JP4046797B2

JP4046797B2 - Article conveying device

Info

Publication number: JP4046797B2
Application number: JP10249497A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 徹石井
Original assignee: エスアイ精工株式会社
Priority date: 1997-04-03
Filing date: 1997-04-03
Publication date: 2008-02-13
Anticipated expiration: 2017-04-03
Also published as: JPH10279058A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
この発明は、例えば、ハウスミカン、夏ミカン、りんご、西瓜、梨、柿、桃、芋等の果菜物、或いは、テニス、サッカー、野球、卓球等の球技用ボールのような略球形状を有する物品を搬送する作業に用いられる物品搬送装置に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来、上述例のような果菜物を搬送する装置としては、例えば、多数の各ローラを送り方向に対して所定間隔に隔てて配列し、減速機付き送り用モータの駆動力により各ローラを送り方向に回転して、各ローラ間に載置された果菜物を送り方向に順次搬送するローラコンベアがある。
【０００３】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかし、上述したローラコンベアにより果菜物を搬送する場合、各ローラ間に載置される果菜物の外径が小さいと、前後に配列した各ローラの谷間部分に果菜物が嵌り込むため、果菜物の前後移動（乗り移り）が阻止され、各ローラの回転力により果菜物を回転（例えば、約１８０度）することができるが、例えば、夏ミカン、西瓜等の外径が大きい果菜物を搬送する場合、各ローラ間に載置される果菜物の外径が大きくなるほど嵌り込み量が浅くなり、各ローラ間に対して果菜物が略水平に載置されるため、各ローラを送り方向に回転したとき、各ローラ間に載置された果菜物が送り方向に水平移動（乗り移り）してしまい、果菜物を表裏反転することができないという問題点を有している。且つ、果菜物の回転が不足（例えば、約１８０度以下）すると、果菜物の裏面側を検査することができず、果菜物の等階級を検査する作業及び等階級別に仕分けする作業が適確に行えないという問題点も有している。
【０００４】
この発明は上記問題に鑑み、径の大きい回転体と径の小さい回転体との間に物品を載置して搬送するので、各回転体の段差により物品の移動が阻止され、様々な大きさの物品を確実に回転することができ、物品の検査作業及び仕分け作業が適確に行える物品搬送装置の提供を目的とする。
【０００５】
【課題を解決するための手段】
請求項１記載の発明は、物品の搬送路上に該物品を搬送する搬送手段を設け、該搬送手段の搬送面に径の大きい回転体と径の小さい回転体とを送り方向に直交し、かつ、送り方向と直交する方向に上下揺動可能に多数架設し、上記回転体の下部周面と対向する位置に、上記径の大きい回転体と径の小さい回転体とに当接して該各回転体に対して回転力を付与する回転手段を設け、上記各回転体を、該各回転体間に物品が載置される間隔に隔てて送り方向に配列すると共に、上記径の大きい回転体に隣接して、該径の大きい回転体よりも径の小さい回転体を軸中心が低くなるように偏心して配列し、上記各回転体が上下揺動された際に、水平姿勢の各回転体よりも上方に突出される突出位置と放出姿勢の各回転体よりも上方に突出する没入位置とに回動規制される持上げ部材を各回転体の間に上下揺動可能に設けた物品搬送装置であることを特徴とする。
【０００６】
請求項２記載の発明は、搬送路側部に無端帯を架設し、該無端帯の搬送側縁部に径の大きい回転体と径の小さい回転体とを送り方向に直交し、かつ、送り方向と直交する方向に上下揺動可能に多数架設し、上記回転体の下部周面と対向する位置に、上記径の大きい回転体と径の小さい回転体とに当接して該各回転体に対して回転力を付与する回転手段を設け、上記各回転体を、該各回転体間に物品が載置される間隔に隔てて送り方向に配列すると共に、上記径の大きい回転体に隣接して、該径の大きい回転体よりも径の小さい回転体を軸中心が低くなるように偏心して配列し、上記各回転体が上下揺動された際に、水平姿勢の各回転体よりも上方に突出される突出位置と放出姿勢の各回転体よりも上方に突出する没入位置とに回動規制される持上げ部材を各回転体の間に上下揺動可能に設けた物品搬送装置であることを特徴とする。
【０００７】
請求項３記載の発明は、上記請求項１又は２記載の構成と併せて、上記径の大きい各回転体の間に、上記径の小さい回転体を複数配列した物品搬送装置であることを特徴とする。
【０００８】
請求項４記載の発明は、上記請求項１又は２記載の構成と併せて、上記径の大きい適宜数の各回転体を１組として送り方向に多数組配列し、該各組の隣接側に配列した各回転体間に上記径の小さい回転体を配列した物品搬送装置であることを特徴とする。
【０００９】
請求項５記載の発明は、物品の搬送路上に該物品を搬送する搬送手段を設け、該搬送手段の搬送面に径の大きい回転体と径の小さい回転体とを送り方向に直交して多数架設し、上記回転体の下部周面と対向する位置に、上記径の大きい回転体と径の小さい回転体とに当接して該各回転体に対して回転力を付与する回転手段を設け、上記各回転体を、該各回転体間に物品が載置される間隔に隔てて送り方向に配列すると共に、上記径の大きい回転体に対して、該径の回転体よりも径の小さい回転体を軸中心が低くなるように偏心して配列し、上記回転体に隣接して、該回転体の搬送面よりも上方へ出没可能な持上げ部材を配列し、上記搬送路上に設けられた検査部において物品を検査する際には、上記持上げ部材を上方に突出させて上記各回転体の外周面から物品の一部又は全部を非接触状態に浮上がらせる物品搬送装置であることを特徴とする。
【００１０】
【作用】
請求項１記載の物品搬送装置は、搬送手段の搬送面に対して送り方向に直交し、かつ、送り方向と直交する方向に上下揺動可能に架設された径の大きい回転体と、径の大きい回転体よりも軸中心が低くなるように偏心して配列した径の小さい回転体との間に物品を載置して搬送するので、径の小さい物品は、径の大きい回転体と径の小さい回転体とで支持され、径の大きい物品は、前後に配列した径の大きい回転体と、その間に配列した径の小さい回転体とで支持される。各回転体の段差により物品の移動（乗り移り）を阻止するので、物品の載置姿勢が安定し、物品の載置位置が変位するのを確実に防止することができる。また、大小の各回転体を１つの回転手段により回転して、各回転体間に載置された物品を回転（例えば、約１８０度）するので、例えば、大、中、小等の大きさの異なる様々な物品を回転することができ、物品の検査作業及び仕分け作業が適確に行える。また、各回転体が水平姿勢に揺動された際に、持上げ部材を、水平姿勢の各回転体よりも上方に突出して、各回転体の外周面から物品の一部又は全部を非接触状態に浮上がらせる。各回転体が放出姿勢に揺動された際に、持上げ部材を、放出姿勢の各回転体よりも上方に突出して、各回転体間に載置された物品を突き上げて強制的に排出する。
【００１１】
請求項２記載の物品搬送装置は、無端帯の搬送側縁部に対して送り方向に直交し、かつ、送り方向と直交する方向に上下揺動可能に架設された径の大きい回転体と、径の大きい回転体よりも軸中心が低くなるように偏心して配列した径の小さい回転体との間に物品を載置して搬送するので、例えば、大、中、小等の様々な大きさの物品が各回転体により支持される。各回転体の段差により物品の移動（乗り移り）を阻止するので、物品の載置姿勢が安定し、物品の載置位置が変位するのを確実に防止することができる。また、大小の各回転体を１つの回転手段により回転して、各回転体間に載置された物品を回転（例えば、約１８０度）するので、大きさの異なる様々な物品を回転することができ、物品の検査作業及び仕分け作業が適確に行える。また、各回転体が水平姿勢に揺動された際に、持上げ部材を、水平姿勢の各回転体よりも上方に突出して、各回転体の外周面から物品の一部又は全部を非接触状態に浮上がらせる。各回転体が放出姿勢に揺動された際に、持上げ部材を、放出姿勢の各回転体よりも上方に突出して、各回転体間に載置された物品を突き上げて強制的に排出する。
【００１２】
請求項３記載の物品搬送装置は、上記請求項１又は２記載の作用と併せて、径の大きい各回転体の間に径の小さい回転体を複数配列することで、径の小さい回転体の個数に対応して径の大きい各回転体の前後間隔が広くなり、例えば、夏ミカン、西瓜等の外径の大きな物品を大径の各回転体間に載置することができ、物品の下部周面に対して複数個の各回転体が同時に対接されるので、物品と各回転体との接触面積が大きくなり、大きな物品を回転するのに必要な接触抵抗を得られるため、様々な大きさの物品を回転する作業に適用することができる。
【００１３】
請求項４記載の物品搬送装置は、上記請求項１又は２記載の作用と併せて、径の大きい適宜数の各回転体を１組として送り方向に多数組配列し、各組の隣接側に配列した各回転体間に径の小さい回転体を配列することで、大径の各回転体間に物品が載置されたとき、その各回転体の回転力により物品が移動（乗り移り）され、大径の回転体と小径の回転体との間に物品が必ず移載されるので、大径及び径の小さい各回転体の段差により物品の移動（乗り移り）が阻止され、各回転体の回転力により物品を確実に表裏反転することができる。
【００１４】
