JPH105699A - Fruit and vegetable transporting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To once lift up fruits and vegetables on a conveyer belt and correct their posture to horizontal posture and guarantee proper judgment of grades by forming a large number of gaps in the sending direction in mounting face of the conveyer belt and on the other hand, arranging respective lifting up members to support the fruits and vegetables in horizontal posture in the lower part of the conveyer belt on the opposite to respective gaps. SOLUTION: When fruits A... loaded to a conveyer case are discharged to a conveyer for distribution, the fruits A are distributed to a conveyer for alignment and moved to a conveyer 6 for assortment. Then, rotation bodies 25 on the conveyer 6 for assortment are rotated to transversely turn fruits A, which stand slantingly or uprightly, and the fruits are transported while their direction and posture being made in order. After that, a posture correcting machine 61 is driven and lifting up members 63 are inserted between neighboring rotation bodies 25 moved to the front of an inspection region at an inspection position and the fruits A are successively raised and lifted up. Consequently, a fruit A sandwiched between neighboring rotation bodies 25 is forcedly corrected to take a horizontal posture. Simultaneously with that, the grade of the fruit is judged based on the image data taken by an image pickup camera.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to, for example, oranges, apples, kiwis, pears, persimmons, peaches, cucumbers, eggplants, carrots,
The present invention relates to a fruit and vegetable transporter used for inspecting fruit and vegetables such as yam.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an apparatus for sorting fruits and vegetables as described above, for example, fruits and vegetables are sequentially placed on a large number of receiving plates arranged in a keyboard and placed on each receiving plate. The upper peripheral surface and the side peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable are separately imaged by the two imaging cameras, and the class of the fruit and vegetable is determined by the determination device based on the image data captured by each of the imaging cameras. There is a sorting device (Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-25511) that sorts a large number of fruit vegetables according to their ranks based on the judgment.

[0003]

However, in the above-described apparatus, the mounting surface of each receiving plate is covered with a covering member such as synthetic rubber or artificial turf to prevent the outer peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable from being damaged. Because of the prevention, the mutual contact resistance is large, and the displacement and the orientation of the fruit and vegetable are unlikely to occur, but the fruit and vegetable may be transported in an oblique or upright state. First, the fruits and vegetables must be oriented in a horizontal position and corrected by the operator's hand, and the correction work requires time and effort. In addition, since the upper peripheral surface and the side peripheral surface of the fruit vegetable are imaged in a planar manner by the imaging camera, when the fruit vegetable is standing up, the image captured by the imaging camera and the real object are significantly different, and the determination is made. Since there is a large difference between the reference determination data and the image data, there is a problem that the class cannot be determined accurately.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the present invention is to transport large and small fruits and vegetables in the same posture by temporarily lifting the fruits and vegetables placed on the transport belt by each lifting member and correcting the orientation to a horizontal position. It is an object of the present invention to provide a fruit-vegetables transporting device capable of carrying out.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
On the mounting surface of the transport band, a large number of gaps are formed in the feed direction at intervals facing the lower peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetables placed on the transport band, and on the mounting side lower portion of the transport band, Arrange the lifting members that support the fruits and vegetables in a horizontal position facing each gap,
Each of the lifting members is provided with a protruding / retracting means which is inserted into each of the gaps to protrude at least a part of the fruits and vegetables from the mounting surface and floats in the respective gaps. It is a fruit and vegetable transporter.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, a large number of the lifting members are arranged in the feeding direction at intervals facing the respective gaps of the transporting band, and the lifting members are arranged in the transporting direction. It is a fruit and vegetable transporting device provided with a circling means for circulating each lifting member in the feeding direction in synchronization with the feeding speed of the band.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first or second aspect, the transport belt is provided on a transport side edge of an endless belt provided on one side of a transport path. The fruit and vegetable transport device is configured such that the body is erected orthogonally to the feed direction, and each of the rotating bodies is arranged in the feed direction at an interval in which fruit and vegetables are placed between the rotary bodies. Features.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first or second aspect, the fruits and vegetables placed between the rotating members are changed in the conveying path in a direction in which the direction is changed. It is a fruit and vegetable transporter provided with a rotating means for rotating each of the rotating bodies to move.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, each lifting member is moved up and down by the retracting means, and each lifting member projects slightly above each gap formed in the transport band, and is placed on the transport band. Once the fruit and vegetables are lifted by each lifting member,
Since at least a part or all of the fruits and vegetables are floated from the mounting surface of the transporting band, for example, fruits and vegetables that are sandwiched in the gap of the transporting band, or that are transported in an oblique or upright state, By being lifted up from below by the lifting member, the orientation is forcibly corrected to the horizontal position, so that the fruits and vegetables can be inspected under the same conditions, for example, an operator's eyes, can be inspected by imaging with an imaging camera. In addition, the inspection work of fruit and vegetables can be performed accurately.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the first aspect, the fruit and vegetable transporting device drives the orbiting means to move each lifting member in the feeding direction in synchronization with the feeding speed of the transporting band. Then, the lifting members are sequentially inserted from below into the gaps formed in the transport band, and the fruits and vegetables placed on the transport band are sequentially lifted by the lifting members. Can be performed continuously, and work can be performed efficiently.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the first or second aspect, the fruit and vegetable transport device sequentially places fruit and vegetable between the rotating bodies provided in the endless belt. Since the fruits and vegetables placed on the table are sequentially lifted by each lifting member and corrected in the horizontal posture, the mounting interval of the fruits and vegetables is not restricted,
The fruits and vegetables can be sequentially corrected to a horizontal posture.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in conjunction with the operation of the third aspect, each of the rotating bodies is rotated by the rotating means before the fruit and vegetables are turned to the horizontal posture, and the rotation between the rotating bodies is performed. By rotating on the fruits and vegetables placed on, for example,
The oblique or upright fruit product is turned over, and the fruit product can be transported in the same direction and posture. In addition, by rotating the fruits and vegetables (for example, rotating 180 degrees) after correcting the orientation to the horizontal posture, the upper and lower peripheral surfaces and the left and right peripheral surfaces of the fruits and vegetables can be inspected, and the inspection work of the entire peripheral surface can be surely performed. I can do it.

