JPH11138110A - Dinnerware sorter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dinnerware sorter capable of identifying dinnerware shapes and identifying and assorting dinnerware pattern colors even with the dinnerware of approximately the same shape without using the special dinnerware. SOLUTION: The dinnerware D in a turned over posture is transferred by a slat conveyor 1 having a transporting surface of an inclined slope while the dinnerware comes into contact with road side guide edges 1b. When the corresponding dinnerware D adhered with a color seal M in the string tail base comes into a dinnerware identifying area 3, the approximately front side of the string tail A of the dinnerware D comes into contact with a dinnerware arrival survey line L1 and, therefore, a food arrival detecting sensor S1 detects the dinnerware arrival and simultaneously the color seal M enters the survey area of the color survey line L2 of a color detecting sensor S2 and, therefore, the color of the color seal M is detected to be the corresponding color by the color detecting sensor S2 . An air blow nozzle 24, therefore, instantaneously injects a jet stream to the dinnerware D and a dinnerware discharge shutter plate 21e falls to open. Only the corresponding dinnerware D is thinned and is dropped into dinnerware housing rack via a dinnerware discharge chute 21c.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tableware sorting apparatus for automatically identifying and sorting various kinds of tableware.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an automatic dishwashing system in a kitchen facility, generally, a plurality of types of plastic dishes (such as bowls, bowls, large plates, small plates, small bowls, and bowls) on a tray are pre-cleaned. It is thrown into the sink, and it is meandered and drifted by the swirl generated by the steady flow and the jet flow from the road shore, which flows over the entire length of the water channel of the scraping sink, gradually transfers it to the downstream side while immersing the tableware, and downstream After the tableware is scraped upside down by a scraping conveyor at the side end, the dishwasher is sent to a jet-type dishwasher, and the tableware on the conveyor is subjected to multiple washing jets to perform main washing. Then, the washed tableware in the inverted posture sent out from the jet type tableware washing apparatus by the conveyor is sorted manually and stored in a tableware storage rack or the like.

[0003] In manual tableware sorting work, a dedicated sorting worker is required in the automatic tableware washing system line. Since the number of dishes per unit time carried out from the dishwasher per unit time varies depending on the frequency of dishes to be put into the scraping sink and the number of scraping conveyors, a large number of sorting workers is required. Must be placed. Therefore, the processing ability of the automatic dishwashing system depends on the ability to manually sort the dishes. Also,
From the viewpoint of food poisoning prevention, it is not preferable that the work of sorting washed dishes is manned.

[0004]

In view of this situation, the type of tableware (tableware shape, tableware,
There is known a tableware identification device that automatically identifies a tableware pattern color). This conventional tableware identification device uses a special tableware in which a magnetic marker for each tableware shape and tableware pattern color is embedded in the tableware modeling material (resin, ceramics, etc.), and the type of tableware that passes through the detection area is non-contact. Is identified by a magnetic sensor.

[0005] However, in the above-mentioned conventional tableware discriminating apparatus, since the tableware is premised on the use of expensive special tableware, initial investment is increased. In addition, since existing ordinary tableware cannot be used, introduction into existing kitchen facilities is not suitable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a tableware sorting apparatus capable of distinguishing tableware shapes and classifying tableware colors even for tableware having substantially the same shape without using special tableware.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the means adopted by the present invention is to control the stringing of tableware in a row while restricting the width of the tableware to the tableware only in the shape corresponding to the tableware identification area. This is to detect whether or not the color of the color sticker previously attached to the bottom of the buttocks is the corresponding color.

