JP6623096B2 - Weight sorter - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a weight sorting apparatus for weighing an object to be weighed and sorting based on a measured value.

  In the production line for foods, etc., a weight sorting device is incorporated and used. This weight sorting device sequentially accepts the produced articles from the previous stage, measures the weights in the weighing section while transporting the imported articles, and performs weighing. The sorting direction is made different depending on whether the result is a non-defective product or a defective product.

  In such a weight sorting apparatus, a sorting operation for discharging articles in the sorting direction according to the measurement result is performed. A sample of a product and a light product is prepared, and the sample is flowed during a normal operation for inspecting the product to confirm the actual sorting direction. In this case, since the worker needs to create a sample, the burden on the worker increases.

  As a conventional technique capable of confirming the sorting operation without preparing a sample, one described in Patent Document 1 is known. The thing of patent document 1 operates the discharge apparatus which discharges inferior goods intermittently. Thus, the operator can recognize whether or not only the product corresponding to the drive signal has been discharged by checking whether or not the number of discharged products matches a predetermined value.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-3773

  However, the one described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that the burden on the operator is large because the operator confirms whether or not the number of products discharged on a trial basis matches a predetermined value.

  In addition, the product sorting direction is not limited to the two directions of non-defective product and defective product, and there is also a device that switches the sorting direction to three directions of a positive-weight product, an over-weight product, and a light-weight product according to the measured value. For this reason, the thing of patent document 1 will increase an operator's burden, so that a selection direction increases.

  Furthermore, when the technique of Patent Document 1 is applied to a weight sorting apparatus including a plurality of inspection lines for performing weighing operation and sorting operation, the burden on the operator increases as the number of inspection lines increases.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a weight sorting apparatus capable of confirming the sorting operation without increasing the burden on the operator.

  The weight sorting apparatus according to the present invention includes a weighing unit (20) for weighing the objects to be weighed sequentially (W) and outputting a measurement value, a sorting unit (30) for sorting the objects to be weighed, A weight selection apparatus comprising: a determination unit (43) that determines the quality of the object to be weighed based on a measurement value; and a control unit (41) that controls the direction of selection of the object to be measured by the selection unit 30. A mode switching control unit (42) for switching the operation mode to a normal operation mode or a sorting operation confirmation mode for confirming a sorting operation of the sorting unit 30, and a direction in which the objects to be weighed are sorted by the sorting unit 30. And a sorting direction detection unit (31A, 33A, 34A) for detecting the object, and the control unit sorts the object to be weighed by the sorting unit 30 based on the determination result of the determination unit in the operation mode. Control direction and front In the sorting operation confirmation mode, the sorting direction is detected by controlling the sorting direction of the weighing object by the sorting unit 30 based on a predetermined sorting pattern in which the sorting direction for each of the weighing objects to be sequentially input is determined. The detection result of the part is collated with the selected pattern, and the collation result is output.

  With this configuration, in the sorting operation confirmation mode, the sorting direction of the object to be weighed is controlled based on a predetermined sorting pattern, and the result of collating the sorting direction detection result with the sorting pattern is output. For this reason, the operator does not need to prepare a sample for confirming the sorting operation, and does not need to visually confirm the direction in which the object to be weighed is sorted when confirming the sorting operation. As a result, the sorting operation can be confirmed without increasing the burden on the operator.

  The weight sorting apparatus according to the present invention includes a display unit (50) for displaying the sorting pattern.

  With this configuration, since the operator can grasp the setting contents of the sorting pattern, the direction in which the weighing object is sorted by the sorting unit 30 can be collated with the sorting pattern even by the operator's visual observation.

  In addition, the weight sorting apparatus according to the present invention includes a setting unit (50) for setting the sorting pattern.

  With this configuration, since the operator can set the selection pattern, the selection pattern can be optimized.

  Further, in the weight sorting apparatus according to the present invention, the control unit may change the sorting direction with respect to the object to be weighed on the condition that the weighing unit detects the weight of the object to be weighed in the sorting operation confirmation mode. Control is started.

  With this configuration, even in the sorting operation confirmation mode in which the determination result in the operation mode cannot be obtained, it is possible to appropriately control the sorting timing for each object to be sequentially added.

  Further, in the weight sorting apparatus according to the present invention, the control unit is provided on the condition that the weighing unit detects the weight of the object to be weighed in the sorting operation confirmation mode by the number determined by the sorting pattern. The control of the sorting direction is terminated and the collation result is output.

  With this configuration, it is possible to output the collation result as soon as the number of tests determined by the selection pattern is completed, without waiting for the operation end operation in the selection operation confirmation mode.

  In the weight sorting apparatus according to the present invention, the control unit changes the sorting pattern according to the number of collations in the sorting operation confirmation mode.

  With this configuration, since the sorting operation confirmation is performed with different sorting patterns according to the number of collations in the sorting operation confirmation mode, the reliability of the sorting operation confirmation can be improved.

  The present invention can provide a weight sorting device capable of confirming sorting operations without increasing the burden on the operator.

