JPH0257848B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a combination weigher, and particularly to one having an auxiliary tank.

Conventional combination scales have multiple weighing tanks each with an auxiliary tank, and a transfer device is used to transfer the weighed items in each tank to the auxiliary tank, and each weighing tank is filled with new items to be weighed. There is a method that performs a combination calculation on the article to be weighed in the auxiliary tank and the article to be weighed in the weighing tank (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 131020/1983). However, in such a combination scale, an auxiliary tank is provided for each weighing tank, so the same number of auxiliary tanks and transfer devices as there are weighing tanks are required, which increases manufacturing costs and increases the size of the entire device. There was a problem. Furthermore, since there are a large number of transfer devices and auxiliary tanks, there is also the problem that adjustment, assembly, removal, maintenance, cleaning, etc. are troublesome. In addition, each weighing tank has an auxiliary tank, but since articles to be weighed are only put into the auxiliary tank from the weighing tank to which it is dependent, its operating rate is low even though there are many auxiliary tanks. There was also this problem.

This invention solves each of the above problems.
Therefore, this invention each has a measuring tank,
a plurality of weighing devices that generate weighing signals corresponding to the weight of articles to be weighed in the weighing tank;
Each weighing tank is equipped with auxiliary tanks, which are smaller in number than the measuring tanks and which have a discharge gate and are subordinate to each measuring tank, and a collection chute. A sorting device that transfers the objects to be weighed to a collection chute or an auxiliary tank subordinate to the weighing tank, an auxiliary memory that stores weighing signals of the objects to be weighed transferred to the auxiliary tank, and a weighing device that transfers the objects to be weighed to the auxiliary tank. A device for newly introducing articles to be weighed into a tank, a combination device for various combinations of weighing signals from each weighing device and values stored in an auxiliary memory and comparing them with a target value to obtain an optimal combination, and a weighing tank related to the optimal combination. It is comprised of a subordinate sorting device and a device that controls the discharge gate of the auxiliary tank and discharges the articles to be weighed into a collection chute.

In a combination scale configured in this way, the number of auxiliary tanks is smaller than the weighing tank, so manufacturing costs are lower, the overall combination scale is smaller, and adjustment, assembly, removal, maintenance, cleaning, etc. are easier. . In addition, since articles to be weighed are loaded into the auxiliary tank from one of at least two weighing tanks, the operating rate is increased.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail based on two illustrated embodiments. A first embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1 to 13. In FIG. 1, reference numerals 1a and 1b are weighing tanks, and articles to be weighed stored therein are weighed by load detectors 2a and 2b. Articles to be weighed are loaded into these weighing tanks 1a, 1b from supply hoppers 3a, 3b via input gates 4a, 4b. The articles to be weighed in the weighing tanks 1a, 1b are discharged into the auxiliary tank 6 via the discharge gates 5a, 5b, or into the collection chute 8 via the discharge gates 7a, 7b. Furthermore, the articles to be weighed that have been discharged into the auxiliary tank 6 are discharged to the collection chute 8 via the discharge gate 9. The input gates 4a, 4b and the discharge gates 5a, 5b, 7a, 7b, 9 open when receiving a gate opening signal, and automatically close after a certain period of time. Five sets of combination structures each consisting of the measuring tanks 1a, 1b, the auxiliary tank 6, and the supply hoppers 3a, 3b are arranged around the collection chute 8 as shown in FIG. That is, the measuring tank 1a, 1
There are a total of 10 auxiliary tanks 6, 5 supply hoppers 3a and 3b, and 10 supply hoppers 3a and 3b. Note that the articles to be weighed are loaded into the supply hoppers 3a and 3b in a manner that corresponds to each supply hopper, as shown in Fig. 3.
This is done by 10 linear feeders 10 and one distributed feeder 11 that feeds the objects to be weighed into these linear feeders 10, and this feeding is carried out by a supply hopper 3.
a or 3b places the article to be weighed in the weighing tank 1a or 1.
This is automatically done immediately after the injection into b.

