JP4181725B2 - Combination weighing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a combination weighing device that can measure and discharge a weighing object to a predetermined mass in order to wrap an object to be weighed such as food in a container or a predetermined mass. The present invention relates to a combination weighing device that can improve reliability.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, in a packaging process of a food production line, a combination weighing device capable of weighing and discharging articles by a predetermined mass is used for bagging food with fine units.
FIG. 6 is a side view showing the combination weighing device. As shown in the figure, the combination weighing device 50 includes a supply unit 51 that supplies articles and distributes them radially, a plurality of stock hoppers 52 arranged in a circumferential shape, and a plurality of weighing hoppers 53 provided below the stock hopper 52. And a funnel-shaped collecting chute 54 provided at the lower part of the weighing hopper 53. Each of these parts is arranged on the side part of the central body part 55.
[0003]
The supply unit 51 scatters and supplies the objects to be weighed, which are thrown into the center position of the weighing hoppers 52 arranged circumferentially when viewed on a plane, radially outward. The supply unit 51 includes a conical dispersion unit 51a and a conveyance unit 51b that conveys the dispersed object to be measured to the stock hopper 52 portion. The transport unit 51b includes a trough 51c having both side portions erected, and driving means 51d that vibrates the trough 51c and transports an object to be weighed.
The objects to be weighed are dropped into the respective weighing hoppers 53 approximately in the same amount through the stock hoppers 52 provided on the respective weighing hoppers 53, and the respective masses are measured.
The measurement values at the plurality of weighing hoppers 53 usually vary to some extent. Therefore, a desired mass value is obtained by appropriately combining a plurality of weighing values obtained by the plurality of weighing hoppers 53. A plurality of weighing hoppers 53 having such a combination are selected and actuated to drop the objects to be weighed onto the collecting chute 54.
[0004]
There is an opening in the lowest part of the collecting chute 54, and the objects to be weighed that have dropped from the plurality of weighing hoppers 53 gather here and fall downward.
Usually, an apparatus for packaging an object to be weighed is provided below the opening of the collecting chute 54. For example, if a bagging device is arranged, an object to be weighed with a predetermined mass can be bagged.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Inside the central main body 55, there are drive means 51d of the supply section 51, drive means such as a cylinder for driving each hopper 52, 53, measurement means such as a load cell for measuring an object to be weighed in the measurement hopper 53, and the like. Is provided.
The object to be weighed is configured to flow downward from the upper position, and the main body portion 55 is sealed in order to prevent intrusion of foreign matters including these foods and moisture.
However, if the main body 55 has a sealed structure, the heat generated from the driving means and the like provided in the main body 55 cannot be released, and the temperature inside the main body 55 is likely to rise. there were.
Due to this temperature rise, an error occurs in the measured value in the measuring means, the measuring accuracy is deteriorated, and the durability is also lowered.
[0006]
The combination weighing device described in JP-A-6-317454 has a configuration in which outside air is actively taken in. However, since the outside air containing humidity and organic components is taken in, there is a problem that the inside of the main body is easily corroded.
In particular, if it is installed in a hot and humid area or a factory adjacent to a broiler, the durability will be significantly reduced.
[0007]
Further, the temperature rise during the operation of the combination weighing device and the rapid cooling caused by washing with water during cleaning tend to cause dew condensation inside the main body 55, which affects the operation and durability of the driving means and the weighing means.
In order to prevent this, it is conceivable to provide a dehumidifier inside the main body 55. However, the main body 55 is disposed on the collecting chute 54, and the moisture generated by the dehumidification is transferred from the main body 55 to the outside. In order to make it lead out, it is not a preferable structure because the drain hose for lead passes through the upper position of the collecting chute 54.
That is, if water leaks from the lowermost surface of the main body 55, or if there is water leakage at the drain hose connection location or in the middle, there is a risk that this water will fall directly onto the collecting chute 54 and be mixed into the object to be weighed. .
[0008]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a combination weighing device that can dissipate heat generated in the device with a simple configuration and can improve weighing accuracy, durability, and reliability. It is an object.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the combination weighing device of the present invention includes a distributed supply unit (2) for supplying an object to be distributed to the periphery, and a plurality of peripheral supply units arranged around the distributed supply unit. A plurality of hoppers (8) that weigh and selectively drop and discharge a weighing object, and a collecting chute (10) that is disposed below the hopper and collects and discharges the objects to be weighed. In a combination weighing device that selects a plurality of hoppers based on a measurement value and obtains an object to be weighed with a predetermined mass by combining the hoppers,
A measurement drive unit (40) for measuring the objects to be weighed stored in the hopper and controlling the storage and discharge of the objects to be weighed with respect to a plurality of hoppers;
A main body (20) for accommodating the measurement drive unit;
A heat exchange section (41) having a heat control means (42) for controlling the temperature in the measurement drive section ,
The heat exchanging part includes a support column (25) that supports the main body part and forms a circulation path (A) that connects the measurement driving part and the heat exchanging part.
[0010]
Moreover, it is good also as a structure which provided the fan (28) which circulates an air flow in the path | route comprised by the said measurement drive part (40), a heat exchange part (41), and the said circulation path (A).
[0011]
In addition, a temperature detector (44) for detecting the temperature inside the measurement drive unit (40) is provided ,
It said heat control means (42) can also configure that controls the rotation of the fan based on the detected temperature of the temperature detector (28).
[0012]
Moreover, it is good also as a structure provided with the dehumidifier (29) for dehumidifying the inside of the said measurement drive part (40) in the said heat exchange part (41).
[0013]
According to the above configuration, the inside of the measurement drive unit 40 is connected to the heat exchange unit 41 via the circulation path A. Inside the measurement drive unit 40, the dispersion supply unit 2 and the drive sources of the plurality of hoppers 7, 8, 9 are provided, and the heat generated by these can be radiated by the circulation path A and the heat exchange unit 41. By providing the fan 28 in the circulation path A, air circulation can be promoted. Further, the temperature inside the measurement drive unit 40 can be detected to control the rotation speed of the fan 28. In addition, the heat exchanger 41 can be provided with a dehumidifier 29 to dehumidify the inside of the measurement drive unit 40. As a result, the measurement accuracy of the apparatus can be maintained and the durability can be improved.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a combination weighing device 1, and FIG. 2 is a side view thereof. A dispersion supply unit 2 is provided in the center of the upper part of the combination weighing device 1 and at a position directly below the place where the articles are put. The distributed supply unit 2 is generally configured by a circular feeder 3 and a straight feeder 4.
[0015]
The circular feeder 3 includes a cone 3a formed in a flat cone shape whose center protrudes upward, and driving means 3b for rotating the cone 3a. A supply means (not shown) supplies the objects to be weighed onto the circular feeder 3, so that a large number of objects to be weighed are always stacked on the circular feeder 3, and the objects to be weighed are evenly distributed around the circumference by the rotation of the cone 3a. Spilled and supplied.
[0016]
Around the cone 3a, a plurality of linear feeders 4 are provided in a radial arrangement. Each of the rectilinear feeders 4 includes a trough 5 that is a linear conveyance path having a substantially V-shaped cross section, and drive means 6a that reciprocates the trough 5 in the conveyance direction. The troughs 5 of each linear feeder 4 are arranged radially at equal angular intervals in the circumferential direction with the dispersion supply unit 2 as the center. Therefore, the objects to be weighed supplied to the troughs 5 of the respective linear feeders 4 are conveyed toward the outside of the arrangement by driving the driving means 6a.
[0017]
The outer end of the outer side of each trough 5 is in an open state, and the object to be weighed drops from here. A stock hopper 7 is disposed below the outer end of each trough 5. That is, the same number of stock hoppers 7 as the troughs 5 are circumferentially arranged at equal intervals. Each stock hopper 7 is a box having an upper surface opened, and a lid that can be opened and closed is attached to the lower surface.
[0018]
Below each stock hopper 7, a weighing hopper 8 is arranged. That is, the same number of weighing hoppers 8 as the stock hoppers 7 are circumferentially arranged at equal intervals. The weighing hopper 8 is a box having an open top surface, and a lid that can be opened and closed is attached to the bottom surface. This weighing hopper 8 is provided with weighing means 8b, and can measure the mass of the object to be weighed stored therein.
[0019]
A memory hopper 9 is disposed below each weighing hopper 8. That is, the same number of memory hoppers 9 as the weighing hoppers 8 are circumferentially arranged at equal intervals. The memory hopper 9 is a box with an upper surface opened, and a lid that can be opened and closed is attached to the lower surface. An object to be weighed by the weighing hopper 8 is stored and held in the memory hopper 9.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 2, the stock hopper 7, the weighing hopper 8, and the memory hopper 9 are arranged vertically from top to bottom in this order, and are arranged inside the apparatus from the top to the bottom, It arrange | positions so that the inclination of the discharge direction of a to-be-measured object may become gentle. The object to be weighed stored in the last-stage memory hopper 9 is dropped and discharged by opening the bottom cover.
[0021]
A funnel-shaped collective hopper 10 is provided below the plurality of circumferentially arranged memory hoppers 9. The collecting chute 10 of this example is a hollow truncated cone shape having a relatively large inlet on the upper surface and a relatively small outlet 11 on the lower surface.
[0022]
FIG. 3 is a view showing the main body 20 of the apparatus. (A) is a top view, (b) is the same side view, and the state which removed structures, such as each hopper, is shown.
A substantially circular mortar-shaped main body 20 is provided at the center of the apparatus, the dispersion supply unit 2 is disposed on a substantially planar upper surface 20a, and the stock hopper 7 and the weighing hopper 8 described above are disposed on the side surface 20b. The memory hopper 9 is arranged over the entire circumference.
As shown in FIG. 1, a drive unit 3 b of the circular feeder 3 of the dispersion supply unit 2 and a drive unit 6 a of the linear feeder 4 are provided inside the main body 20 at the upper position. Further, driving means 7a, 8a, 9a of the respective hoppers 7, 8, 9 and weighing means 8b such as a load cell for weighing an object to be weighed in the weighing hopper 8 are provided on the entire side position. Yes.
[0023]
The main body 20 is supported by a total of four columns 25 (25a to 25d). Each of the support columns 25a to 25d includes a vertical portion 25e and a horizontal portion 25f that is curved with an arc having a predetermined diameter at the top of the vertical portion 25e and reaches the inside of the side surface 20b of the main body portion 20.
A total of four columns 25 support the main body 20 by fixing the end of the horizontal portion 25 f to the side surface 20 b of the main body 20. Further, at the bottom of each support column 25, adjacent support columns 25 are connected and fixed by a horizontal connection column 26.
Both the support column 25 and the connecting column 26 are formed in a columnar shape having a hollow cross section.
[0024]
In addition, a control box 27 containing a control unit of the apparatus is provided between the bottoms of a pair of adjacent struts 25 (25a, 25b). The weighing control means (not shown) provided in the control box 27 is electrically wired to each mechanism part of the main body part 20 via the support column 25, and obtains a weighing signal from the weighing means 8b to receive an object to be weighed. The drive means 7a, 8a, 9a of each hopper is driven and controlled so that the desired mass can be discharged to the outside.
[0025]
A circulation path A in which an air flow circulates through the support column 25 is formed between the main body 20 and the control box 27.
Inside the control box 27, a fan 28 and a dehumidifier 29 are provided. Moreover, the support | pillar 25 and the connection pillar 26 are provided with the obstruction | occlusion part 30 in multiple places, and form the circulation path A of one direction. The closing part 30 is a filling member such as a metal plate or glass wool.
[0026]
Next, the weighing operation with the above configuration will be described.
The objects to be weighed are distributed almost evenly to the stock hopper 7 by the linear feeders 4 from the dispersion supply unit 2. The objects to be weighed are dropped into the respective weighing hoppers 8 through the stock hopper 7 approximately in the same amount, and are dropped into the memory hopper 9 after the respective masses are measured. Then, a combination of the weighing values of the plurality of weighing hoppers 8 from which a desired mass value is obtained is calculated, and these memory hoppers 9 are opened. Meanwhile, in the weighing hopper 8, the next object to be weighed is being measured. After the memory hopper 9 is discharged, the object to be weighed in the weighing hopper 8 that has been weighed is immediately put into the memory hopper 9 and discharged according to the following combination.
[0027]
As described above, if the memory hopper 9 and the weighing hopper 8 are provided, the operation becomes more efficient as compared with the case where the weighing hopper 8 measures and discharges directly to the collecting chute 10.
A device for packaging an object to be weighed (not shown) is provided below the discharge port 11 of the collective chute 10, and an object to be weighed with a predetermined mass can be packaged.
[0028]
Next, the air circulation effect | action by the said structure is demonstrated.
When the fan 28 in the control box 27 starts the suction operation, a circulation path A for the air flow reaching the control box 27, the support column 25a, the main body unit 20, and the support column 25b is formed. Flow into. A dehumidifier 29 is provided inside the control box 27 so that the humidity component of the airflow can be removed and supplied to the main body 20 again.
[0029]
As a result, the temperature and humidity inside the main body 20 can be controlled below a certain level, the operation of each mechanism provided in the main body 20 can be stabilized, and the measurement accuracy can be maintained.
At the same time, condensation inside the main body 20 can be prevented, no means for draining from the main body 20 is required, and moisture can be prevented from dropping from the main body 20 to the collecting chute 10. Since the dehumidification is performed inside the control box 27 outside the collecting chute 10, even if drain leaks from the control box 27, mixing into the object to be measured can be prevented.
[0030]
Next, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of air circulation which is a main part of the present invention.
As shown in the figure, the combination weighing device 1 is roughly composed of a measurement drive unit 40, a heat exchange unit 41, and a circulation path A.
The measurement drive unit 40 includes the main body 20 described above as a housing, and includes the above-described drive units 3b, 6a, 7a, 8a, and 9a, the weighing unit 8b, and the like inside, The hoppers 7, 8, 9 are driven to be accommodated and discharged, and the objects to be weighed are weighed.
[0031]
The heat exchanging unit 41 includes the control box 27 described above as a casing, and prevents the temperature inside the measurement driving unit 40 from rapidly increasing or decreasing due to heat exchange. In addition to the control box 27, the heat exchanger 41 can also include the support column 25. In other words, the control box 27 and the support column 25 have an action of radiating (heat exchanging) the heat generated by the measurement driving unit 40 by touching the outside air.
In addition to the configuration in which the above-described dehumidifier 29 is provided inside the heat exchanging unit 41 to prevent a sudden increase and decrease in humidity inside the measurement driving unit 40, an air conditioner and a cooling device are provided to keep the temperature and humidity constant. It can also be configured. That is, the heat exchanging unit 41 can function as a means for cooling the heat generated by the measurement driving unit 40 or a means for keeping warm.
[0032]
Further, a plurality of fans 28 can be provided at any location as long as they are in the path of the circulation path A. For example, it can be provided at the connection point between the circulation path A and the measurement drive unit 40 (end of the main body 20) and at the connection point between the circulation path A and the heat exchange unit 41 (end of the control box 27).
[0033]
Moreover, the heat control means 42 for electrically controlling the temperature of the measurement drive part 40 can be provided inside the heat exchange part 41.
A temperature detector 44 is provided inside the measurement drive unit 40 and causes the heat control means 42 to output a detection signal. The heat control means 42 can be configured to control the rotational speed of the fan 28 according to the temperature detected by the temperature detector 44.
For example, control is performed to increase the rotational speed of the fan 28 in accordance with the detected temperature rise. At this time, control for increasing the dehumidifying capacity of the dehumidifier 29 may be performed at the same time.
[0034]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a modification of the above embodiment of the present invention. Not only the circulation path A shown in FIG. 3 but also a circulation path B through which an air flow flows in and out from a position opposed to the main body 20 as shown in FIG. In this case, it is only necessary to appropriately change the installation position of the blocking portion 30 so as to form the one-way circulation path B.
[0035]
In the above example, the circulation paths A and B have been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other circulation paths can be formed by changing the arrangement of the blocking portion 30 to obtain the same effect.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, since the measurement drive unit is connected to the heat exchange unit via the circulation path, the heat generated in the measurement drive unit can be dissipated in the circulation path and the heat exchange unit. The internal temperature can be suppressed.
Moreover, if a fan is provided in the circulation path, air can be circulated to promote heat exchange. Further, if the temperature of the measurement drive unit is detected to control the rotation speed of the fan, heat exchange corresponding to the temperature change of the measurement drive unit can be performed. Further, a dehumidifier can be provided to dehumidify the measurement drive unit.
As described above, the present invention has an effect of maintaining the weighing accuracy of the apparatus and improving the durability and reliability.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of a combination weighing device of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a main body.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration relating to air circulation, which is a main part of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another configuration example of the air circulation path.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an outline of a combination weighing device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Combination measuring device, 2 ... Dispersion supply part, 3 ... Circular feeder, 3b, 6a, 7a, 8a, 9a ... Driving means, 4 ... Straight feeder, 5 ... Trough, 7 ... Stock hopper, 8 ... Weighing hopper, 8b ... Measuring means, 10 ... collecting chute, 10 ... main body part, 25 ... support, 26 ... connecting pillar, 27 ... control box, 28 ... fan, 29 ... dehumidifier, 30 ... blocking part, 40 ... measurement driving part, 41 ... Heat exchanging section, 42 ... heat control means, 44 ... temperature detector, A, B ... circulation path.

Claims (4)

A distributed supply unit (2) for supplying the objects to be distributed to the surroundings, and a plurality of hoppers arranged around the distributed supply unit in a circumferential shape, each weighing a predetermined amount of the objects to be measured, and selectively dropping and discharging (8) and a collecting chute (10) that is disposed below the hopper and collects and discharges the objects to be weighed, and selects and combines a plurality of hoppers based on the measured values. In a combination weighing device that obtains an object to be weighed with a predetermined mass by
A measurement drive unit (40) for measuring the objects to be weighed stored in the hopper and controlling the storage and discharge of the objects to be weighed with respect to a plurality of hoppers;
A main body (20) for accommodating the measurement drive unit;
With a heat exchange portion (41), having a thermal control means (42) for controlling the temperature in the measuring drive unit,
The heat exchange unit includes a support column (25) that supports the main body unit and forms a circulation path (A) that connects the measurement drive unit and the heat exchange unit. .   The combination weighing device according to claim 1, further comprising a fan (28) for circulating an air flow in a path constituted by the measurement drive unit (40), the heat exchange unit (41), and the circulation path (A). A temperature detector (44) for detecting the temperature inside the measurement drive unit (40);
It said heat control means (42), the temperature detector of the combination weighing apparatus 請 Motomeko 2 wherein that controls the rotation of the fan (28) based on the detected temperature.   The combination weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a dehumidifier (29) for dehumidifying the inside of the measurement drive unit (40) in the heat exchange unit (41).

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