It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the capsule weight selection apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, and is a perspective view which shows the state at the time of the door opening of a protective door. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the capsule weight selection apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, and is a perspective view which shows the state at the time of closing of a protective door. It is a side view which shows the internal structure of the capsule weight selection apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view showing composition of sorting part 30 of a capsule weight sorter concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the control circuit of the capsule weight selection apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display before the operation | movement start at the time of the selection operation confirmation mode in the capsule weight selection apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display after the operation | movement completion | finish at the time of the selection operation confirmation mode in the capsule weight selection apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display during operation | movement at the time of the selection operation confirmation mode in the capsule weight selection apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display during the suspension at the time of the selection operation confirmation mode in the capsule weight selection apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

  Embodiments of a capsule weight sorting apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 9 show an embodiment of a capsule weight sorting apparatus according to the present invention.

  1 and 2, a capsule weight sorting apparatus 1 as a weight sorting apparatus is installed on the downstream side of a capsule-type tablet production line, and the weight of the weighing object W is defined by using the capsule-type tablet as the weighing object W. Is supposed to measure. A capsule-type tablet is a cylindrical capsule tablet in which a drug is enclosed and formed at both ends in a hemispherical shape. As a raw material of the object to be weighed W, gelatin, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, or the like can be used. The object to be weighed W may be a non-capsule tablet or a food such as confectionery.

  In addition, the capsule weight sorting device 1 carries out an object to be weighed W whose measured value is within the reference range to the subsequent stage according to the measured value obtained by the measurement, and takes an object to be measured whose measured value is out of the reference range from the production line. It is supposed to be eliminated.

  The capsule weight sorting apparatus 1 includes an apparatus main body 2 and protective doors 3, 4, and 5 that can be opened and closed with respect to the apparatus main body 2. The protective door 3 is provided in the upper front part of the apparatus main body 2, the protective door 4 is provided in the lower front part of the apparatus main body 2, and the protective door 5 is provided in the side surface of the apparatus main body 2.

  The protective doors 3, 4, and 5 cover an inspection line 8, which will be described later, provided inside the apparatus main body 2. The protective doors 3, 4, and 5 are made of a transparent resin plate or the like, so that the operating state of the inspection line 8 can be confirmed from the outside through the protective doors 3, 4, and 5. The apparatus main body 2 is provided with door opening sensors 3A, 4A, and 5A for detecting the open state of the protective doors 3, 4, and 5, respectively.

  Three hoppers 6 for temporarily storing long capsule tablets or the like supplied from the upper production line as the objects to be weighed W are provided on the upper part of the apparatus main body 2. Three inclined plates 7 are provided on the front surface of the apparatus main body 2.

  The upper surface of the inclined plate 7 constitutes an OK product transport path 31, and this OK product transport path 31 is determined to be a non-defective product by the capsule weight sorting device 1 among the objects W stored in the hopper 6. Is carried out to a lower production line (packaging process or the like) (not shown) through an opening 4B formed in the protective door 4.

  In FIG. 3, the apparatus main body 2 is provided with a plurality of inspection lines 8 each having a transport unit 10 and a weighing unit 20. In the present embodiment, the apparatus main body 2 includes 30 inspection lines 8. The inspection line 8 is partitioned so as to be parallel to the conveyance direction of the object to be weighed W, and the object to be weighed W is conveyed by using the inspection line 8 as a conveyance path.

  The transport unit 10 includes a magazine 9, a supply unit 62, a buffer unit 64, a transport member 80, and a drive mechanism unit 61. The magazine 9 stores the objects to be weighed W supplied by its own weight from the bottom of the hopper 6 so that the long side direction is aligned in the vertical direction. And the magazine 9 opens and closes a lower end part with the stopper (not shown) in a lower end part according to periodic up-and-down movement, and intermittently feeds one to-be-measured object W from the lower end part to the supply part 62. Transport. In the present embodiment, the sorting unit 30 is provided on the downstream side of the buffer unit 64 in the transport direction.

  The supply unit 62 conveys the workpiece W supplied from the magazine 9 to the weighing unit 20. The weighing unit 20 includes a weighing table 21, weighs the object W transferred from the conveying unit 10 onto the weighing table 21, and outputs a measured value corresponding to the load of the object W to be weighed.

  The supply portion 62 is provided with a curved concave portion 68 immediately below the magazine 9, and the object to be weighed W that has dropped from the magazine 9 is landed on the curved concave portion 68 so that its axis is directed obliquely upward in the transport direction. It is held in an inclined position.

  Further, a pusher 69 that is advanced in the transport direction is provided on the upstream side (right side in the drawing) of the curved recess 68, and the pusher 69 slides horizontally from the rear (right side in the diagram) of the curved recess 68. Thus, the workpiece W positioned in the curved recess 68 is sent to the weighing unit 20 on the downstream side in the transport direction.

  The weighing unit 20 is provided in the next process of the supply unit 62. The weighing unit 20 measures the weight of one object to be weighed by placing the objects to be weighed Wed out from the supply unit 62 on the weighing table 21 one by one.

  The placement surface 21A of the weighing platform 21 has a V-shaped cross section that is orthogonal to the transport direction. The weighing platform 21 is supported by the measuring device by a Roberval mechanism. The Roverval mechanism has a parallelogram framework in which each side can move freely.

  The weighing unit 20 is a weighing sensor in which a weighing table 21 is attached to one column of the frame and the other column is a fixed end. Thereby, the exact weight is measured no matter what position of the weighing table 21 the workpiece W is placed on.

  The measuring device has, for example, a load cell (not shown) as a weighing sensor. When the object to be weighed W is placed on the weighing platform 21, the weight of the object W to be weighed is measured by the electric signal of the load cell to which a load is applied. The weighing sensor is not limited to the load cell, and other various weighing sensors can be used.

  The buffer unit 64 is provided in the next step of the weighing unit 20, and separates and holds at least one object to be weighed W that has been measured. In the buffer unit 64, the object to be weighed W is placed in a stationary state substantially coincident with the measurement timing of the weighing unit 20.

  The buffer unit 64 includes a mounting table 65 that holds the workpiece W by mounting. In the present embodiment, a plurality of mounting tables 65 are formed in a staircase shape, and the objects to be weighed W are separated by each mounting table 65 and are transported intermittently.

  The sorting unit 30 is provided in the next process of the buffer unit 64. When the weighing object W is conveyed from the buffer unit 64, the sorting unit 30 switches the conveyance destination of the weighing object W based on the measurement result from the weighing unit 20.

  As described above, in the capsule weight sorting apparatus 1, the supply unit 62, the weighing unit 20, and the buffer unit 64 are disposed adjacently from the upstream side in the transport direction to the downstream side in the transport direction. In this embodiment, each of the supply unit 62, the weighing unit 20, and the buffer unit 64 is arranged flat in the horizontal direction, and a plurality of objects to be weighed W are intermittently and continuously conveyed one by one.

  The conveying member 80 is formed with a structure having a downward space such as an E-shape. In this configuration example, there are a plurality of claw portions that protrude downward, and the rear claw portion 81, the middle claw portion 82, and the front claw portion 83 hang downward from the upstream side in the transport direction, for example, bending a metal plate Manufactured as a unitary structure by processing.

  Between the middle nail | claw part 82 and the front nail | claw part 83, it becomes the space which can accommodate the to-be-measured object W in the axial direction. More specifically, this space is set such that the middle claw portion 82 and the front claw portion 83 are separated so that the object W can be accommodated with sufficient margin in the axial direction. Further, the separation distance between the middle claw portion 82 and the front claw portion 83 is set to be equal to or slightly longer than the length of the weighing platform 21 in the transport direction.

  The conveying member 80 can prevent the workpiece W from escaping and jumping out by the rear claw portion 81, the middle claw portion 82, the front claw portion 83, and the upper wall portion 84. Further, a gap 85 is provided between the middle nail portion 82 and the rear nail portion 81.

  The gap 85 is a space for separating the objects to be weighed W one by one, and a plurality of objects to be weighed W are intermittently conveyed without contact with each other. 62, the weighing unit 20 and the buffer unit 64 are reliably placed on the weighing object W, and when the weighing object W in the loaded state is started to be transported, the claw portions 81 between the weighing objects W, A space that allows 82 and 83 to enter is formed.

  The front surface of the middle claw portion 82 presses the rear surface of the weighing unit 20 in the transport direction of the object W to carry the object W placed on the weighing unit 20 from the weighing unit 20.

  The front surface of the front claw part 83 presses the rear surface in the transport direction of the object W to be weighed placed on the buffer part 64 adjacent to the weighing part 20, and the object W of the buffer part 64 is moved to the weighing part 20 of the buffer part 64. Is transferred from the mounting table 65 adjacent to the next mounting table 65.

  The rear surface of the rear claw part 81 is spaced upstream of the front surface of the middle claw part 82 in the transport direction. The rear surface of the rear claw portion 81 restricts the weighing object 20 from projecting toward the conveying direction side from the curved concave portion 68 of the next object to be weighed W that is dropped into the curved concave portion 68.

  In addition, the rear surface of the rear claw portion 81 is moved to the next object coming from the curved recess 68 when the object W on the weighing unit 20 is pushed out to the buffer portion 64 as the next process portion by the front surface of the middle claw portion 82. The protruding from the measuring unit 20 to the downstream side is regulated so that the weighing object W stays in the measuring unit 20.

  The rear surface of the front claw portion 83 has a mounting table 65 adjacent to the weighing unit 20 so that the next object to be weighed W conveyed to the buffer unit 64 remains on the mounting table 65 adjacent to the weighing unit 20 of the buffer unit 64. And jumping out to the mounting table 65 on the downstream side is restricted. In the present embodiment, the downstream side in the transport direction of the front claw portion 83 is the front surface of the front claw portion 83, and the upstream side in the transport direction of the front claw portion 83 is the rear surface of the front claw portion 83.

