JP2598713B2 - Egg sorting and packaging equipment - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an egg sorting and packaging apparatus for packaging a weighed egg based on its weight.

(Conventional technology) Eggs are classified by weight as specified by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries,
Less than 6g), S (less than 46g-52g), MS (less than 52g-58g),
M (less than 58g-64g), L (less than 64g-70g), 2L (70g-7
For example, every 10 pieces are packaged in a plastic container and sold based on the standard (less than 6 g) and non-standard (76 g or less).
There are many sorting and packaging apparatuses of this kind, and the processing capacity thereof is increasing year by year.

These conventional egg sorting and packaging devices include a method in which eggs transported in a plurality of rows are weighed, then transported in a single row, and then input into a packaging apparatus provided on the way of transport based on the weight of the eggs, and a transport in a plurality of rows. After changing the eggs into single rows, the eggs are weighed and packaged based on the weight of the eggs.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) All of the above-mentioned conventional egg sorting and packaging apparatuses are designed to put the transported eggs into a container on standby on a packaging conveyor as a means for packaging. Therefore, if a trouble such as a case where the container is not waiting at a predetermined position of the packaging conveyor occurs, the egg is damaged if the apparatus is operated as it is. Therefore, the cause of the trouble was eliminated by stopping the apparatus. Also, since the shape and label of the container for packaging eggs differs depending on the vendor, the container and label must be changed during sorting and packaging, and in this case, the device must be stopped each time. I was Therefore, the processing ability of the device main body cannot be exhibited,
There was a problem that the processing capacity of eggs was reduced.

(Means for Solving the Problems) Therefore, the present invention reduces the weight of the eggs to be supplied so that the device can be operated without stopping even in the case of occurrence of trouble in the packaging means and change of the container. The means for weighing, the means for packaging a plurality of eggs provided for each weight class of eggs during the transportation of the eggs after the weighing, the means for judging whether or not the packaging means can be used, and the means for packaging are used. The present invention provides an egg sorting and packaging apparatus comprising a switching means for switching to release to an evacuation means provided separately when impossible.

(Example) The present invention will be described based on a preferred specific example shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of one preferred embodiment of the present invention;
The weighing device 1 sequentially measures the weight of the eggs 2 supplied by the conveying device or the manual work from the A direction. In this specific example, six measuring instruments 1 are provided to measure the eggs 2 supplied in parallel in six rows. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and in the case of eggs supplied in one row, May be one. As shown in FIG. 2, the eggs 2 weighed by the weighing device 1 are sequentially gripped by the grippers 4 of the transport device 3 and transported in a line in the B direction.
As the gripper 4, a gripper having a configuration as disclosed in JP-A-57-13024 is used. Each weight of the eggs 2 measured by the weighing device 1 is controlled by a control device 5 such as a microcomputer as shown in FIG.
Are stored in the storage device 6 in the same order as the transport order. Transfer device 3
Is provided with an endless chain 7 for moving the gripper 4 in the direction B, a motor 8 for running the endless chain 7, and the like. An encoder 9 for detecting the amount, in other words, the traveling amount of the gripper 4 is connected, and the traveling amount detected by the encoder 9 is supplied to the control device 5. The control device 5 executes the program shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, and based on the execution result, the opening mechanisms 418 to 25 and the driving mechanisms 26 to 33 provided corresponding to the packaging lines 10 to 17 as a means for packaging. Are operated, the weight signal from the weighing machine 1 is read, and the storage device 6 is instructed to store the egg weight and the like. Each of the opening mechanisms 18 to 25 holds the egg 2 arriving on the packaging line corresponding to the opening mechanism in response to an opening command from the control device 5.
Release from The opened egg 2 is put into a packaging container placed on the packaging line, for example, a plastic container 34 which can be packed in ten pieces. Each of the drive mechanisms 26 to 33 is controlled by the packaging line according to a half-step or full-step command from the control device 5.
Each of the belt conveyors 10 to 17 is moved half a step or full step. According to the half-stepping instruction from the control device 5, about half of the movement of the container 34 is carried out by the belt conveyor so that the introduction of the eggs on one side of the container 34 is completed and the introduction of the eggs on the other side is performed. Then, according to the full stepping instruction, the feeding of the eggs into the two rows of the containers 34 is completed, and the movement between the two containers is executed by the belt conveyor so that the eggs are loaded into the next container. The container detectors 35 to 41 as means for determining whether the packaging line is usable or not detect whether the container 34 is at a predetermined position in order to accommodate the egg 2 opened by the gripper 4. If it is not available,
The detection signal is sent to the control device 5. Also, manual switches 42 to 48 are used to change the packaging
16 is a switch to stop. When the control device 5 receives a detection signal indicating that there is no container 34 from the container detection device, an opening command is sent from the control device 5 to the opening mechanism 25 corresponding to the packaging line 17. So the packaging line
Reference numeral 17 denotes a separately provided evacuation means for the packaging lines 10 to 16. The same applies when the control device 5 receives a stop signal from the manual switches 42 to 48. The control device 5 receiving the unusable detection signal in this manner functions as switching means for switching the discharge to the container 49 on the packaging line 17. In addition, in this specific example, a container capable of packing a total of ten eggs of five in each row.
Although 34 is used, the present invention is not limited to this. In the packaging line 10, eggs are wrapped for non-specification in the weight category, in the packaging line 11, eggs are wrapped for the weight category SS, in the packaging line 12, eggs are wrapped for the weight category S, and in the packaging line 13, In the packaging line 14, eggs are wrapped for the weight division L. In the packaging line 15, eggs are wrapped for the weight division M. In the packaging line 16, eggs are wrapped for the weight division MS. Each is performed, and in the packaging line 17, the packaging lines 10 to
The opening signal to be sent to the opening mechanisms 18 to 24 corresponding to any one of the 16 packaging lines is switched by the control device 5 to be sent to the opening mechanism 25, and the target egg is wrapped on the packaging line 17. . The container 49 is put into the container.

