JPH06182302A - Selecting machine for fruit by weight - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To ensure that fruits selected by weight are discharged and thereby measurement accuracy is enhanced by pressing down a scaling lever which corresponds to the weight of fruits to be selected during the run of a hopper, and discharging the fruits to be selected by engagement between a closing pin and an engagement lever, if the hopper descends. CONSTITUTION:A balance H consisting of scalers is so designed that the scaling range of the balance becomes smaller sequentially along the running direction of a hopper 7 which moves by a pair of chains 1. If the scaling lever 26 of the balance H corresponding to the weight of fruits of be selected K is pressed down by a scaled weight 15 during the run of the hopper 7 in which the fruits K are accommodated, the whole hopper 7 descends, and a closing pin 16 for a closing lid becomes engaged with the engagement lever 34. Consequently, the closing lid is opened by the engagement lever 34 and the fruits K in the hopper 7 are discharged from the hopper 7. Thus, if the fruits K reach part of the balance within the scaling range, the closing lid of the hopper 7 is opened to allow the fruits K to be discharged so that they are selected by weight.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a weight sorting machine for sorting fruits contained in a hopper according to a moving route and sorting the fruits according to their weight to classify them into a plurality of grades.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a weight sorting apparatus for sorting fruits and vegetables by weight and which does not use electric means such as a load cell, there is one disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-124278. In this weight sorting device, the tray on which the objects to be sorted are placed and moved is a weight imparting device (weight measuring device).
And the weight of the object to be sorted on the tray is heavier than the weight set in the weight imparting device, the weight imparting device itself inclines and the saucer portion inclines, so that the object to be sorted is received. It is supposed to be released from. That is, the conventional weight sorting device has a complicated structure because the weight imparting device and the receiving tray are inclined when sorting the sort target, and the weight assigning device is large when the sort target is discharged. There is a problem that force acts. Further, depending on the shape of the object to be sorted, even if the tray is tilted, it may not be discharged from now on. Therefore, in order to ensure discharge of the object to be sorted when the tray is tilted, it is necessary to increase the inclination of the tray. . Further, since the tray is located outside the chain that moves the tray, there is a problem that the width of the weight selecting device becomes wide.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the conventional mechanical weight sorter, and when the weight of the fruit stored in the conveying means is selected regardless of the shape of the fruit. Ensures that the fruit is discharged from this conveying means to improve weighing accuracy, does not exert a large force on the weighing machine during fruit weight selection, and that the fruit of the minimum weighing weight (thinking weight) of the weighing machine arrives. Even in the case of doing so, it is an object to provide a weight sorter capable of surely selecting this.

[0004]

A weight-sorting machine according to the present invention uses a hopper provided with a weighing pin on one side wall of a main body and an opening / closing pin on an opening / closing lid. A weight sorting machine for weight sorting of foods,
A large number of hopper support frames are attached at a predetermined interval between a pair of endless chains facing each other, and the hoppers are mounted on the respective hopper support frames so as to be vertically movable, and the horizontal running portion of the endless chain is attached. A plurality of weighing scales composed of a balance are arranged along the running direction of the endless chain, and a weighing pin guide rail for supporting the hopper via the weighing pins to prevent the hopper from descending is provided. The measuring pin guide rails are arranged intermittently, and the measuring units of the respective measuring instruments are respectively inserted and arranged in the respective missing portions of the measuring pin guide rails. On the side opposite to the measuring pin guide rails with the traveling portion of the hopper interposed therebetween. In addition, engaging levers for engaging the open / close pin of the hopper and opening the open / close lid are provided between the adjacent weighing instruments, and the hopper travels within the weighing range of the plurality of weighing instruments. In the direction Then, when the hopper is lowered by pushing down the weighing lever of the weighing device corresponding to the weight of the fruit to be sorted while the hopper is running, the opening and closing lid is opened by the engagement of the opening and closing pin and the engaging lever. It is characterized in that it is configured so that the fruits to be sorted are opened and discharged for weight selection.

[0005]

According to the present invention, a plurality of weighing devices are set such that the weighing range thereof becomes smaller along the traveling direction of the hopper moved by the chain. Then, while the hopper containing the fruits to be sorted is running, when the weighing pin pushes down the weighing unit of the weighing machine corresponding to the weight of the fruits to be sorted,
Since the entire hopper descends and the opening / closing pin of the opening / closing lid engages with the engaging lever, the opening / closing lid is opened by the engaging lever, and the fruits to be sorted in the hopper are discharged from the hopper. In this way, when the fruits to be sorted stored in the hopper reach the portion of the weighing machine within the weighing range, the opening / closing lid of the hopper is opened and discharged, whereby the fruits are sorted by weight.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 is an overall plan view of a weight sorting machine according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the same, and FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged plan view of the same.
FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged side view of the same. Weight sorting machine base A
Endless chains 1 and 1 are provided facing each other at a predetermined interval, and each endless chain 1 includes a pair of chain wheels 2, 2 ′ and a pair of chain wheels arranged vertically at both ends of the machine base A. It is wound around 3, 3 ', and in the upper part of the machine base A, it runs horizontally from the chain wheel 2 side located on the upstream side toward the chain wheel 3 side on the downstream side. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hopper support frame 4 has a channel shape, and the plurality of hopper support frames 4 to 4 are spaced from each other by a predetermined distance, and their concave portions are directed upward so that both ends thereof are facing each other. It is attached to the endless chains 1 and 1 on both sides. A box-shaped hopper support 5 is attached to the lower surface of the center of each hopper support frame 4, and a pair of upper and lower front link shafts 6, 6 are provided in parallel with each other through both sides of the hopper support 5. ing. Hopper 7
Is a front wall 8a and a body portion 8 having a pair of side walls 8b, 8b extending rearward in parallel from both sides of the front wall 8a.
The side wall 8b has a substantially triangular shape that is inclined forward from its upper portion to its lower portion. The hopper 7 is provided with a pair of upper and lower rear link shafts 9 and 9 projecting forward from the front wall 8a thereof in parallel with each other. The distance between the both rear link shafts 9, 9 is the same as the distance between the both front link shafts 6, 6, and both ends of the upper front link shaft 6 and the upper rear link shaft 9 have a pair of upper links 11. , 11 respectively, and the lower front link shaft 6 and the rear link shaft 9 are connected to each other.
Both ends of and are connected by a pair of lower links 11 'and 11', respectively. Therefore, the main body 8 of the hopper 7 can be moved up and down with respect to the hopper support 5 without changing its posture. The opening / closing lid 12 is the main body 8
The opening formed in the rear part of both side walls 8b, 8b is covered, and is supported by the cover shaft 13 penetrating the rear upper ends of both side walls 8b, 8b at the upper part of the rear end. A spring 14 is attached to one end of the lid shaft 13 to urge the opening / closing lid 12 to constantly close the opening. Body 8
One side wall 8b has a lower end portion provided with a measuring pin 15 having a conical tip portion 15a protruding perpendicularly to the side wall 8b. An opening / closing pin 16 protruding in the direction opposite to the measuring pin 15 at a high position is fixed. In this way, the hoppers 7 to 7 mounted in a suspended manner on the respective hopper support frames 4 are
It is moved in the direction of arrow P in FIG. 6 by the endless chains 1 and 1.

The balance H is arranged on the side where the measuring pin 15 projects from the main body 8 of the hopper 7 and inside the endless chain 1. The balance H has a cylindrical weight tray 17 and a rectangular arm portion 18. Is equipped with. The arm portion 18 has a pair of support bars 19 (only one of which is shown in the drawing) of the pair of support bars 19 projecting downward from both sides of the bottom of the weight pan 17 at one end of each of the long arms 18a, 18a. Both support bars 1 in the vicinity
It is inserted between 9 and 19 and is pivotally attached to both support bars 19 and 19 by a connecting pin 21. The balance H is provided with a center shaft 22 penetrating near the center of the arm portion 18 in the longitudinal direction. The center shaft 22 has a pair of ends fixed to the support base B at both ends. It is supported on the upper portions of the brackets 23, 23. In this way, the balance H supported by the pair of brackets 23, 23 is
The arm portion 18 is below the endless chain 1 and parallel to the endless chain 1. Both support bars 1
The lower parts of 9 and 19 are integrated at the central part thereof, and one end part of a link bar 24 forming a parallel link with the arm part 18 is pivotally attached to the lower end part thereof. The other end of the link bar 24 is rotatably supported by a shaft 25 penetrating both brackets 23. The link bar 24, together with both arms 18a and 18a of the arm portion 18, keeps the weight pan 17 horizontal when the pan 17 is moved up and down. A plate-shaped weighing lever 26 having a length substantially equal to the length of the upper end of the side wall 8b of the hopper 7 is provided so as to project from the tip of the arm portion 18 toward the hopper 7, and the side wall 8b.
It is parallel to. The measurement lever 26 has a measurement start end 26a at its upstream end with respect to the moving direction of the hopper 7 (see FIG. 5). As described above, the balance H having the measuring lever 26 attached to one end of the arm portion 18 is
When the weight W is placed on the weight pan 17, the stopper 27 for preventing the arm part 18 from rotating to the weight pan 17 side and keeping the arm part 18 horizontal is provided on both brackets 23, 23.
Is attached to the surface on the upstream side of. As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of balances H are provided at predetermined intervals (seven in the embodiment).
In order to select the heaviest class (for example, 100 to 90 g) and the fruit K that is heavier among the fruits and the like on the pan 17 of the balance H that is provided and is located on the most upstream side in the moving direction of the hopper 7. And a weight W for weighing the next weight class (for example, 90 to 80 g) is placed on the next balance H. In this way, the weight W for selecting the fruit of the lightest class is placed on the weight pan 17 of the balance H located on the downstream end side.

A plurality of weighing pin guide rails 28 to 28 each having a predetermined width and length are provided on an upper portion of a vertical plate 29 whose lower portion is fixed to a support B, and are provided between the hopper 7 and the balance H. They are horizontally arranged at a predetermined interval. The weighing lever 26 of the balance H is inserted into the space formed between the two weighing pin guide rails 28, 28. The upper surface of the weighing pin guide rail 28 is flush with the upper surface of the weighing lever 26 in the horizontal state, and its inner side surface (side surface facing the hopper 7) is also flush with the inner side surface of the weighing lever 26. Has become. The weighing pin guide rail 28 has its upper surface on which the weighing pin 15 of the hopper 7 is
The hopper 7 is supported so as not to descend, by slightly supporting the base side of the tip 15a. A branch plate 31 is fixed to the upper surface of the upstream end of each weighing pin guide rail 28. The branch plate 31 is provided in order to cope with the case where the fruit of the minimum weighing weight (thinking weight) of the balance passes, and the branch side 31a is made an acute angle with respect to the weighing lever 26. The upstream end is located outside the measuring portion of the measuring lever 26 and is fixed to the upper surface of the measuring pin guide rail 28. The branch side 31a of the branch plate 31 is formed in a blade shape. As shown in FIG. 5, a lower guide rail 32 is provided below the attachment end of the branching plate 31 of the measuring pin guide rail 28 and at a predetermined distance from the measuring pin guide rail 28. The lower guide rail 32 supports the measuring pin 15 when the hopper 7 descends by a set height. The lower guide rail 32 is inclined upward on the downstream side to form an inclined portion 32a, which is in contact with the lower surface of the weighing pin guide rail 28. The opening 28a is opened, and the opening 28a is always closed on the upstream side by an opening / closing plate 33 made of a leaf spring fixed to the measuring pin guide rail 28. The open / close plate 33 has its upper surface flush with the upper surface of the measuring pin guide rail 28 in the closed state, and opens when the downstream end thereof is pushed up by the measuring pin 15 and passes through the measuring pin 15. It is designed to let you.