  The conveying member 80 moves on a substantially square circulation track 86 by a drive mechanism unit 61 described later. The circulation trajectory 86 includes a feed trajectory in which the moving trajectory for transporting the workpiece W by the transport member 80 is set in the horizontal direction, a separation trajectory separating from the feed trajectory, and a return trajectory for horizontally moving the transport member 80 to the lowered position. And a descending track that moves the conveying member 80 down on the weighing platform 21 from the lowered position, which is the end of the return track, and moves it to the starting point of the feeding track.

  The feed trajectory overlaps with the linear transport trajectory of the workpiece W. Thereby, the conveyance member 80 cuts out the to-be-measured object W on a conveyance track | truck from the measurement part 20 so that it may scrape out from upper direction, and conveys it to the buffer part 64. FIG. Therefore, it is not necessary to project any feeding means from the lower side of the conveyance track. As a result, there is no interference with the weighing platform mechanism of the weighing device.

  The drive mechanism unit 61 includes a motor 78 that is a drive source and a link 79 that is linked to the motor 78. The drive mechanism unit 61 conveys the workpiece W received from the hopper 6 from the supply unit 62 to the weighing unit 20.

  Further, the drive mechanism unit 61 conveys the measured object W to the buffer unit 64 and the sorting unit 30. Moreover, the gate which will be described later is driven so that the sorting unit 30 switches the transport destination of the object W to be weighed.

  Further, the drive mechanism unit 61 drives the conveying member 80 with the circulation track 86. The conveying member 80 is driven by the drive mechanism unit 61, so that the conveying member 80 is moved so that a part of the circulation track 86 is overlapped with the conveying track of the object W to be weighed.

  The link 79 of the drive mechanism unit 61 is linked to the pusher 69 of the supply unit 62 and the stepped mounting table 65 of the buffer unit 64 by a mechanism (not shown), and the transport member 80 is linked to the link member by a connecting member (not shown). These are driven synchronously.

  A transport operation of the transport unit 10 having the above configuration will be described. In the capsule weight sorting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, first, the unloading of the object to be weighed W placed on the weighing table 21 of the weighing unit 20 is started by the feeding track of the conveying member 80.

  At the same time, the pusher 69 pushes the next object to be weighed W from the supply unit 62 toward the weighing table 21. At this time, the conveying member 80 starts to carry out the object W to be weighed from the buffer unit 64. The conveyance member 80 pushes the rear surface in the conveyance direction of the object W on the weighing platform 21 with the front surface of the middle claw portion 82, and pushes the rear surface in the conveyance direction of the object W on the buffer portion 64 with the front surface of the front claw portion 83. , Carry out each.

  Thereafter, the object to be weighed W on the weighing platform 21 and the object to be weighed W on the mounting table 65 are in the process of being carried out by the conveying member 80. Thereafter, the conveyance member 80 and the pusher 69 move in the conveyance direction, so that the object W to be weighed on the weighing platform 21 is in the middle of conveyance to the buffer unit 64, and the object to be weighed W on the supply unit 62 is conveyed to the weighing table 21. On the way.

  When the transport member 80 and the pusher 69 are further moved in the transport direction, the object W to be weighed on the weighing platform 21 reaches the buffer unit 64. Further, the next object W to be weighed in the supply unit 62 reaches the weighing platform 21.

  Thereafter, the object W to be weighed on the mounting table 65 adjacent to the weighing unit 20 of the buffer unit 64 is conveyed to the next mounting table 65, and the next object to be weighed W is mounted on the weighing table 21 by the pusher 69. . The object to be weighed W placed on the weighing platform 21 is placed on the placing table 65 adjacent to the weighing unit 20 of the buffer unit 64 by the transport member 80.

  When the weighing object 21 is placed on the weighing table 21 and the loading table 65 adjacent to the weighing unit 20 of the buffer unit 64, the weighing object W on the weighing table 21 is measured. At this time, the transport member 80 becomes a separation track of the circulation track 86, moves upward, and retreats from the transport track.

  During the measurement of the next object to be weighed on the weighing platform 21, the next object to be weighed W is further supplied from the upstream side in the conveying direction to the supply unit 62, and the conveying member 80 passes through the return path and passes through the object to be weighed on the weighing platform 21. It reaches above the weighing object W.

  The object to be weighed W supplied to the supply unit 62 is conveyed to the weighing unit 20 by the pusher 69, and thereafter the same operation as described above is repeated.

  Accordingly, the weighing object W of the supply unit 62 is conveyed toward the weighing unit 20, and the weighing object W of the weighing unit 20 is unloaded from the weighing unit 20 by the front surface of the middle claw portion 82 of the conveying member 80. It is conveyed to. These conveyances are performed synchronously.

  In this capsule weight sorting device 1, the weighing object W can be reliably kept in the weighing unit 20 without providing a shutter for preventing the popping out, the conveyance speed can be increased, and the weighing object W is weighed. The platform 21 can be stopped accurately and stable weighing can be performed, and jumping of the workpiece W carried out of the weighing unit 20 to the downstream side in the transport direction can be restricted.

  In FIG. 4, the sorting unit 30 includes an OK product transport path 31, an NG product transport path 32, a + NG product transport path 33 and a −NG product transport path 34, an OK / NG gate 23, and a + NG / −NG gate 24. .

