JP3600310B2 - Automatic onion sorter - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention relates to an automatic onion sorting apparatus for automatically sorting onions according to the size of the thickness.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When shipping harvested leek, it is necessary to sort the size of the onion.Since sorting by weight measurement cannot be performed efficiently and accurately, the automatic onion of the leek automatically sorted according to the size of the stem portion of the leek The present inventor has proposed a separation apparatus in Registered Utility Model Publication No. 3002048, and has attracted attention in the art.
[0003]
The conventional automatic onion sorting apparatus for green onion is described as follows: "The green onion to be sorted is sequentially supplied into the box body of the transport mechanism and transported and moved, and at the position of the thickness detecting mechanism, the operating part descends and comes into close contact with the green onion. When the lowering position of the operating part is detected, the thickness of the green onion can be determined by detecting the lowest position of the operating part. When a plurality of combinations of the position sensor unit installed at the height and the operation unit with the light shielding plate are formed in the transport direction, whether the light shielding plate blocks the light of the position sensor unit by the up and down operation of the operation unit Then, based on the thickness detection of the green onion, the rotation rod at a predetermined position is rotated to release the support of the bottom plate of the box body by the thickness detection mechanism. The bottom plate of the body is opened, and the green onion inside the box Falling. "Were those.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Although the above-described automatic sorting apparatus has some usefulness, it is difficult to accurately determine the thickness if the onion stem is bent, and a leaf stem in which the onion is bifurcated at the tip of the stem portion. There is a problem that it is difficult to accurately determine the thickness due to the presence of the part.
That is, a large bent non-standard onion can be removed by hand, but the stem size of the standard green onion, which has only a few bends, needs to be accurately measured and classified. Since the bottom plate is flat, when the contact body comes into contact with the green onion placed thereon, the contact position fluctuates due to the bending of the green onion, making it difficult to accurately determine the size of the stem.
[0005]
Also, since the leaf stem is bifurcated, depending on the placement of the leaf stem, even if the stem is straight, the contact position of the contact body fluctuates, and the size of the stem is also accurate. It was difficult to determine.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to ensure the usefulness of the above-described conventional automatic sorting apparatus as it is, and to accurately determine the size of onion within a standard having a slight bend in the stem. .
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to a conveying means 1 for arranging a row of green onions 6 and transporting the green onions horizontally , and a green onion thickness for detecting the thickness of the green onions A by contacting the green onions A placed on the green onions 6 A green onion comprising a detecting means 2 and a sorting means 3 for opening the green onion table 6 at any one of a plurality of positions in the transport direction based on a detection signal of the green onion thickness detecting means 2 In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the following technical measures are taken in the automatic sorting apparatus.
[0007]
That is, according to the present invention, a support body 9 is provided which supports the stem portion on the base side of the green onion A above the bottom plate 6A of the green onion base 6 and supports the contact body directly above the support body 9 on the green onion base 6 to be transported and moved. 14 is positioned and provided.
Further, in the present invention, the support body 9 is a rod or a plate extending in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the green onion, and may have a positioning engaging portion 9A on the green onion stand 6 for the green onion A. desirable.
[0008]
[Action]
According to the present invention, when the green onion A to be sorted is manually supplied to the green onion table 6 arranged in the transporting means 1, the root side stem portion of the green onion A is engaged with the engaging portion 9 </ b> A of the support body 9. It is placed and transported as a direction orthogonal to the transport direction.
During this transport movement, since the stem portion of the onion A is engaged with the engaging portion 9A of the support body 9, there is no delusion of the onion A on the leek mounting table 6.
[0009]
Further, even if the stem portion of the green onion A is slightly bent, the bent portion can be absorbed because the support body 9 is floating above the bottom plate 6A. Even if the leaf stem portion of the green onion A is bifurcated, it can be supported in a fixed position. I do.
When leek stand 6 by a conveying movement of the above comes to the position of the thickness detecting unit 2, the contact body 14 to the stem of green onion A hydraulic unit 12 is lowered is close contact, the stems at the contact body 14 When the magnitude is sensed, the lowering of the operation unit 12 is stopped, and the operation unit 12 returns to the original position (upward).
[0010]
Even if the contact body 14 comes into contact, the green onion A is securely held by the support body 9 and the stem can be accurately detected even if there is some bending.
At the time of the lowering operation of the operation unit 12, the thickness of the green onion A can be determined by detecting the lowest position of the operation unit 12, and the position sensor unit 13 installed at a predetermined height and the light shielding plate 15 are attached. If a plurality of combinations of the units 12 are formed in the transport direction, the lowered position of the operation unit 12 can be determined based on whether or not the light blocking plate 15 blocks the light of the position sensor unit 13 by the vertical operation of the operation unit 12. Next, based on the thickness detection of the green onion by the thickness detection means 2, when the support of the bottom plate 6A at the predetermined location of the green onion platform 6 is released, the green onion platform 6 is opened and the green onion falls to a predetermined sorting position. I do.
