JP2533123B2 - Alignment and supply device for spherical fruits and vegetables - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention is suitable for use in a fruit-picking field for selecting fruits and vegetables, and supplies spherical and easily rolled fruits and vegetables to a processing device such as a selection conveyor. The present invention relates to an apparatus for aligning and supplying spherical fruits and vegetables.

[Prior Art] In a fruit and vegetable sorting apparatus that sorts fruits and vegetables in a non-contact manner by using a combination of light and electrons, the fruits and vegetables are arranged in a line on a sorting conveyor and are not individually connected to each other and are separated from each other. Needed to be present. Conventionally, various devices have been proposed as a device for arranging fruits and vegetables in a line in such a sorting device. For example, a vibrating feeder and a star wheel disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-92218 are disclosed. A combination of and is known.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the above vibrating feeder, generally, the speed at which the fruits and vegetables are conveyed on the diaphragm trough is not constant due to the difference in size, hardness, and shape of individual fruits and vegetables. However, if there are fruits and vegetables whose conveyance speed is significantly reduced due to the above reasons, there is a drawback that the smooth conveyance of the succeeding fruits and vegetables is hindered. Furthermore, the vibrating feeder has a characteristic that the transport speed changes depending on the fluctuation (amount) of the load (amount of fruits and vegetables supplied), and when the amount of fruits and vegetables supplied on the diaphragm trough from the previous step increases, The transport speed was reduced, and the supply efficiency was significantly reduced. On the other hand, if the amount supplied is too small, it may be connected to the front and rear when it is accelerated to an unnecessarily high speed and transferred onto the selection conveyor, or it may drop from the selection conveyor. Moreover, the above-mentioned conventional device controls the irregular rolling of the fruits and vegetables at the time of transfer by contacting the brush roller with the uniform brush bristles rotating circularly from above to the fruits and vegetables transferred between the respective mechanical devices. Because of the size (height) of the fruits and vegetables, what was accelerated more than necessary on the vibrating feeder would pass through the brush roller without being regulated by the brush roller. Or, there was a problem that it could be rolled because it was pressed down too much.

That is, in the above-mentioned conventional alignment feeder using the vibrating feeder, there is a defect that the fruits and vegetables cannot be constantly supplied onto the sorting conveyor, and as a result, the filling rate of the fruits and vegetables into the sorting conveyor is low, and the alignment feeding is performed. The ability is limited to 3 to 4 per second. On the other hand, with the recent development of electronic and optical technology, high-speed sorting technology has been established, and high-speed processing (about 10 pieces per second) is progressing in the sorting conveyor. It is strongly desired to provide an aligning and feeding apparatus that can consistently feed fruits and vegetables to a sorting conveyor that processes at high speed without an aligning and feeding apparatus that can cope with this.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, in which a lump-shaped and easily rolled vegetable or fruit is determined from the size of the vegetable or fruit and the transport speed of the processing device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for aligning and feeding spheroidal fruits and vegetables which can be constantly supplied by increasing the filling rate by approaching the theoretical value of the treated amount.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, in the apparatus for aligning and supplying lumpy fruits and vegetables according to claim 1, spheres are provided at the tip of a supply conveyor for supplying the lumpy fruits and vegetables in a substantially single-row state. The lumpy fruits and vegetables have a width such that they can be placed in substantially one row, and a downwardly inclined portion that receives the lumpy fruits and vegetables supplied from the supply conveyor and that is self-propelled, and extends substantially horizontally at the tip of the downwardly inclined portion. An aligning conveyor provided with a constant-speed delivery unit that receives and conveys the lump-shaped fruits and vegetables that are self-propelled from the descending slope section, and is provided endlessly above the constant-rate delivery section. A large number of elastic bristle bristles in the rotating endless belt are planted at a length shorter than both ends at a central portion in a lateral direction perpendicular to the transfer direction of the endless belt, and the bristle at the central portion. Than the bristles at both ends A soft brush conveyor is provided so that its bristles come into contact with the lump-shaped fruits and vegetables conveyed on the constant-speed delivery section, and the transfer speed of the brush conveyor is set to be substantially the same as the transfer speed of the alignment conveyor. It has a characteristic configuration.

In addition, in the apparatus for aligning and supplying lumpy fruits and vegetables according to claim 2, in addition to the configuration according to claim 1, the brush bristles are provided at a constant speed with the brush bristles upstream of the transfer. The constitution is characterized in that the brush bristles are provided above the constant speed delivery part so as to come into contact with the lump-shaped fruits and vegetables conveyed above and to gradually separate from the lump-shaped fruits and vegetables in the transfer downstream portion. It is a thing.

