JPH05330632A - Article supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To supply stably an article difficult to supply stably by its nature and the like by watching whether the article exists in the article carry out side of a trough shape part or not and vibrating until the article reaches a prescribed position when the article does not exist. CONSTITUTION:Under such status that an article exists in the article carry in side of the through shape part 13 of a straight running feeder 22 and the article does not exist on a nearly prescribed position in the article carry out side, a vibration part 11 vibrates corresponding to the signal of an article detector 16 and the article is carried from the article carry in side of the trough shape part 13 toward the article carry out side. When a top article reaches a nearly prescribed position, the signal of the article detector 16 is changed and the vibration is stopped. When a signal requesting the carry out of the article from the article carry out side exists under such status that the article detector 16 does not detect the article, such signal is memorized. When the article detector 16 detects the article under that status, a request drive signal is supplied to the vibration part 11 and the article is carried out from the carry out side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an article supply apparatus, and more particularly to an article supply apparatus for supplying articles to a supply hopper and a weighing hopper of a combination scale.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 4, the above-mentioned article supply apparatus has a plurality of dispersion members each having a substantially fan-shaped planar shape, which is inclined obliquely downward from the essential 19 side toward the arc side. Some have 10. Then, these dispersion members 10
A trough-shaped portion 12 is integrally formed with the arc-shaped side of the gutter-shaped portion, and the integrated article of the dispersion member 10 and the trough-shaped portion 12 is vibrated by a vibrating portion 18 provided below the trough-shaped portion 12. Be done. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, article detectors 28 are respectively provided obliquely above the tips of the gutter-shaped portions 12 to check whether or not the articles are present at the tip position a of the gutter-shaped portions 12. It is detecting.

In this article supply device, when the article detector 28 detects that no article is present at the tip end position a of the gutter-shaped portion 12, the vibrating section 18 vibrates,
It is possible to gradually move the article on the 19th side toward the tip position a side of the gutter-shaped portion 12. Then, when the article detector 28 detects that the article has moved to the tip position a, the vibration of the vibrating unit 18 is stopped, thereby completing the preparation for the article supply. Next, the supply hopper 24 provided on the tip side of the gutter-shaped portion 12 becomes empty, and the supply hopper 24
When a drive signal is input to the vibrating section 18 so as to supply the article to the vibrating section 18, the vibrating section 18 vibrates for a certain period of time and the gutter-shaped section 1
2 for supplying the articles located at the front end position a and the rear thereof.
4 (actual application 60-052630)
issue). That is, this article supply device vibrates the vibrating section 18 until the article moves to the tip position a of the gutter-shaped section 12,
Thereby, when the articles are supplied to the supply hopper 24, the articles can be immediately supplied.

[0004]

However, in the above-described conventional article supply apparatus, a drive signal is input to the vibrating section 18 so as to supply the article to the supply hopper 24, and the vibrating section 18 vibrates for a certain period of time. When doing, if the article has not moved to the tip position a yet, there is a problem that the article cannot be supplied to the supply hopper 24. That is, for example, in a combination weigher, in order to improve the weighing accuracy, it is necessary to bring the weight of the articles supplied to each supply hopper 24 close to a predetermined target weight. And, for example, when accurately supplying the products to the supply hopper 24 little by little,
Alternatively, in the case of accurately supplying articles such as meat pieces that are difficult to convey by a predetermined weight, the amplitude B of vibration when supplying the article at the tip position a to the supply hopper 24 becomes a relatively small value. Must be set. On the other hand, in order to quickly move the articles on the dispersion member 10 and the gutter-shaped portion 12 to the tip position a, it is necessary to set the vibration amplitude C to a relatively large value. Therefore, for example, when the amplitude of the vibration of the vibrating unit 18 is set close to B, an article close to the target weight can be supplied to the supply hopper 24, but the article can be quickly conveyed to the tip position a. However, the above problem occurs. Then, when the vibration amplitude of the vibrating portion 18 is set close to C, the article can be quickly conveyed to the front end position a, but the article near the target weight is supplied to the supply hopper 2
There is a problem that it cannot be supplied to No.

