JP2019152465A - Measurement apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a measurement apparatus configured to eliminate waiting for receipt of incoming grain.SOLUTION: A measurement apparatus 10 in which a grain passage portion for allowing grain to pass downward is formed, includes: a loading table 16 on which a flexible container F containing the grain is placed; load cells 18a and 18b disposed below the loading table 16 for measuring a load received by the loading table 16 from the flexible container F; and a pair of chutes 32a and 32b for flowing down the grain that is discharged from the flexible container F and passes through the grain passage portion to a filling grain hopper 106; a capacitance detector 34 for measuring the capacitance of the grain passing through the grain passage portion; and a computer 62 for computing the received load and a moisture amount on the basis of outputs from the load cells 18a and 18b and the capacitance detector 34. The measurement apparatus is arranged on the filling grain hopper 106.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a measuring device.

  Harvested grains such as straw and wheat are transported to dry storage facilities such as country elevators and rice centers. There, the grain brought in from each producer is dried in a lump and then stored until shipped. In this way, since the received grain is collectively dried, the consideration for the producer is calculated based on the weight of the grain measured for each producer at the time of receipt (hereinafter referred to as “consigned weight”). Calculated.

  In dry storage facilities, in order to measure the weight received, the received grain is transported to the hopper scale by a conveyor, and the transported grain is divided into predetermined batches, which are sequentially measured and summed up. It has been adopted. Therefore, as the amount of grain received from a certain producer increases, the number of times of measurement per unit increases, and as a result, the measurement time is prolonged and consignment from other producers is restricted. In particular, at the peak of harvest, grains are brought in from a large number of producers, so that waiting for receipt of goods is likely to occur, and elimination of waiting for receipt of goods is desired.

  By the way, in recent years, an increasing number of producers store harvested grains in flexible containers (hereinafter referred to as “flexible containers”) and carry them to a dry storage facility. 1 is disclosed.

JP-A-8-313329

  However, since the degree of dryness of grain at the time of harvest (the amount of moisture in the grain) varies from producer to producer, calculating the price based solely on the weight measured by the above measuring device, for example, assuming that the same amount of grain was brought in However, since the price varies depending on the amount of water, the uniformity is lacking. Therefore, even if the above measuring device is used, it is necessary to measure the amount of water using the measuring device provided in the dry storage facility as in the past, but the measuring device is a process after the hopper scale. Therefore, it takes time to convey the measurement device. As a result, until the grain brought in is measured by the measuring device, other producers cannot put the grain into the grain loading hopper, and still wait for receipt of goods.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a measuring device that eliminates the waiting for receipt of incoming grains.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a measuring device installed above a grain filling hopper, in which a grain passage part for allowing grain to pass downward is formed, and a flexible container containing the grain Is placed under the placing table, a load measuring means for measuring a load that the placing table receives from the flexible container, and discharged from the flexible container and passed through the grain passage part. Flowing means for flowing the grain down to the grain filling hopper, and moisture measuring means for measuring the moisture content of the grain that has passed through the grain passing part are provided.

  The moisture content measuring means partially measures the moisture content of the grain that has passed through the grain passage section.

  According to the present invention, when the carried grain is thrown into the grain loading hopper, the load receiving weight and the moisture amount necessary for receiving the cargo are measured. In this case, since the steps of measuring the weight and measuring the water content can be omitted in the dry storage facility, the carried grains can be sequentially put into the load receiving hopper. Therefore, the waiting time for receiving goods can be greatly shortened.

Schematic diagram of an existing dry storage facility equipped with the measuring device of this embodiment Block diagram of dry storage facility and measuring device Perspective view of load detection unit and capacitance detection unit of measuring device Processing flow of main computer of dry storage facility and computer of measuring device

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a measuring apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the measuring apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is used in an existing dry storage facility 100 (hereinafter abbreviated as “existing facility 100”). The existing facility 100 is provided with a reception terminal 102 that accepts the carry-in of grain, and the receipt information input through the reception terminal 102 is transmitted to the main computer 104. The main computer 104 is a computer that controls various devices of the existing facility 100. When receiving the receipt information, the main computer 104 stores the receipt information in a memory for each producer. The receipt information includes the receipt date and the moisture amount measured by the measuring device 10 in addition to the date of receipt, the name of the producer, the identification number assigned to the producer, and the product type.

  In the vicinity of the reception terminal 102, a grain hopper 106 for receiving the grain carried in from the producer is provided. The grain filling hopper 106 can accommodate at least one flexible container of grains in the container 108, and the inlet 110 formed above the container 108 is covered with the grating 112 and embedded in the ground. . At the bottom of the container 108, grain discharging means 126 that is driven based on a signal from the main computer 104 is provided.

  Grains discharged by the discharging means 126 are conveyed to a coarse sorter 116 located indoors by a conveyor 114 controlled by the main computer 104. Grains put into the coarse sorter 116 are removed of foreign matters and conveyed to the hopper scale 120 by the conveyor 118. The hopper scale 120 measures the conveyed grains by dividing them into predetermined groups. The weight of the grain obtained by the measurement is transmitted to the main computer 104, and added to the receiving information of the corresponding producer as the receiving weight. Grains discharged from the hopper scale 120 are conveyed to the storage bin 124 by the conveyor 122 and temporarily stored until a predetermined amount suitable for the drying process is reached.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the measurement is performed using the measurement device 10 disposed on the grating 112 instead of the measurement by the hopper scale 120 provided indoors. The measuring device 10 is a device for measuring the load weight and the amount of moisture before the grain is put into the grain filling hopper 106, and is a load detection unit 12 for detecting the load of the flexible container F containing the grain, and discharged from the flexible container F. A capacitance detecting unit 14 for detecting the electrostatic capacity of the grain, and a computer 62 for calculating a load weight and a moisture amount based on the load of the flexible container F with the grain and the electrostatic capacity of the grain.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the load detection unit 12 has a configuration in which a load detector 18 that detects a load is attached to a mounting table 16 on which the cereal flexible container F is mounted. The mounting table 16 includes a frame 20 in which a plurality of metal square members 22 are welded and joined in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a mounting portion in which a plurality of square members 24 are juxtaposed in a lattice shape with respect to a rectangular frame on the upper side of the frame 20. 26. Between the mounting table 16 and the grating 112, two bar-type load cells 18a and 18b which are load detectors 18 are interposed. The bar-type load cells 18 a and 18 b are provided in parallel to each other and along a rectangular frame that forms the lower part of the frame 20 of the mounting table 16.

  When the grain-contained flexible container F carried by the forklift is placed on the table 16, the load of the flexible container F is applied to the load cells 18a and 18b via the frame 20, and an electric signal corresponding to the load is applied to each load cell. 18a and 18b. The output electrical signal is input to the computer 62 (FIG. 2) via the analog-digital converter 28 (FIG. 2) connected to the load cells 18a and 18b. The computer 62 acquires a signal from the analog-digital converter 28 using an input signal from the wired switch 58 as a trigger, and calculates a load weight based on the signal. The load receiving weight is thus measured, and the load detector 18, the analog-digital converter 28, and the computer 62 function as a load measuring unit that measures the load that the mounting table 18 receives from the flexible container F with grain. Yes.

  When the received weight is calculated, the worker lifts the grain-containing flexible container F on the mounting table 16 with a forklift and discharges the grain. The discharged grain passes between the plurality of square members 24 constituting the placement unit 26 and is input to the capacitance detection unit 14. In this manner, the gap formed between the square members 24 functions as a grain passage portion that allows the grain discharged from the flexible container F to pass downward.

  The electrostatic capacitance detection unit 14 includes a flow-down means 32 for flowing down the grain input from the flexible container F to the grain insertion hopper 106, and a capacitance detector for sampling the input grain and detecting the electrostatic capacity. 34.

  Although the form of the flow-down means 32 is not specifically limited, In this embodiment, it is provided with a pair of chute 32a, 32b which branches the discharged grain into right and left and discharges it. Each chute 32a, 32b is formed in a rectangular tube shape by a front plate 36 and a rear plate 38, an outer plate 40, and an inner plate 42 that are arranged to face each other. The front plate 36 and the rear plate 38 are trapezoidal plates that form the front and rear sides of the rectangular parallelepiped capacitance detection unit 14, and the upper base is longer than the lower base, and one leg is perpendicular to the bottom. The other leg is inclined (hereinafter referred to as an inclined leg). The outer plate 40 is a rectangular plate that forms the side of the capacitance detection unit 14 and is provided vertically along the right leg of the front plate 36 and the rear plate 38. The inner plate 42 is a rectangular plate provided inside the capacitance detection unit 14 and is provided along the inclined legs of the front plate 36 and the rear plate 38. The chutes 32a and 32b are arranged symmetrically with each other with a virtual vertical plane including the upper side of the inner plate 42 as a symmetry plane.

  Between the pair of chutes 32a and 32b, there is provided a pipe 44 into which a part of the grain discharged from the flexible container F is thrown. The pipe 44 includes a vertical portion 46 that protrudes from the inner plate 42, and an inclined portion 48 that extends from the lower end of the vertical portion 46 toward the lower portion of the chute 32a and communicates with the chute 32a. The shape of the pipe 44 is not limited to this mode, and a pipe provided so that the upper part of one chute 32a and the lower part of the other chute 32b communicate with each other or the upper part and the lower part of one chute 32a are bypassed. It may be a provided pipe. An opening is formed in the middle of the pipe 44 (in this embodiment, the connecting portion between the vertical portion 46 and the inclined portion 48), and the opening is an electric cylinder type gate valve controlled by the computer 62. 50 is opened and closed. When the valve 50 is opened, the grain passing through the pipe 44 is dropped from the opening and supplied to the capacitance detector 34.

  The capacitance detector 34 includes a container 52 for storing grain, a level sensor 60 for detecting that the container 52 is filled with grain, an electrode 54 provided in the container 52, and a capacitance detection. Circuit 56.

  The container 52 is provided below the opening formed in the pipe 44, and can accommodate a quantity of grain necessary for detecting the capacitance, and is a metal square that extends long in the vertical direction. The container is connected to the ground of a known capacitance detection circuit 56 through a wiring. In the center of the container 52, a rectangular electrode plate 54 is erected facing one of the wall surfaces of the container 52. The electrode plate 54 is connected to a capacitance detection circuit 56 through wiring, and the capacitance generated between the electrode plate 54 and the container 52 is detected by the capacitance detection circuit 56. The capacitance detected by the capacitance detection circuit 56 is input to the computer 62. The computer 62 calculates the moisture content of the cereal filled in the container 52 based on the input capacitance. In this way, the moisture content of the grain is measured, and the container 52, the electrode plate 54, the capacitance detection circuit 56, and the computer 62 function as moisture measurement means for measuring the moisture content. The container 52 and the electrode plate 54 function as a capacitance sensor for detecting the capacitance. In addition, a level sensor 60 for detecting the amount of grain filled in the container 52 is provided in the upper part of the container 52, and the computer 62 calculates the amount of water using a signal from the level sensor 60 as a trigger. To do.

  Below the container 52, a conveying means such as a suction type air conveying device or a screw conveyor (not shown) is provided, and the grain in the container 52 is conveyed to an inspection room for inspecting the sizing rate by the conveying means. The

  The computer 62 includes a CPU, a memory, and an input / output terminal (not shown). The input / output terminals are electrically connected to the control terminals of the analog-digital converter 28, the capacitance detection circuit 56, the lamp 30, the level sensor 60, the switch 58, and the gate valve 56. A measurement program is stored in the memory in advance, and when the CPU executes the measurement program, the computer 62 calculates a received weight based on the output of each load cell 18a, 18b, and a capacitance. It functions as a moisture content calculation unit that calculates the moisture content of grains based on the sensor output. Here, the computer 62 of the present embodiment stores the weights of empty flexible containers F in a memory, and calculates the received weight by subtracting these weights from the output of the load detector 18. The memory of the computer 62 stores in advance a calibration curve function that defines the relationship between capacitance and moisture, and the CPU substitutes the output from the capacitance detection 56 into the calibration curve function. The amount of water is calculated by

  The computer 62 of the measuring device 10 is connected to the main computer 104 so as to be communicable. Hereinafter, the processing flow by the computer 62 of the measuring apparatus 10 will be described together with the processing of the main computer 104.

  When the grain is carried in from the producer, the worker of the dry storage facility 100 unloads the flexible container F using a forklift and places the flexible container F on the mounting table 16. Then, the worker inputs the receipt information using the reception terminal 102 and transmits it to the main computer 104. As shown in FIG. 4, the main computer 104 controls each device of the existing facility 100 (S100), and stores the received receipt information in the memory when receiving the receipt information (S101: Yes). (S102) and measurement command processing (S103) for transmitting a measurement command for starting measurement to the measurement apparatus 10 are executed.

  When the CPU of the computer 62 of the measuring apparatus 10 receives the measurement command (S10: Yes), it executes a load receiving weight calculation process (S11). The received weight calculation process (S11) transmits a conversion command to the analog-digital converter 28 via the input / output terminal, and outputs the data output from the analog-digital converter 28 according to the conversion command (outputs of the load cells 18a and 18b). Value) and a calculation step for calculating the weight based on the acquired output values of the load cells 18a and 18b.

  Here, in the present embodiment, in order to accurately calculate the weight, the calculation step is executed on the condition that the output values from the load cells 18a and 18b are stabilized. Specifically, the CPU periodically performs the acquisition step described above, and each time the output value of each load cell 18a, 18b is acquired, the CPU obtains a difference from each output value acquired immediately before, and each of the differences is predetermined. Check if it is within the value. If it is within the predetermined value, it is assumed that the values of the load cells 18a and 18b are stable, and the CPU turns on the lamp 30 via the input / output terminal and waits for an input from the switch 58. When there is an input from the switch 58, the CPU executes the calculation step after performing the acquisition step again. The output value acquired in the acquisition step includes the weight of the flexible container F with grain and the weight of the mounting table 16. The reference value is the sum of the load cells 18a and 18b before the flexible container F with grain is mounted. Then, the weight of the flexible container F with grain is calculated by subtracting the weight of the mounting table 16 by subtracting the reference value from the acquired output value. Next, the CPU reads the weight of the empty flexible container from the memory, and subtracts the weight of the empty flexible container from the calculated weight of the flexible container F with the grain, thereby calculating the weight of the grain, that is, the receiving weight.

  When the received weight is calculated by the received weight calculation process (S11), the computer 62 turns off the lamp 30 (S12). The worker who visually recognizes that the lamp 30 is turned off lifts the flexible container F with a forklift, and discharges the grain from the outlet provided on the bottom surface of the flexible container F.

  Next, the computer 62 of the measuring apparatus 10 executes a moisture content calculation process (S13). In the moisture amount calculation process (S13), an acquisition step of acquiring an output signal from the capacitance detection circuit 56 by controlling the input / output terminal, and static of the grains filled in the container 52 based on the acquired output signal. A capacitance calculating step for calculating the capacitance; and a moisture amount calculating step for calculating the moisture amount by substituting the capacitance into a calibration curve function stored in the memory. The CPU executes the acquisition step using an output signal from the grain filling sensor as a trigger.

  When the moisture content of the grain is calculated by the moisture content calculation process (S13), the received weight and the moisture content obtained in the moisture content calculation process (S13) are transferred to the main computer 104. A transmission process (S14) for transmission is performed.

  The main computer 104 executes a reception process (S104) for receiving the received cargo weight and the moisture content, and a storage process (S105) for storing the received cargo weight and moisture content in the corresponding cargo receipt information and storing them in the memory. And the receipt of the next producer is started by notifying the producer of the receipt weight and the amount of moisture. Note that the measuring device 10 of the present embodiment is used when carrying in with the flexible container F, in which case the measurement with the hopper scale 120 is omitted, and the bottom of the hopper scale 120 is open. ing. On the other hand, in the carry-in mode other than the flexible container F such as the combine bag, the measurement is performed with the hopper scale 120 provided in the existing facility 100 as in the past.

