JP5984634B2 - Combination scale - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a combination weigher in which objects to be weighed are supplied automatically or manually and a combination of objects to be weighed selected based on a predetermined combination condition is automatically discharged.

  The combination weigher is an automatic combination weigher that automatically feeds and discharges objects to / from each weighing unit (machine control), and supplies the objects to be weighed to each weighing unit manually. For example, there are semi-automatic combination weighers that automatically discharge the objects to be weighed selected for the combination (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4).

  In an automatic combination weigher, for example, a plurality of hoppers are arranged in a circular shape as a plurality of weighing units, and the weight of an object to be weighed in the hopper is measured. In addition, a feeder or the like for supplying an object to be weighed to the hopper is provided above the hopper, and the amplitude and operation time of the feeder so that the weight of the object to be weighed supplied to the hopper becomes, for example, a supply target weight. Has been adjusted. An object to be weighed handled by such an automatic combination weigher is a relatively small article such as confectionery such as potato chips or candy.

  On the other hand, in semi-automatic combination weighers, the objects to be weighed are supplied manually, and therefore, as the objects to be weighed, articles that have a relatively large single weight and are difficult to handle by a machine, such as chicken (broiler), etc. It is suitable for handling raw meat, marine products such as squid and octopus, and agricultural products. Such a semi-automatic combination weigher is configured such that an operator supplies the objects to be weighed to, for example, a plurality of hoppers, and the objects to be weighed selected for the combination are discharged from the hoppers.

  For both automatic and semi-automatic combination weighers, for example, a combination weight within a predetermined weight range (allowable range with respect to the combination target weight) and the combination target weight or the closest combination to be weighed is obtained. The objects to be weighed selected for the combination are discharged.

  In the present specification and claims, the objects to be weighed in the case of one, two, three or a plurality of objects to be weighed are the objects to be weighed held in the respective holding portions. The individual objects to be weighed may consist of a collection of a plurality of articles, and each object to be weighed is held by a separate holding part and discharged from each holding part. Here, the holding unit is a hopper or a conveyor that can hold and discharge an object to be weighed. The same applies to “object to be weighed” in the description relating to the number of objects to be weighed, such as “number of objects to be weighed”, “number of objects to be weighed”, “planned number of objects to be weighed”. Further, for example, an object to be weighed selected as a combination (discharge combination) or an object to be weighed is an article held in each of a plurality of holding units, and is held for each holding unit. The objects to be weighed are selected for the combination. Therefore, the number of objects to be weighed selected for the combination (discharge combination) is equal to the number of holding parts (for example, hoppers) holding the objects to be weighed.

JP 2004-191082 A JP 2005-315579 A International Publication No. 93/23724 (WO93 / 23724) Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-22017

  The automatic combination weigher is configured such that the supply amount of the object to be weighed to each weighing unit can be adjusted by, for example, the amplitude and operation time of the feeder that supplies the object to be weighed to the hopper. For example, when the combination target weight is M and the number of objects to be weighed selected for the combination is n, each hopper has a weight of M / n (supply target weight) or a weight before and after M / n. Adjustment of the amplitude and operation time of the feeder is performed so that the object to be weighed is supplied. In addition, the amplitude and operation time of the feeder so that the objects to be weighed, which are deviated by a certain amount around the weight of M / n, are supplied to each hopper within the range before and after the weight of M / n. In some cases, adjustments are made.

  However, even if the feeder is adjusted as described above, for example, if the objects to be weighed are easily entangled with each other, the supply amount of the objects to be weighed into the hopper becomes large. In addition, since the objects to be weighed are supplied from the supply device in the previous stage to the combination weigher, the supply amount of the objects to be weighed from the feeder to the hopper even if there is a variation in the supply of the objects to be weighed from the supply apparatus in the previous stage The variation of the is increased. That is, the supply amount of the object to be weighed is not necessarily adjusted as intended by adjusting the feeder or the like.

  As described above, when the supply amount of the objects to be weighed to the hopper becomes large and the supply amount greatly deviates from the supply target weight, the objects to be weighed are not easily selected for combination. For example, when the planned number of objects to be weighed selected for the combination is 4, objects to be weighed that are 1/3 of the combination target weight are difficult to select for the combination, and the objects to be weighed are selected for a long time. If this is not done, the number of objects to be weighed provided for the combination is substantially reduced, the combination accuracy is lowered, or a combination failure frequently occurs and the operation rate is lowered.

  Further, in the semi-automatic combination weigher, since the single unit weight having a relatively large and irregular shape is the object to be weighed, for example, the variation in the weight of the object to be weighed supplied to the hopper is large. Therefore, even in the case of a semi-automatic combination weigher, for example, when the planned selection number of objects to be selected for the combination is 4, the object to be weighed greatly deviates from 1/4 of the combination target weight. For example, an object to be weighed that is 1/3 of the combination target weight becomes difficult to be selected for the combination, and if the object to be weighed is not selected for a long time, the number of objects to be provided for the combination is substantially reduced. As a result, the accuracy of the combination is reduced, or the operation rate is reduced due to frequent combination failures.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and can prevent a reduction in combination accuracy due to retention of a weighing object that is difficult to be selected as a discharge combination for a long time. It aims at providing the combination scale which can prevent generation | occurrence | production.

  In order to achieve the above object, a combination weigher according to an aspect of the present invention has a weighing unit for holding a plurality of supplied objects to be weighed separately and weighing the weight of the objects to be weighed. A plurality of objects to be weighed, which are included in a plurality of objects to be weighed, and whose total weight is within a combination allowable weight range and whose weight is equal to or closest to the combination target weight. Combination means for repeatedly performing a combination process for obtaining a discharge combination, and each of the weighing units is configured to discharge the objects to be weighed selected for the discharge combination obtained by the combination means, and In the weighing unit, the weight of one object to be weighed that is not selected for the discharge combination is outside the range of the preset allowable supply weight range, and the weight of the one object to be weighed and the discharge When the total value with the weights of other objects not selected for the combination includes a multiple of the supply target weight and is within the aggregate formation range set in advance as a range around the multiple, the total value Is configured to collect and hold the one object to be weighed and the other objects to be weighed within the aggregate formation range, and hold the aggregate as a collection. The combination processing is performed by regarding the aggregate as a single object to be weighed. The other objects to be weighed may be one object to be weighed or a plurality of objects to be weighed.

  According to this configuration, an object to be weighed whose weight is outside the allowable supply weight range is an object to be weighed that is difficult to select for the discharge combination, and this object is combined with other objects to be measured and is a multiple of the supply target weight. Or it becomes easy to select it as a discharge combination by making it the to-be-measured object (assembly) of the weight before and behind that. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the accuracy of the combination due to a decrease in the number of objects to be weighed that have been accumulated for a long time because the objects to be weighed that are difficult to select for the discharge combination stay for a long time, and the occurrence of a defective combination Can be prevented and the operating rate can be improved.

  Each weighing unit temporarily holds and discharges the supplied objects to be weighed and weights for weighing the objects to be weighed held by the first holding and discharging means. And a second holding and discharging unit that temporarily holds and discharges an object to be weighed discharged from the first holding and discharging unit, and is held by the first holding and discharging unit and the discharge combination. The weight of at least one of the object to be weighed not selected and the object to be weighed held by the second holding and discharging means and not selected by the discharge combination is out of the allowable supply weight range. And the weight of an object to be weighed that is held by the first holding and discharging means and not selected as the discharging combination, and an object to be weighed that is held by the second holding and discharging means and not selected as the discharging combination. The total value with the weight of The objects to be weighed by the first holding / discharging means and the objects to be weighed by the second holding / discharging means gathered when the total value falls within the aggregate forming range. The object to be weighed by the first holding and discharging means is discharged to the second holding and discharging means so as to be the aggregate, and the combination means includes a plurality of the first holding and discharging means, You may be comprised so that the said discharge | emission combination may be calculated | required from the to-be-measured objects currently hold | maintained at at least some said 2nd holding | maintenance discharge means among several said 2nd holding | maintenance discharge means.

  The combination means is configured to obtain the discharge combination from the objects to be weighed held by the plurality of first holding discharge means and the plurality of second holding discharge means. The first holding and discharging means is configured to be able to selectively discharge the object to be measured in the first and second directions, and to supply the object to be measured to the second holding and discharging means. The object to be weighed may be discharged in the direction of, and the object to be weighed selected for the discharge combination may be discharged in the second direction.

  Each of the first holding and discharging means is configured to be able to selectively discharge an object to be measured in the first and second directions. Two holding / discharging means are provided two by one, one of which is supplied with an object to be discharged from the first holding / discharging means in the first direction, and the other is the first holding / discharging means. The weighing object discharged in the second direction from the means is supplied, and the combination means is configured to discharge the discharge from the objects held by the plurality of second holding discharge means. It may be configured to determine a combination.

  Each of the first holding and discharging means includes a first hopper configured to selectively discharge the object to be measured in the first and second directions, and each of the second holding and discharging units. The means is configured to separately hold the object to be weighed discharged in the first direction from the first holding and discharging means and the object to be weighed discharged in the second direction and to discharge the objects separately. The combination means may be configured to obtain the discharge combination from a plurality of objects to be weighed held by the plurality of second hoppers.

  Each of the first holding and discharging means includes a first conveyor that temporarily holds the supplied objects to be weighed and discharges the held objects to be measured by conveying the held objects. The discharging means includes a second conveyor that temporarily holds the objects to be weighed discharged from the first conveyor and discharges the held objects to be weighed, and the second conveyor includes the first conveyor. A plurality of objects to be weighed supplied from different conveyors at different timings may be temporarily held at different positions.

  In addition, each of the weighing units temporarily holds two objects to be weighed supplied at different timings at different positions and discharges the held objects to be weighed by conveying the held objects. A weight detecting means for measuring the weight of the object to be weighed held by one conveyor, and a first object for temporarily holding the object to be weighed discharged from the first conveyor and discharging the held object to be weighed by conveying it. And the weight of at least one of the two objects to be weighed that are held on the first conveyor and not selected for the discharge combination is outside the range of the allowable supply weight range, In addition, when the sum of the weights of the two objects to be weighed is within the aggregate formation range, the first conveyor is configured such that the two objects to be weighed gather to form the aggregate. The two objects to be weighed It is configured to be discharged to the second conveyor, and the weighing object that is held by the first conveyor and not selected as the discharge combination and the discharge combination that is held by the second conveyor is selected. The weight of an object to be weighed that is at least one of the weights of the objects not to be weighed out of the allowable supply weight range and is not selected as the discharge combination held on the first conveyor And the weight of the objects to be weighed that are held on the second conveyor and not selected as the discharge combination are within the aggregate formation range, the total value is within the aggregate formation range. The objects to be weighed on the first conveyor are discharged to the second conveyor so that the objects to be weighed on the first conveyor and the objects to be weighed on the second conveyor gather together to form the aggregate. Make The combination means is configured to select the discharge combination from among the objects to be weighed held by at least the plurality of second conveyors among the plurality of first conveyors and the plurality of second conveyors. It may be configured to seek.

  Further, the combination means may be configured to perform the combination processing such that when the aggregate exists, the aggregate is preferentially selected as the discharge combination.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to quickly discharge the aggregates and prevent the aggregates from staying, so that the combination accuracy can be improved as a whole.

  The present invention has the above-described configuration, and can prevent deterioration of the combination accuracy due to the weighing object having a weight that is difficult to be selected as a discharge combination staying for a long time, and also prevents the occurrence of a combination failure. There is an effect that it is possible to provide a combination weigher capable of improving the operating rate.

