JP2531553Y2 - Combination scale - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a combination weigher, and more particularly, to a process when an appropriate combination is not obtained in a combination weigher in which an operator directly supplies articles to a weighing means. Things.

2. Description of the Related Art There is a so-called semi-automatic combination weigher as a combination weigher in which a driver directly supplies articles to weighing means. In this case, for example, a driver directly supplies articles to a plurality of weighing means, variously combines weighing signals obtained from each of the weighing means, and a total weight of each combination is equal to a preset target weight. A combination operation is performed to select one or a similar set. Further, it is determined whether or not the total weight of the selected set is within a preset allowable range. If the total weight is within the allowable range, the articles are automatically discharged from the weighing means constituting the selected set. If the total weight of the selected set is not within the allowable range, the articles in the weighing means are replaced and the above-described combination calculation is performed again.

Conventionally, an instruction of a weighing unit for replacing an article has been given by lighting an arbitrarily selected one of a plurality of display units provided near the respective weighing units so as to correspond thereto.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, as described above, since the weighing means for replacing the articles is arbitrarily selected and performed, even if the specified weighing means is replaced and the combination calculation is performed again, Combinations that fall within the allowable range are not always easily obtained. That is, when a combination within the allowable range cannot be obtained, a heavy object is often present in the articles of each weighing means, and when such an article is replaced with a lighter article, the total weight is reduced. Is more likely to be obtained by a re-combination operation with a combination that falls within the allowable range. However, in the related art, since the articles of the weighing means arbitrarily selected are replaced, a combination that falls within an allowable range is not easily obtained, and there is a problem that trial and error must be repeated several times.

An object of the present invention is to provide a combination weigher that has solved the above-mentioned problems.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, a first invention is to provide a plurality of weighing means for manually supplying articles and various combinations of weighing signals from these weighing means. Combination calculation means for selecting one combination from among the combinations whose total weight is equal to or close to a predetermined target weight; and determination means for determining whether the total weight of the selected set is within a predetermined allowable range. Instruction means for giving an instruction to eject articles from the weighing means constituting the set selected when the determination means determines that the weight is within the allowable range; and total weight of the selected set by the determination means. Means for selecting a predetermined number of weighing signals in order from the largest value of the weighing signals when it is determined that the weighing signals are not within the allowable range, and generating the selected weighing signals. Display means for displaying the weighing means in a state in which the difference in the magnitude of each weighing signal can be recognized.

In the second invention, a stay detection means is newly provided in the first invention. That is, when the total weight of the selected combination is determined not to be within the allowable range by the determining means, the stay detecting means detects the one of the weighing means which is staying without discharging the article. is there. Then, when the determination unit determines that the total weight of the selected combination is not within the allowable range, the selection unit has the highest value among the weighing signals other than the stagnated one of the weighing signals. A predetermined number of weighing signals are selected in descending order.

[Operation] According to the first invention, when it is determined that the total weight of the selected set is not within the allowable range, that is, when it is determined that there is no suitable set for discharging, the selecting means is activated. The display means selects a predetermined number of weighing signals in order from the largest one of the weighing signals, and displays the weighing means generating the selected weighing signal in a state where the magnitude of the weighing signal can be recognized. indicate. Therefore, the driver can immediately recognize the weight relationship of each article weighed by the weighing means generating the selected weighing means by this display. Based on this recognition and the experience so far, it is possible to determine which of the displayed weighing means should be replaced.

In the second invention, a selected number of the largest weighing signals among the weighing signals excluding the weighing signals of the weighing means in which the articles are staying without being discharged is selected. Therefore, the weighing means in which the articles are staying is excluded from the objects to be replaced. This is because it is desired that the staying articles be included in the selected set and discharged immediately. This rapid discharge is effective especially when the article is a frozen food or the like and it is not desirable to stay in the measuring means for a long time.

