JP4675297B2 - Automatic material weighing equipment for food - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic material measuring apparatus for foods and the like that can measure foods such as small pieces such as bonito and other various foods or other materials and can supply them in a fixed amount.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a metering and feeding apparatus has been developed that automatically measures and supplies food such as cooked rice.

  For example, cooked rice dropped from a hopper is received by a roller conveyor, conveyed forward, dropped and supplied to a lower food receiving member while solving a predetermined amount by a food breaking roller at the tip, and measured by the receiving member. In addition, an apparatus has been developed that enables accurate measurement and arrangement of cooked rice by controlling the rotation of the above-described food breaking roller according to the measured value (Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Japanese Patent No. 3620844 JP 2005-237236 A

  By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, the range of the target food materials is mainly the foods mainly of cooked rice, and it was possible to deal with food materials other than cooked rice, but depending on the type of food materials, more accurate weighing A structure that can realize supply was required.

  In addition, it has been demanded to accurately measure and supply foods having properties different from those of cooked rice, for example, small pieces of food such as cut vegetables and bonito.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides an automatic material weighing device for foods and the like that can realize accurate weighing and supply even of foods such as cut vegetables and bonito. Objective.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention
First, a material conveyer is provided in the lower opening of the first material receiving frame and a material conveyer having a rotation axis perpendicular to the traveling direction of the conveyor is provided near the front end of the first conveyor, The material conveyed to the front end is configured to be supplied downward while being unwound by the unraveling device, and a second material receiving frame for receiving the material supplied from the first conveyor is provided at the front end of the first conveyor. A material conveyor second conveyor is provided in the lower opening of the second material receiving frame to convey the material, and the direction of travel of the conveyor is near the front end of the second conveyor in the second material receiving frame. A material unrolling roller having a rotation axis orthogonal to the front end, and configured to supply the material conveyed to the front end while being unwound by the material unrolling roller, and the front end of the second conveyor Lower part position A material accumulating mechanism capable of accumulating the material supplied from the second conveyor and dropping the material downward by opening, and a measuring mechanism for measuring the material accumulated in the material accumulating mechanism, the measuring mechanism Control means for driving the second conveyor and the material unrolling roller until the measured value reaches the target measured value, and after the material reaches the target measured value, the material accumulation mechanism is opened to measure the measured material. An interval adjusting mechanism that is movable in the direction in which the outer peripheral surface of the material unrolling roller is separated from the front end portion of the second conveyor and the direction in which the outer peripheral surface is close to the front end portion. It is comprised by the material automatic metering apparatus, such as foodstuff, characterized by being provided.

  The first material receiving frame can be constituted by, for example, a food receiving frame (2). The said 1st conveyor for material conveyance can be comprised by the belt conveyor (3) for foodstuff conveyance, for example. The material unraveling device can be constituted by, for example, a food unraveling device (8). Examples of the material include bonito. The second material receiving frame can be constituted by, for example, a food receiving frame (17). The said material conveyance 2nd conveyor can be comprised by the belt conveyor (12) for foodstuff conveyance, for example. The material unrolling roller can be constituted by, for example, a food unrolling roller (22). The material accumulation mechanism can be constituted by, for example, a shutter mechanism (40). The metering mechanism can be constituted by a load cell mechanism (41).

  Therefore, the material (for example, food ingredients such as bonito) supplied to the first conveyor is immediately transferred forward by the conveyor and supplied to the second conveyor by the material unraveling device at the front end, and the material on the second conveyor is the front. Then, it is dropped and supplied little by little by the material unrolling roller. Therefore, it is possible to drop and supply the material accumulation mechanism while smoothly transferring the material regardless of the type of material such as food. In addition, since the distance between the material unrolling roller and the front end of the second conveyor can be adjusted, by adjusting the distance according to the size of the material unit, etc., regardless of the type of material such as food A predetermined amount of material can be accurately dropped and supplied.

  Second, the material leveler having a rotation axis perpendicular to the traveling direction of the conveyor is provided at a position above the second conveyor in the second material receiving frame. It is composed of an automatic material metering device such as the ingredients described.

  The material leveler can be constituted by, for example, a food leveler (19). If comprised in this way, the material (for example, foodstuffs, such as bonito) on a 2nd conveyor can be leveled by the said material leveler, and the layer of substantially uniform thickness can be formed on a 2nd conveyor.

  Third, the distance adjusting mechanism includes a rotation arm plate that rotates about a rotation center axis provided on a side plate of the second material receiving frame, and is provided at one end of the rotation arm plate. The material unrolling roller is configured to hold the rotation center axis, and the material unrolling roller and the front end portion of the second conveyor are configured by rotating the rotating arm plate about the rotation center axis. It is comprised by the material automatic measuring apparatus of foodstuffs etc. of the said 1st or 2 characterized by the above-mentioned.

  If comprised in this way, adjustment of the distance of a material unrolling roller and a 2nd conveyor front-end part can be easily performed by rotation of a rotation arm board.

  Fourth, a height detection sensor is provided at a predetermined height of the side plate of the second material receiving frame, and the control means has a height of the material supplied into the second material receiving frame reaching the sensor level. On the basis of the above, the first conveyor and the material unraveling device are stopped. The automatic material weighing device for foods and the like according to any one of the first to third embodiments is configured.

  The control means controls the driving of the first conveyor and the material unraveling device based on the signal from the height detection sensor, thereby continuously supplying a predetermined amount of material (for example, material such as bonito) to the second material receiving frame. Can be supplied.

  Fifth, the material accumulation mechanism is configured as a unit independent of the automatic material weighing apparatus body, and the weighing mechanism is fixed in the automatic material weighing apparatus body, and the material accumulation mechanism is The material storage mechanism mounting portion to be mounted, and a measuring unit capable of measuring the weight of the material storage mechanism mounted on the material storage mechanism mounting portion. It is comprised by material automatic measuring apparatuses, such as a foodstuff in any one of 1-4.

  The material storage mechanism mounting portion can be configured by an attachment shaft (55, 55 ') provided on the main body side. The weighing means can be constituted by a load cell or the like that can weigh the weight of the mechanism placed on the material storage mechanism placing portion, for example. If comprised in this way, a material storage mechanism can be replaced | exchanged by one touch, and various material storage mechanisms can be replaced | exchanged according to the material to measure. The weighing mechanism may be provided with an opening / closing driving means for driving the material accumulation mechanism to open / close in a state where the material accumulation mechanism is placed on the mounting portion. In this case, the opening / closing driving means can be constituted by a mechanism capable of opening / closing a shutter or an opening / closing lid of a material accumulation mechanism, for example.

  Sixth, the material accumulation mechanism includes a guide rail formed along the bottom surface of the weighing rod that receives the material, a shutter plate that opens and closes along the guide rail, and an opening and closing direction at one edge of the shutter plate. The material accumulation mechanism consisting of these members is a unit independent from the automatic material weighing device main body, and the weighing mechanism is fixed in the automatic material weighing device main body. A material storage mechanism mounting portion on which the material storage mechanism is mounted; a weighing means capable of measuring the weight of the material storage mechanism mounted on the material storage mechanism mounting portion; The first to fourth features are characterized by comprising opening / closing driving means for engaging with the guide guide and opening / closing the shutter plate in a state where the material accumulation mechanism is placed on the placement portion. What It composed of a material automatic metering device, such as a food crab according.

  The opening / closing drive means may be constituted by a rotating arm plate that can be engaged with the guide guide, a drive motor that rotates the arm plate, and the like. If comprised in this way, the weight of the material (for example, foodstuffs, such as a bonito) dropped and supplied on the shutter plate can be measured with the said measurement means, and a shutter plate is opened with the said opening / closing drive means after measurement. Thus, the material can be dropped and supplied, for example.

  Seventh, the material unrolling roller is divided into a right roller and a left roller having the same center of rotation, and is configured to be driven to rotate by independent driving means. Based on the fact that the value approaches the target measurement value, the rotation of one of the rollers is stopped. The

  With this configuration, for example, by controlling to stop the rotation of one roller when 90% of the target measurement value is reached, the material supplied by the rotation of only the other roller until the target value is reached. Fine adjustment of the amount (for example, bonito) is possible, and more accurate measurement can be realized.

  Eighth, the material conveying first conveyor and the material conveying second conveyor are belt conveyors, respectively, and configured by the automatic material weighing device for foods or the like according to any one of the first to seventh aspects Is done.

  With this configuration, it is possible to accurately weigh and supply, for example, bonito, shredded cabbage, and other side dishes containing moisture.

  According to the material automatic metering device for foods and the like according to the present invention, various materials such as foods can be metered and supplied with high accuracy without being damaged.

  In addition, the material automatic measuring device for foods and the like according to the present invention can also be used for materials such as foods of various shapes and sizes, so that it is widely used in the food service industry, supermarket side dish department, food processing factory, etc. It is something that can be done.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are diagrams showing an overall configuration of an embodiment of an automatic material weighing device 1 according to the present invention. In these drawings, reference numeral 2 denotes a food receiving frame (first material receiving frame) that forms the uppermost part of the apparatus 1, and is configured in a U-shaped frame shape by left and right side plates 2a, 2b and a rear plate 2c, It has an upper surface opening 2 ′ having upward inclined surfaces 2a ′, 2b ′ and 2c ′, and the lower part is opened in a square shape by the opening 2 ″, and a food conveyor belt conveyor (first conveyor for material conveyance) which will be described later. 3 is arranged with its upper transition part 3 "close to the opening 2". Left and right along the traveling direction (arrow a direction) of the conveyor 3 in the lower opening 2 "of the food receiving frame 2 The guide rails 5 and 5 for preventing food dropping are fixed to the edge, and the lower end edge is set at a position closer to the upper transition portion 3 ″ of the conveyor 3. This moves on the conveyor 3. The ingredients to do are left and right of the conveyor 3 Further, it is prevented from falling out of the food receiving frame 2. On the front side of the food receiving frame 2, left and right upright side plates 4, 4 'are provided so as to support a food breaker 8 described later. Are provided continuously.

  Reference numeral 3 denotes a food conveyor belt conveyor (material conveyor first conveyor) which is provided horizontally in the vicinity of the lower portion of the opening 2 ″, and is fixed to the machine frame (material automatic weighing apparatus main body) 1a of the apparatus 1. As shown in Fig. 3, this conveyor 3 is such that the upper transition part 3 "of the conveyor belt 3 'is horizontal by pivotally supporting the driving roller 3a and the driven roller 3b on the machine frame 1a. It is installed and driven in the direction of arrow a (forward direction) via the gear 6 and the drive gear 7 provided on the drive roller 3a by the rotation of the drive motor M1 (FIG. 4). In addition, the foodstuff is supplied on the upper transition part 3 '' of the conveyor 3 from the upper surface opening 2 '.

  8 is a food unraveling device (material unraveling device) provided close to the front end of the belt conveyor 3, and a main shaft (rotating shaft) 8a orthogonal to the traveling direction of the belt conveyor 3, It is comprised from the unraveling piece 8b provided helically around the main axis | shaft 8a. The unravel 8 is pivotally supported by the left and right upright side plates 4 and 4 'with the main shaft 8a so that the tip end of the unraveling piece 8b is close to the front end of the belt conveyor 3. ing. In the unraveling device 8, the drive gear 9 provided at the end of the main shaft 8a is connected to the drive via the interlocking gear 10 and the gears 7 and 6 outside the left and right upright side plates 4 (FIG. 4). It meshes with the output shaft 11 of the motor M1, and is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow b in conjunction with the conveyor 3 by the drive motor M1. The unraveling device 8 rotates the food conveyed in the direction of the arrow a by the belt conveyor 3 in the direction of the arrow b, and the gap T1 between the front end of the belt conveyor 3 and the unraveling device 8 is solved. As a result, the food is gradually supplied to the lower conveyor belt conveyor 12 (see FIG. 3).

  In the structure of the food receiving frame 2, the horizontal belt conveyor 3 is installed close to the lower opening 2 ″, so that the food received from the upper side is the horizontal upper transition surface 3 of the conveyor 3. ”And is immediately conveyed forward (in the direction of arrow a) and supplied to the conveyor belt conveyor 12 at the next stage while being unwound by the food breaker 8. Therefore, a foodstuff can be received on the planar spread of the horizontal conveyor 3, and it can prevent effectively that a foodstuff is crushed and damaged by own weight.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral 12 denotes a food conveyor belt conveyor (material conveyor second conveyor), which is horizontally supported by the machine frame 1a at a position lower than the installation position of the conveyor belt conveyor 3 (lower stage). Yes. The belt conveyor 12 has its rear end positioned below the front end of the upper belt conveyor 3 and receives the food dropped and supplied from the gap T1 at the upper transition section 12 ′ to receive the food in front (arrow). a direction). The belt conveyor 12 is driven in the direction of arrow a by way of gears 13 and 14 and a driving roller 12a by a driving motor M2 (see FIG. 4) fixed on one side surface of the machine frame 1a.

  The lower conveyor belt conveyor 12 is supported horizontally on the machine frame 1a by the drive roller 12a and the driven roller 12b. However, as shown in FIG. Opposed upright side plates 15 and 15 'of the machine frame 1a are arranged close to each other, and an inclined plate 16 inclined toward the conveyor 12 is arranged close to the rear end portion of the conveyor 12 as shown in FIG. ing. With such a configuration, the peripheral edge of the upper transition portion 12 ′ of the conveyor 12 is surrounded in a U shape by the upright side plates 15, 15 ′ and the inclined plate 16, and the upright side plates 15, 15 ′, the inclined plate A food receiving frame (second material receiving frame) 17 is formed by the upper part 16 ′ of the conveyor 16 and the conveyor 12. That is, the food receiving frame 17 is installed below the front end of the conveyor 3. Therefore, the food supplied from the gap T1 is transferred forward by the conveyor 12 in the food receiving frame 17.

  Reference numeral 18 denotes an optical reflection type detection sensor (height detection sensor) provided at a predetermined height in the vicinity of the rear end of the conveyor 12 in the upright side plate 15 ′ (FIG. 3), and falls from the gap T1. When the supplied food material accumulates on the conveyor 12 and the height reaches the height detected by the sensor 18, the upper conveyor 3 is driven based on the detection of the sensor 18. When the food is stopped and the accumulation level of the food is lower than that of the sensor 18, control such as restarting the driving of the upper conveyor 3 is performed. It should be noted that the drive of the conveyor 3 is not started immediately after the food accumulation level falls below the detection level of the sensor 18, but after a predetermined time has passed after the detection level of the sensor 18 has fallen below (the accumulation level to some extent). It is also possible to control the conveyor 3 so that the conveyor 3 continues to be driven until the food accumulation level reaches the detection level of the detection sensor 18.

  Reference numeral 19 denotes a food leveler (material leveler) which protrudes around the main shaft 19a over the entire length in the width direction of the main shaft 19a and the main shaft 19a perpendicular to the traveling direction of the conveyor 12. A plurality of food leveling pieces 19b are provided (see FIG. 1). In the leveler 19, the both ends of the main shaft 19 a are pivotally supported by the upright side plates 15, 15 ′ at an upper position near the front end portion of the conveyor 12, and outside the upright side plate 15 (see FIG. 4). The gear 20 connected to the main shaft 19a meshes with the gear 13 of the drive motor M2 via the gear 21, so that the gear 20 is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow b in conjunction with the conveyor 12. The leveler 17 is rotated in the direction of the arrow b to level the food material moving on the conveyor 12 as flat as possible, and before the food material is transferred to the food breaking roller 22, the food material is transferred to the conveyor 12. The thickness is uniform in the width direction.

  Reference numeral 22 denotes a food material unrolling roller (material unrolling roller), which has rotating shafts 22b and 22b ′ orthogonal to the traveling direction a of the conveyor 12 at a position having a predetermined interval T2 with respect to the front end portion of the conveyor 12. Thus, it is pivotally supported by the left and right upright side plates 15 and 15 '(see FIG. 7). As shown in FIG. 5, the food material unrolling roller 22 has a plurality of protrusions 22 'arranged in a row in the axial direction on the outer peripheral surface thereof to form a single unwinding blade 22 ". It is formed by attaching a plurality at a certain angle in the direction.

  This food material unrolling roller 22 (see FIG. 5) is divided into two from the center to left and right rollers 22a, 22a ′ having the same rotation center axis, and the drive shaft 22b of the left roller 22a is an arc-shaped through hole 23 of the side plate 15. The drive gear 24 is provided on the outer side plate (see FIG. 2). The drive shaft 22b ′ of the right roller 22a ′ protrudes from the arcuate through hole 23 ′ (provided at a position symmetrical to the arcuate through hole 23) of the side plate 15 ′ to the outside of the side plate, and the drive gear 24 is formed outside the side plate. 'Is provided (see FIGS. 2 and 5). The opposing surfaces of the left and right rollers 22a and 22a 'are configured such that the rotating shaft 22b of the left roller 22a is inserted into the central shaft 22b' in the right roller 22a '(FIG. 7), whereby both rollers 22a and 22a 'can rotate independently about the same central axis.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the drive gear 24 provided on the rotary shaft 26 adjacent to the drive shaft 22b outside the side plate 15 meshes with the drive gear 24 of the roller 22a on the left side of the food breaking roller 22. The driving gear 25 is driven by a driving motor (driving means) M3 installed outside the side plate 15 so as to be driven independently of the right roller 22a ′. The drive gear 24 ′ of the roller 22 a ′ on the right side of the food breaking roller 22 is provided on a rotating shaft 26 ′ (provided at a position symmetrical to the rotating shaft 26) of the side plate 15 ′. The drive gear 25 'is engaged, and the drive gear 25' is driven by a drive motor (drive means) M4 provided outside the side plate 15 ', and is driven independently of the left roller 22a. (See FIG. 6). In FIG. 5, the rotation center axes of the rotation shafts 26 and 26 'are indicated by Z and Z'.

  The arc-shaped curvatures of the arc-shaped through holes 23 and 23 ′ are along arc trajectories (arc trajectories centered on the Z and Z ′ lines) centered on the rotary shafts 26 and 26 ′, respectively. As described above, even if the food breaking roller 22 moves in the directions of the arrows c and d along the arcuate through holes 23 and 23 ′ (FIGS. 8 and 9), the drive is performed regardless of the movement position of the roller 22. The meshing state between the gears 24, 24 ′ and the drive gears 25, 25 ′ is maintained.

  By driving the drive motors M3 and M4 in synchronism, both rollers 22a and 22a 'can be rotated together. The food material unrolling roller 22 rotates in the direction of the arrow b, so that the food material conveyed to the front end of the conveyor 12 by the belt conveyor 12 is gradually dropped downward from the gap T2. is there.

  Thus, the food placed on the belt conveyor 3 of the first food receiving frame 2 is spread and flattened in the direction orthogonal to the food conveying direction of the conveyor 3 by the rotational drive of the food unraveling device 8. In the second food receiving frame 17 that is fed and dropped from the gap T1 in a state where the food is leveled, the sensor 18 controls the food so that the food does not accumulate above a predetermined height, On the belt conveyor 12, a deposited layer of food material deposited at a predetermined height and substantially flat is obtained (see FIG. 19). As a result, the food material is evenly contacted with the food material breaking roller 22 in the entire width in the central axis direction and the food material is scraped off, so that the amount of the food material to be dropped can be accurately controlled.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the food material unrolling roller 22 is divided into two, a left roller 22a and a right roller 22a ′, and is configured to be driven to rotate independently by drive motors M3 and M4. Initially, both rollers 22a and 22a 'are driven to rotate synchronously. However, when the weight of the scraped food material approaches a predetermined weight, one roller 22a is stopped and the other roller (for example, as a fine adjustment roller) By controlling only the right roller 22a ′) to scrape off the food, the amount of food supplied to be dropped can be finely adjusted, and the food can be accurately measured to the target weight.

  An interval T2 between the food material unrolling roller 22 and the front end portion of the belt conveyor 12 is configured to be changed according to the type of food material by the following mechanism.

  As shown in FIG. 5, reference numeral 27 denotes a gap between the outer peripheral surface of the roller 22 and the front end of the lower belt conveyor 12 by moving the food breaking roller 22 along the arc-shaped through holes 23, 23 ′. This is a gap adjusting mechanism for changing the size of T2. The gap adjusting lever 27a is moved in the front-rear direction (arrows e and f directions) so that the gap T2 can be enlarged and reduced for adjustment. ing.

  28 and 28 'are a pair of rotation arm plates provided on the upright side plates 15 and 15' so as to be rotatable with the rotation shafts 26 and 26 'outside the left and right upright side plates 15 and 15'. The drive shafts 22b and 22b ′ of the food material breaking roller 22 pass through the roller holding portions 28a and 28a ′ on the front side through the arc-shaped through holes 23 and 23 ′ so as to be rotatable. The drive gears 24 and 24 ′ are connected to the drive shafts 22b and 22b ′, respectively, outside the roller holding portions 28a and 28a ′ (FIG. 2). Accordingly, by moving the rotating arm plate in the directions of arrows e and f, the food breaking roller 22 can be moved in the directions of arrows c and d (FIG. 8) along the arcuate through holes 23 and 23 ′. ing.

  The pair of rotating arm plates 28 and 28 'are formed with bending operation plates 28b and 28b' upward from the rotation center position (rotating shafts 26 and 26 '), and the upper ends thereof are upright. Projecting above the upper covers 15a and 15a 'through front and rear long holes 29 and 29' opened in the upper covers 15a and 15a 'provided by bending 90 degrees from the upper edge of the left and right plates 15 and 15'. (See FIG. 2). The pivot arm plates 28 and 28 'are connected at their upper ends in the left-right direction with the distance adjusting lever 27a.

  30 and 30 'are positions fixed to the outside of the left and right upright side plates 15 and 15' with the upper part protruding upward from the longitudinal holes 29 and 29 'on the inside of the rotating arms 28 and 28'. A plurality of positioning holes 32 are provided on the plate surface along an arc orbit starting from the rotation center (rotation shafts 26, 26 ') of the rotation arm plates 28, 28'. ing. Positioning pins 31 and 31 'are positioned on the operation plate portions 28b and 28b' corresponding to the position determination plates 30 and 30 'of the pair of rotating arm plates 28 and 28' by springs or the like. , 30 ′ in a state of being biased in the direction, and by inserting the positioning pins 31, 31 ′ into the positioning holes 32 at predetermined positions of the rotating arm plates 28, 28 ′, The rotary arm plates 28 and 28 'are configured to be fixed in position.

  Since the interval adjusting mechanism 27 is configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 8, in the state where the interval adjusting lever 27a is positioned closest to the front, the food material unrolling roller 22 and the front end portion of the belt conveyor 12 are arranged. The distance T2 can be minimized, and as shown in FIG. 9, in the state where the distance adjustment lever 27a is located at the rearmost position, the distance T2 between the food breaking roller 22 and the front end of the belt conveyor 12 is the largest. Can be bigger. In this way, the most appropriate interval T2 can be set according to the type of material such as food to be weighed.

  Note that, as described above, the food material breaking roller 22 moves along an arc orbit centered on the rotation shafts 26 and 26 ′, and therefore the drive gears 24 and 24 ′ regardless of the movement positions. And the drive gears 25 and 25 ′ are maintained (FIGS. 8 and 9), and the roller 22 can be driven by the gears 25 and 25 ′ without any problem regardless of the position at which the roller 22 is fixed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a receiving tray 33 and a receiving tray 34 that cover the entire bottom surface of the conveyor 3 and the conveyor 12 are respectively positioned below the belt conveyor 3 of the first food receiving frame 2 and the belt conveyor 12 of the second food receiving frame 17. Is provided so as to be able to receive moisture or the like dripping from the ingredients on the belt conveyors 3 and 12. Further, the receiving trays 33 and 34 are provided with water discharge tubes 33a and 34a, respectively, so that the received moisture is discharged to the outside. If comprised in this way, foodstuffs, such as cut vegetables and pickles containing a water | moisture content, can be handled without trouble, for example.

  35 is a cylindrical food drop passage provided below the interval T2 at the front end of the belt conveyor 12 and directly below the food release roller, and the food guide is inclined downward at the front end. A plate 35a is provided to prevent the food material from scattering forward. Accordingly, the food material unwound by the unwinding roller 22 from the interval T2 is dropped and supplied through the passage 35.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, reference numeral 36 denotes a shutter, which is provided at the lower stage of the passage 35 so that the food falling in the food dropping passage (material dropping passage) 35 can be received. The shutter 36 is provided in the middle of the dropping of the food from the gap T2 to the weighing unit 39 to be described later. The shutter 36 is normally kept open, and is closed when a predetermined weight of food is accumulated in the weighing container. This is to block the fall of foodstuffs. The shutter 36 is composed of a pair of double-split shutter portions 36a and 36a 'positioned at the lower part of the food passage 35, and these shutter plates 36a and 36a' are composed of front and rear direction rotating support shafts 37 at both ends. 37 'is rotatably supported by a machine casing 1a below the food passage 35, and the support shafts 37 and 37' are driven to open and close by being driven in the directions of arrows g and h by a drive motor M5 (FIG. 3). (FIG. 2). The shutter plates 36a and 36a 'can be opened and closed by forward / reverse driving of one motor M5 by connecting the drive shafts 37 and 37' with gears or the like.

  Reference numeral 38 denotes a cylindrical food dropping passage provided continuously below the shutter 36, and the food that has passed through the open shutter 36 is supplied to the measuring unit 39 below through the passage 38. Is done.

  Reference numeral 39 denotes a measuring unit provided below the food material dropping passage 37, and is arranged so as to be able to receive the food material scraped and dropped by the food material breaking roller 22 from the gap T2. The weighing unit 39 is roughly divided into a shutter mechanism (material accumulation mechanism) 40 that is detachably provided on the machine frame 1a side (material automatic weighing apparatus main body side) and a machine frame 1a (device main body side). A load cell mechanism (measuring mechanism) 41 is provided, and a predetermined weight of food set by the operation unit 66 is automatically weighed and accumulated in the shutter mechanism 40, and the drop supply switch S2 of the operation unit is pressed. Alternatively, it is automatically detected that the target weight is set, and the food material is dropped into a packaging container or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the shutter mechanism 40 has a measuring rod 43 in the bottom open state fixed to the center of the substrate 42, and is measured on a guide rail 44 provided in the front-rear direction at the lower left and right positions of the substrate 42. A rectangular shutter plate 45 constituting the bottom of the collar 43 is provided so as to be slidable horizontally in the front-rear direction (arrow a and i directions). The guide rail 44 is provided so as to extend rearward of the substrate 42, and is configured such that when the shutter plate 45 slides rearward, the bottom of the measuring rod 43 can be completely opened (see FIG. 14). A guide guide 46 constituting an upward guide rail in the left-right direction perpendicular to the opening / closing direction of the shutter plate 45 is fixed to the rear end edge of the shutter plate 45, and the rear side rail 46 ′ of the guide guide 46 is fixed. At one end, a notch 46a for inserting a driving roller is formed.

  A front plate 47 is provided on the front side of the measuring rod 43, and U-shaped angles 48, 48 'for attaching the main body are fixed to the left and right side surfaces of the measuring rod 43 in the front-rear direction. , 48 ', two mounting through holes 49, 49 are provided through each of the standing pieces before and after 48'. With this configuration, the metering shutter mechanism 40 is inserted into the mounting frame 55 from the rear side of the mounting through hole 49 in a pair of mounting shafts 55 and 55 ′ connected to a load cell 52 on the main body side to be described later. It is configured so that it can be attached. When pulling out, it can be pulled out in a slightly lifted state. In this way, by configuring the measuring shutter mechanism 40 to be detachable, it is possible to replace with a measuring container having a different internal volume when the measuring weight is increased.

  The load cell mechanism 41 has the following configuration. That is, a substrate 51 is fixed on a partition plate 50 (FIG. 3) provided horizontally in the machine casing 1a (FIG. 10), and a load cell (measuring means) 52 is fixed on the substrate 51. Then, the mounting rod 53 is placed and fixed on the load cell 52, and the left and right frame plate 54 is mounted on the tip of the mounting rod 53 (see FIG. 14), and the front bent portion 54 ′ of the left and right frame plate 54 is placed. A pair of mounting shafts (shutter mechanism mounting portions) 55 and 55 ′ protruding forward are provided at the left and right end positions of the left and right ends of the left and right sides. The left-right frame plate 54 is positioned by inserting bolts 56 from above at two locations on the plate surface, and inserting the lower end of the bolts 56 into an auxiliary substrate 57 fixed in front of the substrate 51. The weight of the measuring shutter mechanism 40 mounted on the mounting shafts 55 and 55 ′ is applied to the weight sensor of the load cell 52 through the mounting rod 53, and the weight of the shutter mechanism 40 is measured by the load cell 52. Configured to get.

  A swing arm 58 for opening and closing the shutter plate 45 is supported on the lower side of the substrate 51 by a rotation shaft 59 so as to be rotatable. The swing arm 58 has a gear 60 connected to the rotating shaft 59 on the upper surface side of the substrate 51, and when the drive gear 61 of the motor M 6 is engaged with the gear 60, the motor M 6 is driven forward / reversely. Is driven to rotate. A roller 58a is rotatably mounted on the tip of the swing arm 58, and is rotated approximately 90 degrees from the starting point X (the shutter closed position) in FIG. 14 by the forward and reverse driving of the motor M6. It can be moved back and forth in the directions of arrows j and k to the position of the end point X ′ (shutter opening position) in FIG.

  Reference numeral 62 denotes a cam provided coaxially with the rotation shaft. The cam rotates with the swing arm 58 around the shaft 59. When the swing arm 58 is at the start position X, only the micro switch 63a is turned on. When the swing arm 58 is at the end point position X ′, only the micro switch 63b is turned on so that the controller 65 described later can detect the open / closed state of the shutter plate 45. . Reference numeral 62 'denotes a spacer.

  In the weighing section 39 configured as described above, the weighing shutter mechanism 40 is attached by inserting the attachment shafts 55 and 55 'of the load cell mechanism 41 into the attachment holes 49 and 49 from the rear. At this time, the mechanism 40 is moved to the shafts 55, 55 ′ until the tips of the mounting shafts 55, 55 ′ pass through the mounting through holes 49, 49 ′ on the front side of the U-shaped angles 48, 48 ′. (See FIG. 14). Then, since the weight of the measurement shutter mechanism 40 is applied to the load cell 52 via the attachment shafts 55 and 55 ′, the left and right direction frame plate 54 and the attachment rod 53, the weight can be measured by the load cell 52. . The controller 65 described later stores the weight of the weighing shutter mechanism 40 in advance, and the weight of the food can be recognized by subtracting the weight of the weighing shutter mechanism 40 from the actual measurement value in the load cell 52. It is configured.

  When the metering shutter mechanism 40 is mounted until the tips of the mounting shafts 55 and 55 ′ pass through the front mounting hole, the roller 58 a of the swing arm 58 moves from the notch 46 a of the guide rail 46 behind the shutter plate 45. It is located where it entered the rail 46 '. Therefore, by driving the motor M6 from this state, when the swing arm 58 rotates in the direction of the arrow j, the roller 58a engages with the rail 46 ′ in front of the guide guide 46, and subsequently rotates. As a result, the roller 58 moves rightward in the guide guide 46 and pulls the shutter 45 backward via the rail 46. At the end position X ′ shown in FIG. Can be fully opened. That is, when the arm 58 rotates from the start point X to the end point X ′, the shutter plate 45 to which the guide 46 is attached is pulled to open the bottom of the measuring rod 43 and the accumulated food can be dropped.

  Reference numeral 64 denotes a funnel-like shooter configured to gradually narrow from an upper opening having a large opening area to a lower opening having a small opening area. The weighed food material is dropped and supplied from the lower opening of the shutter plate 45 through the shooter 64. Usually, a packaging bag or the like is assigned to the lower opening of the shooter 64, and the food is packaged in fixed amounts.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the present invention will be described. FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the present apparatus. The apparatus of the present invention stores the operation procedures shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, and a programmable controller 65 that drives and controls each unit according to the procedures. The load cells 52 connected to the input section of the controller 65, the reflection type sensor 18, the drive motors M1 to M6 connected to the output section of the controller 65 and controlled in accordance with a command from the controller 65, and An operation panel 66 including various switches including an operation start switch S1 and a supply switch S2 connected to the input unit of the controller 65, and a display unit 67 connected to the output unit of the controller 65 and displaying various information. Has been. Reference numeral 68 denotes a storage unit for storing various data, and in the case of the present invention, target measurement values of ingredients such as foods are stored in advance.

  The material automatic weighing apparatus of the present invention is configured as described above, and the operation thereof will be described based on the flowcharts of FIGS. It is assumed that the power supply of the apparatus is on. In addition, the food to be weighed is a thin chip-shaped knot with a piece of about 1 cm to 3 cm.

  Further, in the case of a food consisting of a collection of small and thin chip pieces such as bonito, the interval T2 is set to the minimum position. That is, the rotary arm plates 28 and 28 'are fixed with the positioning pins 31 in a state where the distance adjusting lever 27a is moved forward (in the direction of arrow e) and is positioned closest (the state shown in FIG. 8). . Accordingly, it is assumed that the interval T2 between the food material unrolling roller 22 and the front end portion of the lower belt conveyor 12 is the minimum interval (interval in FIG. 8).

  In such a state, first, the bonito is put into the receiving frame 2 from the upper surface opening 2 ′ of the food receiving frame 2. The bonito is a state in which small and thin chip pieces are gathered, and since one chip piece is extremely light, it is deposited on the belt conveyor 3 in a relatively light state as a whole even in the gathered state.

  Next, when the operator turns on the operation start switch S1 (FIG. 17P1), the programmable controller 65 (hereinafter referred to as the controller 65) drives the motor M1. Then, the belt conveyor 3 is driven in the direction of arrow a, and the unloader 8 rotates in the direction of arrow b (FIG. 17P2). As a result, the food on the conveyor 3 is transferred in the direction of the arrow a, and is dropped and supplied to the lower belt conveyor 12 while being unwound by the unraveling device 8.

  When the operation start switch S1 is turned on (FIG. 18P1), the controller 65 drives the motor M5 to open the shutter 36 (FIG. 18P2), and further drives the motor M2 to move the belt conveyor 12 in the direction of arrow a. (FIG. 18P3) and simultaneously drive the motors M3 and M4 to disengage the food and simultaneously rotate the roller 22 in the direction of the arrow b (P3 in FIG. 18). At this time, the leveler 19 also starts to rotate in the direction of the arrow b based on the driving of the motor M2.

  Then, the food material dropped and supplied from the upper conveyor 3 to the lower conveyor 12 through the gap T1 is transferred by the conveyor 12 in the direction of arrow a, and is accumulated on the conveyor 12, and the food material Reaches the height level of the optical sensor 18, the controller 65 stops driving the motor M1 (FIGS. 17P3 and P4). Thereby, rotation of the said conveyor 3 and the unroller 8 stops, and supply of the foodstuff to the lower stage conveyor 12 stops.

  The food material supplied to the conveyor 12 has its upper surface made uniform by the rotation of the leveler 19 in the direction of the arrow b, and has a substantially uniform width (layer) over the width direction of the conveyor 12. Leveled. Thereafter, the food material is gradually dropped downward from the interval T2 by the rotation of the food material breaking roller 22 in the direction of the arrow b. 38 is accumulated on the shutter plate 45 constituting the bottom of the measuring rod 43 of the measuring shutter mechanism 40 (see FIG. 19A). The controller 65 detects the weight of the food dropped on the shutter plate 45 based on the measured value of the load cell 52, and determines whether or not the measured value has reached 90% of the target weight (FIG. 18P4). . The controller 65 continues the above operation until the measured value reaches 90% of the target weight.

  When the controller 65 detects that 90% of the target weight has been reached, the controller 65 stops the driving motor M3, stops driving one roller 22a, and intermittently drives only the other roller 22a '(see FIG. 18P5). As a result, a small amount of food is supplied in a drop compared to when both rollers 22a and 22a ′ are rotating simultaneously, and is further intermittently driven, so that the measured value is gradually brought closer to the target value. And accurate weighing is possible.

  When the controller 65 detects that the food material measurement value has reached the target value (FIG. 18P6), the controller 65 stops the drive motors M4 and M2. Therefore, the material unrolling roller 22a 'that has been intermittently driven is also stopped, the driving of the belt conveyor 12 is also stopped (FIG. 18P7), and the drive motor M5 is driven to close the shutter (FIG. 18P8). Thereby, the fall of a foodstuff is interrupted | blocked. As a result of the above operation, the food (in this case, bonito) accurately measured to the target value is accumulated on the shutter plate 45 of the shutter mechanism 40.

  Thereafter, the operator may place the packaging bag on the lower end of the shooter 64 and press the supply button S2 (FIG. 18P9). Then, the controller 65 drives the drive motor M6 to rotate the rotation arm plate 58. Then, the rotation of the arm plate 58 in the direction of the arrow j moves the shutter plate 45 rearward and opens the bottom of the measuring rod 43 (FIG. 18P10), so that the food stored on the shutter plate 45 Can be dropped and packaged in the packaging bag via the shooter 64.

  As described above, the controller 65 repeatedly performs the operations of Steps P2 to P10 in FIG. 18, and sequentially weighed food materials are accumulated on the shutter plate 45. By repeating such an operation, the amount of food on the conveyor 12 gradually decreases, and when the accumulation level falls below the level of the optical sensor 18, the controller 65 detects this (FIG. 17P5), The conveyor 3 and the breaker 8 are driven to rotate until the level of the food supplied to the conveyor 12 by driving the drive motor M1 reaches the height level of the optical sensor.

  Next, when measuring ingredients other than bonito, such as pickled pickled vegetables containing water, which are relatively large, the positioning pin 31 is removed and the distance adjusting handle 27a is moved in the direction of the arrow f. The distance T2 between the food material releasing roller 22 and the front end of the belt conveyor 12 may be increased by tilting and engaging and fixing the positioning pin 31 to the positioning hole 32 at a predetermined position (FIG. 19B). reference).

  The weight to be weighed and the conveying speed (measuring speed) of the food can be set from the operation panel unit 66 and can be arbitrarily set. Moreover, when the internal volume of the measuring rod 43 is insufficient, it can be exchanged with the shutter mechanism 40 having a different internal volume by one touch. Further, instead of the signal based on the depression of the drop supply switch S2, the control is performed to automatically open the shutter plate 45 based on the detection that the measured value has reached the target value, so that the measuring operation is performed on the packaging bag. The supply operation can be automatically performed for each measurement.

  FIG. 20 shows another embodiment of the automatic material weighing device of the present invention, in which a roller-like food leveling device 19 ′ is used as the food leveling device 19. The leveler 19 ′ is used to level the surface of the supplied food in the food receiving frame 17 to an even thickness while pressing the upper surface of the supplied food. The vertical slot 70 penetrates the left and right upright side plates 15 and 15 ′. It is provided so that the height can be adjusted by moving up and down in the vertical direction. The food leveler 19 'can be driven up and down by a cylinder 71 or the like. This food leveling device 19 'is provided at a position close to the food breaking roller 22, but for materials that are easily connected, such as pickled Chinese cabbage, the material leveling device 19' is in a state of being pressed by the food leveling device 19 '. This is because it is necessary to peel off the series by the rotation of the roller 22 and release the series of materials.

  FIG. 21 shows another embodiment of the material accumulation mechanism (the shutter mechanism), in which the material accumulation mechanism is configured as a material accumulation bucket 72. The bucket 72 has an open upper surface 72a, and has a front-side opening / closing lid 72b that opens and closes with the upper edge of the front end as a fulcrum, and a bottom surface 72c is an inclined surface toward the opening / closing lid 72b. Further, U-shaped angles 48 and 48 'are provided on both side surfaces, and are attached to the pair of mounting shafts 55 and 55' in the same manner as the shutter mechanism. Therefore, the food supplied from above is accumulated on the bottom surface 72b, and when it reaches a predetermined weight, the opening / closing lid 72b is opened by the driving means such as the cylinder 74 (in the direction of the arrow n) to drop and supply the food (arrow). m direction).

  FIG. 22 shows still another embodiment of the material storage mechanism, wherein the material storage mechanism is configured as a material storage bucket 73 having an upper surface opening 73a, and the front-side opening / closing lid 73b is rotated about its rotation shaft 73b ′. It is configured so that it can be opened and closed (in the direction of arrow n) by rotating with a rotational driving means to drive, and the opening and closing lid 73b can be opened to drop and supply material (in the direction of arrow m).

  Similar to the shutter mechanism, the material storage mechanisms 72 and 73 can be attached to or detached from the attachment shafts 55 and 55 'according to various weights with one touch, and have a shape suitable for the measurement material or measurement value. A thing can be used suitably.

  As described above, according to the present invention, since the interval T2 between the material unrolling roller 22 and the front end of the second conveyor 12 can be adjusted, the unit of food can be changed from small pieces of food such as bonito. Multiple types of food can be measured up to relatively large food.

  In addition, the food material is received by the belt conveyor 3 for conveying the food and immediately transferred forward, and the food supplied by being dropped from the belt conveyor 3 is received by the belt conveyor 12 for conveying the food, and the food material is leveled on the conveyor 12. Since the food is disintegrated into a certain layer by the vessel 19 and the ingredients are unrolled and supplied to the measuring unit 39 little by little by the roller 22, accurate weighing of the food can be realized without damaging the food, regardless of the kind of food. It became.

  Of course, this is not limited to cooked rice, but foods of various shapes and sizes, such as bonito, cut vegetables (such as shredded cabbage), beans, confectionery, flours, and other edible vegetables (such as kimchi). It is possible to realize an automatic material weighing device for foods and the like that can accurately measure and supply the above.

  Furthermore, although the said embodiment demonstrated centering on foodstuffs, this invention can also measure materials other than foodstuffs, for example, can also be used for automatic measurement of materials, such as a screw and a silica gel.

1 is a perspective view of an automatic material weighing device for foods and the like according to the present invention. It is a partially notched front view of an apparatus same as the above. It is side surface sectional drawing of an apparatus same as the above. It is side surface sectional drawing of the food unrolling roller vicinity of an apparatus same as the above. It is a disassembled perspective view of the food unrolling roller vicinity of the apparatus same as the above. It is a disassembled perspective view of the 2nd conveyor vicinity for foodstuff conveyance of an apparatus same as the above. It is a disassembled perspective view of the food material unrolling roller of an apparatus same as the above. It is side surface sectional drawing of the food unrolling roller vicinity of an apparatus same as the above. It is side surface sectional drawing of the food unrolling roller vicinity of an apparatus same as the above. It is a side view of the shutter mechanism and load cell mechanism of an apparatus same as the above. It is a side view of the shutter mechanism and load cell mechanism of an apparatus same as the above. It is a perspective view of the shutter mechanism of an apparatus same as the above. It is a side view of the measurement part vicinity of an apparatus same as the above. It is a top view of the measurement part vicinity of an apparatus same as the above. It is a top view of the measurement part vicinity of an apparatus same as the above. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of an apparatus same as the above. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of an apparatus same as the above. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of an apparatus same as the above. (A) (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the state which supplies the foodstuff with the food material unrolling roller of the apparatus same as the above. It is side surface sectional drawing of the foodstuff cleaving roller vicinity of other embodiment of an apparatus same as the above. The other embodiment of the foodstuff storage mechanism of an apparatus same as the above is shown, (a) is a perspective view, (b) shows a side view. It is a side view which shows other embodiment of the foodstuff storage mechanism of an apparatus same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Food automatic metering device 2 Food receiving frame 3 Food conveying belt conveyor 8 Food unraveling device 8a Main shaft 12 Food conveying belt conveyor 17 Food receiving frame 18 Reflection type sensor 19 Food leveling device 19a Main shaft 22 Food unrolling roller 22a Left Roller 22a 'Right roller 26, 26' Rotating shaft 27 Interval adjusting mechanism 27a Interval adjusting lever 28, 28 'Rotating arm plate 40 Shutter mechanism 41 Load cell mechanism 43 Weighing rod 44 Guide rail 45 Shutter plate 52 Load cells 55, 55' Installation Shaft 58 Swing arm 58a Roller 65 Programmer Mab controller M1-M6 Drive motor

Claims (8)

A material conveyor first conveyor is provided at the lower opening of the first material receiving frame, and a material unpacker having a rotation axis perpendicular to the traveling direction of the conveyor is provided in the vicinity of the front end of the first conveyor. The material that has been conveyed is configured to be supplied downward while being unraveled by the above-mentioned unraveling device,
A second material receiving frame for receiving a material supplied from the first conveyor is provided below the front end of the first conveyor, and the material is conveyed to the lower opening of the second material receiving frame. Provided,
A material unrolling roller having a rotation axis perpendicular to the traveling direction of the conveyor is provided in the vicinity of the front end of the second conveyor in the second material receiving frame, and the material unrolled roller is conveyed to the front end. It is configured to supply downward while solving in
The material storage mechanism that can store the material supplied from the second conveyor at the lower position of the front end portion of the second conveyor and drop and supply the material downward by opening, and the material stored in the material storage mechanism. A weighing mechanism for weighing,
Control means is provided to drive the second conveyor and the material unrolling roller until the measurement value of the measurement mechanism reaches the target measurement value, and after the material reaches the target measurement value, the material storage mechanism is opened to perform measurement. Configured so that later material can be fed downward,
And the foodstuff characterized by providing the space | interval adjustment mechanism which can move to the direction which the outer peripheral surface of the said material unrolling roller leaves | separates from the front-end part of the said 2nd conveyor, and the direction close to the said front-end part Material automatic weighing equipment such as.   The food material according to claim 1, wherein a material leveler having a rotation axis perpendicular to the traveling direction of the conveyor is provided at a position above the second conveyor in the second material receiving frame. Material automatic weighing device. The distance adjusting mechanism includes a rotating arm plate that rotates about a rotation center axis provided on a side plate of the second material receiving frame, and the material unraveling is performed at one end of the rotating arm plate. It is configured to hold the rotation center axis of the roller,
And it is comprised so that the space | interval of the said material unrolling roller and the front-end part of a said 2nd conveyor can be adjusted by rotating the said rotation arm board with the said rotation center axis | shaft. An automatic material weighing apparatus for foods and the like according to claim 1 or 2.   A height detection sensor is provided at a predetermined height of the side plate of the second material receiving frame, and the control means is based on the fact that the height of the material supplied into the second material receiving frame has reached the sensor level. 4. The automatic material weighing apparatus for foods and the like according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the driving of the first conveyor and the material unraveling device is stopped. While configuring the material accumulation mechanism as a unit independent of the automatic material weighing device body,
The weighing mechanism is fixed in the automatic material weighing device main body, and is placed on the material accumulation mechanism placement portion on which the material accumulation mechanism is placed, and on the material accumulation mechanism placement portion. 5. The automatic material weighing apparatus for foods and the like according to claim 1, further comprising weighing means capable of weighing the material accumulation mechanism. The material accumulating mechanism includes a guide rail formed along the bottom surface of the weighing rod that receives the material, a shutter plate that opens and closes along the guide rail, and an edge of the shutter plate in a direction perpendicular to the opening and closing direction. The material accumulation mechanism consisting of these members is a unit independent from the automatic material metering device main body.
The weighing mechanism is fixed in the automatic material weighing device main body, and is placed on the material accumulation mechanism placement portion on which the material accumulation mechanism is placed, and on the material accumulation mechanism placement portion. And weighing means that can weigh the material accumulation mechanism, and opening / closing drive means that engages with the guide guide and opens and closes the shutter plate in a state where the material accumulation mechanism is placed on the placement portion. It is comprised, The material automatic metering apparatus of foodstuffs in any one of Claims 1-4 characterized by the above-mentioned. The material unrolling roller is divided into a right roller and a left roller having the same rotation center, and is configured to be driven to rotate by independent driving means,
The said control means stops rotation of one roller based on the measurement value in the said measurement mechanism approaching the target measurement value, The one of Claims 1-6 characterized by the above-mentioned. Automatic weighing equipment for food ingredients. The automatic material weighing apparatus for foods and the like according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein each of the first material conveying conveyor and the second material conveying conveyor is a belt conveyor.

Images