JP3964377B2 - Weighing device, combination weighing device including the same, and weighing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a weighing device for weighing foods such as potato chips and pickles, industrial products, etc., and a combination weighing device and a weighing method provided with the same.

  Conventionally, the objects to be weighed in the containers are weighed together, the weight of each container is subtracted, and multiple containers that weighed the objects to be weighed are stocked. Weighing devices that discharge from

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a weighing device that performs combination weighing by weighing, storing, and stocking a plurality of containers into which objects to be weighed are put in the containers.
JP-A-8-29242 (published February 2, 1996)

  However, the conventional weighing device has the following problems.

  That is, in the weighing device disclosed in Patent Document 1, weighing, stocking, and discharging are performed in a state in which the movement of the container is stopped, and therefore, the weighing object put in one container is measured and then discharged. Is wasted time. For this reason, it is difficult to perform high-speed operation with the conventional weighing device.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a weighing device capable of speeding up a process from weighing to discharging, a combination weighing device including the weighing device, and a weighing method.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a weighing device includes a weighing unit, a stock unit, a discharge unit, a moving mechanism, and a plurality of delivery units. The weighing unit measures while moving the container in which the object to be weighed is placed. The stock unit stores a plurality of containers while moving the containers carried out from the weighing unit. The discharging unit discharges the object to be weighed from the container while moving the container selectively taken out from the stock unit. A moving mechanism moves a container in a measurement part, a stock part, and a discharge part. The plurality of delivery units perform delivery while rotating the container in at least one place among the weighing unit, the stock unit, and the discharge unit.

  Here, the weighing unit measures the container that is moving toward the stock unit by the moving mechanism. The stock part stocks the container while being moved toward the discharge part by the moving mechanism. The discharge unit discharges the object to be weighed from the container while being moved toward the supply unit by the moving mechanism. In other words, each step is performed while constantly moving the container for weighing, stocking, and discharging of the objects to be weighed in each part. Thereby, compared with the conventional measuring device which performs each process by stopping the movement of the container, the time required from the weighing to the discharge of the object to be weighed is greatly shortened, and high speed operation becomes possible.

Furthermore, by providing the delivery part at least at one place between the parts, the container can be smoothly delivered from the weighing part to the stock part or from the stock part to the discharge part.

A weighing device according to a second aspect is the weighing device according to the first aspect, wherein the delivery unit is disposed close to the weighing unit, the stock unit, and the discharge unit .

Thereby, the several container currently circulatingly moved in the measurement part, the stock part, and the discharge part can be moved between each part at high speed.

  A weighing apparatus according to a third aspect is the weighing apparatus according to the second aspect, further including a moving direction changing unit that changes a moving direction of the container in the vicinity of the delivery unit.

  Here, since the container is constantly moving, the container can be easily delivered only by changing the moving direction of the container at the delivery unit. Therefore, it is possible to smoothly transfer the containers between the respective parts.

  A weighing device according to a fourth aspect is the weighing device according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the weighing unit moves together with the container.

  Here, since the weighing unit moves together with the container, the weighing can be performed while moving the container. Thereby, since it is not necessary to stop the movement of the container and perform the measurement, it is possible to reduce the time required for the steps to supply, weigh, accumulate, and discharge the object to be weighed.

  A weighing device according to a fifth aspect is the weighing device according to the fourth aspect, wherein the weighing unit is in a relative stop state with respect to the container when the weighing is performed.

  Here, since weighing can be performed in a state where the weighing unit and the container are relatively stopped, accurate weighing can be performed even when the container is moving, similarly to weighing performed by stopping the container.

  A weighing device according to a sixth aspect is the weighing device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein a plurality of weighing units are provided.

  Here, a plurality of weighing units can simultaneously perform a plurality of weighings. Therefore, high-speed weighing is possible for a large amount of objects to be weighed.

  A weighing device according to a seventh aspect is the weighing device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the stock portion is arranged immediately upstream of the discharge portion.

  Here, since the stock section is arranged immediately upstream of the discharge section where the discharge process, which is the next process, is performed, the selected container can be immediately delivered to the discharge section.

  A weighing device according to an eighth aspect is the weighing device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the weighing unit, the stock unit, and the discharge unit move the container in a plane.

  Here, since the container is moved in a plane, the mechanism for moving the container is not complicated, and the apparatus can be configured simply.

  A weighing device according to a ninth aspect is the weighing device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, wherein at least one of the weighing unit, the stock unit, and the discharge unit three-dimensionally arranges the container. Move.

  Here, the space of the apparatus can be saved by moving the container not only in the plane direction but also in the vertical direction.

  A weighing apparatus according to a tenth aspect is the weighing apparatus according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, wherein the weighing section, the stock section, and the discharge section move a plurality of containers continuously.

  Here, the weighing unit, the stock unit, and the discharge unit continuously move a plurality of containers, thereby enabling high-speed processing of an object to be weighed.

  The weighing device according to claim 11 is the weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the moving mechanism rotates the weighing unit, the stock unit, and the discharge unit, and the weighing unit, the stock unit. The container is moved while each of the section and the discharge section rotates.

  Here, when the weighing unit, the stock unit, and the discharge unit operate while rotating, it is possible to give each unit a function of transporting the container. Thereby, high-speed processing becomes possible by performing each operation while moving the container.

  A weighing apparatus according to a twelfth aspect is the weighing apparatus according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects, wherein the weighing section, the stock section, and the discharge section each have a holding section that holds a container. ing.

  Here, since each part has a holding part for holding the container, for example, even when the container is moved while each part is rotating, the container can be reliably held.

  A weighing device according to a thirteenth aspect is the weighing device according to the twelfth aspect, wherein a delivery portion for delivering the container is provided in at least one place among the weighing portion, the stock portion, and the discharge portion. A holding release member for releasing the holding of the container in the holding unit is disposed in the vicinity of the delivery unit.

  Here, a holding release member capable of forcibly releasing the holding at the delivery unit is provided. As a result, for example, even when the container is held by a permanent magnet, the holding of the container can be forcibly released, and a large-scale device such as an electromagnet that can electrically control the holding release of the container is provided. Even without this, the containers can be smoothly transferred between the respective parts.

  A weighing apparatus according to a fourteenth aspect is the weighing apparatus according to any one of the first to thirteenth aspects, further including a supply unit that supplies an object to be measured to the moving container.

  Here, a supply unit for supplying an object to be weighed to a container that is moving in the weighing device is provided. Thereby, for example, since the object to be weighed can be supplied to the container circulating in the weighing device, the process from the supply of the object to be weighed to the discharge can be accelerated.

  A weighing device according to a fifteenth aspect is the weighing device according to any one of the first to fourteenth aspects, wherein the container is supplied with the object to be weighed in the supply unit, and then the object to be weighed in the discharge unit. In each process until it is discharged to the weighing unit again.

  Here, since the container is always moved non-stop in the process from weighing to discharging, high-speed processing is possible in each process.

  A combination weighing device according to a sixteenth aspect includes a plurality of weighing devices according to any one of the first to fifteenth aspects.

  Here, by providing a plurality of the weighing devices, a combination weighing device capable of high-speed weighing can be provided.

The weighing device according to claim 17 is the weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the delivery unit is configured to place the container in at least one place between the weighing unit, the stock unit, and the discharge unit. The container is delivered at a fixed position while being moved.

Here, in each part to which a plurality of containers are moved, the containers are delivered at a fixed position.

Thereby, by making the delivery position of the container constant, the circulation path of the container can be simplified and further speedup can be achieved.

The weighing device according to claim 18 is the weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein a single drive source for moving the container in the weighing unit, the stock unit, and the discharge unit is provided. And a moving mechanism.

As a result, there is only one drive source for rotating and moving the container in each section for weighing, stocking, and discharging, so that the operation of synchronizing each other is facilitated, and the containers can be smoothly moved between the respective sections without stopping the containers. Can be handed over to. As a result, the speed can be increased as compared with the conventional combination weighing device.

  According to the weighing device of the present invention, compared with a conventional weighing device in which each process is performed by stopping the movement of the container, the time required from weighing to discharging of the object to be measured can be greatly shortened and high speed operation is possible. become.

Embodiment 1
[Configuration of the entire weighing device]
The weighing device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention measures a measurement object such as food contained in a container C having an opening in the upper portion, and takes out a desired container C from a plurality of stored containers C. The weighing device discharges the object to be weighed from the container C. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the weighing device 10 includes, as main components, a supply unit 12, a weighing unit 13, a stock unit 14, a discharge unit 15, delivery units 16a to 16c, a discharge chute 17, an operation unit. 18 and a turning mechanism 19 are provided.

  The container C is a cup-shaped container having an open top, and has a collar portion C1 on the outer periphery, and conveys the object to be weighed from the supply position to the discharge position while circulating in the weighing device 10. Further, the container C circulates in the weighing device 10 while being always moved in the weighing unit 13, the stock unit 14, and the discharge unit 15. For this reason, in the measuring device 10 of this embodiment, each process of supply of an object to be measured, weighing, stocking, and discharging is performed on the moving container C. The container C is a metal member or a part of a metal member, and is held in each of the parts 13 to 15 by the magnetic force of the magnets included in the measuring unit 13, the stock unit 14, and the discharge unit 15 described below.

  The supply unit 12 puts an object to be weighed by the weighing device 10 into the moving container C.

  The weighing unit 13 includes a plurality of weighing devices 25a to 25e (see FIG. 5), and performs weighing of an empty container C in which an object to be weighed is not placed and a container C in which an object to be weighed is placed.

  The stock unit 14 stores a plurality of containers C in which objects to be weighed are placed.

  The discharge unit 15 reverses the desired container C taken out from the plurality of containers C stored three-dimensionally in the stock unit 14 while moving in the direction of the supply unit 12. Thereby, the to-be-measured object put in the container C can be discharged | emitted to a desired place.

  The delivery units 16a to 16c are provided between the weighing unit 13 and the stock unit 14, between the stock unit 14 and the discharge unit 15, and between the discharge unit 15 and the measurement unit 13. Delivery of.

  The discharge chute 17 is a funnel-shaped member having an upper portion and a lower portion that are open, and has a lower opening 17 a and is disposed in the vicinity of the discharge portion 15. Further, the discharge chute 17 discharges an object to be measured discharged from the container C inverted in the discharge unit 15 from the lower opening 17a.

  The operation unit 18 is input with a set value such as a driving speed by the user, and displays various types of information related to driving and the like. In the present embodiment, a control unit 20 that controls the overall operation of the weighing device 10 is provided inside the operation unit 18.

  These main configurations will be described in detail later.

  Further, in the weighing device 10 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, along the movement path of the container C, a supply weighing zone R1, a container delivery zone R2, a stock zone R3, a container delivery zone R4, and a discharge zone R5 are provided. And container delivery zone R6 is formed. The container C moves in the order of the zones R1 to R6 and circulates in the weighing device 10. In addition, the dashed-dotted line shown in FIG. 2 has shown the locus | trajectory of the center position of the container C to circulate.

  The supply weighing zone R1 is a portion where the weighing unit 13 supplies the object to be measured to the container C and measures the container C and the object to be weighed. Here, first, an empty container C is weighed. Then, an object to be weighed is introduced into the container C, and the container C containing the object to be weighed is weighed. The container delivery zone R2 is a part that receives the weighed container C from the weighing unit 13 and delivers it to the stock unit 14 in the delivery unit 16a. The stock zone R <b> 3 is a portion that receives the container C from the delivery unit 16 a and stores the container C three-dimensionally in the stock unit 14. Here, the plurality of containers C that have been weighed are three-dimensionally stored, and the plurality of containers C are circulated in the stock unit 14. The container delivery zone R <b> 4 is a part that receives the container C selected by the control unit 20 from the plurality of containers C stored in the stock unit 14 and delivers it to the discharge unit 15. The discharge zone R5 is a portion that discharges the objects to be weighed by turning the container C received from the delivery section 16b while turning it and turning the container C with the lower opening 17a of the discharge chute 17 as a discharge target position. The container delivery zone R <b> 6 is a part that receives the container C that has been emptied by discharging the object to be weighed from the discharge unit 15 and delivers it to the weighing unit 13 again.

  In the weighing device 10 of this embodiment, the container C is circulated in the weighing device 10 along the zones R1 to R6 as described above.

  Note that “upstream side” and “downstream side” described later indicate the upstream side and the downstream side based on the circulation direction of the container C described above.

[Configuration of supply unit]
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the supply unit 12 is arranged at the upper part of the swiveling trajectory of the container C in the weighing unit 13 in order to put an object to be weighed into the container C swung by the weighing unit 13. Vibration feeder. As shown in FIG. 3, the supply unit 12 includes a trough 21 and a motor box 22, and puts an object to be weighed into a chute 24 provided under the trough 21.

  An object to be weighed that is put into the container C is placed on the trough 21. When the drive motor in the motor box 22 rotates, the trough 21 is moved slowly in the X direction shown in FIG. 3 and faster in the Y direction than in the X direction. As a result, the object to be weighed placed on the trough 21 can be continuously conveyed little by little to the chute 24 side.

  The object to be weighed is dropped from the trough 21 to the chute 24 and is put into the container C from which the weighing unit 13 is swung. That is, the supply unit 12 puts an object to be weighed into the container C turning around the rotation axis A1 by the measuring unit 13. Thereby, the speed can be increased compared with the case where the container C is stopped and the object to be weighed is put into the container C.

  The chute 24 is a stainless steel part whose upper and lower portions are opened. The chute 24 collects the objects to be weighed from the trough 21 and removes the objects to be weighed from directly above the container C swiveling in the weighing unit 13. Drop it.

[Configuration of weighing unit]
The weighing unit 13 is a device for weighing an object to be weighed in the container C, and is arranged on the downstream side of the discharge unit 15 and the upstream side of the stock unit 14 as shown in FIG. . As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the measuring unit 13 includes five measuring instruments 25 a to 25 e and a holder 28 provided corresponding to each measuring instrument 25 a to 25 e. And the measurement part 13 turns these measuring instruments 25a-25e etc. centering on the rotating shaft A1 to which the rotational drive force from the turning mechanism 19 mentioned later was transmitted. Thereby, the measurement part 13 also has a function as a conveyance mechanism of the container C. The turning mechanism 19 that rotates the rotation axis A1 will be described in detail later.

  As shown in FIG. 4, each of the measuring instruments 25 a to 25 e has a load cell 27 in a circular box 26. Then, the container C held by the holder 28 is measured while turning. Thereby, since measurement is performed while turning toward the stock unit 14 where the next process is performed, the process from measurement to stock can be speeded up. Further, even when weighing while moving, the time until turning to the delivery position in the delivery unit 16a provided between the weighing unit 13 and the stock unit 14 is sufficiently secured as the time for measuring. it can.

  The holder 28 includes a bottom plate 28a that supports the bottom surface of the container C from below and a U-shaped member 28b. And the container C is hold | maintained between the baseplate 28a and the U-shaped member 28b by covering the U-shaped member 28b along the collar part C1 formed in the outer periphery of the container C. Further, a magnet (permanent magnet) is embedded in the bottom plate 28 a of the holder 28. For this reason, the metal container C can be held by the magnetic force of the magnet. The magnet may be embedded not on the bottom plate 28a but on the side wall, or may be embedded on both the bottom plate 28a and the side wall. The same applies to holders 31 and 35 shown below.

  The weighing is performed in a state where the container C and the weighing devices 25a to 25e are relatively stopped. That is, the container C and the measuring devices 25a to 25e are measured while moving at the same speed. As a result, even when the container C is being moved, accurate weighing can be performed in the same manner as when the container C is stopped and weighed.

  Further, the weighing unit 13 receives the container C that has been emptied by discharging the object to be measured in the discharge unit 15 from the delivery unit 16c, and measures the empty container C while lowering the chute 24 that the supply unit 12 includes. Move to just below the opening 24a. In this way, the weighing unit 13 receives the container C that has completed the process from weighing to discharging, and sends it again to the process from weighing to discharging. For this reason, the container C can be circulated in the weighing device 10.

[Composition of stock section]
The stock unit 14 is a device for storing a plurality of containers C weighed in the weighing unit 13, and is disposed on the downstream side of the weighing unit 13 and on the upstream side of the discharge unit 15 as shown in FIG. 2. Yes. For this reason, the stock unit 14 can immediately deliver the container C selected by the control unit 20 (see FIG. 1) to the discharge unit 15. Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the stock unit 14 includes five storage units 30 that can hold five containers C in the vertical direction. And these accumulation | storage parts 30 are arrange | positioned at equal intervals in the circumferential direction centering on rotating shaft A2.

  The storage unit 30 has five holders 31 arranged in the vertical direction in order to hold the five containers C in the vertical direction. The holder 31 includes a bottom plate 31a that supports the bottom surface of the container C from below and a U-shaped member 31b, similar to the holder 28 of the measuring unit 13. The holder 31 also holds the metallic container C by the magnetic force of the magnet embedded in the bottom plate 31a.

  Further, the stock unit 14 rotates the storage unit 30 around the rotation axis A2. Accordingly, the stock unit 14 has a function as a transport mechanism for the container C, similarly to the weighing unit 13. Further, since the container C is always stored while being swung in the horizontal direction, when the container C is selected by the control unit 20, the selected container C can be immediately delivered from the stock unit 14 to the delivery unit 16b. .

  Further, the stock unit 14 includes a mechanism 34 that moves the storage unit 30 in the vertical direction.

  The mechanism 34 includes a shaft 32 in which a thread groove is formed, a motor (not shown) that is disposed below the shaft 32 and rotates the shaft 32, and a connection member 33 that connects the storage unit 30 and the shaft 32. I have. In this mechanism 34, the connecting member 33 attached to the shaft 32 is moved up and down by causing the motor 32 attached to the lower part of the five shafts 32 to reverse the shaft 32 in the normal direction. Specifically, the motor that rotates the shaft 32 normally rotates the shaft 32 at all times so as to synchronize with the rotation speed of the rotation shaft A2. Thereby, the shaft 32 can be relatively non-rotated while rotating around the rotation axis A2. Here, when the container C is moved in the vertical direction, the rotational speed of the motor that is constantly rotating is increased or decreased to rotate the shaft 32 forward or reverse relative to the rotational axis A2. To do. Thereby, the container C hold | maintained at the storage part 30 with the connection member 33 can be moved to a perpendicular direction.

  Further, by providing the stock unit 14 with a mechanism 34 that moves the containers C in the vertical direction, the stock unit 14 can store a plurality of containers C in a three-dimensional manner. Further, the container C moved horizontally from the delivery unit 16a is stored in the vertical direction, and the container C stored in the vertical direction is moved in the horizontal direction and delivered to the delivery unit 16b. Can intersect with the direction of accumulating. The five accumulation | storage parts 30 are located between 3F-7F shown in FIG. 6 at the time of a driving | operation start. And according to the selection request | requirement of the container C from the control part 20, it moves to the perpendicular direction between 1F-9F, holding the container C of 5 steps | paragraphs. In addition, the display of 1F-9F shown in FIG. 6 shows the hierarchy in which the container C is located in the vertical direction.

  Moreover, in the weighing | measuring apparatus 10 of this embodiment, in the accumulation | storage part 30 holding the five containers C in the perpendicular direction, in the height of 5F part equivalent to the center part of the accumulation | storage part 30 at the time of an operation start, Receive and deliver. Thereby, even if it takes out the container C currently hold | maintained at which hierarchy, the moving distance of the accumulation | storage part 30 in the vertical direction can be restrained within the upper and lower 2 hierarchy centering on 5F.

  The stock unit 14 receives and delivers the container C at the same level (height). That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the container C is received from the delivery unit 16a at a level of 5F, and the container C is delivered to the delivery unit 16b at the level of 5F. In this way, by receiving and delivering the container C at the same height, after the container C is discharged, the container 30 is simply swiveled around the rotation axis A2, and a new container C is placed at that position. Can be replenished.

[Structure of discharge section]
The discharge unit 15 is a device for discharging the object to be weighed that has been conveyed in the state of being put in the container C from the container C. As shown in FIG. 2, it is arranged downstream of the stock unit 14 and upstream of the measuring unit 13. Further, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the discharge unit 15 includes five holders 35, five shafts 36, an inclined plate 37, a rotation axis A <b> 3, and a reversing mechanism (reversing unit) 38. ing.

  The holder 35 includes a bottom plate 35a for supporting the bottom surface of the container C from below and a U-shaped member 35b, similar to the holder 28 of the weighing unit 13 and the holder 31 of the stock unit 14, in order to hold the container C. Yes. The holder 35 also holds the metal container C by the magnetic force of the magnet embedded in the bottom plate 35a. Further, five holders 35 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis A3, and turn around the rotation axis A3.

  Holders 35 are attached to the upper ends of the shafts 36, respectively, and the interior extending in the vertical direction is a hollow metal cylinder. Inside the shaft 36, components such as a cam and a gear constituting a reversing mechanism 38 for reversing the holder 35 are provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 (a) to 10 (f), the inclined plate 37 includes guide portions 39 respectively attached to the lower portions of the five shafts 36 turning in parallel around the rotation axis A3. Lift along the inclined surface of the inclined plate 37. Thereby, the container C hold | maintained at the holder 35 with the holder 35 attached to the upper end part of the shaft 36 can be moved to a perpendicular direction.

  The reversing mechanism 38 drives the cam or gear of the reversing mechanism 38 provided inside the shaft 36 to discharge the object P to be weighed from the container C, so that the holder holding the container C is 180 degrees. Rotate. Further, the reversing mechanism 38 is a timing for rotating the container C in the control unit 20 (see FIG. 1) so that the measurement object P is discharged toward a desired discharge position in the discharge chute 17, that is, the lower opening 17a. Is controlled. The container C that has been reversed so that the opening is directed downward by the reversing mechanism 38 is held by the collar portion C1 being supported from below by the U-shaped member 35b of the holder 35.

  The rotation axis A3 rotates the container C together with the holder 35. Thereby, similarly to the measurement unit 13 and the stock unit 14, the discharge unit 15 receives a rotational driving force from a turning mechanism 19 described later, and has a function as a transport mechanism for the container C. The rotating shaft A3 rotates in synchronization with the other rotating shafts A1, A2, and A4 by the rotational driving force from the rotating motor M1 provided in the turning mechanism 19 described later.

  In the weighing device 10 of the present embodiment, the discharge unit 15 discharges the object P to be measured from the container C while turning the container C around the rotation axis A3. For this reason, the to-be-measured item P in the container C is discharged | emitted from the container C in the state to which the centrifugal force was applied. Therefore, the lower part provided in the center part of the discharge chute 17 arrange | positioned in the tangential direction of the turning track | orbit centering on rotating shaft A3 in the state in which the centrifugal force and gravity were applied to the to-be-measured object discharged | emitted from the container C. The object P can be freely dropped in the vicinity of the opening 17a.

[Configuration of delivery section]
As shown in FIG. 2, the delivery units 16 a to 16 c are arranged between the weighing unit 13 and the stock unit 14, between the stock unit 14 and the discharge unit 15, and between the discharge unit 15 and the measurement unit 13, respectively. ing. And the height in which the delivery parts 16a-16c are arrange | positioned is all the positions corresponded to the hierarchy of 5F shown in FIG.

  The delivery unit 16 a is provided between the weighing unit 13 and the stock unit 14, receives the weighed container C from the weighing unit 13, and delivers it to the stock unit 14. The delivery unit 16b is provided between the stock unit 14 and the discharge unit 15, and is selected by the control unit 20 (see FIG. 1), and the desired container C that has moved to the position 5F in FIG. 14 and delivered to the discharge unit 15. The delivery unit 16 c is provided between the discharge unit 15 and the weighing unit 13. The delivery unit 16 c receives an empty container C from which the object to be weighed is discharged from the discharge unit 15 and delivers it to the measurement unit 13. Thus, the delivery part 16a-16c delivers the container C between each process, such as measurement, stock, discharge | emission, so that the container C can be circulated in the weighing device 10.

  Moreover, the delivery parts 16a-16c are each provided with the upper board 41, the lower board 42, and the three rotating shafts A4, as shown in FIG. The upper plate 41 has three arc portions 44 along the outer peripheral surface of the container C, and holds three containers C in the arc portion 44. The lower plate 42 has six protrusions 43, and the container C is inserted between the two protrusions 43 to support the container C from below. The three rotary shafts A4 receive a rotational driving force from a turning mechanism 19 described later, and rotate the delivery units 16a to 16c so that the delivery units 16a to 16c are synchronized. Thereby, the delivery parts 16a-16c have the function as a conveyance mechanism of the container C with the function to deliver the container C between each part. In addition, the rotation direction of the delivery parts 16a-16c is a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the measurement part 13, the stock part 14, and the discharge part 15. Thereby, the container C is moved in the same direction on the side where each of the delivery parts 16a to 16c and the weighing part 13 etc. deliver the adjacent container C. Therefore, the delivery of the container C can be performed smoothly.

  Here, as a member used for delivery of the container C, a claw member (moving direction changing portion, holding release member) 45 is provided in the vicinity of the delivery portions 16a to 16c as shown in FIG.

  The claw member 45 is a member having a claw 46 protruding in the vicinity of each of the delivery portions 16a to 16c. And it is fixedly arranged at the height position corresponding to the level of 5F shown in FIG. 6 which is a substantially central portion among the weighing unit 13, the stock unit 14 and the discharge unit 15 where the container C is received and delivered. Has been.

  In the weighing device 10 of the present embodiment, for example, the container C selected by the control unit 20 from the plurality of containers C rotating in the stock unit 14 shown in FIG. To the vertical direction. The claw 46 of the claw member 45 protrudes at a height position corresponding to the level of 5F from which the container C to be taken out has moved. For this reason, the direction of movement of the container C to be taken out toward the delivery unit 16b is changed by guiding the container C so that the claw 46 deviates from the turning trajectory in the stock unit 14. Thereby, holding | maintenance of the container C in the stock part 14 is cancelled | released, and the container C can be guide | induced to the direction of the delivery part 16b.

  As described above, even when the container C is held by the magnetic force of the permanent magnet as in the present embodiment, the container C is forcibly released from the delivery unit 16b using the claw member 45. C can be easily released. Therefore, even if it does not electrically control the holding release of the container C using an electromagnet, the holding of the container C can be released with a simple configuration, and the container C can be delivered.

  Similarly, in the other delivery parts 16a and 16c, using the claw 46 of the claw member 45, the holding of the container C held in the weighing part 13 and the container C held in the discharge part 15 is released, The container C is delivered between the weighing unit 13 and the stock unit 14 and between the discharge unit 15 and the weighing unit 13.

