JP4140040B2 - Inspection sorting device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an inspection sorting apparatus for inspecting and sorting whether or not the outer shape of an article is within a standard.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Before shipping an article, it is important to inspect whether the outline of the article is within specifications.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, for example, in an automatic boxing process for shipping articles, a rational and practical inspection and sorting apparatus that excludes nonstandard articles before boxing has not yet been proposed.
[0004]
Therefore, the present invention intends to provide an inspection and sorting apparatus having a rational and practical configuration that is particularly suitable for use in excluding non-standard articles before boxing in an automatic boxing process of articles. .
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, an inspection sorting apparatus according to the present invention includes an inspection conveyor including a pair of rubber-like endless conveyors that conveys an article having a tapered outer shape in a suspended manner , and the inspection conveyor. A sensor that detects whether or not the outer shape of the article is within the standard during conveyance by the conveyor, and a non-standard article having a non-standard outer shape that automatically operates based on a signal from the sensor downward And an actuator that presses and forcibly disengages from the inspection conveyor .
[0006]
According to the present invention, in the process in which the article is transported by the transport means, the sensor detects whether or not the outer shape of the article is within the standard. Based on this signal, the actuator is automatically operated, and the nonstandard article is automatically detached from the conveying means. Therefore, for example, if the inspection sorting device is incorporated in a part of an automatic boxing line for articles, non-standard articles can be easily and reliably excluded before packing.
[0007]
In the inspection sorting apparatus, the sensor can also accurately detect the outer shape (contour) of the bottom of the article by adopting an inspection conveyor that conveys the article while holding the article in a suspended position. Is.
[0008]
A pair of rubber endless conveyors made of rubber is adopted as the conveyor .
[0009]
According to the rubber of the pair of string-shaped endless conveyors, easy single and non-standard articles which are transported between a pair of string-shaped endless conveyor in a posture of suspended made the rubber is pressed downward by the actuator as possible de be allowed to reliably and forced withdrawal.
[0010]
In the present invention, the article is a product having a tapered outer shape, and is a product in which an exterior band is encircled across its large-diameter end surface and small-diameter end surface, The latching portion and the latching receiving portion are latched to each other at a position along the small-diameter end surface of the tapered product. It is, has been attached to the tapered product, the sensor, Ru can also be made to detect whether the opposite ends of the outer straps are properly engaged.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0012]
FIG. 1 is a partially broken side view of an inspection sorting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The inspection / sorting device 1 is used by being incorporated, for example, between a production line and a subsequent automatic boxing line known per se.
[0013]
For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the inspection sorting device 1 according to the present embodiment is a product m having a tapered (inverted truncated cone) outer shape such as cup noodles, and has a large-diameter end face ( A product (tapered product with a band) M in which an exterior band 4 is encircled over an upper surface 2 and a small-diameter end surface (bottom surface) 3 is an inspection object. For example, the exterior strip 4 formed of cardboard includes a latching portion 5 and a latch receiving portion 6 that are engaged with each other at both ends 4a and 4b, respectively, At the position along the small-diameter end surface 3, the latching portion 5 and the latch receiving portion 6 are engaged with each other and attached to the tapered product m.
[0014]
Although the concrete structure of the said latching part 5 and the said latching receiving part 6 may be what, for example, as shown in FIG. The hook portion 5 is formed in a hole shape, and the hook portion 5 is formed on the tongue piece 5a inserted into the hole-like hook receiving portion 6 and on the base end side of the tongue piece 5a. And a claw piece 5b that is hooked on the edge 6a on the tip side. In this case, if the tongue piece 5a is inserted into the latch receiving portion 6 from above and the claw piece 5b is engaged with the end edge 6a of the latch receiving portion 6, the outer band 4 The both ends 4a and 4b are securely engaged so as not to be separated.
[0015]
If the both ends 4a and 4b are not properly engaged with each other, the exterior band 4 is in a poorly attached state. For this reason, such commodities must be removed from the boxing target. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the inspection process and the defective product extraction process by the inspection sorting device 1 according to the present embodiment are performed before the automatic boxing process in which the taper-shaped products M with bands are packed together in a predetermined number. (Inspection sorting process).
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 1, the inspection sorting apparatus 1 includes an inspection conveyor 7 as an article conveying means that conveys in a suspended manner with the large-diameter end L side of the banded tapered product M sandwiched from both left and right sides. I have. Since the inspection conveyor 7 conveys the taper-shaped product M with the band in a suspended manner so that the large-diameter end surface 2 faces upward, the small-diameter end S which becomes the bottom of the taper-shaped product M with the band. The side is completely exposed. For this reason, if the strip-shaped tapered product M is observed in the inspection unit 8 from the lateral direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, the both end portions 4a and 4b of the exterior strip 4 have the small-diameter end surface of the tapered product m. It is possible to easily and accurately inspect whether or not it is properly engaged at the position along the line 3. That is, when the both end portions 4a and 4b of the exterior strip 4 are poorly engaged, the both end portions 4a and 4b of the exterior strip 4 project downward from the small-diameter end surface 3 of the tapered product m. It is because it is in the state.