It is a schematic diagram which shows schematic structure of the combination scale of the structural example of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of the combination weigher of 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A) is the top view which looked at the combination weigher of the one structural example of 2nd Embodiment of this invention from the top, (b) is the front view of the combination weigher, (c) is the side view of the combination weigher. (A) is the schematic top view which looked at the combination weigher of the 1st structural example of 3rd Embodiment of this invention from the top, (b) is the schematic schematic diagram which looked at the combination weigher from the side. (A) is the schematic plan view which looked at the combination balance of the 2nd structural example of 3rd Embodiment of this invention from the top, (b) is the schematic schematic diagram which looked at the combination balance from the side. (A) is the schematic plan view which looked at the combination balance of the 3rd structural example of 3rd Embodiment of this invention from the top, (b) is the schematic schematic diagram which looked at the combination balance from the side. (A) is the schematic top view which looked at the combination balance of the 4th structural example of 3rd Embodiment of this invention from the top, (b) is the schematic schematic diagram which looked at the combination balance from the side. (A) is the schematic plan view which looked at the combination balance of the 5th structural example of 3rd Embodiment of this invention from the top, (b) is the schematic schematic diagram which looked at the combination balance from the side.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference symbols throughout all the drawings, and redundant description thereof is omitted. Further, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a combination weigher of one configuration example of the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The combination weigher of this embodiment automatically supplies and discharges the objects to be weighed to each of the plurality of measuring units, and automatically uses a hopper as a holding and discharging means for temporarily holding and discharging the supplied objects to be weighed. It is a combinational balance of a formula.

  In this combination weigher, a conical dispersion feeder 51 that disperses articles supplied from an external supply device 64 radially by vibration is provided at the upper center of the device. Around the dispersion feeder 51, a plurality of rectilinear feeders 52 are provided radially for feeding articles sent from the dispersion feeder 51 to the supply hoppers 53 by vibration.

  Below each of the linear feeders 52, a supply hopper 53, a weighing hopper (first holding / discharging means) 54, and a memory hopper (second holding / discharging means) 56 are provided corresponding to each other and arranged in a circular shape. Has been. The supply hopper 53 receives the object to be weighed sent from the linear feeder 52 and opens the discharge gate when the weighing hopper 54 disposed below the empty hopper 54 becomes empty, and supplies the object to be weighed to the weighing hopper 54.

  The weighing hopper 54 is provided with a discharge gate so that the objects to be weighed can be selectively discharged to the memory hopper 56 and the collecting chute 57. The memory hopper 56 is disposed obliquely below the weighing hopper 54, and the objects to be weighed are supplied from the weighing hopper 54 when empty. The memory hopper 56 temporarily holds the supplied objects to be weighed, and the discharge gate can be opened to discharge the objects to be weighed to the collecting chute 57.

  Each weighing hopper 54 is attached with a weight detector 55 such as a load cell for measuring the weight of an object to be weighed in the weighing hopper 54, and a measured value by each weight detector 55 is output to the control device 60. The

  Each weighing unit Cw <b> 1 includes a weighing hopper 54, a weight detector 55, and a memory hopper 56 provided in correspondence with each other.

  A collecting chute 57 is provided below the weighing hopper 54 and the memory hopper 56 arranged in a circle, and a collecting funnel 58 is disposed below the collecting chute 57. A packaging machine (not shown) is disposed below the collective funnel 58. When an object to be weighed selected in a later-described discharge combination is discharged from the objects to be weighed held in the plurality of weighing hoppers 54 and the plurality of memory hoppers 56, the objects to be weighed are externally (for example, the above-described objects). A collecting chute 57 and a collecting funnel 58 are provided as discharging devices for discharging to the packaging machine.

  Further, a level detector 59 for detecting the amount of the object to be weighed on the dispersion feeder 51 is provided. For example, an ultrasonic sensor is used as the level detector 59, the layer thickness of the object to be weighed on the dispersion feeder 51 is detected, and the detection signal is sent to the control device 60. In the control device 60, the supply device 64 is controlled so as to keep the object to be weighed on the dispersion feeder 51 at a constant amount based on the layer thickness of the object to be weighed on the dispersion feeder 51 detected by the level detector 59. .

  The operation indicator 63 is configured using, for example, a touch panel display and the like, and includes input means for performing operations such as starting and stopping of the combination weigher and setting of combination conditions, and combination processing such as operation speed and combination weight. Display means for displaying the results and the like on a screen (display screen). The control device 60 inputs a signal from the operation indicator 63 and outputs a signal such as data to be displayed on the operation indicator 63.

  The control device 60 is configured by, for example, a microcontroller, and includes an arithmetic control unit 61 including a CPU and the like, and a storage unit 62 including a memory such as a RAM and a ROM, and storing an operation program and the like. Then, when the arithmetic control unit 61 executes the operation program stored in the storage unit 62, the control device 60 performs the above-described operation control of the supply device 64 and the entire operation of the combination weigher, and the discharge combination. It functions as a combination means for performing the required combination processing. Note that the control device 60 is not necessarily configured by a single control device, and may be configured by a plurality of control devices that perform distributed control in cooperation with each other.

  In the combination process, the total weight (combination weight) is within the combination allowable weight range (allowable weight range with respect to the combination target weight) among the objects to be selected for the discharge combination, and is equal to the combination target weight. One combination of objects to be weighed that has the closest weight (the absolute value of the difference from the combination target weight is minimized) is determined and determined as the discharge combination. In addition, the combination allowable weight range may be set, for example, as a range from p to q (p is a lower limit value, q is an upper limit value), or an upper limit value is not set, and the range is p or more. May be set. Here, in the present embodiment, the objects to be weighed for selection of the discharge combination are objects to be weighed that are held in each weighing hopper 54 and each memory hopper 56. Then, the weighing object is discharged from the weighing hopper 54 and the memory hopper 56 holding the weighing object selected as the discharge combination. The discharged objects to be weighed slide down the collecting chute 57 and are discharged from the collecting funnel 58 to the packaging machine.

  The control device 60 performs an aggregate formation process. Here, the aggregate formation process is performed in each weighing unit Cw1 such that the weighing object held by the weighing hopper 54 and not selected as the discharge combination and the weighing object held by the memory hopper 56 and not selected as the discharge combination. The weight of at least one of the objects is outside the range of the allowable supply weight range, and the total value (total weight) of the weight of the weighing object of the weighing hopper 54 and the weighing object of the memory hopper 56 is When the value is within the aggregate formation range, the objects to be weighed in the weighing hopper 54 are discharged to the memory hopper 56, and together with the objects to be weighed in the memory hopper 56, the aggregate (a group of objects to be weighed) To do. Hereinafter, the allowable supply weight range and the aggregate formation range will be described.

  For example, if the supply target weight to each weighing hopper 54 is Wt, the supply allowable weight range is a range in which the lower limit value is Wt−α and the upper limit value is Wt + α, that is, a range of Wt−α or more and Wt + α or less. Set as α is a predetermined value. Further, the supply target weight Wt can be set to a value of M / n when the combination target weight is M and the planned selection number of objects to be selected to be discharged is n (n is a plurality).

  The predetermined value α may be determined based on past weight value data of an object to be weighed supplied to each weighing hopper 54. For example, a standard deviation σ of the weight of an object to be weighed supplied to the weighing hopper 54 may be calculated from past weight value data, and α may be determined as a value of σ (1σ), 1.5σ, 2σ, or the like. Alternatively, the value of α or the upper limit of the allowable supply weight range so that the weight of the object to be weighed that is difficult to select or not selected from the past experience or weight value data is outside the allowable supply weight range. The lower limit value may be determined.

  The aggregate formation range includes a multiple of the supply target weight Wt and is set as a range around the multiple. For example, the aggregate formation range is set as a range in which the lower limit value is k · Wt−β and the upper limit value is k · Wt + β, that is, a range of k · Wt−β or more and k · Wt + β or less. β is a predetermined value, and k · Wt is a multiple of the supply target weight. Here, k is an integer of 1 or more, and may be an integer less than the planned selection number. That is, the aggregate formation range can be set as a range separated into a plurality by the value of k. For example, when the planned selection number is 4, k can be set to values of 1, 2, and 3. In this case, the aggregate formation range includes a first formation range that is greater than or equal to Wt−β and less than or equal to Wt + β, a second formation range that is greater than or equal to 2Wt−β and less than or equal to 2Wt + β, and 3Wt−β. The above is composed of three ranges including the third formation range which is a range of 3 Wt + β or less. β is a predetermined value, for example, a standard deviation σ of the weight of an object to be weighed supplied to the weighing hopper 54 is calculated from past weight value data, and β is a value such as σ (1σ), 1.5σ, 2σ, etc. You may decide as. Alternatively, the value of β or the upper limit value and the lower limit value of each of the first to third formation ranges may be determined so that the aggregate can be easily selected as a discharge combination from past experience or weight value data. . For example, α described above may be a value of 2σ, and β may be a value of 1σ. In addition, you may make it the value of (beta) which determines the width | variety of each range of a 1st-3rd formation range differ.

  Here, among objects to be weighed whose weight is outside the allowable supply weight range, objects whose weight is larger than the upper limit of the allowable supply weight range are called overweight objects, and the weight is the lower limit of the allowable supply weight range. If an object to be weighed smaller than the value is referred to as an underweight object to be weighed, for example, the sum of the weights of two underweight objects to be weighed is the first formation range (Wt−β) of the aggregate formation range. In some cases, the range is equal to or less than Wt + β. In addition, the sum of the weights of the two weighted objects to be weighed may be a third formation range (a range of 3Wt−β or more and 3Wt + β or less). In addition, the sum of the weights of the underweight object and the overweight object may be the second formation range (2Wt−β or more and 2Wt + β or less). In such a case, two corresponding objects to be weighed are collected to form an aggregate. In this example, the case where both of the two objects to be weighed as aggregates are outside the allowable supply weight range is exemplified, but the weight of at least one of the two objects to be weighed as aggregates is It may be outside the allowable supply weight range.

  In addition, the 1st formation range and the 3rd formation range do not necessarily need to be set as an aggregate formation range. For example, a lightweight object to be weighed is relatively easy to be selected as a discharge combination. For example, the first formation range may not be set as the aggregate formation range. Further, for example, when the weighing object having the weight of the third formation range cannot be stored in the memory hopper 56, the third formation range is not set as the aggregate formation range.

  The setting method of the allowable supply weight range and the aggregate formation range described above is the same in the second and third embodiments described later. However, in the third embodiment, the objects to be weighed are supplied to the conveyor instead of the hopper and temporarily held.

  Next, an example of the operation of the combination weigher of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the combination weigher of this embodiment. In FIG. 2, it shows as an example of the operation | movement common to the combination scale of below-mentioned 2nd, 3rd embodiment. Note that all of the information necessary for the control device 60 to control the operation of the combination weigher is stored in the storage unit 62, and all the information to be stored during the operation is stored in the storage unit 62. For example, information necessary for performing combination processing (combination target weight, combination allowable weight range, etc.) and information necessary for performing aggregate formation processing (supply allowable weight range, aggregate formation range, etc.) It is set in advance using the display 63 and stored in the storage unit 62.

  In the present embodiment, the operation shown in FIG. 2 is repeatedly performed by the control device 60. Note that FIG. 2 does not show a process (operation) for moving an object to be weighed from an upper component of the combination weigher to a lower component. That is, an operation for supplying an object to be weighed from the weighing hopper 54 to the empty memory hopper 56, an operation for supplying an object to be weighed from the supply hopper 53 to the empty weighing hopper 54, and an object to be weighed from the linear feeder 52 to the empty supply hopper 53. The operation of supplying an object and the operation of supplying an object to be weighed from the dispersion feeder 51 to the linear feeder 52 are performed at predetermined timings under the control of the control device 60, respectively.