An object of the present invention is to provide an article supply device that solves the above problems.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gutter-shaped portion for conveying an article, a vibrating portion for vibrating the gutter-shaped portion, and an article at a substantially predetermined position on the article discharge side of the gutter-shaped portion. An article detector that supplies a preparatory drive signal to the vibrating section when it is detected that there is not, and a supply signal generation section that generates a request signal requesting that the article be unloaded from the article unloading side of the gutter-shaped section. A storage unit that stores a predetermined signal indicating that the request signal is generated when the supply signal generation unit generates the request signal in a state where the product detector is not detecting the product, and the storage unit is Requesting the vibrating section to drive the vibrating section when the article detector detects the article before the supply signal generating section generates the next request signal while storing the predetermined signal. A drive signal generator that supplies a drive signal, It is characterized in that Bei.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a gutter-shaped portion for conveying an article, a vibrating portion for vibrating the gutter-shaped portion, and detection of the absence of an article at a substantially predetermined position on the article discharge side of the gutter-shaped portion are detected. An article detector that supplies a preparatory drive signal for driving the vibrating section to the vibrating section so that the article on the gutter-shaped section is conveyed relatively quickly to the substantially predetermined position on the article unloading side, A supply signal generator that generates a request signal for requesting to carry out an article from the article carry-out side of the gutter-shaped part, and the supply signal generator when the article detector detects the article. Drive for supplying the required drive signal to the vibrating section so that the article on the gutter-like section is relatively slowly unloaded through the substantially predetermined position on the article unloading side. And a signal generator. It is intended to.

A third invention is the article supply apparatus according to the first or second invention, in which the weight of the article carried out from the article carrying-out side of the gutter-shaped portion is compared with a predetermined supply target weight. In order for the weight of the article to match the above-mentioned supply target weight,
Alternatively, an element changing unit that changes either one or both of the two elements of the time for which the vibrating unit is driven by the request drive signal so as to approach and the amplitude of vibration generated by the vibrating unit is provided. It is characterized by that.

A fourth invention is, in the article supply apparatus according to the first or second invention, a transportation time until the article is transported to the predetermined position on the article unloading side of the trough portion and a predetermined target time. And an amplitude changing unit that changes the amplitude of the vibration generated by the vibrating unit according to the preparatory drive signal so that the conveyance time matches the target time or approaches. To do.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the invention, for example, when an article is present on the article carrying-in side of the gutter-shaped portion, but no article is present at a substantially predetermined position on the article carrying-out side, a signal from the article detector is detected. The vibrating section vibrates, and the article is conveyed from the article carry-in side of the gutter-shaped section toward the article carry-out side. When the leading article reaches the substantially predetermined position, the signal from the article detector changes and the vibration stops. That is, it always operates so as to convey the article to a predetermined position of the trough portion. Also, in the state where the article detector does not detect the article (the article does not exist at the predetermined position),
When the supply signal generating unit generates the request signal requesting to carry out the article from the article carrying-out side, the storage unit stores a predetermined signal indicating that the request signal is generated. Then, when the article detector detects the article while the storage section stores the predetermined signal, the drive signal generation section supplies the request drive signal to the vibrating section to vibrate the vibrating section. That is, when the supply signal generation unit generates a request signal so that the article is unloaded from the article unloading side of the trough-shaped portion in a state where the article does not exist at the substantially predetermined position of the trough-shaped portion, the supply signal generation unit requests the next request. By the time the signal is generated, when the article is conveyed to a substantially predetermined position, the vibrating section is vibrated to eject the article from the carry-out side.

According to the second aspect of the invention, for example, when the article is present on the article loading side of the gutter-shaped portion, but the article is not present at a predetermined position on the article unloading side, the article detector is provided in the vibrating section. A drive signal is supplied to drive the vibrating section. As a result, the article on the gutter-shaped portion is conveyed relatively quickly from the article carry-in side to the article carry-out side. When the leading article reaches the substantially predetermined position, the signal from the article detector changes and the vibration stops. When the supply signal generator generates a request signal requesting that the article is discharged from the article discharge side of the gutter-shaped portion while the article detector is detecting the article, the drive signal generator drives the vibrating section to drive the request. A signal is supplied to drive the vibrating section. As a result, the article on the gutter-shaped portion is carried out relatively slowly through the substantially predetermined position on the article carrying-out side.

