JP2022012727A - Combination balance - Google Patents

Abstract

To increase weighing speed of a combination balance by collectively all at once discharging an object to be weighed in a sliding direction in a collecting chute for collecting the object to be weighed discharged from a hopper.SOLUTION: A shutter mechanism 20 is provided with a shutter 23 that is mounted to each of a plurality of collecting chutes 8 for collecting an object to be weighed discharged from a plurality of hoppers 7 and closes a sliding path orthogonally or substantially orthogonally to a sliding surface where the object to be weighed of the collecting chute 8 slides down. The shutter 23 opens the sliding path so as to be along a sliding direction of the object to be weighed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a combination scale that weighs and discharges a predetermined weight of an object to be weighed.

As the combination scale, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1, the scale can be opened and closed with a cushioning member in the supply path for feeding the object to be weighed discharged from the weighing hopper into the packaging machine via the collecting chute. It is known that a shutter is provided so that the object to be weighed is brought into contact with the cushioning member, temporarily stored, and then put into the packaging machine to prevent the object to be weighed from cracking or chipping.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-156277

The structure shown in Patent Document 1 has been proposed for the purpose of preventing cracking or chipping of the object to be weighed, and is to be weighed when the shutter is opened to discharge the temporarily stored object to be weighed. No particular consideration is given to the attitude of discharging objects. For example, an elongated object to be weighed is discharged in a state where the tip positions in the discharge direction are not aligned.

In the above combination scale, the objects to be weighed discharged from the plurality of weighing hoppers selected by the combination calculation to the collecting chute are the earliest discharged from the collecting chute when the collecting chute slides down and is collected at a predetermined gathering point. The longer the dimensional length from the tip of the object to be weighed to the end of the object to be ejected (hereinafter referred to as "string-out length"), the more the object to be weighed and supplied to the packaging machine below the gathering point. It will take time to do. Therefore, in order to increase the weighing speed, it is necessary to shorten the above-mentioned "string out length".

The present invention has been made by paying attention to such a point, and aims to improve the weighing speed of the combination scale by collectively discharging the objects to be weighed that slide down the collective chute in the sliding direction. Is the main purpose.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows.

(1) The present invention is a combination scale including a plurality of hoppers and a plurality of collecting chutes for collecting objects to be measured discharged from the plurality of hoppers.
The shutter of the shutter mechanism is provided with a shutter mechanism that is mounted on each of the plurality of collective chutes and has a shutter that closes the sliding path at right angles or substantially orthogonal to the sliding surface on which the object to be measured of the collective chutes slides. Opens the sliding path along the sliding direction of the object to be weighed.

According to the present invention, the objects to be weighed discharged from the plurality of hoppers are discharged to the corresponding collective chute and slide down along the sliding surface, but the shutter that closes the sliding path at right orthogonality or substantially orthogonal to the sliding surface. For example, in an elongated object to be weighed, the object is temporarily stored in a fixed posture with the lower ends aligned.

When the discharge of the objects to be weighed from the plurality of hoppers is completed, the shutter of the shutter mechanism in the collective chute is opened along the sliding direction, and the objects to be temporarily stored in the collective chute are in a state where the lower ends are aligned. It is ejected all at once in the direction of sliding down.

As a result, the string-out length, which is the dimensional length from the tip of the object to be ejected from the plurality of collective chutes to the end of the object to be ejected the latest, is shortened and the weighing speed is increased. Can be improved.

(2) In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the opening / closing drive mechanism for opening / closing the shutter for opening / closing the sliding path is provided, and the shutter mechanism is interlocked with the opening / closing drive mechanism so as to be engaged and disengaged. Has been done.

According to this embodiment, the shutter of the shutter mechanism mounted on the collective chute is opened and closed in conjunction with the drive of the open / close drive mechanism, while the shutter mechanism and the open / close drive mechanism are used when cleaning the combination scale. The shutter mechanism can be easily separated from the opening / closing drive mechanism together with the collective chute to perform cleaning or the like by disengaging the engagement with the shutter mechanism.

(3) In one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of collective chutes are detachably supported by a support frame, and the shutter mechanism is attached to the terminal side of the plurality of collective chutes, respectively. The shutter mechanism attached to the collective chute can be engaged with and detached from the opening / closing drive mechanism according to the attachment / detachment to / from the support frame.

According to this embodiment, the engagement of the shutter mechanism with the opening / closing drive mechanism can be disengaged by removing the collecting chute from the support frame at the time of cleaning the combination scale. Further, by attaching the collective chute to the support frame, the shutter mechanism can be engaged with the opening / closing drive mechanism, and the time from the completion of cleaning to the restart can be shortened.

(4) In another embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of shutter mechanisms are engaged and interlocked with the common opening / closing drive mechanism.

According to this embodiment, the number of open / close drive mechanisms can be reduced and the cost can be reduced as compared with the case where each shutter mechanism is driven by each open / close drive mechanism.

(5) In still another embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of shutter mechanisms include a passive member that rotates up and down to open and close the shutter, and an engaging arm connected to the passive member. The common opening / closing drive mechanism includes a drive member that reciprocates up and down, and a plurality of engagement rollers that extend from the drive member and are respectively engaged with each engagement arm of the plurality of shutter mechanisms. ..

According to this embodiment, each shutter mechanism is provided with each engaging arm connected to a passive member in each shutter mechanism and a plurality of engaging rollers respectively engaged with each of the engaging arms in the opening / closing drive mechanism. It is possible to engage and disengage the opening / closing drive mechanism, and it is possible to open / close each shutter of a plurality of shutter mechanisms by moving the drive member of the opening / closing drive mechanism up and down.

(6) In one embodiment of the present invention, the shutter of the shutter mechanism is rotatable, and the shutter and the passive member are connected via a toggle link.

According to this embodiment, in the closed state of the shutter, the rotation fulcrum of the passive member, the connection point between the passive member and the toggle link, and the connection point between the toggle link and the shutter are aligned linearly or substantially linearly. By setting to, even if an external force in the opening direction acts on the shutter in the closed state, the rotation in the opening direction is prevented by the tensioning action of the toggle link, and the closed state of the collective chute is reliably maintained. To. As a result, it is possible to prevent the shutter from opening due to the impact when the object to be weighed from the hopper slides down the collective chute and is received by the shutter in the closed state.

(7) In another embodiment of the present invention, the shutter mechanism includes a bracket that is connected and fixed to the collective chute, and the shutter and the passive member are rotatably supported by the bracket.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to assemble each member to the bracket to form a shutter mechanism, confirm the operation quality in advance, and then attach the member to the collective chute, and each member is attached to the collective chute, which is a relatively large member. The assembly workability is superior to the case where the operation is adjusted while assembling.

As described above, according to the present invention, the objects to be weighed discharged from the plurality of hoppers slide down the collective chute and are received and collected by the shutter in the closed state, and the shutter moves in the sliding direction of the objects to be weighed. Since the objects to be weighed are discharged from the collective chute at once, the objects to be weighed are discharged from the tips of the objects to be discharged earliest from the plurality of collective chute, and the objects to be measured are discharged at the latest. The string-out length, which is the dimensional length to the tail, can be shortened to improve the weighing speed.

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional front view showing a schematic configuration of a combination scale according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing the vicinity of the opening / closing drive mechanism 21 and the shutter mechanism 20 of FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view of the shutter mechanism. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the shutter mechanism. FIG. 5 is a side view of a main part showing a shutter closed state. FIG. 6 is a side view of a main part showing a shutter open state.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional front view showing a schematic configuration of a combination scale according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The combination scale of this embodiment weighs various confectionery, food, and other objects to be weighed in predetermined amounts and discharges them downward, and the weighed objects are put into a lower packaging machine (not shown). It is used for packaging lines that are packed in bags.

This combination scale is installed on the floor surface F on the floor of a frame (not shown) that is assembled and erected in a turret shape, and is substantially above the base 1 of the hollow structure having a large central portion and a large vertical opening. The cylindrical center substrate 2 is supported via the plurality of legs 3. At the center of the upper part of the center substrate 2, a dispersion feeder 4 (not shown) is provided which distributes and conveys the object to be dropped and supplied from the end of the supply conveyor in a radial manner by vibration. Around the distributed feeder 4, a large number of linear feeders 5 for linearly transporting the distributed and transported objects to the outside by vibration are provided radially.

On the outer peripheral portion of the center substrate 2, a plurality of supply hoppers 6 for temporarily storing and discharging the objects to be weighed from each linear feeder 5 and for measuring the weight of the objects to be weighed discharged from each supply hopper 6. It is equipped with a plurality of weighing hoppers 7. Then, the combined weighing and discharging of the object to be measured are performed by a multi-unit (for example, 14-unit) measuring unit including the linear feeder 5, the supply hopper 6, and the measuring hopper 7.

Below each weighing hopper 7, a narrow gutter-shaped elongated collecting chute 8 for collecting objects to be measured discharged from the weighing hopper 7 selected for an appropriate amount combination within a predetermined weight range by a combination calculation is inclined at a predetermined angle. Deployed at an angle. At the lower end of the collective chute 8, circular funnel-shaped collective funnels 9 and 10 that collect the objects to be weighed that have slid down from the collective chute 8 below the center of the center substrate 2 are deployed.

Further, below the collecting funnels 9 and 10, a collecting hopper 11 that temporarily receives and stores the objects to be weighed in the predetermined weight range collected by the collecting funnels 9 and 10 is arranged. The collective hopper 11 is provided with a horizontal slide type shutter mechanism 12, and the shutter mechanism 12 is controlled to be discharged based on a discharge request command from a packaging machine installed downstairs.

The dispersion feeder 4 on the upper part of the center substrate 2 includes a top cone 13 and an electromagnetic vibration mechanism 14 that vibrates and drives the top cone 13. The linear feeder 5 around the distributed feeder 4 includes a gutter-shaped trough 16 that goes inward and outward, and an electromagnetic vibration mechanism 17 that vibrates and drives the trough 16.

On the outer peripheral portion of the center substrate 2, a drive unit 18 incorporating a drive mechanism for opening and closing the gates of the supply hopper 6 and the measuring hopper 7, a weight sensor for measuring the weight of the object to be weighed in the measuring hopper 7, and the like is incorporated. It is installed. A supply hopper 6 and a measuring hopper 7 are detachably mounted and supported on the outside of the drive unit 18.

The collective chute 8 is detachably hooked and supported on a support frame 19 which is erected and fixed in an annular shape over the legs 3 above the base 1.

In this embodiment, for example, it is suitable for an elongated object to be weighed such as a rod-shaped pretzel or jerky, and has the following structure so that the objects to be weighed can be aligned and quickly assembled into the assembly hopper 11. It is equipped with.

That is, in this embodiment, a shutter mechanism 20 having a shutter 23 for opening and closing the sliding path of the object to be weighed is mounted on the terminal portion of each collective chute 8. Further, in the center of the lower surface of the center substrate 2, an opening / closing drive mechanism 21 for opening / closing the shutters 23 of all the shutter mechanisms 20 is provided.

FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing the vicinity of the opening / closing drive mechanism 21 and the shutter mechanism 20, FIG. 3 is a side view of the shutter mechanism 20, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the shutter mechanism 20.

The collecting chute 8 has a bottom wall 8a constituting a sliding path on which the object to be weighed slides down, and facing side walls 8b standing upright from both sides in the width direction of the bottom wall 8a. The object to be weighed discharged from the weighing hopper 7 slides down along the inner surface of the bottom wall 8a of the collecting chute 8. That is, the inner surface of the bottom wall 8a of the collective chute 8 constitutes a sliding surface on which the object to be weighed slides down.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the shutter mechanism 20 is rotatably supported around a lateral fulcrum a at the lower portion of the bracket 22 and the bracket 22 which are welded and fixed by covering the lower upper end edge of the collective chute 8. The shutter 23, the passive member 24 rotatably supported around the lateral fulcrum b on the upper part of the bracket 22, the toggle link 25 for interlocking the shutter 23 and the passive member 24, and the engagement connected to the passive member 24. A fork arm 26 as an arm is provided.

The bracket 22 includes a connecting plate 22a welded and connected across the upper end edge on the terminal side of the collective chute 8, and a bracket main body 22b welded and fixed on the connecting plate 22. The bracket main body 22b includes a pair of pivotal support portions 22c that are refracted and erect at the lower portion, and a pivotal support portion 22d that is refracted and erect at the upper portion. A pair of fulcrum bases 23a, which are refracted and connected to the upper part of the shutter 23, are rotatably connected to the pair of pivotal support portions 22c of the bracket main body 22b. Further, the passive member 24 is rotatably connected to the pivot portion 22d which is bent and erected on the upper part of the bracket main body 22b. The toggle link 25 is rotatably connected to the passive member 24 and the shutter 23 over one of the fulcrum bases 23a.

