. Thereby, the residence area | region of the articles | goods in an article conveyance part can be determined more reliably.

  Furthermore, the combination weighing device according to the present invention preferably includes a drive data storage area. The drive data storage area stores data related to the drive signal. The drive signal is a drive signal for the article transport unit, and includes a first signal indicating an operating state and a second signal indicating a stopped state. Moreover, it is preferable that a determination part determines the residence area | region of the articles | goods in an article conveyance part based on the kind of drive signal memorize | stored in the drive data storage area, and the immobility area specified by the immobility area specific | specification part. Thereby, the area | region which has a problem in a retention state can be specified.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the combination weighing device according to the present invention further includes a transport area data storage area. The conveyance area data storage area stores data related to the conveyance area of the article conveyance unit in the conveyance unit image. Moreover, it is preferable that a determination part performs a 1st determination process and a 2nd determination process. In the first determination process, the conveyance area of the article conveyance section in the operating state is determined based on the type of the drive signal of the article conveyance section and the data related to the conveyance area. The second determination process determines that the immovable area of the article is the stay area of the article when the immovable area of the article matches the transport area of the article transport unit in the operation state determined by the first determination process. To do.

  This makes it possible to distinguish between a region where the feeder is not driven and the article is staying, and a region where the article is staying while the feeder is being driven.

  Moreover, it is preferable that a determination part performs a 3rd determination process further. In the third determination process, the area of the predetermined region of the placement unit is compared with the area of the retention region of the article in the predetermined region of the placement unit, and the area of the retention region of the article in the area of the predetermined region of the placement unit Is greater than a predetermined threshold value, the conveyance abnormality is determined. Thereby, cancellation | release of a stay can be performed suitably.

  Furthermore, the combination weighing device according to the present invention preferably includes a display unit. The display unit displays the determination result by the determination unit. The display unit further displays a warning indicating the conveyance abnormality when the conveyance abnormality is determined by the determination unit. Thereby, it is possible to make the user easily grasp the occurrence of the conveyance abnormality due to the staying area.

  Moreover, it is preferable that an article conveyance part contains a dispersion | distribution unit and a some feeder. The dispersion unit vibrates a table as a placement unit on which a large number of articles are placed, and disperses the large number of articles in the outer edge direction of the table. The plurality of feeders are arranged on the outer edge side of the dispersion unit. The plurality of feeders vibrate a trough as a placement portion that receives a large number of articles dropped from the dispersion unit and conveys the articles in a direction away from the dispersion unit. Thereby, it can be determined in which position of a dispersion | distribution unit and a some feeder a residence area | region exists.

  Furthermore, the combination weighing device according to the present invention preferably includes a supply unit. The supply unit supplies articles to the dispersion unit. Furthermore, the control unit preferably has a control command generation unit. The control command generation unit is configured to change the drive content of at least one of the dispersion unit, the feeder, and the supply unit in order to eliminate the conveyance abnormality when the conveyance abnormality is determined by the determination unit. Is generated. Thereby, even if a conveyance abnormality occurs in the article conveyance unit, it is possible to automatically execute control for eliminating the conveyance abnormality.

  Furthermore, the combination weighing device according to the present invention preferably includes a reception unit. Here, the accepting unit accepts an input for setting the transport region of the article transport unit in the transport unit image. The display unit further displays the transport unit image. The accepting unit accepts information related to the transport region of the article transport unit specified on the transport unit image displayed on the display unit, and the transport region data storage region is transported by the article transport unit accepted by the accepting unit. Store data about the region. Thereby, the setting desired by the user can be performed.

  In addition, it is preferable that a plurality of cameras be disposed obliquely above the dispersion unit. The plurality of cameras capture the image of the conveyance unit of the article at the same timing. Further, the combination weighing device according to the present invention preferably includes a composite image generation unit. The synthesized image generating unit generates a planar view image of the article conveying unit by synthesizing a plurality of conveying unit images captured at the same timing by a plurality of cameras. Thereby, the residence area | region of articles | goods can be grasped | ascertained more accurately.

  The combination weighing device according to the present invention can accurately determine the retention of an article in the article transport unit.

It is a longitudinal section schematic diagram of a combination weighing device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic plan view of a combination weighing device. It is a control block diagram of a combination weighing device. It is a block diagram of a control apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the conveyance part image image | photographed with a camera. It is a figure which shows the example of the image for a setting displayed on a touch panel. It is a figure which shows the example of the matching data memorize | stored in a matching data storage area. It is a figure which shows the example of the drive data memorize | stored in a drive data storage area. It is a flow which shows the flow of a process. It is a figure which shows the example of a synthesized image. It is a figure which shows the example of an extracted image. It is a figure which shows the example of a process image. It is a figure which shows the example of the determination result obtained by a 1st determination process. It is a figure which shows the example of the determination result obtained by a 2nd determination process. It is a figure which shows the example of the determination result obtained by a 3rd determination process. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting image according to Modification B. It is a figure which shows the example of the template which concerns on the modification C. It is a figure which shows the example of the 3rd determination process which concerns on the modification D. It is a figure which shows the example of the 3rd determination process which concerns on the modification D.

  Hereinafter, a combination weighing device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(1) Overall Configuration First, FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a combination weighing device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The combination weighing device 100 is a device that measures the weight of articles stored in the plurality of weighing hoppers 40 and performs a combination calculation based on the measured values. The combination weighing device 100 selects a combination of articles whose combination calculation results in a value within a predetermined allowable range, and discharges the articles from the weighing hopper 40 related to the combination.

  The combination weighing device 100 is disposed above a packaging device or the like (not shown). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the combination weighing device 100 is installed above a gantry 91 provided in the vicinity of the packaging device. Work passages 92 are provided on four sides of the combination weighing device 100 so that an operator can access the combination weighing device 100 during an abnormality or maintenance.

  1 and 3, the combination weighing device 100 mainly includes an article supply unit 90, a dispersion unit 10, a plurality of feeders 20 (20a to 20n), and a plurality of pool hoppers 30 (30a to 30a). 30n), a plurality of weighing hoppers 40 (40a to 40n), one collective discharge chute 110, a camera 60, a touch panel 70, and a control device 80.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that there are 14 feeders 20, pool hoppers 30, and weighing hoppers 40, respectively. The plurality of feeders 20 (20a to 20n), the plurality of pool hoppers 30 (30a to 30n), and the plurality of weighing hoppers 40 (40a to 40n) each constitute a head HD (HDa to HDn). As shown in FIG. 2, each of the heads HDa to HDn is arranged in an annular shape centering on the dispersion unit 10 in plan view. Identification numbers 1 to 14 are assigned to the heads HDa to HDn. In FIG. 2, the heads HD assigned with identification numbers 1 to 14 are shown as heads HDa to HDn, respectively. The heads HDa to HDn are arranged such that the heads HDa to HDn having large identification numbers come clockwise. Further, each of the heads HDa to HDn includes a plurality of feeders 20 (20a to 20n), a plurality of pool hoppers 30 (30a to 30n), and a plurality of weighing hoppers 40 (40a to 40n). The same identification numbers (1 to 14) as HDn are assigned. Feeders 20a to 20n, pool hoppers 30a to 30n, and weighing hoppers 40a to 40n belonging to the same heads HDa to HDn are associated with each other.