[0008] That is, a tableware sorting apparatus according to the present invention comprises a tableware tandem feed conveyer in which a tableware in a reversed posture is placed and a conveying path surface to be transported downstream is formed with a downwardly sloped laterally inclined surface toward the roadside guide edge. A tableware arrival search line extending in a direction transverse to the tableware transfer direction is set up, and in order to catch the tableware corresponding to the shape from a predetermined portion ahead of the center of the bottom of the thread bottom in the tableware identification area in the middle of the tableware conveyor. The tableware arrival detection sensor to be detected and the bottom of the thread tail of the tableware corresponding to the tableware identification area are aligned with each other to detect whether or not the color of the color sticker previously attached thereto is the corresponding color. A color detection sensor, a tableware discharge shutter that opens and closes the downstream side near the tableware identification area in the roadside guide edge, and a tableware arrival detection sensor that detects the arrival of the tableware. Shutter opening / closing control means for opening the tableware discharge shutter when the color detection sensor detects the corresponding color, and closing the tableware discharge shutter when the color detection sensor does not detect the color; And characterized in that:

According to such a configuration, the tableware of various kinds (shape or pattern color) turned over on the conveying path surface of the horizontal inclined surface of the tableware vertical feed conveyor is subjected to the width shifting action by gravity, and the edge thereof is on the roadside. It is transported while contacting the guide edge. When a piece of tableware enters the tableware identification area, and the tableware crosses the tableware arrival search line of the tableware arrival detection sensor, the tableware arrival detection sensor detects the tableware arrival in the tableware identification area. Here, in a state in which dishes with different patterns and colors are being cascaded on the conveying road surface even with dishes similar in shape to the corresponding dishes or dishes having the same shape, the tableware arrival detection sensor in the dish identification area is also used for dishes other than the corresponding dishes. The arrival of tableware is detected. However, when the tableware arrival detection sensor detects the arrival of the tableware, the color detection sensor focuses on the bottom of the thread end of the tableware corresponding to the shape corresponding to the tableware identification area, and the color sticker previously attached thereto is used. Tableware whose aim is not aligned with the bottom of the thread end is no longer accepted by the color detection sensor because the color is detected as to whether or not the color is the corresponding color, and the aim is adjusted to the bottom of the thread end. If the color of the color sticker is different from the color of the tableware, the color detection sensor does not detect the color. Therefore, when the tableware arrival detection sensor detects the arrival of tableware, when the color detection sensor detects the corresponding color, it means that the tableware has arrived, so that the nearby tableware discharge shutter is opened and the tableware arrival shutter is opened. Slides out of the conveying path, and the tableware sorting is completed.

As described above, according to the present invention, the shape of the tableware to be conveyed is specified from the geometrical relationship between the roadside guide edge of the laterally inclined road surface, the tableware arrival search line, and the color detection sensor. Since the tableware is identified by detecting the color of the color sticker, the tableware can be sorted only by attaching the color sticker in advance to the bottom of the thread end of the existing tableware. Since the tableware arrival detection sensor and the color detection sensor are not so expensive, the cost reduction of the tableware sorting apparatus itself can be realized.

In the present invention, it is preferable to have an air injection means. When the dish detection sensor detects the arrival of the arrival table, and the color detection sensor detects the corresponding color, the air ejection means blows the gas from the side opposite to the table discharge shutter with respect to the table. It spouts the flow instantaneously. Since the tableware is quickly discharged from the tableware discharge shutter by the energization of the jet flow, the discharge operation can be speeded up, and the danger of the tableware adjacent to the tableware being erroneously discharged can be avoided.

Further, after the tableware discharge shutter is opened by the shutter opening / closing control means according to the present invention, when the tableware arrival detection sensor detects the arrival of the tableware, the color detection sensor does not detect the corresponding color. Until
The tableware discharge shutter is kept open. According to this control, when the tableware arriving continuously is the corresponding tableware, the tableware discharge shutter remains open, so that unnecessary opening and closing operations of the shutter can be omitted, and the failure rate of the shutter function can be reduced. Can be.

[0013]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view showing a dish sorting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one dish sorting place in the dish sorting apparatus, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the dish sorting place, FIG. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the tableware sorting location.

