JP3574722B2

JP3574722B2 - Agricultural transfer equipment

Info

Publication number: JP3574722B2
Application number: JP1463797A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 浩兆松尾; 明夫大石
Original assignee: 株式会社マキ製作所
Priority date: 1997-01-09
Filing date: 1997-01-09
Publication date: 2004-10-06
Anticipated expiration: 2017-01-09
Also published as: JPH10194443A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、例えば供給コンベアから供給される茄子、胡瓜等の長物農産物や、梨、柿等の丸物農産物等の農産物を、例えば選別コンベアのバケット上に一個ずつ移載する農産物の移載装置に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
一般的に、選別のために農産物を一個ずつ選別装置等に供給する装置は、例えば特開平５−１２４７２２号公報、特開平８−１０４４２０号公報、実公平５−３３４５５号公報、実公昭６３−２１３４６号公報、特開昭６０−９４１８７号公報等に開示されている。これらの装置は、選別コンベアの始端側に、農産物を一定ピッチで搬送することのできるピッチ付きコンベア（ローラコンベア、桟付きコンベア等）を配設し、このピッチ付きコンベアの終端部から、選別コンベアのバケット上に農産物を直接落とすことにより、農産物が選別コンベアの始端側に供給されるように構成されている。
【０００３】
そして、これらの装置にあっては、選別コンベアのバケットの農産物の受載面が平坦に形成されているため、農産物をバケットに直接落として供給しても農産物に傷が付き難いし、場合によってはバケットの受載面に柔らかな緩衝部材を貼着することにより、傷付き等がより一層防止されている。
【０００４】
ところで従来、これらの装置にあっては、選別コンベアのバケットの受載面の下方から、受載面上の農産物の下面をカメラ等の撮影装置によって撮影することができず、農産物の高精度な計測情報（大きさ、形状、傷の有無等）を得ることができない。そのため、バケットの農産物が受載される部分を簀の子状もしくは櫛歯状に形成して、農産物の下面を撮影し得るようにしたバケットが開発使用されている。
【０００５】
このバケットは、簀の子状もしくは櫛歯状に組み合わされて受載面を形成する各支持部材の幅を可能な限り狭く（小さく）して、撮影装置で撮影できない部分（農産物との接触部分）をできるだけ少なくするため、支持部材が細棒状もしくは小幅薄板状に形成されている。
【０００６】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかしながら、この簀の子状もしくは櫛歯状のバケットを使用し、上記各公報に示すように、農産物を供給コンベアから選別コンベアのバケットに直接落とし込むようにすると、供給コンベアと選別コンベアの乗り継ぎ落差のために、農産物が傷むおそれがあると共に、農産物がバケット上で飛びはねてしまうという問題点があった。
【０００７】
また、農産物が小幅な支持部材に突き当たり、例えば茄子等のように表面が柔らかい農産物にあっては、その表皮に支持部材の形状に沿った筋等の傷が付くことがある。この農産物への傷付きを防止するために、バケットの支持部材の幅を広く（大きく）することも考えられるが、この場合は撮影装置で撮影できない部分が多くなるため、農産物の計測できる範囲が狭くなって高精度な計測情報が得られなくなり、結局農産物への傷付き防止と計測精度の向上を同時に果たすことが困難であるという問題点があった。
【０００８】
さらに、単なる簀の子状もしくは櫛歯状のバケットにあっては、供給コンベアから供給載置された農産物がバケットのセンタ部分（進行方向の中央部分）に位置しない場合があり、撮影装置で正確な撮影ができないため、バケット上の農産物の位置をバケットのセンタ部分に手作業によって移動させる修正作業が必要となり、選別作業の作業効率が劣るという問題点があった。
【０００９】
本発明はこのような事情に鑑みてなされたもので、請求項１ないし７記載の発明は、農産物への傷付き防止と計測精度の向上を同時に果たし得る農産物の移載装置を提供することを目的とし、請求項８記載の発明は、請求項１ないし７記載の発明の目的に加え、バケット上での農産物の位置修正作業を不要とし、作業効率の向上を図り得る農産物の移載装置を提供することを目的としたものである。
【００１０】
【課題を解決するための手段】
かかる目的を達成すべく、本発明のうち請求項１記載の発明は、複数の小幅支持部材が所定間隔で並設されて農産物の受載面が形成された選別コンベアのバケットに、供給コンベアから供給される農産物を一個ずつ移載する農産物の移載装置であって、選別コンベアの農産物の供給位置に、農産物移載用の移載部材をバケットの各小幅支持部材間に進退可能に設け、移載部材のバケットに対する進退動作によって、供給コンベアから供給される農産物を移載部材を介してバケット上に移載することを特徴とする。
【００１１】
このように構成することにより、供給コンベアから選別コンベアに供給される農産物は、バケットの受載面を形成する小幅支持部材間に進出する移載部材上に載せられる。そして、この農産物は移載部材が退去して小幅支持部材より下方に位置することによってバケット上に載せられる。したがって、農産物がバケットへの供給時に小幅支持部材に直接突き当たることがなくなりその傷付きが防止されると共に、移載部材が退去した後は幅の狭い小幅支持部材上に載せられて、撮影範囲が狭くなることもなく高精度な計測情報が得られる。
【００１２】
また、請求項２記載の発明は、農産物を載せるための所定数のバケットが回動可能に取り付けられた選別コンベアに、上流側の供給コンベアから供給される農産物を一個ずつ移載する農産物の移載装置であって、選別コンベアのバケットは、農産物を支持するための小幅支持部材が所定間隔で複数並設されて農産物の受載面が形成され、選別コンベアの供給コンベアからの農産物の供給位置に、農産物移載用の移載部材をバケットの各小幅支持部材間に進退可能に設け、移載部材が進出することで農産物の受け入れ状態となし、移載部材が退去することで受け入れた農産物を小幅支持部材上に移載することを特徴する。
【００１３】
このように構成することにより、請求項１記載の発明と同様、移載部材がバケットの小幅支持部材間に進出してこの移載部材上に、供給コンベアから供給される農産物が載せられる。そして、この農産物は移載部材が退去して小幅支持部材より下方に位置することにより、バケット上に移載される。
【００１４】
また、請求項３記載の発明は、選別コンベアが、始端側スプロケットと終端側スプロケットとに掛け渡した左右一対のコンベアチェーンを有し、コンベアチェーンの進行方向に沿って所定間隔で架設された取付部材にバケットが回動可能に取り付けられると共に、移載部材が、始端側スプロケットと同軸でかつバケットの走行回転と同期して並走することを特徴とする。
【００１５】
このように構成することにより、移載部材は選別コンベアの始端側スプロケット部において、バケットの走行回転と同期して並走し、少なくともスプロケットの最上位の農産物の供給位置で小幅支持部材間に進出して、供給コンベアから供給される農産物を受け入れる。そしてこの農産物は、スプロケットの回転と同期して移載部材が小幅支持部材間から退去することにより、バケットの小幅支持部材の受載面に載せられる。そしてこのバケットに載せられた農産物が、所定位置で取付部材に回動可能に取り付けられたバケットが回動することにより、バケット上から例えば等級及び階級に応じたコンベア上に移載される。
【００１６】
また、請求項４記載の発明は、移載部材が、選別コンベアの農産物の供給位置でバケットの走行回転と同期して所定の長さ平行に並走することを特徴とする。このように構成することにより、選別コンベアの農産物の供給位置で、移載部材がバケットの走行回転と同期して所定の長さ平行に並走する。そして、この移載部材は、並走中に小幅支持部材間に進出して供給コンベアから供給される農産物を受け入れる。そして、この移載部材上の農産物は、バケットの走行回転と同期した並走され、その終端において移載部材が小幅支持部材間から退去することにより、バケットの小幅支持部材上に移載される。
【００１７】
また、請求項５記載の発明は、前記した移載部材が、小幅支持部材の幅より広い幅を有することを特徴とする。このように構成することにより、請移載部材の受載面が広く（大きく）なり、移載部材上に供給された際の農産物の傷付きを防止できる。
【００１８】
また、請求項６記載の発明は、前記した移載部材が、小幅支持部材と略同一高さかまたは高い位置に進出することを特徴とする。このように構成することにより、移載部材が小幅支持部材の上方に位置した際には、落下位置が縮まって農産物を傷めない。また、バケットの小幅支持部材間に進出する移載部材が、この小幅支持部材と略同一高さになるように設定した場合には、バケットの受載面を形成する小幅支持部材と移載部材とが略同じ高さで並設される状態となって、バケット上の実質の受載面が広く（大きく）形成されることになり、供給された際の農産物の傷付きを防止できる。
【００１９】
また、請求項７記載の発明は、バケットが、簀の子状または櫛歯状に形成されていることを特徴とする。このように構成することにより、小幅支持部材と農産物の接触する部分が小さくなり、撮影装置による撮影範囲が広くなって、より高精度な計測情報が得られる。
【００２０】
また、請求項８記載の発明は、移載部材が、搬送方向に傾斜する一対の傾斜面を有し、傾斜面によって供給コンベアから供給される農産物を受け入れることを特徴とする。このように構成することにより、傾斜面によって農産物が移載部材のセンタ部分に受け入れられ、この農産物がバケットのセンタ部分に自動的に移載されて、バケット上での農産物の位置修正作業が不要になる。
【００２１】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の実施の形態の一例を図面に基づいて詳細に説明する。
図１〜図１４は、本発明に係わる農産物の移載装置の一実施例を示し、図１がその移載装置を使用した選別装置の概略構成図、図２がその要部側面図、図３が図２の平面図、図４が図２の正面図、図５が図２の背面図、図６がバケットの平面図、図７がその正面図、図８が図６のＡ−Ａ線矢視図、図９が図６のＢ−Ｂ線矢視図、図１０が移載部材の斜視図、図１１がその正面図、図１２がその平面図、図１３及び図１４が動作説明図である。
【００２２】
図１において、選別装置１は、始端側のスプロケット３と終端側のスプロケット４間に配設され矢印イ方向に移動する選別コンベア２を有し、この選別コンベア２には後述する多数のバケット５が一定間隔で配設されている。そして、終端側のスプロケット４が図示しない駆動装置により回転駆動されるようになっている。また、選別コンベア２の始端側（最上流側）には、各バケット５に選別しようとする農産物Ｗを供給する供給コンベア６が接続されると共に、選別コンベア２の上流側には撮影装置７が配設されている。
【００２３】
撮影装置７は、例えば選別コンベア２の上方に配置された３台のカメラ８ａ〜８ｃと、選別コンベア２の下方に配置された１台のカメラ９とからなり、カメラ８ａ〜８ｃで所定位置Ｓ１（上部撮影位置）のバケット５に載置されている農産物Ｗの上部側の情報を計測し、カメラ９で所定位置Ｓ２（下面撮影位置）のバケット５に載置されている農産物Ｗの下面側の情報を計測する。なお、下方のカメラ９は反射板１０を介して農産物Ｗの下面を撮影し、これら計４台のカメラ８ａ〜８ｃ、９で農産物Ｗの計測情報が得られる。
【００２４】
選別コンベア２の撮影装置７の下流側には、農産物Ｗの仕分区分に応じた複数（図では４台）の引出コンベア１１ａ〜１１ｄが連結され、撮影装置７で計測された計測情報に基づいて農産物Ｗの仕分区分が判定されると、バケット５上に載置されている農産物Ｗが、該当する仕分区分の引出コンベア１１ａ〜１１ｄ上に排出される。
【００２５】
選別コンベア２の始端側のスプロケット３部分には、移載装置１３が設けられている。この移載装置１３は、図２〜図５に示すように、基枠１４に回転可能に設けられた回転軸１５に、所定間隔を有して一対の上記スプロケット３が固定され、このスプロケット３間には、一対の円板状の従動盤１６が所定間隔で固定されている。なお、図２〜図５においては、移載装置１３は２個、すなわち選別コンベア２が２列並列状態で設けられている場合を示しており、各移載装置１３は同様に構成されているため、以下同一部位には同一符号を付して説明する。
【００２６】
スプロケット３にはコンベアチェーン１７がそれぞれ噛み合い、このコンベアチェーン１７間には、上記バケット５が配設されている。このバケット５は、図６〜図９に示す如く簀の子状に形成され、棒状の軸部１８と、この軸部１８と所定間隔で対向する連結部１９との間に、横方向（軸部１８の長手方向）に一定間隔で固定された複数（図では１３枚）の小幅支持部材としての支持板２０と、軸部１８及び連結部１９の両端部に設けられた側板２１を有している。
【００２７】
各支持板２０は、その幅方向（軸部１８と連結部１９を結ぶ方向）の略中央部分に平坦部２０ａが形成され、この平坦部２０ａの両側には平坦部２０ａより高くなる如く外側方向にそれぞれ傾斜する傾斜部２０ｂ、２０ｃが設けられている。この各支持板２０の平坦部２０ａ及び傾斜部２０ｂ、２０ｃによってバケット５の受載面が形成される。
【００２８】
バケット５の軸部１８の両端には軸孔２２（図８参照）が穿設され、この軸孔２２には、コンベアチェーン１７のチェーンユニット１７ａに連結された連結ピン２３が挿通されている丸パイプ状の取付部材２４が嵌合している。また、この取付部材２４の一端側の側板２１とコンベアチェーン１７との間にはキャッチ装置２５が配設されている。
【００２９】
このキャッチ装置２５は、側板２１の連結部１９側寄りに形成されたピン支持部２７から外方（キャッチ装置２５側）に突出している係合ピン２６と係合してバケット５を水平に保持し、且つ図示しない排出作動装置により解放レバー２５ａが下方に押されることにより、係合ピン２６とキャッチ装置２５との係合が解かれ、バケット５が取付部材２４を中心に回動するようになっている。
【００３０】
なお、図７に示す符号２５ｂは、バケット５の回動範囲を規制するための回動ストッパーピンである。このキャッチ装置２５は、例えば特公平３−４９８４８号公報に開示されている装置を用いて構成することもできる。
【００３１】
一方、一対の従動盤１６の外周部間には、複数（図では１２個）の移載部材２８が固定されている。この移載部材２８は、図１０〜図１２に示すように、薄板金属板を打ち抜き及び折り曲げ加工して形成された乗り移り金具２９と、この乗り移り金具２９の基部２９ａを支持する支持金具３０と、この支持金具３０を従動盤１６に取り付ける取付ブロック３１を有している。
【００３２】
乗り移り金具２９は、横方向に所定間隔で設けられた複数（図では１２個）の支持部３２を有し、この支持部３２は側面視Ｖ字状に折曲形成されて一対の傾斜面３２ａ、３２ｂが形成されると共に、この傾斜面３２ａ、３２ｂ及び外側表面にはゴム等からなる緩衝部材３３が貼着されている。また、乗り移り金具２９は、その両側面下部の基部２９ａが一対のネジ３４によって支持金具３０に固定され、この支持金具３０の固定部３０ａ、３０ｂが一対のネジ３５によって取付ブロック３１にそれぞれ固定されている。
【００３３】
これにより、乗り移り金具２９、支持金具３０及び取付ブロック３１が一体化され、取付ブロック３１に設けた一対のネジ孔３１ａに、従動盤１６の外周部に設けた孔３６（図１１参照）からネジ３７をねじ込むことにより、移載部材２８が一対の従動盤１６間に固定されている。そして、１２個の移載部材２８が従動盤１６の回転中心（回転軸１５）に対して一定角度間隔で固定され、回転軸１５の回転により、従動盤１６すなわち移載部材２８がバケット５の走行回転と同期して同方向（図２の矢印ロ方向）に回転する。
【００３４】
なお、図３及び図４の符号３８は、回転軸１５の端部に設けられた連動駆動用のスプロケットであり、供給コンベア６及び後述の案内ローラ４３の駆動用に用いられる。また、前記乗り移り金具２９の支持部３２の幅ｔ１は、バケット５の支持板２０の幅ｔ２より広く（ｔ１＞ｔ２、図６参照）設定され、支持部３２の傾斜角度α１、α２（図１３参照）は、バケット５の支持板２０の傾斜部２０ｂ、２０ｃの傾斜角度β１、β２（図８参照）より大きく（α１＝α２＞β１＝β２）なる如く設定されている。
【００３５】
また、移載部材２８とバケット５の寸法関係は、移載部材２８の各支持部３２がバケット５の各支持板２０間にそれぞれ位置（図５参照）し、かつ支持部３２の傾斜面３２ａ、３２ｂの底部３２ｃが、バケット５の支持板２０の平坦部２０ａと略同一高さか、支持部３２の底部３２ｃがバケット５の平坦部２０ａよりわずかに高い位置となる如く設定されている。この支持部３２の底部３２ｃとバケット５の平坦部２０ａとの位置関係は、農産物Ｗの種類に応じて適宜に設定される。
【００３６】
上記供給コンベア６は、図１及び図２に示すように、例えば一対のローラ４０間に巻回されたベルト４１を有し、このベルト４１には所定間隔で仕切板４２が設けられている。そして、この供給コンベア６の下流側のローラ４０は、従動盤１６の最上位の位置（従動盤１６の中心を通る垂直線上の位置で、以下この位置を供給位置Ｋ１いう）のやや右側に配置されている。
【００３７】
また、供給コンベア６の下流側前方で選別コンベア２の上方には、供給コンベア６から落下供給される農産物Ｗを、移載部材２８を介してバケット５上に誘導するスポンジ等の弾性材からなり、かつ従動盤１６の回転に同期して回転する複数個の案内ローラ４３が並列状に設けられている。
【００３８】
次に、上記移載装置１３の動作の一例を図１３等に基づいて説明する。先ず、供給コンベア６の始端側において、各仕切板４２間のベルト４１上に一個ずつ載置された農産物Ｗは、供給コンベア６の移動により矢印ハ方向に搬送され、供給コンベア６の終端側のローラ４０部から下方に落下することにより、選別コンベア２の供給位置Ｋ１に供給される。
【００３９】
選別コンベア２に設けられている移載装置１３は、従動盤１６の最下位位置Ｋ２（図２参照）と供給位置Ｋ１（最上位位置）間において、その支持部３２がバケット５の支持板２０間に進出状態となり、支持部３２の傾斜面３２ａ、３２ｂがバケット５の支持板２０の傾斜部２０ｂ、２０ｃより、従動盤１６の直径方向外側（供給位置Ｋ１においては上方）に位置している。
【００４０】
供給位置Ｋ１に位置する移載部材２８及びバケット５上に、供給コンベア６から農産物Ｗが落下供給されると、農産物Ｗは移載部材２８の支持部３２の一対の傾斜面３２ａ、３２ｂからなるＶ字状の凹部内に収容される。
【００４１】
この時、農産物Ｗが茄子や胡瓜のように長物の場合は、図１０の二点鎖線で示すように、移載部材２８の各支持部３２の傾斜面３２ａ、３２ｂで形成される凹部の長手方向に沿って収容され、農産物Ｗの下部の両側面が両傾斜面３２ａ、３２ｂに接触した状態で、移載部材２８の支持部３２のセンタ部分（底部３２ｃ部分）に支持される。
【００４２】
そして、供給位置Ｋ１で移載部材２８に支持された農産物Ｗは、従動盤１６の回転によって移載部材２８がバケット５と離れる方向（矢印ニ方向）に回転するため、バケット５の各支持板２０間から移載部材２８の支持部３２が徐々に退去する。この支持部３２の各支持板２０間からの退去により、図１３の少なくともＫ３位置において、支持部３２上に載せられていた農産物Ｗがバケット５上に、すなわちバケット５の各支持板２０の受載面を形成する平坦部２０ａ上に載せ換えられる。
【００４３】
この載せ換え時には、農産物Ｗが僅かに下方に動くだけで、バケット５の幅の狭い支持板２０に突き当たることもなく、支持板２０の平坦部２０ａ上（センタ部分）に載置される。すなわち、供給コンベア６から供給される農産物Ｗは、移載部材２８の支持部３２がバケット５の支持板２０より上方に位置する供給位置Ｋ１で、バケット５の支持板２０より幅の広い支持部３２で一旦支持され、その後少なくともＫ３位置でバケット５の支持板２０上に載置されて移載されることになる。
【００４４】
そして、このバケット５の支持板２０上に移載された農産物Ｗは、図１に示すように、選別コンベア２の下流側に搬送されて撮影装置７により上部及び下部の情報が計測され、例えばその等級及び階級の仕分区分が判定される。この判定された農産物Ｗが載置されているバケット５が、該当する仕分区分等級に対応する引出コンベア１１ａ〜１１ｄに対応すると、図１４に示すように、キャッチ装置２５（図６参照）の解放レバー２５ａが例えば排出作動装置により下方に押されることによって、バケット５が取付部材２４を中心に矢印ホ方向に回動する。
【００４５】
このバケット５の回動により、支持板２０上に載置されている農産物Ｗが引出コンベア１１ａ〜１１ｄ上に排出される。その後、この回動したバケット５は、選別コンベア２の下流側の所定位置に設けた復元レール（図示せず）等に接することにより元の位置（水平状態）に戻り、再び始端側のスプロケット３部に移送させられる。
【００４６】
このように、上記実施例の移載装置１３にあっては、従動盤１６の外周部にバケット５の支持板２０より幅広な支持部３２を有する移載部材２８を設け、この移載部材２８の支持部３２をバケット５の各支持板２０間に昇降させることにより進出もしくは退去させ、少なくとも農産物の供給位置Ｋ１において、この移載部材２８の支持部３２をバケット５の支持板２０より上方に位置させるため、供給コンベア６から落下供給される農産物Ｗを幅広な移載部材２８の支持部３２で一個ずつ確実に受け止めることができる。
【００４７】
その結果、農産物Ｗのバケット５の幅の狭い支持板２０への直接的な突き当たりがなくなり、茄子等の表面が柔らかな農産物Ｗであっても、その表皮に支持板２０の形状に沿った筋等の傷が付くのを確実に防止することができる。
【００４８】
また、移載部材２８によって農産物Ｗを一旦受け入れ支持するため、バケット５の支持板２０の幅ｔ２をできる限り狭くし得て、バケット５に載置された農産物Ｗの下面側の撮影範囲を拡げることができ、農産物Ｗの計測を高精度に行うことができて、選別作業の信頼性を高めることが可能になる。すなわち、移載部材２８とバケット５をスプロケット３部分に効果的に配置することにより、従来不可能とされていた農産物Ｗへの傷付き防止と計測情報の向上を同時に得ることが可能になる。
【００４９】
さらに、移載部材２８の支持部３２にＶ字状の傾斜面３２ａ、３２ｂを設けると共に、バケット５の受載面を形成する支持板２０に平坦部２０ａと傾斜部２０ｂ、２０ｃをそれぞれ形成しているため、農産物Ｗを支持部３２の傾斜面３２ａ、３２ｂを介してバケット５のセンタ部分である平坦部２０ａに自動的に載置させることができ、撮影装置７による一層高精度な計測が可能になると共に、供給時の農産物Ｗのバケット５上における載置位置の手直し作業が不要となり、選別作業の作業効率の向上が図れる。
【００５０】
またさらに、バケット５が連結されたコンベアチェーン１７と噛み合いするスプロケット３と、移載装置１３の従動盤１６とを同じ回転軸１５に固定し、同期して並走させているため、移載装置１３を作動させるための専用の駆動装置を必要とせず、最も簡易な構成で作動させることができると共に、バケット５の各支持板２０間に対する移載部材２８の支持部３２の進退動作を正確かつ安定して行うことができる。
【００５１】
その結果、供給位置Ｋ１において移載部材２８の支持部３２をバケット５の支持板２０より確実に上方に位置させることができ、農産物Ｗの供給コンベア６から選別コンベア２への移載を一層確実に行うことが可能になる。また、移載部材２８の支持部３２の表面には、緩衝部材３３が貼着されているため、農産物Ｗへの傷付きがより一層防止される。
【００５２】
図１５は、上記移載装置１３の移載部材２８の他の実施例を示す断面図であり、上記実施例と同一部位には同一符号を付し、その詳細な説明は省略する。以下の各実施例においても同様である。この移載部材２８の特徴は、乗り移り金具２９の支持部３２に平面部３２ｄを形成した点にある。すなわち、支持金具３０にネジ３４で固定される乗り移り金具２９の支持部３２を、左右に形成された傾斜面３０ａ、３０ｂと、この傾斜面３２ａ、３２ｂ間に形成された平面部３２ｄとで形成する。
【００５３】
平面部３２ｄは、乗り移り金具２９の幅方向の略中央部に位置させ、その高さは、バケット５の支持板２０の平坦部２０ａと同一かやや高めに設定する。このように形成しても、農産物Ｗを移載部材２８の支持部３２の幅広な傾斜面３２ａ、３２ｂや平面部３２ｄで一旦受け入れ、その後にバケット５に移載することができ、上記実施例の移載部材２８と同様の作用効果が得られる。このように、本発明における移載部材２８の支持部３２の形状は、選別しようとする農産物Ｗの形状等に応じて適宜に変更することができる。
【００５４】
図１６及び図１７は、上記バケット５の他の実施例を示す斜視図であり、図１６に示すバケット４５は上記バケット５の変形例で、軸部１８を角形に形成すると共に、軸孔２２も角形にしてこの軸孔２２に丸パイプ状の取付部材２４を嵌合している。そして、連結部１９の端部に係合ピン２６用の孔４６を設けている。このように構成しても、バケット４５を簀の子状に形成することができて、上記バケット５と全く同様の作用効果を得ることができる。
【００５５】
また、図１７に示すバケット４８の特徴は、簀の子状ではなく櫛歯状に形成した点にある。すなわち、一端が１枚の側板２１に固定された軸部４９に、平坦部５０ａと一対の傾斜部５０ｂ、５０ｃを有する支持棒５０の一端部を溶接固定し、支持棒５０の先端部はフリーな状態とし、かつ側板２１に取付部材５１と係合ピン２６を一体的に設ける。
【００５６】
このバケット４８によれば、上記バケット５と同様の作用効果が得られる他に、バケット４８自体の構成が極めて簡略化されてコストの低減が図れると共に、支持棒５０の先端部がフリーであるため、農産物Ｗを弾性を持って受け止めることができ、農産物Ｗへの傷付きが一層防止されるという作用効果が得られる。このバケット４８において、先端部の傾斜部５０ｃの長さＬ等は、農産物Ｗの大きさに応じて適宜に設定される。
【００５７】
なお、上記実施例においては、選別コンベア２が２ラインの場合について説明したが、１ラインでも良いし３ライン以上でも良く、各ラインのそれぞれに移載装置１３が設けられる。また、上記実施例においては、茄子とか胡瓜等の長物の農産物Ｗを例にして説明したが、本発明はこれに限定されず、梨、柿、リンゴ、みかん等の丸物の農産物Ｗにも勿論適用することができる。
【００５８】
さらに、上記実施例においては、移載装置１３を選別コンベア２の始端側のスプロケット３部分に設けたが、例えば図１の二点鎖線で示すように、移載装置１３を、選別コンベア２の上流側のスプロケット３とは別の位置に設け、移載部材２８を選別コンベア２（バケット５）の走行と同期させて所定の長さ平行に移送させるように構成しても良い。この場合、選別コンベア２の復路側のコンベアチェーンの駆動力をスプロケットを介して連動させることにより、移載部材２８を走行回転することができる。
【００５９】
また、上記実施例においては、移載部材２８とバケット５を同一方向に同期させて並走させたが、例えば供給コンベア６との接続位置となる適宜の供給位置Ｋ１で、移載部材２８をバケット５の走行と同期させて単に昇降動作させることにより、移載部材２８をバケット５の各支持板２０間に進退させ、移載部材２８の支持部３２に農産物を一旦受け入れるようにしても良く、本発明は、農産物Ｗを移載部材２８を介してバケット５に一個ずつ移載し得るあらゆる機構を含むものである。
【００６０】
また、上記実施例における、選別装置１全体の構成、選別コンベア２及び供給コンベア６の形態等は一例であって、各発明の要旨を逸脱しない範囲において、種々変更可能であることは言うまでもない。
【００６１】
【発明の効果】
以上詳述したように、請求項１及び２に記載した発明によれば、移載部材をバケットの小幅支持部材間に進退させることにより、供給コンベアから供給される農産物を農産物の移載に適した移載部材で一旦受け入れることができ、農産物への傷付きが防止されると共に、バケットの小幅支持部材の幅を狭くし得て農産物の下面の計測を高精度に行うことができる。
【００６２】
また、請求項３に記載した発明によれば、移載部材が、始端側スプロケットと同軸でかつバケットの走行回転と同期して並走するので、移載部材を走行回転させるための専用の駆動装置を必要とせず、移載装置を最も簡素な構成とすることができると共に、同期のためのタイミング合わせ等を必要とせず、移載動作を確実、正確に行うことができる。
【００６３】
また、請求項４に記載した発明によれば、移載部材が、選別コンベアのバケットと同期して所定の長さ平行に並走するので、供給コンベアから移載部材上に載せられてこの移載部材上で移送される状態を若干長く保つことができる。したがって、この移載部材上の農産物は、選別コンベアのバケットと所定の長さ並走される間に、供給コンベアから移載された際の揺れが安定して選別コンベアのバケット上に移載されることとなり、特に高速で走行する選別コンベアへの移載において安定性が向上する。
【００６４】
また、請求項５に記載した発明によれば、移載部材が、小幅支持部材の幅より広い幅を有するので、移載部材の受載面が広く（大きく）なり、移載部材上に供給された際の農産物の傷付きを防止できる。
【００６５】
また、請求項６に記載した発明によれば、移載部材が、小幅支持部材と略同一高さか又は高い位置に進出するので、移載部材が小幅支持部材の上方に位置した場合には、供給コンベアとの落下距離が縮まって農産物を傷めずに供給できる。また、前記移載部材が小幅支持部材と略同一高さになるようにした場合には、農産物が供給される位置の受載面が、移載部材と小幅支持部材とで形成されることになり、移載部材のみで形成される受載面と比較して接触面を広く（大きく）形成することができ、供給された際の農産物の傷付きを防止できる。
【００６６】
また、請求項７に記載した発明によれば、バケットが、簀の子状または櫛歯状に形成されているので、小幅支持部材と農産物との接触する部分が小さくなり、撮影装置による撮影範囲が広くなって、より高精度な計測情報が得られる。
【００６７】
また、請求項８に記載した発明によれば、請求項１ないし７記載の発明の効果に加え、移載部材に設けられた一対の傾斜面によって、農産物をバケットのセンタ部分に自動的に移載することができ、バケット上の農産物の位置修正作業が不要になる等、作業効率の向上が図れる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明に係わる農産物の移載装置を使用した選別装置の概略構成図
【図２】同その要部側面図
【図３】同図２の平面図
【図４】同図２の正面図
【図５】同図２の背面図
【図６】同バケットの平面図
【図７】同その正面図
【図８】同図６のＡ−Ａ線矢視図
【図９】同図６のＢ−Ｂ線矢視図
【図１０】同移載装置の斜視図
【図１１】同その正面図
【図１２】同その平面図
【図１３】同移載装置の動作説明図
【図１４】同バケットの動作説明図
【図１５】移載装置の他の実施例を示す断面図
【図１６】バケットの他の実施例を示す斜視図
【図１７】バケットのさらに他の実施例を示す斜視図
【符号の説明】
１・・・・・・・・・選別装置
２・・・・・・・・・選別コンベア
３、４・・・・・・・スプロケット
５・・・・・・・・・バケット
６・・・・・・・・・供給コンベア
７・・・・・・・・・撮影装置
１３・・・・・・・・移載装置
１５・・・・・・・・回転軸
１６・・・・・・・・従動盤
１７・・・・・・・・コンベアチェーン
１８・・・・・・・・軸部
１９・・・・・・・・連結部
２０・・・・・・・・支持板
２０ａ・・・・・・・平坦部
２０ｂ、２０ｃ・・・傾斜部
２５・・・・・・・・キャッチ装置
２８・・・・・・・・移載部材
２９・・・・・・・・乗り移り金具
３０・・・・・・・・支持金具
３１・・・・・・・・取付ブロック
３２・・・・・・・・支持部
３２ａ、３２ｂ・・・傾斜面
３２ｄ・・・・・・・平面部
４０・・・・・・・・ローラ
４２・・・・・・・・仕切板
４５、４８・・・・・バケット
５０・・・・・・・・支持棒
Ｗ・・・・・・・・・農産物
Ｋ１・・・・・・・・供給位置[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an agricultural product transfer device for transferring agricultural products such as eggplants and cucumbers supplied from a supply conveyor and agricultural products such as round products such as pears and persimmons one by one on a bucket of a sorting conveyor, for example. About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, apparatuses for supplying agricultural products one by one to a sorting apparatus or the like for sorting are disclosed in, for example, JP-A-5-124722, JP-A-8-104420, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-334455, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. No. 21,346, JP-A-60-94187, and the like. In these apparatuses, a conveyor with a pitch (a roller conveyor, a conveyor with a crossbar, etc.) capable of transporting agricultural products at a constant pitch is arranged at a starting end side of the sorting conveyor, and a sorting conveyor is arranged from an end portion of the conveyor with the pitch. By directly dropping the agricultural products on the bucket, the agricultural products are supplied to the starting end of the sorting conveyor.
[0003]
And in these apparatuses, since the receiving surface of the agricultural product of the bucket of the sorting conveyor is formed flat, even if the agricultural product is dropped directly on the bucket and supplied, the agricultural product is hardly damaged, and in some cases, By attaching a soft cushioning member to the receiving surface of the bucket, scratches and the like are further prevented.
[0004]
By the way, conventionally, in these apparatuses, the lower surface of the agricultural product on the receiving surface cannot be photographed from below the receiving surface of the bucket of the sorting conveyor by a photographing device such as a camera. Measurement information (size, shape, presence or absence of flaws, etc.) cannot be obtained. For this reason, a bucket has been developed and used in which a portion of the bucket for receiving the agricultural product is formed in a shape of a pen or a comb, so that the lower surface of the agricultural product can be photographed.
[0005]
In this bucket, the width of each support member that forms the receiving surface by being combined in the shape of a cage or the shape of a comb is made as narrow (small) as possible so that a portion that cannot be photographed by the photographing device (a contact portion with agricultural products). In order to reduce as much as possible, the support member is formed in a thin rod shape or a small width thin plate shape.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the agricultural products are dropped directly from the supply conveyor to the sorting conveyor buckets as shown in each of the above publications by using the cage-shaped or comb-shaped buckets, due to a connecting drop between the supply conveyor and the sorting conveyor. However, there is a problem that the agricultural product may be damaged and the agricultural product may fly on the bucket.
[0007]
In addition, when the agricultural product collides with the narrow supporting member, and the surface of the agricultural product is soft such as eggplant, the skin may be scratched by a streak or the like along the shape of the supporting member. In order to prevent this damage to the agricultural products, it is conceivable to widen (increase) the width of the supporting member of the bucket. There has been a problem that it becomes difficult to obtain high-precision measurement information due to the narrowing, and it is difficult to simultaneously prevent damage to agricultural products and improve measurement accuracy at the same time.
[0008]
Furthermore, in the case of a simple nested or comb-shaped bucket, the agricultural products supplied and placed from the supply conveyor may not be located at the center of the bucket (the center in the traveling direction). Therefore, it is necessary to correct the position of the agricultural products on the bucket to the center of the bucket by manual operation, and there is a problem that the work efficiency of the sorting operation is inferior.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the inventions according to claims 1 to 7 provide an agricultural product transfer apparatus that can simultaneously prevent damage to agricultural products and improve measurement accuracy. The object of the invention described in claim 8 is to provide an agricultural product transfer device that can improve the work efficiency by eliminating the work of correcting the position of agricultural products on a bucket in addition to the objects of the invention described in claims 1 to 7. It is intended to provide.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention relates to a sorting conveyor bucket in which a plurality of small width support members are juxtaposed at predetermined intervals and a receiving surface for agricultural products is formed. An agricultural product transfer device that transfers supplied agricultural products one by one, and at a supply position of agricultural products on a sorting conveyor, a transfer member for agricultural product transfer is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat between each narrow support member of the bucket, An agricultural product supplied from the supply conveyor is transferred onto the bucket via the transfer member by an advancing / retreating operation of the transfer member with respect to the bucket.
[0011]
With this configuration, the agricultural products supplied from the supply conveyor to the sorting conveyor are placed on the transfer member that advances between the narrow support members that form the receiving surface of the bucket. Then, the agricultural product is placed on the bucket when the transfer member retreats and is positioned below the narrow support member. Therefore, the agricultural product does not directly hit the small-width support member at the time of supply to the bucket, thereby preventing damage, and after the transfer member retreats, is placed on the small-width support member having a small width, so that the photographing range is reduced. Highly accurate measurement information can be obtained without narrowing.
[0012]
In addition, the invention according to claim 2 is a method for transferring agricultural products, in which agricultural products supplied from an upstream supply conveyor are individually transferred to a sorting conveyor to which a predetermined number of buckets for loading agricultural products are rotatably mounted. A loading device, wherein the sorting conveyor bucket has a plurality of narrow support members for supporting agricultural products arranged at predetermined intervals to form a receiving surface for agricultural products, and a supply position of agricultural products from a supply conveyor of the sorting conveyor. A transfer member for transferring agricultural products is provided between the small width support members of the bucket so as to be able to advance and retreat, and the transfer member advances to a state where the agricultural product is received, and the agricultural product received by the transfer member retreats. Is transferred onto the small-width support member.
[0013]
With this configuration, similarly to the first aspect of the invention, the transfer member advances between the small width support members of the bucket, and the agricultural product supplied from the supply conveyor is placed on the transfer member. Then, the agricultural product is transferred onto the bucket when the transfer member retreats and is positioned below the narrow support member.
[0014]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the sorting conveyor has a pair of right and left conveyor chains spanning a start end side sprocket and an end side sprocket, and is mounted at predetermined intervals along a traveling direction of the conveyor chain. The bucket is rotatably attached to the member, and the transfer member runs coaxially with the starting end side sprocket and in parallel with the running rotation of the bucket.
[0015]
With this configuration, the transfer member runs in parallel with the running rotation of the bucket at the start end side sprocket portion of the sorting conveyor, and advances at least between the small width support members at the supply position of the topmost agricultural product of the sprocket. And accept the agricultural products supplied from the supply conveyor. Then, the agricultural product is placed on the receiving surface of the small width support member of the bucket as the transfer member retreats from between the small width support members in synchronization with the rotation of the sprocket. Then, the agricultural product placed on the bucket is transferred from the bucket onto a conveyor corresponding to, for example, grade and rank by rotating the bucket rotatably attached to the attachment member at a predetermined position.
[0016]
The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the transfer member runs parallel to a predetermined length in parallel with the running rotation of the bucket at the agricultural product supply position on the sorting conveyor. With this configuration, at the agricultural product supply position of the sorting conveyor, the transfer member runs parallel to a predetermined length in parallel with the traveling rotation of the bucket. Then, the transfer member advances between the narrow support members during the parallel running and receives the agricultural product supplied from the supply conveyor. The produce on the transfer member is moved in parallel with the running rotation of the bucket, and is transferred onto the small-width support member of the bucket by retreating from the small-width support member at the end. .
[0017]
The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the transfer member has a width wider than the width of the small width support member. With this configuration, the receiving surface of the transfer member is widened (increased), and it is possible to prevent the agricultural product from being damaged when supplied on the transfer member.
[0018]
The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that the transfer member advances to a position substantially the same as or higher than the small width support member. With this configuration, when the transfer member is positioned above the small-width support member, the drop position is reduced and the agricultural product is not damaged. When the transfer member that advances between the small-width support members of the bucket is set to be substantially the same height as the small-width support member, the small-width support member and the transfer member that form the receiving surface of the bucket are provided. Are arranged side by side at substantially the same height, the substantial receiving surface on the bucket is formed wide (large), and it is possible to prevent the agricultural products from being damaged when supplied.
[0019]
Further, the invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that the bucket is formed in the shape of a cage or a comb. With this configuration, the portion where the small width support member comes into contact with the agricultural product is reduced, and the imaging range of the imaging device is increased, so that more accurate measurement information can be obtained.
[0020]
The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that the transfer member has a pair of inclined surfaces inclined in the transport direction, and receives the agricultural products supplied from the supply conveyor by the inclined surfaces. With this configuration, the agricultural product is received by the center portion of the transfer member by the inclined surface, and the agricultural product is automatically transferred to the center portion of the bucket, so that there is no need to correct the position of the agricultural product on the bucket. become.
[0021]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
1 to 14 show an embodiment of an agricultural product transfer apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a sorting apparatus using the transfer apparatus, and FIG. 3, FIG. 4 is a front view of FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a rear view of FIG. 2, FIG. 6 is a plan view of the bucket, FIG. 7 is a front view thereof, and FIG. 9 is a view taken along the line BB of FIG. 6, FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the transfer member, FIG. 11 is a front view thereof, FIG. 12 is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 13 and FIG. FIG.
[0022]
In FIG. 1, the sorting apparatus 1 has a sorting conveyor 2 which is disposed between a sprocket 3 on the start end side and a sprocket 4 on the end side and moves in the direction of arrow a. Are arranged at regular intervals. The end sprocket 4 is driven to rotate by a drive device (not shown). In addition, a supply conveyor 6 that supplies the agricultural products W to be sorted to each bucket 5 is connected to a starting end side (upstreammost side) of the sorting conveyor 2, and a photographing device 7 is provided upstream of the sorting conveyor 2. It is arranged.
[0023]
The photographing device 7 includes, for example, three cameras 8a to 8c arranged above the sorting conveyor 2 and one camera 9 arranged below the sorting conveyor 2. The information on the upper side of the agricultural product W placed on the bucket 5 (upper photographing position) is measured, and the camera 9 is used to measure the lower surface side of the agricultural product W placed on the bucket 5 at the predetermined position S2 (lower photographing position). Measure the information of Note that the lower camera 9 photographs the lower surface of the agricultural product W via the reflector 10, and the measurement information of the agricultural product W can be obtained by these four cameras 8 a to 8 c and 9.
[0024]
On the downstream side of the photographing device 7 of the sorting conveyor 2, a plurality of (four in the figure) draw-out conveyors 11a to 11d corresponding to the sorting of the agricultural products W are connected, and based on the measurement information measured by the photographing device 7. When the sorting of the agricultural products W is determined, the agricultural products W placed on the bucket 5 are discharged onto the draw-out conveyors 11a to 11d of the corresponding sorting categories.
[0025]
A transfer device 13 is provided on a portion of the sprocket 3 on the starting end side of the sorting conveyor 2. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the transfer device 13 has a pair of sprockets 3 fixed at a predetermined interval to a rotating shaft 15 rotatably provided on a base frame 14. A pair of disk-shaped driven plates 16 are fixed at predetermined intervals. 2 to 5 show a case where two transfer devices 13 are provided, that is, the sorting conveyors 2 are provided in a two-row parallel state, and each transfer device 13 has the same configuration. Therefore, the same parts will be described with the same reference numerals.
[0026]
Conveyor chains 17 mesh with the sprockets 3, and the buckets 5 are arranged between the conveyor chains 17. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, the bucket 5 is formed in the shape of a cage, and is disposed between a rod-shaped shaft 18 and a connecting portion 19 opposed to the shaft 18 at a predetermined interval in a lateral direction (shaft 18). (Longitudinal direction), a plurality of (13 in the figure) support plates 20 as fixed support members, and side plates 21 provided at both ends of the shaft portion 18 and the connecting portion 19. .
[0027]
Each support plate 20 has a flat portion 20a formed substantially at the center in the width direction (the direction connecting the shaft portion 18 and the connecting portion 19), and has an outward direction on both sides of the flat portion 20a so as to be higher than the flat portion 20a. Are provided with inclined portions 20b and 20c, respectively. The receiving surface of the bucket 5 is formed by the flat portion 20a and the inclined portions 20b and 20c of each support plate 20.
[0028]
Shaft holes 22 (see FIG. 8) are formed at both ends of the shaft portion 18 of the bucket 5, and a connection pin 23 connected to the chain unit 17 a of the conveyor chain 17 is inserted through the shaft hole 22. A pipe-shaped mounting member 24 is fitted. A catch device 25 is provided between the side plate 21 on one end of the mounting member 24 and the conveyor chain 17.
[0029]
The catch device 25 holds the bucket 5 horizontally by engaging with an engagement pin 26 projecting outward (toward the catch device 25) from a pin support portion 27 formed near the connecting portion 19 of the side plate 21. When the release lever 25a is pushed downward by a discharge operation device (not shown), the engagement between the engagement pin 26 and the catch device 25 is released, and the bucket 5 rotates about the mounting member 24. Has become.
[0030]
Reference numeral 25b shown in FIG. 7 is a rotation stopper pin for regulating the rotation range of the bucket 5. The catch device 25 can be configured using, for example, a device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-49848.
[0031]
On the other hand, a plurality of (twelve in the figure) transfer members 28 are fixed between the outer peripheral portions of the pair of driven boards 16. As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the transfer member 28 includes a transfer fitting 29 formed by punching and bending a thin metal plate, a support fitting 30 that supports a base 29 a of the transfer fitting 29, and It has a mounting block 31 for attaching the support fitting 30 to the driven board 16.
[0032]
The transfer fitting 29 has a plurality of (twelve in the figure) support portions 32 provided at predetermined intervals in the lateral direction, and the support portions 32 are formed in a V-shape in a side view to form a pair of inclined surfaces 32a. , 32b, and a cushioning member 33 made of rubber or the like is attached to the inclined surfaces 32a, 32b and the outer surface. The base 29a of the lower part of both sides of the transfer fitting 29 is fixed to the support fitting 30 by a pair of screws 34, and the fixing portions 30a and 30b of the support fitting 30 are fixed to the mounting block 31 by a pair of screws 35, respectively. ing.
[0033]
As a result, the transfer fitting 29, the support fitting 30, and the mounting block 31 are integrated, and a pair of screw holes 31 a provided in the mounting block 31 are screwed into holes 36 (see FIG. 11) provided in the outer peripheral portion of the driven board 16. By screwing the 37, the transfer member 28 is fixed between the pair of driven boards 16. Then, the twelve transfer members 28 are fixed at fixed angular intervals with respect to the rotation center (rotary shaft 15) of the driven platen 16, and the driven plate 16, that is, the transfer member 28 It rotates in the same direction (the direction of arrow B in FIG. 2) in synchronization with the running rotation.
[0034]
Reference numeral 38 in FIGS. 3 and 4 denotes an interlocking drive sprocket provided at the end of the rotating shaft 15 and is used to drive the supply conveyor 6 and a guide roller 43 described later. The width t1 of the support portion 32 of the transfer fitting 29 is set to be wider than the width t2 of the support plate 20 of the bucket 5 (t1> t2, see FIG. 6), and the inclination angles α1, α2 of the support portion 32 (FIG. 13). (See FIG. 8) is set to be larger (α1 = α2> β1 = β2) than the inclination angles β1 and β2 (see FIG. 8) of the inclined portions 20b and 20c of the support plate 20 of the bucket 5.
[0035]
The dimensional relationship between the transfer member 28 and the bucket 5 is such that the support portions 32 of the transfer member 28 are located between the support plates 20 of the bucket 5 (see FIG. 5), and the inclined surface 32a of the support portion 32 , 32b is set so that the bottom 32c of the support plate 20 of the bucket 5 is substantially the same height as the flat portion 20a, or the bottom 32c of the support 32 is slightly higher than the flat portion 20a of the bucket 5. The positional relationship between the bottom portion 32c of the support portion 32 and the flat portion 20a of the bucket 5 is appropriately set according to the type of the agricultural product W.
[0036]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the supply conveyor 6 has, for example, a belt 41 wound between a pair of rollers 40, and the belt 41 is provided with partition plates 42 at predetermined intervals. The roller 40 on the downstream side of the supply conveyor 6 is located slightly to the right of the uppermost position of the driven platen 16 (a position on a vertical line passing through the center of the driven platen 16 and hereinafter referred to as a supply position K1). Have been.
[0037]
In addition, above the sorting conveyor 2 on the downstream side of the supply conveyor 6 and above the sorting conveyor 2, an agricultural material W such as a sponge that guides the agricultural products W dropped and supplied from the supply conveyor 6 onto the bucket 5 via the transfer member 28 is formed. Also, a plurality of guide rollers 43 that rotate in synchronization with the rotation of the driven platen 16 are provided in parallel.
[0038]
Next, an example of the operation of the transfer device 13 will be described with reference to FIG. First, on the start end side of the supply conveyor 6, the agricultural products W placed one by one on the belt 41 between the partition plates 42 are transported in the direction of arrow C by the movement of the supply conveyor 6, and By dropping downward from the roller 40, it is supplied to the supply position K1 of the sorting conveyor 2.
[0039]
The transfer device 13 provided on the sorting conveyor 2 is configured such that the support portion 32 is provided between the lowermost position K2 (see FIG. 2) of the driven board 16 and the supply position K1 (uppermost position). In this state, the inclined surfaces 32a and 32b of the support portion 32 are positioned diametrically outside the driven plate 16 (upward at the supply position K1) from the inclined portions 20b and 20c of the support plate 20 of the bucket 5. .
[0040]
When the agricultural product W is dropped and supplied from the supply conveyor 6 onto the transfer member 28 and the bucket 5 located at the supply position K1, the agricultural product W includes a pair of inclined surfaces 32a and 32b of the support portion 32 of the transfer member 28. It is housed in a V-shaped recess.
[0041]
At this time, if the agricultural product W is a long product such as eggplant or cucumber, the length of the concave portion formed by the inclined surfaces 32a and 32b of each support portion 32 of the transfer member 28 as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. It is accommodated along the direction, and is supported by the center portion (bottom portion 32c portion) of the support portion 32 of the transfer member 28 in a state where both lower side surfaces of the agricultural product W are in contact with both inclined surfaces 32a and 32b.
[0042]
The agricultural products W supported by the transfer member 28 at the supply position K1 rotate the transfer member 28 in a direction away from the bucket 5 (in the direction indicated by the arrow D) by the rotation of the driven platen 16, so that each support plate of the bucket 5 The support portion 32 of the transfer member 28 gradually retreats from the space 20. By the retreat of the support portions 32 from between the support plates 20, the agricultural products W placed on the support portions 32 at least at the position K3 in FIG. It is replaced on the flat portion 20a forming the mounting surface.
[0043]
At the time of reloading, the agricultural product W is slightly moved downward, and is placed on the flat portion 20a (center portion) of the support plate 20 without hitting the narrow support plate 20 of the bucket 5. That is, the agricultural product W supplied from the supply conveyor 6 is supplied at a supply position K1 where the support portion 32 of the transfer member 28 is located above the support plate 20 of the bucket 5, and the support portion wider than the support plate 20 of the bucket 5. 32, and is then transferred at least at the position K3 on the support plate 20 of the bucket 5.
[0044]
Then, the agricultural products W transferred onto the support plate 20 of the bucket 5 are transported to the downstream side of the sorting conveyor 2 as shown in FIG. The classification of the class and the class is determined. When the bucket 5 on which the determined agricultural product W is placed corresponds to the draw-out conveyors 11a to 11d corresponding to the corresponding sorting class, release of the catch device 25 (see FIG. 6) as shown in FIG. When the lever 25a is pushed downward by, for example, a discharge operation device, the bucket 5 rotates around the mounting member 24 in the direction of arrow E.
[0045]
By the rotation of the bucket 5, the agricultural products W placed on the support plate 20 are discharged onto the draw-out conveyors 11a to 11d. Thereafter, the rotated bucket 5 returns to the original position (horizontal state) by contacting a restoring rail (not shown) provided at a predetermined position on the downstream side of the sorting conveyor 2, and returns to the sprocket 3 on the start end side again. Transferred to the department.
[0046]
As described above, in the transfer device 13 of the above embodiment, the transfer member 28 having the support portion 32 wider than the support plate 20 of the bucket 5 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the driven plate 16. Is moved up and down by raising and lowering the support portion 32 between the support plates 20 of the bucket 5, and at least at the agricultural product supply position K 1, the support portion 32 of the transfer member 28 is positioned above the support plate 20 of the bucket 5. Therefore, the agricultural products W dropped and supplied from the supply conveyor 6 can be reliably received one by one by the support portions 32 of the wide transfer member 28.
[0047]
As a result, the direct contact of the agricultural product W with the narrow support plate 20 of the bucket 5 is eliminated, and even if the produce W has a soft surface such as eggplant, a streak along the shape of the support plate 20 is formed on the skin. And the like can be reliably prevented.
[0048]
Further, since the agricultural product W is once received and supported by the transfer member 28, the width t2 of the support plate 20 of the bucket 5 can be made as small as possible, and the photographing range on the lower surface side of the agricultural product W placed on the bucket 5 is expanded. Thus, the measurement of the agricultural products W can be performed with high accuracy, and the reliability of the sorting operation can be improved. That is, by effectively arranging the transfer member 28 and the bucket 5 on the sprocket 3, it is possible to simultaneously prevent damage to the agricultural product W and improve measurement information, which were impossible in the past.
[0049]
Furthermore, V-shaped inclined surfaces 32a and 32b are provided on the support portion 32 of the transfer member 28, and flat portions 20a and inclined portions 20b and 20c are formed on the support plate 20 that forms the receiving surface of the bucket 5 respectively. Therefore, the agricultural product W can be automatically placed on the flat portion 20a which is the center portion of the bucket 5 via the inclined surfaces 32a and 32b of the support portion 32, and the measurement with the imaging device 7 can be performed with higher accuracy. At the same time, it is not necessary to adjust the placement position of the agricultural product W on the bucket 5 at the time of supply, and the work efficiency of the sorting operation can be improved.
[0050]
Furthermore, the sprocket 3 meshing with the conveyor chain 17 to which the bucket 5 is connected and the driven platen 16 of the transfer device 13 are fixed to the same rotating shaft 15 and run in parallel in synchronization with each other. 13 can be operated with the simplest configuration without requiring a dedicated driving device for operating the moving member 13, and the advancing / retreating operation of the supporting portion 32 of the transfer member 28 between the supporting plates 20 of the bucket 5 can be accurately and accurately performed. It can be performed stably.
[0051]
As a result, the support portion 32 of the transfer member 28 can be reliably positioned above the support plate 20 of the bucket 5 at the supply position K1, and the transfer of the agricultural product W from the supply conveyor 6 to the sorting conveyor 2 is more reliably performed. It is possible to do. In addition, since the cushioning member 33 is attached to the surface of the support portion 32 of the transfer member 28, the damage to the agricultural product W is further prevented.
[0052]
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the transfer member 28 of the transfer device 13, and the same portions as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. The same applies to the following embodiments. The transfer member 28 is characterized in that a flat portion 32d is formed in the support portion 32 of the transfer fitting 29. That is, the support portion 32 of the transfer fitting 29 fixed to the support fitting 30 with the screw 34 is formed by the inclined surfaces 30a and 30b formed on the left and right and the flat portion 32d formed between the inclined surfaces 32a and 32b. I do.
[0053]
The flat portion 32d is located at a substantially central portion in the width direction of the transfer fitting 29, and the height thereof is set to be the same as or slightly higher than the flat portion 20a of the support plate 20 of the bucket 5. Even with such a configuration, the agricultural product W can be once received by the wide inclined surfaces 32a and 32b and the flat surface portion 32d of the support portion 32 of the transfer member 28, and then can be transferred to the bucket 5; The same operation and effect as those of the transfer member 28 can be obtained. As described above, the shape of the support portion 32 of the transfer member 28 according to the present invention can be appropriately changed according to the shape of the agricultural product W to be sorted.
[0054]
FIGS. 16 and 17 are perspective views showing another embodiment of the bucket 5. A bucket 45 shown in FIG. 16 is a modified example of the bucket 5, in which the shaft portion 18 is formed in a square shape and the shaft hole 22 is formed. A round pipe-shaped mounting member 24 is fitted into the shaft hole 22. A hole 46 for the engaging pin 26 is provided at an end of the connecting portion 19. Even with such a configuration, the bucket 45 can be formed in the shape of a pen, and the same operational effects as those of the bucket 5 can be obtained.
[0055]
The feature of the bucket 48 shown in FIG. 17 is that the bucket 48 is formed in a comb-tooth shape instead of a skein shape. That is, one end of a support rod 50 having a flat portion 50a and a pair of inclined portions 50b, 50c is fixed by welding to a shaft portion 49 having one end fixed to one side plate 21, and the tip of the support rod 50 is free. And the mounting member 51 and the engaging pin 26 are integrally provided on the side plate 21.
[0056]
According to the bucket 48, in addition to obtaining the same operational effects as the bucket 5, the configuration of the bucket 48 itself is extremely simplified, cost can be reduced, and the tip of the support rod 50 is free. In addition, the agricultural product W can be received with elasticity, and an operational effect that the damage to the agricultural product W is further prevented can be obtained. In the bucket 48, the length L and the like of the inclined portion 50c at the tip are appropriately set according to the size of the agricultural product W.
[0057]
In the above embodiment, the case where the sorting conveyor 2 has two lines has been described. However, one or three or more lines may be used, and the transfer device 13 is provided for each line. Moreover, in the said Example, although demonstrated the long-term agricultural products W, such as an eggplant or a cucumber, the present invention is not limited to this, It is also applicable to the round agricultural products W, such as pears, persimmons, apples, and tangerines. Of course, it can be applied.
[0058]
Further, in the above embodiment, the transfer device 13 is provided on the sprocket 3 on the starting end side of the sorting conveyor 2. However, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. The sprocket 3 may be provided at a position different from the upstream sprocket 3 so that the transfer member 28 is transferred in parallel with a predetermined length in synchronization with the traveling of the sorting conveyor 2 (bucket 5). In this case, the transfer member 28 can run and rotate by linking the driving force of the conveyor chain on the return path side of the sorting conveyor 2 via the sprocket.
[0059]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the transfer member 28 and the bucket 5 are run in parallel in synchronization in the same direction, but the transfer member 28 is moved at an appropriate supply position K1, which is a connection position with the supply conveyor 6, for example. The transfer member 28 may be moved back and forth between the support plates 20 of the bucket 5 by simply raising and lowering in synchronization with the traveling of the bucket 5, and the support 32 of the transfer member 28 may once receive the agricultural product. The present invention includes any mechanism that can transfer the agricultural products W to the buckets 5 one by one via the transfer member 28.
[0060]
In the above embodiment, the configuration of the entire sorting apparatus 1 and the forms of the sorting conveyor 2 and the supply conveyor 6 are merely examples, and it goes without saying that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
[0061]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, by moving the transfer member between the small width support members of the bucket, the agricultural product supplied from the supply conveyor is suitable for the transfer of the agricultural product. The transfer member can be once received, preventing damage to the agricultural product, and reducing the width of the small width support member of the bucket, so that the lower surface of the agricultural product can be measured with high accuracy.
[0062]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the transfer member runs coaxially with the starting end side sprocket and in parallel with the running rotation of the bucket, a dedicated drive for running the transferring member in the running state is provided. The transfer device can be configured with the simplest configuration without the need for a device, and the transfer operation can be performed reliably and accurately without the need for timing adjustment or the like for synchronization.
[0063]
Further, according to the invention described in claim 4, the transfer member runs in parallel with the bucket of the sorting conveyor in parallel for a predetermined length, so that the transfer member is placed on the transfer member from the supply conveyor and the transfer member is moved. The state of being transferred on the mounting member can be kept slightly longer. Therefore, the agricultural products on this transfer member are stably moved when transferred from the supply conveyor to the sorting conveyor bucket while being moved in parallel with the sorting conveyor bucket for a predetermined length. As a result, the stability is improved particularly in the transfer to the sorting conveyor running at high speed.
[0064]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the transfer member has a width wider than the width of the small-width support member, the receiving surface of the transfer member becomes wider (larger), and the transfer member is supplied on the transfer member. It is possible to prevent the agricultural products from being damaged when they are damaged.
[0065]
According to the invention described in claim 6, since the transfer member advances to the same height or a higher position as the small width support member, when the transfer member is located above the small width support member, Agricultural products can be supplied without damaging the fall distance with the supply conveyor. Further, when the transfer member is made to be substantially the same height as the narrow support member, the receiving surface at the position where the agricultural product is supplied is formed by the transfer member and the narrow support member. In other words, the contact surface can be formed wider (larger) than the receiving surface formed only by the transfer member, and it is possible to prevent the agricultural product from being damaged when supplied.
[0066]
Further, according to the invention described in claim 7, since the bucket is formed in the shape of a cage or the shape of a comb, the contact portion between the small width support member and the agricultural product is reduced, and the photographing range of the photographing device is wide. As a result, more accurate measurement information can be obtained.
[0067]
According to the eighth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effects of the first to seventh aspects, the agricultural products are automatically transferred to the center portion of the bucket by the pair of inclined surfaces provided on the transfer member. The work efficiency can be improved, for example, by eliminating the need to correct the position of agricultural products on the bucket.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a sorting device using an agricultural product transfer device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the main part of the same.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a front view of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a rear view of FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the bucket.
FIG. 7 is a front view of the same.
FIG. 8 is a view taken along the line AA of FIG. 6;
FIG. 9 is a view taken on line BB of FIG. 6;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the transfer device.
FIG. 11 is a front view of the same.
FIG. 12 is a plan view of the same.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the transfer apparatus.
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the bucket.
FIG. 15 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the transfer device.
FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the bucket.
FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing still another embodiment of the bucket.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... Sorting device
2 Sorting conveyor
3, 4, ... sprocket
5 ... bucket
6 Supply conveyor
7 ... Photographing device
13. Transfer equipment
15 ・・・・・・・・ Rotary axis
16 ・・・・・・・・・・ Followed board
17 ・・・・・・・・ Conveyor chain
18 ······ Shaft
19 ・・・・・・・ Connecting part
20 ····· Support plate
20a ... flat part
20b, 20c ... inclined part
25 Catch device
28 ... Transfer member
29 ・・・・・・・・ Transfer bracket
30 ... Support bracket
31 ......... Mounting block
32 ・・・・・・・ Support part
32a, 32b ... inclined surface
32d ..... plane part
40 ・・・・・・・・ Roller
42 ・・・・・・・ Partition plate
45, 48 ... bucket
50 Support rod
W ......... Agricultural products
K1 ..... supply position

Claims

A agricultural product transfer device for transferring agricultural products supplied from a supply conveyor one by one to a bucket of a sorting conveyor in which a plurality of small width support members are arranged side by side at predetermined intervals and a receiving surface of agricultural products is formed,
At the supply position of the agricultural products on the sorting conveyor, a transfer member for transferring agricultural products is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat between the small width support members of the bucket, and the agricultural products supplied from the supply conveyor by the advance and retreat operation of the transfer members with respect to the bucket. For transferring agricultural products onto a bucket via a transfer member.

A agricultural product transfer device for transferring agricultural products supplied from an upstream supply conveyor one by one to a sorting conveyor to which a predetermined number of buckets for loading agricultural products are rotatably attached,
In the bucket of the sorting conveyor, a plurality of narrow support members for supporting the agricultural products are arranged side by side at predetermined intervals to form a receiving surface for the agricultural products. A transfer member is provided between each of the narrow support members of the bucket so as to be able to advance and retreat, and the transfer member advances to make a state of receiving the agricultural product, and the transfer member retreats to support the agricultural product received by the narrow width. An agricultural product transfer device characterized by being transferred onto a member.

The sorting conveyor has a pair of right and left conveyor chains spanning a start end sprocket and an end sprocket, and a bucket is rotatable on a mounting member erected at predetermined intervals along the traveling direction of the conveyor chain. The agricultural product transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the transfer member is attached, and the transfer member runs coaxially with the start end side sprocket and in parallel with the running rotation of the bucket.

The agricultural product transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the transfer member runs parallel to a predetermined length in parallel with a running rotation of the bucket at the agricultural product supply position of the sorting conveyor. .

The agricultural product transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the transfer member has a width wider than a width of the small width support member.

The agricultural product transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the transfer member is advanced to a position substantially the same as or higher than the small width support member.

The agricultural product transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the bucket is formed in the shape of a cage or a comb.

The agricultural product according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the transfer member has a pair of inclined surfaces inclined in a transport direction, and receives the agricultural products supplied from the supply conveyor by the inclined surfaces. Transfer equipment.