  According to the measuring apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, when the carried grain is thrown into the grain loading hopper 106, the weight and moisture amount necessary for receiving the cargo are measured. In this case, weight measurement and moisture content measurement in the existing facility 100 can be omitted, so that the conventional waiting for measurement of the hopper scale 120 does not occur, and the loaded grains are sequentially put into the load receiving hopper. can do. Therefore, the waiting time for receiving goods can be greatly shortened.

  Moreover, in the load calculation process of the measuring device 10, since the measurement is started on the condition that the output from the load detector 18 is stabilized, it is possible to measure the load receiving weight with higher accuracy.

  As described above, the measurement apparatus according to the present invention has been described based on the embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described form, and may be implemented, for example, in the following form.

<Modification>
(1) The measuring device may further include a base such as a flat pallet that can be transported by a forklift. The shape of the base is typically a flat rectangular parallelepiped, and the load detection unit 12 and the capacitance detection unit 14 are placed thereon. The base is placed from the upper surface to the lower surface at a position corresponding to the lower part of the pair of chutes 32a and 32b so that the grain discharged from the capacitance detection unit 14 is thrown into the grain filling hopper 106. A plurality of through holes penetrating therethrough are established. An insertion hole for inserting a fork of a forklift is formed on the side surface of the base. By providing such a base, the measurement apparatus can be easily transported.

(2) In the above load receiving weight calculation process (S11), the CPU of the computer 62 may store the values of the load cells 18a and 18b acquired periodically in the memory. In this aspect, when the worker accidentally discharges the grain before pressing the switch 58, the CPU refers to the values of the load cells 18a and 18b stored in the memory and obtains the sum by obtaining the sum thereof. Calculate the weight.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, the moisture content of the grain filled in the container 52 is measured by detecting the capacitance. However, the moisture content is not limited to this aspect, and the moisture content is optically measured. It doesn't matter. For example, a transparent container, a light source that emits infrared light from the side to the grain filled in the container, a sensor that receives transmitted light that has passed through the grain on the opposite side of the light source, and a sensor And a computer that calculates the amount of moisture based on the signal.

(4) Moreover, the gate controlled to open and close by the computer at the lower ends of the chutes 32a and 32b, the light source for irradiating the grains filled in the chutes with the gates closed, and the transmission through the grains. You may provide the sensor which receives light, and the computer which calculates a moisture content based on the signal from the said sensor.

(5) In the existing equipment 100, a computer for controlling various devices is not limited to a single computer. For example, another computer that controls the reception terminal 102 and the hopper scale 120 may be provided, and the other computer may communicate with the computer 62 of the measurement apparatus 10. In this aspect, when the other computer receives the reception information from the reception terminal 102 and receives information indicating that it can be input from the hopper scale 120, the measurement is performed on the computer 62 of the measurement device. Send a command.

  The present invention can be implemented in a mode in which various improvements, modifications, or variations are added based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Moreover, you may implement with the form which substituted any invention specific matter to the other technique within the range which the same effect | action or effect produces.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Measuring apparatus 16 ... Mounting stand 18 ... Load detector 28 ... Analog-digital converter 32 ... Flowing means 52 ... Container 54 ... Electrode plate 56 ... Capacitance detection circuit 60 ... Computer 100 ... Existing facility 106 ... Grain tension hopper

Claims (2)

A measuring device installed above the grain hopper,
A grain passing portion for passing the grain downward is formed, and a mounting table on which a flexible container containing the grain is placed;
A load measuring means disposed below the mounting table and measuring a load received by the mounting table from the flexible container;
Flowing means for flowing down the grain discharged from the flexible container and passing through the grain passage part to the grain filling hopper,
A moisture content measuring means for measuring the moisture content of the grain that has passed through the grain passage section;
Measuring device equipped with. The measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moisture content measuring unit partially measures the moisture content of the grain that has passed through the grain passage part.