According to the third invention, in the first or second invention, the weight of the article carried out from the article carrying-out side of the gutter-shaped portion is compared with a predetermined supply target weight, and the weight of the article is compared. So as to match or approach the supply target weight, either one of the two factors of the time for which the vibrating section is driven by the required drive signal and the amplitude of the vibration generated by the vibrating section, or both of them. The element changing unit changes the element.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, a transport time from the article loading side of the trough portion to a predetermined position on the article unloading side and a predetermined target time are set. And the amplitude changing unit changes the amplitude of the vibration generated by the vibrating unit in response to the preparatory drive signal so that the transport time matches or approaches the target time.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The article supply apparatus of this embodiment is applied to the combination weigher shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, this combination scale has a plurality of weighing hoppers 2, a weight detection unit, and a weight detection unit, respectively.
For example, the load cell 4 is provided. Articles are supplied to these weighing hoppers 2 from a supply hopper 6 provided above the weighing hoppers 2, and each load cell 4 generates a weighing signal (weighing value) representing the weight of the fed articles. These weighing signals are supplied to a CPU (not shown) provided in the control circuit 1. The CPU variously combines the weighing signals according to the program, and selects a combination having a total weight equal to or closest to a predetermined combination target weight from these combinations. In addition, the CPU provides a signal to the gate drive 5 to open the gate 3 of the weighing hopper 2 containing the articles that make up the selected combination. When the above signal is input, the gate driver 5 opens and closes the corresponding gate 3 for a predetermined time. As a result, the articles are discharged from the weighing hopper 2 containing the selected articles to the collecting chute 7, supplied to a packaging machine (not shown) provided below the collecting chute 7, and packaged. ..

Further, the CPU causes the weighing hopper 2 emptied by discharging the article to open the gate 8 of the supply hopper 6 provided above the weighing hopper 2 to gate a signal for feeding the article. It is supplied to the drive unit 9. When the above signal is input, the gate driver 9 opens and closes the corresponding gate 8 for a predetermined time. As a result, articles are supplied to the empty weighing hopper 2. The supply of the articles to the empty supply hoppers 6 is performed by operating the linear feeders 22 provided above the respective supply hoppers 6, which correspond to the empty supply hoppers 6. But,
This is the feature of the present invention, and a detailed description will be given later. Further, 25 is a dispersion feeder for supplying the articles to each straight feeder 22. This distributed feeder 2
5 supplies each straight-moving feeder 22 with a predetermined amount of articles supplied from above.

The straight feeder 22 is, as shown in FIG.
The gutter-shaped part 13 (the gutter-shaped part described in the claims) is provided. The distribution feeder 25 side of the gutter-shaped portion 13 is the article loading side, and the supply hopper 6 side is the article unloading side. Then, as shown by an arrow, the vibrating portion 11 (vibrating portion described in the claims) provided under the trough portion 13 vibrates in an obliquely vertical direction. There are two types of vibration amplitudes, a large amplitude and a small amplitude. That is, when a signal is supplied from the large amplitude generation circuit 14 shown in FIG. 1 to the vibrating section 11, it vibrates with a large amplitude, and when a signal is supplied from the small amplitude generation circuit 15 to the vibrating section 11, it vibrates with a small amplitude.

An article detector 16 (an article detector described in the claims) is provided obliquely above the article unloading side of each trough portion 13, and the article is substantially at the tip end position on the article unloading side. It is detected whether it exists in b. That is, the article detector 16 generates an H-level output signal when an article is detected.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing units A to E of a logic circuit provided for each straight feeder 22. These plural sets of units A to E are provided in the control circuit 1. The output signal of each article detector 16 is inverted by the inverter 17 of the unit A and supplied to each large-amplitude generation circuit 14, as shown in FIG. The output signal of the large-amplitude generation circuit 14 is supplied to the vibrating section 11 of the corresponding trough-shaped section 13. The vibrating unit 11 vibrates while the H-level signal (preparation drive signal described in the claims) is supplied from the large-amplitude generation circuit 14, and the amplitude of the vibration has a relatively large value. That is, when the article detector 16 detects that there is no article at the tip position b of the trough-like portion 13 (see FIG. 3).
(When the detection signal shown in FIG. 6 becomes L level), the vibrating unit 11
Generates a large amplitude vibration and quickly conveys the article on the gutter 13 from the loading side to the unloading side. When the leading article reaches the tip position b and the article detector 16 detects the article (when the detection signal becomes H level), the vibration of the vibrating section 11 stops (the preparation drive signal becomes L level). ).

