JP3663307B2

JP3663307B2 - Agricultural product transfer equipment

Info

Publication number: JP3663307B2
Application number: JP36056998A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 定泰佐藤
Original assignee: 株式会社マキ製作所
Priority date: 1998-12-18
Filing date: 1998-12-18
Publication date: 2005-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 2018-12-18
Also published as: JP2000185818A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、上流側の供給コンベアから供給される農産物を、選別コンベアのバケット上に一個づつ供給する農産物載せ替え装置に係わり、特に、農産物を選別包装して出荷する選果場等において用いるのに適するもので、選別コンベアの始端部上方に設けられた供給コンベアから、一定ピッチで供給される農産物を選別コンベア上に一個づつ移載する農産物載せ替え装置に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来、前工程の供給コンベアから供給される農産物を選別コンベア上へ一個づつ載せ替える装置としては、例えば特開平１０−１９４４４３号公報に開示されている。この載せ替え装置は、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円周方向に回動可能に配置して、こ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、該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ようにしたものである。
【０００３】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかしながら、この載せ替え装置にあっては、移載部材が選別コンベアの始端側スプロケットと同軸で回動しかつ選別コンベアのバケットと同期して並送するため、移載部材が所定の円周上をバケットと同期して走行回転し、供給コンベアから選別コンベアへほとんど点状態で移載されることになって、農産物を供給コンベアから選別コンベアに安定して移載する範囲が狭くなる。
【０００４】
その結果、農産物の大きさや形状によっては、安定した移載が困難になると共に、バケット上で農産物の姿勢が一定せず選別コンベアに配置された計測装置による計測が不能になったり、仕分排出装置による貯留コンベアへの排出ミスが発生したり、あるいは移載時に農産物がバケット上から落下して農産物を傷める場合があるという問題点があった。
【０００５】
そこで、移載部材を選別コンベアのバケットと所定長さ並送して移載する方式にすれば、前記問題点は一応解消するが、例えば農産物が茄子等の長物農産物の場合で、選別コンベアの搬送方向と略直交する横方向に向けて載置された茄子の姿勢が若干ずれていた場合等に、移載部材がバケットの下方に退避する動作において、茄子が供給コンベアから供給された時のままの姿勢でバケット上に移載されるため、茄子の姿勢が大きく崩れているとその姿勢の補正作業が必要となって、選別作業の作業能率が劣るという問題点があった。
【０００６】
さらに、農産物が特に茄子や胡瓜等の長物農産物の場合には、通常その重量、形状、太さ、曲がり、弾力及び滑り等がまちまちであるため、特定の形状や大きさの農産物を対象にして載せ替え装置の作動条件を調整しても、形状等が異なると載せ替え時の姿勢が変化することがあり、結局、農産物の姿勢を整えてバケット上に姿勢修正なしで確実に載せ替えすることが難しく、選別作業の自動化の妨げとなっているという問題点があった。
【０００８】
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記載の発明の目的は、上流側の供給コンベアから供給される農産物を下流側の選別コンベアのバケット上に、載せ替え時（供給コンベアからの落下供給時）の衝撃を緩和させつつ且つ姿勢を整えつつ確実に載せ替えできる農産物載せ替え装置を提供することにある。また、請求項２記載の発明の目的は、請求項１記載の発明の目的に加え、形状等が均一化し難い長物農産物であっても確実に載せ替えできる農産物載せ替え装置を提供し、請求項３記載の発明の目的は、請求項１または２記載の発明の目的に加え、選別コンベアのバケットの載置部を浅く形成することができて、計測装置による計測を高精度に行い得る農産物載せ替え装置を提供することにある。また、請求項４記載の発明の目的は、請求項１ないし３記載の発明の目的に加え、載せ替え装置の構成を簡素化し得ると共に、農産物を供給コンベアにより安定して供給し得る農産物載せ替え装置を提供することにある。
【００１２】
【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コンベアの幅方向に所定の間隔で並設されたバケットにより農産物の受載面が形成された選別コンベアの搬送始端側の所定範囲に、選別コンベアの各バケットと同期して走行する農産物載せ替え用の移載部材を、バケットの各小幅支持部材間で多数の支持部材が相対的な動作によって進退し得る如く設け、該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バケット上に載せ替える農産物載せ替え装置であって、前記移載部材の支持部材は、側面視で略Ｍ字形状をなし、かつ所定の弾性を有する弾性材で形成されていると共に、略Ｍ字形状の上面が、搬送方向の前方側の載せ面が浅く傾斜し、後方側の載せ面が深く傾斜する如く形成されており、移載部材は、選別コンベアの下方に設けられた無端コンベアに先端部が回動自在に軸支され、且つその後方側の下部に、ガイド溝に係合する係合ローラが回転自在に取り付けられ、支持部材のバケットに対する進出によって支持部材上に受け入れた農産物をバケットと同期して並送し、前記係合ローラがガイド溝に沿って走行することによって、農産物が載置された移載部材が上昇開始位置から上昇完了位置まで徐々に上昇移動しつつ支持部材の後方側が前記先端部の軸を中心に上方に徐々に回動し、該回動後、支持部材がバケットの小幅支持部材間から下方に後退することで農産物を該小幅支持部材上に載せ替えることを特徴とする。
【００１３】
このように構成することにより、上流側の供給コンベアから搬送されて選別コンベアの搬送始端側に供給される農産物は、選別コンベアのバケットの小幅支持部材上に向けて落下供給され、この時、小幅支持部材間に農産物載せ替え用の移載部材の支持部材が進出しているため、この支持部材上に一旦載置されるが、支持部材が所定の弾性を有することから、供給コンベアから落下する際の衝撃が緩和される。そして、移載部材がバケットと同期して走行すると、その支持部材が小幅支持部材間から後退して、支持部材上の農産物がバケットの小幅支持部材上に載置される。移載部材は、先端側が選別コンベア下方の無端コンベアに回動自在に軸支され、且つ後方側の下部に、ガイド溝に係合する係合ローラが回転自在に取り付けられており、載置されている農産物をバケットの小幅支持部材上に移載するまでに、係合ローラがガイド溝に沿って走行することによって、上昇開始位置から上昇完了位置まで徐々に上昇移動しつつ支持部材の後方側が先端側の軸を中心に上方に徐々に回動することによって、移載部材の支持部材上の農産物の姿勢が整えられてバケットの小幅支持部材上に確実かつ自動的に載せ替えられる。
【００１７】
また、請求項２記載の発明は、農産物が長物農産物であって該長物農産物が選別コンベア上に横向きに載置されることを特徴とする。このように構成することにより、重量、形状、太さ、曲がり、弾力及び滑り等がまちまちである茄子等の長物農産物であっても、載せ替え装置を一々調整することなく容易に使用できて、長物農産物を供給コンベアから選別コンベアに確実に載せ替えできる。
【００１８】
また、請求項３記載の発明は、選別コンベアが、小幅支持部材で形成されるバケットの農産物の受載面が概ね平らな面で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、計測装置が設置される選別コンベアのバケットを浅くすることができることから、バケットの小幅支持部材が計測に悪影響を与えることがなくなり、バケット上に載置されている農産物の計測装置による計測が高精度に行える。
【００１９】
また、請求項４記載の発明では、バケットは、農産物が落下供給される供給位置より上流側でその後方側が下方に回動し、供給位置においては、移載部材の支持部材が該下方に回動したバケットの小幅支持部材間から上方に進出すると共に、該下方に回動したバケットの小幅支持部材と該上方に進出した支持部材とこの後方のバケットの小幅支持部材とによって載せ替え用の凹部が形成されることを特徴とする。このように構成することにより、供給位置の上流側でバケットが下方に回動すると、供給位置では支持部材が小幅支持部材間から上方に進出した状態となり、小幅支持部材と支持部材の相対動作の機構が簡素化され、又、供給コンベアから供給位置に落下供給される農産物は、下方に回動したバケットの小幅支持部材と該バケットの小幅支持部材間から上方に進出した移載部材の支持部材とこの後方のバケットの小幅支持部材とで形成される比較的大きな凹部によって、移載部材やバケット外への飛び出しが防止されつつ、移載部材上に確実に収容載置される。
【００２０】
【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９は、本発明に係わる農産物載せ替え装置の一実施例を示し、図１が該農産物載せ替え装置を使用した選別装置の概略構成図、図２が載せ替え装置の概略側面図、図３が図２のＡ−Ａ線矢視図、図４がバケットの斜視図、図５が移載部材の斜視図、図６がその平面図、図７がその正面図、図８及び図９が動作を示す要部の側面図である。
【００２１】
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間にコンベアチェーン５（図２及び図３参照）を介して配設され、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には後述するバケット６が一定間隔で多数個配設されている。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って回転駆動されるようになっている。また、選別コンベア２の搬送始端側（最上流側）には、各バケット６に選別しようとする農産物Ｗを一定ピッチで供給する供給コンベア７が接続されると共に、選別コンベア２の搬送方向イの所定位置には、複数台のカメラ９や反射板１０等からなりバケット６上の農産物Ｗを計測する撮像装置８が配置されている。
【００２２】
また、選別コンベア２の撮影装置８の下流側には、農産物Ｗの仕分区分に応じて複数（図では４台）の引出コンベア１１ａ〜１１ｄが連結され、撮影装置８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６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〜１１１ｄ上に排出される。
【００２３】
さらに、選別コンベア２の始端側には、載せ替え装置１３が設置されている。この載せ替え装置１３は、図２及び図３に示すように、機枠１４の前後に回転軸１５、１６が設けられ、回転軸１５にはその軸方向に所定間隔を有して一対のスプロケット１７（図では１つのみ示す）が２組固定され、回転軸１６には同様に一対のスプロケット１８が２組固定されている。
【００２４】
なお、載せ替え装置１３のスプロケット１７、１８と選別コンベア２のスプロケット３、４は、同期して作動するように設定されており、選別コンベア２のバケット６と載せ替え装置１３の後述する移載部材２６は所定位置において並送することになる。また、図３に示すように、載せ替え装置１３は選別コンベア２の搬送方向イ両側に２台並設状態で設けられ、各載せ替え装置１３は同様に構成されて機枠１４の左右位置にそれぞれ配置されている。
【００２５】
前記スプロケット３、４間には前記コンベアチェーン５がそれぞれ噛み合いし、選別コンベア２の搬送方向イ両側のコンベアチェーン５間には、多数個の前記バケット６がそれぞれ取り付けられている。このバケット６は、図４に示すように、櫛歯状に形成され、一端が１枚の支持側板２０に固定された軸部２１に、垂直部２２ａ、平坦部２２ｂ及び平坦部２２ｂ前後の傾斜部２２ｃ、２２ｄを有する小幅支持部材としての支持棒２２の一端部が溶接固定されている。この支持棒２２の先端部はフリーな状態とされ、かつ支持側板２０の一端側には、前記コンベアチェーン５が図示しない連結部材を介して係合すると共にバケット６の回動中心となる回動軸２３が突出固定され、他端側には図示しないキャッチ機構に係合する係合ピン２４が突出固定されている。
【００２６】
そして、バケット６は、支持側板２０に設けた係合ピン２４が、キャッチ機構２５に係合することによって水平状態に保持（ロック）され、かつ図示しないロック解除装置によって下方に押されることによって、係合ピン２４とキャッチ機構２５との係合状態（ロック状態）が解除されると、回動軸２３を中心に後方側（係合ピン２４側）が矢印ロ（図４参照）の如く下方に回動するように構成されている。このバケット６の各支持棒２２の平坦部２２ｂ及び傾斜部２２ｃ、２２ｄによって、バケット６の受載面が形成され、この受載面は、傾斜部２２ｃ、２２ｄの傾斜角度が比較的小さく（浅く）設定されることにより、概ね平坦な面に形成されている。なお、支持棒２２の平坦部２２ｂの長さや傾斜部２２ｄの長さ等は、選別する農産物Ｗの種類に応じて所定の値に設定される。
【００２７】
前記載せ替え装置１３のスプロケット１７、１８に懸架された一対のコンベアチェーン１９間には、多数の移載部材２６が取り付けられている。この移載部材２６は、図５〜図７に示すように、ゴム材で一体成形され側面視で略Ｍ字形状の多数（図では８個）のゴム製支持部材２７を有している。このゴム製支持部材２７は、その底面となる取付面がそれぞれ上下一対の取付板２８及び２本の取付棒２９を介して、一対のコンベアチェーン１９間に配設された固定支持板３０上に所定の間隔でそれぞれ固定されている。そして、各ゴム製支持部材２７の上面には、１対の傾斜面２７ａ、２７ｂがそれぞれ形成され、この傾斜面２７ａ、２７ｂのうち、前方側の傾斜面２７ａは傾斜角度が小さくて浅く傾斜し、後方側の傾斜面２７ｂは傾斜角度が大きくて深く傾斜するように設定されている。
【００２８】
また、固定支持板３０の前方側には回動自在な軸３１が設けられ、この軸３１の両端部がコンベアチェーン１９にそれぞれ係合されると共に、固定支持板３０の後方側寄りの下面にはローラ取付部材３２が設けられている。このローラ取付部材３２の下方の内側には、ベアリング３３（図７参照）を介して係合ローラ３４が回転自在に取り付けられ、この係合ローラ３４がガイド部材３５のガイド溝３５ａ（図２、図７及び図９参照）に沿って係合し走行するようになっている。ガイド部材３５は、後述するバケット６のガイド３７の形状に略沿う軌道を移載部材２６が移動し得るようにガイド溝３５ａが形成され、図２の位置ａが移載部材２６の上昇開始位置、位置ｂが移載部材２６の上昇完了位置、位置ｃが移載部材２６の下降開始位置、及び位置ｄが移載部材２６の下降完了位置となるように設定されている。
【００２９】
一方、載せ替え装置１３と選別コンベア２とが略並送する部分には、選別コンベア２のバケット６の回動角度を規制させるガイド３７が配設されている。このガイド３７は、図８に示すように、載せ替え装置１３の最上流側に上方に円弧形状に突出した円弧面３７ａと、この円弧面３７ａの下流側に連設された低面３７ｂと、この低面３７ｂの下流側に所定角度で前方に向けて上昇傾斜するように連設された傾斜面３７ｃと、この傾斜面３７ｃの下流側に連設された平坦な高面３７ｄとを有している。
【００３０】
このガイド３７の各面３７ａ〜３７ｄで、バケット６は図２のロック解除位置ｈでバケット６の係合ピン２４のキャッチ機構２５によるロックが解除され、後方側が下方に回動可能となってバケット６の支持側板２０の下端が支持される。したがって、バケット６は、ガイド３７の各面３７ａ〜３７ｃに沿って後方側が下がった所定角度に有しつつ高面３７ｄ上に搬送されることになる。なお、ガイド３７は、図２に示す位置ｅがバケット６の上昇開始位置で、位置ｆがバケット６の上昇完了位置になるように設定されている。
【００３１】
また、ガイド３７の円弧面３７ａと低面３７ｂの上流側は、図９に示すように、載せ替え装置１３と供給コンベア７の接続部分（選別コンベア２の供給位置Ｋ１近傍）に配置され、少なくとも低面３７ｂの上流側は、供給コンベア７から農産物Ｗが落下供給される位置より所定距離上流側に配置されている。これにより、農産物Ｗの落下供給位置である供給位置Ｋ１において、選別コンベア２のバケット６は、その後方側が最も下方に回動した状態になると共に、移載部材２６の各ゴム製支持部材２７がバケット６の支持棒２２間から上方（支持棒２２の平坦部２２ｂより上方）に進出（突出）した状態となっている。
【００３２】
したがって、この供給位置Ｋ１においては、前方のバケット６の支持棒２２の傾斜部２２ｃと後方のバケット６の支持棒２２の垂直部２２ａ、及び前方のバケット６の支持棒２２間から上方に進出したゴム製支持部材２７の傾斜面２７ａ、２７ｂとにより載せ替え用の凹部３８が形成される。
【００３３】
さらに、ガイド３７の高面３７ｄ側の図２のロック位置ｇにおいて、バケット６が通常の搬送姿勢（水平状態）に戻る、すなわちバケット６がキャッチ機構２５でロックされるように設定されている。そして、このガイド３７の高面３７ｄの位置で、最も高い位置（上昇完了位置ｂ）に設定されているガイド溝３５ａにより、移載部材２６のゴム製支持部材２７の後端側が矢印ハ（図２参照）方向の回動動作を停止する。そして、この上昇完了位置ｂよりもさらに下流側に搬送される移載部材２６が、移載部材２６の下降開始位置ｃから下降完了位置ｄに搬送される途中に移載部材２６上の農産物Ｗがバケット６へ載せ替えられる（載せ替え位置Ｋ２となる）。
【００３４】
つまり、供給コンベア７から選別コンベア２の供給位置Ｋ１に落下供給される農産物Ｗは、一旦移載部材２６のバケット６の支持棒２２上に進出しているゴム製支持部材２７上に載置され、この状態でバケット６の搬送と同期させて、供給位置Ｋ１から載せ替え位置Ｋ２まで所定距離搬送される。そして、農産物Ｗを載せた移載部材２６が、移載部材２６の上昇開始位置ａから上昇完了位置ｂまで移動することで、移載部材２６上のゴム製支持部材２７の後端側が矢印ハ方向に回動させられる。これにより、ゴム製支持部材２７上の農産物Ｗは、このゴム製支持部材２７上で前後方向に若干揺れ動き、ゴム製支持部材２７の最深位置に姿勢が整えられて載置される。
