JPH08157046A - Aligning/constant-pitch feeding device for lengthy vegetable - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To completely automatically select lengthy vegetables by providing a split conveyor feeding the lengthy vegetables to a selecting conveyor, moving the selecting conveyor in the same direction as the split conveyor, inserting it into gaps, and providing a constant-pitch feeding conveyor aligning the lengthy vegetables on the split conveyor. CONSTITUTION: Lengthy vegetables aligned by an extending conveyor Bm are conveyed on a split conveyor 11 having gaps 15. A constant-pitch feeding conveyor 10 is moved to the split conveyor 11 at the same timing as a selecting conveyor C. Feed ribs 1 provided on the constant-pitch feeding conveyor 10 are inserted into the gaps 15 of the split conveyor 11 in conjunction with the movement of the constant-pitch feeding conveyor 10, are protruded above or below the lengthy vegetables of the split conveyor 11, and are inserted between the lengthy vegetables. The lengthy vegetables are protruded from the split conveyor 11 and fed to sorting trays 41 of the selecting conveyor C one by one. The lengthy vegetables are laid on the sorting trays 41 perpendicularly to the selecting conveyor C to allow full automation.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is applied to an automatic box-packing system for long vegetables such as cucumber and long eggplant. The present invention relates to an apparatus for aligning constant pitch of long vegetables to be supplied by.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional generally used automatic sorting / boxing system for long vegetables such as cucumber will be described with reference to FIGS.

The cucumbers 50, which the producer puts in a dedicated container and shipped, are collected at a sorting place of an agricultural cooperative or the like, and after being refrigerated, an automatic damper A is used to form an alignment supply device B from the dedicated container. Discharge on the upstream stretch conveyor B ₁ . Then, while being delivered to and conveyed by the plurality of enlargement conveyors B _{2 to} B _n−1 whose speeds are sequentially increased,
The pile of cucumbers 50 is leveled, and as shown in FIG. 6, in the most downstream stretch conveyor B _n , the cucumber 50 is conveyed in an aligned state one by one, and is provided at the downstream end of the stretch conveyor B _n. The constant pitch supply gates 62 are opened at the same pitch as the timing when the fruit selection tray 41 provided on the selection conveyor C is moved downward, and moved toward the fruit selection device D. The above is sequentially supplied at a constant pitch.

Next, this cucumber 50 is a sorting conveyor C.
When it is being conveyed by, the camera type fruit sorting device D provided above the sorting conveyor C discriminates each one according to a predetermined grade from the external shape such as the bending condition, the size, and the scratch. When the sorting conveyor C that conveys the determined cucumber 50 reaches the sorting conveyor E that conveys the determined cucumber 50 for each grade, the cucumber 5 on the fruit selection tray 41
0 is transferred to the sorting conveyor E, and only the cucumber 50 of the same grade is transferred to the aligning width-shifting device F by the sorting conveyor E.
The cucumbers 50 are supplied and aligned, and the cucumbers 50 are aligned and width-adjusted by the alignment width-adjusting device F, and sent to the boxing device G to be boxed and then shipped.

However, in the above-mentioned conventional device,
When the cucumber 50 is stretched and supplied from the conveyer B _n to the fruit selection dish 41 by the constant pitch supply gate 62, the cucumber 50
There are cases where the length direction of is not positioned substantially at right angles to the conveying direction, and there are many cases in which it is difficult to select the results by the camera type selecting device D. The result of the selection by the selecting device D is used for transferring the cucumber 50 from the sorting conveyor C to the sorting conveyor E, so that accurate selection becomes difficult and
Disturbance of the posture of the cucumber 50 also causes trouble during the transfer. Therefore, the worker always monitors the posture of the cucumber 50 on the sorting conveyor C at the entrance side of the fruit sorting device D,
It was necessary to manually repair the cucumber 50 such as a disordered posture, and it was difficult to completely automate the selection of the cucumber 50.

When the constant-pitch supply gate 62 is closed, the constant-pitch supply gate 62 hits the cucumber 50 conveyed by the high-speed stretch conveyor B _n , and the cucumber 50 stretches the conveyor B _n. The cucumber 50 was scratched by being sandwiched between the constant pitch supply gate 62 and the constant pitch supply gate 62, and its commercial value was sometimes lowered.

[0007]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the conventional apparatus and can fully automate the selection of long vegetables in the automatic long-vegetable vegetable sorting and boxing system, and at the same time, perform long-term selection. It is an object of the present invention to provide an aligned constant-pitch supply device for long vegetables, which does not damage the long vegetables and reduce the product value.

[0008]

For this reason, the apparatus for aligning constant pitch of long vegetables according to the present invention has the following means.

(1) The downstream end of an enlargement conveyor for supplying the shipped long vegetables to an automatic sorting and boxing system and the upstream end of a selection conveyor for conveying the long vegetables to a fruit selection device for selecting the long vegetables. It is interposed between the two and has a gap (slit) in the center that is divided in the width direction, receives the long vegetables supplied from the downstream end of the stretching conveyor at the upstream end, and mounts both sides of the long vegetables. A division conveyor was provided, which was placed and transported, and delivered at the downstream end to the upstream end of the selection conveyor.

(2) Moving in the same direction as the dividing conveyor at a speed substantially the same as the speed of the sorting conveyor, and moving the feeding ribs arranged in an equal pitch from the upstream end to the downstream end, and under the dividing conveyor, Alternatively, there was provided a constant pitch supply conveyer that entered a gap provided in the central portion of the division conveyer from above and arranged the long vegetables being placed on the division conveyer and being conveyed at a constant pitch.

Another apparatus for aligning a constant pitch of long vegetables according to the present invention has the following means.

(3) A division conveyor similar to that of the item (1) was stretched and provided at the downstream end of the conveyor.

(4) A constant pitch supply conveyor similar to the items (2) was provided.

However, the moving speed of the constant-pitch supply conveyor in the present invention does not necessarily have to be synchronized with the moving speed of the sorting conveyor.

(5) It is interposed between the dividing conveyor and the sorting conveyor, the upstream end is arranged below the downstream end of the dividing conveyor, and the first half part rises in the traveling direction and the latter half part faces in the traveling direction. There is a slope that descends and the downstream end is located above the upstream end of the sorting conveyor, moves at approximately the same speed as the sorting conveyor, and is provided with a fixed amount supply rib that is orthogonal to the moving direction, and the dividing conveyor Transport the long vegetables supplied from the downstream end of the to the upstream end of the sorting conveyor,
A quantitative conveyor for supplying was provided.

[0016]

The function of the long vegetable array constant pitch feeding device of the present invention is as follows.
By means of the above-mentioned (1) and (2), (1) each of the long vegetables arranged at a predetermined interval by the stretching conveyor is sequentially conveyed onto the dividing conveyor having a gap in the center. Next, by moving the constant-pitch supply conveyor in the conveying direction of the division conveyor at the same timing as the movement of the selection conveyor, the constant-pitch supply conveyors are arranged in equal pitch rows, and each supply rib is fixed in the gap of the division conveyor. With the movement of the pitch supply conveyor, inserted and projected above or below the long vegetable support surface of the division conveyor, inserted between the long vegetables on the division conveyor, and placed on the division conveyor in front of it. The long vegetables are gently extruded from the downstream end of the dividing conveyor at a constant pitch, and are sequentially fed one by one onto each of the fruit selection trays of the selecting conveyor that moves toward the fruit selecting device.

As a result, the long vegetables are placed on the selection dish in a state where the lengthwise direction of the long vegetables is substantially orthogonal to the conveying direction of the sorting conveyor, which eliminates the need for rework by an operator and automatically sorts the long vegetables. Complete automation of the boxing system can be achieved. Also, the posture and position of long vegetables that are supplied to the sorting conveyor at equal pitches are gradually inserted into the gaps of the dividing conveyor as the movement is performed, and the constant pitch supply conveyor is used to damage the long vegetables. Will not be lost and the product value will not be reduced.

Further, another aspect of the present invention is to provide a long vegetable aligning pitch supplying device, in addition to the above (1) by means of the above (3) to (5), (2) a dividing conveyor and a constant pitch supplying conveyor. ,
The long vegetables are supplied below the downstream end of the dividing conveyor and between the fixed amount feeding ribs of the fixed amount conveyor provided with the leading end portion thereof, which inclines and rises. In the first half of the movement of the fixed quantity conveyor, this long vegetable is held in the rear fixed quantity supply rib and moves in the conveying direction while rising, and in the latter half of the movement it is held in the front fixed quantity supply rib and lowered, While being rotated downward at the downstream end of the, while being held by the descending fixed amount supply ribs, descending and arranged in line on the sorting conveyor moving toward the sorting device, on each sorting tray, in sequence. It falls gently and is supplied quantitatively.

