JP3341247B2 - Agricultural product sorting device and its aligning and conveying means - 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 apparatus for sorting agricultural products such as onions, potatoes, and the like at each size step on the basis of their weight, and to an aligning and conveying means therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an agricultural product sorting apparatus for sorting agricultural products such as potatoes at each size step based on their weight, there is an agricultural product having a configuration shown in FIG. This agricultural product sorting apparatus has a transport path 2 for transporting containers 1 ... that accommodate agricultural products P in two rows, and sorting mechanisms 3 and 3.

The transport path 2 is composed of a pair of guide rails 4 and 4 arranged on both sides of the two rows of containers 1 and a pair of transport chains stretched to transport the containers 1. 5,
5

The containers 1,... Are formed in a V-shaped cross section with an open upper surface, and for each of two adjacent containers 1, 1, rotate on their rear portions 1a, 1a and on both ends with the transport chains 5, 5. A freely connected support shaft 6 is fixed, and a posture holding shaft 7 having both ends slidably contacting guide rails 4, 4 is fixed to the front portions 1b, 1b. Therefore, when the transport chains 5, 5 are driven, the containers 1 move along the guide rails 4, 4 while maintaining the posture.

[0005] The guide rails 4 and 4 are separated from each other at required intervals at the positions facing each other, and the sorting mechanisms 3 and 3 are provided here. The separating mechanism 3 has a connecting rail portion 8a having a length complementary to the distance between the guide rails 4a and 4b on both sides separated from each other, bent at its front end, and a weight 9 at its rear end.
A separation arm 8 having a weight adjusting portion 8b for stacking and mounting the components is supported so as to be vertically rotatable about a support shaft 10.

When the container 1 containing the agricultural product P of a predetermined weight moves on the connecting rail portion 8a, the weight adjusting portion 8b moves downward from the position complementing the guide rails 4a and 4b on both sides. You have to weight. here,
Assuming that the agricultural product P is separated into three stages of large size, medium size, and small size, for example, the lower limit weight of the agricultural product P to be sorted into the large size is selected in advance, and the container 1 containing the weight is selected. When a load is applied to the connecting rail portion 8a, the weight 9 is moved so that it moves downward.
Adjust the weight of.

As a result, when the containers 1, 1 containing the agricultural products P to be sorted into large sizes are moved to the connecting rails 8a, 8a, the posture holding shaft 7 fixed to the front portions 1b, 1b of the containers 1, 1 is moved. Are disengaged from the guide rails 4 and 4,
Tilts so as to drop the agricultural products P, P, whereby the agricultural products P are separated (FIGS. 19 to 21).

[0008]

As described above, in the conventional apparatus, since the sorting is performed according to the weight of each container 1 containing the agricultural products P, the agricultural products P must be stored in each container 1 one by one. If you can not separate. In addition, it is difficult to reliably and automatically supply the agricultural products P having different sizes and shapes to each container 1 one by one. For this reason, a part or all of the operation of supplying the agricultural products P to each container 1 is performed manually. Need to be done by

In order to increase or decrease the weight 9, the agricultural product P is stored in the container 1, and when these loads are applied to the connecting rail portion 8a, the sorting arm 8 must be manually adjusted to increase or decrease. And the work is complicated. Further, the adjustment of the increase / decrease of the weight is time consuming because the operation depends on intuition while watching the movement of the sorting arm 8.

Further, in order to separate the agricultural product P into a plurality of sizes such as large, medium and small, it is necessary to install the above-mentioned sorting mechanisms 3 in a number corresponding to the stages, and moreover, the large-sized devices are required. -It must be arranged in the order of the medium size and the small size, and accordingly, it is necessary to perform complicated adjustment work of the weight 9 for each sorting mechanism.

According to the present invention, agricultural products can be separated for each size step without individually storing them in a container or the like, and setting work for each step can be easily performed.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an agricultural product sorting apparatus capable of automatically supplying agricultural products, and an aligning / conveying means therefor.

[0012]

The structure of the agricultural product sorting apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is as follows. (1) A number of agricultural products P randomly supplied to the upstream side in the transport direction are aligned in a line while being transported to the downstream side α1 in the transport direction, and are sequentially transported out. A weight measuring means C for individually measuring the weight of the agricultural products P sequentially taken out, a separating means CR for separating each agricultural product P for each size step based on the measured weight, and a separation result by the separating means CR. And a sorting means E for sorting the agricultural products P.. (2) The aligning and transporting means B has transporting projection rows 33a to 33c formed by arranging a plurality of elastic projections 42 inclined at the downstream side α1 in the transporting direction in parallel with the agricultural product transporting direction. And a plurality of elastic projections 42 on both sides thereof, including elastic projections formed by being inclined to the upstream side in the transport direction.
Are arranged in parallel with the transport projection rows 33a to 33c, and the transport projection rows 33a to 33c are arranged on the downstream side α1 in the transport direction.
Look including a plurality of resilient projections 42 continuously provided in the gradually longer toward the further inclined downstream in the conveying direction α1
Vibration that generates vibration in the longitudinal direction of the formed elastic projection 42
A source 37 is provided, and is randomly supplied to the upstream side in the transport direction.
A large number of agricultural products P are transferred to the downstream side α in the transport direction by vibration.
So that they are aligned in a row while being transported to
When.

The construction of the agricultural product sorting apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention is as follows. (1) A large number of agricultural products P supplied on the upstream side in the transport direction are
An arraying / conveying means B for arranging them in a row while carrying them to the downstream side α1 in the carrying direction and sequentially carrying them out;
Supply means A for temporarily storing the agricultural products P and randomly supplying them to the upstream side in the transport direction of the aligning and transporting means B, and weight measuring means for individually measuring the weight of the agricultural products P sequentially transported from the aligning and transporting means B and C, and on the basis of the measured weight, the classification unit CR for discriminating each step of the agricultural products P size, distribution means for distributing the agricultural products P per stage of its size based on the separation result by the classification unit CR E. A device for separating agricultural products comprising: (2) The aligning and transporting means B has transporting projection rows 33a to 33c formed by arranging a plurality of elastic projections 42 inclined at the downstream side α1 in the transporting direction in parallel with the agricultural product transporting direction. And a plurality of elastic projections 42 on both sides thereof, including elastic projections formed by being inclined to the upstream side in the transport direction.
Are arranged in parallel with the transport projection rows 33a to 33c, and the transport projection rows 33a to 33c are arranged on the downstream side α1 in the transport direction.
Look including a plurality of resilient projections 42 continuously provided in the gradually longer toward the further inclined downstream in the conveying direction α1
Vibration that generates vibration in the longitudinal direction of the formed elastic projection 42
Equipped with a source 37, which is randomly supplied upstream in the transport direction.
A large number of agricultural products P are transferred to the downstream side α in the transport direction by vibration.
So that they are aligned in a row while being transported to
When.

The agricultural product sorting apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention comprises:
The transfer projections 33a to 33c are formed at the bottom of the upper surface of the transfer substrate 33 having both sides warped in an arc shape, and the alignment protrusions 33d to 33g are formed on both sides thereof.
The agricultural product sorting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

The agricultural product sorting apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention comprises:
4. The agricultural product sorting device according to claim 1, wherein the sorting means E is provided with air nozzles 61 and 62 for spraying air on the agricultural product to distribute the agricultural product corresponding to the size of the agricultural product P.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the agricultural product sorting apparatus,
The separation means CR is connected to each air nozzle 6 from the weight measuring section C.
The air nozzle corresponding to the stage of the size of the agricultural product P to be separated from the weight measuring unit C in which the distance from the weight measuring unit C to which the agricultural product P to be sorted is stored is stored in advance. The agricultural product sorting apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein air is blown from the air nozzles (61, 62) when the distance matches the distance to (61, 62).

The agricultural product sorting apparatus according to the sixth aspect of the present invention comprises:
The separation means CR determines the boundary weight at the stage of the size,
By comparing the weight of the agricultural products P to be sorted, a produce sorting apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein comprising as fractionated for each stage of the agricultural products P size.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the arrangement of the sorting and transporting means for the agricultural product sorting apparatus is such that a plurality of elastic projections 42 are formed in a row on the transporting substrate 33 and inclined at the downstream side α1 in the transporting direction. The projection rows 33a to 33c are formed in parallel with the direction of transport of the agricultural product, and are arranged on both sides thereof by arranging a plurality of elastic projections 42 including an elastic projection inclined at the upstream side in the transport direction. Projection rows 33d to 33g
Are formed in parallel with the transport projection rows 33a to 33c, and the plurality of elastic projections 42 are provided in series so that the transport projection rows 33a to 33c become gradually longer toward the downstream side α1 in the transport direction. only contains, further, the downstream side in the transport direction
Vibration in the longitudinal direction of the elastic projection 42 formed at an angle of α1
It has a vibration source 37 that generates
A large number of agricultural products P supplied to the dam are conveyed by vibration
So that they are aligned in a row while transporting to the downstream side α1
One in which you composed.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an aligning / transporting means for an agricultural product sorting apparatus, wherein the transporting projection rows 33a to 33c are formed at the bottom of the upper surface of the arcuate transporting substrate 33 whose both sides are warped. , On both sides thereof, a row of alignment projections 33
8. The sorting and conveying means for an agricultural product sorting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein d to 33 g are formed.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The agricultural product sorting apparatus of the present invention
Front machine base 11 arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction α of agricultural products P ...
A supply unit A and an alignment transport unit B mounted on the
It comprises a weight measuring unit C and a sorting and sorting unit D mounted on the rear machine base 12 arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction.

The front frame 11 includes a pair of side frames 1.
3 and 13 are erected horizontally between the upper ends of the upright frames 15 and 15 erected on the rear side of the lower machine casing 14 and the intermediate portions of the erected frames 16 and 16 erected on the front side. Connecting frames 17-1 between the side frames 13, 13
9 is laid horizontally. Reference numeral 20 denotes a caster (FIGS. 1 and 2).

The supply unit A includes side frames 13, 13
, Which comprises a hopper 21 for gradually supplying the produce P to the aligning and transporting unit B, and a replenishing mechanism 22 for supplying the produce P to the hopper 21. This supply unit A temporarily stores the agricultural products P,
This is a supply unit that gradually supplies this to a transport unit Ba of an alignment transport unit B as an alignment transport unit to be described later.

The structure of the supply mechanism 22 is as follows. A pair of brackets 23, 23 provided at the upper end portions of the upright frames 16, 16 are provided with a rotation shaft 24 rotatably mounted on the pair of brackets 23, 23. The transfer shafts 25, 25 have an L-shaped side surface.
The upper ends of the standing legs 25a, 25a are fixed. The horizontal legs 25b, 25b of the transfer arms 25, 25 hold a container holding bar 26 for holding the agricultural product storage container e mounted thereon, and hold the transfer arm 25 when the transfer arm 25 is manually rotated up and down. A holding bar 27 is provided upright.

The upright legs 25a of the transfer arms 25, 25
Between the connecting members 25a, a connecting member 28 is laid horizontally. A rod fb of a gas damper f having a rear end portion of the main body fa pivotally supported by the connecting frame 18 is pin-connected to an upper end portion, and a connecting member 28 A vertically long bracket 30 pivotally supporting the lock member 29 with a pin 30a is fixed.

The transfer arms 25, 25 supply the container e to the hopper 21 by placing the container e at a predetermined position on the horizontal leg 25b, and turning the container e sideways. It can rotate between the replenishment posture (b),
Further, the gas damper f reduces the force applied to the gripping bar 27 when the transfer arms 25, 25 are manually rotated, and maintains the container mounting posture (a) and the replenishment posture (b). Is what you do.

The locking member 29 has a locking pin 29b which can be locked to a hook 31 fixed to the connecting frame 19 at the rear end of the horizontally long plate 29a.
It can be rotated in a predetermined angle range around a (FIG. 3).

When the transfer arms 25 are moved to the mounting position (a), the locking pin 29b of the lock member 29 is locked by the hook 31, so that the transfer arm 25 can be lifted. Locked state that cannot be performed. When lifting the transfer arms 25, 25,
By pressing down the transfer arms 25, 25 and rotating the lock member 29, the lock pin 29b is pulled out of the hook 31 below the hook 31 to release the locked state.

The hopper 21 has side plates 21b, 21b standing upright on both sides of the front half of the bottom plate 21a, and side plates 21c, 2 on both sides of the rear half of the bottom plate 21a.
1c is formed upright so as to narrow toward the supply port 21d. The hopper 21 has a front lower end fixed to brackets 23 at the upper end of the standing frame 16,
The rear lower end is fixed to an upper end of an upright frame 32 having a lower end fixed to the frame 18, and is supported with the supply port 21d obliquely downward.

When the agricultural products P ... are supplied to the hopper 21 by the supply mechanism 22, the agricultural products P ...
After being temporarily stored in the inside, it is gradually supplied to the alignment and transport unit B from the supply port 21d.

The aligning and transporting unit B transports the agricultural products P supplied from the hopper 21 of the supply unit A to a weight measuring unit C, which is disposed downstream in the transporting direction, while arranging them in a single row. It is composed of a transporting unit Ba and a vibration support mechanism 34 that supports the transporting unit Ba horizontally and supports it, and applies vibration to it.

The vibration support mechanism 34 includes a U-shaped upper support member 35 in which the transporting unit Ba is fixed to the upper ends of both side plates 35a, 35a, and four coil springs 36b on the connecting frames 17, 18. A lower support member 36, which is also U-shaped and elastically supports the upper support member 35, and a vibration source 37 that applies vibration to the transport unit Ba via the upper support member 35.

Both side plates 35a, 35a of the upper support member 35
, And both side plates 36a, 3 of the lower support member 36
A leaf spring is provided between the front middle portion of the upper support member 35 and the rear lower middle portions of the side plates 35a, 35a of the upper support member 35 and the rear middle portions of the both side plates 36a, 36a of the lower support member 36. Elastic plates 38, 38 are mounted at a required inclination angle.

Further, the lower ends of the elastic plates 38, 38 are slid along the arc-shaped holes 36c, 36c formed in both side plates 36a, 36a of the lower support member 36, so that the elastic plates 38, 38 are slid. Angle adjusting mechanisms 39, 39 for adjusting the inclination angle of the 38 are provided. By adjusting the inclination angles of the elastic plates 38, 38 by the angle adjusting mechanisms 39, 39, it is possible to adjust the direction of vibration applied to the transporting body Ba supported on the upper ends thereof.

The vibration source 37 includes a lower support member 36
And an iron core 41 fixed to the upper support member 35 while maintaining a required gap therebetween.

When a current is applied to the electromagnetic coil 40, the iron core 41
Is attracted to the electromagnetic coil 40 side against the elastic force of the elastic plates 38, 38, and when the current is cut off,
The elastic member 38 returns to the original position. Therefore, by repeating the energization of the electromagnetic coil 40 periodically,
The upper support member 36 to which the iron core 41 is fixed and the transporting body Ba supported by the upper member vibrate in directions substantially orthogonal to the elastic bodies 38.

The transport unit Ba is moved by the vibration applied from the vibration source 37 via the upper support member 35 to the hopper 2.
The agricultural products P supplied from 1 are transported while being arranged in a line, and are formed on the upper surface of a transport substrate 33 made of, for example, a steel plate or the like, having an arcuate shape in which both sides are warped. (FIG. 4)
To 14).

The elastic projection 42 is a columnar member made of an elastic material such as rubber, and has the following functions depending on the inclination direction, length, and the like. When the direction of the vibration applied from the vibration source 37 and the long axis of the elastic projection 42 are formed so as to coincide with each other, in other words, the elastic projection 42 is contacted by being formed to be inclined downstream in the transport direction. A transport force for transporting the agricultural product P to the downstream side α1 in the transport direction can be generated.

The conveying force can be changed by adjusting the length of the elastic projections 42. The conveying force is longer when the elastic projection 42 is formed longer than when it is shorter.
In other words, the agricultural product P in contact with the elastic projection 42 formed longer is transported faster than the agricultural product P in contact with the shorter elastic projection 42.

When the elastic projections 42 are inclined in a direction different from the direction of the vibration applied from the vibration generating source 37, for example, the elastic projections 42 are formed by being inclined to the upstream side in the transport direction to generate the vibration. Compared with the elastic projections 42 of the same length formed by aligning the major axis with the direction of the vibration applied from the source 37, the conveying force to the agricultural product P can be weakened or not generated.

Therefore, the behavior of the agricultural products P can be controlled by appropriately setting the number of elastic projections, the length of the elastic projections, the inclination, the material, the arrangement thereof, and the like, which are simultaneously in contact with the agricultural products P.

Considering the above, the elastic projections 42 are arranged as follows (FIGS. 5 to 12). Transferring substrate 3
3 are formed at the bottom of the upper surface of the upper surface thereof, and are formed adjacent to each other in a direction parallel to the conveying direction α. On both sides, alignment projection rows 33d to 33g, which are also provided with elastic projections 42.
33c in parallel.

The transport projection rows 33a to 33c are arranged so that the agricultural products P, which are in contact with the elastic projections 42, are transported to the downstream side α1 in the transport direction.
Is inclined to the downstream side in the transport direction.

The transporting projection rows 33a are formed in two rows, and the distance between the front end and the rear end of each row is three from R1, R2, and R3 in order from the front end to the rear end. It is divided into array sections. The arrangement section R1 is set so as to occupy almost two thirds of the transport projection row 33a, and the elastic projections 42 in this section are arranged in line with the required length L1 (FIG. 5). , 6).

The arrangement sections R2 and R3 are set so as to occupy the remaining third of the transfer projection row 33a, and the elastic projections 42 arranged in the arrangement section R2 are arranged from the beginning of the arrangement section R2. From the end, the elastic projections 42... Arranged in the arrangement section R3 are formed to have a length L2 longer than the required length L1.
2 (FIG. 6).

The transfer projection rows 33b are formed outside the two rows of transfer projection rows 33a, 33a, respectively. The front and rear ends of each row are indicated by R4 and R5. It is divided into two array sections.

The elastic projections 42 arranged in the arrangement section R4 ...
Are arranged in line with the required length L1, and the elastic projections 42 in the rear end side array section R5 following the array section R4.
.. Represents a required length L1 from the beginning to the end of the section.
From L2 to L3, which is longer than the length L2 (FIGS. 5 and 7).

The transfer projection row 33 c is
Three rows are formed on the outside of b and 33b, respectively, and the space between the front end and the rear end of each row is divided into two front and rear arrangement sections indicated by R6 and R7. The elastic projections 42 arranged in the arrangement section R6 are arranged in line with the required length L1, and the elastic projections 42 arranged in the arrangement section R7 have a required length from the beginning to the end of the section. The length is gradually increased from the length L1 to the length L3 (FIGS. 5 and 8).

The agricultural product P which is in contact with the elastic projections 42 of each of the arrangement sections R1, R4, R6 of the transport projection rows 33a to 33c.
Are transported at substantially the same speed to the downstream side α1 in the transport direction in those sections, and are transported while being gradually accelerated in the array sections R3, R5, and R7.

The alignment projection rows 33d are formed outside the three rows of the transport projection rows 33c, respectively, and the distance between the front end and the rear end of the alignment projection row 33d is increased in order from the front end to the rear end.
It is equally divided into three array sections indicated by 8, R9, and R10. The elastic projections 42 arranged in the array section R8 are formed in a posture inclined to the downstream side in the transport direction, and are aligned to a required length L1 (FIGS. 5 and 9).

The elastic projections 42 arranged in the arrangement section R9 following the arrangement section R8 are formed so as to have a posture inclined to the upstream side in the transport direction and have the required length L1. The elastic projections 42 arranged in the array section R10 following the array section R9 are formed so as to be inclined toward the upstream side in the transport direction.
Is a length L2 shorter than the length L3 from the required length L1.
The length of the elastic projection row 42 in the rear half is gradually increased so as to be longer than L4, and is formed to be equal to the length L4.

The alignment projection row 33e is composed of the alignment projection row 33
d, each of which is formed on the outer side of
It has the same arrangement as that of 3d, except that the elastic projections 42 of the arrangement section R12 arranged in the middle are formed so as to have the same length L2 (FIGS. 5 and 10).

The alignment projection row 33f is formed by the alignment projection row 33.
e, three rows are formed on the outer side of each of the rows, and the space between the front end and the rear end of each row is divided into two array sections indicated by R14 and R15 in order from the front end to the rear end. . The elastic projections 42 in the array section R14 are formed so as to be inclined to the downstream side in the transport direction and to be aligned with the length L1. The elastic projections 42 in the array section R15 on the downstream side in the transport direction following the array section R14 are formed to be inclined to the upstream side in the transport direction and to have the length L4 (FIGS. 5 and 11).

The alignment projection rows 33g are formed in four rows outside the three alignment projection rows 33f, respectively. The elastic projections 4 in the array section R16 extending from the front end to the rear end are formed.
.. Are inclined to the upstream side in the transport direction, and they are formed to have a length L4 (FIGS. 5 and 12).

That is, the agricultural products P on the elastic projections 42 of the alignment projection rows 33d to 33f are arranged in the arrangement section R.
6, 11, and 14, the transfer projection rows 33a to 33
are transported to the downstream side α1 in the transport direction at a transport speed similar to that of the agricultural product P that is in contact with the elastic projections 42 of.

In the arrangement sections R9, R12, R15,
The transport speed of the agricultural products P... That is in contact with the elastic projections 42... Of the transport projection rows 33a to 33c is slower. Further, in the alignment projection rows 33g arranged in four rows on the outermost side, the transport speed of the agricultural products P...
3c is always slower than the agricultural products P which are in contact with the elastic projections 42.

The elastic projections 42 may be formed by attaching a sheet formed integrally with the elastic projections 42 to the transport substrate 33,
Further, each elastic projection 42 may be individually implanted in a hole formed in the transport substrate 33.

Next, the behavior of the agricultural products P to be transported by the transport unit Ba will be described. <Agricultural products that are in contact with the elastic projections of the transport projection rows 33a to 33c> For the agricultural products P located on the transport projection row 33a, the transport projection rows 33b, 3 arranged on both outer sides of the projection row 33a.
Since the same transport force acts from the elastic projections 42 of 3c, the agricultural products P are transported along the transport projection row 33a to the downstream side α1 in the transport direction in a state of being aligned in one row (FIG. 13). .

Since the lengths of the elastic projections 42 are equal in the arrangement sections R1, R4, R6, the agricultural products P are conveyed at a constant speed, and the conveyance speed is gradually increased in the arrangement sections R3, R5, R7. , That is, while being accelerated.

In other words, in the sections R3, R5 and R7, of the two agricultural products P1 and P2 located before and after,
The preceding produce P1 has a higher speed than the succeeding produce P2, and thus the interval between them gradually increases in this section, and when the succeeding produce P2 is moved to the position indicated by P2 ', the preceding produce P1 Is moved to the position indicated by P1 ', and the distance between the agricultural products P1 and P2 is increased.

<Agricultural products that are in contact with the elastic projections of the alignment projection rows 33d to 33g> Since the transporting body Ba is formed in an arc shape in which both sides are warped, both sides of the transport projection rows 33c, 33c. The elastic projections 42 of the alignment projection rows 33d to 33g arranged outside.
In the agricultural product P which is in contact with, the projection rows 33a to 3
A downward force f toward 3c always acts (FIG. 4).

In the arrangement sections R8, R11, and R14, the agricultural product P, which is in contact with these elastic projections 42, is subjected to the same conveying force toward the downstream side α1 in the conveying direction as the conveying projection rows 33a to 33c. , Transport projection rows 33a to 3
3c are transported to the downstream side α1 in the transport direction at the same transport speed as the agricultural products P that are in contact with the elastic projections 42.

That is, the array sections R8, R11, R14
Are supplied from the hopper 21, the supplied agricultural products P are arranged in these arrangement sections R8, R8.
11 and R14 so as not to be unnecessarily deposited.

In the first half of the arrangement sections R9, R12, R15, the elastic projections 42 arranged in these arrangement sections are provided.
The agricultural product P4 in contact with ... has a transporting projection row 33a.
Although the downward force f directed to .about.33c acts, the downward movement to the conveying projection rows 33a-33c is prevented by the agricultural product P5 which is in contact with the elastic projections 42 of the conveying projection rows 33a-33c, and the array section While being kept in contact with the elastic projections 42 in the first half of R9, R12, R15, they are slowly transported while being dragged by the agricultural products P being transported in one row on the transport projection rows 33a to 33c ( FIG.
3).

In the rear half of the array sections R10, R13, R15, the elastic projections 4a of the transport projection rows 33a to 33c are arranged.
Since the interval between the agricultural products P overlying 2 is widened as described above, the array sections R10, R13, R15
Agricultural product P3 in contact with the elastic projections 42 in the latter half of
Is a downward force f toward the transfer projection rows 33a to 33c.
In such a manner that the agricultural products P being transported in a row on the transport projection rows 33a to 33c
It moves down to the position indicated by 3 '. That is, agricultural products P ...
Are arranged in a line in the latter half of the array sections R10, R13, R15, and then conveyed to the weight measuring section C mounted on the rear machine base 12.

The rear machine base 12 has horizontal rectangular side plates 43, 43 arranged facing each other while maintaining a required interval, and leg portions 4 provided at the front lower end and the rear lower end, respectively.
4 and 44.

Belt stretching rollers 45 to 47 are rotatably mounted on the front upper end, the rear upper end, and the central lower end of the side plates 43, 43 so as to form a vertex of a downward triangle. An endless transport belt 48 is stretched. In addition, 49 is an adjusting roller for adjusting the tension of the transport belt 48, and 50 and 51 are belt guides for supporting the transport belt 48 between the belt tensioning rollers 45 and 46 with a flat surface.

A sprocket 52 is fixed to one end of the belt stretching roller 47, and a roller is fixed between the sprocket 52 and the sprocket 53 fixed to the shaft Ma of the motor M provided on the rear side of the side plate 43. A chain 54 is stretched. Further, a rotary encoder EN is fixed to the other end of the belt tensioning roller 47, and thereby detects the traveling distance of the transport belt 48.

The transport belt portion 48a adjusted between the belt tensioning rollers 45 and 46 so as to form a flat surface forms a transport path for the agricultural product P, and is located on the upstream side in the transport direction by the weight measuring means. A certain weight measuring unit C is arranged, and a sorting and sorting unit D is arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction.

The weight measuring unit C transports a weight measuring section 55 supported on an upper portion of the support table, a balance 56 supported on the upper portion of the measuring section 55 to expand the measuring range of the weight measuring section 55, and a transport belt portion 48a. In order to detect the agricultural products P to be detected, a pair of agricultural product detection sensors 57 and 58 disposed opposite each other are arranged on both sides of the conveyor belt portion 48a. Become. The weight measuring unit 55 and the balance 56 are arranged on the lower surface side of the transport belt portion 48a, and can measure the weight of the agricultural product P while being transported by the transport belt 48.

As the agricultural product detection sensors 57 and 58, a distance measurement type or an area sensor can be used in addition to a type in which light emitted from one of the sensors is received by the other sensor.

The sorting / sorting unit D includes a controller CR which also functions as a sorting means, and a transport belt portion 48a.
A distribution unit E is a distribution unit for distributing the agricultural product P conveyed above toward the shooter 65 provided on the side of the agricultural product P.

The distributing section E includes air nozzles 61 arranged along the conveyor belt portion 48a while maintaining a required interval.
62, and electromagnetic valves 63, 63 provided separately, to which a compressor (not shown) is connected.

The controller CR is arranged between the front end portions of the side plates 43 and 43. The controller CR controls the entire electric system on the rear machine base 12 side and also controls the weight data measured by the weight measuring section 55. , The electromagnetic valve 6 of the sorting unit E based on the agricultural product detection signal input from the agricultural product detection unit 59.
3, 63, etc., and has the following functions.

(1) A function of storing the boundary weight between the sizes of the agricultural product P (hereinafter, simply referred to as the size). Assuming that the agricultural product P is classified into three sizes, large, medium, and small, the agricultural product P having a weight that is a boundary between the small size and the medium size, and the medium size and the large size (hereinafter referred to as a boundary weight) is selected. The weight is actually measured by the weight measurement unit C while being conveyed by the conveyance belt 48, and the measured value is stored as a boundary value between the steps of the size of the agricultural product P. In addition,
In place of the agricultural product P, a weight having a weight that is a boundary between the small size and the medium size, or the medium size and the large size may be used.

(2) A function of comparing the weight of the agricultural product P to be separated, which is sequentially measured by the weight measuring unit C, with the boundary weight stored in the controller CR, and determining the size to which the agricultural product P belongs. Specifically, when the weight of the agricultural product P sent from the weight measuring unit C is smaller than the boundary weight between the small size and the medium size stored in the controller CR, the agricultural product P is small in size and small in size. If the produce is heavier than the border weight between the medium and large sizes and lighter than the border weight between the medium size and the large size, the produce P is a medium size. Agricultural products P are determined as large size.

The weight of the agricultural product P to be selected may be measured a plurality of times while the agricultural product P is being detected by the agricultural product detection unit 59, and the average value thereof may be used.

The control panel of the controller CR is provided with a boundary weight setting switch SW1 for setting the boundary weight. When setting the boundary weight, the switch SW1 is operated to automatically measure the boundary weight. It operates in the mode (FIG. 15).

(3) A function of calculating the transport distance of the agricultural product P from the agricultural product detection unit 59 based on the rotation angle of the belt adjustment roller 47 detected by the rotary encoder EN.

(4) The distance from the agricultural product detection section 59 to the air nozzle 61 or 62 is stored in the controller CR in advance, and the transport distance of the agricultural product P to be separated matches the distance stored in the controller CR. Function to determine whether to do.

(5) A function of opening and closing the electromagnetic valves 63 and 64 when the transport distance of the agricultural product P to be separated matches the distance stored in the controller CR. When the transport distance of the agricultural product P to be separated matches the distance stored in the controller CR, the agricultural product P has been transported to a position facing the air nozzle 61 or 62. , 64 can be distributed to the shooter 65 by opening and closing.

The control panel of the controller CR is provided with a size setting switch SW2 for setting the size of the produce P to be distributed to the shooter 65 by the air nozzles 61 and 62, in addition to the boundary weight setting switch SW1.

As the size of the agricultural products P to be sorted by the air nozzles 61 or 62, any size may be assigned to each of the air nozzles. In consideration of the ratio of the numbers, the size having the smallest number and the size having the next smallest size are assigned to one of the air nozzles 61 and 62, and the largest number is transported by the transport belt 48 as it is. Thus, the amount of air consumed by the air nozzle can be reduced. Here, the small size is air nozzle 6
1 and the medium size is assigned to the air nozzle 62.

The operation of the weight measuring unit C and the sorting and sorting unit D will be described. When the agricultural product P transported by the transport belt 48 is detected by the agricultural product detection unit,
At a required timing, reading of the weight sent from the weight measuring unit 56 is started. Agricultural product P by agricultural product detection unit 59
While detecting, a plurality of weight measurements are performed and their average value is calculated.

The average value of the agricultural product P is compared with the boundary weight stored in the controller CR.
If the agricultural product P is lighter than the boundary weight between the small size and the medium size, the agricultural product P is blown toward the shooter 65 when the agricultural product P is transported to a position facing the air nozzle 61.

When the weight of the agricultural product P is heavier than the boundary weight between the small size and the medium size and smaller than the boundary weight between the medium size and the large size, the agricultural product P is of the medium size. When the agricultural product P is transported to a position facing the air nozzle 62, the agricultural product P is blown off toward the shooter 65.

When the weight of the agricultural product P is heavier than the boundary weight between the medium size and the large size, the air nozzles 61, 6
2 without being blown off by the conveyor belt 4
8, the paper is transported to the downstream side α1 in the transport direction.

Each of the air nozzles 6 is located at a position facing the air nozzles 61 and 62 with the transport belt portion 48a interposed therebetween.
A stopper 64 is provided for each of the first and second 62. The stopper 64 is formed by suspending a power reducing plate 64a made of rubber or the like, which abuts against the blown agricultural product P to reduce the power, by a bracket 64b. On the other hand, the shooter 65 for carrying out the agricultural products P deenergized by the stoppers 64 is inclined.

At the center of the shooter 65, the air nozzle 6
1 and the air nozzle 62
A partition 65a having an inverted V-shape on the side for separating the agricultural product P blown by the above is provided upright, and carry-out paths 65b and 65c for each size are formed. Shooter 6
5, storage boxes 66, 66 'for storing the agricultural products P carried out for each of the carry-out paths 65b, 65c are arranged.

At the rear end of the side plates 43, 43, a shooter 67 for carrying out a large-sized agricultural product P carried out from the carrying terminal end of the carrying belt 48 is provided obliquely so as to be adjustable in angle, and a storage box is provided at the front thereof. 66 ". This shooter 6
In the bottom surface of 7, there is formed a sorting hole 67a for dropping the small-sized and medium-sized agricultural products P, which have been transported without being sorted, out of the system before sending them to the storage box 66 ".

Next, a series of operations of the above-described agricultural product sorting apparatus will be described. The transfer arm 25 of the supply mechanism 22,
25, the agricultural product storage container e is mounted thereon, and the transfer arm 2
When the gripping bar 27 is lifted after the lock state of the locks 5 and 25 is released, the agricultural product storage container e moves to the upper front side of the hopper 21 and is turned over, and the agricultural products P stored in the container e enter the hopper 21. Replenished.

The agricultural products P in the hopper 21 are supplied to the supply port 21.
From d, it is gradually supplied to the front end of the transport unit Ba. The agricultural products P supplied to the transporting unit Ba are transported to the downstream side α1 in the transport direction while being aligned in a line by the vibration applied from the vibration source 37, and transported by the transport belt 48 of the rear machine base 12. Transferred to the beginning.

The agricultural products P transferred to the transport belt 48 ...
Is transported to the downstream side α1 in the transport direction, and the weight is sequentially measured by the weight measuring unit C. Weight measurement part C
Since the transport distance of the crop P whose weight has been measured in is measured by the rotary encoder EN, this measured distance is transmitted from the weight measuring section C to the air nozzle 61 or 62.
When the distances coincide with each other, the electromagnetic valves 63 and 64 are driven to open and close to blow air from the air nozzles 61 or 62, and the agricultural products P are appropriately distributed according to their weight. Thereby, the agricultural products P ... can be stored in the storage boxes 66, 66 ', 6
6 "for each size.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention. FIG. 17 is a front view showing a modification of the transport unit. The transport unit 68 is provided with the transport substrate 6 formed flat.
9, a plurality of transport projection rows 69a are formed at the center of the upper surface, and a plurality of alignment projection rows 69b are formed on both sides thereof.
, And the length of the elastic projections 70 in each row is gradually increased from the center to the both sides.

[0094]

As is clear from the above, the present invention has the following effects. Agricultural products can be separated for each size step without having to be individually stored in containers, etc., and the setting work for each step can be easily performed. It is suitable.

[0095] Since the row of transport projections for transporting agricultural products and the row of alignment projections for aligning the same are provided, transport and alignment can be efficiently performed in one row. Without storage, their weight can be measured individually, and therefore they can also be sorted and sorted by size step, and the produce can be supplied randomly to the sorting and conveying means, Supply can be automated.

In addition, the transfer and alignment are performed by the vibration source.
Since so as to I row by the vibration that may be very simple structure, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost. In addition, by forming the above-mentioned transfer projection row and alignment projection row on the arc-shaped transfer board whose both sides are warped, the agricultural products can be more efficiently aligned.

In particular, since a plurality of elastic projections formed so as to be gradually longer from the upstream side in the transport direction to the downstream side in the transport direction are connected to a part of the transport projection row, the elastic projections are in contact with the elastic projections. Since it is possible to widen the intervals between the produced agricultural products and to easily interrupt the unaligned agricultural products between the agricultural products, the agricultural products can be effectively aligned with a short transport distance.

Further, since the weight of the agricultural product to be separated is compared with the boundary weight, which is the boundary of the size stages, and each agricultural product is separated for each size stage, reliable sorting is performed. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of the agricultural product sorting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of a supply unit and an alignment conveyance unit.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a transport unit.

FIG. 5 is a development view thereof.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line II of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 5;

9 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line VV in FIG. 5;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. 5;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 5;

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing the behavior of agricultural products in the transport unit.

FIG. 14 is a side view thereof.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged side view of the rear machine base.

FIG. 16 is a plan view thereof.

FIG. 17 is a front view showing a modified example of the transport unit.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a main part of a conventional agricultural product sorting apparatus.

FIG. 19 is a schematic side view showing an operation of separating agricultural products by the conventional apparatus, before a container is moved to a sorting mechanism.

FIG. 20 is a schematic side view when the container is moved to a sorting mechanism.

FIG. 21 is a schematic side view when the sorting mechanism is operated.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List A Supply unit as supply means B Alignment / transport unit as alignment / transportation means C Weight measurement unit as weighing means CR Controller as classification means E Distribution unit P as distribution means P Produce α1 Downstream side in transport direction 33 Transport substrate 33a ~ 33c Projection row for conveyance 33d ~ 33g Projection row for alignment 37 Vibration source 42 Elastic projection 61,62 Air nozzle

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Fumiaki Shibata 3-3-112 Yukicho, Takigawa-shi, Hokkaido Circle Iron Works Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-62-60718 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model Showa 55 -73278 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 51-126592 (JP, U) JP 4-6620 (JP, B2) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65G 47/00- 47/32 B65G 27/00-27/34 B07C 5/16-5/32

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. Alignment transport means for arranging a large number of agricultural products randomly supplied upstream in the transport direction while aligning them in a row while transporting them downstream in the transport direction, and sequentially transporting them out; a weight measuring means for measuring separately the weight of the agricultural products, based on the measured weights, the classification unit to separate each stage of the agricultural <br/> producing product size, based on the fractional result according to the classification unit And a sorting means for sorting the agricultural products in each size step, wherein the aligning and transporting means comprises a plurality of elastic projections arranged in a row inclined in the downstream direction in the transport direction. A row of projections is formed in parallel with the transport direction of the agricultural product, and a row of alignment projections formed by arranging a plurality of elastic projections on both sides of the row, including an elastic projection formed by being inclined upstream in the transport direction. But for transportation Okoshiretsu and are formed in parallel, and the conveyance projection column, seen including a plurality of resilient projections which consecutively provided so as to gradually increase toward the downstream side, further, the conveyance direction under
Generates vibration in the longitudinal direction of the elastic projection formed by tilting to the flow side
Vibration sources, which are randomly supplied upstream in the transport direction.
A large number of agricultural products supplied are moved downstream in the transport direction by vibration.
Agricultural products sorting apparatus characterized in that they are arranged in a line while being conveyed to an agricultural product. 2. An arraying / conveying means for arranging a large number of agricultural products supplied to the upstream side in the transporting direction in a row while transporting them to the downstream side in the transporting direction and sequentially carrying out the same, and for temporarily storing a large number of agricultural products. Supply means for randomly supplying them to the upstream side in the transport direction of the aligning and transporting means, weight measuring means for individually measuring the weight of the agricultural products sequentially carried out from the aligning and transporting means, and each agricultural product based on the measured weight. And a sorting means for sorting agricultural products for each size step based on the sorting result by the sorting means. The aligning and transporting means includes a plurality of transporting projection rows formed by arranging a plurality of elastic projections inclined at a downstream side in the transporting direction, and is formed in parallel with the agricultural product transporting direction, and on both sides thereof. An alignment projection row formed by arranging a plurality of elastic projections including an elastic projection inclined to the upstream side in the transport direction is formed in parallel with the transport projection row, and the transport projection row is transported. look including a plurality of resilient projections which consecutively provided so as to gradually increase toward the downstream side, further, the conveyance direction under
Generates vibration in the longitudinal direction of the elastic projection formed by tilting to the flow side
Vibration sources, which are randomly supplied upstream in the transport direction.
A large number of agricultural products supplied are moved downstream in the transport direction by vibration.
Agricultural products sorting apparatus characterized in that they are arranged in a line while being conveyed to an agricultural product. 3. The aligning / transporting means, wherein the transporting projection row is formed at the bottom of the upper surface of an arc-shaped transporting substrate whose both sides are warped, and the alignment projection row is formed on both sides thereof. The agricultural product sorting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the agricultural product is separated. 4. A sorting means, according to claim 1, 2 or 3 to the air nozzle for distributing blown air to produce characterized by being provided in correspondence to the stage of the size of the agricultural
The described agricultural product sorting apparatus. 5. The classification unit previously stores a distance to each of the air nozzles from the weight measuring unit, conveying distance from <br/> weighing of agricultural products to be sorted are trying fractionated from the weight measuring unit The agricultural product sorting apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein air is blown from the air nozzle when the distance to the air nozzle corresponding to the size of the agricultural product is matched. 6. The separating means compares the weight of the agricultural product to be separated with the boundary weight at the stage of the size,
The agricultural product sorting apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein each agricultural product is sorted for each size step. 7. A transfer projection row in which a plurality of elastic projections formed to be inclined to the downstream side in the transfer direction are arranged on the transfer board,
An alignment projection row, which is formed in parallel with the transport direction of the agricultural product and has a plurality of elastic projections on both sides including an elastic projection formed by being inclined to the upstream side in the transport direction, is provided. It is formed in parallel to the column, and the carrying projections column saw including a plurality of resilient projections which consecutively provided so as to gradually increase toward the downstream side, further, transportable
Vibration in the longitudinal direction of the elastic projection formed to be inclined downstream in the feeding direction
Equipped with a vibration source that generates motion,
The method of transporting many agricultural products supplied to the dam by vibration
So that they are aligned in a line while being transported to the downstream side.
Agricultural fractionator for aligning conveyor means, characterized in that that. 8. A transfer projection array is formed at the bottom of the upper surface of a transfer substrate having an arc shape in which both sides are warped.
8. The aligning / conveying means for an agricultural product sorting apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein an aligning projection row is formed on both sides thereof.