JPH10250826A - Fruit and vegetables rotating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To change the direction of fruits and vegetables without changing the number and layout of conveying means by imparting rotation to the peripheral surface of the fruits and vegetables placed on a conveying means, in a direction changing direction, above the conveying means for conveying the fruits and vegetables. SOLUTION: Fruits and vegetables A placed between rotors 25... of a sorting conveyor 4 are direction-changed by a longitudinal rotating machine 56 and a horizontal rotating machine 57 of a fruits and vegetables rotating device. The nearly whole peripheral surface of the fruits and vegetables A can therefore be inspected, and inspection work and sorting work by grades of the fruits and vegetables A can be performed accurately so as to improve judging accuracy and sorting accuracy. The fruits and vegetables rotating device can therefore be used as a device for changing the direction of the fruits and vegetables conveyed by a roller conveyor, a belt conveyor, or the like, or used for a fruits and vegetables sorting device for sorting the fruits and vegetables A by grades. The device can be installed easily without changing the number of layout of sorting conveyors 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for sorting fruits and vegetables such as oranges, apples, kiwis, pears, persimmons, peaches, or cucumbers, eggplants, carrots, and yams according to their ranks. The present invention relates to a vegetable rotation device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an apparatus for sorting fruits and vegetables as described above, for example, when a large number of fruits and vegetables are transferred from a front conveyor to a rear conveyor, a lower peripheral surface of the fruits and vegetables is passed through a gap between the conveyors. Is imaged by an imaging camera, the upper peripheral surface and the side peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetables transferred to the rear conveyor are imaged by one imaging camera, and based on image data captured by each imaging camera. The grade of fruit and vegetables is determined by the determination device. There is a sorting device that sorts a large number of fruits and vegetables based on the determination according to the rank.

[0003]

However, when the lower peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable is imaged by the imaging camera from the gap between the conveyors as described above, if the gap between the conveyors is widened,
Although the imaging range of the imaging camera is widened, the level difference between the conveyors is large, making it difficult to transfer fruits and vegetables. On the other hand, if the gap between the conveyors is narrowed, the speed of passing through the gap increases, and it becomes difficult to accurately image the lower peripheral surface of the fruit or vegetable. In addition, when moving from the front conveyor to the rear conveyor, the fruits and vegetables may roll and the direction and posture may be displaced, so it is difficult to accurately image only the lower peripheral surface of the fruits and vegetables, and There is a problem that the peripheral surface may be imaged in an overlapping manner or a part that has not been imaged may remain, so that highly accurate determination and sorting cannot be performed.

In addition, two conveyors are arranged close to each other at a predetermined interval, and an imaging camera for imaging the lower peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable is arranged facing a gap formed between the conveyors. Therefore, a mechanism for independently driving or synchronously rotating the front and rear conveyors must be provided, which complicates the configuration and structure of the entire apparatus. Further, since it is impossible to image the entire peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable product on one conveyor, the number and arrangement of the conveyors must be changed as necessary. .

In view of the above problems, the present invention changes the direction by directly applying the rotation of the rotating means to the peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable placed on the conveying means, so that the number and arrangement of the conveying means are not changed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a fruit and vegetable rotating device that can change the direction of fruit and vegetable products and can be used for inspection and sorting of fruit and vegetable products.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A fruit and vegetable rotator provided with a rotating means for applying rotation in a direction in which the direction is changed with respect to the peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable placed on the transport means, above the transporting means for transporting the fruit and vegetable; It is characterized by.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in combination with the first aspect, the rotating means is provided with a rotation in a direction in which the fruit and vegetable is rotated back and forth with respect to an upper peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable. It is characterized in that it is a fruit and vegetable rotator constituted by means for rotating back and forth.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in combination with the first aspect, the rotating means rotates the fruit and vegetable in a direction in which the fruit and vegetable is horizontally rotated with respect to a side peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable. It is a fruit and vegetable rotating device constituted by horizontal rotating means to be applied.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the second aspect, the rotating means includes the front-rear rotating means and the horizontal rotating means, and a horizontal means is provided before or after the front-rear rotating means. It is a fruit vegetable rotating device provided with rotating means.