  In step S1, the weight of the object to be weighed held in each weighing unit is acquired and stored. Here, the control device 60 acquires and stores the weight of the object to be weighed in the weighing hopper 54 based on the measured value of the weight detector 55 of each weighing unit Cw1. Note that the control device 60 is configured to store the weights of the objects to be weighed held in all the weighing hoppers 54 and all the memory hoppers 56. As the weight of the object to be weighed held in the memory hopper 56, the weight weighed when being held by the weighing hopper 54 thereon is stored.

  Next, in step S2, a combination process is performed to obtain a discharge combination.

  Next, in step S3, it is determined whether or not there is an object to be weighed (referred to as an object to be weighed A) out of the supply allowable weight range among the objects to be weighed that are not selected as the discharge combination. In this case, the object to be weighed A is an object to be weighed that is held in each hopper of the weighing hopper 54 and the memory hopper 56 and is not selected as a discharge combination.

  If the object A does not exist, the process proceeds to step S8, where the object to be weighed selected for the discharge combination is discharged. Here, the objects to be weighed are discharged from the weighing hopper 54 and the memory hopper 56 holding the objects to be weighed selected as the discharge combination.

  If the above-mentioned object A exists, the process proceeds to step S4, and the object to be weighed is not selected as a discharge combination, and can be combined with the object A to be weighed (collectively) in the same measuring unit. It is determined whether or not there is an object to be weighed (weighed object B) whose total weight value with the object to be weighed A is within the aggregate formation range, and the object to be weighed B is present If not, the process proceeds to step S8. In the case of this embodiment, in each weighing unit Cw1, the objects to be weighed in the weighing hopper 54 and the objects to be weighed in the memory hopper 56 are discharged by discharging the objects to be weighed in the weighing hopper 54 to the memory hopper 56. It is an object to be weighed that can be collected (collectively).

  If the object to be weighed B exists, the process proceeds to step S5, and it is determined that the object to be weighed A and the object to be weighed B are collected.

  Next, in step S6, similarly to step S8, discharge processing of the weighing object selected as the discharge combination is performed.

  Next, in step S7, the objects to be weighed A and the objects to be weighed B are put together into an aggregate. Here, the objects to be weighed A and the objects to be weighed B are the objects to be weighed A held by either the weighing hopper 54 or the memory hopper 56 in the same weighing unit Cw1, The object to be weighed held on the other side becomes the object to be weighed B, and the objects to be weighed in the weighing hopper 54 are supplied to the memory hopper 56 to form an aggregate. In the combination process after the next time, the aggregate is regarded as one object to be weighed, that is, using the weight of the aggregate (the total weight of the objects A and B to be weighed).

  After step S7 and step S8, although not shown, the objects to be weighed are supplied to the memory hopper 56 and the weighing hopper 54 which have been emptied as described above, and the processing from step S1 is repeated. The aggregate formation process includes the processes of steps S3 to S5 and S7.

  In FIG. 2, the order after step S <b> 3 may be changed as appropriate while maintaining the order relationship of steps S <b> 3, S <b> 4, S <b> 5, S <b> 7 of the aggregate formation process. For example, the process of step S6 may be performed between step S2 and step S3 (in this case, the process of step S8 is omitted). In the case of this embodiment, for example, the process of step S6 may be performed after step S7 or simultaneously with step S7.

  In the present embodiment, in each weighing unit Cw1, there is an object to be weighed A that is outside the allowable supply weight range in which the weight is greatly deviated from the supply target weight Wt, and the total weight with the object to be weighed A is an aggregate. When there is an object to be weighed B that falls within the formation range, the object to be weighed A and the object to be weighed B are combined into an aggregate (aggregate formation process). Here, by setting the aggregate formation range to a range including a multiple of the supply target weight Wt and around the multiple, the weight A to be weighed that is difficult to be selected as the discharge combination becomes an aggregate and is easily selected as the discharge combination. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the accuracy of the combination due to a decrease in the number of objects to be weighed, which is substantially retained for a long time because the weight A to be weighed that is difficult to select for the discharge combination stays for a long time. Occurrence can be prevented and the operating rate can be improved.

  In the case of this embodiment, the object to be weighed in the weighing hopper 54 is also a target for selection of the discharge combination, and the weighing hopper 54 of the weighing unit Cw1 on which the aggregate formation processing has been performed becomes empty, and a new object to be weighed is obtained. Since the weighing object is supplied, the weight of the object to be weighed can be used for the next combination process, which contributes to the improvement of the combination accuracy.

  In addition, since the aggregates (collected objects to be weighed) corresponding to the second forming range and the third forming range have a large weight, when the discharge combination is selected, the objects to be weighed in the combination are selected. The number of selected items is smaller than the planned number of selected items, and it cannot be said that the combination accuracy of only the discharge combination is high. Therefore, even if the combination weight of the combination including the aggregate falls within the allowable combination weight range, the combination weight of the combination not including the aggregate is closer to the combination target weight than the combination weight of the combination including the aggregate. Combinations containing objects are not selected as discharge combinations.

  Therefore, when an aggregate exists, the combination processing may be performed such that the aggregate is preferentially selected as the discharge combination (the same applies to the second and third embodiments described later). ). That is, first, an emission combination consisting of a combination including an aggregate is obtained, and when this emission combination cannot be obtained (when there is no combination including an aggregate whose combination weight falls within the allowable combination weight range), A discharge combination consisting of a combination of objects to be weighed other than the aggregate is obtained. As a result, when a discharge combination including an aggregate is obtained, even if the combination accuracy temporarily decreases, the aggregate can be discharged quickly to prevent the accumulation of the aggregate, thereby improving the combination accuracy as a whole. be able to.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of the appearance of a combination weigher according to a configuration example of the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A is a plan view of the combination weigher viewed from above, and FIG. Is a front view of the combination weigher, and FIG. 3C is a side view of the combination weigher.

  The combination weigher of this embodiment is a semi-automatic type using a hopper as a holding and discharging means for temporarily holding and discharging the supplied objects to be weighed by an operator. It is a combination scale.

  In this combination weigher, a plurality of openings 76a are linearly arranged on a workbench 76 formed of a top plate on the upper part of the apparatus main body 75. Each opening 76a is provided with a weighing hopper (first holding / discharging means, first hopper) 71, and a memory having two storage chambers 72a and 72b below each weighing hopper 71. A hopper (second holding and discharging means, second hopper) 72 is disposed. The opening 76a, the weighing hopper 71, and the memory hopper 72 are provided in correspondence with each other.

  Each weighing hopper 71 is provided with two discharge gates 80a and 80b that can be driven independently. By opening each discharge gate 80a and 80b, the storage hopper 72 is selectively transferred to the storage chamber 72a and the storage chamber 72b. It is configured so that the object to be weighed can be discharged. Supply of the object to be weighed to each weighing hopper 71 is performed by an operator.

  Each weighing hopper 71 is provided with a weight detector 77 such as a load cell. The weight detector 77 measures the weight of the object to be weighed in the weighing hopper 71 and sends the weight value to the control device 83. It is done. As a result, the control device 83 recognizes and stores the weight of the object to be weighed in the weighing hopper 71 and stores the weight of the object to be weighed in each of the storage chambers 72 a and 72 b of the memory hopper 72 supplied from the weighing hopper 71. The combination processing for recognizing and storing the weight and obtaining a discharge combination based on the weight of the objects to be weighed in the storage chambers 72a and 72b of each memory hopper 72 is performed.

  Each memory hopper 72 has a discharge gate 81a in one storage chamber 72a and a discharge gate 81b in the other storage chamber 72b. By opening the discharge gates 81a and 81b, each storage chamber 72a It is comprised so that a to-be-measured object can be discharged | emitted separately from 72a, 72b.

  Each weighing unit Cw <b> 2 includes a weighing hopper 71, a weight detector 77, and a memory hopper 72 provided in correspondence with each other.

  Below the memory hopper 72, a discharge conveyor 73 that receives the objects to be weighed discharged from the memory hopper 72 and conveys them in the direction of the arrow 86, for example, as a discharging device that discharges the objects to be weighed selected for the discharge combination to the outside. Is arranged. In this case, for example, a packaging machine is installed on the direction side of the arrow 86 (the right side in FIG. 1B), and the objects to be weighed conveyed by the discharge conveyor 73 are supplied to the packaging machine directly or via a connecting conveyor. Is done. Further, guide plates 82 are disposed on both sides of the discharge conveyor 73 so that the objects to be weighed do not jump out of the discharge conveyor 73. Further, an operation indicator 74 supported on the apparatus main body 75 via a support is disposed above the apparatus main body 75.

  The operation indicator 74 is configured by using, for example, a touch panel display, etc., and includes input means for starting and stopping operation of the combination weigher, setting of combination conditions, and the like, and combination processing of operation speed, combination weight, and the like. Display means for displaying the results and the like on a screen (display screen).

  In addition, an electrical component storage unit 9 is provided in the lower part of the apparatus main body 75. The electrical component storage unit 9 stores a control device 83, a discharge gate drive circuit, a conveyor drive circuit, and the like necessary for the combination weigher. Has been.

  The control device 83 is configured by, for example, a microcontroller, and includes a calculation control unit 84 including a CPU and the like, and a storage unit 85 including a memory such as a RAM and a ROM, and storing an operation program and the like. Then, when the arithmetic control unit 84 executes the operation program stored in the storage unit 85, the control device 83 functions as combination means for performing the combination process and the like, as well as controlling the overall operation of the combination weigher. For example, the control device 83 controls the opening and closing of the discharge gates 80a and 80b of each weighing hopper 71 and the discharge gates 81a and 81b of each memory hopper 72. Further, the driving operation of the discharge conveyor 73 is controlled. The control device 83 receives a signal from the operation indicator 74 and outputs a signal such as data to be displayed on the operation indicator 74. Note that the control device 83 is not necessarily configured by a single control device, and may be configured by a plurality of control devices that perform distributed control in cooperation with each other.

  Further, the control device 83 performs a combination process similar to that in the first embodiment, and obtains a discharge combination. However, in the case of the present embodiment, the objects to be weighed for selection of the discharge combination are objects to be weighed that are held in the storage chambers 72 a and 72 b of the memory hoppers 72.

  Moreover, the control apparatus 83 performs the aggregate formation process shown, for example by step S3-S5 of FIG. In the aggregate formation process here, in each weighing section Cw2, the objects to be weighed held in the weighing hopper 71 and the objects not held in the discharge combination which are held in the storage chambers 72a and 72b of the memory hopper 72 are selected. It is determined whether or not the object to be weighed A that is out of the allowable supply weight range exists in the weighed object (step S3).

  When the object to be weighed A is present, it is an object to be weighed that has not been selected as a discharge combination, and can be grouped with the object to be weighed A in the same weighing unit Cw2. In addition, it is determined whether or not there is an object B whose total weight value with the object A is within the aggregate formation range (step S4). It decides to make the weighing object B into an aggregate (step S5). In the case of the present embodiment, in each weighing unit Cw2, the objects to be weighed in which the objects to be weighed in the weighing hopper 71 and the objects to be weighed in the respective storage chambers 72a and 72b of the memory hopper 72 can be collected (collectively). It is a thing. Therefore, when the weighing object A is the weighing object of the weighing hopper 71, it is determined whether or not the weighing object in the storage chamber 72a or the weighing object in the storage chamber 72b can be the above-described weighing object B. . Further, when the object to be weighed A is an object to be weighed in the storage chamber 72a or an object to be weighed in the storage chamber 72b, it is determined whether or not the object to be weighed in the weighing hopper 71 can be the above-mentioned object to be weighed B. .

  For example, when the object to be weighed in the weighing hopper 71 is the object to be weighed A (or object to be weighed B) and the object to be weighed in the storage chamber 72a is the object to be weighed B (or object to be weighed A). Then, the objects to be weighed in the weighing hopper 71 are discharged into the storage chamber 72a to form an aggregate (step S7). Similarly, when the weighing object of the weighing hopper 71 is the weighing object A (or weighing object B) and the weighing object in the storage chamber 72b is the weighing object B (or weighing object A), The objects to be weighed in the weighing hopper 71 are discharged into the storage chamber 72b to form an aggregate (step S7).

  Next, an example of the operation of the combination weigher of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the operation shown in FIG. Note that FIG. 2 does not show the operation of supplying the objects to be weighed from the weighing hopper 71 to the storage chambers 72a and 72b of the memory hopper 72. Examples of the objects to be weighed include chicken (broiler) and agricultural and marine products.

  Note that all the information and the like necessary for the control device 83 to control the operation of the combination weigher are stored in the storage unit 85, and all the information to be stored during the operation is stored in the storage unit 85. For example, information necessary for performing combination processing (combination target weight, combination allowable weight range, etc.) and information necessary for performing aggregate formation processing (supply allowable weight range, aggregate formation range, etc.) It is set in advance using the display device 74 and stored in the storage unit 85.

  The operator performs an operation of supplying the objects to be weighed to the empty weighing hopper 71 to which the objects to be weighed are not supplied at any time. Further, when the operation of the combination weigher is started, the control device 83 drives the discharge conveyor 73. At the start of operation, the control device 83 sequentially supplies the objects to be weighed that are supplied to the respective weighing hoppers 71 and weighed from the weighing hoppers 71 to the storage chambers 72a and 72b of the respective memory hoppers 72. To supply.

  In step S1, the weight of the object to be weighed held in each weighing unit is acquired and stored. Here, the control device 83 acquires and stores the weight of the object to be weighed in the weighing hopper 71 based on the measured value of the weight detector 77 of each weighing unit Cw2. The control device 83 is configured to store the weights of the objects to be weighed held in the storage chambers 72 a and 72 b of all the weighing hoppers 71 and all the memory hoppers 72. As the weight of the objects to be weighed held in the storage chambers 72 a and 72 b of the memory hopper 72, the weight measured when held by the weighing hopper 71 on the storage chamber 72 a and 72 b is stored.

  Next, in step S2, combination processing is performed at a predetermined timing to obtain a discharge combination.

  Next, Steps S3 to S5 are as described above. When the object A does not exist in Step 3 and when the object B does not exist in Step S4, the process proceeds to Step S8 and is selected as the discharge combination. Dispose of the objects to be weighed. Here, the discharge gates 81a and 81b of the storage chambers 72a and 72b holding the objects to be weighed selected for the discharge combination are opened and closed to discharge the objects to be measured from the storage chambers 72a and 72b, and the discharge conveyor 73 Drop on top. The dropped objects to be weighed are conveyed by the discharge conveyor 73 and sent out to a packaging machine or the like.

  Further, in step S6 after step S5, similarly to step S8, discharge processing of the weighing object selected as the discharge combination is performed.

  Next, in step S7, as described above, the objects to be weighed A and the objects to be weighed B are combined into an aggregate. In the combination process after the next time, the aggregate is regarded as one object to be weighed, that is, using the weight of the aggregate (the total weight of the objects A and B to be weighed).

  After step S7 and step S8, although not shown, the objects to be weighed are supplied from the weighing hopper 71 to the storage chambers 72a and 72b of the memory hopper 72 that are emptied by the discharging process. In addition, an object to be weighed is supplied by the operator to the empty weighing hopper 71, and the processing from step S1 is repeated.

  Also in this embodiment, by performing the aggregate formation process, as in the case of the first embodiment, the combination accuracy is deteriorated due to the long-time residence of the weighing object A that is difficult to be selected for the discharge combination, and the combination failure is caused. Occurrence can be prevented.

  The storage chambers 72a and 72b of the memory hopper 72 may be provided as individual hoppers (second holding and discharging means).

  In the first and second embodiments, hoppers (weighing hoppers and memory hoppers) are used as means for temporarily holding and discharging the objects to be weighed in each weighing unit. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an inclinable tray may be provided, and the object to be weighed may be held when the tray is in a horizontal state, and the tray may be inclined when the object to be weighed is discharged. Moreover, you may comprise using a conveyor as shown in the following 3rd Embodiment.

(Third embodiment)
The combination weigher of the present embodiment is a semi-automatic combination weigher that uses a conveyor as means for temporarily holding and discharging the objects to be weighed, which are supplied by an operator to each of the plurality of weighing units. It is. The objects to be weighed are, for example, side dishes, agricultural and marine products.

  In the first and second configuration examples (FIGS. 4 and 5) described below, an example of a configuration in which one weighing object is normally held on each weighing conveyor and each memory conveyor is shown. In the fourth configuration example (FIGS. 6 and 7), an example of a configuration in which a plurality (two in this case) of objects to be weighed is normally held on each weighing conveyor and each memory conveyor. In the five configuration examples (FIG. 8), normally, one weighing object is held on each weighing conveyor, and a plurality (here, two) weighing objects are held on each memory conveyor. An example is shown.

  In each configuration example of this embodiment described below, for the sake of convenience, “front”, “back”, “left”, “right”, etc. are determined as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, for example. explain.

[First configuration example]
FIG. 4A is a schematic plan view of the first combination example of the third embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above, and FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram of the combination scale as viewed from the side. It is.

  This combination weigher includes a plurality of weighing units Cw, a discharge device 13, an operation indicator 4, a control device 5, and the like.

  Each weighing unit Cw includes a weighing conveyor device having a weighing conveyor (first holding and discharging means) 1 and a weight detector 2, and two memory conveyors (second holding and discharging means) 3a and 3b. Yes. The weight detector 2 is a load cell or the like that supports the weighing conveyor 1 and measures the weight of an object to be weighed on the weighing conveyor 1.

  The weighing conveyor 1 is configured by, for example, a belt conveyor, and can be transported by switching the transport direction to two directions that are opposite to each other (here, the right direction and the left direction). Here, the conveyance direction can be switched between a right direction (direction from left to right) and a left direction (direction from right to left). That is, the weighing conveyor 1 can carry the object P in both the left and right directions. The weighing conveyor 1 has a position (holding position) H1 for holding the workpiece P when the conveyance is stopped.

  The two memory conveyors 3 a and 3 b are arranged on the left and right ends of the weighing conveyor 1 with the machine direction (conveyance direction) being the same as the weighing conveyor 1. Each of the memory conveyors 3a and 3b is configured by, for example, a belt conveyor. One memory conveyor 3a is disposed obliquely below and to the right of the weighing conveyor 1 and is supplied with an object to be weighed P that is discharged from the right end of the weighing conveyor 1 and falls. The other memory conveyor 3b is disposed diagonally to the left of the weighing conveyor 1 and is supplied with an object P that is discharged from the left end of the weighing conveyor 1 and falls. In addition, each of the memory conveyors 3a and 3b holds the workpiece P supplied from the weighing conveyor 1 in a conveyance stopped state.

  The discharge device 13 is provided to convey (discharge) an object to be weighed P selected from a discharge combination described later and discharged from each of the memory conveyors 3a and 3b. The discharge device 13 is disposed below all weighing units Cw, and includes a discharge conveyor 13a that conveys an object to be weighed in the direction of arrow a and a discharge conveyor 13b that conveys the object to be weighed in the direction of arrow b. . The objects to be weighed P discharged from the memory conveyors 3a and 3b are conveyed in the direction of arrow a by the discharge conveyor 13a and discharged onto the discharge conveyor 13b. And the to-be-measured item P conveyed by the discharge conveyor 13b to the arrow b direction is supplied to a back | latter stage apparatus (not shown).

  A plurality of weighing units Cw, a discharge conveyor 13a excluding both end portions, and the like are accommodated in the apparatus main body 11 formed of a housing. Further, an opening 11 a serving as a supply port for the object to be weighed P is provided in the upper part of the apparatus main body 11 at the upper part of the first holding position H <b> 1 of the weighing conveyor 1. The workpiece P is supplied from the opening 11a to the first holding position H1 (supply position) by the operator.

  In addition, the weight detector 2 supporting each weighing conveyor 1 measures the weight of the object P on the weighing conveyor 1, and the measured value is sent to the control device 5.

  The operation indicator 4 is configured using, for example, a touch panel display and the like, and includes input means for starting and stopping the operation of the combination weigher, setting of combination conditions, and the like, and combination processing such as operation speed and combination weight Display means for displaying the results and the like on a screen (display screen).

  The control device 5 is composed of, for example, a microcontroller, and includes a calculation control unit 6 including a CPU and a storage unit 7 including a memory such as a RAM and a ROM. The storage unit 7 stores an operation program, measurement data, and the like. The control device 5 functions as combination means or the like for performing the combination process as well as performing overall control of the combination weigher by the operation control unit 6 executing the operation program stored in the storage unit 7. For example, the control device 5 acquires the measurement value measured by each weight detector 2 as needed and stores it in the storage unit 7. Moreover, the conveyance operation of each weighing conveyor 1, the memory conveyors 3a and 3b, and the discharge conveyors 13a and 13b is controlled. In addition, a signal is input from the operation display 4 and a signal such as data to be displayed on the operation display 4 is output. Note that the control device 5 is not necessarily configured by a single control device, and may be configured by a plurality of control devices that perform distributed control in cooperation with each other.

  Further, the control device 5 performs a combination process similar to that in the first embodiment to obtain a discharge combination. However, in the case of this configuration example, the objects to be weighed to be selected for the discharge combination are the objects to be weighed P held by the memory conveyors 3a and 3b. In the following description, the symbol P indicating the object to be weighed described in FIG.

  Moreover, the control apparatus 5 performs the aggregate formation process shown, for example by step S3-S5 of FIG. In the aggregate formation process here, in each weighing unit Cw, the weighing object held on the weighing conveyor 1 and the weighing object held on the memory conveyors 3a and 3b and not selected as the discharge combination. It is determined whether or not there is an object A to be weighed that is out of the allowable supply weight range (step S3).

  When the object to be weighed A exists, it is an object to be weighed that is not selected for the discharge combination, and can be grouped with the object to be weighed A in the same weighing unit Cw. In addition, it is determined whether or not there is an object B whose total weight value with the object A is within the aggregate formation range (step S4). It decides to make the weighing object B into an aggregate (step S5). In the case of this configuration example, in each weighing unit Cw, the objects to be weighed on the weighing conveyor 1 and the objects to be weighed on the memory conveyor 3a (3b) are objects to be weighed. Therefore, when the object A to be weighed is the object to be weighed on the weighing conveyor 1, it is determined whether or not the object to be weighed on the memory conveyor 3a or the object to be weighed on the memory conveyor 3b can be the above-mentioned object to be weighed B. . When the object A to be weighed is the object to be weighed on the memory conveyor 3a or the object to be weighed on the memory conveyor 3b, it is determined whether or not the object to be weighed on the weighing conveyor 1 can be the above-mentioned object to be weighed B. .

