JPH08243508A - Distributing conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a conveyor which distributes the eggs housed in fixed type housing containers to respective weight-by-weight gathering places. CONSTITUTION: The weights of the eggs 31 housed in the housing containers 30 supplied by a supply conveyor 44 are measured by a metering instrument 41 and the eggs are transferred onto the prescribed transporting frames 3 of a distributing conveyor 1 of the ensuing stage. Article extruding levers 4 are pivotally supported at the respective transporting frames 3 of the distributing conveyor 1. These extruding levers 4 and classifying and engaging means 21 are engaged by the selective action of these classifying and engaging means 21 to the first term extruding levers 4 mounted at the prescribed classifying and releasing points. The eggs 31 are distributed in the state of being housed in the housing containers 30 to the prescribed weight-by-weight gathering places by the turning action by the engagement of the first term extruding levers.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a distribution conveyor used in a classifying device for classifying and assembling fragile articles such as eggs, fruits and vegetables, and precision parts according to their physical characteristics.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an apparatus for classifying chicken eggs, fruits and vegetables according to their physical characteristics, articles are conveyed by using a distributing and conveying means from a decision point for each type of physical characteristics, and the distributing and conveying means is used. When a plurality of classification points provided in series downstream are operated, the corresponding classifying device is operated to discharge the unsorted articles from the distribution / conveying means, and the articles are classified according to type. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 57- 197075 Maki Seisakusho, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-21
Inventions of Yanagihara Seisakusho, Ltd., Sakukaisho 64-52591
Invention of Kyowa Machine.

Further, in a classifying apparatus in a state of being stored in a storage container, there has been invented a method of gradually reducing the speed in the carrying direction during classification so as to minimize the impact on the article, as disclosed in JP-A-2-62313. Maki mill.

[0004]

These devices have a risk that when the articles are classified from the distribution conveyor, the influence of the conveying speed of the distribution conveyor directly affects the articles and the fragile articles may be damaged. This was a major obstacle to speeding up the distribution conveyor.

Another problem with the above apparatus is that, when starting and stopping the distribution conveyor, the articles that arrive near the classification point are accurately discharged to the gathering point for each type when the distribution conveyor is accelerated or decelerated. In order to do so, there is also a problem that the classification engagement means itself has to be moved back and forth in the conveying direction of the distribution conveyor. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-4
3128 Kyowa Machine.

Further, in the method of reducing the impact given to the article as much as possible, a large-scale classification engaging means must be provided at the classification point, and in the case of this kind of classifying apparatus which requires many kinds of classification, the classification points for each kind It was difficult to install the equipment at high density, and inevitably an increase in the size of the equipment was unavoidable.

The present invention enables high-speed operation of the distribution conveyor by reducing the impact on non-sorted articles during classification, which is a problem of conventional distribution conveyors.

Further, by using the distribution conveyor of the present invention, it is possible to accurately discharge the classification engagement means at the time of acceleration or deceleration of the distribution conveyor without moving the classification engagement means itself.

Further, in the classifying apparatus using the distribution conveyor of the present invention, it is possible to continuously provide the classifying points at a high density, and to realize the miniaturization of this kind of apparatus which requires many kinds of classifying. is there.

[0010]

In order to achieve these objects, the distribution conveyor of the present invention separates individual articles by providing partitions on the conveying surface of the conveying means at equal intervals in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. A carrying frame for carrying is formed.

Further, a support shaft for pivotally supporting the push-out lever is provided corresponding to each transport frame, and the push-out lever is pivotally supported on the support shaft. It is effective to mount the support shaft in a direction orthogonal to the transport surface or in a direction parallel to the transport surface and orthogonal to the traveling direction thereof.

At the classification point in the vicinity of the conveying path of the distribution conveyor, an engaging means driven by power such as an air cylinder and an electromagnet is provided as a classification engaging means.

The physical characteristic determining means upstream of the distribution conveyor is generally the weight, shape, color tone, etc. of the articles, and the detection determining means for each classification purpose is provided. The determination of the physical characteristics may be a visual judgment of an operator or a combination of them. For example, in the case of vegetables and fruits, it is general that the quality grade is determined by visual inspection by an inspector, and the size and color are determined by a determination method using an image recognition means.

The control device for selectively operating the classification engagement means receives the determination signal determined at the physical characteristic determination point and operates the classification engagement means when the corresponding article arrives at the corresponding classification point, and operates the pushing lever. Engage the joint and the classifying engagement means.

The control device receives the determination signal determined at the physical characteristic determination point, and an encoder for generating a transport signal corresponding to the transport distance of the distribution conveyor in order to track the present position of transporting the article. A carrier signal generating means such as the above is provided, and the controller reads the carrier signal to track the current position of each article.

Further, the control device determines the start timing of the classifying operation of the classifying and engaging means based on the transport signal, and at the same time determines the release timing of the classifying operation of the classifying and engaging means.

Further, the lever on the distribution conveyor, which is pivotally supported corresponding to each conveying frame of the distribution conveyor and engages with the classification engaging means, does not necessarily have to be one end of the pushing lever for pushing the article, and is separately engaged. A classification operation of driving the pushing means by utilizing the rotational movement of the engaging lever by engaging the engaging lever with the classifying engaging means and discharging the conveyed article from the distribution conveyor is performed. You can also get it.

Further, when the engaging lever independent of the pushing means is provided as described above, the rotation of the engaging lever obtained by the engagement of the classifying engaging means and the engaging lever of the classifying device and the progress of the distribution conveyor. It is possible to obtain a classifying and discharging operation by driving the pushing means through a mechanism such as a gear or a crank.

The desired change in the rotation angle of the center axis of rotation of the pushing lever or the engaging lever with respect to the moving distance per unit of the distribution conveyor is small at the start of engagement and the largest rotation angle at the end of the substantial pushing operation. Is.

In order to realize the desired rotational angular velocity obtained by the engagement, in the article conveying state before the start of the classifying engagement operation, the engaging end of the pushing lever or the engaging lever is set at a small angle with respect to the traveling direction of the distribution conveyor. When the pushing lever or the pushing means is substantially finished operating, the engaging end of the pushing lever or the engaging lever is the center of rotation of the pushing lever or the engaging lever. It is desirable to control the classifying and engaging means so that the operation of the classifying and engaging means is released when the plane reaches the plane orthogonal to the traveling direction of the distribution conveyor including the line.

[0021]

When the type to be classified is determined at the physical characteristic determination point of the article to be sorted upstream of the distribution conveyor configured as described above, the type information is transmitted to the control device.

Distance information from the physical characteristic determination point upstream of the distribution conveyor to each physical characteristic classification / engaging means provided at a plurality of locations downstream of the distribution conveyor is previously taught to the control device.

The control device selects the corresponding classification engagement means from the type-specific information from the physical characteristic determination point and obtains distance information to the classification engagement means.

The control device traces the present position of the article from the obtained distance information and the carrier signal from the carrier signal generating means generated with the progress of the distribution conveyor, and when reaching the corresponding classifying and engaging means, The classification engagement means is operated.

When the engaging end of the push-out lever engages with the classification engaging means, the push-out lever rotates about its support shaft as the distribution conveyor advances.

By the rotation of the pushing lever, the pushing end of the pushing lever discharges the articles to be sorted, which are placed in the conveying frame, from the distribution conveyor in a direction transverse to the traveling direction of the same plane for classification and sorting. To do.

[0027]

1 is a schematic perspective view of the apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the apparatus. This figure shows an apparatus for classifying and collecting chicken eggs into three types by weight.

In FIG. 2, the present apparatus drives a series of conveying means of the distribution conveyor 1, the weighing conveyor 41 and the supply conveyor 44 with one drive motor 43, and these carry out a linked operation while having a certain relative relationship. Is configured to do.

Storage frame 4 for partition 45 of supply conveyor 44
The eggs are placed in the container 30 accommodated in No. 6 and reach the weighing conveyor 41. The weighing conveyor 41 is a container 30
Is weighed, the weight of the container 30 that is a tare is subtracted, and the signal of the net weight of the egg 31 is sent to the control device 40 at a fixed timing.

The control device 40 receives the weight signal from the weighing device 41 according to the weight boundary value set in the boundary weight setting device 48, and determines the sorting division of the corresponding chicken egg.

When the control device 40 determines the sorting classification to be classified, the control device 40 uses the distance information to the classification engaging means 21 of the corresponding weight classification preset in the internal setter 49 and the carrier signal generating means installed in the distribution conveyor 1. The carrier signal from a certain encoder 42 is compared, and the air cylinder 21 which is the relevant classifying and engaging means is driven through the drive circuit 50 at the timing when the corresponding container 30 receives the egg 31 and arrives at the corresponding classifying and engaging means. To do.

As the distribution conveyer 1 advances, the engaging end of the pushing lever 4 corresponding to the corresponding container collides with the tip engaging portion of the operated air cylinder 21.

The push-out lever 4 is rotatably supported by a rotary shaft orthogonal to the conveying surface of the distribution conveyor 1, and the engaging end of the push-out lever 4 is displaced from the traveling direction of the distribution conveyor 1 by about 15 degrees clockwise. As a result, after the collision, the push-out lever 4 starts rotating clockwise about its rotation axis.

The other end of the pushing lever 4 which has started to rotate gives a clockwise rotation to the vicinity of the bottom surface of the container 30. The operation of the pushing lever 4 on the side in contact with the container 30, that is, the pushing end, and the corresponding container According to the regulation of the partition 2 that constitutes the housing frame 3 that houses 30, the corresponding housing container 30 has an angle of approximately 90 degrees to the left in the direction of travel along the partition frame 2 provided on the side of the housing frame 3 in the direction of travel. It is classified and discharged.

FIG. 4 is a view in which one end of the push-out lever is not engaged with the classifying engagement means 21, but an engagement lever 70 for separate engagement is prepared. The central axis of rotation of the coupling lever 70 is parallel to the conveying surface of the distribution conveyor 1, and its axis is supported in the direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the distribution conveyor 1.

In the specific example shown in FIG. 4, the pushing lever 72 is operated by the rotating motion of the engaging lever 70 via the gear mechanism 71.

In the specific examples of FIGS. 1 and 2, the same number of 3 as the number of classifications is used.
Although there are provided classification and collection locations, a plurality of classification and collection locations may be provided in advance in a weight division zone where the frequency of classification is high in consideration of the frequency of occurrence of classification numbers.

[0038]

According to the distribution conveyor configured as described above, the classification and discharging operation of the distribution conveyor obtains the power of the discharging operation in the progress of the distribution conveyor, and the classification and discharging operation corresponds to the moving position of the distribution conveyor. Therefore, it is possible to accurately distribute the articles to the receiving and collecting points prepared according to their physical characteristics even when the conveying speed of the distribution conveyor is changed or when the distribution conveyor is accelerated and decelerated during the classification and discharging operation.

Further, the articles to be classified and discharged from the distribution conveyor are gradually discharged by the push-out lever from the time when they are close to the scheduled classification point, and the moving direction is gradually changed to be discharged when they reach the classification point. Since the speed in the direction becomes higher than that at the start of the discharging operation and the product is discharged from the distribution conveyor, the impact on the articles is reduced, and it is possible to realize a distribution conveyor for eggs and fruits that are weak against the impact.

Further, since it is possible to increase the conveying speed of the distribution conveyor for the above reason, it is possible to improve the processing capacity of the apparatus per unit time.

Further, since the classifying device is downsized, the receiving and collecting places can be arranged at a high density, and the required area of the entire device can be significantly reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a specific example of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the specific example shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the electrical connection of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating another example of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Distribution conveyor 2 Partition 3 Storage frame 4 Extrusion lever 20 Collecting means after classification 21 Classification engagement means 30 Storage container 31 Egg 40 40 Control device 41 Measuring conveyor 42 Encoder 43 Drive motor 44 Supply conveyor 45 Partition 46 Storage frame 48 Boundary weight setting Device 49 Internal setting device 50 Drive circuit 70 Engagement lever 71 Gear mechanism 72 Extrusion lever

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A distribution conveyor used in a classifying device for classifying fragile articles such as eggs by physical characteristics, wherein partitions are provided at fixed intervals in an endless circulation traveling zone to form a transportation frame for articles. Corresponding to each of the transport frames, an article pushing lever is pivotally supported on the endless circulation traveling zone, and at each classifying and discharging point of the article, a classification engaging means provided near the classifying and discharging point and the pushing lever. One end of the pushing lever engages with the classification engaging means by the selective operation of the classification engaging means in the previous period, and one end of the push-out lever advances the endless circulation traveling zone around the shaft supporting portion by the engagement. In the case of an article which is conveyed by the rotation movement of the pushing lever, the other end of the pushing lever conveys the article being conveyed by the conveyance frame directly or in a container. A distribution conveyor configured to push out from the endless circulation traveling zone to the outside of the traveling zone while the articles are accommodated in the accommodation container. 2. The distribution conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the axis of the push-out lever is provided in a direction orthogonal to the traveling surface of the endless circulation traveling zone. 3. The distribution conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the axis of the pushing lever is parallel to the traveling surface of the endless circulation traveling zone and is provided in a direction orthogonal to the traveling direction. 4. The rotation of the engaging lever according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 3, wherein the lever engaging with the classifying engaging means for obtaining the pushing operation of the pushing lever is a separately prepared engaging lever. A distribution conveyor that operates the article pushing means by using a mechanism such as a crank mechanism, a cam mechanism, and a gear from movement.