JPH06298338A - Food transport apparatus and food sorting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the capability of sorting food by providing a fixed interval arranging mechanism for traveling food in a line at specific intervals. CONSTITUTION:Potatoes 3a, for example, supplied to a fixed interval arranging mechanism 4 are traveled in a line at specific intervals according to the pitch of a machine 14 in such a manner that the central position in the direction intersecting perpendicularly to the traveling direction A is set in the substantially central position in the lateral direction of a transport conveyer 8. In the case of transferring the potatoes 3a from the fixed interval arranging mechanism 4 to a transport mechanism 5, the potatoes 3 are always transferred from the lower end position of a rubber belt 13 of the fixed interval arranging mechanism 4 to the transport conveyer 8 regardless of the size of a potato 3a. Accordingly, the potatoes 3 are prevented from jumping on the transport conveyer 8 to make the longitudinal intervals of potatoes 3a in the traveling direction A uneven and from coming into contact with each other. Thus, the capability of sorting food 3 (e.g. potatoes 3a) can be improved in a simple structure.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a food transporting device and a food sorting device suitable for foods of different sizes and shapes such as agricultural crops such as potatoes and fresh foods and processed foods such as scallops of scallops.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, when shipping harvested foods such as potatoes, the foods are classified into predetermined grades according to their weight or shape. And
In order to efficiently classify a large amount of food into predetermined grades, the food solid information is detected by a desired detection mechanism while the food is running at a desired speed, and each food is pre-determined based on the detected solid information. Various food conveying devices and food sorting devices have been proposed which are adapted to be graded.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional food conveying device and food selecting device,
The more the sorting ability is improved so that the food can be quickly and efficiently sorted, and when the food passes through the detection mechanism for detecting the individual information of the food, the interval between the individual foods is within a predetermined range. There was a problem that it had to be kept stable at all times.

The present invention has been made in view of these points, and overcomes the above-mentioned problems in the conventional ones.
An object of the present invention is to provide a food transporting device and a food sorting device which have a simple structure and can improve the food sorting ability.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the food conveying device of the present invention according to claim 1 has a constant interval arrangement mechanism for traveling the food in a line at a predetermined interval. I am trying.

A food selection device according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a supply mechanism for supplying food, a food transport device according to the first aspect, and a detection mechanism for detecting solid information of the food. And a sorting mechanism that sorts the food whose traveling solid-state information is detected based on the detection result of the detection mechanism.

[0007]

According to the food transporting apparatus of the present invention as set forth in claim 1, the food can be made to travel in a line at a predetermined interval by the fixed interval arrangement mechanism.

According to the food sorting apparatus of the present invention as set forth in claim 2, solid information of foods traveling in a row and at a predetermined interval can be reliably detected with high accuracy by the detection mechanism, and at the same time, solid information can be obtained. It is possible to efficiently and surely separate the food in which is detected.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

First, the food conveying apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

1 to 3 show an embodiment of a food conveying device according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is a front view showing a main portion, and FIG. 2 is a left side view of FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a main part of the constant-interval arrangement mechanism.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the food conveying apparatus 1 of the present embodiment has a desired food 3, above the potato 3, in the present embodiment, above a suitable pedestal 2 formed in a substantially rectangular plane shape.
As shown by an arrow A in the figure, a fixed interval arrangement mechanism 4 that conveys a from left to right in a row at a desired traveling speed and at a predetermined interval, and a potato 3a transferred from the constant interval arrangement mechanism 4 A transport mechanism 5 for transporting downstream is provided in the traveling direction. Then, below the gantry 2, a desired number of desired leveling mounts 6 that also perform level adjustment and vibration absorption of the food conveying device 1 are arranged at appropriate positions.

The fixed interval arrangement mechanism 4 extends parallel to the upper surface of the gantry 2 and parallel to the longitudinal direction of the gantry 2 by an appropriate supporting member 7 (FIG. 2) provided upright on the gantry 2. Is supported by. Then, FIG.
A position near the left end indicated by a thick arrow is a supply position B to which the potato 3a is supplied from above.