[0017]
In the present invention, as the inspection conveyor 7, disposed the rubber of the pair of left and right cord-like endless conveyor 7a as described in parallel with each other, 7b are employed. By using rubber , the tapered product M with a band can be reliably caught and conveyed, and can be easily and reliably and forcibly separated from the inspection conveyor by an actuator.
[0018]
The inspection conveyor 7 is arranged in a set with a guide belt conveyor 9 as a guide means for guiding the banded tapered product M to the inspection conveyor 7. The inspection conveyor 7 and the guide belt conveyor 9 are driven separately by using electric motors 18 and 19 as prime movers.
[0019]
The banded tapered product M is delivered to the inspection conveyor 7 while being horizontally conveyed by the guide belt conveyor 9. That is, the banded tapered product M is transported on the guide belt conveyor 9 and is conveyed by the inspection conveyor 7 so as to extend obliquely upward in the traveling direction. The diameter end L side is gradually lifted so as to be sandwiched from both the left and right sides, and is conveyed toward the inspection unit 8 in a suspended state.
[0020]
Even when the banded tapered product M is tilted on the guide belt conveyor 9, the banded taper is provided by the pair of left and right guide rails 10 a and 10 a fixed along the guide belt conveyor 9. Since the posture of the product M is corrected so as to face the conveyance direction, and the large-diameter end L side is always captured by the inspection conveyor 7, there is no problem. However, if necessary, a step for unifying the posture for erecting the tapered product M with the band so that the large-diameter end L faces upward is provided in front of the guiding belt conveyor 9. You can also.
[0021]
In the inspection sorting apparatus 1, the inspection unit 8 includes a sensor 11 that detects whether or not the outer shape of the tapered product M with a band is within a standard. As the sensor 11, for example, an optical sensor including a light projecting element and a light receiving element arranged to face each other across the inspection conveyor 7 in the inspection unit 8 can be adopted. However, the sensor 11 is not limited to a non-contact type sensor such as an optical type, and a contact type sensor such as a limit switch may be employed.
[0022]
The sensor 11 determines whether or not the outer shape of the bottom portion of the banded tapered product M passing through the inspection unit 8 by the inspection conveyor 7 is normal when the large-diameter end surface 2 is suspended upward. Detect. That is, in the taper-shaped product M with a band, when the both end portions 4a and 4b of the exterior band 4 are not properly engaged with each other (in the case of a defective product), the both end portions 4a and 4b are Since the taper-shaped product m projects downward from the bottom surface 3, the sensor 11 can easily detect the projection.
[0023]
When the sensor 11 detects that the banded tapered product M is a defective product M ′, the sensor 11 sends a signal to a control device 12 such as a computer constituting the inspection sorting device 1. In response to this signal, a control signal is issued from the control device 12, and the actuator 13 constituting the inspection sorting device 1 is operated.
[0024]
The actuator 13 operates to forcibly separate the defective product M ′ from the inspection conveyor 7. In the present embodiment, a linear motion actuator such as an air cylinder is employed as the actuator 13. The actuator 13 is disposed slightly above the inspection unit 8 with the telescopic rod 14 facing downward. A pad 15 that contacts the defective product M ′ is fixed to the lower end of the telescopic rod 14. In the actuator 13, the telescopic rod 14 is normally contracted, and the pad 15 is retracted above the inspection conveyor 7 in the inspection unit 8. Then, based on the detection signal of the sensor 11, the telescopic rod 14 extends downward, and the pad 15 contacts the defective product M ′ from above. As a result, the defective product M ′ that has been held on the inspection conveyor 7 until then is pressed downward and separated from the inspection conveyor 7. The defective product M ′ is dropped as it is and stored in a defective product storage box 16 disposed below.
[0025]
When the banded tapered product M is a non-defective product that satisfies the standard, the actuator 13 does not operate, and the non-defective product is separated from the front end 7f of the inspection conveyor 7 and becomes the next process. It is delivered to the conveyor belt 17 for transfer to the boxing process.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a partially broken side view of an inspection sorting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a taper-shaped product with a band as an example of a processing target of the inspection sorting device shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a hooking portion of the exterior band of the tapered taped product shown in FIG. 2;
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Large-diameter end face 3 Small-diameter end face 4 Exterior strips 4a and 4b Both end portions of exterior strip 5 Hooks (tongue pieces, claw pieces)
6 Hook receiving part (hole)
7 Transport means (conveyor for inspection)
7a, 7a Pair of endless conveyors 11 Sensor 13 Actuator M Article (tapered product with belt)
M 'non-standard goods (defective product)
m Tapered products

Claims (1)

An inspection conveyor (7) composed of a pair of rubber-like endless conveyors (7a, 7b) for conveying an article (M) having a tapered outer shape in a suspended position , and the inspection conveyor (7) A sensor (11) for detecting whether or not the outer shape of the article (M) is within a standard during conveyance by the sensor, and automatically operating based on a signal from the sensor (11) to form a non-standard outer shape. An inspection sorting apparatus comprising: an actuator (13) that presses a non-standard article (M ′) that is held downward to forcibly release the article (M ′) from the inspection conveyor (7).

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