JP2647043B2 - High-speed sorting and feeding device for bulk fruits and vegetables - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a high-speed aligning and feeding apparatus for a mass of fruits and vegetables, which is capable of obtaining one-piece feeding for detecting the outline of the mass of fruits and vegetables by photographing with a CCD camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, sorting machines using optical means such as a CCD camera have been widely used for judging the quality and class of bulky fruits and vegetables such as citrus fruits and potatoes. With the development of cameras and personal computers, the quality and size can be determined instantaneously, and the performance has been further improved. In the case of such a sorting machine, it cannot be dealt with unless fruits and vegetables are supplied on the sorting conveyor so as to be arranged at equal intervals to some extent.

[0003] That is, if the interval between fruits and vegetables is more than necessary, the desired sorting ability cannot be achieved,
Conversely, if the interval between fruits and vegetables is small, the sorting process time will be insufficient and it will not be possible to discriminate, and it will not be possible to discharge at the specified discharge position. In other words, even if the interval is too large,
It is required that it not be reduced, and if this is not perfect to some extent, the processing capacity of the sorter will decrease.

[0004]

Here, at present, fruits and vegetables brought in using a vibrating device (so-called vibratory feeder) are sequentially aligned by vibration and aligned by a feeding operation (arranged in a line). A method has been widely used in which one row is separated by using a speed difference by a separate conveyor. However, in this method, the aligning and feeding function of the vibrating device differs depending on the weight and shape of the fruits and vegetables, it is difficult to adjust to obtain a proper interval, and the feeding is basically inefficient due to the vibrating feeding. In addition, this type of vibration device is provided with a vibration plate on which countless rubber projections (bristles) which are planted on the surface and a vibration mechanism with a spring incorporated below the vibration plate. configuration becomes extremely complicated, and the vibration plate, Sprint grayed itself is degraded by vibration, tend to cause damage, moreover, aligned feed function was assured that speed varies can not be maintained over a long period of time. Further, the problem with the vibration type is that noise countermeasures must be taken into consideration, and this makes the device troublesome.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention combines two belt conveyors having different speeds in a V-shape, and sequentially changes the V-shape laterally between the loading portion position and the unloading portion position. It is an object of the present invention to provide a high-speed aligning and feeding device for bulk fruits and vegetables that solves the above problem.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides at least a lump
Belt conveyor with a width for placing one fruit and vegetable on it
Two belt conveyors of different lengths, consisting of a conveyor and a low-speed belt conveyor , are arranged in a V-shape with the V-shaped opening facing upward at the base end loading section, and at the front end discharging section,
Serial to form a high speed twisted conveying path was sideways V-shaped opening inclined sequentially entire low-speed belt conveyor perpendicular state to a horizontal state to a receiving belt constituting the belt conveyor, the 2
Forced mass of fruits and vegetables due to speed difference of belt conveyor
An extra lump of fruits and vegetables that are sequentially aligned in one row and become unaligned at a high-speed belt conveyor position in a horizontal state are laterally discharged and fed out in a single row.

In this case, a high-speed belt conveyor having a V-shaped arrangement is used.
And a low-speed belt conveyor with a 90-degree V-shaped opening
There is .

[0008]

[0009]

[0010]

As described above, the high-speed belt conveyor and the low-speed belt conveyor are arranged in a V-shape so that the V-shaped opening is directed upward, and the high-speed belt conveyor is kept horizontal at the leading end discharge section. To be in a vertical state and form a twisted transport path as a whole,
Even if the mass of fruits and vegetables supplied from the feed path side in the preceding step falls randomly into the V-shaped carry-in section and appropriately overlaps each other, both belt conveyors in the V-shaped arrangement are caused by the speed difference (high speed and low speed). As a result, the mass of fruits and vegetables in contact with the high-speed belt conveyor starts moving faster than the mass of fruits and vegetables in contact with the low-speed belt conveyor, while the mass of fruits and vegetables move sequentially through the torsional conveying path of a predetermined length as a whole. The clusters of fruits and vegetables gradually collapse, and the V-shaped opening is twisted so as to be inclined toward the leading-out side, so that the clusters of fruits and vegetables in contact with the low-speed side belt conveyor are erected and rotated to move horizontally to the high-speed side belt conveyor. Side, and are forced to line up. In addition, since the belt width is set to one belt in this horizontal part, if the bulk fruits and vegetables are sent in a state of being out of alignment and protruding laterally beyond the belt width, they will fall naturally from the belt edge. Then, only the clustered fruits and vegetables finally aligned in one row are fed to the next process side in front. The dropped (bounced) mass of fruits and vegetables is returned to the original supply path side by a separate detour below.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a high-speed sorting and feeding apparatus for lump fruit and vegetables (such as oranges) which is suitable for judging quality and class sorting using optical means such as a CCD camera. A high-speed belt conveyor having a predetermined length which is hung on the carry-in pulley 2 having a high-speed drive motor 3; 4 is a low-speed belt conveyor which is hung on the carry-in pulley 2 having a low-speed drive motor 3 '; The pair of two high-speed belt conveyors 1 and the low-speed belt conveyor 4 have a V-shaped arrangement in which the V-shaped opening 6 in the base-end carrying-in portion 5 and opened at 90 ° is directed upward (vertically). The high-speed belt conveyor 1 on one side is horizontally tilted at the leading end unloading section 7 and the low-speed belt conveyor 4 on the other side is sequentially tilted so as to be vertical (45 ° tilt).
The V-shaped opening 6 is a twisted conveyance path 8 having a horizontal orientation. In this case, V
Inside the carrier portions of the belt conveyors 1 and 4 in a shape arrangement, there are disposed running support plates 10 and 10 'fixed to the machine frame (see FIG. 4), and a predetermined twist of the belt conveyors 1 and 4 is provided. Ensure state. Numeral 11 designates a collection guide plate which is inclined and disposed on both sides of the base end carrying-in portion 5 of the belt conveyors 1 and 4 arranged in a V-shape, and guides the lump-shaped fruits and vegetables falling in the feed to the conveyor path. Reference numeral 12 denotes a slide guide plate having a predetermined inclination, which rolls massive fruits and vegetables falling from the feeding transport path 13 disposed at the loading (front) end of the base loading section 5. Numeral 14 denotes a discharge drop guide plate which is disposed downward on one side edge of the high-speed belt conveyor 1 of the leading end discharge section 7 in a horizontal state. Reference numeral 15 denotes a collection belt conveyor which is disposed below the leading end of the high-speed belt conveyor 1 and arranged orthogonally. Reference numeral 16 denotes a guide regulating curtain which is located at an upper position of the base carrying-in portion 5 and hangs down from the V-shaped opening 6. 1
7 is a cover for Sakai with the adjacent high-speed alignment supply device side. Reference numeral 18 denotes a swing-preventing brush roll which is disposed in parallel with the front of the high-speed belt conveyor 1 in the horizontal state, and which is disposed above a transfer portion to the high-speed belt conveyor 19 at an interval.

Next, a description will be given of this operation. For example, the block-like fruits and vegetables A sent through the feeding conveyance path 13 such as a pipe conveyor arranged in front of the high-speed sorting and feeding apparatus 9 (see FIG. From the end of the feed conveyance path 13
The roll 2 and the left and right collection guide plates 11 are carried into the base carry-in section 5 of the high-speed alignment supply device 9 while rolling. In this case, since the base carrying-in section 5 receives the high-speed belt conveyor 1 and the low-speed belt conveyor 4 in the V-shaped groove portions in which the high-speed belt conveyor 1 and the low-speed belt conveyor 4 are opened by 90 °, a large number of bulk fruits and vegetables A are carried in.

Here, the lump-shaped fruits and vegetables A carried into the base end loading section 5 of the V-groove are transported forward by the two belt conveyors 1 and 4, where the lump-like fruits and vegetables are directly in contact with one side of the high-speed belt conveyor 1. A moves faster than the bulky fruits and vegetables A in contact with the low-speed belt conveyor 4, so that
Even if there is a mass of fruits and vegetables A piled up in this way, the difference in speed of this conveyor will cause a difference in movement, which will cause the overlapping to collapse, and the V-shaped transport path itself will tilt forward (twist).
Since the V-shaped opening 6 is oriented in the horizontal direction, the bulk fruits and vegetables A in contact with the vertical portion 4a of the low-speed belt conveyor 4 are forcibly brought sequentially to the horizontal portion 1a of the high-speed belt conveyor 1, and the high-speed belt conveyor 1 side An interruption occurs between the bulk fruit and vegetable rows, and one row is inevitably aligned. In other words, since the masses of fruits and vegetables A are aligned with a speed difference and a transport twist while reaching the distal end unloading unit 7 from the proximal end unloading unit 5, they do not follow together in an overlapped state due to inertia. Then, the overlap of the clustered fruits and vegetables A is broken, and the overlapped clustered fruits and vegetables A are aligned and arranged in a row on the high-speed belt conveyor 1 in a horizontal state by the inclined torsional transfer of the V-shaped opening belt conveyor. In addition, the belt width of the belt conveyors 1 and 4 is as large as a single lump of fruits and vegetables A (a width of just over one), so that the belts are not aligned even when they reach the horizontal portion 1a of the high-speed belt conveyor 1. If there is a laterally protruding massive fruit or vegetable A on one side (opposite to the low-speed belt conveyor 4), the massive fruit or vegetable A protrudes from the belt edge 1c of the high-speed belt conveyor 1 and is discharged from this side edge as it moves. As a result, it naturally falls through the falling guide plate 14. From this point, reliable one-row feeding is also achieved.

By the way, when the mass of fruits and vegetables uses mandarin orange, a belt width of 75 mm to 100 mm is used. However, the average width (diameter) of one orange is 67 mm.

Extra (non-aligned) massive fruits and vegetables A that fall from one side edge of the horizontal high-speed belt conveyor 1 fall downward from the drop guide plate 14 at the edge of the high-speed belt conveyor 1 and intersect at right angles. The supply conveyance path 13 is guided by a conveyor 15 and separately passed through an appropriate conveyance path (not shown).
Is returned to.

On the other hand, the clustered fruits and vegetables A aligned on the high-speed belt conveyor 1 are separated by a next stage.
It is to transfer to 9. This high-speed belt conveyor 1
High-speed belt conveyor 19 spaced from the end on the same surface
In the transfer operation, the swing suppressing brush roll 18 disposed above rotates in the feed direction and passes under the lower surface thereof. The upper surface is regulated by the brush roll 18 for suppressing movement, and the high-speed belt conveyor 1 is spaced apart as a stationary state.
9 is performed. Since the spaced high-speed belt conveyor 19 is running at a higher speed than the transfer speed of the high-speed belt conveyor 1, the bulk fruits and vegetables A of the spaced high-speed belt conveyor 19 have a predetermined distance from the subsequent bulk fruits and vegetables A. Will be separated.

Therefore, the high-speed belt conveyor 19 having an interval is provided.
Is transported at predetermined intervals to a quality / grade sorting device (not shown) by a CCD camera in front.

[0019]

As described above, the high-speed sorting and feeding apparatus for the mass of fruits and vegetables according to the present invention comprises two high-speed and low-speed belt conveyors having a V-shaped opening at the base end receiving portion and a high-speed at the leading end discharging portion. Since the side belt conveyor is in a horizontal state, the low-speed side belt conveyor is in a vertical state, and the V-shaped opening is a horizontal twisted conveyance path, the clusters of fruits and vegetables appropriately supplied to the base end loading section are stacked due to the speed difference of the belt conveyor. Even if there is any, it is broken down as it is sequentially transferred, and the position of one side is regulated by a vertical low-speed belt conveyor that is twisted and tilted sequentially, and it is inevitably automatically aligned with a horizontal high-speed belt conveyor. Moreover, since the high-speed belt conveyor has a width of approximately one lump of fruits and vegetables, if there is a non-aligned laterally projecting lump of fruits and vegetables, it falls from one side edge of the belt conveyor and inevitably becomes one-row arrangement. Become. Furthermore, the high-speed aligning and feeding device of the present invention employs a mechanical transfer mechanism using two high-speed and low-speed belt conveyors driven by a motor as a main body, so that it can move at a higher speed than a conventional vibration-type aligning and feeding device. Depending on the setting of the motor speed, a high speed of twice or three times can be easily obtained and the adjustment can be made freely. In addition, the simple structure in which high- and low-speed belt conveyors are arranged in a V-shape and tilted (twisted) by 45 ° over the entire length ensures stable high-speed alignment supply without any change in speed during long-term use, and maintenance. It has effects such as easiness.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a high-speed aligning and feeding device for a mass of fruits and vegetables showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the main part.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an arrangement of drive motors of a high / low speed side belt conveyor having the V-shaped arrangement.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a traveling support plate of the belt conveyor.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the movement of the mass of fruits and vegetables in the high-speed aligning and feeding device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 High-speed belt conveyor 4 Low-speed belt conveyor 5 Base-end carrying-in part 6 V-shaped opening 7 Lead-side carrying-out part 8 Torsion conveying part

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] Claims 1. At least one bulk vegetable is placed on one
High-speed belt conveyor and low-speed belt conveyor
The two belt conveyors having a predetermined length having different than consisting speeds Ya, together with the V-shaped arrangement towards right above the V-shaped opening at the proximal end carrying portion, the tip unloading unit, the high-speed belt conveyor
Belt conveyor for low speed in horizontal state with receiving belt configuration
To form a twisted conveying path with the V-shaped opening in the horizontal direction and the speed of the two belt conveyors.
Forcibly arrange the clusters of fruits and vegetables in a row one by one, and the horizontal state
A high- speed aligning and feeding apparatus for massive fruits and vegetables, characterized in that extra massive fruits and vegetables that become non-aligned at the high-speed belt conveyor position are laterally discharged and fed in one row. 2. A high-speed belt conveyor having a V-shaped arrangement and a low-speed belt conveyor
2. The high-speed aligning and feeding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the belt conveyor has a 90-degree V-shaped opening .