JPH0445053B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a weighing device for weighing a long weighing object such as, for example, dried noodles.

(Prior Art) A weighing device as shown in FIG. 5 has conventionally been used to package and take out dried noodles such as soumen and hiyamugi in predetermined weight units. In the figure, about 90% of the target weight of a long object to be weighed, such as dried noodles, is supplied to the weighing hopper c by the mass supplying section A, and the remainder is supplied to the weighing hopper c from the small quantity supplying section B, and the sum of both weights is shown. When the weight becomes equal to the target weight, the long weighed object is sent from the weighing hopper c to the packaging machine d, where it is packaged.

(Problems with the Prior Art) As described above, in the past, about 90% of the target weight was supplied from the mass supply section to the weighing hopper, so the width between the shutter tie and the shutter of the cutout section a was manually adjusted. Therefore, it is necessary to manually adjust the shutter width each time the target weight is newly set or the setting is changed, making the operation complicated. Furthermore, since the shutter width was determined by repeatedly supplying and weighing objects to be measured and repeating trial and error, there was a problem that this process took time and the processing capacity decreased.

(Object of the invention) The present invention uses a master weighing machine and a plurality of slave weighing machines in combination, and executes combined weighing in the slave weighing machines,
The main weighing machine and the slave weighing machines are configured to obtain objects to be weighed with the target weight, and the shutter width of the supply device that supplies the weighing objects to the master weighing machine is automatically set depending on the number of slave weighing machines participating in the combination. The object of the present invention is to provide a weighing device that improves throughput.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object of the invention, the present invention provides a master weighing machine that weighs an object having a predetermined weight that is less than a set target weight, and a master weighing machine that weighs an object with a predetermined weight that is less than a set target weight, and a Obtaining the difference by selecting a combination of the respective weighing values measured by the plurality of slave weighing machines, and
In a weighing device that combines an object weighed by a master weighing machine with an object discharged from a selected sub-weighing machine to obtain an object of a predetermined target weight, the amount of the object to be fed to the master weighing machine is A weighing object supply amount adjustment means to be adjusted, a storage means for storing the number of slave weighing machines selected in one combined weighing operation, and a number stored in the storage means that is the same as a predetermined optimum number. means for detecting whether the number is small or large, and when the number detected by the means is smaller than the optimum value;
When the supply of objects to be measured from the above-mentioned object supply amount adjustment means is reduced and the number of objects detected is larger than the optimum value,
There is provided a measuring device characterized by comprising: means for increasing the supply of objects to be measured from the above-mentioned means for adjusting the amount of objects to be measured.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described using the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic layout diagram of the present invention. In the figure, the master supply device A' has a master shutter Aα and a master shutter Aβ, and moves up and down in the direction of the arrow to supply the long object to be weighed to the master pool hopper 3. and,
Either of the gates 3a, 3b of this parent pool hopper 3 is opened, and a long object to be weighed is supplied to either of the parent weighing hoppers 1a, 1b. This parent shutter
As explained later, Aα changes the shutter width, so
It is configured so that it can also move in the horizontal direction of the arrow.

