JPH0486527A - Weighing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain an accurate weighing value by providing a visual sensation stimulating means visually stimulating a walking animal on a weighing device at the place excepting the inlet part thereof. CONSTITUTION:The weighing value data of a guided cow is successively taken in a weighing part during the period when the cow walks on a weighing device 2 to be stored therein and a measuring processing part H calculating the stationary wt. of the cow from the stored weighing value data is provided. Guide fences 4 are provided to the left and right lateral side parts of the weighing device 2 so that the cow is allowed to linearly walk on the weighing device 2. Further, the first and second passage sensors 31, 32 are provided to the guide fences 4 so as to provide a constant distance (d) and the detection signals of the sensors 31, 32 are inputted to the control means 33 of a weighing processing part H and it is judged whether the walking speed of the cow is faster than set speed by a walking judging part 33a. When the walking speed is faster than the set speed, rotary blades 34 are rotationally driven by a rotary blade control part 33b to apply a visual stimulus to the cow. Whereupon, the cow is surprised and it is suppressed that the cow begins to run toward an outlet and an accurate weighing value is obtained.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention provides a weighing device on which a walking animal passes while walking, and a static weight value of the walking animal based on time-series weighing value data obtained from the weighing device. The present invention relates to a weighing device equipped with a weight calculation means for calculating weight.

[Conventional technology]

In such a weighing device, the structure of the weighing device and the algorithm of the weight calculation means are designed on the premise that walking animals walk relatively slowly. However, in reality, walking animals often run past the weighing device, and in such cases it is difficult to determine an accurate static weight.

Therefore, conventionally, for example, as shown in Fig. 8, a weighing device (2
) is provided with a progress regulating body (8) made of an elastic material at a location other than the entrance side of the weighing machine (2), and by giving a feeling of psychological pressure to the walking animal, it is possible to prevent the walking animal from running over the scale (2). It was being prevented.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, since the above-mentioned progress regulating body comes into contact with walking animals, there is a problem in that it adversely affects measurement accuracy, and furthermore, it is easily worn out or damaged.

The present invention has been made in view of this situation, and its purpose is to prevent walking animals from running past with a structure that does not come into contact with walking animals.

[Means to solve the problem]

The weighing device of the present invention includes a weighing device on which a walking animal passes while walking, and a weight calculating means for calculating a static weight value of the walking animal from time-series weight value data obtained from the weighing device. The first feature of the weighing device is that a visual stimulation means for visually stimulating the walking animal is provided at a portion of the weighing device other than the entrance side portion.

The second and third characteristic configurations specify a preferable configuration for implementing the first characteristic configuration, and reside in that the visual stimulation means is a rotating blade or a mirror, respectively.

The fourth characteristic configuration is, in the first to third characteristic configurations,
Walking speed detection means for measuring the speed at which the walking animal walks over the scale is provided at a location closer to the entrance of the scale than the visual stimulation means, and when the speed is faster than the set speed, Control means are provided for actuating the visual stimulation means.

[For production]

According to the first feature, when the walking animal tries to run past the weighing device, the visual stimulation means gives it a surprise. The surprise serves to inhibit the walking animal from running toward the exit.

According to the second and third characteristic configurations, the rotating blade or the mirror serves as the visual stimulation means to give surprise to the walking animal.

According to the fourth characteristic configuration, when the walking animal walks over the scale, the walking speed detecting means first detects the walking passing speed, and when the detected speed is faster than the set speed, the control is performed. or actuating said visual stimulation means.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The first characteristic structure prevents walking animals from running over the scale in the same way as conventional contact-type progress regulators, and since it is a non-contact type, it provides a more accurate weighing value than before. It became possible to obtain. Additionally, there is no wear or damage caused by contact with walking animals.

According to the second and third characteristic configurations, it was possible to realize a non-contact visual stimulation means that can obtain the above effects with a relatively simple device such as a rotating blade or a mirror.

According to the fourth characteristic configuration, the stimulation means is activated only when necessary, that is, only when the walking speed of the walking animal is higher than the set speed, so that the walking animal is not unnecessarily stimulated. . This method also contributes to increasing the operational life of the stimulation means.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, a case where an embodiment of the weighing device of the present invention is applied to weighing a cow will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a cow weighing device is installed in the middle of a walking path where cows are accustomed to walking, such as between a livestock pen and a pasture.

This weighing device includes an inlet chute (1) for guiding cows, a weighing section (S) having a weighing device (2), and an exit chute (3) for guiding cows. 2) The static weight of the cow is measured as the cow passes by on foot.

In the weighing section (S), the cows that have been guided are placed on the weighing device (2).
) A measurement processing unit (H) that sequentially captures and stores weighing data while walking on the cow, and calculates the static weight of the cow from the stored weighing data (corresponding to weight calculation means).
is provided.

Furthermore, guide devices (4) are provided on the left and right sides of the scale (2) to regulate the walking direction of the cow so that the cow walks along a straight path on the scale. .

The weighing device (2) consists of a rectangular platform (2a) and four load cells (2b) arranged so as to respectively receive and stop the four corners of the platform (2a). The total length of the weighing device (2) is set to 3 m so that the cow can walk a walk (for example, 3 to 6) with its entire body on it, and the weighing device (2) is
The distance in 4) is the distance that one cow can pass (for example, 70 to 8
0 cm).

The guide device (4) has two arch-shaped frames (5A) erected on the inlet and outlet sides of the weighing device (2).

(5B), a pair of left and right vertical frames (6) erected between the sky, and those frames (5A), (5B),
It is assembled from a horizontal frame (7) that extends over (6).

A box-shaped casing (10) with an open front is installed near the entrance side of the weighing device (2), and an instrument box (11) that houses the measurement processing section (H) is installed inside the casing (10). is supported. Further, a printer mounting stand (12) is provided on the sideways part of the casing (10), and a printer (13) for printing the cow's identification number and determined static weight value is placed on this stand. ing.

On the front of the instrument box (11), a first display section (1
4) and the second display section (15), a numeric keypad (16) for data input, an ON key (17) for commanding the start of weighing,
Print key (18) that commands printing from the printer (13)
Various keys are provided. A buzzer (19) is also provided to notify the end of weighing. The first display section (14) displays the cow identification number entered using the numeric keypad (16), and the second display section (15)
) displays the calculated static weight value of the cow.

Here, the operation of the weighing section (S) and its operating procedure will be briefly explained.

When the cow is guided into the entrance chute (1) and comes in front of the weighing machine (2), enter the cow's identification number on the numeric keypad (16
) to input, then press the ON key (17) to give the start command. Then, the cow is guided to the entrance of the weighing device (2), placed on it, and moved forward. When the static weight value is determined by the measurement processing section (H), the buzzer (19) is activated to notify the end of weighing. Then weigh the cows (2)
At the same time, the print key (18) is pressed to cause the printer (13) to print the static weight value displayed on the second display section (15) together with the cow's identification number.

Next, the measurement processing section (H) will be explained in detail.

As shown in FIG. 2, this measurement processing section ()I) has an input section (20) that receives and receives a weighed value signal (analog electrical signal) obtained by adding the detection signals of the four load cells (2b). , the receiver sequentially captures and stores the received weighing value signals as time-series weighing value data, and then sends the central control unit (
21).

The input section (20) includes an amplifier (2OA) that amplifies the weighed value signal, a low-pass filter (20B) that smoothes the output of this amplifier, and an A that quantizes the smoothed signal at a predetermined sampling time. /D converter (20C)
It consists of

The central control unit (21) includes a memory (21) that stores time-series weight value data of sampled weight values for a certain period of time.
21A), a gait periodicity evaluation unit (21B) that calculates gait periodicity from the time-series weighed value data, and a valid data section (21B) that calculates the gait periodicity from the time-series weighed value data based on the gait periodicity.
a valid data interval setting unit (2IC) for setting the valid data interval (T); and a calculation unit (21D) for calculating the static weight value of a walking animal from the time-series weighing value data in the valid data interval (T).
), with a microcomputer as the main part.

Next, the procedure for determining the static weight of a cow walking on the scale (1) will be explained.

As the cow walks on the scale (2), the analog signals indicating the weight value sent from the load cell (2b) are summed and passed through the amplifier (2OA) for amplification. The amplifier output shown in is obtained. In this graph, the area indicated by a is the state in which only the front legs of the cow are on the scale (2), and the area indicated by b is the state in which the entire weight of the cow is on the scale (2), The region indicated by C is a state in which only the cow's hind legs are placed on the scale (2).

The output of this amplifier is passed through a low-pass filter (20B) and becomes a smoothed signal as shown in FIG. Furthermore,
The signal is quantized by an A/D converter (20C) at a predetermined sampling time.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the area already shown above, and from this view it can be understood how the analog weighing value signal is sampled and quantized.

After weighing has started, if the quantized weighing value data (hereinafter simply referred to as weighing value data) exceeds a set value (K) that is slightly larger than the weight of the weighing device (2), the cow will move to the weighing device. (2), the weighed value data is sequentially stored in the memory (21A) as a sampling series.

The storage by the memory (21A) ends when the weighed value data falls below the set value (K), assuming that the cow has started to get off the scale (2).

Next, the gait periodicity evaluation unit (21B) uses the memory (2
From the weighing value data stored in LA), its maximum value: W
max is calculated, and the data group having a value of 90% or more of this maximum value is regarded as the weighing value data group of the cow's full weight load or the state of riding on the scale (2), and the weighing value data group Identified as

Furthermore, the gait periodicity evaluation unit (21B) evaluates the gait periodicity from this weighed value data group by examining its maximum value. In the case shown in FIG. 5, the local maximum values are Wl, W8. Wl5゜W23. W29. W
There will be 6 of 33.

Next, the valid data interval setting unit (21C) sets an effective data interval (T) with the starting point at which the first local maximum value W1 appears and the ending point at the point at which the third local maximum value W23 appears. will be set.

However, in setting this effective data section (T), how many walking cycle peaks to include can be set in advance based on the type of walking animal, the natural frequency of the weighing device (2), etc.

The sampling data within the valid data interval (T) set in this way is averaged by the calculation unit (21D), and the static weight value of the cow walking on the scale (2) is calculated. 2 display section (15).

As described above, the static weight value of the cow calculated by the measurement processing unit (H) based on the weighed value sent from the load cell (2b) while the cow is walking on the scale (2) is accurate. In this case, it is necessary for the cow to walk relatively slowly on the scale (2). In other words, if the cow passes over the scale (2), the vibration of the scale (2) will be too large and an accurate weighing value cannot be expected.

Therefore, the weighing device of this embodiment is configured to detect the walking speed of the cow, and when the walking speed is faster than the set speed, to give a visual stimulus to the cow to slow down the walking speed. . This will be explained in detail below.

As shown in FIG. 1, a first passing sensor (31) and a second passing sensor (3
2) is provided. These passing sensors are composed of a pair of a light-emitting element (LD) and a light-receiving element (PS), and detect the passage of cattle by blocking the light emitted by the light-emitting element (LD) and received by the light-receiving element (PS). It is something to detect.

The detection signals of the first and second passing sensors are input to the control means (33) provided in the measurement processing section (H), and first, the walking speed determination section (33a) determines whether the walking speed is higher than the set speed or not. It is determined whether or not. The walking speed can be found by dividing the distance (d) by the time (1) from when the cow blocks the first passing sensor (31) until it blocks the second passing sensor (32), but the distance (d) is Since it is constant, it is actually time (1)
It is determined whether the walking speed is faster than the set speed based on whether or not is shorter than the set time (T). Then, the determination signal is given to the rotary vane control section (33b).

The rotary vane control unit (33b) rotates a rotary vane (34) serving as a visual stimulation means for giving visual stimulation to the cow in accordance with the determination signal. That is, the rotating blade (34) rotates only when the walking speed of the cow is faster than the set speed.

As shown in Fig. 1, the rotating blade (34) is connected to the weighing device (2).
A pair of motors (34
Rotate around the vertical axis by a).

[Another example]

Using a mirror instead of the rotating blade as a visual stimulation means,
The mirror may be attached at a predetermined angle so that when the walking animal advances to a set position, the animal's own face reflected in the mirror comes into view.

In addition, in the example, the visual stimulation means is activated only when the walking speed of the walking animal is faster than the set speed, but if the visual stimulation means is an object such as the mirror mentioned above, it is activated all the time, and the walking speed The detection means may be omitted.

Incidentally, although reference numerals are written in the claims section for convenient comparison with the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the structure shown in the accompanying drawings.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 7 show an embodiment of the weighing device according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the means for preventing run-through, FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the weighing section, and FIG. 3 is an amplifier. Figure 4 is a diagram showing the amplified analog signal, Figure 4 is a diagram showing the analog signal after passing through a low-pass filter, Figure 5 is a partially enlarged view of Figure 4, and Figure 6 is the entire diagram excluding the means to prevent running through. Side view, 7th
The figure is also an overall plan view, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a conventional example. (2)...Weighing device, (31), (32)...
... Walking speed detection means, (33) ... Control means, (34) ... Visual stimulation means, (f().
...Weight calculation means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A weighing device (2) on which a walking animal passes while walking, and a weight calculation for determining a static weight value of the walking animal from time-series weighing value data obtained from the weighing device (2). A weighing device comprising a means (H), wherein a visual stimulation means (34) for visually stimulating a walking animal is provided at a portion of the weighing device (2) other than an entrance side portion. weighing device. 2. The weighing device according to claim 1, wherein the visual stimulation means (34) is a rotating blade. 3. The weighing device according to claim 1, wherein the visual stimulation means (34) is a mirror. 4. Walking speed detection means (31) and (32) for detecting the speed at which the walking animal walks over the scale (2),
A control means (33) is provided at a location closer to the entrance of the scale (2) than the visual stimulation means (34) and operates the visual stimulation means (34) when the speed is faster than a set speed. The weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the weighing device comprises: