JP5669097B2 - Combination scale - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a combination weigher for weighing objects to be weighed such as vegetables, fruits or confectionery.

  Generally, objects to be weighed such as vegetables and fruits that have been weighed with a combination weigher to have a predetermined weight are packaged by a packaging machine, for example.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a schematic configuration of a conventional combination weigher of Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG.

  In this combination weigher, an object to be weighed is supplied from a supply device 30 to the center of a main feeder (dispersion feeder) 31, and the main feeder 31 sends out the object to be weighed toward the peripheral portion by vibration, and around the main feeder 31. It is conveyed to a plurality of linear feeders (straight forward feeders) 32 that are installed radially.

  A vibration device is attached to the plurality of linear feeders 32, and each linear feeder 32 is vibrated to convey an object to be weighed and put into the plurality of supply hoppers 33. The plurality of supply hoppers 33 temporarily hold the objects to be weighed, open the discharge gate 34, and put the objects to be weighed into the weighing hoppers 35 disposed below the supply hoppers 33. In each weighing hopper 35, the weight of the object to be weighed is measured by the weight sensor 36, and a control unit (not shown) performs a combination operation based on the measured value, so that the total of the measured values matches the combined target weight. The closest combination of the weighing hoppers 35 is selected, the discharge gate 37 of the selected weighing hoppers 35 is opened, the objects to be weighed are discharged, and the objects are put into the packaging machine 39 through the collective chute 38. Package 39.

JP 62-1113024 A

  When such a combination weigher is used to produce a pack product containing several pieces by performing combination weighing of vegetables such as peppers, onions, potatoes, or fruits such as oranges and apples, the linear feeder is used. By vibrating 32, the number of objects to be weighed in the supply hopper 33 may be about 1, 2 for example. The objects to be weighed put into the supply hopper 33 are put into the lower weighing hopper 35 by opening the discharge gate 34 of the supply hopper 33 and weighed by the weight sensor 36, and the combination calculation is performed.

  The objects to be weighed in the weighing hopper 35 selected by the combination calculation are discharged by opening the discharge gate 37 of the weighing hopper 35 and are put into the packaging machine 39 through the collecting chute 38. In order to supply the objects to be weighed from the supply hopper 33 above the weighing hopper 35 to the weighing hopper 35 which has been emptied by discharging the objects to be weighed, the discharge gate 34 of the supply hopper 33 is opened. Is done. At this time, if there is no object to be weighed in the supply hopper 33, the object to be weighed cannot be put into the weighing hopper 35, and the object to be weighed is put into the weighing hopper 35 for at least one weighing cycle. As a result, the number of weighing hoppers 35 that can participate in the combination calculation decreases, and the combination accuracy decreases. In addition, when there is no object to be weighed in the supply hopper 33 and the object to be weighed cannot be put into the weighing hopper 35, the linear feeder 32 must be driven again and the object to be weighed must be put into the supply hopper 32 again. Therefore, the operation speed is reduced.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described points, and it is an object of the present invention to reduce the frequency of occurrence of an empty measuring unit that cannot participate in a combination calculation, and to suppress a decrease in combination accuracy and operation speed. And

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows.

(1) The combination weigher of the present invention includes a plurality of conveyance units that convey and supply the objects to be weighed from the conveyance end, and are arranged corresponding to the respective conveyance units, and the objects to be weighed supplied from the conveyance end. A plurality of discharge units for discharging the held objects to be weighed, and corresponding to each of the discharge units, and holding the objects to be weighed discharged from each of the discharge units. A combination weigher comprising: a plurality of weighing units that measure the weight of the weighing unit; and a calculation control unit that performs combination calculation based on the weight of an object to be weighed by the weighing unit and controls driving of the conveyance unit. A weighing object sensor for detecting an object to be weighed at each conveying end of each conveying unit, and the calculation control unit drives the conveying unit to move the object to be weighed from the conveying end to the discharging unit. Whether or not it is supplied is determined based on the detection output of the object sensor. Determination Te, and the weighing unit corresponding to the discharge portion is determined that the objects to be weighed are supplied, which performs combination calculation to select preferentially, said plurality of transport unit is supplied from the dispersion unit A plurality of vibratory feeders that convey the object to be weighed by vibration, and the plurality of discharge units are a plurality of supply hoppers that discharge the held object to be weighed and supply it to the weighing unit, The unit is a plurality of weighing hoppers that weigh the object to be weighed by a weight sensor, and the calculation control unit controls the driving of the vibration feeder and also controls the opening and closing of the discharge gate of the supply hopper. The calculation control unit is configured to detect the object to be weighed at the conveyance end of the vibration feeder by driving the vibration feeder when the discharge gate of the supply hopper is closed. When the detection output of the weighing object sensor shifts from a detection state where the weighing object is detected to a non-detection state where the weighing object is not detected, the weighing object at the conveyance end of the vibration feeder is It is determined that it has been supplied to the supply hopper .