The tableware sorting apparatus of this embodiment has a slat (transport road surface) 1a on which various kinds of tableware (plates, small bowls, bowls, bowls, etc.) D are to be placed and transported to the downstream side. Has a slat conveyor 1 for cascade feeding. The slat 1a of the slat conveyor 1 has a laterally inclined surface having a downward slope (for example, about 10 °) toward one of the roadside guide edges 1b. The transfer is performed while the edge contacts the roadside guide edge 1b. The slope of the slat 1a is adjustable. A color sticker (marker) M corresponding to the type of the tableware is previously attached to the bottom surface of the thread end A of the tableware D conveyed on the slat conveyor 1.

In the middle of the slat conveyor 1, one or two or more dish sorting places 2 are sequentially provided along the slat conveyor 1. As shown in FIG. 2, each table sorting area 2 is assumed to have a unique table identification area 3 that matches the shape of the type of tableware to be sorted. A gate 21 stands up from the roadside guide edge 1b, and a tableware storage rack 22 that receives the sorted tableware discharged from the gate 21 is placed on a gantry 23. The tableware discharge gate 21 is composed of left and right column members 21a, 21 having a gate shape.
1a and a beam member 21b spanned between their tops
And a downwardly inclined tableware discharge chute 21c projecting between the bases of the column members 21a, 21a, and a chute roadside guide ridge 21 provided along both ends of the chute 21c.
d, 21d and the roadside guide edge 1 of the slat conveyor 1
aligned in b, and a later-described sensor S _1, dishware discharge shutter plate 21e to be infested driven vertically by an air cylinder 21i which is activated by the detection output shutter closing control device based on the timing of the S ₂ (not shown) Become. A slide plate 2 is provided on the chute 21c for facilitating sliding down of tableware.
1f are juxtaposed. Chute road side guide ridge 21
d, the tableware discharge shutter plate 21e side of the 21d, chute 21c has an internal tableware passage detection sensor S ₃ for transmitting optical type for detecting the passage completion of sorting tableware discharged from traverses the chute 21c tableware passing exploration line L ₃ is stretched.

On the other side of the roadside guide edge 1c facing the shutter plate 21e or the roadside guide edge 1b on the upstream side near the shutter plate 21e, a tableware arrival search line L which is oriented in a direction transverse to the direction of tableware transfer on the slat conveyor 1 is provided. tableware arrival detecting sensor S ₁ of the reflecting optical tensioning a ₁ is provided. The tableware incoming search line L ₁ is adapted to capture the substantially front vicinity of the conveying road level is set at a position higher than, Itojiri A shape appropriate dishes D of everted orientation where incoming tableware identification zone 3 ing.

[0017] The beam members 21b dishes discharge gate 21 is provided with a supporting rod 21g which proffered to transport road above the slat conveyor 1, sensor box with a built-in color sensor S ₂ by the support rod 21g 21h is suspended and supported. Color search line L ₂ of the color detection sensor S ₂ is when crossing the shape corresponding tableware D crockery incoming search line L ₁ which is incoming on tableware identification zone 3 is set so as just aiming fit for that Itojiri bottom ing. That is,
Assuming that the outer radius of the tableware D is R, and the radius of the thread end A of the tableware D is r, the roadside is parallel to the height H of the bottom of the tableware D on the conveying road surface. and the attitude of the color sensor S ₂ is adjusted so that the color search line L ₂ near the point (aimpoint) of the distance r to the upstream side from dishware incoming search line L ₁ passes at a distance R from the guiding edge portions 1b I have.

An air blow nozzle 22 having a nozzle opening directed to the shutter plate 21e is provided at the other roadside guide edge 1c opposite to the tableware discharge shutter plate 21e. When the tableware is detected, the air blow nozzle 24 instantaneously sprays a jet stream to the tableware D to assist the tableware D to slide down to the tableware discharge chute 21c.

