JP2711827B2 - Agricultural product sorter - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an agricultural product sorting machine that performs sorting by combining length and weight.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There has been proposed a sorter capable of sorting by combining the length and weight of flowers (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 4-78974).
No.). These are provided on the transport path of the chrysanthemum K by length sensors 42a to 42c as length detecting means (the reference numerals are the same as those in the publication,
The same applies hereinafter), and a weight scale 46 is provided behind the length sensors 42a to 42c. The chrysanthemum K is first sorted by length by the length sensors 42a to 42c, and then the weight K is sorted. The weight is sorted by the scale 46.

FIG. 6 is a simplified illustration of the above-mentioned conventional means for easy selection. When the kick K is detected by the first length sensor 42a, the support bar 33 moves from the first rail 34 to the lower second rail 35 (arrow N).
1), weighed by a weight scale 46 provided in the middle of the second rail 35, and the input boxes 41a, 41
b, 41c (arrows N11, N12, N1
3). Therefore, the first input box 41a is long and heavy (long and heavy), the second input box 41b is long and medium weight (long and medium weight), and the third input box 41c is long and heavy. Light (long and light) chrysanthemum K is collected respectively.

The chrysanthemum K not detected by the first length sensor 42a moves the first rail 34 further to the left (arrow N2), and when detected by the second length sensor 42b, The first rail 34 shifts to the lower second rail 35. Then, while shifting to the left on the second rail 35,
It is weighed by the weight scale 46 provided in the middle, and falls into the input boxes 41d, 41e, 41f in order from the heaviest one. Therefore, the fourth input box 41d has medium / heavy (medium length and heavy), the fifth input box 41e has medium / medium weight (middle length and medium weight), and the sixth Medium / light (middle length and light weight) chrysanthemums K are collected in the input box 41f.
In addition, although omitted in FIG. 6, the short / heavy, short / short boxes are similarly applied to the input boxes 41g, 41h, and 41i further downstream.
Medium, short and light chrysanthemum K are collected.

[0005]

By the way, flowers of chrysanthemums are marketed in three stages: first (long and heavy), second (medium and medium), and third (short and light). Often shipped in separate classes. That is, in FIG.
Those that fall into the first input box 41a are first class (long and heavy)
However, those falling into the second input box 41b or the third input box 41c are not the first class but the second class or lower because they satisfy the length but not the weight. Therefore, in the above-mentioned conventional sorter, the flowers falling into the second input box 41b or the third input box 41c are weighed again to obtain the second or third class.
There was a problem that the farmers had to be re-sorted, which was a huge burden on the farmers. Of course, the fourth, fifth, sixth
And the seventh, eighth, ninth, and fourth boxes 41d, 41e, and 41f, which are dropped by the third length sensor 42c.
The same applies to those dropped into the input boxes 41g, 41h, and 41i, and the sorting must be performed again for these.

In other words, in this type of flower sorter, only those that satisfy both the length and the weight are sorted into a predetermined class, and those that satisfy only one of them are: It is dropped to a lower class.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an agricultural product sorter that can collect only those satisfying both the length and the weight in a predetermined collecting section, and thus do not need to perform sorting again.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a conveyor, a support for agricultural products, rotatably connected to the conveyor, and a guide rail disposed in parallel with the conveyor. A slider 16 provided on the support 4 side and slid along the guide rail; length detecting means 12A, 12B, 12C of the produce P; and weight detecting means 30A, 30B, 30C of the produce P. In an agricultural product sorter provided with a guide rail, the lower guide rail 21A,
22A, 23A and upper guide rails 20, 21C, 2
2C, 23C and lower guide rails 21A, 22A, 2
Includes inclined guide rails 21B, 22B, 23B connecting 3A and upper guide rails 21C, 22C, 23C,
Move the slider 16 to the upper guide rails 20, 21C, 22C.
The length detecting means 12A, 12
B, 12C or weight detecting means 30A. 30B, 30C
A length sort or a weight sort is performed by the agricultural product P, and when the sort is performed by the sort, the slider 16 is moved from the upper guide rails 20, 21C, 22C to the lower guide rails 21A, 22A, 23A, and the slider 16 is moved. While sliding along the lower guide rails 21A, 22A, 23A, the agricultural products P are detected by the weight detecting means 30A, 30B, 30C or the length detecting means 12A, 12B, 12C.
The weight P or the length selection is performed, and the agricultural products P selected by the sorting are dropped and collected downward, and for the agricultural products P not sorted, the slider 16 is slid along the inclined guide rails 21B and 22B. And moved to the upper guide rails 21C and 22C to repeat the length selection and the weight selection. The invention according to claim 2 is a conveyor 1
And a support 4 of the agricultural product P rotatably connected to the conveyor 1, a guide rail disposed parallel to the conveyor 1, and provided along the support 4 and slid along the guide rail. Slider 16 and length detecting means 1 of agricultural product P
2A, 12B, 12C and weight detection means 30 of agricultural product P
In the agricultural product sorter provided with A, 30B and 30C, the guide rails have a plurality of guide rails 20 and 2.
1, 2, 23, and each guide rail 20, 2
At least a plurality of guide rails 21, 22, 23 among the lower guide rails 21A, 22A,
23A and upper guide rails 21C, 22C, 23C
And the lower guide rails 21A, 22A, 23A and the inclined guide rails 21B, 22B, 23B connecting the upper guide rails 21C, 22C, 23C, and the upstream upper guide rails 20, 21C, 22C are connected to the downstream lower guide rails. Arranged above the rails 21A, 22A, 23A, and provided on the upper guide rails 20, 21C, 22C with the length detecting means 12A, 12B, 12C or the weight detecting means 3
0A, 30B, 30C.
Are provided from the upper guide rails 20, 21C, 22C to the lower guide rails 21A, 22A, 23A, and the lower guide rails 21A, 22A, 23A have weight detecting means 30A,
30B, 30C or length detecting means 12A, 12B, 1
Dropping means 30A, 30B, 30C for dropping the slider 16 from the lower guide rails 21A, 22A, 23A in accordance with the detection result of 2C, rotating the support 4 downward, and dropping the agricultural products supported by the support 4 Is provided. The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the shifting means 40A, 40B, 4
0C is the guide body 41A, 41B, 41 of the slider 16.
C and a drive unit 43 for moving the guides 41A, 41B, 41C into and out of the slide path of the slider 16. The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the drop means 30A, 30B, 3
0C is the weight detection means 30A, 30B, 30C.

[0008]

According to the above construction, only those of a predetermined class that satisfies both the length and the weight fall into the predetermined collecting section and are collected, so that it is not necessary to perform the sorting again.
The labor burden on farmers can be significantly reduced.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, taking flowers as an example of agricultural products. FIG. 1 is a side view of a flower sorter. Reference numeral 1 denotes a conveyor composed of an endless chain, which is stretched around a sprocket 2, and rotates in the direction of the arrow when the sprocket 2 is driven by a motor 3 to rotate. Many supports 4 of flowers P are attached to the conveyor 1. The flowers P on the supply table 10 are placed one by one on the support 4 and conveyed to the right.

A frame 11 is provided above the conveyor 1, and a plurality of (three in this embodiment) touch type sensors 12A, 12B, 12C are provided on the frame 11.
Is provided. Touch sensors 12A, 12B, 1
The levers 12a, 12b, and 12c of 2C are hanging downward. The touch-type sensors 12A, 12B and 12C are connected to the flowers P mounted on the support 4 by levers 12a, 12b and 1C.
By hitting 2c, the length of the flower P is detected. Touch type sensors 12A,
Optical sensors and the like can be used in addition to 12B and 12C.

