JPH0537225Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a system for supplying objects to be weighed to a weighing device that automatically and continuously weighs objects to a predetermined weight.

(Prior art) The objects to be weighed are distributed and supplied from the storage part of the objects to be weighed, for example, to a plurality of weighing machines arranged in a circle around the storage part, and the weight of each weighing machine is measured. Perform calculations to select the optimal combination in which the combination addition value matches the predetermined target weight or is closest to the target weight within the predetermined tolerance range, and only the objects to be weighed in the weighing machine that correspond to the optimal combination are selected. A combination weighing type automatic weighing device has been put into practical use, in which objects to be weighed having the above-mentioned target weight or a weight close to the target weight are obtained by discharging and collecting objects.

However, when performing weighing work using this type of weighing device, a bucket conveyor type, belt conveyor type, etc., which is a separate and independent device from the weighing device, is used to supply the object to be weighed to the storage section. A supply device for objects to be weighed is installed in close proximity to the weighing device, but this feeding device does not constantly supply objects to be weighed to the weighing device, but instead feeds the weighing device into the storage section of the weighing device to prevent oversupply. It is customary to supply the object to be weighed only when the amount of the object to be weighed stored in the container has decreased below a certain limit. Therefore, the weighing device is provided with a detection device that detects the amount of the object to be weighed stored in the storage section, and is configured to operate the supply device when the detection device detects a decrease in the amount of the object to be weighed stored. However, in the past, the amount of objects to be weighed stored in the storage section was detected by measuring the height of the objects to be weighed using a level sensor such as an optical sensor. Therefore, it was not always possible to additionally supply the object to be weighed to the storage section at the optimum timing.

Furthermore, in order to operate the supply device according to the amount of the object to be weighed stored in the storage section of the weighing device, conventionally, the storage amount detection device on the weighing device side and the supply device are connected via an electrical cord. This caused the following inconveniences:

In other words, in this case, the weighing device and the supply device are installed on the floor while being connected via electrical cords, but when cleaning these devices or their surroundings, the weighing device Alternatively, when the supply device is moved separately, the cord may get in the way, or there is a risk that the cord may be disconnected by forgetting that it is connected by the cord and moving it. In addition, the measuring device and the feeding device are washed with water after the calculation work is completed from a sanitary standpoint, especially when handling food. At this time, the connector section provided for connecting the electric cord is washed with water. This caused problems such as poor conductivity due to rusting of the connector portion.

Furthermore, in a configuration where the weighing device and the feeding device are installed independently on the floor as described above, if the feeding device operates in a state where the positional relationship between the two is not set correctly after they have been moved, , the object to be weighed dropped from the supply device may be supplied to a location other than the storage section of the weighing device, and problems may occur if it spills into the surrounding area.

(Purpose of the invention) The present invention provides a system in which when the storage amount of the object to be weighed in the storage section of the weighing device decreases, the supply device is activated to supply the object to be weighed to the storage section. by eliminating the electrical cord connected between both devices and transmitting the decrease in the object to be weighed in the storage section to the supply device, and the connector section to which the cord is connected. When cleaning these devices and their surroundings, it is possible to move both devices freely, improving the workability of the cleaning work, and also preventing conduction defects due to disconnected electrical cords and rusting of connectors. The purpose is to prevent malfunctions. In addition, when both devices are set back to their original positions after the above-mentioned cleaning work, etc., the feeding device will not operate unless they are set in the proper positional relationship. The purpose is to prevent malfunctions that may occur if an object to be weighed is accidentally dropped into a location other than the storage section of the device.

(Structure of the invention) The system for supplying a measured object to a measuring device according to the invention is characterized by having the following structure in order to achieve the above object.

That is, in a system for supplying objects to be weighed to a weighing device, which includes a weighing device and a supply device disposed near the weighing device and supplying the objects to be weighed to a storage section of the weighing device, the storage section of the weighing device a weight detection device for detecting the weight of the object to be weighed stored in the weighing device; a light emitting element that outputs an optical signal indicative of and a light receiving element that operates the supply device when an optical signal from the supply device is input.