  According to the combination weigher of the present invention, the arithmetic control unit that controls the driving of the conveying unit determines whether the object to be weighed at the conveying end of the conveying unit is supplied to the discharging unit by driving the conveying unit. Based on the change in the detection output of the weighing object sensor that detects the weighing object at the end, the weighing unit corresponding to the discharge unit for which the weighing object has been supplied can be preferentially selected. Therefore, after the weighing unit selected preferentially is selected by the combination calculation and the weighing object is discharged from the weighing unit, the weighing object is supplied to the weighing unit. Thus, the object to be weighed is surely charged from the discharge portion determined to have been discharged. As a result, it is possible to reduce the frequency of occurrence of an empty weighing unit that cannot participate in the combination calculation as compared with the conventional example in which the normal combination calculation is performed without considering whether or not an object to be weighed is supplied to the discharge unit. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in combination accuracy and a decrease in operation speed due to re-input of the objects to be weighed.

According to the combination weigher of the present invention , the calculation control unit determines whether the object to be weighed at the conveyance end of the vibration feeder is supplied to the supply hopper by changing the detection output of the object sensor. Since the combination calculation is performed so as to preferentially select the weighing hopper corresponding to the supply hopper for which it is determined that the object to be weighed has been supplied, the weighing hopper is preferential in the combination calculation. When the weighing hopper is discharged and the weighing object is discharged, the weighing hopper is surely loaded with the weighing object from the supply hopper determined to have been fed. Compared to the conventional example in which normal combination calculation is performed without considering whether or not an object to be weighed is supplied to the hopper, it is possible to reduce the frequency of occurrence of an empty weighing hopper that cannot participate in the combination calculation. . As a result, it is possible to suppress a decrease in combination accuracy and a decrease in operation speed due to re-input of the objects to be weighed.

According to the combination weigher of the present invention, when the gate for discharging the supply hopper is closed, the calculation control unit drives the vibration feeder so that the object to be weighed at the conveyance end of the vibration feeder becomes the object to be weighed. When shifting from the detection state detected by the sensor to the non-detection state where it is not detected, the object to be weighed at the transport end of the vibration feeder has been supplied to the supply hopper, so it disappears from the transport end and is not detected. It is determined that the state has been changed.

( 2 ) In another embodiment of the combination weigher of the present invention, the calculation control unit drives the vibration feeder over a set time to convey an object to be weighed, and sets the vibration feeder to the setting. When the detection output of the weighing object sensor that has shifted to the non-detection state when driven over time does not shift again to the detection state, the vibration feeder is further driven.

  According to this embodiment, the vibratory feeder is driven for a set time to supply the object to be weighed from the transport end to the supply hopper, but the vibratory feeder is driven to supply the object to be weighed at the transport end to the supply hopper. Therefore, when the detection output of the weighing object sensor becomes a non-detection state in which the weighing object is not detected and does not shift to the detection state in which the weighing object is detected, the conveyance end of the vibration feeder If the vibration feeder is stopped in this state, the object to be weighed cannot be supplied to the supply hopper even if the vibration feeder is driven in the next measurement cycle. There is a possibility that the object to be weighed cannot be fed from the supply hopper to the weighing hopper.

  In this embodiment, in such a case, since the vibration feeder is further driven, the object to be weighed can be transported to the transport end and supplied to the supply hopper in the next weighing cycle.

( 3 ) In another embodiment of the combination weigher of the present invention, the calculation control unit performs the combination calculation for preferentially selecting the weighing hopper corresponding to the supply hopper determined to be supplied with the object to be weighed. When the optimum combination is not obtained, a normal combination calculation is performed.

  According to this embodiment, in the combination calculation that preferentially selects the weighing hopper corresponding to the supply hopper determined to be supplied with the object to be weighed, when the optimum combination is not obtained, the normal combination calculation is performed. The optimum combination can be obtained by this normal combination calculation. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the yield from being lowered when the optimum combination cannot be obtained by the combination calculation for preferentially selecting the weighing hopper corresponding to the supply hopper determined to be supplied with the object to be weighed.

  According to the present invention, the arithmetic control unit that controls the driving of the transport unit determines whether or not the object to be weighed at the transport end of the transport unit is supplied to the discharge unit by driving the transport unit. It is possible to make a determination based on a change in the detection output of an object sensor for detecting an object to be weighed, and to preferentially select a weighing unit corresponding to a discharge part for which an object to be weighed has been supplied. Since the combination calculation is performed, after the weighing unit is selected by the combination calculation and the objects to be weighed in the weighing unit are discharged, the objects to be weighed are supplied to the weighing unit from the discharge unit. Compared to the conventional example in which normal combination calculation is performed without considering whether or not the object to be weighed is supplied to the discharge unit, empty objects that cannot participate in combination calculation will be charged. It is possible to reduce the frequency with which the measuring unit is generated. As a result, it is possible to suppress a decrease in combination accuracy and a decrease in operation speed due to re-input of the objects to be weighed.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a combination weigher according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the combination weigher of FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the combination weigher. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing details of the linear feeder control of FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing details of the supply hopper control of FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing details of the combination calculation of FIG. FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional combination weigher.

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

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a combination weigher according to one embodiment of the present invention. The combination weigher of this embodiment has a conical top cone 3 that radially disperses the objects 20 to be weighed supplied from the supply device 1 at the center of the apparatus, and a main feeder that vibrates the top cone 3. (Dispersion feeder) 4 is provided.

  The object to be weighed 20 is not limited, but is suitable for weighing vegetables such as peppers, tomatoes and potatoes, fruits such as oranges and apples, or confectionery packed in pillows, and in particular, combination weighing. It is suitable for manufacturing a net packaged product or the like containing several pieces.

  The supply device 1 conveys an object to be weighed 20 such as bell pepper supplied from a belt conveyor (not shown) by vibration and supplies it to the central portion of the top cone 3. In the top cone 3, the object to be weighed 20 supplied from the supply device 1 to the central portion thereof is conveyed toward the peripheral portion by vibration. Around the top cone 3, a plurality of linear feeder pans 6 for conveying the objects 20 to be weighed sent from the top cone 3 to a plurality of supply hoppers 12 and a plurality of linear feeder pans 6 for vibrating the linear feeder pans 6. Feeders 8 are provided radially. A plurality of supply hoppers 12 as discharge portions are provided below the peripheral edge of the linear feeder pan 6, and a weighing hopper 13 as a weighing portion is provided below the supply hopper 12. It is arranged in a circle.

  Under the supply hopper 12 and the weighing hopper 13, a discharge gate 12a and a gate 13a that can be opened and closed are provided.

  The supply hopper 12 receives an object 20 to be weighed 20 that is transported by the linear feeder pan 6 and dropped and discharged from the transport end 6a that is the tip of the supply hopper 12, and when the weighing hopper 13 that is disposed below is empty, a discharge gate 12a. Is opened to drop and discharge the object 20 to be weighed into the weighing hopper 13. Each weighing hopper 13 is connected to a weight sensor 10 such as a load cell for measuring the weight of the object 20 in the weighing hopper 13, and a measured value from each weight sensor 10 is output to the control device 9.

  The plurality of linear feeder pans 6 and the plurality of linear feeders 8 that respectively vibrate the respective linear feeder pans 6 constitute a plurality of transport units that transport the objects to be weighed 20 to the corresponding supply hoppers 12.

