JPH0358049B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention relates to a combination weighing system, and in particular, when the supply of articles to each weighing machine is not suitable for automatic feeding, the articles are manually fed and the weight of each of these supplied articles is calculated. The present invention relates to a combination weighing method in which the weight values of each weighing machine are measured by a weighing machine, the weight values of each weighing machine are combined to find a combination in which the combined total value is within a set tolerance range, and articles are discharged from the weighing machine of the found combination.

BACKGROUND ART An automatic weighing device using a combination calculation method (combined weighing device) has a plurality of weighing machines, weighs the weight of articles automatically supplied to each weighing machine, and calculates the arbitrary value of each actual measurement amount (weight value). Alternatively, the combination of a predetermined number of different combinations is added, the combination whose total value is within the set allowable range and closest to the set value is determined, and the determined set of items is discharged from the weighing machine.
Such a combination weighing device is configured to automate all processes such as distributed supply of articles to each weighing machine, combination calculation to obtain the optimum combination, and discharge of articles from the weighing machines participating in the optimum combination, etc. It allows highly accurate weighing in a short amount of time, and is especially suitable for combined weighing of lumps such as fruits and vegetables and confectionery.

However, there are some items that are not suitable for distributed supply. For example, the product unit is a large cutlet,
Items that are sticky and easily tangle, such as dried salted fish, chopped Japanese squid, broiler chicken, and meat. Further, a fully automatic combination weighing device cannot be applied to articles that are not suitable for such distributed supply.

For this reason, a semi-automatic combination weighing device has been proposed in which articles that are not suitable for automatic feeding are manually fed to each weighing machine and the subsequent processing is automated. However, in such a semi-automatic combination weighing device,
Since one operator supplies the articles, it takes a considerable amount of time to supply the articles, making it impossible to perform high-speed weighing. For example, if goods are discharged from 4 out of 10 weighing machines, an operator must manually feed goods to these 4 weighing machines, which corresponds to the supply of goods. Since it takes a long time, high-speed weighing cannot be performed, and the combination processing section is at rest during that time, resulting in poor efficiency. Therefore, in addition to assigning two operators,
The weighing machines are divided into a first group and a second group, the weighing machines of the first group are assigned to one operator, the weighing machines of the second group are assigned to the other operator, and as a result of the combination process, each When an article is discharged from a group's weighing machines, each operator resupplies the article to the weighing machine in charge. However, even with such a method, as a result of the combination, only one group of weighing machines may discharge the articles, or one group of weighing machines may discharge most of the articles. When the weighing machine from which the articles are discharged is biased toward one group in this way, the supply of the articles is also biased toward one operator, resulting in the drawback that a considerable amount of time is required and high-speed weighing cannot be performed.