An engaging lever 34 that engages with the open / close pin 16 of the hopper 7 to open the open / close lid 12 of the hopper 7 is disposed above the support base B on the opposite side of the hopper 7 from the weighing pin guide rail 28. It is attached to the upper part of the engaged lever support base C. As shown in FIG. 3, the engagement lever 34 is arranged on the downstream side by a predetermined length from the upstream end of the measuring pin guide rail 28, and the lower end portion thereof is attached to the upper surface of the engagement lever support base C. It is inserted between the support plates 35, 35 and is pivotally supported by a support shaft 36 penetrating the support plates 35, 35. In this way, both support plates 3
The engagement lever 34, which is pivotally supported by 5, 35, is rotatable along the moving direction of the hopper 7. The upstream side surface of the engagement lever 34 has a position lower than the upper end by a predetermined height, and the engagement lever 34. A tension spring 37 is interposed between the support base C and the upper surface on the upstream side. Further, a stopper 38 for pulling a tension spring 37 on the upper portions of both the support plates 35, 35 and for vertically setting the engaging lever 34, which is pivoted to the upstream side, is pulled upward.
Is fixed.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, the plurality of balances H are, as described above, the fruits K of the heavy class from the upstream to the downstream.
It is arranged to measure the fruit K of the lighter class in order. Each hopper 7, which is moved by the endless chains 1 and 1 on both sides via the hopper support frame 4, has an opening / closing lid 12 closed, and the fruit K is automatically placed in each hopper 7 by an automatic feeder D or manually. They are housed one by one. When each hopper 7 moves, the measuring pin 15 moves while sliding on the upper surface of the measuring pin guide rail 28.
The measuring pin 15 moves from the downstream end of the measuring pin guide rail 28 onto the measuring lever 26 of the balance H, and the measuring lever 2
6 Move up. In this way, when the measuring pin 15 moves on the measuring lever 26, the measuring pin 15 gradually moves away from the center shaft 22 of the arm portion 18 of the balance H, so that the tip end portion of the arm portion 18 is rotated with respect to the center shaft 22. The rotational moment of the moving hopper 7 is gradually increased. Then, when the weighing pin 15 moves to the weighing start end 26a of the weighing lever 26, the weighing by the balance H is started. When the weight of the fruit K in the hopper 7 is light and the weighing pin 15 advances without pushing down the weighing lever 26, the tip portion 15a of the weighing pin 15 moves the branch plate 31 of the next weighing pin guide rail 28.
After reaching the branch side 31a, the upper surface of the branch plate 31 is moved to proceed to the next measuring pin guide rail 28. The hopper 7 moves on the next weighing pin guide rail 28, and the weighing pin 15 reaches the weighing start position 26a of the weighing lever 26 of the next balance H. At this time, if the fruit K of the hopper 7 is heavier than the weight measured by the weight W of the balance H,
Since the measuring pin 15 pushes down the measuring lever 26,
As shown in FIG. 5, the arm portion 18 of the balance H rotates clockwise around the center shaft 22, and the hopper 7 descends with respect to the hopper support 5.

In this way, the hopper 7 descends, the weighing pin 15 thereof is separated from the weighing lever 26, is supported by the lower guide rail 32, and is guided and moved by the lower guide rail 32. From the measuring lever 26 to the measuring pin 1
When 5 is separated, the force to push down the weighing lever 26 is released, so that the arm portion 18 of the balance H returns to the horizontal state (see FIG. 6). When the hopper 7 moves, its opening and closing pin 16
Contacts the upper part of the engagement lever 34 in the upright state, and pushes the engagement lever 34 in its moving direction. Therefore, the engagement lever 34 is pushed in the same direction against the biasing force of the tension spring 37. When the biasing force of the tension spring 37 that pulls the engagement lever 34 toward the upstream side becomes larger than the biasing force of the spring 14 that closes the opening / closing lid 12 of the hopper 7, the spring 14 is rewound and the opening / closing lid 12 opens. When the opening / closing lid 12 is opened, the fruit K in the hopper 7 falls, is guided by the chute S arranged below it, and is carried out from the machine base A to the outside.
Even after the fruit K inside the hopper 7 falls, the hopper 7 continues to move until the opening / closing pin 16 is disengaged from the engagement lever 34. When the opening / closing pin 16 is disengaged from the engaging lever 34, the opening / closing lid 12 of the hopper 7 is
After being closed by the spring 14, as shown in FIG. 5, the weighing pin 15 of the hopper 7 is moved by being guided by the inclined portion 32a of the lower guide rail 32, and pushes up the open / close plate 33 to open it. Reach the top of 28.
As a result, the empty hopper 7 is continuously moved to the downstream side. In addition, in the case of the fruit having the minimum weight of the balance H, the fruit balances with the balance H at the tip portion 26b of the weighing lever 26, so that the hopper 7 is guided by the weighing pin guide rail 28 without descending. It may not be determined whether the vehicle travels or the hopper 7 descends and is guided by the lower guide rail 32. In this case, the branch side 31 of the branch plate 31
When the measuring pin 15 collides with the branch side 31a of the branch plate 31, the collision state is maintained because a is a blade and is inclined with respect to the measuring pin 15. Without the need for any of the above, the path above or below the branch plate 31 is automatically selected.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of support rails 39, 39 supports both ends of the hopper support frame 4 inside the endless chains 1, 1, and the cushion 41 is made of elastic material such as rubber. It is made of a material and has a U-shaped cross section, and a portion supported by the support rail 39 of the hopper support frame 4 is fitted therein. The cushion 41 and the support rail 39 absorb the vibration of the hopper support frame 4 moved by the endless chains 1 and 1, so that the balance H can accurately perform the weighing. As shown in FIG. 2, the hoppers 7 to 7 which are moved by the endless chains 1 and 1 are changed in direction downward at their downstream ends, and are turned upside down at the chain wheel 3'at the lower end of the downstream ends. , The cushion 4 by the bottom rail 42 arranged at the bottom of the machine base A.
1 is supported on the upstream side and is turned upward in the lower chain wheel 2'of the upstream side, and the upper chain chain is turned up by the lower chain wheel 2 of the upstream side. It is supported by the guide rail 28 and can be moved.

