JP2016153119A5 - - Google Patents

Description

Fruit and vegetable automatic sorting device

  The present invention relates to an automatic fruit vegetable sorting device that automatically sorts various fruit vegetables such as pepper, eggplant, bitter gourd and zucchini by size (by class), such as by size, by shape, and the horizontal dimension (width) or The present invention relates to an automatic fruit vegetable sorting apparatus that is particularly suitable for automatic sorting of fruit vegetables (referred to as “long fruit vegetables” in the present application) having a large vertical dimension (length) as compared with a diameter.

  As an automatic fruit vegetable sorting device that measures long fruit vegetables by size, shape, etc., and sorts them according to equal classes based on the measurement data, there is an automatic fruit vegetable sorting device developed previously by the present inventors (Patent Documents 1 and 2). . This fruit vegetable automatic sorting device attaches a bar penetrating the fruit vegetable receiver on which pepper is laid down to the endless rotating chain, moves the fruit vegetable receiver by running the endless rotating chain, An operator places pepper on the side and transports the pepper. During the transportation, the size and shape of the pepper are measured and distinguished according to the same class. Carrying the pepper on the road (for example, A grade pepper) with the transfer body of the same height, and transporting other fruit vegetable receivers (for example, B grade fruit vegetables) above the A grade fruit vegetables. In order to improve workability, one worker can pack the fruits and vegetables transported by the body at the same height and the fruits and vegetables transported by the upper transport body in separate boxes. It is a thing.

JP 2002-96028 A Japanese Patent No. 4602527

  The automatic vegetable vegetable sorting device described in Patent Document 1 is widely adopted as a device with high work efficiency. Although there is no particular difficulty in the fruit vegetable automatic sorting apparatus described in Patent Document 1, there remains room for improvement in terms of improving workability, improving sorting speed, and improving maintainability.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an automatic fruit vegetable sorting apparatus that is simpler and easier to maintain than the conventional fruit vegetable automatic sorting apparatus and has excellent workability while maintaining the advantages of the conventional fruit vegetable automatic sorting apparatus. .

  The fruit and vegetable automatic sorting apparatus of the present invention includes a fruit and vegetable transport line (fruit and vegetable transport body), and the fruit and vegetable transport body is at least two endless drive chains (hereinafter referred to as “chains”) that are opposed to each other with an interval therebetween. Equipped with an elongated support bar that is placed between the chains and moves along with the running of the chain, and a fruit vegetable receiver that can carry fruit vegetables, and a large number of fruit vegetable receivers one by one in the axial direction of the support bar It is attached so that it can slide. Many of these fruit vegetable acceptors are arranged and moved in a row, and the operator manually loads and conveys the fruits and vegetables one by one on the row of fruit vegetable acceptors, and the shape and size of the fruit vegetables in the measurement discriminator Fruit vegetables with a sorting part that can be sorted into one of the sorting progress paths in two or more axial directions of the support bar by horizontally sliding the fruit vegetable receiver based on the discrimination data. It is an automatic sorting device.

  The chain of the fruit and vegetable carrier is an endless rotating body that is wound around the outer periphery of the drive sprocket and the driven sprocket, rotates the outer periphery of one sprocket from above to below, and rotates the outer periphery of the other sprocket from below to above.

  The support bar is an elongated material in the form of a pipe or a rod, and a large number of support bars are constructed between chains opposed to each other so as to move together with the chain. The fruit vegetable receiver is attached to a support bar that is a pair of two or more so as to be slidable in the axial direction.

  The fruit vegetable transporter includes an upper transport unit and a lower transport unit that is one level lower than the upper transport unit. The upper transport unit and the lower transport unit may be two or more stages up and down.

  The upper transport unit has a sorting unit at the front of the front horizontal transport unit that transports the fruit and vegetable receiver horizontally (including substantially horizontal: the same applies hereinafter), and the down-tilt unit that transports the fruit and vegetable receiver diagonally downward from the sorting unit Is continuous, and the front horizontal conveyance part is continued at a position one step lower than the front horizontal conveyance part at the tip of the downward inclined part. The distribution unit distributes the fruit and vegetable acceptor to any one of the two or more distribution paths.

  In the upper transport section, two or more sorting traveling paths are set. Among these travel paths, the most-advanced-worker-side (front-side) travel path is a fruit-pasting stage that transports fruits and vegetables, and several rows from the front-side second line to the back-side (opposite to the worker side). The road is a sorting route for sorting and transporting fruits and vegetables by equal class.

  There is a measurement discriminator on the front horizontal transport unit. The measurement discriminator measures the shape, size, etc. of the fruit vegetables that are carried on the fruit vegetable receiver and classifies them according to the measurement data. (For example, class A, class B, etc.).

  The sorting unit slides the fruit and vegetable receivers that are transported in a row along the fruit and vegetables traveling path in the axial direction of the support bar based on the discrimination data in the measurement discrimination unit, and sets two rows that are set in advance. It distributes to one of the above distribution progress paths. The side slide of the fruit vegetable receiver can be performed by guiding a guide pin protruding below the fruit vegetable receiver with a guide rail disposed below the fruit vegetable carrier.

  The downward sloping part is for lowering the fruit vegetable receiver conveyed in the sorting path of the upper conveyance part obliquely and transferring it to the lower conveyance part. Although the inclination angle of the downward inclined portion can be arbitrarily set, a gentle angle is preferable so that the fruit vegetables being conveyed do not slide down from the fruit vegetable receiver.

  A fruit take-out machine for picking up the fruit vegetables on the fruit and vegetable receiver that is transported in the sorting advancement path and reaches the down-tilt part is arranged at the tip of any of the down-tilt sections.

  At the tip of the fruit vegetable take-out machine, a take-up conveyance body that takes over and conveys the fruit vegetables from the fruit vegetable take-out machine is arranged.

  The lower transport part is located at the tip of the downward slope part, and the fruit vegetable receiver that has been transported through the sorting progress path of any row is slid horizontally in the axial direction of the support bar based on the determination data in the measurement determination part. A sorter that sorts to one of the preset sorting paths, a fruit picker that is placed at the end of the sorter to pick up the fruit on the fruit receiver, and carries the fruit from the fruit picker A take-up carrier is provided.

  If necessary, it is also possible to provide a downward inclined portion in the lower transport section so that the fruit and vegetable receiver transported by the lower transport section can be moved further to the lower transport section. The movement to the downward conveyance part can be performed by the required number of stages by providing the downward inclined part in multiple stages. By increasing the number of stages, the number of times of distribution increases and fine class classification can be performed.

  Sorting in the lower transport unit can be performed based on the discrimination data in the measurement discriminating unit provided in the upper transport unit, but if necessary, a measurement discriminating unit (lower measurement discriminating unit) is also provided in the lower transport unit The measurement classifying unit can also measure and discriminate the equal classes of fruit vegetables conveyed by the lower conveyance unit.

  After the fruit and vegetables have been removed, the fruit and vegetable receiver is slid back in the axial direction of the support bar before returning to the original place (fruit and vegetables mounting row) before placing the fruit and vegetables by rotating the chain. They are arranged in a line. The return slide of the fruit vegetable receiver is performed by guiding a guide pin protruding below the fruit vegetable receiver with a return guide rail disposed under the fruit vegetable carrier.

  The fruit vegetable take-out machine can be a horizontal belt conveyor that can be inserted into the space of the fruit vegetable receiver. The takeover carrier can also be a belt conveyor on which fruit vegetables can be placed and conveyed. The fruits and vegetables transported by the takeover transport body can be picked up manually by an operator and packed in a box or bag.

  The distribution path provided in two or more rows in the width direction of the fruit vegetable transporter is stepped in the transport direction with the tip position of the fruit vegetable transfer path side closer to the transport direction than the back side. A work space can be secured ahead of the tip of the traveling path.

  The transfer speed (running speed) of the takeover carrier is lower than the transfer speed (running speed) of the fruit vegetable take-out machine, and the fruit vegetables taken out at intervals by the fruit take-out machine are carried at intervals by the takeover carrier. Can be done. Fruit vegetables that are picked up at intervals by the vegetable picking machine are transported at intervals by the takeover carrier, with the transport speed (traveling speed) of the takeover transport body being slower than the transport speed (traveling speed) of the fruit vegetable picking machine. You can also make it.

  The fruit vegetable receiver has a width and a depth through which the belt of the fruit vegetable take-out machine can pass, and has a space portion opened in the fruit vegetable conveying direction.

The measurement discriminating unit is provided with at least a camera for photographing fruit vegetables, and a scale for measuring the weight of fruit vegetables, a sugar meter for measuring sugar content, and the like can be added as necessary. In order to improve the measurement accuracy, the measurement discriminating unit is preferably installed directly above the fruit vegetable carrier so that it can be photographed from right above the fruit vegetable. If possible, it can also be measured from diagonally above the fruit vegetables. The sugar content can also be measured directly under the fruit vegetables. The measurement discriminating unit is provided with an image processing unit for processing an image photographed by the camera, and an arithmetic processing unit, and has a discriminating function for discriminating fruit vegetables by equal class based on measurement data.
The measurement discriminating unit can separate the measuring unit and the discriminating unit.