Purpose of the Invention From the above, the purpose of the present invention is to prevent the number of weighing machines from each group from which articles are discharged from exceeding a predetermined number when a large number of weighing machines are divided into a plurality of groups. To provide a combination weighing system that can perform high-speed combinations by averaging the number of weighing machines from which articles are discharged.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a combination weighing method in which weighing data from a plurality of weighing machines are combined to find a combination of weighing machines whose combined total value is within a set tolerance range, and articles are discharged from the weighing machines of the found combination. In particular, it divides the weighing machines into multiple groups, determines the maximum number n of weighing machines from which goods can be discharged from each group, and performs combination processing for all combinations in which the number of weighing machines selected from each group is n or less. A combination that is performed on a priority basis, finds the combination whose total combination value is closest to the set value within the set allowable range, discharges the article from the weighing machine of the found combination, and manually supplies the article to the discharged weighing machine. It is a measurement method.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION FIG. 1 is an external view of an embodiment of a combination weighing device to which the present invention is applied, in which figure A is a plan view and figure B is a side view. Two workers A and B (not shown) stand on workbenches 11a and 11b, respectively, and manually move the articles placed on the article placing table 12 to the assigned predetermined pool tray 13. -1,
13-2...Place it on 13-10. The pool trays 13-1 to 13-5 are arranged in parallel below the article mounting table 12 to form a first pool section for worker A, and the pool trays 13-6 to 13-10 are similarly arranged for loading articles. It is arranged below the placing stand 12 and in parallel so as to face the pool trays 13-1 to 13-5, forming a second pool section for the worker B. Note that each of the pool trays 13-1 to 13-10 is selectively tilted by means not shown as shown by dotted lines in FIG. -1, 14-2,
...It is ready to be thrown in on 14-10.
Each of the weighing machines 14-1, 14-2...14-10 is disposed in a closed part formed by the article mounting table 12 and the frame 15, and has a weighing hopper 14a-14-10.
1, 14a-2...14a-10 and weight detector 1
4b-1, 14b-2, ... 14b-10, and openable/closeable measuring hopper gates 14c-1, ... 14
c-10. Each weighing hopper 14a-
1 to 14a-10 have corresponding pool trays 13
-1 to 13-10 are tilted to input the article, and the weight of the article loaded into each weighing hopper is detected by the corresponding weight detector 14b-1, 14b-2.
...Detected by 14b-10. In addition, weighing hopper gates 14c-1 to 14 corresponding to the optimal combination of weighing machines obtained by the combination processing described later
c-10 discharges the opened articles to the conveyor 18 via the discharge chute 17 fixed to the frame 16 by means not shown, as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 1B. The articles discharged onto the constantly operating conveyor 18 move intermittently one pitch at a time, and are collected at one time and dropped into a partition chamber of the conveyor 19, which is partitioned by a partition plate (not shown). . The conveyor 19 moves by one partition (one pitch) in the direction of arrow A every time an article is supplied by the conveyor 18, and discharges the article to the packaging machine 20 from a timing hopper 21 at its tip. still,
Reference numeral 22 denotes a control box, in which a combination processing section to be described later and the like are mounted, and an upper and lower limit value setter, a target weight setter, and other display elements are arranged on the front panel. 31a and 32a are light projecting parts of the photosensor, and 31b and 32b are light receiving parts. This light emitting part and light receiving part are used to detect whether or not the operator is feeding goods to the pool tray.If the goods are being fed to the pool tray, the light from the light emitting part is blocked by the operator's hands or body. Ru.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a combination processing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the processing. Second
In the figure, 14-1, 14-2...14-10
1 consists of a weighing hopper and a weight detector as shown in FIG.
This is a multiplexer that sequentially outputs the weight values Wi (i=1, 2,...10) outputted from 4-2, 14-10 one by one according to the weight value reading signal WRS, which will be described later. It is composed of switches. 102 is a multiplexer 101
An AD converter 103 converts the weight value Wi (analog) outputted from the weight value Wi (analog) into a digital value, 103 is a combination processing unit configured with a microcomputer, and a data memory 103 consisting of a processor 103a and a RAM.
b. Memory 10 for storing the combination processing program
3c etc.

104 is a weight setting section for setting the target weight value Wa, 105 is an upper limit setting section, and 106 is a lower limit setting section, which sets a preferable setting allowable range (upper limit value Ma and lower limit value Mi) of the combined total weight. . Note that the lower limit value Mi is conventionally set equal to the target weight value Wa. This is because it is not preferable to reduce the total weight to less than the set value because the total weight may be small. 107 is a display section, 108 is an emission control section, 10
9 is a buzzer for prohibiting input.

Next, the combined weighing operation of the present invention will be explained.
In addition, the ten weighing machines 14-1, . . . 14-10 are divided into two groups, the first and the second. 6 to 14-10), the maximum number of weighing machines from which articles are discharged from each group is 2.

(a) Discharge request signal from packaging machine 20 (Fig. 1 A)
When DRS occurs, the discharge request signal DRS is read by the processor 103a. Processor 1
03a confirms that the operator is not supplying articles to the pool tray, that is, the light receiving portion 31b,
32b is not blocked by the operator's body, turns on the input prohibition buzzer, sets the value k stored in the data memory 103b to zero, and outputs the weight value reading signal WRS to the multiplexer 101. . As a result, the multiplexer 101 sequentially outputs the weight values Wi (i=1, 2...
10) is input to the AD converter 102, and the AD converter 102 converts the weight value into digital.
Wi is stored in the data memory 103b.

(b) Thereafter, the processor 103a sequentially generates the combination patterns of the weighing machines under the control of the combination processing program. That is, (a) a combination in which any two devices are selected from each of the first and second groups, for a total of four devices, (b) a combination in which two devices are selected from the first group and one from the second group, a total of three devices, and (h). ) A combination in which 1 unit from the 1st group and 2 units in the 2nd group are selected for a total of 3 units, (d) A combination in which 1 unit each from the 1st and 2nd groups is selected in total, 2 units in total, (e) Only the 1st group A combination of choosing two from
(f) A combination in which two devices are selected from only the second group, (g) a combination in which one device is selected only from the first group, and (h) a total combination pattern in which one device is selected from only the second group are generated. The combination pattern is generated by sending the first bit to the first weighing machine W1, the second bit to the second weighing machine _W2 , ...the tenth bit to the tenth weighing machine _W2 , etc.
All patterns are stored in memory in advance in which the bit corresponding to the selected weighing machine is set to " ₁ " and the bit corresponding to the unselected weighing machine is set to "0", and sequentially This is done by generating patterns one by one.

Since the processor 103a calculates the combination weight value X (=ΣWi) by adding the weight values corresponding to the "1" bits in the combination pattern, the generation of the first combination pattern 0000000001 causes
(=W ₁ ) is calculated and stored in the data memory 103b.

(c) Next, the processor 103a determines whether the combined total weight value X exists in the range of Mi≦X≦Ma (1), and if formula (1) is satisfied, sets k+1→k (2). In addition, the combined weight value X and the target weight value
Calculate the difference A with Wa from X-Wa→A (3).

(d) Next, the processor determines the magnitude of the difference A and the minimum deviation value B stored in the data memory 103b, and if A<B, sets the difference A as the minimum deviation value B, that is, A→B At the same time, bit patterns 000...001 are stored in the data memory as the optimal combination pattern up to the present time. In addition, when the lower limit value is made equal to the target weight value, the difference between the upper limit value Ma and the target weight value Wa is set as the minimum deviation value B and is stored in the data memory 10.
Default to 3b.

(e) After that, or if formula (1) is not satisfied,
Alternatively, if A≧B, it is determined whether all the combination patterns have been generated, and if all the combination patterns have not been generated, the second combination pattern 000...010 is generated.

(f) Thereafter, the same processing as described above is repeated, and when the combination processing for all combination patterns is completed, the processor 103a determines whether k=≧1 (4).

(g) Then, if formula (4) is satisfied, the combined total weight X stored in the data memory 103b
is displayed on the display section 107, and the optimal combination pattern DCP stored in the data memory 103b is output to the discharge control section 108, and the articles placed in the weighing machine corresponding to "1" are discharged. Thereafter, the pool tray corresponding to the discharged weighing machine is tilted to supply the article, and then the pool tray is returned and the input prohibition buzzer is turned off.
This allows the operator to feed the items into the weighing machine and place the items on the empty pool tray.
The generation of the discharge request signal DRS from the packaging machine 20 is awaited.

