JPH115621A - Food aligning device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a food aligning device which can mechanically and automatically continuously arrange various foods such as a croquette, a hamburg or a dampling and moreover can easily adjust the width of each transfering passage according to the width of the food. SOLUTION: In this food aligning device, a plurality of transfering passages 3...3 is partitionedly formed on conveyors 30a...30c by a plurality of partitioning walls 4...4. In addition, the partitioning walls 4...4 are arranged so that they can be interlockingly moved in the right and left direction in the lateral direction of the conveyors 30a...30c by space adjusting mechanisms 41, 43, and a space between adjacent partitioning walls can be simultaneously adjusted to about the same quantity only by rotating an operation handle and can therefore be adjusted as the width of each of transfering passages 3...3 is maintained about the same. A shutter is severally provided on the rear end sides of the transfering passages 3...3, and the front end positions of a specified number of foods in each of transfering passages 3...3 are trued up for feeding out each specified number of foods.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a food aligning apparatus for aligning a plurality of foods such as croquettes, hamburgers, and dumplings in bags or boxes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Food products such as croquettes, hamburgers, and gyoza are often arranged in bags or boxes and packaged, and are often sold in bags or boxes. There are many cases. At the time of this packaging, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, an operator arranges the foods S on the tray T by hand in a plurality of rows in the left-right direction and a plurality of rows in the front-back direction.
Thereafter, it is packaged in a sheet-like member. However, since the food S is manually arranged on the tray T by the operator in a plurality of rows in the left-right direction and a plurality of rows in the front-rear direction, packaging takes time and costs are increased. Therefore, the present applicant has created an apparatus that automatically and continuously transfers a plurality of rows in the left-right direction and a plurality of rows in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 11, this apparatus has a plurality of partition walls b... B arranged side by side in the width direction along the transfer direction (X direction in the drawing) on the conveyor a, so that the upper side of the conveyor a A plurality of transfer paths c through which foods can be sequentially passed one by one.
c is formed so as to be partitioned. In this way, if the food is flowed in each of the transfer paths c... C, the food can be transferred while being arranged in a plurality of rows in the left-right direction and a plurality of rows in the front-rear direction. Can be placed side by side. However, the partition wall b,
If the width L of each of the transfer paths c... c formed by the intervals of b is narrow, the food cannot flow. On the other hand, if the width L is too wide, the food will face an arbitrary direction during the transfer. The width L of the transfer paths c... C needs to be adjusted to the width of the food, but the width of the food varies depending on the type of food such as croquettes, hamburgers, and dumplings. Further, in the case of foods of the same kind, for example, croquettes, even if they are molded into the same shape by molding, the bread crumbs are added after the molding, and thus the conditions differ depending on the conditions for applying the bread crumbs. Therefore, the width L of each transfer path c... C must be adjusted each time according to the type of food or the lot of food, but at this time, for example, the third partition wall b from the left is moved. The partition wall b
When the distance to the partition wall b on the right side of is reduced, the partition wall b
The space with the partition wall b on the left side of is increased. Therefore, the left partition wall b must be moved by a double amount, and the left partition wall b must be moved by a triple amount. Therefore, in order to adjust the width L of each transfer path c... C, it is necessary to move the partition wall b one by one while measuring the interval, and as a result, it will take time for the adjustment. There were challenges.

[0003]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed in view of the above circumstances, and can automatically and continuously arrange various foods such as croquettes, hamburgers, and dumplings. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a food alignment device capable of easily adjusting the width of each transfer path according to the width of food.

[0004]

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems by providing a food sorting apparatus having the following features. The first food aligning apparatus of the present application includes transfer means 30a, 30b capable of sequentially placing and transferring foods such as croquettes,
30c, a plurality of partition walls 4, and interval adjusting mechanisms 41, 43 for adjusting the interval between adjacent partition walls 4, 4. These partition walls 4 are transport means 30a, 30b,
30c, on the transfer means 30a, 30 along the transfer direction.
By being arranged side by side in the width direction of b and 30c, a plurality of transfer paths 3 through which food can pass one by one sequentially are formed above the transfer means 30a, 30b and 30c. The partition walls 4 are arranged so as to be movable in the width direction, so that the width of each transfer path 3 can be adjusted. Interval adjustment mechanism 4
1, 43 are interlocking means 1 for interlocking a plurality of partition walls 4.
By providing 1, 12, 14, 51, the intervals between the adjacent partition walls 4, 4 can be simultaneously adjusted to be wider or narrower by substantially the same amount.

[0005] The second food sorting device of the present application is provided with a shutter 33 that can open and close the transfer path 3 in the middle of each transfer path 3 according to the first invention of the present application. By closing each transfer path 3 by each of the shutters 33, the transfer of the food sequentially sent from the front through each transfer path 3 is temporarily stopped in the middle of each transfer path 3. In addition, the shutters 33 of these transfer paths 3 are arranged such that the front and rear positions thereof are substantially aligned with each other, so that the stopped foods of the transfer paths 3 are substantially aligned with the front and rear positions of each other, and at least. A plurality of rows can be arranged in the width direction.
As the shutter 33 of each transfer path 3 is opened, the food is sent out of each transfer path 3 in an aligned state.

In a third food sorting apparatus of the present application, the transfer means according to the second invention of the present application includes at least two conveyors 30b and 30c arranged side by side in front and rear. The front conveyor 30b is composed of a plurality of narrow conveyors 31. Each of these narrow conveyors 31 includes a driving unit. The narrow conveyors 31 are arranged side by side in the width direction, so that the front conveyor 3
The transfer means of each transfer path 3 at 0b. Each transfer path 3 formed on the rear conveyor 30c is connected to each of the narrow conveyors 31 so that each of the narrow conveyors 3
With the movement of 1, the food is sent from each transfer path 3 of the front conveyor 30b to each transfer path 3 of the rear conveyor 30c. The rear conveyor 30
In each transfer path 3c, there are provided a shutter 33, detection means 34 capable of detecting the number of foods entering each transfer path 3, and control means. The control unit is connected to the detection unit 34, the shutter 33, and the narrow conveyor 31, and by this connection, each detection unit 34 detects that a predetermined number of foods have entered the transfer path 3 of the rear conveyor 30c. With
The control means temporarily stops the narrow conveyor 31 connected to the transfer path 3 of the rear conveyor 30c containing the predetermined number of foods, and further, the control means receives the end of the detection by all the detection means 34. To open the shutter 33,
This is for starting the narrow conveyor 31 once stopped.

In the first invention of the present application configured as described above, the plurality of partition walls 4 are provided on the interval adjusting mechanisms 41 and 43.
Interlocking means 11, 12, 14, 51 for interlocking
By the interlocking means 11, 12, 14, 51, the intervals between the adjacent partition walls 4, 4 can be simultaneously adjusted to be wider or narrower by substantially the same amount. By doing so, the width of each transfer path 3 formed by the interval between the partition walls 4 can be adjusted at the same time. Therefore, it is not necessary to move the partition walls 4 one by one while measuring the interval, and the width of all the transfer paths 3 can be easily adjusted according to the width of food such as croquettes, hamburgers, or dumplings.

In the second invention of the present application, it is assumed that the shutters 33 capable of opening and closing the transfer paths 3 are arranged in the middle of each transfer path 3 such that the shutters 33 are substantially aligned in the front-rear position. By doing so, if the respective transport paths 3 are closed by the shutter 33, the foods in the respective transport paths 3 can be aligned in a plurality of rows in the width direction such that the front and rear positions thereof are substantially aligned. . Therefore, a tray or the like may be provided behind the aligning device, and the tray or the like may be simply inserted into the tray.

In the third invention of this application, as shown in FIG. 8, for example, when a predetermined number of foods enter the third transfer path 3 from the right on the rear conveyor 30c, the detecting means 34 detects Is detected, the control device stops the movement of the narrow conveyor 31 connected to the transfer path 3. Therefore, it is possible to prevent more food from being fed from the narrow conveyor 31 into the third transfer path 3 from the right. Thereafter, when a predetermined number of foods enter another transfer path 3, the detecting means 34 similarly detects the same, and the control device sequentially stops the movement of the narrow conveyor 31 connected to the transfer path 3. When a predetermined number of foods enter each transfer path 3, the control device opens the shutter 33. Thereby, it is possible to send out the foods in the aligned state arranged in front and rear and right and left. At this time, if the movement of the narrow conveyor 31 does not stop and continues to move, the shutter 33 does not open until a predetermined number of foods have entered all the transfer paths 3. Even if a predetermined number of foods enter, the narrow conveyor 31
As shown in FIG. 9, a predetermined number of foods stopped by the shutter 33 are pressed from the rear side and the foods are lifted, and as a result, the foods are lifted. As in the third invention of this application, the front side conveyor 30b is composed of a plurality of narrow conveyors 31, and if a predetermined number of foods are sent to the transfer path 3 of the front side conveyor 30b, it can be temporarily stopped. By doing so, it is possible to prevent such foods from being lifted up, and to surely keep the foods in an aligned state.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the food sorting apparatus according to the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the food aligning apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above, and FIG. 2 is a schematic view as viewed from the side.

The food aligning apparatus 1 of the present invention has a plurality of transfer paths 3. These transfer paths 3,..., 3 are for placing foods S such as croquettes and hamburgers and sequentially transferring the foods S one by one.
30c and partition walls 4 ... 4.

The conveyors 30a to 30c are connected to transfer paths 3 to 3
A first belt conveyor 30a, a second belt conveyor 30b connected to the rear side of the first belt conveyor 30a, and a third belt connected to the rear side of the second belt conveyor 30b. Conveyor 3
0c, the food S is placed on the belt by the movement of these conveyors 30a ... 30c so that the food S can be sequentially transferred from the front end to the rear end (X direction in the figure). Has been made.

Each of the first belt conveyor 30a and the third belt conveyor 30c is composed of one wide belt conveyor, and is connected to one motor (not shown).
Each of them can be circulated when the motors are started. FIG. 6A shows the second belt conveyor 30b.
As shown in (B) and (C), it is composed of a plurality of narrow belt conveyors 31 ... 31 arranged in the left-right direction in the width direction, and the entire narrow belt conveyors 31 ... 31 constitute one second belt conveyor 30b. And each narrow belt conveyor 31 ... 3
1 constitutes a conveyor for each of the transfer paths 3... Each of these narrow belt conveyors 31,..., 31 is individually connected to a motor as a driving means (not shown), and can move independently and independently as each motor starts. In addition, these narrow belt conveyors 31 ...
Each of the support shafts 3 is a front and rear two support shafts 3 passed in the left-right direction.
2 and 32 are supported so as to be movable in the axial direction of the support shafts 32 and 32,
6, the position adjustment in the left-right direction is enabled. Position adjusting means 3 for each of the narrow belt conveyors 31.
Reference numeral 6 denotes an interval adjusting mechanism 41 for the first partition walls 40a... 40a and an interval adjusting mechanism 43 for the second partition walls 40b.
The mechanism is substantially the same as that described above. For convenience of explanation, the explanation will be made again after these explanations.

The partition walls 4 are connected to the conveyors 30a.
In this embodiment, a plurality of transfer paths 3... 3 each having a width corresponding to one food S are formed on the upper surface 30 c so that the food S can be transferred one by one to each of the transfer paths 3. Now, Figure 2
As shown in FIG. 1, first partition walls 40a... 40a partitioning the first belt conveyor 30a and the second belt conveyor 30b.
And second partition walls 40b ... 40b for partitioning the third belt conveyor 30c. First partition wall 40a ... 4
0a each have a predetermined height and the first belt conveyor 30
a from the first belt conveyor 30b to the second belt conveyor 30b. Each of these first partition walls 40a... 40a can move in the left-right direction above the belts of the first belt conveyor 30a and the second belt conveyor 30b, as shown in FIGS. 11 are provided so as to be movable in the left-right direction at substantially equal intervals in the left-right direction forming the width direction of the first belt conveyor 30a and the second belt conveyor 30b. Thus, a plurality of transfer paths 3... 3 are formed on the first belt conveyor 30a and the second belt conveyor 30b in the left-right direction in the width direction so as to have a width of about one food S.

The first partition walls 40a... 40a
Move in the left-right direction by the movable operation of the connecting members 11... That support them, and the first partition walls 40 a.
Can be adjusted, whereby the width of each transfer path 3... 3 can be adjusted. Hereinafter, the interval adjusting mechanism 41 of the first partition walls 40a... 40a will be described. In the present embodiment, the first partition walls 40a.
40a are provided three on the first belt conveyor 30a and two on the second belt conveyor 30b, but the number and positions of the mechanisms are not particularly limited.
What is necessary is just to provide a suitable number in a suitable position.

The interval adjusting mechanism 41 is shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B.
As shown in the figure, the support main body 1 is located above the conveyor 30a.
2 is provided with a rod-shaped support main body 12 extended in the left-right direction so that the axial direction crosses the conveyor 30a, and a movable shaft 51. The support main body 12 has a long groove 12a formed in the axial direction, and is bridged between the columns 15.
The connecting members 11 are arranged side by side in the axial direction of the support main body 12 such that the sliding shaft portions 11a provided on the respective upper end sides are passed through the long grooves 12a from below.
Each of the connecting members 11... 11 other than the connecting member 11d arranged at the center is slidable in the axial direction of the support main body 12 by sliding along the long groove 12a. Note that the connection member 11d arranged at the center is fixed to the support body 12 by a pin, and cannot be moved in the left-right direction.
The support members 11... Passed through the long grooves 12a are attached to the support body 12 by a plurality of plates 14. These plates 14
Each central portion is rotatably supported by a sliding shaft 11a of a connecting member 11... 11 passed through a long groove 12a of the supporting body 12, so that the connecting member 11.
1 is rotatably supported. Also, the left and right sides of the plates 14 of the same length, which support the connecting members 11 on the support body 12 in this manner, are rotatably connected to each other by adjacently supporting the plates. Have been. Therefore, two shaft support portions 19a, 19a of the two adjacent connection members 11, 11 and the plates 14, 14, respectively, and the shaft support portion 19b, which supports the ends of the plates 14, 14, respectively. Are all congruent isosceles triangles of the same shape and size. In this embodiment, the plates 14... 14 are also arranged below the support main body 12, and are constituted by a pair of upper and lower members.
.. 11 can be supported by the support body 12.
Further, the left and right end plates are connected to only one plate, and therefore have a half length of the other plate.

The movable shaft 51 is made of a round bar, and a left plate guiding screw 51a and a right plate guiding screw 51b are engraved on the right and left outer peripheries, respectively. These two plate guiding screws 51a, 51b
.. 14 are guided and movable. In the present embodiment, the left plate guiding screw 51a is a right screw, and the right plate guiding screw 51b is a left plate guiding screw 5.
The left thread has the same thread pitch as 1a. The movable shaft 51 is rotatably bridged between the columns 15 supporting the support main body 12 in a manner substantially parallel to the upper side of the support main body 12, and is disposed on the left plate guide screw 51a on the left end side. The connected connecting member 11b is screwed, and the connecting member 11c arranged on the right end side is screwed to the right plate guiding screw.

In this way, the connection members 11... 11 suspended from the support body 12 are moved by the turning operation of the operation handle 52 provided at the left end of the movable shaft 51.
By rotating 1, each moves simultaneously,
The first partition walls 40a... 40a connected to each are moved in the left-right direction. For example, if the operation handle 52 is rotated left, the movable shaft 51 rotates left, and with the left rotation of the movable shaft 51,
The left connecting member 11b screwed to the left plate guiding screw 51a is guided to the right side and moves, and accordingly, the connecting member 11 arranged to the left side from the central connecting member 11d.
.. 11 are also moved toward the central connecting member 11d via the plates 14. At the same time, the connection member 11b screwed to the right plate guiding screw 51b is guided and moved to the left side, and accordingly, the center connection member 11d is moved.
Each of the connecting members 11 arranged on the right side is also moved toward the central connecting member 11d via the plates 14. 4A and 4B, the connecting members 11... 11 and the plates 14.
14, two shaft supports 19a, 19a and the plate 1
Since the triangles 19... 19 formed by the shaft support portions 19 b between the ends of 4 and 14 all move while maintaining a congruent isosceles triangle having the same shape and size, the connection members 11.
Of each connecting member 11 while maintaining the same distance from each other.
Moves. In other words, based on the first partition wall 40a connected to the center connecting member 11d, the first first partition wall 40a is separated from the center first partition wall 40a by the first first partition wall 40a.
At the same time as moving from the partition wall 40a by the distance (L), the second first partition wall 40a from the central connecting member 11d is twice as long as the central first partition wall 40a (2 × L).
Move from the center first partition wall 40a to the Nth first partition wall 40a from the center first partition wall 40a to the Nth first partition wall 40a.
It moves by the double distance (N × L).

As described above, the left and right connecting members 11... 11 move toward the center connecting member 11 d, and the first partition walls 40 a.
Can be narrowed while maintaining the same distance between each other, whereby the width of each transfer path 3... 3 can be narrowed. On the other hand, FIG.
3 (A) and 3 (B), when the operation handle 52 is turned clockwise in the opposite direction, each connection moved to the center connection member 11d side as shown in FIGS. 3 (A) and 3 (B). The members 11... 11 move to the left side and the right side, and the distances between the first partition walls 40 a. This allows
The width of each transfer path 3... 3 can be increased. In this manner, if the width of each transfer path 3 is widened or narrowed by moving the first partition walls 40a... 40a, one operation of rotating the operation handle 52 can all be performed. 3 can be simultaneously adjusted while keeping the widths of the transfer paths 3... Note that the left plate guiding screw 51a and the right plate guiding screw 51b may be screws in opposite directions, and the left plate guiding screw 51a may be a left screw and the right plate guiding screw 51b may be a right screw. good.

The second partition walls 40b... 40b have the same height as the first partition walls 40a.
It is composed of a plate-like body having substantially the same length as 0c. The second partition walls 40b... 40b are formed on the upper side of the third belt conveyor 30c in such a manner that a plurality of transfer paths 3. 40a, but this second partition wall 4
40b are attached to a frame 17 (shown in FIG. 5) that can move up and down with respect to the third belt conveyor 30c. Therefore, the first partition walls 40a ... 40a do not move up and down, but the second partition walls 40b ... 40b can move up and down together with the vertical movement of the frame 17. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the frame body 17 includes connecting rods 17 a, 17 a extending in the left-right direction in the axial direction on both the front and rear sides of the lower end and bridging, and the upper side is attached to the fixed frame 18. It is suspended and supported by the rod of the cylinder 18a. The front side and the rear side of each of the second partition walls 40b...
7a, 17a so that the connecting rods 17a, 1a
7a so as to be movable in the axial direction, and the cylinder 18a
As the frame 17 moves up and down by the operation of the second partition wall 40
b... 40b can be moved up and down on the third belt conveyor 30c. In FIG. 7, 1
Reference numerals 8b and 18b denote guide members for guiding the frame 17 when the frame 17 moves up and down.

An interval adjusting mechanism 43 is provided at the rear end of each of the second partition walls 40b... 40b supported by the connecting rods 17a, 17a. The space between the provided second partition walls 40b... 40b can be adjusted.
The width of each of the transfer paths 3 defined by b... 40b is adjusted. This interval adjusting mechanism 43
Are the first partition walls 40a... 40 shown in FIGS.
It adopts substantially the same configuration as the interval adjusting mechanism 41 in FIG. 3A, and can simultaneously adjust the width of all the transfer paths 3... 3 while maintaining the same width by one operation of rotating the operation handle 52. The second partition walls 40b... 40b
In the interval adjusting mechanism 43 of FIG.
The connection between the partition wall 40b and the connection member 11
Each of the second partition walls 40b is connected so as to be able to move up and down, and when the second partition walls 40b... 40b move up and down together with the frame 17, the support body 12 and the movable shaft 51 that constitute the interval adjustment mechanism 43 are connected. (See FIGS. 3A and 3B).

Thus, the third belt conveyor 30
The front end side of each of the second partition walls 40b... 40b supported on the connecting rods 17a, 17a of the frame 17
The second partition walls 40b ... 40b are connected to the first partition walls 40a ... 40a by being vertically slidably fitted into fitting grooves 42 provided on the rear end sides of the partition walls 40a ... 40a. Thereby, each of the transfer paths 3... 3 formed on the third belt conveyor 30c is connected to the first partition wall 40a.
3 formed on the first belt conveyor 30a and the second belt conveyor 30b, respectively, over the entire length from the front end side of the first belt conveyor 30a to the rear end side of the third belt conveyor 30c. A plurality of transfer paths 3... 3 which are linearly extended in the front-rear direction and are arranged side by side in the left-right direction are defined, and the food S is conveyed to the first belt conveyor 3.
0a from the front end side to the rear end side of the third belt conveyor 30c.

Also, a shutter for opening and closing each of the transfer paths 3... 3 as shown in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8 is provided at the rear end side of each of the transfer paths 3. 33 ...
33, a number detecting device 34... 34, and a gap detecting device 35
And a control device (not shown). Each of the shutters 33... 33 is supported by the frame 17 in a state of entering between the second partition walls 40 b.
As the frame 17 moves up and down, it moves up and down together with the frame 17 so that each of the transfer paths 3... 3 can be opened and closed so that the food S can pass through or not. Each of the number detecting devices 34... 34 is for detecting the number of foods S passing through each of the transfer paths 3... 3, and is attached to the front connecting rods 17 a and 17 a of Arranged between the two partition walls 40b and 40b, the number of foods S passing below each of the number detection devices 34 and 34 can be detected. The gap detection device 35 is formed between the last food S in the group of foods S arranged in a predetermined number on the transfer paths 3... 3 and the first food S that subsequently enters the transfer paths 3. In this embodiment, the gap is formed by a photoelectric tube 35. The photoelectric tube 35 is arranged on the front end side of the third belt conveyor 30c so that light crosses the upper side of the third belt conveyor 30c. The control device controls the cylinder 18 for movably operating the shutters 33.
, 34 and the motors of the narrow belt conveyors 31... 31 of the second belt conveyor 30b, and these can be interlocked.

Returning to FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C, the position adjusting means 36 for the narrow belt conveyors 31 will be described. The position adjusting means 36 employs substantially the same mechanism as the space adjusting mechanism 41 of the partition wall 4 as described above.
Specifically, the support main body 12 having the long groove 12a, and the left plate guiding screw 51 arranged below the support main body 12
a and a movable shaft 51 having a right plate guiding screw 51b
Are connected to the lower side of the second belt conveyor 30b in the left-right direction, and the lower ends of the connection members 11 ... 11 connected to the narrow belt conveyors 31 ... 31 pass through the long grooves 12a of the support body 12. A plurality of plates are arranged side by side in the axial direction, and are rotatably connected to each other by plates 14... 14. When the movable shaft 51 is rotated by rotating the operation handle 52 of the movable shaft 51, It is movable so that the position of each narrow belt conveyor 31... 31 in the left-right direction can be adjusted to the left or right while maintaining the same distance from each other. In this way, when the distance between the first partition walls 40a ... 40a is adjusted, the position of the narrow belt conveyors 31 ... 31 can be adjusted accordingly, and each narrow belt conveyor is always located between the first partition walls 40a ... 40a. 31 ... 31 can be easily coordinated. In the position adjusting means 36 of the narrow belt conveyors 31... 31, the pins 16 connecting the plates 14, 14 arranged at the left and right centers are engaged with the left and right center positions of the support body 12 so as to be immovable left and right. When the operation handle 52 is rotated left, the three narrow belt conveyors 31... 31 on the left side of the pins 16 approach the pins 16 and the three narrow belt conveyors on the right side of the pins 16. 31... 31 approach the pin 16.

The operation of the present apparatus configured as described above will be described. The food S sent from the food feeding belt conveyor 11 is supplied to the first belt conveyor 30a.
, From which the food S enters the transport paths 3... 3 according to the width L of the transport path 3 as shown in FIG. If it is difficult to enter each of the transfer paths 3,... Further, as in the present embodiment, the food feeding belt conveyor 11 may not be connected to the front end side of the first belt conveyor 30a, but may be manually inserted into the transfer paths 3,. Further, at this time, the first width in which the width of each transfer path 3... 3 is formed by the width of the food S to be transferred.
When the distance between the partition walls 40a... 40a is too small, the food S hits the first partition walls 40a.
If the food S is transported in an arbitrary direction because the interval between the partition walls 40a is too wide, the width adjustment of the food S to be transported is performed by the interval adjusting mechanisms 41 of the first partition walls 40a. The first partition walls 40a... 40a
3 can be adjusted, and the width of each of the transfer paths 3... 3 can be simultaneously adjusted to the same width only by turning the operation handle 52, and can be easily adjusted. The breadth of the food S varies depending on the type of the food S to be transferred, for example, croquettes and hamburgers, and even in the case of the same croquette, even if it is molded into the same shape, bread crumbs are attached to the surface after molding. And the conditions for breading. Therefore, it is preferable to adjust the width of the transfer paths 3... 3 each time the food S is transferred before transferring the food S.

The transfer paths 3... 3 of the first belt conveyor 30a
Each of the foods S entered enters the respective transfer paths 3... 3 of the third belt conveyor 30 c via the transfer paths 3... 3 of the narrow belt conveyors 31. When the food S enters each transfer path 3... 3 of the third belt conveyor 30 c, it is stopped by the shutters 33... 33 of each transfer path 3. The transfer is temporarily stopped at roads 3 ... 3. When the food S enters the transfer paths 3... 3 of the third belt conveyor 30c, the number detecting devices 34... 34 detect the number of the entered foods, and the predetermined number (in the present embodiment, The number is set to five.) In the transfer path 3 of the third belt conveyor 30c containing only the food, for example, as shown in FIG. When S reaches a predetermined number, the number detection device 34 installed on the third transfer path 3 from the right detects this, and the second number on the front end side of the transfer path 3 is detected.
The motor of the narrow belt conveyor 31a of the belt conveyor 30b is stopped. As a result, the third transfer path 3a from the right in the predetermined number of the third belt conveyor 30c.
Is the narrow belt conveyor 3 of the second belt conveyor 30b.
No more food S is sent from 1a.
Then, on the other transfer paths 3... 3 of the third belt conveyor 30 c which do not yet contain the predetermined number of foods S, the foods S are fed from the narrow belt conveyors 31. Each of the number detecting devices 34 detects the number of the conveyor belts, and the number of the conveyor belts is detected, and the narrow belt conveyor 3b of the second belt conveyor 30b on the front end side of the transfer path 3 is detected.
The first motor is sequentially stopped. At this time, if the motor of the narrow belt conveyor 31 is not stopped, a predetermined number of foods S are already supplied until the predetermined number of foods S enter the transfer paths 3... 3 of all the third belt conveyors 30c. Since the food S continues to be sent from the narrow belt conveyor also to the transfer paths 3... 3 of the third belt conveyor 30 c containing S, as shown in FIG. The foods S that are stopped and lined up before and after are pressed from the rear side and lifted up.
3 cannot be arranged on the transfer paths 3... 3 of the belt conveyer 30c, and there is a possibility that a number larger than a predetermined number is set. However, the narrow belt conveyor 31 of the second belt conveyor 30b does not stop moving and the further food S is not fed into the transfer path 3 of the third belt conveyor 30c having the predetermined number as described above. Therefore, it is possible to prevent such a situation, and it is possible to maintain a state in which a predetermined number is arranged before and after. Therefore, even if the food S is discontinuously sent to each of the transport paths 3... 3 and the predetermined number of foods S are lined up in the transport paths 3. it can. Note that the first belt conveyor 30a and the third belt conveyor 30c do not stop while the second belt conveyor 30b stops,
It is continuously moving.

The transfer paths 3... 3 of the third belt conveyor 30c
When a predetermined number of foods S have entered all of them, the control device receives a communication from each of the number detecting devices 34, activates the cylinder 18a supporting the frame 17, and pulls up the frame 17. Thereby, the shutters 33... 3 attached to the frame 17 are
3 and the second partition walls 40b.
The belt conveyor 30c is placed on the transfer paths 3... 3 with the thickness direction up and down, and is arranged in a plurality of rows in the front-rear direction and in the left-right direction (five rows in the front-rear direction and six rows in the left-right direction in this embodiment). The food group is sent to the rear side 2. At this time, for example, when the food S is croquette, breadcrumbs are applied to the entire outer peripheral surface, and the widths of the food S are different from each other. When being sent to the rear side 2, the second partition walls 40b ... 40b
May lose its alignment,
By raising the partition walls 40b ... 40b, it is possible to feed while maintaining the aligned state. Also, shutter 33 ...
Since the lifting of 33 is performed in the upward and rearward direction and is performed in the transport direction of the food S, the food S can be smoothly transported to the rear side. After the shutters 33 are lifted, the control device starts moving the narrow belt conveyor of the second belt conveyor 30b after a predetermined time delay, and the foods S on the narrow belt conveyor 31 are moved to the third belt conveyor 3.
0c transfer path 3 ... 3. Therefore, the rear end of the last food S in the aligned food group sent to the rear side 2 from the transfer paths 3... 3 of the third belt conveyor 30c and the transfer of the third belt conveyor 30c from the second belt conveyor 30b. A predetermined gap is formed between the food 3 and the front end of the food S first sent to the road 3. This gap is detected by the photoelectric tube 35, and upon receiving the detection, the control device operates the cylinder 18a, and the last food S in the aligned food group sent out from the transfer paths 3... 3 of the third belt conveyor 30c is After passing through the shutters 33... 33, the frame 17 is lowered. Thereby, the shutters 33 ... 33 and the second partition walls 40b ... 40b attached to the frame 17 are lowered. Then, the transfer path 3 of the third belt conveyor 30c
3, as described above, a plurality of food groups are formed in the front-rear and left-right directions with the thickness direction up and down.

As described above, a plurality of rows of food groups can be sequentially sent out in the front-rear and left-right directions. Therefore, it is sufficient to put it in a tray or the like as it is. still,
The method of receiving the food on the tray or the like is not particularly limited. Or the third belt conveyor 3
0c, a tray transfer conveyor is connected to the rear end side, and a plurality of rows of food groups in the front-rear and left-right directions sequentially transferred from the third belt conveyor 30c to the tray transferred by the tray transfer conveyor. You may put it in. Also, when connecting the tray transfer conveyor, the tray transfer conveyor is connected to the control device of the third belt conveyor 30c and can be moved only while the shutter 33 is open, so that the tray transfer can be reliably performed. The aligned foods can be put in the tray on the conveyor.

[0029]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the width of each transfer path 3 formed by the interval between the partition walls 4, 4 can be simultaneously adjusted by the interval adjusting mechanisms 11, 12, 14, 51. Therefore, it is not necessary to move the partition walls 4 one by one and perform the measurement while measuring the interval. The width of each transfer path 3 can be easily adjusted according to the width of food such as croquettes, hamburgers, or dumplings, and operation is easy. Can be something.

According to the second invention of the present application, in addition to the effects of the first invention of the present application, if the respective transport paths 3 are closed by the shutter 33, the foods in the respective transport paths 3 are substantially aligned in the front-rear position. Thus, a plurality of rows can be aligned in the width direction. Therefore, a tray or the like may be provided behind the aligning device, and the tray or the like may be simply inserted into the tray.

The third invention of the present application has the same effect as the second invention of the present application, except that the front conveyor 30b is composed of a plurality of narrow conveyors 31, and a predetermined number of foods are transferred to the transfer path 3 of the front conveyor 30b. If only the food is sent, the food can be stopped temporarily, so that the foods lined up in each transfer path 3 can be prevented from floating, and the foods can be surely maintained in an aligned state.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a food sorting device of the present invention as viewed from above.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the food aligning apparatus of the present invention as viewed from the side.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a space adjusting device for a partition wall, and FIG.
Is an enlarged plan view of the main part with the space between the partition walls widened, (B)
FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the main part.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a main part in a state where the space between the partition walls is narrowed, and FIG.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a second belt conveyor and a third belt conveyor.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the second belt conveyor.
FIG. 4B is a side view of the second belt conveyor, FIG. 4B is a front view of the second belt conveyor, and FIG. 4C is an explanatory diagram of a position adjusting mechanism of the narrow belt conveyor of the second belt conveyor.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory sectional view of a third belt conveyor.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram when feeding food from the second belt conveyor to the third belt conveyor.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a case where a predetermined number of food items are fed into a third belt conveyor, and then the narrow belt conveyor is continuously moved without stopping.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram when food is put in a tray.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged plan view of a main part of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 food sorting device 3 transfer path 4 partition wall 11 connecting member 12 support body 12a long groove 14 plate 30a first belt conveyor 30b second belt conveyor 30c third belt conveyor 31 narrow belt conveyor 33 shutter 51 movable shaft 40a first partition wall 40b Second partition wall

Claims (3)

[Claims] A transfer means (30a) (30b) (30c) capable of sequentially placing and transferring foods such as croquettes, a plurality of partition walls (4),
An interval adjusting mechanism (41) (43) for adjusting the interval between adjacent partition walls (4) and (4) is provided, and these partition walls (4) are provided with transfer means (30a) (30b) (30c). above,
By being arranged in the width direction of the transfer means (30a) (30b) (30c) along the transfer direction, food can be sequentially passed one by one over the transfer means (30a) (30b) (30c). A plurality of transfer paths (3) are sectioned, and each partition wall (4) is arranged so as to be movable in the width direction, so that the width of each transfer path (3) can be adjusted, and the distance can be adjusted. The mechanism (41) (43) is provided with the interlocking means (11) (12) (14) (51) that can move the plural partition walls (4) in conjunction with each other, so that the partition Each formed transfer path
(3) The food aligning device characterized in that the width of (3) can be simultaneously adjusted to be wider or narrower by substantially the same amount. 2. A shutter (33) which can open and close the transfer path (3) is provided in the middle of each transfer path (3).
(33) As each transfer path (3) is closed by each, the transfer of food sequentially sent from the front through each transfer path (3) is temporarily stopped in the middle of each transfer path (3), By arranging the shutters (33) of these transfer paths (3) so that the front and rear positions thereof are substantially aligned with each other, the foodstuffs of the stopped transfer paths (3) substantially indicate the front and rear positions of each other. The foods are sent out of each transfer path (3) in an aligned state as the shutters (33) of each transfer path (3) are opened. 2. The food sorting and transferring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A transfer means comprising at least two conveyors (30b) (30c) arranged side by side in front and rear, wherein a front conveyor (30b) is provided from a plurality of narrow conveyors (31). Each of these narrow conveyors (31) is provided with a driving means, and these narrow conveyors (31) are arranged side by side in the width direction so that each transfer on the front conveyor (30b) is performed. Each transfer path (3) formed on the conveyor (30c) on the rear side, which constitutes the transfer means of the path (3)
Is connected to each of the narrow conveyors (31), so that the food can be moved from each transfer path (3) of the front conveyor (30b) to the rear conveyor as the narrow conveyors (31) move. (30c)
The conveyor (30c) on the rear side has a shutter (33) and the number of foods entering each transport path (3). A detecting means (34) capable of detecting, and a control means, the control means being connected to the detecting means (34), the shutter (33) and the narrow conveyor (31).
(34) detects that a predetermined number of foods have entered the transfer path (3) of the rear side conveyor (30c), the control means causes the rear side conveyor (30c) to contain the predetermined number of foods. The narrow conveyor (31) connected to the transfer path (3) of (30c) is temporarily stopped, and the control means opens the shutter (33) in response to the completion of detection by all the detection means (34). 3. The food aligning and transferring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the narrow conveyor (31) which has been stopped is started.