  The NG product transport path 32, the + NG product transport path 33, and the −NG product transport path 34 are formed inside the inclined plate 7 constituting the OK product transport path 31. The NG product conveyance path 32 is formed inside the upper part of the inclined plate 7 so as to be substantially parallel to the OK product conveyance path 31.

  A + NG product transport path 33 and a −NG product transport path 34 are formed in parallel at the lower end of the NG product transport path 32. That is, the NG product conveyance path 32 is branched into a + NG product conveyance path 33 and a -NG product conveyance path 34 below the NG product conveyance path 32.

  An OK / NG gate 23 is provided in the vicinity of the upper ends of the OK product transport path 31 and the NG product transport path 32. A measuring unit 20 (see FIG. 3) is disposed inside the OK / NG gate 23 (rightward in FIG. 4).

  The OK / NG gate 23 has an OK position (shown by a solid line in FIG. 4) whose top surface is continuous with the OK product transport path 31 and an NG position (shown by a broken line in FIG. 4) that is continuous with the NG product transport path 32. It is designed to rotate between The OK / NG gate 23 guides the workpiece W to the OK product transport path 31 when in the OK position, and guides the workpiece W to the NG product transport path 32 when in the NG position.

  A + NG / −NG gate 24 is provided at the lower end of the NG product transport path 32. The + NG / -NG gate 24 closes the + NG product transport path 33 and connects the NG product transport path 32 and the -NG product transport path 34 to the -NG position (shown by a solid line in FIG. 4), and -NG product transport. It is configured to rotate between a + NG position (indicated by a broken line in FIG. 4) that closes the path 34 and communicates the NG product transport path 32 and the + NG product transport path 33.

  The + NG / −NG gate 24 guides the object W to be measured from the NG article conveyance path 32 to the + NG article conveyance path 33 at the + NG position, and moves the article W from the NG article conveyance path 32 at the −NG position. -It guides to the NG article conveyance path 34.

  The OK product transport path 31, the NG product transport path 32, the + NG product transport path 33, and the -NG product transport path 34 constitute a sorting unit 30. The object to be weighed W is transported by flowing down the OK product transport path 31, the NG product transport path 32, the + NG product transport path 33, and the -NG product transport path 34 by its own weight.

  Further, the apparatus main body 2 includes an OK side sorting confirmation sensor 31A, a + NG side sorting confirmation sensor 33A, a -NG side sorting confirmation sensor 34A, an OK / NG gate sensor 23A, a + NG / -NG gate sensor 24A, a control circuit 40, and a touch panel. A display 50 is provided.

  The OK-side sorting confirmation sensor 31 </ b> A is provided at the upper end of the OK product conveyance path 31, detects that the object W has passed through the OK product conveyance path 31, and outputs a detection signal to the control circuit 40. It has become.

  The + NG side sorting confirmation sensor 33A is provided in the + NG product transport path 33, detects that the object W has passed through the + NG product transport path 33, and outputs a detection signal to the control circuit 40. Yes.

  The -NG side sorting confirmation sensor 34A is provided in the -NG product transport path 34, detects that the object W has passed through the -NG product transport path 34, and outputs a detection signal to the control circuit 40. It has become.

  The OK / NG gate sensor 23A is provided in the vicinity of the OK / NG gate 23, detects whether the OK / NG gate 23 is in the OK position or the NG position, and outputs a detection signal to the control circuit 40. It is like that.

  The + NG / −NG gate sensor 24A is provided at the rotation fulcrum of the + NG / −NG gate 24, detects whether the + NG / −NG gate 24 is in the + NG position or the −NG position, and outputs a detection signal. It outputs to the control circuit 40.

  The control circuit 40 controls the operation of the entire capsule weight sorting apparatus 1. The control circuit 40 includes an OK side sorting confirmation sensor 31A, a + NG side sorting confirmation sensor 33A, a -NG side sorting confirmation sensor 34A, an OK / NG gate sensor 23A, a + NG / -NG gate sensor 24A, and door opening sensors 3A, 4A, 5A. And are electrically connected.

  The control circuit 40 is electrically connected to an actuator (not shown) included in the OK / NG gate 23 and the + NG / −NG gate 24, and controls the operation of the OK / NG gate 23 and the + NG / −NG gate 24. It is like that.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the capsule weight sorting apparatus 1 includes a control circuit 40. The control circuit 40 includes a determination unit 43. The determination unit 43 compares the measurement value of the measurement unit 20 of each inspection line 8 with a predetermined weight range so that the object to be weighed W is an OK product, a + NG product, -A determination is made on one of the NG products, and the determination result is displayed on the touch panel display 50.

  The determination unit 43 determines that the measured value of the object to be weighed W is within a predetermined non-defective range as an OK product. The control circuit 40 switches the OK / NG gate 23 to the OK position according to the determination of the OK product. As a result, the weighed object W passes through the OK product conveyance path 31.

  On the other hand, the determination unit 43 determines that the measured value of the workpiece W exceeds the upper limit of the predetermined non-defective product range as a + NG product. The control circuit 40 switches the OK / NG gate 23 to the NG position and switches the + NG / −NG gate 24 to the + NG position according to the determination of the + NG product. As a result, the weighed object W passes through the NG article conveyance path 32 and the + NG article conveyance path 33.