Each of the touch sensors 12A, 12B, 1
Downstream of 2C, weighing means 30A, 30B, 30C as a means for detecting the weight of the flower P are provided. Although the weight detecting means of the present embodiment is a weighing means using a weight, a load sensor or the like can also be used as the weight detecting means. As will be described in detail later, this sorter includes touch type sensors 12A, 12B, 12C and weighing means 30A, 30B,
Sorting combining length and weight is performed by 30C. Below the weighing means 30A, 30B, 30C, collecting sections 13A, 13B, 13C for the dropped flowers P are provided. Note that the most downstream collection unit 13D is a collection unit for defective products.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of the sorting machine. An attachment 5 is attached to the conveyor 1, and both ends of a bar 6 are rotatably connected to the attachment 5. The support 4 is attached to the rod 6 via a stopper 7. The support 4 is formed by bending a steel wire. The shape and structure of the support differ depending on the variety of the agricultural product to be sorted.

A plate 15 is attached to one end of the bar 6, and a slider 16 projects from the plate 15. The slider 16 slides along a guide rail described later. When the slider 16 is placed on the guide rail, the support 4 keeps a horizontal posture, but when the support 4 falls off the guide rail, the support 4 rotates downward (see the arrow K in FIGS. 1 and 2). The flowers P supported thereby fall downward.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, a description will be given of an arrangement structure of guide rails for guiding the sliding of the slider 16. FIG. In FIG. 3, an upper guide rail 20, a first guide rail 21, a second guide rail 22, and a third guide rail 23 are provided from the upstream end to the downstream end. The upper guide rail 20 at the start end is a straight guide rail. The first guide rail 21 has a lower guide rail 21A and an upper guide rail 21C, and the lower guide rail 21A and the upper guide rail 21C.
Are connected by an inclined guide rail 21B. Also the second
The guide rail 22 and the third guide rail 23 have the same shape as the first guide rail 21, and have lower guide rails 22A and 23A and inclined guide rails 22B and 2 respectively.
3B and upper guide rails 22C and 23C.

As shown, the upper end guide rails 20 of the starting end are respectively upper end guide rails 21C, 22C and 23C.
And is located above the lower guide rail 21A of the first guide rail 21. The upper guide rail 21C of the first guide rail 21 is located above the lower guide rail 22A of the second guide rail 22, and the upper guide rail 2 of the second guide rail 22 is provided.
2C is the lower guide rail 23 of the third guide rail 23
Above A. In this way, the upper end guide rail 2 of the starting end
0, lower guide rail 21A, upper guide rail 21C
And the lower guide rail 22A, the upper guide rail 22C and the lower guide rail 23A are upper and lower two-stage guide rails overlapping each other.

In FIG. 2, upper guide rails 20, 2
In the middle of 1C and 22C, the slider 16 is moved from the upper guide rails 20, 21C and 22C to the lower guide rail 21.
Opening / closing sections 40A, 40B, 40C are provided as transition means for dropping and moving to A, 22A, 23A. The first opening / closing section 40A includes a guide body 41A, a long plate 42 extending laterally from the guide body 41A, and a solenoid 43 as a drive section.
The arm 44 has a pin 45 and a pin 4 erected on the long plate 42.
5 are engaged. The second opening / closing section 40B, the third
The opening / closing section 40C has the same structure as the first opening / closing section 40A.

The guide body 41A of the first opening / closing section 40A is
It is provided at a position that complements the cutout of the upper guide rail 20. The guide body 41B of the second opening / closing section 40B is provided at a position that complements the cutout section of the upper guide rail 21C, and the guide body 41C of the third opening / closing section 40C.
Is provided at a position that complements the cut portion of the upper guide rail 22C (see also FIG. 3). Each sensor 12
A, 12B, and 12C denote opening and closing units 40A, 40B, and 40, respectively.
It is provided on the side of C.

Next, the operation of the opening / closing section 40A will be described with reference to FIGS. The guide body 41A is always at a position that complements the cutout portion of the upper guide rail 20, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 5A. When the flower P on the support 4 hits the lever 12a of the first sensor 12A,
The solenoid 43 operates, and the arm 44 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. Then, the guide body 41A retreats to the side as shown in FIGS. 4B and 5B, and opens the cutout portion of the upper guide rail 20. When the slider 16 reaches the resection in this state, the slider 16 drops from the upper guide rail 20 to the lower guide rail 21A and moves. As described above, the guide body 41A is
The slider 16 is moved from the upper guide rail 20 to the lower guide rail 21A by moving the slider 16 in and out of the upper guide rail 20 which is a slide path of the slider. The second opening / closing section 40B and the third opening / closing section 40C are also the first opening / closing section 40A.
The same operation is performed with the same structure.

