JPS59102122A - Automatic measuring apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To limit the weight and volume of a material to be measured in a package within a preset tolerance range, by detecting the density of the material to be measured, and adjusting the size of the single body of the material to be measured so that the detected density becomes approximately constant. CONSTITUTION:A crusher 2, which crushes a material, is provided at the chute hole of a feeding chute 1. The material is crushed and the size of the material is adjusted. Level sensors 7, 7,... are provided at pool hoppers 6, 6,.... The volume of the material, which is fed by radial troughs 5, is measured by the sensor. When the material enters measuring hoppers 8, 8,... from the pool hoppers 6, the weight value is measured by weight detectros 9, 9,.... The material in the measuring hoppers, which are selected based on the combination operation, is discharged to a discharge chute 10 from the measuring hoppers 8, 8,.... The material reaches a packing machine and is packed. Thus, the weight and volume of the material to be measured in a package can be limited within a preset tolerance range.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an automatic weighing device that can keep the volume and weight of objects to be weighed in a packaging container within preset tolerance ranges.

For products such as corn flakes and potato chips, the degree of expansion of the product varies greatly depending on the processing conditions during the manufacturing process, such as the degree of material blending and heating temperature, or products that break easily. There are variations in the shape and size of the products, and the so-called appearance and specific gravity vary greatly.

Therefore, when weighing and packaging such items as objects to be weighed, even if the weight of the object is equal to the target value or the closest value to the target value within the set tolerance range, The volume of the product may be too small or too large. In other words, the apparent volume of the packaged object to be weighed changes in inverse proportion to the change in specific gravity. In such cases, if the product volume is too small compared to a certain amount of packaging volume, it will cause consumers to worry that the product is not large enough, and if it is too large, it may cause problems in the packaging process such as poor sealing and product spillage. give. Therefore, when weighing such products, it is necessary to keep not only the weight but also the volume of the product in the packaging container within a preset allowable range.

The present invention was devised to meet these demands.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new automatic weighing device that can keep the weight and volume of an object to be weighed in a packaging container within a set allowable range.

That is, the present invention is a device for weighing an object to be weighed whose specific gravity is not constant and putting it into a fixed container, and a measuring section that controls the object to be weighed to a target weight value; A detection section that detects the density of the object to be weighed in the measuring section from the supplied volume of the object to be measured and its weight value, and a detection section that makes the density of the object to be weighed almost constant based on the detected density. A first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that it includes an adjustment section that adjusts the size of a single object to be weighed, a weighing section that weighs the object to be weighed to a target weight value, and a weighing section that is supplied to the weighing section. A detection unit that detects the density of the object to be weighed in the measuring section from the supplied volume of the object to be measured and its weight value, and a detection unit that detects the density of the object to be measured based on the detected density, and a detection unit that detects the density of the object to be measured based on the detected density. an adjustment unit that adjusts the size; and a target weight adjustment unit that increases or decreases the target weight value within a set allowable range so that the filling volume of the object to be weighed in a certain container is approximately constant based on the detected density. This is related to Kaya 2's release in January, which is characterized by having the following.

Specific examples of implementing the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the configuration when the first invention is applied to an automatic weighing device (a) using a combination weighing method.

In FIG. 1, a supply chute (1) is disposed at the upper center of the weighing device, and supplies objects to be weighed (hereinafter referred to as articles) supplied from a packet conveyor (3) to each weighing section to be described later. A crusher (2) for crushing articles is installed in the feed chute (1), and the articles are crushed here to adjust their size. Furthermore, each weighing section consists of a radiation trough (5), a bulge trough, a weighing hopper (8), and a weight detector (9) attached to the hopper, which are arranged sequentially from the upper stage to the lower stage. n weighing sections are equally distributed in a circle. And pool hopper +61
(61... is the level sensor (7) (71...
is provided, which detects the volume of the article fed from the radiation trough (6), and detects the volume of the article supplied from the radiation trough (6), and the volume of the article is
14> When the article enters the weighing hopper t8) +8)..., the weight value of the article is detected by the weight detector 19 attached to the weighing hopper ((81+8)...+9+-). That is, the articles reach the distribution table (4) from the supply chute +11, where they are distributed around and fed into the radially arranged radial troughs (5), (5), etc. Then, the article is supplied to the radiation trough (5) (5)...Yoshi pool hopper (61 (61...-), the volume of the supplied article is detected, and then the article is transferred to the weighing hopper +8
1 [8) - is supplied to - and its weight is measured.

Here, the articles in the weighing hopper selected by the combination calculation are discharged from the weighing hopper +81 +8+... to the discharge chute [101], and then through the timing hopper (l).
It will be packaged according to the packaging.

Figure 2 shows some specific examples of methods for detecting the level position of articles supplied to pool hopper f81 (61...). is projected onto the mirror (1'4), and the reflected light is received by the light receiving element H.
4) by moving the reflected light beam up and down, mirror a
The stepping motor is rotated in synchronization with the rotation of the grapes, and the stepping motor is used when the reflected light from mirror α4 received by the light receiving element (I4) is blocked by the articles in the pool hopper (6). The level position of the article is calculated from the rotation angle of (+5).The method shown in Figure 2(b) uses an image sensor as the light receiving element, and sets this sensor (1@ in the vertical direction). , the sensor θ4 is moved laterally along the side of the pool hopper (6), and the level of the article is detected at each position of the moving path.The method shown in FIG. The level position is determined from the amount of light received by the light receiver (1) by aligning the surface light awn-shaped projector Oη and the light receiver α barrel with a pool hopper (6) interposed. Possible methods include using solar cells for the light source and arranging phototransistors in multiple rows.In the method of using solar cells (rectangular type), it is necessary to consider the attenuation of the light intensity of the projector. Light receiver (In is used for standard light amount detection and measurement)
The outputs of these are input to a differential amplifier, and the outputs are A/D converted to determine the level position.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the level sensor (71 (71-)
is attached to the Boolean hopper T61 fil..., but it is also possible to attach it to the weighing hopper (81+81).

As above, pool hopper f4fl +61...
Once the level position of the supplied article is determined, the volume of the supplied article is calculated from the level. On the other hand, the pool hopper (
There are the following two methods for supplying goods to 61f6+... That is, the first method is the pool hopper
This is a method of operating the radiation troughs (5) (5)... until the article reaches a certain level within 61...0 In this method, the level detection device for the supplied article is simple, but the supply time is undefined. becomes. In addition, the second method always uses the radiation trough i5) +51 for a certain period of time regardless of whether the supply volume of the article is excessive.
This is a method of operating... In this method, since the supply time of the article is constant, it is easy to carry out periodic metering, but the level detection device for the supplied article is complicated.

In this way, two types of methods of supplying goods to the pool hopper (6) are applied: the former [pool hopper constant volume supply type] and the latter [pool hopper fixed time supply type], but depending on the method, The structure for calculating the volume of the supplied article also differs.

First, the structure and operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 when configured as a "pool hopper constant volume supply type" will be explained based on the block diagram shown in FIG. 3. In Figure 8, n
Each weighing machine (WIXW2)...Ck> is composed of a weight detector (9) and a weighing hopper (8) attached thereto. All pool hoppers + 8) (61... has a level sensor (7) Trough (5) (5)...
・operates, and each pool hopper +61 [61
. . . When the supplied article reaches a certain level, the detection signal (Sl) is output to a timing control section (38) to be described later, and the supply of the article is stopped. Yes, each pool hopper +61
The volume of the article supplied to tel... is constant each time. In this case, in the combination weighing device, as is well known, < li
Since it is necessary to vary the amount of articles supplied to each pool hopper [8116], the detection position of each level sensor f71 (7) is made different for each weighing sexgon. In addition, in this embodiment, the volumes of articles supplied to each pool hopper +61, +81, etc. are constant, so the volume memo is stored by converting these levels into article volume buttons! J (VM-)(
VM=)·(VMn) is provided in the detection section (3).

Next, each weighing machine σ (Wsu...(Wn) discharges the articles in the weighing hopper 18+ +8)... by the discharge command signal (S2) from the combination calculation section (23). , the weighing hopper (81 (81...
・Weight value data detected after receiving supplies from pool hopper +61 (81...) (Wl, to W...
Wn) is output. Each weight value data (vrl, v2,
-'tvn) is each weighing machine (Wl) (W... (W-)
The combination calculation unit (23) then sequentially combines them according to the combination butter/ outputted from the pattern generation unit to find one combination that is equal to or closest to the target value. Then, the obtained set of combination patterns and the total combination value are stored, and the total combination value is output to the comparator (b) and the divider screen in the detection section screen. The comparator □□□ compares the combined total value with the upper and lower limit values output from the tolerance range setting device Shino to check whether the total value is within the set tolerance range. . As a result of the check, if the combined total value is within the set allowable range, a pass signal (C3) is output to the combination calculation section (23).
A discharge command signal (C2) is outputted from the combination calculation unit to the weighing machine Cw1) (wsu...(Wn)) corresponding to the combination pattern stored therein.

Then, in the detection unit, the volume memory (VM2)...(V
The discharge command signal (C2) output from the combination calculation unit (231) is input as a read signal to the volume memory (VM-) (VM
Volume data (vz) read from... (vMn)
, V2, ++·vn) are input to the adder (c), where the volume of the articles related to the optimal combination is calculated and output to the divider. The density of the article is calculated in the divider (2→) from this volume data and the combination total value of the optimal combination mentioned above.The density data obtained in this way is sampled every time or every few times. - Then, the average density calculation unit calculates the average density.Then, based on this average density, the size of each item is adjusted so that the density of the item is approximately constant.

As shown in Figure 1, the adjustment section - consists of a supply chute (1) and a density conditioner (2) installed inside it, and the density conditioner (2) is continuously variablely driven by a motor (3+). The size of the individual product is adjusted by controlling the rotation of the crusher (motor) based on the average density.

Further, the discharge command signal (C2) outputted from the combination calculation unit (23) to the weighing machine (Wl) (W2)...(wn) for the optimum combination is simultaneously input to the timing control unit -). The operation command signal (C4
) (gate) is output, which makes the pool hot ζ
fil (61..., radiation trough (5) (5)...
Each operation timing is controlled by YuIJ.

In other words, the weighing machine (Wl) (ws...(wn) selected as the optimal combination from the combination calculation unit (23i)
8) When the discharge command signal (C2) is output between (81... and the timing control section), after a certain period of time has elapsed, the weighing machine (Wl) selected as the optimal combination (Wsu...-(
Timing control unit for pool hopper j61 j61... corresponding to wn)! B (to) to discharge command signal (
C4) is output, and after a certain period of time has elapsed, an operation command is issued to the radiation trough (5) (5)... corresponding to the weighing machine (Wsσsu...(Wn)) selected as the optimal combination. A signal (C5) is output.As a result, the article is discharged from the weighing hopper t8i (81...) of the weighing machine (W-) (Wsu...(Wn)) selected as the optimal combination, and then The empty weighing hopper tg+t8i... is supplied with articles from the boule hottuno (6) (8)..., and the empty pool hopper (61 (61...) is supplied with the article from the radiant trough (51...). (51...no; It operates and the article is supplied.

Then, upon receiving the detection signal (Sl) that the level sensor (7) (71... detects and outputs the article level),
The output of the radiation trough operation command signal (C5) is stopped, and the supply of articles is terminated.In the manner described above, the weighing operation force of the automatic weighing device of the "pool hot constant volume supply type" automatic weighing device is repeated. It will be done.

Next, the configuration and metering operation when the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is configured as a "pool hot fixed time supply type" will be explained based on the block diagram shown in FIG. 4. In Fig. 4, all the pool hoppers (61+61...) are equipped with level sensors [71+7], and by operating the radiation troughs (5) (5) for a certain period of time, The height of the article supplied to the pool hopper (61 (61...
1) Input ' in (C2) - (Cn) and use -t to calculate and store the supply volume of the articles supplied to the pool hopper (6 + [61...). Wl)C
2) The weight of the article is measured in...(Wn), and then the combination calculation unit (goods) calculates the optimal combination by weighing machine (Wl).
) (W2)...(Wn) are selected and the combined sum is output to the direct comparator (to) and the divider (to). Then, as a result of checking the combined total value with the comparator, if it is within the setting allowable range, the combination calculating section (b) sends the weighing machine (W-) (Wsu...CWn>) for the optimal combination and timing control. In addition, this discharge command signal (S2) is output as a signal to open and close the calculating unit (C1>(C...(Cn) in the detection part). ) (34) (3 荀...), which results in the optimal combination of weighing machines (Wl) (W'')...(W
Computing unit (C1) that calculated the supply volume of the articles in the pool hopper t61 +61... corresponding to n) (C...
・The supply volume data of the article is output from (Cn) to the adder (34!
The density of the article is calculated from the output volume data of 81 by the divider (this density data table), and the size of the single article is adjusted by the adjustment section based on the average density calculated by the average density calculation section. Ru.

Also, from the timing control unit (C3), the pool hopper +61 fi+... and the radiation trough (5) (5)- corresponding to the weighing machine σsuσsu...(W-) selected as the optimal combination
・Discharge command signal (S4) and operation command signal (s5)
is output, and the respective operation timings are controlled. At this time, the operation command signal (S5) outputted to the radiation troughs r5) f5)... controls the operation time of each radiation trough (51+51...) by passing through the drive control section d. That is, the radiation trough [51f5) is controlled by a drive control section (33) that controls each operation time so that each operation time is different from the pool hopper (61).
Supply goods to +61.--.

In this way, the weighing operation of the "pool hopper constant time supply type" automatic weighing device is repeated in the same way as the "constant volume supply type".

In addition, FIG. 5 shows that in the embodiment shown in FIG.
A block diagram is shown in which a level sensor (71(7)... is installed fc in the pool hopper +61r, 61-, m≦n).In the case of this embodiment, the combination calculation unit (
Since the combined total value calculated by the company) cannot be used for density calculation, the level sensor ffl (7)...
A volume memory (VMm) is provided in the pool hopper (61 + 61...
□□□□□□Two-knee measurement...A weight value memory (B) G→... (WMm) is installed in each detection unit (company), and the data is read from the two-knee measurement and added for density calculation using adder d. I try to do this. On the other hand, for the volume, v Hessen 4) [7) = ”it: The selected weighing machine (wl
) (Only those corresponding to wsu... are volume memory (extended) (VM memory... (vMm) and discharge signal (s
2) Adder C28 adds the volume data of the command.
)K is output.

As mentioned above, Levelsen? 'll (Obtain the added values of the volumes and metric data of only those selected as combinations among the metric sexidines with 71-・-, and use the divider (
After the density is calculated in step 26), the same operations as in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 described above are performed.

Incidentally, the operation of the radiation trough corresponding to the pool hopper that is not installed with the level sensor 4 is time-controlled by the operation command signal (S5).In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6) Weight value memory (WM
z) (VM2)... has a similar configuration. In the above configuration in which the weight value memory (VM2) (WMm) is attached, the weighing operation is as shown in Fig. 3.
This is the same as in each embodiment shown in FIG.

Main parts when the second invention is applied to a combination weighing device (
An example of the configuration of the target weight adjustment section) is shown in the block diagram of FIG. The measuring section, the detecting section, and the adjusting section, which are the constituent elements of the second invention, are omitted because they are the same as those in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. That is, the configuration shown in FIG. 6 is obtained by adding various functions shown below to the target value setter 04 in the configuration of the embodiment of the first invention shown in FIGS. 8, 4, and 5. This is a target weight adjustment section.

The structure and operation of the target weight adjusting section will be explained as follows using the block diagram shown in FIG. That is, in FIG. 6, a target value setting device is a device for setting and storing a target weight value to be weighed. The target weight value is increased or decreased in the target weight adjustment section after a predetermined number or more of data for calculating the average density has been accumulated and the average density is reliable. In other words, if the number of samples of the average density is less than or equal to the predetermined number, the average density calculation unit (
(B) to Go) (outputs the control signal (S6) to close 41 and sets the initial setting value without increasing or decreasing the target weight value). Output to the calculation unit (23). 1. Reliable.”
Judgment criteria U When all Ft-1-i sections are equipped with level sensors (7) ff)..., it can be understood that the number of measurements is counted from the start and reaches a certain number or more, and When a level sensor (7) f71... is attached to only some of the measured cefushirans, this occurs when a predetermined number of data are input to the shift register in the average density calculation unit. Once the average density is reliable, the target weight value is adjusted in the target weight adjustment section as described above. That is, the average density is input from the average density calculation unit to the comparator (39) in the target weight adjustment unit, and the comparator compares the average density with the contents of the upper limit density memory, and the average density is input to the upper limit density memory (39). If the content is smaller than that, the gate will be closed and a ban will be placed. Here, the upper limit density memory (g) is a device that sets and stores the upper limit value of density that does not process target value changes.If the average density does not exceed the upper limit density, the average density is processed as an appropriate value, and at the same time, no target weight value adjustment processing is performed. Then, when the average density exceeds the upper limit density, the target weight value is adjusted as described below based on the average density. That is, the contents of the adder/subtractor envelope υ and the adjustment pitch setter η are multiplied and output to the adder section through the gate (4Q). It is used to set and store constants for densities o, ir/, (0.
If the target weight value is to be changed by 2, "@2" is stored. If the target weight value is to be changed at a ratio of 0.11 to the density change if/, "0.1" is stored. Also, the adjustment range setting device (trowel is a device that sets and stores the allowable range for changing the target weight value. For example, if you want to set the lower limit of 1001 and change the target weight value up to 1051, set it here. is stored as a value equivalent to 5f.Then, the contents of the integrator ■ and the example adjustment range setter are compared in the comparator ■, and if the contents of the integrator □□□ are larger, the allowable range is exceeded. The content of the adjustment width setter ■ that is determined by the upper limit value is output to the adder via t40).

Otherwise, the contents of the integrator are outputted to the adder through the gate (40). In this way, the contents of the integrator or the contents of the adjustment range setting device example (support) and the target value setting device -
The setting contents are input to the adder (431), and the result added there becomes the target value of the combination calculation.The weight value data (Wl, W2, . . .
Among the combinations of contents of wn ), the combination that is equal to or closest to it is selected.

In this way, the second invention is such that the target weight value in the first invention is increased or decreased within a set allowable range in the target weight adjustment section so that the filling volume of the article into a certain container is approximately constant. The configuration and operation of the measuring section, the detecting section, and the adjusting section are the same as in the first invention.

As explained above, according to the present invention, when weighing an article with variable specific gravity and delivering it to a packaging container or the like with a fixed volume, Mishu is able to keep not only the weight of the article but also its volume within the set allowable range. Therefore, when weighing and packaging an article to a certain weight, the volume of the article in the packaging container will also be constant, and the flow will be eliminated due to looseness and overflow of the article during packaging in the packaging container. be able to. Therefore, the volume of a product of a certain weight for a packaging container of a certain volume is always appropriate, so consumers will not be worried about not having enough quantity of the product due to the volume of the product being too small; If the volume is too large, it can cause problems in the packaging process, such as poor sealing and product spillage.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall configuration when the first invention according to the present invention is applied to a combination weighing device, Figure 2 (a), Figure 2 (
b), FIG. 2(C) is a schematic diagram of each embodiment of the level sensor in the present invention, FIG. 8 is a line diagram, and FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of each embodiment of the level sensor according to the present invention. A block diagram when a level sensor is installed, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the main part (target weight adjustment section) when the second invention according to the present invention is applied to a combination weighing device. It is a diagram. (Measuring section) (6)... Pool hopper, (8)... Weighing hopper,
(9)...Weight detector, (to)...Combination calculation section, Example...Pattern generation section, (B)...Comparator, (
2η...Tolerance range setter, (3[9...Target value setter (detection section) (7)...Level sensor, (WMl) (7M2
)−(VMn)l. Volume memory, kan...divider, glance...karo calculator, (C1)(C2)...(Cn)...arithmetic unit, transmission (WM2)...(WMn)... Weight memory, (3 candles...gate. (adjustment section) (1)...supply shoe), (21+2f'...density conditioner, color υ...drive motor, bite...
...Control unit. (Target weight adjustment section) (Company)... Adjustment width setter C34... Adjustment pitch setter, t381... Upper limit density memory, (39)...
-Comparator, (40)...gate, f41)...addition/subtractor, country...integrator, #f, (6)...adder, circle...-comparator. Fig. 1 Convex 1 Fig. 2 (α) 1″L Fig. 2 (ff)

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) It is a device that weighs an object to be weighed whose apparent specific gravity is not constant and puts it into a fixed container, which includes a weighing section that weighs the object to be weighed to a target weight value, and a weighing section that weighs the object to be weighed to a target weight value. a detection unit that detects the density of the object to be weighed in the weighing section from the supplied volume of the object to be weighed and the weight value of the object to be weighed; An automatic weighing device comprising: an adjusting section for adjusting the size of the object to be weighed. (2) It is a device that weighs an object to be weighed whose apparent specific gravity is not constant and puts it into a fixed container, which includes a weighing section that weighs the object to be weighed to a target weight value, and a weighing section that weighs the object to be weighed to a target weight value. A detection section detects the density of the object to be weighed in the measuring section from the supplied volume of the object to be weighed and the weight value of the object to be weighed, and the density of the object to be weighed is approximately constant based on the detected density. an adjustment unit that adjusts the size of the individual object to be weighed; and an adjustment section that adjusts the size of the object to be weighed, and the target weight within a set allowable range so that the filling volume of the object to be weighed into a certain container is approximately constant based on the detected density. An automatic weighing device characterized by comprising a target weight adjustment section that increases or decreases a value.