KR20230103471A - System for sorting and aligning spoon/fork and method for sorting and aligning spoon/fork - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a system for sorting and aligning spoons and forks, which sorts and aligns input spoons and forks in different trays, and a spoon/fork sorting and aligning process using the same. According to the present invention, the system comprises: a main body unit; an input unit installed in the main body unit and into which cleaned spoons and forks are input; a moving unit installed in the main body unit to be connected to the input unit and move the spoons and forks input from the input unit along one or more ascending and descending paths so that the spoons and the forks are separated and moved to form gaps; a posture alignment inducing unit installed in the main body unit and sequentially aligning the separated and moved spoons and forks to face a predetermined direction; a sorting unit installed in the main body unit and separating the spoons and forks whose postures are aligned to move along different movement paths; an alignment unit installed in the main body unit and aligning the spoons and forks moving along the different movement paths to achieve a set reference posture; and a loading unit installed in the main body unit and loading the aligned spoons and forks onto different trays.

Description

Spoon and fork sorting and aligning system and spoon and fork sorting and aligning process using the same {System for sorting and aligning spoon/fork and method for sorting and aligning spoon/fork}

The present invention relates to a cutlery and fork sorting and sorting system, and more particularly, to a cutlery and fork sorting and sorting system capable of arranging and discharging cutlery and forks in a set aligned state after sorting them, and spoons and forks using the same It relates to the screening and sorting process.

In general, current cutlery washing methods are all dependent on manual work.

Due to the unique structure of the spoon, there are many difficulties in washing, so it is not washed immediately after eating, but collected and washed, leading to a situation in which the floating matter dries out, and as a result, it must be soaked in boiling water and washed.

Therefore, there is a problem in that a large amount of time, manpower, and energy are required to wash a large number of cutlery.

In order to solve this problem, conventionally, an inlet for spoon and chopsticks is formed at the front of the top of the main body, and a device that simultaneously cleans the spoon and chopsticks using a washing machine that forms a switching unit that can turn on / off power is used in the upper part of the main body to automatically wash the spoon and chopsticks. washing was carried out.

However, after washing, cutlery, chopsticks or forks are stored in a separate container, and the operator manually wipes the water, and after the alignment work is completed, they are stored in a separate storage container, so only washing is performed automatically. There is a problem in that a waste of manpower and time required to align spoons, chopsticks, and forks remains as it is.

As such, since the amount of spoons and forks used in large-scale restaurants or school meals constitutes a certain large number, reduction of work time according to classification and sorting is required.

In addition, when the cutlery is washed without being aligned during washing, the washing water inevitably achieves uneven washing power on the surface of the spoon having an uneven posture. Therefore, when the cutlery or the like is washed in this way, foreign substances remain in a part, causing a problem of cleanliness.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2011-0069682 (published on June 23, 2011)

In order to solve the above problem, the present invention is a spoon and fork sorting and sorting system capable of sorting and discharging the spoons and forks after inputting them to be accommodated in each tray, and spoons and forks using the same It aims to provide a fork sorting and sorting process.

In addition, the present invention is a spoon and fork sorting and sorting system capable of additionally aligning spoons or forks input through a tray of spoons and forks that have been sorted and sorted to maintain a constant posture so that they are discharged to a final tray, and using the same Another object is to provide a cutlery and fork sorting and sorting process.

The objects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned objects, and other objects and advantages of the present invention not mentioned above can be understood by the following description and will be more clearly understood by the examples of the present invention. It will also be readily apparent that the objects and advantages of the present invention may be realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations indicated in the claims.

In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a spoon and fork sorting and sorting system.

The cutlery and fork sorting and sorting system includes a main body; an input unit installed in the main body and into which washed spoons and forks are input; a moving unit installed in the main body to be connected to the input unit and separating and moving the cutlery and forks introduced from the input unit along one or more ascending and descending paths to form a gap; a posture alignment induction unit installed in the main body and aligning the postures of the separated and moved spoons and forks sequentially to face in a certain direction; a sorting unit installed in the main body and separating the cutlery and forks to be moved along different moving paths; an aligning unit installed in the main body and aligning the spoons and forks moving along the different moving paths to form a set reference posture; and a loading unit installed in the main body and loading the aligned cutlery and forks on another tray.

Here, the moving part,

It is preferable to form at least one path for washing and moving water remaining in the cutlery and forks inputted through the input unit using air.

And the moving part,

The spoons and forks are sequentially moved upward along an inclined path inclined at a certain angle so as to be separated from each other,

It is preferable to move along a falling path toward the posture alignment inducing unit.

In addition, the posture alignment moving unit,

A partition member disposed at a lower end of the drop path and partitioning a first passage section and a second passage section;

a moving conveyor device disposed under the partition member and moving cutlery and forks, which are aligned and seated through first and second passage sections, toward the sorting unit;

It is preferable to include a second guide plate disposed on an outer side of the partition member and guiding the falling spoons and forks to enter the first and second passage sections.

In addition, the selection unit,

a first sorting unit that selects the cutlery by taking an image of the cutlery;

It is preferable to include a second sorting unit that selects the forks by taking images of the cutlery.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a cutlery and fork sorting and sorting process using the above-described cutlery and fork sorting and sorting system.

The cutlery and fork sorting and arranging process includes an inputting step of inserting washed spoons and forks using an inputting unit installed in the main body;

moving the cutlery and forks introduced from the input unit along one or more ascending and descending paths using a moving unit installed in the main body to be connected to the input unit and moving them separately to form a gap;

a posture alignment inducing step of aligning the postures of the separated and moved spoons and forks sequentially in a certain direction by using a posture alignment inducing unit installed in the main body;

a sorting step of separating the cutlery and forks, whose postures are aligned, to be moved along different moving paths by using a sorting unit installed in the main body;

an aligning step of aligning the spoons and forks moving along the different moving paths to achieve a set reference posture using an aligning unit installed in the main body; and,

and a loading step of loading the aligned cutlery and forks onto another tray using a loading unit installed in the main body.

According to the above object, the present invention has an effect of selecting and discharging the spoons and forks after inputting the spoons and forks to be accommodated in each tray.

In addition, the present invention has an effect of discharging to the final tray by additionally aligning the spoons and forks inputted through the tray of the spoons and forks that have been sorted to maintain a constant posture.

In addition to the effects described above, specific effects of the present invention will be described together while explaining specific details for carrying out the present invention.

1 is a view showing a spoon and fork sorting and sorting system of the present invention.
2 is a view showing an example of a first moving unit according to the present invention.
3 is a diagram showing a movement path between a first moving unit and a second moving unit according to the present invention.
4 is a diagram showing a movement path between a second moving unit and a third moving unit according to the present invention.
5 is a diagram showing a movement path between a third moving unit and a fourth moving unit according to the present invention.
6 is a view showing a process of sorting spoons and forks according to the present invention.
7 is a view showing the configuration of a process device in which the selected spoons and forks are loaded.

The above objects, features and advantages will be described later in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and accordingly, those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs will be able to easily implement the technical spirit of the present invention. In describing the present invention, if it is determined that the detailed description of the known technology related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted. Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar components.

Hereinafter, the arrangement of an arbitrary element on the "upper (or lower)" or "upper (or lower)" of a component means that an arbitrary element is placed in contact with the upper (or lower) surface of the component. In addition, it may mean that other components may be interposed between the component and any component disposed on (or under) the component.

In addition, when a component is described as "connected", "coupled" or "connected" to another component, the components may be directly connected or connected to each other, but other components may be "interposed" between each component. ", or each component may be "connected", "coupled" or "connected" through other components.

Hereinafter, a spoon and fork sorting and aligning system and a spoon and fork sorting and aligning method using the same according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a view showing a spoon and fork sorting and sorting system of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 , the cutlery and fork sorting and aligning system of the present invention includes a body part, an input part, a moving part, a posture alignment inducing part, an aligning part, and a loading part.

Let's explain the above configurations.

The input unit 200 and input steps will be described.

An input unit 200 is disposed on one side of the body unit 100 according to the present invention.

The input unit 200 is provided with a hopper 210 into which cutlery and forks are put. The hopper 210 includes a dust collector 220 .