Assume that both the weighing tanks 1a, 1b and the auxiliary tank 6 are empty, and the supply hoppers 3a, 3b contain articles to be weighed. In this state, when the start signal generator 12 shown in FIG. 4 generates a start signal, the articles to be weighed are thrown into the weighing tanks 1a, 1b and the auxiliary tank 6 by the feeding device 14. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the start signal from the start signal generator 12 is output to the OR gate 1
The articles to be weighed are supplied to the input gates 4a and 4b through the input gates 6 and 18, which are opened, and the articles to be weighed are input into the weighing tanks 1a and 1b from the supply hoppers 3a and 3b. Thereby, the load detectors 2a, 2b weigh the article to be weighed. When the input gates 4a and 4b are closed,
The timer 20 in the loading device 14 activated by the start signal generates an output, and this output is supplied to the discharge gate 5a via the OR gate 22, which is opened to assist the weighed articles in the weighing tank 1a. Tank 6
Move to. At the same time, the output of timer 20 is OR gate 2
4, the AND gate 26 is opened, and the output of the load detector 2a is passed through the AND gate 26 and the OR gate 28.
The data is stored in the auxiliary tank memory 30 via the auxiliary tank memory 30. When the discharge gate 5a closes, the output of the timer 32 started by the output of the timer 20 is output to the OR gate 16.
The article to be weighed in the supply hopper 3a is again thrown into the weighing tank 1a and weighed by the load detector 2a. The charging of the articles to be weighed into the weighing tanks 1a, 1b and the auxiliary tank 6 is performed simultaneously in the five combination structures. The weighing signals from the load detectors 2a, 2b and the stored values in the auxiliary tank memory 30 are supplied to a combination calculation section 32 shown in FIG.

When the weighing signal of the load detector 2a becomes stable, the timer 34 activated by the start signal generates an output, and the combination generator 36 starts operating.
The combination generator 36 is a 15-stage binary counter, with 2 ¹⁵
- Generate one combined signal. Based on these combined signals, the combination calculation unit 32 sequentially combines the weighing signals of the load detectors 1a, 1b of the five combined structures and the stored values of the auxiliary tank memory 30, that is, a total of 15 weighing signals and stored values. It will be done. The combined weighing signal and the stored value are sequentially compared with the upper and lower limit weights set in the upper and lower limit weight setters 40 and 42 in the determination section 38, and after all the combinations have been executed, the upper and lower limit weights are determined. The combination signal related to the combination closest to the lower limit weight among the two is stored in the combination storage section 44. The configurations of the combination calculation unit 32 and determination unit 38 for obtaining such combinations are well known, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The combination storage 44 is composed of 15 stages of memories, for example, the first stage 44a is for the measuring tank 1a of the first set of combination structures, and the second stage 44b is for the same measuring tank 1b.
In addition, the third stage 44c corresponds to the auxiliary tank 6, and the other stages correspond in the same manner. The stored values of the first to third stages are stored at the input gate 4 of the first set of combination structures.
a, 4b and discharge gates 5a, 5b, 7a, 7
b, 9 are supplied to control devices 46 to 58 that open and close them. The stored values of the other stages are also supplied to control devices for other combination structures, not shown in the figure.

By the way, there are seven possibilities for obtaining an optimal combination in one set of combination structures.

Weighing machine 1a Weighing machine 1b Auxiliary tank 6 (a) 0 0 1 (b) 0 1 0 (c) 0 1 1 (d) 1 0 0 (e) 1 0 1 (f) 1 1 0 (g) 1 1 1 The item indicated by "1" is selected. In the following explanation, opening and closing of the gate in the above seven cases will be explained. Combinations other than these, for example, the first set of measuring tanks 1a, 1b and the fifth set
This is because in the case of a set of weighing tanks 1a, articles to be weighed can be loaded and discharged by the first combination structure (f) and the fifth combination structure (d).

(a) Case of only the auxiliary tank 6 In this case, the control device 46 controls the input gate 4a and the discharge gates 5a and 9. Controller 46 outputs the raw output of stage 44c and the inverted stage 44 by inverters 60, 62 as shown in FIG.
AND gate 6 to which the outputs of a and 44b are input.
4, the output of which is supplied to the discharge gate 9 via the or gate 66, and the articles to be weighed in the auxiliary tank 6 are discharged to the collection chute 8. and gate 64
A timer 68 started by generates an output when the discharge gate 9 is closed, and the output is supplied to the discharge gate 5a via the OR gate 22 to open it. As a result, the articles to be weighed in the weighing tank 1a are transferred to the auxiliary tank 6. At the same time, the output of the timer 68 is supplied to the OR gate 24 shown in FIG. 5, and the weighing signal of the load detector 2a is transferred to the auxiliary tank memory 30. Timer 72 started by timer 68
generates an output when the discharge gate 5a closes,
The output is passed through the OR gate 16 to the input gate 4.
The articles to be weighed are fed into the weighing tank 1a from the supply hopper 3a.

(b) In the case of only the weighing machine 1b In this case, the control device 48 controls the input gate 4b and the discharge gate 7b. As shown in FIG. 7, the control device 48 includes an AND gate 78 to which the outputs of the first and third stages 44a, 44c inverted by inverters 74, 76 and the unchanged output of the second stage 44b are input. The output is supplied to the discharge gate 7b via the OR gate 80, which is opened. As a result, the articles to be weighed are discharged from the weighing tank 1b to the collecting chute 8. A timer 82 started by the output of the AND gate 78 generates an output when the discharge gate 7b closes, and the output is supplied to the input gate 4b via the OR gate 18, which opens the input gate 4b and opens the supply hop. The article to be weighed is put into the weighing tank 1b from the weighing tank 3b.

(c) In the case of only the weighing machine 1b and the auxiliary tank 6 In this case, the control device 50
b. Control the discharge gates 5a, 7b, 9. As shown in FIG.
b, 44c has an AND gate 86 to which the output as it is is supplied, and its output is supplied to the OR gate 80, 6.
6 to open the discharge gates 7b and 9. As a result, the articles to be weighed are discharged from the weighing tank 1b and the auxiliary tank 6 to the collection chute 8. The timer 88 started by the output of the AND gate 86
b generates an output when it is closed, which is supplied to the input gate 4b via the or gate 18, the input gate 4b is opened, and the article to be weighed is input from the supply hopper 3b into the weighing tank 1b. and gate 8
When the discharge gate 9 is closed, the timer 90 started by the output of the discharge gate 6 supplies an output to the discharge gate 5a via the OR gate 22, and opens the discharge gate 5a. As a result, the articles to be weighed are transferred from the weighing tank 1a to the auxiliary tank 6.
At the same time, the load detector 2 is transferred to the auxiliary memory 30.
The metering signal of a is transferred. A timer 92 started by the output of the timer 90 generates an output when the discharge gate 5a closes, and the output is supplied to the input gate 4a via the OR gate 16 to open it. As a result, the article to be weighed is thrown into the weighing tank 1a from the supply hopper 3a.

(d) In the case of only the measuring tank 1a In this case, the control device 52 controls the input gate 4a and the discharge gate 7a. The control device 52
The output of the stage 44a is directly transmitted to the second stage 44b and the second stage 44b.
an AND gate 98 provided with an inverted output by inverters 94, 96 of stage 44c;
The output is supplied to the discharge gate 7a via the OR gate 100. As a result, the articles to be weighed in the weighing tank 1a are discharged to the collection chute 8. Timer 1 started by the output of AND gate 98
02 generates an output when the discharge gate 7a is closed, and is supplied to the input gate 4a via the OR gate 16, which is opened to transfer the article to be weighed from the supply hopper 3a to the weighing tank 1a.

(e) In the case of weighing machine 1a and auxiliary tank 6 In this case, the control device 54
b. Control the discharge gates 7a, 5b, and 9. The control device 54 has an AND gate 104 to which the outputs of the first stage 44a and the third stage 44c are supplied as they are, and the output of the second stage 44b is inverted and supplied by the inverter 102. It is supplied to the discharge gate 9 and the discharge gate 7a via the OR gates 66 and 100, and opens them. As a result, the articles to be weighed are discharged from the auxiliary tank 6 and the weighing tank 1a to the collection chute 8. A timer 106 started by the output of the AND gate 104 supplies the output to the input gate 4a via the OR gate 16 when the discharge gate 7a is closed, and opens it to transfer the weighed material from the supply hopper 3a to the weighing tank 1a. Inject goods. Further, the timer 108 started by the output of the AND gate 104 supplies an output to the discharge gate 5b when the discharge gate 9 is closed, and opens it to transfer the article to be weighed from the weighing tank 1b to the auxiliary tank 6. timer 1
At the same time, the output of 08 is output to AND gate 1 shown in FIG.
10 is opened and the weighing signal from the load detector 2b is transferred to the auxiliary tank memory 30. Further, the timer 112 started by the output of the timer 108 is activated by the discharge gate 5b.
When closed, the output is supplied to the input gate 4b via the or gate 18, and the article to be weighed is supplied from the supply hopper 3b to the weighing tank 1b.