As shown in FIG. 5, the shutter 23 rotates toward the collective chute 8 to close the lower end of the collective chute 8 at right angles to the sliding surface of the collective chute 8, that is, the sliding path of the object to be weighed w. The elongated object w to be weighed is received and stored in a posture in which the tips are aligned. The shutter 23 is not limited to the case where the shutter 23 is closed orthogonally to the sliding surface of the collective chute 8, and may be closed substantially orthogonal to the sliding surface. The preferred angle range at which the sliding surface of the collective chute 8 and the shutter 23 intersect is, for example, about 90 degrees ± 10 degrees, and more preferably about 90 degrees ± 5 degrees.

As shown in FIG. 6, the shutter 23 opens the lower end of the collective chute 8 by rotating toward a side away from the collective chute 8. At this time, in the initial stage of rotation of the shutter 23, the lower end of the collective chute 8 is started to be opened along the sliding direction of the object to be measured w, and the lower end of the collective chute 8 is completely opened as the rotation progresses.

In this way, the shutter 23 opens the lower end of the collective chute 8 along the sliding direction of the object to be weighed, so that the tip of the shutter 23 opens as compared with opening the shutter along the direction intersecting the sliding direction, for example. The object to be weighed w stored in the aligned state can be smoothly discharged.

The opening / closing drive mechanism 21 that drives the opening / closing of the shutter 23 includes a drive case 27 connected to the lower surface of the center substrate 2, a pair of guide shafts 28 hanging downward from the drive case 27, and parallel along the guide shaft 28. Is provided with a disk-shaped drive member 29, etc., which is supported so as to be slidable up and down.

On the front surface of the drive case 27, a drive arm 30 that is driven and rotated by a motor built in the case is provided. The drive arm 30 and the drive member 29 are interlocked and connected by a connecting rod 31. By rotating the drive arm 30 in the forward and reverse directions over a certain angle range, the drive member 29 moves up and down in parallel with a predetermined stroke. The operating angle range of the drive arm 30 is restricted by the stopper 32 attached to the drive case 27.

A plurality of operation arms 33 corresponding to the number of shutter mechanisms 20 extend radially from the disk-shaped drive member 29. An engaging roller 34 pivotally supported on the side surface of the tip of each operating arm 33 in a lateral cantilever shape is engaged with the fork arm 26 in each shutter mechanism 20, and is interlocked with the vertical operation of the drive member 29 with the fork arm 26. The integrated passive member 24 is rotated in the forward and reverse directions, and the shutter 23 is opened and closed.

In the present embodiment configured as described above, the objects to be weighed discharged from the plurality of weighing hoppers 7 selected for the appropriate amount combination within the predetermined weight range by the combination calculation, for example, the elongated objects to be weighed w correspond to each other. It is discharged to the collective chute 8 to be ejected, received by the shutter 23 in the closed posture, and as shown by the virtual line in FIG. 5, is temporarily stored in a fixed posture in which the lower ends are aligned on the surface perpendicular to the sliding surface. ..

When the objects to be weighed w from the plurality of measuring hoppers 7 are discharged and a predetermined time elapses, the driving member 29 of the opening / closing drive mechanism 21 rises and the shutter 23 of the shutter mechanism 20 in all the collective chute 8 is released. As shown by the virtual line in FIG. 6, the objects to be weighed w temporarily stored in the plurality of collecting chutes 8 corresponding to the selected weighing hoppers 7 are discharged all at once in an aligned state with the lower ends aligned, and the collecting funnel. It is sent to the collective hopper 11 via 9 and 10.

In this way, the objects to be weighed that are aligned in a fixed posture with the lower ends aligned are collectively ejected at once, so that the objects to be ejected from the tip of the objects to be ejected earliest from the plurality of collective chutes are ejected the latest. The string-out length, which is the dimensional length to the end of the weighing object, can be shortened, and the weighing speed can be improved.

After a set time after the shutter 23 is opened, the drive member 29 is lowered and all the shutter mechanisms 20 are returned to the closed state to prepare for the next weighing discharge of the object to be weighed w.

When the shutter 23 is in the closed state, as shown in FIG. 3, the fulcrum b of the passive member 24, the connection point c between the passive member 24 and the toggle link 25, and the connection point between the toggle link 25 and the shutter 23. The position of d is set so as to be aligned or substantially linear, and even if the object to be measured w is strongly received by the shutter 23 and an external force acts on the shutter 23 in the opening direction, the toggle link 25 The tensioning action of the shutter 23 prevents the shutter 23 from rotating in the opening direction. That is, it is possible to prevent the shutter 23 from opening due to the impact when the object to be weighed from the weighing hopper 7 slides down the collecting chute 8 and is received by the shutter 23 in the closed state.

Further, in the combination scale that weighs and processes food, regular cleaning work is performed. During such cleaning work, the top cone 13 of the distributed feeder 4, the trough 16 of the linear feeder 5, the supply hopper 6, and the supply hopper 6 are performed. , The measuring hopper 7, etc. are removed, and the collective chute 8 is removed from the support frame 19. At this time, the fork arm 26 can be detached from the engaging roller 34 by pulling the collective chute 8 outward from the support frame 19. That is, the fork arm 26 of the shutter mechanism 20 provided on the collective chute 8 and the engaging roller 34 of the opening / closing drive mechanism 21 can be disengaged and separated.

In this way, when the collecting chute 8 is removed from the support frame 19 during cleaning work or the like, the engagement linkage of the shutter mechanism 20 with the opening / closing drive mechanism 21 provided on the lower surface of the center substrate 2 is released. As a result, the collective chute 8 provided with the shutter mechanism 20 can be easily and quickly removed without the trouble of releasing the engagement linkage by using a tool or the like.

Further, by attaching the collective chute 8 to the support frame 19, the fork arm 26 of the shutter mechanism 20 can be easily engaged with the engaging roller 34 of the opening / closing drive mechanism 21, and the fork arm 26 of the shutter mechanism 20 can be easily engaged again after the cleaning work is completed. It is possible to shorten the time until operation.

[Other embodiments]
The present invention can also be carried out in the following forms.

(1) In the above embodiment, the collective chute 8 is provided corresponding to each weighing hopper 7, but one collective chute 8 is provided corresponding to a plurality of, for example, a few weighing hoppers 7. You may do so.

(2) In the above embodiment, all the shutter mechanisms 20 are driven by a single opening / closing drive mechanism 21, but a plurality of shutter mechanisms 20 are divided into a plurality of parts, and a plurality of shutter mechanisms 20 corresponding to each type are divided into a plurality of parts. It may be driven by the opening / closing drive mechanism 21 respectively.

(3) The opening / closing mode of the shutter 23 of the shutter mechanism 20 is not limited to the above embodiment including the toggle link 25, and the shutter 23 that is urged to rotate in the closing direction by a spring or the like is simply opened / closed by the drive member 29. It can also be in the form.

7 Weighing hopper 8 Collective chute 20 Shutter mechanism 21 Opening and closing drive mechanism 22 Bracket 23 Shutter 24 Passive member 25 Toggle link 26 Fork arm 29 Drive member 34 Engagement roller w Weighing object

Claims (7)

A combination scale including a plurality of hoppers and a plurality of collecting chutes for collecting objects to be measured discharged from the plurality of hoppers.
A shutter mechanism is provided which is attached to each of the plurality of collective chutes and has a shutter for closing the sliding path at right angles or substantially orthogonal to the sliding surface on which the object to be weighed of the collective chutes slides.
The shutter of the shutter mechanism opens the sliding path along the sliding direction of the object to be weighed.
A combination scale characterized by that. It is provided with an opening / closing drive mechanism for opening / closing the shutter that opens / closes the sliding path.
The shutter mechanism is interlocked with the opening / closing drive mechanism so that it can be engaged and disengaged.
The combination scale according to claim 1. The plurality of collective chutes are detachably supported by a support frame and supported by the support frame.
The shutter mechanism is mounted on the terminal side of the plurality of collective shoots, respectively.
The shutter mechanism attached to the collective chute can be engaged with and detached from the opening / closing drive mechanism in response to the attachment / detachment of the collective chute to / from the support frame.
The combination scale according to claim 2. The plurality of shutter mechanisms are engaged and interlocked with the common opening / closing drive mechanism.
The combination scale according to claim 2 or 3. The plurality of shutter mechanisms include a passive member that rotates up and down to open and close the shutter, and an engaging arm connected to the passive member.
The common opening / closing drive mechanism includes a drive member that reciprocates up and down, and a plurality of engagement rollers that extend from the drive member and are respectively engaged with each engagement arm of the plurality of shutter mechanisms. ,
The combination scale according to claim 4. The shutter of the shutter mechanism is rotatable, and the shutter and the passive member are connected via a toggle link.
The combination scale according to claim 5. The shutter mechanism includes a bracket that is connected and fixed to the collective chute, and the shutter and the passive member are rotatably supported by the bracket.
The combination scale according to claim 5 or 6.

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