JPH06144542A - Conveying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance the availability factor of a weighing device by determining the driving/stopping timing of a conveying means in response to the moving speed of articles on the conveying means; in other words, by quickening the timing from the detection of article up to the driving or stopping when the moving speed of articles is fast, while by delaying the timing when the moving speed is slow. CONSTITUTION:When a hopper sensor 12 detects that the inside of a pool hopper 7 is empty for sending out an ON signal, an exciter 5 is derived. By the excitation, the articles to be weighed flow on a trough 6, and is detected by an image sensor 10, so that the number of the articles is counted, and also the moving speed of the articles is measured. When the moving speed of the articles is relatively slow, the delay time from the point of time when the last article to be weighed has been detected up to the time when the excitation of the trough 6 is stopped is lengthened so that the articles to be measured are securely dropped inside the pool hopper 7; while when the moving speed is relatively fast, the delay time is set to be shorter, so that surplus articles succeeding the last article to be weighed can be prevented from being dropped inside the pool hopper 7.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a conveying device used in a combination weighing device or the like, which conveys articles by a transfer means such as a vibrating trough or a conveyor, and a predetermined number of articles from the end of the transfer means. The present invention relates to a device that controls driving so as to be discharged.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Among automatic weighing devices, an automatic weighing device known as a combination weighing device supplies objects to be weighed to a plurality of weighing hoppers, detects the weights of these objects, and measures their weight values. By performing a combination calculation based on the above, the optimum combination whose combined addition value becomes the target weight is obtained, and only the objects to be weighed in the weighing hopper corresponding to this combination are discharged and collected, so that the objects to be weighed above the target. The weight is measured at or near the weight.

As a structure therefor, as shown in FIG. 10, troughs B, B for supplying the objects to be weighed, which are supported by vibrators (not shown), are arranged around the dispersion table A, and the dispersion table A and the trough B are arranged. , B is vibrated at a predetermined timing, and the object X to be weighed on the dispersion table is transferred to each trough B,
After being dispersed in B, the structure is adopted in which the troughs B and B are sent to the weighing hoppers D and D through the pool hoppers C and C.

In the case of combining a predetermined number of objects to be weighed X such as candy and chocolate having a large unit weight, photosensors E and E are provided at the upper position near the tips of the troughs B and B, The photosensors E, E count the number of objects to be weighed X discharged from the tip of the trough, and when the counted number reaches a predetermined number, the vibration of the troughs B, B is stopped and a predetermined number of objects to be weighed X are pooled. When the objects X to be weighed are put into the hoppers C and C and discharged to the weighing hoppers D and D to empty the pool hoppers C and C, the vibrations of the troughs B and B are restarted again and the objects X to be weighed are restarted. I am trying to throw in.

[0005]

By the way, each trough B
The flow of the object to be weighed X is not necessarily uniform, and if the flow of the object to be weighed X is uneven, the kinetic energy received by the object to be weighed X varies, and as a result, at the transfer end portion of the trough B. The speed of the object X to be measured varies. For this reason, when the speed at the transfer end of the trough is low and the vibration of the trough B is stopped by the detection of the object to be weighed X by the photosensor E, the object to be weighed X does not fall into the pool hoppers C, C. It may remain on Trough B. On the contrary, when the speed is fast, even if the vibration is stopped, the objects to be weighed X, which are connected in a row, may drop into the pool hopper C. In any case, the number to be charged is set. However, there was a problem in that the measurement of the combined number was hindered and the operating rate was lowered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a carrier device capable of automatically adjusting the drive stop timing of the transfer means according to the moving speed of the object to be weighed on the transfer means such as a trough.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION That is, the present invention provides a transfer means for transferring an article and discharging the article from the transfer end portion.
A sensor for detecting an article that has reached the vicinity of the transfer end portion,
Speed detection means for detecting the moving speed of the article on the transfer means, and drive for stopping the transfer means by controlling the time from the time when the sensor detects the article until the transfer means is stopped based on the detected speed And a control means.