(f) In the case of weighing machine 1a and weighing machine 1b In this case, the control device 56
b. Control the discharge gates 7a and 7b. As shown in FIG. 11, the control device 56 has an AND gate 116 to which the outputs of the first stage 44a and second stage 44b are supplied as they are, and to which the inverted output from the inverter 114 of the third stage 44c is supplied. The output of this gate 116 is supplied to discharge gates 7a and 7b via OR gates 100 and 80, which are opened to discharge the articles to be weighed from weighing tanks 1a and 1b to collection chute 8. The timer 118 started by the output of the AND gate 116
When hopper a is closed, the output is supplied to the input gate 4a via the or gate 16, which is opened and the article to be weighed is input into the weighing tank 1a from the supply hopper 3a. Similarly, a timer 120 started by the output of the AND gate 116 transmits an output when the discharge gate 7b is closed, opens the input gate 4b via the OR gate 18, and transfers the article to be weighed from the supply hopper 3b to the weighing tank 1b.
Input.

(g) In the case of measuring tanks 1a, 1b and auxiliary tank 6 In this case, the control device 58
b. Control the discharge gates 5a, 7a, 9. The control device 58 controls the first to third stages 44a, 44b, 4
The AND gate 122 is supplied with the output of 4c, which opens the discharge gates 7a, 7b, 9 through the OR gates 100, 88, 66, and removes the articles to be weighed from the weighing tanks 1a, 1b and the auxiliary tank 6. Discharge to the collection chute 8. The timer 124 started by the output of the AND gate 122 is activated by the discharge gate 7b.
When closed, the article is supplied to the input gate 4b via the or gate 18, which is opened to input the article to be weighed into the weighing tank 1b. And gate 12 again
The timer 126 started by the output of 2 supplies the output to the input gate 4a via the OR gate 16 when the discharge gates 7a and 9 are closed, and opens this to transfer the article to be weighed from the supply hopper 3a to the weighing tank. 1a
put it into. A timer 128 started by the output of the timer 126 supplies an output to the discharge gate 5a via the OR gate 22 when the input gate 4a is closed, and opens the gate to transfer the articles to be weighed from the weighing tank 1a to the auxiliary tank. Move to 6. At the same time, the output of the timer 128 is supplied to the OR gate 24, and the load detector 2a
The weighing signal is transferred to the auxiliary tank memory 30. A timer 130 activated by the output of the timer 128 supplies an output to the input gate 4a via the OR gate 16 when the discharge gate 5a is closed, and loads the article to be weighed from the supply hopper 3a into the weighing tank 1a.

When the articles to be weighed are again put into all the weighing tanks and auxiliary tanks as shown in (a) to (g), the start signal is again supplied to the combination generator 36 via the OR circuit 132, and the combination is started. It will be restarted. As a device for providing this start signal, for example, a circuit as shown in FIG. 13 can be used. That is, 1
3 of the combination storage section 44 corresponding to the two combination structures
OR gates 133 to 1
37 to an adder 138 for addition.
This determines the number of combination structures that are discharging articles to be weighed. By the way, when the discharging and loading of articles to be weighed in one combination structure is completed, the timers 72, 82, 92, 102, 112, 11
Any one of 8,130 generates an output.
Therefore, each timer 7 in the five combination structures
2, 82, 92, 102, 112, 118, 13
The number of outputs generated by a total of 35 timers of 0 is counted by an OR gate 140 and a counter 142, and the count value and the output of an adder 138 are counted by a comparator 14.
4, and when the two match, it is the time when the loading and unloading of the articles to be weighed in the five combined structures has been completed. Therefore, if the timer 146 is activated by the output of the comparator 144, the timer 146 is configured to generate an output when the output of the load detector becomes stable, and this output is supplied to the combination generator 36 as a start signal. good.

