JP4190144B2 - Flower treatment equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a floret processing apparatus used for a work for converging a predetermined number of florets such as chrysanthemum, roses and lilies.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a device for processing the above-mentioned florets, for example, the weight of a floret conveyed by a sorting conveyor is measured by a weight measuring machine, and based on the measurement result, the plurality of stacking conveyors provided at the lower part of the sorting conveyor In contrast, there are devices that release by weight (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-38814, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-313546).
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the above-mentioned apparatus causes the florets of substantially the same weight to fall from the sorting conveyor by their own weight and accumulate on the accumulation conveyor, the posture during the fall is unstable, and the direction and direction of the florets are easily displaced, It may be accumulated in a posture substantially parallel to the accumulation conveyor or may be accumulated in an obliquely horizontal posture, and it is difficult to accumulate in a state aligned in the same direction.
[0004]
Therefore, when aligning the predetermined number of flower buds in the same direction, you must carefully work while counting the number of flower buds so that the flower part is not damaged and the necessary upper leaves do not fall. There is a problem in that it takes time and labor to work to collect them together.
[0005]
In view of the above problems, the present invention accumulates a predetermined number of florets in a alternately intersecting state, thereby eliminating the labor and work of correcting the orientation and posture of the florets and counting the number of the florets. It is an object of the present invention to provide a floret processing apparatus capable of easily and easily performing the operation of concentrating the number of florets together.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, predetermined items of the florets conveyed by the conveyor are measured by the item measuring means, and based on the measurement results, the florets are placed in the first stacking section and the second stacking section provided at the lower part of the conveyor. A floret processing apparatus that supplies items by item, wherein the first stacking unit includes a collecting plate that collects stems of a predetermined number of flower buds, and a binding machine that binds the stems of the florets assembled by the collecting plate The second stacking unit is a floret processing apparatus including a stacking posture changing unit that changes the posture of the florets supplied to the stacking unit and stacks them in a state of intersecting alternately.
[0007]
The invention according to claim 2 is combined with the configuration according to claim 1, and the plurality of distribution guides for dropping the stacking posture changing means facing both ends of the flower bud in a different direction. It is a flower processing device composed of a body.
[0008]
The invention described in claim 3 is a flower treatment apparatus provided with the configuration according to claim 2, wherein the sorting body is provided so as to be rotatable at an angle at which the flower bud is guided to fall obliquely downward. It is characterized by.
[0009]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in combination with the configuration of the second aspect, the distributing body is formed in a shape in which the florets are guided to fall obliquely downward, and is brought into contact with the florets. The flower processing apparatus is provided so as to be able to move forward and backward at a certain position.
[0010]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the second, third, or fourth aspect, a floret detection unit that detects a floret supplied to the stacking unit, and a floret detection unit based on detection by the floret detection unit. An operation control unit that counts the number of flowers and distributes the distribution bodies to a state where both ends of the flowers are guided to drop in different directions when a predetermined number of flowers are supplied to the stacking unit. It is characterized by being a flower treatment apparatus.
[0011]
[Action and effect]
According to this invention, the posture of the florets supplied to the second stacking unit is changed by the stacking posture changing means, and the predetermined number of florets are stacked in a alternately intersecting state. The labor and work of correcting the number and counting the number thereof can be saved, and the work of converging a predetermined number of flower buds into one can be performed easily and easily, and the efficiency of the converging work can be improved. In addition, since a predetermined number of florets accumulated in advance are handled in a bundle, it is possible to prevent the commercial value of the florets from being impaired.
[0012]
【Example】
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
The drawings show a floret processing apparatus that is used for the operation of concentrating high-class florets by a predetermined number by hand, and in FIGS. 1 and 2, the floret processing apparatus 1 is shown between an arrival process and a shipment process. The feed conveyor 2 disposed during the process includes, for example, a floret A such as a ring chrysanthemum, a stem excision part a set on the conveyance path, a lower leaf separation part b, a measurement part c, and a sorting part. Transport to d, e, f, and g.
[0013]
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the above-mentioned feed conveyor 2 is mounted with brackets 4 at predetermined intervals with respect to the entire length of the circulating chain 3 stretched on both sides of the conveyance path, and both ends of the support shaft 5 are attached. The support part 6 fixed to the center of the support shaft 5 and the support part 7 fixed to the lower surface of the mounting table 8 are connected so as to be movable up and down so that they can be freely rotated by the bracket 4 attached to the circular chain 3, and from the side. A mounting table 8 (for example, a bucket, a cup, a tray, etc.) formed in a substantially V shape when viewed is installed at a predetermined interval in the feed direction, and the support rollers 9 are fixed to the lower surface of the mounting table 8. It is attached to the lower end side of the part 7. Further, the floret A may be supported by, for example, a support bar or a support plate instead of the mounting table 8.
[0014]
The locking claw 10 pivotally attached to the bracket 4 is locked (or rotationally biased in the locking direction) to the locking member 11 fixed to the end portion of the support shaft 5, and the flower bed A is substantially the same. The rotation is restricted to a horizontal mounting posture. The locking claw 10 is unlocked by an unlocking device 46 to be described later, and the mounting table 8 is allowed to rotate in a release posture in which the groom A is released substantially directly below or obliquely downward.
[0015]
The motor 12 with a speed reducer disposed at the lower end side rotates the circulating chain 3 in the feed direction via the sprockets 13 and 14 and the drive chain 15 to move the mounting table 8 at a predetermined speed. Moreover, you may change the magnitude | size and shape of the mounting base 8, the front-back space | interval, and the rotational speed according to the magnitude | size, the number, and the kind of the floret A.
[0016]
On the other hand, the aligning plate 16 is disposed on the left side of the starting end side of the conveyance path so as to face the flower part Aa of the flower bud A mounted on the mounting table 8.
[0017]
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the lower leaf separation device 19 disposed in the lower part of the starting end side of the conveying path extends the support base 21 on both sides of the conveying path so as to face the lower surface of the mounting table 8. In addition to being installed between the circulation chains 20, they move around in synchronism with (or independently from) the feed direction substantially in synchronization with the feed speed of the feed conveyor 2.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 9, the pair of left and right chucks 22 are pivotally supported at the end of the support table 21 so as to face the stem Ab of the flower bud A protruding from the right side of the mounting table 8, and It connects so that interlocking opening and closing is possible via 22b.
[0019]
In addition, the arm 23 connected to one chuck 22 side is ridden on a rail 24 installed at the lower part of the conveyance path, is rotated to a closed angle that holds the stem Ab of the flower bud A, and is dropped from the rail 24. It rotates to an opening angle at which the holding of the stem Ab is released. The chuck 22 is urged to rotate in the opening direction by an urging means such as a spiral spring or coil pulling, and a member having a large contact resistance is mounted on the holding surface.
[0020]
On the other hand, the two guide shafts 25 are supported so as to be horizontally movable in the direction substantially orthogonal to the feed direction with respect to the upper surface of the support base 21, and the engaging member 26 attached to the lower surface side intermediate portion of the guide shaft 23 is conveyed. A pair of left and right lower leaf separators 29 attached to the right end portion of the guide shaft 25 are engaged with the guide groove 28 of the rail 27 installed at the lower part of the road, and circulate in the feed direction and the return direction along the groove portion 28. And reciprocate horizontally in a direction substantially parallel to the stem Ab held by the chuck 22 described above.
[0021]
The lower leaf separator 29 is moved to a position facing the peripheral surface of the stem Ab in the vicinity of the chuck 22 when the engagement member 26 is moved to the start end side (front stage of the stem excision b) of the groove 28, and the terminal side (lower When it moves to the leaf removal part b), it moves to a position outside the cutting end of the stem Ab .
[0022]
A pair of left and right lower leaf separators 29 are formed to have a size and a shape in which a half-circumferential surface of the stem Ab of the flower bud A is surrounded as viewed from the side by bending a member having a circular cross section, a flat cross section, or the like. Along with the left and right support shafts 29a that are pivotally supported (perpendicular to the feed direction) at the right end of the guide shaft 25, the guide shaft 25 is rotatably connected via the support shaft 29a and the gear 29b, and the stem portion. An annular rubber member 30 having elasticity and flexibility necessary for separating the lower leaf Ac of Ab is stretched between the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the lower leaf separator 29.
[0023]
In addition, the arm 31 connected to one of the support shafts 29a rides on the rail 32 installed at the lower part of the conveyance path, and closes and rotates in the direction and angle in which the rubber member 30 is pressed against the peripheral surface of the stem Ab. Then, it is dropped from the rail 32, and is opened and rotated in the direction and angle where the pressure is released. Moreover, you may use the linear body which has flexibility, such as a string and a wire, for example as a separation member which replaces the rubber member 30.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 6, the stem excision device 35 disposed in the stem excision part a has a substantially disc-shaped rotary blade 36 facing the stem part Ab of the flower bud A on the right side of the conveyance path. The rotating blade 36 is rotated by a motor 37 with a speed reducing function provided on the upper right side, and the stem Ab of the flower bud A protruding from the side of the mounting table 8 is cut to a predetermined length. The cover 38 surrounds the upper peripheral surface of the rotary blade 36.
[0025]
Further, the rotary blade 36 is moved left and right or back and forth, for example, so that the cutting dimension of the stem Ab is variably set, or the axis of the rotary blade 36 is decentered in the vertical direction and horizontal direction, for example, and the cutting angle is varied. Also good.
[0026]
As other cutting means instead of the above-described rotary blade 36, for example, a fixed blade, a saw blade, a chain type or wire type cutter, a band saw, or the like may be used.
[0027]
The conveyance path right portion of the lower lobe removal unit b, for example, an injection nozzle 39 connected to the air over the supply device such as a compressor or blower blower, arranged to face the stem portion Ab of flowers A, under the above-mentioned The lower leaf Ac of the floret A separated by the leaf separator 29 is removed by air discharged from the spray nozzle 39.
[0028]
The measuring device 42 disposed at the lower part of the measuring unit c is composed of, for example, a load cell, a weight sensor, and the like. When the placing table 8 travels on the measuring table 43 attached to the upper part of the device, the groom A is placed. The total weight of the mounting table 8 is measured while being conveyed, and the measurement result is output to the determination device 45. Moreover, you may coat | cover the running surface of the measurement stand 43 with members with small contact resistance, such as a fluororesin (brand name = Teflon), for example.
[0029]
Based on the total weight data output from the measuring device 42, the above-described determination device 45 (for example, a personal computer) subtracts the weight of the mounting table 8 to calculate the weight of only the floret A, and the weight data of the floret A Are compared with reference weight data stored in advance to determine the grade (for example, weight), and the address or time lag until the mounting table 8 moves to the sorting sections d, e, f, and g is counted.
[0030]
When the bridegroom A is conveyed to the sorting sections d to g corresponding to the determination, the unlocking device 46 (for example, a motor, a solenoid, a cylinder, etc.) disposed on the side of the conveyance path is driven, and the releasing member 47 is engaged with the locking claw. 10 is brought into contact with a release operation (see FIG. 5), and the mounting table 8 is rotated to the discharge posture. If it is different from the determination, the lock release device 46 is put on standby.
[0031]
On the other hand, the mounting table 8 rotated to the discharge posture returns to the original posture in the middle of the return movement from the end side to the start end side, and the locking claw 10 is locked to the locking member 11.
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 3, the stacking unit 50 disposed at the lower part of the sorting units d and e described above classifies the florets A discharged from the feed conveyor 2 on the conveyor 51 disposed at the lower part of the conveyance path ( For example, stock in Hide and L). The conveyor 51 supplies a plurality of florets A to a conveyor 52 disposed on the right side of the conveyance path, and the conveyor 52 rotates forward and backward in a direction in which the florets A are supplied to the binding machine 57 and a direction in which they are collected.
[0033]
The collective plate 53 disposed on the terminal end side of the conveyor 52 is formed in a shape (cone shape, trumpet shape, etc.) that gradually narrows in the feed direction, and guides the lower end side stem portion Ab of the floret A in a collective direction. To do. And the stopper 54 arrange | positioned at the termination | terminus part temporarily stops the flower bud A ... mounted on the other conveyor 52 until the binding work of the flower bud A mounted on one conveyor 52 is completed.
[0034]
The discharge body 55 installed on the upper part of the conveyor 52 is moved back and forth between the position where the bundled flower bud A is discharged to the accumulation box 56 disposed on the side of the conveyor 52 and the position where the movement of the flower bud A is allowed. Moving.
[0035]
The binding machine 57 disposed facing the terminal end of the conveyor 52 is reciprocated to a position facing the conveyor 52, and the rubber string B is wound around the stalk Ab that is bundled together. In addition, the binding machine 57 may be disposed to face the conveyors of the sorting units d and e, and as a binding body replacing the rubber cord B, for example, a resin belt, a string, a wire, or the like may be used.
[0036]
The aligning plate 58 provided in the binding machine 57 is brought into contact with the stem Ab of the flower bud A, and aligns the stem Ab substantially straight. And the chuck | zipper 59 provided in the terminal part of the conveyor 52 holds the stem part Ab of the flower bud A gathered together at the time of binding.
[0037]
As shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, the stacking unit 62 disposed below the sorting units f and g described above intersects the stacking box 63 disposed below the transport path with a predetermined number of flower buds A. It is formed in a size that can be accommodated in a state (for example, a cross girder), and the florets A discharged from the feed conveyor 2 are stocked by grade (for example, M or S).
[0038]
In addition, the base end portion of the rod-shaped sorting body 64 which is shorter than the horizontal width dimension of the stacking box 63 and has a length substantially equal to the half width dimension is used as the flower portion Aa of the flower bud A put into the stacking box 63. Opposite to the stem Ab, it pivots in a vertically long hole 63a formed in both side walls of the accumulation box 63 so as to be able to appear and retract. Moreover, instead of the rod-shaped distribution body 64, for example, a distribution may be performed using a plate shape, a linear body, or the like.
[0039]
Further, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the base end portion of the sorting body 64 and both end portions of the connecting rod 65 installed on the front and rear bottom portions of the stacking box 63 are connected to each other by the connecting rod 66 so as to be vertically rotatable. Then, one end side of the connecting rods 65 and 65 is connected by a connecting rod 67 so as to be swingable up and down, and substantially intermediate portions of the connecting rods 65 and 67 are pivotally supported by a support pin 68, respectively. The rod end portion of the drive cylinder 69 attached to this portion is coupled to one end side of the front coupling rod 65.
[0040]
The above-described drive cylinder 69 is reciprocated based on the determination by the above-described determination device 45, and the distribution body 64 at the diagonal position is guided to drop in a tilted state where the floret A is guided to drop obliquely downward and substantially below. Rotate to the vertical state. The flower part Aa and the stem part Ab of the flower bud A are alternately distributed and guided, and the flower bud A is accumulated and accommodated so as to intersect when seen from the plane. Further, the distributing bodies 64 may be individually rotated by the drive cylinder 69, and as other drive means in place of the drive cylinder 69, for example, an actuator such as a solenoid, a motor, or a cam may be used.
[0041]
The illustrated embodiment is configured as described above, and the processing operation of the floret A by the floret processing apparatus 1 will be described below.
[0042]
First, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the florets A to be received are placed one by one on the placing table 8 of the feeding conveyor 2 by manual work (or machine), and the right side of the placing table 8. The stem Ab of the flower bud A protruding to the bottom is held by the left and right chucks 22 constituting the lower leaf separation device 19, and the rubber member 30 of the lower leaf separator 29 is pressed against the peripheral surface of the stem Ab.
