JPH0623936U - Automatic sorter - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To sort fruit vegetables such as tomatoes and peaches that are easy to eat without damaging them. [Structure] A large number of belt conveyors 3 capable of carrying articles 2 such as fruits and small packages on the traveling body 1 such as a chain and rotatable in the lateral direction of the traveling body 1 are provided. Motion and stop can be controlled by external signals.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a sorting device for automatically sorting and sorting various items according to size (size), weight, etc., and is particularly suitable for automatic selection of easy-to-eat fruit vegetables.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there have been various devices for automatically sorting small items such as parcels, fruits and vegetables based on conditions such as size, weight and shape. For example, an automatic sorting apparatus for round fruits such as tomatoes and peaches is shown in FIG. In this automatic sorting device, a large number of containers C, each carrying a fruit B on each side, are mounted between two parallel chains A, and a sprocket gear (not shown) is used as a prime mover of a motor or the like. The chain A is moved in the X direction in the figure by driving.

As shown in FIG. 7 (a), the container C has a movable table D connected and fixed between two chains A and a fruit table B such as apples and peaches mounted on the movable table D. And a weighing bucket E, which are made of a light and durable resin such as plastic. The weighing bucket E is connected to the upper part of the movable table D by a pin F, and is attached to the pedestal G side next to the chain A so as to be tiltable and reversible about the pin F (the same figure (b)). There is.

A procedure for selecting fruits and vegetables by this apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, one fruit B is already placed on the weighing bucket E of each container C one by one without any procedure, and these containers C are slowly moved in the X direction of the figure by the chain A. When each container C passes over the electronic balance H, the electronic balance H weighs the fruit vegetables B in each container C together with the weighing bucket E, subtracts the weight of the weighing bucket E that has been weighed in advance, and then each container C Calculate the weight of fruit vegetable B on the table. This data is sent to the bucket inclining device J in the future. The bucket inclining device J is installed below the chain A, and has a plurality of push rods that push the weighing bucket E of the container C passing above it to incline it, and also each push rod. Is arranged under each of the pedestals G of S, M, L, and LL which are partitioned by the partition plate N according to size as shown in FIG. Then, for example, when a container C on which an M-sized vegetable B is placed passes through the M of the cradle G, the push rod below it pushes up the weighing bucket E of that container C, as shown in FIG. 7 (b). The structure is such that the fruit B is rolled and dropped onto the cradle G for medium size.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, when sending the fruit vegetables B from the weighing bucket E of the container C to the cradle G, the automatic sorting apparatus of FIG. 6 tilts the weighing bucket E as shown in FIG. 7B to roll the fruit vegetables B. For example, ripe tomatoes, peaches, and other savory fruits and vegetables are easily scratched or crushed when they are sorted by this automatic sorting device.

An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic sorting device capable of sorting fruit vegetables such as tomatoes and peaches that are easy to damage without damaging them.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the automatic sorting apparatus of the present invention can mount an article 2 such as a fruit or a parcel on a traveling body 1 such as a chain and can rotate the traveling body 1 in a lateral direction. A large number of belt conveyors 3 are attached, and the rotation and stop of each belt conveyor 3 can be controlled by signals from the outside.

[0008]

[Action]

 In the automatic sorting apparatus of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, since the belt conveyor 3 is provided on the traveling body 1, if the article 2 is placed on the belt conveyor 3, the traveling body 1 will move. The article 2 can be transported. Further, since the belt conveyor 3 rotates in the lateral direction of the traveling body 1, when the belt conveyor 3 is rotated, the article 2 is unloaded to the side of the traveling body 1.

[0009]

【Example】

 Fig. 1 shows an embodiment in which the automatic sorting apparatus of the present invention is applied to fruit vegetables such as peaches and tomatoes. Reference numeral 2 shown in the figure is various kinds of articles, but here, fruits and vegetables such as peaches and tomatoes. Reference numeral 5 shown in the figure is a conveyance path for conveying the fruits and vegetables 2. An optical sensor 10 is installed on the front side of the transport path 5, and further on one side of the transport path 5 on the further side, a partition plate 9 is used to sort the fruits and vegetables into S, M, and L sizes according to size. A basket 11 is installed.