請求項５記載の物品搬送装置は、搬送手段の搬送面に対して送り方向に直交して架設された径の大きい回転体と、径の大きい回転体よりも軸中心が低くなるように偏心して配列した径の小さい回転体との間に物品を載置して搬送するので、各回転体の段差により物品の移動（乗り移り）が阻止され、物品の載置姿勢が安定し、物品の載置位置が変位するのを確実に防止することができる。また、大小の各回転体を１つの回転手段により回転して、各回転体間に載置された物品を回転（例えば、約１８０度）するので、例えば、大、中、小等の大きさの異なる様々な物品を回転することができる。また、搬送路上に設けられた検査部において物品を検査する際には、持上げ部材を該回転体の搬送面よりも上方へ突出させ、各回転体の外周面から物品の一部又は全部を非接触状態に浮上がらせる。各回転体間に嵌り込んだり、斜め又は起立した楕円形状の物品を水平姿勢に向き修正し、各回転体間に載置された物品を持上げた状態のまま搬送する。また、持上げ部材を回転体の搬送面よりも下方に没入させ、物品を回転体に再び載置して、各回転体の回転力により物品を回転する。
【００１５】
【発明の効果】
この発明によれば、径の大きい回転体と径の小さい回転体との間に物品を載置して搬送するので、各回転体間に載置される物品の嵌り込み量が深く、各回転体の段差により物品の移動が確実に阻止されるため、物品の載置姿勢が安定し、物品の載置位置が変位するのを確実に防止することができる。しかも、物品が載置された各回転体を回転手段により回転したとき、各回転体との段差により物品の乗り移りが阻止されるため、大きさの異なる様々な物品を確実に回転することができ、物品の検査作業及び仕分け作業が適確に行える。且つ、径の大きい回転体よりも径の小さい回転体の回転速度が速いため、物品の下部周面に対して回転力が積極的に付与され、物品を回転する作業が確実に行える。
【００１６】
さらに、径の大きい回転体に対して径の小さい回転体を若干低くなるように偏心して配列することで、各回転体の段差が大きくなり、物品が移動（乗り移り）するのを確実に阻止することができる。且つ、径の大きい各回転体間に径の小さい回転体を複数配列することで、例えば、夏ミカン、西瓜等の外径が大きな物品を各回転体間に載置することができ、物品の下部周面に対して少なくとも４個の各回転体が対接されるので、物品と各回転体との接触面積が大きくなり、大きな物品を回転するのに必要な接触抵抗が得られるため、様々な大きさの物品を回転する作業に適用することができる。
【００１７】
さらにまた、径の大きい適宜数の各回転体を多数組配列し、各組の隣接側に配列した各回転体間に径の小さい回転体を配列することで、大径の各回転体間に物品が載置されたとき、その各回転体の回転力により物品が移動され、大径の回転体と小径の回転体との間に物品が必ず移載されるので、各回転体の回転力により物品を確実に回転することができる。
【００１８】
【実施例】
この発明の一実施例を以下図面に基づいて詳述する。
図面は物品の一例として、略球形状を有する果菜物を等階級別に仕分けする作業又は工程に物品搬送装置を用いた第１実施例の果菜物仕分け装置を示し、図１、図２に於いて、果菜物仕分け装置１は、分散用コンベア２により搬送される多数の果菜物Ａ…を整列用コンベア３…に夫々振分け、整列用コンベア３…に振分けられた果菜物Ａ…を仕分け用コンベア４…に順次載置する。仕分け用コンベア４上の検査部ａに配設した回転機６により果菜物Ａ…を表裏反転し、同部に配設した等階級検査装置５により果菜物Ａ…を撮像して等階級を判定する。その判定に基づいて、仕分け用コンベア４上の仕分け部ｂ〜ｆに配設した分配用コンベア７…に果菜物Ａ…を等階級別に放出し、仕分け部ｇに配設した回収用コンベア８に規格外の果菜物Ａを放出する構成である。
【００１９】
上述した仕分け用コンベア４は、図３、図４、図５にも示すように、例えば、チェーン、ベルト等で構成される１本又は複数本の無端帯１８を送り方向に平行して搬送路側部に架設している。実施例では２本の無端帯１８，１８を、始端部及び終端部に軸支したスプロケット１９，１９間に張架し、スプロケット１９，１９の搬送側軸端部に復帰板２０，２０を固定して、始端側下部に配設した減速機付き送り用モータ２１の駆動力により、スプロケット２１ａ，２１ｂ及び駆動チェーン２１ｃを介して、無端帯１８，１８及び復帰板２０，２０を送り方向に回転させ、無端帯１８，１８の搬送側縁部に架設された大径の回転体２４…及び小径の回転体２５…を、整列用コンベア３よりも速い速度で送り方向に周回移動させる。
【００２０】
無端帯１８，１８の上縁部間には、取付け部材２６を送り方向に対して等間隔に隔てて多数個固定し、取付け部材２６の前端側上面部に、複数個（例えば４個）の軸支部材２７…を送り方向に対して所定間隔に隔てて取付け、軸支部材２７…を送り方向に対して直交する方向に前後回動可能に枢着している。且つ、軸支部材２７…の上端部に、支軸２８の基端側軸部を送り方向に対して直交する方向に固定し、支軸２８…の遊端側軸部に、中央部外周面から両端部外周面に向けて大径となる中空又は中実に形成した大径の回転体２４と、小径の回転体２５とを送り方向に対して１本ずつ交互に取付けると共に、回転体２４，２５を送り方向に対して直交する方向に上下揺動可能に枢着し、送り方向に対して果菜物Ａが載置される前後間隔に隔てて鍵盤状に配列している。また、上述した鼓形状の回転体２４，２５に代えて、一端側外周面から他端側外周面に向けて同一外径となる形状に形成した回転体２４，２５を用いてもよい。
【００２１】
支軸２８…は、軸支部材２７…の上端部に対して上下段違いとなるように固定され、軸支部材２７の上位側に固定した支軸２８の遊端側軸部に、大径に形成した回転体２４を自由回転可能に軸受し、下位側に固定した支軸２８の遊端側軸部に、小径に形成した回転体２５を自由回転可能に軸受して、図９に示すように、回転体２４の軸中心に対して、回転体２５の軸中心を約ｈ高さだけ低くなるように偏心している。回転体２４，２５を送り方向に対して上下段違いとなるように取付けている。なお、回転体２４，２５の外周面を、例えば、合成ゴム等の接触抵抗の大きい部材（図示省略）により被覆又は形成して、果菜物Ａを表裏反転するのに必要な接触抵抗を付与し、且つ、果菜物Ａの外周面に傷が付くのを防止している。或いは、回転体２４，２５の外周面に、例えば、縞状、格子状、網目状等の突条部（図示省略）を複数条又は多数条形成してもよい。実施例では、取付け部材２６…に回転体２４，２４，２５，２５を４個ずつ取付けているが、例えば、回転体２４，２５を２個又は１個ずつ取付けてもよい。
【００２２】
取付け部材２６の上端部には、係止レバー２９を送り方向に対して直交する方向に上下揺動可能に枢着し、軸支部材２７の上端部に固定した係止軸３１に対して、係止レバー２９の係止爪３２が係止される方向にバネ部材３０で回動付勢している。取付け部材２６の上端部に固定した規制軸３３に軸支部材２７及び係止レバー２９を当接して、係止軸３１と係止爪３２とが係止される位置に回動規制し、軸支部材２７の下端部に形成した規制突起３４を、取付け部材２６の前端部に固定した当接部材３５に当接して、回転体２４，２５を斜め下向きとなる放出姿勢に揺動規制する。係止レバー２９を係止固定又は係止解除することで、果菜物Ａが載置される水平姿勢と、果菜物Ａが放出される放出姿勢とに回転体２４，２５が上下揺動される。軸支部材２７を軸支する支軸２７ａ上には、回転体２４，２５の間に対して出没許容される厚さ及び形状であって、果菜物Ａが水平姿勢に支持される間隔に隔てて持上げ部材３６を上下揺動可能に枢着している。実施例では、長尺形状及び短尺形状に形成した４本の持上げ部材３６…を一体的に形成又は連結している。
【００２３】
持上げ部材３６は、搬送路の始端部から検査部ａの後側検査領域に架設したガイド部材３９に沿って周回ガイドされ、図６に示すように、持上げ部材３６をガイド部材３９に係合したとき、水平姿勢の回転体２４，２５間よりも持上げ部材３６が若干上方に突出され、回転体２４，２５間に載置された果菜物Ａが突き上げられる高さであって、回転体２４，２５の外周面から果菜物Ａの少なくとも一部又は全部を非接触状態に浮上がらせる突出位置に周回ガイドされる。持上げ部材３６をガイド部材３９から脱落したとき、図７に示すように、係止レバー２９を軸支する支軸２９ａに持上げ部材３６の基端側が当接され、水平姿勢の回転体２４，２５間よりも下方であって、放出姿勢の回転体２４，２５間よりも持上げ部材３６が若干上方に突出されると共に、その回転体２４，２５よりも傾斜が小さく、回転体２４，２５間に載置された果菜物Ａが突き上げられる高さであって、放出方向に向けて果菜物Ａが排出される高さ及び傾斜となる没入位置に回動規制される。
【００２４】
前述した等階級検査装置５は、図２、図８に示すように、仕分け用コンベア４上に設定した検査部ａを前側検査領域と後側検査領域とに分割し、前側検査領域には、果菜物Ａの上部周面と対向して撮像用カメラ４３を配設し、その左側周面と対向して撮像用カメラ４４を配設している。直後には、果菜物Ａの上部周面と対向して撮像用カメラ４５を配設している。後側検査領域には、果菜物Ａの上部周面と対向して撮像用カメラ４６を配設し、その左側周面と対向して撮像用カメラ４７を配設している。直後には、果菜物Ａの上部周面と対向して撮像用カメラ
４８を配設している。
【００２５】
撮像用カメラ４３〜４８は、例えば、ＣＣＤカメラ、画素子（ＣＣＤ）等の撮像手段で構成され、果菜物Ａの等階級を判定するための装置本体５１と、果菜物Ａの映像を写し出すためのモニタ５２とに接続すると共に、検査部ａに配設した物品検出センサS1、原点検出センサS2、通過検出センサS3と、仕分け部ｂ〜ｇに配設した原点検出センサS2、通過検出センサS3、係止解除器５５とを装置本体５１に接続し、前後検査領域には、例えば、ハロゲンランプ、紫外線ランプ等で構成される照光器５３，５４を配設している。且つ、撮像用カメラ４３，４５，４６、４８と対応して、果菜物Ａの通過を検知する物品検出センサS1と、先頭の回転体２５と対応して取付け部材２６に突設された原点片２６ａの通過を検知する原点検出センサS2と、回転体２４，２５と対応して取付け部材２６に突設された検出片２６ｂの通過を検知する通過検出センサS3とを夫々配設し、仕分け部ｂ〜ｇには、原点検出センサS2と、通過検出センサS3とを夫々配設している。
【００２６】
上述した装置本体５１は、センサS1，S2，S3による検知に対応して、回転体２４，２５間に載置された果菜物Ａを撮像用カメラ４３〜４８で撮像し、撮像用カメラ４３〜４８で撮像した画像データと、回転体２４，２５の移動数データとを対応させて記憶し、その画像データと、予め格納された等階級データとを比較して等階級（例えば、色、糖度、傷、腐り、外径、形状、高さ、幅、体積、偏平度、成熟度、等階級に該当しない規格外）を判定し、撮像用カメラ４５，４８で撮像した画像データに基づいて果菜物Ａの腐り具合を判定する。且つ、センサS2，S3による検知に基づいて、仕分け部ｂ〜ｇに移動される回転体２４，２５の通過数をカウンタで計数し、判定と対応する仕分け部ｂ〜ｇに果菜物Ａが搬送されたとき、仕分け部ｂ〜ｇに配設した仕分け器５５…を独立作動して、果菜物Ａが載置された回転体２４，２５を放出姿勢に上下揺動する。
【００２７】
仕分け器５５は、図７に示すように、仕分け用コンベア４上に設定した仕分け部ｂ〜ｇの左側部に配設され、上述した判定に基づいて、例えば、ソレノイド、モータ、エアシリンダ等で構成される仕分け器５５を作動し、判定と対応する回転体２５の係止レバー２９を仕分け器５５の解除部材５５ａで押下して、係止レバー２９による係止を解除するので、果菜物Ａが載置された回転体２４，２５のみが放出姿勢に揺動される。一方、回転体２４，２５及び持上げ部材３６…は、復帰板２０，２０に沿って回帰移動され、係止軸３１と係止爪３２とを互いに係止して、水平姿勢に回動復帰させる。持上げ部材３６…は、ガイド部材３９に沿って回帰移動される。また、回転体２４，２５を自重又はバネ等の復帰手段により回動復帰させてもよい。
【００２８】
前述した回転機６は、図９に示すように、検査部ａの前段側と、前後検査領域の中間部とに配設され、回転体２４，２５の遊端側下部周面に対して圧接される高さ位置に、例えば、合成ゴム等の接触抵抗の大きい部材であって、回転体２４，２５の遊端側に対して圧接される幅及び長さに形成した回転付与ベルト５６を送り方向に平行して張架している。回転付与ベルト５６は、始端部及び終端部に軸支したプーリ５７，５７と、中央上部に架設したベルトガイド５８とに張架され、回転付与ベルト５６の中間部をベルトガイド５８により若干持上げた状態に周回ガイドする。表裏反転時に於いて、終端側プーリ５７に直結した減速機付き回転用モータ５９の駆動力により、回転体２４，２５の周回方向と一致する方向に回転付与ベルト５６を高速回転（送り速度以上）させ、或いは、周回方向と対向する方向に低速回転又は回転停止させて、回転付与ベルト５６に圧接される回転体２４，２５を回転させながら周回移動することで、回転体２４，２５の小径側周面と大径側周面とに生じる周速差により大中小の果菜物Ａが同一領域で前後方向に表裏反転（例えば、１８０度）される。他の回転方法として、図１０に示すように、回転付与ベルト５６と同一部材で形成した回転付与パッド６０に、回転体２４，２５を圧接しながら送り方向に周回移動させることで、上述と同様に、回転体２４，２５間に載置された果菜物Ａを表裏反転することができる。
【００２９】
図示実施例は上記の如く構成するものにして、以下、果菜物仕分け装置１により果菜物Ａを等階級別に仕分けするときの動作を説明する。
【００３０】
先ず、図１、図２、図３に示すように、分散用コンベア２により搬送される果菜物Ａ…を整列用コンベア３…に夫々振分け、整列用コンベア３に振分けられた果菜物Ａ…を仕分け用コンベア４の回転体２４，２５間に順次移載する。回転体２４，２５間に載置された果菜物Ａの向き及び姿勢を修正する必要がある場合、図９に示すように、回転機６を駆動して、果菜物Ａが載置された回転体２４，２５を回転することで、回転体２４，２５の段差により果菜物Ａの前後方向に対する乗り移りが阻止されるため、回転体２４，２５の回転力により大中小の果菜物Ａが回転され、向き及び姿勢を修正することができる。且つ、持上げ部材３６…を上方に突出して、回転体２４，２５間に嵌り込んだり、斜め又は起立した楕円形状の果菜物Ａを水平姿勢に向き修正し、回転体２４，２５間に載置された果菜物Ａを持上げた状態のまま搬送する。
【００３１】
次に、検査部ａの前側検査領域に於いて、図８に示すように、等階級検査装置５を構成するセンサS1，S2，S3の検知に対応して、果菜物Ａの表側周面及び左側周面を撮像用カメラ４３〜４５により撮像し、撮像用カメラ４３〜４５で撮像した画像データと、回転体２４，２５の移動数データとを対応させて装置本体５１に記憶する。
【００３２】
次に、持上げ部材３６…を再び没入させ、撮像済みの果菜物Ａを回転体２４，２４，２５上に載置する。前側検査領域の直後に於いて、図９に示すように、回転機６を駆動して、果菜物Ａが載置された回転体２４，２４，２５を同一方向に回転することで、回転体２４，２５の段差により果菜物Ａの前後方向に対する乗り移りが阻止され、回転体２４，２４，２５の回転力により大中小の果菜物Ａが表裏反転（約１８０度）される。且つ、回転体２４，２５の小径側周面と大径側周面とに生じる周速差により大中小の果菜物Ａが同一領域で表裏反転される。
【００３３】
次に、持上げ部材３６…を上方に突出して、回転体２４，２５間に載置された果菜物Ａの再び持上げ、検査部ａの後側検査領域に於いて、センサS1，S2，S3の検知に対応して、果菜物Ａの裏側周面及び右側周面を撮像用カメラ４６〜４８により撮像し、撮像用カメラ４６〜４８で撮像した画像データと、回転体２４，２５の移動数データとを対応させて装置本体５１に記憶する。
【００３４】
次に、持上げ部材３６…を没入させ、果菜物Ａを回転体２４，２５間に再び載置して搬送する。同時に、装置本体５１は、撮像用カメラ４３〜４８で撮像した画像データと、予め格納された等階級データとを比較して、等階級を総合判定する。センサS2，S3による検知に基づいて、判定と対応する仕分け部ｂ〜ｇに果菜物Ａが搬送されたとき、図７に示すように、仕分け部ｂ〜ｇに配設した仕分け器５５…を独立作動して、果菜物Ａが載置された回転体２４，２５のみを放出姿勢に揺動させ、仕分け部ｂ〜ｆに配設した分配用コンベア７…に放出する。以下同様に、装置本体５１による判定に基づいて、仕分け部ｂ〜ｇに移動される果菜物Ａ…を等階級別に放出し、仕分け部ｂ〜ｆに配設した分配用コンベア７…は果菜物Ａ…を次工程（例えば、箱詰め工程）に搬送し、仕分け部ｇに配設した回収用コンベア８は規格外の果菜物Ａ…を回収部（図示省略）に搬送する。
【００３５】
以上のように、仕分け用コンベア４を構成する無端帯１８に大径の回転体２４と小径の回転体２５とを交互に取付け、回転体２４に対して回転体２５を若干低くなるように偏心して配列しているので、回転体２４，２５の段差が大きく、搬送時に於いて、前後に配列した回転体２４，２５間に果菜物Ａが乗り移るのを確実に阻止することができる。且つ、回転体２４，２５間に様々な大きさの果菜物Ａを載置して搬送するので、回転体２４，２４間に載置された果菜物Ａの嵌り込み量が深く、果菜物Ａの載置姿勢が安定し、果菜物Ａの載置位置が変位するのを確実に防止することができる。
【００３６】
しかも、果菜物Ａが載置された回転体２４，２４，２５を回転機６により回転したとき、回転体２４，２５の段差により果菜物Ａの乗り移りが阻止されるため、例えば、大、中、小等の大きさの異なる様々な果菜物Ａを回転体２４，２５の回転力により表裏反転することができ、果菜物Ａの表裏両面を検査する作業及び等階級別に仕分けする作業が適確に行える。且つ、回転体２４よりも回転体２５の回転速度が速いため、果菜物Ａの下部周面に対して回転力が積極的に付与され、表裏反転する作業が確実に行える。
【００３７】
図１１は、大径に形成した回転体２４…の間に、小径に形成した複数個（例えば、２個、３個）の回転体２５，２５を配列した第２実施例の仕分け用コンベア４を示し、第１実施例の回転機６により回転体２４，２５を回転して、大径及び小径に形成した回転体２４，２５の回転力により、回転体２４，２５及び回転体２５，２５間に載置された大中小の果菜物Ａを表裏反転するので、第１実施例と同様に、回転体２４，２５の段差により果菜物Ａの乗り移りが阻止され、回転体２４，２５及び回転体２５，２５間に載置された大中小の果菜物Ａを確実に表裏反転することができる。且つ、前後に配列した回転体２４…の載置間隔が広くなるため、例えば、夏ミカン等の果菜物Ａよりも大きな果菜物Ａ（例えば、西瓜等）を回転体２４，２４間に載置することができる。果菜物Ａの下部周面に対して４個の回転体２４，２４，２５，２５が同時に対接されるので、３個の回転体２４，２４，２５を対接するよりも果菜物Ａに対する接触面積が大きくなり、大きな果菜物Ａを表裏回転するのに必要な接触抵抗が得られるため、様々な大きさの果菜物Ａを回転する作業に適用することができる。
【００３８】
図１２は、大径に形成した複数個（例えば、２個、３個）の回転体２４…を１組として送り方向に対して多数組配列し、各組の隣接側に配列した回転体２４，２４の間に、小径に形成した回転体２５を１個又は複数配列した第３実施例の仕分け用コンベア４を示し、第１実施例の回転機６により回転体２４，２５を回転すると共に、大径に形成された回転体２４…の回転力により、回転体２４…間に載置された大中小の果菜物Ａが前後移動して、段違いに配列した回転体２４，２５間に果菜物Ａを必ず乗り移らせるので、第１実施例と同様に、回転体２４，２５の段差により果菜物Ａの乗り移りが阻止され、回転体２４，２４，２５上に載置された大中小の果菜物Ａを確実に表裏反転することができる。また、複数組配列してなる対向側の回転体２４…の間に、複数個（例えば、２個、３個等）の回転体２４，２５を配列してもよい。
【００３９】
図１３は、回転体２４を左右分割してなる円錐部２４ａ，２４ａを相対向して軸受し、回転体２５を左右分割してなる円錐部２５ａ，２５ａを相対向して配列した第４実施例の仕分け用コンベア４を示し、第１実施例の回転機６により回転体２４の円錐部２４ａ，２４ａ及び回転体２５の円錐部２５ａ，２５ａを同一方向に回転するので、回転体２４，２４，２５上に載置された大中小の果菜物Ａを確実に表裏反転することができ、第１実施例と同様に、果菜物Ａを検査する作業及び仕分けする作業が適確に行える。また、円筒形状又は円柱形状に形成した回転体２４の円錐部２４ａ，２４ａ及び回転体２５の円錐部２５ａ，２５ａをＶ字形に傾斜して軸受するもよく、上述と同様に、果菜物Ａを表裏反転することができる。さらにまた、回転体２４の円錐部２４ａ，２４ａ及び回転体２５の円錐部２５ａ，２５ａを相反する方向に独立して回転することで、果菜物Ａを水平回転することができ、果菜物Ａの全周面を検査する作業が確実に行える。なお、回転体２４，２５は、果菜物Ａの大きさに対応して拡縮調節可能に設けている。
【００４０】
図１４は、左右に張架した無端帯１８に、円錐形状に形成した大径及び小径の回転体２４，２５を相対向して配列した第５実施例の仕分け用コンベア４を示し、第１実施例の回転機６により左右の回転体２４，２５を同一方向に回転して、回転体２４，２５間に載置された大中小の果菜物Ａを表裏反転するので、第１実施例と同様に、果菜物Ａを検査する作業及び仕分けする作業が適確に行える。且つ、左右の回転体２４，２５を放出姿勢に揺動したとき、予め放出姿勢に揺動規制された左右の持上げ部材３６…に沿って果菜物Ａが下方中央部に放出されるため、果菜物Ａの放出位置及び放出姿勢を規制することができる。且つ、果菜物Ａの放出速度が抑えられるため、果菜物Ａの商品価値が損なわれるのを防止することができる。また、左右の回転体２４，２５を互い違いに配列しても、上述と同様の作用効果を奏することができる。
【００４１】
図１５は、左右に張架した無端帯１８，１８の間に大径及び小径の回転体２４，２５を送り方向に対して１本ずつ交互に架設した第６実施例の仕分け用コンベア４を示し、第１実施例の回転機６により回転体２４，２５を回転して、回転体２４，２５間に載置された大中小の果菜物Ａを表裏反転するので、第１実施例と同様に、果菜物Ａの全周面を確実に検査することができ、果菜物Ａの等階級が適確に判定できる。なお、回転体２４，２５間に載置された果菜物Ａを等階級別に仕分けする場合、等階級検査装置５による判定に基づいて、回転体２４，２５間に載置された大中小の果菜物Ａを、例えば、挾持アーム、吸着パッド、プッシャ等の放出手段（図示省略）により放出方向に移動させ、仕分け部ｂ〜ｆに配設した分配用コンベア７…に果菜物Ａを等階級別に放出し、仕分け部ｇに配設した回収用コンベア８に規格外の果菜物Ａを放出する。
【００４２】
この発明の構成と、上述の実施例との対応において、
この発明の物品は、実施例の果菜物Ａに対応し、
以下同様に、
物品搬送装置は、仕分け用コンベア４に対応し、
搬送手段は、無端帯１８に対応し、
回転手段は、回転機６及び回転付与ベルト５６、回転付与パッド６０に対応するも、
この発明は、上述の実施例の構成のみに限定されるものではない。
【００４３】
上述した実施例では、仕分け用コンベア４を構成する回転体２４，２５をｈ高さ偏心して配列しているが、例えば、回転体２４，２５を同一高さに配列してもよく、回転体２４，２５の外径寸法に対応する高さだけ段差ができるため、実施例と同等の作用効果を奏することができる。
【００４４】
また、本発明の装置を、果菜物Ａを検査する作業及び仕分けする作業に用いた例を説明したが、例えば、テニス、サッカー、野球、卓球等の球技用ボールを検査する作業にも適用することができ、実施例の果菜物Ａのみに用途が限定されるものではない。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】果菜物仕分け装置の全体構成を示す平面図。
【図２】仕分け用コンベアによる果菜物の搬送状態を示す側面図。
【図３】果菜物の搬送状態を示す平面図。
【図４】大小回転体の取付け状態を示す背面図。
【図５】大小回転体の取付け状態を示す平面図。
【図６】持上げ部材の出没状態を示す背面図。
【図７】回転体及び持上げ部材を放出姿勢に揺動した状態を示す背面図。
【図８】等階級検査装置を構成する撮像用カメラの配置状態を示す斜視図。
【図９】回転機を構成する回転付与ベルトの圧接状態を示す側面図。
【図１０】回転付与パッドの圧接状態を示す側面図。
【図１１】第２実施例の仕分け用コンベアを示す側面図。
【図１２】第３実施例の仕分け用コンベアを示す側面図。
【図１３】第４実施例の仕分け用コンベアを示す平面図。
【図１４】第５実施例の仕分け用コンベアを示す平面図。
【図１５】第６実施例の仕分け用コンベアを示す平面図。
【符号の説明】
Ａ…果菜物
１…果菜物仕分け装置
２…分散用コンベア
３…整列用コンベア
４…仕分け用コンベア
５…等階級検査装置
６…回転機
７…分配用コンベア
８…回収用コンベア
１８…無端帯
２４，２５…回転体
２４ａ，２５ａ…円錐部
３６…持上げ部材
４３〜４８…撮像用カメラ
５１…装置本体
５５…仕分け器
５６…回転付与ベルト
６０…回転付与パッド[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention has a substantially spherical shape, for example, fruit vegetables such as house oranges, summer oranges, apples, raisins, pears, strawberries, peaches, cocoons, or ball games such as tennis, soccer, baseball, table tennis, etc. The present invention relates to an article conveying apparatus used for an article conveying operation.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as an apparatus for transporting fruit vegetables as in the above example, for example, a large number of rollers are arranged at predetermined intervals in the feed direction, and each roller is fed by the driving force of a feed motor with a speed reducer. There is a roller conveyor that rotates in the direction and sequentially conveys fruits and vegetables placed between the rollers in the feed direction.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when transporting fruit and vegetables by the roller conveyor described above, if the fruit and vegetables placed between the rollers have a small outer diameter, the fruit and vegetables are fitted in the valleys of the rollers arranged in the front and rear. Can be rotated (for example, about 180 degrees) by the rotational force of each roller. For example, summer vegetables such as mandarin oranges and west rice cakes are transported. In this case, the larger the outer diameter of the fruits and vegetables placed between the rollers, the smaller the amount of fitting, and the fruits and vegetables are placed almost horizontally between the rollers, so each roller is rotated in the feed direction. In this case, there is a problem that the vegetable products placed between the rollers are horizontally moved (transferred) in the feeding direction, and the vegetable products cannot be reversed upside down. In addition, if the rotation of the fruit and vegetables is insufficient (for example, about 180 degrees or less), the back side of the fruit and vegetables cannot be inspected, and the work for inspecting the equal classes of the fruit vegetables and the work for sorting by the equal classes are appropriate. There is also a problem that it cannot be performed.
