JP2016176915A - Weighing instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a weighing instrument that can weigh noodles made in a noodle-making machine more appropriately than an existing weighing instrument can.SOLUTION: A weighing instrument W includes: a weighing hopper 5 receiving supply of falling noodles after being cut to a predetermined length by a cutter 2, holding the noodles for a predetermined time for stabilization, and discharging the noodles M2 downward; a weight sensor 6 connected to the weighing hopper; and a controller 10 determining whether the weight of the noodles is within an acceptable weight range based on an output value of the weight sensor in the weighing stabilization time, the controller 10 switching the weighing stabilization time when there is generated a quality changing signal indicating change of a noodle length.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a weighing device.

  As a method for producing noodles, mechanical noodles using a noodle making machine are known. Machine-made noodles are a process of adding water to noodle raw materials such as flour to knead to make a noodle dough, a process of rolling the noodle dough into a strip with a rolling roll to make a noodle strip, and cutting the noodle strip in the longitudinal direction A step of forming a thin noodle string, a step of intermittently cutting the noodle string in the width direction to obtain a predetermined noodle string length, and the like.

  For example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 describe a method of cutting a noodle strip thinly in the longitudinal direction, cutting it into noodle strings, and intermittently cutting the noodle strings in the width direction. Moreover, in patent document 2, the noodle string weight is measured on a heavy weight conveyor, and the gap of the rolling roller or the noodle string length is controlled so as to suppress the variation between the measured value and the set value of the noodle string weight. The technology is described.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-127663 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-346638

  However, in the conventional example, adequate measurement of noodle strings produced with machine-made noodles has not been sufficiently studied. Details will be described in the embodiment.

  An aspect of the present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a measuring device that can more appropriately weigh the weight of noodle strings manufactured with machine-made noodles.

  The weighing device according to one aspect of the present invention is provided with a plurality of noodle strings that are cut into a predetermined noodle string length by a cutter and dropped, and the plurality of noodle strings are held for a predetermined measurement stabilization time. The weight of the plurality of noodle strings is within an allowable weight range based on the weighing hopper discharged downward, the weight sensor connected to the weighing hopper, and the output value of the weight sensor in the weighing stabilization time. A controller for determining whether or not the product changes, when the signal for changing the type of the noodle strings is changed, the controller switches the measurement stabilization time.

  According to the weighing device of one embodiment of the present invention, the weight of noodle strings manufactured with machine-made noodles can be weighed more appropriately than before.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a weighing device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the switching control of the weighing stable time of the weighing device according to the embodiment.

(Embodiment)
The inventors have been working on the development of a technique for measuring the weight of noodle strings manufactured with mechanical noodles using a weight sensor connected to a weighing hopper. And the earnest examination was carried out about appropriate measurement of the noodle strings with the measurement hopper, and the following knowledge was acquired.

  For example, an instant noodle production line includes a step of performing a drying process by putting noodle strings cut into a length of noodle strings into a mold in addition to the above steps. At this time, depending on the type of instant noodles, the length of the noodle strings placed in the mold may be different. As a straightforward example, a noodle line is cut twice shortly, a variety of noodle lines that have been cut twice is put into a mold (hereinafter referred to as “two-cut variety”), and a noodle line is lengthened 1 There are varieties (hereinafter referred to as “one-cut varieties”) in which noodle strings that have been cut only once and are cut once are put into a mold as a single piece.

  Here, the weighing hopper is supplied with a plurality of noodle strings that are cut into a predetermined noodle string length by a cutter and then dropped, and after holding the plurality of noodle strings for a predetermined measurement stabilization time, downward It is discharging. Then, it is determined whether or not the weight of the plurality of noodle strings is within the allowable weight range based on the output value of the weight sensor during the measurement stabilization time. At this time, when weighing the noodle strings of the one-cut varieties and the two-cut varieties with a weighing hopper, if the weighing stability time of the weighing device is constant, the above-mentioned weighing stability time is equal to that of the noodle strings of the one-cut variety. It is necessary to correspond to the time required for the weight to stabilize. Therefore, in this case, useless waiting time occurs when the weight of the noodle strings of the two-cut varieties is weighed by the weighing hopper. Therefore, the inventors have come up with the idea of switching the weighing stabilization time when a signal for changing the type of noodle strings is generated.