As described above, the fruit K conveyed by the hopper 7 is weighed by the balance H corresponding to its weight and discharged from the hopper 7 on the spot. Therefore, the fruits K are to be sorted by weight by this weight sorter, and the fruits K which are not weighed by all the balances H due to insufficient weight are directed downward at the moving end of the endless chains 1 and 1 by the hopper 7. When it is changed, it is dropped from the hopper 7 and discharged. Although the hopper 7 is provided in only one row in this embodiment, it is also possible to provide the hopper 7 in two rows with the engagement lever support base C interposed therebetween.

[0014]

According to the present invention, a hopper having a measuring pin provided on one side wall of the main body and an opening / closing pin provided on the opening / closing lid is used while the hopper containing the fruits to be sorted is running. The measuring pin provided on the hopper pushes down the weighing unit of the weighing machine, and after the entire hopper is lowered, the opening / closing lid of the hopper is opened by the engaging lever, and the fruits to be sorted inside are dropped and discharged. Therefore, the following various effects are achieved. (1) Since the hopper is used as the fruit transporting means, the fruit weight-sorted by the weighing device is reliably discharged by its own weight. As a result, the weighing accuracy is improved. (2) Since the fruits to be sorted are weighed by using the original properties of the balance within a reasonable and reasonable range, the balance does not have an unreasonable force unlike the conventional weight-picking machine. This also contributes to improving the weighing accuracy of the weight sorter. (3)
When the weight of the thoughtful fruit comes, the weighting pin on the hopper comes into contact with the branch plate that is inclined at the upstream end of the divided measurement pin guide rail. It is possible to surely select the fruits and to prevent damage to the hopper at the time of weighing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall plan view of a weight sorting machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged plan view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged side view of the same.

FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory view showing a state in which the hopper is lowered during fruit selection.

FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory view showing a state in which the opening / closing lid of the hopper is opened at the time of fruit selection.

FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory view showing a state in which the hopper with the opening / closing lid closed returns to the weighing pin guide rail.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A: Machine stand H: Balance (measuring instrument) K: Fruit W: Weight 1: Endless chain 4: Hopper support frame 7: Hopper 8: Hopper body 8b: Hopper side wall 12: Open / close lid 15: Weighing pin 16: Open / close pin 26: Measuring lever (measuring unit) 28: Measuring pin guide rail 34: Engagement lever

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A weight selecting machine for selecting the weight of fruits using a hopper having a measuring pin provided on one side wall of a main body and an opening / closing pin provided on an opening / closing lid. Then, a large number of hopper support frames are attached at a predetermined interval between a pair of endless chains facing each other, and the hoppers are mounted on the respective hopper support frames so that they can move up and down, respectively. A plurality of weighing scales composed of balances are arranged in the traveling section along the traveling direction of the endless chain, and the measuring pin guide rails for supporting the hopper via the measuring pins to prevent the hopper from descending are provided. The measuring pin guide rails are intermittently arranged, and the measuring parts of the respective measuring devices are respectively inserted and arranged in the respective missing parts of the measuring pin guide rails. On the side In addition, engaging levers for engaging the open / close pin of the hopper and opening the open / close lid are respectively arranged between the adjacent weighing devices, and the weighing range of the plurality of weighing devices is set in the traveling direction of the hopper. Gradually decrease along
While the hopper is running, push down the weighing lever of the weighing machine corresponding to the weight of the fruit to be sorted, and when the hopper descends, by the engagement of the opening / closing pin and the engaging lever,
A weight-picking machine characterized in that the opening / closing lid is opened to discharge the fruits to be selected and the weight is selected. 2. A branching plate for determining a path of a hopper accommodating a minimum weighing fruit of the weighing machine is attached to an upstream end of each portion of the weighing pin guide rail divided by the missing portion. The weight sorting machine according to claim 1, wherein: