JPS5976583A - Weight selector - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a weight sorting machine capable of measuring the weight of agricultural and marine products, etc., and sorting and discharging the agricultural and marine products into predetermined weight ranks based on the measured values.

For example, the growth rate (weight) of Akoya oysters used for pearl culture
There is a large difference in the quality of the pearls produced due to the difference in the pearl oysters.For this reason, in the trade of Akoya oysters, approximately 4.
It is required to accurately weight-sort pearl oysters down to the gram level.

However, in the past, there was no device suitable for such automatic weight sorting of pearl oysters, and such sorting had to be carried out by relying heavily on manual labor. Also, trading of Akochogai (:1
The harvest is limited to about 7 months in October, and the sorting work is intensively carried out, so the weight of 1 liter for pearl oysters is
A sorting machine is required to have large processing capacity, a small footprint, and be easy to disassemble and store.

This invention was developed in response to such demands, and is a new small-sized product that can automatically measure and sort pearl oysters, etc., and is also small and easy to disassemble and store. The purpose is to provide a sorting machine.

Hereinafter, the specific configuration of the present invention will be explained based on the drawing numbers.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of a weight sorting machine according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view. In these figures, the weight sorter is equipped with a pedestal (transfer device (A) comprising a frame (a conveyor device (A) equipped with a single endless chain (2) disposed in the longitudinal direction of the moon and driven in circulation back and forth). (B) A plurality of hinges attached to the endless chain (2) at a constant pitch and transported in a circular manner and tiltable laterally with respect to the conveying direction (XI); A plurality of locking devices fc) are disposed along the outbound route of the chain (2) and sequentially lock the buckets (B) that are circulated by the chain (2), and a plurality of locking devices fc) that sequentially lock the buckets (B) that are disposed along the outbound path of the chain (2), and The above bucket, which is weighed and transported, )r
B) A weighing device (D) that ranks the articles by weight based on the weight data, and a bucket carrying the ranked articles: 7) (B) corresponds to the rank value of the article. When the locking device fc) is reached, the locking portion ff(c
), and a control section (E) for releasing the packet from the lock and discharging the articles in the packet in the horizontal direction.

The endless chain (2) is stretched between a pair of sprockets (3) (3) disposed at the front end and the rear end of the longitudinal surface of the pedestal (), and is connected to the rear sprocket 1-1.
(3') suitable drive means connected to the drive shaft (4);
For example, it is configured to be circularly driven by a drive mechanism consisting of a pair of sprockets 1-(5) (5), a drive chain (6) stretched between these, and a drive motor (7). Each link of chain (2) has
As shown in Figure 3, the bracket 1- installed on one side (B1) along the endless chain (2) of the bucket CB+
<8) is attached at a constant pitch, and the bucket (I3) can be tilted laterally with respect to its transport direction around the axis (]0) provided on the bracket (8). It is configured as follows. Further, the receiver (9) includes:
A split groove (11) into which the shaft (10) fixed to the bracket (8) is removably inserted is provided, and the bucket (
B) and the chain (2) can be separated.

(Each bucket) (Bl is a dustpan type with an open top surface and a side surface (B2) opposite to the side surface (B1), and when the bucket (B) is tilted, the articles loaded from the top surface are removed from the side surface (B2). ) in the horizontal direction (X3).Also, the side surface (B
1) is provided with a locking part (B3) extending upward from the bucket (I31-1- plane), and the locking part (B3) is sequentially locked to mutually adjacent locking devices ftf (C). By doing so, each bucket (B) is configured to be transported while being held substantially horizontally without tilting.And when the locking device (CI) is activated and the lock of the bucket is released. , the bucket (B) is moved in the direction of the arrow (X
2), the guide plate (1) attached to the pedestal (1)
2), it is configured to be conveyed without being held at a constant inclination angle.

(J3) is a stopper fixed to the receiver (9) that holds the bucket (B) which has been inverted on the return path of the transport route of the bucket (B) at a constant angle of inclination, and (14) is a stopper fixed to the holder (9). ) is a chain guide that is attached to the chain (2) and prevents the chain (2) from loosening.

The locking device (C) has one end pivoted to the pedestal (1) and the other end to swing up and down, and the other end engages the locking portion (B3) of the bucket (B). A hooker (]B5 that is rotated to lock, a coil spring (16) that urges the hooker (]B5 downward, and a movable iron core () of the hooker ()) based on an operation command from the control section (E). 17), thereby pushing the hooker (15) upward and releasing the engagement between the hooker (15) and the bucket (B). The locking device (C) is a frame (1) along the chain (2).
A plurality of buckets (B) are arranged in the same pinch as the buckets (B) above and conveyed into one hooker (15).
, then connect that hooker (]5) and the adjacent hooker (
15), and by repeating this, the buckets are sequentially locked.

Figure 4 shows the transport device (M1 quantity machine (
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of an R1 box arrangement ffR(D) consisting of a machine coffin section for driving a pool tray (19) and a pool tray (19) in a row.

In this figure, the weighing machine (W) is the heavy duty detector (LC)
and a weighing hopper (WH) connected thereto, and the hopper (WH) has left and right side plates (20).
A gate (22) is provided 11 which is pivotally attached to the hopper (20') and opens and closes the discharge port (21) of the hopper (WH,).

The above case) (22) has a pin (24) protruding from its side plate (23) or a bar (2) that reciprocates in the (X4) direction.
5) is engaged with the bent end portion of the hopper, and the side plate (2o) of the hopper
It is configured to swing in the (X5) direction about a shaft (26) fixedly attached to the shaft (26), thereby opening and closing the discharge port (21). The other end of the bar (25) is
The j-th lever (27), which swings back and forth around the fulcrum shaft (48), is attached to the tip of the vertical part via the rod end (49), and the lever (27) is attached to the tip of the vertical part of the j-th lever (27), which swings back and forth around the fulcrum shaft (48). It is configured to swing back and forth by means of a roller (28) that is pivotally attached to the roller (28) and a cam (29) that rotates in contact with the roller (28).

On the other hand, the pool tray (]9) is
) is arranged in front of the tray (19) and is tiltable up and down about the support shaft (35), and tilts the tray (19) to carry out articles thrown or placed on the tray (19); From this, it is configured to be thrown into the rear weighing hopper (WH). (36) is a bracket fixed to the back surface of the pool tray (19), (37) is a loft that connects the bracket (36) and the second L-shaped lever (27 horizontal parts); The L-shaped lever (27) is constructed in the same manner as the first lever (27), and its swinging movement moves the lot (37) up and down, thereby moving the pool drain (19). It is configured to tilt up and down.

Each of the cams (29x29) is fixed to the camshaft (3o), and the flow throat (31) and the drive shaft (3o) of the drive motor (32) are fixed to one end of the camshaft (30).
It is rotated by the motor (32) via the sprocket (31') fixed to the motor (3) and the drive chain (34) stretched between the pair of sprockets (31X3).

(3BX38') is the first, first and second levers (2
The horizontal part of the lever (27
) (By pressing 27Q in one direction, the roller (28) (28
One is a coil spring in LL contact with the cam (29x29').

The game configured as described above (22) is opened and closed each time the bucket (B) which is being circulated and transported reaches the article input point (Po) below the gate (22). Bag the items in the teardrop hopper (WII).
In addition, the pool tray (19) is operated to tip and deposit a tray of articles into the weighing hopper (VvH) each time the case (22) is closed. That is, the rear sprocket (3
A cam (39) that operates a limit switch (Ll) at the timing when the bucket I-(B) reaches the input point (PO) is attached to the drive shaft (4) to which the drive motor (32) is fixed. ) is controlled to operate based on the output signal from its limit switch (Ll). When the bucket (B) reaches the input point (Po), the drive motor → (32) is activated, and as a result, the game) (22) is activated.
) opens and closes and the meter removes the items in the hopper (WH).
(B), and then the pool tray (19) is tilted and the articles on the tray are controlled to be thrown into the weighing hopper (WH).

Further, a cam (40) is attached to the camshaft (30) shown in FIG. 4, which operates a limit switch (L2) for each rotation of the camshaft (30), and the output signal of the limit switch (1, 2) is Stop the drive motor (32) (so that the motor (32) is stopped at the timing when the tilted pool tray (19) returns to the horizontal position by inputting the signal to the drive control unit (Dl) described later). controlled.

The articles can be placed one by one on the pool tray (19), and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, there is a partition plate (Fl) for separating the articles individually. An input conveyor (F1) equipped with a wide belt (F3) can also be used to automatically place articles one after another onto the boule tray (19).When the input conveyor (F) is used, it can be tilted. At the timing when the boule tray (19) returns to the horizontal position, the articles are transferred from the conveyor fF) to the boule tray (19).
19) It is configured so that 1 piece is inserted.

In other words, every time the bucket l-(B) moves one pitch, the output is 4.
A start signal from the limit switch (Ll) is inputted to the timer 0'' in FIG. A time-up signal is output at the timing when the pool tray (19) returns to the horizontal position, and the input conveyor (F) is operated by this time-up signal, so that the tilted pool tray (19) returns to the horizontal position. Control is performed so that the articles are fed from the feeding conveyor (fF) to the boule tray (19). In addition, this input conveyor (Fl) has the partition plate (
The conveyor (F) is activated by the activation signal.
) is provided with a limit switch (x-3) that stops the drive motor (F2) of the feed conveyor (F), which automatically stops the feeding conveyor (F) every time one article is fed into the pool tray (19). controlled to do so. Note that tKl is a waterproof cover for each locking device (C1).

The sorting machine configured as described above is operated in the following manner based on commands from the control section fE).

In other words, to explain the case of sorting pearl oysters by weight as an example, the weighed pearl oysters weigh 7 monme (7 monme) depending on their weight.
1 momme (approximately 26 grams) to 14 momme (approximately 52 grams)
1 bucket (Bl
The pearl oysters ranked 7 (26, 25g to 30g) are placed at the discharge position (PL
), the first locking device (COI) is activated based on the command from the control unit (E), and the first lock of the bucket (B) is released and the bucket (B) is discharged laterally, and the 3
3.75g), the pearl oyster ranked second
When the bucket (BI) reaches the discharge device (F2), the second locking device ((02) is activated based on a command from the control unit (E), and the bucket (BI) is unlocked and discharged laterally. Pearl oysters classified as rank 9 (33,75g to 37.75g), rank 10 (37,5g to 41.25g), rank 14 (52,5g to 56,25g), respectively. Predetermined discharge position (Pa) (', P
In the same way, each stop device (CO3XCO4)... (on arrival at pF9, control unit)...
・(Co s) is activated and discharged laterally, and the pearl oysters, which do not correspond to any rank, are transported as they are and the transport end point (F9) where the bucket (B) is reversed.
and is discharged in the transport direction.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the control configuration of a control unit that performs such control (when El is configured with a microcomputer, and FIG. 6 shows an example of its control operation). FIGS. 8 to 11 are detailed flowcharts of each sub-program L7 shown in FIG.

In FIG. 5, (,4])' is a ROM that stores the control program, and (42) is a RAM, which includes a rank memory (Ml), an operation count memory (M2), and a rank-specific number memo. IJ (M3), total number memo IJ (M4)
, and the zero point memo IJ (M5).

(LC) is the weight detector composed of a load cell, etc., (43) is an amplifier that amplifies the weight data output from the detector (LC), and (44) is the amplified heavy data into digital quantity. The converting A-D converter (Ll) operates every pitch of the bucket and outputs a start signal (SO), which will be described later. The switch (NS) consists of a button switch, and the button operation Therefore, the weight that causes the net weight of the pearl oyster weighed just before and its rank value to be displayed on the display (45) is determined by the switch, (R
5) is also composed of buttons, and the rank value displayed by the button operation is updated for each button, and the updated rank value and the total number of pearl oysters sorted into the corresponding rank are displayed on a display (45). The selection number switch (ZS) to be displayed on the screen is also composed of a button, and the zero switch (ZS) erases the contents displayed on the display (45) from the memory area by operating the button.
T-s) is constituted by a snap switch, and is a rank changeover switch that instructs switching of levels for sorting rank as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 when turned ON-OFF as described later. And each of these switches (WSXR5
XZSXLS) and the display (45) are arranged on the operation panel (El) of the control WII+ section tE), as shown in FIG. Historically, this operation panel (El) is provided with a main power switch (SVJJ) and an operation switch (SW2) that drives only the transport device (A+).In this case, the power supply circuit of the transport device (A) and If the control unit (El power supply circuit) is separated and independent, the conveying device (A+) can also be used as a packet conveyor.

Next, (river) is equipped with an appropriate switch element, and when a signal (Sl), which will be described later and is output based on the start signal (So) of the limit switch (Ll), is input, the drive torque (3
(T') is the interface (47), which controls the motor (32) to stop when the output signal (S2) of the limit switch (L2) is input. It is configured to be activated by inputting a signal (S3), which will be described later, output from the pool tray (19) and output a time-up signal (S4) at the timing when the pool tray (19) returns to the horizontal position. Similarly, an appropriate switch element (+fire) is connected to the time-up signal (
When s4) is input, the input conveyor (F) is operated, and when the output signal (S5) of the limit switch (L3) shown in Fig. 1 is input, the input conveyor CF+ is stopped. The drive control unit, (1) 01) to (
Up to DO8), when the signals (Sob) to (5oa) described later are input, each locking device fiffi(COI) to (CO8
) A drive circuit that operates the solenoid (18) for a predetermined period of time, (46) is a drive circuit that operates the solenoid (18) of the
S) CLS) and the υ'D converter (44) are processed based on the control block read out from the ROM (4]), and are transferred to the RAM (42) and the drive control unit (1).
)1), timer 0゛), drive circuit (pol) ~ (Do8
), display device (45), etc. via an interface (47).
).

Next, the control operation of the control unit 4) will be explained based on FIG. It is assumed that the pearl oysters are arranged in a line in the conveying direction, and one pearl oyster is also put into the weighing hopper (WH) and the pool tray (19), respectively.

In such a state, the CPU (46) receives the start signal (S
The next series of steps (1' to 3) until O) is input.
(Repeat and activate the display (45). In other words, input the weight data of pearl oysters in the 1〒1゛ hopper (Wll) from the A-ri converter (44) 1~. R this
Weight in AM (42) 1. ;-store in memory (not shown) (step 1');

Next, the net htyt of pearl oysters obtained by subtracting the unloaded weight [i data, which has already been written in 11fi L, from this mountain [j1 data] and calculated by R1 is determined (step 2'). Next, perform each process for 1 crumb as shown in FIG.
The designated rank and the number of items to be selected in that rank are displayed on the display (45) (step 3'). Next, limit switch (Ll)
When a start signal (SO) is output from outputs a signal (Sl) and a signal (S3) for activating the timer (1゛).As a result, the gate (22) opens and closes and the pearl oysters in the weighing hopper (WH) are loaded. The bucket that arrived at the point (PO) is put into the bucket (B+), and then the pool tray (19) is tilted and the pearl oysters are put into the hopper (WH) on the tray,
Next, at the timing when the tray (19) returns to the horizontal position, the feeding conveyor (F) is operated and one pearl oyster is fed into the tray (19) J-.

Next, the cps (46) sequentially shifts the storage contents of each address in the rank memory (Ml) to the higher address (step 4), and then the net i[j ; 91 determined in step 2).
Find the rank value corresponding to the weight and store it in the 0th address of the rank memory (Ml) (step 5).
. That is, assuming that the rank value of the bit pattern is currently stored in each address of the rank memory (M, 1) as shown in FIG.
Shift the memory contents of the address (00100000) to the 8th address, and then write the contents of the fJS6 address (00100000).
00001000) to the seventh address, and in the same manner, the stored contents of the lower address are sequentially shifted to the adjacent upper address. Then, the latest rank value obtained in step 5, for example, a pattern of (00100000) as shown in FIG. 7, is stored in the lowest 0th address. In this way, as the packet FB) is transported one pitch, its rank value is also shifted to the corresponding address in the memory (Ml).

Incidentally, Table 1 below is an example in which the types of ranks by weight stored in the rank memo IJ (Ml) are expressed using an 8-bit binary code.

The ranks by weight shown in the first table are either the net weight calculated as shown in the flowchart in Figure 8, or the higher rank (outside the rank) based on whether it is within the predetermined weight range established for each rank.
It is determined by sequentially determining from . In addition, in Fig. 8, the upper and lower limits of the weight range set for the name rank are changed by shifting half the weight range by turning the rank changeover switch (LS) 0N-OFF, depending on the actual trading period of pearl oysters. This is to adjust the weight fluctuations of pearl oysters due to slight differences in the timing of weight sorting by this rank switching.

When the above processing is completed, the CPU (46) then displays the net amount and its corresponding rank value on the display (45), or displays the rank specified by the operation of the sorting number switch (R5), The number of items sorted in that rank is displayed on the display (4
5) (Step 6). That is, as shown in FIG. 9, when the weight switch (WS) is operated, the contents of the operation number memo IJ (M2) that stores the number of operations of the sorting number switch (R5) are cleared, that is, Set the number of operations to O (step 6-1), then turn the sorting number switch (
Until R5) is operated, the net weight calculated in step 2 and the corresponding ranking determined in step 5 are displayed on the display (
45) (step 6-2). In addition, when the sorting number switch (R5) is operated, the contents of the operation count memory (M2) are counted up by one for each button operation (step 6-3), and the number of operations that have been amplified is counted up by one (step 6-3). Specify the rank value to be displayed next from
The rank value and the total number of items sorted into the rank are displayed on the display (
4, 5) (step 6-4) (step 6-5).

Furthermore, this fruit M! In example i, the ranks by weight are divided into nine glazes as shown in Table 1 above, so the number of operations memory (
When the content power month of M2) is reached, rank 7 is specified2], and when the content of the number of operations memory (M2) reaches 2, rank 8 is specified, and in the same way, each time the number of operations increases, rank 7 is specified.
Then, when the number of operations reaches 10, all ranks are specified (step 6-5), and when the number of operations reaches 11, the content of the number memo IJ (M2) is preset to 1. (knob 6-6), the first rank 7 can be specified again. Also, when the zero switch (ZS) is operated, the display (45
) is erased from the memory in which it was stored (step 6-7).

Next, the CPU (46) uses the rank memo IJ (
The locking devices ((01) to ((:OS)) to be activated next are determined from the rank values stored in each address of Ml), and the locking devices (COX) to (CO8) determined are activated. J that outputs a signal (SOI) ~ 1508) to
Step 7). That is, each address of the rank memory (Ml) contains the locking devices ((:01) to (CO) to be activated next.
8), which will be described later, is determined. For example, rank 7 is determined as the base rank at the first address of the rank memory (Ml), and rank 8 is determined at the second address. Then, for each address, the reference rank and the actually stored rank value of the article are compared, and if the two match, the locking device corresponding to the address is It outputs a signal (Sol) (508) for activating the . As a result, for example, the pearl oyster ranked at rank 7 is ejected in the lateral force direction at the first ejecting position (P+),
The pearl oyster ranked 8th was published in the second edition (:'
is discharged laterally at the position (I') 2).

FIG. 10 shows an example of the subprogram of step 7 (7), in which rank 7 (00000001) is stored in the first address of the rank memory (MD) as the reference rank.
) and assign rank 8 (000000
10), and in the same way, from the 3rd address to the 8th address, the standard ranks from rank 9 (00000] 00 ) to rank 14 (10000000) are sequentially assigned, so they are stored in the rank memo IJ (Ml). The comparison between the actual rank value and the reference rank is f
fi 7 f' This is done by searching for the presence or absence of [ ] in the number bit corresponding to the 1st number, and when the corresponding bit of each address is ``'', the corresponding 1 system fixing side is Outputs signals (501 to 808) for activating ``.

After the above processing is completed, the CPU (46) then determines whether the net weight calculated in step 2 is 3.75 grams or more, and if it is less than 3.75 grams, it is input as step 1. , the weight data is stored in the zero point memory (M5) as weight data under no load (step 8). In the separate number memory (M3), store the number of sorted pieces that has been newly added by one, and then store the total number of pieces that has been added by one new number to the total number memo +) (which stores the total number of all ranks) (M71). (Step 9λ) Here, the rank-specific number memory (M3) is for storing the number of pieces sorted into each rank, and in this embodiment, a total of 9 pieces, including 8 ranks from rank 7 to rank 14 and non-rank pieces, is stored. Nine corresponding number memories (M3) are provided corresponding to each rank.

Of course, there is also a memory for the number of pieces by rank (M3) and a memo for the total number of pieces! J (M4), or the aforementioned operation count memo IJ (M2)
etc. can also be configured with a counter.

In this embodiment, the number of sorted pieces is totaled for each rank, but it is also possible to obtain the total tflll for each rank and display it. The display contents of (45) can also be printed.

When the processing of step 8 or i4 step 9 is completed in this way, the control operation of the J cycle described above is completed, and the sixth cycle is started again.
Then, the program returns to step 2 (not shown in I) and moves to a block diagram in which steps 1' to 3' described above are repeated until the next start signal 1 (so) is output.

Although the timer ffl shown in FIG. 5 is composed of appropriate counters,
- It can also be configured with a special timer.

In addition, the boule tray (19) described in f*iJ can be omitted if necessary, and it is also conceivable to omit the elbow hopper W) and configure it with the boule tray (19).

As explained above, the present invention includes a conveyance device disposed on a pedestal, a plurality of buckets that are circulated and transferred by the conveyance device and tiltable in a transverse direction with respect to the conveyance direction, and 1. disposed on the pedestal, a plurality of devices that sequentially lock the buckets to be circulated; a total of 4 devices that weigh the article and put it into the packet; and a rank of the article by weight from the weight data; A control unit that releases the locking of the bucket/soto by the locking device and discharges the items in the packet laterally when the packet carrying the article reaches a locking device corresponding to the rank. Since it is equipped with the following, it is possible to automatically and accurately sort out the weight of articles with a certain degree of accuracy. Therefore, it can be applied to weight sorting of pearl oysters, etc., which requires strict and detailed weight sorting, and it is possible to automate the sorting work in this field and improve processing capacity. In addition, since the buckets that are circulated by the conveyance device are used to convey and sort the articles, a separate device for sorting is not required, and the sorting machine can be small and have a simple structure. . Furthermore, since the transport device and the packets circulated by the device are configured to be removably engaged with each other, they can be easily disassembled and stored in a compact manner. Therefore, it is especially useful as a weight-cutting machine for pearl oysters, which has a short operating period. It's fleeting.

[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the heavy case sorting machine according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an iF plane view thereof, and FIG. 3 is an I-
Fig. 4 is a side sectional view in the direction of arrow 1 taken along line I; Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of the mechanical part that drives the weighing machine and the pool tray; Fig. 5 is a control part composed of a microcomputer. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the control operation, and FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the control configuration when the control operation is performed. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the control operation. FIG. The explanatory diagrams from FIG. 8 to FIG. 11 are detailed flowcharts 1 of each ZAF program shown in FIG. 6. (A)... Conveyance device, fBl... Bucket, (C)
... Locking device, W) ... Weighing machine, (E) ... Control unit, (Ml) ... Rank memory. 1 special fraud suspect Takaharu Onishi, representative of Ishida Koki Seisakusho Co., Ltd. Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 10 Figure 11

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] (]) A conveyance device disposed on a pedestal, a plurality of buckets that are circulated and transferred by the conveyance device and can be tilted by one angle in a lateral force direction with respect to the conveyance direction, and a plurality of buckets disposed on the pedestal. a plurality of locking devices for sequentially locking the buckets that are transported in a circular manner;
An 81-quantity device that loads an article into the bucket, calculates the rank of the article by weight from the Ichikawa data, and stops the bucket where the article is placed at J$, corresponding to the rank. 1. A weight sorting machine comprising: a control section that releases the locking of the bucket by the locking device when the bucket reaches the device, and discharges the articles in the bucket in a lateral direction. (2) A control unit or a memory that sequentially stores rank values for each weight of articles in the order in which they are transported; Claim 1 comprising: control means for outputting an actuation command to a locking device associated with the address when the address matches a designated rank value.
Weight sorting machine as described in section. (3) The control unit is equipped with a display device and various operation keys, and is configured to display the number of items to be sorted for each rank, the total number of items to be sorted, etc. on the display device by key operation. Weight sorting machine as described in section.