In the second embodiment, the discharge and input are different from the case (g) above. In (g) above, measuring tank 1a,
Since all the articles to be weighed are put into the weighing tanks 1a, 1b and the auxiliary tank 6 after all the objects to be weighed in the auxiliary tank 1b and 6 have been discharged, it takes a long time to start combining again. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the AND gate 122 generates an output, the discharge gates 5a, 5b, and 9 are opened to discharge the article to be weighed. When these gates 5a, 5b, 9 close, the timer 148 started by the output of the AND gate 122 generates an output, and the closing gates 4a, 4b
is opened, the articles to be weighed are placed in the weighing tanks 1a and 1b, and the combination is restarted. In addition, and gate 12
Set F・F150 with the output of 2.

In the next combination, if the measuring tanks 1a and 1b do not participate in the combination, the output of the AND gate 152 to which the outputs of stages 44a and 44b are inverted and the Q output of F.F 150 is supplied is used. The discharge gate 5a is opened and the articles to be weighed are transferred from the weighing tank 1a to the auxiliary tank 6, and the load detector 2a is
transfer the measurement signal to the auxiliary tank memory 30. When the discharge gate 5a closes, the timer 154 started by the AND gate 152 generates an output;
The input gate 4a is opened, the articles to be weighed are loaded from the supply hopper 3a into the weighing tank 1a, and the combination is restarted. At this time, the output of the timer 154 is supplied to the F/F 150 via the OR gate 156 to reset it.

In the next combination described above, when the metering tank 1a participates in the combination, the discharge gate 7a,
5b is opened, and the articles to be weighed are discharged from the weighing tank 1a to the collection chute 8, and the articles to be weighed are transferred from the weighing tank 1b to the auxiliary tank 6. At the same time, and gate 1
The output of 58 is supplied to the AND gate 110 and the weighing signal of the load detector 2b is transferred to the auxiliary tank memory 30. When the discharge gates 7a and 5b are closed, the timer 1 is activated by the output of the AND gate 158.
60 generates an output, opens the input gates 4a, 4b, and supplies the measuring tanks 1a, 1 from the supply hoppers 3a, 3b.
Put the article to be weighed into b and restart the combination. Note that the F.F 150 is reset by the output of the timer 160.

In the next combination described above, when the measuring tank 1b participates in the combination, the output of the AND gate 162 to which the inverted output of the stage 44a, the output of the stage 44b, and the Q output of F/F150 are supplied is the discharge gate. 5a and 7b, and when these are opened, the articles to be weighed are discharged from the weighing tank 1b to the collecting chute 8, and the articles to be weighed in the weighing tank 1a are transferred to the auxiliary tank 6. At the same time, the output of the AND gate 162 is supplied to the OR gate 24, the weighing signal of the load detector 2a is transferred to the auxiliary tank memory 30, and the combination is restarted. Furthermore, depending on the output of the timer 164, F.F.
150 is reset.

In the next combination above, measuring tanks 1a, 1
When b participates in the combination, the Q output of F・F, stage 4
AND gate 1 to which the outputs of 4a and 44b are supplied
66 generates an output, opens the discharge gates 7a and 7b, and the articles to be weighed are discharged from the weighing tanks 1a and 1b to the collecting chute 8. These discharge gates 7a, 7b
is closed, the timer 168 started by the output of the AND gate 166 generates an output, opens the input gates 4a and 4b, and inputs the articles to be weighed from the supply hoppers 3a and 3b into the weighing tanks 1a and 1b. death,
Resume the combination. At this time, F.F150 is not reset.

According to this embodiment, when the articles to be weighed are discharged from the weighing tanks 1a, 1b and the auxiliary tank 6, the weighing tank 1
Since the articles to be weighed are re-introduced only to a and 1b, the combination can be obtained faster than when the articles to be weighed are also re-injected into the auxiliary tank 6.

