JPH05124630A - Article collecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To collect articles at a discharge location on the way of carrying, and package them by a necessary packaging unit by a method wherein an optional quantity, which is less than a packaging unit, of articles is circulate- carried as a unit, and a combinational operation is performed. CONSTITUTION:For the title article collecting device, an introducing device 5 which introduces quantities, which are less than a target quantity to be collected, of small components 4, a circulating conveyor 2 which circulate-carries the components 4 which are introduced by the introducing device 5 by each introduced quantity, and an operation device 14 which combines two units of introduced component groups 4 while the components 4 are transferred by the circulating conveyor 2, and decides whether the combined quantity becomes a target quantity as a collecting unit, which is set in advance, or not, are provided. The title device is a fixed quantity article collecting device 1 which discharges the components 4 of a combination to become the target quantity, as the result of the combination by the operation device 14, to a bag packing device 13 which is provided on the way of carrying by the circulating conveyor 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention combines at least two article groups to obtain a target quantity or a target weight, and further circulates a quantity or weight of articles which is smaller than the quantity or weight of a required packaging unit. The present invention relates to an article collecting apparatus that conveys and combines at least two sets of articles during the conveyance to obtain a quantity or weight as a packaging unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, when a small part such as a screw is packed in a bag, a CCD for each necessary packaging unit is used as in the small part counting device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-59888.
Images are taken with a camera, etc., and the packaging is performed while counting the number.

[0003]

However, according to this conventional technique, since the loading operation of the article loading device is stopped after the packaging unit number is counted, the packaging is performed by the article loading device even after counting the predetermined number. There is a risk that the articles to be put in will be packaged, and in order to prevent this, it is necessary to count the number close to the packaging unit and then add one or several pieces until the final packaging unit is reached.

According to the present invention, after counting the number close to the packaging unit, in order to eliminate the fine adjustment time of adding several pieces or one by one in order to obtain the required number of packaging units, any number smaller than the packaging unit is used. The quantity is circulated as one unit, and a combination calculation is performed to collect the quantity at a discharge place on the way and wrap it in necessary packing units.

In addition, according to the present invention, in order to save the fine adjustment time for counting a number close to the target quantity as in the conventional apparatus and then adding several pieces or one by one to achieve the required target quantity, the packaging unit is reduced. It is intended to supply an arbitrary smaller quantity and perform a combination operation with the already accommodated irregular quantities to obtain the required target quantity. Further, in order to reduce the collection time, even if any combination of the plurality of discharging means is obtained, the discharging means is attempted to discharge to the same discharging place without transporting the discharging means.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, according to the present invention, an inputting means for inputting an amount of articles smaller than a target amount to be collected, and a distribution means for circulating and conveying the articles input by the inputting means for each input amount. And a determination means for determining whether or not a target amount as a preset collection unit is obtained by combining at least two units of the article group that are input while the articles are transferred by the distribution means, As a result of the combination in the judgment means,
It is intended to provide an article quantitative collection device characterized in that a combination of articles having a target amount is discharged to a collection means provided on the way of conveyance of a distribution means.

Further, according to the present invention, a means for supplying an article group of an amount smaller than a target quantity, a means for sequentially weighing the article groups supplied from the supplying means, and a plurality of quantities of the weighed article group are stored. In the article quantitative collection device for obtaining the target amount, the article group and the supplied article group are already accommodated. If it is a target amount, the combined product group is decided to be released, and if the combination of the target amounts cannot be obtained, the releasing means is moved. The present invention provides an article quantitative collection device characterized by receiving a new article group.

Further, according to the present invention, a standby hopper for temporarily holding an unspecified known amount of articles less than the target amount to be collected, a plurality of trays provided on the same circumference, and each of these trays are successively provided. In order to locate the article group discharge position of the standby hopper, a turning device for turning the tray and the current position of the article group accommodated in each tray are tracked along with the information of the amount of the article group corresponding to the movement of each tray. The tracing means, the calculating means for combining at least two article groups contained in the saucer to obtain the target amount, and the result of the combination by the computing means, the combination of the target quantity, the discharge means for discharging the saucer from the saucer A discharge means provided above the swivel surface,
(EN) An article collecting device comprising discharge means provided above a turning surface of a tray so as to discharge from the tray a group of articles for which a target amount combination cannot be obtained while the tray rotates.

The articles in the present invention include small articles such as screws, screws and nails, articles such as granular or powdered medicines or food for pets, articles such as confectionery, fruits and vegetables, and other articles having various shapes. Also includes. In the present invention, the article group includes a case of one article.

[0010]

The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the specific examples shown in the drawings. This will make the above-mentioned objects and features of the present invention and other objects and features clearer. still,
The present invention is not limited to these specific examples.

[0011]

SPECIFIC EXAMPLE As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the small article constant amount collection device 1 of this example, the circulation conveyor 2 as a distribution means in which a large number of component trays 3 are connected in series is a small article put in the component trays 3. The component 4 as an article is circulated and conveyed for each unit input.

A component feeding device 5 provided at the upstream end of the circulating conveyor 2 as a loading means for loading a smaller number of components 4 than the number to be collected, is a supply chute 6 for supplying the components 4 as shown in FIG. And a loosening chute 7 which is moved forward while being loosened by vibrating the components 4 supplied from the supply chute 6, and a component receiving tray of the circulation conveyor 2 for calculating the number of the components 4 dropped from the tip of the loosening chute 7 The charging hopper 8 to be charged into the charging hopper 8 and the weighing machine 9 to measure the total weight of the parts 4 in the charging hopper 8.

An encoder 10 attached to a drive shaft (not shown) of the circulating conveyor 2 detects the conveying speed of the circulating conveyor 2. The position of each component tray 3 is confirmed by the speed signal obtained from the encoder 10.

Downstream of the circulation conveyor 2, the circulation conveyor 2
Of the parts tray 3 on the side of the circulation conveyor 2 and the side of the circulation conveyor 2 where the assembly conveyor 11 and the circulation conveyor 2 which are provided at a right angle to the direction of the arrow A, which is the conveyance direction of the parts, intersect with each other. An opening device 12 is provided as a discharging means for opening the bottom and discharging the component 4 in the component tray 3. Further, below the circulation conveyor 2, there is provided a bagging and packaging device 13 as a collecting means for receiving the parts 4 discharged from the parts tray 3 and packing the quantity as a collecting unit into bags.

While the parts 4 are being transported by the circulating conveyor 2, at least two units of the parts 4, that is, the numbers of parts in the two sets of the parts trays 3 are combined to obtain a quantity as a preset collection unit. An arithmetic unit 14 as a determination means for determining whether or not is provided near the circulation conveyor 2.

In addition, the arithmetic unit 14 has the following functions. The total weight of the parts 4 put into the input hopper 8 is weighed by the weighing device 9, and upon receipt of the weighing signal, the weight of one component previously input and stored in the arithmetic unit 14 is put into the part tray 3. The number of parts 4 is calculated. The calculated quantity of the parts 4 in the parts tray 3 is
It is stored in the arithmetic unit 14 in association with the parts tray 3.

Further, the arithmetic unit 14 continuously grasps the position of each component tray 3 by the speed signal of the circulating conveyor 2 inputted from the encoder 10, and which component tray 3 is in a position facing the opening device 12. To judge. As a result of the combination calculated by the arithmetic unit 14, the component tray 3 to be opened by the bagging and packaging apparatus 13 is determined, and the arithmetic unit 14 is conveyed every time the determined component tray 3 is conveyed to the side of the opening unit 12. Outputs an open signal. Further, each time the quantity of the parts 4 discharged to the bag packaging apparatus 13 reaches the quantity as a preset collection unit, that is, each time the set of the combined component trays 3 is opened, the bag is fed from the arithmetic unit 14 to the bag. A packaging signal is output to the packaging device 13. Therefore, in response to this packaging signal, the mouth of a plastic bag or the like is sealed.

The operation of the small article constant quantity collection device 1 having the above configuration will be described. Supply chute 6 of the component loading device 5
The components 4 supplied to the loosening chute 7 are gradually loosened by the vibration of the loosening chute 7 and flow down into the charging hopper 8. The weight of the parts 4 that are successively spilled onto the charging hopper 8 is weighed by the weighing device 9, and the weighed weight is sent to the computing device 14 one by one. The weight of one component is stored in advance in the arithmetic unit 14, and the number of components 4 that have entered the input hopper 8 is calculated from the weight of this one component.

In the present embodiment, 10 parts 4 are set as one collection unit, and the quantity of about 5 which is 1/2 of that is set as one unit and is thrown into the parts tray 3 in a non-uniform manner. Therefore, the component trays 3 connected to the circulation conveyor 2 accommodate the components 4 in a quantity close to five. Since the circulating conveyor 2 conveys in the direction of arrow A, the components 4 are sequentially loaded into the component tray 3 that has reached below the component loading device 5. Each of the component trays 3 accommodates a different number of components 4, and each of the component trays 3 always has a current position based on a transport speed signal from an encoder 10 provided on the drive shaft of the circulating conveyor 2. It is understood.

Then, while the parts 4 are transferred from the position where the parts 4 are put into the parts tray 3 to the position where the opening device 12 for opening the bottom of the parts tray 3 is provided, the arithmetic unit 14 collects for packing for bagging. In order to obtain the quantity as a unit, a combination is carried out between the numbers of the respective component trays 3.

The component tray 3 whose combination has been decided is operated when the component tray 3 is transferred to the opening device 12.
By the release signal from 4, the circulation conveyor 2 at this position
The component 4 in the component tray 3 is discharged to the bag packaging device 13 provided below. When the components 4 are discharged from the two component trays 3 which are a combination set, a packaging signal is output from the arithmetic unit 14 to the bag packing and packaging unit 13, the bags are sealed, and the collective conveyer 11 places them in one place. Collected.

Next, a specific combination calculation will be described. FIG. 5 shows the storage positions for the combination calculation built in the arithmetic unit 14, and Table 1 will be used to explain the number of articles stored in the component tray 3 and the transport order, that is, the counting order.

The arithmetic unit 14 has one of P1 to P11.
One storage location is set. Each time the count is sequentially performed, the stored number is shifted from P11 to P10 and from P10 to P9 based on the carrier signal from the encoder 10. Then, each time the shift is performed, the number input to P11 and the number counted up to that time are already stored in the storage position P1.
By combining with the number stored between 0 and P1, it is determined whether or not the number of collection units will be 10.

First, when the parts 4 are put into the parts tray 3, the arithmetic unit 14 calculates how many pieces have been put. Therefore, from Table 1, for example, the first four counting orders are stored in P11. Since nothing has been stored yet between P10 and P1, no combination operation is performed.

Four of the storage positions P11 are shifted to the storage position P10, and the empty six storage positions P11 store the second six in the counting order. Therefore, this time, it is determined whether 6 storage positions P11 and 4 storage positions P10 are added to obtain 10 collection units. As a result of the combination operation, 10 pieces are obtained, so that the first 4 pieces in the counting order and the 6 pieces in the second counting order are determined as the first combination set 1a.

Next, the four stored in the storage position P10 are shifted to the storage position P9, and the six storage positions P11 are shifted to the vacant storage position P10. The third three are stored. After that, the three stored in the storage position P11 are combined with another number to obtain 10
Although it is determined whether or not the storage positions P10 and P9 are determined as a combination, the combination calculation is not performed.

[0027]

[Table 1]

Next, four storage positions P9 are stored at the storage position P8.
6 of the storage positions P10 are shifted to the storage positions P9, 3 of the storage positions P11 are shifted to the storage positions P10, and 5 are input to the empty storage positions P11. Then, a combination operation is performed on the five storage positions P11 and the three storage positions P10, but the number of storage units is not 10, which is the collection unit.
It is judged that there was no combination this time.

After the number stored in each of the storage positions P11 to P9 is shifted, as shown in Table 1, the fifth five in the counting order are input to the storage position P11. A combination operation is performed with the five storage positions P11 and the three storage positions P9 that have not yet been determined as a combination, but the collection unit cannot be satisfied, and the five storage positions P11 and the five storage positions P10 are not calculated. And a combination operation is performed between and. As a result, the fourth 5 in the counting order and the fifth 5 in the counting order are determined as the combination set 2a. In this way, the combination is determined. The results are entered in the combination order column of Table 1.

As another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, by setting the bag packing packaging place to two places, more efficient constant quantity packaging can be implemented. That is, the opening devices 12 and 12a and the bagging and packaging devices 13 and 13
a is provided at two places and two collective conveyors 11 associated therewith are also installed.

Table 2 and FIG. 7 show the combination calculation result and the storage state between the storage positions P11 to P1 in the arithmetic unit 14 in such a case. In the case of the present embodiment, the first four pieces of the counting order and the second six pieces of the counting order are combined to one of the set conveyors 11 as a combination set 1b, and the fourth piece of the counting order is the fifth piece and the fifth piece of the counting order is the fifth piece. The 5 th and the 5 th are determined to be discharged to the other collecting conveyor 11 as the combination set 1c. Since the combination sets 1b and 1c have different discharge places, as shown in FIG. 7, the seventh 7 in the counting order input to the storage position P11 is the third 3 in the counting order stored in the storage position P7. Is calculated as a combination, and as a result, it can be discharged to one of the collecting conveyors 11 as a combination set 2b.

[0032]

[Table 2]

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, it is possible to provide two places for loading the component 4 into the component tray 3 as the component loading devices 5 and 5a, and two locations for discharging the combination set. By doing so, a plurality of collection units can be set. For example, when the collection unit is 20 and 30, by putting about 10 pieces into the parts tray 3, 20 pieces or 30 pieces are packed,
Further, by putting about 15 pieces into the component tray 3, 30 pieces are packed. In addition, a number close to 1 / N (N = 3, 4, 5, ...) Of the required collection unit may be thrown into the component tray 3 in a non-uniform manner.

Further, for example, to carry out packing of 10 pieces,
It is also possible that the charging device 5 charges a number close to 10 without exceeding 10 and the charging device 5a charges a few.

In addition, the charging device 15 shown in FIG. 9 uses the CCD camera 1 instead of the weighing machine to count the number of the components 4 which are loaded into the component tray 3 from the discharge end of the loosening chute 7.
6 is provided. In this case, the number of parts 4 is input to the arithmetic unit 14.

In the opening device 12, as shown in FIGS. 16 to 18, the operating rod of the air cylinder projects from the projection provided on the bottom plate of the component tray 3 and hits the projection to open the bottom plate. However, the other component tray 3 may be tilted so that the transport path is deformed so as to spill the component 4 inside. Here, the opening device 1 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 2 denotes an air cylinder 21 rotatably attached to a supporting column 23 at one end, and one end rotatably connected to a piston rod 22 of the air cylinder 21 so that the supporting column 23 is rotatable via a shaft 24. It includes a supported crank 25 and an operating rod 26 having one end rotatably connected to the other end of the crank 25, and the other end of the operating rod 26 is attached to the column 23 by the shaft 2.
7 is rotatably connected to an engaging member 28 rotatably supported via 7, and when the air cylinder 21 is actuated and the piston rod 22 extends, the crank 25 moves the shaft 2
4 is rotated in the P direction, so that the operating rod 2
6 protrudes in the Q direction, and as a result, the engaging member 28 moves toward the shaft 27.
It is adapted to rotate in the R direction around the center and contact the roller 30 of the projecting portion 29 provided on the tray 3 conveyed in the A direction as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in detail in FIGS. 17 and 18, the receiving tray 3 in which the protruding portion 29 is rotatably provided on the one side wall 41 via the shaft 42,
It comprises two bottom plates 43 and 44, which are attached to links 45 and 46, which links 45 and 46 via side shafts 47 and 48 to the side walls 41 and 4.
It is rotatably attached to 9. Links 45 and 46
Are rotatably connected to links 52 and 53 via shafts 50 and 51, respectively, and the links 52 and 53 are connected to a shaft 54.
The link 55 is rotatably connected to the link 55 via a shaft 56, and the link 55 is rotatably connected to the protrusion 29 via a shaft 56. In the saucer 3 formed in this way,
As described above, when the engaging member 28 rotates in the R direction and hits the roller 30 of the projecting portion 29 provided on the tray 3 conveyed in the A direction, the projecting portion 29 is thereby rotated about the shaft 42. Moved, resulting in links 55, 52, 53,
Rotation of each of 45 and 46 occurs, and the bottom plates 43 and 44 are opened as shown in FIG. Incidentally, stoppers 57 and 58 for restricting the closing angles of the bottom plates 43 and 44 and the turning angles of the links 45 and 46 are attached to the side walls 41 and 49. As described above, in the present invention, as the opening device 12, as shown in FIG. 16, the operating rod 26 of the air cylinder 21 projects from the protrusion 29 provided on the bottom plates 43 and 44 of the component tray 3 and hits the protrusion 29 to contact the bottom plate 43. And 44 may be opened.