  The weighing hopper 13 can discharge the objects 20 to the collecting chute 14. When a combination of the weighing hoppers 13 from which the objects to be weighed 20 are to be discharged is obtained from the plurality of weighing hoppers 13 by the combination calculation by the control device 9, and when a discharge request signal is input from the packaging machine 15 for net packaging, The objects to be weighed 20 are discharged from the weighing hopper 13 corresponding to the combination to the collecting chute 14 and further discharged to the lower packaging machine 15.

  In this embodiment, the amount of the weighing object supplied from the supply device 1 to the top cone 3 is measured by the top cone weight sensor 5 supporting the top cone 3 and the main feeder 4, and the measured value is controlled. It is given to the device 9. In the control device 9, based on the weight of the weighing object 20 on the top cone 3 measured by the top cone weight sensor 5, the supply of the weighing object 20 on the top cone 3 is kept constant. The apparatus 1 is controlled.

  The operation setting display unit 11 is configured using, for example, a touch panel or the like, and performs operation of the combination weigher, setting of operation parameters thereof, and the like, and displays an operation speed, a combination measurement value, and the like on a screen.

  The control device 9 performs operation control of the supply device 1 and overall operation of the combination weigher, and performs combination calculation. In the combination calculation, the weight sensor 10 in the weighing hopper 13 is weighed by the weight sensor 10. From the plurality of weighing hoppers 13, one optimum combination is obtained in which the combined weight, which is the sum of the weight values of the objects 20 to be weighed, is equal to the combined target weight or the closest predetermined weight within the allowable range.

  In this embodiment, the object to be weighed is not supplied from the supply hopper 12 and the frequency of the empty weighing hopper 13 that cannot participate in the combination calculation is reduced, so that the combination accuracy and the operation speed due to re-insertion are prevented from decreasing. In addition, a plurality of objects to be weighed sensors 7 for detecting the objects to be weighed 20 at the conveying ends 6 a of the plurality of linear feeder pans 6 are provided. In this embodiment, for example, a photoelectric sensor is used as the object sensor 7 for detecting an object to be measured. However, the sensor is not limited to the photoelectric sensor, and a weight sensor such as a load cell, a limit switch, and an image captured by the camera are processed. Other sensors such as an image sensor may be used.

  In this embodiment, based on the detection output of the weighing object sensor 7, it is determined whether or not the weighing object 20 at the transport end 6 a of the linear feeder pan 6 has been supplied to the supply hopper 12.

  This determination is performed as follows based on a change in the detection output of the weighing object sensor 7 that detects the weighing object 20 at the conveyance end 6a of the linear feeder pan 6.

  That is, when the linear feeder 8 is driven, the detection output of the measurement object sensor 7 that detects the measurement object at the conveyance end 6a of the linear feeder pan 6 is changed from the detection state in which the measurement object 20 is detected. When the state shifts to the non-detection state where 20 is not detected, the weighing object 20 at the conveying end 6a detected by the weighing object sensor 7 falls from the conveying end 6a by the driving of the linear feeder 8, and the supply hopper 12 It is assumed that it is no longer detected by the weighing object sensor 7 because it is supplied to.

  That is, when the detection output of the weighing object sensor 7 shifts from the detection state to the non-detection state by driving the linear feeder 8, the weighing object 20 at the conveyance end 6a of the linear feeder pan 6 is moved to the conveyance end 6a. It is determined that the product has fallen from the supply and supplied to the supply hopper 20. The linear feeder pan 6 is also detected when the detection output of the weighing object sensor 7 is in the detection state before the linear feeder 8 is driven, and when the linear feeder 8 starts to drive and then shifts to the non-detection state. It is determined that the object 20 to be weighed at the transport end 6 a is dropped from the transport end 6 a by the drive of the linear feeder 8 and supplied to the supply hopper 20.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the weighing hopper 13 corresponding to the supply hopper 12 determined to be supplied with the object 20 to be measured, that is, the weighing hopper 13 below the supply hopper 12 determined to be supplied with the object 20 to be measured. Is subjected to a combination operation so as to be preferentially selected.

  In the combination calculation that preferentially selects the weighing hopper 13 corresponding to the supply hopper 12 that is determined to be supplied with the weighing object 20, for example, it corresponds to the supply hopper 12 that is determined to be supplied with the weighing object 20. The weighing hopper 13 may be preferentially participated in the combination calculation. When a plurality of optimum combinations satisfying the combination conditions are obtained by the combination calculation, the weighing hopper 13 is It may be such that the optimal combination to be included is selected as the final optimal combination.

  In this way, a combination operation for preferentially selecting the weighing hopper 13 corresponding to the supply hopper 12 that has been determined to have been supplied with the weighing object 20 is performed, and the weighing hopper 13 is selected and the weighing object 20 is selected. After the discharge, the object to be weighed is surely put into the weighing hopper 13 from the supply hopper 12 that has been determined that the object to be weighed has been supplied.

  Conventionally, since the normal combination calculation is performed regardless of whether or not the object 20 is supplied to the supply hopper 12, after the object 20 is discharged from the weighing hopper 13 selected by the combination calculation, When the weighing object 20 is not supplied to the supply hopper 12 corresponding to the empty weighing hopper 13, the weighing object 20 cannot be fed from the supply hopper 12 to the empty weighing hopper 13. The number of weighing hoppers 13 that can participate in the process has decreased, and the combination accuracy has decreased. In addition, when there is no object to be weighed in the supply hopper 12 and the object to be weighed 20 cannot be put into the weighing hopper 13, the linear feeder 8 must be driven again and the object to be weighed in the supply hopper 12 again. In other words, the driving speed was decreasing.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, as described above, the combination calculation is performed so as to preferentially select the weighing hopper 13 corresponding to the supply hopper 12 that is determined to have been supplied with the workpiece 20. After the weighing hopper 13 is selected by the combination calculation and discharges the weighing object 20, the weighing object is reliably put into the weighing hopper 13 from the supply hopper 12 that has been determined that the weighing object has been supplied. Will be.

  As a result, the frequency with which the empty weighing hopper 13 that cannot participate in the combination calculation is generated as compared with the conventional example in which the normal combination calculation is performed without considering whether the weighing object 20 is supplied to the supply hopper 12 or not. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the combination accuracy and the operation speed due to the re-input of the objects to be weighed.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the control system of the combination weigher in this embodiment, and the same reference numerals are given to the portions corresponding to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 9 includes a CPU unit 16 as an arithmetic control unit, a memory unit 17, an A / D conversion circuit unit 18, a gate drive circuit unit 19, a vibration control circuit unit 21, And an I / O circuit unit 22 connected to the packaging machine 15.

  The CPU unit 16 serving as a calculation control unit controls each unit and performs a combination calculation. The memory unit 17 stores an operation program for the combination weigher, operation parameters to be set, and the like, and serves as a work area for operations on the CPU unit 16. The A / D conversion circuit unit 18 includes a weight sensor 5 for detecting the weight of the weighing object 20 on the top cone 3 and a weight sensor 10 for detecting the weight of the weighing object 20 of each weighing hopper 13. The analog signal is converted into a digital signal and output to the CPU unit 16. Further, the CPU unit 16 is provided with a detection output from the above-described object sensor 7 that detects the object to be weighed at the conveyance end 6 a of each linear feeder pan 6 via the I / O circuit unit 25.

  The gate drive circuit unit 19 controls the opening and closing of the discharge gates 12 a and 13 a of the supply hopper 12 and the weighing hopper 13 based on a control signal from the CPU unit 16. The vibration control circuit unit 21 controls each vibration operation of the supply device 1, the main feeder 4, and each linear feeder 8 based on a control signal from the CPU unit 16. The CPU unit 16 is connected so as to be able to communicate with the operation setting display unit 11.

  The control device 9 controls the operation of the supply device 1 and the entire combination weigher by the CPU unit 16 executing the operation program stored in the memory unit 17.

  In the combination weigher, it is necessary to set a large number of operation parameters for performing the operation as described above, and the setting is performed by the operator using the operation setting display unit 11, and the value of the set operation parameter is the CPU unit. 16 and stored in the memory unit 17. The operation parameters include a combination target weight which is a target value in the combination calculation and an allowable range thereof, vibration amplitude and driving time (one vibration continuation time) of each of the feeders 4 and 8, a stabilization time, and the like.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the entire processing operation of the combination weigher of this embodiment.

  First, the control device 9 performs ON / OFF control of the supply device 1 based on the detection output of the top cone weight sensor 5 to perform supply unit control for controlling the supply amount of the object to be weighed onto the top cone 3. Perform (step s1).

  Next, the main feeder control for supplying the objects to be weighed to the linear feeder pan 6 by controlling the driving of the main feeder 4 for vibrating the top cone 3 to disperse the objects to be weighed on the top cone 3 to the surroundings (step) s2).

  Next, driving of the linear feeder 8 that vibrates the linear feeder pan 6 is controlled to vibrate the linear feeder pan 6 corresponding to the empty supply hopper 12 to supply the objects to be weighed on the linear feeder pan 6 to the empty supply. Linear feeder control to be supplied to the hopper 12 is performed (step s3).

  Further, the discharge gate 12 a of the supply hopper 12 is controlled, the discharge gate 12 a of the supply hopper 12 corresponding to the empty weighing hopper 13 is opened, and the object to be weighed is supplied to the empty measurement hopper 13. Supply hopper control is performed (step s4). When an object to be weighed is supplied to the empty weighing hopper 13 in this way, the corresponding weight sensor 10 measures the weight of the object to be weighed supplied to the weighing hopper 13 and takes the measured value into the control device 9. Control is performed (step s5).

  Next, a combination calculation is performed based on the weight of the objects to be weighed supplied to the weighing hopper 13, and the combined weight which is the total weight of various combinations of the weights of the objects to be weighed is equal to the target combined weight, or The optimum combination which is a combination of the weighing hoppers 13 having a predetermined weight that is heavier than the combination target weight and close to the combination target weight is selected (step s6). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not a discharge request signal is input from the packaging machine 15 (step s7). If there is a discharge request signal input, the discharge of the weighing hopper 13 of the optimum combination selected by the combination calculation is performed. Weighing hopper control is performed to open the gate 13a and discharge the object to be weighed (step s8), and the process returns to step s1. Thereafter, the weighing object having the optimum combination is discharged to the packaging machine 15 by repeating the same weighing cycle as described above.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing details of the linear feeder control in step s3 of FIG.

  First, the number k for specifying the plurality of linear feeders 1 to n is set to an initial value “1” (step s301). The number k identifies the linear feeder 8 and supplies the weighing object 20 from the linear feeder pan 6 vibrated by the linear feeder 8, and the weighing object 20 is input from the supply hopper 12. The weighing hopper 13 to be used is specified.

  In step s302, it is determined whether or not a drive flag indicating that the linear feeder 8 (k) is driven is turned on. If it is turned on, a drive time timer is set (step s303), and the linear feeder 8 ( k) is started (step s304), a driving flag indicating that the linear feeder 8 (k) is being driven is turned on (step s305), and the driving flag is turned off (step s306).

  Next, whether or not the weighing object sensor 7 that detects the weighing object 20 at the conveying end 6a of the linear feeder pan 6 (k) that is vibrated by the linear feeder 8 (k) detects the weighing object. Then, it is determined whether or not the detection output of the weighing object sensor 7 is in a detection state where the weighing object is detected (step s307). In this step s307, when it is in the detection state, the fall detection flag for detecting whether or not the detected object 20 has fallen to the corresponding supply hopper 12 (k) is turned on (step s308), The process moves to step s319. In step s307, when it is not in the detection state, the process proceeds to step s319.

  In step s319, the number k is incremented by 1, and it is determined whether or not the number k becomes n + 1 (step s320). When the number k becomes n + 1, the process ends. When the number k does not reach n + 1, the process returns to step s302 to continue. The same processing is performed for the linear feeder 8.

  If the driving flag of the linear feeder 8 (k) is not turned on in step S302, it is determined whether or not the driving flag of the linear feeder 8 (k) is turned on (step s309). When it is on, it is determined whether or not the drop detection flag of the supply hopper 12 (k) corresponding to the linear feeder 8 (k) is on (step s310), and when the drop detection flag is on, It is determined whether or not the detection output of the weighing object sensor 7 is in a detection state in which the weighing object is detected (step s311).

  In step s311, when it is not in the detection state, that is, in the non-detection state, it is determined that the detection output of the object sensor 7 has shifted from the detection state to the non-detection state. It is determined that the object 20 to be weighed at the transport end 6a has been dropped and supplied to the supply hopper 12 (k), and the input OK flag indicating that it has been determined that the object 20 has been supplied to the supply hopper 12 (k) is turned on. (Step s312), it is determined whether or not the driving time timer of the linear feeder 8 (k) set in the above step s303 has expired (step S313). When the time has expired, the driving flag is turned off ( Step S314), the drive of the linear feeder 8 is stopped, and the process proceeds to Step S319 (Step S315).

  If the driving flag is not turned on in step s309, the process returns to step s319.

  If it is in the detected state in step S311, the process proceeds to step S313. If the time is not up in step S314, the process proceeds to step S319.

  In step S310, when the drop detection flag of the supply hopper 12 (k) is not turned on, it is determined whether or not the detection output of the weighing object sensor 7 is in a detection state in which the weighing object is detected. (Step S316) When it is in the detection state, the fall detection flag for detecting whether or not the detected object 20 has fallen on the corresponding supply hopper 12 (k) is turned on (Step s317), The process moves to step s319. In step S316, when it is not in the detection state, that is, in the non-detection state, the process proceeds to step S319.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing details of the supply hopper control in step s4 of FIG.

  First, the number k is set to an initial value “1” (step s400), and it is determined whether or not the discharge gate 12a of the supply hopper 12 (k) is open / closed (step s401). Sometimes, it is determined whether or not the opening and closing of the discharge gate 12a is completed (step s402), and when completed, the drive flag of the corresponding linear feeder 8 (k) is turned on (step s403), and the number k is set to 1. (Step s407), it is determined whether or not the number k has reached n + 1 (step s408). When the number k has reached n + 1, the process ends. When it has not reached n + 1, the process returns to step s401 to return to the next supply hopper 12 The same processing is performed for.

  In step s402, when opening / closing of the discharge gate 12a is not completed, the opening / closing of the discharge gate 12a of the supply hopper 12 (k) is controlled, and the process proceeds to step s407 (step s404).

  In step s401, when the discharge gate 12a of the supply hopper 12 (k) is not being opened or closed, it is determined whether or not the discharge gate 13a of the weighing hopper 13 below the supply hopper 12 (k) has been opened or closed. (Step s405) When opening and closing, it is assumed that the object to be weighed is discharged from the weighing hopper 13, and the gate 12a for discharging the supply hopper 12 (k) is opened and closed in order to load the object to be weighed into the weighing hopper 13 And the process proceeds to step s407 (step s406).

  In step s405, when the discharge gate 13a of the weighing hopper 13 is not opened or closed, the process proceeds to step s407.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing details of the combination calculation control in step s6 of FIG.

  First, a hopper for which the weighing hopper 13 in which the input OK flag indicating that it is determined that the object to be weighed has been supplied is turned on for the corresponding supply hopper 12 in the upper part is turned on is included in the combination calculation. (Step s601) and a combination calculation is performed (step s602). That is, in this combination calculation, in order to preferentially select the weighing hopper 13 in which the charging OK flag indicating that it has been determined that the object to be weighed has been supplied is turned on for the upper supply hopper 12, Only 13 is used for combination calculation.

  By this combination calculation, it is determined whether or not there is an optimum combination within the predetermined weight range (step s603).

  In step s603, when there is no optimum combination within the predetermined weight range, all of the weighing hoppers 13 that have completed weighing are used as combination calculation participating hoppers (step s604), normal combination calculation is performed (step s605), and the process ends.

  In this embodiment, in step s601, the combination calculation is performed only by the weighing hopper 13 in which the input OK flag of the corresponding supply hopper 12 is turned on, so that the combination calculation is preferentially selected. As another embodiment of the present invention, for example, when all the weighing hoppers 13 that have been weighed are joined and the combination calculation is performed, and a plurality of combinations within a predetermined weight range are obtained, the supply hopper 12 is turned on. A group including the weighing hopper 13 in which the OK flag is on may be preferentially selected.

(Other embodiments)
In the above-described embodiment, the linear feeder 8 is driven for the set time set in step s303 in FIG. 4. For example, the object 20 is smoothly moved from the top cone 3 on the upstream side of the linear feeder pan 6. In some cases, the objects to be weighed 20 are discontinuously conveyed on the linear feeder pan 6 without being supplied. In such a case, even if the linear feeder 8 is driven for a set time, the object 20 cannot be conveyed to the conveying end 6a of the linear feeder pan 6 and the object to be weighed cannot be put into the supply hopper 12. .

  Therefore, in another embodiment of the present invention, when the linear feeder 8 is driven for a set time, the detection output of the weighing object sensor 7 supplies the weighing object 20 to the supply hopper 12. When the weighing object 20 is not detected and the non-detection state where the weighing object 20 is detected is not detected, and the detection object 20 is not detected, a new weighing object is placed at the conveyance end 6a of the linear feeder pan 6. Since 20 is not conveyed, the driving of the linear feeder 8 may be continued. It is preferable that the linear feeder 8 is continuously driven until the detection output of the weighing object sensor 7 is in an ON detection state where the weighing object 20 is detected. However, the linear feeder 8 continues for a predetermined time. You may make it do.

  In the embodiment described above, the amount of the weighing object 20 on the top cone 3 is detected by the weight sensor 5 for the top cone. However, as another embodiment of the present invention, instead of the weight sensor 5, A level detector such as an ultrasonic type is provided above, and the amount of the weighing object 20 on the top cone 3 is detected by this level detector, and the amount of the weighing object 20 on the top cone 3 is controlled. May be.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Supply apparatus 3 Top cone 4 Main feeder 5 Top cone weight sensor 6 Linear feeder pan 7 Weighing object sensor 8 Linear feeder 9 Control device 10 Weight sensor 12 Supply hopper 13 Weighing hopper 15 Packaging machine 16 CPU part 20 Weighing object

Claims (3)

A plurality of transport units for transporting the objects to be weighed and supplying them from the transport end;
A plurality of discharge units that are arranged corresponding to the respective conveyance units, hold the objects to be weighed supplied from the conveyance end, and discharge the held objects to be weighed;
A plurality of measuring units that are arranged corresponding to the respective discharging units, hold the objects to be discharged from each discharging unit, and measure the weight of the held objects to be weighed;
A combination weigher that performs a combination operation based on the weight of an object to be weighed by the weighing unit, and an operation control unit that controls the driving of the transport unit,
A weighing object sensor for detecting a weighing object at each conveyance end of each conveyance unit;
The arithmetic control unit determines whether or not the object to be weighed is supplied from the conveying end to the discharge unit by driving the conveying unit based on the detection output of the object to be weighed. A combination operation is performed so as to preferentially select the weighing unit corresponding to the discharge unit determined to be supplied ,
The plurality of transport units are a plurality of vibration feeders that transport the objects to be weighed supplied from the dispersion unit by vibration,
The plurality of discharge units are a plurality of supply hoppers that discharge the held objects to be measured and supply the measured items to the measurement unit.
The plurality of weighing units are a plurality of weighing hoppers for weighing the weight of an object to be weighed by a weight sensor,
The arithmetic control unit controls the driving of the vibration feeder, and controls the opening and closing of the gate for discharging the supply hopper,
The calculation control unit detects the object to be measured at the transport end of the vibration feeder by driving the vibration feeder when the discharge gate of the supply hopper is closed. When the output shifts from the detection state in which the object to be weighed is detected to the non-detection state in which the object to be weighed is not detected, the object to be weighed at the conveyance end of the vibration feeder is supplied to the supply hopper. judge,
A combination weigher characterized by that. The arithmetic control unit drives the vibration feeder for a set time to convey an object to be weighed, and shifts to the non-detection state when the vibration feeder is driven for the set time. When the detection output of the measured object sensor does not shift to the detection state again, the vibration feeder is further driven.
The combination weigher according to claim 1. The calculation control unit performs a normal combination calculation when an optimum combination is not obtained by the combination calculation for preferentially selecting the weighing hopper corresponding to the supply hopper determined to be supplied with the object to be weighed. ,
The combination weigher according to claim 1 or 2 .

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