[0013]

According to the present invention, the fruits and vegetables placed on the conveyor belt are pushed up from below by the lifting members, and at least a part or all of the fruits and vegetables is floated from the mounting surface. , Sandwiched in the gap of the transport belt, or
Fruits and vegetables transported obliquely or standing can be corrected in the horizontal position, and large and small fruits and vegetables are transported in the horizontal orientation, so that the work of inspecting the grade of the fruits and vegetables, etc. The work of sorting by class can be performed accurately.

Moreover, even fruits and vegetables of different sizes can be reliably returned to the horizontal position, and can be used for inspection and sorting of various fruits and vegetables.
The fruits and vegetables picked up by each lifting member are placed on the transport belt with the orientation corrected in the horizontal position, so that the transportation posture of the fruits and vegetables is stable and the posture suitable for inspection and sorting is maintained. Can be transported.

Further, since each rotating body is rotated before the orientation is corrected to the horizontal posture, for example, the oblique or upright fruit and vegetables are rolled over, and the fruits and vegetables can be transported in the same direction and posture. By turning the fruits and vegetables placed between the bodies upside down (for example, rotating 180 degrees), the entire peripheral surface of the fruits and vegetables can be inspected reliably, and the class can be accurately determined.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The drawings show a fruit and vegetable sorting apparatus according to a first embodiment used for inspecting and sorting a large number of fruit and vegetables. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the fruit and vegetable sorting apparatus 1 is received. Are discharged to the conveyor 2 for dispersion, and the fruits A dispersed by the conveyor 2 for dispersion.
Are sorted to each of the four conveyors 3 for sorting, and the fruits and vegetables A arranged by the conveyors for sorting 3 are sequentially transferred to each of the four conveyors 6 for sorting. Classification conveyors 6 ... Equivalent class inspection equipment 7 arranged at the inspection position b above
Is determined on the basis of the judgment, and based on the determination, the fruit vegetables A are classified into the discharging conveyors 8 arranged at the sorting positions c to g on the respective sorting conveyors 6. Then, the non-standard fruit vegetables A are released to the collection conveyor 9 disposed at the sorting position h.

The above-mentioned sorting conveyors 6 are shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, an endless belt 18, 1 is provided at a lower portion of one side of the transport path.
8 is stretched in parallel with the feeding direction, and the endless belts 18, 18 are
It is stretched between the sprockets 19, 19 pivotally supported at the feed-side start end and the feed-side end, and the shaft ends of the sprockets 19, 19 are fixed to the rotation centers of the return plates 20, 20, respectively. The rotary members 25 engaged with the outer peripheral edge of the rotary member 20 return to the horizontal posture. The endless belts 18, 18 are rotated in the feed direction via the sprockets 22, 23 and the drive chain 24 by the driving force of the feed motor 21 with a speed reducer. A mounting member 2 is provided between the upper edges of the endless bands 18.
6 are fixed at predetermined intervals in the feed direction, and the lower end of the shaft support members 27 is pivotally mounted to the lower end of the mounting member 26 on the transport side in a direction perpendicular to the feed direction. At the upper ends of the shaft support members 27, the base shaft portions of the support shafts 28 are fixed in a direction orthogonal to the feed direction. Support shaft 28 ...
Each of the rotating bodies 2 formed in a hollow or solid state
The center of the shaft of 5... Is freely rotatable.
Are pivotally mounted so as to be able to swing up and down in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction, and are arranged in large numbers at an interval before and after the fruits and vegetables A are placed. When transporting the fruit and vegetable A, each rotating body 25
Are circulated in the feed direction faster than the feed speed of the alignment conveyor 5, and convey the fruits and vegetables A transferred from the alignment belt 5 in the front-rear direction. Each of the rotating bodies 25 is rotated back and forth by a rotating machine 56 disposed between the starting end of the feeding side and the inspection position b and between the front and rear inspection areas set in the inspection position b. 25. The fruit and vegetable A placed between them is a posture correcting machine 61 disposed in the front and rear inspection area.
Is corrected to the horizontal posture.

At the upper end of the mounting member 26 on the transport side, a central portion of a locking lever 29 is pivotally mounted so as to be able to rotate back and forth, and is compressed and loaded between opposing surfaces of the mounting member 26 and the locking lever 29. Due to the elasticity of the coil spring 30, the locking lever 31 is fixed to the locking shaft 31 fixed to the upper end of the shaft support member 27.
9 is pivotally urged in the direction in which the locking claw 32 formed at the distal end of the mounting member 9 is locked, and the shaft supporting member 27 and the locking lever 29 abut on the regulating shaft 33 fixed to the upper end of the mounting member 26. Thus, the rotation is restricted to a position where the locking shaft 31 and the locking claw 32 are locked. By locking and unlocking the locking shaft 31 and the locking claw 32, the rotating body 25 swings up and down between the horizontal posture in which the fruits and vegetables A are placed and the discharging posture in which they are released. . The restricting protrusion 34 protruding from the lower end of the shaft support member 27 and the contact member 35 made of synthetic rubber fixed to the front end on the conveyance side of the mounting member 26 are brought into contact with each other, and the rotating body 25 is discharged obliquely downward. The swing is regulated. The rotation angle of the rotating body 25 can be changed only by changing the angle of the regulating protrusion 34 and the thickness of the contact member 35.

The above-mentioned rotating body 25 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin or a material such as metal, wood, ceramics or the like, and the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 25 becomes larger in diameter from the outer peripheral surface at the center to the outer peripheral surface at both ends. It is shaped. The outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 25 is
For example, by covering with a member having a large contact resistance (not shown) such as synthetic rubber or soft resin, the contact resistance is increased, and the fruits and vegetables A placed between the rotating bodies 25 are reliably rotated. It is possible to prevent the position and the posture of the fruit and vegetable A from being displaced or damaged. Further, for example, by forming a plurality or a plurality of ridges such as stripes, lattices, and meshes on the outer peripheral surface or the covering member of the rotating body 25, the contact resistance increases as described above, and the fruit and vegetable A Is reliably rotated.
The outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 25 may be 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.

The above-described class inspection apparatus 7 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, the entire inspection position b set on the sorting conveyor 6 is surrounded by a light-shielding box 40, and light-shielding covers 41 and 42 are disposed in the front inspection area in the inspection position b, and the rear inspection area is provided in the rear inspection area. Are provided with light shielding covers 43 and 44. The imaging camera 45 is disposed so as to face the upper peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A carried into the light shielding cover 41, and the imaging camera 46 is disposed facing the left peripheral surface thereof. Is
It is disposed so as to face the upper peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A transported into the light shielding cover 42. The imaging camera 48 is disposed facing the upper peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A conveyed into the light shielding cover 43, and the imaging camera 49 is disposed facing the right peripheral surface thereof. Is arranged to face the upper peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A transported into the light shielding cover 44.

The imaging cameras 45 to 50 are, for example, CC
It is composed of imaging means such as a D camera and a picture element (CCD),
Judgment device body 51 for judging the class of fruit and vegetable A
And a monitor 52 for projecting an image of the fruit and vegetable A, and the determination device main body 51 includes an article detection sensor S1, an origin detection sensor S2, a passage detection sensor S3 disposed in the front and rear inspection areas, and a sorting position. Origin detection sensors S arranged at kh
2. The passage detection sensor S3 and the lock releaser 55 are connected. Fruits and vegetables A transported in the light-shielding covers 41 and 43
Is an illuminator 53 composed of, for example, a halogen lamp or the like.
The fruit vegetables A which are illuminated by and are conveyed into the light-shielding covers 42 and 44 are illuminated by illuminators 54 composed of, for example, ultraviolet lamps. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the article detection sensor S1 detects the passage of the fruit and vegetable A placed between the rotating bodies 25, and the origin detecting sensor S2 corresponds to the leading rotating body 25. Detection sensor that detects the passage of the origin piece 26a fixed to the rear edge of the mounting member 26
S3 detects the number of passages of the detecting pieces 26b projecting from the lower surface of the mounting member 26 in correspondence with the respective rotating bodies 25.

In response to detection by the sensors S1, S2, S3,
The vegetable A placed between the rotating bodies 25 is imaged by the imaging cameras 45 to 50, and the image data captured by the imaging cameras 45 to 50 is associated with the address data of each rotating body 25. Stored in the determination device body 51. Judgment device body 51
The data of the grade and the degree of decay stored in the image data is compared with the image data, and the grade (for example, color, sugar content, scratch, decay,
Outer diameter, shape, height, width, volume, flatness, maturity, non-equivalent class) are determined. Based on the detection by the sensors S2 and S3, the addresses until the respective rotating bodies 25 move to the sorting positions c to h are counted, and the respective rotating bodies 25 move to the sorting positions c to h corresponding to the determination. At this time, the unlocking device 55 is actuated, and each rotating body 2 on which the fruit and vegetable A is placed
5 is swung to the release position.

The above-described unlocking device 55 is provided at the sorting position c.
, A lock releaser 55 composed of, for example, an electromagnetic solenoid, an air cylinder, etc., is arranged on one side of the h, and the lock releaser 55 is independently operated based on the determination by the class inspection device 7, The rear end of the locking lever 29 is continuously depressed by the release member 55a to release the locking of the locking shaft 31 of the shaft support member 27 and the locking claw 32 of the locking lever 29, and the fruit vegetable A is placed. Are rotated to the release posture. On the other hand, return plate 2
The rotating bodies 25 engaged with the outer peripheral edges 0, 20 are rotated back to the horizontal position, the locking shaft 31 and the locking claws 32 are locked, and the rotating body 25 is rotated to the horizontal position. Regulations. In addition, the rotation may be returned by a return means such as its own weight or a spring.