Further, when the article detector 16 detects the article and the H-level article detection signal is supplied to the AND circuit 19, the CPU (CPU) supplies the article to the empty supply hopper 6. Has the function of the supply signal generating unit described in the claims.), An H-level request signal is output, and when this output signal is input to the AND circuit 19 via the timer TL1, this AND circuit 1
The output signal 9 is supplied to the monostable multivibrator 21 via the OR circuit 20. Then, the monostable multivibrator 21 supplies a predetermined output signal to the small amplitude generation circuit 15. At this time, the small-amplitude generation circuit 15 outputs a request drive signal, and the request drive signal corresponds to the vibrating section 1.
1 is supplied. The vibrating unit 11 vibrates while the H level request drive signal is supplied from the small amplitude generation circuit 15, and the amplitude of the vibration has a relatively small value. That is,
It is required to supply an article to the empty supply hopper 6 by opening and closing the gate of the supply hopper 6 while the article exists at the tip position b of the trough-like portion 13 (detection signal is at H level). When the request signal to be generated is generated (the request signal in FIG. 3 is at the H level), the vibrating section 11 generates vibration with a small amplitude (the request drive signal in FIG. 3 is at the H level), and the article on the gutter-shaped section 13 is Is relatively slowly unloaded from the article unloading side to the supply hopper 6. As a result, an article having a substantially predetermined weight can be reliably supplied to the supply hopper 6. Note that supplying the article to the supply hopper 6 relatively slowly means that it is slower than the speed at which the vibrating unit 11 generates large-amplitude vibration and conveys the article from the carry-in side to the carry-out side. .. Further, by supplying the article to the supply hopper 6 relatively slowly, even if the weight of the article to be supplied to the supply hopper 6 is light, the article can be accurately supplied. The large amplitude generation circuit 14 and the small amplitude generation circuit 15 are included in the unit C.

However, when the CPU outputs the H-level request signal for requesting the supply of the article to the supply hopper 6, if the article is not present at the tip position b, the vibrating section 11 does not vibrate. Therefore, the articles are not fed to the feeding hopper 6. In this case, the H level request signal and the H level output signal of the inverter 17 are the AND circuit 2 of FIG.
H is output from the AND circuit 23 because it is supplied to
The output signal of the level is input to the supply hopper empty memory 27 (the storage unit described in the claims) via the OR circuit 26. The supply hopper empty memory 27 sets a flag to 1 when an output signal is input from the OR circuit 26, and supplies an H level supply hopper empty signal to that effect to the AND circuit 29. Then, when the article reaches the tip position b of the gutter-shaped portion 13 thereafter, the H-level detection signal is sent to the AND circuit 29.
To the monostable multivibrator 21 via the OR circuit 20.
Supply to. At this time, the monostable multivibrator 21 supplies a predetermined output signal to the small-amplitude generating circuit 15 to vibrate the vibrating part 11 of the corresponding trough-shaped part 13 with a small amplitude, thereby supplying an article of a predetermined weight. Supply to 6. When the monostable multivibrator 21 outputs an H level signal, the signal is input to the supply hopper empty memory 27, whereby the flag is reset to 0.