[0008]

According to the above construction, the driving stop timing of the transfer means is determined according to the moving speed of the article on the transfer means. Therefore, when the moving speed of the article is high, the period from the detection of the article to the stop of the driving is determined. By increasing the time, it is possible to prevent a predetermined number of articles or more from falling from the end of the transfer means, and when the moving speed is slow, by delaying the time until the driving is stopped, a predetermined number of articles are transferred. You can make sure it falls from the end of the.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the overall structure of the combination weighing device will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The combination weighing device 1 has a pedestal 2, and a dispersion table is provided in the center of the pedestal 2 via a vibrator 3 composed of an electromagnetic vibrator. 4 are arranged, and a plurality of object supply troughs 6, 6 are radially arranged around the dispersion table 4 via a vibrator 5 which is also an electromagnetic vibrator. Further, an unillustrated device for introducing the objects to be weighed is provided above the dispersion table 4, and a plurality of pool hoppers 7 and 7 are arranged around the gantry 2 so as to be located below the tips of the troughs 6 and 6. Are arranged in a circle, and a plurality of weighing hoppers 8 and 8 are vertically arranged below the pool hoppers 7 and 7, respectively.
Are placed.

A gate driving device (not shown) for opening and closing the gates 7a, 8a of the pool hoppers 7, 7 and the weighing hoppers 8, 8 is housed inside the gantry 2 and arranged in a circular shape. Below the plurality of weighing hoppers 8 and 8, a collecting chute 9 for collecting the objects to be weighed discharged from the weighing hoppers 8 and 8 is provided.

In this weighing device 1, the vibrators 3 and 5 are used.
The dispersion table 4 and each of the troughs 6, 6 are vibrated by the above, and the object to be weighed is supplied to the distribution table 4 from the above-mentioned charging device.
After being supplied to the pool hoppers 7 and 7 via the appropriate amount by 6 respectively, they are supplied from the pool hoppers 7 and 7 to the weighing hoppers 8 and 8. Then, the weight of the object to be weighed in each weighing hopper 8, 8 is detected by the weighing means (not shown) in the gantry 2,
An optimum combination in which a combination calculation is performed on these weight values or the number calculated based on these weight values and the combined addition value matches a predetermined target weight or number or is a value closest to the target weight or number. Is calculated, and the objects to be weighed in the weighing hoppers 8 and 8 according to the obtained combination are discharged to the collecting short 9.

Further, in order to control the number of objects to be weighed, image sensors 10 and 10 are provided at upper positions near the tips of the troughs 6 and 6, respectively, and the objects to be weighed are vibrated by the vibrations of the troughs 6 and 6. The object to be weighed which is about to fall from the trough tip into the pool hopper 7 is detected by the imaging sensors 10, 10.

In this case, the image sensor 10 is connected to the controller 11 as shown in FIG. 2, and the controller 11 determines the number of detected objects (single or plural) which is predetermined by the image sensor 10. When detected, the operation of the vibration exciter 5 is stopped. Further, the controller 11 is connected to a hopper sensor 12 for notifying the opening / closing of the hopper gate 7a. When the gate 7a of the pool hopper 7 is opened / closed and the object to be weighed in the pool hopper 7 is discharged, the hopper sensor 12 outputs A signal is output to drive the vibrator 5 to restart the vibration of the trough 6.

Further, a product name input means 13 is connected to the controller 11, and when the kind of the object to be weighed to be weighed is inputted by the product name input means 13, the memory 14
The optimum amplitude corresponding to the type is read out from the above to be vibrated by the vibration exciter 5, and the image sensor 10 detects the speed of the object to be weighed, and according to the speed,
It is configured to control the time from the detection of the final object to be stopped until the vibration is stopped.

That is, the image pickup sensor 10 detects the object X to be weighed when the object X to be weighed falls within the image pickup field P of the sensor 10 as shown in FIG. At the same time as outputting, the moving speed of the object to be weighed X is measured from the moving distance L of the object to be weighed X in the imaging visual field P per unit time and output to the controller 11. Weighing object X
The delay time from when the final object X is detected to when the vibration of the trough 6 is stopped is controlled based on the moving speed of the.

This control operation will be described with reference to the time charts of FIGS. 4 and 5 and the flow chart of FIG. 6, taking as an example the case where the vibration of the trough 6 is stopped by detecting three objects X to be weighed. Then, as described above, the object X to be weighed supplied to the dispersion table 4 flows into the trough 6, and the imaging sensor 10 detects the third object X to be weighed.
A signal (see FIGS. 4 and 5) causes the controller 11 to stop the vibration exciter 5 after a corresponding delay time.
Further, the detected object X to be measured falls into the pool hopper 7 and is then transferred to the weighing hopper 8 for combination weighing, and the ON signal of the hopper sensor 12 starts the vibration of the trough 6 again.

In such control, first, the controller 11 drives the vibration exciter 5 with an ON signal when the hopper sensor 12 detects that the pool hopper 7 has become empty (steps S1 and S2 in FIG. 6).

The object X to be weighed on the trough 6 by this vibration.
, The imaging sensor 10 detects the objects X to be weighed, the controller 11 counts the number of objects X to be weighed, and measures the moving speed of these objects X to be weighed. And
When the moving speed of the object to be weighed X is relatively slow as shown in FIG. 4, the delay time t1 from the time when the third (final) object to be weighed X is detected until the vibration of the trough 6 is stopped is If it is set long and the moving speed of the object X is relatively fast as shown in FIG. 5, the delay time t2 is set short (steps S3, S).
4, S5).

As a result, after the total number is detected in step S6, the vibration of the trough 6 is stopped in step S7 after the delay time t1 or t2.

Therefore, in the case of FIG. 4, the final object to be weighed X
In the state in which the moving speed of is slow, vibration is applied for a long time even after the final object to be weighed X is detected, and the final object to be weighed X surely falls into the pool hopper 7. In the case of FIG. In the state where the moving speed of the object X is fast, the vibration is stopped at a fast timing after the detection of the final object to be weighed X, and an extra object to be weighed following the final object to be weighed X also falls into the pool hopper 7. Will disappear. Further, when the moving speed of the object to be weighed X is faster than that in the case of FIG. 5, the vibration can be immediately stopped at the rising time Y of the detection ON signal of the final object to be weighed X in FIG.

According to such control, the image sensor 10
Has detected the object X to be weighed, it is possible to avoid obstacles for weighing the number of combined objects, such as a situation in which the object X to be weighed is not supplied to the pool hopper 7, or conversely an excessive supply. Thus, the operating rate of the combination weighing device 1 can be increased.

In the above embodiment, the delay time from the detection of the final object to be weighed X to the stop of the vibration is controlled based on the detection of the moving speed of the final number of objects to be weighed X dropped into the pool hopper 7. However, as shown in the time chart of FIG. 7, for example, when detecting a plurality of n (4 in the figure) objects to be weighed X, the second from the last (n−
Based on 1) the detection of the moving speed of the object X to be weighed, the delay time t from the time when the object X to be weighed is detected until the vibration is stopped.
It is also possible to set 3. That is, when the moving speed of the object X to be weighed is detected by the image sensor 10, if the moving speed of the second to-be-measured object X is high, the final moving speed of the object to be weighed X is also predicted to be high. Since it is possible to predict that the object to be weighed X is second from the last, a delay time from that time to the stop of vibration is set. According to this, the delay time can be set quickly and the control becomes easy.

Further, as shown in the time chart of FIG. 8, the vibration amplitude can be controlled in combination with the height of the vibration amplitude. That is, when a plurality of objects to be weighed are detected, the trough 6 is vibrated with a high amplitude until the second to last object to be weighed X is detected, and the trough 6 is oscillated to a low amplitude when the second to last object to be weighed X is detected. Based on the switching and the detection of the moving speed of the final object to be weighed X, from the time when the final object to be weighed X is detected (or the time when the second object to be weighed X is detected from the final object to be weighed X as in FIG. 7). A delay time t4 until the vibration is stopped is set.

This will be described with reference to the flow chart in FIG. 9. When the hopper sensor 12 is turned on, the vibration exciter 5 is driven with high-speed amplitude (steps S11 and S12).

Every time the image sensor 10 detects the object X to be weighed, the controller 11 counts it.
When the second object X to be measured from the final object X is detected, the vibration exciter 5 is switched to a low amplitude (steps S13 and S).
14, S15).

Next, the moving speed of the final object to be weighed X is detected at the time when all the objects are detected, and the delay time t4 from the time when the object to be weighed is stopped to the vibration is stopped based on the detected speed. Is set, and vibration is stopped after the delay time t4 has elapsed (steps S16, S17, S18).

According to this, the object to be weighed X can be fed at high speed until the detection of the second to second object to be weighed X, and the time of the weighing operation can be shortened, and the final object to be weighed X is compared. It is possible to prevent the final object to be weighed X from surely falling into the pool hopper 7 and the other objects to be weighed X from excessively dropping by sending the final object to be measured X at a very low speed.

In the above embodiment, the vibration of the trough 5 is switched from the high speed to the low speed. However, when the detection time interval of the object X is long, the amplitude is changed from the normal vibration state. It can also be increased. For example, when the number of target detections is large and the detection time interval of the object X is long,
It is possible to increase the vibration and promote the movement of the object X to be weighed.

As still another embodiment, when the type of the object X to be weighed is changed, the type sensor can be used to control the delay time. For example, taking a candy as an example, if the size of the candy is different, the moving speed of the candy on the trough 5 is also different. Therefore, the state in which a large candy was weighed was switched to the weighing of a small candy. At this time, the delay time can be varied by reading the size of the candy with a type sensor such as an image sensor. Also,
The same applies to the case of weighing small sachets of different types such as nuts, and a height sensor, a bar code sensor, a color sensor, and the like are used as type sensors in addition to the above-described image sensor depending on what is to be weighed. Of course, an operator can directly input to the controller 11 without using the sensor as described above.

In the above embodiment, the image sensor 10 is used as a means for detecting the moving speed of the object X to be weighed, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a photo sensor arranged between two points may be used. A sensor that detects a speed according to a time interval of moving between sensors or a sensor having a similar speed detection function can be applied. Further, the present invention can be widely used as a conveying device other than the combination weighing device, and in that case, a belt conveyor driven by a motor or the like may be used instead of the vibrating trough.

[0032]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the drive stop timing of the transfer means is determined according to the moving speed of the article on the transfer means, so that the moving speed of the article is high. In this case, it is possible to prevent the specified number of articles or more from falling from the end of the transfer means by speeding up the time from the detection of the predetermined number of articles to the stop of driving, and when the moving speed is slow, the time until the drive is stopped. By slowing down, the predetermined number of articles can be surely dropped from the end of the transfer means, which can increase the operating rate of the weighing device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a combination weighing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control circuit diagram of the combination weighing device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an image sensor.

FIG. 4 is a time chart for controlling the delay time to be long.

FIG. 5 is a time chart for controlling the delay time to be short.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the control circuit.

FIG. 7 is a time chart of the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a time chart of the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart in the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a conventional combination weighing device.

[Explanation of Codes] 4 Dispersion Table 5 Exciter 6 Trough 7 Pool Hopper 8 Weighing Hopper 10 Imaging Sensor 11 Controller 12 Hopper Sensor

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A transfer means for transferring an article and discharging it from a transfer end portion to one, a sensor for detecting an article reaching the vicinity of the transfer end portion, and a moving speed of the article on the transfer means. Based on the speed detecting means and the detected speed,
And a drive control means for stopping the transfer means by controlling a time from the time when the article is detected by the sensor until the transfer means is stopped.