As shown in FIG. 6, the rotating machine 56 is, for example, made of synthetic rubber, soft resin, leather A rotation imparting belt 57 formed of an elastic member having a large contact resistance such as
7 is stretched between the drum rolls 58, 58 pivotally supported at the feed-side start end and the feed-side end, and the driving force of the rotation motor 59 equipped with a speed reducer matches the rotation direction of each of the rotating bodies 25. High-speed rotation (more than the feed speed) in the direction of
By rotating or rotating at a low speed in a direction opposite to the circling direction and rotating the rotating bodies 25 pressed against the rotation imparting belt 57 in the direction of the arrow, the rotating bodies 25 are rotated around the small diameter side of the rotating bodies 25. Due to the peripheral speed difference generated between the surface portion and the large-diameter-side peripheral surface portion, the large and small fruit vegetables A placed between the rotating bodies 25...
Degree) Since the rotating end of each of the rotating bodies 25 is slightly lifted and rotated while being tilted, the oblique or standing fruit vegetable A is tilted to a horizontal posture. As another rotation method,
As shown in FIG. 7, by rotating each of the rotating bodies 25 while pressing the rotation applying pad 60 formed of the same member as the rotation applying belt 57 while pressing the rotation applying pad 60, similarly to the above, the distance between each of the rotating bodies 25. Is rotated in the front-rear direction.

The above-described posture correcting device 61 is provided in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 10, the above-described imaging cameras 45, 48
Are arranged below each of the rotating bodies 25 that are moved to the imaging range, and a rotatable plate 62 is rotatably supported below the other end of the conveyance path corresponding to the free end side of each of the rotating bodies 25. On the outer peripheral edge of the rotating plate 62 facing the free end of the rotating bodies 25, the base end shafts of the rod-shaped lifting members 63 are fixed horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction. The lifting members 63 are arranged in a large number in the circumferential direction at an interval inserted between the rotating bodies 25 and an interval at which the fruit vegetables A are supported in a horizontal posture, and are mounted between the rotating bodies 25. The height of the placed fruit and vegetable product A is such that at least a part or all of the fruit and vegetable product A rises from the outer peripheral surface of each of the rotating bodies 25 in a non-contact state. The free-end-side shaft portions of the lifting members 63 are formed to have a length and shape inserted between the rotating bodies 25, and are bent into shapes corresponding to the outer peripheral surfaces of the rotating bodies 25. The rotating plate 62 is rotationally driven by the driving force of the feed motor 21 constituting the sorting conveyor 6, and rotates the rotating plate 62 in the feed direction via the sprockets 64, 65, 66 and the interlocking chain 67 (in the direction of the arrow). ), And at the same time, the lifting members 63 are rotated in the feed direction in synchronization with the rotation speeds of the rotating bodies 25.

The illustrated embodiment is constructed as described above, and the operation of the fruit / vegetable sorting apparatus 1 for sorting a large number of fruit / vegetables A by grade is described below. First, as shown in FIG. 1, a transport case C brought in from a producer is turned upside down by mechanical work or artificial work, and a large number of fruit vegetables A. Release to 2. The fruits and vegetables A dispersed by the dispersing conveyor 2 are distributed to the sorting conveyors 3 respectively, and the fruits and vegetables A arranged by the sorting conveyors 5 are sorted one by one to the sorting conveyors 6. Transfer it away.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, before the fruits and vegetables A reach the inspection position b on the sorting conveyor 6, the rotating bodies 25 are rotated by the rotating machine 56, and the rotating bodies 25 are rotated.
... rotate the fruits and vegetables A placed between them back and forth, slightly tilt each of the rotating bodies 25, rotate the oblique or upright fruits and vegetables A, and transport them in the same direction and posture. Subsequently, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the posture correcting device 61 is driven to insert the lifting members 63 from below into between the rotating bodies 25 moved to the front inspection area of the inspection position b. , Each of the rotating bodies 25.
, So that part or all of the fruit and vegetable product A floats from the outer peripheral surface of each rotating body 25.
5. The large and small fruit vegetables A that are sandwiched between, or conveyed in an oblique or upright state are lifted by the respective lifting members 6.
3), is forcibly corrected to the horizontal posture, and is conveyed while maintaining the posture.

At the same time, as shown in FIGS.
In response to the detection by S1, S2, S3, each lifting member 63 ...
The front-side peripheral surface and the left-side peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable product A that has been corrected to the horizontal posture are simultaneously imaged by the imaging cameras 45 and 46, and the rotting condition of the front-side peripheral surface is imaged by the imaging camera 47, and the image is taken. The image data captured by the cameras 45, 46, 47 and the address data of each of the rotating bodies 25 are stored in the determination device main body 51 in association with each other.