That is, as shown in FIG.
₂ is when the request signal for requesting the empty supply hopper 6 to supply the article becomes H level, and at this time, there is no article at the tip position b (the detection signal is L Level), no articles are supplied to the supply hopper 6.
However, at this time, the supply hopper empty memory 27 stores that the supply hopper 6 is empty, and outputs an H level supply hopper empty signal (flag = 1). Therefore, when the article reaches the front end position b after that (when the detection signal becomes H level), the vibrating section 11 can be vibrated with a small amplitude to supply the article to the supply hopper 6. That is, since the article is not conveyed to the tip position b at the timing T ₂ , even if the article cannot be supplied to the supply hopper 6, the article is not moved to the tip position b from the timing T ₂ to the timing T _3. If it is transported, the hopper 6 for supplying the goods at that time
Can be supplied to. Therefore, the timing when articles in the weighing hopper are selected as a combination and discharged is, for example, T ₃
′, If the articles can be supplied to the supply hopper 6 between T ₂ and T ₃ ′, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the number of weighing hoppers that participate in the combination, and thereby the combination weighing machine The weighing accuracy can be maintained at high accuracy. It should be noted that the units A and C shown in FIG. 1 implement the drive signal generation unit described in the claims.

The unit B shown in FIG. 1 determines whether or not an article is supplied to the weighing hopper 2 after the gate of the supply hopper 6 is opened and closed, and determines that the article is not supplied to the weighing hopper 2. Is a unit for supplying articles to the supply hopper 6. Although not shown in FIG. 1, when the articles are supplied to the supply hopper 6, the supply hopper 6
The gate opens to supply articles to the empty weighing hopper 2. That is, the unit B is for preventing the product from being fed to the weighing hopper 2 due to a malfunction of the unit A or the like. Reference numeral 30 shown in FIG. 1 is a determination circuit. The determination circuit 30 uses a weighing signal (weighing value) output by the load cell 4 and an empty set value (predetermined weight value).
Compare with. An output signal is supplied to the AND circuit 31 when it is determined that the weighing signal is smaller than the empty set value, that is, when it is determined that the weighing hopper 2 is not supplied with an article having a weight equal to or more than the empty set value. .. On the other hand, the AND circuit 31 is connected so that a request signal for requesting the supply of the article to the supply hopper 6 is input via the timer TL2. Therefore, the AND circuit 31 operates in the supply hopper 6
When the weighing hopper 2 is not supplied with an article having a weight equal to or more than the empty set value even though the gate of is opened and closed, an H level signal is supplied via the OR circuit 26 to the empty memory 27 of the supply hopper.
Supply to. As a result, as described in the unit A, the articles having the predetermined weight can be supplied to the supply hopper 6, and the articles supplied to the supply hopper 6 can be supplied to the weighing hopper 2.

The unit D is the element changing unit according to the third aspect. The unit D changes the vibration time of the small-amplitude vibration and the amplitude of the small-amplitude vibration of the vibrating section 11 so that the weight of the articles supplied to the weighing hopper 2 matches or approaches the predetermined supply target weight. Then, the weight of the articles supplied to the supply hopper 6 is adjusted. 32 shown in FIG.
Is a determination circuit. The determination circuit 32 compares the weight value of the article in the weighing hopper 2 with the supply target weight, and supplies the second calculation unit 33 with data indicating whether the weight value is heavier or lighter than the supply target weight. To do. Second calculation unit 33
Based on this data, supplies the monostable multivibrator 21 with a signal that changes the time for vibrating the vibrating unit 11 with a small amplitude so that the measured value matches or approaches the supply target weight. Then, a signal for changing the amplitude of the small-amplitude vibration is further supplied to the small-amplitude generation circuit 15. For example, when the measured value is heavier by the weight J than the target supply weight, the weight of the article fed by the linear feeder 22 to the feed hopper 6 is reduced so that the weight J is reduced. At this time, the vibration time of the vibration part 11 is changed from the original time to the weight J
Change to a time (this time is shorter than the original time) obtained by subtracting a predetermined time corresponding to. Then, the amplitude of the vibrating portion 11 is changed to an amplitude obtained by subtracting a predetermined amplitude corresponding to the weight J from the original amplitude (this amplitude is smaller than the original amplitude).

The unit E is the amplitude changing unit according to the fourth aspect. The unit E measures the transport time during the preparatory drive for transporting the article to the tip position b of the gutter-shaped portion 13, and determines the size of the vibrating portion 11 so that the transport time matches or approaches a predetermined target time. Amplitude The amplitude of vibration is changed. As a result, the article can be made to reach the tip position at a predetermined timing, and the weight of the article existing near the tip position b of the gutter-shaped portion 13 can be made substantially constant even if the property of the article changes. It can be maintained so that a substantially constant weight of articles can be fed to the feed hopper 6.
Reference numeral 34 shown in FIG. 1 is a first calculation unit. First calculation unit 34
Receives an H-level signal output from the inverter 17 when the article is not present at the tip position b of the gutter-shaped portion 13,
The conveyance time is compared with the target time from when the H level signal is received until the article reaches the tip position b until the L level signal output from the inverter 17 is received, and the conveyance time is the target. Calculate how long or how short the time is. Then, based on this data, a signal for changing the amplitude of the vibrating section 11 is supplied to the large-amplitude generation circuit 14 so that the transport time matches or approaches the target time. For example, when the transport time is longer than the target time by a time L, the amplitude of the vibrating portion 11 is subtracted from the original amplitude by a predetermined amplitude corresponding to the time L so as to be shortened by the long time L. (This amplitude is smaller than the original amplitude.)

However, according to the straight-line feeder 22 of the above embodiment, the amplitude of the vibration when the article on the gutter-shaped portion 13 is conveyed to the tip position b is set to a large amplitude, and the article is fed from the gutter-shaped portion 13 to the supply hopper 6. Although the amplitude of the vibration at the time of carrying out is set to a small amplitude, the vibration of the same amplitude can be used in any case.

Although the unit D shown in FIG. 1 is provided and feedback control is performed so that the weight of the article supplied to the weighing hopper 2 becomes the target supply weight, the article supply apparatus may not have the unit D. it can.

Further, the unit D shown in FIG. 1 is arranged so that the weight of the articles supplied to the weighing hopper 2 becomes the supply target weight.
Although the vibration time and the vibration amplitude of the vibration unit 11 are changed, only the vibration time of the vibration unit 11 may be changed without changing both the vibration time and the vibration amplitude. Alternatively, only the amplitude of vibration may be changed.

Then, the unit E shown in FIG. 1 is provided and feedback control is performed so that the time until the article on the gutter 13 reaches the tip position b becomes a predetermined target time. It can be a non-goods supply device.

Furthermore, the units A, B, C shown in FIG.
The logic circuits constituting D and E can be replaced with a microcomputer and a program for operating the microcomputer.

[0030]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the article detector monitors whether or not an article is present at a predetermined position on the article carrying-out side of the gutter-shaped portion, and if the article is not present, the article is at the predetermined position. The vibrating part is driven until it reaches. Therefore, when the articles are supplied to, for example, the supply hopper by the article supply device, there is an effect that the articles can be immediately (reliably) supplied. Then, even when the article is not present at the predetermined position on the carry-out side of the gutter-shaped portion when the article is to be supplied to the supply hopper, the article is not transferred when the article is conveyed to the predetermined position. Since the product can be supplied to the supply hopper, there is an effect that it is possible to avoid the situation where the product is not supplied to the supply hopper with a higher probability than in the past.

According to the second aspect of the invention, in a state where the article does not exist at the predetermined position on the article carrying-out side of the gutter-shaped portion, the article is relatively quickly moved from the article carrying-in side of the gutter-shaped portion toward the article carrying-out side. The vibrating part can be driven so that it is transported,
When the article reaches a predetermined position, the vibration of the vibrating section is stopped, so that when the article is supplied to, for example, the supply hopper by the article supply device, there is an effect that the article can be immediately (reliably) supplied. Then, when the article is supplied to the supply hopper in a state where the article exists at the predetermined position on the unloading side, the vibrating section is driven so that the article on the gutter-shaped section is relatively slowly unloaded from the article unloading side. There is an effect that it is possible to supply to the supply hopper an article having a weight that matches or is close to the supply target weight (desired weight). Further, since the articles can be slowly supplied to the supply hopper, even when supplying a lumpy article such as a piece of meat that is difficult to convey or a small amount (or a small number) of articles to the supply hopper, It is possible to supply an accurate weight (or number) of articles.

According to the third invention, in the first or second invention, the weight of the article carried out from the article carrying-out side of the gutter-shaped portion is compared with a predetermined supply target weight, and the weight of the article is compared. It is possible to change either one or both of the two factors of the time and the amplitude of the vibration that the vibrating unit drives so that the value of the vibration target is equal to or closer to the supply target weight. Therefore, when the articles are supplied to, for example, the supply hopper by the article supply device, it is possible to always supply the articles having substantially the target supply weight. That is, when it is applied to the combination weigher as in the embodiment, it is possible to supply the articles having substantially the target supply weight to the respective supply hoppers, so that it is possible to improve the so-called combination weighing accuracy of the combination weigher. is there.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the transport time from the article loading side of the gutter-shaped portion to the article unloading side at a substantially predetermined position and a predetermined target time. The amplitude of the vibration generated by the vibrating section can be changed so that the conveyance time matches or approaches the target time, so that the article is always conveyed to the predetermined position at the substantially target time. can do. Therefore, for example, when an article is to be supplied to the supply hopper at a predetermined timing by this article supply device, the article is present at a predetermined position at that timing, so that the article can always be supplied at a substantially predetermined timing. There is an effect that you can. Further, as described above, since the article can be controlled to be conveyed to the predetermined position in a substantially target time, even if the property of the article is changed, the amount of the article existing near the predetermined position of the gutter-shaped portion can be controlled. There is also an effect that it can be maintained substantially constant, and thereby an article having a substantially constant weight can be supplied to the supply hopper.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a logic circuit for operating an article supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a combination weigher to which the article supply apparatus of the same embodiment is applied.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing various output signals of the article supply apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a partially omitted vertical sectional view of a conventional article supply device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Control circuit 11 Vibrating part 13 Gutter-like part 16 Article detector 27 Supply hopper empty memory

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location B65G 65/32 C 7331-3F G01G 19/387 C 7809-2F

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A gutter-shaped portion for conveying an article, a vibrating portion for vibrating the gutter-shaped portion, and the vibration when it is detected that the article does not exist at a substantially predetermined position on the article-unloading side of the gutter-shaped portion. An article detector that supplies a preparatory drive signal to the section, a supply signal generator that generates a request signal requesting that the article be unloaded from the article unloading side of the gutter-shaped section, and the article detector that detects the article. A storage unit that stores a predetermined signal indicating that the request signal is generated when the supply signal generation unit generates the request signal in a state where the supply signal generation unit does not store the predetermined signal, and a state in which the storage unit stores the predetermined signal. In the drive signal generating section for supplying a required drive signal to the vibrating section to drive the vibrating section when the article detector detects an article before the supply signal generating section generates the next request signal. An article supply characterized by comprising: Feeder. 2. A gutter-shaped part for conveying an article, a vibrating part for vibrating the gutter-shaped part, and the gutter when it is detected that no article is present at a substantially predetermined position on the article carrying-out side of the gutter-shaped part. An article detector that supplies to the vibrating section a preparatory drive signal for driving the vibrating section so that the article on the vibrating section is conveyed relatively quickly to the substantially predetermined position on the article unloading side, and the gutter-shaped section When the supply signal generating section generates a request signal for requesting to carry out the article from the article carrying-out side, and the supply signal generating section generates the request signal in a state where the article detector detects the article. A drive signal generator that supplies a required drive signal to the vibrating section so that the article on the gutter-like section is relatively slowly unloaded through the substantially predetermined position on the article unloading side. And article supply characterized by comprising: apparatus. 3. The article supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the weight of the article carried out from the article carrying-out side of the gutter-shaped portion is compared with a predetermined supply target weight, and the weight of the article is determined. Either one or both of the two factors of the time for which the vibrating section is driven by the request drive signal and the amplitude of the vibration generated by the vibrating section so as to match or approach the supply target weight. An article supply device, which is provided with an element changing unit for changing the element of FIG. 4. The article supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveyance time until the article is conveyed to the predetermined position on the article unloading side of the gutter-shaped portion is compared with a predetermined target time. An article supply device characterized in that an amplitude changing section for changing the amplitude of the vibration generated by the vibrating section by the preparatory drive signal is provided so that the conveyance time thereof coincides with or approaches the target time. ..