  In the combination weighing device 100, articles are supplied from the article supply unit 90 to the dispersion unit 10, and then the articles are conveyed from the dispersion unit 10 to the feeders 20a to 20n. Further, the articles are conveyed from the feeders 20a to 20n to the pool hoppers 30a to 30n associated with the feeders 20a to 20n. The articles conveyed to the pool hoppers 30a to 30n are then conveyed to the weighing hoppers 40a to 40n associated with the pool hoppers 30a to 30n. The article is then conveyed from the weighing hoppers 40a to 40n to the collective discharge chute 110. The articles conveyed to the collective discharge chute 110 are then conveyed to the packaging device. In the present embodiment, the dispersion unit 10 and the feeders 20a to 20n will be described as an article transport unit.

(2) Detailed Configuration (2-1) Article Supply Unit The article supply unit 90 is a unit that supplies articles to the dispersion unit 10. The article supply unit 90 is disposed above the dispersion unit 10 as shown in FIG. The article supply unit 90 is driven by the article supply unit driving unit 90a (see FIG. 3). The article supply unit 90 changes the operation / stop state and the amount of articles to be supplied (supply amount) based on a control command sent from the control device 80 described later.

(2-2) Dispersion Unit The dispersion unit 10 is a unit that receives an article supplied from the article supply unit 90 and transports the article to the feeder 20. Specifically, the dispersion unit 10 disperses the articles supplied from the article supply unit 90 by vibration and sends them to the feeders 20a to 20n.

  The distribution unit 10 mainly includes a distribution table (mounting unit) 11. The distribution table 11 receives articles supplied from the article supply unit 90. That is, a large number of articles are placed on the distribution table 11. The distribution table 11 is a flat conical table member. The dispersion table 11 is driven by a dispersion table drive electromagnet 12 (see FIG. 3). Specifically, the dispersion table 11 vibrates by driving the dispersion table driving electromagnet 12. The dispersion unit 10 vibrates the dispersion table 11 to convey the article placed on the dispersion table 11 in the radial direction while dispersing the article in the circumferential direction. In other words, the dispersion unit 10 conveys the article placed on the dispersion table 11 while being dispersed in the outer edge direction by vibrating the dispersion table 11.

  The distribution unit 10 is controlled based on a control command sent from the control device 80 described later. Specifically, the dispersion table drive electromagnet 12 is driven based on a control command. The amount of articles conveyed from the dispersion unit 10 to the feeder 20 is also controlled based on a control command sent from the control device 80. Specifically, the dispersion table drive electromagnet 12 changes the strength (vibration strength) for vibrating the dispersion table 11 based on the control command. The initial setting value of the vibration intensity of the dispersion table 11 is stored in the storage unit 81 of the control device 80 described later. The vibration intensity can be changed using a touch panel 70 described later.

(2-3) Feeder The feeder 20 receives an article from the distribution unit 10 and sends the article to the pool hopper 30. In other words, the feeder 20 receives the articles conveyed by the dispersion unit 10 and conveys the articles to the pool hopper 30 arranged further downstream.

  Each of the feeders 20a to 20n has troughs (mounting units) 21a to 21n that receive articles conveyed by the dispersion unit 10. A large number of articles are placed on the troughs 21a to 21n. As shown in FIG. 2, the troughs 21 a to 21 n are arranged so as to extend radially around the dispersion unit 10. In other words, the feeders 20a to 20n are arranged on the outer edge side of the dispersion unit 10 so as to surround the dispersion unit 10. Each trough 21a-21n is driven by the trough drive electromagnet 22 and vibrates (see FIG. 3). The feeder 20 vibrates the troughs 21a to 21n, thereby conveying articles respectively placed on the troughs 21a to 21n toward the outer edge. In other words, each of the feeders 20 a to 20 n conveys the article in a direction away from the dispersion unit 10. The articles conveyed by the feeders 20a to 20n are supplied to the pool hoppers 30a to 30n disposed below the outer edges of the feeders 20a to 20n.

  Each feeder 20a-20n is each controlled based on the control command sent from the control apparatus 80 mentioned later. Specifically, the trough drive electromagnet 22 is driven based on a control command. The trough drive electromagnet 22 controls each of the feeders 20a to 20n independently. Further, the amount of articles conveyed from the feeders 20 a to 20 n to the pool hopper 30 is also controlled based on a control command sent from the control device 80. Specifically, the trough drive electromagnet 22 changes the strength (vibration intensity) and the vibration time for vibrating the troughs 21a to 21n based on the control command. Here, the vibration time of 21a to 21n is the time of one cycle from when the trough drive electromagnet 22 described later starts vibration of the troughs 21a to 21n until the vibration is stopped. The initial set values of the vibration intensity and vibration time of the troughs 21a to 21n are stored in the storage unit 81 of the control device 80 described later. The vibration intensity and vibration time can also be changed using the touch panel 70 described later.

(2-4) Pool hopper The pool hopper 30 temporarily stores articles supplied from the feeder 20, and then sends the stored articles to a weighing hopper 40 described later. The pool hopper 30 is disposed on the outer edge side of the feeder 20. Further, the pool hopper 30 is arranged below the feeder 20 so as to receive articles falling from the feeder 20. Specifically, the pool hoppers 30a to 30n belonging to the respective heads HDa to HDn are arranged below the outer edges of the feeders 20a to 20n belonging to the same heads HDa to HDn.

  The pool hopper 30 has openings at the upper and lower ends. The opening on the upper end side is an opening for receiving an article falling from the feeder 20. The opening on the lower end side is an opening for sending articles in the pool hopper 30 to the weighing hopper 40. A gate 31 is attached to the opening on the lower end side. That is, the gate 31 constitutes the bottom of the pool hopper 30. The gate 31 is configured to be openable and closable. The gate 31 is driven by a pool hopper drive motor 32 (see FIG. 3). The pool hopper drive motor 32 is, for example, a stepping motor. The pool hopper drive motor 32 is driven by the control device 80. In addition, the control apparatus 80 controls the gate 31 attached to each pool hopper 30a-30n separately. That is, each gate 31 performs an open / close operation independently. When the gate 31 is opened, the articles stored in the pool hopper 30 fall into the weighing hopper 40.

(2-5) Weighing hopper The weighing hopper 40 weighs the articles supplied by the pool hopper 30, and then discharges the weighed articles to the collective discharge chute 110. The weighing hopper 40 is disposed directly below the pool hopper 30 so as to receive articles dropped from the pool hopper 30. Specifically, the weighing hoppers 40a to 40n belonging to the respective heads HDa to HDn are arranged immediately below the pool hoppers 30a to 30n belonging to the same heads HDa to HDn.

  The weighing hopper 40 also has openings at the upper and lower ends. The opening on the upper end side is an opening for receiving articles falling from the pool hopper 30. The opening on the lower end side is an opening for sending articles in the weighing hopper 40 to the collective discharge chute 110. A gate 41 is attached to the opening on the lower end side. That is, the gate 41 constitutes the bottom of the weighing hopper 40. The gate 41 is configured to be openable and closable. The gate 41 is driven by a weighing hopper drive motor 43 (see FIG. 3). The weighing hopper drive motor 43 is, for example, a stepping motor. The weighing hopper drive motor 43 is driven by the control device 80. In addition, the control apparatus 80 controls the gate 41 attached to each weighing hopper 40a-40n separately. That is, each gate 41 performs an opening / closing operation independently. When the gate 41 is opened, the articles stored in the weighing hopper 40 fall onto the collective discharge chute 110.

  Each weighing hopper 40a-40n has the load cell 42, respectively. Articles held by the weighing hoppers 40 a to 40 n are weighed by the load cell 42. The result of weighing the article by the load cell 42 is output as a weighing signal. The measurement signal is sent to a control device 80 (described later) via an amplifier (not shown) as needed.

(2-6) Collective Discharge Chute The collective discharge chute 110 collects articles supplied from the weighing hopper 40 and discharges them outside the combination weighing device 100. The discharged articles are supplied to a packaging machine (not shown) disposed below the collective discharge chute 110.

(2-7) Camera The camera 60 continuously captures images (conveyance unit images) of the article conveyance unit. Specifically, the camera 60 continuously images the placement unit of the article transport unit and the article on the placement unit. As described above, the placement unit means the distribution table 11 of the distribution unit 10 and the trough 21 of the feeder 20. Therefore, the conveyance unit image includes articles on the dispersion table 11 and the trough 21 in addition to the dispersion table 11 and the trough 21.

  The camera 60 is disposed in a side space of the article transport unit. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the camera 60 is supported by a column 7 a extending upward from the support portion 7. That is, the camera 60 images the article conveyance unit from obliquely above the article conveyance unit. In other words, the conveyance unit image is an image obtained by imaging the article conveyance unit from obliquely above (see FIG. 5).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the camera 60 is arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the center of the dispersion unit 10 in plan view. That is, the combination weighing device 100 according to the present embodiment is provided with two cameras 60. The lens of the camera 60 faces the center direction of the dispersion unit 10. The lens of the camera 60 is a wide field angle lens with a horizontal field angle of 90 ° or more.

  The frame rate of the camera 60 is 15 frames / second. The two cameras 60 capture images at substantially the same timing. Images (conveyance unit images) respectively obtained by the two cameras 60 are synthesized by the control device 80 described later (see FIG. 10).

(2-8) Touch Panel The touch panel 70 is a liquid crystal display (LCD). The touch panel 70 functions as an input unit and a display unit. The touch panel 70 receives various settings related to combination weighing. Further, the touch panel 70 displays the operation status and setting information of the combination weighing device 100. The operation status includes the operation / stop status of the combination weighing device 100, the total amount of articles supplied from the article supply unit 90, the weight value of the articles weighed by the respective weighing hoppers 40a to 40n, the combination weighing result, and the like. It is. The operating status of the combination weighing device 100 changes almost in real time. In addition, the operation status includes a warning indicating a conveyance abnormality. The warning is displayed on the touch panel 70 when an article conveyance abnormality in the article conveyance unit is determined by the control device 80 described later. The setting information is information regarding initial settings and settings accepted by the touch panel 70.

  The settings accepted by the touch panel 70 include the vibration intensity of the dispersion table 11 and the vibration intensity and vibration time of the troughs 21a to 21n described above. Further, the settings accepted by the touch panel 70 include an operation speed setting of the combination weighing device 100, a setting related to a captured image, a setting of an article conveyance area by the feeder 20, a timing adjustment, and the like. Here, the operation speed setting of the combination weighing device 100 is the number of times of combination weighing executed per unit time. In this embodiment, for example, combination weighing is performed every 1 sec. The settings related to the captured image are settings used when combining the images captured by the camera 60 described above and the generation timing of the combined image. Specifically, the setting used when combining images is an imaging reference for each camera 60. Two images captured at the same timing by the two cameras 60 are combined based on the imaging reference of each camera 60 by a combined image generation unit 82a of the control device 80 to be described later to become one image (composite image). .

  Moreover, the setting of the conveyance area | region of the articles | goods by the feeder 20 is the setting regarding the correlation with the area | region where articles | goods are conveyed by each feeder 20a-20n among the several area | regions included in a synthesized image, and the identification number of feeders 20a-20n. It is. In other words, it is a setting for associating which part of the composite image corresponds to which part of the article transport unit (which part of the distribution table 11 and the troughs 21a to 21n). The association is performed using the images of the distribution table 11 and the troughs 21a to 21n displayed on the touch panel 70. An image (setting image) used for setting the association is generated based on the composite image. Specifically, the setting image is displayed so that a specific area in the composite image can be designated on the touch panel 70. More specifically, the setting image is composed of a plurality of areas, and a specific area included in the plurality of areas is displayed so as to be designated. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, by specifying each point included in the setting image (see the four black circles in FIG. 6), an area surrounded by the point is specified by a specific feeder. It is set as a region to be transported (transport region). As a result, association information between the distribution table 11 and the feeders 20a to 20n and the setting image conveyance area is generated (see FIG. 7).

  The timing adjustment is a timing adjustment related to timing for opening and closing the gate 31 of the pool hopper 30 and the gate 41 of the weighing hopper 40.

  Note that the setting accepted by the touch panel 70 is stored in the storage unit 81 of the control device 80 described later.

(2-9) Control Device The control device 80 is a device for controlling the combination weighing device 100. The control device 80 is connected to the article supply unit drive unit 90a, the dispersion table drive electromagnet 12, the trough drive electromagnet 22, the pool hopper drive motor 32, the weighing hopper drive motor 43, the load cell 42, the camera 60, the touch panel 70, and the like. .

  The control device 80 includes a CPU 80a, a ROM 80b, a RAM 80c, and an HDD 80d. The control device 80 functions as a storage unit 81 and a control unit 82. Hereinafter, the storage unit 81 and the control unit 82 will be described with reference to FIG.

(2-9-1) Storage Unit The storage unit 81 includes a ROM 80b, a RAM 80c, and an HDD 80d. The storage unit 81 stores a program to be read and executed by the CPU, various settings received by the touch panel 70, various data necessary for arithmetic processing, operation data, and the like. In addition, the storage unit 81 stores a result obtained by the arithmetic processing. The storage unit 81 mainly includes a transport unit image data storage area 81a, a composite image data storage area 81b, a difference data storage area 81c, a binarized data storage area 81d, a non-moving area data storage area 81e, and drive data. It has a storage area (first information storage area) 81f and an association data storage area (second information storage area) 81g.

(A) Conveying unit image data storage area In the conveying unit image data storage area 81a, data relating to an image (conveying unit image) of the article conveying unit captured by the camera 60 is stored. As described above, the conveyance unit image is an image of the article conveyance unit taken obliquely from above as shown in FIG. Specifically, as described above, the transport unit image includes articles placed on the dispersion table 11 and the trough 21 in addition to the dispersion table 11 and the trough 21. Each time the transport unit image is captured by the camera 60, the transport unit image data storage area 81a stores the transport unit image and the time when the transport unit image is captured in association with each other. In addition, the transport unit image captured by one camera 60 is stored in association with the transport unit image acquired by the other camera 60 at the same timing.

(B) Composite Image Data Storage Area The composite image data storage area 81b stores data related to a composite image generated by a composite image generation unit 82a described later. Specifically, the composite image is an image generated based on the conveyance unit image captured by the two cameras 60 and is an image corresponding to a planar view image when the dispersion table 11 and the trough 21 are viewed from directly above. is there. The composite image data is stored in association with two original images (conveyance unit images) used when generating the composite image.

(C) Difference data storage area The difference data storage area 81c stores difference data obtained by a difference data acquisition unit 82c described later. The difference data is stored in association with each of the two composite images used when extracting the difference.

(D) Binary data storage area The binarized data storage area 81d stores binary data generated by a binary data generation unit 82d described later. The binarized data is stored in association with the composite image used when generating the binarized data.

(E) Non-moving area data storage area The non-moving area data storage area 81e stores data related to a non-moving area in the article transport unit specified by a non-moving area specifying unit 82e described later (non-moving area data). The non-moving area data is data indicating the presence / absence of a non-moving area and the location where the non-moving area is generated in the article transport unit. The non-moving area data is stored in association with the binarized data used when specifying the non-moving area.

(F) Drive data storage area The drive data storage area 81f stores drive data of each component included in the combination weighing device 100. For example, the drive data includes the driving state of the article supply unit 90 (whether articles are being supplied), the open / closed state (ON / OFF) of the gate 31 of the pool hopper 30 and the gate 41 of the weighing hopper 40, and the like. .

  Further, the drive data includes drive data of the distribution unit 10 and the feeders 20a to 20n. The drive data of the distribution unit 10 and the feeders 20a to 20n is data related to a signal (first signal) indicating an operation state of the distribution unit 10 and the feeders 20a to 20n or a signal (second signal) indicating a stop state. In other words, information indicating whether the distribution unit 10 and the feeders 20a to 20n are operating (ON or OFF) is stored in the drive data storage area 81f (see FIG. 8). Here, the case where the dispersion unit 10 is in the operating state refers to a state where the dispersion table 11 is vibrated. Further, the case where the feeders 20a to 20n are in the operating state refers to a state where the trough 21 is vibrated. The information stored in the drive data storage area 81f is stored in association with the time when the drive data was obtained.

(G) Association data storage area The association data storage area 81g stores data indicating which part of the composite image corresponds to which part of the article transport unit. In other words, data (association data) related to the association between the dispersion unit 10 and the feeders 20a to 20n and the dispersion unit 10 and the feeders 20a to 20n among the plurality of regions included in the composite image. Is remembered.

  Specifically, in the association data storage area 81g, each conveyance area (conveyance area 0, conveyance area 1, conveyance area 2,...) Designated in the setting image shown in FIG. Association data with each trough 21a to 21n is stored (see FIG. 7). Based on the association data, the movement state of the article at an arbitrary location of the composite image (location corresponding to any one of the distribution table 11 and the troughs 21a to 21n) can be changed to the distributed table 11 or any trough 21a to 21n associated with each other. It can be determined that the article is in a moving state. That is, it is possible to determine the conveyance state of articles by the dispersion unit 10 and the feeders 20a to 20n from the composite image based on the association data. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the distribution table 11 and the troughs 21a to 21n are associated with the transport areas in accordance with the contents shown in FIG. That is, the first trough 21a is arranged in the vicinity of the upper left camera 60 in FIG. 2, and the second trough 21b, the third trough 21c,. Is associated with the transport area. When the data stored in the association data storage area 81g is newly set by the touch panel 70, the new setting is overwritten.

(2-9-2) Control part The control part 82 is mainly comprised from CPU80a. The CPU 80a controls the operation of the combination weighing device 100 by reading and executing a control program stored in the ROM 80b and the HDD 80d in cooperation with the RAM 80c. The control unit 82 includes a composite image generation unit 82a, a data reception unit 82b, a difference data acquisition unit 82c, a binarized data generation unit 82d, a fixed area specification unit 82e, a determination unit 82f, and a control command generation unit. Functions as 82g.

(A) Composite Image Generation Unit The composite image generation unit 82a generates a composite image based on the transport unit image data (see FIG. 5) stored in the transport unit image data storage area 81a. Specifically, the composite image generation unit 82a generates a composite image by combining images captured by the two cameras 60 at the same timing (two transport unit images). At this time, the composite image generation unit 82 a generates a composite image of the transport unit image based on the imaging reference set for each camera 60. Thereby, the composite image generation unit 82a generates an image (planar image) corresponding to the planar image when the dispersion unit 10 and the feeder 20 are viewed from directly above. A specific method for generating a planar view image may be a method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-256874, for example. Other methods may be adopted. Data relating to the composite image generated by the composite image generation unit 82a is stored in the composite image data storage area 81b.

(B) Data reception part The data reception part 82b receives the various settings which the user input into the touch panel 70, and memorize | stores it in the said memory | storage part. The various settings received by the data receiving unit 82b include a conveyance area designated by the user in the setting image displayed on the touch panel 70, information on the distribution unit 10 and the feeders 20a to 20n associated with the conveyance area, and the like. It is.

(C) Difference data acquisition part The difference data acquisition part 82c acquires the data for specifying the area | region where the articles | goods are not moving in an article conveyance part based on a some synthesized image. More specifically, the difference data acquisition unit 82c extracts a difference between two composite images captured at successive (different) times from among a plurality of composite images stored in the composite image data storage area 81b. Get the data. With the difference data, it is possible to determine a portion having a difference between the two synthesized images and a portion having no difference. In other words, based on the difference data, it is possible to determine a portion on the distribution table 11 and the trough 21 where there is a change in motion and a portion where there is no change. Here, the portion where there is a change is a region (moving region) where the article is moving in the article transport unit. On the other hand, a portion where there is no change is a region (non-moving region) where the article is not moving in the article transport unit. FIG. 11 shows an example of an image (extracted image) generated based on the difference data. The difference data obtained by the difference data acquisition unit 82c is stored in the difference data storage area 81c.

(D) Binary Data Generation Unit The binarized data generation unit 82d performs binarization processing on the difference data stored in the difference data storage area 81c. By performing binarization processing on the difference data (extracted image), binarized data is obtained. A binarized image as shown in FIG. 12 is obtained from the binarized data.

  Specifically, the binarized data generation unit 82d binarizes the extracted data based on the non-moving area of the article and the other area (the moving area of the article) to generate binarized data. More specifically, the binarized data generation unit 82d performs a process of setting the data corresponding to the non-moving area in the extracted data to “1” and “0” otherwise. In the binarized image, the non-moving area of the extracted image appears black and the other areas (that is, the moving area) appear white. The binarized data generated by the binarized data generating unit 82d is stored in the above-described binarized data storage area 81d.

(E) Non-moving area specifying part The non-moving area specifying part 82e determines the presence / absence of the non-moving area of the article and the place where the non-moving area is generated.

  Specifically, the immovable area specifying unit 82e is based on the binarized data stored in the binarized data storage area 81d and the association data stored in the association data storage area 81g. The presence / absence of a stationary area and the location where the stationary area occurs are identified. This will be described more specifically with reference to FIG. In this case, a portion where white portions are dense is a moving region, and a portion having only a small white portion or a black portion is a non-moving region. Referring to the association data, as shown by the numbers in FIG. 12, the third trough 21c, the sixth trough 21f, the ninth trough 21i, the eleventh trough 21k, and the fourteenth trough 21n It becomes an area. Other troughs (specifically, the first trough 21a, the second trough 21b, the fourth trough 21d, the fifth trough 21e, the seventh trough 21g, the eighth trough 21h, the tenth trough, etc. The trough 21j, the twelfth trough 21l, and the thirteenth trough 21m) are immobile areas. The immovable area specifying unit 82e stores the obtained result in the storage unit 81.

(F) Determination unit The determination unit 82f performs an article conveyance abnormality in the article conveyance unit based on the non-moving area data stored in the non-moving area data storage area 81e and the data stored in the drive data storage area 81f. Determine. Here, the conveyance abnormality refers to a state where there is a possibility that a defect may occur in the conveyance due to the stay region of the article generated in the article conveyance unit. In addition, the staying area is an area where the article does not move even though the article conveying unit is operating. Specifically, the determination unit 82f determines an article conveyance abnormality in the article conveyance unit by executing a first determination process, a second determination process, and a third determination process.

  The first determination process is a process for determining the conveyance area of the article conveyance unit in the operating state in the composite image. Specifically, in the first determination process, the types of drive signals of the dispersion unit 10 and the feeders 20a to 20n stored in the drive data storage area 81f, the transport area data stored in the association data storage area 81g, and Based on the above, the conveyance areas of the dispersion unit 10 and the feeders 20a to 20n in the operating state are determined. More specifically, the determination unit 82f refers to the drive data (see FIG. 8) and the association data (see FIG. 7) of the dispersion unit 10 and the feeders 20a to 20n, and the dispersion unit shown in the composite image. 10 and all feeders 20a to 20n are determined. FIG. 13 shows an example of the determination result obtained by the first determination process. In FIG. 13, the active area is shown in black. Accordingly, FIG. 13 shows that the distribution unit 10, the third feeder 20c, the sixth feeder 20f, the ninth to eleventh feeders 20i to 20k, and the fourteenth feeder 20n are operating. That is, the black part of FIG. 13 shows the area | region of the articles | goods conveyance part in an operation state.

  The second determination process is a process for determining the stay area of the article. Specifically, in the second determination process, the retention area of the article is determined based on the immovable area of the article and the determination result obtained by the first determination process. More specifically, in the second determination process, the determination unit 82f refers to the non-moving region data stored in the non-moving region data storage area 81e and the data related to the transport region of the article transport unit in the operating state, and A portion where the non-moving region overlaps with the region of the article conveying unit in the operating state is determined to be a staying region (see FIG. 14). In other words, in the second determination process, when the region of the article transporting unit that is in operation matches the stationary region of the article, the stationary region is determined to be a staying region. FIG. 14 shows a determination result obtained by the second determination process. In FIG. 14, based on the result obtained by the first determination process (the article transport unit in the operating state), the corresponding placement unit (the troughs 21 a to 21 n to which the identification numbers of the distribution tables 11 and 1 to 14 are attached). ) Is associated with the type of drive signal. Further, the distribution table 11 and the troughs 21a to 21n are also associated with the presence or absence of a non-moving region in the article transport unit. In FIG. 14, it can be seen that the region of the article transport unit in operation and the stationary region of the article coincide with the tenth trough 21j.

  The third determination process is a process of determining an article conveyance abnormality. Specifically, in the third determination process, it is determined whether there is a possibility that a trouble may occur in the conveyance due to the stay area determined in the second determination process. More specifically, in the third determination process, the determination unit 82f compares the area of the predetermined region of the article transport unit with the area of the article retention region in the predetermined region of the article transport unit. Furthermore, the determination unit 82f determines the conveyance abnormality when the ratio of the area of the staying area of the article in the area of the predetermined area of the article transporting unit exceeds a predetermined threshold. Here, the predetermined area is the entire area of the distribution table 11 or the entire areas of the troughs 21a to 21n. That is, the determination unit 82f compares the total area of the dispersion table 11 with the area of the article retention area in the dispersion table 11, and the ratio of the area of the article retention area to the total area of the dispersion table 11 is a predetermined value. When the threshold value is exceeded, it is determined that a conveyance abnormality has occurred in the distribution table 11. In addition, the determination unit 82f compares the total area of each trough 21a to 21n with the area of the article retention area in each trough 21a to 21n, and determines the area of the article retention area that occupies the total area of each trough 21a to 21n. When the area ratio exceeds a predetermined threshold, it is determined that the conveyance is abnormal. In the present embodiment, for example, it is determined that a conveyance abnormality has occurred in the region PP shown in FIG.

(G) Control Command Generation Unit The control command generation unit 82g generates a control command for controlling each unit connected to the control device 80. The control command is sent to each unit through a communication unit (not shown) and executed.

  In addition, when the determination unit 82f determines a conveyance abnormality in the article conveyance unit, the control command generation unit 82g causes the touch panel 70 to display a composite image with a mark so that a portion where the conveyance abnormality has occurred can be recognized. A control command is generated (see FIG. 15).

