JP2855198B2 - Egg counting device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an egg counting apparatus for automatically counting eggs transported on a conveyor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various egg counting devices have been proposed in which eggs detected by a conveyor are detected and counted by a detecting means. However, the eggs conveyed on the conveyor are conveyed in various sizes, and are conveyed in an overlapping state in various directions. Therefore, it is difficult for the conventional egg counting device to accurately detect the eggs by the detecting means. Thus, there is a problem that a large error occurs in the count value and the counting accuracy is low.
In addition, the poultry house employs a poultry raising system in which a large number of cages that house chickens are arranged in a horizontal direction and are stacked in multiple stages, but in order to grasp the chicken spawning situation etc. in more detail. There has been a demand for an egg counting apparatus that can accurately count eggs of different sizes for each cage row and is structurally simple.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an egg counting apparatus having a simple structure and extremely high counting accuracy even if eggs of different sizes do not need to be sorted out in advance for each size. It is in.

[0004]

[0005]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an egg is transported.
An egg counting device with a detector attached to a conveyor.
The detector is located at a substantially central portion of the floor of the conveyor.
Placed in contact with the eggs being transported,
An elastic member for distributing to the side wall side is provided. The elastic member is provided on the egg carrying-out side with respect to the first elastic member and the first elastic member, and has a higher elastic force than the first elastic member. An egg having a second elastic member.
It is a counting device. Furthermore, the first problem is solved.
The detector is attached to the conveyor that transports the eggs
An egg counting device, wherein the detection unit is a floor surface of the conveyor.
It is located in the approximate center of the part, and comes in contact with the egg being transported,
Bullets for distribution to both side walls of the conveyor
An elastic member, wherein the elastic member extends in a longitudinal direction of the conveyor.
Spring that is provided in parallel to the direction and is curved in a substantially U-shape
And both ends are located above the detector.
An egg counting device characterized in that each is fixed.
You.

[0007]

[0008] Further, the present invention solves the first problem.
Is an egg whose detector is attached to the conveyor that transports the egg.
A counting device, wherein the detecting means of the detecting unit is
It comes into contact with the coming egg and is urged to return to its original position after contact
The contact arm extends in the plan view toward the carry-in side of the egg through a base portion extending toward the carry-out side of the egg and the bent portion or the curved portion. An egg counting device having a tip portion .
It is preferable that the distal end portion of the contact arm has a foremost end portion that is further bent toward the loading side of the egg in plan view.

[0009] Further, the present invention solves the first problem.
Is an egg whose detector is attached to the conveyor that transports the egg.
A counting device, wherein the detection unit is a floor unit of the conveyor.
Of the egg that is being transported
Ridges for distribution to both side walls of the conveyor
Has a raised portion, further, each of the bottom sides, the conveyor belt to proceed sequentially, slidably and engaging and conveying Bell
The egg counting device is characterized in that it has a locking portion for sequentially forming an inclined surface with the movement of the egg.

[0010]

[0011]

The egg counting apparatus according to the present invention has an elastic member for contacting the conveyed eggs and distributing the eggs to both side walls of the conveyor. The accuracy is improved. Also, in the egg counting device of the present invention, the contact arm of the detecting means is such that, in a plan view, the egg carrying side is
A base portion extending towards the so towards the entry side of the egg are formed to have a tip portion extending, the contact arm to eggs and egg gap intrudes securely and individual egg , Accurate counting is possible and counting accuracy is improved. Further, the egg counting device of the present invention further comprises a detecting unit
Rises in the longitudinal direction substantially at the center of the floor of the conveyor.
And transport the eggs to both side walls of the conveyor.
Each has a raised part for sorting,
Conveying belts can be slid sequentially on each side
, And gradually tilt as the conveyor belt moves.
Because of the locking part for forming the surface,
Separation becomes more reliable, and counting accuracy improves.
In addition, the floating of both ends of the conveyor belt can be prevented,
The inclined surface can be formed with a simple structure.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an egg counting apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the vicinity of a detection unit of an embodiment of the egg counting device of the present invention,
FIG. 2 is a front view of the detection unit shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the starting end side in the transport direction. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bottom plate.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a plan view for explaining the shape of a contact arm of a detection unit provided in the detection unit, and FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view for explaining the operation of the contact arm shown in FIG. 7, FIG. 7 is a front view for explaining the shape of the contact arm of the detecting means provided in the detecting section, and FIG. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the contact arm shown in FIG. 7, FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the detection detecting means attachment portion of the egg counting device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. It is the schematic for demonstrating the whole structure of an egg counting device.

The egg counting device 1 of this embodiment is an egg counting device in which a detection unit 2 is attached to a conveyor that transports eggs, and the detection unit 2 protrudes substantially in the center of the floor surface of the conveyor in the longitudinal direction. The raised portion 3 for distributing the transported eggs to the side wall of the conveyor and the raised portion 3 which is located substantially at the center of the floor surface of the conveyor and abuts on the transported eggs and is distributed to both side walls of the conveyor. And an elastic member 4 for
Further, the detecting means 5 of the detecting unit 2 has a contact arm 6 which comes into contact with the conveyed egg and is urged to restore the original position after the contact, and the contact arm 6 is seen in a plan view. , A base portion 7 extending toward the egg carry-out side, and a tip portion 9 extending toward the egg carry-in side via a bent portion or a curved portion 8. Hereinafter, each configuration will be sequentially described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 10, the egg counting apparatus 1 of this embodiment is used in a poultry raising system in which a plurality of cage rows in which a plurality of cages 30 accommodating chickens are arranged in a horizontal direction are stacked in a plurality of stages. The detectors 2 are attached to the egg collecting conveyors 40 running in front of the cage rows, respectively, and are used to count eggs for each cage row. As described above, by providing the detection unit 2 for each egg collection conveyor, it is possible to grasp the spawning status of chickens and the like in more detail. However, the egg counting device of the present invention aims to improve the counting accuracy, for example, by attaching the detection unit 2 to an egg feeding conveyor or the like where eggs collected by a plurality of egg collecting conveyors merge. Is also good.

As shown in FIG. 1, the detecting section 2 of this embodiment has a housing 20 having a substantially U-shaped vertical section with an open top, and as shown in FIG. 20 is fitted and fixed from above the conveyor 40, and the detection unit 2 is attached.

The detecting section 2 has a protruding section 3 extending in the longitudinal direction substantially at the center of the bottom surface of the housing 20. As shown in FIG. 2, when the conveyer belt 43 is placed on the conveyer by raising the central portion of the conveyer, the protruding portions 3 form gentle slopes that go down toward both side walls. Since the detection unit of the egg counting device of the present invention has such a raised portion, the transferred eggs are sequentially sorted and arranged on both side walls of the conveyor, so that the counting accuracy is increased. Can be.

More specifically, the raised portion 3 of this embodiment
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is constituted by a bar-shaped member provided at substantially the center of the upper surface of a bottom plate 25 attached to the bottom surface of the housing 20 and extending in the longitudinal direction, and has a substantially semicircular cross section. Have been. However, the form of the raised portion of the present invention is not limited to this, and any shape may be used as long as an inclined surface descending toward both side walls is formed. It may be a bottom plate having a triangular longitudinal section provided on the whole.

Above the raised portion 3, as shown in FIG.
The conveyor belt 43 is placed, and the above-described inclined surface is formed. The ends of both sides of the conveyor belt 43 are engaged with the locking portions 22 and 2.
3 slidably locks, thereby preventing both ends of the transport belt 43 from being lifted up, and forming an inclined surface sequentially as the transport belt 43 moves.

The locking portions 22 and 23 of this embodiment are:
As shown in FIG. 3, claw portions 22 formed by bending inwardly extending portions provided at four corners of the bottom plate 25, respectively.
a, 22b, 23a and 23b. However, the locking portions 22 and 23 are not limited to this mode, and may be any type as long as they can lock both ends of the conveyor belt 43. For example, the locking portions 22 and 23 may extend over both sides of the bottom plate 25. The claw portion may be formed.

Most of the eggs conveyed by the conveyor 40 are sorted and arranged on both side walls 41 and 42 when reaching the inclined surface formed by the above-mentioned raised portion 3, but when the degree of congestion is severe. May move further near the center. Therefore, the detection unit 2 of this embodiment
Is provided with an elastic member 4 which is located substantially at the center of the floor surface of the conveyor 40 and abuts on the transported eggs to distribute the eggs to both side walls of the conveyor 40.

As shown in FIG. 1, the elastic member 4 is provided behind the starting point where the raised portion 3 is provided (on the side where the eggs are carried out or on the end side in the conveying direction), and is not distributed on the above-described inclined surface. Acts to ensure that the eggs are sorted. Specifically, when the egg abuts, it is received by the elastic force without giving an excessive impact to the egg, and the egg is distributed to both side walls by the repulsive force.