[Function] Since the lump-shaped fruits and vegetables supplied from the supply conveyor to the descending slope of the aligning conveyor in a substantially one-row state are sequentially self-propelled on the descending slope, the longitudinal directions of the fruits are separated. , The fruits and vegetables slightly protruding from the central row are arranged in an interrupting row in this separated gap. The lump-shaped fruits and vegetables that are aligned and self-propelled on the descending inclined portion are accelerated and sequentially fed onto the constant-velocity feeding portion. The lump-shaped fruits and vegetables sent onto the constant-speed delivery section are such that the brush bristles of the brush conveyor provided on the constant-rate delivery section are planted with a length shorter than both ends at the central portion, and Since the brush bristles in the central portion are softer than the brush bristles in the both ends, the inertia of the self-running rolling is gradually absorbed and centered, and the front and rear of the lump-shaped fruits and vegetables become substantially in close contact with each other. In this way, the lump-shaped fruits and vegetables conveyed in a state of being closely adhered to each other in the front and rear are sandwiched between the brush conveyor and the constant-speed delivery section of the alignment conveyor, so that the processing equipment on the downstream side has a constant predetermined speed. Supplied.

Further, since the brush conveyor provided on the constant-speed delivery unit is provided so as to be gradually separated from the spheroidal fruits and vegetables in the transfer downstream portion, the spheroidal fruits and vegetables on the constant-speed delivery unit are bristles. The contact with is gradually released and is sent out without being squeezed out on the constant speed sending section.

[Embodiment] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings (FIGS. 1 to 7).

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an example in which the aligning and feeding device of the present invention is incorporated in a vegetable and fruit sorting facility. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same.

In the figure, 1 is a supply conveyor as a pre-process. 2 is an alignment conveyor. 3 is a brush conveyor.

The supply conveyor 1 is for supplying spherical lump-shaped fruits and vegetables 100 (hereinafter simply referred to as fruits and vegetables) in a substantially single-row state, and employs the device previously proposed by the applicant in Japanese Patent Application No. 61-202822. However, the conveyor device may have a width suitable for carrying the fruits and vegetables 100 in a line.

The alignment conveyor 2 has a width such that the fruits and vegetables 100 can be placed in a line, and a starting end portion 21 thereof is connected to the outlet portion 11 of the supply conveyor 1 and the starting end portion 21 is arranged.
A downward slope 22 where 100 fruits and vegetables roll by themselves while rolling
And a constant-speed sending section 23 that extends substantially horizontally at the end of the descending slope 22 and receives the fruits and vegetables 100 self-propelled from the descending slope 22 and conveys them toward the downstream side. The end portion 24 of the constant speed feeding portion 23 faces the start end of the separation conveyor 4.

The alignment conveyor 2 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. Incidentally, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a conveying roller, which is rotatably fitted on a roller shaft 27 installed at equal intervals in the traveling direction between the left and right conveyor chains 26 that are rotationally driven, and configured as an accumulation rate type.

The conveyance roller 25 has a width such that the fruits and vegetables 100 can be placed in a line, and the central portion 251 has an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameters of the end portions 252. Further, the transport roller 25 is preferably made of a synthetic resin member so as to be rotatably fitted to the iron roller shaft 27.

As described above, according to the transport surface 28 of the alignment conveyor 2 formed by the hourglass-shaped transport rollers 25, the fruits and vegetables 100 supplied onto the transport rollers 25 have the function of centering on the central portion 251 of the transport surface 28. The alignment effect can be enhanced in cooperation with the separating action of the descending inclined portion 22.

Further, the transport roller 25 can be divided at the central portion 251 and two rollers can be rotatably fitted to the roller shaft 27.

The angle of the descending slope portion 22 is defined as the vegetables and fruits to be selected.
100 is a slope that is self-propelled while rolling, and is determined by the size, shape, and type of the fruits and vegetables 100. For example, in the case of orange, navel or the like, about 12 to 16 degrees is preferable.

Reference numeral 29 denotes an overflow carry-out conveyor, which is provided below an overflow port 222 formed by cutting out a part of a side plate 221 provided in the descending inclined portion 22, and an excessive amount of fruits and vegetables 100 falling from the overflow port 222 is out of the machine. I try to return to the previous process before carrying out.

The length of the descending inclined portion 22 of the aligning conveyor 2 can be set appropriately, but the fruits and vegetables supplied from the previous step
It is preferable to set the length to absorb 100 unevenness of supply (pulsation flow).

The brush conveyor 3 includes a substrate 32 on which a large number of brush bristles 31 are planted, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 well.
Are attached to a conveyor chain 33 that rotates endlessly at regular intervals. Reference numeral 34 is a sprocket that is pivotally supported at the start end and the end of the brush conveyor 3, and the conveyor chain 33 is wound around the sprocket to make the conveyor chain 33.
Is designed to rotate. Reference numeral 35 is a chain rail for guiding the traveling of the conveyor chain 33. 36
Is a conveyor frame.

As shown in FIG. 3, the brush bristles 31 have a central portion 311 having a length shorter than both end portions 312a and 312b, and both end portions.
Brush bristles 31 that are softer than 312a and 312b are planted in a width of approximately the diameter of the fruits and vegetables 100.

The surface of the bristles of the brush bristles 31 is a lump-shaped fruit or vegetable.
It is formed in an arc shape according to the average shape of 100.
By forming the brush bristles 31 in this way, the transport surface 28 of the alignment conveyor 2 and the central portion of the brush conveyor 3
With 311, a tunnel-shaped transport path 200 is formed, and the rolling inertia of the fruits and vegetables 100 self-propelled and fed into the transport path 200 can be absorbed and centered and transported.

As another method different in the constitution of the brush bristles 31,
As shown in the drawing, the brush bristles 31 may be planted on the upper surface of the belt 321 that runs and rotates endlessly.

In FIG. 5, 341 is a pulley for running the belt 321 endlessly, and 342, 342 are belt receiving rollers for guiding the running of the belt 321.

Reference numeral 300 denotes a drive device, which drives the sprocket 34 to rotate so that the transfer speed of the brush conveyor 3 and the transfer speed of the alignment conveyor 2 are substantially the same.

Reference numeral 301 denotes a conveyor hanging metal fitting, which supports the brush conveyor 3 on a mounting base 302 installed above. The brush conveyor 3 has a starting end portion thereof which is close to the constant speed delivery portion 23 of the aligning conveyor 2, and at the starting end portion, the brush bristles 31 are provided to face the constant speed delivery portion 23 substantially in parallel. Moreover, in the transfer downstream portion 351, the brush bristles 31
Are gradually tilted upward so as to be separated from the fruits and vegetables 100 on the constant speed delivery section 23. The position (height) of the brush conveyor 3 is set to a position where the brush bristles 31 lightly come into contact with the upper surface of the fruits and vegetables 100 supplied onto the constant-speed delivery unit 23 from above.

In addition, it is preferable that the length (machine length) of the brush conveyor 3 is appropriately set according to the size and shape of the fruit and vegetables 100.

The operation of the embodiment of the aligning and feeding device having the above configuration will be described.

The fruits and vegetables 100 supplied from the supply conveyor 1 to the descending inclined portion 22 of the aligning conveyor 2 in a substantially single-row state are sequentially self-propelled on the descending inclined portion 22 to be transferred to produce the fruits and vegetables 10.
The front and rear directions of 0 are separated and interrupted in a line. 10 fruits and vegetables that are self-propelled in a line aligned on this descending slope 22
0 is accelerated and sequentially sent onto the constant speed sending unit 23. The fruits and vegetables 100 sent onto the constant speed sending section 23 are transferred by the brush conveyor 3 provided on the constant speed sending section 23.
The inertia of the self-propelled rolling is gradually absorbed and centered, and the front and rear are in a close contact state. Constant-speed sending unit 23
The fruits and vegetables 100 that are conveyed in a substantially close contact state above are sandwiched between the brush conveyor 3 and the constant-speed delivery section 23 of the alignment conveyor 2, so that they are supplied to the processing device on the downstream side at a constant predetermined speed. . In this manner, the fruits and vegetables 100 sequentially sent out from the constant speed sending section 23 of the alignment conveyor 2 are constantly supplied to the sorting conveyor 7 via the separating conveyor 4 described later.

Separation conveyor 4 provided at the end of the alignment conveyor 2
Is driven to rotate at a transport speed slightly higher than the transport speed of the alignment conveyor 2, and the fruit and vegetable 100
The front and rear are separated from each other, and a belt conveyor is used in which a narrow belt 41 having a width that allows the fruits and vegetables 100 to be placed in a line is stretched. The front end pulley 42 of this belt conveyor is formed to have a small diameter in order to reduce the drop in the front and rear transits.

The length (machine length) of the separating conveyor 4 can be set as appropriate, but it is preferable to form the length so that the rolling inertia of the fruits and vegetables 100 generated when being supplied from the aligning conveyor 2 is absorbed. .

Further, as shown in FIG. 6 (BB cross section in FIG. 1), the separation conveyor 4 has a conveying surface 43 on the upper surface of a substantially V-shaped slide plate 431 with the right and left sides being high and the central portion being low. It is formed in a concave shape by running 41. Further, it is preferable that the narrow belt 41 has a cushioning material (for example, a napped material such as artificial grass) planted on the surface thereof.

Reference numeral 44 denotes a drive device such as a motor, which is the separation conveyor 4
Both of them are interlocked with each other so that the conveying speed of the above is higher than the conveying speed of the aligning conveyor 2 by a predetermined speed.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a brush conveyor for suppressing rolling of the fruits and vegetables 100 supplied onto the separating conveyor 4, and the same one as the brush conveyor 3 is used. The brush conveyer 5 is provided so as to face the conveying surface 43 of the separating conveyer 4, and the transfer downstream portion 51 is inclined upward.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a sorting conveyor provided in front of the separating conveyor 4, and conveys the fruits and vegetables 100 separated from the separating conveyor 4 one by one and supplied at a predetermined conveying speed. The fruits and vegetables 100 conveyed by the sorting conveyor 7 are measured by a measuring device 71 such as a camera for the shape and surface condition of the fruits and vegetables 100, and a predetermined sorting section is determined by a computing device (not shown). The fruits and vegetables 100 for which the assortment classification has been determined are discharged from the discharge section 72 provided in the middle of the transfer path onto the drawer conveyor 73 and carried out of the machine.

The conveying speed of the sorting conveyor 7 is set higher than that of the separating conveyor 4 in order to separate the fruits and vegetables 100.

That is, the transport speed of the sorting conveyor 7 is calculated by the size of the fruits and vegetables 100 to be sorted, the gap in the front-back direction of the fruits and vegetables 100 necessary for measurement, and the sorting processing amount (number). Therefore, the transfer speed of the alignment conveyor 2 and the separation conveyor 4 can be set to obtain a predetermined separation gap with reference to the transfer speed of the sorting conveyor 7.

In addition, the separating conveyor 4 is provided to smoothly separate the front and rear of the fruits and vegetables 100 (stepwise), and can be omitted depending on the conveying speed of the sorting conveyor 7. That is, since the respective conveying speeds of the aligning conveyor 2, the separating conveyor 4, and the selecting conveyor 7 are gradually increased with increasing speed as they transfer to the downstream side, the fruits and vegetables 100 are separated from each other without difficulty. be able to.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a brush conveyor, which is the same as the brush conveyor 3 and has a starting end portion 61 that is close to the transfer portion 74 of the sorting conveyor 7 and a transfer upstream portion 61.
, The brush bristles 31 are provided so as to face the upper surface of the sorting conveyor 7 substantially in parallel, and the brush bristles are provided in the transfer downstream portion 62.
31 is provided so as to be gradually inclined so as to be separated from the fruits and vegetables 100 on the upper surface of the sorting conveyor 7.

In the above configuration, the fruits and vegetables 100 supplied from the aligning conveyor 2 onto the separating conveyor 4 are conveyed while being slightly separated on the separating conveyor 4 due to the speed difference, and the inertia of rolling during transfer by the brush conveyor 5. Are absorbed, aligned, and supplied to the transfer section 74 of the sorting conveyor 7.

The fruits and vegetables 100 supplied onto the transfer section 74 are absorbed in the rolling inertia at the time of being supplied by the brush conveyor 6 contacting from above as shown in FIG. Stable seated and transported. The fruits and vegetables 100, which are separated in the front-rear direction on the sorting conveyor 7 and are conveyed in a single row, have their appearance states measured by a measuring device 71, and a predetermined sorting division is determined by an arithmetic processing device (not shown). Based on this determination result, the fruits and vegetables 100 are discharged from the predetermined discharging unit 72 onto the pulling conveyor 73.