  For example, when the object to be weighed on the weighing conveyor 1 is the object to be weighed A (or object to be weighed B) and the object to be weighed on the memory conveyor 3a is the object to be weighed B (or object to be weighed A). Then, the objects to be weighed on the weighing conveyor 1 are discharged to the memory conveyor 3a to form an aggregate (step S7). Similarly, when the weighing object on the weighing conveyor 1 is the weighing object A (or weighing object B) and the weighing object on the memory conveyor 3b is the weighing object B (or weighing object A), The objects to be weighed on the weighing conveyor 1 are discharged to the memory conveyor 3b to form an aggregate (step S7).

  Next, an example of the operation of the combination weigher of this configuration example will be described with reference to FIG.

  In this configuration example, the operation shown in FIG. Note that FIG. 2 does not show an operation for supplying an object to be weighed from the weighing conveyor 1 to the memory conveyors 3a and 3b. The objects to be weighed on the weighing conveyor 1 are supplied to empty (no object to be weighed) memory conveyors 3a and 3b. Note that all the information and the like necessary for the control device 5 to control the operation of the combination weigher are stored in the storage unit 7, and all the information to be stored during the operation is stored in the storage unit 7. For example, information necessary for performing combination processing (combination target weight, combination allowable weight range, etc.) and information necessary for performing aggregate formation processing (supply allowable weight range, aggregate formation range, etc.) It is set in advance using the display 4 and stored in the storage unit 7.

  The worker performs an operation of supplying the objects to be weighed to the empty weighing conveyor 1 to which the objects to be weighed are not supplied at any time. Moreover, when the operation of the combination weigher is started, the control device 5 drives the discharge conveyors 13a and 13b. Then, at the start of operation, the control device 5 causes the objects to be weighed supplied to each weighing conveyor 1 and weighed in weight to be sequentially supplied from each weighing conveyor 1 to each of the memory conveyors 3a and 3b.

  In step S1, the weight of the object to be weighed held in each weighing unit is acquired and stored. Here, the control device 5 acquires and stores the weight of the object to be weighed in the weighing conveyor 1 based on the weighing value of the weight detector 2 of each weighing unit Cw. In addition, the control apparatus 5 is comprised so that the weight of the to-be-measured object currently hold | maintained at each of all the weighing conveyors 1 and all the memory conveyors 3a and 3b may be memorize | stored. As the weight of the objects to be weighed held in the memory conveyors 3a and 3b, the weight measured when being held by the weighing conveyor 1 above is stored.

  Next, in step S2, combination processing is performed at a predetermined timing to obtain a discharge combination.

  Next, Steps S3 to S5 are as described above. When the object A does not exist in Step 3 and when the object B does not exist in Step S4, the process proceeds to Step S8 and is selected as the discharge combination. Dispose of the objects to be weighed. Here, for example, the memory conveyors 3a and 3b holding the objects to be weighed selected as the discharge combination are moved to the right, for example, to discharge the objects to be weighed from the memory conveyors 3a and 3b, and on the discharge conveyor 13a. Let fall. The dropped objects to be weighed are transported from the discharge conveyor 13a to the discharge conveyor 13b, further transported by the discharge conveyor 13b, and sent to a subsequent apparatus such as a packaging machine.

  Further, in step S6 after step S5, similarly to step S8, discharge processing of the weighing object selected as the discharge combination is performed.

  Next, in step S7, as described above, the objects to be weighed A and the objects to be weighed B are combined into an aggregate. In the combination process after the next time, the aggregate is regarded as one object to be weighed, that is, using the weight of the aggregate (the total weight of the objects A and B to be weighed).

  After step S7 and step S8, although not shown, the objects to be weighed are supplied from the weighing conveyor 1 to the memory conveyors 3a and 3b which are emptied by the discharging process. In addition, an object to be weighed is supplied to the empty weighing conveyor 1 by the operator, and the processing from step S1 is repeated.

  Also in this configuration example, by performing the aggregate formation process, as in the case of the first embodiment, the combination accuracy decreases due to the long-time residence of the weighing object A that is difficult to be selected for the discharge combination and the combination failure. Occurrence can be prevented.

[Second configuration example]
FIG. 5A is a schematic plan view of the combination weigher of the second configuration example of the third embodiment of the present invention as seen from above, and FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram of the combination weigher as seen from the side. It is.

  This combination weigher includes a plurality of weighing units Cw, a discharge device 13, an operation indicator 4, a control device 5, and the like similar to those of the first configuration example.

  Each weighing unit Cw includes a weighing conveyor device having a weighing conveyor 1 and a weight detector 2, and a plurality of memory conveyors 3c, 3d, and 3e. The weighing conveyor 1 and the weight detector 2 are the same as those in the first configuration example. Each of the plurality of memory conveyors 3c, 3d, and 3e is basically the same as the memory conveyors 3a and 3b in the first configuration example, but the memory conveyors 3c and 3d are configured to convey the objects to be weighed in both the left and right directions. It is configured. The conveying operation of the weighing conveyor 1 and the memory conveyors 3c, 3d, and 3e is controlled by the control device 5.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, each weighing unit Cw of the second configuration example has a memory conveyor 3c disposed obliquely below the weighing conveyor 1, and a memory conveyor 3d disposed obliquely below the memory conveyor 3c. Further, a memory conveyor 3e is disposed obliquely below the memory conveyor 3d. The objects to be weighed P supplied to the weighing conveyor 1 and weighed are supplied to the respective memory conveyors 3c, 3d and 3e. Specifically, the objects to be weighed P measured by the weighing conveyor 1 are discharged from the left end of the weighing conveyor 1 by the conveying operation of the weighing conveyor 1 in the left direction, dropped and supplied to the memory conveyor 3c. In addition, the objects to be weighed P on the memory conveyor 3c are discharged from the left end of the memory conveyor 3c by the conveying operation in the left direction of the memory conveyor 3c, and supplied to the memory conveyor 3d. In addition, the objects to be weighed P on the memory conveyor 3d are discharged from the left end of the memory conveyor 3d by the leftward conveyance operation of the memory conveyor 3d, and are supplied to the memory conveyor 3e.

  Further, the control device 5 performs a combination process similar to that in the first embodiment to obtain a discharge combination. However, in the case of this configuration example, the objects to be weighed for selection of the discharge combination are the weighed objects P that are held in the weighing conveyors 1 and the memory conveyors 3c, 3d, and 3e of all the weighing units Cw. is there. In the following description, the reference symbol P indicating the object to be weighed described in FIG.

  Then, in the combination processing, when the object to be weighed on the weighing conveyor 1 is selected as the discharge combination, the control device 5 moves the weighing conveyor 1 to the right and drops the object to be weighed from the right end of the weighing conveyor 1. It discharges to the discharge conveyor 13a. Similarly, when the objects to be weighed in the memory conveyors 3c, 3d, and 3e are selected as the discharge combination, the memory conveyors 3c, 3d, and 3e are transported in the right direction from the right end of the memory conveyors 3c, 3d, and 3e. The object to be weighed is dropped and discharged to the discharge conveyor 13a.

  Further, the control device 5 measures so that when the objects to be weighed on the lower conveyors (3c, 3d, 3e) are discharged, the objects to be weighed are sequentially supplied from the upper conveyors (1, 3c, 3d). The operations of the conveyor 1 and the memory conveyors 3c, 3d, and 3e are controlled.

  Moreover, the control apparatus 5 performs the aggregate formation process shown, for example by step S3-S5 of FIG. Briefly explaining the aggregate formation process here, the objects to be weighed on the weighing conveyor 1 and the memory conveyor 3c are not selected as the discharge combination in each weighing unit Cw, and the objects to be weighed on the weighing conveyor 1 are not selected. The weight of at least one of the object and the object to be weighed on the memory conveyor 3c is outside the range of the allowable supply weight range, and the weight of the object to be weighed on the weighing conveyor 1 and the object to be weighed on the memory conveyor 3c When the sum of the weight and the weight is within the aggregate formation range, the objects to be weighed on the weighing conveyor 1 are discharged onto the memory conveyor 3c and assembled together with the objects to be weighed on the memory conveyor 3c. It is a thing. That is, when the condition that one of the objects to be weighed on the weighing conveyor 1 and the objects to be weighed on the memory conveyor 3c is the object to be weighed A and the other is the object to be weighed B is satisfied. And

  Further, in each weighing unit Cw, the control device 5 selects and discharges the objects to be weighed from the lower conveyors (3c, 3d, 3e), and discharges them to the lower conveyor (1, 3c, If the objects to be weighed in the two memory conveyors 3c and 3d adjacent in the vertical direction become the objects to be weighed A and B as a result of sequentially supplying the objects to be weighed from 3d), the objects to be weighed in the memory conveyor 3c are stored in the memory. The aggregate may be formed by supplying to the conveyor 3d. Similarly, if the objects to be weighed on the two memory conveyors 3d and 3e become the objects to be weighed A and B, the objects to be weighed on the memory conveyor 3d are supplied to the memory conveyor 3e to form an aggregate. Also good.

  In the case of this configuration example, in each weighing unit Cw, a pair of the weighing object of the weighing conveyor 1 and the weighing object of the memory conveyor 3c is a weighing object that can be collected (collectively), and the memory Pairs of the objects to be weighed on the conveyor 3c and the objects to be weighed on the memory conveyor 3d, and pairs of the objects to be weighed on the memory conveyor 3d and the objects to be weighed on the memory conveyor 3e can be collected (collectively). It can be set as a to-be-measured object.

  Also in this configuration example, by performing the aggregate formation process, as in the case of the first embodiment, the combination accuracy decreases due to the long-time residence of the weighing object A that is difficult to be selected for the discharge combination and the combination failure. Occurrence can be prevented.

  In the case of this configuration example, it is also possible to collect three or four objects to be weighed together in the same weighing unit Cw. For example, the weight of at least one of the objects to be weighed among the one object to be weighed on the weighing conveyor 1 and the two objects to be weighed on the two memory conveyors 3c and 3d is the allowable supply weight. If the total weight value of the three objects to be weighed falls within the aggregate formation range, the objects to be weighed on the weighing conveyor 1 and the memory conveyor 3c are supplied to the memory conveyor 3d and 3 The objects to be weighed may be combined into an aggregate. In this case, for example, if one object to be weighed out of the supply allowable weight range among the three objects to be weighed is set as the object to be weighed A, the other two objects to be weighed are the objects to be weighed. B, and there are two objects to be weighed B.

  In this configuration example, the discharge conveyor 13a is raised to the right so that the falling distances of the objects to be measured P falling from the weighing conveyor 1 and the memory conveyors 3c, 3d, and 3e to the discharge conveyor 13a are the same or substantially the same. You may arrange | position with the inclination of. Thereby, the impact when the to-be-measured object P falls to the discharge conveyor 13a can be made small. At this time, by providing a bar or the like on the discharge conveyor 13a, it is possible to prevent the object to be weighed from falling even if the object to be weighed easily rolls.

  Further, in this configuration example, the combination to be measured may be obtained by selecting the objects to be weighed only of the memory conveyors 3c, 3d, and 3e without selecting the objects to be weighed on the weighing conveyor 1 as the objects to be selected. In this case, the weighing conveyor 1 only needs to perform a leftward conveying operation in order to supply the object to be weighed to the memory conveyor 3c.

  In the second configuration example, the three memory conveyors 3c, 3d, and 3e are provided in each weighing unit Cw. However, the configuration is not limited thereto, and any configuration may be used as long as one or more memory conveyors are provided.

[Third configuration example]
FIG. 6A is a schematic plan view of the third combination example of the third embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above, and FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram of the combination scale as viewed from the side. It is.