The master weighing machine 1 is composed of one master weighing hopper and one weight sensor (not shown), and includes the master weighing machine 1 having the master weighing hopper 1a and the master weighing hopper 1b.
Weighing object ma or mb weighed by weighing machine 1 with
is discharged into bucket 7, and transported to bucket conveyor 8.
Transported by. Five child feeding devices B' are arranged downstream of the parent feeding device A' in the direction of arrow movement of the bucket conveyor. Each child feeding device B′ is
It has child shutters α and β that move up and down, and supplies a long object to be weighed to a child pool hopper 4. The child pool hopper 4 opens the gate 4a or 4b and supplies the object to be weighed to the child weighing machine 2, which includes one child weighing hopper 5 and one weight sensor (not shown). The master weighing machine 1 detects the weight of the object to be weighed, which is supplied in a predetermined amount relative to the set target weight, and the shortfall in the set target weight is weighed in combination by the 10 slave weighing machines 2, and the optimum weight is determined. The object to be weighed is discharged from the child weighing hopper 5 of the child weighing machine in the combination to the timing hopper 6, and the object to be weighed, for example, the object ma weighed by the master weighing machine 1 and discharged to the bucket 7, When the weighing machine 2 is moved to the position, the timing hopper 6 is opened and the weighed object from the weighing machine 2 is discharged into the bucket 7. The objects to be weighed are further transferred to the sorting hopper 9 by the bucket conveyor 8, and then transferred to the bucket 7.
When the weighed object in the container is the correct amount relative to the set target weight, the correct amount gate 9a is opened and the object is supplied to the packaging machine 10, where it is subjected to predetermined packaging processing. When it is found to be defective, the defective gate 9b is opened and the object to be weighed in the bucket is rejected as a defective item.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the present invention.
Next, this block diagram will be explained with reference to FIG. A parent shutter drive unit 11 that drives parent shutters Aβ and Aα is energized by a signal from an arithmetic control unit 16 composed of, for example, a microcomputer, and the object to be weighed is supplied to the parent pool hopper 3. Subsequently, the main gate drive section 3' is energized by a signal from the calculation control section 16, and either one of the gates 3a, 3b of the main pool hopper 3 is opened, and the object to be weighed is supplied to the main weighing hopper, where the object to be weighed is is weighed and a timing signal from the packaging machine 10 is sent to the calculation control unit 16, the weight from the master weighing machine 1 is input to the calculation control unit 16 through the multiplexer 14 and the A/D converter 15, and is stored in the memory. is stored in a predetermined area. Further, a switching signal is output from the arithmetic control section 16 to the multiplexer 14, and the weights from the slave weighing machine 2 are sequentially taken out from the multiplexer 14, inputted to the arithmetic control section 16 through the A/D converter 15, and stored in a predetermined area of the memory. be remembered. In the calculation control unit 16, based on the set target weight set in the target weight setting unit 18 and the weight from the parent weighing machine 1,
The combined target weight of the slave weighing machine 2 is calculated, and the combination calculation is executed using the weight from the slave weighing machine 2. Note that the upper limit weight setting section 17 is preset with a deviation of the upper limit weight from the set target weight. For example, if the set target weight is 500 g and you want to set the upper limit weight to 505 g, the upper limit weight setting section 17 is set with that deviation. Set a certain 5g. The upper limit weight deviation is input in advance to the arithmetic control unit 16 from the upper limit weight setting unit 17, and whether the combined weight is equal to or greater than the combined target weight and the deviation from this target weight is equal to the combined target weight within the upper limit weight deviation. The set of combinations closest to this is selected as the correct combination. When selecting the correct weight combination at this time, in the previous weighing,
If two sub-weighing machines 2 in a pair that are supplied with weighing items from the same pool hopper 4 are both selected as a positive weight combination, the sub-weighing machines in this pair are excluded from the combination calculation. However, in the remaining secondary weighing machines, the 2
Both slave weighing machines 2 are arranged so that they do not participate in the combination, that is, there is no double weighing. In addition, in the previous weighing, if there is no slave weighing machine for which two slave weighing machines 2 in a pair were selected as a positive weight combination, in the current combination calculation, each slave weighing machine will be Two sub-weighing machines 2 in a pair do not participate in the combination calculation, so there is no gabbing, and only two sub-weighing machines 2 in a pair participate in the combination calculation, resulting in one pair of duplication. This is because the zero point adjustment is performed on one of the child weighing machines for double discharge, so that the zero point adjustment is not biased only to a specific weighing machine, but can be performed on the average for all the child weighing machines. When a correct amount combination is determined, the items to be weighed are discharged from the slave weighing machine 2 selected for that combination and put into the timing hopper 6, then weighed by the master weighing machine and transferred by the bucket conveyor 8. Tabaket 7
The arithmetic control unit 16 determines that the position has reached below the timing hopper 6, sends a signal to the timing hopper drive unit 6', and discharges the weighed object from the timing hopper 6 into the bucket 7.

The objects to be weighed in the bucket 7 are put into the distribution hopper 9, and if the objects to be weighed in the bucket 7 are the correct amount, a signal to open the correct amount gate 9a is sent from the calculation control section 16 to the distribution hopper drive section 9'. If it is defective, a signal to open the defective gate 9b is sent from the arithmetic control section 16 to the distribution hopper drive section 9'. The objects to be weighed discharged from the correct quantity gate 9a are subjected to predetermined packaging processing by the packaging machine 10, and the objects to be weighed discharged from the defective gate 9b are returned to the master weighing and feeding device A' or the child feeding device B'. Measures will be taken such as:

Note that the conveyor drive section 8' is operated by the calculation control section 16.
The bucket conveyor 8 is intermittently transported at a predetermined speed by a signal from the bucket conveyor 8. The shutter width changing drive section 13 is energized by a command from the arithmetic control section 16 when changing the width of the parent shutter or the child shutter.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an overview of the memory within the arithmetic control section 16. Figure 3A shows a parent weight memory PM that stores the weight from the parent weighing machine 1, and an area PM1 that stores the weight of the object to be weighed that is currently discharged from the parent weighing hopper 1a or 1b, and an area PM1 that stores the weight of the weighing object that was discharged last time. A PM2 is provided that stores the weight of the object.
FIG. 3B shows a correct/incorrect flag memory FM that stores whether a correct amount of combination is obtained for the target weight of the combination or whether the combination is defective by the combination calculation by the slave weighing machine 2. Area FM ₁ stores the correct amount and defective amount of the weighed objects discharged from the hopper 6, and stores whether the weighed objects in each bucket 7 transferred by the bucket conveyor 8 are correct or defective. Area FM ₂ , FM ₃ ...and
It is made up of an area FMm for storing the correct quantity and defective quantity of objects to be weighed that are fed into the sorting hopper 9. 3C and 3D show the counter memory for the number of discharges from the child weighing machine 2, FIG. These are quantity change flags, which will be explained in detail later.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a metering cycle of the metering device of the present invention. Next, the operation of the metering cycle will be explained using this flowchart.

(1) After confirming that there is a timing signal from the packaging machine 10 (step P ₁ ), the parent weight memory
Shift PM by 1 (step P ₂ ). this is,
For example, in the previous weighing, the parent weighing hopper 1
When the weighed object is discharged from a, if its weight is stored in the memory PM ₁ area, then
It means shifting the stored weight from the area of memory PM ₁ to the area of PM ₂ . Next, the weight of the parent weighing machine that did not discharge the previous time, in the above example, the parent weighing machine 1 having the parent weighing hopper b, is input and stored in the area of the memory PM ₁ (step P ₃ ).

(2) Next, the weights from each slave weighing machine 2 are sequentially input and stored in a memory area (not shown) (step P ₄ ). The arithmetic control unit 16 calculates the combined target weight of the slave weighing machine 2 from the set target weight set by the target weight setting unit 18 and stores it in the parent weighing memory.
Stored in PM ₂ , i.e. previous master weighing machine 1
(Step _P5 ). Next, it is checked whether or not double discharge occurred in the previous time, that is, whether objects to be weighed were discharged from both of the paired slave weighing machines 2 of the same slave weighing machines (step ₆ ). If there was no double discharge last time, 2 in each pair in all child weighings.
No duplication in which both weighing machines 2 do not participate in the combination calculation, and only one pair of slave weighing machines 2
A pair of doubles in which both participate in the combinatorial operation,
A combination calculation is performed to find a combination (correct combination) that is equal to or closest to the combination target weight and is equal to or greater than the combination target weight and within the upper limit weight deviation (step P ₇ ). If there is a double discharge from the previous time, the secondary weighing machine 2 other than the pair that caused the previous double discharge
Then, calculate the combination without doubles, and find the combination that is equal to or closest to the target combination weight, which is equal to or greater than the target combination weight and within the upper limit weight deviation (correct combination)
(Step _P8 ). Next, it is checked whether the parent supply amount change flag is "H" (step _P9 ). At this stage, the parent supply amount has not been changed yet, so proceed to step _P10 and check whether a correct amount combination has been found (step _P10 ).

