JPS6235228A - Checking device for malfunction of weighing hopper of weighting equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To confirm whether a weighing hopper malfunctions or not by detecting the weight of the weighing hopper again a certain time after an operation command signal is outputted after previous weight detection. CONSTITUTION:An arithmetic control part (f) opens and closes a pool hopper a1 to throw a body to be weighed in the weighing hopper. The control part (f) switches a multiplexer (d) with the synchronizing signal of a packer (k) and weight values w1-wn are A/D-converted and stored in a memory (g) successively. Combinational arithmetic operation (f) is performed according to a specific pattern of the weight values w1-wn to select the best combination among combinations which are larger target weight (i) and smaller upper limit weight. When the selected weighing hopper b2 is opened, a pool hopper timer and a check timer are actuated to detect weight values of respective weighing hoppers a set time Tc later and also makes a display (j) of them; and an abnormal weighing hopper is displayed and the equipment is stopped. Consequently, weighed articles are sent to the packer without oversupply nor undersupply and the reliability is prevented from deteriorating.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a malfunction check device for a weighing hopper in a weighing device such as a combination weighing device or a combination counting device.

(Prior art) In recent years, in the distribution industry, etc., devices have been put into practical use that weigh and package items to be weighed using a combination weighing device or combination counting device and a packaging machine placed close to the device. ing.

FIG. 5 is an example of such a device. In the figure, a dispersion table 4 is attached to an upper frame 2 disposed above a frame 1 at a position corresponding to a loading port for articles to be weighed (not shown) together with an electromagnetic vibration device 3.

The articles to be weighed are distributed by a distribution table and fed to a feeder 5.
The water is supplied to a number of pool hoppers 7 arranged radially through a trough 6 driven by a trough 6 . When the motor 11 is started, the drive device 10 is operated and the boule hopper is opened by the link mechanism 10a, and the article is thrown into the weighing hopper 9. The weight of the article is measured by a weight detector 8 such as a load cell, and this weight is combined and calculated by an arithmetic control section (not shown) to select a weighing machine that provides the optimum combination for the target weight. After that, the drive device operates again and link mechanism 1
A side gate 9a or B of the weighing hopper by 0b and 10c
Open the side gate 9b and open the A side shoe of the discharge chute 12)
12a or the B-side chute 12b. The articles discharged from the chute are transferred to a packaging machine. In addition, in the example shown in the figure, two discharge chutes are used and two packaging machines linked to these are installed, but if one discharge chute is used,
There is also a system in which one packaging machine is arranged in conjunction with the packaging machine.

(Problems with the prior art) When an article that has been weighed (counted) and discharged by a weighing device such as a combination weighing device or a combination counting device is packaged by a packaging machine and then weighed again to check the weight, the weight is In some cases, the weight was less than the target weight. When we investigated the cause of this problem, we found that the weight was detected accurately by the weighing device such as the combination weighing (counting) device, and the combination calculations were also performed accurately. The shortfall was found to be approximately the weight of the article being weighed in one weighing hopper. Therefore, the reason for -7 is that the weighing hopper of one of the weighing machines selected for the discharge combination does not open and closes even though the weighing hopper open command signal is input. It turns out that there is a high possibility that

Unless such malfunctions occur repeatedly in the same weighing hopper, the probability that the operator will be able to discover the malfunctioning weighing hopper is extremely low, and it is impossible to discover which weighing hopper is malfunctioning. there were. However, if such a situation is left unaddressed, articles with insufficient weight will be discharged, resulting in a decline in trust and reliability. (Objective of the Invention) An object of the present invention is to After measuring the weight, when a certain period of time has elapsed since the operation command signal was output to the weighing hopper, the weight of the weighing hopper is detected again to prevent malfunction of the weighing hopper in a weighing device such as a combination weighing device or a combination counting device. The aim is to check the weight of the goods and transfer the weighed goods to the packaging machine without excess or deficiency, thereby preventing a decline in credibility.

(Summary of the Invention) A malfunction check device for a weighing hopper in a weighing device of the present invention detects the weight of an article in a weighing hopper, and opens a gate of the weighing hopper in response to an operation command signal to discharge the article. After the weight is detected, the weight of the weighing hopper is detected again after a certain period of time has elapsed since the operation command signal was output, thereby checking whether or not the weighing hopper has malfunctioned. Its embodiments are as follows: 6 (1) The weighing device is an automatic weighing machine in which the article is fed into a weighing hopper until it reaches a target weight.