If the combination set is not decided in the above example, the small set may be discharged once and a small component may be newly inserted, or a new component 4 may be added to the empty component tray 3. By throwing in, it is possible to perform the combination operation again for the items that were not combined once. By the way, in the above, as the combination calculation, a specific example of the combination between the number stored in the storage position P11 and the number already stored in another storage position has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a so-called general combination calculation is performed. It is also possible to use nCr combinations calculated in all the combination patterns

Further, in the above example, the constant amount collection is carried out, but instead of this, constant weight collection may be carried out. In this case, the weight obtained by the weighing device 9 is used as it is to obtain the target weight.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. Since the component constant amount collection device 101 of this specific example collects 30 small components 102 at a time,
Approximately ½ of 15 numbers are supplied as one group.

The supply hopper 103 discharges the parts 102 to a supply conveyor 104 provided below the supply hopper 103. When the supply conveyor 104 conveys in the direction of arrow A,
The parts 102 are sequentially arranged from the bottom outlet of the supply hopper 103.
Is released.

A large number of grooves are provided in the same direction as the conveying direction of the supply conveyor 104 on the surface of the loosening chute 105 as a supply means provided at the discharge end of the supply conveyor 104. A vibrating body 106 is fixed to the lower surface of the loosening chute 105. By vibrating the vibrating body 106, the component 10 that is solidified on the loosening chute 105
2 is unraveled and advances along the groove. The supply conveyor 104 is also driven while the vibrating body 106 is vibrating, and when the vibration of the vibrating body 106 is stopped, the supply conveyor 104 is also stopped.

A CCD camera 107 as a counting means provided above and in front of the tip of the loosening chute 105.
Is a component 1 supplied from the tip of the loosening chute 105.
This is counted by imaging 02.

Each of the hoppers 181 to 186 as a discharging means for receiving a plurality of parts 102 supplied from the tip of the loosening chute 105 as a group and discharging this group of parts in accordance with a discharge instruction, is provided with a drive unit 109 (see FIG. 11) and are positioned at equal intervals on the same circumference with the drive shaft 110 interlocked with the drive shaft 110 as a center, and are connected to the drive shaft 110 by the support rods 111. Drive shaft 110 is arrow B
When rotated in the direction, the hoppers 181 to 186 cause the upper openings of the hoppers 181 to 186 to move from the hopper 181 to the hopper 182 and from the hopper 182 to the hopper 18 respectively.
3 is rotated around the support rod 111 while being positioned below the tip of the loosening chute 105. Each hopper 18
As shown in FIG.
Formed as 226, and release mechanisms 231-236.
It is designed to open on both sides.

Discharge port 221 of each hopper 181 to 186
.About.226 are housed in the opening frame of the collecting hopper 114, and the group of the parts 102 is collected in the collecting hopper 114 regardless of which of the hoppers 181 to 186 is opened. As shown in FIG. 13, first air cylinders 251 to 256 are provided on the inner wall of the collection hopper 114 so as to correspond to the release mechanisms 231 to 236 of the hoppers 181 to 186. The group of the parts 102 gathered in the collecting hopper 114 is operated by the second air cylinder 116.
The lower end 117 of the collecting hopper 114 is opened and the parts group is discharged.

The arithmetic unit 118 (see FIG. 11) is a CCD.
A storage unit 119 as a means for storing a plurality of component groups counted by the camera 107, and a combination of the component group supplied from the loosening chute 105 to the hoppers 181 to 186 and another component group already accommodated are targets. A first air cylinder 251 is operated to perform a combination operation for determining whether or not the quantity is reached, and to release a combined component group if the result of the combination operation in the operation unit 120 is a target quantity. To 256, and also outputs an operation signal to the second air cylinder 116 in order to discharge the target quantity of parts collected in the collection hopper 114 for packaging, and to combine the target quantity. If it is not obtained, the control unit 121 outputs a rotation signal to the drive unit 109 of the drive shaft 110. In addition, in the controller 121, the rotation of the drive shaft 110 causes the hoppers 181 to 186 to move in the direction of arrow B.
When the adjacent hoppers 181 to 186 are positioned at the discharge end of the loosening chute 105, the vibration start signal is output to the vibrating body 106 of the loosening chute 105, and about 15 parts 102 are loaded. And the vibration stop signal is output.

The component constant amount collection device 10 having the above configuration
The operation No. 1 will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. The parts 102 are housed in the supply hopper 103. For example, the hopper 1 positioned below the discharge end of the loosening chute 105 (hereinafter referred to as the charging position).
When 81 is empty (step S1), the control unit 121 of the arithmetic unit 118 outputs a vibration start signal to the vibrating body 106 (step S3).

Upon receipt of this, the vibrating body 106 vibrates, and at the same time, the supply conveyor 104 conveys it in the direction of arrow A. The part 102 discharged from the supply hopper 103 and mounted on the supply conveyor 104 transfers from the supply conveyor 104 to the loosening chute 105. The mass of the parts 102 on the disentanglement chute 105 advances toward the discharge end along the groove of the disentanglement chute 105 while being disentangled by the vibration, and falls into the hopper 181 positioned at the input position.

The parts 102 falling from the discharge end of the loosening chute 105 are imaged by the CCD camera 107, counted, and stored in the storage unit 119. When the number of parts 102 put into the hopper 181 reaches about 15 (step S4), a vibration stop signal is output from the control unit 121 to the vibrating body 106 (step S5).

Due to the vibration of the vibrating body 106, the component 102 is
Since an arbitrary quantity is thrown in irregularly from the loosening chute 105, the quantity is around 15 including 15 cases. When, for example, thirteen parts 102 are loaded into the hopper 181, in the arithmetic unit 120 of the arithmetic unit 118,
A combination calculation is performed including 13 parts groups (step S6).

13 parts group of the hopper 181, and the hoppers 182-1 other than the already stored hopper 181.
As a result of combination with the parts group in 86, 3 as the target quantity
When 0 combinations are obtained (step S7), the control unit 121 causes the first air cylinders 251 to 2 to discharge the relevant hopper parts to the collection hopper 114.
An activation signal is output to 56. Applicable hopper 181-1
When the air cylinders 251 to 256 corresponding to the release mechanisms 231 to 236 of 86 are operated, the combined parts group is discharged to the collection hopper 114. After that, the control unit 12
1 is the second air cylinder 116 of the collection hopper 114
The operation signal is output to (step S8) and the collection hopper 1
The lower end 117 of 14 is opened, and the component group is discharged.

When a combination cannot be obtained and when a group of 30 parts has been discharged, the hoppers 181 to 181 at the charging position are restarted.
It is determined whether or not 186 is empty, and if it is not empty, a rotation signal is output from the control unit 121 to the drive unit 109,
When the drive unit 109 operates, the drive shaft 110 rotates in the direction of arrow B, and the hoppers 181 to 186 move by one (step S2). The same operation is repeated thereafter.

Next, a more specific combination calculation according to the above flow chart will be described. The calculation unit 120 of the calculation device 118 performs a combination calculation, and the storage position for this combination calculation is shown in FIG. 15, and specifically shows the quantity and combination result of the component groups put in the hoppers 181 to 186. Table 3 will be described. The storage position P1 is the hopper 181, the storage position P2 is the hopper 182, and the storage positions P3, P4, P5, and P6 are respectively the same.
It corresponds to each of the hoppers 183, 184, 185 and 186.

First, when the hopper 181 is located at the loading position, a group of 13 parts is loaded and 1 is loaded at the storage position P1.
3 is input. The calculation unit 120 performs the combination calculation in this state, but a combination set is not obtained, and the drive shaft 11
0 rotates to position the hopper 182 at the loading position. A group of 14 parts is loaded into the hopper 182, and 14 is input to the storage position P2 corresponding to the hopper 182. Although it is determined whether the target quantity is 30 by adding 14 of the storage position P2 and 13 of the storage position P1, a combination set cannot be obtained also in this case.

Next, 15 is input to the storage position P3,
As a result of the combination calculation, a combination set is not obtained, and the storage position P
When 16 is input to 4, the storage position P that has already been input
As a result of the combination of 1 to P3, 14 of the storage position P2
Then, the target quantity becomes 30 and the 16 parts group of the hopper 184 corresponding to the storage position P4 and the 14 parts group of the hopper 182 corresponding to the storage position P2 are discharged to the collection hopper 114 as a combination set. It When the set a of this combination is discharged, the hopper 186 becomes empty. Therefore, the hoppers 181 to 186 do not rotate this time, and the component 102 is loaded into the hopper 184 again. The combination is carried out in this way, and as shown in Table 3, the combination b,
c and d are obtained.

In this specific example, the number of the components 102 put in by the CCD camera 107 is counted, but the loosening chute 105 may be a conveyor scale. In this case, the weight per component set in advance is set. Calculate the quantity based on

In this embodiment, as another specific example, two discharge locations for supplying the discharging means may be provided, one of which is close to the target quantity and the other of which is several.

Further, hoppers 181-1 as discharge means
Even if the parts 102 are put into all 86, if the combination is not obtained, the farthest number of the part groups from each part group may be forcibly discharged. Is also good.

By the way, as the combination calculation, the combination calculation between the quantity at the storage position corresponding to the charging means at the charging position and the quantity at the other storage position has been described. It may be a combination of nCr calculated in all the combination patterns. As an example of this case, do not use the quantity of the parts group in the hopper that was just thrown in as a reference, carry out the calculation by all combinations,
This can be achieved by rotating the empty hopper until it reaches the loading position.

Others 1 / of the target quantity required in this example as well
You may make it throw in the number near N (N = 3, 4, 5, ...) Randomly. Further, also in this example, constant weight collection may be performed instead of the constant amount.

[0060]

[Table 3]

By the way, in the component quantity collection device 101,
Although these hoppers 181 to 186 are moved in the B direction from above the hoppers 181 to 186 as the tray, the articles of the present invention are provided by using such means for the tray 3 described above with reference to FIG. A collecting device may be formed. That is, as shown in FIGS. 21 to 24, the hopper 18
1 to 186, the plurality of saucers 3 corresponding to the saucer 3
The component constant weight collecting device 301, which is configured to move in the direction B from above, is composed of two standby hoppers 302 arranged side by side.
And 303, and a transfer device 305 that transfers the components supplied from the chute 304 to the standby hoppers 302 and 303.
And the weight scales 308 and 309 which are juxtaposed in the middle of each of the two transport paths 306 and 307 of the transport device 305 to measure the weight of the components transported by the transport device 305, and pass below the standby hoppers 302 and 303. A plurality of receiving pans 3 arranged in a ring shape, and a turning device 3 for moving (turning) these receiving pans 3 in the direction B from above the receiving pan 3.
10, a collecting hopper 311 arranged below the moving path of the receiving tray 3, a discharge conveyor 312 also arranged below the moving path of the receiving tray 3, and above the collecting hopper 311 and discharging conveyor 312. 16 to 20
The opening device 12 described with reference to FIG.
Side (not shown). Although not shown, the constant weight collection device 301 of the present example also includes the above-described arithmetic device 14
Alternatively, the encoder 5 and the like for detecting the current positions of 118 and the tray 3 are provided.

