JP2014001998A - Food weight measuring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an epoch-making food weight measuring device that is conventionally unavailable.SOLUTION: A food weight measuring device is used for a method comprising: randomly extracting a plurality of foods B as samples from a plurality of foods A as a parent population; obtaining selected foods C by selecting them from among the plurality of foods B as the extracted samples with an appropriate selection method; and calculating a weight ratio of the selected foods C in the plurality of foods B as the samples to evaluate the plurality of foods A as the parent population.

Description

  The present invention relates to a food weight measuring apparatus used for evaluating food.

  For example, as a method for easily evaluating the quality of a large amount of harvested food (lumps and fruits such as potatoes and sweet potatoes), a plurality of foods as a population are randomly extracted from a plurality of foods as a population, The selected food is selected from a plurality of foods as a sample by an appropriate selection method to obtain a selected food, and the weight ratio of the selected food in the plurality of foods as a sample is calculated to obtain a plurality of foods as a population. Evaluation methods for evaluation have been proposed.

  Hereinafter, this food evaluation method will be described specifically by taking potato as an example.

(a) First, a plurality of potatoes as samples are randomly extracted from a plurality of potatoes as a population piled up on a truck and taken out into a container. The container is large enough to be carried by an operator and can hold about 20 kg of potatoes.

(b) Next, the weight of the container in which a plurality of potatoes as samples extracted in (a) are contained is measured with a weight measuring device, and then a plurality of potatoes as samples in a container are measured. Put the container on the workbench, measure the empty container with a weight measuring instrument, and calculate the total weight of multiple potatoes as specimens.

(c) Next, judgment (sensation) by holding a plurality of potatoes as specimens placed on the workbench in (b) above in the appearance and hand of the operator. The best ones are sorted into “excellent”, “excellent” and “outside”.

(d) Next, based on the judgment (sensation) that the worker holds the “best” potato, which is the best grade selected in (c) above, for example, six sizes (“large” "L"
・ Select “М”, “S”, “Small”, “Other”).

Therefore, a plurality of potatoes as the specimen extracted in (a) are sorted into 8 types by the sorting operations (c) and (d).

(e) Next, the weight of each of the five potatoes selected in (c) and (d) above is measured with a gravimetric instrument, and selection among a plurality of potatoes as the sample extracted in (a) is performed. By calculating the weight ratio of each separated potato, the number of “excellent L”, for example, is evaluated in a plurality of potatoes as a population. Based on this evaluation, a plurality of potatoes as a population are evaluated. The purchase price, etc. can be determined.

  A large amount of potato is simply evaluated by the above evaluation method.

  However, the above-described food evaluation method is desired to be performed with higher accuracy and speed. In particular, skill is required to perform size selection with high accuracy and speed.

  The present inventor pays attention to the above-described demand for the food evaluation method, and can perform the food evaluation method more accurately and quickly. Developed.

  The gist of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  A plurality of foods B as a sample are randomly extracted from a plurality of foods A as a population, and a selected food C is obtained by selecting from the plurality of foods B as the extracted samples by an appropriate selection method. A food weight measuring device used in a method of calculating a weight ratio of the selected food C in a plurality of foods B as the specimen and evaluating the plurality of foods A as the population, wherein the weight measuring unit The first weight measuring unit 3 and the second weight measuring unit 4 are provided, and the measuring mechanism 2 of the first weight measuring unit 3 is provided so as to also serve as the measuring mechanism of the second weight measuring unit 4. The second weight measuring unit 4 is provided at a position higher than the first weight measuring unit 3, and the measured object placement unit 4 a of the second weight measuring unit 4 is the first weight measuring unit. 3 to be measured, the mounting area is smaller than that of the measured object mounting portion 3a. And the unit weight of the food is measured, and the second weight measuring unit 4 includes the food placed on the second weight measuring unit 4 outside the second weight measuring unit 4. The present invention relates to a food weight measuring apparatus characterized in that a drop transfer mechanism 5 for dropping and transferring to a food is provided.

  Moreover, the food weight measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drop transfer mechanism 5 is configured to drop and transfer the food when the measured object placement unit 4 a of the second weight measurement unit 4 is inclined. The present invention relates to a food weight measuring apparatus characterized by the above.

  The food weight measuring apparatus according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the measured object placing portion 4a of the second weight measuring section 4 is placed on the measured object placing of the first weight measuring section 3. The present invention relates to a food weight measuring apparatus, which is provided on an upper part of a support part 6 erected on the part 3a.

  Moreover, the food weight measuring apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the weight data obtained by the first weight measuring unit 3 and the second weight measuring unit 4 is output to an external calculation control unit 15. The present invention relates to a food weight measuring apparatus including an output unit 2a.

  The food weight measuring apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an arithmetic control unit 15 for processing weight data obtained by the first weight measuring unit 3 and the second weight measuring unit 4. The present invention relates to a food weight measuring apparatus.

  Since the present invention is configured as described above, for example, food can be evaluated with higher accuracy and speed, and the installation space can be reduced with a compact structure. It becomes an epoch-making food weight measuring device.

It is a perspective view which shows a present Example. It is sectional drawing which shows the principal part of a present Example. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a present Example. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a present Example. It is explanatory drawing of the principal part of a present Example. It is a figure showing the evaluation result of the evaluation method of the food which uses a present Example. It is explanatory drawing of the evaluation method of the food which uses a present Example. It is a flowchart of the food evaluation method using a present Example.

  An embodiment of the present invention which is considered to be suitable will be briefly described with reference to the drawings showing the operation of the present invention.

  In the present invention, the first weight measuring unit 3 can measure the weight of a plurality of foods, while the second weight measuring unit 4 can measure the weight by the measuring mechanism 2 of the first weight measuring unit 3. Unit weight can be measured. The food placed on the second weight measuring unit 4 is dropped and transferred out of the second weight measuring unit 4 by the drop transfer mechanism 5.

  That is, the present invention, when used in the food evaluation method described in the background art, in addition to a general normal function (first weight measuring unit 3) for measuring the weight of a plurality of foods, Since it has a function for measuring unit weight (second weight measuring unit 4), conventionally, work that requires skill of an operator in particular, specifically, food weight that has been relied on the operator's sense Thus, the size can be easily selected, and even an unskilled person can select with high accuracy, and the accuracy of evaluation can be further improved.

  Further, as described above, the present invention is not limited to merely having the function of measuring the unit weight of food (second weight measuring unit 4). When selecting the size based on the weight to be performed, there is a concern that the workability may be lowered if the weight-measured foods are taken by hand and moved from the second weight measuring unit 4 one by one, for example. In this respect, since the drop transfer mechanism 5 is provided, when the weight measurement by the second weight measuring unit 4 is completed, the food placed on the second weight measuring unit 4 is removed from the second weight measuring unit 4. As a result, the workability described above is not deteriorated, and therefore, high-precision size selection can be performed quickly.

  Moreover, since this invention is the structure by which the 2nd weight measurement part 4 which measures the unit weight of one food was provided in the upper position rather than the 1st weight measurement part 3 which measures the weight of several food, weight The first weight measuring unit 3 for placing a plurality of heavy foods is provided at a lower position, so that a stable installation state can be obtained even if the entire apparatus has a compact structure, and the weight of one food is measured. By providing the second weight measuring unit 4 in the upper position, a state in which the food can be dropped and transferred by the drop transfer mechanism 5 placed on the second weight measuring unit 4 is obtained.

  Moreover, since the measurement mechanism 2 of these 1st weight measurement parts 3 and the 2nd weight measurement part 4 is common in this invention, it can be set as a very compact structure.

  In addition, the present invention provides the minimum required size by making the measured object mounting portion 4a of the second weight measuring unit 4 smaller than the measured object mounting portion 3a of the first weight measuring unit 3. In this respect, a compact structure can be obtained.

  A specific embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In this embodiment, a plurality of foods B as specimens are randomly extracted from a plurality of foods A as a population, and the selected food C is appropriately selected from the plurality of foods B as the extracted specimens. Is a food weight measuring device used in a method for evaluating a plurality of foods A as a population by calculating a weight ratio of the selected food C in a plurality of foods B as samples. As food, massive fruits and vegetables such as potatoes and sweet potatoes are used, but any food that exhibits the characteristics of this embodiment can be used as appropriate.

  Specifically, the present embodiment includes a first weight measuring unit 3 and a second weight measuring unit 4 as weight measuring units, and the measuring mechanism 2 of the first weight measuring unit 3 is the same as that of the second weight measuring unit 4. The second weight measuring unit 4 is provided at a position higher than the first weight measuring unit 3, and the measured object placement unit of the second weight measuring unit 4 is provided so as to also serve as a measurement mechanism. 4a has a configuration in which the placing area is smaller than that of the measured object placing portion 3a of the first weight measuring portion 3, and one food is placed to measure the unit weight of the food.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the measuring mechanism 2 includes an appropriate metal in a case-shaped main body 7 including a metal plate-made ground portion 7a and a metal plate-made movable portion 7b disposed above the ground portion 7a. A load cell 10 (load converter) provided with a strain gauge 9 is provided on an elastic base 8 made of metal.

  Specifically, the fixed end 10a of the load cell 10 is connected to the grounding portion 7a, and the movable end 10b of the load cell 10 is connected to the movable portion 7b, and is movable relative to the grounding portion 7a via the load cell 10. The part 7b is provided in a floating state.

  An object mounting portion made of a metal plate having a flat surface having a predetermined area (an area wider than the bottom surface of the container 14) on the upper surface portion of the movable portion 7b and placing food as a weight measurement object. 3a is provided and the 1st weight measurement part 3 is comprised.

  When food is placed on the first weight measuring unit 3, weight data (electric signal) is obtained from the load cell 10 (strain gauge 9), and the weight data (electric signal) obtained from the load cell 10 is obtained from the measurement mechanism 2. Is output to an external arithmetic control unit 15 described later by wire from the output unit 2a provided in the network. It should be noted that the output of weight data (electrical signal) from the measurement mechanism 2 to the external calculation control unit 15 may be performed wirelessly, or the measurement control unit 15 may be built in the measurement mechanism 2.

  Further, a columnar support portion 6 is erected on the upper surface side position of the first weight measurement portion 3 (measurement object placement portion 3 a), and the second weight measurement portion 4 is disposed above the support portion 6. Is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the second weight measuring unit 4 is provided with a measured object placing portion 4 a made of a metal plate member at the upper end portion of the support portion 6. 4a is configured so that one food can be placed with a placement area smaller than that of the measurement object placement portion 3a of the first weight measurement portion 3 when viewed from the plane direction.

  Therefore, the weight (force) of the food placed on the second weight measuring unit 4 is transmitted to the load cell 10 via the support unit 6 and the first weight measuring unit 3 and measured by the measuring mechanism 2.

  Further, the second weight measuring unit 4 is provided with a drop transfer mechanism 5 that drops and transfers the food placed on the second weight measuring unit 4 to the outside of the second weight measuring unit 4.

  The drop transport mechanism 5 is configured to inject the food placed on the second weight measuring unit 4 (measurement object placing part 4a) by inclining the second weight measurement part 4 (measurement object placing part 4a). Specifically, the measured object placing portion 4a is pivotally mounted on the upper end portion of the support portion 6 so as to be able to swing from the horizontal state to the downward inclined state. A front end portion of a cylinder device 11 (air cylinder) provided on the support portion 6 is continuously provided on the lower surface of the mounting portion 4a.

  Therefore, the object mounting portion 4a is provided so as to be switchable from the horizontal state to the downward inclined state and from the downward inclined state to the horizontal state by the operation of the cylinder device 11.

  The second weight measuring unit 4 is provided with a detection sensor 12 (light sensor). When food is placed on the second weight measuring unit 4, the detection sensor 12 detects the food and the predetermined weight is detected. The drop transfer mechanism 5 is configured to operate after a lapse of time. Reference numeral 12a denotes a reflector.

  In the present embodiment, the food is placed on the second weight measuring unit 4 by the operator's hand. However, the food may be placed automatically and mechanically.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the arithmetic control unit 15 includes a weight indicator 18, a sequencer 19, an information terminal 20, and a slip printer 21 in a movable control box 16 having a caster 17 in the lower part ( Control panel).

  The weight indicator 18 transfers weight data to the sequencer 19 after converting the weight data from the food weight measuring device (measuring mechanism 2).

  The sequencer 19 transfers weight data between the food weight measuring device (measuring mechanism 2) and the information terminal 20, and controls each device.

  The information terminal 20 is a computer having processing functions such as input, control, storage, calculation, and output for performing weight measurement work processing.

  The slip printer 21 prints a measurement slip by the processing of the information terminal 20.

  Reference numeral 22 is a touch panel type operation screen, 23 is various operation switches, 24 is a power switch, 25 is a USB port, 26 is an input / output connector, 27 is a load cell cable port, 28 is a power cord, 29 is a control box 16 is an air hose insertion port connected to a compressed air supply device (not shown) provided in 16.

  A potato evaluation method using the food weight measuring apparatus according to the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described (see FIGS. 7 and 8).

(A) First, a plurality of potatoes B as samples are randomly extracted from a plurality of potatoes A as a population piled up on a truck 30 and taken out into a container 14 (FIG. 7 (
a)). The container 14 is large enough to be carried by an operator, and can store about 20 kg of potatoes.

(B) Next, the weight of the container 14 in which a plurality of potatoes B as the specimen extracted in the above (A) are contained is placed on the first weight measuring unit 3 of this embodiment and measured ( (See Fig. 7 (b))
Subsequently, a plurality of potatoes B as specimens contained in the container 14 are taken out on the work table 13, and the weight of the emptied container 14 is placed on the first weight measuring unit 3 of this embodiment and measured. Then, the total weight of a plurality of potatoes B as a sample is calculated (see FIG. 7C). At this time, the weight of the container 14 with a plurality of potatoes B as specimens, the weight of the empty container 14 and the plurality of potatoes B as specimens contained in the containers 14
Each weight data of the total weight is sent to the arithmetic control unit 15 and recorded.

(C) Next, the judgment (sensation) of holding a plurality of potatoes B as specimens placed on the workbench 13 in (B) above in the appearance and hand of the operator, Sort by grade (from best to “excellent”, “excellent”, “outside”).

(D) Next, the best grade potato C selected in (C) is placed on the second weight measuring unit 4 one by one and the unit weight is measured. One size (
Select “Large Grain”, “L”, “М”, “S”, “Small Grain”, “Other”) (Fig. 7 (
d)). At this time, the weight data of each size is sent to and recorded in the calculation control unit 15, and the calculation control unit 15 counts and records the number of each size each time one unit weight is measured. The type of size selected based on the unit weight varies depending on the evaluation.

Therefore, a plurality of potatoes B as the samples extracted in (A) are sorted into 8 types by the sorting operations (C) and (D).

(E) Next, one of the two grades (“excellent” and “outside”) selected in (C) above is placed in the container 14 and placed on the first weight measuring unit 3. And measure the weight
"Excellent" from the weight data obtained in (B) and (D) automatically by the calculation control unit 15
-The weight of the other "potato" potato C is calculated and recorded.

(F) Next, the arithmetic control unit 15 calculates the weight ratio of each selected potato C in the weight of a plurality of potatoes B as a sample, and calculates a plurality of potatoes A as a population.
Among them, for example, “Hide's Large Grain”, “Hide's L”, “Hide's M”, “Hide's S”, “Hide's Small Grain”, “Other of Hide”, “Yu” and “Outside” As a result, the contents as shown in FIG. 6 are displayed on the operation screen 22 or printed out from the slip printer 21.

(G) After that, based on the weight ratio data obtained by the evaluation method described above, it is calculated by applying to the weights of a plurality of potatoes A as a population piled on the truck 30. Price etc. are decided.

  Since the present embodiment is configured as described above, food can be evaluated more accurately and quickly, and the installation space can be reduced with a compact structure.

  Further, the present embodiment is not limited to merely having a function of measuring the unit weight of food (second weight measuring unit 4), and the second weight measuring unit 4 is provided with a drop transfer mechanism 5. Therefore, after the weight measurement in the second weight measurement unit 4 is completed, the food placed on the second weight measurement unit 4 is dropped and transferred to the outside of the second weight measurement unit 4 to perform the above-described operation. Therefore, a highly accurate size is quickly selected.

  In addition, the present embodiment is a configuration in which the second weight measuring unit 4 that measures the unit weight of one food is provided above the first weight measuring unit 3 that measures the weight of a plurality of foods. Since the first weight measuring unit 3 for placing a plurality of heavy foods is provided at the lower position, a stable installation state can be obtained even if the entire apparatus is a compact structure, and the weight of one food is measured. By providing the second weight measuring unit 4 at the upper position, a state in which the food is placed in the second weight measuring unit 4 by the fall transfer mechanism 5 can be obtained.

  Moreover, since the measurement mechanism 2 of these 1st weight measurement parts 3 and the 2nd weight measurement part 4 is common in a present Example, it can be set as a very compact structure.

  In addition, in this embodiment, the measurement object placing unit 4a of the second weight measuring unit 4 is made the minimum necessary by making the installation area smaller than the object placing unit 3a of the first weight measuring unit 3. The structure can be a size, and a compact structure can be achieved in this respect as well.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and the specific configuration of each component can be designed as appropriate.

A A plurality of foods as a population B a plurality of foods as a specimen C a selected food 2 a measurement mechanism 2a an output unit 3 a first weight measuring unit 3a a measured object placing unit 4 a second weight measuring unit 4a a measured object placing unit 5 Fall transfer mechanism 6 Support part
15 Calculation control unit

Claims (5)

  A plurality of foods as a sample are randomly extracted from a plurality of foods as a population, and selected food is selected from a plurality of foods as the extracted samples by an appropriate selection method, and the selected food is obtained as the sample. A food weight measuring device used in a method for evaluating a plurality of foods as the population by calculating a weight ratio of the selected food in a plurality of foods, wherein the weight measuring unit includes a first weight measuring unit and A second weight measuring unit, wherein the measuring mechanism of the first weight measuring unit is provided so as to also serve as the measuring mechanism of the second weight measuring unit; The measuring object mounting part of the second weight measuring part is provided at a position higher than the one weight measuring part, and the mounting area is smaller than the measuring object mounting part of the first weight measuring part. Place a piece of food and measure the unit weight of the food The food having a configuration, wherein the second weight measuring unit is provided with a drop transport mechanism for dropping and transporting the food placed on the second weight measuring unit to the outside of the second weight measuring unit. Weight measuring device.   The food weight measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drop transfer mechanism is configured to drop and transfer the food by tilting a measurement object placing portion of the second weight measurement unit. Weight measuring device.   The food weight measuring apparatus according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the measured object placing part of the second weight measuring unit is erected on the measured object placing part of the first weight measuring part. The food weight measuring device is provided on the upper portion of the supporting portion.   The food weight measuring apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an output unit that outputs weight data obtained by the first weight measuring unit and the second weight measuring unit to an external calculation control unit. A food weight measuring apparatus characterized by:   The food weight measuring apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an arithmetic control unit that processes weight data obtained by the first weight measuring unit and the second weight measuring unit. Food weight measuring device.

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