  Further, when a conveyance abnormality is determined, the control command generation unit 82g determines whether the distribution unit 10, the feeders 20a to 20n, and the article supply unit 90 are in accordance with the location where the conveyance abnormality has occurred and the degree of the conveyance abnormality. A control command for controlling at least one of them is generated. For example, when a conveyance abnormality has occurred in any of the feeders 20a to 20n, a control command for changing the vibration intensity and vibration time of the trough 21 is sent to the feeders 20a to 20n in which the conveyance abnormality has occurred. . For example, when the movement of the article is stagnating in the vicinity of the boundary between the feeders 20a to 20n and the dispersion unit 10, the vibration intensity and / or vibration time of the troughs 21a to 21n is set for the corresponding feeders 20a to 20n. While sending the control command to change, the control command which changes the vibration intensity of the dispersion | distribution table 11 with respect to the dispersion | distribution unit 10 is sent. Furthermore, in the case of a severe conveyance abnormality that does not eliminate the conveyance abnormality even by the control of the dispersion unit 10 and the feeders 20a to 20n, for example, control for temporarily increasing the amount of articles supplied from the article supply unit 90 A command is generated and sent to the article supply unit 90.

  Further, the control command generation unit 82g generates a control command for displaying a warning indicating the conveyance abnormality on the touch panel when the conveyance abnormality is determined by the determination unit 82f.

(3) Process Flow Next, with reference to FIG. 9, a process flow for a conveyance abnormality in the combination weighing device 100 will be described. In the combination weighing device 100 according to the present embodiment, it is assumed that a conveyance abnormality is determined a plurality of times in one combination weighing.

  First, in step S11, the conveyance unit image data stored in the conveyance unit image data storage area 81a is acquired by the composite image generation unit 82a (see FIG. 5). At this time, the acquired conveyance unit image data is data of the conveyance unit image acquired by the two cameras 60 at the same timing. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S12.

  In step S12, the composite image generation unit 82a generates one composite image based on the transport unit image data acquired by the two cameras 60. The composite image corresponds to a planar image when the article transport unit is viewed from directly above (see FIG. 10). The composite image data is stored in the composite image data storage area 81b. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S13.

  In step S13, the difference is extracted using the data of two composite images based on the original images captured at different timings, and extracted image data is generated (see FIG. 11). Specifically, among the composite image data stored in the composite image data storage area 81b, the difference between the two composite images using two composite image data in which the imaging times of the original image (conveyor image) are continuous is used. Is extracted. The difference data is stored in the difference data storage area 81c. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S14.

  In step S14, the difference data is binarized by the binarized data generating unit 82d to generate binarized data. Specifically, the binarized data generation unit 82d binarizes the extracted data based on the immovable area of the article and the moving area of the article, and generates binarized data. For example, by binarization processing, the data corresponding to the non-moving area in the extracted data is set to “1”, and the data corresponding to the other area (moving area) is set to “0”. In the extracted image, the non-moving area of all the areas is black, and the other area (moving area) is white. The binarized data generated by the binarized data generating unit 82d is stored in the above-described binarized data storage area 81d. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S15.

  In step S15, based on the binarized data and the association data, the presence / absence of a non-moving region in the composite image is determined. Specifically, the immovable area specifying unit 82e generates a composite image based on the binarized data stored in the binarized data storage area 81d and the association data stored in the association data storage area 81g. The non-moving area is determined (see FIG. 12). Specifically, the presence / absence of a non-moving area in the composite image and the location where the non-moving area occurs in the composite image are determined. That is, the non-moving area specifying unit 82e specifically specifies which part of the distribution table 11 and the troughs 21a to 21n is the non-moving area from the composite image. In FIG. 12, a portion where white portions are dense is a moving region, and a portion having only a small white portion or a black portion is a non-moving region. Specifically, the third trough 21c, the sixth trough 21f, the ninth trough 21i, the eleventh trough 21k, and the fourteenth trough 21n are moving areas. Other troughs (specifically, the first trough 21a, the second trough 21b, the fourth trough 21d, the fifth trough 21e, the seventh trough 21g, the eighth trough 21h, the tenth trough, etc. The trough 21j, the twelfth trough 21l, and the thirteenth trough 21m) are immobile areas. The result obtained by the non-moving area specifying unit 82e is stored in the non-moving area data storage area 81e. In step S15, when there is no immovable area, the process returns to step S11, and when there is an immovable area, the process proceeds to step S16.

  In step S16, the determination unit 82f determines the transport area of the feeder in the operating state in the processed image (first determination process). Specifically, the determination unit 82f includes the feeder drive data (FIG. 8) of each of the feeders 20a to 20n stored in the drive data storage area 81f and the association data (FIG. 8) stored in the association data storage area 81g. 7), a region in operation in the processed image (any part of the dispersion unit 10 and the feeders 20a to 20n) is determined (see FIG. 13). In step S16, if there is no active region, the process returns to step S11. If there is an active region in step S16, the process proceeds to step S17.

  In step S17, the determination unit 82f determines the staying area of the article (second determination process). As described above, the staying area is an area where the article does not move despite the dispersion unit 10 and the feeder 20 being driven. Specifically, the determination unit 82f includes data related to the non-moving area (see FIG. 12) stored in the non-moving area data storage area 81e and the determination result obtained by the first determination process (conveyance of the article conveying unit in the operating state). With reference to (region) (refer FIG. 13), the part which the non-moving area | region of goods and the area | region in operation | movement overlap is determined to be a retention area | region (refer FIG. 14). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the conveyance region of the article conveyance unit in the operating state includes the dispersion unit 10, the third feeder 20 c, the sixth feeder 20 f, the ninth to eleventh feeders 20 i to 20 k, and It turns out that it is the 14th feeder 20n. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12, the non-moving area data includes the first trough 21a, the second trough 21b, the fourth trough 21d, the fifth trough 21e, the seventh trough 21g, the eighth trough 21h, The tenth trough 21j, the twelfth trough 21l, and the thirteenth trough 21m are immobile areas. That is, as shown in FIG. 14, it can be seen that there is almost no movement of the article even though it is driven, and that the tenth feeder 20j has a staying area. If it is determined in step S17 that there is no staying area, the process returns to step S11. If there is a staying area, the process proceeds to step S18.

  In step S18, the determination unit 82f determines whether there is a conveyance abnormality (third determination process). Specifically, it is determined whether or not there is a possibility of trouble in conveyance based on the stay area determined by the second determination process. The determination unit 82f compares the total area of the dispersion table 11 with the area of the article retention area in the distribution table 11, and the ratio of the area of the article retention area to the total area of the distribution table 11 is a predetermined threshold value. If it exceeds the upper limit, it is determined that the conveyance is abnormal. In addition, the determination unit 82f compares the total area of each trough 21a to 21n with the area of the article retention area in each trough 21a to 21n, and determines the area of the article retention area that occupies the total area of each trough 21a to 21n. When the area ratio exceeds a predetermined threshold, it is determined that the conveyance is abnormal. In the example shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, it is determined that the region indicated by reference sign PP in FIG. 15 is a region where a conveyance abnormality has occurred. If there is no conveyance abnormality in step S18, the process returns to step S11. If there is a conveyance abnormality, the process proceeds to step S19.