Next, the lifting members 63 are immersed below the spaces between the rotating bodies 25, and the fruits and vegetables A corrected in the horizontal posture are placed between the rotating bodies 25 and transported. Immediately after the front inspection area, each rotating body 25.
The large and small fruit vegetables A are turned upside down in the front-rear direction by the peripheral speed difference generated between the small diameter side outer peripheral surface and the large diameter side outer peripheral surface of each rotating body 25.

Subsequently, the posture corrector 61 is driven to insert the lifting members 63 from below between the rotating bodies 25 to be moved to the rear inspection area, and to place them between the rotating bodies 25. The lifted fruit vegetables A are sequentially lifted by the lifting members 63.
Since a part or the whole of the fruit and vegetable A floats from the outer peripheral surface of each of the rotating bodies 25, the fruit and vegetable A conveyed in an oblique or upright state is corrected to the horizontal posture, as described above. At the same time, corresponding to the detection by sensors S1, S2, S3,
The rear peripheral surface and the right peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A whose orientation has been corrected to the horizontal posture by the lifting members 63.
9 at the same time, the degree of rot on the back side is imaged by the imaging camera 50, and the image data captured by the imaging cameras 48, 49, 50 and the address data of the rotating bodies 25. Stored in the determination device body 51.

Next, the lifting members 63 are immersed below the spaces between the rotating bodies 25, and the fruits and vegetables A corrected in the horizontal posture are placed and carried between the rotating bodies 25. By comparing the image data captured by the imaging cameras 45 to 50 with the data of the grade and rottenness stored in the determination device main body 51, for example, color, sugar content, scratches, rottenness, outer diameter, shape,
Comprehensively determine height, width, volume, flatness, maturity, etc. When each of the rotating bodies 25 moves to each of the sorting positions c to h determined by the equal class inspection device 7, the unlocking device 55 is operated based on the detection by the sensors S2 and S3 as shown in FIG. , Each of the rotating bodies 25 is swung to the discharge posture, and each fruit and vegetable A is discharged to each discharge conveyor 8.. Boxing by manual work. Non-standard fruit vegetables A are released to the collection conveyor 9 at the collection position h and are collected.

As described above, the fruit and vegetables A placed between the rotating bodies 25 of the sorting conveyor 6 are lifted by the lifting members 6.
3 to lift at least a part or all of the fruit and vegetable A from the outer peripheral surface of each of the rotating bodies 25. Therefore, for example, the fruits and vegetables A are sandwiched between the rotating bodies 25. Or, the fruits and vegetables A to be transported standing can be corrected in the horizontal posture, and the large and small fruits and vegetables A are transported in a state of being aligned in the horizontal posture, so that the work of determining the rank of the fruits and vegetables A is performed. , And the work of sorting by grade can be performed accurately.

Moreover, even if the fruits and vegetables A differ in size, they can be surely returned to the horizontal position, and can be used for inspection and sorting of various fruits and vegetables A. Fruit vegetable A lifted by each lifting member 63 ...
, Each rotating body 25 in a state where the orientation is corrected to the horizontal posture.
Since it is placed in the middle, the transportation posture of the fruit and vegetable product A is stabilized, and it can be transported while maintaining a posture suitable for inspection and sorting.

Further, since the rotating bodies 25 are rotated before reaching the inspection position b, for example, the fruit product A which is oblique or standing upside down can be conveyed with the fruit product A in the same orientation and posture. By turning the fruit and vegetable product A upside down (for example, rotating 180 degrees) in the middle of the front and rear inspection area set in the position b, the upper and lower peripheral surfaces and the left and right peripheral surfaces of the fruit and vegetable product A can be imaged. Inspection of the entire peripheral surface can be performed reliably.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a second embodiment in which the fruits and vegetables A placed between the rotating bodies 25 of the sorting conveyor 6 are corrected in posture by the horizontal movement of the lifting members 70. 7 shows an example of a posture correcting machine 61, in which endless bands 68, 68 are provided at the lower portion on the other side of the transport path corresponding to the free ends of the rotating bodies 25.
, And between the upper edges of the endless bands 68, 68, via the mounting members 69, the respective lifting members 70 formed in a rod shape.
Is fixed horizontally at right angles to the feed direction.
By the same mechanism as that of the first embodiment or a drive motor with a speed reducer (not shown), the rotation speed of each rotating body 25.
Each lifting member 70 is moved around in the feed direction, and each lifting member 70 is projected slightly above the space between the rotating bodies 25 to lift the fruit vegetables A placed between the rotating bodies 25. Since the fruit vegetables A are lifted once by the members 70 and at least a part or all of the fruit vegetables A are floated from the outer peripheral surface of each of the rotating bodies 25, the oblique or upright fruit vegetables A are corrected to the horizontal posture, and the first embodiment is performed. It is possible to achieve the same effect as.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show the posture of the fruit and vegetables A placed between the rotating bodies 25 of the sorting conveyor 6 by vertically swinging the lifting members 73 formed in a plate shape or a bar shape. And the endless belt 7 is provided at the lower part of the other side of the conveyance path corresponding to the free end side of each of the rotating bodies 25.
1 and 71, the base end side shaft portions of the plate-shaped or rod-shaped lifting members 73... Are fed between the upper edges of the endless bands 71 and 71 via the mounting members 72. It is pivotally mounted so as to be able to swing up and down at right angles. Each rotating body 2 is driven by the same mechanism as that of the first embodiment or a drive motor with a speed reducer (not shown).
The lifting members 73 are moved in the feed direction in synchronism with the rotation speed of 5, and the lifting members 73 are moved around the guide members 74 provided on the upper side peripheral circuit.
Each of the lifting members 73 is swingably guided in a direction in which the lifting members 73 project slightly upward from between the rotating members 25.
3. The fruit vegetables A placed between the rotating bodies 25 are once lifted by 3 and at least a part or all of the fruit vegetables A is floated from the outer peripheral surface of each rotating body 25, so that the fruit vegetables are inclined or stand up. The object A is corrected in the horizontal posture, and the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained. Subsequently, the lifting members 73 are swingably guided in a direction of being immersed below the space between the rotating bodies 25, and reciprocate along the guide members 75 provided on the lower peripheral circuit.

FIG. 15 shows a fourth embodiment in which the fruits and vegetables A placed between the rotating bodies 25 of the sorting conveyor 6 are corrected in posture by the lifting and lowering operations of the plate-shaped or rod-shaped lifting members 78. Shown is an example of a posture correcting machine 61, in which endless belts 76, 76 are stretched at the lower center of the transport path, and each lifting member 7 is provided between upper edges of the endless belts 76, 76 via mounting members 77.
8 are mounted so as to be able to move in and out. With the same mechanism as that of the first embodiment or a drive motor with a speed reducer (not shown), each lifting member 78 is moved around in the feed direction, and each lifting member 73 is moved around the guide member 74 while moving up and down. Let it. The lifting members 78 are projected slightly above the spaces between the rotating bodies 25 to temporarily lift the fruit and vegetables A placed between the rotating bodies 25, and the fruit and vegetables from the outer peripheral surface of each of the rotating bodies 25. Since at least a part or the whole of A is floated, the oblique or upright fruit product A is corrected in the horizontal posture, and the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained. Subsequently, each lifting member 78... Is immersed below the space between the rotating bodies 25.

In correspondence between the configuration of the present invention and the above-described embodiment, the fruit and vegetable transporter of the present invention corresponds to the sorting conveyor 6, the rotating machine 56, and the posture correcting machine 61 of the embodiment. Similarly, the transport belt corresponds to the rotating body 25 of the sorting conveyor 6 and a mounting cup or a mounting belt (not shown). Corresponding to the member 74, the rotating means includes the rotating machine 56 and the rotation applying belt 57, and the rotation applying pad 6
0, and the circling means includes sprockets 64, 65,
66, an interlocking chain 67, and endless bands 68, 71, 76
, Mounting members 69, 72, 77, guide members 74,
75, the present invention is not limited only to the configuration of the above-described embodiment.

In the first embodiment described above, the imaging camera 4
The fruits and vegetables A moved to the imaging range of 5, 48 are corrected in the horizontal posture. For example, the fruits A moved to the imaging range of the imaging cameras 47 and 50 are horizontally oriented by the posture corrector 61. The posture of the fruit and vegetable A imaged by each of the cameras 45 to 50 may be stabilized, and the class may be accurately determined.

