JP2022024504A - Combination scale - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a highly water-resistant combination scale that prevents generation of difference between the inner pressure and the outside pressure of a control box of a sealed structure containing a load sensor and that prevents water from entering the control box when the scale is in water.SOLUTION: The present invention includes: a device body including a control box of a sealed structure containing a load sensor; an operation setting display unit connected to the control box; and an air passage connected to the control box, for making the inner pressure and the outside pressure of the control box equal, an air port of the air passage being located above the device body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

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

As the combination scale, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1, there is a semi-automatic combination scale in which the articles are manually supplied and the articles are automatically discharged. In the combination scale of Patent Document 1, the objects to be weighed are manually supplied to a plurality of measuring conveyors arranged in parallel in a horizontal row, and the weight is within a predetermined weight range by the combination calculation based on the weight of the supplied objects to be weighed. A combination of multiple weighing conveyors is selected, and the objects to be weighed in the selected weighing conveyors are sent to a collecting conveyor that is conveyed along the measuring conveyor row, and the objects to be weighed in a predetermined weight range are packed by this collecting conveyor, etc. I am trying to carry it out to the next stage device.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-66600

In combination scales that weigh food, cleaning is performed regularly. During this cleaning, the control box that houses the load sensor and electrical components must have a sealed structure to prevent the ingress of cleaning water. On the other hand, it is necessary to make sure that there is no difference between the internal pressure of the control box and the external pressure so that the measurement accuracy by the load sensor in the control box does not deteriorate.

Therefore, conventionally, a vent is provided in a place where the washing water of the control box does not fall, for example, on the bottom surface of the control box to prevent the washing water from entering, and the internal pressure of the control box and the outside air pressure do not differ from each other. I have to.

However, in a waterproof structure with a vent on the bottom of the control box, etc., IPX6, which is IP (International Protection) grade defined by IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) and is not adversely affected by a strong direct jet, cannot be satisfied. However, it cannot satisfy IPX7, which has a higher grade and does not allow water to enter even if it is submerged in a specified pressure and time.

The present invention has been made focusing on such a point, and an object of the present invention is to provide a combination scale having a high waterproof grade without causing a difference between the internal pressure and the external pressure of the control box. do.

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

(1) The present invention is a combination scale including a device main body including a control box having a closed structure accommodating a load sensor, and an operation setting display connected to the control box of the device main body.
It has a ventilation path that communicates with the control box and equalizes the pressure inside the control box with the outside air pressure, and the ventilation port of the ventilation path is located above the main body of the device.

According to the present invention, since the internal pressure and the external air pressure of the control box can be made equal by the air passage communicating with the control box, highly accurate measurement is possible without being affected by the pressure difference between the inside and the outside.

In addition, even if the device body is submerged, the water level does not reach the vents of the ventilation passages above the device body, and even if the device body is submerged for a specified pressure and time, the device body including the control box Water does not infiltrate, and the waterproof grade IPX7 can be satisfied.

(2) In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the upper end is sealed, the large-diameter ventilation pipe is erected at a height exceeding the height of the apparatus main body, and the diameter is smaller than that of the large-diameter ventilation pipe. A small-diameter ventilation pipe derived from the control box and inserted into the large-diameter ventilation pipe from below is provided, and the upper end of the small-diameter ventilation pipe is communicated with the inside of the upper end of the large-diameter ventilation pipe to have the large diameter. The inside of the upper end of the ventilation pipe is communicated with a ventilation passage formed by the inner peripheral surface of the large diameter ventilation pipe and the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter ventilation pipe, and the ventilation port at the lower end of the ventilation passage is communicated with the outside air.

According to this embodiment, the upper end of the small-diameter ventilation pipe derived from the control box communicates with the inside of the upper end of the large-diameter ventilation pipe erected at a height exceeding the height of the equipment main body. Even if it is submerged, the inundation does not reach the upper end of the small diameter ventilation pipe inside the upper end of the large diameter ventilation pipe, and water does not enter the control box.

(3) In one embodiment of the present invention, the vent at the lower end of the vent is communicated with the inside of a downwardly open ventilation cover provided on the outer surface of the control box.

According to this embodiment, even if the washing water for washing falls on the ventilation cover, the washing water does not penetrate into the inside of the ventilation cover.

Further, the ventilation cover functions as a mounting base for supporting the base of the large-diameter ventilation pipe to the control box, and can be used as a constituent member.

(4) In another embodiment of the present invention, the operation setting indicator is connected and supported at the upper end of the large diameter ventilation pipe.

According to this embodiment, since the large-diameter ventilation pipe forming the ventilation passage connects and supports the operation setting display, it is possible to reduce the cost by also using the member.

In addition, since the small-diameter ventilation pipe is inserted into the large-diameter ventilation pipe that connects and supports the operation setting display, it is possible to obtain the same appearance as the conventional one while having a ventilation structure that exhibits a high waterproof function.

(5) In still another embodiment of the present invention, the mounting pedestal of the operation setting indicator is externally fitted to the upper end of the large-diameter ventilation pipe having an open upper end from above, and the upper end of the large-diameter ventilation pipe is mounted. Is sealed.

According to this embodiment, a dedicated lid member for sealing the upper end opening of the large-diameter ventilation pipe and its mounting are not required, and the cost can be reduced accordingly.

(6) In one embodiment of the present invention, the main body of the apparatus includes a plurality of measuring conveyors arranged in parallel and a collecting conveyor that conveys an object to be carried out from the measuring conveyor along a row of measuring conveyors. The load of the measuring conveyor is detected by the load sensor housed in the control box.

According to this embodiment, by allowing the control box containing the load sensor to be ventilated to the outside through the ventilation path, it is possible to avoid a difference between the internal pressure and the external pressure of the control box, and it is possible to prevent a difference between the internal pressure and the external pressure. Highly accurate weighing can be performed based on the detection output of the load sensor without being affected by the pressure difference.

(7) In another embodiment of the present invention, the measuring conveyor row and the control boxes for each measuring conveyor row are arranged on both sides of the collective conveyor, and the control box on one side is on the one side. It has the ventilation path that equalizes the pressure inside the control box and the outside air pressure, and the control box on one side and the control box on the other side are communicated and connected by a communication pipe.

According to this embodiment, by equipping the control box on one side with a ventilation path that equalizes the internal pressure and the external air pressure, ventilation can be performed in both control boxes via the communication pipe, and both control boxes can be ventilated respectively. It is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost as compared with the case of equipping the air passage.

As described above, according to the combination scale according to the present invention, there is no difference between the internal pressure and the external pressure of the control box in which the load sensor is housed, so that the measurement accuracy does not deteriorate. Moreover, it is possible to satisfy the waterproof grade IPX7 in which water does not enter the control box even if the main body of the device is submerged.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combination scale according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the combination scale of FIG. FIG. 3 is a front view of the combination scale of FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view of the combination scale of FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a combination scale with the protective cover open. FIG. 6 is a plan view of a combination scale with the protective cover open. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the combination scale with the measuring conveyor removed. FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional side view showing a waterproof ventilation structure. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the control box and the waterproof ventilation structure.

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

1 is a perspective view of a combination scale 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof, FIG. 3 is a front view thereof, and FIG. 4 is a side view thereof.

The combination scale 1 is a semi-automatic combination scale in which an operator manually supplies an object to be weighed and automatically carries out the object to be weighed within a predetermined weight range.

The combination scale 1 is arranged in parallel along the transport direction A on both sides of a collective conveyor 2 composed of a belt conveyor on which an object to be weighed is placed and conveyed in a certain direction A and sandwiching the collective conveyor 2. A measuring conveyor 3 consisting of a plurality of belt conveyors (7 on each side, 14 in total), and a touch panel type operation setting display 4 for setting operation control parameters and displaying the operating status of the combination scale 1. , A base 5 for supporting these is provided.

The collecting conveyor 2 conveys the object to be weighed selected by the combination calculation and discharged from the measuring conveyor 3 in the direction of arrow A, and discharges it to, for example, a next-stage packaging machine (not shown), and the packaging machine. It is packed in a bag.

The measuring conveyors 3 are linearly arranged in two rows on both sides of the collecting conveyor 2 along the transport direction of the collecting conveyor 2. The transport direction of each measuring conveyor 3 is a direction orthogonal to the transport direction A of the collective conveyor 2, as indicated by the arrow B.

In the upper part of the base 5, a plurality of load measuring units 6 are installed in parallel on both sides of the collecting conveyor 2, and the measuring conveyor 3 is mounted and supported on each load measuring unit 6. The weight of the entire weighing conveyor on which the object to be weighed is placed is detected by a load sensor such as a load cell incorporated in the load measuring unit 6, and the weight of the weighing conveyor 3 is subtracted from the detected weight as the tare weight. The weight of the weight is measured.

During operation, a worker standing in front of the three rows of weighing conveyors manually supplied the object to be weighed to the stopped empty weighing conveyor 3 and was selected to be within a predetermined weight range by a combination calculation. The objects to be measured of the plurality of measuring conveyors 3 are sent to the collecting conveyor 2, and the objects to be measured in a predetermined weight range are discharged from the end of the collecting conveyor 2 and sent to the packaging machine.

In the following description, in order to facilitate the understanding of the structure, the upper side of the transport direction A in the collective conveyor 2 is referred to as the front, the lower side is referred to as the rear, and the horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction A is referred to as the left-right direction. I will do it.

A control box 7 having a closed structure containing a power supply board, an arithmetic control board, and the like is arranged below the outside of the three rows of measuring conveyors and is supported by the base 5, and the lower part of the collective conveyor 2 is greatly opened. .. A long protective cover 8 is provided on the upper part of the control box 7 to cover the upper part of the control box 7 from above and from the outside, and an operator carelessly approaches the transport start end portion of the measuring conveyor 3 and its drive portion. It is designed to prevent contact.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the combination scale 1 with the protective cover 8 open, and FIG. 6 is a plan view of the combination scale 1 with the protection cover 8 open.

As shown in FIG. 6, the protective cover 8 is rotatably supported on the upper part of the control box 7 via a plurality of hinges 9. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the protective cover 8 is separated from the closed posture swung upward, the virtual line in FIG. 3, and the central collective conveyor 2 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. It is possible to switch and rotate to the open posture that is swung outward, which is the direction of moving (moving away).

As the hinge 9, a torque hinge to which an appropriate resistance is applied to the rotation of the cover is used, and the hinge 9 can be stably held in the closed posture and the open posture without requiring a special locking operation.

Further, the upper surface of the protective cover 8 is equipped with an indicator light 10 corresponding to each measuring conveyor 3 and an emergency stop button 11 for stopping the operation. The indicator light 10 is used, for example, when notifying the operator that the object to be weighed supplied on the measuring conveyor 3 is not in the appropriate weight range and prompting the operator to replace the object to be weighed. The indicator light 10 and the emergency stop button 11 are waterproofed and connected to the control box 7.

During normal operation, the protective cover 8 is held in the closed position, but during cleaning work, the protective cover 8 is opened and the measuring conveyor 3 is removed to wash away fragments and slag of the object to be weighed. ..

Although the detailed structure is not shown, each measuring conveyor 3 is detachably mounted and supported on each load measuring unit 6 via a pin engaging means, and as shown in FIG. 7, as required. The measuring conveyor 3 is removed from the load measuring unit 6 for cleaning and maintenance. Further, the outer portion of the load measuring unit 6 is equipped with a conveyor driving gear driven by an internal motor, which is provided in the measuring conveyor 3 as the measuring conveyor 3 is positioned and loaded in the load measuring unit 6. The passive gear is automatically occluded and interlocked with the conveyor drive gear.

Since the load measuring unit 6 itself is configured to have a waterproof specification that accommodates the load sensor and is connected to the upper part of the control box 7 so as to allow ventilation, the load sensor is integrated with the load measuring unit 6 in the control box 7. It is housed inside. Further, the internal pressure of the load measuring unit 6 and the internal pressure of the control box 7 are kept the same. A dehumidifier for preventing dew condensation is installed in the control box 7.

In the combination scale having the above configuration, it is necessary to prevent a difference between the internal pressure and the external air pressure of the control box 7 with which the load measuring unit 6 communicates so that the measurement accuracy of the load measuring unit 6 does not deteriorate.

Further, since the combination scale of this embodiment targets food, regular cleaning is required, and food is required at each part such as the measuring conveyor 3 and the load measuring unit 6 below the measuring conveyor 3 which is in direct contact with food. Higher waterproof grades are desired due to the strong adhesion of debris and slag. In this embodiment, it is configured to satisfy IPX7 in which water does not infiltrate even if the main body of the device other than the operation setting display 4 is submerged, and more specifically, it is configured to satisfy dustproof and waterproof grade IP67. ..

The operation setting display 4 that only operates and displays does not need a high waterproof grade like the main body of the device other than the operation setting display 4, and has the same waterproof grade as the conventional one. In this embodiment, the direct jet is used. Also meets IPX5, which is not adversely affected, and more specifically, it meets dustproof and waterproof grade IP65.

The combination scale of this embodiment is characterized by a waterproof ventilation structure of the main body of the device other than the operation setting display 4, and the details thereof will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional side view showing the waterproof ventilation structure, and FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the control box and the waterproof ventilation structure.

The two control boxes 7 arranged so as to face each other with the collective conveyor 2 interposed therebetween were airtightly communicated with each other via a pair of front and rear communication pipes 20, whereby both control boxes 7 and the two control boxes 7 were communicated with each other. The internal pressures of all the load measuring units 6 are kept the same.

The waterproof ventilation structure is installed in one of the two control boxes 7 (on the left side in the front view of FIG. 3). As shown in FIG. 9, the control box 7 is formed in a shallow box shape that is completely open toward the lateral outer side, and various electrical components constituting the power supply unit, the control unit, and the like are support plates. It is mounted on the 30 and housed in the control box 7. The lateral opening of the control box 7 is hermetically sealed by a lid cover 22 that is screwed and connected via the packing 21.

A stay 23 is projected from the rear side surface of one of the control boxes 7 having a waterproof ventilation structure, and a ventilation cover 24 opened downward is screwed and connected to the stay 23. A packing 25 is interposed at the joint between the ventilation cover 24 and the rear side surface of the control box 7, and only the lower end of the ventilation cover 24 is opened to communicate with the outside.
The lower end of a large-diameter ventilation pipe 26 made of, for example, a stainless steel pipe bent into an L shape is inserted through the rear side surface of the ventilation cover 24, and is welded all around and fixed upright.

Further, on the rear side surface of the control box 7, a small-diameter ventilation pipe 27 bent into an L shape, for example, made of a tube, is inserted in a watertight manner via a waterproof grommet 28, and as shown in FIG. The small-diameter ventilation pipe 27 is inserted along the large-diameter ventilation pipe 26 to near the upper end of the large-diameter ventilation pipe 26. The upper end of the large-diameter ventilation pipe 26 extends to a position higher than the level L on the upper surface of the main body of the apparatus except for the operation setting display 4.

The large-diameter ventilation pipe 26 is also used as the mounting column of the operation setting display 4, and has a large diameter through the mounting boss portion 4b with an upper bottom provided in the mounting seat portion 4a of the operation setting display 4. The upper end of the trachea 26 is inserted from below, and a seal ring 29 is interposed at the inner end of the fitting to seal the upper end opening of the large diameter ventilation pipe 26.

Therefore, the ventilation passage s formed inside the small-diameter ventilation pipe 27 extends to a high place near the upper end of the large-diameter ventilation pipe 26, and the inner peripheral surface of the large-diameter ventilation pipe 26 and the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter ventilation pipe 27. It is connected to a tubular air passage s'formed between the two. The lower end of the large-diameter ventilation pipe 26 forming the ventilation passage s'communicates with the inside of the ventilation cover 24. That is, the ventilation paths s and s'that communicate the control box 7 and the outside air are largely detoured to a high place and guided to a low position, and are communicated with the outside air in the ventilation cover 24 that is opened downward.

Although not shown, the power supply and communication cable for the operation setting display 4 connected to the predetermined circuit portion in the control box 7 are placed in the ventilation cover 24 from the rear side surface of the control box 7 via the waterproof grommet. It is inserted and derived, and further extends upward through a ventilation path s'between the large-diameter ventilation pipe 26 and the small-diameter ventilation pipe 27. The power supply and the communication cable are connected to the operation setting display 4 via a waterproof grommet or the like provided on the upper bottom portion of the mounting boss portion 4b in the mounting seat portion 4a. Further, the control boxes 7 separated to the left and right are electrically connected by a cable inserted into the communication pipe 20.

The waterproof ventilation structure of the control box 7 is configured as described above, and in normal operation, the control box 7 is inside the ventilation cover 24 at a low position via the ventilation passages s, s'that detour through high places. It enables ventilation between the control box 7 and the outside. Therefore, the internal pressure of the control box 7 and the load measuring unit 6 communicated with the control box 7 is maintained at the same level as the external air pressure.

Since the ventilation port to the outside of the ventilation passage s'is located inside the ventilation cover 24, there is no possibility that the washing water will enter the ventilation passage s'even if the washing water is poured from above during cleaning. Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, even if the device is submerged to the level L on the upper surface of the main body of the apparatus, the water surface that penetrates into the large diameter ventilation pipe 26 does not reach the upper end of the small diameter ventilation pipe 27. The control box 7 will not be flooded. Further, since the indicator light 10 and the emergency stop button 11 provided on the protective cover 8 on the control box 7 are waterproofed and connected to the control box 7, even if the main body of the device including the control box 7 is submerged. , IPX7 can be satisfied in which water does not enter the main body of the device including the control box 7.

That is, with the level L on the upper surface of the main body of the device excluding the operation setting display 4 as a boundary, the main body of the device below the level L satisfies the waterproof grade IPX7, more specifically, the dustproof and waterproof grade IP67. Further, the operation setting display 4 above the level L on the upper surface of the apparatus main body satisfies the same waterproof grade IPX5 as before, more specifically, dustproof and waterproof grade IP65.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the internal pressure and the external air pressure of the control box 7 can be made equal to each other by the ventilation passages s and s'communicating with the control box 7, so that the pressure difference between the inside and the outside is affected. Highly accurate weighing is possible without any problems.

Further, even if the main body of the device other than the operation setting display 4 is submerged, the water level does not reach the vent at the upper end of the ventilation path s'located above the main body of the device, and the water level does not reach the specified pressure and time. Even if it is submerged, water does not enter the main body of the device including the control box 7. That is, a high waterproof grade IPX7 can be satisfied.

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

(1) In the above embodiment, the ventilation path communicating with the control box is largely detoured to a height exceeding the device height and bent downward, but the ventilation path is not bent downward and is bent at a height exceeding the device height. , A vent that communicates with the outside air may be provided.

For example, the upper end of the small-diameter ventilation pipe 27 may be exposed to the outside air via the operation setting display 4 to serve as a ventilation port, and the ventilation port may be covered with a ventilation cover or the like.

(2) It is also possible to carry out with a specification in which three groups of measuring conveyors are arranged in parallel only on one side of the collective conveyor 2.

(3) Each of the plurality of control boxes 7 may be provided with a waterproof ventilation structure.

(4) The combination scale is not limited to the above-mentioned semi-automatic combination scale in which the object to be weighed is manually supplied and discharged automatically, but is a manual type in which the object to be measured is manually supplied and discharged. It can be applied to a combination scale or an automatic combination scale that automatically supplies and discharges an object to be weighed.

1 Combination scale 2 Collective conveyor 3 Weighing conveyor 4 Operation setting display 4a Mounting seat 6 Load measuring unit 7 Control box 24 Ventilation cover 26 Large diameter ventilation pipe 27 Small diameter ventilation pipe

Claims (7)

A combination scale including an apparatus main body including a control box having a closed structure accommodating a load sensor, and an operation setting indicator connected to the control box of the apparatus main body.
It has a vent that communicates with the control box and equalizes the pressure inside the control box with the outside air pressure, and the vent of the vent is located above the main body of the device.
A combination scale characterized by that. A large-diameter ventilation pipe that is erected at a height that exceeds the height of the main body of the device while the upper end is sealed.
It is provided with a small-diameter ventilation pipe having a diameter smaller than that of the large-diameter ventilation pipe, which is derived from the control box and inserted into the large-diameter ventilation pipe from below.
The upper end of the small diameter ventilation pipe communicates with the inside of the upper end of the large diameter ventilation pipe, and the inside of the upper end of the large diameter ventilation pipe is formed by the inner peripheral surface of the large diameter ventilation pipe and the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter ventilation pipe. It communicates with the air passage, and the vent at the lower end of the air passage communicates with the outside air.
The combination scale according to claim 1. The vent at the lower end of the vent is communicated with the inside of a downwardly open vent cover provided on the outer surface of the control box.
The combination scale according to claim 2. The operation setting indicator is connected and supported at the upper end of the large-diameter ventilation pipe.
The combination scale according to claim 2 or 3. The mounting pedestal of the operation setting display is externally fitted to the upper end of the large-diameter ventilation pipe having an open upper end, and the upper end of the large-diameter ventilation pipe is sealed.
The combination scale according to claim 4. The apparatus main body includes a plurality of measuring conveyors arranged in parallel and a collecting conveyor that conveys an object to be carried out from the measuring conveyor along a row of measuring conveyors.
The load of the measuring conveyor is detected by the load sensor housed in the control box.
The combination scale according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The measuring conveyor row and the control boxes for each measuring conveyor row are arranged on both sides of the collective conveyor.
The control box on one side has the air passage that equalizes the pressure in the control box on one side with the outside air pressure, and the control box on one side and the control box on the other side are communicated and connected by a communication pipe. Has been,
The combination scale according to claim 6.

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