  In the third configuration example, the weighing conveyor (first conveyor) 1 and the memory conveyor (second conveyor) of each weighing unit Cw are compared with the first configuration example shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b). 3a and 3b are configured to hold a plurality (two in this case) of objects to be weighed P supplied at different timings.

  That is, the weighing conveyor 1 is configured to hold two objects to be weighed P that are supplied at different timings depending on the operator, and 2 as a position for holding the objects to be weighed when the conveyance is stopped. Two holding positions H1, H2 (first holding position H1 and second holding position H2) are determined at a predetermined interval L1 (hereinafter also referred to as “predetermined distance L1”) in the machine length direction (conveyance direction). Each holding position H1, H2 holds one object P (in other words, object P for one supply).

  Each of the memory conveyors 3a and 3b is configured to hold two objects to be weighed supplied at different timings from the weighing conveyor 1 and to transport the objects to be weighed in both the left and right directions. Each of the memory conveyors 3a and 3b is transported so that the two objects to be weighed (the objects to be weighed twice) supplied from the weighing conveyor 1 are held away from each other. Sometimes the two holding positions (H3, H4), (H5, H6) are the predetermined distance L2 (hereinafter also referred to as “predetermined distance L2”) in the machine length direction (conveying direction) as the positions for holding the object P to be measured. It is stipulated. Other configurations are the same as those of the first configuration example.

  An example of the operation of the combination weigher of the third configuration example will be described. The operation of this combination weigher is realized by the processing of the control device 5. Note that all the information necessary for controlling the operation of the combination weigher is stored in the storage unit 7 (see FIG. 4A), and all the information to be stored during the operation is stored in the storage unit 7. The

  When the weighing conveyor 1 is in the transport stop state with respect to each weighing unit Cw, and the workpiece P does not exist at the first holding position H1 of the weighing conveyor 1, the operator can set the first holding position through the opening 11a. An operation of supplying (loading) the object P to be measured to H1 is performed. In this manner, in each weighing conveyor 1, the object to be weighed is supplied to the first holding position H1, and the weight is measured by the weight detector 2 at that position. For example, if there is no object to be weighed at the second holding position H2, the object weighed at the first holding position H1 is conveyed to the second holding position H2. In addition, when there is an object to be weighed at the second holding position H2, when the object to be weighed is supplied to the first holding position H1, the control device 5 causes the first holding position based on the measured value of the weight detector 2. Calculate the weight of the H1 object to be weighed. As described above, the control device 5 recognizes and stores the weight of the newly supplied object based on the measurement value of the weight detector 2.

  In all the weighing units Cw, for example, the holding positions H1 to H6 have a predetermined order of holding the objects to be measured (priority of holding positions). Assume that the priorities are determined in descending order of, for example, H6, H5, H4, H3, H2, and H1. Here, for example, when the objects to be weighed are not held at all the holding positions H1 to H6, such as at the start of operation, the objects to be weighed are sequentially supplied to the holding position H1 of the weighing conveyor 1 and held. The objects to be weighed sequentially at the position H1 are conveyed to the holding positions by the weighing conveyor 1 and the memory conveyors 3a and 3b based on the above-mentioned priority order. Further, even during operation, the control device 5 moves the weighing conveyor 1 and the memory conveyors 3a and 3b so that the objects to be weighed in the weighing units Cw are held at the holding positions with higher priority. Accordingly, the objects to be weighed are moved (conveyed) based on the priority order of the holding positions in each of the weighing conveyor 1 and the memory conveyors 3a and 3b.

  And the control apparatus 5 is comprised so that the weight of the to-be-measured object currently hold | maintained at each holding position H1-H6 of all the measurement parts Cw may be memorize | stored.

  Further, the control device 5 performs a combination process similar to that in the first embodiment to obtain a discharge combination. However, in the case of this configuration example, the objects to be weighed for selection of the discharge combination are the weighed objects P that are held at the holding positions H3 to H6 of the memory conveyors 3a and 3b of all the weighing units Cw. is there.

  Then, the objects to be weighed selected as the discharge combination are conveyed by the memory conveyors 3a and 3b holding the objects to be weighed and discharged onto the discharge conveyor 13a.

  Here, the control device 5 is, for example, predetermined for the memory conveyors (3a, 3b) in which the objects to be weighed only at the holding positions (H3, H5) closer to the inside near the weighing conveyor 1 are selected as the discharge combination. After transporting the distance L2 to the inside direction (leftward for the memory conveyor 3a, rightward for the memory conveyor 3b) using the distance L2 to discharge the objects to be held (H3, H5), With the predetermined distance L2 as the transport distance, the transport operation is stopped in the outward direction (right direction in the case of the memory conveyor 3a and left direction in the case of the memory conveyor 3b).

  Then, the weighing conveyor 1 is transported to supply the objects to be measured to empty holding positions (H3, H5) where the objects to be weighed disappear. For example, when weighing objects to be weighed are held at both holding positions H1 and H2 of the weighing conveyor 1, when the weighing objects are supplied to the holding position H3 of the memory conveyor 3a, the weighing conveyor 1 is moved to the right. After carrying out the transport operation in the direction by a predetermined distance L1 to discharge the object to be measured at the holding position H1, the transport operation is further stopped in the reverse direction by the predetermined distance L1 in order to empty the supply position (holding position H1). Let In addition, when weighing objects to be weighed are held at both holding positions H1 and H2 of the weighing conveyor 1, when the weighing objects are supplied to the holding position H5 of the memory conveyor 3b, the weighing conveyor 1 is left. The conveying operation is performed in the direction by a predetermined distance L1, and the object to be weighed at the holding position H2 is discharged and stopped.

  Further, the control device 5 may, for example, set a predetermined distance for the memory conveyors (3a, 3b) in which the objects to be weighed only at the holding positions (H4, H6) far from the weighing conveyor 1 are selected as the discharge combination. By transporting L2 as the transport distance in the outer direction (right direction in the case of the memory conveyor 3a, left direction in the case of the memory conveyor 3b), the objects to be weighed at the holding positions (H4, H6) are discharged and stopped.

  And like the above-mentioned case, in order to supply a to-be-measured object to the holding position (H3, H5) where the to-be-measured object was lost, the conveyance operation is carried out.

  In addition, the control device 5 determines, for example, a predetermined distance L2 of 2 for the memory conveyors (3a, 3b) in which the objects to be weighed in both holding positions (H3 and H4, H5 and H6) are selected as the discharge combination. The conveyance operation is performed in a predetermined direction (for example, the right direction) with the double as the conveyance distance, and the objects to be weighed at both holding positions are discharged and stopped.

  Then, the weighing conveyor 1 and the memory conveyors (3a, 3b) are transported to supply the objects to be weighed to the holding positions (H3 and H4, H5 and H6) where the objects to be weighed disappear. For example, when the objects to be weighed are supplied to the two holding positions H3 and H4 of the memory conveyor 3a, the objects to be weighed at the holding positions H1 and H2 of the weighing conveyor 1 are sequentially supplied to the memory conveyor 3a and The weighing conveyor 1 and the memory conveyor 3a are moved so that the objects to be weighed are conveyed to the holding position H4 and the objects to be weighed at the holding position H2 are conveyed to the holding position H3.

  Also in the third configuration example, as in the first configuration example, the control device 5 performs an aggregate formation process. As described above, the objects to be weighed A and the objects to be weighed B, which are aggregates, are objects to be weighed that are not selected for the discharge combination and can be collected (collectively). .

  In the third configuration example, the two objects to be weighed on the weighing conveyor 1 may be the objects to be weighed A and the objects to be weighed B. In this case, for example, when one of the objects to be weighed on the memory conveyors 3a and 3b is selected and discharged as a combination, and when one of the holding positions H3 and H5 is emptied, the weighing conveyor 1 The two objects to be weighed are supplied to the one empty holding position (H3 or H5) to form an aggregate.

  For example, when the weighing conveyor 1 is configured to hold three or more objects to be weighed at each holding position, two objects to be weighed near one end (or the other end) of the weighing conveyor 1 are covered. It may be a weighing object A and a weighing object B. In this case, for example, one of the objects to be weighed on the memory conveyor 3a (or 3b) on one end side (or the other end side) of the weighing conveyor 1 is selected as the discharge combination and discharged, and the holding position H3 (or H5) Is empty, the two objects A and B on the weighing conveyor 1 are supplied to the holding position H3 (or H5) to form an aggregate.

  In this configuration example, the weighing object at the holding position H1 on one end side of the weighing conveyor 1 and the weighing object at the holding position H3 of the memory conveyor 3a may be the weighing object A and the weighing object B. In this case, the objects to be weighed at the holding position H1 of the weighing conveyor 1 are supplied to the holding position H3 of the memory conveyor 3a to form an aggregate. The same applies when the weighing object at the holding position H2 on the other end side of the weighing conveyor 1 and the weighing object at the holding position H5 of the memory conveyor 3b become the weighing object A and the weighing object B, respectively. The objects to be weighed at one holding position H2 are supplied to the holding position H5 of the memory conveyor 3b to form an aggregate.

  In addition, when the weighing object at the holding position H3 of the memory conveyor 3a is selected as the discharge combination, the weighing object at the holding position H1 of the weighing conveyor 1 and the weighing object (x) at the holding position H4 of the memory conveyor 3a. May be an object A and an object B to be weighed. In this case, after the objects to be weighed at the holding position H3 selected as the discharge combination are discharged, the objects to be weighed at the holding position H1 of the weighing conveyor 1 are supplied to the memory conveyor 3a, and the objects to be weighed (on the holding position H3) x) is combined to form an aggregate, and this aggregate is conveyed to the holding position H4 and held. When the weighing object at the holding position H5 of the memory conveyor 3b is selected as the discharge combination, the weighing object at the holding position H2 of the weighing conveyor 1 and the weighing object at the holding position H6 of the memory conveyor 3b are: The same applies to the objects to be weighed A and the objects to be weighed B. After the objects to be weighed at the holding position H5 selected as the discharge combination are discharged, the objects are held on the holding position H5 and held. Transport to position H6 and hold.

  Other configurations and operations are substantially the same as those of the first configuration example, and the description thereof is omitted.

  Also in this configuration example, by performing the aggregate formation process, as in the case of the first embodiment, the combination accuracy decreases due to the long-time residence of the weighing object A that is difficult to be selected for the discharge combination and the combination failure. Occurrence can be prevented.

  In the case of this configuration example, it is possible to collect three objects to be weighed together in the same weighing unit Cw (the same applies to the case of the fourth configuration example described later). For example, at least one of the two objects to be weighed on the weighing conveyor 1 and one object to be weighed at the holding position H3 (or H5) of the memory conveyor 3a (or 3b). If the weight of the object is outside the allowable supply weight range and the total weight value of the three objects to be weighed is within the aggregate formation range, the two objects to be weighed on the weighing conveyor 1 are stored in the memory conveyor 3a. (Or 3b), and the three objects to be weighed may be combined into an aggregate. In this case, for example, if one object to be weighed out of the supply allowable weight range among the three objects to be weighed is set as the object to be weighed A, the other two objects to be weighed are the objects to be weighed. B, and there are two objects to be weighed B.

[Fourth configuration example]
FIG. 7A is a schematic plan view of a combination weigher according to a fourth configuration example of the third embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above, and FIG. 7B is a schematic diagram of the combination weigher as viewed from the side. It is.