[0011]
【Example】
Next, examples of the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic onion sorting apparatus shown in the embodiment includes a transporting unit 1, a thickness detecting unit 2, and a sorting unit 3, and the transporting unit 1 has an appropriate frame shape. A transport unit (endless chain / endless belt) 4 which is wound around a drive unit and a driven unit provided in the main body and can be operated intermittently or continuously by the drive unit is provided. The transport unit 4 is parallel to the main body. A long box-shaped leek rest 6 is lined up between the two endless chains 5.
[0012]
In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the onion rest 6 is hinged on its bottom plate 6A with a long edge so that it can be opened and closed. A member (rail rod) 7 for preventing the opening and closing operations of the above and closing the opened bottom plate 6A is arranged.
Further, since the onion having a length protruding from the leek mounting table 6 cannot be conveyed to the conveying means 1, the protruding portion of the leek as shown in FIG. A cutting portion 8 for cutting is provided, and the cutting portion 8 includes a cutter 8B operated by a cylinder 8A, but may be a rotary type.
[0013]
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a support body 9 is provided on the bottom plate 6 </ b> A of the leek mounting table 6 so as to protrude upward from the bottom plate 6 </ b> A and support the root-side stem of the green onion A by floating.
The support body 9 is made of a bar or a plate such as a round bar or a square bar. In this embodiment, the support body 9 floats and is fixed via a spacer 10 and extends in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the onion A. An engagement portion 9A is formed for preventing and positioning the green onion A placed on the body 9.
[0014]
The floating height of the support body 9 is determined in consideration of the degree of bending of the stem portion of the green onion A and is determined in consideration of the degree of opening of the bifurcated leaf stem of the green onion A, and the like. Correction absorption absorbs the stem portion of the green onion A securely.
The engaging portion 9A of the support body 9 may be formed by bending the side opposite to the transport direction F high as shown in FIG. 3, or may be formed in a V-shape or U-shape as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the transport direction F side may be bent high.
[0015]
When the engaging portion 9A has the shape shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 6, it is possible to reliably position the stem to be perturbed by the inertia during conveyance, while when the bottom plate 6A is opened and dropped for sorting, FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the pedestal falls over the engaging portion 9 </ b> A. On the other hand, when the shape is as shown in FIG. To make it smoother.
[0016]
The thickness detecting means 2 is one in which a combination of the operating section 12 and the position sensor section 13 is set as one unit from the frame rod 11 positioned above the main body, and a plurality of the rods are vertically arranged above the transport mechanism in the transport direction. . The operating part 12 is provided with a contact body 14 via a bracket 312 on an operating rod 212 which moves forward (downward) toward the green onion A in the green onion nest 6 being conveyed by a fluid telescopic cylinder 112 such as air. At the time of sensing, the lowering operation of the operating rod 212 is stopped so as to return to the original position, and the operating rod 212 is further connected to the connecting rod 412 with an appropriate light shielding plate 15 via the screw means 512 to the position sensor unit 13. The contact body 14 is positioned directly above the positioning portion of the support body 9 without shifting in the longitudinal direction of the green onion.
[0017]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the position sensor unit 13 has a support rod 16 having a longitudinally elongated hole 16A and a scale rod 17 displaying a scale line 17A suspended from the frame rod 11. A U-shaped sensor mounting plate 18 having side plates facing each other with the vertical passage position of the plate 15 interposed therebetween is mounted by screws 19 so as to be vertically adjustable along the long hole 16A. An optical sensor 20 including a light emitting unit 20A and a light receiving unit 20B is provided between the opposed side plates.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 6, the contact body 14 may be doubled via a spring 114 so as to turn the contact 214 on and off while reducing the resistance at the time of contact.
The sorting means 3 is provided with an opening / closing prevention rod 22 of an appropriate length on a rotating rod 21 erected in parallel with the direction of erection of the leek nest 6 below the passing position of the leek nest 6 in the middle of the transport movement to the division position. Objects that protrude in parallel with the transport direction are installed in classes that should be separated at appropriate intervals, and a dropping object (green onion A) from the bottom plate 6A opened by the operation of each rotation preventing rod 22 is provided below the transport unit. ) Are provided with a partition plate 23 and a storage box 24 for dividing the partition into predetermined positions.
[0019]
When the above-described apparatus is operated and the division based on the thickness of the green onion A is performed, the position of each of the sensor mounting plates 18 of the thickness detection means arranged side by side is set to a desired thickness based on the scale 17A of the scale rod 17. It is adjusted and fixed in accordance with the sorting criteria of (1), and is sequentially increased (thickened) from the front to the rear of the transport.
In the above embodiment, the opening operation of the bottom plate 6A of the mounting table 6 is performed. However, as shown in FIG. 8, the entire mounting table 6 may be opened using the pivot 6B as a fulcrum. , contacting the middle closing blocking member 122 of the two parallel rail members 25 and so as to form a suspended portion in the rail member 25 at a driving body such as a solenoid, not shown, during the opening operation in the stand 6 member A notch 6C is formed to avoid interference with 14.
[0020]
In addition, the structure shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 can be adopted for the structure other than the opening operation of the mounting table 6 in the embodiment of FIG.
Next, the operation of the above-described embodiment will be described.
The green onion A is supplied manually (a transport (supply) machine may be used) from a predetermined supply position (the transport start end B in FIG. 1).
[0021]
At this time, supply is performed so that the stem portion is set in a direction intersecting with the transport direction, and the stem portion is positioned by the engaging portion 9A while being floated from the bottom plate 6A by the support body 9.
The onion A is reliably and stably supported by the bearing floated by the bearing body 9 even if the stem portion is slightly bent.
The supplied green onion A is cut off at the cutting portion 8 at the leaves protruding from the mounting table 6, and is conveyed intermittently to the position of the thickness detecting means 2. When the operating rod 212 is conveyed to the position of the thickness detecting means 2, the operating rod 212 descends and approaches the green onion A, and the contact body 14 senses that it comes into contact with the green onion A and stops lowering the operating rod 212. Return to the original position. At this time, the contact body 14 is located directly above the support body 9 and the green onion A is floated above the bottom plate 6A and supported, so that even if there is a slight bend, it is corrected and absorbed, and is reliably detected.
[0022]
Further, when the light blocking plate 15 is lowered to the position of the sensor mounting plate 18 and blocks the light of the optical sensor 20 during the lowering operation of the operating rod 212, it can be determined that the green onion A at the position is smaller than a predetermined thickness. Therefore, the support of the bottom plate 6A of the mounting base 6 in which the green onion A is stored is released by rotating the rotating rod 21 at the position leading to the first compartment a, and the bottom plate 6A or the mounting base 6 of the mounting base 6 is released. Is opened to drop the green onion A into the compartment a.
[0023]
When the onion A is thicker than a predetermined value at the detection position, when the operating rod 212 descends and comes into contact with the onion A to stop the downward movement and return to the original position, the light shielding plate 15 is moved to the sensor mounting plate 18. , The light of the optical sensor 20 is not blocked, and it is possible to determine that the green onion A has a predetermined thickness or more. Therefore, the onion A is moved to the next detection position without operating the sorting means, and the sensor mounting plate is moved. The thickness of the portion 18 where the height is increased is determined, and when the height is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the corresponding sorting mechanism is operated and stored in the sorting room b.
[0024]
When the thickness of the green onion is sequentially discriminated in this way and dropped and stored in a predetermined sorting chamber, the green onion is automatically sorted for each thickness.
The support body 9 can be covered with a rubber or resin tube to prevent damage to the green onion, and can be fixed directly to the bottom plate 6A without the spacer 10 therebetween. At this time, the thickness of the spacer 10 may be prepared to be large or small, and the spacer 10 may be replaced and mounted according to the degree of bending of the green onion. Further, it is desirable that the entire apparatus be portable.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the size of the diameter can be accurately measured even for an onion whose stem portion is slightly bent within the standard, and accurate sorting can be efficiently performed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a main part of the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part of the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a sectional operation diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a side view showing a second embodiment of the bearing.
FIG. 7 is a side view showing a third embodiment of the support.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a main part showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Conveying means 2 Thickness detecting means 3 Sorting means 6 Onion resting stand 9 Supporting body 9A Engaging part 14 Contacting body

Claims (2)

A transporting means (1) for arranging the leek rests (6) in a row and transporting them in a horizontal direction, and contacting the root stem of the leek (A) placed on each leek rest (6) with the leek (A) ), And the leek mounting table (6) is opened at any of a plurality of positions in the transport direction based on the detection signal of the leek thickness detection means (2). dividing means for dividing operating (3) and provided with a,
On the bottom plate (6A) of each of the leek mounting tables (6), a support body (9) that floats and supports the root stem portion with the leaf stem portion of the green onion (A) placed on the bottom plate (6A). ), And the bearing body (9) has a positioning engagement portion (9A) for positioning the root stem portion in the transport direction of the green onion (A). apparatus. The support (9) is a rod or a plate extending in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the green onion, and the positioning engagement portion (9A) is provided with a green onion (A) placed on the upper surface of the support (9). ) automatic sorting apparatus of leek of claim 1, wherein one or Rukoto have both the positioning of the conveying direction.

Images