【００３５】
次に、上記載せ替え装置１３の動作の一例について説明する。先ず、供給コンベア７の始端側において、供給コンベア７にピッチ付けされて一個ずつ載置された農産物Ｗは、供給コンベア７によって搬送されて、供給コンベア７の終端側から下方の選別コンベア２の供給位置Ｋ１に落下されることにより供給される。この供給位置Ｋ１では、ガイド３７の低面３７ｂに位置してバケット６の後方側が下方に回動しているため、このバケット６の支持棒２２間から移載部材２６のゴム製支持部材２７が上方に進出した状態となり、このゴム製支持部材２７上に農産物Ｗが落下載置される。
【００３６】
この時、供給位置Ｋ１の搬送方向イ前後のバケット６と移載部材２６とによって前述した如く全体としてゴム製支持部材２７よりも大きな凹部３８が形成されているため、仮に農産物Ｗの落下放物線がばらついたり、落下した農産物Ｗが支持部材２６やバケット６に衝突して上方に跳ね上がったとしても、比較的大きな凹部３８でこれを吸収することができる。また、ゴム製支持部材２７の全体が弾性を有することから、農産物Ｗ自体の跳ね上がりが抑えられると共に、ゴム製支持部材２７の後方側の傾斜面２７ｂが深く設定されているため、該傾斜面２７ｂが落下防止の壁として作用し、跳ね上がりによる後方側への飛び出しも防止されて、農産物Ｗがゴム製支持部材２７上に確実に載置されることになる。
【００３７】
そして、落下供給された農産物Ｗが移載部材２６のゴム製支持部材２７で一旦受け止められると、この農産物Ｗは、移載部材２６のゴム製支持部材２７上に載置された状態で載せ替え装置１３の下流側に搬送される。この時、農産物Ｗが載置された移載部材２６と、その支持棒２２がゴム製支持部材２７間から後退しているバケット６は同期して並送され、移載部材２６は上昇開始位置ａからガイド溝３５ａに沿って係合ローラ３４が走行することによって徐々に上昇移動すると共に、この移載部材２６の上昇開始と略同期して、対応するバケット６が上昇開始位置ｅからガイド３７の傾斜面３７ｃに沿って上昇移動し、その後方側が徐々に上方に回動して上昇完了位置ｆでバケット６が水平姿勢となる。これにより、バケット６の支持棒２２がゴム製支持部材２７間に徐々に進入、すなわち支持棒２２の上面とゴム製支持部材２７の上面が徐々に接近することになる。
【００３８】
そして、前記バケット６と同期して搬送される移載部材２６のゴム製支持部材２７が上昇完了位置ｂに達すると、ゴム製支持部材２７の後方側が前方側より高くなるように傾斜し、この状態でゴム製支持部材２７上の農産物Ｗはその重心が前方側（傾斜面２７ａ側）寄った状態となる。なお、この農産物Ｗを載せた移載部材２６の後端側が、移載部材２６の上昇開始位置ａから上昇完了位置ｂの間で矢印ハ方向に所定角度回動されることで、移載部材２６のゴム製支持部材２７上に載せられた農産物Ｗが、該ゴム製支持部材２７上の最深位置に姿勢が整えられて載置されることになる。また、バケット６の支持棒２２は、上昇完了位置ｆで通常の水平な状態に戻って搬送され、ガイド３７の高面３７ｄ前方のロック位置ｇでキャッチ機構２５でロックされて水平状態が保持される。
【００３９】
一方、前方側に傾斜した状態の移載部材２６は、載せ替え位置Ｋ２（下降開始位置ｃから下降完了位置ｄの間）で下降し、ゴム製支持部材２７がバケット６の支持棒２２間から下方に後退する。これにより、ゴム製支持部材２７上の農産物Ｗが、水平状態に保持されているバケット６の支持棒２２に載せ替えられ、その後、移載部材２６はスプロケット１８に沿って矢印ニの如く回動することにより、バケット６から徐々に離れ、所定角度回転した時点でゴム製支持部材２７が、バケット６の支持棒２２間から完全に離間される。
【００４０】
すなわち、農産物Ｗはゴム製支持部材２７の傾斜面２７ａ、２７ｂで形成される最深位置の凹部に載置された状態で搬送され、載せ替え位置Ｋ２の直前で、支持棒２２とゴム製支持部材２７が略面一状態となり、載せ替え位置Ｋ２でゴム製支持部材２７が支持棒２２に対して下降して支持棒２２間から後退することにより、農産物Ｗがゴム製支持部材２７上から支持棒２２上に自動的に載せ替えられることになる。
【００４１】
この時、ゴム製支持部材２７の上面の最深位置（傾斜面２７ａ、２７ｂの接続部分）に載置されていた農産物Ｗが、ゴム製支持部材２７の前方側への傾斜により傾斜面２７ａ側に重心が寄った状態で支持棒２２上に載せ替えられると共に、ゴム製支持部材２７の上面の前方の傾斜面２７ａの傾斜角度が浅く形成されているため、傾斜面２７ａが農産物Ｗの載せ替え時の障害になることがなく、ゴム製支持部材２７上の姿勢のままでバケット６上にスムーズに載せ替えられることになる。そして、このようにして移載部材２６上からバケット６上に載せ替えられた農産物Ｗは水平状態にロックされたバケット６により、下流側に搬送されて撮像装置８により各種品質が計測され、この計測されたデータに基づいて所定の引き出しコンベア１１ａ〜１１ｄ上に排出される。
【００４２】
このように、上記実施例の選別装置１にあっては、供給コンベア７と選別コンベア２の接続部分（供給位置Ｋ１）に載せ替え装置１３を配置し、この載せ替え装置１３の移載部材２６のゴム製支持部材２７を、選別コンベア２のバケット６の支持棒２２間に進退可能に設けると共に、載せ替え装置１３の搬送始端側において、所定距離ゴム製支持部材２７を支持棒２２間に進出させるため、供給コンベア７から供給位置Ｋ１に落下供給される農産物Ｗを弾性を有するゴム製支持部材２７に一旦載置することができる。
【００４３】
特に、移載部材２６のゴム製支持部材２７が、上面に傾斜面２７ａ、２７ｂによる凹部を有する略Ｍ字形状に形成されると共に、これらがゴム材により一体成形されて全体として適度な弾性を有しているため、農産物Ｗの落下時の衝撃を略Ｍ字形状の傾斜面２７ａ、２７ｂによって良好に受け止めることができると共に、農産物Ｗを傾斜面２７ａ、２７ｂを利用して最深位置に自然落下で自動的に収容させることができる。その結果、供給コンベア７から落下供給される農産物Ｗを、ゴム製支持部材２７で柔らかく受け止めることができて、落下供給時の衝撃による茄子等の表面が柔らかな農産物Ｗへの傷付きを確実に防止することが可能になる。
【００４４】
また、農産物Ｗの選別コンベア２への供給位置Ｋ１において、バケット６の後方を、ガイド３７の円弧面３７ａ及び低面３７ｂで下方に回動させることにより、その支持棒２２をゴム製支持部材２７の下方に後退させて位置させる共に、前後のバケット６の支持棒２２とゴム製支持部材２７の傾斜面２７ａ、２７ｂとによって比較的大きな凹部３８が形成されるため、この凹部３８によって落下供給される農産物Ｗをゴム製支持部材２７の最深位置方向に誘導することができて、移載部材２６の最深位置に農産物Ｗを確実に収容載置することができる。
【００４５】
さらに、ゴム製支持部材２７の上面の傾斜面２７ａ、２７ｂが、前方側の傾斜２７ａが浅く後方側の傾斜面２７ｂが深くなる如く形成されているため、落下供給される農産物Ｗの後方側への飛び出しを確実に阻止することができると共に、載せ替え装置１３の下流側の載せ替え位置Ｋ２において、ゴム製支持部材２７の下方への回動時に、浅い傾斜面２７ａが農産物Ｗの載せ替えに何等邪魔になることがなく、農産物Ｗをバケット６の支持棒２２上にそのままの姿勢でスムーズに載せ替えすることができる。
【００４６】
また、ゴム製支持部材２７とバケット６とを、ガイド３７とガイド部材３５とにより所定距離並送させ、ガイド部材３５により、ゴム製支持部材２７の後端側が矢印ハ方向に回動させられて移動するため、この移動の間で、例え農産物Ｗの姿勢が崩れていても、この農産物Ｗをゴム製支持部材２７の最深位置に徐々に収容させて姿勢を整えることができて、載せ替え位置Ｋ２での農産物Ｗの姿勢を略一定状態とすることができる。
【００４７】
これらのことから、農産物Ｗをゴム製支持部材２７の最深位置により確実に位置決めし、かつ載せ替え位置Ｋ２でバケット６上に農産物Ｗをそのままの姿勢で載せ替えることができて、選別コンベア２の撮像装置８に供給される各バケット６上の農産物Ｗの載置状態を均一化することができる。この農産物Ｗの載置状態の均一化と、農産物Ｗを一旦受け止めることができるゴム製支持部材２７の採用により、バケット６の各支持棒２２によって形成される受載面を略平坦に形成することができることから、バケット６上に載置された農産物Ｗの撮像装置８による計測を高精度に行うことができて、選別精度の向上を図ることが可能になると共に、バケット６上の農産物Ｗの姿勢の手直し作業等が不要となり、選別作業の作業効率の向上を図ることが可能になる。
【００４８】
またさらに、バケット６を移動させる選別コンベア２のバケット６と載せ替え装置１３の移載部材２６が同期して並走するため、載せ替え装置１３を作動させるための専用の駆動装置を必要とせず、最も簡易な機構で作動させることができると共に、ガイド３７やガイド部材３５によってバケット６の回動動作や移載部材２６の回動動作を行うことができるため、支持棒２２に対するゴム製支持部材２７の進退動作を簡単な機構で正確かつ安定して行うことができる。
【００４９】
また、移載部材２６がゴム製支持部材２７等によって形成されることから、移載部材２６自体の重量を軽くすることができて、移載部材２６を駆動する機構を簡素化することができると共に、ガイド３７の形状やガイドチェーン３５の軌跡を適宜に設定することによって、各種形状の長物の農産物Ｗに容易に適用することができる等、汎用性の高い載せ替え装置１３が得られる。
【００５０】
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載せ替え装置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、みかん等の球状の農産物Ｗにも勿論適用することができる。
【００５１】
さらに、上記実施例においては、バケット６を支持棒２２によって櫛歯形状に形成したが、比較的小幅な適宜部材を使用して簀の子形状に形成しても良いし、移載部材２６のゴム製支持部材２７もゴム材の一体成形に限らず、例えば少なくとも傾斜面２７ａ、２７ｂを含む上部側のみを所定の弾性材で成形する等、適宜の構成を採用することができる。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７の形態、バケット６や移載部材２６の形状等は一例であって、本発明に係わる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。
【００５４】
【発明の効果】
以上詳述したように、請求項１記載の発明によれば、選別コンベアの搬送始端側の所定範囲に、選別コンベアの各バケットと同期して走行し、バケットの各小幅支持部材間で多数の支持部材が相対的な動作によって進退し得る移載部材を設け、この移載部材の支持部材を側面視で略Ｍ字形状とし、かつ所定の弾性を有する弾性材で形成し、この支持部材をバケットの小幅支持部材間から上方に進出させて、供給コンベアから選別コンベアのバケットに向けて落下供給される農産物を、移載部材の支持部材上で一旦受け止めるので、農産物の落下供給時の衝撃を緩和させることができ、しかも、移載部材は、先端部が選別コンベア下方の無端コンベアに回動自在に軸支され、且つ後方側の下部に、ガイド溝に係合する係合ローラが回転自在に取り付けられており、載置されている農産物をバケットの小幅支持部材上に移載するまでに、係合ローラがガイド溝に沿って走行することによって、上昇開始位置から上昇完了位置まで徐々に上昇移動しつつ支持部材の後方側が前記先端部の軸を中心に上方に徐々に回動するので、移載部材の支持部材上で農産物の姿勢が崩れていても、この農産物を支持部材の所定位置に徐々に収容させて姿勢を整えることができ、農産物をバケットの小幅支持部材上に確実に載せ替えることができる。
【００５８】
また、請求項２記載の発明によれば、請求項１記載の発明の効果に加え、形状、太さ、曲がり、弾力及び滑り等がまちまちである茄子等の長物農産物であっても、その載せ替え装置を一々調整することなく容易に適用できて、長物農産物を供給コンベアから選別コンベアに確実かつ自動的に載せ替えることができる。
【００５９】
また、請求項３記載の発明によれば、請求項１または２記載の発明の効果に加え、計測装置が設置される選別コンベアのバケットを浅くすることができるため、バケットの小幅支持部材が計測に悪影響を与えることがなくなり、バケットに載置されている農産物の計測装置による計測を高精度に行うことができる。
【００６０】
また、請求項４記載の発明によれば、請求項１ないし３記載の発明の効果に加え、農産物が落下供給される供給位置より上流側でバケットが下方に回動し、供給位置では移載部材の支持部材がバケットの小幅支持部材間から上方に進出した状態となることから、小幅支持部材と支持部材の相対動作の機構が簡素化され、又、供給位置においては、下方に回動したバケットの小幅支持部材と上方に進出した移載部材の支持部材とこの後方のバケットの小幅支持部材とで比較的大きな凹部が形成されるため、供給コンベアから供給位置に落下供給される農産物は、この比較的大きな凹部によって、移載部材やバケット外への飛び出しが防止されつつ移載部材上に収容され、農産物を移載部材上により確実に供給載置することができる等の効果を奏する。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明に係わる農産物の載せ替え装置を使用した選別装置の概略構成図
【図２】同載せ替え装置の概略側面図
【図３】同図２のＡ−Ａ線矢視図
【図４】同バケットの斜視図
【図５】同移載部材の斜視図
【図６】同その平面図
【図７】同その正面図
【図８】同バケットの動作を示す要部の側面図
【図９】同バケットと移載部材の動作を示す要部の側面図
【符号の説明】
１・・・・・・・・・選別装置
２・・・・・・・・・選別コンベア
５・・・・・・・・・コンベアチェーン
６・・・・・・・・・バケット
７・・・・・・・・・供給コンベア
１３・・・・・・・・載せ替え装置
１９・・・・・・・・コンベアチェーン
２２・・・・・・・・支持棒
２２ａ・・・・・・・垂直部
２２ｂ・・・・・・・平坦部
２２ｃ、２２ｄ・・・傾斜部
２３・・・・・・・・回転軸
２６・・・・・・・・移載部材
２７・・・・・・・・ゴム製支持部材
２７ａ、２７ｂ・・・傾斜面
３１・・・・・・・・軸
３５・・・・・・・・ガイド部材
３５ａ・・・・・・・ガイド溝
３７・・・・・・・・ガイド
３７ａ・・・・・・・円弧面
３７ｂ・・・・・・・低面
３７ｃ・・・・・・・傾斜面
３７ｄ・・・・・・・高面
３８・・・・・・・・凹部
Ｋ１・・・・・・・・供給位置
Ｋ２・・・・・・・・載せ替え位置
Ｗ・・・・・・・・・農産物[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present invention replaces the agricultural products supplied from the supply conveyor on the upstream side one by one onto the bucket of the sorting conveyor.HuhIn particular, it is suitable for use in the fruit selection field where the agricultural products are sorted and packaged and shipped, and the agricultural products supplied at a constant pitch from the supply conveyor provided above the starting end of the sorting conveyor. Agricultural product transfer to be transferred one by oneHuhRelates to the device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
  Conventionally, as an apparatus for transferring agricultural products supplied from a supply conveyor in a previous process one by one onto a sorting conveyor, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-19444No. 3 publication. In this transfer device, a transfer member for transferring agricultural products is rotatably disposed in the circumferential direction at the supply position of the produce on the sorting conveyor, and the transfer member is moved forward and backward between the narrow support members of the bucket. Agricultural products supplied from the supply conveyor are transferred onto the bucket via the transfer member by an advancement / retraction operation of the transfer member with respect to the bucket.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in this transfer device, the transfer member rotates on the same axis as the starting end side sprocket of the sorting conveyor and moves in parallel with the bucket of the sorting conveyor. Is rotated in synchronization with the bucket and transferred from the supply conveyor to the sorting conveyor almost in a point state, and the range in which agricultural products are stably transferred from the supply conveyor to the sorting conveyor is narrowed.
[0004]
As a result, depending on the size and shape of the agricultural product, stable transfer becomes difficult, and the posture of the agricultural product is not constant on the bucket, making it impossible to measure with the measuring device placed on the sorting conveyor, There has been a problem that an error in discharging to the storage conveyor due to the occurrence of the agricultural products may occur, or the agricultural products may fall from the bucket at the time of transfer and damage the agricultural products.
[0005]
Therefore, if the transfer member is transferred to the sorting conveyor bucket for a predetermined length, the above problem can be solved. However, for example, when the agricultural product is a long product such as an insulator, When the posture of the insulator placed in the lateral direction substantially orthogonal to the transport direction is slightly shifted, etc., when the transfer member is retracted below the bucket, the insulator is supplied from the supply conveyor. Since it is transferred onto the bucket in the same posture, there is a problem that if the posture of the insulator is largely broken, the posture correction work is required, and the work efficiency of the sorting work is inferior.
[0006]
In addition, when the agricultural product is a long product such as eggplant or pepper, its weight, shape, thickness, bend, elasticity, and slip are usually different, so it is intended for agricultural products of a specific shape and size. Even if the operating conditions of the transfer device are adjusted, the posture at the time of transfer may change if the shape or the like is different. After all, the posture of the agricultural product should be adjusted and reliably transferred onto the bucket without correcting the posture. However, it is difficult to automate the sorting operation.
[0008]
  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances., Claims1The purpose of the described invention is to produce the agricultural products supplied from the supply conveyor on the upstream side,On top of this, while mitigating the impact at the time of transfer (drop supply from the supply conveyor)Aim to provide an agricultural product transfer device that can be reliably transferred while maintaining the posture.TheClaims2The object of the invention described is the claim1In addition to the object of the invention described above, the present invention provides an agricultural product transfer device that can reliably transfer even a long agricultural product whose shape and the like are difficult to make uniform,3The object of the invention described is the claim1 or 2In addition to the object of the invention described above, agricultural products that can form the placement part of the bucket of the sorting conveyor shallowly and can perform measurement by the measuring device with high accuracyStuffThe object is to provide a transfer device. Claims4The object of the invention described is the claim1Or3In addition to the object of the described invention,The configuration of the transfer device can be simplified,ProduceSupplyAn object of the present invention is to provide an agricultural product transfer device that can be stably supplied by a conveyor.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to achieve this object,Claim1In the described invention, each of the sorting conveyors is arranged in a predetermined range on the transport start end side of the sorting conveyor in which the receiving surface of the produce is formed by the bucket in which a plurality of narrow support members are arranged in parallel in the width direction of the conveyor. A transfer member for transferring agricultural products that runs in synchronization with the bucket is provided so that a large number of support members can move forward and backward by relative movement between the respective small width support members of the bucket, and the forward and backward movement of the transfer member with respect to the bucket Is supplied from the supply conveyor byRuAn agricultural product transfer device for transferring agricultural products onto a bucket,The support member of the transfer member is substantially M-shaped in a side view and is formed of an elastic material having a predetermined elasticity, and the substantially M-shaped upper surface is a loading surface on the front side in the transport direction. Has a shallow slope, and the rear surface is deeply sloped.The transfer member is pivotally supported by an endless conveyor provided below the sorting conveyor so that the tip is rotatable,An engaging roller that engages with the guide groove is rotatably attached to the lower part on the rear side,Agricultural products received on the support member by advancing the support member into the bucketAs the engagement roller travels along the guide groove in parallel with the bucket, the transfer member on which the agricultural product is placed gradually moves up from the rising start position to the lifting completion position, and the supporting member The rear side of the knives gradually pivots upward about the axis of the tip, and after the pivoting, the support member retreats downward from between the narrow support members of the bucket to transfer the produce onto the narrow support memberIt is characterized by that.
[0013]
  By configuring in this way, the agricultural product conveyed from the upstream supply conveyor and supplied to the conveying start end side of the sorting conveyor is dropped and supplied onto the narrow support member of the bucket of the sorting conveyor. Since the support member of the transfer member for transferring agricultural products has advanced between the support members, it is temporarily placed on this support member.However, since the support member has a predetermined elasticity,Impact is reduced when falling from the supply conveyor. When the transfer member travels in synchronism with the bucket, the support member retracts from between the narrow support members, and the produce on the support member is placed on the narrow support member of the bucket. The transfer member is pivotally supported by an endless conveyor below the sorting conveyor at the front end side so as to be rotatable.An engaging roller that engages with the guide groove is rotatably attached to the lower part on the rear side.And transfer the agricultural products on the narrow support member of the bucketAs the engagement roller travels along the guide groove, the rear side of the support member gradually rotates upward about the tip end side axis while gradually moving upward from the rising start position to the lifting completion position. aboutThus, the posture of the produce on the support member of the transfer member is adjusted and can be reliably and automatically replaced on the narrow support member of the bucket.
[0017]
  Claims2The described invention is characterized in that the agricultural product is a long product and the long product is placed sideways on a sorting conveyor. By configuring in this way, even long products such as eggplants that vary in weight, shape, thickness, bend, elasticity and slip, etc. can be easily used without adjusting the transfer device one by one, Long products can be reliably transferred from the supply conveyor to the sorting conveyor.
[0018]
  Claims3In the described invention, the sorting conveyor is characterized in that the agricultural product receiving surface of the bucket formed by the narrow support member is formed by a substantially flat surface. By comprising in this way, since the bucket of the selection conveyor by which a measuring device is installed can be made shallow, the narrow support member of a bucket does not have a bad influence on measurement, and the agricultural products currently mounted on the bucket Can be measured with high accuracy.
[0019]
  Claims4Described inventionThen, the bucket is rotated upstream on the upstream side from the supply position where the agricultural products are dropped and supplied, and at the supply position, the support member of the transfer member is rotated between the small width support members of the bucket. A bucket supporting member that has been moved downward and rotated downward, a support member that has been moved upward, and a bucket supporting member for the rear bucket.A recess for replacement is formed. By configuring in this way,When the bucket is rotated downward on the upstream side of the supply position, the support member is advanced upward from between the narrow support members at the supply position, and the mechanism of relative operation between the narrow support member and the support member is simplified.From supply conveyorSupply positionAgricultural products falling intoA narrow support member for the bucket pivoted downward and the bucketBetween the narrow support members of the bucketFrom aboveThe support member of the transfer member that has advanced toBehind thisFormed with a narrow support member of the bucket ofRelatively largeThe recess is prevented from jumping out of the transfer member or the bucket, and is reliably placed and placed on the transfer member.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
1 to 9 show an embodiment of an agricultural product transfer device according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a sorting device using the agricultural product transfer device, and FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the transfer device. 3, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bucket, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bucket, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the transfer member, FIG. 6 is a plan view thereof, FIG. 7 is a front view thereof, FIG. FIG. 9 is a side view of the main part showing the operation.
[0021]
In FIG. 1, a sorting device 1 is arranged between a starting sprocket 3 and a terminating sprocket 4 via a conveyor chain 5 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), and moves a sorting conveyor 2 that moves in the direction of arrow a. The sorting conveyor 2 has a large number of buckets 6 to be described later at regular intervals. The terminal-side sprocket 4 is rotationally driven by a driving device (not shown). In addition, a supply conveyor 7 that supplies the agricultural products W to be sorted to each bucket 6 at a constant pitch is connected to the conveyance start end side (uppermost stream side) of the sorting conveyor 2, and the direction of conveyance of the sorting conveyor 2 is An imaging device 8 that includes a plurality of cameras 9, reflectors 10, and the like and that measures the agricultural product W on the bucket 6 is disposed at a predetermined position.