[Embodiment] In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a semi-automatic combination weigher as described above, and has a main body 2 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as is apparent from FIGS. 5 and 6. ing.
On the upper surface of the main body 2, a total of 14 article input ports 4 are formed in two rows of 7 each as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, a measuring tank 6 is provided inside the main body 2 so as to correspond to the article input port 4. Articles are supplied to these measuring tanks 6 through the inlet 4, and the articles in the measuring tank 6 can be replaced with other articles through the inlet 4. These weighing tanks 6 are respectively connected to load cells 8 provided in the main body 2 as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 6, and the load cells 8 supply weighing signals indicating the weight of articles supplied into the weighing tanks 6. Generate. Each of these measuring tanks 6 is provided with a discharge gate 10, which is opened and closed by a gate driving device 12 provided in the main body 2 as shown by a dotted line in FIG. The articles in the measuring tank 6 are discharged onto a conveyor 14 arranged below the tank 6 along the longitudinal direction of the main body 2. The discharged articles are conveyed to a packaging machine (not shown), where they are collectively packaged.

As shown in FIG. 5, an indicator light 16 composed of a light emitting diode or the like is provided near each input port 4. These indicator lights 16 are used to replace the articles in the measuring tank 6 corresponding to the blinking ones of these indicator lights 16 when a combination whose total weight falls within the allowable amount range is not obtained as described later. It is provided for instructing.

A recombination switch 18 is provided at one corner of the upper surface of the main body 2 as shown in FIG. The re-assembly switch 18 is for giving a re-assembly instruction to perform the re-assembly operation after the articles are exchanged as described above.

An operation control section 20 is provided on the side surface of the main body 2 opposite to the side on which the recombination switch 18 is provided. As shown in FIG. 6, on the outer surface of the operation control unit 20, the target weight and the boundary value of the allowable weight range are set, and the set target weight and the boundary value of the allowable weight range are displayed. A setting display unit 22 is provided, and an operation control unit is provided.
An arithmetic control unit 24 is provided inside 20.

As shown in FIG. 7, the arithmetic control unit 24 has a CPU 26. The CPU 26 includes a weighing signal from each load cell 8, a target weight from the setting display unit 22, a boundary value of an allowable weight range, and a reassembly switch. The recombination instruction signal from 18 is supplied to the CPU 26, but the weighing signal is supplied to the A / D converter 32 via a multiplexer (not shown), where it is converted to a digital weighing signal and supplied to the CPU 26. Is done. In CPU26,
The drive circuit 34 and the display circuit 36 are connected, and the input data is converted according to a program stored in the PROM 28.
Processing while using RAM30 as working memory,
The drive circuit 34 and the display circuit 36 are controlled based on the processing result.

A timer 38 is also connected to the CPU 26, which interrupts the CPU 26 every time a predetermined time elapses. The CPU 26 also drives the conveyor 1 via the drive circuit 34.
4 is also controlled. Although not shown in the figure, an alarm is provided to activate when a combination in which the total weight falls within the allowable range cannot be obtained due to the presence of the weighing tank 6 in which articles are retained. Have been. In FIG. 7, only one measuring tank 6, one load cell 8, one gate driving device 12, and one indicator light 16 are shown for simplification of the drawing. ing.

Hereinafter, the operation of the combination weigher will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the setting of m and T is performed by the setting display section 22 (step S2). Here, m is the number of the indicator lamps 16 to blink in order to instruct replacement when a combination whose total weight is within the allowable range is not obtained, and T is a reference used for determining different blinking periods. It is a cycle. Although not shown in FIG. 1, it is assumed that the target weight and the allowable weight range have already been set.

Subsequent to step S2, articles are charged into the respective measuring tanks 6 from the respective input ports 4 (step S4). Subsequently, the digital weighing signals obtained by converting the weighing signals from the respective rolls 8 are variously combined, and one of the combinations whose total weight is equal to the target weight or which is larger than the target weight and is the closest is selected. A combination operation is performed (step S6). Next, it is determined whether the total weight of the selected combination is appropriate, that is, within the allowable weight range (step S8). This determination is made, for example, by determining whether the total weight of the selected combination is between the target weight and the allowable upper limit weight. When such a determination is made, only the allowable upper limit weight may be set as the boundary value for determining the allowable weight range.

If the decision result in the step S8 is YES, it is determined whether or not a discharge signal permitting discharge of the article from the packaging machine is inputted (step S10). If the decision result is NO, the step S10 is performed until the result is YES. Is repeated, and when YES, a signal is supplied to the drive circuit 34 so that the selected set of articles can be discharged (step A12), and the process returns to step S4.

If the decision result in the step S8 is NO, and the selected combination is not an appropriate amount, a defective combination is displayed (step S14). As described later, this combination failure display indicates that the m weighing tanks 6 selected in the order in which the heavier articles are stored are excluded from the 14 weighing tanks 6 if any of the stagnated articles are present. The blinking cycle of the indicator light 16 corresponding to the weighing vessel 6 containing the heaviest article is made the shortest, and the blinking cycle is made longer in the following order. The driver can recognize which of the m weighing tanks 6 contains the heaviest article and which of the m weighing tanks 6 contains the lightest article by the difference of the blinking periods.
If there is a stagnation measuring tank 6, an alarm is issued. Therefore, the driver determines, based on his or her experience, whether to replace an article in the measuring tank 6 in which the indicating lamp 16 is blinking, and replaces it (step S16). Then, the user operates the re-combination switch 18 (step S18), gives an instruction to perform the combination calculation again, and returns to step S6. Even if the combination calculation is performed again in step S6, if the appropriate amount is not determined in step S8, step S14 is executed, and the indicator lights 16 corresponding to the new m number of weighing tanks 6 blink, so that Replaced in step S16, step S18
In step S8, such an operation is repeated until it is determined in step S8 that the amount is appropriate.

FIG. 2 is a detailed flowchart of step S14.
First, it is determined whether or not the stagnation measuring tank 6 is present (step S20).
This is determined as follows. As shown in FIG. 8, 14 flags corresponding to each measuring tank 6 are provided in the RAM 30,
Each time an article is discharged in step S12 in FIG. 1, the flag corresponding to the measuring tank 6 from which the article has been discharged is set to 1. For example, as the first discharge, the first, third, fifth, sixth,
Assuming that the articles are discharged from the eighth and ninth measuring tanks 6,
As shown in FIG. 8 1), the flags of 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, and 9 become 1. As the second discharge, the second, fourth, sixth,
Assuming that the articles are discharged from the measuring tanks 6 of 8 and 10,
The flags of 4 and 10 are newly set to 1 and the flags set to 1 have a total of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 2 as shown in FIG.
6, 8, 9 and 10. The first, third, fifth, ninth,
If articles are discharged from the 11th and 12th measuring tanks 6,
The flags 11 and 12 are newly set to 1, and the flags 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 are set to 1 as shown in FIG. 3). Similarly, the first, third,
Assuming that the articles from the measuring tank 6 are discharged to 5, 6, 9, and 11, and that the flags 1 to 6, 8 to 14 are 1 as shown in FIG. Yes, no articles have been ejected from the seventh weighing tank 6 in the discharge performed n times, that is, the articles in the seventh weighing tank 6 are staying. In step S20, it is determined whether or not each of the flags is 0 every time a predetermined time elapses. In addition. After making this determination, all the flags are set to 0, and again set to 1 according to the discharge. If it is determined in step S20 that there is a stagnation measuring tank 6, the software counter corresponding to the weighing tank 6 determined to be the stagnation measuring tank 6 among the 14 software counters provided corresponding to the respective weighing tanks 6 The count value is incremented by 1 (step S22). That is, the number of stays is counted. Then, it is determined whether the value of each count is equal to or greater than a predetermined allowable value (step S24). If the answer to this step S24 is YES, it is determined that the appropriate amount of combination cannot be obtained because the staying weighing tank 6 is present, and an alarm is activated (step S26), and the driver is notified to that effect. and, selecting the measuring tank 6 of a ₁ to a _m of m base weight of the article to heavy order from among the remaining measuring tank 6, except for the retention measuring tank 6 (step S28). Incidentally, a measuring tank 6 a ₁ is accommodated the heaviest article,
a _m is a measuring tank 6 which contains the lightest article. The reason why the stay measuring tank 6 is removed is to forcibly discharge the articles in the stay measuring tank 6.

If the answer in step S20 is NO and the staying weighing tank 6 does not exist, or if the answer in step S24 is NO and there is a staying weighing tank 6 and the stagnation weighing tank 6 is not staying to the allowable value, weight of the article to select the measuring tank 6 m stand a ₁ to a _n heavy order (step S30).

Thereafter, the indicator lamps 16 corresponding to the selected m measuring tanks 6 are caused to blink. For this purpose, the timer 38 responds to the interrupt signal supplied to the CPU 26 every time a predetermined time elapses. Execute the indicated interrupt routine. In this interrupt routine, using the flag of C ₁ to C _m formed in the RAM in response to the setting of the m in step S2.
In this interrupt routine, first, the software counter t is incremented by 1 (step S32), and it is determined whether the value of the counter t is equal to T set in step S2 (step S34).
If the answer is no, this interrupt routine is terminated.

If the answer to step S34 is YES, the time specified by T has elapsed, so that the value of the counter T is set to 0 in preparation for the next measurement (step S36). The value of the software counter A is incremented by 1 to measure the elapsed time (step S38).

Then it is determined whether the value of the flag C ₁ is 0 (step S4
0), the value of the flag C ₁ If the answer is YES to 1 (step S42), this answer is NO, i.e., when the value of the flag C ₁ is 1, which is referred to as 0 (step S44). Therefore, the value of the flag C ₁ is inverted to the time specified by T as shown in FIG. 4 has elapsed.

Subsequent to step S42 or S44, the value of the counter A becomes 2
Is determined (step S462), and if this answer is NO, this interrupt routine is terminated. If the answer to step S462 is YES and the value of the counter A is a multiple of 2,
Flag C ₂ determines whether a 0 (step S402). If this answer is YES, the flag C ₂ to 1 (step S42
2), the answer to step S402 is NO, the flag C ₂ is to not zero flag C ₂ 0 (step S442). Accordingly flag C ₂ as shown in Figure 4 is inverted each time the time passes defined by 2T.

Thereafter, the same processing is performed, and it is determined whether or not the value of the counter A is a multiple of 2 ^m-1 (step S46m). If the answer is NO, this interrupt routine is terminated. Step S46m the determination result is YES, the value of the flag C _m determines whether a 0 (step S40m), the value of the flag C _m when the determination result is YES and 1 (step S42m), step S40m the determination result to zero a flag C _m If there if NO. Therefore, the flag C _m is inverted each time the time defined by the 2 ^m-1 · T has elapsed. Since in this manner, the shortest inversion cycle of the flag C _1, inversion period in the order becomes longer or less, the inversion cycle of the flag C _m is the longest.

Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 2 again, step S28
Or subsequent to S30, the flag C ₁ is judged whether it is 1 (step S481). When the determination result is YES, to light the display lamp 16 that reacts to measuring tank 6 of a _1, step S481
When certain of the determination result NO, a turns off the display lamp 16 corresponding to the measuring tank 6 of a ₁ (step S521). Following step S501 or S521, the flag C ₂ is determined whether the 1 (step S482), the result of the determination is YES, the weighing tank 6 of a ₂
When it lights the indicator lamp 16 corresponding (step S502), the answer to step S482 is NO, the is to (step S522) turns off the display lamp 16 corresponding to the measuring tank 6 of a _2, similar processing is performed following It is determined whether the flag _Cm is 1 (step S4
8m), turns on the indicator lamp 16 to the determination result corresponds to the measuring tank 6 of a the a _m in YES (step S50m), step S4
8m the determination result turns off the display lamp 16 corresponding to the measuring tank 6 When it is NO a _m (step S52m). After step S50m or S52m, it is determined whether the recombination switch 18 is turned on (step S54). If the result of this determination is YES,
End this routine and proceed to step NO
Return to S481. Therefore, until the re-combination switch 18 is operated, flashes shortest cycle indicator 16 corresponding to the measuring tank 6 of a _1, sequentially blinking cycle becomes shorter or less, measuring tank of a _m 6
The blinking cycle of the indicator light 16 corresponding to is the longest. Steps are taken based on the indications of the m indicator lights 16 having different blinking periods.
The replacement of the article in S16 is performed.

In the above embodiment, the blinking cycle of the indicator 16 is varied depending on the program. However, an appropriate clock signal may be frequency-divided using a frequency divider, and this frequency-divided signal may be used. further,
In the above embodiment, the articles are automatically ejected.
It can be done manually. In the above embodiment, only the measuring tanks 6 are provided. However, auxiliary tanks are provided below each measuring tank 6, and each measuring tank 6 can supply the articles to the auxiliary tanks and discharge the articles onto the conveyor. Then, after transferring the articles from the respective measuring tanks 6 to the auxiliary tanks, the articles are newly supplied to the respective measuring tanks 6 and the combination calculation is performed between the articles in the auxiliary tanks and the articles in the measuring tank 6. Good. However, in this case, it is desirable that the replacement of the article be limited to only the measuring tank 6 because the replacement can be performed smoothly. Further, in the above-described embodiment, when the combination having the appropriate total weight cannot be obtained, the driver is made aware of the difference in the weight of the selected weighing tank 6 by changing the blinking cycle of the indicator light 16, For example, m different indicator lights of different emission colors are provided for each measuring tank, the indicator lamp of the first color is turned on for the measuring tank 6 containing the heaviest article, and the second heaviest article is stored. The indicator light of the second color may be turned on for the weighing tank 6 that is being operated, and the indicator light of the mth color may be turned on for the mth weighing tank 6 in the same manner. .

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, when only a combination whose total weight does not fall within the allowable range is obtained, a predetermined number of weighings are sequentially arranged in order from the heaviest article in each weighing layer. The tanks are selected and displayed so that the difference between these weights can be recognized. Therefore, the operator of the combination weigher can judge, based on this display, what weight of the articles contained in the selected weighing tank should be replaced based on his / her experience. An appropriate amount of the combination can be obtained smoothly. Further, in the present invention, when a combination having an appropriate amount is not obtained, when selecting the measuring tank for replacing the articles, the accumulated measuring tank is removed and selected, so the articles in the accumulated measuring tank are replaced. Since there is no need for this, the articles can be discharged into the stagnant weighing tank in an appropriate combination, so that the articles cannot be stored in the weighing tank for a long time like frozen food, for example. In the case of a product, this frozen food can be sent to the next step, which is effective.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a combination weigher according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a detailed flowchart of a step of displaying a combination failure in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an interrupt routine used in the embodiment, FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the blinking operation of the indicator lamp in the embodiment, FIG. 5 is a plan view of the embodiment,
FIG. 6 is a left side view of the embodiment, FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the embodiment, and FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a process of detecting a staying measuring tank in the embodiment. 6… Measurement tank, 8… Load cell, 16… Indicator light, 20…
... Operation control unit.

Claims (2)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A plurality of weighing means for manually supplying articles, and various combinations of weighing signals from these weighing means, and one of the combinations having a total weight equal to or close to a predetermined target weight is determined. Combination calculating means for selecting a set, determining means for determining whether the total weight of the selected set is within a predetermined allowable range, and selecting when the determining means determines that the total weight is within the allowable range. Instruction means for giving an instruction to eject an article from the weighing means constituting the set; and when the total weight of the selected set is determined not to be within the allowable range by the determination means, A means for selecting a predetermined number of weighing signals in descending order of value and a weighing means for generating each selected weighing signal in a state where the difference in the magnitude of each weighing signal can be recognized. Combination weigher and Shimesuru display means comprises. 2. A plurality of weighing means for manually supplying articles, and at least weighing signals from the weighing means are variously combined, and a combination having a total weight equal to or close to a predetermined target weight is selected from these combinations. Combination calculating means for selecting one set, determining means for determining whether the total weight of the selected set is within a predetermined allowable range, and selecting when the determining means determines that the total weight is within the allowable range. Instruction means for giving an instruction to eject articles from the weighing means constituting the set, and when the total weight of the selected set is determined not to be within the allowable range by the determination means, Means for selecting a predetermined number of weighing signals in order from the largest value among the weighing signals other than the staying weighing signals, and weighing means for generating the selected weighing signals And display means for displaying a state capable of recognizing the difference in size of each metering signals, the combination weigher equipped.