The standby hoppers 302 and 303 are respectively inclined bottom plates 321 and 322 which can be opened and closed, and an inclined bottom plate 321.
And 322 for opening and closing air cylinders 323 and 324
When the air cylinder 323 or 324 is operated by the operation signal from the arithmetic unit 14, the inclined bottom plate 321 is provided.
Alternatively, the parts accommodated in the standby hopper 302 or 303 by opening the opening 322 are put into the tray 3 that has been moved below the standby hopper 302 or 303.

The transport device 305 has an electric motor 332 having a sprocket wheel attached to an output rotary shaft and fixed to a frame 331, and two shafts 335 rotatably provided on the frame 331 via bearings 333 and 334.
And 336 and the shafts 335 and 336, respectively, and the sprocket wheel 33 connected to the sprocket wheel of the motor 332 via an endless chain 337.
8 and 339, swing arms 340 and 341 fixed to shafts 335 and 336, respectively, and support arm 34 rotatably connected to swing arms 340 and 341, respectively.
2 and 343, a rod 344 attached to the support arms 342 and 343 (the side of the support arm 343 is not shown), and two sets of thin plates 345 and 346 attached to the rod 344 at one end and one end. And a pair of thin rods 347 and 348 supported by the chute 304 and alternately arranged on the thin plates 345 and 346, and the frame 3
Two intermediate sets of multiple lamellas 349 and 350 supported by 31 and arranged alternately against lamellas 345 and 346.
Similarly, two sets of a plurality of thin plates 35, which are also supported by the frame 331 and are alternately arranged with respect to the thin plates 345 and 346.
1 and 352. Thin plate 345 excluding both sides
And 346 and the upper edges of the thin plates 349 and 350 are corrugated (semi-circular), and the upper edges of the thin plates 351 and 352 are also semi-circular at one end side. 348 is bent upward at the free end side.
It should be noted that one of the support arms 342 is connected to the corresponding swing arm 3
It is provided so as to slide on the outer circumference of a disc 353 provided at one end of 40. The other side of the support arm 343 is similarly formed. Further, although not shown, a detector for detecting the number of rotations of the shaft 335 is provided in the transport device 305.

In the thus-formed transport device 305, when the motor 332 is actuated to rotate its output rotation shaft, this rotation is transmitted to the shafts 335 and 336 via the chain 337 and the sprocket wheels 338 and 339. The shafts 335 and 336 are rotated, and as a result, the swing arms 340 and 341 are also rotated. Swing arm 34
With rotations of 0 and 341, the lamellas 345 and 346 attached to the support arms 342 and 343 make a circular motion, which causes the rods 347 and 348 and the lamellas 349, 3 to move.
As a result of passing between 50, 351, and 352 and being raised and lowered with respect to each, the chute 304 to the thin rod 3
The parts supplied to 47 and 348 are thin plates 345 and 3
Alternately to the valley of the upper edge of 46, then from this valley to the valley of the upper edges of the thin plates 349 and 350, and from this valley to the next valley of the upper edges of the thin plates 345 and 346. The sheet is conveyed in the direction, and finally is conveyed to the inclined portion of the upper edge of the thin plates 351 and 352 via the valley portion of the upper edge of the thin plates 351 and 352. The parts conveyed to the inclined portions of the upper edges of the thin plates 351 and 352 are then supplied to the standby hoppers 302 and 303. As is apparent from the above, the transport device 305 includes the transport path 306 including the thin rods 347 and the thin plates 345, 349 and 351, and the thin rods 348 and the thin plates 346 and 35.
And a transport path 307 including 0 and 352. Further, in the transfer device 305, the motor 332 is controlled so that the operation thereof is stopped when the standby hopper 302 or 303 has a predetermined weight of parts. This control is performed based on signals from the weighing scales 308 and 309, which will be described later, and a detector that detects the rotation speed of the shaft 335.

The weighing scales 308 and 309 are respectively weight sensors 361 and 362 attached to the frame 331,
It includes support members 363 and 364 mounted on the weight sensors 361 and 362, and a number of thin plates 365 and 366 supported by the support members 363 and 364 and arranged between the thin plates 345 and 346. Pair of thin plates 365
And 366 are formed in a semi-circular shape and are arranged between the thin plates 349 and 350 and the thin plates 351 and 352 in the component transport direction, and the thin plates 349 and 350 are changed to the thin plates 351 and 352. The component is carried once after it has been placed on the valley portion of the upper edges of the thin plates 365 and 366. Therefore, the weight scale 308 indicates the weight of the parts conveyed through the conveyance path 306, and the weight scale 309 indicates the weight of the parts conveyed on the conveyance path 307.
Weigh each of the parts conveyed through it.