[0022]
Further, on the downstream side of the photographing device 8 of the sorting conveyor 2, a plurality (four in the drawing) of the drawer conveyors 11 a to 11 d are connected according to the classification of the agricultural products W, and the measurement information measured by the photographing device 8 When the sorting division of the agricultural product W is determined based on the above, the agricultural product W placed on the bucket 6 is discharged onto the drawer conveyors 11a to 111d of the corresponding sorting division.
[0023]
Furthermore, a transfer device 13 is installed on the start end side of the sorting conveyor 2. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the transfer device 13 is provided with rotary shafts 15 and 16 on the front and rear of the machine frame 14, and the rotary shaft 15 has a pair of sprockets having a predetermined interval in the axial direction. Two sets of 17 (only one is shown in the figure) are fixed, and two pairs of sprockets 18 are similarly fixed to the rotating shaft 16.
[0024]
The sprockets 17 and 18 of the transfer device 13 and the sprockets 3 and 4 of the sorting conveyor 2 are set to operate in synchronization, and the bucket 6 of the sorting conveyor 2 and the transfer device 13 to be described later are transferred. The member 26 is moved in parallel at a predetermined position. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the repositioning devices 13 are provided in parallel on both sides of the conveying direction of the sorting conveyor 2, and each repositioning device 13 is configured in the same manner at the left and right positions of the machine casing 14. Each is arranged.
[0025]
The conveyor chain 5 is meshed between the sprockets 3 and 4, and a large number of buckets 6 are attached between the conveyor chains 5 on both sides of the sorting conveyor 2 in the conveying direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the bucket 6 is formed in a comb-like shape, and one end of the bucket 6 is fixed to one supporting side plate 20, and the vertical portion 22 a, the flat portion 22 b, and the flat portion 22 b front and back are inclined. One end of a support bar 22 as a narrow support member having portions 22c and 22d is fixed by welding. The tip of the support bar 22 is in a free state, and the conveyor chain 5 is engaged with one end side of the support side plate 20 via a connecting member (not shown) and the bucket 6 is turned as a rotation center. The shaft 23 is protruded and fixed, and an engagement pin 24 that engages with a catch mechanism (not shown) is protruded and fixed on the other end side.
[0026]
The bucket 6 is held (locked) in a horizontal state by engaging an engagement pin 24 provided on the support side plate 20 with the catch mechanism 25, and is pushed downward by a lock release device (not shown). When the engagement state (locked state) between the engagement pin 24 and the catch mechanism 25 is released, the rear side (the engagement pin 24 side) is downward as shown by the arrow B (see FIG. 4) around the rotation shaft 23. It is comprised so that it may rotate. A receiving surface of the bucket 6 is formed by the flat portion 22b and the inclined portions 22c and 22d of each support rod 22 of the bucket 6, and the inclination angle of the inclined portions 22c and 22d is relatively small (shallow). ) By being set, it is formed on a substantially flat surface. In addition, the length of the flat part 22b of the support rod 22, the length of the inclined part 22d, etc. are set to a predetermined value according to the kind of the produce W to be selected.
[0027]
A large number of transfer members 26 are attached between a pair of conveyor chains 19 suspended on the sprockets 17 and 18 of the transfer device 13. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the transfer member 26 includes a large number (eight in the drawing) of rubber support members 27 that are integrally formed of a rubber material and are substantially M-shaped in a side view. The rubber support member 27 has a bottom mounting surface on a fixed support plate 30 disposed between a pair of conveyor chains 19 via a pair of upper and lower mounting plates 28 and two mounting rods 29, respectively. Each is fixed at a predetermined interval. A pair of inclined surfaces 27a and 27b are formed on the upper surface of each rubber support member 27. Of the inclined surfaces 27a and 27b, the inclined surface 27a on the front side has a small inclination angle and is shallowly inclined. The rear inclined surface 27b is set to have a large inclination angle and to be deeply inclined.
[0028]
  Further, a rotatable shaft 31 is provided on the front side of the fixed support plate 30, and both end portions of the shaft 31 are engaged with the conveyor chain 19, and on the lower surface of the fixed support plate 30 near the rear side. A roller mounting member 32 is provided. An engagement roller 34 is rotatably attached to the lower inner side of the roller attachment member 32 via a bearing 33 (see FIG. 7), and the engagement roller 34 is attached to a guide groove 35a (FIG. 2, FIG. 2). 7 and 9) and engages and travels along. The guide member 35 guides the transfer member 26 so that the transfer member 26 can move along a track substantially following the shape of the guide 37 of the bucket 6 described later.groove35a is formed, the position a in FIG. 2 is the rising start position of the transfer member 26, the position b is the rising completion position of the transfer member 26, the position c is the lowering start position of the transfer member 26, and the position d is transfer. It is set to be the position where the member 26 is lowered.
[0029]
On the other hand, a guide 37 for restricting the rotation angle of the bucket 6 of the sorting conveyor 2 is disposed at a portion where the transfer device 13 and the sorting conveyor 2 are substantially transposed. As shown in FIG. 8, the guide 37 has an arc surface 37 a that protrudes upward in an arc shape on the uppermost stream side of the transfer device 13, and a low surface 37 b that is provided downstream from the arc surface 37 a. The lower surface 37b has an inclined surface 37c continuously provided so as to incline forward at a predetermined angle on the downstream side, and a flat high surface 37d continuously provided on the downstream side of the inclined surface 37c. ing.
[0030]
On each surface 37a to 37d of the guide 37, the bucket 6 is unlocked by the catch mechanism 25 of the engagement pin 24 of the bucket 6 at the unlock position h in FIG. The lower end of the six support side plates 20 is supported. Therefore, the bucket 6 is conveyed onto the high surface 37d while having a predetermined angle with the rear side lowered along the surfaces 37a to 37c of the guide 37. The guide 37 is set so that the position e shown in FIG. 2 is the rising start position of the bucket 6 and the position f is the lifting completion position of the bucket 6.
[0031]
  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the upstream side of the arc surface 37a and the lower surface 37b of the guide 37 is disposed at a connection portion between the transfer device 13 and the supply conveyor 7 (near the supply position K1 of the sorting conveyor 2), and at least Low side 37bUpstream ofIs arranged upstream by a predetermined distance from the position where the agricultural product W is dropped and supplied from the supply conveyor 7. Thereby, in supply position K1 which is a fall supply position of agricultural products W, bucket 6 of sorting conveyor 2 will be in the state where the back side rotated most below, and each rubber support member 27 of transfer member 26 is the state. The bucket 6 is in a state of advancing (projecting) upward from between the support rods 22 of the bucket 6 (above the flat portion 22b of the support rod 22).
[0032]
Therefore, in this supply position K1, the forward portion 6c has advanced from between the inclined portion 22c of the support rod 22 of the front bucket 6 and the vertical portion 22a of the support rod 22 of the rear bucket 6 and the support rod 22 of the front bucket 6. A recess 38 for replacement is formed by the inclined surfaces 27a and 27b of the rubber support member 27.
[0033]
Further, at the lock position g in FIG. 2 on the high surface 37d side of the guide 37, the bucket 6 is set to return to the normal conveying posture (horizontal state), that is, the bucket 6 is locked by the catch mechanism 25. Then, at the position of the high surface 37d of the guide 37, the rear end side of the rubber support member 27 of the transfer member 26 is indicated by an arrow c (see FIG. (See 2) Stop rotating in the direction. Then, the produce W on the transfer member 26 is transferred while the transfer member 26 conveyed further downstream than the ascending completion position b is being conveyed from the descent start position c of the transfer member 26 to the descent completion position d. Is transferred to the bucket 6 (becomes the transfer position K2).
[0034]
That is, the agricultural product W dropped and supplied from the supply conveyor 7 to the supply position K1 of the sorting conveyor 2 is once placed on the rubber support member 27 that has advanced on the support rod 22 of the bucket 6 of the transfer member 26. In this state, in synchronism with the conveyance of the bucket 6, it is conveyed from the supply position K1 to the transfer position K2 by a predetermined distance. Then, the transfer member 26 on which the agricultural product W is loaded moves from the rising start position a to the lift completion position b of the transfer member 26, so that the rear end side of the rubber support member 27 on the transfer member 26 has an arrow h. It is rotated in the direction. As a result, the agricultural product W on the rubber support member 27 is slightly swung in the front-rear direction on the rubber support member 27 and placed at the deepest position of the rubber support member 27.