The transport mechanism 5 has an appropriate transport conveyor 8 of a desired length for transporting the potato 3a from left to right at a desired traveling speed as shown by an arrow A in the figure. The conveyor 8 has an endless belt 9 and has one end protruding in parallel with the upper surface of the gantry 2 and in the longitudinal direction of the gantry 2 by a plurality of appropriate frames 10 provided upright on the gantry 2. Is supported as.
The belt 9 is formed in a U-shaped cross section like the bottom of a ship so that the conveyed product does not roll left and right with respect to the traveling direction.
The left end of the conveyor 8 is arranged below the supply position B of the fixed interval arrangement mechanism 4.

The fixed interval arrangement mechanism will be further described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the fixed spacing arrangement mechanism 4 includes a pair of belt conveyors 11 having a desired length.
have. As shown in FIG. 3, each of the belt conveyors 11 has a desired endless rubber belt 13 wound around it so as to come into contact with the respective outer peripheral surfaces of two belt conveyor pulleys 12 which are rotatably supported. There is. One of the belt conveyor pulleys 12 shown on the left side of FIG.
Is a drive belt conveyor pulley 12a, and the other belt conveyor pulley 12 shown on the right side of FIG. 1 is a driven belt conveyor pulley 12b. Further, in each belt conveyor 12, the surface of each rubber belt 13 is made to face a substantially V shape that gradually expands upward as shown in FIG. 2, and in the traveling direction A as shown in FIG. It is arranged so that it gradually expands toward it. Also,
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, on the surface of each rubber belt 13, a desired number of appropriate crosspieces 14 are projected so as to face each other at a desired pitch P, for example, about 80 mm. . And the supply position B where the potato 3a is supplied
The distance between the lower ends of the rubber belts 13 that face each other is smaller than the minimum size of the supplied potatoes 3a.

Each of the driving belt conveyor pulleys 12a is formed so that a driving force of an appropriate driving source such as a motor 15 arranged in the frame 2 can be transmitted.
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, an intermediate rotating shaft 16 and a main rotating shaft 17 which are rotatable are sequentially arranged below each drive belt conveyor pulley 12a.
The drive belt conveyer pulley 12a and the intermediate rotary shaft 16, and the intermediate rotary shaft 16 and the main rotary shaft 17 are connected by suitable universal joints 18, respectively. The main rotary shaft 17 shown on the right side in FIG. 2 extends longer than the other main rotary shaft 17 and a desired sprocket 19 is fixed near the tip thereof. Further, a chain 22 is wound so that the outer peripheral surfaces of the sprocket 19 and the sprocket 21 fixed to the rotary shaft 20 of the motor 15 are in contact with each other. Also,
Appropriate spur gears 23 are fixed to desired positions of the respective main rotary shafts 17, and both spur gears 23 are arranged in mesh with each other, whereby the constant spacing mechanism 4 is provided.
Each rubber belt 13 in the direction shown by arrow C in FIG.
For example, the vehicle is made to travel at a relatively high moving speed (running speed) of about 50 m / s.

Each drive belt conveyor pulley 12a
Various configurations can be selected for transmitting the driving force of the motor 15 to the motor 15, and the configuration is not particularly limited to the configuration of the present embodiment.

Further, as shown in FIG.
The left end of each drive belt conveyor pulley 1 is provided to prevent the conveyor 8 and the intermediate rotary shaft 16 from contacting each other.
It is arranged so as to be located slightly to the right of the position just below 2a.

Further, the traveling speed of the rubber belt 13 of the fixed interval arrangement mechanism 4 and the conveyor 8 of the conveyor mechanism 5 of this embodiment.
In the present embodiment, the traveling speed is the same.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above-mentioned structure will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view for explaining a state in which potatoes are supplied to the fixed interval arrangement mechanism.

According to the food conveying apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the potatoes 3a are sequentially supplied to the supply position B of the fixed interval arrangement mechanism 4.
Are sequentially supplied between the rubber belts 13 arranged to face each other in a substantially V shape of the constant interval arrangement mechanism 4 which is operated so as to travel at a desired speed at the supply position B. The rubber belts 13 are arranged between the crosspieces 14 adjacent to each other in the front and rear. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the large potato 3b is located above the rubber belts 13 that are arranged to face each other in a substantially V-shape, and the small potato 3c is substantially V-shaped. It is located below the rubber belts 13 arranged to face each other in shape, and the center position in the direction orthogonal to the traveling direction A is a desired position (in this embodiment, the central position in the width direction of the conveyor 8). ) Will be bound by. As shown in FIG. 1, the potatoes 3a conveyed by the fixed interval arrangement mechanism 4 are restrained in position with respect to the traveling direction by the crosspieces 14 located rearward in the traveling direction as the vehicle travels. The rubber belts 13 are gradually transferred toward the upper surface, and are sequentially transferred to the upper surface of the conveyor 8 of the conveyor mechanism 5 at a position where the distance between the lower ends of the rubber belts 13 facing each other is larger than the size of the potato 3a.

In this way, the potatoes 3a supplied to the fixed interval arrangement mechanism 4 are arranged such that the central position in the direction orthogonal to the traveling direction A is set to the substantially central position in the width direction of the conveyor 8 and the crosspieces of the crosspieces 14 are arranged. It is possible to run in a single row at desired intervals according to the pitch. When the potatoes 3a are transferred from the fixed interval arrangement mechanism 4 to the transport mechanism 5, the potatoes 3a are always transferred from the lower end position of the rubber belt 13 of the constant interval arrangement mechanism 4 to the conveyor 8 regardless of the size of the potatoes 3a. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the potatoes 3a from jumping on the transport conveyor 8 and making the intervals of the respective potatoes 3a before and after the traveling direction A uneven or abutting.

In order to prevent lateral displacement with respect to the traveling direction A, the shape of the belt 9 of the conveyor 8 is U-shaped in cross section like the bottom of the ship, so that all the objects to be conveyed function by the core of the belt 9. Since it occurs, it does not shift from the left to the right and fall from the conveyor 8.

When the potatoes 3a are transferred from the fixed interval arrangement mechanism 4 to the transport mechanism 5, the potatoes 3a jump around on the transport conveyor 8 and the intervals between the potatoes 3a before and after the traveling direction A change very little. Since it may occur in rare cases, in order to surely prevent these, an appropriate vibration absorbing member such as a rubber-like elastic body or sponge, which is not shown in the drawing, is provided on the belt 9 of the conveyor 8 or on the surface of the belt 9 and is safe for food. Should be used.

Further, in the present embodiment, the traveling speeds of the fixed interval arrangement mechanism 4 and the transport mechanism 5 are the same, but the traveling speeds of both may be different.

Further, the food conveying device 1 of this embodiment can be applied not only to the potatoes 3a but also various kinds.

Next, the food sorting apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIGS. 5 to 7 show one embodiment of the food sorting apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a front view showing a main part, and FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the main part. 7 is a front view showing the main part of the selection means.

An example of the food sorting device 24 of the present embodiment is to use the above-described food transport device 1 to classify the potatoes 3a into an appropriate number, in this embodiment, six grades and a total of seven grades, which are not classified. Is shown.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the food sorting apparatus 24 of the present embodiment supplies desired potatoes 3a in order from the upstream side in the running direction A of the potatoes 3a indicated by arrow A in the figure. The above-described food transport device 1 in which the mechanism 25 and the potatoes 3a are arranged in a line and at a predetermined interval.
Based on the detection result of the detection mechanism 26, the desired detection mechanism 26 for detecting the solid information of the potato 3a in a non-contact state, and the potato 3a in which the traveling solid information is detected are detected.
A desired sorting mechanism 27 for sorting into one grade is provided.

The supply mechanism 25 has an appropriate hopper 29 for delivering the potatoes 3a above an appropriate support frame,
A desired width for transporting the potatoes 3a delivered from the hopper 29 to the supply position B of the food transport device 1 at a predetermined speed, for example, a traveling speed of 24 m / s, for example, 100
and a supply conveyor 30 having a width of mm. An appropriate opening 31 that is slightly smaller than the width of the supply conveyor 30 is formed at the right end of the hopper 29. The opening 31 is arranged at a desired position on the upper left side of the supply conveyor 30. The potatoes 3a thrown in are sequentially supplied onto the supply conveyor 30. Further, an appropriate chute member 32 for delivering the potatoes 3a traveling on the supply conveyor 30 to the above-mentioned supply position B of the food conveying device 1 is arranged at a downstream position in the traveling direction of the supply conveyor 30. In addition, a desired number of desired leveling mounts 6a, which have both the level adjustment of the supply mechanism 25 and the vibration absorption, are arranged at appropriate positions below the support frame 28.