(2) The weighing device calculates a combination of the weights of the articles to be weighed in each weighing hopper, selects the weighing machine that provides the optimal combination for the target weight, and discharges the articles from the weighing hopper of the weighing machine. A combination weighing device or a weighing machine that converts the weight of the articles to be weighed in each weighing hopper into the number of pieces and calculates the combination, selects a weighing machine that provides the optimal combination for the target number, and then weighs the articles from the weighing hopper of the weighing machine. It is a combination counting device that discharges .

(3) In (2) above, check whether the weighing hopper of the weighing machine selected for discharge is open.

(4) In (2) above, check whether the weighing hopper of the weighing machine not selected for discharge is closed.

(5) In the above (2), the weighing machines selected for discharge are checked to have their weighing hoppers open, and the weighing machines not selected for discharge are checked to have their weighing hoppers closed.

(Example) Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the principle of the present invention. The solid line in the figure shows the characteristics when the weighing hopper is opened and closed, and the articles are discharged and weighed from the pool hopper. When the command signal to open the weighing hopper is output, the output of the weight detector gradually decreases. When the weight becomes zero, the weight in the negative direction is further detected, the weight of the article to be thrown in is detected by the output of the pool hopper open command signal, the weight in the positive direction is detected again, and the weight value of this article becomes stable. This weight in the negative direction is detected because a force acts in the direction of lifting the weighing hopper when the weighing hopper is opened. This is also expressed in the characteristics of

The present invention uses the output characteristics of the weight detector when opening and closing the weighing hopper, and the time Tp from the output of the command signal to open the weighing hopper to the output of the command signal to open the pool hopper.
(setting time of the pool hopper timer) and check time Tc (
By setting the check timer (check timer setting time) and detecting the weight of the weighing hopper again after a certain period of time Tc has elapsed,
This is to check malfunction of the weighing hopper. Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram of the apparatus of the present invention. In the figure,
Each of the plurality of weighing machines is provided with a pool hopper al, a weighing hopper bl, and a weight detector C. Arithmetic control section f
is composed of a microcomputer or the like, and sends a drive signal to the pool hopper opening/closing section a2 to throw the article to be weighed into the weighing hopper. When the timing signal from the packaging fik is input, a switching signal is sent from the calculation control unit to the multiplexer d, and the weights W1 to Wn are sequentially converted into digital values by the A/D converter e and input to the calculation control unit. , is stored in the weight memory area of memory g. The calculation control unit has a weight W1~
A combination calculation is performed in a predetermined pattern using Wn, and a combination equal to the target weight is selected from among the combinations that are equal to or greater than the target weight set in the target weight setting part i and less than or equal to the upper limit weight set in the upper limit weight setting part. or an optimal combination close to it is selected as the discharge combination. A drive signal for an opening command is output from the arithmetic control section to the weighing hopper opening/closing section b2 of the weighing machine selected for the discharge combination. At the same time, the pool hopper timer and check timer start measuring time by decrementing the timer time stored in the memory at regular intervals, and after the set time TC (check timer) has elapsed, the weight of each weighing hopper is detected again, and an abnormality is detected. A certain weighing hopper is displayed on the display section j, and the drive of the device is stopped.

In addition, the weight etc. are also displayed on the display section.

FIG. 2 describes a flowchart illustrating the processing procedure of the present invention.

(1) Check the presence or absence of a timing signal from the packaging machine, and if there is a timing signal (step Al),
W sequentially from each weight detector (LC) using a load cell etc.
Input l-Wn and store it in the weight memory (Step A
2) Next, a combination calculation is performed using the weights W1-Wn, and an optimal combination of the target weight or more and the upper limit weight or less that is equal to or close to the target weight is determined as the discharge combination PI-1 (Step A3). If the emission combination PM is found (
Step A4) Output an open command signal to the weighing hopper opening/closing part b2 of the metering machine corresponding to the discharge combination (Step A4).
5).

(2) Next, the set times Tc and Tp of each timer are stored in the check timer memory and pool hopper timer memory.
is stored (step As). Once the timer period is stored, the value in the timer memory is decremented at regular intervals, for example every 1 ms, by interrupt processing. Subsequently, 0 in the pool hopper timer memory (step A7) and 0 in the check timer memory are checked (step A). If the check timer memory is 0, the next part (a) is performed.

(3) Input Wt"Wn from each weight detector in sequence again and store it in the IT memory (Step A9). Next, index i is set to 1 (Step Al0), and the weight Wi is the discharge combination determined in Step A3. Step A11) to check whether it is included in the PM, and if it is not included, set index i to i+1 to check whether the weights of all n weighing machines are included in the discharge combination. , this calculation process is repeated (step A151A14).When the weight Wi is the discharge combination P
If included in n (step A+t), weight i W
Check whether the condition i < O is satisfied (step A12), and if the weight Wi≧0, display a malfunction and display the weighing machine number (i) (step Al5), and stop the apparatus. In other words, when the weight of the weighing hopper is checked again, the article should be ejected and a force should be applied to the weight detector in the negative direction as shown in Figure 6, but if the article remains in the weighing hopper. Since force is applied in the positive direction, malfunction of the weighing hopper can be confirmed.

When the check on all the n units Ma is completed, the process proceeds to the next step.

(4) Following the process of (-a), confirm O in the pool hopper timer memory (step A1), and output an open command signal to the pool hopper opening/closing part a2 of the weighing machine corresponding to the opening of the weighing hopper. (Step A19) (5) When the pool hopper timer memory becomes 0 and time-up is confirmed in step A7, an open command signal is output to the pool hopper opening/closing part a2 of the weighing machine corresponding to the weighing hopper opening ( Step A16). Next, check the O in the check timer memory in steps A17) and (A).
Process.

Finally, a start signal is output to the radiation feeder of the weighing machine corresponding to the opening of the pool hopper, and the article to be weighed is thrown into the pool hopper (step A2°), and the process returns to the beginning.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, when the weighing hopper of a weighing machine that is not included in the discharge combination explained in the first embodiment opens and discharges an article, a malfunction of the weighing hopper is displayed and the device is stopped. It is something that makes you That is, in the process of (a)' corresponding to (a) of the second flowchart, if the weight lWi is not included in the discharge combination PM, the condition of weight 4% Wi > O is checked in step AH2'). , Wi≦0, it means that there is no article in the weighing hopper, and therefore a malfunction is displayed. Note that other processing steps are the same as those in the first embodiment, so the same processing numbers are given.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is configured to check for malfunctions in both the first and second embodiments. In other words, when the weight Wi of the weighing hopper not included in the discharge combination does not satisfy the condition W t > O, and when the weight Wi of the weighing hopper included in the discharge combination does not satisfy the condition Wi 0, malfunction may occur. Display and stop the device. The processing of (a)″ in Figure 4 is as follows:
This is a combination of the processing in FIG. 2 (a) and FIG. 3 (b)', and the processing steps are numbered the same.

In addition, in the first, second, and third embodiments, (a), (
Step A, 2 (*2)
The weighing machine number i is memorized each time the conditions of step A12' (Thu 3) are not satisfied, and step AI! After processing all n weighing machines in step 5,
It is also possible to configure the system to display a malfunctioning weighing machine number.

That is, in this case, malfunctions of two or more weighing machines can be displayed.

In addition to the above explanation, malfunction of the weighing hopper of the present invention can also be checked as follows.

[1] When an opening/closing mechanism is used that applies force in the direction of lifting the gate when opening/closing the weighing hopper.

(a) ■ If discharge combination is selected, the weighing hopper is considered open if (weight of step As (*4)) (constant weight).

■If the discharge combination is not selected, (Step A9
(*4) weight) 〉(constant weight), the weighing hopper is considered to remain closed.

(b) When the discharge combination is selected, the weighing hopper is considered open if (weight of step Ag (*4)) - (weight of step A2 (wood 1) - predetermined weight).

■If the discharge combination is not selected, (step As
(weight of tree 4) > (weight of step A2 (*1) - predetermined weight), the weighing hopper is considered to remain closed.

[11] When an opening/closing mechanism is used that applies downward force to the gate when opening/closing the weighing hopper.

(a) When the discharge combination is selected, the weighing hopper is considered open if (weight of step A9 (tree 4)) > (constant weight).

■If the discharge combination is not selected, (Step A9
(*4) weight) If it is (constant weight), the weighing hopper is considered to remain closed.

(b) If the discharge combination is selected, the weighing hopper is considered open if (weight of step As C tree 4) > (predetermined weight of weight element of step A2 (tree 1)).

■If the discharge combination is not selected, (Step A9
(Weight of *4)) (Predetermined weight of weight element in Step A2 (Thursday 1)), the weighing hopper is considered to remain closed.

[Method of checking regardless of the direction of the force applied to the gate when opening and closing the ml measuring hopper.

■If the discharge combination is selected, the weight of step As (tree 4) is [step A2
(*1) If the weight is outside the specified weight, the weighing hopper is considered open.

■If the discharge combination is not selected, step A9
If the weight of (tree 4) is within the [predetermined weight in relation to the weight of step A2 (tree 1)], the weighing hopper is considered to remain closed.

What has been described above is the malfunction check of the weighing hopper in the combination weighing device, but the malfunction check of the weighing hopper in the combination counting device can also be checked in the same way. In other words, the combination counting device inputs the weight of the article weighed in the weighing hopper of each weighing machine to the arithmetic and control unit, and the arithmetic and control unit divides the weight by the weight per unit number (unit weight) and converts it into the number of pieces. Then, perform a combination calculation to find the number of combinations. The optimal discharge combination for the target number is determined from among the combined numbers, and the articles are discharged from the weighing hopper of the corresponding weighing machine. Therefore, since the process can be performed in substantially the same manner as in the case of the combination weighing device, explanations of block diagrams and flowcharts will be omitted, but malfunctions of the weighing hopper can be checked in the same manner as in the case of the combination weighing device. Furthermore, malfunction of the weighing hopper can also be checked in an automatic weighing device that supplies articles to the weighing hopper until the target weight is reached.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, in the present invention, in a weighing device such as a combination weighing device or a combination counting device, after the weight of the article is measured by the weighing hopper, an operation command signal is output to the weighing hopper. By detecting the weight of the weighing hopper again after a certain period of time has elapsed, malfunctions of the weighing hopper can be reliably detected, and the weighed articles can be transferred to the packaging machine without too much or too little, thereby preventing a decline in trust and reliability. The advantage is that it can be prevented from occurring.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of the present invention, Figures 2 to 4 are flowcharts, Figure 5 is a configuration diagram of gate drive and opening/closing of the weighing hopper, and Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram of the principle of the present invention. be. al... Pool hopper, a2... Pool hopper opening/closing part, b]... Weighing hopper, b2... Weighing hopper opening/closing part, C... Weight detector, d... Multiplexer, e
...A/D converter, f...Calculation control section, g...Memory, h...Upper limit weight setting section, i...Target weight setting section, j...Display section, k. ...Wrapping machine. Patent applicant Calbee Co., Ltd. and one other representative Patent attorney Makoto Tsuji

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) In a weighing device that detects the weight of an article in a weighing hopper and discharges the article using the gate of the weighing hopper in response to an operation command signal, after a certain period of time has elapsed after the weight is detected and the operation command signal is output. A malfunction checking device for a weighing hopper in a weighing device, characterized in that it checks whether the weighing hopper has malfunctioned by re-detecting the weight of the weighing hopper. (2) Malfunction of the weighing hopper in the weighing device according to claim (1), characterized in that the weighing device is an automatic weighing machine that supplies the article to the weighing hopper until it reaches a target weight. Check device. (3) The weighing device calculates a combination of the weights of the articles to be weighed in each weighing hopper, selects the weighing machine that is the optimal combination for the target weight, and discharges the article from the weighing hopper of the weighing machine. The weight of the articles to be weighed by the weighing device or each weighing hopper is converted into the number of pieces, a combination calculation is performed, the weighing machine that provides the optimal combination for the target number of pieces is selected, and the articles are weighed from the weighing hopper of the weighing machine. A malfunction checking device for a weighing hopper in a weighing device according to claim 1, which is a combination counting device for discharging. (4) A malfunction checking device for a weighing hopper in a weighing device according to claim (3), characterized in that the weighing hopper of the weighing machine selected for discharging is checked for opening. (5) Claim No. 3, characterized in that the measuring hopper of the weighing machine that is not selected for discharge is checked for closure.
) A malfunction check device for the weighing hopper in the weighing device described in item 2. (6) According to claim (3), a weighing machine selected for discharging is checked for opening of the weighing hopper, and a weighing machine not selected for discharging is checked for closing the weighing hopper. A malfunction check device for a weighing hopper in the described weighing device.