As shown in FIG. 4, the elastic member 4 of this embodiment includes a first elastic member 4a and a first elastic member 4a.
and a second elastic member 4b having a greater elastic force than the first elastic member 4a, which is provided on the egg carry-out side (end side in the transport direction or downstream side) from the position a. As described above, by providing the two elastic members 4a and 4b in series in the transport direction, an egg that has not been sorted by the first elastic member 4a can be sorted by the second elastic member 4b having a large elastic force. Yes, the eggs can be more reliably aligned.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first elastic member 4a and the second elastic member 4b are provided in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the conveyor 40, and are formed by a spring which is bent in a substantially U-shape. And both ends are fixed to the upper part 24 of the detection unit 2 respectively. The strength of the elastic member differs depending on the length of the spring or the thickness of the linear body constituting the spring. That is, the second elastic member 4b
Is formed of a thicker linear body and a shorter spring than the first elastic member 4a.

In addition, since the spring has such a substantially U-shape, the lower portion of the elastic member 4 is not fixed, so that an excessive impact is not given to the egg and the elastic member 4
Eggs are not clogged nearby. Therefore, the elastic member 4 performs a stable sorting action. Furthermore, since both ends of the spring are fixed along the longitudinal direction of the conveyor 40, the spring can be distributed to a more appropriate side wall according to the way of contact of the eggs, and can be distributed to one side of the side wall. I won't. Further, since both ends of the spring are fixed, the spring is mechanically stable as compared with a case where one end is a free end. Furthermore, since the spring is curved, it does not have an apex as in the case where it is bent, and the spring is also spirally wound, so that an excessive impact is not given even when the egg abuts.

The elastic member 4 of this embodiment is constituted by a spring, but is not limited to this. The elastic member 4 has an elastic force and performs a sorting action without giving an excessive impact to the egg. Any material can be used as long as the rubber member is formed in a similar shape.

On both side walls near the rear of the detecting section 2, detecting means 5a and 5b are provided, respectively. Detecting means 5
Is for individually detecting the eggs that are transported when counting the eggs. In this embodiment, a limit switch is used.

As shown in FIG. 9, the detecting means 5 is fixed to a mounting plate 18 made of a magnetic material and provided with two projections 17a and 17b on the bottom surface.
0 is detachably attached to the detecting means attaching portion 11 provided with magnets 19 provided on the outer surfaces of both side walls. By adopting such a structure, fastening means or the like is not required for mounting the detecting means 5, and mounting or replacement is extremely easy. In addition, two positioning recesses 21a and 21b are provided on the upper surface of the detecting means mounting portion 11, and the above-mentioned protruding portions 17a and 17b are inserted and mounted on these, so that the detecting means 5 can be accurately positioned. Can be attached. Further, the detecting means mounting portion 11
The detection means protection part 21 which can be opened and closed via a hinge 21a
Is provided. When the detection means 5 is attached, the detection means protection part 21 is tilted to the front side and opened, as shown in FIG.
It functions to protect the detection means 5.

The magnet of this embodiment is made of a permanent magnet, but is not limited to this. Any magnet having a magnetic force, such as an electromagnet, may be used. You may. Further, a convex portion may be formed instead of the positioning concave portion, and a concave portion engaging with the convex portion may be formed on the bottom surface of the mounting plate. Further, although the detecting means protection portion of this embodiment protects the upper part of the detecting means, it may have an L-shaped cross section so as to protect not only the upper part but also the side surface.

The detecting means 5 has a contact arm 6 (contact) which comes into contact with the conveyed egg and is urged to return to the original position after the contact. As shown in FIG. 5, the base 6 extends through a base 7 extending toward the carry-out side of the egg (the end side in the transport direction or the downstream side of the conveyor 40) and a bent portion or a bent portion 8 in a plan view. And a leading end 9 extending toward the egg loading side (starting side in the transport direction or upstream of the conveyor 40). In the egg counting device of the present invention, since the detecting means has the contact arm in such a form, it is possible to reliably detect each of the conveyed eggs, and it is possible to extremely increase the counting accuracy. it can.

The contact arm 6 has one end 6 a rotatably fixed to the upper part of the limit switch, the other end 6 b penetrates a cutout hole 27 provided on the side surface of the housing 20, and Is rotatably inserted into a hole 28 provided in the hole. In a state where the egg is not in contact with the egg, the egg is urged to hold the position shown in FIG. 5 in a plan view. When the egg is transported in the direction of arrow B in FIG. (Clockwise in the figure). This operation opens and closes the limit switch, and detects passage of the egg. That is, the contact arm 6 is urged in the direction opposite to the arrow C direction (counterclockwise in the figure), and is configured to return to the position shown in FIG. 5 when the contact with the egg is lost.

The contact arm 6 has a base portion 7 extending toward the carry-out side of the egg (the end side in the transport direction or the downstream side of the conveyor 40) and a bent portion or a curved portion 8 in plan view.
Has a leading end 9 extending toward the loading side of the egg (starting side in the transport direction, upstream side of the conveyor 40) through the opening, and this shape is the shape of the gap formed between the eggs ( (Substantially triangular shape), so that when the previous egg passes, the contact arm 6 instantaneously enters the gap with the next egg. Therefore,
The detection omission is extremely reduced, and the counting accuracy is improved.

More specifically, when the tip 9 is viewed from above,
By extending toward the import side of the egg, compared to the case where it extends to the export side of the egg and the case where it extends in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction as in the conventional case, Contact quickly. For this reason, detection omission is extremely reduced, and counting accuracy can be improved. Further, by providing the base 7 extending toward the egg carry-out side, the amplitude of the contact arm can be reduced as compared with the case where the contact arm 6 is simply extended to the egg carry-in side. As a result, since the return is faster, individual eggs can be reliably detected, and the counting accuracy can be improved. Furthermore, since the contact arm 6 of the present invention has the above-described shape, the contact with each egg is more assured, and the egg contact portion 13 described below removes feces attached to the egg. Also works.

Further, the distal end portion 9 of the contact arm 6 has a foremost end portion 10 which is further bent toward the loading side (starting side in the transport direction) of the egg in plan view. By providing such a foremost portion 10, the contact arm 6 comes into contact with the next egg more quickly, so that the detection error is extremely reduced and the counting accuracy is improved.

The contact arm 6 has a base 7, a bent portion or a curved portion 8 and a distal end 9 each having a shape substantially as shown in FIG. 5 above and below, respectively, and is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. It has a vertically extending egg contact portion 13. The length of the egg contact portion 13 is determined so that eggs of different sizes can be reliably brought into contact with each other even when they are conveyed.

Although the contact arm 6 of this embodiment is formed by bending a single piano wire, the material is not limited to this, and it has a certain rigidity even if it is thin. Any material may be used. Further, the detection means 5 of this embodiment uses a limit switch, but is not limited to this. Any means may be used as long as it can detect an egg. A photo micro sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an infrared sensor, a proximity sensor, a photoelectric tube, or the like may be used. Furthermore, although the distal end of the contact arm is bent to form the forefront in plan view, the distal end may be curved in an arc shape. Further, the contact arm of this embodiment has a base extending toward the carry-out side of the egg and a tip extending toward the carry-in side (starting side in the carrying direction) of the egg via a bent portion or a curved portion in plan view. However, it may include only a portion extending toward the carry-in side of the egg.

The detecting means 5a, 5b of the detecting section 2
Is the display unit 14 and the printer 1 as shown in FIG.
5 and is electrically connected to a display 16 having a counting function, a storing function, a control function of each section, and the like. The egg counting device 1 of this embodiment has the display 16 as described above, but is not limited to this, and may be connected to a counter device that does not have a display unit or a printer. The display 16 or the counter device may be connected to a central processing unit (for example, a personal computer) so that the cage of the entire poultry house can be comprehensively managed by the central processing unit.

Next, the specific operation of the egg counting apparatus 1 of this embodiment will be described. Egg collection conveyor 40 for detecting unit 2
When the conveyor 40 is operated in the vicinity of the end, a large number of eggs are conveyed to the detection unit 2 in a crowded state. When the eggs reach the vicinity of the inclined surface formed by the raised portions 3, the eggs are distributed to both side walls 41 and 42 of the conveyor 40 and most of them are aligned.

Eggs that could not be sorted by the inclined surface are sorted by contacting the first elastic member 4a. Eggs that have not been sorted by the first elastic member 4a are also reliably sorted by the second elastic member 4b provided behind the first elastic member 4a.

The sorted and arranged eggs are detected by detecting means 5a and 5b provided behind them.
At this time, since the contact arm of the detection means has a tip portion 9 extending toward the loading side of the egg in a plan view, the contact arm 6 is instantaneously moved when the preceding egg passes. Invade the gap between the eggs. Therefore, individual eggs are reliably detected.

The detection signals from the detecting means 5a and 5b are counted by the display unit 16, and the count value is displayed on the display unit 14 for each cage. When the count value is printed, it can be printed by the printer 15.

[0041]

Effects of the Invention According to the invention described in claim 1, the first
Eggs that could not be sorted by the elastic member
Can be reliably separated by the elastic member, accurate detection can be performed by the detecting means, and counting accuracy can be improved. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the eggs can be stably sorted without giving an excessive impact to the eggs and without the eggs being clogged. Further, the eggs can be distributed to a more appropriate side wall in accordance with the manner in which the eggs abut, thereby preventing the eggs from being distributed to one side of the side wall. Further, it is mechanically stable as compared with the case where one end is a free end. According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to make more reliable contact with each egg, to minimize detection omission, and to reduce the amplitude of the contact arm.
Individual eggs because they can return faster
Can be detected reliably, and the counting accuracy is improved.
be able to. According to the invention described in claim 4 , since the contact arm can be brought into contact with the next egg more quickly after having come into contact with the preceding egg, detection omission rarely occurs, and the counting accuracy can be further increased. it can. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the both ends of the transport belt from floating, and to form the inclined surface with a simple structure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the vicinity of a detection unit of an embodiment of an egg counting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the detection unit illustrated in FIG. 1 as viewed from a start end side in a transport direction.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bottom plate.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a plan view for explaining a shape of a contact arm of a detection unit provided in the detection unit.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an operation of the contact arm shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a front view for explaining a shape of a contact arm of a detection unit provided in the detection unit.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an operation of the contact arm shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of a detection detecting means mounting portion of the egg counting device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining the overall structure of an egg counting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Egg counting apparatus 2 Detecting part 3 Raised part 4 Elastic member 5 Detecting means 6 Contact arm 7 Base 8 Bending or bending part 9 Tip part 10 Foremost part 11 Detecting means attaching part 12 Screwing member 13 Egg contacting part 14 Display Part 15 Printer 16 Display 17 Projecting part 18 Mounting plate 19 Magnet 20 Housing 21 Positioning concave part 22 Locking part 23 Locking part 24 Upper 25 Bottom plate 26 Positioning concave 27 Cutout hole 28 Hole

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-3-152009 (JP, A) JP-A-5-64131 (JP, U) JP-A-3-127965 (JP, U) JP-A-3-127965 13061 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Hei 5-51984 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G06M 7/00-11/04

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A detection unit is attached to a conveyor for transporting eggs.
An egg counting device, wherein the detecting unit comprises:
It is located approximately in the center of the floor of the
Contact and distribute to both sides of the conveyor
An elastic member for the elastic member, a first elastic member and, first elastic member from stronger elastic force than the first elastic member provided on the carry-out side of the egg second elastic members And have
An egg counting device, comprising: 2. A detection unit is attached to a conveyor for transporting eggs.
An egg counting device, wherein the detecting unit comprises:
It is located approximately in the center of the floor of the
Contact and distribute to both sides of the conveyor
The elastic member is provided in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the conveyor, is formed by a spring curved in a substantially U-shape, and both ends are respectively fixed to the upper part of the detection unit. An egg counting device characterized by being performed. 3. A detection unit is attached to a conveyor for transporting eggs.
An egg counting device, wherein the detecting means of the detecting unit comprises:
Makes contact with the transported egg and restores it to its original position after contact
The contact arm is biased as described above, and the contact arm is directed toward the egg carry-in side through a bent portion or a curved portion, and a base extending in a plan view toward the egg carry-out side. An egg counting device, comprising: 4. The egg counting device according to claim 3 , wherein the tip of the contact arm has a tip portion further bent toward the egg loading side in plan view. 5. A detection unit is attached to a conveyor for transporting eggs.
An egg counting device, wherein the detecting unit comprises:
The central part of the floor is raised in the longitudinal direction and transported.
Distribute incoming eggs on both sides of the conveyor
Has a raised portion of the order, further, each of the bottom sides, the conveyor belt to proceed sequentially, slidably and locking, or
First, an inclined surface is sequentially formed with the movement of the transport belt.
An egg counting device having a locking portion for the egg.