JP2552138B2 - Sorter - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial field of application) The present invention is a target number of agricultural products, in particular peppers, eggplants, etc., which have individual variations in weight, and is a total number of them. The present invention relates to a sorting device for sorting so that the weight falls within a certain weight range.

(Prior Art) Japanese Patent Application No. 61-17488 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 6-48488)
2-175624) or Japanese Patent Publication No. 57
There is one described in Japanese Patent No. 29651.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) By the way, in the apparatus described in JP-A-62-175624, since the selected articles are also placed on the circulation conveyor and conveyed to the release gate, a predetermined number The minimum accommodation space is required. Therefore, in the device, the combination efficiency tends to decrease.

The device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-29651 has a problem that a predetermined number or more of weighed articles are required for the combination calculation, and some articles are always waiting.

In view of the above, the present invention is to obtain a more suitable sorting device when the invention described in JP-A-62-175624 is applied to a quantitative sorting device for peppers, eggplants and the like.

Further, in view of the above problems, the present invention intends to release the supplied article at the time when it is determined that the article can be selected, store only the article that cannot be selected, and operate the device efficiently. is there.

(Means for Solving Problems) According to the present invention in order to solve the above problems, according to the present invention, there is provided a sorting device that sequentially sorts a target number of one package from a plurality of weighed articles, and sequentially supplies the target number. Means for weighing the weighted articles, a plurality of hoppers for accommodating the articles weighed by the weighing means, and an inputting means for feeding the articles weighed by the weighing means into an empty hopper of the plurality of hoppers , The discharging means for discharging the articles accommodated in the hopper from the hopper, the weight of the articles newly placed in one hopper, and the total weight of the articles already discharged, the sum of the corresponding articles. It is calculated whether or not it is within the set weight range for each predetermined number of selections, and if it is within the set weight range for each predetermined number, the articles stored in one hopper are selected. One package of goods Then, the article weighed by the weighing means is newly discharged into the one hopper by discharging it from the one hopper by the discharging means, and if it is not within the set weight range for each of the predetermined number, the one hopper is discharged. The total weight including the weight of the contained articles, the weight of the articles already contained in other hoppers, and the total weight of the articles already discharged is the predetermined number for the selection of the corresponding article. Whether or not it is within the set weight range for each, if it is within the set weight range for each of the predetermined number,
The articles accommodated in the one hopper and the other hopper are discharged from the hopper by the discharging means as the selected one package of articles, and the one new hopper measures the articles measured by the weighing means. If the hopper is put into the hopper and the weight is not within the predetermined target weight range, the article put into the one hopper is held in the one hopper, and the article is stored in the other hopper following the one hopper. If the article is stored in the other one hopper, the article stored in the other one hopper is within the set weight range for each of the predetermined number. If it is used a predetermined number of times to calculate whether or not it is, the articles contained in the other hopper are forcibly discharged from the other hopper as unpackaged parts, and Goods in one hopper If it is not contained or if it is forcibly released, the other hopper is loaded with the article newly weighed by the weighing means, and the above operation is performed for the target number of pieces as one package. Controlling the loading and unloading operations by the loading means and the unloading means so as to repeat until the remaining number reaches the predetermined number, and relates the weight of the articles loaded in the one hopper to the one hopper in which the weight is stored. There is provided a sorting device for sequentially sorting target quantities from a plurality of weighed articles as one package, the sorting apparatus having arithmetic and control means stored in step 1.

The invention will now be described in more detail on the basis of an embodiment with reference to the drawing.

(Example) In FIGS. 1 to 3, in the sorting apparatus of this example, the articles 1 sequentially supplied by the supply conveyor 2 are weighed by the conveyor scale 5, and the weighed articles 1 are hopper 3a.
~ 3f, provided below the hoppers 3a to 3f, the second hopper 4 selectively accommodates the articles 1 from the hoppers 3a to 3f, and the number (target number) as one package, When the articles 1 within the set weight range are obtained, the articles 1 accommodated in the hopper 4 are collectively discharged from the hopper 4 in accordance with a release instruction from the arithmetic unit 10.

The arithmetic unit 10 is composed of a storage unit, an arithmetic unit, and a control unit, and instructs the air cylinder 9 which hopper is to be released via the release mechanisms 8a to 8f of the hoppers 3a to 3f.
In addition, a hopper rotation instruction is given to the drive unit 6 in order to rotate the hoppers 3a to 3f according to the flow described below.

To explain the outline of the operation of the present sorting apparatus configured as described above, the weight of the article 1 supplied to the hopper 3a is stored in the storage unit of the arithmetic unit 10, and the article 1 has a set weight range of individual weights (hereinafter If it is within the range (Condition 1), it is judged whether it is within the set weight range for each number based on Table 1 (Condition 2 described below). If (condition 2) is satisfied, the controller of the arithmetic unit 10 instructs the air cylinder 9 to release the hopper 3a, and the articles accommodated in the hopper 3a are discharged to the hopper 4. Therefore, in this case, the articles are not stored in the hopper 3a and are discharged as they are. If the article 1 is out of the set weight range for each piece, the hoppers 3a to 3f are rotated by one hopper, and the next article 1 may be moved to the hopper 3a to 3f.
Accept in the empty hopper out of 3f. For the above operation, refer to the specification of International Application No. WO87 / 00623.

The operation of the present sorting apparatus will be described in more detail with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 and 5. In FIG. 4, it is determined whether or not the hopper that should store the article is empty (step 2). When the hopper is empty, a new article is stored in the empty hopper and the weight data is input to the storage unit ( Step 3). If it is not empty, it is judged whether or not the article accommodated in the hopper is the third participation, that is, the article has been rotated three times without being selected (step 4), and if it is the third participation. , Forcibly discharging the article to a separate discharge place to empty the hopper (step 7), store a new article in the emptied hopper, and input the weight data to the storage unit ( Step 3). If it is not the third participation, it is judged whether or not the article is a new accommodation (participation) article (step 5). In the case of a new contained article, it is determined whether Condition 1 (set weight range of individual weight) described below is satisfied (step 6). When the condition 1 is not satisfied, the article is forcibly discharged to another discharge place (step 7), the hopper is emptied (step 7), and a new article is stored in the emptied hopper. At the same time, the weight data is input to the storage unit (step 3). If the condition 1 is satisfied or if the product is not a new contained product, it is determined whether or not this product satisfies the condition 2 (set weight range for each number) described later (step 8),
If not satisfied, determine whether the total weight of this and the articles already contained in one of the other hoppers satisfies the condition 2 by judging the weights of the articles contained in all the other hoppers. (Step 10) If there is no one that satisfies Condition 2, rotate one hopper (Step 3
2) Return to step 2. If the condition 2 is satisfied in step 10, and if two articles satisfying the condition 2 are to be discharged, whether or not the remaining number is 1 against the target number which is the number of one package is determined. If it is judged (step 9 ') and the remaining number is one, the hopper is rotated by one (step 32) and the process returns to step 2. When the condition 2 is satisfied in step 8 or the step described later
If the total weight of the two pieces in 13 satisfies the condition 2, and if an article satisfying the condition 2 is to be discharged, whether or not there is one remaining quantity with respect to the target quantity as one package is determined. Judge (step 9). If the remaining number is not 1 in step 9 or step 9 ',
In step 8, 10 or 13, the release of the article satisfying the condition 2 is determined (step 11). In step 9,
If the number of remaining products is one, is the total weight of any one of the unreleased products of the other hoppers and the product satisfying the condition 2 in step 8 or 13 satisfied the new condition 2? Whether or not it is judged (step 10), if it is satisfied, it is decided to discharge the article satisfying the condition 2 (step 11), and if it is not satisfied, the hopper is rotated (step 32). When it is decided to release in step 11, it is judged whether or not the target number as one package has been reached (step 12), and if the target number has not been reached, two of the other products not yet released from the hopper It is judged whether or not the total weight of 2 satisfies the condition 2 (step 13), and if the condition 2 is satisfied, it is determined that the two articles should be discharged, and the process returns to step 9 and the condition must be satisfied. For example, according to the second flowchart (FIG. 5), it is determined whether or not the unreleased article can be released by tracing back to the unreleased article and calculating again. If it is determined in step 12 that the target quantity for one package has been reached, the second hopper is released to discharge the target quantity for one package (step
14) and return to step 2.