[0010]

In the fruit and vegetable rotating apparatus according to the first aspect, since the rotation of the rotating means is directly applied to the peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable placed on the transport means to change the direction, for example, the eyes of the worker, the imaging The peripheral surface of the fruits and vegetables can be inspected with a camera or the like, and the operation of sorting the fruits and vegetables by the same rank can be performed accurately. For example, it is possible to change the direction of fruit and vegetables conveyed by conveying means such as a roller conveyor, a belt conveyor, a thrust conveyor, and a bucket conveyor, and it is not necessary to change the number and arrangement of the conveying means, and the apparatus can be easily installed. Can be done.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the first aspect, the fruit and vegetable rotating apparatus directly imparts rotation of the front-rear rotating means to an upper peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable placed on the conveying means, Since the fruits and vegetables are rotated in one direction, for example, the fruits and vegetables can be turned upside down so that the upper and lower peripheral surfaces are opposite, and the work of inspecting the front and back peripheral surfaces of the fruits and vegetables can be performed reliably.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the first aspect, the rotation of the horizontal rotating means is directly applied to the side peripheral surface of the fruits and vegetables placed on the transport means. Since the fruits and vegetables are rotated in the horizontal direction, for example, the fruits and vegetables can be turned in a state where the left and right peripheral surfaces and the front and rear peripheral surfaces are opposite, and the left and right peripheral surfaces and the front and rear peripheral surfaces of the fruit and vegetables are inspected. Work can be performed reliably.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the second aspect, the fruit and vegetable rotating apparatus rotates the fruit and vegetable placed on the transport means after or before rotation by the back and forth rotating means. Since the fruits and vegetables are rotated horizontally by means, it is possible to inspect almost the entire peripheral surface (front and back, left and right, front and rear) of the fruits and vegetables,
The operation of sorting fruits and vegetables by class is performed accurately.

[0014]

According to the present invention, since the rotation of the rotating means is directly applied to the peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable placed on the conveying means to change the direction, the substantially entire peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable can be inspected reliably. Thus, the operation of inspecting the fruits and vegetables and the operation of sorting by grade can be performed accurately, and the determination accuracy and the sorting accuracy can be improved. Also, it can be used as a device for changing the direction of fruit and vegetables transported by a known transport means, or as a sorting device for sorting fruit and vegetables by equal rank, without having to change the number and arrangement of transport means. In addition, installation of the device can be performed simply and easily.

In addition, since the turning force of the front-rear rotating means is directly applied to the upper peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetables, the fruits and vegetables are surely turned upside down so that the upper and lower peripheral surfaces are opposite to each other. The inspection work can be performed reliably, and the fruits and vegetables conveyed by the conveying means can be continuously turned upside down,
The operation of inverting the fruits and vegetables can be efficiently performed.

Further, the turning force of the horizontal rotating means is directly applied to the side peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable to change the direction of the fruit and vegetable so that the left and right peripheral surfaces and the front and rear peripheral surfaces are opposite to each other. Inspection of the left and right peripheral surfaces and the front and rear peripheral surfaces can be performed reliably, and during rotation, the contact resistance of the conveying means is hardly applied to the fruit and vegetables, and the operation of changing the direction of the fruit and vegetables can be smoothly performed. I can do it. In addition, by rotating the fruits and vegetables horizontally by the horizontal rotating means after or before the rotation by the front and rear rotation means, it is possible to reliably inspect substantially the entire peripheral surface (front and back, left and right, front and rear) of the fruits and vegetables. It is possible to accurately sort fruits and vegetables by class.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The drawings show an example in which a fruit and vegetable sorting apparatus for sorting fruit and vegetables by equal rank is provided with a fruit and vegetable rotating device for inverting and horizontally rotating the fruit and vegetables, and FIGS. The fruit and vegetable sorting apparatus 1 sorts a large number of fruit and vegetables A conveyed by the dispersion conveyor 2 to the sorting conveyors 3 and respectively, and sorts the fruit and vegetables A sorted to the sorting conveyors 3 and so on.
Are sequentially placed on the sorting conveyors 4. The fruits and vegetables A ... are turned upside down and horizontally rotated by the fruits and vegetables rotating device 6 arranged in the inspection section a on the sorting conveyor 4, and the inspection section a
The whole class of fruit vegetables A ... is imaged by the class inspection device 5 arranged in the group, and the class is determined. Based on the determination, the fruits and vegetables A are discharged by equal rank to the distribution conveyors 7 arranged in the sorting sections b to f on the sorting conveyor 4 and the collected conveyors 8 arranged in the sorting section g. It is a configuration to release non-standard fruit and vegetable A.