[Configuration of swivel mechanism]
The swivel mechanism 19 provided in the weighing device 10 of the present embodiment is a mechanism that applies a rotational driving force to the weighing unit 13, the stock unit 14, the discharge unit 15, and the delivery units 16a to 16c described above. As shown in FIG. And the turning mechanism 19 is provided with the rotation motor M1 and the transmission part 51, as shown in FIG.

  The transmission unit 51 has gears and pulleys for a rotation axis A1 for rotating the weighing unit 13, a rotation axis A2 for rotating the stock unit 14, a rotation axis A3 for rotating the discharge unit 15, and a rotation axis A4 for rotating the delivery unit. The rotational driving force of the rotary motor M1 is transmitted through a belt (not shown). And rotation axis A1-A4 is rotated so that the measurement part 13, the stock part 14, and the discharge part 15 may synchronize. Thus, since each part which delivers the container C is rotating in the synchronized state, each adjacent part is turning the container C at the same speed. For this reason, the delivery of the container C held in each part can be performed smoothly.

  As described above, the rotation axis A4 is a shaft that rotates the delivery units 16a to 16c that rotate in the direction opposite to the weighing unit 13, the stock unit 14, and the discharge unit 15. For this reason, in the measuring device 10 of the present embodiment, with respect to the rotation axis A4, the transmission unit 51 converts the rotation direction to reverse rotation and transmits the rotational driving force.

[Operation from Weighing to Discharging by the Weighing Device of this Embodiment]
Here, the flow of processing performed by the weighing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. In addition, each process performed according to the flowchart shown below is the control flow controlled by the control part 20 (refer FIG. 1).

  First, the supply and weighing process in the weighing unit 13 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  The weighing unit 13 receives an empty container C from the delivery unit 16c in step (hereinafter referred to as S) 1. In S <b> 2, the empty container C is weighed before the object to be weighed is supplied by the supply unit 12. Subsequently, in S <b> 3, the objects to be weighed are sequentially introduced into the container C that is being swung by the weighing unit 13 by the supply unit 12. In S4, the weighing unit 13 measures the container C containing the object to be weighed. Here, the weighing object can be weighed by subtracting the weighing result of the empty container C from the weighing result of the container C containing the weighing object. Finally, in S5, the weighed container C is delivered to the delivery unit 16a.

  The weighing unit 13 transmits the measurement result to the control unit 20. The control unit 20 stores the received measurement result of the object to be measured in a storage unit such as a ROM or a RAM, and accumulates data for performing combination weighing.

  Next, the accumulation | storage process of the container C in the stock part 14 is demonstrated using the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In the stock unit 14, in S <b> 11, the weighed container C is received from the delivery unit 16 a by the holder 31 of the storage unit 30. Subsequently, in S <b> 12, the container C is circulated (standby) in the stock unit 14 while being held in the storage unit 30 until the received container C is selected by the control unit 20. In S13, when a selection request is received from the control unit 20, in S14, the container C that has received the selection request is moved in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 6, the container C selected at this time is moved to a height position corresponding to the 5F layer of the delivery unit 16b. Next, in S15, the container C requested to be selected is delivered to the delivery unit 16b. Here, the container C delivered to the delivery unit 16b proceeds to S21 shown in FIG. Although not included in the flowchart, in the stock unit 14, the storage unit 30 is configured to additionally replenish a new container C from the measuring unit 13 at the position of the storage unit 30 that has held the delivered container C. Is maintained around the rotational axis A2 up to the position of the delivery section 16a while maintaining the height position as it is. Then, a newly weighed container C is additionally replenished to the position from the delivery unit 16a.

  In the weighing device 10 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the container C is received and delivered in the stock section 14 at the same height (5F portion in FIG. 6). For this reason, the process from the delivery of the container C to the receipt of a new container C can be smoothly performed by simply turning the storage unit 30 as it is. Further, in the storage unit 30, a new container C is additionally replenished at the position where the delivered container C was held. For this reason, the additional replenishment of the container C can be performed without moving the storage unit 30 in the vertical direction. Therefore, the movement amount of the container C can be reduced, the impact applied to the object to be weighed in the container C can be reduced, and the object to be weighed can be protected.

  Finally, the step of discharging the object to be weighed from the container C in the discharge unit 15 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 15 and FIGS. 10 (a) to 10 (f).

  As shown in FIG. 10A, the discharge unit 15 receives the container C requested to be selected from the delivery unit 16b by the holder 35 in S21. In S22, as shown in FIG. 10B, the container C is raised while being swung around the rotation axis A3, and the rotation of the container C is started simultaneously with the rise. The position of the container C on the plane at this time is a “container rotation start” position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 10 (c), the container C is further rotated as it rises, and as shown in FIG. 10 (d), the container C is completely rotated 180 degrees until it rises to the highest point. Turn container C upside down so that it faces downward. Subsequently, in S23, as shown in FIG. 10E, after the container C is inverted 180 degrees, the container C is lowered as it is. The position of the container C on the plane at this time is a “container downward final point” indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Here, the object to be weighed departs from the swirling trajectory of the container C in the discharge portion 15 and is discharged toward the vicinity of the central portion of the discharge chute 17 arranged in the tangential direction of the swirling track. The position of the container C on the plane at this time is a “discharge complete” position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Then, in S24, as shown in FIG. 10 (f), the container C from which the object to be weighed is rotated 180 degrees again to return the opening to the upward state. Finally, in S25, the container C is delivered to the delivery unit 16c.

  As described above, the turning movement of the container C is performed by transmitting the rotational driving force from the rotation motor M1 in the turning mechanism 19 to each of the rotation axes A1 to A4. On the other hand, the raising and lowering of the container C, that is, the movement in the vertical direction is performed by moving the guide portion 39 attached to the lower portion of the shaft 36 along the inclined plate 37.

  In the weighing device 10 of the present embodiment, as described above, when the object to be weighed is discharged from the container C, the discharge unit 15 moves the container C in the vertical direction and rotates it 180 degrees. Thereby, the inertia force of the perpendicular direction upward can be given with respect to a to-be-measured object. For this reason, even when a plurality of objects to be weighed are contained in the container C, the objects to be weighed become solid at the bottom of the container C, and the objects to be weighed are discharged from the container C immediately after the container C is rotated. And the occurrence of tailing can be prevented.

  Furthermore, in the weighing device 10 of the present embodiment, after the discharge unit 15 reverses the container C by 180 degrees, the container C is moved in the vertically downward direction. Usually, when a plurality of objects to be weighed such as potato chips are put in the container C, when the container C is simply reversed and a plurality of objects to be weighed are discharged from the container C, the container C is first discharged from the container C. There is a time difference between the weighing object and the weighing object finally discharged from the container C. In this case, since the object to be weighed is discharged from the container C in the form of an elongated band, a so-called tailing problem occurs. Therefore, in the weighing device 10 according to the present embodiment, the discharge unit 15 moves the container C vertically downward after the container C is reversed, and among the plurality of objects to be weighed, the object to be discharged with a delay from the container C. A downward force can be applied to the vertical direction. Therefore, the time difference between the discharge of the object to be weighed first from the container C and the discharge of the object to be weighed finally from the container C can be eliminated, and the problem of tailing can be solved.

[Characteristics of weighing device of this embodiment]
(1)
In the weighing device 10 according to the present embodiment, the steps of weighing, stocking, and discharging are performed while the container C containing the objects to be weighed is constantly moved.

  Specifically, the supply unit 12 supplies an object to be measured to the container C swung by the measurement unit 13. Then, the weighing unit 13 performs weighing while turning the container C. The stock unit 14 stocks the containers C while rotating the plurality of containers C while holding them three-dimensionally. The discharge unit 15 discharges the object to be weighed from the container C while rotating the container C.

  In the conventional weighing device, the above-described weighing, stocking, and discharging processes are performed with the container C stopped, and then the container C is moved to the next process. For this reason, in the conventional method, after the processing of the container C is temporarily stopped in each process, the stationary container C is moved, so that the efficiency is deteriorated, and the process from weighing to discharging is performed at high speed. There were limits to processing.

  Therefore, in the weighing device 10 of this embodiment, each process can be performed while moving in the direction in which the next process is performed by always performing each process while moving the container C. For this reason, the time required from the weighing to the discharge of the weighing object can be greatly reduced as compared with the conventional method, and the high-speed operation becomes possible.

(2)
The weighing device 10 according to the present embodiment transfers the container C between the weighing unit 13 and the stock unit 14, between the stock unit 14 and the discharge unit 15, and between the discharge unit 15 and the measurement unit 13. Delivery units 16a to 16c are provided.

  Since these delivery parts 16a-16c are rotating in the opposite direction at the same speed with respect to the measurement part 13, the stock part 14, and the discharge part 15 which are rotating in the same direction synchronously, the container C between each part. Can be delivered smoothly.

  Further, a claw member 45 is provided in the vicinity of the delivery parts 16a to 16c for guiding the container C rotating in each part so as to be out of the turning trajectory. For this reason, the holding | maintenance of the rotating container C can be cancelled | released and the container C can be delivered to each delivery part 16a-16c only by making the rotating container C contact the claw member 45. FIG. Therefore, even when the container C is held by a permanent magnet, the holding can be forcibly released by the claw member 45.

(3)
In the weighing device 10 of the present embodiment, the five weighing devices 25a to 25e in the weighing unit 13 measure the container C and the object to be weighed while turning together with the container C.

  Thereby, the measurement in the measurement part 13 can be performed, moving the container C. FIG.

  At this time, since the container C and the measuring devices 25a to 25e are in a relative stop state, accurate measurement can be performed even when the container C is turning, similarly to the measurement performed by stopping the container C.

  Furthermore, since the measuring unit 13 includes the plurality of measuring devices 25a to 25e as in the present embodiment, the measuring of the plurality of containers C can be performed almost simultaneously. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently measure a large amount of containers C.

(4)
The weighing device 10 of the present embodiment holds the container C three-dimensionally in the stock unit 14.

  In this way, a space-saving weighing device can be provided by moving the plurality of containers C circulating in the weighing device 10 not only in the horizontal direction but also in the vertical direction.

(5)
The weighing device 10 of the present embodiment moves a plurality of containers C continuously.

  As a result, a plurality of containers C that are continuously weighed can be stored in the stock unit 14, and a desired container C is continuously taken out from the stock unit 14, and the objects to be weighed are continuously discharged from the container C. You can also Therefore, the processing speed of the entire apparatus can be increased.

(6)
In the weighing method of the present embodiment, as described above, the supply process, the weighing process, the stock process, and the discharge process of the objects to be weighed are performed while moving the container C.

  For this reason, compared with the conventional measuring method which stops the container C and performs each process, the time required from supply to discharge | emission is shortened, and high-speed processing is attained.

[Embodiment 2]
Another embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17.

  The combination weighing device 60 according to the present embodiment sorts articles such as food and industrial products into a plurality of containers having openings in the upper part, and combines them so that the total weight of articles contained in each container falls within a predetermined weight range. An apparatus for selecting a container and discharging a plurality of articles in a predetermined weight range.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the combination weighing device 60 includes four weighing devices 10 according to the first embodiment and a discharge chute 17.

  In addition, the combination weighing device 60 includes the control unit 20 connected to the four weighing devices 10 in one of the weighing devices 10.

  The control unit 20 receives data from the weighing unit 13 that is measured by the weighing unit 13 of the four weighing devices 10 and is stored in the stock unit 14. Then, the combination of the objects to be weighed is added so that the weight of the objects to be weighed stored in the container C in the stock unit 14 of the four weighing devices 10 is added to be within the desired weight range. Do. Here, when the control unit 20 determines a combination within a desired weight range, the container C in which the objects to be weighed in the combination used in the combination are selected from each weighing device 10 and taken out from the stock unit 14. Then, a desired object to be weighed is discharged from the container C in the discharge unit 15 and thrown into the discharge chute 17.

  The combination weighing by the combination weighing device 60 of the present embodiment is performed in a state where the four weighing devices 10a to 10d are arranged so as to surround the discharge chute 17, as shown in FIG.

  Each weighing device 10a to 10d includes the weighing units 13a to 13d, the stock units 14a to 14d, and the discharge units 15a to 15d described in the first embodiment. The stock units 14a to 14d each have five rows of storage units 30aa to 30de that hold the five containers C in the vertical direction as described above.

  Further, in the combination weighing device 60 of the present embodiment, only the weighing device 10a has the control unit 20 included in the weighing device 10 of the first embodiment. Here, the operation of the four weighing devices 10 is controlled. Do. That is, the control unit 20 in the weighing device 10a performs a combination of the weights of the objects to be weighed stored in the plurality of containers C stored in the stock units 14a to 14d included in the four weighing devices 10a to 10d. Is called. Then, the objects to be weighed from three or four of the weighing devices 10a to 10d are directed to the lower opening 17a of the discharge chute 17 so that the total of the objects to be weighed falls within a desired weight range. Discharged.

  In the combination weighing device 60 including the four weighing devices 10a to 10d as described above, for example, from the five containers C held in the vertical direction in the accumulation unit 30ac provided in the stock unit 14a of the weighing device 10a. A container C containing an object to be weighed in a desired weight is delivered to the discharge unit 15a.

  At the same time, in the other weighing devices 10b to 10d, the desired weight necessary for combination weighing is similarly selected from the five containers C held in the storage units 30bc to 30dc in the stock units 14b to 14d. The container C containing the objects to be weighed is delivered to the discharge units 15b to 15d.

  Subsequently, in each of the weighing devices 10a to 10d, five containers C that are respectively held by the four storage units 30ad to 30dd included in the stock units 14a to 14d, that is, 20 containers C are used. Combination weighing is performed.

  Hereinafter, combination weighing is performed in the 20 containers C in the same manner for the storage units 30ae to 30de, the storage units 30aa to 30da, and the storage units 30ab to 30db.

  In the combination weighing device 60 of the present embodiment, as described above, among the storage units 30aa to 30de included in the stock units 14a to 14d, the storage units 30aa, 30ba, 30ca, 30da and the storage units 30ab, 30bb, 30cb, 30db, storage units 30ac, 30bc, 30cc, 30dc and storage units 30da, 30db, 30dc, 30dd and storage units 30ae, 30be, 30ce, 30de are set as one set, and combination weighing is performed.

  Further, for example, in the case where combination weighing is performed by discharging the objects to be weighed from only three weighing devices 10a to 10c among the four weighing devices 10a to 10d, the weighing device 10d that does not perform discharging is discharged. The container C is not reversed in the portion 15d.

  In this way, by waiting for the stock units 14a to 14d to rotate once by performing combination weighing in the plurality of containers C held in the corresponding storage units 30 in the stock units 14a to 14d, respectively. And continuous combination weighing can be performed.

  In this combination, the objects to be weighed may be discharged from each of the four weighing devices 10, or if there is a container C in which an object to be weighed within a desired weight range is placed from the beginning. It may be discharged from one weighing device 10.

  As a result, an object to be weighed can be discharged within a desired weight range. Thus, by combining the four weighing devices 10 of the first embodiment, it is possible to perform high-speed processing 240 times per minute, for example.

[Characteristics of the combination weighing device of this embodiment]
The combination weighing device 60 of the present embodiment is configured by combining four weighing devices 10 of the first embodiment.

  Here, in the weighing device 10 of the first embodiment, as described above, the supply, measurement, stock, and discharge processes are performed with the container C moved. Thereby, like the measuring device 10 of Embodiment 1, the process from a measurement to discharge | emission can be processed at high speed. Therefore, by performing combination weighing using four weighing devices 10 capable of such high-speed processing, a maximum of 240 pieces / minute can be processed.

  Furthermore, in the combination weighing device 60 of the present embodiment, all the effects obtained by the configuration of the weighing device 10 described above can be obtained.

[Embodiment 3]
<Constitution>
〔overall structure〕
FIG. 18 shows a schematic diagram of a combination weighing system 100 in which still another embodiment of the present invention is adopted.

  This combination weighing system 100 sorts articles such as food and industrial products into a plurality of containers having openings in the upper part, and selects containers to be combined so that the total weight of articles contained in each container is within a predetermined weight range. Thus, the system discharges a plurality of articles in a predetermined weight range.

  The combination weighing system 100 includes four combination weighing devices 102 and a collective chute 103. Each combination weighing device 102 is arranged in two horizontal and vertical rows in the horizontal plane so that the discharge chutes 109 provided in the lower portions thereof are close to each other. The collection chute 103 is disposed below each discharge chute 109 and collects articles discharged from each combination weighing device 102.

[Combination weighing device]
19 and 20 are schematic views of the combination weighing device 102. FIG. FIG. 19 is a front view of the combination weighing device 102, and FIG. 20 is a top view of the combination weighing device 102.

  The combination weighing device 102 mainly includes a lift 104, a weighing unit 105, a stock unit 106, a discharge unit 107, a transfer device 108, a discharge chute 109, a control unit 110 (see FIG. 25), and a frame 111 that supports each unit. .

  The lift 104 is provided from the lower part to the upper part of the combination weighing device 102 and sends the empty container C discharged from the transfer device 108 to the weighing unit 105 of the combination weighing device 102.

  The weighing unit 105 is a part that measures the weight of the article in the container C, and is provided between the lift 104 and the stock unit 106. As shown in FIG. 20, the measuring unit 105 mainly includes a guide 150 and a weight sensor 151. The guide 150 is a linear member arranged in the horizontal direction, and forms a passage for guiding the container C from the lift 104 to the stock unit 106. The weight sensor 151 is provided in the middle of the passage formed by the guide 150, and measures the weight of the container C passing through the passage. The weighing unit 105 sends the weighing data measured by the weight sensor 151 to the control unit 110.

  The stock unit 106 is a part that stocks the container C that stores the articles that have been weighed by the weighing unit 105, and is provided from the lower part to the upper part of the combination weighing device 102. As shown in FIG. 19, the stock unit 106 is divided into five layers 160a, 160b, 160c, 160d, and 160e in the vertical direction. In FIG. 20, only the uppermost layer 160a of the stock unit 106 is illustrated, but the other layers 160b, 160c, 160d, and 160e have the same configuration. Hereinafter, the uppermost layer 160a of the stock unit 106 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The uppermost layer 160a of the stock unit 106 forms an annular passage in a horizontal plane, and the container C to be stocked can circulate in the annular passage. Further, an annular conveyance path 162 a is provided between the uppermost layer 160 a of the stock unit 106 and the measuring unit 105. The conveyance path 162 a is provided so that a part thereof overlaps with the weighing unit 105 and the uppermost layer 160 a of the stock unit 106. The container C that has passed through the weighing unit 105 moves to the conveyance path 162a, and moves from the conveyance path 162a to the uppermost layer 160a of the stock unit 106. In addition, a selection lever 161a is provided in the vicinity of an overlapping portion between the uppermost layer 160a and the conveyance path 162a. The selection lever 161a is a lever-like member that is rotatably supported around the rotation shaft 610a, and changes the moving direction of the container C by projecting in the vicinity of the overlapping portion of the uppermost layer 160a and the conveyance path 162a. Can do. That is, by changing the moving direction of the container C moving along the conveyance path 162a, the container C can be discharged in the tangential direction of the conveyance path 162a and sent to the uppermost layer 160a of the stock unit 106 (the solid line in FIG. 20). Select lever 161a and dashed arrow AR1). Further, the selection lever 161a can discharge the container C in the tangential direction of rotation by changing the moving direction of the container C swiveling on the uppermost layer 160a (see FIG. 5). 20 two-dot chain line selection lever 161a and broken line arrow AR9).

  The stock unit 106 has a drive unit (not shown), and can drive the uppermost layer 160a and the conveyance path 162a. The container C stocked in the stock unit 106 circulates in the uppermost layer 160a by the drive unit and is stocked while turning (see the broken line arrow AR1 in FIG. 20). The stock unit 106 sends the container C selected by the combination calculation to the discharge unit 107 by operating the selection lever 161a. The containers C are stocked in the respective layers 160a, 160b, 160c, 160d, and 160e that are stacked in the vertical direction, and up to five can be stocked in the vertical direction.

  The discharge unit 107 is a passage provided in the vertical direction from the upper part to the lower part of the combination weighing device 102, and sends the container C discharged from the stock unit 106 to the transfer device 108. The container C discharged from the stock unit 106 falls freely at the discharge unit 107, then changes its direction in the horizontal direction by a guide (not shown), and is sent to the transfer device 108.

  The transfer device 108 is a device that is provided in the lower part of the combination weighing device 102 and transfers articles supplied in a state of being stored in the container C discharged from the discharge unit 107 to the discharge chute 109. The transfer device 108 will be described in detail later.

  The discharge chute 109 is a box-shaped member having an open top and bottom surface, and discharges the articles transferred from the transfer device 108 to a collecting chute 103 provided below the combination weighing device 102. The discharge chute 109 is provided below the transfer device 108 and adjacent to the vicinity of the side end portion of the frame 111.

[Configuration of Transfer Device 108]
The transfer device 108 is a device that transfers an article to be supplied to the lower discharge chute 109, and includes a turning mechanism 80, turning mechanisms 81a, 81b, 81c, and a casing 82 as shown in FIG.

<Swivel mechanism>
The swivel mechanism 80 is a mechanism for swiveling the container C containing the article around the swivel axis A11 in a vertical plane, and mainly includes a swivel member 83, a swivel shaft 84, and a swivel motor M11 as shown in FIG. Is done.

  As shown in FIG. 21, the turning member 83 includes three arm members 83a, 83b, and 83c that extend radially about the turning axis A11. Each arm member 83a, 83b, 83c is arranged at an equal angle of 120 degrees around the turning axis A11. As shown in FIG. 22, the swivel member 83 is a member in which two metal plates 830 and 831 facing each other in parallel are fixed by a plurality of rod-shaped support members 832, and is formed in a space between the metal plates 830 and 831. Are arranged with a part of the structure of swiveling mechanisms 81a, 81b, 81c such as a pulley, a second shaft, and a belt for transmitting rotation, which will be described later.

  The turning shaft 84 is a hollow bar-like member, and one end 840 thereof is provided so as to protrude from the side surface of the housing 82 to the outside. A turning member 83 is fixed to one end 840 of the turning shaft 84 perpendicular to the turning axis A <b> 11 of the turning shaft 84. The swivel shaft 84 is rotatably supported by bearings 841 and 842 on the side and inside of the casing of the casing 82, respectively. A pulley 843 is provided coaxially with the turning shaft 84 on the outer peripheral surface in the middle of the turning shaft 84.

  The turning motor M <b> 11 is housed inside the casing 82, transmits the rotation to the pulley 843 of the turning shaft 84 via the belt 844, and rotates the turning shaft 84.

<Swivel mechanism>
The swivel mechanisms 81a, 81b, 81c are mechanisms for rotating the container C containing the articles. As shown in FIG. 21, the swivel members 81a, 81b, 81c correspond to the three arm members 83a, 83b, 83c of the swivel member 83. 81a, the 2nd rotation part 81b, and the 3rd rotation part 81c are provided. As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, each of the rotating portions 81a, 81b, 81c includes holders 810a, 810b, 810c, first shafts 811a, 811b, 811c, second shafts 812a, 812b, 812c, a rotary motor M12, Consists of M13 and M14.

  The holders 810a, 810b, and 810c are members that receive and support the container C that stores articles to be supplied to the transfer device 108, and are provided near the tips of the arm members 83a, 83b, and 83c, respectively, as shown in FIG. It has been. The holders 810a, 810b, and 810c are members formed by bending a band-shaped metal plate into a U shape, and are respectively formed on the arm members 83a, 83b, and 83c in the vertical plane around the rotation axes A12, A13, and A14. On the other hand, it is rotatably attached.

  The first shaft 811a of the first rotating portion 81a is a hollow rod-shaped member inserted through the hollow portion of the turning shaft 84 (see FIGS. 23 and 24). One end of the first shaft 811a protrudes from one end 840 of the turning shaft 84 into a space sandwiched between the metal plates 830 and 831 of the turning member 83, and a pulley 813a is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the tip. The other end of the first shaft 811a protrudes from the other end of the turning shaft 84 inside the housing 82, and a pulley 814a is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the tip.

  The second shaft 812a is inserted through a bearing provided near the tip of the arm member 83a, and is provided in parallel with the first shaft 811a. Further, the second shaft 812 a is pivotally supported with respect to the turning member 83. One end of the second shaft 812a protrudes from the arm member 83a, and a holder 810a is fixed to the tip thereof. A pulley 815a is fixed to the middle outer peripheral surface of the second shaft 812a.

  The rotation motor M12 is provided inside the housing 82, and rotates the first shaft 811a by transmitting the rotation to the pulley 814a at the other end of the first shaft 811a via the belt 817a.

  23 and 24, the first shaft 811b of the second rotating portion 81b is inserted into the hollow portion of the first shaft 811a of the first rotating portion 81a, and further the second rotating portion 81b. The first shaft 811c of the third rotating portion 81c is inserted through the hollow portion of the first shaft 811b. Here, FIG. 23 is a sectional view in which one end protruding from the casing 82 of the turning shaft 84 and the first shafts 811a, 811b, and 811c is cut by a plane including the turning axis A11 of the turning shaft 84, and FIG. It is sectional drawing of the other end located inside the housing | casing 82 of the shaft 84 and 1st shaft 811a, 811b, 811c. As shown in FIG. 24, pulleys 814a, 814b, and 814c are provided at the tips of the first shafts 811a, 811b, and 811c, respectively, and rotation motors M12, M13, and M14 are provided via belts 817a, 817b, and 817c. Is transmitted to the first shafts 811a, 811b, 811c. Further, as shown in FIG. 23, pulleys 813a, 813b, and 813c are provided at the tips of the first shafts 811a, 811b, and 811c that protrude outward from the casing 82, and the belts 816a and 816c are used to The rotation of each first shaft 811a, 811b, 811c is transmitted to the second shaft 812a, 812b, 812c. In FIG. 23, the belt of the second rotating portion 81b is not shown, but the rotation of the first shaft 811b is transmitted to the second shaft 812b as with the other belts 816a and 816c.

  The control unit 110 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an HDD, and the like, and is connected to the lift 104, the weighing unit 105, the stock unit 106, the discharge unit 107, and the transfer device 108 of each combination weighing device 102 as shown in FIG. Has been. The control unit 110 performs a combination operation for selecting a combination of the containers C in which the sum of the measurement values of the articles in the containers C is a value within a predetermined range. The control unit 110 discharges the selected container C from the stock unit 106. Then, the control unit 110 controls the transfer device 108 to discharge the article from the container C. These control contents will be described in detail below together with the weighing operation.

<Weighing operation>
[Operation from loading of goods to stocking at the stock unit 106]
First, as shown in FIG. 19, the empty container C is carried to the upper part of the combination weighing device 102 by the lift 104. The article is put into the container C automatically by the supply feeder controlled by the control unit 110 or by the operator's hand until the empty container C is sent to the weighing unit 105. The container C into which the article is put is weighed when passing through the weighing unit 105. Then, the weighing unit 105 sends the weighing data to the control unit 110.

  Although the weight of the container C is measured here, the article before being put into the container C may be weighed in advance, and then the weighed article may be put into the container C.

  The container C containing the articles weighed by the weighing unit 105 is sent to the stock unit 106.

  The stock unit 106 stocks the container C in an empty layer among the five layers 160a, 160b, 160c, 160d, and 160e stacked in the vertical direction. That is, the stock unit 106 stocks a plurality of weighed containers C in the vertical direction.

  Further, the container C keeps turning while being stocked in each of the layers 160a, 160b, 160c, 160d, and 160e (see the broken line arrow AR1 in FIG. 20).

[Operation from Discharging from Stock Unit 106 to Delivery of Container C to Transfer Device 108]
Based on the weighing data in the weighing unit 105, the control unit 110 performs a combination calculation so that the total weight is close to a preset target weight. That is, the control unit 110 selects several containers C to be an optimal combination from the containers C stocked in each combination weighing device 102, and the weight of the assembled article matches the target weight or within an allowable range. Try to be close to the target weight. The control unit 110 selects one container C from each of the four combination weighing devices 102.

  Here, the subsequent operation will be described on the assumption that the container C stocked in the uppermost layer 160a of one certain combination weighing device 102 is selected, but the other layers 160b, 160c, 160d, 160e and other combination weighing devices are described. The same operation is performed in 102.

  When the combination container C is selected, the control unit 110 drives the selection lever 161a of the stock unit 106 in which the corresponding container C is accommodated. The container C that has moved in the annular passage is changed in the moving direction by the selection lever 161a, and is discharged in the tangential direction of rotation (see broken line arrow AR9 in FIG. 20).

  The discharged container C falls freely at the discharge unit 107 and is sent to the transfer device 108. Thereafter, a new container C is sent from the weighing unit 105 to the stock unit 106.

[Operation from delivery of container C to transfer device 108 to discharge of article and discharge of empty container C]
As shown in FIG. 26, the container C discharged from the stock unit 106 is received and held by a holder 810a that moves the uppermost point of swiveling while moving in the horizontal direction. At this time, the U-shaped opening portion of the holder 810a faces the approaching container C, and the holder 810a receives and holds the container C from the opening portion. In addition, the traveling direction of the container C at the moment when the holder 810a receives the container C coincides with the tangential direction of the rotation of the holder 810a (see the white arrow AR2 and the dashed arrow AR3), and the holder 810a rotates the container C while rotating. receive.

  The container C turns around the turning axis A11 while being supported by the holder 810a. In addition, the arrow of the dashed-two dotted line in a figure represents the locus | trajectory of rotation of the holder 810a. The controller 110 drives the rotation motor M12 while the container C is turning, and rotates the holder 810a around the rotation axis A12 so that the opening of the container C faces upward as shown in FIG. To do. Thus, the control unit 110 performs posture control of the container C. As a result, the article B accommodated in the container C turns without spilling out of the container.

  When the container C turns by a predetermined angle, as shown in FIG. 28, the control unit 110 rotates the container C so that the direction of the centrifugal force vector (see the solid arrow AR4) generated in the article coincides with the opening of the container C. Rotate around axis A12. Then, the side surface or the bottom surface of the container C that has supported the article B until then is replaced with the opening of the container C. The article B that is no longer supported is discharged from the container C by centrifugal force as shown in FIG. As a result, the holding of the article B is released.

  The trajectory followed by the article B discharged from the container C is affected by the speed vector (see solid arrow AR5) and the gravitational acceleration (see solid arrow AR6) of the article due to the turning at the moment of discharge, so that the control unit 110 calculates the trajectory of the article discharged from the container C based on these velocity vectors and the gravitational acceleration, and controls the turning speed, the rotational speed, the timing of the rotation, etc., so that the article B can be placed at an arbitrary position. Can be transported.

  As shown in FIG. 30, the container C from which the article B is discharged and emptied further reversely rotates while returning to its original posture. Then, the container C leaves the holder 810a in the horizontal direction when the holder 810a is moving at the lowest turning point, and is discharged from the transfer device 108 as it is. At this time, the tangential direction of turning at the moment when the container C is separated from the holder 810a and the direction in which the container C is separated are coincident (see the broken arrow AR7 and the white arrow AR8). Then, the empty container C discharged from the transfer device 108 is supplied with articles and is sent again to the weighing unit 105 by the lift 104.

  The article B discharged from the transfer device 108 is supplied to the discharge chute 109 and discharged to the collecting chute 103. In the collective chute 103, articles discharged from other combination weighing devices 102 are also collected, and articles having a predetermined weight value are discharged.

[Characteristics of the combination weighing device of this embodiment]
(1)
In this combination weighing device 102, the container C is swung in each layer 160a, 160b, 160c, 160d, and 160e of the stock unit 106, and when discharged from the stock unit 106, the container C is discharged in the tangential direction of rotation. For this reason, when the container C is discharged, the container can be discharged using the movement. Accordingly, the container C can be discharged earlier than when the container C is discharged from the stopped state. Thereby, in this combination weighing device 102, it is possible to speed up the discharge of the container C. Furthermore, in this combination weighing device 102, since the container C is discharged in the tangential direction when it is turning, the moving direction of the container C matches the discharging direction. For this reason, the container C is discharged while maintaining the velocity vector at the time of discharge. Thereby, the goods can be smoothly transferred.

(2)
In the combination weighing device 102, the containers C are stocked in the respective layers 160a, 160b, 160c, 160d, and 160e arranged in the vertical direction. For this reason, in this combination weighing device 102, the area in the plane of the stock portion 106 for stocking the container C can be reduced. Thereby, in the combination weighing device 102, the installation area is reduced as compared with the combination weighing device in which the containers C are arranged and stocked in a plane. In particular, in the case of stocking while moving the container C, a space for moving the container C is required, and the installation area of the apparatus is increased by that amount. By stocking C, an increase in the installation area is suppressed.

(3)
In this combination weighing device 102, the container C stocked in the vertical direction by the stock unit 106 is discharged by the free fall by the discharge unit 107. For this reason, in order to discharge the container C, the drive part which moves the container C from the upper part of the combination weighing | measuring apparatus 102 to a lower part can be abbreviate | omitted. Thereby, in this combination weighing | measuring apparatus 102, the structure for discharge | emission of the container C is simplified.

(4)
In this combination weighing system 100, by discharging the containers C one by one from the four combination weighing devices 102, it is possible to shorten the time required for the discharge and increase the speed. Further, since one container is selected and discharged from one combination weighing device 102, all the combination weighing devices 102 operate simultaneously or continuously and participate in the combination weighing. Therefore, each combination weighing device 102 can be operated efficiently, and the combination weighing can be speeded up. Note that two or more containers C may be selected and discharged from one combination weighing device 102 as necessary. In this case, since the number of containers C participating in the combination increases, more accurate combination weighing can be performed. Further, since the four combination weighing devices 102 are used in combination, it is possible to increase the speed as compared with the case where the combination weighing device 2 performs the combination weighing.

(5)
In the combination weighing device 102, if the number of layers arranged in the vertical direction is increased in order to increase the stock capacity of the container C, the height of the combination weighing device 102 becomes excessively high. However, in this combination weighing system 100, since the four combination weighing devices 102 are used in combination, the stock capacity of the container C is increased and the height of each combination weighing device 2 is suppressed from becoming excessively high. Has been.

(6)
In the above embodiment, the combination weighing device 102 measures the weight of the article stored in the container C. However, the weight of the article is converted into a number by a single weight or the number is measured by a photoelectric tube or the like. Also good. In this case, the combination weighing system 100 can discharge a predetermined number of articles and obtain the above-described effects. Alternatively, the combination weighing device 102 may be a device that measures both the weight and the number of articles. In this case, the combination weighing system 100 discharges articles in a predetermined weight range and a predetermined number range, and the same effect as described above can be obtained.

[Other Embodiments]
As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary of invention.

(A)
In the first embodiment, each of the weighing unit 13, the stock unit 14, and the discharge unit 15 has a function as a transport mechanism for the container C. For example, the weighing device 10 and the transport mechanism are configured as a single mechanism. Explained with examples. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the weighing unit 13 or the like, a transport mechanism for the container C may be provided as a separate mechanism.

(B)
In the first embodiment, an example in which a permanent magnet is embedded in the bottom plate of the holder in order to hold the container C in the holders 28, 31, and 35 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the case where the container C is held using an electromagnet, the holding release of the container C can be electrically controlled. However, when an electromagnet is used, it is necessary to mount a relatively large unit. Therefore, by using the permanent magnet and the claw member 45 provided in the vicinity of the delivery portion 16 as in the first embodiment, the container C can be held and released with an inexpensive and simple configuration.

(C)
In the first embodiment, the claw member 45 has both a function as a moving direction changing unit that changes the moving direction of the rotating container C and a function of releasing the holding of the container C held in each part. The example provided is explained. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, you may provide separately the member provided with the function as a moving direction change part, and the member which has a function which cancel | releases holding | maintenance of the container C. FIG.

(D)
In the second embodiment, the combination weighing device 50 including four weighing devices 10 has been described. However, the combination weighing device of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, even if there is only one weighing device 10, it can function as a combination weighing device. However, in order to process the steps from weighing to discharging at high speed, it is more preferable to provide a plurality of weighing devices 10 as in the second embodiment. For example, the combination weighing device 50 according to the second embodiment can secure a capacity of 240 times / minute. Therefore, the combination weighing may be performed by determining the number of the weighing devices 10 according to the desired discharge capacity.

(E)
In the first embodiment, an example in which the vertical movement and reversal of the container C in the discharge unit 15 is performed by the same drive has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, by performing the movement in the vertical direction and the reversal of the container C by separate driving, more free discharge becomes possible.

(F)
In the first embodiment, an example in which the container C is reversed in the discharge unit 15 is rotated 180 degrees. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the rotation may be performed at an angle smaller than 180 degrees. In this case, the object to be weighed can be discharged from the container C.

(G)
In Embodiment 3 described above, the article is turned by turning the arm members 83a, 83b, and 83c about the turning axis A11. can get.

(H)
In Embodiment 3 described above, the article stored in the container C is held and swiveled, but if it is a coherent article, it may be held and swung directly without being stored in the container C.

(I)
In the third embodiment, the turning axis A11 of the turning mechanism 80 is fixed. However, the turning axis moving means 112 for moving the turning axis A11 is provided so that the turning axis A11 can be moved in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction. Also good. As the turning axis moving means 112, a stage that supports the turning shaft 84 and that can be slid in the vertical and horizontal directions is conceivable. The control unit 110 can control the swing axis moving unit 112 to move the swing axis A11, thereby further easily controlling the article discharge position (see FIG. 31). For example, when it is desired to increase the discharge position of the article, the swing axis moving means 112 may be controlled to increase the position of the swing axis A11. Further, the swivel axis moving means 112 moves the swivel axis A11 in the horizontal direction to discharge the article to a position further away in the horizontal direction, or the swivel axis moving means 112 is moved by a very short distance to set the discharge position of the article. Fine adjustment is also possible.

(J)
In the third embodiment, the transfer device 108 receives the container C that moves in the horizontal direction, but may receive the container C that drops in the vertical direction. If the container C is received when the tangential direction of the rotation of the holders 810a, 810b, and 810c is vertically downward, the free fall of the container C can be used, and the speed of transfer of articles can be increased. Further, if the container C is discharged in the vertical direction when the tangential direction of the rotation of the holders 810a, 810b, and 810c is in the vertical direction, the rotation is not hindered by the discharge of the container C and the speed is further increased. be able to.

(K)
In the third embodiment, the swivel mechanism 80 swivels the container C containing the article in the vertical plane around the swivel axis A11. However, the swivel mechanism 80 may swivel in a horizontal plane. Also in this case, like the transfer device 108 according to the above-described embodiment, the position where the article is discharged can be easily controlled, and the transfer can be performed at high speed using the turning speed. The same effect can be achieved.

  The weighing device, the combination weighing device, and the weighing method of the present invention have an effect of enabling high-speed weighing, and are not limited to weighing food such as potato chips and pickles, and can be used for various objects to be weighed. The present invention can be widely applied to weighing devices that perform weighing.

1 is a front view showing a weighing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the weighing device of FIG. 1. The side view which shows the supply part with which the measuring apparatus of FIG. 1 is provided. The partial cross section figure in the side view which shows the measurement part with which the measurement apparatus of FIG. 1 is provided. The top view which shows the measurement part of FIG. The side view which shows the stock part with which the measuring device of FIG. 1 is provided. The top view which shows the stock part of FIG. The side view which shows the discharge part with which the measuring apparatus of FIG. 1 is provided. The top view which shows the discharge part of FIG. (A)-(f) is a figure which shows the discharge method by the discharge part shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. (A) is a top view which shows a delivery part, (b) is a side view which shows a delivery part. The side view which shows a turning mechanism. The flowchart which shows the operation | movement in the supply and measurement process by the weighing | measuring apparatus of this invention. The flowchart which shows the operation | movement in the stock process by the measuring device of this invention. The flowchart which shows the operation | movement in the discharge process by the measuring device of this invention. 1 is a perspective view showing a combination weighing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The top view which shows the operation | movement which performs combination measurement by the combination measurement apparatus of FIG. Schematic of a combination weighing system. The front view of a combination weighing device. The top view of a combination weighing device. The front view of a transfer apparatus. The top view of a transfer apparatus. Sectional drawing of the end of a turning shaft and a 1st shaft. Sectional drawing of the other end of a turning shaft and a 1st shaft. Control block diagram. The figure showing reception of the container in a transfer apparatus. The figure showing rotation of the container in a transfer apparatus. The figure showing discharge | emission from the container of the articles | goods in a transfer apparatus. The figure showing discharge | emission from the container of the articles | goods in a transfer apparatus. The figure showing discharge | emission from the transfer apparatus of an empty container. The control block diagram of the combination measurement system which concerns on other embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Weighing device 12 Supply part 13 Weighing part 14 Stock part 15 Discharge part 16 Delivery part 17 Discharge chute 17a Lower opening 19 Turning mechanism 20 Control part 25a-25e Weighing device (weighing part)
28 Holder 30 Accumulator 31 Holder 34 Mechanism 35 Holder 37 Inclined plate 38 Reversing mechanism 45 Claw member (moving direction changing portion, holding release member)
51 Transmitter 60 Combination Weighing Device 80 Turning Mechanism (Swivel Means)
81a, 81b, 81c turning mechanism (holding release means, rotating means)
83a, 83b, 83c Arm members 810a, 810b, 810c Holder (holding means)
100 Combination Weighing System 102 Combination Weighing Device 105 Weighing Unit (Measuring Means)
106 Stock unit 108 Transfer device 110 Control unit 112 Axis moving means A1 to A4 Rotating shaft A11 to A14 Rotating shaft C Container C1 Collar M1 Motor M11 to M14 Motor R Zone

Claims (18)

A weighing unit for weighing while moving a container in which an object to be weighed is placed;
A stock unit for storing a plurality of the containers while moving the containers carried out from the weighing unit;
A discharge part for discharging the object to be weighed from the container while moving the container selectively taken out from the stock part;
A moving mechanism for moving the container in the weighing section, the stock section, and the discharge section;
A plurality of delivery sections for delivering while rotating the container at least at one location between the weighing section, the stock section and the discharge section;
Weighing device equipped with. The weighing device according to claim 1, wherein the delivery unit is disposed close to the weighing unit, the stock unit, and the discharge unit. In the vicinity of the delivery unit, further includes a moving direction changing unit that changes the moving direction of the container,
The weighing device according to claim 2. The weighing unit moves with the container;
The weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The weighing unit is in a relative stop state with respect to the container when weighing is performed.
The weighing device according to claim 4. A plurality of the weighing units are provided,
The weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The stock part is arranged immediately upstream of the discharge part,
The weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The weighing unit, the stock unit, and the discharge unit move the container in a plane.
The weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. At least one of the weighing unit, the stock unit, and the discharge unit moves the container in three dimensions.
The weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8. The weighing unit, the stock unit, and the discharge unit move a plurality of the containers continuously,
The weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 9. The moving mechanism rotates the weighing unit, the stock unit, and the discharge unit, and moves the container while the weighing unit, the stock unit, and the discharge unit rotate.
The weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 10. The weighing unit, the stock unit, and the discharge unit each have a holding unit that holds the container.
The weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 11. A delivery part for delivering the container is provided in at least one place between the weighing part, the stock part, and the discharge part, and the container is held in the holding part in the vicinity of the delivery part. A holding release member for releasing
The weighing device according to claim 12. A supply unit for supplying an object to be weighed to the moving container;
The weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 13. The container is constantly moving in each step from when the object to be weighed is supplied by the supply unit to when the object to be weighed is discharged by the discharge unit and moved again to the weighing unit.
The weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 14. A plurality of weighing devices according to any one of claims 1 to 15 are provided.
Combination weighing device. The delivery unit delivers the container at a fixed position while moving the container in at least one place between the weighing unit, the stock unit, and the discharge unit.
The weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 15. A moving mechanism having a single drive source for moving the container in the weighing section, the stock section, and the discharge section,
The weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

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