(3) When the exact quantity combination is determined, the number of selected slave weighing machines 2 is added to the cumulative memory DM and stored (step P ₁₁ ). Next, the discharge number counter memory _C1 is incremented by 1 (step
_P12 ). Next, it is checked whether the value of the counter _C1 has reached a predetermined number of times, for example, six times (step _P13 ), and the processing from B to be described later can be repeated until the value reaches the predetermined number of times. When the value of counter _C1 reaches a predetermined value, the next operation is performed (step
P ₁₄ ), that is, the value of DM/C ₁ obtained by dividing the value of the cumulative number of ejector weighing machines DM by the count number of the counter memory C ₁ is within a predetermined range, for example 3.2 ~
Determine whether it is within the range of 3.8. Here, the reason why the value of DM/C ₁ is selected from 3.2 to 3.8 is that, for example, when there are 10 slave weighing machines 2 and a combination calculation is performed with no double and 1 pair double, the maximum number of weighing machines that can be discharged is 5. This is because it is known from experience that the combination accuracy is best when discharge is performed using approximately 1/2 of that number, ie, 3 to 4 units. Therefore, in step _P14 , it is checked whether the average number of discharge (selected) weighing machines for a predetermined number of times, for example, six times, is within the range of 3.2 to 3.8. The value of DM/C ₁ is
If it is within the range of 3.2 to 3.8, clear the counter _C1 and cumulative memory DM to zero (step
P ₁₅ ), proceed to b. If the value of DM/C ₁ is 3.2 or less, the average number of slave weighing machines 2 selected is small, so a signal to narrow the parent shutter width of the parent supply device A' is output to the shutter width changing drive unit 13. (Step P ₁₇ ), reduce the supply amount by tightening the gap between the parent shutters Aα and Aβ by 1 pitch.
The number of units selected is increased, the parent supply amount change flag BM is set to "H", and the discharge number counter memory _C2 is cleared to zero. Here, the discharge counter memory _C2 is a memory for counting the number of discharges until the weighed objects in the parent pool hopper and the parent weighing hopper are discharged before the shutter width is changed. If the value of DM/C ₁ is 3.8 or more, a signal is output to widen the parent shutter width (step
_P16 ), change flag BM is set to "H", and counter _C2 is cleared to zero (step _P18 ).

(4) In step _P9 , when it is confirmed that the change flag BM is "H", that is, the process in step _P18 has been completed, the counter memory is
Increment the value of C ₂ by 1 (step P ₁₉ ),
Check whether the counter memory _C2 has reached 3 (step _P20 ). This means that until the objects to be weighed in the parent pool hopper and parent weighing hoppers 1a and 1b that have already been supplied and loaded with the shutter width before the change are completely discharged (that is, up to 3 times of weighing), the cumulative memory DM is This is to prevent addition and memorization. When the value of counter memory C ₂ reaches 3, counter C ₁ and cumulative memory
DM is cleared to zero (step _P21 ), and change flag BM is set to "L" (step _P22 ).

(5) The following process first checks whether or not there was double discharge last time (step P ₂₃ ), and if there was double discharge last time, it is sent to the slave weighing machine 2 on the non-loading side of the pair (in one weighing cycle). (The weighing object is only put into the weighing hopper of one of the two slave weighing machines 2 for double discharge, and the weighing hopper of the other slave weighing machine 2 is empty.) Zero point Execute the adjustment (step _P24 ). Next, the correct/incorrect flag memory FM is shifted by 1 (step _P25 ), and the correct/incorrect result of the combination operation is stored in memory area FM ₁ (step P25).
_P26 ). That is, if the combination is correct, "H" is stored in the memory area FM1, and if the combination is defective, "L" is stored in the memory area _FM1 . Next, it is determined whether the flag memory FMm is "H", that is, whether the weighed object in the sorting hopper is correct or defective (step _P27 ), and FMm is "H".
If so, a positive gate open signal for the distribution hopper is output (step _P28 ), and if FMm is not "H", a defective gate open signal for the distribution hopper is output (step _P29 ).