The above-mentioned sorting conveyor 4 stretches a plurality of (for example, two) endless belts 18 between the sprockets 19 at the start and end portions which are pivotally supported on the side of the conveying path. The return plates 20, 20 are fixed to the shaft ends of the sprockets 19, 19, and the sprocket 2 is driven by the driving force of the feed motor 21 with a speed reducer disposed below the starting end.
2, 23 and the drive chain 24, the endless belt 18,
18 and the return plates 20, 20 are rotated in the feed direction, and the rotating bodies 25 attached to the transport side edges of the endless bands 18, 18.
Is circulated in the feed direction at a speed higher than that of the alignment conveyor 3.

A large number of mounting members 26 are fixed at equal intervals in the feed direction between the upper edges of the endless bands 18, 18, and a shaft support member 27 is mounted on the lower end of the mount member 26 in the feed direction. And the base end of the support shaft 28 is fixed to the upper end of the shaft support member 27 in the direction perpendicular to the feed direction. The part has a shape having a large diameter from the outer peripheral surface at the center toward the outer peripheral surface at both ends,
A hollow or solid rotor 25 is rotatably supported. The rotating bodies 25 are arranged in a keyboard shape at an interval before and after the fruit and vegetables A are placed in the feeding direction, and are pivotally mounted so as to be vertically swingable in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction. Further, instead of the rotating body 25 described above, a rotating body 25 formed to have the same outer diameter from the outer peripheral surface on one end side to the outer peripheral surface on the other end side may be used.

At the upper end of the mounting member 26, a locking lever 29 is pivotally mounted so as to be able to swing up and down in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction, and is attached to a locking shaft 31 fixed to the upper end of the shaft support member 27. On the other hand, the spring member 30 is urged to rotate in the direction in which the locking claw 32 of the locking lever 29 is locked. The shaft support member 27 and the locking lever 29 are brought into contact with a control shaft 33 fixed to the upper end of the mounting member 26 to restrict the rotation to a position where the locking shaft 31 and the locking claw 32 are locked. The contact member 35 fixed to the front end of the mounting member 26 is brought into contact with the regulating protrusion 34 formed at the lower end of the support member 27, thereby restricting the rotation of the rotating body 25 to the discharge posture in which the rotating body 25 is inclined downward. By locking and unlocking each other, the rotating body 25 is swung up and down between a horizontal posture in which the fruit and vegetable A is placed and a discharge posture in which the fruit and vegetable A is discharged. On the support shaft 27a that supports the support member 27, the thickness and the shape of the support member 27 are allowed to protrude and retract between the rotating bodies 25, and are separated by a distance at which the fruit and vegetable A is supported in a horizontal posture. The lifting member 36 is pivotally mounted so as to be able to swing up and down. In the embodiment, three lifting members 36 formed in a long shape and a short shape are integrally formed or connected.

The lifting members 36 are guided around the guide members 39 provided in the front and rear inspection areas of the inspection section a. When the lifting members 36 are engaged with the guide members 39, the rotating members 25 in the horizontal posture are rotated. Lifting member 36 than between ...
Has a height at which the fruit vegetables A placed between the rotating bodies 25 are pushed upward, and at least a part or all of the fruit vegetables A from the outer peripheral surface of the rotating bodies 25. Is guided to a protruding position for causing the surface to float in a non-contact state. When the lifting members 36 drop off from the guide members 39, the base ends of the lifting members 36 contact the support shaft 29a that supports the locking lever 29, and are lower than the space between the rotating bodies 25 in the horizontal posture. The lifting member 36 projects slightly upward from the space between the rotating bodies 25 in the release position, and the inclination of the lifting member 36 is smaller than that of the rotating bodies 25. The height is pushed up, and the rotation is restricted to the immersion position where the fruit and vegetable A is discharged in the discharge direction and inclined.

The above-described class inspection apparatus 5 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, the inspection section a set on the sorting conveyor 4 is divided into a front inspection area and a rear inspection area, and the front inspection area has an imaging camera facing the upper peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A. 43, and an imaging camera 4 facing the left peripheral surface thereof.
4 are arranged. Immediately after, an imaging camera 45 is arranged facing the upper peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A, and an imaging camera 46 is arranged facing the right peripheral surface thereof. In the rear inspection area, an imaging camera 47 is disposed to face the upper peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A, and an imaging camera 48 is disposed to face the left peripheral surface. Immediately after, an imaging camera 49 is arranged facing the upper peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A, and an imaging camera 50 is arranged facing the right peripheral surface thereof. In addition, the imaging camera 4
6 is disposed facing the right peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A imaged by the imaging camera 43, and the imaging camera 50 is opposed to the right peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A imaged by the imaging camera 47. May be arranged.

The imaging cameras 43 to 50 are, for example, CC
It is composed of imaging means such as a D camera and a picture element (CCD),
The apparatus main body 51 for determining the grade of the fruit and vegetable A and the monitor 52 for displaying an image of the fruit and vegetable A are connected to the article detection sensor S1, the origin detection sensor S2, and the The passage detection sensor S3 and the origin detection sensor S2, the passage detection sensor S3, and the unlocking device 55 provided in the sorting units b to g are connected to the apparatus main body 51, and the front and rear inspection areas include:
For example, illuminators 53 and 54 composed of a halogen lamp, an ultraviolet lamp and the like are provided. In addition, an article detection sensor S1 for detecting the passage of the fruit and vegetable A placed between the rotating bodies 25 in correspondence with the imaging cameras 43, 45, 47, 49.
And an origin detecting sensor S2 for detecting passage of an origin piece 26a protruding from the mounting member 26 in correspondence with the leading rotating body 25.
And a passage detection sensor S3 for detecting the passage of a detection piece 26b protruding from the mounting member 26 in correspondence with the rotating body 25, respectively, and the sorting units b to g include an origin detection sensor S2,
The passage detection sensors S3 are provided respectively.

The device main body 51 described above includes sensors S1, S2,
In response to the detection by S3, upper and lower, left and right, front and rear of the vegetable A placed between the rotating bodies 25.
And stores the image data captured by the imaging cameras 43 to 50 and the number-of-movements data of the rotating bodies 25 in association with each other, and compares the image data with the previously stored class data. Classification (for example, color, sugar content, scratches, rot, outer diameter, shape, height, width, volume, flatness, maturity, non-specification that does not correspond to the classification) is determined, and the imaging cameras 45 and 49 are determined.
The decay state of the fruit and vegetable A is determined on the basis of the image data captured in step. And, based on the detection by the sensors S2 and S3,
The number of passages of the rotating bodies 25 that are moved to the sorting units b to g is counted by a counter, and when the fruit and vegetable A is conveyed to the sorting units b to g corresponding to the determination, the fruits and vegetables A are disposed in the sorting units b to g. The sorters 55 are operated independently, and the rotating bodies 25 on which the fruit and vegetables A are placed are vertically swung to the discharging posture.

The locking lever 2 of the rotating body 25 corresponding to the judgment
9 is pushed down by a release member 55a of a sorter 55 composed of, for example, a solenoid, a motor, an air cylinder, and the like, the locking by the locking lever 29 is released, and the vegetable A is placed. Only the rotated bodies 25 are swung to the release posture. On the other hand, the rotating bodies 25 and the lifting members 36 are orbitally moved toward the starting end while engaging with the outer peripheral edges of the return plates 20 and 20 to lock the locking shaft 31 and the locking claw 32 together. ,
Rotate and return to the horizontal position. The lifting members 36 move circumferentially in the feed direction along the upper edge of the guide member 39. Alternatively, the rotating bodies 25 may be rotated and returned by a return means such as their own weight or a spring.

The above-described fruit and vegetable rotating apparatus 5 includes a rotating body 25.
.. Is composed of a front-rear rotating machine 56 for reversing the fruits and vegetables A placed in front and back in the front-rear direction, and a horizontal rotating machine 57 for rotating the fruits and vegetables A in the horizontal direction. Each of the rotating machines 56 and 57 is inspected. The portion a is disposed between the front inspection area and the rear inspection area. The above-described front-rear rotating machine 56 and the horizontal rotating machine 57 may be arranged in front and back.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the fore-and-aft rotary machine 56 is, for example, at a height position pressed against the upper peripheral surface of the fruit or vegetable A placed between the rotating bodies 25. A rotation imparting belt 58 formed of a member having a large contact resistance such as synthetic rubber and having a width and a length pressed against the upper peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A is stretched in the feeding direction. The rotation imparting belt 58 is rotatably stretched on the lower surface of a mounting frame 59 provided on the upper side of the same, and each guide shaft 59a standing on the upper surface of the mounting frame 59 is provided on the upper portion of the same frame. The bearings 60a of the lift frame 60 are vertically movably supported.
The rotation imparting belt 58 is pressed against the upper peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A by the elasticity of each of the spring members 61... Mounted on each of the guide shafts 59 a. The lifting frame 60 is urged in the direction in which it is moved.
The elevating cylinder 62 disposed above the elevating frame 60 has a lowering position where the rotation imparting belt 58 is pressed against the upper peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A and an elevating position where contact of the rotation imparting belt 58 is avoided. The lifting frame 60 is moved up and down between them.

The sorting conveyor 4 is driven by the driving force of a rotation motor 63 with a reduction gear fixed to the mounting frame 59.
The rotation imparting belt 58 is rotated at a speed higher than the feeding speed, and the fruits and vegetables A pressed by the rotation imparting belt 58 are rotated in the front-rear direction (for example, 180 degrees) so that the upper and lower peripheral surfaces are reversed. Invert. Alternatively, the rotation imparting belt 58 is reversely rotated or stopped in the direction opposite to the feed direction, and the fruit vegetables A pressed by the rotation imparting belt 58 are rotated in the front-rear direction. Alternatively, as shown in FIG.
The fruits and vegetables A placed between the rotators 25... May be conveyed in the feed direction while pressing the fruits and vegetables A placed on the rotation imparting pad 72 formed of the same member as the rotation imparting belt 58. The upper and lower peripheral surfaces can be turned upside down so that they are opposite.

The above-described horizontal rotating machine 57 is similar to that shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, fruit vegetables A placed between the rotating bodies 25.
In the height position pressed obliquely downward with respect to the both circumferential surfaces, the width and the length of the same material as the above-described rotation imparting belt 58 and pressed against the both circumferential surfaces of the fruit and vegetable A The formed rotation imparting belts 64, 64 are stretched opposite to each other in the feed direction. The rotation imparting belts 64, 64 are rotatably stretched on the slopes of the mounting frames 65, 65 laid on the upper portions on both sides, and are provided on both sides of the fruit and vegetable A placed between the rotating bodies 25. It is inclined at an angle that is pressed obliquely downward. The mounting frame 65 is mounted on the lower surface side of a movable frame 66 provided on the upper portion of the frame, and shaft portions 65 a, 65 a projecting from both ends of the mounting frame 65 are formed at both ends on the lower surface side of the movable frame 66. Guide holes 66 of the parts 66a, 66a
b, 66b, mounting frames 65, 65 are provided to be able to expand and contract in the left-right direction corresponding to the size of the fruit and vegetable product A, and a spring member 67 stretched between the shaft portion 65a and the receiving portion 66a.
Due to the resiliency of the mounting frames 65, 65 in the direction in which the rotation imparting belts 64, 64 are pressed against the peripheral surfaces on both sides of the fruit and vegetable A.
Is energizing.

The movable frame 66 is attached to the lower surface of a lift frame 68 provided on the upper portion of the frame, and rails 68a,
68a so as to be movable left and right. Lifting frame 6
6, each of the expansion / contraction cylinders 69, 6 fixed at the center on the upper surface side.
9 is a rotation imparting belt 6 on both sides of the fruit and vegetable A.
The movable frames 66, 66 are moved left and right between a forward position close to an interval at which the rotation applying belts 64, 64 are pressed and a retreat position separated at an interval at which the rotation applying belts 64, 64 are prevented from contacting with each other. 25 ... The rotation imparting belts 64, 64 expand and contract in accordance with the size of the fruit vegetables A placed between them. The lifting cylinder 70 disposed above the lifting frame 66 is a fruit vegetable A
The lifting frame 66 is moved up and down between a lowering position where the rotation applying belts 64 and 64 are pressed against the peripheral surfaces on both sides of the vehicle and an ascending position where contact of the rotation applying belts 64 and 64 is avoided.

The pair of rotation imparting belts 64, 64 are independently rotated in opposite directions (indicated by arrows in the figure) by the driving force of a rotation motor 71 with a reduction gear fixed to the mounting frames 65, 65. That is, one of the rotation applying belts 6
4 is rotated at a speed higher than the feeding speed of the sorting conveyor 4, and the other rotation imparting belt 64 is rotated at a speed lower than the feeding speed of the sorting conveyor 4, and the rotation of each rotation imparting belt 64, 64 is rotated. By the force, the rotation imparting belts 64, 64 rotate the pressed fruit vegetables A in the horizontal direction (for example, 90 degrees), and horizontally rotate so that the left and right peripheral surfaces and the front and rear peripheral surfaces are opposite. In addition, one rotation imparting belt 6
The fruit vegetable A may be horizontally rotated by the other rotation imparting belt 64 by stopping or reversing 4.

The illustrated embodiment is constructed as described above, and the operation when the fruit and vegetable sorting apparatus 1 sorts the fruit and vegetables A according to the grades will be described below. First, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fruits and vegetables A... Conveyed by the dispersing conveyor 2 are sorted to the sorting conveyors 3, respectively, and the fruits and vegetables A sorted to the sorting conveyors 3. It is sequentially transferred between the rotating bodies 25 of the conveyors 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the lifting member 36 is slightly above the space between the rotating bodies 25.
Are projected to lift a part or all of the fruit and vegetable product A placed between the rotating bodies 25, and are transported in a state of being sandwiched between the rotating bodies 25 or being oblique or upright. Of the fruit and vegetable A in the horizontal position is corrected.

Next, in the front inspection area of the inspection section a,
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, in response to the detection by the sensors S1, S2, and S3, the front side peripheral surface, the left peripheral surface, and the right peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A held in a horizontal posture by the lifting members 36. Planes are imaged by the imaging cameras 43 to 46 and the imaging camera 4
The image data captured in 3 to 46 and the number-of-movements data of the rotating bodies 25 are stored in the apparatus main body 51 in association with each other.

Next, the lifting members 36 are temporarily immersed,
Fruit vegetables A are placed again between the rotating bodies 25. Immediately after the front inspection area, the front / rear rotating machine 56 constituting the fruit / vegetables rotating device 56 is driven to rotate the fruit / vegetables A placed between the rotating bodies 25 as shown in FIGS. The rotation imparting belt 58 is pressed against the upper peripheral surface, the fruit A is rotated in the front-rear direction by the rotational force of the rotation imparting belt 58, and the rotating body 25 on which the fruit A is placed is driven to rotate, and is turned upside down. The vegetable A is turned upside down (about 180 degrees) so that it is oriented. The horizontal rotating machine 57 is driven to press the rotation imparting belts 64, 64 against the peripheral surfaces on both sides of the fruit vegetable A placed between the rotating bodies 25, as shown in FIGS. Imparting belt 64,
The fruit and vegetable A is rotated in the horizontal direction by the rotating force of 64, and the fruit and vegetable A is horizontally rotated (about 90 degrees) so that the left and right peripheral surfaces and the front and rear peripheral surfaces are opposite to each other.

Next, the lifting members 36 are projected, and the fruit vegetables A placed between the rotating bodies 25 are once lifted, and the fruit vegetables A are conveyed while being corrected in the horizontal posture. In the rear inspection area of the inspection unit a, in response to the detection by the sensors S1, S2, and S3, the back peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A held in a horizontal posture by the lifting members 36,. The right peripheral surface is imaged by the imaging cameras 47 to 50, and the image data captured by the imaging cameras 47 to 50 and the number-of-movements data of the rotating bodies 25 are stored in the apparatus main body 51 in association with each other.

Next, the lifting members 36 are immersed, and the fruits and vegetables A are placed again between the rotating bodies 25 and transported. At the same time, the device main body 51 compares the image data captured by the imaging cameras 43 to 50 with the previously stored class data, and comprehensively determines the class. As shown in FIG. 5, based on the detection by the sensors S2 and S3, when the fruit and vegetable A is conveyed to the sorting units b to g corresponding to the determination, the sorting units b to g.
Are operated independently, and only the rotating bodies 25 on which the fruits and vegetables A are placed are swung to the discharge posture, and the sorting conveyors 55 are arranged in the sorting units b to f. discharge. Hereinafter, similarly, based on the determination by the device main body 51,
The fruits and vegetables A ... to be moved to the sorting units b to g are discharged according to the same rank, and the distribution conveyors 7 arranged in the sorting units b to f transport the fruit and vegetables A ... to the next step (for example, a box packing step). And
The collecting conveyor 8 arranged in the sorting section g conveys non-standard fruit and vegetables A to a collecting section (not shown).

As described above, the fruit vegetables A placed between the rotating bodies 25 of the sorting conveyor 4 are separated by the fruit vegetable rotating device 56.
Since the direction is changed by the front-rear rotating machine 56 and the horizontal rotating machine 57, it is possible to surely inspect substantially the entire peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A, and the operation of inspecting the fruit and vegetable A and the operation of sorting by grade are accurate. And the accuracy of determination and sorting can be improved. And, for example, as a device for changing the direction of fruit and vegetables A conveyed by a conveyor such as a roller conveyor, a belt conveyor, a thrust conveyor, and a bucket conveyor, or as a fruit and vegetable sorting device 1 for sorting fruit and vegetables A by grade. It can be used, and there is no need to change the number and arrangement of the sorting conveyors 4, and the installation of the apparatus can be performed easily and easily.

In addition, the rotation imparting belt 58 of the front-rear rotating machine 56 is pressed against the upper peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A to directly apply a rotational force, and the fruit and vegetable A is surely turned upside down so that the upper and lower peripheral surfaces are reversed. Since the inversion is performed, the operation of inspecting the front and back surfaces of the fruit and vegetable A can be reliably performed, and the fruit and vegetable A conveyed by the sorting conveyor 4 can be continuously reversed, and the operation of inverting the fruit and vegetable A is performed. Can be performed efficiently.

Further, the rotation imparting belts 64, 64 of the horizontal rotating machine 57 are pressed against the peripheral surfaces on both sides of the fruit and vegetable A to directly apply a rotating force, so that the fruit and vegetable A is turned in the left and right peripheral surfaces and the front and rear peripheral surfaces in opposite directions. In this state, the inspection of the left and right peripheral surfaces and the front and rear peripheral surfaces of the fruit and vegetable A can be reliably performed, and at the time of rotation, the contact resistance of the sorting conveyor 4 is almost zero with respect to the fruit and vegetable A. No action is taken, and the operation of changing the direction of the fruit and vegetable product A can be performed smoothly. In addition, the fruit vegetable A is horizontally rotated by the horizontal rotating machine 57 after or before rotation by the front-rear rotating machine 56, so that substantially the entire peripheral surface of the fruit vegetable A (front and back, left and right,
Before and after). Inspection work and sorting work of the grade of fruit and vegetable A can be performed accurately.

In correspondence between the structure of the present invention and the above-described embodiment, the conveying means of the present invention corresponds to the sorting conveyor 4 and the rotating body 25 of the embodiment, and the receiving plate 73 described later. The rotating means corresponds to the fruit and vegetable rotator 6 and the front-rear rotating machine 56, and the horizontal rotating machine 57, and the front-rear rotating means corresponds to the front-rear rotating machine 56, the rotation applying belt 58, and the rotation applying pad 72, The horizontal rotating means corresponds to the horizontal rotating machine 57 and the rotation imparting belt 64, but the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment.

In the embodiment described above, the sorting conveyor 4
Of the fruits and vegetables A placed between the rotating bodies 25 are turned upside down and horizontally rotated by the rotating machines 56 and 57 of the fruit and vegetable rotating apparatus 6, but instead of the rotating bodies 25, for example, FIGS.
3. As shown in FIG. 14, a receiving plate 73 formed in a shape in which the central mounting surface is slightly lowered is pivotally connected to be vertically swingable.
The sorting conveyors 4 may be configured by arranging the receiving plates 73 in a keyboard shape. In other words, the rotation imparting belt 58 of the front-rear rotating machine 56 is pressed against the upper peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable product A placed on the receiving plate 73 so as to be turned upside down (about 180 degrees), and the peripheral surfaces on both sides of the fruit and vegetable product A The rotation imparting belt 6 of the horizontal rotating machine 57
Since the horizontal rotation (approximately 90 degrees) is performed by pressing 4, 64, substantially the entire front and back surfaces, left, right, front and rear surfaces of the fruit and vegetable product A can be imaged as in the above-described embodiment, and each receiving plate 73
A rotation imparting belt 5 is provided on the upper peripheral surface of the fruit vegetable A placed on
8 is directly pressed and the rotation imparting belts 64, 64 are pressed directly on the left and right peripheral surfaces of the fruit and vegetable A to rotate. Therefore, even if the rotating operation is not assisted by the rotating body 25 as described above, the fruit and vegetable A The inversion and horizontal rotation can be reliably performed, and it can be used for the operation of rotating the fruit and vegetable A transported by a known transport means (for example, a belt conveyor, a thrust conveyor, a bucket conveyor, or the like).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a configuration of a fruit and vegetable sorting device provided with a fruit and vegetable rotating device.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a sorting conveyor in which a rotating body is arranged in a keyboard shape.

FIG. 3 is a rear view showing a mounted state of the rotating body.

FIG. 4 is a rear view showing a protruding state of the lifting member.

FIG. 5 is a rear view showing a swinging state of a rotating body and a lifting member.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an arrangement state of each rotating machine constituting the fruit vegetable rotating apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a rotating operation of fruit and vegetables by a front-rear rotating machine.

FIG. 8 is a rear view showing a pressed state of the rotation imparting belt.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing a pressed state of the rotation applying pad.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a rotating operation of fruit and vegetables by a horizontal rotating machine.

FIG. 11 is a rear view illustrating a pressed state of the rotation imparting belt.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a sorting conveyor in which receiving plates are arranged in a keyboard shape.

FIG. 13 is a rear view showing the front-back rotation operation of the fruit and vegetable product placed on the receiving plate.

FIG. 14 is a rear view showing the horizontal rotation operation of the fruit and vegetables placed on the receiving plate.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A: Fruit and vegetable products 1 ... Fruit and vegetable sorting device 2 ... Dispersing conveyor 3 ... Arranging conveyor 4 ... Sorting conveyor 5 ... Equivalent class inspection device 6 ... Fruit and vegetable rotating device 7 ... Distributing conveyor 8 ... Recovery conveyor 25 ... Rotation Body 43-50: Imaging camera 51: Device body 55: Sorting device 56: Front-rear rotating machine 57: Horizontal rotating machine 58, 64 ... Rotation applying belt 72 ... Rotation applying pad 73 ... Receiving plate

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A fruit and vegetable product provided with a rotating means above the transport means for transporting fruit and vegetables in a direction in which the rotation of the fruit and vegetable product placed on the transport means is changed with respect to the peripheral surface. Rotating device. 2. A fruit and vegetable rotator according to claim 1, wherein said rotating means is a fore-and-aft rotating means for imparting a rotation in a direction in which said fruit and vegetable is rotated back and forth with respect to an upper peripheral surface of said fruit and vegetable. 3. A fruit and vegetable rotator according to claim 1, wherein said rotating means comprises a horizontal rotating means for imparting rotation to the side peripheral surface of said fruit and vegetable in a direction in which said fruit and vegetable is horizontally rotated. . 4. The fruit and vegetable rotator according to claim 1, wherein said rotating means comprises said front and rear rotating means and a horizontal rotating means, and said horizontal rotating means is disposed before or after said front and rear rotating means.