[0043]
Next, when the flower bud A is longer than the reference dimension, the stem Ab of the flower bud A is trimmed to a predetermined length by the stem cutting device 35, and the lower leaves Ac (or branches) of the stem Ab are separated into a pair of left and right. The lower leaf separator 29 forcibly peels it off and separates it.
[0044]
Next, the holding by the chuck 22 and the lower leaf separator 29 is released, and the separated lower leaf Ac is removed with air discharged from the ejection nozzle 39. The excised stem Ab and the separated lower leaf Ac are put into a collection box (not shown) at the bottom of the transport path and collected.
[0045]
Next, the total weight of the mounting table 8 on which the groom A is mounted is measured by the measuring device 42, and the measurement result is output to the determining device 45. The determination device 45 subtracts the weight of the mounting table 8 from the total weight at the time of measurement, calculates the weight of the groom A, and determines the grade. When the floret A is conveyed to the sorting units d to g corresponding to the determination, the placing table 8 is rotated to the discharge posture to release the floret A.
[0046]
For example, a predetermined number of flower buds A having grades such as 45 g or more excellent products, approximately 35 g to approximately 45 g L products, and the like are once stocked on the conveyor 51 of the stacking unit 50. Thereafter, the stem Ab of the floret A is bundled by the bundling machine 57 and put into the accumulation box 56. The florets A accumulated in the accumulation box 56 are shipped while being bundled, or are packed in a box or packed in a bag.
[0047]
On the other hand, the florets A having grades of about 25 g to about 35 g of M products, S products of 25 g or less, and the like are accumulated in the accumulation box 63 of the accumulation unit 62 disposed below the sorting units f and g. That is, the flower part Aa of the flower bud A is guided to fall obliquely to the left by the right rear part distributing body 64, and the stem part Ab is guided to fall by the right front obliquely by the distributing part 64 on the left front part. The florets A are stacked in the direction indicated by the solid line in FIG.
[0048]
In addition, the number of florets A is counted by a determination device 45 (or a detecting means such as a photoelectric sensor or a limit switch), and when a predetermined number of florets A are released, the drive cylinder 69 is operated to move the right rear part and the left front part. The part distributing body 64 is rotated outward to be immersed in the hole 63a and retracted to a position where contact with the floret A is avoided. At the same time, the rear left and right front sorting bodies 64 (indicated by phantom lines in the figure) are rotated inward. Further, the number of flowers A may be increased or decreased.
[0049]
In the same manner as described above, the flower part Aa to be subsequently released is guided to be dropped obliquely to the right side by the left rear distribution body 64, and the stem Ab is obliquely inclined to the left side by the right front distribution body 64. 8 and a predetermined number of flower buds A are stacked and aligned in a substantially intersecting state (in the form of a cross-beam) indicated by a virtual line in FIG. The flower buds A are taken out from the collection box 63 one by one and bundled for shipment, or boxed or bagged for shipment. Further, the floret A accumulated in the accumulation unit 50 may be accumulated in a substantially intersecting state in the same manner as the floret A accumulated in the accumulation unit 62 described above.
[0050]
As described above, the posture of the floret A put into the accumulation box 63 of the accumulation unit 62 is changed by the rod-shaped sorting body 64, and a predetermined number of florets A ... are accumulated in a alternately intersecting state. Therefore, when taking out a predetermined number of flower buds A ... from the collection box 63, the labor and work of correcting the orientation and posture of the flower buds A and counting the number can be saved, and the predetermined number of flower buds A ... are combined into one. The focusing operation can be performed easily and easily, and the efficiency of the focusing operation can be improved. In addition, since a predetermined number of flower buds A ... accumulated in advance are handled in a bundle, the commercial value of the flower bud A can be prevented from being impaired.
[0051]
In addition, since the floret A is guided to drop obliquely downward along the sorting body 64, it can be accumulated in a state aligned in a predetermined direction and a predetermined place, and the measurement by the measurement device 42 and the determination device Based on the determination by 45, the sorting bodies 64 on the front and rear side parts are alternately sorted, so that the operation of accumulating and sorting in a state where a predetermined number of flower buds A ... intersect as a set can be accurately performed.
[0052]
FIG. 13 shows another distribution example by the plate-shaped distribution body 70, and the distribution body 70 formed in a slope shape in which the flower bud A is guided to fall obliquely downward is determined based on the determination by the determination device 45 described above. For example, the moving part is alternately moved in and out by driving means such as an air cylinder or a solenoid, and the flower part Aa and the stem part Ab put into the collecting box 63 are distributed to the left and right, and a predetermined number of flower buds A. Since they are accumulated in a substantially intersecting state as seen, it is possible to achieve substantially the same effect as the above-described embodiment.
[0053]
In the correspondence between the configuration of the present invention and the above-described embodiment,
The integrated posture changing means of the present invention corresponds to the sorting bodies 64 and 70 of the embodiment,
Similarly,
The flower bud detection means corresponds to the measuring device 42, photoelectric sensor, limit switch, imaging camera, etc.
The operation control means corresponds to the determination device 45 and the program stored in the device,
The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment.
[0054]
For example, the whole flower bud A or the size, hue, reflected light, transmitted light, etc. of the stem Ab or lower leaf Ac is imaged with an imaging camera (not shown), and unnecessary portions of the stem Ab are removed based on the image data. May be.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a processing operation of a flower bud by a flower processing apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a front view showing a sorting operation of florets.
FIG. 3 is a side view showing a binding operation of the groom.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing a mounting state of the mounting table.
FIG. 5 is a side view showing a releasing operation by the locking release device.
FIG. 6 is a side view showing the separation operation of the stem and the lower leaf by the lower leaf separation device.
FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an attached state of the chuck and the lower leaf separator.
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the stacking unit showing a state of floret distribution by a rod-shaped distribution body.
FIG. 9 is a longitudinal front view showing an attached state of the sorting body.
FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing an attached state of the sorting body.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a connected state of a sorting body and a connecting rod.
FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a connected state of the connecting rod.
FIG. 13 is a longitudinal front view showing another example of distribution by a plate-shaped distribution body.
[Explanation of symbols]
A ... Flower bud Aa ... Flower part Ab ... Stem part 1 ... Flower bud processing device 2 ... Feed conveyor 8 ... Mounting table 42 ... Measuring device 45 ... Judgment device 50, 62 ... Stacking unit 63 ... Stacking box 64, 70 ... Sorting body

Claims (5)

A floret process in which predetermined items of the florets conveyed by the conveyor are measured by the item measuring means, and the florets are supplied by item to the first stacking unit and the second stacking unit provided at the lower part of the conveyor based on the measurement result A device,
The first stacking unit is
An assembly board for gathering stems of a predetermined number of flower buds;
A bundling machine for bundling the stems of the florets assembled by the collecting plate;
The second stacking unit is
An apparatus for processing florets, comprising a stacking posture changing means for changing the posture of the florets supplied to the stacking unit and stacking them in a state of crossing alternately. 2. The flower treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the accumulation posture changing means is constituted by a plurality of sorting bodies that face the both ends of the flower bud and drop guide the both ends in different directions. 3. The flower treatment apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sorting body is provided so as to be rotatable at an angle at which the flower bud is guided to fall obliquely downward. 3. The floret processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sorting body is formed in a shape in which the floret is guided to fall obliquely downward, and is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat to a position where it comes into contact with the floret. Floret detection means for detecting florets supplied to the stacking unit;
The number of florets is counted based on the detection by the floret detecting means, and when the predetermined number of florets is supplied to the stacking unit, the respective sorting bodies are guided to fall toward both ends of the florets in different directions. The flower treatment apparatus according to claim 2, 3 or 4, further comprising an operation control means for performing an operation for distributing the states.

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