JPH06259624A - Work counter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To accurately count works. CONSTITUTION:Works are scooped out of a candy storage tank 11 and are carried to an arraying machine 13 by a conveyor 12 and are put on a conveyor 14 in an array from the arraying machine 13 one by one. While works are carried by the conveyor 14, dimensions of the space between preceding and succeeding works are measured by a dimensions measuring sensor 22. When these dimensions are shorter than set dimensions, high-pressure air is jetted from a high-pressure air jet 24 to blow off the succeeding work from the conveyor 14 to a return conveyor 16 so that works are always carried with set dimensions or longer between them. Thereafter, works are counted by a counting sensor 23, and counted works are thrown to a chute 15 from the conveyor 14. The succeeding work is blown off from the conveyor 14 to the return conveyor 16 by high-pressure air jetted from a high-pressure air spray 25.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a work counting device for counting a predetermined number of works such as products.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in the case where a plurality of types of individually packaged candy are packed in a single bag in a fixed quantity, it has been conventionally done manually. However, this is very labor-intensive, time-consuming, and unproductive.

Therefore, a device for automating this work has been developed. In this type of automated device known to the applicant, a plurality of types of candy are mixed in advance, and the candy in the mixed state is weighed so as to be packed in a bag,
I am packing this in a bag.

[0004]

However, in this kind of automatic device, although the total weight of the candy packed in the bag can be made constant, it is not possible to determine how many individual types of candy are contained in the bag. Depending on the situation, there was a possibility that some kind of candy could not be entered at all. Therefore, this device cannot be used when it is desired to add the same number of candy of any kind, or when it is desired to add more candy of one kind than candy of another kind.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the conventional technique, and an object of the present invention is to provide a work counting device capable of accurately counting works.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention comprises the following constitutions. (A) Transport mechanism. This transfer mechanism is for transferring the work, and a belt conveyor or the like can be adopted. Here, the work may be the final product,
It may be a semi-finished product or a raw material.

(B) Supply mechanism. The supply mechanism is arranged at the start end of the transfer mechanism and has a function of supplying the works to the transfer mechanism in a line. The form, structure, etc. are not particularly limited as long as it has this function.

(C) Dimension measuring mechanism. The dimension measuring mechanism is for measuring a separation dimension along the transport direction between successive works being transported by the transport mechanism, and is provided in the middle of the transport mechanism. The dimension measuring mechanism can be composed of, for example, a photoelectric tube sensor or a laser sensor.

(D) First elimination mechanism. The first excluding mechanism is arranged on the downstream side of the dimension measuring mechanism. The first excluding mechanism functions to separate the work from the transport mechanism when the distance between the works measured by the size measuring mechanism is equal to or smaller than the set size.

(E) Counting mechanism. This counting mechanism is the first
It is placed on the downstream side of the exclusion mechanism. The counting mechanism counts the workpieces being conveyed by the conveying mechanism. The counting mechanism can be composed of, for example, a photoelectric tube sensor, a laser sensor, an image sensor, or the like.

Depending on the handling mode of the work after counting, a second excluding mechanism is provided downstream of the counting mechanism to separate the succeeding work from the transport mechanism when the counting mechanism counts a preset number of works. It may be provided. Alternatively, the second excluding mechanism may not be provided, and a sorter and a plurality of transport paths may be provided downstream of the transport mechanism, and after the work is counted, the sorter may switch the work transport path.

The (d) first expulsion mechanism and (f) second expulsion mechanism may be composed of, for example, a high-pressure air ejector, and the work may be blown off by a high-pressure air stream ejected from this. This means is suitable when the work is lightweight and is not easily broken. Alternatively, it is possible to employ various structures and structures, such as configuring the excluding mechanism with a protruding arm and extending the protruding arm to push out the work from the transport mechanism.

Further, a recovery mechanism is provided adjacent to the transfer mechanism,
The workpieces separated from the transport mechanism by the two excluding mechanisms may be returned to the supply mechanism by the collecting mechanism. In this way, the work is not wasted and is efficient.

[0014]

By the dimension measuring mechanism and the first excluding mechanism, successive works can be conveyed to a position where the counting mechanism exists while being separated from each other by a set dimension or more. Therefore, the counting mechanism does not make a mistake in counting the workpieces, and accurate counting is performed.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings of FIGS. The work counting device in this embodiment is a mode in which the same number of individually packaged candy (work) is counted and supplied to the bag filling device.

FIG. 2 is an overall plan view of a candy supplying device for feeding candy into a bag filling device (not shown). In this candy supplying device, 10 kinds of candy are made into 3 pieces each, and a total of 30 pieces are sent to the bag filling apparatus. That is, the candy is accurately counted by the candy counting device (work counting device) 3 for each type, and the number of the candy can be counted accurately by three.
The hoppers 30A and 30B are loaded into the bucket of the bucket conveyor 40, and the bucket conveyor 40 conveys them to the bag filling device.

The candy counting device 10 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3. The candy counting device 10 includes a candy storage tank 11, a scraping conveyor 12, an aligning machine 13, a conveyor (conveying mechanism) 14, a chute 15, and a return conveyor (collecting mechanism) 16.

A large number of candy before counting is stored in the candy storage tank 11, and the candy storage tank 1 uses a scraping conveyor 12 to store the candy.
From 1 to the aligning machine 13. The aligning machine 13 is arranged at the start end of the conveyor 14, and the aligning machine 13 places the candy on the conveyor 14 one by one in order. In this embodiment, the candy storage tank 11 and the scraping conveyor 1 are
2 and the aligner 13 constitute a supply mechanism. The conveyor 14 conveys the candy at a constant speed toward the chute 15 provided at the end of the conveyor 14.

FIG. 3 shows a chute 15 and a hopper 30A (3
0B) and a bucket conveyor 40 as viewed from the front. The chute 15 has a cylindrical shape, and the inside thereof is divided by a partition wall 17 into two collection chambers 18 and 19. An entrance damper 20 is rotatably provided at the upper end of the partition wall 17, and by rotating the entrance damper 20, the candy 1 conveyed by the conveyor 14 is dropped into either of the collection chambers 18, 19. It can be switched. On the other hand, an outlet damper 21 is rotatably provided at the lower end of the partition wall 17. By rotating this outlet damper 21, any of the collection chambers 1
It is possible to switch whether the lower openings of 8 and 19 are opened.

The inlet damper 20 and the outlet damper 21 are linked to rotate. That is, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 3, when the inlet damper 20 closes the upper part of the collection chamber 18 and opens the upper part of the collection chamber 19, the outlet damper 21 opens the lower part of the collection chamber 18 and opens the lower part of the collection chamber 19. close. In this state, the candy 1 sent by the conveyor 14 is thrown into the collection chamber 19 and accumulated there.

On the other hand, as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 3, when the inlet damper 20 is rotated to close the upper part of the collecting chamber 19 and open the upper part of the collecting chamber 18, the outlet damper 21 is also rotated to collect the load. The lower part of the chamber 18 is closed and the lower part of the collection chamber 19 is opened. In this state, the candy 1 sent by the conveyor 14 is thrown into the collection chamber 18 and accumulated there.

As described above, one of the collecting chambers of the chute 15 is always in a state in which the candy 1 can be loaded and is also in a standby state so that the candy 1 can be loaded in the hopper 30A (30B) at any time.

The candy 1 stored in the collection chambers 18, 19 drops into the hoppers 30A (30B) when the lower part of the collection chambers 18, 19 is opened by the outlet damper 21. A door 31 is rotatably provided below the hoppers 30A and 30B. Normally, the door 31 is closed and the hopper 30A
Immediately below (30B) is bucket 4 of bucket conveyor 40
When 1 passes, the door 31 opens and the hopper 30A (3
The candy 1 stored in 0B) is dropped into the bucket 41. After this, when the door 31 is closed again, the outlet damper 21 rotates and the next candy 1 moves to the hopper 30A (30B).
Be thrown into.

By the way, the candy 1 is counted while being conveyed by the conveyor 14. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, at a position adjacent to the conveyor 14, a dimension measuring sensor (dimension measuring mechanism) including an optical sensor is provided.
22 and a counting sensor (counting mechanism) 23, and high-pressure air ejectors (first excluding mechanism and second excluding mechanism) 24 and 25 are installed.

The dimension measuring sensor 22 is arranged in the middle of the conveyor 14, and the high-pressure air injector 24 is arranged immediately downstream of the dimension measuring sensor 22. The dimension measurement sensor 22 measures the separation dimension of the candy 1 that is consecutive on the conveyor 14, and when the separation dimension measured by the dimension measurement sensor 22 is smaller than a preset minimum dimension, high pressure air is supplied. High-pressure air is ejected from the injector 24 to blow the candy 1 that follows from the conveyor 14 to the return conveyor 16. The candy 1 transferred to the return conveyor 16 returns to the candy storage tank 11.

On the other hand, the high-pressure air jet 25 has a chute 15
The counting sensor 23 is arranged immediately in front of the high pressure air injector 25. The counting sensor 23 counts the number of candy 1 and when the counting sensor 23 counts a predetermined number (three in this embodiment) of candy 1, high pressure air is ejected from the high pressure air injector 25. , The candy 1 sent after that, the conveyor 14
It is designed to be blown away from the return conveyor 16. Candy 1 transferred to the return conveyor 16 is a candy storage tank 1
Return to 1. The injection of the high-pressure air from the high-pressure air injector 25 is performed by rotating the inlet damper 20.
Continues until is switched. By this, the collection room 1
It prevents the candy 1 more than the set number from being thrown into 8 and 19.

The reason why the dimensional separation sensor 22 and the high-pressure air ejector 24 ensure the sizing distance of the candy 1 to be equal to or more than the minimum size is as follows. Since the conveying speed of the conveyer 14 is higher than the operating speed of the entrance damper 20, if the candy is close to each other, the collection chamber in which the third candy is put is located in the entrance damper 2
The fourth candy may also be thrown into this collection room before it is closed by zero. By adopting the above-mentioned minimum size, such a situation is avoided.

A counting error of the counting sensor 23 installed downstream is prevented. After counting the three candy by the counting sensor 23, when the fourth candy is blown by the high-pressure air jet 25, if the third and fourth candy are close to each other, the fourth candy becomes the fourth one. There is a risk that the third candy will be blown away along with the candy. By adopting the above-mentioned minimum size, such a situation is avoided.

According to this candy supplying device, 10 kinds of candy 1
Are accurately counted by the candy counting device 10, and six kinds of candy 1 are put into the hopper 30A and four kinds of candy 1 are put into the hopper 30B. Then, when the bucket 41 of the bucket conveyor 40 passes under the hopper 30A, the door 31 of the hopper 30A is opened, and three kinds of candy for each kind are six kinds, that is, a total of 18 pieces.
When one candy 1 is put into the bucket 41, and when the bucket 41 subsequently passes under the hopper 30B, the door 31 of the hopper 30B is opened, and three candy 1 per type 4
Kinds, that is, a total of 12 candy 1 are put into the bucket 41. As a result, 10 kinds of three candy 1 for each kind, that is, 30 pieces of candy 1 in total are put into the bucket 41. Therefore, after that, if the bag conveyor 40 feeds the bag into the bag packing apparatus and packs the bag, any of the 10 kinds of candy 1 will be packed into the bag packing machine, 3 pieces in total, 30 pieces in total.

In this embodiment, the chute 15 is divided into the two collection chambers 18 and 19, but the present invention is not limited to this, and if the production capacity is further increased, there are three or more collection chambers. Is desirable.

In this embodiment, the same number of all kinds of candy are collected in the bucket 41. However, the number of collected candy can be set for each kind of candy depending on the usage. . In this way, it is possible to set an appropriate number for each type of candy and pack it in a bag.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The work counting device is provided with (a) a transport mechanism, (b) a feeding mechanism, (c) a dimension measuring mechanism, (d) a first excluding mechanism, and (e) a counting mechanism, so that the work is accurately counted. The excellent effect that it becomes possible is exhibited.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a candy counting device.

FIG. 2 is an overall plan view of a candy supplying device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a terminal portion of the candy counting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 candy (work) 10 candy counting device (work counting device) 11 candy storage tank (supply mechanism) 12 scraping conveyor (supply mechanism) 13 aligner (supply mechanism) 14 conveyor (transport mechanism) 22 dimension measurement sensor (dimension measurement mechanism) ) 23 counting sensor (counting mechanism) 24 high-pressure air ejector (first excluding mechanism) 25 high-pressure air ejector (second excluding mechanism)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A transfer mechanism for transferring a work,
(B) a supply mechanism that is arranged at the start end of the transfer mechanism and that supplies the works to the transfer mechanism in a line; and (c) a dimension measurement mechanism that measures the separation dimension between the works being conveyed by the transfer mechanism, D) A first excluding mechanism that is arranged on the downstream side of the dimension measuring mechanism and separates the workpiece from the transport mechanism when the distance between the workpieces measured by the dimension measuring mechanism is equal to or less than a set dimension. And a counting mechanism which is arranged on the downstream side of the first excluding mechanism and which counts the workpieces being conveyed by the conveying mechanism. 2. The work counting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a second work for separating a succeeding work from the transport mechanism when the counting mechanism counts a set number of works downstream of the counting mechanism. A work counting device characterized in that a mechanism is provided.