(6) Next, output the timing hopper open signal (P ₃₀ ), and output the master weighing hopper open signal of the master weighing machine 1 stored in step P ₃ (* ₁ ) (step P ₃₁ ). , and discharge the weighed items into each bucket 7. Next, an operation signal for the parent shutter Aβ is output (step _P32 ), and the parent shutter Aβ is moved up and down to supply the object to be weighed between the parent shutters Aβ and Aα, and the flag memory FM ₁ is set to "H". (Step P ₃₃ ). FM ₁ is “L”
If so, the combination is defective, and in this case, the slave weighing hopper is not opened, and the bucket 7 containing only the weighing items discharged from the master weighing machine is inputted with a shift signal to the conveyor drive unit 8'. They are intermittently transferred to the distribution hopper 9.
When FM ₁ is "H", a positive weight combination has been obtained, so a slave weighing hopper open signal is output according to the positive weight combination (step _P34 ), and the object to be weighed is transferred from the slave weighing hopper to the timing hopper. Discharge. Next, an opening signal is output to the gate 3a or 3b of the parent pool hopper on the side corresponding to the parent weighing machine 1 that discharged the weighing object (step _P35 ), and the parent pool hopper 3
The object to be weighed is then fed into the parent weighing hopper 1a or 1b. Next, a signal is output to shift the bucket conveyor 8 by 1 (step _P36 ), and an opening signal is output for the gate 4a or gate 4b of the secondary pool hopper 4 on the side corresponding to the secondary weighing hopper that discharged the object to be weighed. (Step _P37 ), the object to be weighed is thrown into the child weighing hopper from the child pool hopper 4. Furthermore, an operation signal is output for the child shutter β of the child feeder B' corresponding to the child pool hopper with the open gate (step P ₃₈ ), and the child shutter β is moved up and down to place a meter between the child shutters β and α. supplies the object, outputs an operation signal for the child shutter α corresponding to the activated child shutter β (step _P39 ),
The object to be weighed between the secondary shutters β and α is supplied from the child feeding device B' to the pool hopper 4. Finally, the operation signal for the parent shutter Aα is output, and the object to be weighed between the parent shutters Aβ and Aα is supplied from the parent supply device A' to the parent pool hopper 3 (step _P40 ), and the process returns to step A.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of automatically adjusting the parent shutter width when the target weight is set or the setting is changed, according to the present invention. Next, this flowchart will be explained.

(1) The target weight W _T is set by the target weight setting section 18 (step S ₁ ). Next, the parent shutter
With no object to be weighed between Aα and Aβ, the parent weighing hoppers 1a and 1b and the parent pool hopper 3 are opened and each hopper is empty (step S ₂ ). Next, as shown in Figure 6, change the parent shutter Aα to the parent shutter
The parent shutter Aα is moved to the position of Aβ (step S ₃ ) to determine a reference position, and then the parent shutter Aα is moved by a predetermined pitch in the direction of widening the shutter width (step S ₄ ).

(2) First move the parent shutter Aβ up and down to supply the object to be weighed between the parent shutters Aβ and Aα, then move the parent shutter Aα up and down to feed the object between the parent shutters Aβ and Aβ.
The object to be weighed between Aα is supplied to the parent pool hopper 3, the gate 3a of the parent pool hopper 3 is opened, and the object to be weighed is thrown into the parent weighing hopper 1a (step _S5 ). Similarly, the parent shutters Aα and Aβ are sequentially moved up and down to supply the object to be weighed to the parent pool hopper 3, and the gate 3b of the parent pool hopper 3 is opened to throw the object to be weighed into the parent weighing hopper 1b (step _P6 ). Next, the weights are input from both parent weighing machines 1 and the average weight Wab is calculated (step _S7 ).