  Moreover, the determination part 43 determines that the measured value of the to-be-measured object W is less than the minimum of the predetermined non-defective range as a -NG product. The control circuit 40 switches the OK / NG gate 23 to the NG position and switches the + NG / -NG gate 24 to the -NG position according to the determination of the -NG product. As a result, the weighed object W passes through the NG product transport path 32 and the -NG product transport path 34.

  The control circuit 40 includes a mode switching control unit 42. The mode switching control unit 42 performs mode switching to the operation mode selected by the touch panel display 50 in response to a mode switching operation on the touch panel display 50. .

  The capsule weight sorting apparatus 1 includes a normal operation mode for weighing, weighing, and sorting the workpiece W and a sorting operation confirmation mode for confirming the sorting operation of the sorting unit 30.

  The control circuit 40 includes a control unit 41. The control unit 41 controls each unit in the operation mode and the sorting operation confirmation mode.

  The control unit 41 controls the sorting direction of the object W to be weighed by the sorting unit 30. The direction in which the weighing object W is sorted by the sorting unit 30 is detected by the OK side sorting confirmation sensor 31A, the + NG side sorting confirmation sensor 33A, and the -NG side sorting confirmation sensor 34A. These OK-side sorting confirmation sensor 31A, + NG-side sorting confirmation sensor 33A, and -NG-side sorting confirmation sensor 34A constitute a sorting direction detector in the present invention.

  In the operation mode, the control unit 41 controls the sorting direction of the weighing object W in the sorting unit 30 based on the determination result of the determining unit 43.

  In the sorting operation confirmation mode, the control unit 41 controls the sorting direction of the object W based on a predetermined sorting pattern. In the sorting pattern, the sorting direction for each object W to be sequentially loaded is determined. And the control part 41 collates the detection result of the selection direction detection part with the selection pattern in the selection operation confirmation mode, and outputs the comparison result.

  For example, the sorting pattern is stored in a storage unit (not shown) with the number of samples in the sorting operation as an ID, so that the sorting operation is performed in the order of OK, −NG, + NG, for example. . The contents of the sorting pattern are displayed on the touch panel display 50. Thereby, the content of the selection pattern can be confirmed. The touch panel display 50 constitutes a display unit that displays the sorting pattern.

  The sorting pattern can be set by a setting operation from the touch panel display 50. The touch panel display 50 constitutes a setting unit for setting a sorting pattern. Although the setting operation is not shown in the drawing, the sorting pattern is (OK, -NG, + NG), (OK, -NG, + NG, -NG), (OK, -NG, OK, + NG, OK). It is preferable to set so as to switch sequentially.

  In the sorting operation confirmation mode, the control unit 41 can repeat the operation confirmation by the sorting pattern a predetermined number of times. It is preferable that the control part 41 changes a selection pattern according to the frequency | count of collation including the frequency | count of execution of the selection operation confirmation mode.

  In the sorting operation confirmation mode, the control unit 41 starts control of the sorting direction for the weighing object W on condition that the weighing unit 20 detects the weight of the weighing object W.

  In the sorting operation confirmation mode, the control unit 41 ends the sorting direction control and outputs the collation result on condition that the weighing unit 20 detects the weight of the object W to be measured by the number determined by the sorting pattern. It is supposed to be. The collation result can be output not only to the touch panel display 50 but also to an external device.

  Hereinafter, the operation in the sorting operation confirmation mode will be described based on the display screen of the touch panel display 50.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, the touch panel display 50 includes a status display area 110, an operation area 120, and a data display area 130.

  The status display area 110 is a strip-shaped area that is disposed at the upper end of the touch panel display 50 and extends to the left and right. In the status display area 110, the status of the apparatus is mainly displayed.

  The operation area 120 is an area in a strip state that is arranged at the lower end of the touch panel display 50 and extends to the left and right. In the operation area 120, operation buttons that can be operated are mainly displayed. 6 to 9, a clear button 121 and an output button 122 are displayed in the operation area 120. The clear button 121 is a button for deleting the numerical value of each setting item. The output button 122 is a button for outputting the result of the confirmation operation confirmation to the outside. These buttons can execute processing on a line selected by a line selection unit 134 described later or all lines.

  The data display area 130 is an area arranged in the center of the touch panel display 50 and is an area sandwiched between the state display area 110 and the operation area 120. The data display area 130 displays information necessary for the current operation mode. The control unit 41 performs generation of display information and a response to the touch operation in the state display area 110, the operation area 120, and the data display area 130.

  When the capsule weight sorting device 1 is stopped in the sorting operation confirmation mode, as shown in FIG. 6, “confirmation operation confirmation” and “stopping” are displayed in the status display area 110, and the device confirms the sorting operation. The operator is instructed to stop in the mode.

  In FIG. 6, characters “stopped” are displayed in the status display area 110 to indicate that the transport unit 10 and the sorting unit 30 are stopped. In the upper part of the data display area 130, a guidance message “Check the sorting operation. Press the start button and run the product.” Is displayed. To the operator.

  A sorting pattern display unit 131 is provided at the left end of the data display area 130, and the sorting pattern display unit 131 has a sorting pattern corresponding to the number of samples set by a sample number setting unit 135 described later. Is displayed.

  A line group switching unit 132 is provided in the upper right part of the data display area 130. In the line group switching unit 132, three groups constituting the 30 inspection lines 8 are displayed as rectangles. Each group consists of 10 inspection lines 8. In the line group switching unit 132, the selected group is displayed with a bold line. The line group switching unit 132 can be switched to a desired group by touching the desired group.

  A line number display unit 133 is provided on the right side of the selection pattern display unit 131. The line number display unit 133 displays the line number of the inspection line 8 and details of the selection pattern set for the line number.

  A line selection unit 134 is provided below the selection pattern display unit 131. The line selection unit 134 displays the line number of the selected inspection line 8. In addition, the line selection unit 134 displays a pair of left and right arrows, and the inspection line 8 can be switched by a touch operation on the arrows.

  A sample number setting unit 135 is provided below the line selection unit 134, and the number of samples to be flowed through the selection operation confirmation can be set from the sample number setting unit 135. By setting the number of samples, the stored sorting pattern can be set (selected) as a pattern for checking the sorting operation. The number of samples can be set for the selected line or all lines.

  In FIG. 6, when the number of samples is set to 3, a corresponding selection pattern is set, and the selection pattern display unit 131 displays a selection pattern having three selection directions (OK, −NG, + NG). Has been. This sorting pattern indicates that the sorting directions of the three objects W to be sequentially added are OK, −NG, and + NG, respectively. In FIG. 6, this sorting pattern is set for all inspection lines 8 from line number 1 to line number 10.

  From the state of FIG. 6, when at least three objects to be weighed W are set in the magazine 9 and a start button (not shown) is pressed, the operation is started in the sorting operation confirmation mode, and when the operation is completed, the display is switched to the display of FIG. When the operation is started in the sorting operation confirmation mode, a sample is transported from the magazine 9, and this sample is transported to the sorting unit 30 without being weighed by the weighing unit 10. Further, in the sorting operation confirmation mode, the quality determination by the determination unit 43 is not performed, and the drive signal from the determination unit 43 to the selection unit 30 is not output. Instead, the control unit 41 controls the sorting unit 30 by outputting a drive signal to the sorting unit 30 according to the sorting pattern. Then, in the sorting unit 30, the first sample is transported in the OK direction, the second sample is transported in the -NG direction, and the third sample is transported in the + NG direction.

  In FIG. 7, characters “stopped” are displayed in the status display area 110 to indicate that the transport unit 10 and the sorting unit 30 are stopped. Below the line number display unit 133, whether the sample detection result by the OK side sorting confirmation sensor 31A, the + NG side sorting confirmation sensor 33A, and the -NG side sorting confirmation sensor 34A matches the sorting pattern is displayed. It is displayed as a matching result in the transport order. On this screen, a match between the detection result and the selection pattern is displayed as a check mark (a mark), and a mismatch is displayed as a cross mark.

  In addition, on the right side of each line number, a conforming or non-conforming character is displayed as a matching result based on whether or not it matches the selected pattern. That is, in the inspection line 8 in which the detection results and the selection pattern all match in the three samples, the Pass character indicating conformity is displayed, and the detection line and the selection pattern in any one of the three samples do not match. In FIG. 8, “Fail” indicating nonconformity is displayed. In FIG. 7, the third sample of the line number 4 is marked with a cross, indicating that the actual sorting direction of this sample did not match the sorting pattern. Further, the line number 4 is “Fail”, which indicates that the inspection line 8 is incompatible.

  The check mark and the x mark are displayed in different colors so that the operator can easily identify them. The characters “Pass” and “Fail” are displayed in different colors so that the operator can easily identify them.

  FIG. 8 is a screen display example during operation in the sorting operation confirmation mode, and FIG. 9 is a screen display example during suspension in the sorting operation confirmation mode. These screen display examples show the transient state of the operation between FIG. 7 and FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8, during operation in the sorting operation confirmation mode, characters “in operation” are displayed in the status display area 110 to indicate that the transport unit 10 and the sorting unit 30 are operating. . During operation in the sorting operation confirmation mode, the sorting operation confirmation proceeds without synchronizing with each inspection line 8. In this example, the line numbers 1 to 3 are collated for the second sample, and the line numbers 4 to 8 are collated for all three samples. This completes the verification of whether or not the first sample matches. In addition, in each inspection line 8, for the samples for which matching is not completed, the sorting pattern displayed in FIG. 6 is displayed as it is. If a temporary stop operation is performed by the operator while the sorting operation confirmation is in progress, the transport unit 10 and the sorting unit 30 are stopped. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the characters “stopped” are displayed in the status display area 110, and the collation result when the pause operation is performed is displayed in the data display area 130. The operator can observe the collation result of each conveyance line 8 at that time, for example, by performing a temporary stop operation when the x mark is generated.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the capsule weight sorting device 1 as the weight sorting device has been described. However, the present invention conveys an object to be weighed, such as food, having a relatively heavy mass by a conveyor. The present invention can also be applied to a weight sorting device for weighing.

