JPH11155412A - Screening system for commodity such as egg - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a screening system for commodity such as eggs that can avoid the stopping of an egg-gathering motion as well as causing no reduction in the operation efficiency. SOLUTION: This commodity (egg) screening system (1) is provided with a conveying means (3) for conveying eggs (2), a detector (4) for detecting the weight of the eggs (2) conveyed by the conveying means (3), a distribution and collection means (8) for distributing and collecting the eggs according to the weights detected by the detector (4) using the conveying means (3) to a plurality of collection sections (5), (6), (7), a shifting means (10) for shifting the fractionated eggs in the sections (5), (6), (7) to a common packaging step (9), and with a deciding means (11) that decides which group of the eggs collected in the sections 5, 6, 7 should be conveyed to the packaging step (9) by a shifting means (10).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an apparatus for sorting articles such as eggs.

[0002]

For example, a chicken egg is converted into LL, L, M, MS, S, SS which is one of its physical characteristics.
And in the sorting device that sorts out the eggs of each weight in a predetermined number by sorting to the non-standard weights, when one packaging robot is shared for packaging eggs of each weight in one packaging place, After the completion of one packing, for the next packing, the eggs of a plurality of collecting places (collection sections) which have already reached a predetermined number during the previous packing are simply transferred to a common packing place in a predetermined order. During the packaging of the eggs of the transferred weight, eggs may be intensively gathered one after another at a particular gathering place among other gathering places that have not been transferred, and may be gathered up to the limit of the number of eggs that can be gathered. In such a case, the gathering operation must be stopped in such a case. This stopping of the collecting operation involves stopping the operation of the transporting means for transporting the chicken eggs to the collecting place, which leads to a reduction in the operating efficiency of the entire sorting apparatus.

[0003] That is, in such a sorting apparatus, the processing capacity of the packaging robot (the number of packages per unit time) is required unless it is properly determined from which collecting place the eggs to be transferred to the common packaging place are to be taken. Is equal to or greater than the egg transport capacity of the transport means (the number of eggs transported per unit time), but during the packaging operation of the packaging robot, the eggs are gathered up to the number of eggs that can be gathered at a specific gathering place The chicken eggs may not be able to be collected at the specific collecting place.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a chicken egg or the like which can eliminate the stop of the collective operation and thus does not cause a decrease in the moving efficiency. An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for sorting articles.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for sorting articles, such as eggs, according to the present invention, comprising: conveying means for conveying articles, such as eggs, supplied thereto; detecting means for detecting physical characteristics of the articles, such as eggs; Articles such as eggs to be transported are distributed and aggregated in each of a plurality of collecting sections respectively assigned according to the physical characteristics of the articles such as eggs based on the detection result of the detecting means, and the aggregated eggs are When transferring the article such as, to the next common processing step, at least one of the collective sections in which a group of articles such as chicken eggs of at least one processing unit in the next common processing step is assembled And an aggregation / determination means for determining a group of articles such as eggs to be transferred to the next common processing step as an aggregation section.

In the present invention, the gathering / determining means includes at least a supply frequency of each physical characteristic of an article such as a chicken egg to the transporting means, a gathering rate in the gathering section, or a transporting rate or a transporting rate being transported by the transporting means. One processing unit in the next common processing step, the number of eggs and other articles gathered in each collective section, and one processing unit in the next common processing step based on, in place of, or instead of this An assembly section that collects a group of articles such as eggs to be transferred to the next common processing step based on at least one of the processing time and the remaining collectable number of articles such as eggs in each assembly section. Is determined as one set section.

[0007] The apparatus for sorting articles such as chicken eggs of the present invention also comprises:
Conveying means for conveying the supplied goods such as eggs, detecting means for detecting the physical characteristics of the goods such as eggs, and a plurality of collective sections respectively assigned corresponding to the physical characteristics of the goods such as eggs, Based on the detection result of the detecting means, the conveyed eggs and the like are distributed and collected, and a group of the eggs and the like collected in any one of the collections of the eggs and the like collected in the plurality of collection sections. And a set / determination means for determining whether or not a group of articles in at least one processing unit in the next shared processing step should be transferred to the next shared processing step.

[0008] At least the collection / determination means of the present invention comprises:
Based on, or instead of or in addition to, the frequency of supply of goods such as eggs to the transport means for each physical feature, the rate of collection in the collection section, or the rate or number of pieces transported by the transport means. One processing unit in the common processing step, the number of eggs and other articles gathered in each collection section, the processing time for one processing unit in the next common processing step, and the remaining amount of eggs and the like in each collection section Based on at least one of the collectable numbers, a group of articles such as eggs to be transferred to the next common processing step is determined.

In the present invention, one processing unit in the next common processing step may be a predetermined number, a predetermined weight, or a combination thereof. The predetermined number, the predetermined weight, or a combination thereof may be set in advance, but may be arbitrarily set.

[0010] In the present invention, the collecting / determining means, when at least one processing unit or more eggs such as eggs are collected in only one collecting section at the time of the deciding operation, the eggs to the next common processing step. Even if it is determined that the transfer of articles such as eggs is to be performed for a group of articles such as eggs that are gathered in the one collection section, at the time of the determination operation, more than one processing unit of eggs or the like is used. When the articles are gathered in a plurality of gathering sections, the transfer of the articles such as eggs to the next common processing step is first gathered in the plurality of gathering sections in the gathering section reaching the maximum collectable number. Even if a decision is made to make a group of products such as eggs, etc., that are being processed, furthermore, at the time of the decision operation, products such as eggs of one or more processing units are gathered in a plurality of collecting sections And If there is an aggregate section that reaches the maximum collectable number at substantially the same time in the plurality of collective sections, the transfer of articles such as eggs to the next shared processing step is performed at the substantially simultaneous maximum collectable number. The determination may be made so that a group of articles such as eggs and the like that are collected in the collection section in the collection section where the processing time in the next shared processing step is the minimum in the collection section.

In the present invention, the collecting / determining means includes a distributing / collecting means for distributing and collecting the above-mentioned articles such as chicken eggs,
Determining means for performing the above-mentioned determination, and the distributing and collecting means includes at least one of an endless belt conveyor and a roller conveyor in the collecting section.
A guide member extending in the running direction may be formed on each of the endless belt conveyor and the roller conveyor so that articles such as eggs that are distributed and collected are arranged in a line.

[0012] In the case where articles such as eggs are easily damaged or easily deformed, they may be stored in a protective container and processed, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to this. .

In the present invention, the processing is typically a packing processing such as a 10-pack of eggs, a box including a tray, a bag, and the like.
Washing, heating, sterilization, or the like for each predetermined weight or number or a combination thereof may be used.

Further, the apparatus for sorting articles such as eggs of the present invention comprises:
It is provided with transfer means for transferring articles such as chicken eggs to the next common processing step, and common processing means arranged in the common processing step, and the collection / determination means sets a group of articles such as chicken eggs by the determination. It is sent to the transfer means. In addition,
The transfer means may be omitted, and a common processing step may be arranged near the collecting section, and articles such as eggs from the collecting section may be directly processed in the common processing step. Alternatively, a worker may be used instead of the processing robot.

In the present invention, examples of the articles include eggs such as chicken eggs, but other fruits such as apple, pear, persimmon, peach, vegetables such as peppers, tomatoes and onions, and confectionery. Can also be used as articles. The sorting apparatus of the present invention is not limited to one used for only one type of article, and these may be used simultaneously.

The physical characteristics of the article include weight, size, length, color, sugar content, etc., but the present invention is not particularly limited thereto. When is a weight, those corresponding to these are appropriately used, such as a weighing scale.

The processing time for one physical quantity of each physical characteristic of an article such as a chicken egg in the common processing step is usually
It is fixedly set in advance in the storage device of the deciding means. In this case, if the process for the next different physical feature is performed next to the process for the immediately preceding physical feature, the processing time becomes longer. It is needless to say that it is also possible to set in advance and to determine the transition to the next shared processing step by the determining means based on this.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings. The present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0019]

1 and 2, a sorting device 1 for articles such as chicken eggs of the present embodiment comprises a conveying means 3 for conveying eggs 2 as articles to be supplied, and a chicken egg 2 conveyed by the conveying means 3.
Detecting means 4 for detecting the physical characteristics of the object, in this example, its weight
And a plurality of collecting sections 5, 6 and 7, which are respectively assigned based on the weight of the eggs 2, and a plurality of collecting sections 5, 6 provided along the transport area of the eggs 2 by the transport means 3.
And 7, the distribution and collection means 8 for distributing and collecting the eggs 2 conveyed by the conveyance means 3 according to the weight based on the detection result of the detection means 4, and the chicken eggs 2 collected in the respective collection sections 5, 6 and 7. Means for transferring to the next common processing step for the chicken egg 2, in this example, a common packaging step (packing place) 9, and the egg 2 collected in the plurality of collecting sections 5, 6 and 7 A determination unit 11 is provided for determining which of the collection sections the eggs 2 collected are to be transferred to the next packaging step 9 by the transfer unit 10.

In this example, the eggs 2 are stored in a container 21 for protection, and the containers 21 are collected and reused after the packaging of the eggs 2 in the packaging step 9.

The conveying means 3 includes an endless conveyor belt 25
And the electric motor 2 for running the endless conveyor belt 25
6 and a detector 27, such as a rotary encoder, for detecting the traveling amount of the endless conveyor belt 25. On the endless conveyor belt 25, partition protrusions 28 are provided at equal intervals. The eggs 2 whose weights have been detected by the detection means 4 are placed between the partition protrusions 28 on the endless conveyor belt 25 and are sequentially transported in the A direction. The detector 27 supplies the detected traveling amount of the endless conveyor belt 25 to the distributing / collecting means 8.

The detecting means 4 comprises a weighing scale, detects the weight of the eggs 2 stored in the container 21 supplied from the endless conveyor belt 31 running in the direction A, and distributes the detection result to the distributing / collecting means. 8 The chicken eggs 2 whose weight has been detected by the detecting means 4 are supplied to an endless conveyor belt 25. The eggs 2 stored in the container 21 from the supply chute 32 are placed on the endless conveyor belt 31 one by one manually or by a robot.

The distributing / collecting means 8 comprises three rows of endless conveyor belts 35, 36 and 37 arranged in correspondence with the collecting sections 5, 6 and 7, and endless conveyor belts 35 to 37, respectively. Electric motor 3 for traveling in the B direction
8, 39 and 40, and the chicken eggs 2 stored in the container 21 placed and conveyed on the endless conveyor belt 25, the endless conveyor belts 35 of the collecting sections 5, 6 and 7 corresponding to the weight of the eggs 2 , 36 and 37, and endless conveyor belts 35, 36
And gates 45, 46, and 47 disposed at the downstream ends of the endless conveyor belts 35 to 37, respectively, when any one of the gates 45 to 47 is opened. Detectors 48, 49 and 50 for detecting the number of eggs 2 to be transferred, respectively, and the weight classification of the eggs 2 stored in the container 21 conveyed by the endless conveyor belt 25 based on the detection result from the detection means 4. When the egg 2 reaches the collection section of the corresponding weight section among the collection sections 5, 6, and 7 from the determination result, the corresponding pushers 41, 42, and 43 are operated, and the egg 2 Is transferred together with the container 21 to the endless conveyor belts 35, 36, and 37 of the corresponding collecting section, and any one of the gates 45, 46, and 47 is set based on the determination result from the determining unit 11. So released, the endless conveyor belt 3
5, 36, or 37, and transfer the chicken eggs 2
And a control device 51 that enables the transfer of the data.

In the present embodiment, the control device 51 determines the weight of the chicken egg 2 detected by the detecting means 4 as large (L), medium (M) and small (M) based on the detection result from the detecting means 4. The determination is made as to which of the three weight categories of S) belongs to the weight section. In addition, the large section (L) hen egg 2 is placed in the collecting section 5 and the middle section 6 is placed in the collecting section 6. The eggs 2 having a weight of (M) and the eggs 2 having a small weight (S) are sorted and collected in the collecting section 7 in advance.

Therefore, for example, when the heavy egg 2 is conveyed in the direction A by the endless conveyor belt 25 and passes in front of the pusher 41, the controller 51 removes the heavy egg 2 from the pusher 41. It is extruded toward the endless conveyor belt 35 by 41 and transferred to the endless conveyor belt 35. The large-weight chicken egg 2 transferred to the endless conveyor belt 35 is transported toward the gate 45 together with the container 21 by the traveling of the endless conveyor belt 35, and as a result, as long as the gate 45 is closed. In this case, chicken eggs 2 having a large weight are sequentially collected on the endless conveyor belt 35. The same applies to medium and small chicken eggs 2. Further, the control device 51 includes, for example,
When the decision result to transfer the small weight chicken egg 2 to the transfer means 10 is received from the determining means 11, the gate 47 is opened,
The eggs 2 assembled on the endless conveyor belt 37 can be transferred to the transfer means 10, and thereafter, only one packaged number of eggs 2 in the packaging process 9 for the small weight section of the eggs 2 has passed through the gate 47. Is confirmed by the signal from the detector 50, the gate 47 is closed again.

The controller 51 collects the endless conveyor belts 35, 36 and 37 according to the detection result from the detecting means 4, the number of actuations of the pushers 41, 42 and 43, the signals from the detectors 48, 49 and 50, etc. The storage device is provided with a storage device for storing the latest number of eggs 2 in the large, medium and small weight categories, the number of eggs 2 being transported by the endless conveyor belt 25, and the weight category to which the eggs 2 belong.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the distribution / collection means 8
The set / decision means is constituted by the decision means 11.

In the packaging step 9, a gate 61 and a packaging robot 62 are arranged. The gate 61 temporarily stops the eggs 2 transferred by the transfer means 10 in the packaging step 9 and opens them after the packaging is completed. , So that only the container 21 is carried downstream. The container 21 carried out downstream is reused. On the basis of the determination result from the determination means 11, the packaging robot 62 packs the eggs 2 sent to the packaging step 9 by the transfer means 10 one after another into the packaging box 63. When the packaging of one package in the packaging box 63, that is, the packaging of one package, is completed, the packaging robot 62 requests the determination means 11 to shift to the packaging process 9 for the next packaged number of eggs 2.

As the packaging box 63, each packaging box corresponding to each weight category is prepared in the packaging step 9 in advance, and based on the determination result from the determination means 11, the chicken eggs sent to the packaging step 9 are prepared. 2 may be packed in the corresponding packaging box by the packaging robot 62, but the packaging box may be exchanged and placed manually at the fixed position of the packaging step 9 by a human or a packaging robot based on the determination result from the determination means 11. It may be arranged.

The request to the determination means 11 for transferring the next one packaged number of eggs 2 to the packaging step 9 does not need to be made at the time of completion of the one packaged number of packagings. That is, taking into account the time required for the egg 2 to be transferred to the transfer means 10 to reach the packaging step 9, the egg 2 is preliminarily performed before the completion of the packaging of one package, whereby immediately after the completion of the packaging of one package, the next One packaging number of eggs 2 may reach just before the gate 61 and the next packaging operation may be immediately performed by the packaging robot 62. Further, in the packaging step 9, a plurality of packaging robots 62 may be arranged, and furthermore, an operator is arranged instead of the packaging robot 62 or together with the packaging robot 62, and the worker performs the packaging operation. You may do so. When the worker is to perform the packaging operation, the packaging process 9 is provided with a display 64 for displaying the determination result from the determination means 11 and an instruction switch 65 for requesting the transfer. It is preferable that the weight of the chicken egg 2 can be visually checked on the display 64, and that the above-mentioned request can be made by pressing the instruction switch 65 after the completion of packaging of one package.

The transfer means 10 mainly includes a conveyor device 71 including an endless conveyor belt and the like, and an electric motor 72 for operating the belt conveyor device 71. The operation of the electric motor 72 causes the conveyor device 71 to endlessly move. The container 21 containing the eggs 2 transferred from the conveyor belts 35 to 37 is transported in the direction C, and the process proceeds to the packaging step 9.

The deciding means 11 is gathered into one processing unit, which is one processing unit for each of the large, medium and small weight divisions of the hen egg 2 in the packaging process 9, and each of the collecting sections 5, 6 and 7. The number of eggs 2, the processing time for one processing number for the large, medium and small weight divisions of the eggs 2 in the packaging process 9, the number of eggs 2 being transported by the transporting means 3, and the collecting sections 5, 6 and The determination is made on the basis of the remaining collectable number of the eggs 2 for each of the 7 eggs.

In this example, the number of eggs to be treated, that is, the number of packages is 5 for the eggs 2 in the large weight category.
It is predetermined to be 8 pieces for the eggs 2 of the medium weight category and 10 pieces for the eggs 2 of the small weight category. On the other hand, in the packaging process 9, five are packed in one packaging box and packaged. Also, the maximum number of eggs that can be assembled for the eggs 2 in each of the assembly sections 5, 6, and 7 is 15 pieces. That is, in this example, the endless conveyor belt 3
Each of 5, 36 and 37 is capable of placing up to 15 chicken eggs 2. Further, in this example, the processing time for one package number for the large, medium, and small weight categories, that is, the packaging time for one package number, is set to, for example, 10 seconds, 15 seconds, and 20 seconds, respectively. In addition to the above, in the case of performing the processing on the eggs 2 of the different weight category next to the processing of the eggs 2 of the immediately preceding weight category, the processing time is a fixed time in addition to the above. May be set in advance to be longer. Note that these constants are determined in advance by the determining means 1.
1 or the storage device of the control device 51, and is read and used as needed.

The deciding means 11 starts the deciding operation in response to a request from the packaging robot 62 to transfer the next one of the eggs 2 based on the completion of one wrapping. The determining means 11 firstly
At the time of the determination operation, when one or more chicken eggs 2 are gathered only in one gathering section, the process shifts to the packaging process 9 for the chicken eggs 2 gathered in the one gathering section. To be determined. That is, the packaging process 9
After completing the number of packages in one, the endless conveyor belt 35,
The latest number of eggs 2 of large, medium and small weights assembled in each of 36 and 37 is read out from the storage device of the control device 51, and five or more eggs 2 are stored on the endless conveyor belt 35. It is checked whether eight or more eggs 2 are gathered on the conveyor belt 36 and ten or more eggs 2 are gathered on the endless conveyor belt 37. Here, for example, only five eggs 2 are on the endless conveyor belt 35. More chicken eggs 2
Is placed on the endless conveyor belt 35, it is determined that the eggs 2 collected on the endless conveyor belt 35 are to be transferred to the packaging process 9, and the determination result is transmitted to the control device 51 and the packaging robot 62.
It is also sent to the display 64 if necessary. In this case, the determination result may be sent to the control device 51 or the like so as to specify the endless conveyor belt 35 or the collection section 5, and instead, the five eggs 2 on the endless conveyor belt 35 are specified. Thus, the determination result may be sent to the control device 51 or the like. The control device 51 may display necessary commands to the packaging robot 62 based on the determination result and display the determination result on the display device 64.

The determining means 11 detects the weight,
When the current position of each of the eggs 2 being conveyed by the conveying means 3 is known from the control device 51 and the collection of the predetermined number of 5 eggs 2 on the conveyor 35 is completed, when and how many eggs are in each collection section Since it is possible to calculate and predict whether or not 2 will be aggregated, the transition for the aggregate section 5 is not determined at the time when the five aggregates are completed on the conveyor 35, but within a certain time from the prediction calculation. Assuming that the set sections for which the required number of sets are completed are set to be substantially simultaneously completed, the set section in which the eggs 2 to be transferred are collected may be determined from these set sections.

In the case where the eggs 2 more than the number corresponding to one package have not been collected on each of the endless conveyor belts 35, 36 and 37, the determination means 11 repeats the above inspection. When the controller 51 receives the determination result that determines the transition of the eggs 2 assembled on the endless conveyor belt 35 to the packaging process 9, the control device 51 opens the gate 45 and places the eggs 2 on the endless conveyor belt 35 as described above. The transfer of the collected eggs 2 to the transfer means 10 is enabled, and
After the transfer of the eggs 2 to the transfer means 10 is completed, the gate 4
5 is closed.

In the above-mentioned inspection, if one or more hen eggs 2 are collected in a plurality of corresponding collecting sections in the above-mentioned inspection, the determination means 11 determines that the transfer to the packaging step 9 is performed. Is determined to be performed on the hen eggs 2 collected in the collection section that reaches the limit of the maximum collectable number first in the collection section. That is, for example, when six eggs 2 are collected on the endless conveyor belt 35 and 11 eggs 2 are collected on the endless conveyor belt 36,
The number of eggs 2 being conveyed by the endless conveyor belt 25 and the weight category to which the eggs 2 belong are read from the storage device of the control device 51, and the eggs 2 being conveyed by the endless conveyor belt 25 are sequentially placed on the endless conveyor belts 35 and 36. 15 which is the maximum number that can be collected first
It is determined that the transfer to the packaging step 9 is performed for the chicken eggs 2 assembled on the endless conveyor belt 35 or 36 that reaches the individual pieces.

Here, for example, the endless conveyor belt 35
In the case where the number of eggs gathered at the first time reaches 15 first, it is determined that the eggs 2 assembled on the endless conveyor belt 35 are to be transferred to the packaging step 9, and the determination result is transmitted to the control device 51 and the packaging robot. 62 and, if necessary, to a display 63. In this case as well, the determination result may be sent to the control device 51 or the like so as to specify the endless conveyor belt 35 or the collection section 5, and instead, the five eggs 2 on the endless conveyor belt 35 may be sent. May be sent to the control device 51 or the like so as to specify. As a result, the control device 51 opens the gate 45 and releases the eggs 2 collected on the endless conveyor belt 35 as described above.
After the transfer of the five chicken eggs 2 to the transfer means 10 is completed, the gate 45 is closed.

If the number of eggs 2 being conveyed by the endless conveyor belt 25 is small and it is not possible to specify the collecting section which reaches the limit of the maximum collectable number first, the endless conveyor belt 25 is used. Chicken eggs being transported 2
From the transport ratio or the number of transported items for each weight, and the set ratio or the packaging ratio for each weight category of the eggs 2 so far calculated from the eggs 2 already assembled or packed, Predict and identify parcels. Furthermore, based on the frequency of supply to the transporting means 3 for each weight of the eggs 2 or the aggregation ratio in the aggregation sections 5, 6 and 7, the aggregation sections that reach the maximum possible number first are predicted and specified. You may.

Further, the determining means 11 is a case where, in the above-mentioned inspection, one or more hen eggs 2 are collected in a plurality of corresponding collecting sections, If there is a set section that reaches the maximum collectable number, the transition to the packaging step 9 is performed so that the processing time in the packaging step 9 is minimized for the eggs 2 that are simultaneously collected in the set section that reaches the maximum collectable number. It is determined to be performed for the eggs 2 collected in the collection section. That is, for example, six chicken eggs 2 are collected on the endless conveyor belt 35, and 11 chicken eggs 2 are collected on the endless conveyor belt 36, and both are collected on the endless conveyor belts 35 and 36 in the above calculation. In the case of individual eggs, it is determined that the eggs 2 assembled on the endless conveyor belt 35 having a packaging time of 10 seconds are transferred to the packaging process 9 and the determined result is transmitted to the control device 51, the packaging robot 62 and the necessary To the display 63. Here, the determination result may be sent to the control device 51 or the like so as to specify the endless conveyor belt 35 or the collection section 5. Alternatively, the five eggs 2 on the endless conveyor belt 35 may be sent. The determination result may be sent to the control device 51 or the like so as to be specified.

As a result, the control device 51, as described above,
The gate 45 is opened to enable the transfer of the eggs 2 assembled on the endless conveyor belt 35 to the transfer means 10, and after the transfer of the five eggs 2 to the transfer means 10 is completed, the gate 45 is closed. I do. As described above, as a packaging time for one package number, as described above, when processing is performed on chicken eggs 2 of a different weight category next to processing of chicken eggs 2 of the immediately preceding weight category, the processing time is extended by a certain time. If it is set in advance as
In consideration of the packaging operation for the eggs 2 in the immediately preceding weight category, the transfer to the packaging step 9 is performed, and at the same time, the processing time in the packaging steps 9 for the eggs 2 assembled in the collection section up to the maximum possible number. Is determined to be performed on the chicken eggs 2 collected in the collection section where the minimum value is obtained.

In the sorting apparatus 1 described above, when more than one packaged number of eggs 2 are collected in a plurality of corresponding collecting sections, the transfer to the packaging step 9 is performed in the plurality of corresponding collecting sections. Firstly, the eggs are collected in the collection section that reaches the limit of the maximum number that can be collected. It is possible to reduce the risk that the eggs are collected to the limit of the number, and to shift to the packaging process 9 at the same time, the eggs 2 collected in the collecting section up to the maximum collectable number.
In the above, the processing is performed on the eggs 2 collected in the collecting section where the processing time in the packaging step 9 is minimized, so that the optimal article in relation to the packaging in the next packaging step is transferred to the next packaging step. Can be transported, in any case,
During the packaging operation of the packaging robot 62, it is possible to reduce the risk that the eggs are collected to the limit of the number of eggs that can be collected at a specific collection location and the eggs 2 can no longer be collected at the specific collection location. In addition, the operation stop of the endless conveyor belt 25 can be avoided as much as possible, and the moving efficiency can be improved.

In the above embodiment, the conveying means 3 provided with one row of the endless conveyor belts 25 is shown. However, the conveying means may be provided with a plurality of rows of endless conveyor belts. For example, each of pears and tangerines may be simultaneously conveyed to the endless conveyor belt.
In addition, chicken eggs 2 to be distributed and assembled in the collecting sections 5, 6 and 7
It is not necessary to fix the weight divisions of the eggs 2 to the predetermined ones, and it is not necessary to fix the weight divisions of the eggs 2 already collected or packed. Based on the frequency of supply of the egg 2 to each of the weight divisions, etc., the collection sections 5, 6
The weight divisions of the eggs 2 to be distributed and aggregated into the groups 7 and 7 may be reallocated each time the aggregation ratio, the packaging ratio, or the supply frequency changes by a certain value or more. Further, the transfer of the chicken eggs 2 to the packaging process 9 need not necessarily be performed for each packaging unit, and may be performed for each integral multiple of one packaging unit. In addition, the control unit 51 and the determination unit 11 may be embodied by a microcomputer so that the above-described operation is performed by a program created in advance.

The collecting sections 5, 6 and 7 themselves may also serve as a packing place. In this case, the collecting section in which the eggs 2 to be packed are preferentially collected from the collecting section in which the predetermined unit is completed is set. When the worker engages in the packaging operation, it is preferable to instruct the worker on the display 64 or the like, and when the worker packs with the robot 62, it is preferable to give an instruction electrically to the robot 62. After packaging the eggs in this manner, the empty containers 21 are discharged from the corresponding collecting section and reused. In any case, if the eggs 2 in which collecting section are preferentially packed from the collecting section in which enough eggs 2 to be packed are collected, the transporting means 3 is not stopped, thereby improving the overall operation efficiency. What is necessary is just to make it work based on the determination result of the determination means 11 which determines whether it is possible.

[0045]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an apparatus for sorting articles such as eggs which can eliminate the stoppage of the collecting operation and do not cause a decrease in the moving efficiency.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control relation of the embodiment shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sorting apparatus of goods, such as a hen's egg, 2 hen's eggs, 3 conveyance means, 4 detection means, 5, 6, 7 collection section, 8 distribution / collection means, 9 packaging process, 10 transfer means, 11 determination means.

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A conveying means for conveying an article such as a chicken egg to be supplied, a detecting means for detecting a physical characteristic of the article such as a chicken egg, and a plurality of pieces respectively assigned corresponding to the physical characteristics of the article such as a chicken egg. In each of the collecting sections, the articles such as eggs to be conveyed are distributed and assembled based on the detection result of the detection means, and when the assembled articles such as eggs are transferred to the next common processing step, A group of articles such as eggs that should be transferred to the next shared processing step at least one of the collection sections in which the group of articles such as eggs in at least one processing unit in the next shared processing step is assembled. A sorting / determining means for determining as a collecting section in which eggs are collected. 2. The assembling / determining means includes: at least a supply frequency to a transporting means regarding each physical characteristic of an article such as a chicken egg;
A set as a set section assembling a group of articles such as eggs to be transferred to the next common processing step based on the set ratio in the set section or the transfer rate or the number transferred by the transfer means. The apparatus for sorting articles such as chicken eggs according to claim 1, wherein the section is determined. 3. The collecting / determining means includes: a processing unit for the next common processing step, the number of articles such as eggs collected in each collecting section, and a processing time for one processing unit for the next common processing step. And, based on at least one of the remaining collectable numbers of the eggs and the like in each of the collection sections, as a collection section assembling a group of the eggs and the like to be transferred to the next common processing step. The apparatus for sorting articles, such as eggs, according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the apparatus is configured to determine one collective section. 4. A transporting means for transporting articles such as eggs, a detecting means for detecting physical characteristics of the articles such as eggs, and a plurality of means respectively assigned corresponding to the physical characteristics of the articles such as eggs. In the collection section, while distributing and assembling articles such as hen eggs based on the detection result of the detection means,
A group of articles such as eggs collected in any of the collection sections among the articles such as eggs collected in a plurality of collection sections, and a group of articles of at least one processing unit in the next shared processing step, An apparatus for sorting articles such as eggs, comprising: a set / determination means for determining whether to shift to the next common processing step. 5. The assembling / determining means includes: at least a supply frequency to the transport means relating to each physical characteristic of an article such as a chicken egg;
The method according to claim 4, wherein a group of articles such as eggs to be transferred to the next common processing step is determined based on the collection ratio in the collection section or the transportation ratio or the number of transportations being performed by the transportation means. An apparatus for sorting articles such as the described eggs. 6. The collecting / determining means includes: a processing unit for the next common processing step, the number of articles such as eggs collected in each collecting section, and a processing time for one processing unit for the next common processing step. And a group of eggs and other articles to be transferred to the next common processing step, based on at least one of the remaining collectable numbers of eggs and other articles in each assembly section. Item 4. An apparatus for sorting articles such as chicken eggs according to item 4 or 5. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one processing unit in the next common processing step is a predetermined number, a predetermined weight, or a combination thereof. 8. An assembling / deciding means, when, during the deciding operation, an article such as an egg or the like in one or more processing units is gathered in only one assembling section, the egg or the like is transferred to the next common processing step. The article such as the egg according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the transfer of the article is determined so as to be performed for a group of the article such as the chicken eggs gathered in the one collecting section. Sorting equipment. 9. An assembling / determining means, wherein, when the determining operation is performed, when eggs or the like in one or more processing units are gathered in a plurality of collecting sections, the eggs or the like to the next shared processing step. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the shifting is performed for a group of articles, such as eggs, which are collected in the collection section that reaches the maximum collection number first in the plurality of collection sections. An apparatus for sorting articles such as chicken eggs according to any one of the preceding claims. 10. The assembling / deciding means is configured such that, at the time of the deciding operation, articles such as eggs of one or more processing units are assembled in a plurality of assembling sections, and substantially simultaneously in the plurality of assembling sections. If there is an aggregate section that reaches the maximum collectable number, transfer of articles such as eggs to the next shared processing step is performed at the next shared processing step among the aggregate sections that reach the maximum collectable number substantially simultaneously. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing time is determined for a group of articles such as eggs that are collected in the collection section where the processing time of the eggs is minimized. Sorting device. 11. The collecting / determining means includes the above-mentioned distribution / collecting / distributing / collecting means, and the determining means for making the above-mentioned determination, wherein the distribution / collecting means is an endless belt conveyor in the collecting section. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising at least one of a roller conveyor and a roller conveyor. 12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the articles such as eggs are stored in a protective container. 13. The processing according to claim 1, wherein the processing is a packaging processing.
3. The apparatus for sorting articles such as chicken eggs according to any one of 2). 14. A transfer means for transferring an article such as a chicken egg to the next common processing step, and a common processing means arranged in the common processing step, wherein the collecting / determining means determines the chicken egg or the like by the determination. 14. The apparatus for sorting articles such as eggs according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the group of articles is sent to a transfer means.