When the tableware D in the upside down posture is sequentially fed from the upstream side of the slat conveyor 1 in a tandem state, the tableware D in the upside down posture is gravity because the conveying path surface of the slat conveyor 1 is a horizontally inclined surface. As a result, the edge is moved while being brought into contact with the road-side guide edge 1b. Here, for example, when the color detection sensor S ₂ is a sensor for detecting a blue, corresponding tableware (e.g. bowl) D crockery identification zone 3 the blue color seal M is attached to Itojiri bottom
When incoming the color exploration of the color detection sensor S ₂ lines L
Since the collar seal M of the appropriate dishes D enters the _second exploration area, as shown in FIG. 5 (A), the output of the color sensor S ₂ rises at time t _1, the appropriate dishes D from the time t ₁ yarn in time t ₂ which is moved by the radius r of the buttocks a, since the substantially front Itojiri a of the relevant dishes D hits the dishes incoming search lines L _1, as shown in FIG. 5 (B), tableware arrival detecting sensor S
₁ detects the arrival of tableware in the tableware identification area 3, and its output rises. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5 (C), the air blow nozzle 24 instantaneously blows the blast gas to the corresponding tableware D, and as shown in FIG. 5 (D), the tableware discharge shutter plate 21e is lowered and opened. Only the corresponding tableware D is thinned out and the tableware storage rack 2 via the tableware discharge chute 21c.
It is dropped into 2. The jet pressure from the air blow nozzle 24 gives the initial speed at which the jet pressure shakes the friction between the tableware and the conveying road surface, so that the discharging operation can be sped up. Therefore, the tableware adjacent to the tableware is erroneously discharged. Danger can be avoided.

At the time of dropping the tableware D, FIG.
As shown in (E), tableware passing sensor S ₃ detects the dishes pass, counting sorting dishes takes place. Thereafter, the open state of the tableware discharge shutter plate 21e is maintained as it is. Thus, when the color detection sensor S ₂ on the rising time t ₁ of the output of tableware arrival detecting sensor S ₁ is to detect the appropriate color, because those dishes discharge shutter plate 21e is open state, the selection of appropriate dishes Is possible.

[0021] When subsequent tableware applicable tableware D is unmatched tableware (e.g. a small bowl), since the vicinity of the Itojiri A of the tableware hits the dishes incoming search lines L _1, as shown in FIG. 5 (B), time t ₃ in although the output of tableware arrival detecting sensor S ₁ is rising, because the color of the collar seal M is not a blue, the output of the color sensor S ₂ is not rise. Since the time t ₃ in the color detection sensor S ₂ output tableware arrival detecting sensor S ₁ is rises has not detected the appropriate color, tableware discharge shutter plate 21e at this point is closed. For this reason, the non-corresponding tableware is transferred in the downstream direction through the tableware discharge shutter plate 21e as it is on the transport path surface.

[0022] After the appropriate dishes D is detected at time t _4, if the succeeding the relevant dishes D is incoming, the time t ₄ even color detection sensor S ₂ output of tableware arrival detecting sensor S ₁ is rises appropriate color Is detected, the tableware discharge shutter plate 21e is kept in the closed state. Therefore, the following tableware D is also dropped into the tableware storage rack 22 via the tableware discharge chute 21c.

Since another type of tableware is to be selected at another tableware selection site 2, a large number of types of tableware can be selected by providing a tableware selection site that is one less than the number of types of tableware to be selected. Automatic sorting of tableware is possible.

As described above, in this embodiment, dish sorting can be performed only by attaching the color seal M to the bottom of the thread of the existing dish in advance. Tableware arrival detecting sensor S ₁ and color - for detection sensor S ₁ is not intended less expensive, the cost of the tableware sorting apparatus itself can be realized.

When the tableware discharge shutter plate 21e is returned and closed immediately after the tableware discharge shutter plate 21e is opened and the tableware is dropped, the shutter plate 21e is opened again when the subsequent tableware is the corresponding tableware. However, as in this example, the tableware discharge shutter plate 2
If the closing operation of 1e is performed only when the following tableware is a non-applicable tableware, unnecessary opening and closing operations of the shutter plate 21e can be omitted, and the failure rate of the shutter function can be reduced.

[0026]

As described above, the tableware sorting apparatus according to the present invention is applied to the tableware corresponding to the shape which has arrived at the tableware identification area in advance at the bottom of the thread while restricting the vertical feeding of the tableware. It is characterized by detecting whether the color of the color sticker is the corresponding color or not, and has the following effects.

The shape of the tableware to be conveyed is specified from the geometric relationship between the roadside guide edge of the laterally inclined road surface, the tableware arrival search line, and the color detection sensor, and the tableware corresponding to the shape is detected by color detection of a color seal. Since the tableware is specified, it is possible to sort the tableware having different shapes or patterns only by attaching a color seal to the bottom of the thread of the existing tableware in advance. There is no need to use expensive special dishes. Since the tableware arrival search line and the color detection sensor are not so expensive, the cost of the tableware sorting apparatus itself can be reduced.

The tableware is promptly discharged from the tableware discharge shutter by the energization of the jet flow from the air jetting means, so that the discharge operation can be sped up. Therefore, tableware adjacent to the tableware is erroneously discharged. Danger can be avoided.

The shutter opening / closing control means allows the tableware discharge shutter to remain open when the successively arriving tableware is the corresponding tableware, so that unnecessary shutter opening / closing operations can be omitted, and the failure rate of the shutter function can be reduced. Can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a tableware sorting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one dish sorting portion in the dish sorting apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the tableware sorting portion.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing the tableware sorting location.

FIGS. 5A to 5E are timing charts showing a tableware sorting operation in the tableware sorter.

[Explanation of symbols]

D: tableware in an upside-down position A: thread end M: color seal (marker) 1: slat conveyor (tableware tandem feed conveyor) 1a: slat (transport road surface) 1b: one roadside guide edge 1c: the other roadside guide edge Part 2: tableware sorting place 3: tableware identification area 21: tableware discharge gate 21a ... pillar member 21b ... beam member 21c ... tableware discharge chute 21d ... chute road side guide ridge 21e ... container discharge shutter plate 21f ... sliding plate 21g ... support rod 21h ... sensor box 21i ... air cylinder 22 ... tableware rack 23 ... mount 24 ... air blow nozzle S ₁ ... tableware arrival detecting sensor S ₂ ... color detection sensor S ₃ ... tableware passage detection sensor L ₁ ... dishes incoming search line L ₂ … Color search line L ₃ … Tableware search line.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A tableware cascading conveyor in which a tableware in an upside-down position is to be transported to a downstream side to be transported to a downstream side, and a tableware tandem feed conveyor in which a laterally inclined surface is inclined down to a roadside guide edge, and tableware identification in the middle of the tableware conveyor. A tableware arrival detection sensor for detecting a tableware arrival search line extending in a direction transverse to the tableware transfer direction in a region and catching the tableware corresponding to the shape from a predetermined portion ahead of the center of the bottom of the yarn end; and A color detection sensor for aiming at the bottom of the thread end of the tableware corresponding to the tableware identification area and detecting whether or not the color of a color sticker previously attached thereto is the corresponding color; and the roadside guide. In the case where the tableware discharge shutter for opening and closing the downstream side of the edge near the tableware identification area and the tableware arrival detection sensor detects the arrival of the tableware, the color detection sensor detects the corresponding color. When the color detection sensor does not detect the color, the tableware discharge shutter is opened, and when the color detection sensor does not detect the color, the tableware discharge shutter is closed. Tableware sorting equipment. 2. The tableware arrival shutter according to claim 1, wherein, when the tableware arrival detection sensor detects the arrival of the tableware, the color detection sensor detects a corresponding color. An apparatus for sorting dishes, comprising air injection means for instantaneously injecting a jet stream from a roadside. 3. The dish opening / closing control means according to claim 1, wherein, after opening the tableware discharge shutter, the color detection sensor detects the arrival of the tableware when the tableware arrival detection sensor detects the arrival of the tableware. A tableware sorting apparatus, wherein the tableware discharge shutter is kept open until a color is not detected.