According to this configuration, when the storage amount of the object to be weighed in the storage section of the weighing device decreases and its weight becomes less than a predetermined value, the weight detection device detects this and emits light from the light emitting element. When the signal is output and this optical signal is input to a light receiving element provided in the supply device, the supply device is activated, and the object to be weighed is additionally supplied to the storage section.

In this case, since the amount of the object to be weighed stored in the storage section of the weighing device is detected by its weight, the amount of the object to be weighed stored in the storage section of the weighing device is detected by its weight. Detection of the storage amount is performed with high precision, and additional supply of objects to be weighed to the storage section is always performed at optimal timing.

Particularly, according to the present invention, when the above-mentioned additional supply is performed, the supply device is operated by inputting an optical signal from the light emitting element provided in the metering device to the light receiving element provided in the supply device, so that the metering device is operated. There is no need for an electric cord connecting the device and the supply device, a connector section to which the cord is connected, etc., and it becomes possible to physically separate the metering device and the supply device. The light emitting element and the light receiving element are as follows:
When the weighing device and the feeding device are set in a proper positional relationship, that is, in a positional relationship that allows the object to be weighed to be correctly fed from the feeding device to the storage section of the weighing device, the optical axes coincide and an optical signal from the light emitting element is emitted. can be input to the light-receiving element, and the supply device is activated by this input. This prevents the supply device from operating in a state where the positional relationship between the metering device and the supply device is incorrect.

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

First, the overall structure of a weighing device to which the present invention is applied will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. A dispersion table 6 is provided at the center of the support base 4 via a vibrator 5, and an area above the dispersion table 6 serves as a storage section 7 for objects to be weighed. Further, a plurality of (14 in the illustrated example) supply troughs 8...8 are arranged radially around the dispersion table 6 on the support base 4 via vibrators 9...9, and each trough The same number of measuring units 10 as the troughs 8...8 are provided below the tips of the troughs 8...8.
. . 10 are provided, and further below each measuring portion 10 .

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the measuring section 10 includes a load cell 13 having one end fixed to the lower surface of the periphery of the support base 4 via a bracket 12, and a bracket 14 and a load cell 13 fixed to the other end of the load cell 13. First,
A weighing hopper 17 is attached via second support members 15 and 16, and the hopper 17 is located below the tip of the trough 8, and the object to be weighed from the trough 8 is placed into the weighing hopper 17. The weight of the object is detected by the load cell 13.

Here, a recess 15a is provided at the upper end of the first support member 15 fixed to the load cell 13 via the bracket 14, and an engagement pin 15b is protruded below the recess 15a.
A recess 16 is also provided at the lower end of the second support member 16 that is integral with 7.
a is provided, and an engaging pin 16b is provided above the engaging pin 16b to protrude, and the above-mentioned recess 15a and the engaging pin 1
6b is connected to the first and second support members 15 and 16 by engaging the recess 16a and the engagement pin 15b, respectively.
are separably connected, and thereby weighing hopper 1
7 can be removed from the load cell 13 or the support base 4.

In addition, the weighing hopper 17 has first and second gates 1 whose upper portions are pivotably connected to the second support member 16.
8 and 19, and is provided with a link mechanism 20 for opening both gates 18 and 19 from the illustrated closed position in directions a and b, respectively. This link mechanism 20 includes a first link 21 whose one end is pivotally connected to the second support member 16, and a second link 21, which is pivoted at one end.
The first link 21 has one end pivotally connected to the support member 16.
a second link 22 that rotates integrally with the first gate 1; a third link 23 that connects the second link 22 and the frame 18a of the first gate 18;
A fourth link 24 connects frames 18a and 19a of frames 8 and 19. The tip of the first link 21 is positioned opposite to the tip of the piston rod 26a of the cylinder 26 attached to the lower surface of the support base 4 via the bracket 25, and when the rod 26a protrudes, the first link 21 and the The second link 22 rotates integrally in the c direction against the spring 27, and as a result, the first gate 18 moves in the a direction via the third link 23, and then the fourth link 2
4, the second gates 19 are adapted to swing in the b direction.

Further, a shutter 28 is provided between the tip of the trough 8 and the weighing hopper 17 located below it, to prevent unnecessary dropping of objects to be weighed from the trough 8 into the weighing hopper 17. There is. As shown in FIG. 4, this shutter 28 is swingably supported at the upper end of a column 30 whose lower end is fixed to a support member 29, and a rod 32 is supported by a cylinder 31 attached to the column 30. It is designed to be swung in the d direction (downward) from the illustrated position via a lever 33 and a lever 33.

However, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
The coupling member 3 is connected to the other end of the load cell 36, which is installed on the mounting base 35 via the mounting base 35, and the mounting base 35 has one end fixed to the bottom plate 4a of the support base 4.
7, 38, and as a result, the weight of the mount 35, the vibrator 5, the dispersion table 6, etc., as well as the weight of the object stored in the storage section 7 above the dispersion table 6 is A load is applied to a load cell 36. In this case, since the weights of the mount 35, vibrator 5, distribution table 6, etc. are constant, the weight of the object to be weighed in the storage section 7 is measured by the load cell 36.
When the weight of the object to be weighed falls below a predetermined value, a light emitting element 40 such as a light emitting diode attached to the base 2 via a support 39 outputs an optical signal as shown in FIG. It's getting old.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, in the vicinity of the weighing device 1, there is provided a weighing object supplying device 41 that is separate and independent from the weighing device 1. This supply device 41
is a transmission member 43 such as a chain by a motor 42.
By driving the belt 44 through the belt 44, the object to be weighed, which is supplied onto the belt 44 by a supply section (not shown), is conveyed above the weighing device 1, and is transferred from the dropping section 45 to the storage section 7 of the weighing device 1. It's starting to drop.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, this supply device 41 is arranged with respect to the weighing device 1 so that the dropping portion 45 is located directly above the dispersion table 6 in the storage portion 7 of the weighing device 1. When the light emitting element 40 provided in the measuring device 1 is aligned with the optical axis A, a light receiving element 46 such as a phototransistor is inserted.
is provided. When this light receiving element 46 receives an optical signal from the light emitting element 40,
The motor 42 is activated.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained.

The metering device 1 is controlled by the feeding device 41 shown in FIG.
The object to be weighed dropped into the storage section 7 above the dispersion table 6 in
Due to the vibration, each trough 8...8 is removed from the storage section 7.
It is supplied to weighing hoppers 17...17 in each weighing section 10...10 via. Then, the measuring section 10
The weight is measured by the load cells 13...13 in...10, and a combination calculation is performed based on these measured values, and the combined added value matches a predetermined target weight or is within a predetermined tolerance range. The optimal combination that is closest to the target weight is selected. Regarding the plurality of measuring parts 10...10 corresponding to this optimum combination, cylinder 2 shown in FIG.
6 opens the gates 18 and 19 constituting the weighing hopper 17 via the link mechanism 20, whereby the object to be weighed in the weighing hopper 17 is discharged. Then, by collecting the objects in the collecting chute 11, objects to be weighed weighed to the target weight or a weight close to the target weight are obtained.
In addition, a plurality of weighing units 10...1 that discharged objects to be weighed
In the measuring hoppers 17...17 of 0, the shank 28 located above each is opened downward by the operation of the cylinder 31, and the vibrator 9 of the corresponding trough 8 is operated, so that the water is removed from the storage part 7. The object to be weighed for the next weighing is supplied through the trough 8.

The operation of supplying the objects to be weighed to the weighing hoppers 17...17 is stopped by a signal from the corresponding load cell 13...13 when the amount input to the hoppers 17...17 reaches a predetermined weight. However, since some objects to be weighed are dropped into the weighing hoppers 17 . . . 17 even after the machine stops, the weight is measured again and the above-mentioned combination calculation is performed based on this weighed value. Furthermore, apart from this, the supply may be stopped when a predetermined period of time has elapsed from the start of supply.

However, when the above-mentioned weighing operation is repeated, the amount of the object to be weighed stored in the storage section 7 gradually decreases, but when this decreases to a predetermined weight or less, the weight of the object to be weighed is weighed. The light emitting element 4 receives a signal from the load cell 36 shown in FIG.
0 is activated and outputs an optical signal toward the light receiving element 46 provided in the supply device 41. Therefore,
The motor 42 in the supply device 41 operates,
The belt 44 is driven via the transmission member 43, and thereby the object to be weighed is supplied from the device 41 to the storage section 7 of the weighing device 1 until the required amount is stored again.

In this way, the supply device 41 operates according to the state of the weighing device 1 to additionally supply the object to be weighed to the storage section 7. In this case,
The amount of the object to be weighed in the storage section 7 is determined by the load cell 3.
6, the stored amount is always accurately detected. Therefore, when the storage amount decreases, additional supply by the feeding device 41 is performed at the optimal timing, and a state in which an appropriate amount of the object to be weighed is always stored in the storage section 7 is maintained. .

Then, the above-mentioned supply device 4 for this additional supply
1 is an optical signal from the light emitting element 40 provided in the weighing device 1 as described above, so that the weighing device 1 and the supply device 41 can be physically separated. Thereby, when cleaning the measuring device 1 and the supply device 41 or their surroundings, they can be freely moved without regard to each other. In addition, since a connector part for connecting the cord, which is required when both devices are connected via an electric cord, is not required, when washing these devices 1 and 41 with water, the connector part should not be splashed with water. There is no need for such considerations.

Furthermore, the light emitting element 40 and the light receiving element 46 are
As shown in FIG.
is the distribution table 6 in the storage section 7 of the weighing device 1.
When the positional relationship between the measuring device 1 and the supplying device 41 is set so that the metering device 1 and the supplying device 41 are positioned directly above, the optical axes A coincide, and the optical signal from the light emitting device 40 can be input to the light receiving device 46. Since the supply device 41 is operated by this input, the supply device 41 will not operate in a state where the positional relationship between both devices 1 and 41 is not set correctly. Therefore, after the positional relationship between both devices 1 and 41 is moved during cleaning work or the like, the feeding device 41 is activated when the positional relationship is incorrect, and the object to be weighed is dropped to a location other than the distribution table 6. This will prevent such malfunctions.

(Effects of the invention) As described above, according to the invention, a supply device is provided for supplying the object to be weighed to the storage section of the weighing device, and when the amount of the object to be weighed stored in the storage section decreases, the supply device is activated. In a system for supplying objects to be weighed to a weighing device that is activated, additional supply by the above-mentioned feeding device is always performed at the optimal timing, so that an appropriate amount of objects to be weighed is always stored in the storage section of the weighing device. As a result, the supply of objects to be weighed to the weighing machine and the weighing operation can be performed satisfactorily, and weighing accuracy and efficiency can be improved.

In addition, in the present invention, it is possible to physically separate the measuring device and the supply device, so that they can be moved independently of each other when cleaning these devices or their surroundings. This improves the workability of the cleaning work, etc., and eliminates the situation where the cord is accidentally cut, which was the case in the past when both devices were connected via an electric cord. In addition, when washing these devices with water after the completion of weighing work, etc., since there is no connector part for connecting the electrical cord, there is no need to take precautions such as preventing water from getting into the connector part. This solves the problem of rust caused by water buildup on the connector, resulting in poor continuity.

Furthermore, after the positional relationship between both devices has been moved during the above-mentioned cleaning work, etc., the feeding device will not operate unless the positional relationship is set correctly. This will prevent malfunctions that would occur if the object to be weighed is dropped somewhere other than the storage section.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The figures show an embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 1 is a schematic side view showing the configuration of a system for supplying objects to be weighed, Fig. 2 is a plan view of a weighing device to which the system is applied, and Figs. 3 and 4. 2 is also an enlarged side view of the main part of the measuring device. 1... Weighing device, 7... Storage section, 36... Weight detection device (load cell), 40... Light emitting element, 4
1... Supply device, 46... Light receiving element, A... Optical axis.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A system for supplying objects to be weighed to a weighing device, comprising a weighing device and a supply device disposed near the weighing device and supplying the objects to be weighed to a storage section of the weighing device, the system comprising: a storage section of the weighing device; a weight detection device that detects the weight of an object to be weighed stored in the
A light emitting element provided in the weighing device and outputting an optical signal indicating when the weight of the object to be weighed detected by the weight detecting device falls below a predetermined value; and a light emitting element provided in the weighing device; a light-receiving element that is provided in the supplying device so that its optical axis coincides with the light-emitting element when arranged in a regular positional relationship, and that activates the supplying device when receiving an optical signal from the light-emitting element; A system for supplying objects to be weighed to a weighing device, comprising: