JP4116789B2

JP4116789B2 - Strawberry container

Info

Publication number: JP4116789B2
Application number: JP2001367495A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 和男宮田; 和彦山岡
Original assignee: 日本協同企画株式会社
Priority date: 2000-10-27
Filing date: 2001-11-30
Publication date: 2008-07-09
Anticipated expiration: 2021-10-29
Also published as: JP2007099523A; JP2002200462A; JP4620691B2; JP2002274583A; JP3962238B2

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は摘取ったイチゴを収容して、イチゴ自動選別装置のある所にまで運んで、イチゴ自動選別装置にイチゴを供給することができるイチゴ用コンテナに関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
イチゴは、作業者が農場、例えば、栽培ハウスで手摘みしてコンテナに詰め、そのコンテナを集荷場に持ち帰り、作業者の勘と経験を頼りに目視によって、品質や大きさなどの等階級毎に選別し、出荷販売用のパックに詰め直し、さらに数パックずつ段ボール箱に収容して集荷場等に運搬して出荷している。
【０００３】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
従来の摘取りから段ボール箱への収納までの一連の作業には、次のような課題があった。
【０００４】
１．一連の出荷作業が全て手作業であるため、多くの労力と時間がかかり、農作業者が農薬散布や施肥等の栽培作業に掛ける時間が少なくなり、栽培作業がおろそかになって、品質の良いイチゴの生産が難しくなるとか、栽培面積を拡張することができないといったことがあった。
【０００５】
２．農作業者の勘と経験という主観的な判断によって選別充填しているため、イチゴの選別に作業者毎のバラツキを生じる虞があるだけでなく、傷んだイチゴを見過ごして充填する虞があった。
【０００６】
３．摘取りから段ボール箱への収納までの一連の作業が全て手作業で行われるため、イチゴの実に指や爪が触れて痛められることがあり、品質劣化や衛生面で課題があった。特に、近年の消費者の強い衛生志向から、衛生面の課題は重要である。
【０００７】
４．従来は、蔓付の状態で出荷されるイチゴもあり、この場合は蔓を持って摘み取るため実が傷んだり汚れたりしにくいが、その後の作業は前記の場合と同じであるため、根本的な課題解決には至っていない。
【０００８】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明の請求項１記載のイチゴ用コンテナは、次の１〜１４の構成を備えたものである。
１．コンテナ内に横列、前後列に整列されて収容された二以上のイチゴの蔓をイチゴ搬送体の挟着具で自動的に掴んでイチゴを吊下げられて取出し、取出したイチゴをイチゴ搬送体の搬送により吊下げて搬送し、搬送されるイチゴの等階級を判定し、イチゴ搬送体を判定結果に応じて等階級別に振り分け、振り分けられたイチゴ搬送体の挟着具による蔓の挟着を解放してイチゴを等階級別に充填用容器に移すイチゴ自動選別に使用される前記コンテナであり、
２．コンテナは周枠４１の内側にイチゴ受け板４２が敷かれ、
３．イチゴ受け板４２にイチゴ詰め部４３が横方向及び前後方法に二列以上ずつ設けられ、
４．個々のイチゴ詰め部４３は蔓付きのイチゴ１を一個ずつ横向きに寝かせて蔓を同じ向きに揃えて詰めることのでき広さと深さであり、
５．隣接するイチゴ詰め部４３の横間隔はそれらイチゴ詰め部４３に詰められたイチゴ１の蔓を二以上の前記挟着具で同時に掴むことのできる間隔であり、
６．個々のイチゴ詰め部４３の周囲は隣接するイチゴ詰め部４３内に横向きに寝かせて詰めたイチゴ１同士が接触しないようにイチゴ詰め部４３の底面８０よりも高く形成され、
７．イチゴ詰め部４３の前方にイチゴ詰め部４３よりも高い前方支持壁４４が形成され、
８．前記イチゴ詰め部４３は横向きに寝かせて詰めたイチゴ１のへた側が前方支持壁４４に支持されるように前方支持壁４４側に向けて下り傾斜に形成され、
９．前方支持壁４４には蔓受け部４６が形成され、
１０．蔓受け部４６はイチゴ詰め部４３に横向きに寝かせて詰めたイチゴ１の蔓を上方から差し込みでき且つ差し込んだ蔓の先端側が前方支持壁４４の前方に突出できるように支持壁４４の上縁４７に開口する縦溝状であり、
１１．縦溝状の蔓受け部４６の上部は上方広がりに形成され、
１２．縦溝状の蔓受け部４６の下部はイチゴの蔓を保持可能な幅の蔓保持部４８であり、
１３．蔓受け部４６の途中に突起４９が形成され、
１４．前記突起４９は蔓保持部４８に保持されたイチゴの蔓の抜けを防止できることを特徴とするイチゴ用コンテナ。
【０００９】
本発明の請求項２記載のイチゴ用コンテナは、請求項１記載のイチゴ用コンテナにおいて、前列と後列のイチゴ詰め部４３の横位置及び前列と後列の蔓受け部４６の位置が横方向にずらして設けられて、前列のイチゴ詰め部４３に横向きに寝かせて詰めたイチゴ１の実と後列のイチゴ詰め部４３に横向きに寝かせて詰めたイチゴ１の蔓とが接触しないようにしたことを特徴とするイチゴ用コンテナである。
【００１０】
本発明の請求項３記載のイチゴ用コンテナは、前記イチゴ用コンテナにおいて、支持壁４４はイチゴ受け板４２が折り曲げられて裾広がりの逆Ｖ字状に形成されたことを特徴とするイチゴ用コンテナである。
【００１１】
【００１２】
【００１３】
【００１４】
【００１５】
【００１６】
【発明の実施の形態】
図１は本発明のイチゴ自動選別装置の概略を示した平面図であり、本発明のイチゴ用コンテナ４０は図１のイチゴ自動選別装置によりイチゴを一個ずつ取り出すことができるようにしてある。そのため図１のイチゴ自動選別装置のイチゴ搬送体１０の整列間隔と同じ６ｃｍ間隔でイチゴ１を並べて詰めることができるようにしてあり、図１に示すものは横一列に５個並べるもことができる例であり、図１０に示すものは横一列に１０個並べるもことができる例である。
【００１７】
図１のイチゴ用コンテナ４０は図１０、１２に示すように、四角形の周枠４１の内側に、一枚のイチゴ受け板４２が敷かれている。イチゴ受け板４２はゴム製又は軟質樹脂製であり、図１３に示す基本形状のイチゴ詰め部４３が縦横に連続して成形されている。各イチゴ詰め部４３はイチゴ１を１個ずつ横向きに寝かせて詰めることができる広さと深さにしてあり、底面８０を前下がり傾斜にして、横向きに寝かせて詰めたイチゴ１が斜め前下がりに収容されるようにしてある。イチゴ詰め部４３は図１０に示すように前後の列のものを一つ分ずつ左右にずらしてある。
【００１８】
各イチゴ詰め部４３の横方向両側には、横区画壁８１が底面８０よりも一段高く形成されてイチゴ１が横に位置ズレしないようにしてある。また、各イチゴ詰め部４３の前方に前方支持壁４４が底面８０よりも一段高く形成されて、横向きに寝かせて詰めたイチゴ１のへた側が支持されるようにしてある。前方支持壁４４の上縁４７の横方向中央部に、下部が狭く上方が広い蔓受け部４６が形成されて、その蔓受け部４６に横向きに寝かせて詰めたイチゴ１の蔓２をのせることができるようにしてある。この場合、イチゴ詰め部４３が図１０のように、前後の列のものが一つ分ずつ左右にずれているため、蔓受け部４６から先方に突出した蔓２が前の列のイチゴ詰め部４３に収容されているイチゴ１に重ならない。前方支持壁４４は基材をほぼ逆Ｖ字状に折り返した形状にして強度を高めてある。
【００１９】
図１０のイチゴ受け板４２の蔓受け部４６は、図１１に示すように前方支持壁４４に上方開口の溝状に形成され、蔓受け部４６の下部は蔓２の直径とほぼ同じ程度の幅にして蔓を保持可能な蔓保持部４８とし、蔓受け部４６の途中に抜け防止用の突起４９が内側に突き出して形成されている。この突起４９はその横の通路を通過して蔓保持部４８に保持されている蔓２が、蔓受け部４６から抜け出すのを防止するためのものである。
【００２０】
本発明のイチゴ用コンテナは図１のように、イチゴ自動選別装置の第１区間Ａの側方に置いて、イチゴが一個ずつ、イチゴ自動選別装置のイチゴ搬送体１０により取り出される様にする。具体的には図２（ａ）のように、イチゴ搬送体１０によりイチゴ１の蔓２が掴まれて、イチゴ１が下向きに吊下げられるようにする。
【００２１】
本発明のイチゴ用コンテナからイチゴを取り出して、イチゴを大きさ、重さ等の規格別に選別するイチゴ自動選別装置の以下に説明する。イチゴ自動選別装置は図１に示すように、イチゴ１を吊下げて搬送可能な多数のイチゴ搬送体１０が、図３（ａ）のように搬送駆動手段３２ａ、３２ｂを備えたガイドレール３０に取り付けられて、搬送駆動手段３２ａ、３２ｂによりガイドレール３０に沿って図１の矢印方向に搬送されるようになっている。ガイドレール３０には第１区間Ａ、第２区間Ｂ、第３区間Ｃがあり、第１区間Ａにおいて、図１に示すようにイチゴ用コンテナ４０に収容されているイチゴ１の蔓２が、図２（ａ）のようにイチゴ搬送体１０に取り付けられる。続く第２区間Ｂにおいて図２（ｃ）に示すようにカメラ３及び画像処理プロセッサ４でイチゴ１の等階級が判定され、第３区間Ｃにおいて図２（ｄ）に示す振分手段６０によりイチゴ１の等階級に応じて分別ガイドレール３０に振分けられ、分別ガイドレール３０の途中区間Ｄで、図２（ｅ）に示すようにイチゴ１がイチゴ搬送体１０から取り外され、最後に図示されていない回収用のガイドレールにより合流されて再び図示されたガイドレール３０の第１区間Ａに送出されるようになっている。
【００２２】
図１のイチゴ搬送体１０は図３（ａ）〜（ｅ）に示すように、回転主軸１３が、直径６ｃｍ程度の円板状の搬送体本体１１の中心にベアリング１２を介して取り付けられ、回転主軸１３の軸方向途中にその回転方向の角度を規制して決めるための角度規制体２３が取り付けられ、回転主軸１３の下部にイチゴ１の蔓２を挟着可能な挟着具１４が取り付けられ、回転主軸１３の中心にその内部を上下に貫通して前記挟着具１４を開閉操作するための操作具１５が設けられている。
【００２３】
前記挟着具１４は２本のハサミ部材１６ａ、１６ｂを備えており、これらは回転主軸１３の下部に形成されている四角いケース１７の内に連結ピン１８ａ、１８ｂにより回動自在に取り付けられ、またハサミ部材１６ａ、１６ｂの上部に形成されたスライド溝１９ａ、１９ｂ内に、操作具１５の下部のピン２０が差し込まれて、ピン２０の上下動に連動して下端側が開閉するようになっている。また挟着具１４は図３（ａ）、（ｃ）〜（ｅ）のように、ハサミ部材１６ａ、１６ｂのイチゴ１の蔓２を掴む部分に軟質素材で作成されたクッション２２ａ、２２ｂが取り付けられ、イチゴ１の蔓２を強く挟んでも蔓２が傷まないようにしてある。クッション２２ａ、２２ｂは図３（ｅ）に示す矢印方向に回転自在となっている。このように回転させることにより、図２（ａ）に示すように横向きに寝かせたイチゴ１の蔓２を２つのクッション２２ａ、２２ｂで掴み、その後に、イチゴ１が収容されているコンテナ４０を降下させると、イチゴ１の重みによりクッション２２ａ、２２ｂが自動的に回転して蔓２が縦向きになり、実が下向きになって、イチゴ１が吊下げられるようにしてある。
【００２４】
前記操作具１５は、外力が働かない状態では、回転主軸１３内に設けられたスプリング２１により上方に押し上げられて下部のピン２０を上方に引き上げ、挟着具１４のハサミ部材１６ａ、１６ｂを閉じ、図１の第１区間Ａに設けられたイチゴ取付手段５４により操作具１５が下方に押し込まれると、図３（ａ）の回転主軸１３の下部のピン２０が図３（ｂ）のように押し下げられて、挟着具１４のハサミ部材１６ａ、１６ｂが開き、イチゴ取付手段５４による操作具１５の下方への押し込みが解除されると、図３（ａ）のようにハサミ部材１６ａ、１６ｂが開いてそれに挟着されていたイチゴ１の蔓２が解放されるようにしてある。
【００２５】
前記イチゴ取付手段５４（図１）は、一時停止したイチゴ搬送体１０の操作具１５と接触してそれを押し下げて挟着具１４を開く押し具５５と、イチゴ搬送体１０の角度規制体２３と接触して挟着具１４の向きを蔓２の挟着に適した向きに強制的に向ける強制ガイド５６とからなる。前記押し具５５は空のイチゴ搬送体１０が停止すると操作具１５を押して挟着具１４を開き、コンテナ４０が押し上げられてイチゴ１が挟着具１４に向けて送り込まれると、上昇してイチゴ搬送体１０の操作具１５の押し下げを解除して挟着具１４が閉じるようにし、それにより挟着具１４のハサミ部材１６ａ、１６ｂ間に蔓２が掴まれるようにしてある。
【００２６】
前記強制ガイド５６は図２（ｂ）に示すように、レール部材３１ａ、３１ｂに沿って２本設けられ、搬送方向手前部分が外広がりに形成されており、その手前部分にイチゴ搬送体１０が搬入されて次第に搬送が進むと、イチゴ搬送体１０の角度規制体２３が徐々に両側からガイドされて、その向きが強制的に搬送方向後ろ向き（場合によっては前向き）になり、挟着具１４が蔓２の挟着に適した向きに強制的に向けられる。
【００２７】
図１のガイドレール３０は、図３（ａ）に示すように、イチゴ搬送体１０の回転主軸１３の下側部分及び搬送体本体１１を左右両側からガイドするように対向された断面略Ｌ字型の２本のレール部材３１ａ、３１ｂと、レール部材３１ａ、３１ｂに沿って敷かれ、その上に載せた搬送体本体１１を搬送可能な駆動ロープ（搬送駆動手段）３２ａ、３２ｂとから構成される。駆動ロープ３２ａ、３２ｂは図中に夫々搬送方向のみのものを示し、戻り側のものは省略してある。この駆動ロープ３２ａ、３２ｂと搬送体本体１１との間の摩擦抵抗は適切なもとして、ガイドレール３０の上のイチゴ搬送体１０のプール箇所（例えば図１の途中区間Ｄ）において、駆動ロープ３２ａ、３２ｂを働かせたままでもその上に乗っているイチゴ搬送体１０が安全に停止されつづけるようにしてある（駆動ロープ３２ａ、３２ｂとイチゴ搬送体１０との接触面でスリップする）。
【００２８】
図３（ａ）では搬送駆動手段として円形の駆動ロープ３２ａ、３２ｂが使用されているが、その代わりに平ベルトを用いるとか、駆動ロープ３２ａ、３２ｂの敷設部分に小径のピンローラを敷き詰めて同ローラを回転駆動して駆動手段とすること（カーブする箇所のガイドレール３０での搬送に適している）もできる。他にも、搬送体本体１１の両側面に駆動ロープ３２ａ、３２ｂや駆動ベルトを配置して、これらで搬送体本体１１を挟込んで搬送したり、ドライブチェーンに所定間隔で係止具を取り付けて、それらでイチゴ搬送体１０を１個ずつ係止しながら搬送したりすることもできる。より高度な技術を採用するならば、イチゴ搬送体１０の搬送体本体１１とガイドレール３０との間に推進力を生じる磁力を作用させ、リニアモータ方式で駆動・搬送することもできる。
【００２９】
図１の第１区間Ａに設けられた一時停止手段５０は、同区間Ａの搬送方向前後２箇所に設けられた夫々が独立して開閉するゲート５１ａ、５１ｂである。両ゲート５１ａ、５１ｂは通常は開いており、複数個のイチゴ搬送体１０を一時停止させるときに、ゲート５１ａが先に閉じ、その後、暫くしてからゲート５１ｂが閉じて、両ゲート５１ａ、５１ｂ間に走行中のイチゴ搬送体１０を２個以上数珠状に連接させて一時停止させる。図１には５個のイチゴ搬送体１０を数珠状に一時停止する様子が示してあるが、この個数は後述するイチゴ用コンテナ４０内に収容されている横一列のイチゴ１の数に合わせて決定される。また、その数に合わせてゲート５１ａ、５１ｂ間の間隔も決定する。
【００３０】
図１の第１区間Ａに設けられたイチゴ供給手段５２は、前記一時停止手段５０により一時停止されたイチゴ搬送体１０の挟着具１４にイチゴ１を供給するものである。このイチゴ供給手段５２はイチゴ用コンテナ４０をイチゴ搬送体１０の下方（図１の右側）に押し出して、イチゴ用コンテナ４０内に横向きにして詰めてあるイチゴ１の蔓２を、イチゴ搬送体１０の挟着具１４に挟着され易くするためにイチゴ１の蔓２を挟着具１４に近付けるためのものである。
【００３１】
図１の可動テーブル５３は、イチゴ用コンテナ４０をホールドして上下、左右、前後方向に移動可能としたテーブルであり、イチゴ用コンテナ４０を図９に示すようにイチゴ搬送体１０の挟着具１４がイチゴ１の蔓２を掴み易い位置まで上昇させ、挟着具１４が蔓２を掴むと降下しながら図２（ｅ）に鎖線で示すように横移動して、挟着具１４で引き上げられるイチゴ１が前方支持壁４４、周枠４１に当たらないようにしながら、イチゴ１を徐々に引き起こして吊下げて、支持できるように動作可能としてある。
【００３２】