[0035]
Next, an example of the operation of the transfer device 13 will be described. First, on the start end side of the supply conveyor 7, the agricultural products W that are pitched and placed one by one on the supply conveyor 7 are transported by the supply conveyor 7 and supplied from the terminal side of the supply conveyor 7 to the lower sorting conveyor 2. Supplied by dropping to position K1. In this supply position K1, since the rear side of the bucket 6 is positioned downward on the lower surface 37b of the guide 37, the rubber support member 27 of the transfer member 26 is moved between the support rods 22 of the bucket 6. The agricultural product W is dropped and placed on the rubber support member 27.
[0036]
At this time, as described above, the concave portion 38 larger than the rubber support member 27 is formed by the bucket 6 and the transfer member 26 before and after the feeding direction K of the supply position K1, so that the fall parabola of the produce W is temporarily provided. Even if the agricultural products W that are scattered or fallen collide with the support member 26 or the bucket 6 and jump up, they can be absorbed by the relatively large recess 38. Further, since the rubber support member 27 as a whole has elasticity, it is possible to prevent the agricultural product W itself from jumping up, and since the inclined surface 27b on the rear side of the rubber support member 27 is set deep, the inclined surface 27b. Acts as a fall-preventing wall, prevents jumping out to the rear side due to splashing, and the produce W is reliably placed on the rubber support member 27.
[0037]
Then, once the fall-supplied agricultural product W is received by the rubber support member 27 of the transfer member 26, the agricultural product W is transferred in a state of being placed on the rubber support member 27 of the transfer member 26. It is conveyed downstream of the device 13. At this time, the transfer member 26 on which the agricultural product W is placed and the bucket 6 in which the support bar 22 is retracted from between the rubber support members 27 are synchronously fed in parallel, and the transfer member 26 is at the rising start position. As the engaging roller 34 travels from a to the guide groove 35a, the engaging roller 34 gradually moves upward, and the corresponding bucket 6 moves from the rising start position e to the guide 37 substantially in synchronization with the rising start of the transfer member 26. And the rear side thereof gradually pivots upward, and the bucket 6 assumes a horizontal posture at the lift completion position f. Thereby, the support rod 22 of the bucket 6 gradually enters between the rubber support members 27, that is, the upper surface of the support rod 22 and the upper surface of the rubber support member 27 gradually approach each other.
[0038]
When the rubber support member 27 of the transfer member 26 conveyed in synchronization with the bucket 6 reaches the lift completion position b, the rear side of the rubber support member 27 is inclined so as to be higher than the front side. In this state, the agricultural product W on the rubber support member 27 is in a state where its center of gravity is shifted to the front side (the inclined surface 27a side). Note that the rear end side of the transfer member 26 on which the agricultural product W is placed is rotated by a predetermined angle in the direction of the arrow C between the lift start position a and the lift completion position b of the transfer member 26, thereby transferring the transfer member 26. The agricultural product W placed on the 26 rubber support members 27 is placed with the posture adjusted at the deepest position on the rubber support member 27. Further, the support rod 22 of the bucket 6 returns to the normal horizontal state at the lift completion position f and is transported, and is locked by the catch mechanism 25 at the lock position g in front of the high surface 37d of the guide 37 to maintain the horizontal state. The
[0039]
  On the other hand, the transfer member 26 inclined forward is lowered at the replacement position K2 (between the descent start position c and the descent completion position d), and the rubber support member 27 is moved from between the support rods 22 of the bucket 6. Retreat downward. As a result, the produce W on the rubber support member 27 is transferred to the support rod 22 of the bucket 6 held in a horizontal state, and then the transfer member 26 is sprocket.18By rotating as shown by the arrow D alongBaKet6The rubber support member 27 is completely separated from between the support rods 22 of the bucket 6 at a time when the rubber support member 27 is gradually separated and rotated by a predetermined angle.
[0040]
That is, the agricultural product W is transported in a state of being placed in the deepest recessed portion formed by the inclined surfaces 27a and 27b of the rubber support member 27, and immediately before the replacement position K2, the support rod 22 and the rubber support member. When the rubber support member 27 is lowered with respect to the support bar 22 and retracted from between the support bars 22 at the replacement position K2, the agricultural product W is supported from above the rubber support member 27. 22 will be automatically transferred onto 22.
[0041]
  At this time, the agricultural product W placed at the deepest position on the upper surface of the rubber support member 27 (the connecting portion of the inclined surfaces 27a and 27b) is moved to the inclined surface 27a side by the inclination of the rubber support member 27 toward the front side. Center of gravityButIn addition to being placed on the support rod 22 in a closed state, the upper surface of the rubber support member 27 is inclined forward.surfaceSince the inclination angle of 27a is shallow, the inclined surface 27a is not obstructed when the agricultural product W is transferred, and can be smoothly transferred onto the bucket 6 while maintaining the posture on the rubber support member 27. It will be. Then, the agricultural product W transferred from the transfer member 26 onto the bucket 6 in this way is conveyed downstream by the bucket 6 locked in a horizontal state, and is imaged.8Thus, various qualities are measured and discharged onto predetermined drawer conveyors 11a to 11d based on the measured data.
[0042]
As described above, in the sorting apparatus 1 of the above embodiment, the transfer device 13 is arranged at the connection portion (supply position K1) between the supply conveyor 7 and the selection conveyor 2, and the transfer member 26 of the transfer device 13 is arranged. The rubber support member 27 is provided between the support bars 22 of the bucket 6 of the sorting conveyor 2 so as to advance and retreat, and the rubber support member 27 is advanced between the support bars 22 by a predetermined distance on the transfer start end side of the transfer device 13. Therefore, the agricultural product W dropped and supplied from the supply conveyor 7 to the supply position K1 can be temporarily placed on the rubber support member 27 having elasticity.
[0043]
In particular, the rubber support member 27 of the transfer member 26 is formed in a substantially M shape having a concave portion formed by inclined surfaces 27a and 27b on the upper surface, and these are integrally molded with a rubber material so as to have an appropriate elasticity as a whole. Therefore, the impact of the fall of the agricultural product W can be satisfactorily received by the substantially M-shaped inclined surfaces 27a and 27b, and the agricultural product W is naturally dropped to the deepest position using the inclined surfaces 27a and 27b. Can be accommodated automatically. As a result, the agricultural product W dropped and supplied from the supply conveyor 7 can be softly received by the rubber support member 27, and the surface of the insulator or the like due to the impact at the time of dropping supply can be surely damaged. It becomes possible to prevent.
[0044]
Further, by rotating the rear side of the bucket 6 downward by the arc surface 37a and the lower surface 37b of the guide 37 at the supply position K1 of the produce W to the sorting conveyor 2, the support bar 22 is made of a rubber support member 27. And a relatively large recess 38 is formed by the support rod 22 of the front and rear buckets 6 and the inclined surfaces 27a and 27b of the rubber support member 27, so that it is dropped and supplied by the recess 38. The agricultural product W can be guided toward the deepest position of the rubber support member 27, and the agricultural product W can be reliably accommodated and placed at the deepest position of the transfer member 26.
[0045]
  Further, since the inclined surfaces 27a and 27b on the upper surface of the rubber support member 27 are formed so that the inclined surface 27a on the front side is shallow and the inclined surface 27b on the rear side is deepened, the rear side of the agricultural products W to be supplied to fall. Can be surely prevented, and at the replacement position K2 on the downstream side of the replacement device 13, the rubber support member 27underWhen rotating in the direction, the shallow inclined surface 27a does not interfere with the transfer of the agricultural product W, and the agricultural product W can be smoothly transferred onto the support rod 22 of the bucket 6 as it is.
[0046]
Further, the rubber support member 27 and the bucket 6 are moved in parallel by a predetermined distance by the guide 37 and the guide member 35, and the rear end side of the rubber support member 27 is rotated in the direction of the arrow C by the guide member 35. In order to move, even if the posture of the agricultural product W is collapsed during this movement, the agricultural product W can be gradually accommodated in the deepest position of the rubber support member 27 and the posture can be adjusted. The posture of the agricultural product W at K2 can be set to a substantially constant state.
[0047]
From these things, the agricultural product W can be reliably positioned by the deepest position of the rubber support member 27, and the agricultural product W can be repositioned as it is on the bucket 6 at the repositioning position K2. The placement state of the produce W on each bucket 6 supplied to the imaging device 8 can be made uniform. The receiving surface formed by each support rod 22 of the bucket 6 is formed substantially flat by making the mounting state of the agricultural product W uniform and adopting the rubber support member 27 capable of receiving the agricultural product W once. Therefore, it is possible to measure the agricultural products W placed on the bucket 6 by the imaging device 8 with high accuracy, improve the sorting accuracy, and improve the accuracy of the agricultural products W on the bucket 6. It is not necessary to rework the posture, and the work efficiency of the sorting work can be improved.
[0048]
Furthermore, since the bucket 6 of the sorting conveyor 2 that moves the bucket 6 and the transfer member 26 of the transfer device 13 run in parallel with each other, a dedicated driving device for operating the transfer device 13 is not required. In addition to being able to operate with the simplest mechanism, the guide 37 and the guide member 35 can rotate the bucket 6 and the transfer member 26 so that the rubber support member for the support rod 22 can be operated. 27 advance and retreat operations can be performed accurately and stably with a simple mechanism.
[0049]
Further, since the transfer member 26 is formed by the rubber support member 27 and the like, the weight of the transfer member 26 itself can be reduced, and the mechanism for driving the transfer member 26 can be simplified. At the same time, by appropriately setting the shape of the guide 37 and the trajectory of the guide chain 35, the transfer device 13 having high versatility can be obtained. For example, the guide 37 can be easily applied to long-shaped agricultural products W.
[0050]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the sorting conveyor 2 has two lines has been described. However, the number of the sorting conveyors 2 may be one line or three lines or more, and the transfer device 13 is provided in each line. Moreover, in the said Example, although the long agricultural products W, such as an eggplant or a pepper, were demonstrated as an example, this invention is not limited to this, Of course, spherical agricultural products W, such as a pear, a strawberry, an apple, and a tangerine, are also included. Can be applied.
[0051]
  Furthermore, in the above embodimentIsAlthough the bucket 6 is formed in a comb-teeth shape by the support rod 22, it may be formed in a scissors shape using an appropriate member having a relatively small width, and the rubber support member 27 of the transfer member 26 is also integrated with the rubber material. Not limited to molding, for example, an appropriate configuration such as molding only the upper side including at least the inclined surfaces 27a and 27b with a predetermined elastic material can be employed. Moreover, the configuration of the entire sorting apparatus 1 in the above embodiment, the form of the sorting conveyor 2 and the supply conveyor 7, the shape of the bucket 6 and the transfer member 26, and the like are examples, and do not depart from the gist of each invention according to the present invention. It goes without saying that various changes can be made in the range.
[0054]
【The invention's effect】
  As detailed above,Claim1According to the described invention, the conveying start end side of the sorting conveyorIn the predetermined range, the plurality of support members can move forward and backward by relative movement between the narrow support members of the bucket.A transfer member is provided, and a support member for the transfer member is provided.The supporting member is formed of an elastic material having a substantially M shape in a side view and having a predetermined elasticity.The upper part of the bucket is advanced from between the narrow support members.From the supply conveyorSorting conveyorFalling towards the bucketThe supplied agricultural product is temporarily received on the support member of the transfer member.So reduce the impact of falling supplies of agricultural productsYou can, andThe transfer member is pivotally supported by an endless conveyer below the sorting conveyor, and an engaging roller that engages with the guide groove is rotatably attached to the lower part on the rear side. By moving the engagement roller along the guide groove until the agricultural product being transferred is transferred onto the narrow support member of the bucket, the rear end of the support member is gradually moved upward from the rising start position to the lifting completion position. Since the side gradually turns upward about the axis of the tip,Even if the posture of the agricultural product is collapsed on the support member of the transfer member, the agricultural product can be gradually accommodated in a predetermined position of the support member to adjust the posture, and the agricultural product can be reliably placed on the narrow support member of the bucket. Can be replaced.
[0058]
  Claims2According to the described invention, the claims1In addition to the effects of the described invention, even a long product such as an eggplant with various shapes, thicknesses, bends, elasticity, and slips can be easily applied without adjusting the transfer device one by one. Agricultural products can be reliably and automatically transferred from the supply conveyor to the sorting conveyor.
[0059]
  Claims3According to the described invention, the claims1 or 2In addition to the effects of the described invention, the bucket of the sorting conveyor where the measuring device is installed can be made shallow, so that the narrow support member of the bucket does not adversely affect the measurement, and the agricultural products placed in the bucket Measurement by the measuring device can be performed with high accuracy.
[0060]
  Claims4According to the described invention, the claims1Or3In addition to the effects of the described invention,Since the bucket rotates downward on the upstream side from the supply position where the agricultural products are supplied in a fall state, the support member of the transfer member has advanced from between the small width support members of the bucket at the supply position. The mechanism of relative movement between the support member and the support member is simplified, and in the supply position, the narrow support member of the bucket rotated downward, the support member of the transfer member advanced upward, and the narrow support member of the rear bucket A relatively large recess is formed, so that the agricultural products dropped and supplied from the supply conveyor to the supply position areIt is accommodated on the transfer member while being prevented from jumping out of the transfer member or the bucket, so that the agricultural product can be supplied and mounted more reliably on the transfer member.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a sorting apparatus using an agricultural product transfer apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the transfer device.
FIG. 3 is a view taken along line AA in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bucket.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the transfer member.
FIG. 6 is a plan view thereof.
FIG. 7 is a front view thereof.
FIG. 8 is a side view of the main part showing the operation of the bucket.
FIG. 9 is a side view of the main part showing the operation of the bucket and the transfer member.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ..... Sorting device
2 ... Sorting conveyor
5 .... Conveyor chain
6 ... Bucket
7 ... Supply conveyor
13 ・・・・・・・・ Transfer device
19 ... Conveyor chain
22 ... Support rod
22a ... vertical part
22b ... Flat part
22c, 22d ... inclined part
23 ・・・・・・・・ Rotating shaft
26 ... Transfer material
27 ... Rubber support member
27a, 27b ... inclined surfaces
31 ・・・・・・・・ Shaft
35 ... guide members
35a ... Guide groove
37 ・・・・・・・・ Guide
37a ..... Arc surface
37b ..... Low side
37c .... Inclined surface
37d ... High surface
38 ......... concave
K1 ... Supply position
K2 ・・・・・・・・ Replacement position
W ... Agricultural products

Claims

A plurality of narrow support members are synchronized with each bucket of the sorting conveyor within a predetermined range on the conveying start end side of the sorting conveyor in which the receiving surface of the produce is formed by buckets arranged in parallel in the width direction of the conveyor. The transfer member for transferring agricultural products is provided so that a large number of support members can be moved forward and backward by relative movement between the respective small width support members of the bucket. An agricultural product transfer device for transferring agricultural products supplied from a bucket onto a bucket,
The support member of the transfer member is substantially M-shaped in a side view and is formed of an elastic material having a predetermined elasticity, and the substantially M-shaped upper surface is a loading surface on the front side in the transport direction. Is formed so that the mounting surface on the rear side is deeply inclined, and the transfer member is pivotally supported by an endless conveyor provided below the sorting conveyor, and thereafter An engaging roller that engages with the guide groove is rotatably attached to the lower side of the side, and the agricultural product received on the supporting member by advancing the supporting member with respect to the bucket is fed in synchronization with the bucket, and the engaging roller Is moved along the guide groove, the transfer member on which the agricultural product is placed gradually moves upward from the rising start position to the lifting completion position, and the rear side of the support member is moved upward with the axis of the tip portion as the center. Rotate slowly, the Dogo, support member agricultural placed sorter, characterized in that reloaded agricultural products on said small width the support member by retracting downwardly from between the narrow supporting member of the bucket.

The agricultural product transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the agricultural product is a long agricultural product, and the long agricultural product is placed sideways on a sorting conveyor.

3. The produce transfer device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the sorting conveyor has a substantially flat surface for receiving the produce of a bucket formed of a narrow support member.

The bucket is pivoted downstream on the upstream side from the supply position where the agricultural products are supplied in a fall state, and the support member of the transfer member is rotated downward in the supply position. A recess for replacement is formed by the narrow support member of the bucket rotated downward, the support member advanced upward, and the narrow support member of the rear bucket. The agricultural product transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 .