  In this fourth configuration example, the length of each of the memory conveyors 3a and 3b is made longer than that of the third configuration example shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, so that each memory conveyor 3a and 3b has two holding positions. In addition to setting the receiving positions E1 and E2, in place of the discharge conveyors 13a and 13b, the objects to be weighed discharged from the memory conveyors 3a and 3b in the inner (center side) direction are set in one direction ( Only the discharge conveyor 21 including a belt conveyor that conveys in the direction of arrow c) is provided. Other configurations are the same as those of the third configuration example.

  In this fourth configuration example, the holding positions H3 and H5 near the weighing conveyor 1 of the memory conveyors 3a and 3b are separated from the receiving positions E1 and E2 to which the objects to be weighed are supplied from the weighing conveyor 1 by a predetermined distance L2. The positions further away from the holding positions H3 and H5 by a predetermined distance L2 are the holding positions H4 and H6. That is, when supplying the objects to be weighed from the weighing conveyor 1 to the memory conveyor 3a, the control device 5 moves the objects to be weighed supplied from the weighing conveyor 1 to the receiving position E1 to the holding positions H3 and H4. The memory conveyor 3a is transported. When the objects to be weighed are supplied from the weighing conveyor 1 to the memory conveyor 3b, the memory conveyor 3b is conveyed so that the objects to be weighed supplied from the weighing conveyor 1 to the receiving position E2 are moved to the holding positions H5 and H6. Make it work. For example, at the start of operation, the first object to be weighed supplied to the receiving position E1 (E2) of the memory conveyor 3a (3b) is moved to the holding position H3 (H5) by the conveying operation of the memory conveyor 3a (3b). Moved and held. In this state, when the next second weighing object is supplied to the receiving position E1 (E2), the first weighing object is held at the holding position H4 (H6) by the conveying operation of the memory conveyor 3a (3b). And the second object to be weighed moves to the holding position H3 (H5) and is held.

  Further, in this configuration example, in addition to the objects to be weighed on the memory conveyors 3a and 3b, the objects to be weighed on the weighing conveyor 1 are also selected as a discharge combination, and the objects to be weighed on the weighing conveyor 1 are sent to the discharge conveyor 21. In order to discharge, the receiving positions E1 and E2 of the memory conveyors 3a and 3b are vacated as described above, and the objects to be weighed on the weighing conveyor 1 are discharged to the discharging conveyor 21 via the receiving positions E1 and E2. I have to.

  In the same manner as in the third configuration example, in each of the weighing units Cw, for example, the holding positions H1 to H6 have a predetermined order of holding the objects to be measured (priority of holding positions). Yes. Assume that the priorities are determined in descending order of, for example, H6, H5, H4, H3, H2, and H1. And the control apparatus 5 carries out conveyance operation of the weighing conveyor 1 and the memory conveyors 3a and 3b so that the to-be-measured object in each measurement part Cw may be hold | maintained in the holding position with a higher priority.

  Further, the control device 5 performs a combination process similar to that in the first embodiment to obtain a discharge combination. However, in the case of this configuration example, the objects to be weighed for selection of the discharge combination are the weighed objects to be weighed that are held in the weighing conveyors 1 and the memory conveyors 3a and 3b of all the weighing units Cw. However, at that time, since it is necessary to determine the discharge combination so that only the objects to be weighed selected as the discharge combination can be discharged to the central discharge conveyor 21, the outer holding position H4 in each memory conveyor 3a (3b). When the object to be weighed (H6) is selected as the discharge combination, the condition that the object to be weighed at the inner holding position H3 (H5) is also selected as the discharge combination (hereinafter “combination”) is selected. "Restriction condition") and the emission combination is obtained.

  When the object to be weighed at the holding position H1 of the weighing conveyor 1 is selected as the discharge combination, the object to be weighed at the holding position H1 is moved to the receiving position E1 of the memory conveyor 3a by the conveying operation of the weighing conveyor 1 in the right direction. After being discharged, it is discharged to the discharge conveyor 21 by the leftward conveyance operation of the memory conveyor 3a. In this case, each of the weighing conveyor 1 and the memory conveyor 3a is added with a conveying operation in the reverse direction immediately after the above-described conveying operation, and there is no object to be weighed at the holding position H1 of the weighing conveyor 1 from the state before the conveying operation. It becomes.

  When the object to be weighed at the holding position H2 of the weighing conveyor 1 is selected as the discharge combination, the object to be weighed at the holding position H2 is moved to the receiving position E2 of the memory conveyor 3b by the conveyance operation in the left direction of the weighing conveyor 1. After being discharged, it is discharged to the discharge conveyor 21 by the rightward transfer operation of the memory conveyor 3b. In this case, the memory conveyor 3b is added with a conveying operation in the reverse direction immediately after the above-described conveying operation, and the object to be weighed at the holding position H1 of the weighing conveyor 1 moves from the state before the conveying operation to the holding position H2. The object to be weighed disappears in H1.

  When two objects to be weighed at both holding positions H1 and H2 of the weighing conveyor 1 are selected as the discharge combination, the weighing conveyor 1 is transported in the right direction (or left direction) to perform weighing. The two objects to be weighed on the conveyor 1 are discharged to the receiving position E1 (E2) of the memory conveyor 3a (3b), and then discharged to the left (right) of the memory conveyor 3a (3b). Is discharged.

  When the object to be weighed at the holding position H3 (H5) of the memory conveyor 3a (3b) is selected as the discharge combination, the memory conveyor 3a (3b) is moved leftward (rightward), for example, at a predetermined distance L2. By moving the object to be held at the holding position H3 (H5) by the double transfer operation, the object to be weighed is discharged to the discharge conveyor 21, and further, for example, the transfer operation is performed by a predetermined distance L2 in the reverse direction, thereby holding the holding position H4 (H6 before discharge). The object to be weighed in () stops in a state where it has moved to the holding position H3 (H5). In this state, it waits for the next object to be weighed to be supplied from the weighing conveyor 1.

  When the objects to be weighed at both holding positions H3 and H4 (H5 and H6) of the memory conveyor 3a (3b) are selected as the discharge combination, the memory conveyor 3a (3b) is moved leftward (rightward). For example, the objects to be weighed at both holding positions H3 and H4 (H5 and H6) are discharged to the discharge conveyor 21 by carrying out the transfer operation by three times the predetermined distance L2. In this state, it waits for the next object to be weighed to be supplied from the weighing conveyor 1.

  The aggregate formation process in the fourth configuration example is the same as the aggregate formation process in the third configuration example. However, the objects to be weighed A and the objects to be weighed B are combined on the receiving positions E1 and E2 to form an aggregate, and then the receiving positions E1 and E2 of the memory conveyors 3a and 3b are left open. The conveying operation of the conveyors 3a and 3b becomes a little complicated.

  Other configurations and operations are substantially the same as those of the third configuration example, and the description thereof is omitted.

  Also in this configuration example, by performing the aggregate formation process, as in the case of the first embodiment, the combination accuracy decreases due to the long-time residence of the weighing object A that is difficult to be selected for the discharge combination and the combination failure. Occurrence can be prevented.

  In the fourth configuration example, when the combination process is performed, the objects to be weighed at the holding positions H4 and H6 cannot be selected as the discharge combination alone, but the discharge device is configured by only one discharge conveyor 21. Therefore, the discharge device can be configured simply and the combination scale can be made compact.

  In the fourth configuration example, instead of the discharge conveyor 21, the same discharge conveyors 13a and 13b as in the third configuration example may be provided. In this case, the combination constraint condition can be eliminated, and the objects to be weighed at the holding positions H4 and H6 can be independently selected as the discharge combination and discharged to the discharge conveyor 13a, so that the combination accuracy can be further improved.

  In the third configuration example and the fourth configuration example, each of the weighing conveyor 1 and the memory conveyors 3a and 3b is configured to hold two objects to be weighed, but the weighing conveyor 1 has two objects to be weighed. You may comprise so that it may hold | maintain and each one to-be-measured object may be hold | maintained at the memory conveyors 3a and 3b.

  In the first configuration example, each weighing conveyor 1 and each of the memory conveyors 3a and 3b hold one object to be weighed. However, the weighing conveyor 1 holds one object to be weighed, and third As in the configuration example, the memory conveyors 3a and 3b may each be configured to hold two objects to be weighed. In addition, each of the memory conveyors 3a and 3b holds one or two objects to be weighed, and is provided with receiving positions E1 and E2 as in the fourth configuration example. You may comprise so that it may become selection object.

[Fifth configuration example]
FIG. 8A is a schematic plan view of a combination weigher according to a fifth configuration example of the third embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above, and FIG. 8B is a schematic diagram of the combination weigher as viewed from the side. It is.

  In this fifth configuration example, there is one holding position H1 for holding an object to be weighed in each weighing conveyor 1, the arrangement of the weighing conveyor 1 and the memory conveyors 3a and 3b in each weighing unit Cw, and Except for the disposition of each weighing unit Cw and the discharge conveyor 21, it is the same as the fourth configuration example shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B.

  In this fifth configuration example, two weighing units Cw are arranged on both sides of the discharge conveyor 21.

  In each weighing unit Cw, the two memory conveyors 3 a and 3 b are arranged in parallel to each other, and are arranged so that one ends thereof face the discharge conveyor 21. The weighing conveyor 1 is arranged above the two memory conveyors 3a and 3b. The weighing conveyor and the memory conveyors 3a and 3b are arranged so that the machine length direction (conveying direction) is orthogonal to each other.

  In each weighing section Cw, only one object to be weighed is held on the weighing conveyor 1 at its supply position (holding position H1), so that the weighing conveyor 1 is held at the holding position as in the above-described fourth configuration example. The operation of transporting the object to be weighed in H1 to the holding position H2 is not necessary.

  The operations of the memory conveyors 3a and 3b when the objects to be weighed are supplied from the weighing conveyor 1 and when the objects to be weighed are discharged to the discharge conveyor 21 are the same as in the fourth configuration example.

  In the combination process in the fifth configuration example, as in the case of the fourth configuration example, the weighing objects held by the weighing conveyors 1 and the memory conveyors 3a and 3b of all the weighing units Cw are discharged as selection targets. Find a combination.

  In the fifth configuration example, when the object to be weighed at the holding position H1 of the weighing conveyor 1 is selected as the discharge combination, the receiving position E1 of the memory conveyor 3a and the receiving position E2 of the memory conveyor 3a are It may be discharged to the discharge conveyor 21 through any of these positions. In the same weighing section Cw, when the objects to be weighed by the weighing conveyor 1 and one memory conveyor (for example, the memory conveyor 3a) are selected as the discharge combination, the objects to be weighed by the weighing conveyor 1 are transferred to one memory conveyor. If discharged to 3a, one memory conveyor 3b need not be operated.

  Also in the fifth configuration example, as in the first configuration example, the control device 5 performs an aggregate formation process. As described above, the objects to be weighed A and the objects to be weighed B, which are aggregates, are objects to be weighed that are not selected for the discharge combination and can be collected (collectively). .

  In the fifth configuration example, the objects to be weighed on the weighing conveyor 1 (holding position H1) and the objects to be weighed on the holding position H3 of the memory conveyor 3a may be the objects to be weighed A and the objects to be weighed B. In this case, the objects to be weighed on the weighing conveyor 1 are supplied to the memory conveyor 3a, and the objects to be weighed A and B are combined on the receiving position E1 to form an aggregate. The same applies to the case where the objects to be weighed on the weighing conveyor 1 and the objects to be weighed at the holding position H5 of the memory conveyor 3b become the objects to be weighed A and the objects to be weighed B. 3b, and both the objects to be weighed A and B are combined on the receiving position E2 to form an aggregate.