  That is, the weighing device according to the first aspect of the present embodiment is supplied with a plurality of noodle strings that are cut into a predetermined noodle string length by a cutter and dropped, and the plurality of noodle strings are fed into a predetermined measurement stabilization time. The weight of the noodle strings is within the permissible weight range based on the output value of the weighing hopper that is held and discharged downward, the weight sensor connected to the weighing hopper, and the weight sensor during the measurement stabilization time. A controller that determines whether or not the product changes, when the signal for changing the type of the noodle strings is changed, the controller switches the measurement stabilization time.

  According to this structure, the weight of the noodle strings manufactured with machine-made noodles can be measured more appropriately than before.

  For example, when weighing noodle strings of both one-cut varieties and two-cut varieties with a weighing hopper, we can set the weighing stabilization time corresponding to each of the one-cut varieties and two-cut varieties. The weight of the wire can be measured more efficiently than before.

  In the weighing device according to the second aspect of the present embodiment, in the weighing device according to the first aspect, the controller shortens the measurement stabilization time when a product change signal for shortening the noodle string length is generated.

  According to such a configuration, when a product change signal that shortens the length of the noodle strings is generated, the measurement stabilization time is shortened. Therefore, even when the length of the noodle strings is shortened, generation of useless waiting time can be suppressed.

  Hereinafter, specific examples of the embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The constituent elements, the arrangement positions of the constituent elements, the connection forms, and the like shown in the following specific examples are examples, and do not limit the above aspects. In the drawings, description of components having the same reference numerals may be omitted. In addition, the drawings schematically show each component for easy understanding, and there are cases where the shape, dimensional ratio, and the like are not accurately displayed.

[Device configuration]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a weighing device according to an embodiment.

  The weighing device W is provided in the middle of an instant noodle production line, for example, and includes a weighing hopper 5, a controller 10, and a weight sensor 6.

  In the production line for instant noodles, for example, adding noodle raw materials such as wheat flour to knead to make noodle dough, rolling noodle dough into strips with a rolling roller to make noodle strips, noodle strip in the longitudinal direction Cutting into a plurality of fine noodle strings (noodle string forming process), cutting the noodle strings in the width direction to obtain a predetermined noodle string length, and a noodle string having a predetermined noodle string length It includes a process of putting in a mold and performing a drying process such as frying or hot-air drying, a packaging process of packaging a product that has been determined to be non-defective in the subsequent inspection, and the like.

  Above the weighing device W, there are a conveyor 1 for transporting the noodle string group M1 composed of a plurality of thin noodle strings formed in the noodle string forming process in the direction of arrow a, and a carry-out end of the conveyor 1 Below, there is provided a cutter 2 for cutting the continuous noodle strings M1 in the width direction and cutting them into noodle strings M2 having a predetermined length. The noodle string group M1 and the noodle string group M2 are bundles of noodle strings.

  The continuous noodle string group M1 conveyed by the conveyor 1 is continuously unloaded from the unloading end of the conveyor 1 and hangs down, and the noodle string group M1 that hangs down is intermittently cut by the cutter 2 to be predetermined. The noodle string group M2 of the length of the noodle string is cut and dropped.

  This cutter 2 includes a rotating roller 2b having one or two (two in this example) cutting blades 2a extending in the depth direction of the paper surface of FIG. 1 and an eccentric rotating roller (rotating shaft to the right in FIG. 1). 2c), the rotating roller 2b rotates in the direction of the arrow b, and the eccentric rotating roller 2c rotates in the direction of the arrow d, so that the cutting blade 2a of the rotating roller 2b becomes the eccentric rotating roller every predetermined time. The noodle string group M1 is cut in contact with 2c. In this example, since the rotary roller 2b is provided with the two cutting blades 2a, the eccentric rotary roller 2c is rotated at a speed twice that of the rotary roller 2b. Note that the cutting device 2 is not limited to the above configuration, and the noodle strings M1 that are unloaded from the unloading end of the conveyer 1 and are continuously fed into the noodle string group M1 are cut intermittently to obtain noodles having a predetermined noodle string length. Any configuration may be used as long as it is configured to be separated and dropped into the line group M2.

  Also, below the weighing device W, there is provided a formwork transporting device 3 in which a plurality of metal formwork 3a connected at a predetermined interval are transported on a circular track. In this example, below the weighing hopper 5, the mold 3a is conveyed in the direction of arrow c. Each mold 3a is formed in a predetermined shape such as a round shape or a square shape according to the completed shape of instant noodles.

  The noodle strings M2 cut by the cutter 2 are weighed by the weighing device W, then supplied to the mold 3a and conveyed to the subsequent process, and subjected to a drying process or the like in the subsequent process.

  A plurality of noodle strings M1 arranged in the depth direction of FIG. 1 is formed by a plurality of noodle strings obtained by cutting the noodle strip in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, in this example, the weighing device W is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of noodle string groups M1, and the mold conveyance device 3 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow c corresponding to each weighing device W. A plurality of molds 3a are provided.

  Next, the weighing device W will be described in detail.

  The measuring hopper 5 is provided below the cutter 2 and is sequentially supplied with the noodle strings M2 that are sequentially cut to a predetermined noodle string length by the cutter 2 and dropped. After holding for a stable time, it can be discharged downward. The weighing stability time includes the time required for the entire noodle string group M2 to be accommodated in the weighing hopper 5 after the noodle string group M2 which is long in the vertical direction starts to be supplied to the weighing hopper 5, and the weight sensor 6 And the waiting time until the output value stabilizes.

  The weighing hopper 5 is provided with a pair of discharge gates 5g. By opening the pair of discharge gates 5g, the held noodle strings M2 are discharged downward and supplied to the mold 3a. can do.

  The weight sensor 6 is connected to the weighing hopper 5. That is, the weight sensor 6 is composed of, for example, a load cell and holds the weighing hopper 5. Then, the weight of the noodle string group M2 in the weighing hopper 5 is measured by the weight sensor 6, and the weight of the noodle string group M2 (the output value of the weight sensor 6) is sent to the controller 10 in a timely manner.

  The controller 10 is provided in each weighing device W, is configured to control the operation of the weighing device W, and is communicably connected to the system controller 11.

  Specifically, the controller 10 controls the opening / closing of the discharge gate 5g of the weighing hopper 5 and acquires the weight of the noodle string group M2 in the weighing hopper 5 from the weight sensor 6. That is, the controller 10 determines whether the weight of the noodle string group M2 is within the allowable weight range based on the output value of the weight sensor 6 during the measurement stabilization time. If the weight is not within the allowable weight range, a weight abnormality signal may be generated and transmitted to the system controller 11.

  The system controller 11 is a controller that controls the entire production line including the transport conveyor 1, the cutter 2, the weighing device W, the formwork transport device 3, and the like. As described above, the weighing device W is directly controlled by the controller 10.

  This system controller 11 normally moves the conveyor 1 at a predetermined speed and operates the cutter 2 at a predetermined cutting speed. Further, the formwork transporting device 3 is transported so that each formwork 3a is transported in the arrow c direction at a predetermined speed.