Therefore, damage to this long vegetable is
It becomes less, and it becomes possible to maintain the commercial value. In addition, long vegetables can be reliably held in a posture in which the longitudinal direction of the long vegetables is oriented in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction due to the descending inclination of the latter half of the quantitative conveyor, and the vegetables gradually fall onto the fruit selection dish in that posture. Therefore, the posture on the fruit-sorting dish is maintained correctly, and the product is conveyed to the fruit-sorting device D, so that the worker who constantly monitors the long vegetables at the entrance side of the fruit-sorting device and needs to fix the posture is unnecessary. As a result, it is possible to achieve the complete automation of a reliable long-sized vegetable sorting boxing system.

Further, since the long-distance vegetables are supplied to the fruit-picking tray in synchronization with the conveying speed of the sorting conveyor by the constant quantity conveyor, the conveying speed of the long vegetables on the dividing conveyor is not necessarily the speed of the sorting conveyor. There is no need for alignment, which facilitates the separation and alignment of individual long vegetables on the split conveyor and is less likely to be scratched.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a long vegetable aligning and constant pitch supplying apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a first embodiment of a long vegetable array constant pitch supply device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side sectional view taken along the line AA shown in FIG.

In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a constant-pitch supply conveyor, which includes a drive pulley 3 and a driven pulley 4 which are axially mounted on bearings (not shown), and a large number of supply ribs 1 which are arranged in a row in the conveying direction. The belt 2 is wound around 3 and 4.

On the downstream side of the stretching conveyor B _n , a drive pulley 13 and a driven pulley 14 which are axially mounted on a bearing (not shown), and a supply rib 1 are raised and a gap 15 in the width direction which can be entered is provided in the central portion. Formed and divided, each pulley 1
3. A pair of divided conveyors 11 each including a belt 12 on both left and right sides, which are wound around a pulley 14, are provided.

Below the dividing conveyer 11, the above-mentioned constant pitch supply conveyer 10 is arranged so as to be inclined upward in the conveying direction, and the supply ribs 1 arranged in a line on the circulating constant pitch supply conveyer 10 are divided. The gap 15 between the two belts 12 of the conveyor 11 moves in the conveying direction while moving upward with the movement of the constant-pitch supply conveyor 10, and passes through between the cucumbers 50 on which both ends are placed and protrudes above the belt 12. It is supposed to do.

As described above, the alignment determination of the long vegetables of this embodiment is performed.
Pitch feeder B_AIs configured, so in FIG.
As described above, the most upstream stretch conveyor B₁Up
In addition, the cucumber 50 discharged in the pile is
Several stages of enlargement conveyor B₂~ B _nBy that block
The length of ku is stretched. And the final stage enlargement
A B_n5 cucumbers, each arranged at a predetermined interval by
0 for both belts 1 of the division conveyor 11 that are circulatingly moved.
Both ends are placed on 2 and conveyed sequentially.

Next, the belt 2 of the constant pitch supply conveyor 10 and the respective supply ribs 1 are moved at the circulating movement speed of the fruit selection tray 41, that is, the movement speed of the sorting conveyor C,
When the fruit selection dish 41 reaches the downstream end of the dividing conveyor 11, the feeding ribs 1 for moving the cucumber 50 to the fruit selecting tray 41 are also circulated so that they reach the downstream end of the dividing conveyor 11 at the same timing. The respective feeding ribs 1 are moved between the belts 12 in the conveying direction while being raised, and are inserted between the cucumbers 50 at the downstream portion of the dividing conveyor 11, and the cucumbers 50 in front of the feeding ribs 1 are divided. Is gently extruded at a constant pitch from the downstream end of and is sequentially fed onto each moving selection dish 41. Also, this selection dish 4
The cucumber 50 supplied onto the top 1 is conveyed to the position where the fruit selecting device D is installed by the selecting conveyor C as described above.

In the present embodiment, the supply rib 1 is shown in which the gap 15 of the dividing conveyor 11 is inserted from the lower side to the upper side, but it is lowered above the dividing conveyor 11 in the traveling direction. A constant-pitch supply conveyor 10 is provided, and the supply ribs 1 are gradually projected from the upper side to the lower side of the dividing conveyor 11 along with the movement of the constant-pitch supplying conveyor 10 and inserted into the gap 15, and the cucumber 50 on the dividing conveyor 11 is provided. It is also possible to arrange them so that their mutual intervals are at a constant pitch and the lengthwise direction thereof is orthogonal to the traveling direction of the dividing conveyor 11.