The turning device 310 includes an electric motor 371 mounted on a frame (not shown) above the tray 3, a rotary shaft 372 rotatably supported by a frame (not shown), an output rotary shaft and a rotary shaft of the motor 371. 372
Sprocket wheels 373 and 37 fixed to the respective
4, a chain 375 hung between the sprocket wheels 373 and 374, a disc 376 attached to the lower end of the rotating shaft 372, one end attached to the disc 376, and the receiving tray 3 on the other end. And an attached support arm 377. In the turning device 310, when the rotation shaft 372 is rotated by the operation of the motor 371 via the sprocket wheel 373, the chain 375, and the sprocket wheel 374, the tray 3 is also moved (turned) in the B direction. By this movement in the B direction, each tray 3 is moved below the standby hoppers 302 and 303, on the discharge conveyor 31.
2 and above the collection hopper 311.

The collecting hopper 311 collects the parts falling from the tray 3 selected by the operation of the opening device 12, and supplies the parts to the bag or the like arranged below to pack the parts.

The discharge conveyor 312 receives the parts in the tray 3 that are not used in the combination from the tray 3 and discharges the parts so that they can be used in the combination again. As described above, the opening device 12 including the engaging member 28 and the like is also provided above the discharge conveyor 312.

Note that two sets of opening devices 12 may be provided above the collection hopper 311 so that the parts used for the combination are supplied from the two trays 3 to the collection hopper 311 at the same time.

The component constant weight collecting device 301 formed as described above is similarly operated by the program as described above. In the component constant weight collection device 301 of this example, the motor 371 of the swivel device 310, the air cylinder 21 of the opening device 12 and the like are arranged above the tray 3 and the like that are easily contaminated with components and the like. Can be washed without water on the motor 371 and the air cylinder 21 of the opening device 12. That is, in the component constant weight collection device 301 of this example, maintenance can be easily performed. Also in this example, instead of the constant weight collection, constant quantity collection may be performed.

[0071]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
Any amount smaller than the collection unit can be transported as an irregular amount, and by performing a combination calculation, it takes time to adjust the collection unit, which was time-consuming in the conventional device. It can be omitted and the time can be shortened. Further, in the example in which the collecting hopper is provided with the discharging port of the discharging means provided inside, the same collecting is performed without transporting the discharging means regardless of the combination of any of the discharging means. It can be released to a location and can reduce the time to collect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the specific example shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the component loading device of the specific example shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an electrical relationship of the specific example of FIG.

5 is an explanatory diagram of a combination calculation in the calculation device of the specific example shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is an electrical block diagram of another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

7 is an explanatory diagram of a combination operation in the operation device of the specific example shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is an electrical block diagram of a further preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view of another specific example of the component loading device according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an electrical block diagram of the specific example shown in FIG.

12 is a perspective view illustrating a release mechanism of the hopper illustrated in FIG.

13 is a side view of the first air cylinder of the specific example shown in FIG.

14 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the specific example shown in FIG.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a combination calculation performed in FIG.

FIG. 16 is a detailed side view of a specific example of the opening device according to the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the tray shown in FIG.

FIG. 18 is a side view of the tray shown in FIG.

FIG. 19 is an operation explanatory view of the opening device shown in FIG. 16.

20 is an explanatory view of the operation of the tray shown in FIG.

FIG. 21 is a side view of still another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

22 is a schematic plan view of the specific example shown in FIG. 21. FIG.

FIG. 23 is a front view of the transfer device shown in FIG. 21, in which part is omitted.

FIG. 24 is a plan view of the transfer device shown in FIG. 21.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Small article constant amount collection device 2 Circulating conveyor 3 Receiving tray 4 Parts 5 Parts loading device 10 Encoder 12 Opening device

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] January 20, 1992

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0012

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

A component chute 6 is provided at the upstream end of the circulation conveyor 2 and serves as a charging means for charging a smaller number of the components 4 than the quantity to be collected, and a supply chute 6 for supplying the components 4 as shown in FIG. When, its while loosened by vibrating the component 4 supplied from the feed chute 6
Unraveling chute 7 that advances it, and unraveling chute 7
Received in order to calculate the number of component 4 falling from the tip
And, a feeding hopper 8 to then put into components pan 3 of the circulating conveyor 2 consists meter 9 for measuring the total weight of components 4 in the charging hopper 8.

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0061

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

By the way, in the component constant amount collection device 101, these hoppers 181 to 186 are moved in the B direction from above the hoppers 181 to 186 as saucers, but the saucer 3 and the like described above with reference to FIG. The article collecting apparatus of the present invention may be formed using such means. That is, as shown in FIGS. 21 to 24, the hopper 1
The component constant weight collecting device 301 in which a plurality of trays 3 corresponding to 81 to 186 are moved in the direction B from above the trays 3 includes two standby hoppers 30 arranged side by side.
2 and 303, and a transfer device 30 that transfers the components supplied from the chute 304 to the standby hoppers 302 and 303.
5 and two transfer paths 306 and 307 of the transfer device 305.
Of the weights 308 and 309, which are juxtaposed in the middle of each of the above, and measure the weight of the components conveyed by the conveyance device 305, and the plurality of trays 3 arranged in an annular shape so as to pass below the standby hoppers 302 and 303 , A swivel device 310 for moving (swirling) these saucers 3 from above the saucer 3 in the B direction, a collection hopper 311 arranged below the travel path of the saucer 3, and below the travel path of the saucer 3 as well. The discharge conveyor 312 is disposed above the collecting hopper 311 and the discharge conveyor 312.
The opening device 12 described with reference to FIG.
The opening device on the second side is not shown). Although not shown, the component constant weight collecting device 301 of this example is also equipped with the above-described arithmetic device 14 or 118 and the encoder 5 for detecting the current position of the tray 3.