  For example, in a state where the noodle string group M <b> 2 is supplied to the weighing hopper 5, a supply command is transmitted from the system controller 11 to the controller 10 at predetermined time intervals. Each time the controller 10 receives a supply command, the controller 10 opens and closes the discharge gate 5g of the weighing hopper 5, and supplies the noodle string group M2 in the weighing hopper 5 to the mold 3a that has been transported immediately below. Subsequently, the noodle string group M2 cut by the cutter 2 is supplied to the weighing hopper 5. When the weighing device W performs the above-described operation based on the supply command from the system controller 11, the noodle string group M2 discharged from the weighing hopper 5 is accommodated in the mold 3a that has been conveyed immediately below. It is configured.

  The system controller 11 may take an emergency measure when receiving the above-described weight abnormality signal from at least one controller 10, for example. As this emergency measure, for example, the entire production line is stopped and a notification means (not shown) is notified that a weight abnormality has occurred. This notification means may be configured by a display device or the like that can display characters and the like.

  The controller 10 and the system controller 11 may have any configuration as long as they have a control function. The controller 10 and the system controller 11 include, for example, an arithmetic circuit (not shown), a storage circuit (not shown) that stores a control program, a display device (not shown), and a wireless device (not shown). And). Examples of the arithmetic circuit include an MPU and a CPU. For example, a semiconductor memory is exemplified as the memory circuit. Examples of the display device include a liquid crystal display panel.

  The system controller 11 may be configured by a single controller that performs centralized control, or may be configured by a plurality of controllers that perform distributed control in cooperation with each other. Further, the plurality of controllers 10 may be configured by one controller, or the controller 10 may be configured to be included in the system controller 11.

  Thus, in this embodiment, since the measuring device W is provided corresponding to each of all the noodle string groups M2 cut to the length of the noodle strings, all the components before being supplied to the mold 3a are provided. The weight of each noodle string group M2 can be measured.

  Then, when a weight abnormality signal is generated by the controller 10, that is, when the weight of the noodle string group M2 in the weighing hopper 5 is not within the allowable weight range, for example, the entire production line is stopped and appropriate measures are taken. It can be performed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the production of noodles with poor weight (improvement of yield) and reduce the need for unnecessary processing such as drying in the subsequent process on the noodles with poor weight. Can improve the productivity of noodles produced in

[Weighing stabilization time switching control]
Hereinafter, switching control of the weighing stable time, which is a characteristic part of the weighing device W of the present embodiment, will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the switching control of the weighing stable time of the weighing device according to the embodiment.

  In FIG. 2, the horizontal axis and the vertical axis respectively represent the elapsed time from when the discharge gate 5 g of the weighing hopper 5 is closed and the weight of the noodle string group M <b> 2 in the weighing hopper 5 (output value of the weight sensor 6). Each is taken and the output profile of the weight sensor 6 in the one-cut variety A and the two-cut variety B is shown.

  Here, the upper and lower noodle strings M2 cut by the cutter 2 are dropped and supplied to the weighing hopper 5, so that all the noodle strings M2 are fed to the weighing hopper after the noodle strings M2 starts to be supplied to the weighing hopper 5. There is a time required to be accommodated in 5. At this time, the length of the noodle strings M2 of the one-cut variety A is approximately twice the length of the noodle strings M2 of the two-cut variety B. As shown in FIG. 2, it becomes longer than the measurement stabilization time TB in the two-cut variety B. For this reason, when the weights of the noodle strings M2 of both the one-cut variety A and the two-cut variety B are weighed with the weighing hopper 5, if the weighing stability time of the weighing device W is constant, this weighing stability time is It is necessary to correspond to the time TA required for the weight of the noodle string group M2 of the variety A to be stabilized. Therefore, in this case, when the weight of the noodle string group M2 of the two-cut variety B is weighed by the weighing hopper 5, a wasteful waiting time occurs.

  Therefore, in the weighing device W of the present embodiment, the controller 10 switches the measurement stabilization time of the weighing device W when a product change signal for changing the length of the noodle strings in the noodle string group M2 is generated. Specifically, the controller 10 shortens the measurement stabilization time when a product change signal that shortens the length of the noodle strings of the noodle string group M2 is generated. The type change signal may be, for example, a signal generated when an operator selects a type using an operation setting unit (not shown), or the type change is automatically performed in a noodle production plan or the like. May be a signal generated by the controller 10 or the system controller 11 in synchronism with the change in product type.

  In the example shown in FIG. 2, a table indicating the correspondence relationship between the one-cut variety A and the two-cut variety B, the measurement stabilization time TA, and the measurement stabilization time TB is stored in the storage circuit of the controller 10. 10, when a product change signal from the one-cut product type A to the two-cut product type B is generated, the weighing stabilization time of the weighing device W is shortened from time TA to time TB.

  At this time, the system controller 11 generates the above-mentioned product change signal, and at the same time, changes the cutting speed of the cutting device 2 from the speed corresponding to the length of the noodle strip group M2 of the one-cut variety A to the two-cut variety. The speed is increased to a speed corresponding to the length of the noodle strings of the B noodle string group M2.

  In this state, when a product change signal from the two-cut product type B to the one-cut product type A is generated, the controller 10 extends the measurement stabilization time of the measuring device W from the time TB to the time TA to perform system control. The vessel 11 changes the cutting speed of the cutter 2 from the speed corresponding to the noodle string length of the noodle string group M2 of the two-cut variety B to the speed corresponding to the length of the noodle string group M2 of the one-cut variety A. Until late.

  As described above, the weighing device W of the present embodiment can more appropriately weigh the weight of the noodle string group M2 manufactured with mechanical noodles than ever before.

  For example, when the weights of the noodle strings M2 of both the one-cut variety A and the two-cut variety B are measured by the weighing hopper 5, the measurement stabilization time TA and the measurement stabilization time TB corresponding to the one-cut variety A and the two-cut variety B, respectively. Therefore, the weight of the noodle string group M2 manufactured with machine-made noodles can be measured more efficiently than before. That is, when a product change signal from the one-cut product type A to the two-cut product type B is generated, the measurement stabilization time of the weighing device W is switched from the time TA to the time TB, so the measurement stabilization time is the time (TA-TB). Shorten. Therefore, the weighing device W of the present embodiment can shorten the discharge time interval of the weighing hopper 5 as compared with the case where the switching of the weighing stable time is not performed. Thereby, the productivity of noodles manufactured with mechanical noodles is improved.

  The above-described variety change between the one-cut variety A and the two-cut variety B is an example of a variety change in which the noodle string length is changed, and the variety change is not limited to this example.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the noodle string group was illustrated as a target object supplied to a hopper, it is not restricted to this. The present technology can also be applied to a filamentous material other than the noodle string group.

  According to the weighing device of one embodiment of the present invention, the weight of noodle strings manufactured with machine-made noodles can be weighed more appropriately than before. Therefore, one embodiment of the present invention can be used, for example, as a weighing device for a production line of noodles manufactured with mechanical noodles.

1: Conveying conveyor 2: Cutting device 2a: Cutting blade 2b: Rotating roller 2c: Eccentric rotating roller 3: Formwork conveying device 3a: Formwork 5: Weighing hopper 5g: Discharge gate 6: Weight sensor 10: Controller 11: System Controller W: Weighing device

Claims (2)

A plurality of noodle strings that are cut into a predetermined noodle string length by a cutter and dropped, and after holding the plurality of noodle strings for a predetermined measurement stabilization time, a weighing hopper that discharges downward;
A weight sensor connected to the weighing hopper;
A controller that determines whether or not the weight of the plurality of noodle strings is within an allowable weight range based on an output value of the weight sensor in the measurement stabilization time;
The controller is a measuring device that switches the measurement stabilization time when a product change signal for changing the noodle string length is generated. The weighing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller shortens the weighing stabilization time when a product change signal for shortening the length of the noodle strings is generated.

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