If it is determined in step 13 that the condition is not satisfied, the flow chart of FIG. 5 is followed. In FIG. 6, the storage positions P1 to P6 and the weights w1 to w6 of the articles stored in the storage positions P1 to P6 are stored in the hoppers 3a to 3f and the hoppers 3a to 3f. Item weight w1 ~
w6, and in the flow shown in FIG.
While sequentially shifting to P1, it is determined whether the weight of one or two articles satisfies the condition 2.

First, the position P6 is set as X (target item to be judged) (step 15), and it is judged whether or not the article at the position P6 has already been discharged (step 16). If it is released, the process proceeds to step 30. Position if not emitted
It is judged whether or not the weight w6 of the article of P6 satisfies the condition 2 (step 17), and if it is satisfied, when the release of the article of the weight w6 is determined, the remaining quantity for the target quantity as one package is determined. Judge whether the number is 1 or not (step 18), 1
If not, determine the release of an item with weight w6 (step
twenty one). In step 17, if the weight w6 does not satisfy the condition 2, whether the total weight of the article having the weight w6 and another one of the unreleased articles in the hoppers 3a to 3f satisfies the condition 2 is determined. It is judged (step 19), and if satisfied, it is judged whether or not the remaining number is one with respect to the target number as one package when these two articles are discharged (step 18 '), 1 If not, the discharge of these two articles is determined (step 21), and if it is determined that the remaining number is 1, the process proceeds to step 30. Step
If it is judged that the remaining number is 1 in 18, the weight w6
It is judged whether or not the total weight of the above-mentioned article and the other one of the articles not yet released in the hoppers 3a to 3f satisfies the condition 2 (step 19), and if these are satisfied, these 2 If one article is discharged, naturally, the number of remaining pieces for the target number of pieces as one package is not one,
A decision is made to release these two articles (step 21). In step 19, if the total weight of the article of weight w6 and the other one of the unreleased articles in the hoppers 3a to 3f does not satisfy the condition 2, the other two of the unreleased articles. It is judged whether or not the total weight of the above articles satisfies the condition 2 (step 20), and if so, it is judged whether or not the remaining number when these two articles are discharged is one ( In step 18 '), if satisfied, the process proceeds to step 30, and if not satisfied, it is decided to release these two articles. After the release is determined in step 21, it is judged whether or not the release determined number, that is, the selected number has reached the target number as one package (step 22), and if the target number has been reached, the second hopper is set. Release (step 29) and return to step 2. If it is determined in step 22 that the target number for one package has not been reached, it is next determined whether or not the article at the storage position P1 has been discharged (step 23), and if discharged, the process proceeds to step 30. If not released, it is judged whether or not the weight w1 of the article at the storage position P1 satisfies the condition 2 (step 24), and if satisfied, it is determined that the article of the weight w1 is released. It is judged whether or not there is one remaining quantity for the target quantity as a package (step 25),
If it is not one, the release of the article of weight w1 is determined (step 27). If the weight w1 does not satisfy the condition in step 24 or the remaining number is 1 in step 25, the other one of the articles having the weight w1 and the unreleased articles in the hoppers 3a to 3f is selected. It is judged whether or not the total weight of one article satisfies the condition 2 (step 26), and if not satisfied, the process proceeds to step 30. If the judgment in step 26 is satisfied, the condition 2 between the article of weight w1 and this
When it is determined that the article which is said to satisfy the above condition is released, it is judged whether or not the remaining number of the target number as one package is one (step 25 '), and if it is not one, the 2
The release of one item is determined (step 27), and if it is one, the process proceeds to step 30. After the release decision is made in step 27, it is judged whether or not the number of the articles decided to be released has reached the target number as one package (step 28), and if so, the second hopper is released (step 29). Step two
Return to. If the target number has not been reached even for the articles determined to be discharged, it is determined as X whether or not the position is P2 (step 3
0), if X is position P2, return to step 2. X is position P
If it is not 2, decrement the X number by 1 (step 3
1) The above calculation is performed for the position P5, and this operation is repeated until the position P2 is reached. When X = P2 is satisfied, the process returns to step 2.

In the above processing, in steps 10, 13, 19, 20 and 26, a plurality of combinations of two articles satisfying the condition 2 may occur, but in order to avoid such a situation, There are various methods, but in one example, the combination calculation is performed by tracing back from the one having the slowest weighing order, and the combination calculation is stopped when the combination of two articles satisfying the condition 2 is first obtained. And satisfy the condition 2 at the beginning 2
Individual articles shall be applicable.

According to the flow as described above, a set of the target number of articles having a set weight is obtained as one package. Next, the above will be further described by using the actual numerical values shown in the second, in the case of selectively collecting and collecting 6 articles as the target quantity for one package.

The lower limit weight WL and the upper limit weight WU of the individual weights W of the articles used as the condition 1 are WL = 20 g and WU = 40 g, respectively.
(WL <W <WU) is set, and the set weight range Wn when n pieces are assembled as Condition 2 is set as the lower limit set weight WL (n) and the upper limit set weight WU (n), and this is set in Table 1. Shown in.
Here, the target weight when 6 pieces are collected is 192 g, and the set weight range W6 when 6 pieces are collected is 190 g to 198 g. Therefore, the target weight Wa per piece is 192g x 1/6 =
And

When the numerical values are applied to Table 1, the target weight Wa is 32 g, the lower limit weight WL is 20 g and the upper limit weight WU is 40 g. Therefore, the first lower limit set weight WL (1) is 2 × 32-40 = 24
g, the upper limit set weight WU (1) is 2 × 32−20 = 44 g, and therefore the set weight range W1 is 24 g to 44 g. The same applies hereafter, and the second lower limit set weight WL (2) is 3 x 32-40
= 56g, the upper limit set weight WU (2) is 3 x 32-20 = 76g, so the set weight range W2 is 56g to 76g, and the third lower limit set weight WL (3) is 4 x 32-40 = 88g, The upper limit set weight WU (3) is 4 × 32−20 = 108g, so the set weight range W3 is 88g to 108g, and the fourth lower limit set weight WU
L (4) is 5 x 32-40 = 120g, upper limit set weight WU (4)
Is 5 × 32−20 = 140g, therefore the set weight range W4
120g ~ 140g, 5th lower limit set weight WL (5) is 6x
32-40 = 152g, upper limit set weight WU (5) is 5 x 32-20 = 17
Therefore, the set weight range W5 is 152 g to 172 g. Since the final target number of 6th is fixed, the set weight range W6 is 190g to 198g.

Hereinafter, with reference to Table 2, a detailed description will be given based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 and 5. First, it is assumed that all the hoppers 3a to 3f are not loaded with the articles, and all the hoppers 3a to 3f are empty, and the first weighed article having a weight W = 31 g is the first hopper (for example, the hopper). 3
It is put into a). The first item in the weighing sequence, W = 31 g, has a set weight range of individual weight W as condition 1 of 20 g to 4 g.
Satisfies 0g, is not the third participation, and is within the range of 24g-40g of the first set weight range W1, and if this is decided to be released, the remaining amount for the target quantity of 6 pieces as one package Since the number is 5, the discharge is decided, and the emptied hopper accepts the next weighed second item weighing 24 g in its position. Second set weight range W
2 is 56-76g but the first release-determined article is 31g
Therefore, the lower limit is 56−31 = 25 g, and the upper limit is 76−31 = 45 g. Therefore, the second 24 g article in the weighing sequence satisfies the condition 1 but does not satisfy the condition 2, and
No other unreleased articles have been received by any of the other hoppers, so with this 24 gram weight article still received in the first hopper (eg hopper 3a), all hoppers can only be used for one hopper. Rotate to receive the third weighed item weighing 22 g into the second hopper (eg, hopper 3b). Since the weight range of the second piece does not change, the 22 g article in the third weighing order is condition 1
However, the above range of 25 g to 45 g based on the set weight range W2 of Condition 2 is not satisfied. Therefore, the weight of 24 g of the second item that has not been discharged to the first hopper is added to the second item, and the total weight is 22 g + 24 g = 46 g. Judging whether or not it is possible to determine the release as the third and third articles, the set weight range W3 up to the third article is 88 g to 108 g, and the first (A-1) article for which the release has already been determined. Since the weight of is 31g,
The total weight of the articles to be discharged as the second and third pieces is 57g to 77g, and the weighing sequence remaining without being discharged to the first hopper is the second article and the second article. The total weight received in the third hopper with the third item in the weighing sequence cannot meet this weight range of 57g to 77g. Therefore, without determining the discharge of the articles received in the first and second hoppers, all the hoppers are rotated again by one hopper, and the fourth weighed article of 34 g is weighed. Accept in a third hopper (eg hopper 3c). 4th weighing order
The item with the 34th weight of 34g satisfies the condition 1 and the condition 2 defined by the set weight range W2, not the third time, and the target number of 6 pieces as one package when it is decided to release Since the remaining number for A is not one, it is decided to be released as the second (A-2). Next, the total weight obtained by adding the weight 24g of the second item which has not been discharged yet and the weight 22g of the item which has the third weighing position satisfies the fourth weight range W4. Since the condition 2 is not satisfied even if it is calculated whether or not the weight of the article that has not been discharged and remains in the hopper is traced back one by one with respect to the weighing order, and the weight of the article is the third weight range. Judging whether or not W3 is satisfied, the lower limit of Condition 3 for the third item is 88g- (31 + 34) = 23g and the upper limit is 108g- (31 + 3).
4) = 43g, therefore the second weighing sequence is 24
Article g is determined as the third (A-3) released article. Up to now, as the first item (A-1), the weighing order is the first
The 31st item, the second item (A-2), the fourth weighing item, 34g, and the third item (A-3), the second item, the second weighing item, 24g, are released, respectively. The eye condition 2 is calculated in the same manner as above, and is 31 g to 51 g. The hopper does not rotate and the third hopper is empty,
The fifth weighing item weighing 23 g is received in the third hopper. However, the article weighing 23 g does not satisfy the second condition 2 and the article weighing 23 g
Weight stored in the second hopper without being released
The total weight of the 22 items is 45g, and the 5th condition is 63g as Condition 2.
Since ~ 83g is not satisfied, all hoppers are rotated by one hopper to receive a sixth weighing sequence of 38g weighted article into a fourth hopper. The sixth weighing item with a weight of 38 g satisfies the weight range of 31 g to 51 g of Condition 2, and the remaining number is not 1 against the target number of 6 as one package, so the fourth item (A = 4) ) Is released as an article. Next, since it has not been decided to release the target number of 6 pieces yet, if it is judged whether or not the condition 2 is satisfied by the 2 pieces of the unreleased articles in the hopper, the weighing order of the third article is 22g and the weighing order. However, the total weight becomes 172 g even if the fifth article 23 g is added, which does not satisfy the sixth target weight 190 g to 198 g.

Therefore, this time, the determination is made retroactively, but neither the fifth item nor the third item in the weighing order satisfy the condition 2, and the number of remaining pieces for the target number of pieces for one package is two. Therefore, similarly, the condition 2 is not satisfied for the total weight of the fifth and third articles, and the newly emptied fourth hopper can receive the seventh weighing item of 35 g. Here, the weight of the articles already released is the combination order (A-1), (A-2), (A-3).
And 31 g, 34 g, 24 g and 38 g of (A-4) make a total of 127 g. By the way, since the remaining number is already two, even if a new article is received in the empty hopper and the new article satisfies the condition 2, the new article and the new article are not yet discharged and are accommodated in the hopper. It is necessary to satisfy the target weight of 190 to 198 g for the sixth piece with the two pieces with the existing articles. In other words, the total weight of these two articles should be in the weight range 63g to 71g. Therefore, the 7th weighing order
This is not satisfied with the thirty-fifth g item, so
For the remaining combinations, the value obtained by adding the weight of the newly received article and the weight of the unreleased article remaining in the hopper may satisfy the weight range of 63 g to 71 g. It is the fifth empty hopper that receives the 23g item with the eighth weighing sequence and the sixth empty hopper has the ninth weighing sequence.
When 38g of goods are received and the first empty hopper receives the 10th weighing of 33g goods, the 9th weighing order is the 9th weight of 38g goods and the 10th weighing order is The total weight of 71g including the weight of 33g
Satisfies 63g ~ 71g, this weighing sequence is the ninth weight 38g
And the 10th item in the weighing sequence having a weight of 33 g are determined to be discharged as the 5th (A-6) and 6th (A-6). Now that we have reached the 6th, release the second hopper.

So far, the selection and release results for the first set A and the subsequent set B are briefly described. At the moment, the first hopper is empty and the second hopper has the third weighing 22
g item, the third hopper has the fifth weighing item with a weight of 23 g, the fourth hopper has the seventh weighing item with a weight of 35 g, and the fifth hopper has The eighth weighing order contains 23 g of articles, the sixth hopper is empty, and the one facing the conveyor scale 5 is the first hopper. Therefore, the first hopper receives the 11th item weighing 39 g in the weighing order. Then, based on the flow charts of FIG. 4 and FIG.
As shown in Table 2, for the other set B, the first (B
For -1), the 11th 39g article is determined to be released. As the second and third items, among the unreleased articles,
The third item in the weighing sequence is 22g and the weighing sequence is the seventh item.
A second weight 35 g article is determined to be released at the same time. Then, as the fourth item, an item having a weight of 24 g, which is stored in the empty first hopper and has a twelfth weighing order, is determined to be discharged. And as the 5th and 6th, when the empty 6th hopper accommodates 35g articles with the 16th weighing order, the 15th 40g articles with the 15th weighing order The 16th 35 g article is determined to be discharged, and the sorting for the other set B is completed. In the same manner, as for the selection for still another set C, as shown in Table 2, the release decision is made for up to the fourth article. It should be noted that before the 18th item in the weighing sequence is determined to be discharged as the combination sequence (C-1), the item in the 5th weighing sequence and having a weight of 23 g accommodated in the third hopper. Will participate in the calculation of whether or not the release can be decided, but at this point the article with the weight of 23 g is the third participation, so it is forcibly released to a separate discharge place, and the third hopper is The 18th item in the weighing sequence will be accepted.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, the sorting apparatus of the present invention is a sorting apparatus that sequentially sorts the target number of one package from a plurality of weighed articles, and weighs the sequentially supplied articles. Weighing means, a plurality of hoppers for accommodating the articles weighed by the weighing means, and a charging means for feeding the articles weighed by the weighing means into an empty hopper of the plurality of hoppers,
The sum of the discharging means for discharging the articles accommodated in the hopper from the hopper, the weight of the articles newly put into one hopper, and the total weight of the articles already discharged can be used to select the corresponding article. On the other hand, if it is within the set weight range for each specified number of pieces, if it is within the set weight range for each specified number, the articles contained in one hopper are packed into the selected one package. Minute articles are discharged from the one hopper by the discharging means and the newly weighed articles are put into the one hopper, and if the weight is not within the set weight range for each of the predetermined number, The total weight, including the weight of the articles contained in the hopper, the weight of articles already contained in other hoppers, and the total weight of the articles already released, is Set weight for each specified number If it is within the set weight range for each of the predetermined number, the articles contained in the one hopper and the other hoppers are selected as one package of articles. As a result of discharging from the hopper by the discharging means, the article newly weighed by the weighing means is introduced into the one hopper, and if the article is not within the predetermined target weight range, the article introduced into the one hopper. Is held in the one hopper, calculates whether or not the article is stored in the other one hopper subsequent to the one hopper, when the article is stored in the other one hopper, The articles contained in the other one hopper are
When the product is used a predetermined number of times to calculate whether or not it is within the set weight range for each of the predetermined number, the articles accommodated in the other one hopper are treated as the non-wrapped portion of the other articles. If the product is forcibly discharged from one hopper and the article is not stored in the other one hopper, or if the article is forcibly released, the article newly calculated by the weighing means is put into the other one hopper. Then, the above-mentioned operation is controlled so that the charging and discharging operations by the charging means and the discharging means are repeated so as to repeat the remaining number with respect to the target number as one package until the remaining number becomes a predetermined number, and the charging is performed on the one hopper. And a calculation control means for storing the weight of the stored articles in association with the one hopper in which the weight of the stored articles is stored. According to the sorting apparatus of the present invention, it is one package. N target number When selecting the n-th item for the selection, the sum of the weight of the items newly stored in one hopper and the total weight of the already released (n-1) items is selected as the n-th item. Since it is calculated whether or not it is within a predetermined target weight range with respect to, it is possible to eliminate useless combination calculation, shorten the calculation time, and easily configure the calculation control means. . In addition, since the sorting operation for the n-th article is newly executed for the article newly stored in one hopper, it is a so-called real-time process, and the sorting operation is executed after waiting for the weighing of a number of articles larger than N pieces. Therefore, it is possible to save unnecessary time such as so-called batch processing, shorten the calculation time, and further speed up the sorting operation as a whole.

In addition, according to the sorting apparatus of the present invention, when the sum is not within the predetermined target weight range, the weight of the articles stored in the one hopper and the weight of the articles already stored in the other hopper are Calculate whether the total weight including the weight of the existing articles and the total weight of the already released articles is within the predetermined target weight range for the selection of the corresponding number of articles,
In the case of being within the predetermined target weight range, the articles contained in the one hopper and the other hopper are discharged from the hopper by the discharging means as the selected one package of articles. In some cases, items that have not been determined to be released during sorting may be sorted as one that should be used in one package.As a result, the number of items that are not used in one package can be reduced, and the items can be efficiently and efficiently packaged in one package. Can be used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram, FIG. 3 is a perspective view and side view of a hopper, FIGS. 4 and 5 are flowcharts, and FIG. 6 is FIG. It is a storage state explanatory view of the storage unit shown in. 1 ... Goods, 2 ... Supply conveyor 3a-3f ... Hopper, 4 ... Second hopper 5 ... Conveyor scale, 6 ... Drive section 8a-8f ... Release mechanism, 9 ... Air cylinder 10 ... Arithmetic unit.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A sorting device for sequentially sorting a target number of one package from a plurality of weighed articles, and weighing means for weighing the sequentially supplied articles, and the weighing means. A plurality of hoppers for accommodating the articles, an inputting means for introducing an article weighed by the weighing means into an empty hopper among the plurality of hoppers, a discharging means for discharging the articles accommodated in the hopper from the hopper, Whether the sum of the weight of the articles put into one hopper and the total weight of the articles already discharged is within the set weight range for each predetermined number for the selection of the corresponding article. If the calculated weight is within the set weight range for each of the predetermined numbers,
The article accommodated in the one hopper is discharged from the one hopper by the discharging means as an article for one selected package, and the article newly weighed by the weighing means is introduced into the one hopper, and the predetermined If not within the set weight range for each piece, include the weight of the articles stored in one hopper, the weight of the articles already stored in the other hopper, and the total weight of the articles already discharged. If the total weight is within the set weight range for each predetermined number for the selection of the corresponding item, and if the total weight is within the set weight range for the predetermined number, then The articles contained in the hopper and the other hoppers are discharged from the hopper by the discharging means as the selected one package of articles, and the one hopper is charged with the articles newly measured by the weighing means, The predetermined eye If it is not within the weight range, the article put in the one hopper is held in the one hopper, and it is calculated whether or not the article is stored in the other hopper subsequent to the one hopper. When the article is stored in the other one hopper, a predetermined amount is calculated for calculating whether or not the article stored in the other one hopper is within the set weight range for each of the predetermined number. When it has been used multiple times, the articles contained in the other hopper are forcibly discharged from the other one hopper as unpackaged parts, and the articles are contained in the other one hopper. If not, or if it is forcedly released, the other hopper is loaded with the newly weighed articles, and the above operation is performed with respect to the target quantity as one package. Repeat until the number reaches the specified number As described above, the control means controls the loading and discharging operations by the loading means and the discharging means, and stores the weight of the articles loaded in the one hopper in relation to the one hopper in which the weight is stored. A sorting device that sequentially sorts the target number from a plurality of weighed articles into one package.