The above description and the accompanying drawings are merely examples, and do not limit the invention, and the invention can be applied to other shapes and arrangements as long as the contents are set forth in the claims.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the spheroidal fruits and vegetables supplied from the supply conveyor onto the alignment conveyor in a substantially single-row state are transferred while traveling by themselves on the descending slope of the alignment conveyor. When they are conveyed to the constant-speed sending section by being aligned in a line by, the brush conveyor provided on the constant-speed sending section absorbs the rolling inertia when self-propelled and is centered and Since it is brought into close contact with and is supplied to the processing device on the downstream side at a constant predetermined speed, the transfer speed changes due to fluctuations in the load (supply amount) compared to the alignment using the conventional vibrating feeder. Since there is no need to do so, stable alignment can be performed. Furthermore, in addition to the highly stable alignment that is not affected by the fluctuation of the load, since the lump-shaped fruits and vegetables can be fed out at a constant predetermined speed in the constant-speed feeding unit, the size of the lump-shaped fruits and vegetables and the processing apparatus It is possible to constantly supply the treatment amount close to the theoretical value of the treatment amount determined by the conveying speed, and it is possible to increase the filling rate in the treatment device and provide an efficient aligning and feeding device.

As a result, lumpy fruits and vegetables are sent to the sorting conveyor every second, for example.
It will be possible to supply about 10 pieces at high speed and stably,
It is effective in speeding up the processing at a vegetable and fruit sorting facility.

[Brief description of drawings]

Each of the drawings is an explanatory view showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view showing an example in which the aligning and feeding device of the present invention is incorporated in a fruit and vegetable sorting facility, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same, and FIG.
1 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a part of a brush conveyor, FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of another method for planting brush bristles, and FIG. 6 is FIG. 1 BB. FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 1 ... Supply conveyor, 2 ... Alignment conveyor, 3 ... Brush conveyor, 4 ... Separation conveyor, 5 ... Brush conveyor, 6 ... Brush conveyor, 7 ... Sorting conveyor, 100 ... Spherical fruit and fruit, 11 ... Exit section , 21 …… Starting end 22 …… Downward slope, 23 …… Constant speed feeding part 24 …… Ending part, 25 …… Conveying roller 26 …… Conveyor chain, 27 …… Roller shaft 28 …… Conveying surface 29… … Overflow unloading conveyor 200 …… Transport path, 221 …… Side plate 222 …… Overflow port, 251 …… Center part 252 …… Both ends, 31 …… Brush bristles 32 …… Substrate, 33 …… Conveyor chain 34 …… Sprocket , 35 …… Chain rail 36 …… Conveyor frame, 300 …… Drive device 301 …… Conveyor hanging metal fittings, 302 …… Mounting base 311 …… Central part, 312 …… Both ends 321 …… Belt, 341 …… Pulley 342 ...... Belt receiving roller, 351 …… Transfer downstream part 41 …… Small width Lt, 42 ... Tip pulley 43 ... Conveying surface, 44 ... Driving device 431 ... Slide plate, 51 ... Transfer downstream part 61 ... Transfer upstream part, 62 ... Transfer downstream part 71 ... Measuring device, 72 …… Sorting and discharging section 73 …… Drawer conveyor, 74 …… Transfer section

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A sphere-shaped fruit or vegetable product having a width such that the sphere-shaped fruit or vegetable can be placed in substantially one line at the tip of a supply conveyor for supplying the lump-shaped fruit or vegetable product in a substantially one-row state, and receiving the sphere-shaped fruit or vegetable product supplied from the supply conveyor And a constant-speed sending-out unit that receives the lump-shaped fruits and vegetables that extend substantially horizontally at the tip of the downward-sloping portion and that self-runs from the downward-sloping portion and conveys them toward the downstream side. And an alignment conveyor with
Above the constant-speed delivery part, a large number of elastic bristle bristles that are elastic in an endless belt that rotates endlessly are shorter than both ends at the central portion in the lateral direction perpendicular to the transfer direction of the endless belt. So that the brush bristles in the central portion are softer than the brush bristles at the both ends so that the brush bristles come into contact with the lump-shaped fruits and vegetables conveyed on the constant speed delivery portion. An apparatus for aligning and supplying lumpy fruits and vegetables, characterized in that the transfer speed of the brush conveyor is substantially the same as the transfer speed of the alignment conveyor. 2. The brush conveyor is such that the brush bristles come into contact with the lump-shaped fruits and vegetables conveyed on the constant speed delivery part in the upstream part of the transfer and the bristles are in the downstream part of the transfer. The apparatus for aligning and supplying lumpy fruits and vegetables according to claim 1, wherein the lumpy fruits and vegetables are arranged so as to be gradually separated from the lumpy fruits and vegetables and provided above the constant-speed delivery section.