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0062

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

The standby hoppers 302 and 303 are respectively
Openable and closable inclined bottom plates 321 and 322, and inclined bottom plate 32
Air cylinders 323 and 32 for opening and closing 1 and 322
4 has a, when the air cylinder 323 or 324 is actuated by the actuation signal from the arithmetic unit 14, the inclined bottom plate 3
21 or 322 is opened and the standby hopper 302 or 30 is opened.
The parts housed in No. 3 are the standby hoppers 302 or 303.
It is adapted to be put into the tray 3 which has been moved below.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0063

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

The carrier device 305 includes an electric motor 332 having a sprocket wheel attached to an output rotary shaft and fixed to a frame 331, and a bearing 333 on the frame 331.
And two shafts 33 rotatably provided via 334.
5 and 336 and the shafts 335 and 336, respectively, and the sprocket wheel 3 connected to the sprocket wheel of the motor 332 through an endless chain 337.
38 and 339, swing arms 340 and 341 fixed to shafts 335 and 336, respectively, and swing arm 340.
And a support arm 3 rotatably connected to each of 341
42 and 343, and rods 344 attached to the support arms 342 and 343, respectively (the support arm 343 side lock rod).
( Not shown), two sets of thin plates 345 and 346 attached at one end to a rod 344, and two sets alternately supported by the chute 304 at one end. A large number of thin rods 347 and 348 of
Two sets of intermediate thin plates 349 and 350, which are supported by the frame 331 and are alternately arranged with respect to the thin plates 345 and 346, and the thin plate 3 which is also supported by the frame 331.
Two sets of thin plates 351 and 352 are alternately arranged for 45 and 346. The upper edges of the thin plates 345 and 346 and the thin plates 349 and 350 excluding both sides are formed in a corrugated (semicircular) shape.
The upper edges of 51 and 352 are also formed in a semicircular shape at one end side, and the thin rods 347 and 348 are bent upward at the free end side. It should be noted that one of the support arms 342 is provided so as to slide on the outer circumference of the disc 353 provided at one end of the corresponding swing arm 340. The other side of the support arm 343 is similarly formed. Further, although not shown, the shaft 335
The transport device 305 is provided with a detector that detects the number of rotations of the.

[Procedure Amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0064

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

In the thus-formed transport device 305, when the motor 332 is actuated and its output rotation shaft rotates, this rotation is transmitted to the shafts 335 and 336 via the chain 337 and the sprocket wheels 338 and 339. The shafts 335 and 336 are rotated, and as a result, the swing arms 340 and 341 are also rotated. Swing arm 34
With rotations of 0 and 341, the lamellas 345 and 346 attached to the support arms 342 and 343 make a circular motion, which causes the rods 347 and 348 and the lamellas 349, 3 to move.
As a result of passing between 50, 351, and 352 and being raised and lowered with respect to each, the chute 304 to the thin rod 3
The parts supplied to 47 and 348 are thin plates 345 and 3
Alternately to the valley of the upper edge of 46, then from this valley to the valley of the upper edges of the thin plates 349 and 350, and from this valley to the next valley of the upper edges of the thin plates 345 and 346. The sheet is conveyed in the direction, and finally is conveyed to the inclined portion of the upper edge of the thin plates 351 and 352 via the valley portion of the upper edge of the thin plates 351 and 352. The parts conveyed to the inclined portions of the upper edges of the thin plates 351 and 352 are then supplied to the standby hoppers 302 and 303. As is clear from the above, the conveying device 305 includes the conveying path 306 including the thin rods 347 and the thin plates 345, 349 and 351, and the thin rods 348 and the thin plates 346 and 35.
And a transport path 307 including 0 and 352. Motor 332 in the transport apparatus 305 also includes the Ru at least one component is placed in wait <br/> machine hopper 302 or 303 in this embodiment, its operation is controlled to be stopped. This control is performed by weighing machines 308 and 309 and a shaft 335 which will be described later.
Is performed based on a signal from a detector that detects the rotation speed of the.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A loading means for loading a quantity of articles smaller than a target quantity to be collected, a distribution means for circulatingly transporting the quantities of the articles loaded by the loading means, and articles transferred by the distribution means. A combination of at least two units of the article group inserted during the measurement is provided with a determination unit for determining whether or not the target amount as a preset collection unit is reached, and the result of the combination by the determination unit is the target. An article quantitative collection device, characterized in that the articles in a quantity combination are discharged to a collection means provided on the way of conveyance of the distribution means. 2. A means for supplying an article group of a quantity smaller than a target quantity, a means for sequentially weighing the article groups supplied from the supply means, and a means for storing a plurality of quantities of the weighed article group. In an article quantitative collection device for accommodating a weighed article group and ejecting the accommodated article group in accordance with a release instruction, in the article quantitative collection device for obtaining a target amount, the supplied article group and other already accommodated articles are collected. It is determined whether or not the combination with the article group is the target amount, and if it is the target amount, the combined article group is determined to be released. An article quantitative collection device, which receives an article group. 3. A standby hopper for temporarily holding an unspecified known amount of articles less than a target amount to be collected, a plurality of trays provided on the same circumference, and a standby hopper for each of these trays one after another. A swivel device for swiveling the tray so as to be placed at the article group discharge position, and tracking means for tracking the current position of the article group accommodated in each tray along with the information of the amount of the article group corresponding to the movement of each tray. , Calculating means for combining at least two article groups stored in the saucer to obtain a target amount, and the result of the combination by the calculating means, from the saucer rotating surface of the saucer so as to discharge the article group of the combination having the target quantity Article comprising discharge means provided above and discharge means provided above the swivel surface of the tray so as to discharge from the tray a group of articles for which a combination of target amounts could not be obtained while the tray was swirling Item collection device.