図１の第１区間Ａにはイチゴ取付手段５４が設けられている。これは一時停止したイチゴ搬送体１０の操作具１５（図２（ａ））と接触して、それを押し下げて挟着具１４を開く押し具５５と、イチゴ搬送体１０の角度規制体２３（図１、図２（ｂ））と接触して、挟着具１４の向きをイチゴ１の蔓２の挟着に適した向きに強制する強制ガイド５６（図１、図２（ｂ））とからなる。前記押し具５５は空のイチゴ搬送体１０が停止されると操作具１５を押して挟着具１４を図３（ｄ）の様に開き、イチゴ１が挟着具１４に向けて送り込まれると元の位置に戻って挟着具１４が図３（ｃ）のように閉じて、挟着具１４によりイチゴ１の蔓２を挟着させるためのものである。前記の強制ガイド５６は図２（ｂ）に示すように２本のレール部材５４が平行に配置され、搬送方向手前側端部が外広がりに形成され、搬送されるイチゴ搬送体１０の角度規制体２３を徐々に両側からガイドして、同角度規制体２３を搬送方向後ろ向き（場合によっては前向き）に強制するようにしてある。
【００３３】
図１の第２区間Ｂに設けられたカメラ３は、図２（ｃ）に示すように、イチゴ搬送体１０により吊下げられて搬送されるイチゴ１を横方向から撮影するものであり、撮影した画像信号を画像処理プロセッサ４に出力するものである。画像処理プロセッサ４は組み込まれたソフトウエアプログラムにより撮影画像を解析して等階級を判定し、判定結果に基づく等階級判定信号を後述する振分手段６０（図２（ｄ））に出力する。前記カメラ３と画像処理プロセッサ４とが形状計測手段を構成する。また、図示されていないが、第２区間Ｂにイチゴ搬送体１０で搬送されるイチゴ１の重量を計測する重量計測手段を設け、計測された重量データの信号を画像処理プロセッサ４に送出して、形状と重量とからイチゴ１の等階級を判定するようにすると、より精密な等階級判定を行うことができる。等級判定は、その他にも、寸法とか色等によっても行うこともできる。
【００３４】
図１の第３区間Ｃにおける、分別ガイドレール３０が分岐する各分岐部分には、図２（ｄ）に示すような振分手段６０が設けられている。振分手段６０は図２（ｄ）の回動部材６１と、それを駆動するソレノイド（図示されていない）とからなり、回動部材６１は図２（ｄ）の鎖線で示す位置と黒塗りの位置の間で回動（首振り）可能であり、黒塗りの位置にあると図２（ｄ）の左側から搬送されてくるイチゴ搬送体１０を右側に直進させ、回動部材６１が図に点線で示される位置にあるとイチゴ搬送体１０が図２（ｄ）の斜め上方に進行して、夫々の等階級の分別ガイドレール３０に振り分けられ、夫々の分別ガイドレール３０に沿って移動する。前記ソレノイドは等階級判定手段からの等階級判定信号（駆動電流）を受けて動作して、回動部材６１を首振りするようになっており、イチゴ搬送体１０をイチゴ１の等階級に応じて適切なガイドレール３０に振り分けて送り出す。
【００３５】
図１の第４区間Ｄに設けられた一時停止手段７０は、図１の第１区間Ａに設けられた一時停止手段５０と同様に、搬送方向前後２箇所にゲート７１ａ、７１ｂを配置して、両ゲート７１ａ、７１ｂ間に所定個数のイチゴ搬送体１０が一時停止できるようにしてある。図１では１度に３個のイチゴ搬送体１０が一時停止できるようになっているが、その数は所望数とすることができる。例えば、収容容器内に一列に収容可能なイチゴの数と同数とするのが良い。
【００３６】
図１の第４区間Ｄに設けられたイチゴ取外手段７２は、図２（ｅ）に示すように、イチゴ搬送体１０の操作具１５を押して挟着具１４を開く押し具７３と、イチゴ搬送体１０の角度規制体２３（図１）と接触して挟着具１４の向きを揃える強制ガイド７４とからなる。強制ガイド７４は搬送方向手前側が広がっている。押し具７３はイチゴ搬送体１０が停止されると、操作具１５を押して挟着具１４を開き、挟着具１４によるイチゴ１の蔓２の挟着が解放（リリース）されて、イチゴ１がその下に待機している収容容器７５に収容されるようにしてある。収容容器７５はイチゴ１がリリースされる際に少し上昇してイチゴ１の落下距離を減少させ、また、後から収容容器７５に収容されるイチゴが先に収容されたイチゴの上に落下しないようにするため、イチゴ１個分だけ横に水平移動するようにしてある。
【００３７】
図１のイチゴ自動選別装置では、イチゴ搬送体１０として図４、５に示すものを用いて、箱詰め箇所（図１の第４区間Ｄ）におけるイチゴ搬送体１０の前後の間隔を、イチゴ１の大きさに合わせて詰められるようにしてある。図４（ａ）、（ｂ）のイチゴ搬送体１０はその搬送体本体１１を直径2.5cmの小径の円盤状とし、回転主軸１３の途中に搬送体本体１１の外周から外側に突出して後続のイチゴ搬送体１１と接触可能な後続抑え具２４を設けてある。この後続抑え具２４は実施形態１の角度規制体２３の機能を兼ねて、挟着具１４の向きを制御もする。後続抑え具２４は搬送体本体１１の周囲を回転自在であり、図４のように、後続抑え具２４の後部横から上方に突出された突起２５を後述の案内体３７（図５（ａ））でガイドすることにより、左右に回動（首振り）できるようにしてある。この首振り機構により、後続のイチゴ搬送体１０との間の距離を任意に規制することができる間隔規制手段が構成されている。
【００３８】
図５のガイドレール３０には、前記後続抑え具２４の角度を調整して、前後のイチゴ搬送体１０の間隔を調整する間隔制御手段を設けてある。図５（ａ）は間隔制御手段の仕組みを示したものであり、図５（ｂ）（ｃ）に示すように、回転主軸１３の下側部分がレール部材３１ａ、３１ｂの下部３４の間を、搬送体本体１１がレール部材３１ａ、３１ｂの中間部３５の間を、後続抑え具２４がレール部材３１ａ、３１ｂの上部３６の間を通過するようにしてある。
【００３９】
この場合、ガイドレール３０の搬送方向手前のＡ−Ａ箇所では、図５（ｂ）に示すようにレール部材３１ａ、３１ｂの下部３４、中間部３５、上部３６のいずれの部分の間隔も、回転主軸１３、搬送体本体１１、後続抑え具２４の幅とほぼ同じにして、Ａ−Ａ箇所を通過する後続抑え具２４は図５（ａ）のＡ−Ａ箇所の様に必ずイチゴ搬送体１０の真後ろに突出するようにしてある。ガイドレール３０の搬送方向先方のＢ−Ｂ箇所では、図５（ｃ）に示すようにレール部材３１ａ、３１ｂの中間部３５、上部３６の間の間隔をレール部材３１ｂ側に徐々に広げて、その間隔内で後続抑え具２４が首振りできるようにしてある。更に、前記間隔の広がりに沿って図５（ａ）のように湾曲する案内体３７を、図５（ｃ）のようにガイドレール３０の上方に設けて、後続抑え具２４の突起２５がその案内体３７に案内されると、後続抑え具２４が搬送されるにつれて徐々に横を向くようにしてある。案内体３７は図５（ｃ）のように二枚の薄板を対向させて縦向きに配置して、その間を突起２５が通過できるようにしてある。
【００４０】
間隔制御手段を前記構成とすることにより、後続抑え具２４がＡ−Ａ箇所ではイチゴ搬送体１０の真後ろに突出して、前後のイチゴ搬送体１０の間隔を後続抑え具２４の長さに確保することができる。後続抑え具２４はＢ−Ｂ側になるにつれて次第に横向きに首を振り、後続抑え具２４により保持される前後のイチゴ搬送体１０の間隔が次第に狭くなり、Ｂ−Ｂ側を過ぎてイチゴを箱詰めする図１の区間Ｄまで搬送されると、図６に示すようにもっと狭くなる。このため、イチゴの搬送中は後ろ向きの後続押え具２４によりイチゴ搬送体１０の間隔が広く確保され、イチゴ搬送体１０の挟着具１４に吊下げられたイチゴ１の間隔が広くなり、イチゴ同士のぶつかりが阻止され、箱詰めの際は横向きになる後続押え具２４によりイチゴ搬送体１０の間隔が狭くなり、イチゴ搬送体１０の間隔が詰まって、イチゴ同士の間隔が詰まり、イチゴを箱詰めし易くなる。
【００４１】
イチゴ搬送体１０の間隔規制手段としては、搬送体本体１１自身の外形の大きさを可変とした、図７（ａ）〜（ｃ）のイチゴ搬送体１０を使用することもできる。このイチゴ搬送体１０は直径2.5cmの基部２６の周囲に、上方に跳ね上げ可能に１２枚の羽部材２７を取り付けて搬送体本体１１とし、回転主軸１３に上下動可能なリング部材２８を取り付け、リング部材２８と羽部材２７とを針金２９で繋いである。この構成とすることにより、リング部材２８を最も下げると羽部材２７が全開して搬送体本体１１の直径が６cmになり、リング部材２８を最も引き上げると羽部材２７が閉じて搬送体本体１１の直径が基部２６とほぼ同じ2.5cmになるようにしてある。この間隔制御手段の場合は、ガイドレール３０側にリング部材２８を上下動させるためのガイド等を設けると、リング部材２８の上下動及び羽部材２７の動作が円滑になり、好ましい。
【００４２】
イチゴ搬送体１０の間隔規制手段には、前記したもの以外に図８（ａ）（ｂ）に示す搬送体本体１１を使用することもできる。図８（ａ）に示す搬送体本体１１はウレタンフォームなどの軟質素材や、ぜんまいバネのような材料で作成して、外径を収縮できるようにしてある。この場合、図１の第４区間Ｄの箱詰め箇所のガイドレール３０側に、一時停止されたイチゴ搬送体１０の各回転主軸１３を夫々係止し、それらの間隔を、図８（ａ）に示す搬送体本体１１を強制的に圧縮しながら狭める間隔調整機構を設けることにより、間隔規制手段を実現することができる。
【００４３】
前記したイチゴ自動選別方法によれば、イチゴの蔓を掴んで選別作業を行うので、搬送から選別、充填までを、イチゴを傷めずに、効率よく、衛生的に、自動で行うことができる。また、バラツキのない選別が可能となる。大幅な省力化が可能となり、イチゴ栽培に労力をかけることができる。
【００４４】
前記したイチゴ自動選別装置では次のような効果が得られる。
１．イチゴの蔓を掴んで選別作業を行うことができるので、搬送から選別、充填までを、イチゴを傷めずに、効率よく、衛生的に、自動で行うことができる。また、バラツキのない選別が可能となる。大幅な省力化が可能となり、イチゴ栽培に労力をかけることができる。
２．イチゴの蔓を掴んで選別作業を行うことができるので、搬送から選別、充填までを、イチゴを傷めずに、効率よく、衛生的に、自動で行うことができる。また、走行中のイチゴ搬送体を２以上連接させて一時停止させる一時停止手段を備えているので、複数のイチゴ搬送体に一度にイチゴを挟着させることができる。また、分別ガイドレールでガイドされてくるイチゴ搬送体を一時停止させる一時停止手段を備えているので、複数のイチゴを一度にはずして収容容器に詰めることができる。
３．ガイドレールが搬送駆動手段を備えているので、搬送機構が簡潔になる。
４．前後のイチゴ搬送体との間隔を任意に規制可能な間隔規制手段を備え、ガイドレール側にイチゴ搬送体の間隔規制手段を制御して間隔を可変可能な間隔制御手段を備えたので、搬送中はイチゴの間隔を広げてイチゴ同士がぶつかって、イチゴが傷つかないようにすることがで、イチゴを挟む時や、取り外す時はイチゴの間隔をせばめて、イチゴの挟着や取り外しを効率よく行うことができる。
【００４５】
前記したイチゴ搬送体では次のような効果が得られる。
１．イチゴ搬送体がガイドレールにガイドされて案内・搬送される搬送体本体と、搬送体本体の中心部に回転自在に取り付けられて搬送体本体の上下に突出する回転主軸と、回転主軸の下部に取り付けられ、イチゴの蔓を挟着解除可能な挟着具と、回転主軸の内部を貫通して回転主軸の上部に突出した操作軸と、操作軸の下部に形成されて操作軸が下方へ押し込まれると挟着具が開き、押し込みが解除されると挟着具が閉じるようにした操作具を備えているので、イチゴの挟着解除が容易且つ確実になる。
２．挟着具が掴んだイチゴの蔓を下向き横向きに回動自在としたので、イチゴ１を吊下げて搬送することができ、充填用容器等に充填する際に、イチゴ１を横向きに寝かせて充填することができ、応用が広がる。
３．搬送体本体が円板状であり、回転主軸に搬送体本体の外周より外側に突出して後続のイチゴ搬送体と接触可能な後続抑え具が設けられ、後続抑え具はイチゴ搬送体の進行方向真後ろに突出するときに後続のイチゴ搬送体を最も遠ざけ、横方向に回転するにつれて後続のイチゴ搬送体を徐々に近づけることができるので、簡潔な構造でのイチゴの間隔を調整することができる。
４．搬送体本体が円板状であり、搬送体本体の外周が拡大収縮可能であるため、簡潔な構造でのイチゴの間隔を調整することができる。
【００４６】
【発明の効果】
本発明のイチゴ用コンテナは次のような効果がある。
１．イチゴを１個ずつ横向きに寝かせて詰めるイチゴ詰め部が、前後及び左右に整列して設けられ、各イチゴ詰め部の前方にそれらに詰められたイチゴのへた側を支持する支持壁がイチゴ詰め部よりも高く形成され、支持壁に、横向きに寝かせて詰めたイチゴの蔓を上方からのせる凹状の蔓支持部が形成されたので、イチゴを一個ずつ整然と整列させることができ、自動的に挟着して搬送するのに便利である。
２．イチゴを前下がり傾斜に整列できるので、前方支持壁にはイチゴのへたが当たり、イチゴが傷つきにくい。
３．イチゴの蔓を上方から差し込んで保持可能であるため、イチゴの収容、保持が容易である。
４．蔓支持部の途中にその下部に収容された蔓の抜けを防止するための突起状の抜け防止部が形成されたので、イチゴが不用意に落下しない。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明のイチゴ用コンテナからイチゴを一個ずつ取り出して、イチゴを規格別に選別するイチゴ自動選別装置の全体概略を示した平面図。
【図２】（ａ）は第１区間Ａにおけるコンテナからイチゴ搬送体にイチゴが取り付けられる様子を示した側面図、（ｂ）は第１区間Ａにおけるイチゴ搬送体の整列状態を示した平面図、（ｃ）は第２区間Ｂにおけるカメラ部分の側面図、（ｄ）は第３区間Ｃにおける分岐部分の平面図、（ｅ）は第４区間Ｄにおけるイチゴ搬送体からイチゴを取外して充填用容器に充填する様子を示した側面図。
【図３】（ａ）はイチゴ自動選別装置におけるイチゴ搬送体の正面図、（ｂ）はイチゴ搬送体の上面図、（ｃ）、（ｄ）はイチゴ搬送体の断面図であり、（ｃ）は挟着具を閉じたときの状態を示したもの、（ｄ）は挟着具を開いたときの状態を示したものであり、（ｅ）は挟着具のクッション部分を示した側面図。
【図４】イチゴ自動選別装置におけるイチゴ搬送体の第２例を示したものであり、（ａ）は側面図、（ｂ）は上面図。
【図５】図４のイチゴ搬送体における後続抑え具の働きを示す説明図であり、（ａ）は平面図、（ｂ）はＡ−Ａ断面図、（ｃ）はＢ−Ｂ断面図。
【図６】図４のイチゴ搬送体のイチゴ充填部分における動作を示した平面図。
【図７】イチゴ自動選別装置におけるイチゴ搬送体の第３例を示したものであり、（ａ）は側面図、（ｂ）は上面図、（ｃ）は閉じた状態の上面図。
【図８】イチゴ自動選別装置におけるイチゴ搬送体の第４例を示したものであり、（ａ）は上面図、（ｂ）はイチゴ搬送体の間隔が狭められる様子を示した上面図。
【図９】図１の第１区間Ａにおけるイチゴ搬送体がイチゴ用コンテナからイチゴを取り出すところを示した側面図。
【図１０】本発明のイチゴ用コンテナの平面図。
【図１１】図１０のイチゴ用コンテナの固定具を示した正面図。
【図１２】本発明のイチゴ用コンテナの斜視図。
【図１３】（ａ）は本発明のイチゴ用コンテナのイチゴ受け板の基本形状を示す斜視図、（ｂ）は側面図。
【符号の説明】
１イチゴ
２蔓
３カメラ
４画像処理プロセッサ
１０イチゴ搬送体
１３回転主軸
１４挟着具
３０ガイドレール
３２ａ、３２ｂ搬送駆動手段
５０一時停止手段
５２イチゴ供給手段
５４イチゴ取付手段
６０振分手段
７０一時停止手段
７２イチゴ取外手段[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present invention relates to a container for strawberries that can accommodate picked strawberries, transport them to a place where an automatic strawberry sorting apparatus is located, and supply strawberries to the automatic strawberry sorting apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
  Strawberries are picked up by workers at farms, for example, cultivation houses, packed in containers, taken back to the collection site, and visually classified according to their intuition and experience. They are sorted into packs for shipping and sales, and then several packs are stored in cardboard boxes and transported to a collection place for shipment.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
  A series of operations from conventional picking to storage in a cardboard box has the following problems.
[0004]
  1. All of the shipping work is manual, so it takes a lot of labor and time, and the farmer spends less time on cultivation work such as spraying and fertilizing agricultural chemicals. There were cases where it was difficult to produce or the cultivation area could not be expanded.
[0005]
  2. Since the selection and filling is based on the subjective judgment of the farmer's intuition and experience, there is a risk that the selection of strawberries may vary from worker to worker, and there is a risk that the damaged strawberries may be overlooked and filled.
[0006]
  3. Since a series of operations from picking to storage in a cardboard box are all performed manually, there are cases where fingers and nails are touched by the strawberry fruit, which causes problems in terms of quality deterioration and hygiene. In particular, hygiene issues are important because of the recent hygiene orientation of consumers.
[0007]
  4). Traditionally, some strawberries are shipped in a vine state. In this case, the vines are picked and picked, so it is difficult for the fruit to be damaged or soiled. The problem has not been solved.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  Of the present inventionClaim 1DescribedStrawberry containerThe following configurations 1 to 14 are provided.
  1. Two or more strawberry vines stored in a row and front and back rows in a container are automatically grabbed by a strawberry carrier sandwiching tool, and the strawberry is suspended and taken out. The strawberry is transported by being transported, the strawberry transport class is judged, the strawberry transport body is sorted according to the classification according to the judgment result, and the vine pinching by the strawberry transport body sandwiching tool is released. And the container used for automatic sorting of strawberries to transfer strawberries to filling containers according to equal classes,
  2. The container has a strawberry receiving plate 42 laid inside the peripheral frame 41,
  3. The strawberry filling plate 43 is provided with two or more rows in the lateral direction and the front and rear direction on the strawberry receiving plate 42,
  4). Each strawberry stuffing unit 43 is a breadth and depth that can lay strawberries 1 with vines one by one side by side and pack the vines in the same direction,
  5. The lateral interval between the adjacent strawberry stuffing portions 43 is an interval at which the vines of strawberry 1 packed in the strawberry stuffing portions 43 can be grasped simultaneously by two or more of the sandwiching tools,
  6). The periphery of each strawberry stuffing portion 43 is formed higher than the bottom surface 80 of the strawberry stuffing portion 43 so that the strawberries 1 laid side by side in the adjacent strawberry stuffing portion 43 do not contact each other,
  7). A front support wall 44 higher than the strawberry stuffing portion 43 is formed in front of the strawberry stuffing portion 43,
  8). The strawberry stuffing portion 43 is laid sideways and stuffed with strawberry 1 on the front support wall 4. 4 so as to be inclined downward toward the front support wall 44 so as to be supported by
  9. A vine receiving portion 46 is formed on the front support wall 44,
  10. The vine receiving portion 46 can insert the vine of the strawberry 1 laid side by side in the strawberry stuffing portion 43 from above, and the upper edge 47 of the support wall 44 so that the tip side of the inserted vine can protrude forward of the front support wall 44. It has a longitudinal groove shape that opens to
  11. The upper part of the vertical groove-shaped vine receiving part 46 is formed so as to spread upward,
  12 The lower part of the vertical groove-shaped vine receiving part 46 is a vine holding part 48 having a width capable of holding a strawberry vine,
  13. A protrusion 49 is formed in the middle of the vine receiving portion 46,
  14 The protrusion 49 can prevent the strawberry vine held by the vine holding part 48 from coming off.A strawberry container characterized by that.
[0009]
  Of the present inventionClaim 2DescribedThe container for strawberries in the container for strawberries according to claim 1,The horizontal position of the front row and rear row strawberry stuffing portions 43 and the position of the front row and rear row vine receiving portions 46 are shifted in the horizontal direction, and the fruit of the strawberry 1 laid side by side in the front row strawberry stuffing portion 43 The strawberry stuffed portion 43 in the back row is laid sideways so that it does not come into contact with the vines of strawberry 1.It is a container for strawberries characterized by this.
[0010]
  Of the present inventionClaim 3DescribedStrawberry containerSaidIn the container for strawberries,The support wall 44 is an inverted V-shaped hem that is widened by folding the strawberry receiving plate 42.It is a container for strawberries characterized by having been formed in.
[0011]
[0012]
[0013]
[0014]
[0015]
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an outline of the automatic strawberry sorting apparatus of the present invention, and the strawberry container 40 of the present invention is configured so that strawberries can be taken out one by one by the automatic strawberry sorting apparatus of FIG. Therefore, the strawberries 1 can be packed side by side at the same interval of 6 cm as the alignment interval of the strawberry carrier 10 of the automatic strawberry sorting apparatus of FIG. 1, and five pieces shown in FIG. 1 can be arranged in a horizontal row. An example is shown in FIG. 10, which is an example in which 10 can be arranged in a horizontal row.
[0017]
  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, the strawberry container 40 in FIG. 1 has a single strawberry receiving plate 42 laid inside a rectangular peripheral frame 41. The strawberry receiving plate 42 is made of rubber or soft resin, and a strawberry stuffing portion 43 having a basic shape shown in FIG. 13 is continuously formed vertically and horizontally. Each strawberry stuffing section 43 has a width and depth that allows one strawberry 1 to be laid side by side, and has a bottom surface 80 that is inclined downwards so that the strawberry 1 laid and laid sideways is inclined diagonally downward. It is supposed to be housed. As shown in FIG. 10, the strawberry stuffing portion 43 is shifted left and right by one by one in the front and rear rows.
[0018]
  On both sides in the horizontal direction of each strawberry stuffing portion 43, a horizontal partition wall 81 is formed one step higher than the bottom surface 80 so that the strawberry 1 is not displaced laterally. In addition, a front support wall 44 is formed one step higher than the bottom surface 80 in front of each strawberry stuffing portion 43 so that the side of the strawberry 1 laid and laid sideways is supported. A vine receiving portion 46 having a narrow lower portion and a wide upper portion is formed at the central portion in the lateral direction of the upper edge 47 of the front support wall 44, and the vine 1 of the strawberry 1 laid side by side is placed on the vine receiving portion 46. I can do it. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, the strawberry stuffing portion 43 is shifted left and right by one by one, so that the vine 2 protruding forward from the vine receiving portion 46 is the strawberry stuffing portion in the previous row. It does not overlap with strawberry 1 contained in 43. The front support wall 44 has a strength obtained by folding the base material into a substantially inverted V shape.
[0019]
  The vine receiving portion 46 of the strawberry receiving plate 42 in FIG. 10 is formed in a groove shape with an upper opening in the front support wall 44 as shown in FIG. 11, and the lower portion of the vine receiving portion 46 is approximately the same as the diameter of the vine 2. A vine holding portion 48 that can hold a vine in the width is formed, and a protrusion 49 for preventing the vine from protruding inward is formed in the middle of the vine receiving portion 46. The protrusions 49 are for preventing the vine 2 held by the vine holding part 48 from passing through the side passage and coming out of the vine receiving part 46.
[0020]
  As shown in FIG. 1, the strawberry container of the present invention is placed on the side of the first section A of the strawberry automatic sorting device so that the strawberry is picked up one by one by the strawberry carrier 10 of the strawberry automatic sorting device. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2A, the vine 2 of the strawberry 1 is grasped by the strawberry carrier 10 so that the strawberry 1 is suspended downward.
[0021]
  The strawberry automatic sorting apparatus which takes out the strawberry from the strawberry container of the present invention and sorts the strawberry according to standards such as size and weight will be described below. As shown in FIG. 1, the strawberry automatic sorting apparatus has a large number of strawberry transport bodies 10 that can suspend and transport the strawberry 1, as shown in FIG. 3A, on a guide rail 30 that includes transport drive means 32 a and 32 b. It is attached and conveyed along the guide rail 30 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 by the conveyance driving means 32a, 32b. The guide rail 30 has a first section A, a second section B, and a third section C. In the first section A, the vine 2 of the strawberry 1 housed in the strawberry container 40 as shown in FIG. It is attached to the strawberry carrier 10 as shown in FIG. In the subsequent second section B, as shown in FIG. 2 (c), the camera 3 and the image processor 4 determine the equal class of the strawberry 1, and in the third section C, the distribution means 60 shown in FIG. 1 is distributed to the separation guide rail 30 according to the equal class, and in the middle section D of the separation guide rail 30, the strawberry 1 is removed from the strawberry carrier 10 as shown in FIG. They are merged by a guide rail for collection that is not collected, and are sent again to the first section A of the guide rail 30 shown in the figure.
[0022]
  As shown in FIGS. 3A to 3E, the strawberry transport body 10 in FIG. 1 has a rotation main shaft 13 attached to the center of a disk-shaped transport body body 11 having a diameter of about 6 cm via a bearing 12. An angle restricting body 23 for restricting and determining an angle in the rotation direction is attached in the middle of the rotation main shaft 13, and a clamping tool 14 capable of holding the vine 2 of the strawberry 1 is attached to the lower portion of the rotation main shaft 13. In addition, an operation tool 15 is provided in the center of the rotary main shaft 13 to open and close the clamping tool 14 through the inside thereof.
[0023]
  The sandwiching tool 14 includes two scissors members 16a and 16b, which are rotatably attached by connecting pins 18a and 18b in a square case 17 formed at the lower part of the rotary main shaft 13, Further, the lower pin 20 of the operation tool 15 is inserted into the slide grooves 19a and 19b formed in the upper part of the scissors members 16a and 16b, and the lower end side opens and closes in conjunction with the vertical movement of the pin 20. Yes. As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3C to 3E, the sandwiching tool 14 is provided with cushions 22a and 22b made of a soft material on a portion of the scissors members 16a and 16b that grips the vine 2 of the strawberry 1. Even if the vine 2 of the strawberry 1 is strongly sandwiched, the vine 2 is not damaged. The cushions 22a and 22b are rotatable in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. By rotating in this way, as shown in FIG. 2A, the vine 2 of the strawberry 1 laid sideways is grasped by the two cushions 22a and 22b, and then the container 40 containing the strawberry 1 is lowered. In this case, the cushions 22a and 22b are automatically rotated by the weight of the strawberry 1 so that the vine 2 is in the vertical direction, the fruit is in the downward direction, and the strawberry 1 is suspended.
[0024]
  In a state where no external force is applied, the operating tool 15 is pushed upward by a spring 21 provided in the rotary main shaft 13 to lift the lower pin 20 upward and close the scissors members 16a and 16b of the clamping tool 14. When the operation tool 15 is pushed downward by the strawberry attachment means 54 provided in the first section A of FIG. 1, the pin 20 at the lower part of the rotating spindle 13 of FIG. 3 (a) is as shown in FIG. 3 (b). When pushed down, the scissors members 16a and 16b of the sandwiching tool 14 are opened, and when the pushing down of the operation tool 15 by the strawberry attachment means 54 is released, the scissors members 16a and 16b are moved as shown in FIG. The vine 2 of the strawberry 1 that has been opened and pinched is released.
[0025]
  The strawberry attachment means 54 (FIG. 1) is in contact with the operation tool 15 of the strawberry transport body 10 that has been temporarily stopped, pushes down the operation tool 15 to open the clamping tool 14, and the angle regulation body 23 of the strawberry transport body 10. And a forcible guide 56 that forcibly directs the pincer 14 in a direction suitable for pinching the vine 2. When the empty strawberry carrier 10 stops, the pusher 55 pushes the operation tool 15 to open the sandwiching tool 14, and when the container 40 is pushed up and the strawberry 1 is fed toward the sandwiching tool 14, the pusher 55 rises and the strawberry is lifted. The push-down of the operation tool 15 of the carrier 10 is released so that the clamping tool 14 is closed, so that the vine 2 is gripped between the scissors members 16a and 16b of the clamping tool 14.
[0026]
  As shown in FIG. 2 (b), two forcible guides 56 are provided along the rail members 31a and 31b, and the front portion in the transport direction is formed to spread outward, and the strawberry transport body 10 is formed in the front portion. When it is carried in and gradually transported, the angle regulating body 23 of the strawberry transport body 10 is gradually guided from both sides, and its direction is forced backward in the transport direction (in some cases, forward), so that the sandwiching tool 14 is It is forcibly directed in a direction suitable for pinching the vine 2.
[0027]
  As shown in FIG. 3A, the guide rail 30 of FIG. 1 has a substantially L-shaped cross section facing the lower part of the rotation main shaft 13 of the strawberry transport body 10 and the transport body main body 11 from both left and right sides. It is composed of two rail members 31a and 31b of the mold, and drive ropes (conveying drive means) 32a and 32b which are laid along the rail members 31a and 31b and can transport the carrier body 11 placed on the rail members 31a and 31b. The The drive ropes 32a and 32b are shown only in the transport direction in the figure, and the return side is omitted. Assuming that the frictional resistance between the drive ropes 32a and 32b and the transport body 11 is appropriate, the drive rope 32a is provided at the pool portion of the strawberry transport body 10 on the guide rail 30 (for example, the middle section D in FIG. 1). The strawberry transport body 10 on the strawberry transport body 10 continues to be safely stopped even if the 32b is operated (slip on the contact surface between the drive ropes 32a and 32b and the strawberry transport body 10).
[0028]
  In FIG. 3A, circular drive ropes 32a and 32b are used as the conveyance drive means. Instead, a flat belt is used, or a small-diameter pin roller is laid on the laying portion of the drive ropes 32a and 32b. Can be driven to serve as driving means (suitable for conveyance by the guide rail 30 at a curved portion). In addition, drive ropes 32a and 32b and drive belts are arranged on both side surfaces of the transport body 11, and the transport body 11 is sandwiched and transported with these, or a locking tool is attached to the drive chain at predetermined intervals. Thus, the strawberry transport body 10 can be transported while being locked one by one. If a more advanced technique is adopted, a magnetic force that generates a propulsive force is applied between the transport body main body 11 of the strawberry transport body 10 and the guide rail 30 to drive and transport the linear motor system.
[0029]
  The temporary stopping means 50 provided in the first section A in FIG. 1 are gates 51a and 51b that are provided at two places before and after the conveyance direction of the section A and that open and close independently. Both gates 51a and 51b are normally open. When the plurality of strawberry transporters 10 are temporarily stopped, the gate 51a is closed first, and after a while, the gate 51b is closed and the both gates 51a and 51b are closed. In the meantime, two or more strawberry transport bodies 10 that are running are connected in a rosary shape and temporarily stopped. FIG. 1 shows a state in which five strawberry transporters 10 are temporarily stopped in a bead shape, and this number matches the number of strawberries 1 in a horizontal row accommodated in a strawberry container 40 described later. It is determined. The interval between the gates 51a and 51b is also determined according to the number.
[0030]
  The strawberry supply means 52 provided in the first section A of FIG. 1 supplies the strawberry 1 to the sandwiching tool 14 of the strawberry transport body 10 temporarily stopped by the temporary stop means 50. The strawberry supply means 52 pushes the strawberry container 40 downward (right side in FIG. 1) of the strawberry carrier 10, so that the strawberry 2 vines 2 packed side by side in the strawberry container 40 are packed into the strawberry carrier 10. The vine 2 of the strawberry 1 is brought close to the sandwiching tool 14 so as to be easily sandwiched by the sandwiching tool 14.
[0031]
  The movable table 53 in FIG. 1 is a table that holds the strawberry container 40 and is movable in the up, down, left, and right directions, and the strawberry container 40 is attached to the strawberry carrier 10 as shown in FIG. 14 raises the vine 2 of the strawberry 1 to a position where it can be easily grasped, and when the sandwiching tool 14 grips the vine 2, it moves down as shown by the chain line in FIG. The strawberry 1 is made to be able to operate so that it can be supported by suspending the strawberry 1 while gradually preventing it from hitting the front support wall 44 and the peripheral frame 41.
[0032]
  Strawberry attachment means 54 is provided in the first section A of FIG. This is in contact with the operation tool 15 (FIG. 2A) of the temporarily stopped strawberry transport body 10 and pushes it down to open the sandwiching tool 14, and the angle regulating body 23 of the strawberry transport body 10 ( FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 (b)) and a forced guide 56 (FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 (b)) forcing the direction of the sandwiching tool 14 to a direction suitable for sandwiching the vine 2 of the strawberry 1. Consists of. When the empty strawberry carrier 10 is stopped, the pusher 55 pushes the operation tool 15 to open the clamping tool 14 as shown in FIG. 3D, and when the strawberry 1 is fed toward the clamping tool 14, The pin 14 is closed as shown in FIG. 3C and the vine 2 of the strawberry 1 is pinched by the pin 14. As shown in FIG. 2B, the forced guide 56 has two rail members 54 arranged in parallel, the front end in the transport direction is formed to spread outward, and the angle regulation of the strawberry transport body 10 being transported. The body 23 is gradually guided from both sides to force the same angle restricting body 23 backward in the transport direction (in some cases, forward).
[0033]
  As shown in FIG. 2C, the camera 3 provided in the second section B in FIG. 1 captures the strawberry 1 suspended and transported by the strawberry transport body 10 from the lateral direction. The processed image signal is output to the image processor 4. The image processor 4 analyzes the captured image using an embedded software program to determine the equal class, and outputs an equal class determination signal based on the determination result to the distribution means 60 (FIG. 2D) described later. The camera 3 and the image processor 4 constitute shape measuring means. Although not shown, a weight measuring unit that measures the weight of the strawberry 1 conveyed by the strawberry carrier 10 is provided in the second section B, and a signal of the measured weight data is sent to the image processor 4. If the isoclass of the strawberry 1 is determined from the shape and weight, a more precise isoclass determination can be performed. In addition, the grade determination can also be performed based on dimensions, colors, and the like.
[0034]
  In the third section C of FIG. 1, distribution means 60 as shown in FIG. 2D is provided at each branch portion where the separation guide rail 30 branches. The distribution means 60 includes a rotating member 61 shown in FIG. 2D and a solenoid (not shown) for driving the rotating member 61. The rotating member 61 is painted black at the position indicated by the chain line in FIG. The strawberry transport body 10 transported from the left side of FIG. 2 (d) is moved straight to the right side and the rotating member 61 is illustrated in FIG. 2, the strawberry transporter 10 proceeds obliquely upward in FIG. 2D and is distributed to the respective classification guide rails 30 and moved along the respective separation guide rails 30. To do. The solenoid operates in response to an equal class determination signal (driving current) from the equal class determination means, and swings the rotating member 61. The strawberry transport body 10 is adapted to the equal class of the strawberry 1. To the appropriate guide rail 30 and send it out.
[0035]
  The temporary stop means 70 provided in the fourth section D of FIG. 1 has gates 71a and 71b arranged at two places before and after the transport direction, similarly to the temporary stop means 50 provided in the first section A of FIG. A predetermined number of strawberry transporters 10 can be temporarily stopped between the gates 71a and 71b. In FIG. 1, three strawberry carriers 10 can be temporarily stopped at a time, but the number can be set to a desired number. For example, the number of strawberries that can be accommodated in a row in the container is good.
[0036]
  Strawberry removing means 72 provided in the fourth section D of FIG. 1 includes a pusher 73 that pushes the operation tool 15 of the strawberry carrier 10 to open the sandwiching tool 14 as shown in FIG. It consists of a forced guide 74 that contacts the angle restricting body 23 (FIG. 1) of the transport body 10 and aligns the orientation of the sandwiching tool 14. The forcible guide 74 is widened on the front side in the transport direction. When the strawberry carrier 10 is stopped, the pusher 73 pushes the operation tool 15 to open the pinch tool 14, the pinch of the vine 2 of the strawberry 1 by the pinch tool 14 is released (released), and the strawberry 1 It is accommodated in a receiving container 75 waiting underneath. The storage container 75 rises slightly when the strawberry 1 is released to reduce the falling distance of the strawberry 1, and the strawberry stored later in the storage container 75 does not fall on the previously stored strawberry. Therefore, it moves horizontally by one strawberry.
[0037]
  In the strawberry automatic sorting apparatus in FIG. 1, the strawberry carrier 10 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is used, and the interval between the front and rear of the strawberry carrier 10 in the boxed portion (fourth section D in FIG. 1) It is packed to fit the size. 4 (a) and 4 (b), the strawberry transport body 10 has a transport body 11 formed in a disk shape having a small diameter of 2.5 cm, and protrudes outward from the outer periphery of the transport body 11 in the middle of the rotation main shaft 13. A subsequent presser 24 that can come into contact with the strawberry carrier 11 is provided. The succeeding presser 24 also functions as the angle restricting body 23 of the first embodiment, and also controls the direction of the sandwiching tool 14. The succeeding presser 24 is rotatable around the transport body 11, and as shown in FIG. 4, a protrusion 25 protruding upward from the rear side of the succeeding presser 24 is formed as a guide member 37 described later (FIG. 5A). ) To turn left and right (swing). By this swing mechanism, an interval regulating means that can arbitrarily regulate the distance from the subsequent strawberry transport body 10 is configured.
[0038]
  The guide rail 30 shown in FIG. 5 is provided with interval control means for adjusting the interval between the front and rear strawberry transport bodies 10 by adjusting the angle of the subsequent presser 24. FIG. 5 (a) shows the mechanism of the spacing control means. As shown in FIGS. 5 (b) and 5 (c), the lower portion of the rotary spindle 13 is located between the lower portions 34 of the rail members 31a and 31b. The transport body 11 passes between the intermediate portions 35 of the rail members 31a and 31b, and the subsequent presser 24 passes between the upper portions 36 of the rail members 31a and 31b.
[0039]
  In this case, at the position AA before the guide rail 30 in the conveying direction, as shown in FIG. 5B, the intervals between the lower portion 34, the intermediate portion 35, and the upper portion 36 of the rail members 31a and 31b are rotated. Subsequent presser 24 passing through the A-A position is made substantially the same as the width of the main shaft 13, the transport body 11, and the subsequent presser 24, and the strawberry transport body 10 is sure to be the same as the A-A position in FIG. It is designed to protrude directly behind. As shown in FIG. 5 (c), the distance between the intermediate portion 35 and the upper portion 36 of the rail members 31a and 31b is gradually widened toward the rail member 31b at the BB portion ahead of the guide rail 30 in the conveying direction. The subsequent presser 24 can be swung within the interval. Furthermore, a guide body 37 that is curved as shown in FIG. 5A along the gap is provided above the guide rail 30 as shown in FIG. When guided by the guide body 37, it gradually turns to the side as the subsequent presser 24 is conveyed. As shown in FIG. 5 (c), the guide body 37 is arranged vertically with two thin plates facing each other so that the projection 25 can pass between them.
[0040]
  By setting the interval control means in the above-described configuration, the subsequent presser 24 protrudes directly behind the strawberry transport body 10 at the AA position, and the distance between the front and rear strawberry transport bodies 10 is ensured to the length of the subsequent presser 24. be able to. As the succeeding presser 24 becomes the BB side, the head is gradually swung sideways, and the interval between the front and rear strawberry transport bodies 10 held by the succeeding presser 24 becomes gradually narrower, and the strawberries are boxed past the BB side. 1 is further narrowed as shown in FIG. For this reason, the distance between the strawberry transport bodies 10 is secured widely by the backward-facing subsequent presser 24 during the transport of the strawberry, and the distance between the strawberries 1 suspended on the sandwiching tool 14 of the strawberry transport body 10 is widened. The subsequent presser 24 that is turned sideways when the box is packed narrows the interval between the strawberry carriers 10, the interval between the strawberry carriers 10 is blocked, the interval between the strawberries is reduced, and the strawberries are easily boxed. Become.
[0041]
  As a space | interval control means of the strawberry transport body 10, the strawberry transport body 10 of Fig.7 (a)-(c) which made variable the magnitude | size of the external shape of the transport body main body 11 itself can also be used. The strawberry transport body 10 is provided with 12 wing members 27 attached around the base 26 having a diameter of 2.5 cm so as to be able to be flipped upward to form a transport body 11, and a ring member 28 that can be moved up and down is attached to the rotary main shaft 13. The ring member 28 and the wing member 27 are connected by a wire 29. With this configuration, when the ring member 28 is lowered to the lowest, the wing member 27 is fully opened and the diameter of the transport body main body 11 becomes 6 cm. When the ring member 28 is pulled up the most, the wing member 27 is closed and the transport body main body 11 is closed. The diameter is about 2.5 cm, which is almost the same as the base 26. In the case of this distance control means, it is preferable to provide a guide or the like for moving the ring member 28 up and down on the guide rail 30 side because the vertical movement of the ring member 28 and the operation of the wing member 27 become smooth.
[0042]
  For the interval regulating means of the strawberry transport body 10, a transport body main body 11 shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B can be used in addition to those described above. The transport body 11 shown in FIG. 8A is made of a soft material such as urethane foam or a material such as a mainspring spring so that the outer diameter can be contracted. In this case, each rotation main shaft 13 of the strawberry transport body 10 temporarily stopped is respectively locked on the guide rail 30 side of the boxed portion of the fourth section D in FIG. 1, and the interval between them is shown in FIG. By providing an interval adjusting mechanism for forcibly compressing and narrowing the transport body 11 shown, an interval regulating means can be realized.
[0043]
  According to the above-described automatic strawberry sorting method, the strawberry vine is grasped and the sorting operation is performed, and therefore, from transportation to sorting and filling can be performed efficiently, hygienically and automatically without damaging the strawberry. In addition, it is possible to select without variation. Significant labor savings are possible and labor can be spent on strawberry cultivation.
[0044]
  The above-described automatic strawberry sorting apparatus can provide the following effects.
  1. Since the selection operation can be performed by grasping the vines of strawberries, it is possible to efficiently carry out from the transportation to the selection and filling without sacrificing the strawberries efficiently and hygienically. In addition, it is possible to select without variation. Significant labor savings are possible and labor can be spent on strawberry cultivation.
  2. Since the selection operation can be performed by grasping the vines of strawberries, it is possible to efficiently carry out from the transportation to the selection and filling without sacrificing the strawberries efficiently and hygienically. Moreover, since the temporary stop means which connects two or more running strawberry conveyance bodies and stops temporarily is provided, a strawberry can be pinched | interposed at once to a some strawberry conveyance body. Moreover, since the suspending means for temporarily stopping the strawberry transport body guided by the sorting guide rail is provided, a plurality of strawberries can be removed at once and packed in a storage container.
  3. Since the guide rail includes the conveyance driving means, the conveyance mechanism is simplified.
  4). Since it is equipped with interval control means that can arbitrarily regulate the interval between the front and rear strawberry transport bodies, and is equipped with interval control means that can control the interval control means of the strawberry transport body on the guide rail side so that the interval can be varied. Can widen the interval between strawberries so that the strawberries do not collide with each other and damage the strawberries. When sandwiching or removing the strawberries, the intervals between the strawberries are narrowed to efficiently sandwich and remove the strawberries. be able to.
[0045]
  The following effects are obtained with the strawberry carrier described above.
  1. A strawberry transport body guided by a guide rail and guided / conveyed, a transport body main body, a rotation main shaft that is rotatably attached to the center of the transport body main body and protrudes up and down the transport body main body, and a lower part of the rotation main shaft A clamp that is attached and can release the strawberry vine, an operation shaft that penetrates the rotation main shaft and protrudes from the upper portion of the rotation main shaft, and a lower portion of the operation shaft that pushes the operation shaft downward. When the operation is performed, the sandwiching tool is opened, and when the push-in is released, the operation tool is provided so that the sandwiching tool is closed.
  2. Since the strawberry vines grasped by the sandwiching tool can be rotated downward and horizontally, the strawberry 1 can be suspended and transported. When filling the filling container, the strawberry 1 is laid sideways and filled. Can be applied, and the application is expanded.
  3. The transport body is disc-shaped, and a trailing presser that protrudes outward from the outer periphery of the transport body and comes into contact with the subsequent strawberry transport body is provided on the rotating main shaft, and the subsequent presser is directly behind the direction of travel of the strawberry transport body. Since the succeeding strawberry transport body can be moved farthest when projecting to the side, and the succeeding strawberry transport body can be gradually brought closer as it rotates in the lateral direction, the interval between the strawberries in a simple structure can be adjusted.
  4). Since the carrier body is disk-shaped and the outer periphery of the carrier body can be expanded and contracted, the interval between strawberries can be adjusted with a simple structure.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
  The strawberry container of the present invention has the following effects.
  1. Strawberry stuffing parts for laying strawberries side by side side by side are provided side by side and front and back and left and right, and the supporting wall that supports the side of the strawberry stuffed in front of each strawberry stuffing part is stuffed with strawberry Since the concave vine support part was formed on the support wall to place the strawberry vines laid sideways and laid sideways on the support wall from above, the strawberries can be arranged orderly one by one, automatically Convenient for pinching and transporting.
  2. Strawberries can be arranged in a slanting front, so that the front support wall hits the strawberries and the strawberries are not easily damaged.
  3. Since the strawberry vine can be inserted and held from above, it is easy to store and hold the strawberry.
  4). Since the protruding prevention part for preventing the vine housed in the lower part of the vine support part from being formed is formed in the middle of the vine support part, the strawberry does not fall carelessly.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an overall outline of an automatic strawberry sorting apparatus that takes out strawberries one by one from a strawberry container of the present invention and sorts strawberries according to standards.
2A is a side view showing a state in which strawberries are attached from the container in the first section A to the strawberry transport body, and FIG. 2B is a plan view showing an alignment state of the strawberry transport bodies in the first section A. , (C) is a side view of the camera part in the second section B, (d) is a plan view of the branch part in the third section C, and (e) is for removing the strawberry from the strawberry carrier in the fourth section D for filling. The side view which showed a mode that the container was filled.
3A is a front view of a strawberry transport body in a strawberry automatic sorting apparatus, FIG. 3B is a top view of the strawberry transport body, FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view of the strawberry transport body, and FIG. ) Shows the state when the sandwiching tool is closed, (d) shows the state when the sandwiching tool is opened, and (e) is a side view showing the cushion part of the sandwiching tool. Figure.
FIGS. 4A and 4B show a second example of a strawberry transporter in a strawberry automatic sorting apparatus, where FIG. 4A is a side view, and FIG. 4B is a top view.
5 is an explanatory view showing the function of a subsequent presser in the strawberry transport body of FIG. 4, wherein (a) is a plan view, (b) is an AA sectional view, and (c) is a BB sectional view.
6 is a plan view showing an operation in a strawberry filling portion of the strawberry transport body of FIG. 4. FIG.
FIGS. 7A and 7B show a third example of a strawberry carrier in an automatic strawberry sorting apparatus, where FIG. 7A is a side view, FIG. 7B is a top view, and FIG. 7C is a top view in a closed state;
FIGS. 8A and 8B show a fourth example of a strawberry transport body in a strawberry automatic sorting apparatus, wherein FIG. 8A is a top view, and FIG. 8B is a top view showing a state in which the interval between strawberry transport bodies is narrowed.
FIG. 9 is a side view showing the strawberry carrier in the first section A of FIG. 1 taking out the strawberry from the strawberry container.
FIG. 10 is a plan view of a container for strawberries according to the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a front view showing a fixture for the strawberry container of FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a container for strawberries according to the present invention.
13A is a perspective view showing a basic shape of a strawberry receiving plate of a container for strawberry of the present invention, and FIG. 13B is a side view.
[Explanation of symbols]
    1 Strawberry
    2 vines
    3 Camera
    4 Image processor
  10 Strawberry carrier
  13 Spindle
  14 Clipping tool
  30 Guide rail
  32a, 32b Transport drive means
  50 Pause means
  52 Strawberry supply means
  54 Strawberry attachment means
  60 Sorting means
  70 Pause means
  72 Strawberry removal means

Claims

A container for strawberries characterized by having the following configurations 1 to 14
1. Two or more strawberry vines that are stored in a row and front and back in the container are automatically held by the strawberry carrier pinching tool, and the strawberry is suspended and taken out. The strawberry transporter is suspended and transported, the strawberry transport class is judged, the strawberry transporter is sorted according to the classification according to the judgment result, and the pinching of the vine transported by the sandwiched strawberry transporter is released. The strawberry is used for automatic selection of strawberries to transfer the strawberries to a filling container according to equal class,
2. The container has a strawberry backing plate (42) on the inside of the peripheral frame (41),
3. The strawberry filling plate (42) is provided with two or more rows in the lateral direction and the front-rear method on the strawberry receiving plate (42),
4). Each strawberry stuffing part (43) is wide and deep enough to lay strawberries with vines (1) one by one side by side and align the vines in the same direction,
5. The lateral interval between adjacent strawberry stuffing portions (43) is an interval at which the vines of strawberry (1) stuffed in these strawberry stuffing portions (43) can be grasped simultaneously by two or more of the sandwiching tools,
6). The periphery of each strawberry stuffing part (43) is more than the bottom surface (80) of the strawberry stuffing part (43) so that the strawberries (1) laid sideways in the adjacent strawberry stuffing part (43) do not contact each other. Formed high and
7). A front support wall (44) higher than the strawberry stuffing part (43) is formed in front of the strawberry stuffing part (43),
8). The strawberry stuffing portion (43) is formed in a downward slope toward the front support wall (44) so that the side of the strawberry (1) laid side by side is supported by the front support wall (44),
9. The front support wall (44) is formed with a basin (46),
10. The vine receiving part (46) can insert the vine of the strawberry (1) laid side by side in the strawberry filling part (43) from above, and the tip side of the inserted vine can protrude forward of the front support wall (44). In the shape of a longitudinal groove that opens to the upper edge (47) surface of the front support wall (44),
11. The upper part of the vertical groove-shaped vine receiving part (46) is formed so as to spread upward,
12 The lower part of the vertical groove-shaped vine receiving part (46) is a vine holding part (48) having a width capable of holding a strawberry vine,
13. A protrusion (49) is formed in the middle of the vine receiving part (46),
14 The strawberry container, wherein the protrusion (49) can prevent the strawberry vine held in the vine holding part (48) from coming off .

The container for strawberries according to claim 1, wherein the front row and rear row strawberry stuffing portions (43) are laterally shifted and the front row and rear row vine receiving portions (46) are shifted in the horizontal direction so that the front row strawberry stuffing portions are arranged. The fruit of the strawberry (1) laid sideways on the part (43) and the vine of the strawberry (1) laid sideways on the rear strawberry stuffing part (43) were prevented from contacting each other. Container for strawberries.

The container for strawberries according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the front support wall (44) is formed in an inverted V shape with the strawberry receiving plate (42) bent so that the hem extends. .