(h) On the other hand, if formula (4) is not satisfied, remove the restriction that the maximum number of weighing machines from which items are discharged from each group is 2, and perform combination processing to find the one closest to the set value within the set tolerance range. Find a combination. That is, the processor 103a sequentially generates 2n-1 (n=10) combination patterns under the control of the combination processing program. In addition, 2n-1 (n=
10) The method for generating the combination patterns is as follows. That is, the first bit of the general-purpose register 103d built in the processor 103a is assigned to the first weighing machine _W1 , and the second bit is assigned to the second weighing machine W2 _.
... put the 10th bit into the 10th weighing machine W ₁₀ ,
Correspond to the general register 103d from 1 to 2 ¹⁰
If you count up to -1, from 0000…001 to 1111…111
Up to 2 ¹⁰ -1 combination patterns are generated.

(i) Since the processor 103a calculates the combination weight value X (=ΣWi) by adding the weight values corresponding to the "1" bits in the combination pattern, by issuing the first combination pattern 0000...001,
W ₁ ) is calculated and stored in the data memory 103b.

(j) Next, the processor 103a determines whether the combined total weight value Weight value X and target weight value Wa
Calculate the difference A from the equation (3).

(k) Next, the processor determines the magnitude of the difference A and the minimum deviation value B stored in the data memory 103b, and if A<B, sets the difference A as the minimum deviation value B, that is, A→B At the same time, bit patterns 000...001 are stored in the data memory as the optimal combination pattern up to the present time.

(l) After that, or if formula (1) is not satisfied,
Alternatively, if A≧B, it is determined whether all the combination patterns have been generated, and if all the combination patterns have not been generated, the general-purpose register 103d is
The second combination pattern 000...010 is generated by increasing the count by one.

(m) After that, the same process as described above is repeated, and when the combination process for all combination patterns is completed, the processor 103a determines whether k≧1 is satisfied, and if so, proceeds to step (o). Performs discharge and supply processing.

(n) If k=0, an alarm is displayed on the display section 109. In addition, if k=0, Wa/8 (Wa is a set value) and each weight value W ₁ , W ₂ . . . output from each weighing machine and stored in the data memory 103b.
It is also possible to perform a size ratio comparison of _W10 , turn on the lamp corresponding to the weighing machine of Wa/8 or less, supply the article, and perform the combination process again.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, a combination of weighing machines in which the weighing data of a plurality of weighing machines is combined to find a combination of weighing machines whose combined total value is within a set tolerance range, and an article is discharged from the found combination weighing machine. In the weighing system, the weighing machines are divided into multiple groups, and the maximum number n of weighing machines from which goods are discharged from each group is determined.
After determining the number of weighing machines selected from each group, the combination processing is performed for all combinations in which n or less weighing machines are selected, and the combination whose total value is within the certified tolerance range and closest to the set value is determined. Since the items are manually fed to the weighing machine from which the goods were discharged, the weighing machine from which the goods are discharged is not biased towards one group, reducing the time required to feed the goods, and allowing for high-speed weighing. Now I can do it. In particular, if n=2, the operator can supply the article with one operation using both hands, and the time required for supplying the article can be further reduced.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an embodiment of a combination weighing device to which the present invention is applied; FIG. 1A is a plan view, FIG. B is a side view, and FIG.
The electrical system block diagram, FIG. 3, is a process flowchart. 11a, 11b...Workbench, 13-1 to 13-1
0... Pool tray, 14-1 to 14-10... Weighing machine, 17... Discharge chute, 18... Conveyor, 19
... conveyor, 20 ... packaging machine, 22 ... control box, 101 ... multiplexer, 102 ... AD converter, 103 ... combination processing section, 108 ... discharge control section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In the combination weighing method, in which the weighing data of multiple weighing machines are combined to find a combination of weighing machines whose combined total value is within a set tolerance range, and articles are discharged from the weighing machines of the found combination, multiple weighing machines are used. In addition to dividing the items into groups, the maximum number n of weighing machines from which goods are discharged from each group is determined, and from among all combinations in which the number of weighing machines selected from each group is n or less, the total value of the combinations is within the set allowable range. A combination weighing method characterized by finding the combination closest to set values and discharging articles from the weighing machine of the found combination.