  In step S19, the control command generation unit 82g generates a control command for the dispersion unit, the feeders 20a to 20n, and the article supply unit 90 based on the location and the extent where the conveyance abnormality has occurred. In the example shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, since the conveyance abnormality has occurred in the tenth feeder 20j, the control command generator 82g issues a control command to increase the vibration intensity and / or vibration time of the trough 21j. Generate. Then, it returns to step S11.

(4) Features of combination weighing device (4-1)
The combination weighing device 100 according to the present embodiment captures images (conveyance unit images) of the dispersion unit 10 and the feeder 20 with the camera 60. In addition, by acquiring difference data for two conveying unit images having different imaging times, the staying area of the article in the article conveying unit is determined.

  The combination weighing device measures the weight of articles stored in each of the plurality of weighing hoppers, and performs a combination calculation based on the measured values. Therefore, in order to maintain the production capacity and weighing accuracy of the combination weighing device, it is necessary to stably convey a certain amount of articles to the weighing hopper. When the article is sent to the weighing hopper via the dispersion unit and the feeder as in the combination weighing device according to the above embodiment, the article may be clogged or caught while being sent from the dispersion unit to the weighing hopper. . In particular, clogging and catching of articles are likely to occur at the boundary between the dispersion table and the trough. If the stagnation of articles occurs in the article transport unit, it is impossible to supply a certain amount of articles to the weighing hopper, and as a result, the weight of the articles weighed by the weighing hopper is affected. Therefore, it is preferable that the stagnation of the articles generated in the article transport unit is detected early with high accuracy.

  The combination weighing device 100 according to the above-described embodiment captures a conveyance unit image by the camera 60 and determines a staying area based on the conveyance unit image. Therefore, it is possible to make an accurate determination on the stay region of the article at an early stage.

(4-2)
The combination weighing device 100 according to the above-described embodiment specifies a non-moving region in the article transport unit using a difference between two transport unit images having different imaging times, and determines a staying region based on the non-moving region. That is, since a portion (non-moving region) that does not change can be identified by comparing the two conveyance unit images, the residence region of the article in the article conveyance unit can be specifically identified.

(4-3)
The combination weighing device 100 according to the embodiment includes a drive data storage area 81f that stores data related to the drive signal of the article transport unit. The combination weighing device 100 refers to the data stored in the drive data storage area 81f together with the non-moving area when determining the staying area. As a result, whether the immovable area is generated in the article conveying section or the immovable area is generated due to the stopped condition of the article conveying section even though the article conveying section is in an operating state. , Can be distinguished.

(4-4)
In addition, the combination weighing device 100 according to the above-described embodiment is based on the data related to the conveyance area of the article conveyance unit in the conveyance unit image and the type of the drive signal of the article conveyance unit, and the article in the operating state from the conveyance unit image. The conveyance area of the conveyance unit is determined, and further, when the immobile area and the conveyance area of the article conveyance unit in the operating state coincide with each other, the immobility area of the article is determined to be an article retention area. As a result, when an immovable region is generated even though the article transport unit is in an operating state, it is possible to take measures to eliminate the stay region at an early stage.

(4-5)
Furthermore, in the combination weighing device 100 according to the above embodiment, when an article staying area is determined in the article transport unit, and when a predetermined condition is satisfied, an article transport abnormality has occurred. judge. Specifically, when there is a staying area in the dispersion table 11 and the ratio of the area of the staying area of the article to the total area of the dispersion table 11 exceeds a predetermined threshold, it is a conveyance abnormality. It is determined to be a thing. In addition, when there is a staying area in each trough 21, and the ratio of the area of the staying area of the article in the total area of each trough 21 exceeds a predetermined threshold value, there is a conveyance abnormality It is determined. As a result, it is possible to deal only with a stay (conveyance abnormality) with high importance. As a result, changes in the control of the combination weighing device 100 can be minimized.

(4-6)
In the combination weighing device 100 according to the above-described embodiment, when a conveyance abnormality is determined, a warning is displayed on the display unit. Thereby, a user can be alerted at an early stage.

(4-7)
In the combination weighing device 100 according to the above-described embodiment, when a conveyance abnormality is determined, a control command for changing the driving contents of the dispersion unit, the feeder, and the supply unit is generated. That is, control for eliminating the conveyance abnormality is automatically performed. Thereby, conveyance abnormality can be solved at an early stage.

(4-8)
In the combination weighing device 100 according to the above-described embodiment, using the setting image displayed on the touch panel 70 (setting composite image), information related to the conveyance region of the article conveyance unit is designated and associated with the article conveyance unit. Can be set. Thereby, the setting according to the combination weighing device used by the user can be set according to the user's preference.

(4-9)
In the combination weighing device 100 according to the embodiment, the transport unit image is generated using the two cameras 60. By combining the conveyance unit images captured at the same timing by the two cameras 60, it is possible to determine the staying area of the article and the conveyance abnormality based on the image corresponding to the planar view image of the article conveyance unit. As a result, a more accurate determination result can be obtained.

(5) Modification (5-1) Modification A
In the combination weighing device 100 according to the above-described embodiment, the two tables 60 are used to capture the distribution table 11 and the trough 21 and the articles conveyed by them. However, the number of cameras 60 is limited to this. is not. For example, an article conveyance abnormality may be determined based on a conveyance unit image captured by one camera 60. Alternatively, three or more cameras 60 may be used, and conveyance unit images captured by the three or more cameras 60 may be combined, and an article conveyance abnormality may be determined based on the combined image.

  Further, the orientation of the camera 60 and the installation location of the camera 60 are not limited to the contents described in the above embodiment. That is, any configuration may be used as long as the article placed on the placement unit of the article transport unit can be imaged.

(5-2) Modification B
In the combination weighing device 100 according to the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, by specifying each point on the setting image displayed on the touch panel 70, the region surrounded by the point is changed to the distribution table 11 and each trough 21 a. It was set as an area (conveyance area) in which an article is conveyed by any of ˜21n. Here, instead of designating each point in the setting image, as shown in FIG. 16, it is possible to set the transport area by selecting a dispersion table or a line or area corresponding to each trough in the setting image. It may be.