[0004]
In view of the above problems, the present invention places and transports articles between a rotating body having a large diameter and a rotating body having a small diameter. It is an object of the present invention to provide an article transporting apparatus that can reliably rotate the article and can perform the inspection and sorting of the article accurately.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 A conveying means for conveying the article on a conveying path of the article, A large number of rotating bodies having a large diameter and a rotating body having a small diameter are arranged on the conveying surface of the conveying means so as to be vertically swingable in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction and perpendicular to the feeding direction, In a position facing the lower peripheral surface of the rotating body, Rotating means is provided to contact the rotating body having a large diameter and the rotating body having a small diameter so as to apply a rotational force to the rotating body, and the article is placed between the rotating bodies. And arranged in the feed direction at an interval, and arranged adjacent to the large-diameter rotating body and eccentrically arranged such that the rotating body having a smaller diameter than the large-diameter rotating body has a lower axis center, When each of the rotating bodies is swung up and down, the rotation is restricted to a protruding position protruding above each rotating body in a horizontal posture and an immersion position protruding above each rotating body in a discharging posture. It is an article conveying apparatus in which a lifting member is provided between each rotating body so as to be swingable up and down.
[0006]
The invention according to claim 2 is provided on the side of the conveyance path. An endless belt is installed and the A large number of rotating bodies with a large diameter and a rotating body with a small diameter are installed at the conveyance side edge of the endless belt so as to be perpendicular to the feeding direction and swingable in the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction. In a position facing the lower peripheral surface of the rotating body, Rotating means is provided to contact the rotating body having a large diameter and the rotating body having a small diameter so as to apply a rotational force to the rotating body, and the article is placed between the rotating bodies. And arranged in the feed direction at an interval, and arranged adjacent to the large-diameter rotating body and eccentrically arranged such that the rotating body having a smaller diameter than the large-diameter rotating body has a lower axis center, When each of the rotating bodies is swung up and down, the rotation is restricted to a protruding position protruding above each rotating body in a horizontal posture and an immersion position protruding above each rotating body in a discharging posture. It is an article conveying apparatus in which a lifting member is provided between each rotating body so as to be swingable up and down.
[0007]
The invention described in claim 3 is an article transporting device in which a plurality of rotating bodies having a small diameter are arranged between the rotating bodies having a large diameter, in addition to the configuration described in claim 1 or 2. And
[0008]
In the invention according to claim 4, in combination with the configuration according to claim 1 or 2, an appropriate number of each rotating body having a large diameter is arranged as a set in the feed direction, and adjacent to each set. The article conveying apparatus is characterized in that the rotating bodies having the small diameter are arranged between the arranged rotating bodies.
[0009]
The invention according to claim 5 A conveying means for conveying the article on a conveying path of the article, A large number of rotating bodies with large diameters and rotating bodies with small diameters are installed on the conveying surface of the conveying means perpendicular to the feeding direction, In a position facing the lower peripheral surface of the rotating body, Rotating means is provided to contact the rotating body having a large diameter and the rotating body having a small diameter so as to apply a rotational force to the rotating body, and the article is placed between the rotating bodies. And arranged in the feed direction at intervals of a predetermined distance, and with respect to the rotating body having a large diameter, a rotating body having a smaller diameter than the rotating body having the diameter is arranged eccentrically so that the shaft center is lowered, and the rotation A lifting member that can be projected and retracted above the conveying surface of the rotating body is arranged adjacent to the body, and when the article is inspected in the inspection section provided on the conveying path, the lifting member protrudes upward. Thus, the article transporting apparatus floats a part or all of the article in a non-contact state from the outer peripheral surface of each rotating body.
[0010]
[Action]
The article conveying apparatus according to claim 1 is a rotating body having a large diameter that is orthogonal to the feeding direction with respect to the conveying surface of the conveying means and is configured to swing up and down in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction. Since the article is placed and transported between the rotating body having a small diameter and arranged eccentrically so that the axis center is lower than that of the large rotating body, the article having a small diameter has a small diameter and the rotating body having a small diameter. An article having a large diameter and supported by a rotating body is supported by a rotating body having a large diameter arranged in the front and rear and a rotating body having a small diameter arranged therebetween. Since the article is prevented from moving (transferring) by the steps of the respective rotating bodies, the article placement posture is stabilized, and the article placement position can be reliably prevented from being displaced. Also, each large and small rotating body is rotated by one rotating means, and the article placed between the rotating bodies is rotated (for example, about 180 degrees). It is possible to rotate various articles of different sizes, and to perform inspection work and sorting work of the goods accurately. Further, when each rotating body is swung in a horizontal posture, the lifting member protrudes upward from each rotating body in the horizontal posture, and a part or all of the article is in a non-contact state from the outer peripheral surface of each rotating body. To surface. When each rotating body is swung to the discharging posture, the lifting member protrudes above the rotating members in the discharging posture, and the article placed between the rotating members is pushed up and forcibly discharged.
[0011]
The article conveying apparatus according to claim 2 is a rotating body having a large diameter that is orthogonal to the conveying direction with respect to the conveying side edge of the endless belt, and is configured to swing up and down in a direction orthogonal to the feeding direction. Since the article is placed and transported between the rotating body having a small diameter and arranged eccentrically so that the axis center is lower than the rotating body having a large diameter, for example, various sizes such as large, medium, and small are provided. Are supported by each rotating body. Since the article is prevented from moving (transferring) by the steps of the respective rotating bodies, the article placement posture is stabilized, and the article placement position can be reliably prevented from being displaced. In addition, the large and small rotating bodies are rotated by one rotating means, and the articles placed between the rotating bodies are rotated (for example, about 180 degrees), so that various articles having different sizes can be rotated. It is possible to perform inspection work and sorting work of goods accurately. Further, when each rotating body is swung in a horizontal posture, the lifting member protrudes upward from each rotating body in the horizontal posture, and a part or all of the article is in a non-contact state from the outer peripheral surface of each rotating body. To surface. When each rotating body is swung to the discharging posture, the lifting member protrudes above the rotating members in the discharging posture, and the article placed between the rotating members is pushed up and forcibly discharged.
[0012]
In the article conveying device according to claim 3, in combination with the operation according to claim 1 or 2, a plurality of rotating bodies having a small diameter are arranged between each rotating body having a large diameter, The distance between the front and rear of each rotating body having a large diameter corresponding to the number is widened. For example, an article having a large outer diameter such as a summer mandarin orange or a rice cake can be placed between each rotating body having a large diameter. Since a plurality of rotating bodies are simultaneously brought into contact with the peripheral surface, the contact area between the article and each rotating body is increased, and the contact resistance necessary for rotating a large article can be obtained. The present invention can be applied to an operation of rotating an article having a size.
[0013]
In addition to the operation of the first or second aspect, the article conveying apparatus according to claim 4 arranges a large number of appropriately rotating bodies each having a large diameter as one set in the feed direction, and is arranged adjacent to each set. By arranging a rotating body with a small diameter between the rotating bodies arranged, when the article is placed between the rotating bodies with a large diameter, the article is moved (transferred) by the rotational force of each rotating body, Since the article is always transferred between the large-diameter rotating body and the small-diameter rotating body, the movement (transfer) of the article is prevented by the steps of the large-diameter and small-diameter rotating bodies, and each rotating body rotates. The article can be reversed with certainty by force.
[0014]
The article transporting apparatus according to claim 5 is configured such that the rotating body having a large diameter that is installed perpendicular to the feeding direction with respect to the transport surface of the transporting unit is eccentric so that the shaft center is lower than that of the rotating body having a large diameter. Since articles are placed and transported between the rotating bodies with small diameters arranged, the movement (transfer) of the articles is prevented by the step of each rotating body, the article mounting posture is stabilized, and the articles are placed. It is possible to reliably prevent the position from being displaced. Also, each large and small rotating body is rotated by one rotating means, and the article placed between the rotating bodies is rotated (for example, about 180 degrees). A variety of different articles can be rotated. Further, when inspecting an article in the inspection section provided on the conveyance path, the lifting member protrudes upward from the conveyance surface of the rotating body, and a part or all of the article is removed from the outer peripheral surface of each rotating body. Raise to contact. The elliptical article that is fitted between the rotating bodies, or is oblique or upright is corrected to a horizontal posture, and the article placed between the rotating bodies is conveyed while being lifted. Further, the lifting member is immersed below the conveying surface of the rotating body, the article is placed again on the rotating body, and the article is rotated by the rotational force of each rotating body.
[0015]
【The invention's effect】
According to this invention, since the article is placed and transported between the rotating body having a large diameter and the rotating body having a small diameter, the amount of fitting of the article placed between the rotating bodies is deep, and each rotation Since the movement of the article is surely prevented by the step of the body, the placement posture of the article is stabilized, and the placement position of the article can be reliably prevented from being displaced. In addition, when each rotating body on which the article is placed is rotated by the rotating means, the transfer of the article is prevented by a step with each rotating body, so that various articles having different sizes can be reliably rotated. The inspection work and the sorting work of the articles can be performed accurately. In addition, since the rotating speed of the rotating body having a small diameter is higher than that of the rotating body having a large diameter, a rotational force is positively applied to the lower peripheral surface of the article, and the work for rotating the article can be performed reliably.
[0016]
Further, by arranging the rotating body with a small diameter eccentrically so as to be slightly lower than the rotating body with a large diameter, the step of each rotating body becomes large and it is possible to reliably prevent the article from moving (transferring). be able to. In addition, by arranging a plurality of small-diameter rotating bodies between the large-diameter rotating bodies, for example, articles having a large outer diameter such as summer mandarin orange, Saijo can be placed between the rotating bodies. Since at least four rotating bodies are in contact with the lower peripheral surface, the contact area between the article and each rotating body increases, and the contact resistance necessary to rotate a large article can be obtained. The present invention can be applied to an operation of rotating an article having a large size.
[0017]
Furthermore, by arranging a large number of appropriate numbers of each rotating body having a large diameter, and arranging a rotating body having a small diameter between the rotating bodies arranged on the adjacent side of each set, each rotating body having a large diameter is arranged between each rotating body. When the article is placed, the article is moved by the rotational force of each rotating body, and the article is always transferred between the large-diameter rotating body and the small-diameter rotating body. Thus, the article can be reliably rotated.
[0018]
【Example】
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
The drawing shows, as an example of an article, the fruit and vegetable sorting apparatus according to the first embodiment in which the article transporting apparatus is used in an operation or a process for sorting fruit and vegetables having a substantially spherical shape into equal classes, as shown in FIGS. The fruit vegetable sorting apparatus 1 sorts a large number of fruit vegetables A ... conveyed by the dispersing conveyor 2 into the sorting conveyor 3 ..., and sorts the fruit vegetables A ... sorted into the sorting conveyor 3 ... into the sorting conveyor 4. Place in order. The fruits and vegetables A ... are turned upside down by the rotating machine 6 disposed in the inspection section a on the sorting conveyor 4, and the vegetables A are imaged by the equal class inspection device 5 disposed in the same section to determine the equal class. To do. On the basis of the determination, fruit vegetables A ... are discharged to the distribution conveyors 7 arranged in the sorting units b to f on the sorting conveyor 4 according to the same class, and are sent to the collecting conveyor 8 arranged in the sorting unit g. It is the structure which discharges non-standard fruit vegetables A.
[0019]
As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the sorting conveyor 4 described above includes, for example, one or a plurality of endless belts 18 composed of chains, belts, and the like in the direction of the conveyance path. It is erected in the department. In the embodiment, two endless belts 18, 18 are stretched between sprockets 19, 19 that are pivotally supported at the start and end portions, and return plates 20, 20 are fixed to the transport-side shaft ends of the sprockets 19, 19. Then, the endless belts 18 and 18 and the return plates 20 and 20 are rotated in the feed direction through the sprockets 21a and 21b and the drive chain 21c by the driving force of the speed reducing feed motor 21 disposed at the lower end of the starting end. Then, the large-diameter rotating bodies 24 and the small-diameter rotating bodies 25 that are installed on the conveyance side edges of the endless belts 18 and 18 are moved around in the feeding direction at a speed higher than that of the alignment conveyor 3.
[0020]
A large number of attachment members 26 are fixed between the upper edge portions of the endless belts 18 and 18 at regular intervals with respect to the feed direction, and a plurality (for example, four) of attachment members 26 are provided on the upper surface of the front end side of the attachment members 26. The shaft support members 27 are attached at a predetermined interval with respect to the feed direction, and the shaft support members 27 are pivotally mounted so as to be able to rotate back and forth in a direction orthogonal to the feed direction. Further, the base end side shaft portion of the support shaft 28 is fixed to the upper end portion of the shaft support members 27 in a direction orthogonal to the feed direction, and the central portion outer peripheral surface is connected to the free end side shaft portion of the support shafts 28. A large-diameter rotating body 24 and a small-diameter rotating body 24 having a large diameter from both ends toward the outer peripheral surface of both ends and a small-diameter rotating body 25 are alternately attached to the feeding direction one by one. 25 are pivotally mounted in a direction perpendicular to the feed direction so as to be able to swing up and down, and are arranged in a keyboard shape at intervals in the front-and-rear direction where the fruits and vegetables A are placed in the feed direction. Further, instead of the drum-shaped rotating bodies 24 and 25 described above, rotating bodies 24 and 25 formed to have the same outer diameter from the outer peripheral surface at one end toward the outer peripheral surface at the other end may be used.
[0021]
The support shafts 28 are fixed to the upper end portions of the shaft support members 27 so as to be different from each other in the upper and lower stages, and have a large diameter on the free end side shaft portion of the support shaft 28 fixed to the upper side of the shaft support member 27. As shown in FIG. 9, the formed rotating body 24 is supported so as to freely rotate, and the rotating body 25 formed in a small diameter is supported so as to freely rotate on the free end side shaft portion of the support shaft 28 fixed to the lower side. Further, the shaft center of the rotating body 25 is eccentric with respect to the shaft center of the rotating body 24 so as to be lowered by about h. The rotating bodies 24 and 25 are attached so as to be different from each other in the vertical direction with respect to the feeding direction. In addition, the outer peripheral surfaces of the rotating bodies 24 and 25 are covered or formed with a member (not shown) having a large contact resistance such as synthetic rubber, for example, so that the contact resistance necessary for reversing the fruits and vegetables A is provided. In addition, the outer peripheral surface of the fruit vegetable A is prevented from being damaged. Alternatively, for example, a plurality of strips or a plurality of strips (not shown) such as stripes, lattices, and meshes may be formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the rotating bodies 24 and 25. In the embodiment, four rotating bodies 24, 24, 25, 25 are attached to the attachment members 26..., But two or one rotating bodies 24, 25 may be attached, for example.
[0022]
A locking lever 29 is pivotally attached to the upper end portion of the attachment member 26 so as to be vertically swingable in a direction orthogonal to the feed direction, and is fixed to the locking shaft 31 fixed to the upper end portion of the shaft support member 27. The spring member 30 is biased to rotate in the direction in which the locking claw 32 of the locking lever 29 is locked. The shaft support member 27 and the locking lever 29 are brought into contact with a restriction shaft 33 fixed to the upper end portion of the mounting member 26, and the rotation is restricted to a position where the locking shaft 31 and the locking claw 32 are locked. A regulating protrusion 34 formed on the lower end portion of the support member 27 is brought into contact with an abutting member 35 fixed to the front end portion of the mounting member 26, and the rotators 24 and 25 are controlled to swing in a discharge posture that is inclined downward. By locking and unlocking the locking lever 29, the rotary bodies 24 and 25 are swung up and down in a horizontal posture where the vegetable product A is placed and a discharge posture where the vegetable product A is released. . On the support shaft 27a that supports the shaft support member 27, the thickness and shape are allowed to appear and retract with respect to the space between the rotary bodies 24 and 25, and the interval between the fruits and vegetables A being supported in a horizontal posture. The lifting member 36 is pivotally mounted so as to be swingable up and down. In the embodiment, the four lifting members 36 formed in a long shape and a short shape are integrally formed or connected.
[0023]
The lifting member 36 is guided around the guide member 39 provided in the rear inspection region of the inspection unit a from the starting end of the conveyance path, and the lifting member 36 is engaged with the guide member 39 as shown in FIG. When the lifting member 36 protrudes slightly upward from between the rotary bodies 24 and 25 in the horizontal position, the height of the fruit and vegetables A placed between the rotary bodies 24 and 25 is increased. From the outer peripheral surface of 25, it is circular-guided to the protrusion position which raises at least one part or all of fruit vegetables A to a non-contact state. When the lifting member 36 is dropped from the guide member 39, as shown in FIG. 7, the proximal end side of the lifting member 36 is brought into contact with the support shaft 29a that pivotally supports the locking lever 29, so that the rotating bodies 24, 25 in the horizontal posture are brought into contact. The lifting member 36 protrudes slightly upward from between the rotating bodies 24 and 25 in the discharge posture, and has a smaller inclination than the rotating bodies 24 and 25. The height is such that the placed fruit vegetable A is pushed up, and the rotation is restricted to the immersion position where the fruit vegetable A is discharged to the height and inclined in the discharge direction.
[0024]
The above-described equal class inspection device 5 divides the inspection part a set on the sorting conveyor 4 into a front inspection region and a rear inspection region as shown in FIGS. An imaging camera 43 is disposed facing the upper peripheral surface of the fruit vegetable A, and an imaging camera 44 is disposed facing the left peripheral surface thereof. Immediately after that, an imaging camera 45 is arranged to face the upper peripheral surface of the fruit vegetable A. In the rear inspection area, an imaging camera 46 is disposed facing the upper peripheral surface of the fruit vegetable A, and an imaging camera 47 is disposed facing the left peripheral surface thereof. Immediately after that, an imaging camera facing the upper peripheral surface of the fruit vegetable A
48 is arranged.
[0025]
The imaging cameras 43 to 48 are constituted by imaging means such as a CCD camera and an image element (CCD), for example, and the apparatus main body 51 for determining the equal class of the fruit vegetable A and the image of the fruit vegetable A are displayed. And an article detection sensor S1, an origin detection sensor S2, and a passage detection sensor S3 disposed in the inspection section a, and an origin detection sensor S2 and a passage detection sensor S3 disposed in the sorting sections b to g. The lock release device 55 is connected to the apparatus main body 51, and illuminators 53 and 54 made up of, for example, a halogen lamp, an ultraviolet lamp or the like are disposed in the front-rear inspection region. In addition, an article detection sensor S1 that detects the passage of fruit vegetables A corresponding to the imaging cameras 43, 45, 46, and 48, and an origin piece that protrudes from the mounting member 26 corresponding to the leading rotating body 25. An origin detection sensor S2 for detecting the passage of 26a and a passage detection sensor S3 for detecting the passage of the detection piece 26b projecting from the mounting member 26 corresponding to the rotating bodies 24, 25 are disposed respectively. In b to g, an origin detection sensor S2 and a passage detection sensor S3 are provided.
[0026]
In response to the detection by the sensors S1, S2, and S3, the apparatus main body 51 described above images the fruits and vegetables A placed between the rotating bodies 24 and 25 with the imaging cameras 43 to 48, and the imaging cameras 43 to 48. The image data picked up at 48 and the movement number data of the rotators 24 and 25 are stored in association with each other, and the image data is compared with the previously stored isoclass data (for example, color, sugar content). , Scratches, rot, outer diameter, shape, height, width, volume, flatness, maturity, non-standard, etc.), and vegetables based on image data captured by the imaging cameras 45 and 48 The degree of decay of the object A is determined. In addition, based on the detection by the sensors S2 and S3, the counter passes through the rotating bodies 24 and 25 moved to the sorting units b to g, and the fruit vegetables A are conveyed to the sorting units b to g corresponding to the determination. When this is done, the sorters 55... Arranged in the sorting sections b to g are independently operated to vertically swing the rotating bodies 24 and 25 on which the fruit vegetables A are placed in the discharge posture.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 7, the sorter 55 is disposed on the left side of the sorting sections b to g set on the sorting conveyor 4, and based on the above-described determination, for example, a solenoid, a motor, an air cylinder, or the like. The configured sorter 55 is operated, and the locking lever 29 of the rotating body 25 corresponding to the determination is pressed by the release member 55a of the sorter 55 to release the locking by the locking lever 29. Only the rotators 24 and 25 on which are placed are swung to the discharge posture. On the other hand, the rotators 24 and 25 and the lifting members 36 are moved back along the return plates 20 and 20, and the locking shaft 31 and the locking claw 32 are locked to each other to return to a horizontal posture. . The lifting members 36... Are moved back along the guide members 39. Further, the rotating bodies 24 and 25 may be rotated and returned by their own weight or a return means such as a spring.
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 9, the rotating machine 6 described above is disposed on the front side of the inspection part a and the intermediate part of the front and rear inspection area, and press-contacts the free end side lower peripheral surfaces of the rotating bodies 24 and 25. For example, a rotation imparting belt 56 which is a member having a large contact resistance such as synthetic rubber and having a width and a length pressed against the free end side of the rotating bodies 24 and 25 is fed to the height position. It is stretched parallel to the direction. The rotation imparting belt 56 is stretched between pulleys 57 and 57 that are pivotally supported at the start and end portions, and a belt guide 58 that is installed at the center upper portion, and the intermediate portion of the rotation imparting belt 56 is slightly lifted by the belt guide 58. Guide the lap to the state. At the time of reversing the front and back, the rotation applying belt 56 is rotated at a high speed (above the feed speed) in the direction coinciding with the rotating direction of the rotating bodies 24 and 25 by the driving force of the rotation motor 59 with a speed reducer directly connected to the pulley 57 on the end side Or by rotating or rotating the rotating bodies 24 and 25 pressed against the rotation applying belt 56 while rotating or rotating at a low speed in a direction opposite to the rotating direction. Large, medium and small fruit vegetables A are reversed in the front-rear direction (for example, 180 degrees) in the same region due to the difference in peripheral speed between the peripheral surface and the large-diameter side peripheral surface. As another rotating method, as shown in FIG. 10, the rotating body 24, 25 is moved in the feed direction while being pressed against the rotation applying pad 60 formed of the same member as the rotation applying belt 56. In addition, the fruits and vegetables A placed between the rotary bodies 24 and 25 can be reversed.
[0029]
The illustrated embodiment is configured as described above, and the operation when the fruits and vegetables A is sorted by equal class by the fruits and vegetables sorting apparatus 1 will be described below.
[0030]
First, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, fruit vegetables A ... conveyed by the dispersing conveyor 2 are distributed to the alignment conveyor 3, and the fruit vegetables A ... distributed to the alignment conveyor 3 are distributed. The transfer is sequentially performed between the rotating bodies 24 and 25 of the sorting conveyor 4. When it is necessary to correct the orientation and posture of the fruit vegetable A placed between the rotating bodies 24 and 25, as shown in FIG. 9, the rotating machine 6 is driven to rotate the fruit vegetable A. By rotating the bodies 24, 25, the steps of the rotators 24, 25 prevent transfer of the vegetable products A in the front-rear direction, so that the large, medium and small vegetables A are rotated by the rotational force of the rotators 24, 25. , Orientation and posture can be corrected. Further, the lifting member 36... Protrudes upward and is fitted between the rotators 24 and 25, or the oblique or upright elliptical vegetable A is corrected to a horizontal posture and placed between the rotators 24 and 25. The prepared vegetable products A are conveyed while being lifted.
[0031]
Next, in the front inspection area of the inspection unit a, as shown in FIG. 8, the front peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A and the detection of the sensors S1, S2, S3 constituting the equal class inspection device 5 The left peripheral surface is imaged by the imaging cameras 43 to 45, and the image data captured by the imaging cameras 43 to 45 and the movement number data of the rotating bodies 24 and 25 are stored in the apparatus main body 51 in association with each other.
[0032]
Next, the lifting members 36 are immersed again, and the picked fruit vegetables A are placed on the rotating bodies 24, 24, 25. Immediately after the front side inspection area, as shown in FIG. 9, the rotating body 6 is driven to rotate the rotating bodies 24, 24, 25 on which the fruit vegetables A are placed in the same direction, thereby rotating the rotating body. The steps 24 and 25 prevent the vegetable products A from being transferred in the front-rear direction, and the large, medium and small fruit vegetables A are reversed (about 180 degrees) by the rotational force of the rotating bodies 24, 24 and 25. Also, large, medium and small fruit vegetables A are reversed in the same region by the difference in peripheral speed generated between the small diameter side peripheral surface and the large diameter side peripheral surface of the rotators 24 and 25.
[0033]
Next, the lifting members 36... Are projected upward, the fruit vegetables A placed between the rotary bodies 24 and 25 are lifted again, and the sensors S1, S2, S3 Corresponding to the detection, the back side peripheral surface and the right side peripheral surface of the fruit vegetable A are imaged by the imaging cameras 46 to 48, the image data captured by the imaging cameras 46 to 48, and the movement number data of the rotating bodies 24 and 25. Are stored in the apparatus main body 51.
[0034]
Next, the lifting members 36 are immersed, and the fruit vegetables A are placed again between the rotating bodies 24 and 25 and conveyed. At the same time, the apparatus main body 51 compares the image data captured by the imaging cameras 43 to 48 with the previously stored equal class data, and comprehensively determines the equal class. Based on the detection by the sensors S2, S3, when the fruits and vegetables A are conveyed to the sorting units b to g corresponding to the determination, as shown in FIG. By operating independently, only the rotators 24 and 25 on which the fruit vegetables A are placed are swung in the discharge posture and discharged to the distribution conveyors 7 arranged in the sorting sections b to f. Similarly, on the basis of the determination by the apparatus main body 51, the fruit and vegetables A to be moved to the sorting units b to g are discharged in equal classes, and the distribution conveyor 7 disposed in the sorting units b to f is a fruit vegetable. A ... is conveyed to the next process (for example, a boxing process), and the recovery conveyor 8 disposed in the sorting unit g conveys non-standard fruit vegetables A ... to the recovery unit (not shown).
[0035]
As described above, the large-diameter rotary body 24 and the small-diameter rotary body 25 are alternately attached to the endless belt 18 constituting the sorting conveyor 4 so that the rotary body 25 is slightly lower than the rotary body 24. Since the rotating bodies 24 and 25 are arranged in mind, the steps of the rotating bodies 24 and 25 are large, and it is possible to reliably prevent the fruit and vegetables A from transferring between the rotating bodies 24 and 25 arranged in the front and rear during the conveyance. In addition, since the vegetable products A of various sizes are placed and transported between the rotating bodies 24 and 25, the amount of the vegetables A placed between the rotating bodies 24 and 24 is deep and the vegetables A It is possible to reliably prevent the placement position of the fruit vegetables A from being displaced.
[0036]
In addition, when the rotary bodies 24, 24, 25 on which the fruit vegetables A are placed are rotated by the rotating machine 6, the transfer of the fruit vegetables A is prevented by the steps of the rotary bodies 24, 25. Various fruits and vegetables A of different sizes such as small and small can be reversed by the rotational force of the rotating bodies 24 and 25, and the work of inspecting both the front and back of the fruit vegetable A and the work of sorting by the same class are appropriate. Can be done. In addition, since the rotational speed of the rotating body 25 is faster than that of the rotating body 24, a rotational force is positively applied to the lower peripheral surface of the fruit vegetable A, and the work of reversing the front and back can be performed reliably.
[0037]
FIG. 11 shows a sorting conveyor 4 according to the second embodiment in which a plurality of (for example, two, three) rotating bodies 25, 25 formed in a small diameter are arranged between rotating bodies 24 formed in a large diameter. The rotating bodies 24 and 25 and the rotating bodies 25 and 25 are rotated by the rotating force of the rotating bodies 24 and 25 formed to have a large diameter and a small diameter by rotating the rotating bodies 24 and 25 by the rotating machine 6 of the first embodiment. Since the large, medium and small fruit vegetables A placed between them are reversed, as in the first embodiment, the transfer of the fruit vegetables A is prevented by the steps of the rotating bodies 24, 25, and the rotating bodies 24, 25 and the rotation The large, medium and small fruit vegetables A placed between the bodies 25 and 25 can be reliably reversed. In addition, since the placement interval of the rotary bodies 24 arranged in the front and rear becomes wider, for example, a vegetable product A (for example, a rice cake etc.) larger than the vegetable product A such as summer mandarin orange is placed between the rotary bodies 24 and 24. can do. Since the four rotating bodies 24, 24, 25, and 25 are simultaneously brought into contact with the lower peripheral surface of the fruit vegetable A, the contact with the fruit vegetables A is more than that of the three rotating bodies 24, 24, and 25. Since the area becomes large and the contact resistance necessary for rotating the large vegetable product A on both sides is obtained, it can be applied to the operation of rotating the vegetable products A of various sizes.
[0038]
FIG. 12 shows a plurality of (for example, two, three) rotating bodies 24 formed with a large diameter as a set, and a large number of sets are arranged in the feeding direction, and the rotating bodies 24 are arranged on the adjacent side of each set. , 24 shows the sorting conveyor 4 of the third embodiment in which one or a plurality of rotating bodies 25 formed in a small diameter are arranged, and the rotating bodies 24, 25 are rotated by the rotating machine 6 of the first embodiment. The large, medium and small fruit vegetables A placed between the rotating bodies 24 are moved back and forth by the rotational force of the rotating bodies 24 formed to have a large diameter, and the fruits and vegetables are rotated between the rotating bodies 24 and 25 arranged in steps. Since the object A is always transferred, the step of the rotating bodies 24 and 25 prevents the transfer of the vegetable products A, and the large, medium and small sizes placed on the rotating bodies 24, 24 and 25 are the same as in the first embodiment. The fruits and vegetables A can be reliably reversed. Further, a plurality of (for example, two, three, etc.) rotating bodies 24 and 25 may be arranged between the opposing rotating bodies 24.
[0039]
FIG. 13 shows a fourth embodiment in which conical portions 24a and 24a formed by dividing the rotating body 24 into left and right are opposed to each other, and conical portions 25a and 25a formed by dividing the rotating body 25 into left and right are arranged facing each other. An example sorting conveyor 4 is shown. Since the conical portions 24a and 24a of the rotating body 24 and the conical portions 25a and 25a of the rotating body 25 are rotated in the same direction by the rotating machine 6 of the first embodiment, the rotating bodies 24 and 24 are rotated. , 25 can reliably reverse the large and small fruit vegetables A, and the work for inspecting and sorting the fruit vegetables A can be performed accurately as in the first embodiment. Further, the conical portions 24a, 24a of the rotating body 24 and the conical portions 25a, 25a of the rotating body 25 formed in a cylindrical shape or a columnar shape may be inclined in a V shape, and the fruit vegetables A may be It can be reversed. Still further, by independently rotating the conical portions 24a, 24a of the rotating body 24 and the conical portions 25a, 25a of the rotating body 25 in opposite directions, the vegetable product A can be rotated horizontally. Work to inspect the entire circumference can be performed reliably. In addition, the rotary bodies 24 and 25 are provided so that expansion / contraction adjustment is possible corresponding to the size of the fruit vegetable A.
[0040]
FIG. 14 shows a sorting conveyor 4 according to a fifth embodiment in which large and small diameter rotating bodies 24 and 25 formed in a conical shape are arranged opposite to each other on an endless belt 18 stretched from side to side. The left and right rotating bodies 24 and 25 are rotated in the same direction by the rotating machine 6 of the embodiment, so that the large, medium and small fruit vegetables A placed between the rotating bodies 24 and 25 are reversed. Similarly, the work for inspecting and sorting fruit vegetables A can be performed accurately. In addition, when the left and right rotating bodies 24 and 25 are swung to the discharge posture, the vegetable products A are discharged to the lower central portion along the left and right lifting members 36 that are previously controlled to swing to the discharge posture. The discharge position and release posture of the object A can be regulated. And since the discharge | release speed | rate of fruit vegetables A is suppressed, it can prevent that the commercial value of fruit vegetables A is impaired. Further, even if the left and right rotating bodies 24 and 25 are arranged alternately, the same effects as described above can be obtained.
[0041]
FIG. 15 shows a sorting conveyor 4 according to a sixth embodiment in which large-diameter and small-diameter rotating bodies 24, 25 are alternately installed one by one in the feed direction between endless belts 18, 18 stretched to the left and right. Since the rotating bodies 24 and 25 are rotated by the rotating machine 6 of the first embodiment and the large, medium and small fruit vegetables A placed between the rotating bodies 24 and 25 are reversed, the same as in the first embodiment. Further, the entire peripheral surface of the fruit vegetable product A can be reliably inspected, and the equal class of the fruit vegetable product A can be accurately determined. In addition, when sorting the vegetable products A placed between the rotating bodies 24 and 25 according to the equal class, the large, medium and small fruit vegetables placed between the rotating bodies 24 and 25 based on the determination by the equal class inspection device 5. The product A is moved in the discharging direction by a discharging means (not shown) such as a holding arm, a suction pad, and a pusher, and the fruits and vegetables A are divided into equal classes on the distribution conveyors 7 arranged in the sorting sections b to f. The non-standard fruit vegetables A are discharged to the collection conveyor 8 disposed in the sorting section g.
[0042]
In the correspondence between the configuration of the present invention and the above-described embodiment,
The article of the present invention corresponds to the fruit and vegetable product A of the example,
Similarly,
The article conveying device corresponds to the sorting conveyor 4,
The conveying means corresponds to the endless belt 18,
The rotating means corresponds to the rotating machine 6, the rotation applying belt 56, and the rotation applying pad 60,
The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment.
[0043]
In the embodiment described above, the rotating bodies 24 and 25 constituting the sorting conveyor 4 are arranged with an eccentricity of h height. For example, the rotating bodies 24 and 25 may be arranged at the same height. Since the level difference corresponding to the outer diameter size of 24 and 25 is made, the same effect as the embodiment can be obtained.
[0044]
Moreover, although the example which used the apparatus of this invention for the operation | work which inspects fruit vegetables A and the operation | work which sorts was demonstrated, it applies also to the operation | work which test | inspects ball games balls, such as tennis, soccer, baseball, table tennis, for example. The use is not limited to the fruit and vegetable A in the examples.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an overall configuration of a fruit and vegetable sorting apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state of transporting fruits and vegetables by a sorting conveyor.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state of transporting fruits and vegetables.
FIG. 4 is a rear view showing a mounting state of large and small rotating bodies.
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a mounting state of large and small rotating bodies.
FIG. 6 is a rear view showing a lifting / lowering state of the lifting member.
FIG. 7 is a rear view showing a state in which a rotating body and a lifting member are swung in a discharge posture.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an arrangement state of imaging cameras constituting the equal class inspection device.
FIG. 9 is a side view showing a pressure contact state of a rotation imparting belt constituting the rotating machine.
FIG. 10 is a side view showing a pressure contact state of the rotation imparting pad.
FIG. 11 is a side view showing a sorting conveyor according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a side view showing a sorting conveyor according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a sorting conveyor according to a fourth embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a sorting conveyor according to a fifth embodiment.
FIG. 15 is a plan view showing a sorting conveyor according to a sixth embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
A ... Fruits and vegetables
1 ... Fruit and vegetable sorter
2 ... Dispersion conveyor
3 ... Conveyor for alignment
4 ... Conveyor for sorting
5 ... Equal class inspection device
6 ... Rotating machine
7 ... Distribution conveyor
8 ... Conveyor for collection
18 ... Endless belt
24, 25 ... Rotating body
24a, 25a ... Conical part
36 ... Lifting member
43-48 ... Camera for imaging
51 ... Device body
55 ... sorter
56 ... Rotation imparting belt
60 ... rotation imparting pad

Claims

Provided conveying means for conveying the transport path of the article of the article perpendicular to the feed direction and a small rotary member having a large rotor and diameters of the conveying surface of the conveying means, and, in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction Many erections are possible to swing up and down,
Provided at a position facing the lower peripheral surface of the rotating body is a rotating means for abutting the rotating body having a large diameter and the rotating body having a small diameter to apply a rotating force to each rotating body;
The rotating bodies are arranged in the feeding direction at intervals in which articles are placed between the rotating bodies, and
Adjacent to the rotating body having a large diameter, the rotating body having a smaller diameter than that of the rotating body having a large diameter is eccentrically arranged so that the axis center is low,
When each of the rotating bodies is swung up and down, the rotation is restricted to a protruding position protruding above each rotating body in a horizontal posture and an immersion position protruding above each rotating body in a discharging posture. An article conveying apparatus in which a lifting member is provided so as to be swingable up and down between each rotating body.

It bridged endless band conveying path section, perpendicular to the feed direction and a small rotary member having a large rotor and diameters of the conveying side edge of the endless belt, and vertical swinging in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction As many as possible,
Provided at a position facing the lower peripheral surface of the rotating body is a rotating means for abutting the rotating body having a large diameter and the rotating body having a small diameter to apply a rotating force to each rotating body;
The rotating bodies are arranged in the feeding direction at intervals in which articles are placed between the rotating bodies, and
Adjacent to the rotating body having a large diameter, the rotating body having a smaller diameter than that of the rotating body having a large diameter is eccentrically arranged so that the axis center is low,
When each of the rotating bodies is swung up and down, the rotation is restricted to a protruding position protruding above each rotating body in a horizontal posture and an immersion position protruding above each rotating body in a discharging posture. An article conveying apparatus in which a lifting member is provided so as to be swingable up and down between each rotating body.

The article conveying apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of rotating bodies having a small diameter are arranged between the rotating bodies having a large diameter.

2. An appropriate number of rotating bodies each having a large diameter are arranged as a set in the feed direction, and a rotating body having a small diameter is arranged between the rotating bodies arranged on the adjacent side of each set. Item conveying apparatus of 2.

Provided conveying means for conveying the transport path of the article of goods, it bridged number perpendicular to the feed direction and a small rotary member having a large rotor and diameters of the conveying surface of the conveying means,
Provided at a position facing the lower peripheral surface of the rotating body is a rotating means for abutting the rotating body having a large diameter and the rotating body having a small diameter to apply a rotating force to each rotating body;
The rotating bodies are arranged in the feeding direction at intervals in which articles are placed between the rotating bodies, and
With respect to the rotating body having a large diameter, a rotating body having a smaller diameter than the rotating body having the diameter is arranged so as to be eccentric so that the axis center is low,
Adjacent to the rotating body, arrange lifting members that can be projected and raised above the conveying surface of the rotating body,
When inspecting an article in the inspection section provided on the conveyance path, the lifting member is protruded upward and part or all of the article is floated in a non-contact state from the outer peripheral surface of each rotating body. An article conveying apparatus characterized by the above.