Next, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a side sectional view taken along the arrow in FIG.
In FIG. 3 shows a state in which alignment constant pitch feeding device B _B is 2 Retsunami設elongated vegetables embodiment.

In the figure, 10 'is a constant-pitch supply conveyor, which includes a drive pulley 3', a deflector pulley 5 and 6, a driven pulley 4 ', and respective pulleys 3', 4 ', 5 pivotally mounted on bearings (not shown). It is constituted by a belt 2'wound around 'and 6'and circulated and moved, and supply ribs 1'arranged at equal pitches in the conveying direction of the belt 2'.

Reference numeral 11 'is a divided conveyor having the same structure as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and includes a pair of left and right drive pulleys 13' axially mounted on bearings (not shown) and a driven pulley 1.
4 and the belt 2'of the constant-pitch supply conveyor 10 'are divided together with the supply ribs 1'arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the belt 2'to form a gap 15' in the width direction so as to move up and move between them. Each of the left and right pulleys 13 ′ and 14 ′ is composed of a pair of divided belts 12 ′ that are respectively wound and circulate, and are continuously arranged at the downstream end of the stretching conveyor B _n .

Below the gap 15 'of the dividing conveyer 11', the above-mentioned constant pitch supply conveyer 10 'rises while the upper surface of the belt 2'moves in the conveying direction in the gap 15' and is divided. At the end of the belt 12 ', the height is set to be substantially the same as the upper surface of the divided belt 12'.

Next, 30 is a constant quantity conveyor, which is a drive pulley 23 and a driven pulley 2 which are axially mounted on a bearing (not shown).
4 and the deflector pulley 25 and these pulleys 2
The belt 22 that is wound around 3, 24, 25 and circulates
And are arranged in a row on the surface of the belt 22 orthogonally to the conveying direction, and are divided in the width direction as shown in FIG. 3 to pass through the gap 15 'of the divided belt 11' and to the downstream end of the divided conveyor 11 '. Further downstream, the divided belt 1
While receiving the cucumber 50 from the supply rib 1'of the constant-pitch supply conveyor 10 'having transferred the cucumber 50 having both ends placed on the 1', the upper end of the supply rib 1'delivering the cucumber 50 can pass between them. As described above, the constant amount supply rib 21 is divided in the width direction with the interval portion provided in the central portion.

Further, the fixed quantity conveyor 30 has a downstream end of the division conveyor 11 'so that the upstream end can receive the cucumber 50 conveyed by the division conveyor 11' as described above from the constant pitch supply conveyor 10 '. The cucumber 50, which is provided below the end and is configured such that the first half is raised in the traveling direction and the second half is lowered in the traveling direction, and the downstream end conveys the cucumber 50, is selected by the sorting conveyor C. Fruit plate 4
It is arranged so as to be located above the upstream end of the sorting conveyor C so that it can be moved to 1.

[0034] In this way, alignment constant pitch feeding device B _B long vegetables in this embodiment, which is configured, 5
As described above, the most upstream stretch conveyor B ₁
The cucumber 50 discharged in piles on the top is stretched in length by the plurality of stages of stretching conveyors B _{2 to} B _n that are sequentially accelerated. Then, both ends of each cucumber 50 aligned on the final-stage stretching conveyor B _n are received on the pair of left and right dividing belts 12 ′ of the dividing conveyor 11 ′ and sequentially conveyed to the downstream side. Then, by circulatingly moving the belt 2'of the constant-pitch supply conveyor 10 ', the supply ribs 1'arranged in equal pitch are provided on the surface of the belt 2'between the two divided belts 12'. 1
The cucumber 50 that moves up the 5'in the conveying direction at the same timing as the circulation movement of the fixed amount supply ribs 21 provided on the constant amount conveyor 30 and straddles the downstream side on both the divided conveyors 11 '. Between the fixed quantity supply ribs 21 on the belt 22 of the constant quantity conveyor 30 which is cyclically moved from the downstream side end portion thereof.

The cucumber 50 is held by the fixed amount supply rib 21 located behind the cucumber 50 and moves in the conveying direction while rising, and when the belt 22 passes over the deflector pulley 25, it rolls forward and moves. Then, the fixed amount supply rib 21 located in front of the cucumber 50 holds and descends. By the rolling movement between the rear fixed quantity supply rib 21 and the front fixed quantity supply rib 21, the cucumber 50 is aligned so that the length direction thereof is substantially orthogonal to the moving direction of the constant quantity conveyor 30. Then, at the downstream end of the fixed quantity conveyor 30, it is held and lowered by the fixed quantity supply rib 21 that rotates downward, and is moved below the downstream end of the fixed quantity conveyor 30 by the sorting conveyor C having its tip end arranged. The conveyed cucumber 50 is gradually and gently dropped and supplied onto each of the fruit selection plates 41.

Furthermore, the cucumber 50 on the selection dish 41 is
The sorting conveyor C conveys the fruit to the fruit sorting device D, and as described above, the fruit is sorted, sorted, and boxed, and shipped.

[0037]

As described above, according to the apparatus for aligning constant pitch of long vegetables according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained by the constitutions set forth in the claims. (1) Long vegetables are gently extruded at a constant pitch from the downstream end of the dividing conveyor or the quantitative conveyor, and the lengthwise direction is the conveying direction on the fruit selection plate of each of the selecting conveyors that moves toward the fruit selecting device. Can be aligned so that they are located at a substantially right angle, and can be supplied sequentially at an equal pitch. (2) Also, long vegetables are no longer damaged,
It is possible to maintain its commercial value and eliminate the need for constant monitoring of long vegetables at the entrance side of the fruit selection device and the need for workers to adjust their postures. Can be achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a first embodiment of an apparatus for aligning constant pitches of long vegetables according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view taken along the line BB shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the whole of a conventional automatic selection and packaging system for long vegetables.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of a connection portion between the alignment supply device and the sorting conveyor shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,1 'Supply rib 2,2' Belt 3,3 'Drive pulley 4,4' Followed pulley 5 Deflector pulley 6 Deflector pulley 10,10 'Constant-pitch supply conveyor 11,11' Divided conveyor 12,12 'Belt 13, 13 'Drive pulley 14, 14' Driven pulley 15, 15 'Gap 21 Fixed amount supply rib 22 Belt 23 Drive pulley 24 Driven pulley 25 Deflector pulley 30 Fixed amount conveyor 41 Selection dish 50 Cucumber A Auto damper B Alignment supply device B ₁ ~ B _n Extending Conveyor C Sorting Conveyor D Sorting Device E Sorting Conveyor F Aligning Width Adjusting Device G Boxing Device

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Shigeo Inoue 4-6-22 Kannon Shinmachi, Nishi-ku, Hiroshima City Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Hiroshima Research Laboratory (72) Inventor Shoto Yamazaki 4-22 Kannon Shinmachi, Nishi-ku, Hiroshima City Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. Hiroshima Research Center

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A long-vegetable vegetable alignment tray configured to receive long-vegetable vegetables aligned at predetermined intervals from an upstream-side stretch conveyor and supply the long-vegetable vegetables to a fruit-picking tray of a sorting conveyor moving toward a fruit-picking device at a constant pitch. In the pitch supply device, the upstream end to the downstream end of the enlargement conveyor, the downstream end to the upstream end of the sorting conveyor, respectively, is installed, a gap is provided in the center divided in the width direction, the long vegetables Received from the enlargement conveyor, conveyed, divided conveyor to be supplied to the selection conveyor, in the same direction as the divided conveyor, the selection conveyor is moved at substantially the same speed, along with the supply ribs arranged in equal pitch A constant pitch supply device for long vegetables, comprising a constant pitch supply conveyor which is inserted into the gap and arranges the long vegetables on the dividing conveyor at a constant pitch. 2. An aligned constant pitch supply of long vegetables, which receives long vegetables aligned at a predetermined interval from an upstream stretch conveyor and supplies them at a constant pitch to a fruit selection tray of a sorting conveyor that moves toward a fruit selection device. In the apparatus, the upstream end is installed at the downstream end of the enlargement conveyor, a gap is provided in the center so as to be divided in the width direction, the long conveyor receives and conveys the long vegetables from the enlargement conveyor, and the division conveyor. Moving in the same direction, the feed ribs arranged in an equal pitch are inserted into the gap together with the movement, a constant pitch supply conveyor to align the long vegetables on the dividing conveyor at a constant pitch, the dividing conveyor and the Interposed with the sorting conveyor, the first half is raised from below the dividing conveyor in the traveling direction, and the second half is inclined toward the sorting conveyor. It moves at about the same speed as the sorting conveyor, and the fixed quantity supply ribs orthogonal to the moving direction are arranged in a row at a constant pitch, receives the long vegetables from the dividing conveyor, conveys them, and supplies them to the sorting conveyor. A constant-pitch feeder for aligning long vegetables, which is provided with a fixed amount conveyor.