FIG. 15 shows a third embodiment. In this embodiment, while a combination is selected, the articles to be weighed are discharged, and a new article to be weighed is put in, the combination is selected using only the remaining articles to be weighed.
That is, another combination storage 202 is provided to supply the output of each stage of the combination generator 36 to the combination calculation section 32 via gate circuits 200k to 200y, and store the stored values of each stage of the combination storage section 44. The values stored in each stage of the memory 202 are supplied to the control devices 46 to 58, and also to the corresponding gates 202k to 202y via inverters 204k to 204y. Further, the output of the OR gate 206 which receives the input signals to the input gates 4a, 4b and discharge gates 5a, 5b of each combination structure is supplied to the combination generator 36 via the OR gate 132.

Initially, all the stored values in the combinational memory 202 are "0", so the gate circuits 200k to 20
0y is open, and the optimum combination is stored in the combination storage 44 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. When all the combinations have been executed, a timer 210 is started by the output of the AND circuit 208 inputting the output of each stage of the combination generator 36.
generates an output, and the stored values of each stage of the combinational store 44 are transferred to the combinational store 202. This causes each control device 46 to 58 to start discharging. When the discharge is completed, an input signal is supplied to one of the input gates 4a and 4b and the discharge gates 5a and 5b of each combination structure. In response, OR gate 206 produces an output that is provided as a start signal to combination generator 36 via OR gate 132 to restart the combination. At this time, the values stored in each stage of the combination storage 202 are supplied to the gate circuits 200k to 200y via the inverters 204k to 204y, so the gate corresponding to the weighing tank or auxiliary tank from which the article is currently being discharged is The circuit is closed and does not participate in combinations. When all of these combinations have been executed and the articles to be weighed have been discharged, new articles to be weighed are put into the weighing tank and auxiliary tank that were included in the previous combination.
Its weighing signal is also stable. Therefore, combinations are alternately performed in the same manner.

With this configuration, combinations can be obtained even faster than in the second embodiment. Note that it is desirable to use the control device 58 shown in the second embodiment.

In each of the above embodiments, the articles to be weighed were transferred from the weighing tank 1a to the auxiliary tank 6 in the preparation stage before starting the combination, but they may be transferred from the weighing tank 1b. Further, although the total number of combined structures is set to five, it is not necessarily limited to this and can be increased or decreased depending on the situation. Moreover, although the combination structure was constructed with two measuring tanks and one auxiliary tank, the number of measuring tanks can be increased depending on the situation.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of a combination weigher according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partially omitted plan view of the first embodiment, FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional front view of the first embodiment, and FIG.
The figure is a block diagram of the electric circuit of the first embodiment;
The figure is a block diagram of the charging device of the first embodiment.
12 are block diagrams of the control device of the first embodiment, FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the restart signal generator of the first embodiment, and FIG. 14 is a block diagram of the main parts of the second embodiment. Block Diagram FIG. 15 is a block diagram of the main part of the third embodiment. 1a, 1b...Measuring tank, 2a, 2b...Load detector, 5a, 7a, 5b, 7b...Distribution device, 6
... Auxiliary tank, 8 ... Collection chute, 14 ... Loading device, 30 ... Auxiliary memory, 32, 36, 38,
40, 42... Combination device, 46 to 58... Control device (discharge device).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A plurality of weighing devices each having a weighing tank and generating a weighing signal corresponding to the weight of the article to be weighed in the weighing tank, and one weighing device for at least two weighing tanks.
Auxiliary tanks, which are smaller in number than the above-mentioned weighing tanks, each of which is subordinate to the above-mentioned weighing tank and have a discharge gate; A sorting device that transfers to the auxiliary tank that is subordinate to the weighing tank, an auxiliary memory that stores the weighing signal of the article to be weighed that has been transferred to the auxiliary tank, and a distributing device that transfers the weighing signal to the auxiliary tank that transfers the weighing signal to the auxiliary tank; A device for inputting articles to be weighed, a combination device that variously combines the weighing signals of the weighing devices and the stored values of the auxiliary memory and compares them with a target value to obtain an optimum combination, and a weighing tank related to the optimum combination. A combination weigher comprising a sorting device and a device that controls the discharge gate of the auxiliary tank and discharges the articles to be weighed to the collection chute.