(3) Next, the weight per pitch of the shutter width.
Wp is determined by Wp=(Wab/number of pitches in shutter width) (step S ₈ ).

Next, the deviation weight We is determined by We−W _T −(Wc+Wab) (step S ₉ ). Here, Wc is a preset value of the weight to be weighed by a predetermined number of slave weighing machines (for example, 3 to 4). That is, the deviation weight
We is the predetermined number of slave weighing machines 2 that have been set.
and the average weight of the parent weighing machine 1 supplied and weighed at the current width of the parent shutter (width of the predetermined pitch in step _S4 ), and the deviation from the target weight W _T is shown. Therefore, this deviation weight We
Adjust to the width of the parent shutter using the following steps so that it is zero or almost zero. Furthermore, calculate P = (We/Wp) using Wp and We obtained above,
A value P' is obtained by converting P into an integer (step S ₁₀ ).
This P′ corresponds to the pitch number of the shutter width corresponding to We.

(4) Determine the value of P′, and if P′≧1, We>0,
Since W _T >(Wc+Wab), in this case the parent shutter Aα is moved by P' pitch in the direction of increasing the width between the shutters (step S ₁₂ ). Also,
If P′≦−1, We<0, Wt<(Wc+
Wab), so in this case, the parent shutter Aα is moved by P' pitch in the direction of narrowing the width between the shutters (step _S13 ). When P'=0, the parent shutter width remains unchanged.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, the present invention uses a master weighing machine and a plurality of slave weighing machines in combination, executes combined weighing in the slave weighing machines, and calculates a target weight using the master weighing machine and slave weighing machines. When the target weight is set and the target weight is set, the shutter width of the master weighing machine is automatically set based on the set value, which is much easier than adjusting the shutter width manually through trial and error. The effect is that processing capacity can be improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic layout diagram of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the memory, FIG. 4 is a flowchart, and FIG. 5 is a layout diagram of a conventional example. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure for automatically adjusting the parent shutter width. 1... Master weighing machine, 2... Child weighing machine, 3... Parent pool hopper, 3'... Parent gate drive section, 4... Child pool hopper, 4'... Child gate driving section, 5...
Sub-weighing hopper, 6...Timing hopper, 6'...
...Timing hopper drive unit, 7...Bucket, 8
...Bucket conveyor, 8'...Conveyor drive unit,
9...Distribution hopper, 9'...Distribution hopper drive unit,
10... Packaging machine, 11... Main shutter drive unit, 1
2... Child shutter drive unit, 13... Shutter width changing drive unit, 14... Multiplexer, 15...
A/D converter, 16... Arithmetic control section, 17... Upper limit weight setting section, 18... Target weight setting section.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A master weighing machine that weighs an object with a predetermined weight that is less than a set target weight, and a plurality of slave weighing machines that measure the difference between the set target weight and the predetermined weight. In a weighing device that obtains a weighed object of a predetermined target weight by combining the weighed object weighed by the master weighing machine and the weighed object discharged from the selected slave weighing machine,
a weighing object supply amount adjusting means for adjusting the amount of weighing objects to be supplied to the master weighing machine; a storage means for storing the number of slave weighing machines selected at the time of one combined weighing operation; means for detecting whether the number is the same as, less than, or greater than a predetermined optimum number; and when the number detected by the means is less than the optimum value, the amount of the object to be measured from the said object supply amount adjustment means is A measuring device comprising means for reducing the supply and increasing the supply of objects to be measured from the means for adjusting the amount of objects to be measured when the number of detected objects is larger than the optimum value. 2. The weighing device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined optimum number is approximately half the number of all child weighing machines.