Next, the first weighing means 3 will be described with reference to FIG.
0A will be described. The first weighing means 30A includes a rotating rod 31.
And a weight 32, and the rotating rod 31
The pin 34 is rotatably supported in a vertical direction. The tip 311a of the rotating rod 31 is located at a position that complements the cutout of the lower guide rail 21A (see also FIG. 3). When the weight of the flower P is larger than the weight set by the weight 32 in a state where the slider 16 is transferred on the tip 311a, the rotating rod 3
1 rotates downward about the pin 34, and the tip 311a descends. Then, the slider 16 falls from the end of the tip 311a without being able to transfer to the next lower guide rail 21A (see arrow N2 in FIG. 3). Then, as described above, the support 4 rotates downward, and the flower P falls. The other weighing means 30B and 30C have the same structure, and the tip portions 312a and 312 of the respective rotating rods 31 as shown in FIGS.
13a complements the cutouts of the lower guide rails 22A and 23A. That is, the weighing means 30A, 30B, 30
C is a dropping means for dropping the agricultural product P downward. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, each of the tip portions 311a, 312
a, 313a, recovery units 13A, 13B, 13C
Is provided.

This flower sorter is constructed as described above. Next, the sorting operation will be described. In FIG. 1, the flowers P on the supply table 10 are placed one by one on the support 4 and transported rightward. As shown in FIG. 2, the slider 16 on the side of the support 4 on which the flowers P are placed is
Slide to the left on the upper guide rail 20. The first touch type sensor 12 is provided on the conveyance path by the upper guide rail 20.
The lever 12a of A is hanging down. When the flower P hits the lever 12a, since the flower P has a predetermined length, the solenoid 43 of the first opening / closing section 40A operates, and the guide body 41A retreats to the side. This departure operation is shown in FIG.
This is as described with reference to FIG. Then, the slider 16 falls on the first lower guide rail 21A and moves (see an arrow N1 in FIG. 3).

Next, the slider 16 slides to the left in FIG. 3, and the leading end 3 of the rotating rod 31 of the first weighing means 30A.
Transfer to 11a. If the flower P is heavier than the weight set by the weight 32, the tip 311a descends, the slider 16 falls (arrow N2), the support 4 rotates downward, and the flower P is collected by the first collection unit. Fall to 13A. That is, the first collection unit 13A collects the long and heavy, that is, long and heavy first-class flowers PA.

In FIG. 3, the flower P is a lever 12a.
If not, the slider 16 falls from the end of the upper guide rail 20 onto the inclined guide rail 21B as shown by the arrow N3, and moves to the upper guide rail 21C. If the flower P is lighter than the weight set by the first weighing means 30A, the slider 16 moves to the left as shown by the arrow N4, and moves from the inclined guide rail 21B to the upper guide rail C. That is, the first touch-type sensor 12A and the first weighing means 30A select a first-class flower PA satisfying both the length and the weight, and the flower P not satisfied with either one is , Arrow N
As shown by 3 and N4, the next second-class flowers P are sent to the second touch-type sensor 12B and the second weighing means 30B for sorting, and the class is dropped by one rank to be sorted.

The lever 12b of the second touch-type sensor 12B is provided vertically on the conveyance path of the flower P by the upper guide rail 21C, and the same operation as described above is repeated. That is, when the flower P hits the lever 12b, an arrow N5
As shown by, the slider 16 falls onto the lower guide rail 22A, moves, and slides to the left. When the weight is set by the second weighing means 30B, the arrow N6
As shown by, it falls into the second collecting section 13B. If the flower P does not hit the lever 12b, the slider 16 falls from the upper guide rail 21C to the inclined guide rail 22B as shown by an arrow N7, and the next upper guide rail 22C.
Move to. If the flower P is lighter than the weight set by the second weighing means 30B, the inclination guide rail 22B moves from the upper guide rail 22C to the upper guide rail 22C as indicated by an arrow N8.
Move to. Therefore, the second collection unit 13B has a long or medium length and a medium weight (that is,
Medium P) flowers PB are collected. That is, the second touch-type sensor 12B and the second weighing means 30B select the second-class flowers PB, and the flowers P that are not satisfied with any one of them are indicated by arrows N7 and N8. Are sent to the third touch sensor 12C for selecting the next third-class flowers P and the third weighing means 30C.

The same operation is repeated thereafter, and the flowers PC of medium or short length and light weight are collected in the third collecting section 13C. In addition, any collection unit 13
The flowers P that were not collected by A, 13B, and 13C are extremely short or extremely light flowers, and are collected by the fourth collection unit 13D (FIG. 1) as defective flowers PD. You. As described above, in this sorting machine, sorting is performed while gradually decreasing the class to the first grade, the second grade, and the third grade.

As described above, only the long and heavy (ie, first-class) flowers PA are collected in the first collection section 13A.
In the second collection unit 13B, only long / medium weight and medium / medium weight (that is, second-class) flowers PB are collected. In the third collecting section 13C, only medium / light and short / light (ie, tertiary) flowers PC are collected.

Since the second collection unit 13B includes long and medium-weight flowers PB, this is the second collection unit 1B.
Take out from 3B, cut the stem, and align the length.
In addition, since the third recovery unit 13C includes medium and light flowers PC, this is also taken out from the third recovery unit 13C, and the stem is cut to make the length short. If the flowers PA collected by the first collection unit 13A also include extraordinarily long flowers PA outside the standard, the stems are also cut to uniform length.

The sorter according to the present invention can be used in various ways. That is, for example, in FIG. 3, the switches of all the touch sensors 12A, 12B, and 12C are turned off, or the levers 12a, 12b, and 12C are turned off.
In order to prevent the length selection from functioning by removing c, the slider 16 must be moved from the upper guide rail to the lower guide rail 21 as shown by arrows N1, N5 and N8.
By shifting to A, 22A, and 23A, it is possible to perform only weight selection without performing length selection. Alternatively, in FIG. 3, before selecting the length of the flower P by the lever 12 a of the most upstream touch-type sensor 12 A, the non-standard flower P (for example, a flower having an excessive weight) is removed in advance,
Only the flowers P within the standard can be subjected to the above-mentioned sorting.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, contrary to the above embodiment, the weighing means 30A, 30C is attached to the upper guide rails 20, 21C, 22C.
B, 30C, and the lower guide rails 21A, 22A,
23A is provided with opening / closing portions 40A, 40B, and 40C that operate by detecting the lengths of the touch sensors 12A, 12B, and 12C, and the length may be detected after weighing by the weighing means 30A, 30B, and 30C. Things. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the class is classified into the first class, the second class, and the third class is described as an example, but the flowers may be classified into any class. In the above embodiment, the case of selecting flowers is described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to flowers, and can be applied to a bar-shaped agricultural product sorter such as burdock, dried radish, sweet potato, and cucumber.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, the length detecting means 12A, 12B, 12C and the weight detecting means 30 are provided.
Sorting is performed by A, 30B, and 30C, and only agricultural products of a predetermined class satisfying both the selected length and weight fall into the respective collecting units 13A, 13B, and 13C and are collected. It is not necessary to repeat the sorting as in the conventional example described above, and the labor burden on the farmers can be significantly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a flower sorter according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of a flower sorter according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a guide rail of the flower sorter according to the present invention.

4A is a side view of the opening / closing section of the flower sorter according to the present invention. FIG. 4B is a side view of the opening / closing section of the flower sorter according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 (a) is a plan view of the opening / closing section of the flower sorter according to the present invention. (B) The plan view of the opening / closing section of the flower sorter according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional method for selecting a flower sorter.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Conveyor 4 Support 12A Touch sensor (length detecting means) 12B Touch sensor (length detecting means) 12C Touch sensor (length detecting means) 16 Slider 21 Guide rail 22 Guide rail 23 Guide rail 20 Upper guide rail 21A Upper guide rail 22A Upper guide rail 23A Upper guide rail 21B Incline guide rail 22B Incline guide rail 23B Incline guide rail 21C Lower guide rail 22C Lower guide rail 23C Lower guide rail 30A Weighing means (weight detecting means, dropping means) 30B Weighing Means (weight detecting means, dropping means) 30C Weighing means (weight detecting means, dropping means) 40A Opening / closing section (transferring means) 40B Opening / closing section (transferring means) 40C Opening / closing section (transferring means) 41A Guide body 41B Guide body 41CGuide body 43 solenoid (drive unit)

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A conveyor 1; a support 4 for agricultural products P rotatably connected to the conveyor 1;
A slider 16 provided on the support 4 side and slid along the guide rail; and length detecting means 12A, 12B, 12
C and weight detection means 30A, 30B, 30C of agricultural product P
In the agricultural product sorter provided with: the guide rails are lower guide rails 21A and 21A.
A, 23A and upper guide rails 20, 21C, 22
C, 23C and lower guide rails 21A, 22A, 23
A and inclined guide rails 21B, 22B, 23B connecting the upper guide rails 21C, 22C, 23C, and the slider 16 to the upper guide rails 20, 21.
C, 22C while sliding along the length detecting means 12A, 12B, 12C or the weight detecting means 30.
A. A length sort or a weight sort is performed on the agricultural product P by 30B, 30C, and when the sort is sorted by the sort, the slider 16 is moved to the upper guide rails 20, 21C,
22C to the lower guide rails 21A, 22A, 23
A, and while the slider 16 is slid along the lower guide rails 21A, 22A, 23A, the agricultural products P are detected by the weight detecting means 30A, 30B, 30C or the length detecting means 12A, 12B, 12C. Weight sorting or length sorting, and the agricultural products P selected by the sorting are dropped and collected downward, and for the agricultural products P not sorted, the slider 16 is moved along the inclined guide rails 21B and 22B. A sorter for agricultural products, wherein the sorter is slid and moved onto the upper guide rails 21C, 22C to repeat the length sorting and the weight sorting. 2. A conveyor 1; a support 4 for agricultural products P rotatably connected to the conveyor 1;
A slider 16 provided on the support 4 side and slid along the guide rail; and length detecting means 12A, 12B, 12
C and weight detection means 30A, 30B, 30C of agricultural product P
In the agricultural product sorter provided with the above, the guide rails include a plurality of guide rails 20 and 2.
1, 2, 23, and each guide rail 20, 2
At least a plurality of guide rails 21, 22, 23 among the lower guide rails 21A, 22A,
23A and upper guide rails 21C, 22C, 23C
And the lower guide rails 21A, 22A, 23A and the inclined guide rails 21B, 22B, 23B connecting the upper guide rails 21C, 22C, 23C, and the upstream upper guide rails 20, 21C, 22C are connected to the downstream lower guide rails. Arranged above the rails 21A, 22A, 23A, and placed on the upper guide rails 20, 21C, 22C according to the detection results of the length detecting means 12A, 12B, 12C or the weight detecting means 30A, 30B, 30C. Transition means 40A, 40B, 40C for moving the slider 16 from the upper guide rails 20, 21C, 22C to the lower guide rails 21A, 22A, 23A are provided, and the weight is applied to the lower guide rails 21A, 22A, 23A. Detecting means 30A, 30B, 30C or the length detecting means 2A, 12B, the said slider 16 in accordance with the 12C detection result lower guide rails 21A, 22A, 2
3A, a dropping means 3 for rotating the support 4 downward by dropping it and dropping the agricultural products supported by the support 4
An agricultural product sorter characterized by having 0A, 30B, and 30C. 3. The shifting means 40A, 40B, 40C.
Are the guides 41A, 41B, 41 of the slider 16
3. The agricultural product sorter according to claim 2, further comprising a drive unit 43 for moving the guides 41A, 41B, and 41C into and out of the slide path of the slider 16. 4. The drop means 30A, 30B, 30C
3. The agricultural product sorter according to claim 2, wherein the weights are the weight detecting means 30A, 30B, 30C.