  When the object to be weighed at the holding position H3 of the memory conveyor 3a is selected as the discharge combination, the object to be weighed at the weighing conveyor 1 and the object to be weighed at the holding position H4 of the memory conveyor 3a are connected to the object A to be weighed. And the object to be weighed B may be possible. In this case, after the objects to be weighed at the holding position H3 selected as the discharge combination are discharged, the objects to be weighed from the weighing conveyor 1 are supplied to the memory conveyor 3a, and both the objects to be weighed A and B are received at the receiving position E1. It is good also as an aggregate. When the object to be weighed at the holding position H5 of the memory conveyor 3b is selected as the discharge combination, the object to be weighed at the weighing conveyor 1 and the object to be weighed at the holding position H6 of the memory conveyor 3b are replaced with the object to be weighed A. The same applies to the case where the object to be weighed B can be obtained. After the object to be weighed in the holding position H5 selected as the discharge combination is discharged, the object to be weighed in the weighing conveyor 1 is supplied to the memory conveyor 3b, and both the objects to be weighed. The objects A and B may be combined on the receiving position E2 to form an aggregate.

  Other configurations and operations are substantially the same as those of the fourth configuration example, and the description thereof is omitted.

  Also in this configuration example, by performing the aggregate formation process, as in the case of the first embodiment, the combination accuracy decreases due to the long-time residence of the weighing object A that is difficult to be selected for the discharge combination and the combination failure. Occurrence can be prevented.

  Further, in the fifth configuration example, the weighing conveyor 1 and the memory conveyors 3a and 3b of each weighing unit Cw are arranged as described above, for example, as in the fourth configuration example, the weighing conveyor 1 and the memory conveyor 3a, Since the object to be weighed does not pass through 3b and is not discharged, the level difference between the weighing conveyor 1 and the memory conveyors 3a and 3b can be reduced. Further, the weight detector 2 attached below the weighing conveyor 1 does not affect the arrangement of the discharge conveyor 21, and the step between the memory conveyors 3a and 3b and the discharge conveyor 21 can be reduced. Further, depending on the type of objects to be weighed, it is possible to eliminate the step so that the transport surfaces of the weighing conveyor 1, the memory conveyors 3a and 3b, and the discharge conveyor 21 are on the same horizontal plane. As described above, since the level difference between the conveyors can be reduced or eliminated, it is possible to prevent damage to an object to be weighed that is easily damaged by an impact at the time of dropping or the like, and to make the combination weigher compact.

  In the fifth configuration example, two discharge conveyors 22 and 23 parallel to the discharge conveyor 21 are provided at the front and rear, and the discharge conveyor 24 that transfers the objects to be weighed conveyed from the discharge conveyors 21 to 23 in the direction of the arrow d. It is good also as a structure which provided. In this case, the combination constraint condition can be eliminated, and the objects to be weighed at the holding positions H4 and H6 can be selected as the discharge combination and discharged to the discharge conveyors 22 and 23. Therefore, the combination accuracy can be further improved. it can.

  Further, in the fifth configuration example, as in the fourth configuration example, two weighing objects may be held on the weighing conveyor 1 by using the weighing conveyor 1 having a long captain.

  In the case of the second, fourth, and fifth configuration examples of the present embodiment described above, the weighing object on the weighing conveyor 1 is also an object to be selected for the discharge combination, and the weighing unit on which the aggregate formation process has been performed. Since a new object to be weighed is supplied to the Cw weighing conveyor 1, the weight of the object to be weighed can be used for the next combination process, which contributes to an improvement in combination accuracy.

  In the first to fifth configuration examples, as notification means for notifying the operator of the timing at which the objects to be weighed should be supplied to each weighing conveyor 1, for example, the supply position of each weighing conveyor 1 ( The indicator lamp 12 corresponding to the holding position H1) is provided, and when the weighing conveyor 1 is in the transport stop state and there is no object to be weighed at the holding position H1 of the weighing conveyor 1, the control device 5 turns the indicator lamp 12 on. You may comprise so that it may light. Thereby, the worker only has to supply the object to be weighed according to the lighting of the indicator lamp 12, and the supply work becomes easy.

  Further, in this embodiment, the weighing object is supplied to the weighing conveyors 1 by the worker only to one holding position H1, but each weighing conveyor as in the third and fourth configuration examples. When a plurality of holding positions H1 and H2 are set to 1, the operator may supply the objects to be measured to all the holding positions H1 and H2 of each weighing conveyor 1. In this case, for example, an opening similar to the opening 11a may be provided on both holding positions H1 and H2 of the weighing conveyor 1 of the apparatus main body 11 so that the object to be weighed can be supplied. And when there are no objects to be weighed on both holding positions H1, H2 of the weighing conveyor 1, the order of supplying the objects to be weighed out of the two holding positions H1, H2 is determined in advance, and the control device 5 The weights of the objects to be weighed may be stored assuming that the objects to be weighed sequentially supplied to the weighing conveyor 1 are supplied to the holding positions in order.

  As described above, when a plurality of holding positions H1 and H2 are set on each weighing conveyor 1, when the operator supplies the objects to be measured to all the holding positions H1 and H2, Compared with the case where an object to be weighed is supplied only to one first holding position H1, the transport operation of each weighing conveyor 1 can be easily controlled.

  In addition, the supply of the objects to be weighed to the weighing conveyor 1 in the present embodiment may be performed by providing a supply device such as a hopper, and for example, the operator may supply the objects to be weighed to the supply device.

  In this embodiment, a belt conveyor is used as the weighing conveyor and the memory conveyor. However, a roller conveyor or the like may be used depending on the type of objects to be weighed. Further, a chute or the like may be used for the discharge device.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is useful as a combination weigher or the like that can prevent a reduction in combination accuracy due to a weight weighing object that is difficult to be selected as a discharge combination staying for a long time, and can prevent occurrence of a combination failure. .

Cw, Cw1, Cw2 Weighing section 1 Weighing conveyors 2, 55, 77 Weight detectors 3a-3e Memory conveyors 5, 60, 83 Control devices 54, 71 Weighing hoppers 56, 72 Memory hoppers

Claims (8)

A plurality of weighing objects to be supplied are separately held, and a plurality of weighing units for weighing the weight of the weighing objects to be held are provided.
From among the objects to be weighed held by the plurality of weighing units, obtain a discharge combination consisting of a combination of objects to be weighed whose total weight is within the combination allowable weight range and equal to or closest to the combination target weight. A combination means for repeatedly performing the combination processing,
Each said measuring part is
The weighing object selected for the discharge combination determined by the combination means is discharged, and the weight of one weighing object not selected for the discharge combination is previously set in each weighing unit. The sum of the weight of the one object to be weighed and the weight of the other object to be weighed that is not selected for the discharge combination is a multiple of the target supply weight. And the one object to be weighed and the other object to be weighed in which the total value falls within the aggregate formation range. Configured to collect and hold as a collection,
The combination means includes
When the aggregate exists, the combination is performed by regarding the aggregate as a single object to be weighed.
Combination scale. Each said measuring part is
A first holding and discharging means for temporarily holding and discharging the object to be weighed;
A weight detecting means for weighing the object to be weighed held by the first holding and discharging means;
A second holding and discharging means for temporarily holding and discharging the object to be weighed discharged from the first holding and discharging means,
At least one of an object to be weighed that is held by the first holding and discharging means and is not selected as the discharge combination and an object that is held by the second holding and discharging means and is not selected as the discharge combination The weight of one of the objects to be weighed that is outside the range of the supply allowable weight range and is not selected for the discharge combination and held by the first holding and discharging means and the second holding and discharging means The first holding in which the total value is within the aggregate formation range when the total value with the weight of the objects to be weighed that are not selected for the discharge combination is within the aggregate formation range. The objects to be weighed by the first holding and discharging means are transferred to the second holding and discharging means so that the objects to be weighed by the discharging means and the objects to be weighed by the second holding and discharging means gather together to form the aggregate. Configured to drain,
The combination means includes
The discharge combination is obtained from the objects to be weighed held in at least a plurality of the second holding discharge means among the plurality of first holding discharge means and the plurality of second holding discharge means. Configured,
The combination weigher according to claim 1. The combination means is configured to obtain the discharge combination from the objects to be weighed held by the plurality of first holding discharge means and the plurality of second holding discharge means,
Each of the first holding and discharging means is configured to selectively discharge the object to be weighed in the first and second directions, and for supplying the object to be weighed to the second holding and discharging means. The weighing object is discharged in a first direction, and the weighing object selected for the discharge combination is discharged in a second direction.
The combination weigher according to claim 2. Each of the first holding and discharging means is configured to be capable of selectively discharging the object to be weighed in the first and second two directions,
For each of the first holding and discharging means, two second holding and discharging means are provided, one of which is to be discharged from the first holding and discharging means in the first direction. The weighing object is supplied, and the other is configured such that an object to be weighed discharged from the first holding discharge means in the second direction is supplied,
The combination means is configured to obtain the discharge combination from the objects to be weighed held by a plurality of the second holding discharge means.
The combination weigher according to claim 2. Each of the first holding and discharging means includes a first hopper configured to be able to selectively discharge an object to be measured in the first and second directions.
Each of the second holding and discharging means separately holds an object to be weighed discharged from the first holding and discharging means in the first direction and an object to be weighed discharged in the second direction. And a second hopper configured to be discharged separately,
The combination means is configured to obtain the discharge combination from a plurality of objects to be weighed held in the second hopper.
The combination weigher according to claim 2. Each of the first holding and discharging means comprises a first conveyor that temporarily holds the supplied objects to be weighed and discharges the held objects to be weighed,
Each of the second holding and discharging means includes a second conveyor that temporarily holds the objects to be discharged from the first conveyor and discharges the objects to be measured by conveying the held objects to be weighed.
The second conveyor is configured to temporarily hold a plurality of objects to be weighed supplied from the first conveyor at different timings at different positions, respectively.
The combination weigher according to claim 2. Each said measuring part is
A first conveyor for temporarily holding two objects to be weighed supplied at different timings at different positions and discharging the held objects to be weighed;
Weight detection means for measuring the weight of the object to be weighed held on the first conveyor;
A second conveyor that temporarily holds the objects to be discharged from the first conveyor and discharges the objects to be measured by transporting the objects to be weighed;
The weight of at least one of the two objects to be weighed that are held on the first conveyor and not selected as the discharge combination is out of the allowable supply weight range, and the two objects to be weighed The two objects to be weighed of the first conveyor so that the two objects to be weighed together become the aggregate when the sum of the weights of the objects is within the aggregate formation range. Is discharged to the second conveyor,
The weight of at least one of an object to be weighed held on the first conveyor and not selected for the discharge combination and an object to be weighed held on the second conveyor and not selected for the discharge combination is The weight of the object to be weighed outside the allowable supply weight range and held on the first conveyor and not selected as the discharge combination, and held on the second conveyor and selected as the discharge combination When the sum of the weights of the objects to be weighed is within the aggregate forming range, the sum of the objects to be weighed in the first conveyor and the second is within the aggregate forming range. The objects to be weighed in the first conveyor are discharged to the second conveyor so that the objects to be weighed in the conveyor gather together into the aggregate.
The combination means includes
Among the plurality of first conveyors and the plurality of second conveyors, the discharge combination is configured to be determined from at least a plurality of objects to be weighed held by the second conveyors.
The combination weigher according to claim 1. The combination means includes
When the aggregate exists, the combination processing is performed so that the aggregate is preferentially selected as the discharge combination.
The combination weigher according to claim 1.

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