The posture correcting machine 61 according to the second, third and fourth embodiments can be disposed over the entire length of the front inspection area and the rear inspection area set in the inspection position b. A ...
Are transported in a state where they are corrected in the horizontal posture, so that the upper and lower peripheral surfaces and the left and right peripheral surfaces of each fruit vegetable A.
５０50 enables accurate imaging, and the equivalent class can be determined accurately. Furthermore, even if a large number of conical rotating bodies 25, 25 are arranged opposite to each other on the endless belts 18, 18 stretched to the left and right, the fruit and vegetable A placed between the rotating bodies 25, 25 is removed. Third
Alternatively, it can be lifted from below by the lifting members 73 and 78 of the fourth embodiment, and the orientation can be corrected to a horizontal posture.

In addition, the fruits and vegetables A placed on the conveyor belt such as the placing cup and the placing belt are lifted from below by the lifting members 63, 70, 73 and 78 of the posture correcting machine 16 to face the horizontal posture. It can also be applied to correction work. The lifting surfaces 63, 7 are provided on the mounting surfaces of the mounting cup and the mounting belt.
A gap or an opening for protruding and retracting 0, 73, 78 may be provided, and the mounting cup may have a structure provided to be tiltable or openable and closable.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of a fruit and vegetable sorting apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a transfer state and an imaging state by a sorting conveyor.

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

FIG. 4 is a rear view showing a swinging state of the rotating body.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an imaging state of the equal-class sorting device.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a pressed state of a rotation imparting belt constituting the rotating machine.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a pressed state of the rotation applying pad.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a correcting operation by the posture correcting machine.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an inserted state of the lifting member.

FIG. 10 is a rear view showing a state in which the vegetable is lifted by the lifting member.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing a correcting operation by the posture correcting machine of the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a rear view showing a state in which the vegetable is lifted by the lifting member.

FIG. 13 is a side view showing a correcting operation by the posture correcting machine of the third embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a rear view showing a lifting state of fruit and vegetables and a correcting operation.

FIG. 15 is a rear view showing a correcting operation by the posture correcting machine of the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A: Fruits and vegetables 1 ... Fruits and vegetables sorting device 2 ... Conveyor for dispersion 3 ... Conveyor for sorting 6 ... Conveyor for sorting 7 ... Classification inspection device 8 ... Conveyor for discharge 9 ... Conveyor for collection 18 ... Endless belt 25 ... Rotating body 45 -50: imaging camera 51: determining device main body 56: rotating machine 57: rotation applying belt 60: rotation applying pad 61 ... posture correcting machine 62: rotating plate 63, 70, 73, 78 ... lifting member 68, 71, 76 ... Endless belt 74, 75 ... guide member

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of gaps are formed in a feeding direction on a mounting surface of a transporting band at intervals facing a lower peripheral surface of a fruit or vegetable mounted on the transporting band, and the mounting of the transporting band is performed. In the lower side, each lifting member that supports the fruit and vegetables in a horizontal position in opposition to each of the gaps is arranged, and each of the lifting members is inserted into each of the gaps and at least a portion of the fruit and vegetables from the mounting surface. A fruit and vegetable transporting device provided with a projecting / retracting means which moves in and out of a protruding position for floating and an immersion position immersed in each of the gaps. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of lifting members are arranged in the feeding direction at intervals facing the respective gaps of the transport band.
2. The fruit and vegetable transporting device according to claim 1, further comprising a circling means for circulating each of said lifting members in a feeding direction in synchronization with a feeding speed of said transporting band. 3. The transport belt is provided on a transport side edge of an endless belt provided on one side of a transport path, and a number of rotating bodies are installed orthogonally to a feeding direction. The fruit and vegetable transporting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fruit and vegetable transporting device is arranged in a feed direction at intervals of the fruit and vegetable placed between the rotating bodies. 4. A rotating means for rotating each of the rotating bodies so that the fruits and vegetables placed between the rotating bodies are rolled in a direction in which the direction of the fruits and vegetables is changed. Fruit and vegetable transporter.