Next, the operation of the sorting and packaging apparatus 50 thus configured will be described with reference to a flowchart. First, in step 51, the control device 5 determines whether a detection signal indicating that the container 34 is not at the predetermined position has been sent from the container detection devices 35 to 41, and when the detection signal has been received. Jumps to step 52. If the control device 5 has not received the detection signal, it is determined in step 53 whether or not the stop signal of the manual switches 42 to 48 has been sent.
Proceed to and jump to step 52 if the stop signal has been received. In step 52, the opening signal sent to the opening mechanisms 18 to 24 corresponding to the packaging lines 10 to 16 to which the container detection devices 35 to 41 or the manual switches 42 to 48 that sent the detection signal or the stop signal are sent to the packaging line. It is switched to send to the opening mechanism 25 of 17. That is, for example, when a detection signal is sent from the container detection device 40 of the M packaging line 15 to the control device 5, the opening command sent from the control device 5 to the opening mechanism 23 is switched to be sent to the opening mechanism 25. Can be Therefore, the M-size egg 2 which has been put into the container 34 waiting on the packaging line 15 until now passes through the packaging line 15 and is put into the container 49 waiting on the packaging line 17. In step 54, a release command is sent from the control device 5 to the release mechanisms 18 to 25 as described above. In step 55, a half step command or a full step command is sent to the drive mechanisms 26 to 33. In step 56, one egg weight is read from the measuring device 1 and the read egg weight is recorded to the recording device 6 of the egg weight. The storage and reading of the travel distance from the encoder 9 are performed, and the egg weight of the measured egg and the gripper 4 are measured.
And correspond. After these are executed, the process returns to step 51.

In the present embodiment, as a means for determining whether or not the packaging means can be used, a container detection device, for example, a photoelectric tube, and a manual switch for stopping the packaging means are disclosed, but any one of these may be used. Alternatively, a means for notifying another failure may be used. Although a computer-based control device has been disclosed as a switching unit for switching to release to a separately provided evacuation unit, the switching unit is configured with a switch circuit such as a proximity switch so that the switch is operated when conditions are met. You may.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, even if the means for packing eggs is stopped due to a problem, a change in the container, or a change in label, the egg sorting and packaging apparatus does not stop and the eggs are sequentially packaged. Has been implemented. This substantially increased the egg processing capacity.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 is a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partial detailed view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is an electrical block diagram of the embodiment shown in FIG. The figure is a flowchart of the program executed in the specific example shown in FIG. 1 ... Measuring device, 5 ... Control device 10-17 ... Packing line 18-25 ... Opening mechanism 35-41 ... Container detection device 42-48 ... Manual switch

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A means for measuring the weight of an egg to be supplied, a means for packaging a plurality of eggs provided for each of the weight groups of the eggs during the transportation of the egg after the measurement, and whether the packaging means is usable. If the means for determining whether
An egg sorting and packaging apparatus, comprising: switching means for switching to discharge to a separately provided evacuation means.