The fruit vegetable automatic sorting apparatus of the present invention has the following effects.
(1) Just by manually placing fruit and vegetables one by one on the fruit acceptor on the fruit-carrying path, the fruit and vegetables are transported in a row and automatically measured during transportation to determine the equal class. Based on the discriminating data (information), the upper and lower sorting units are assigned to two or more sorting progress paths, so that fruits and vegetables having the same shape and size can be automatically sorted by equal class.
(2) Since the fruits and vegetables are transported in the upper and lower stages on the upper transport section and the lower transport section, one worker can take out the fruit vegetables transported by both transport sections and pack them in a box or in a bag (packaging). More fruit vegetables can be efficiently packaged alone than when fruit vegetables transported at a single height are packaged.
(3) Since the fruit vegetables are not raised upwards but lowered one step at the descending inclined part, the upper and lower fruit vegetables can be taken out and packaged at the position where the operator places the fruit vegetables, and no step platform is required.
(4) If a plurality of upper transport units and lower transport units are provided, it is possible to classify into many equal classes with a small fruit vegetable automatic sorting machine with a narrow width (depth) and to make fine equal class discrimination. In this case, since the transport unit is gradually lowered, even if the number of stages is increased, the uppermost transport unit is not particularly high, and neither fruit vegetables transported by the uppermost transport unit nor fruit vegetables transported by the lowermost transport unit Packaging can be done at the same height.
(5) Since the fruit vegetable take-out machine is arranged at the inclination start position of the downward inclined portion, the fruit vegetables are smoothly taken out from the fruit vegetable receiver.
(6) Since the fruit and vegetable receivers that are transported in a row along the fruit and vegetables traveling path are sorted into two or more sorting and traveling paths within the reach of the operator's hand, even if the number of sorting and traveling paths increases, One worker can do the packaging work.
(7) The transported fruit vegetables are not lifted upward, but are pulled down at the descending inclined part, so that the fruit vegetables are less likely to slide down at the descending inclined part, and it is not necessary to provide a fall prevention tool on the descending inclined part.

1 is an overall perspective view of an automatic fruit vegetable sorting apparatus according to the present invention. It is a top view of the distribution part in the fruit vegetable automatic selection apparatus of this invention, Comprising: (a) is explanatory drawing when the space | interval of both chains is expanded so that the conveyed fruit vegetable acceptor may not interfere with a pressing roller, (b) ) Is an explanatory diagram in the case where the rail passing through the pressing roller installation portion is detoured inward so that the conveyed fruit vegetable receiver does not interfere with the pressing roller. The top view of the distribution part in the fruit vegetable automatic selection apparatus of this invention. (A) is a perspective view which shows an example of the fruit vegetable acceptor in the fruit vegetable automatic selection apparatus of this invention, (b) is a side view at the time of the fruit vegetable acceptor of (a) moving to a lower stage conveyance part from a downward inclination part. The outline top view of the frame of the fruit vegetable automatic sorter of the present invention, and a fruit vegetable conveyance body. The side view of the fruit vegetable automatic sorter of the present invention. The detail drawing of the lower stage conveyance part in the fruit vegetable automatic selection apparatus of this invention. The perspective view which shows an example of the fruit and vegetables extraction machine in the fruit and vegetables automatic selection apparatus of this invention. (A) is a perspective view which shows the other example of the fruit vegetable acceptor in the fruit vegetable automatic selection apparatus of this invention, (b) is a side view at the time of the fruit vegetable acceptor of (a) moving to a lower stage conveyance part from a downward inclination part. The whole plan view of the fruit vegetable automatic sorter of the present invention.

(Fruit vegetables automatic sorting device)
The fruit vegetable automatic selection apparatus of the present invention can be used for automatic selection of fruit vegetables of various shapes. As an embodiment, a case where fruit vegetables are pepper is described as an example.

(Fruit vegetable carrier)
The fruit vegetable automatic sorting apparatus of the present invention includes a fruit vegetable conveyance line (fruit vegetable conveyance body) 1 (FIG. 1). The fruit and vegetable carrier 1 includes at least two chains 2 (FIGS. 1 and 2) arranged to face each other with a gap therebetween, and an elongated support bar 3 (FIGS. 1 and 2) installed between the chains 2. And a fruit vegetable receiver 4 (FIGS. 1 and 2) attached to the support bar 3.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the fruit vegetable receiver 4 is attached one by one to a pair of two support bars 3 and is slidable in the axial direction of the support bar 3 (lateral direction: ab direction in FIG. 3). is there. Further, when the chain 2 travels in the X direction in FIG. 3, the support bar 3 moves in the same direction, and the movement causes the fruit vegetable receiver 4 to move in the same direction and is placed on the fruit vegetable receiver 4 sideways. Fruit vegetables A (FIG. 4) are conveyed in the same direction.

(chain)
The two chains 2 are wound around the outer periphery of a drive rotator (for example, a drive sprocket gear) 6 and a driven rotator (for example, a driven sprocket) 7 that are attached to the inside of two frames 5 that are arranged opposite to each other as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the outer periphery of the drive rotator 6 is rotated from the bottom to the upper side, and the outer periphery of the driven rotator 7 is rotated from the top to the bottom. It is like that.

(Support bar)
The support bar 3 (FIG. 3) is an elongated material in the form of a pipe or a rod, penetrates one fruit vegetable receiver 4 as a pair, so that the fruit vegetable receiver 4 can slide on the support bar 3 in the axial direction thereof. Installed. Both ends in the axial direction of the support bar 3 are attached to the chain 2 coaxially with the connecting pins for connecting the frames of the chain 2 and are mounted on the chain 2, and move in the same direction as the chain 2 as the chain 2 travels. Even when the outer periphery of the drive rotator 6 (FIG. 6) rotates from the bottom to the top and when the outer periphery of the driven rotator 7 (FIG. 6) rotates from the top to the bottom, the interval between the adjacent support bars 3 is horizontal. It is the same as when moving. Although illustration is omitted, a support tool (tension applying tool) for preventing the support bar 3 from being bent may be provided in the vicinity of the support bar 3 (for example, below the support bar 3). When the distance between the two chains 2 arranged opposite to each other is wide, the support bar 3 becomes long and is likely to be bent. However, the support bar 3 is prevented from being bent by providing a support, and the fruit vegetable receiver 4 is supported. It is possible to smoothly slide horizontally in the axial direction of the bar 3.

(Fruit vegetable carrier)
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6, the fruit and vegetable carrier 1 includes an upper conveyance unit 8, a downward inclined portion 9 ahead thereof, and a lower conveyance unit 10 beyond the upper conveyance unit 8. The lower transport unit 10 is one step lower than the upper transport unit 8. Here, the term “one stage” refers to the extent that the bottom surface of the fruit vegetable receiver 4 that moves in the upper conveyance section 8 does not come into contact.

(Upper transport section)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the upper transport unit 8 includes a sorting unit 12 at the tip of the front horizontal transport unit 11.

  The front horizontal conveyance unit 11 is an area where the worker manually places the fruit vegetables A one by one on the fruit vegetable receiver 4, and conveys the fruit vegetable receptor 4 loaded with the fruit vegetables A horizontally (including substantially horizontal: the same applies hereinafter). It is an area to do. Multiple rows of traveling paths 13 (FIG. 1) are set in the front horizontal transport unit 11. Among the traveling paths 13, the traveling paths 13a in the row on the side of the fruit vegetables 14 are set as fruit-pasting traveling paths on which the workers manually place the fruit vegetables one by one, and the traveling paths 13b, 13c,. Is the distribution route. As shown in FIG. 1, the fruit vegetables A placed on the individual fruit receivers 4 of the fruit vegetable loading path 13a are conveyed in a line, and the shape, size, etc. are measured by the measurement discriminating unit 15 (FIG. 1) during the conveyance. The equal class is determined.

  The distribution unit 12 distributes the fruit vegetable receiving body 4 on which the fruit vegetables A whose shape, size, etc. have been measured and determined by the measurement determination unit 15 (FIG. 1) from the fruit vegetable loading progress path 13a to the distribution progress path 13b based on the determination data. , 13c,...

  A measurement discriminating unit 15 is arranged on the fruit-pasting loading path 13a, and a fruit-pickup machine 16 (FIG. 1) is arranged on the descending slope part 9 ahead of the sorting path 13b, 13c,. Then, the fruit vegetable takeover body 17 (FIG. 1) is disposed at the tip of the fruit vegetable take-out machine 16 and on the lower conveyance unit 10. The fruit vegetable take-out machine 16 and the fruit vegetable takeover body 17 are arranged horizontally.

  The fruit vegetable take-out machine 16 is an apparatus for taking out the fruit vegetables A on the fruit vegetable receiving tray 4 one by one in the downward inclined portion 9 as shown in FIG. The takeover carrier 17 takes over the fruit vegetables A taken out by the fruit vegetable take-out machine 16 and conveys them horizontally.

(Fruit vegetable acceptor)
As shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), the fruit vegetable receiver 4 is horizontally long so that a horizontally long fruit vegetable A can be placed thereon, and a mounting portion 20 attached to the support bar 3 at the bottom and the fruit vegetable A at the top. A supportable mounting portion 21 is formed. The attachment portion 20 has two through holes 22 that are penetrated in parallel to the length direction. A guide pin 23 projects downward from the lower surface of the attachment portion 20 of the fruit vegetable receiver 4.

  The mounting portion 21 of the fruit vegetable receiver 4 in FIG. 4A is provided with a side member 26 with a space 25 formed on both outer sides of the central member 24. As shown in FIG. 8, the width of the space 25 can be inserted into the narrow conveyor belt 27 of the fruit vegetable picking machine 16 (FIG. 8). As shown in FIG. 4, the upper surfaces of the central member 24 and the side member 26 have a width and depth that allow the fruit vegetables A to be placed on the side, so that the fruit vegetables A do not roll on the upper surface of the central member 24. Are provided so as to face each other in the front-rear direction. The fruit vegetable receiver 4 is preferably made of resin, and the rolling prevention protrusion 28 is preferably made of rubber or urethane so that the fruit vegetables A are not damaged, or the corners are preferably rounded.

  The central member 24 and the side member 26 of the fruit vegetable receiver 4 in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) have peripheral walls that are vertical, but the peripheral walls are narrowed from below to above as shown in FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b). It can also be a slanted surface. When the peripheral wall is vertical as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), as shown in FIG. 4 (b), when the fruit vegetable receiver 4 moves down the inclined portion 9, the front and rear fruit vegetable receivers 4 The upper part touches and movement may be inhibited. In order not to contact, it is necessary to widen the attachment interval of the fruit vegetable receiver 4. If it is widened, the number of fruit vegetable receivers 4 attached to the support bar 3 is reduced, and the efficiency of the sorting operation is lowered. 9A and 9B, when the peripheral wall is inclined, the upper space between the fruit vegetable receivers 4 becomes wider than the lower space, so that the interval between the attachment of the fruit vegetable receivers 4 to the support bar 3 can be reduced. As shown in 9 (b), when the fruit vegetable receiver 4 moves down the inclined portion 9, the upper parts of the fruit vegetable receiver 4 can move smoothly without contacting each other.

  Both side wall surfaces 29 (FIG. 4 (a)) of the central member 24 of the fruit vegetable receiver 4 and the inner wall surface 30 (FIG. 4 (a)) of the side member 26 facing the both side wall surfaces 29 slightly extend outward. The measurement light emitted from the measurement discriminator 15 (FIG. 1) that irradiates the fruit vegetable receiver 4 vertically from above is reflected by the inclined surfaces and is appropriate for the measurement discriminator 15. You can also return to. By doing so, an image obtained by the measurement discriminating unit 15 is less likely to be shaded by the space unit 25, and high-accuracy class discrimination can be performed.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b), the fruit vegetable receiver 4 is provided with a rolling prevention protrusion 28 protruding upward on the upper surface of the central member 24 and the side member 26 so that the fruit vegetable A does not fall inadvertently. You can also. On the upper surface of the central member 24 and the side member 26, a horizontally long concave-shaped fruit vegetable receiving portion that is one step lower than the upper surface is provided horizontally, and fruit vegetables A are placed on the fruit vegetable receiving portion so that the fruit vegetables are stabilized. it can.

(Measurement discrimination part)
The measurement discriminating unit 15 (FIG. 1) measures the shape, size, etc. of the fruit vegetable A being transported, discriminates the equal class of the fruit vegetable A based on the measurement data, and the fruit vegetables placed on the fruit vegetable receiver 4 A light source for projecting measurement light onto A, an electronic camera (CCD camera) that captures fruit vegetables A, and image processing data of the electronic camera is subjected to computer processing to determine the shape (eg, bend), length, and thickness of fruit vegetables A A processing circuit for discriminating the equal classes of fruit vegetables A is provided. They are housed in a case. A scale for measuring the weight of the fruit vegetable A, a sugar meter for measuring the sugar content, and the like can be added to the measurement determination unit 15 as necessary. In order to improve the measurement accuracy, the measurement discriminating unit 15 is preferably installed directly above the fruit vegetable carrier 1 (FIG. 1) so that it can be photographed from right above the fruit vegetable A. The sugar content of fruit vegetable A can also be measured from directly under fruit vegetable A. The measurement discriminating unit 15 can detect that the fruit vegetable receiver 4 is not loaded when the fruit vegetable A is not loaded on the fruit vegetable receiver 4. Two or more electronic cameras can be provided and photographed from two or more angles so that highly accurate classification can be performed.

  The processing circuit discriminates fruit vegetables A into several equal classes such as AM, AL, 2S, B, C,..., And the obtained equal class data outputs an electrical signal (control signal), and a distribution unit 12, fruit vegetables A can be distributed to two or more distribution progress paths 13b, 13c,.

(Sorting part)
The sorting unit 12 in FIG. 1 distributes the course of the fruit and vegetable receiver 4 conveyed by the movement of the support bar 3 according to the class based on the discrimination information (control signal) from the measurement discrimination unit 15. ... Based on the determination result, the fruit vegetable receiver 4 is horizontally slid and distributed to one of two or more predetermined distribution paths 13b, 13c,. The sorting unit 12 arranges two or more guide rails 31 (FIG. 2) under the fruit vegetable carrier 1 (the same number as the sorting traveling paths 13b, 13c,...) In order to slide the fruit vegetable receiver 4 sideways. It is. Each of the guide rails 31 is disposed obliquely from the fruit and vegetables placing traveling path 13a (FIG. 1) toward the sorting traveling paths 13b, 13c,. By adopting this configuration, the guide pin 23 (FIG. 4) protruding below the fruit vegetable receiver 4 moving in the foremost fruit vegetable traveling path 13a (the right traveling path in FIG. 2) is measured and discriminated. On the basis of the discrimination data in the section 15, it is guided by one of the guide rails 31 and moves laterally, and accordingly, the fruit vegetable receiver 4 moves to one of the sorting progress paths 13 b, 13 c,... Corresponding to the discrimination data. It is supposed to be distributed.

  In the distribution unit 12, a guide rail 31 is disposed obliquely ahead of the main rail 32 (FIG. 3), and a switching piece 33 (FIG. 3) is disposed in front of the guide rail 31. The switching piece 33 swings based on the discrimination data of the measurement discrimination unit 15 (FIG. 1) to switch between the main rail 32 and the guide rail 31. The guide pin 23 (FIG. 4) is guided to the guide rail 31 only when the sorting fruit acceptor 4 arrives, and when another fruit accepting body 4 that does not need to be sorted arrives, the fruit accepting body 4 becomes the guide rail. Pass through (pass) 31 and go straight. The details are as follows.

  A switching piece 33 is provided at a branching portion of the main rail 32 and the guide rail 31 so as to be swingable by a pin 34 (FIG. 3), and the switching piece 33 is swung horizontally by an electromagnet (not shown). Switching between the 32 side and the guide rail 31 side is possible. The switching piece 33 normally waits in the direction indicated by the phantom line in part A of FIG. 3 to close the entrance of the guide rail 31 and open the entrance of the main rail 32. In this state, the guide pin 23 of the transported fruit vegetable receiver 4 goes straight on the main rail 32 and the fruit vegetable receiver 4 goes straight. When the switching piece 33 is swung by an electromagnet in the direction indicated by the solid line in part A of FIG. 3, the entrance of the main rail 32 is closed, the entrance of the guide rail 31 is opened, and the guide pin of the fruit vegetable receiver 4 moving 23 enters the guide rail 31 and the fruit vegetable receiver 4 is laterally moved in the same direction so as to be distributed to the distribution traveling paths 13b, 13c,. The electromagnet is installed below the fruit vegetable carrier 1, and the current supply to the electromagnet is performed by the control signal output from the measurement discriminating unit 15 and swings as described above.

  The main rail 32 and the guide rail 31 are upwardly U-shaped so that the moving guide pin 23 (FIG. 4) of the fruit vegetable receiver 4 can automatically enter.

(Down slope)
The downward inclined portion 9 (FIGS. 1 and 6) is provided at the front of the distributing portion 12, and is distributed to predetermined distribution traveling paths 13b, 13c,... By the guide rail 31 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The fruit vegetable receiver 4 is moved obliquely downward with the fruit vegetables A mounted thereon.

  The downward inclined portion 9 is inclined downward by inclining the chain 2 downward. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a support gear 35 is disposed inside the chain 2 to support the chain 2 from below, and the chain 2 is pushed down by a push gear 36 disposed on the chain 2 to be inclined. It faces downward (down slope).

  A drop-off prevention tool (presser) 37 such as a cloth is disposed above the downward inclined portion 9 so that the fruit vegetables A on the fruit vegetable receiver 4 moving on the downward inclined portion 9 do not slide off from the fruit vegetable receiver 4. It is preferable to do so. When a cloth is used as the presser 37, as shown in FIG. 7, both ends are fixed in a state where the central portion hangs down, and the hanging portion is brought into contact with the fruit vegetables A so that the fruit vegetables A do not fall. it can. The presser 37 may be made of a material other than cloth as long as it can prevent the fruit vegetables A from rolling, and may be pressed by a thin plate or a belt conveyor.

(Fruit extractor)
The fruit vegetable take-out machine 16 is horizontal at the same (substantially the same) height as the inclination start part at the tip of the inclination start part of the descending inclination part 9 at the end of the numerous distribution traveling paths 13b, 13c,... (FIG. 1). Is arranged. The fruit vegetable take-out machine 16 takes out the fruit vegetables A on the fruit vegetable receiver 4 moving diagonally downward in the downward inclined portion 9 one by one. As an example, the fruit vegetable take-out machine 16 shown in FIG. 8 has several narrow belts 27 (five) arranged, and the inner two belts 27 project forward from the other three belts 27. When the projecting portion enters the space 25 of the fruit vegetable receiver 4 that moves diagonally downward, and the fruit vegetable receiver 4 moves obliquely downward, the fruit vegetables A on the fruit vegetable receiver 4 are moved inward. The belt 27 is rubbed and placed on the five belts 27.

(Transfer carrier)
The takeover transport body 17 (FIGS. 1 and 6) disposed horizontally at the tip of the fruit vegetable take-out machine 16 takes over the fruit vegetables A taken out by the fruit vegetable take-out machine 16 as shown in FIG. is there. A belt conveyor (FIG. 8) can be used for the takeover carrier 17. The fruit and vegetables A conveyed by the takeover carrier 17 can be picked up one by one by the packaging operator and packed in a packaging box on the work table H (FIG. 1), or packed in a packaging bag (not shown). Or, it can be packaged by an automatic packaging machine (not shown).

(Lower transport section)
The lower transport unit 10 moves along the fruit and vegetables progressing path 13a of the upper transport unit 8 and proceeds straight without being distributed to the further distribution progress paths 13b, 13c,... This is an area in which the moving fruit vegetable receiver 4 is moved forward, and during the movement, the fruit vegetable receiver 4 is sorted by class based on the discrimination data of the measurement discriminating unit 15. Therefore, there is a straight traveling path 41a (FIG. 1) on the foremost side in FIG. 1, and a sorting traveling path 41b,... On the far side, and the measurement discriminating unit 15 identifies the moving fruit vegetable receiver 4 as moving. Based on the data, the distribution paths 41b,... Are distributed according to equal classes. In this case, a fruit vegetable take-out machine 16 for taking out the fruit vegetables A on the fruit vegetable receiver 4 is horizontally disposed at the tip of the sorting progress path 41b,... A takeover carrier 17 to be conveyed is arranged horizontally.

  The configuration and operation of the straight traveling path 41a, the sorting progress path 41b,..., The sorting section, the fruit vegetable take-out machine 16, the takeover transport body 17 and the like of the lower transport section 10 are the same as those of the upper transport section 8. If necessary, the lower transport unit 10 is provided with a downward inclined portion as in the case of the upper transport unit 8, further inclined downward by one step, and further provided with a lower transport unit that is one step lower than the lower transport unit 10. You can also. The number of steps of the downward inclined portion can be set to a desired number. If the number of steps in the downward slope is increased, the number of distributions can be increased, so that it is possible to distribute (select) fine equal classes. Moreover, since the number of steps increases downward, the depth width of the fruit and vegetable carrier 1 does not become particularly wide. If necessary, any lower conveyance unit 10 can be provided with a measurement discrimination unit, and the fruit vegetable receivers 4 can be distributed based on discrimination data from these measurement discrimination units.

(Return of fruit vegetable acceptor)
The fruit vegetable receiver 4 that has been emptied from the extraction of the fruit vegetables A is continuously moved by the movement of the chain 2, wraps downward at the folded portion of the chain 2, and is conveyed below the chain 2 to be above the chain 2. Return to. When the fruit vegetable receiver 4 is laterally moved by the distribution unit 12 and distributed to the distribution progress paths 13b, 13c,..., The fruit vegetable receiver 4 is returned to the return guide rail (not shown). ) (Returned), and returned to the original position before distribution (fruit and vegetables placing traveling path 13a: FIG. 1) to align in a line. The return guide rail is disposed below the fruit vegetable carrier 1 and is disposed obliquely in the direction opposite to the guide rail 31.

(Work space)
As shown in FIG. 1, the multi-row takeover carrier 17 is longer than the front side, and the leading edge of the multi-row takeover carrier 17 has a stepped shape, so that A work space 40 (FIG. 1) is secured on the front side.

(Moving Speed)
The takeover carrier 17 has a rotation speed slower than the rotation speed of the fruit and vegetable picking machine 16, and the fruit and vegetables A taken out at intervals by the fruit and vegetable picking machine 16 are packed on the fruit and vegetable picking machine 16 at intervals. It can also be sent in. Thereby, it becomes difficult to generate a useless space | interval in the takeover conveyance body 17, and the takeover conveyance body 17 can be used efficiently.

  The fruit vegetable take-out machine 16 and the takeover conveyance body 17 may be a free flow conveyance mechanism (not shown) instead of a belt conveyor. That is, when the fruit vegetable A is jammed in the front, it follows the fruit vegetable A, and when the previous fruit vegetable A moves forward, the subsequent fruit vegetable A also moves.

  An automatic packaging device can be arranged at the front of the takeover carrier 17 so that the fruit vegetables A being conveyed can be automatically packaged by the automatic packaging device.

  The fruit vegetable automatic selection apparatus of the present invention can be used for automatic selection of fruit vegetables A other than pepper, and can be particularly preferably used for automatic selection of various long fruit vegetables A such as eggplant and bitter gourd.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fruit and vegetable conveyance body 2 Chain 3 Support bar 4 Fruit and vegetable receiving body 5 Frame 6 Drive rotary body 7 Followed rotation body 8 Upper stage conveyance part 9 Down inclination part 10 Lower stage conveyance part 11 Front horizontal conveyance part 12 Sorting part 13 Progress path 13a Fruits carrying progress Road 13b, 13c ... Sorting progress path 14 Fruit and vegetables mounting table 15 Measurement discriminating part 16 Fruit and vegetable picking machine 17 Takeover transport body 20 (Installation part of fruit and vegetable receiver) 21 Mounting part 22 Through hole 23 Guide pin 24 Central member 25 Space part 26 Side member 27 Conveyor belt 28 Rolling prevention protrusion 29 Side wall surface (center member) 30 Inner wall surface (side member) 31 Guide rail 32 Main rail 33 Switching piece 34 Pin 35 Support gear 36 Push gear 37 Falling prevention tool (presser) )
40 Working space 41a Straight traveling path 41b ... Sorting traveling path A Fruit vegetables H Worktable

Claims (3)

Fruit vegetables are transported by placing them on the fruit receiver of the fruit vegetable carrier, and the fruit vegetables are measured during the transportation, and the fruit vegetables are classified by class based on the measurement results, and the identified fruit vegetables are sorted by class and sorted by class. In the fruit vegetable automatic sorting device
The fruit and vegetable carrier comprises a large number of fruit and vegetable receivers on which fruit and vegetables can be placed, and includes an upper conveyance part, a distribution part provided at the front thereof, a downward inclination part provided at the front of the distribution part, and a downward inclination part. A lower conveyance unit provided at a position lower than the upper conveyance unit is provided on the other side, and the upper conveyance unit, the distributing unit, the downward inclined unit, and the lower conveyance unit are formed in an endless shape and rotated and rotated. Can transport fruit receiver
The sorting unit can sort the fruit acceptors according to the classification result according to equal classes,
The downward inclined portion is gradually downwardly inclined from the front of the distributing unit toward the lower conveyance unit, and can convey the fruit and vegetable receptor that is distributed and conveyed by the distributing unit downward,
The lower transport section can transport the fruit vegetable receivers transported by the descending inclined section in two or more equal classes.
Fruit vegetable automatic sorting device characterized by that. In the fruit vegetable automatic sorting device according to claim 1,
There is a fruit vegetable take-out machine that is ahead of the sorting section in the transport direction and at least above the descending slope section, and when the fruit vegetable acceptor transported by the sorting section reaches the descending slope section, the fruit vegetables Fruit vegetables can be taken out from the receiver,
Fruit vegetable automatic sorting device characterized by that. In the fruit vegetable automatic sorting device according to claim 1 or claim 2,
In the upper transport unit, the sorting unit, the descending slope unit, and the lower transport unit, elongated support bars are installed between endless drive chains provided at intervals, and fruit vegetables can be placed on these support bars. The fruit vegetable receiver is attached and formed into an endless shape that can circulate and rotate.
The fruit vegetable acceptor can move in the same direction as the support bar as the support bar moves as the drive chain travels.
The sorting unit can sort the fruit and vegetable receivers according to the same class by sliding them sideways along the support bar based on the discrimination result,
The downward inclined portion is configured with the drive chain as the downward inclination, and the support bar erected on the drive chain is also as the downward inclination.
Fruit vegetable automatic sorting device characterized by that.