As described above, the food conveying device 1 has
It has a fixed interval arrangement mechanism 4 and a transport mechanism 5. Then, the conveyor 8 of the conveyor mechanism 5 makes it possible to convey the potato 3a from left to right at a desired traveling speed, for example, a relatively high speed of about 50 m / s, and the supply of the supply mechanism 25. The width is almost the same as the width of the conveyor 30. The other structure is the same as that of the food conveying device 1 of the above-mentioned embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

An appropriate sorting mechanism 27 is arranged at a downstream position of the food conveying device 1 in the traveling direction, and a potato 3a in a traveling state is connected to a connecting portion between the fixed interval arrangement mechanism 4 and the sorting mechanism 27. An appropriate detection mechanism 26 for detecting solid information such as the shape and size of the above is provided.

The sorting mechanism 27 conveys the potatoes 3a at a traveling speed equal to that of the conveyor 8 of the food conveying device 1 above an appropriate support frame 33 formed in a substantially rectangular plane shape. An appropriate selection conveyor 34 having a desired length and a width substantially the same as that of the conveyor 8 of the food conveyor 1 is provided. Then, above the sorting conveyor 34, a plurality of (six in this embodiment) desired sorting means 36 supported by a desired support member 35.
Is provided. The sorting means 36 discharges the potatoes 3a conveyed on the sorting conveyor 34 upward in a direction orthogonal to the traveling direction A, which is indicated by a thick arrow in FIG. It has an appropriate motor 38 having a brake and a clutch for intermittently rotating 37 at a desired rotation angle. The left end of the sorting conveyor 34 is connected to the right end of the conveyor 8 and each sorting means 36 is driven based on the detection result of the detection mechanism 26.

Further, the potato 3a discharged from the sorting conveyor 34 by the sorting means 36 is not shown in the direction orthogonal to the traveling direction A of the position where the sorting means 36 of the sorting conveyor 34 is arranged, that is, in the upper part in FIG. Appropriate discharge chute 3 for storing in a desired storage container such as a container
9 are provided in the same number as the selecting means 36. A desired discharge chute (not shown) is arranged at the right end of the sorting conveyor 34, and a storage container such as a desired container (not shown) is arranged below the desired discharge chute.

As shown in FIG. 7, the rotary wing 37 has five flat wing 40 arranged at an equal angle, and in a normal state, the potatoes conveyed on the selection conveyor 34 are fed. 3a are allowed to pass between the wings 40 adjacent to each other. Then, each wing 40 is rotationally driven in the clockwise direction indicated by arrow D in FIG. 7 intermittently at a rotation angle of 72 ° (360 ° / 5) or an integral multiple thereof in this embodiment.

In the normal state, the selecting means 36 can be selected from various known ones as long as the potatoes 3a conveyed on the selecting conveyor 34 can be passed therethrough. It is not limited to the structure of this embodiment.

The detection mechanism 26 may be disposed at a position downstream of the fixed interval arrangement mechanism 4 in the traveling direction A and upstream of the sorting means 26 in the traveling direction A. However, the present invention is not particularly limited to this example.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above-mentioned structure will be described with reference to FIGS.

According to the food sorting apparatus 24 of this embodiment, the potatoes 3a supplied to the hopper 29 of the supply mechanism 25 are sequentially transferred from the opening 31 of the hopper 29 to the supply conveyor 30. The potatoes 3a conveyed by the supply conveyor 30 of the supply mechanism 25 travel at a faster traveling speed than the supply conveyor 30 via the chute member 32 of the supply mechanism 25. B is sequentially supplied. That is, the potatoes 3 a supplied to the supply position B of the constant distance arrangement mechanism 4 by increasing the traveling speed of the constant distance arrangement mechanism 4 from the supply conveyor 30 of the supply mechanism 25 are the rubber belts 1 of the constant distance arrangement mechanism 4.
It can be surely inserted one by one between the crosspieces 14 adjacent to each other in front of and behind the No. 3 and run in a line at a desired interval. It should be noted that the speed difference between the supply conveyor 30 and the constant interval arrangement mechanism 4 is such that, at the supply position B, a plurality of potatoes 3a are inserted between the crosspieces 14 adjacent to the front and rear of both rubber belts 13 of the constant interval arrangement mechanism 4. The speed difference can be surely prevented, and is not particularly limited to this embodiment.

The potatoes 3a, which run in a row between the rubber belts 13 facing each other of the fixed interval arrangement mechanism 4 at a desired interval, are sequentially transferred to the conveyor 8 of the conveyor mechanism 5 while maintaining the desired interval. It is transposed, and then travels on the sorting conveyor 34 of the sorting mechanism 27 connected to the transporting conveyor 8 of the transporting mechanism 5.

Further, the potatoes 3a traveling in a line at a desired interval are separated from the transport conveyor 8 by the sorting conveyor 34.
The solid-state information such as the shape and size of the solid-state information is detected by an appropriate detection mechanism 26 arranged at the connection position. The individual information of each potato 3a is compared with a predetermined selection criterion of the potato 3a by a desired control means (not shown) arranged at an appropriate position of the food sorting device 24, and a predetermined grade classification, book is instantly provided. In the embodiment, a total of 7 categories, 6 grades and non-grades, are classified.

Then, potatoes 3 that have passed through the detection mechanism 26
If a matches one of the six grades while traveling on the sorting conveyor 34 of the sorting mechanism 27, the detection mechanism 2
Six sorting mechanisms 27 driven based on the detection results of No. 6
The rotary blades 37 of any one of the sorting means 36 store the products in grades in a storage container (not shown) through the discharge chute 39, and when the grades are out of the grade (does not match any of the six grades), each sort Passing through means 36 and sorting conveyor 34
Via a desired discharge chute (not shown) provided at the right end of the container, the product is stored as a grade out of a desired container such as a container (not shown).

Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the potatoes 3a pass the detection mechanism 27, the intervals between the solids of the potatoes 3a can be always passed in a line at a desired interval. It is possible to reliably and quickly detect solid information of solids, and to reliably improve the sorting ability. That is, when the potatoes 3a pass through the detection mechanism 26, unless the intervals between the individual solids of the potatoes 3a are always arranged in a line with a desired interval, the traveling speed of the potatoes 3a is increased to increase the sorting ability. In this case, it is possible to reliably prevent the inconvenience that the plurality of traveling potatoes 3a are recognized as one potato 3a, and reliable selection cannot be performed.

Further, the food selection device 24 of this embodiment can be applied not only to the potatoes 3a but also various kinds.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be modified as necessary.

[0049]

As described above, according to the food transporting apparatus and the food sorting apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to always transport the food solids in a line at a desired spacing. It is possible to reliably and rapidly detect the solid information of (3), and it is possible to surely improve the sorting ability in terms of speed, accuracy, etc., which is an extremely excellent effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a main part of an embodiment of a food conveying device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a left side view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a main part of a fixed spacing arrangement mechanism.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which food is supplied to the fixed interval arrangement mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a main part of an embodiment of a food sorting apparatus according to the present invention.

6 is a plan view of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing the main part of the sorting means.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Food Conveying Device 3 Food 3a Potato 4 Constant Interval Arrangement Mechanism 5 Conveying Mechanism 8 Conveying Conveyor 9 Belt 11 Belt Conveyor 13 Rubber Belt 14 Bar 24 Food Sorting Device 25 Feeding Mechanism 26 Detecting Mechanism 27 Sorting Means 30 Supplying Conveyor 34 Sorting Conveyor 36 Sorting Means A (Food) running direction B Supply position C (Rubber belt 13) running direction

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A food conveying device comprising a fixed interval arrangement mechanism for traveling food in a line at a predetermined interval. 2. A supply mechanism for supplying food, a food conveying device according to claim 1, a detection mechanism for detecting solid information of the food, and a food for which running solid information is detected. And a sorting mechanism for sorting based on the detection result of the detection mechanism.