The optical sensor 10 measures the size of the fruit and vegetables 1 moving on the conveyance path 5, and the measured value is processed by the arithmetic unit 12 under the conveyance path 5 and based on preset conditions. The grade of Fruit 2 is divided into S, M, and L. The result of this measurement is output to a large number of electrodes 30 (shown in FIG. 5) projecting from the upper surface of the transport path 5 and attached in a row along the longitudinal direction thereof at intervals.

Reference numeral 1 shown in the figure is a traveling body that slowly moves along the conveying path 5. In this embodiment, two metal chains 20 arranged in parallel are composed of a sprocket gear and a motor (as shown in the figure). Not driven) by the drive. The traveling body 1 may be other than the chain 20, as long as the small belt conveyor 3 described below can be moved so as to circulate along the transport path 5. For example, it may be a belt conveyor or the like.

Reference numeral 3 shown in the figure is a belt conveyor, which is a small belt conveyor 3 having a slightly larger area than the fruit 2 so that the fruit 2 to be sorted can be carried. The belt conveyor 3 has a roller 24 for rotating the belt 23 and a motor for driving the roller 24 built therein. As shown in FIG. 2, a fixture connected to the chain 20 by a pin 21. 22 can be detachably fixed. It should be noted that the belt conveyor 3 is oriented laterally with respect to the traveling direction of the chain 20. Then, a large number of belt conveyors 3 are attached to the chain 20 along the moving direction of the chain 20.

Further, an electrode (not shown) for supplying an electric current to the motor is also attached to the belt conveyor 3. This electrode is set on the lower surface of each belt conveyor 3, and when the belt conveyor 3 is pulled by the chain 20 and moves, it can come into contact with the electrode 30 on the transport path 5. Then, based on the grade of the fruit and vegetables 2 measured by the optical sensor 10, a current is applied to the designated electrode 30 at the timing designated by the arithmetic unit 12, and the belt conveyor 3 which is in contact with the electrode 30 is in contact. The belt 23 rotates and sends the fruit 2 on it to the fruit selection basket 11. Furthermore, if the distance between the electrodes 30 is reduced and the number thereof is increased, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, when lowering the fruit 2 at the S size of the fruit selection basket 11, the position of the same size S area is set. It is now possible to move it down a little in the middle, so that the fruit 2 that was dropped before and the fruit 2 that is dropped next no longer collide with each other, and even if the person who packs the box takes a little rest. Since the fruits 2 are arranged in a line in the sorting basket 11, the burden on the operator can be reduced.

In addition, when the easily-rollable fruits 2 such as tomatoes and peaches are placed on the belt conveyor 3 for selection, a substantially U-shaped cover 25 as shown in FIG. 3 is attached to the fixture 22 of each belt conveyor 3. It is necessary to attach it to prevent the fruits and vegetables 2 on the belt conveyor 3 moving on the conveying path 5 from falling along the way. In addition to this method, the belt 23 of each belt conveyor 3 having a large number of protrusions 26 as shown in FIG. 4 may be used to prevent the fruits 2 from rolling during transportation.

[0015]

[Effect of device]

 According to the automatic sorting apparatus of the present invention, the traveling body 1 is provided with a large number of belt conveyors 3 that are movable so as to be orthogonal to the moving direction, and the articles 2 are placed on each belt conveyor 3 and conveyed. If the belt conveyor 3 is individually operated by a signal from the outside, the article 2 on the belt conveyor 3 will be smoothly discharged to the side of the conveying path 5 by the rotation of the belt conveyor 3, and the article 2 will not be forced. Since it will not be pushed out or rolled, it will not be damaged or crushed even when picking edible fruit vegetables such as peaches and tomatoes.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an automatic sorting device of the present invention.

2 is an enlarged perspective view of a belt conveyor in the automatic sorting apparatus of FIG.

3 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the belt conveyor in the automatic sorting apparatus of FIG.

4 (a) and 4 (b) are a side view and a cross-sectional view showing an example of a belt used for a belt conveyor in the automatic sorting apparatus of FIG.

5 is a perspective view showing a state of a belt conveyor and electrodes in the automatic sorting apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional automatic sorting device.

7 (a) and 7 (b) are front views showing the sorting state of articles in the automatic sorting apparatus of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 traveling body 2 article 3 belt conveyor

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A large number of belt conveyors 3 capable of carrying articles 2 such as fruits and small parcels and rotatable in the lateral direction of the traveling body 1 are mounted on a traveling body 1 such as a chain. An automatic sorting device characterized in that the turning and stopping of the can be controlled by a signal from the outside.