JPH1059547A - Article supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To smoothly supply an object to be measured with strong stickiness by providing each regulation body which is freely ascendable and descedable on the lower side of a plurality of ejection ports provided at the bottom part of a tank, detecting an article on each carrier device by a sensor and elevating/lowering each regulation body based on the sensor. SOLUTION: When a feeder 25 is stopped, the height decision of an object to be measured on the rear side of the feeder 25 is performed by a sensor 27. When the object to be measured is lower than a prescribed height, a regulation block 23 is elevated/lower by a reference stroke and a number of times for the object to be measured. At this time, the object to be measured within a tank 21 is ejected to the feeder 25 by this election/lowering operation of a bridge of the object to be measured is not generated at the outer peripheral part of the regulation block 23. The height decision of the object to be measured is performed against. When the object to be measured is the prescribed height or more, the regulation block 23 is prepared for the next feeder driving. When the height of the object to be measured is lower than the prescribed height, its is regarded as an ejection defective due to the bridge within the tank. The regulation block 23 is elevated/lowered by a prescribed number of times, increasing the elevating and lowering strokes by a prescribed value.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for stably supplying an object to be weighed in an appropriate amount in an article supply apparatus for supplying an object to be weighed to, for example, a plurality of weighing sections of a combination weighing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, an article supply apparatus for automatically supplying an object to be weighed to a plurality of weighing sections of a combination weighing apparatus by an appropriate amount is provided.
It is necessary to divide the weighed object into a plurality of paths and store the weighed object in an appropriate amount in advance in a hopper or the like, and to quickly supply the weighed object from the hopper to the measuring section from which the weighed object is discharged.

Conventionally, in order to automatically supply the objects to be weighed, the objects to be weighed are supplied onto a circular umbrella-shaped vibrating dispersion feeder, and the objects to be weighed dispersed by the dispersion feeder are removed. The weighing objects are carried out to a plurality of vibrating linear feeders radially arranged on the outer circumference, and the objects to be weighed are respectively carried out from the respective linear moving feeders to the pool hopper by an appropriate amount. Had to supply.

However, in such a feeder using a vibration type dispersion feeder, when the object to be weighed is strongly sticky, such as pickles or cooked meat, the feed is evenly and smoothly supplied to each straight-ahead feeder. There was a problem that it was not possible.

In order to solve this problem, an article supply apparatus as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 has been proposed. In this article supply device, a plurality of screw-type (or vibration-type) transfer devices 2 are arranged so as to close the open lower surface of the tank 1, and the objects to be weighed in the tank 1 are transferred to each transfer device 2.
From the pool hopper 6 to the pool hopper 6.
Supplies the objects to be weighed to the weighing hoppers 7, respectively.

Each transport device 2 guides an object to be weighed received at one end of a gutter-shaped guide 3 by rotating a screw 4 supported in the guide 3 by a motor 5. It is carried out to the pool hopper 6 from the other end of the body 3.

According to such an article supply apparatus, an appropriate amount of the adhesive weighing object can be supplied to each weighing hopper 7.

[0008]

However, in a structure in which the load of the object to be weighed in the tank 1 is directly received by each of the transporting devices 2 as in this article supply device, the transporting force of the transporting device 2 causes the transport force of the transporting device 2 to be measured in the tank. There has been a problem that the amount of the article greatly varies depending on the quantity of the article, and the quantity of the article carried out of the transport device greatly varies. This problem also occurs when a vibration-type straight feeder is used as the transfer device 2.

Further, if the objects to be weighed in the tank are in a bridge state at a position above the transfer device 2, the objects to be weighed cannot be supplied from the transfer device 2 until the bridge state is broken.

An object of the present invention is to provide an article supply apparatus which solves this problem and can supply a highly adhesive object to be weighed smoothly and stably.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article supply apparatus having a bottomed shape for receiving an article from above and storing the article therein. A tank provided with a plurality of outlets at the bottom for discharging the stored articles downwardly, and each of the outlets in the tank is supported so as to be vertically movable at a position above each of the outlets, and descends to the corresponding outlet side. A plurality of restrictors for narrowing the flow path of the object to be discharged to the discharge port and increasing the flow path of the object to be discharged to the discharge port; A plurality of transport devices that receive the articles discharged from the exit at one end side and carry them out from the other end side, a plurality of sensors for detecting the amount of the articles on each of the transport apparatuses, and based on outputs of the sensors. And a control device for controlling the elevation of each of the regulating bodies. It is Bei.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the article supply apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the control device determines that the amount of the article on the transport device becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value by the output of the sensor. That is, it is characterized by detecting the fact that the lifting / lowering operation of the regulating body corresponding to the transport device is started.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the article supply apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the control device changes the up / down stroke of the regulating body according to the output of the sensor. Features.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the article supply apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein a type information setting for setting information on a lifting stroke of the regulating body suitable for each type of the article. Means, the control device, based on the information set in the type information setting means,
The regulating body is moved up and down.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the entire structure of a combination weighing device according to an embodiment provided with the article supply device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view in which main parts are enlarged.

As shown in FIG. 1, this combination weighing apparatus is provided with two tanks 21 and 21 arranged side by side. Each of the tanks 21 has a rectangular opening at the top, and a plurality (four in this example) of discharge ports 22 arranged in a line in the longitudinal direction of the tank 21 so as to sandwich a guiding portion 21 a formed at the bottom at the bottom. I have.

Above each outlet 22, a regulating block 23 is supported. Each regulating block 23 is driven up and down by a driving device (air cylinder or motor) (not shown) to regulate the outflow of the weighing object in the tank 21 from the discharge port 22 at the lowered position, and to move the weighing object at the raised position. It flows out from the discharge port 22. The regulating block 23 is formed in a substantially semi-cylindrical shape, and the outer dimensions of the flat lower surface are adjusted so that the object to be weighed is not crushed with the guide portion 21a of the tank 21 when descending. Outlet 22
The lower surface is closed so that the object to be weighed near the discharge port 22 can be pushed downward when it is lowered.

The objects to be weighed are supplied to both tanks 21 by an upper supply device 24. The replenishing device 24 is configured by a belt conveyor, a bucket conveyor, or the like, and replenishes the tank 21 with an object to be weighed when the amount of the object to be weighed in each tank 21 is reduced by a tank sensor (not shown).

On the other hand, below each discharge port 22 of each tank 21, a feeder 25 is arranged as a transport device of this embodiment. Each feeder 25 has a tank 21
The object to be weighed discharged from the container is received at the rear end side of the transport section 25a and is vibrated and transported to the front end side. The transport section 2 of the feeder 25
Above 5a, a rotating plate 26 which is rotated by being pushed by the object to be weighed conveyed to the front end side is supported. Further, between the tank 21 and each of the feeders 25, sensors 27 for optically detecting the angle of the rotating plate 26 are disposed in order to detect an object to be weighed on the rear side of the feeder 25. As described above, the method of indirectly detecting the object to be weighed on the feeder 25 from the angle of the rotating plate 26 is similar to the method of directly and optically detecting the object to be weighed on the feeder 25. And stable detection can be performed without being affected by a difference in reflectance due to the above.

The objects to be weighed carried out from each feeder 25 are accommodated in a pool hopper 28 disposed below the objects. The object to be weighed discharged from each pool hopper 28 is supplied to a weighing hopper 29 disposed below the weighing object.

The objects to be weighed supplied to the respective weighing hoppers 29 are respectively weighed by the weighing devices 30. The object to be weighed discharged from each weighing hopper 29 is the timing hopper 3
1

The pool hopper 28 and the weighing hopper 29
The timing hopper 31 is formed in the shape of a rectangular tube whose upper and lower sides are opened so that an adhesive object to be weighed does not adhere and remain, and the lower surfaces thereof are slidable bottom plates 28a and 2b, respectively.
It is opened and closed by 9a and 31a.

Below the timing hopper 31, two collecting conveyors 32 are arranged on the left and right. The left collecting conveyor 32 conveys the objects discharged from the four left timing hoppers 31 rightward, and the right collecting conveyor 32 transfers the objects discharged from the four right timing hoppers 31 leftward. To the conveyer 3
They are put together by the collecting chute 33 arranged between the two.

On the other hand, the weighing signal of each weighing device 30 is input to the combination selecting means 40. The combination selecting means 40 calculates the weight of the object to be weighed supplied to each
0 based on the weighing signal and stores it. For example, when receiving the discharge request signal A from the packaging line, each weighing hopper 29
A combination within the target weight range is selected from the combinations of the weight values of the objects to be weighed in the above step, and a selection signal corresponding to the hopper accommodating the objects to be weighed selected in the combination is transmitted to the hopper opening / closing control means 41. Output to The target weight range is set by a type information setting unit 43 described later.

The hopper opening / closing control means 41 receives the selection signal from the combination selecting means 40, and transfers the objects to be weighed selected in the combination to the collecting conveyor 3 via the timing hopper 31.
Then, a new object to be weighed is supplied from the pool hopper 28 to the empty weighing hopper 29 which has been discharged to the top. The feeder driving means 42 drives the feeder 25 for a predetermined period of time to supply an appropriate amount of the objects to be weighed to the empty pool hopper 28.

There are a plurality of methods for selecting an object to be weighed by the combination selecting means 40 and for controlling the hopper opening / closing control means 41. That is, a combination is selected from the objects to be weighed stored in the weighing hopper 29, and only the selected objects to be weighed are temporarily stored in the timing hopper 31 and then discharged to the collecting conveyor 32. A method of storing the measured objects in the timing hopper 31 and selecting a combination from the objects stored in the timing hopper 31, or a method of measuring the objects in the weighing hopper 28 and the objects in the timing hopper 31. There is a method of selecting a combination from among the above, and any of these methods may be adopted here.

The type information setting means 43 is provided with information such as a type of the object to be weighed, a target weight range of the object to be weighed, and a reference value of a vertical stroke of the regulating block 23 suitable for the object to be weighed by an operation unit or the like (not shown). Is stored in a memory (not shown), the target weight range of the product type specified by the operation of the operation unit and the reference value of the vertical stroke are read out, and set in the combination selecting unit 40 and the vertical control unit 44.

The elevation control means 44 drives the regulation block 23 up and down based on the output signal of each sensor 27, and supplies the object to be weighed in the tank 21 to the feeder 25. The elevation control means 44 has, for example, an elevation timer (not shown) for determining the elevation distance of each regulation block 23. The activation of the timer and the change of the timer time cause the elevation of each regulation block 23 to rise and fall. By variably controlling the startup and the lifting stroke, the object to be weighed is stably supplied to the feeder 25.

Next, the operation of the combination weighing device will be described. When the discharge request signal A is input in a state where the objects to be weighed are supplied to the tank 21, the feeders 25, the pool hoppers 28, and the weighing hoppers 29 in advance, the combination selecting means 40 weighs the respective hoppers 29. A combination that falls within the target weight range is selected based on the weighed value of the object to be weighed. The selected object to be weighed is supplied to the hopper opening / closing control means 4.
By 1, for example, they are discharged onto the collecting conveyor 32 in the order farthest from the collecting chute 33 via the timing hopper 31 and are collected on the collecting conveyor 32 while being collectively discharged in the collecting chute 33. During this time, a new object to be weighed is supplied from the pool hopper 28 to the empty weighing hopper 29, and the empty pool hopper 28 is emptied.
, An object to be weighed is accommodated from the feeder 25 by an appropriate amount.

When the feeder 25 is driven, the raising / lowering control means 44 starts the raising / lowering operation of each regulation block 23.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the elevation control means 44 for one regulation block 23. Hereinafter, the operation of the regulation block 23 will be described based on this flowchart.

As described above, when the feeder 25 is driven and its driving is stopped, it is determined from the output of the sensor 27 whether or not the object to be weighed on the rear side of the feeder 25 is lower than a predetermined height. ), Feeder 2
5, when the object to be weighed on the rear side is lower than the predetermined height, it is confirmed that replenishment is not being performed by the replenishing device 24, and the regulating block 23 is moved with a reference stroke preset for the object to be weighed. For example, it is moved up and down once (S1 to S
5).

At this time, if the bridge of the object to be weighed does not occur at the outer peripheral portion of the regulation block 23, the object to be weighed in the tank 21 is moved by this one lifting operation as shown in FIG. Is discharged to the feeder 25.

Then, it is determined again whether or not the object to be weighed on the rear side of the feeder 25 is lower than a predetermined height. If the height is higher than the predetermined height, preparation for the next feeder drive is made (S6).

If the height of the object to be weighed is lower than the predetermined height, it is determined that the object to be weighed has not been sufficiently discharged from the discharge port 22 due to the influence of a bridge or the like in the tank, and the elevating stroke is increased by a predetermined value ΔL. The restriction block 23 is moved up and down, for example, up to four times while increasing (S7, S8).

As described above, since the lifting stroke of the regulating block 23 increases as the number of rotations increases, if the bridge is normally generated, the object to be weighed is broken up to four times and supplied to the feeder 25. Become.

When the object to be weighed at a predetermined height or more is not supplied to the rear of the feeder 25 even after the regulating block 23 has been moved up and down a predetermined number of times, the regulating block 23 is held halfway up, and Of the bridge due to replenishment of the objects to be weighed or the lifting / lowering operation of the adjacent regulating block 23, and when the object to be weighed having a predetermined height or more is detected by the sensor 27 due to the collapse of the bridge, the regulating block 23 Is lowered to prepare for the next feeder drive (S9 to S11).

The control for the control blocks 23 as described above is performed independently for each control block 23, and the objects to be weighed are stably supplied to the feeders 25.
From 5, an appropriate amount of the object to be weighed is supplied to the weighing hopper 29 via the pool hopper 28.

Note that the replenishing device 24 is provided with
During the raising / lowering operation of No. 3, the weighing object is not replenished.
The objects to be weighed are supplied after the lifting / lowering operation of all the restriction blocks in 1 is completed. Thus, the operation of replenishing the tank 21 with the object to be weighed and the regulating block 23 of the tank 21 are performed.
Is not overlapped with the lifting operation, so that a large amount of the weighing object does not flow out while the regulating block 23 is moving up, and the variation in the supply amount of the weighing object from the feeder 25 increases. Never.

In this embodiment, when the height of the object to be weighed on the feeder 25 is reduced to a predetermined height or less by the sensor 27, the regulating block 23 is moved up and down.
Usually, the weighing object in the tank 21 is supplied to the feeder 25 little by little by moving up and down the regulation block 23 with a small stroke, and the driving frequency of the feeder 25 increases or a bridge occurs, and the weighing object on the feeder 25 is increased. The restriction block 23 may be raised and lowered greatly only when is extremely reduced.

In this embodiment, the feeder 25 of the vibration transfer type is used as the transfer device, but a conveyor type transfer device may be used.

In this embodiment, the object to be weighed on the feeder 25 is detected by the sensor 27 for optically detecting the angle of the rotating plate 26.
An angle sensor may be attached to 6 itself.

In this embodiment, the control block 2
Although the stroke of No. 3 is controlled by the timer, the stroke of the control block 23 may be controlled using a sensor that detects the position and the movement distance of the control block 23.

[0044]

As described above, in the article supply apparatus of the present invention, the vertically movable regulating members are respectively provided above the plurality of outlets provided at the bottom of the tank, and the conveying members are provided below the respective outlets. A device is provided, and an article on each transport device is detected by a sensor, and each regulating body is raised and lowered based on an output of the sensor.

Therefore, the load of the articles in the tank is not always directly applied to the transporting device, and the bridge of the articles is hardly generated by the lifting and lowering of the regulating body in the tank. Can be supplied.
Further, the occurrence of a bridge in the tank can be detected by the sensor.

Further, since the up-and-down stroke of the regulating body can be changed, it is possible to cope with various kinds and to eliminate a bridge that has occurred.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of a main part of one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a main part of the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a side view for explaining the operation of the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic front view of a conventional device.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of a conventional apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Tank 22 Discharge port 23 Restriction block 25 Feeder 26 Rotating plate 27 Sensor 43 Type information setting means 44 Elevation control means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A tank formed in a bottomed shape for receiving an article from above and storing it inside, and a plurality of outlets provided at a bottom portion for discharging the article stored therein downward, said tank; Above each of the discharge ports, is supported so as to be able to move up and down, respectively, descends to the corresponding discharge port side, narrows the flow path of the object to be measured to the discharge port, and rises to be weighed to the discharge port. A plurality of regulating bodies for expanding a flow path of an article, and a plurality of transport devices arranged below the discharge port of the tank, for receiving an article discharged from the discharge port at one end and discharging the article from the other end, An article supply device, comprising: a plurality of sensors for detecting an amount of an article on each of the transporting devices; and a control device that controls elevation of each of the regulating bodies based on an output of each of the sensors. 2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the controller detects that the amount of the article on the transport device has become equal to or less than a predetermined value, based on an output of the sensor, and starts a raising / lowering operation of a regulator corresponding to the transport device. The article supply device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The article supply device according to claim 1, wherein the control device varies a lifting stroke of the regulating body according to an output of the sensor. 4. A type information setting means for setting information on an up / down stroke of the regulating body suitable for each type of the article, wherein the control device is configured to transmit the information set in the type information setting means. 2. The article supply device according to claim 1, wherein the control body is moved up and down based on the control information.