  As described above, the capsule weight sorting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes the mode switching control unit 42 that switches the operation mode to the normal operation mode or the sorting operation confirmation mode for confirming the sorting operation of the sorting unit 30, and the sorting unit. 30 includes an OK-side sorting confirmation sensor 31A, a + NG-side sorting confirmation sensor 33A, and a -NG-side sorting confirmation sensor 34A as a sorting direction detection unit that detects the direction in which the object W is sorted by 30.

  And the control part 41 controls the selection direction of the to-be-measured object W by the selection part 30 based on the predetermined selection pattern in which the selection direction for every to-be-measured object W thrown in sequentially is determined in the selection operation confirmation mode. To do. In addition, the control unit 41 collates the detection result of the selection direction with the selection pattern and outputs a verification result.

  With this configuration, in the sorting operation confirmation mode, the sorting direction of the object to be weighed W is controlled based on a predetermined sorting pattern, and the collation result between the sorting direction detection result and the sorting pattern is output. For this reason, the operator does not need to prepare a sample for confirming the sorting operation, and does not need to visually confirm the direction in which the workpiece W is sorted when the sorting operation is confirmed. As a result, the sorting operation can be confirmed without increasing the burden on the operator.

  In addition, the capsule weight sorting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a touch panel display 50 as a display unit that displays a sorting pattern.

  With this configuration, since the operator can grasp the setting contents of the sorting pattern, the direction in which the weighing object W is sorted by the sorting unit 30 can be collated with the sorting pattern even by the operator's visual observation.

  In addition, the capsule weight sorting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a touch panel display 50 as a setting unit that sets a sorting pattern.

  With this configuration, since the operator can set the selection pattern, the selection pattern can be optimized.

  Further, in the capsule weight sorting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the control unit 41 sorts the weighing object W on the condition that the weighing unit 20 detects the weight of the weighing object W in the sorting operation confirmation mode. Start direction control.

  With this configuration, even in the sorting operation confirmation mode in which the determination result in the operation mode is not obtained, it is possible to appropriately control the sorting timing for each workpiece W that is sequentially inserted.

  In the capsule weight sorting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the control unit 41 is conditioned on the fact that the weighing unit 20 detects the weight of the object to be weighed by the number determined by the sorting pattern in the sorting operation confirmation mode. As a result, the control of the sorting direction is terminated and the collation result is output.

  With this configuration, it is possible to output the collation result as soon as the number of tests determined by the selection pattern is completed, without waiting for the operation end operation in the selection operation confirmation mode.

  In the capsule weight sorting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the control unit 41 changes the sorting pattern according to the number of collations in the sorting operation confirmation mode.

  With this configuration, since the sorting operation confirmation is performed with different sorting patterns according to the number of collations in the sorting operation confirmation mode, the reliability of the sorting operation confirmation can be improved.

  As described above, the weight sorting apparatus according to the present invention has the effect that the sorting operation can be confirmed without increasing the burden on the operator, and the weight sorting for weighing the objects to be weighed and sorting them based on the measured values. Useful as a device.

1 Capsule weight sorter (weight sorter)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Conveyance part 20 Weighing part 30 Sorting part 41 Control part 42 Mode switching control part 43 Determination part 50 Touch panel display (setting part, true value acquisition part)
W Object to be weighed

Claims (6)

A weighing unit (20) for weighing the objects to be weighed sequentially (W) and outputting a measurement value;
A sorting unit (30) for sorting the objects to be weighed;
A determination unit (43) for determining the quality of the object to be measured based on the measurement value;
A control unit (41) for controlling the sorting direction of the objects to be weighed by the sorting unit 30;
A mode switching control unit (42) for switching the operation mode to a normal operation mode or a sorting operation confirmation mode for confirming the sorting operation of the sorting unit 30;
A sorting direction detection unit (31A, 33A, 34A) for detecting the direction in which the object to be weighed is sorted by the sorting unit 30;
The controller is
In the operation mode, based on the determination result of the determination unit, to control the selection direction of the object to be weighed by the selection unit 30,
In the sorting operation confirmation mode, the sorting direction of the weighing object by the sorting unit 30 is controlled based on a predetermined sorting pattern in which a sorting direction for each of the objects to be weighed sequentially is determined, and the sorting direction A weight selection apparatus, wherein the detection result of the detection unit is compared with the selection pattern and a comparison result is output.   The weight sorting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit (50) for displaying the sorting pattern.   The weight sorting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a setting unit (50) for setting the sorting pattern.   The control unit, in the sorting operation confirmation mode, starts control of the sorting direction for the weighing object on condition that the weighing unit detects the weight of the weighing object. The weight sorter according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   In the sorting operation confirmation mode, the control unit finishes the sorting direction control on the condition that the weighing unit detects the weight of the object to be weighed by the number determined by the sorting pattern, and performs the verification. The weight sorting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a result is output.   6. The weight sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes the sorting pattern according to the number of collations in the sorting operation confirmation mode.

Images