(5-3) Modification C
Moreover, in the said embodiment, by using the image for a setting about each of the dispersion | distribution table 11 and each trough 21a-21n, and specifying a conveyance area | region, a response | compatibility with an article conveyance part and the conveyance area by each article conveyance part I did. Here, using the template as shown in FIG. 17, the conveyance region and the article conveyance unit may be associated with each other. When the template is used, it is possible to associate the conveyance area with the article conveyance unit without individually specifying the distribution table 11 and the troughs 21a to 21n in the setting image.

(5-4) Modification D
In the combination weighing device 100 according to the embodiment, when the third determination process is performed, the determination unit 82f compares the area of the predetermined region of the article transport unit with the area of the article retention region in the predetermined region of the article transport unit. Then, when the ratio of the area of the staying area of the article to the area of the predetermined area of the article transporting unit exceeds a predetermined threshold, the conveyance abnormality is determined. Further, as the predetermined area, the entire area of the distribution table 11 or the entire areas of the troughs 21a to 21n are targeted.

  Here, the predetermined area is not limited to the entire area of the distribution table 11 or the entire areas of the troughs 21a to 21n. For example, as shown in FIG. 18, the distribution table 11 may be divided into a plurality of regions R1 to R14, and the areas of the regions R1 to R14 may be compared with the areas of the staying regions in the regions R1 to R14. . As for the trough 21, for example, as shown in FIG. 19, one trough 21 is divided into a plurality of regions R21 to R23, and the area of each region R21 to R23 and the stay region in each region R21 to R23. The area may be compared. Further, at this time, different threshold values are set for the respective regions R1 to R14 and R21 to 23, and the ratio of the staying regions in the respective regions R1 to R14 and R21 to 23 is determined based on the respective threshold values. Good. Thereby, a finer determination can be made about the stay area of the article in the article transport unit.

Further, instead of comparing the total area of the distribution table 11 or each trough 21 with the area of the staying area in the distribution table 11 or each trough 21, the area of the specific area of the distribution table 11 or each trough 21 You may compare with the area of the retention area | region in this area | region. Thereby, for example, it is possible to make a determination on a portion where stagnation is likely to occur, such as a boundary between the distribution table and each trough 21.
(5-5) Modification E
In the combination weighing device according to this embodiment, the feeder 20 is disposed so as to surround the dispersion unit, and the weighing hopper 40 is disposed below the feeder 20 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Here, the conveyance abnormality determination according to the above-described embodiment can be applied to a combination weighing device having another configuration. For example, the present invention may be applied to a combination weighing device in which weighing hoppers are arranged linearly.

10 Dispersion unit (article conveyance unit)
11 Dispersion table (mounting section)
20 (20a to 20n) feeder (article conveying section)
21 (21a-21n) trough (mounting part)
30 (30a-30n) Pool hopper 31 Gate 32 Pool hopper drive motor 40 (40a-40n) Weighing hopper 41 Gate 42 Load cell 43 Weighing hopper drive motor 60 Camera 70 Touch panel (display unit)
80 Control device 81 Storage unit 81a Transport unit image data storage area 81b Composite image data storage area 81c Difference data storage area 81d Binary data storage area 81e Non-moving area data storage area 81f Drive data storage area 81g Associated data storage area (transport) Area data storage area)
82 Control unit 82a Composite image generation unit 82b Data receiving unit (receiving unit)
82c difference data acquisition unit 82d binarized data generation unit 82e immovable area identification unit 82f determination unit 82g control command generation unit 90 article supply unit (supply unit)
100 combination weighing device

JP 2010-96590 A

Claims (10)

An article transport unit that has a placement unit for placing a large number of articles, vibrates the placement unit, and transports the numerous articles to a weighing hopper;
A camera that captures a transport unit image that is an image of the product transport unit that transports the multiple articles;
A control unit that obtains a difference between two images of the conveyance unit having different imaging times, and determines a stay area of the multiple articles in the article conveyance unit based on the difference;
A combination weighing device. A transport unit image data storage area for storing data related to the plurality of transport unit images captured by the camera;
The controller is
Based on the difference between the two transport unit images having different imaging times among the transport unit images stored in the transport unit image data storage area, the immovable region in which the large number of articles are not moving is specified in the article transport unit. A non-moving region specifying unit to be determined; and a determining unit that determines the staying region of the multiple articles based on the non-moving region
Having
The combination weighing device according to claim 1. A drive data storage area for storing data relating to the drive signal, which is a drive signal of the article transport unit, and includes a first signal indicating an operation state and a second signal indicating a stop state;
The determination unit determines a stay area of the article in the article transport unit based on the type of the drive signal stored in the drive data storage area and the fixed area specified by the fixed area specifying unit. To
The combination weighing device according to claim 2. A transport area data storage area for storing data related to the transport area of the article transport section in the transport section image;
The determination unit
A first determination process for determining the transport area of the article transport section in an operating state based on the type of the drive signal of the article transport section and data relating to the transport area;
When the immovable area of the article coincides with the conveying area of the article conveying section in the operation state determined by the first determination process, the immovable area of the article is determined to be a stay area of the article. 2 determination processing;
Run the
The combination weighing device according to claim 3. The determination unit compares the area of the predetermined region of the placement unit with the area of the stay region of the article in the predetermined region of the placement unit, and occupies the area of the predetermined region of the placement unit. When the ratio of the area of the staying region exceeds a predetermined threshold, further executing a third determination process for determining a conveyance abnormality;
The combination weighing device according to claim 4. A display unit for displaying a determination result by the determination unit;
The display unit further displays a warning indicating the conveyance abnormality when the conveyance abnormality is determined by the determination unit.
The combination weighing device according to claim 5. The article conveying section is
A table as a placement unit on which the plurality of articles are placed, wherein the table is vibrated to disperse the plurality of articles in an outer edge direction of the table;
The trough is disposed on the outer edge side of the dispersion unit and has a trough as a mounting portion for receiving the many articles dropped from the dispersion unit, and the article is transported in a direction away from the dispersion unit by vibrating the trough. With multiple feeders,
including,
The combination weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. A supply unit for supplying the article to the dispersion unit;
When the conveyance abnormality is determined by the determination unit, the control unit changes at least one drive content of the dispersion unit, the feeder, and the supply unit in order to eliminate the conveyance abnormality. A control command generator for generating a control command for
The combination weighing device according to claim 7. A reception unit that receives an input of a setting of a conveyance region of the article conveyance unit in the conveyance unit image;
The display unit further displays the transport unit image,
The reception unit receives information related to a conveyance region of the article conveyance unit designated on the conveyance unit image displayed on the display unit,
The conveyance area data storage area stores data related to the conveyance area of the article conveyance unit received by the reception unit.
The combination weighing device according to claim 6. A plurality of the cameras are arranged obliquely above the dispersion unit,
The plurality of cameras captures the conveyance unit image of the article at the same timing,
A composite image generation unit configured to combine the plurality of transport unit images captured at the same timing by the plurality of cameras to generate a planar view image of the article transport unit;
The combination weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.