The dust collector 220 can electrically collect particles such as dust included in the gas present in the hopper 210 so that cutlery and forks to be introduced can be put into the spoons and forks without being dusty. The dust collector 220 may include a tube (not shown) connected to the suction holes 221 formed in the hopper 210 and an intake 222 connected to the tube. The inhaler may be driven by control of the controller 900. In the present invention, the dust collector 220 may use an electrical dust collector in addition to the above configuration. Foreign substances and dust that may float inside the hopper 210 may be collected by the suction force formed through the suction holes 221 . The control unit 800 may variably control the suction force through the inhaler 222 in real time in proportion to the number of cutlery introduced into the hopper 210 at a predetermined ratio. At this time, the controller 900 may obtain information on the number of cutlery through a sensor (not shown) that measures the number of cutlery to be inserted in advance.

The moving unit 300 and moving steps will be described.

2 is a view showing an example of a first moving unit according to the present invention.

Referring to Figure 2,

The moving unit 300 according to the present invention may form one or more paths for cleaning and moving water remaining in the spoons and forks inputted through the input unit 200 using air.

The moving unit 300 has a first moving unit 310 connected to the input unit 200 . The first moving part 310 has a first moving belt 311 and air blowers 312 . A first driving roller 311a is connected to both ends of the first moving belt 311, and the first driving roller 311a is rotated under the control of the first driver 311b. Accordingly, the first moving belt 311 is moved to move the cutlery.

The air blower 312 is installed on a plurality of upper parts or a plurality of side parts of the first moving belt 311 to blow a certain amount of pressure air.

Cutlery, which is cutlery and forks, that are put into and moved are moved through air injection, and moisture or foreign matter remaining on the outer surface can be removed.

An auxiliary hopper 313 is disposed below the end of the first moving part 310 .

The spoons and forks moved through the first moving unit 310 fall into the auxiliary hopper 313 .

A sliding member 314 is disposed between the first moving part 310 and the auxiliary hopper 313 . The sliding member 314 forms a certain downward slope.

The cutlery and forks moved through the first moving belt 311 through the sliding member 314 are moved to the auxiliary hopper 313 .

At this time, a plurality of long holes 314a are formed in the sliding member 314 along the longitudinal direction. Residual water remaining on the spoon and forks moving downward through the long holes 314a may be discharged downward while moving.

Although not shown in the drawing, the front end of the sliding member may be connected to the main body by a hinge, and the other end may be hingedly connected to the upper end of the shaft of the lifting cylinder. The control unit may control the moving speed of the cutlery by adjusting the inclination of the sliding moving member as the shaft is raised and lowered using the lifting cylinder.

3 is a diagram showing a movement path between a first moving unit and a second moving unit according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3 , on the other hand, the second moving part 320 is disposed under the auxiliary hopper 314 .

The second moving unit 320 may have substantially the same configuration as the first moving unit 310 . The second moving unit 320 includes a second moving belt 321 and second air blowers 322 . However, the movement direction of the spoon and forks of the second movable unit 320 may be set in a direction different from that of the first movable unit 310 .

The second movable unit 320 moves cutlery and forks that are put in and dropped through the auxiliary hopper 314 to the end of the third movable unit 330 along the Z-axis direction.

Here, the second moving unit 320 may include second air blowers 320 identical to the air blowers provided in the first moving unit 310 .

Accordingly, air is sprayed at a constant pressure through the second air blowers 320, which are air spraying devices, to move the spoons and forks, and additionally forcibly remove remaining water and dust.

4 is a diagram showing a movement path between a second moving unit and a third moving unit according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4 , cutlery and forks moved through the second moving unit 320 are moved to the third moving unit 330 .

The third movable unit 330 is provided with a movable plate 331 that moves along an upwardly inclined path.

The moving plate 331 is formed of a material capable of bending. The moving plate 310 is formed with spaced holding plates 331a. The moving plate 331 may also be moved through the same method as the moving method of the first and second moving belts 311 and 321 described above.

Guide plates 332 are disposed on both sides of the moving plate 331 . Accordingly, a predetermined space is formed between the holding plates 331a.

The moving plate 331 is driven so as to be tilted by the driving of the moving device 333 .

When the spoons and forks that have passed through the second moving part 320 fall on the moving plate 331 in a state in which the moving plate 331 is repeatedly moved along the inclined path continuously, the holding plates 331a ) The cutlery and forks temporarily accommodated in between may be moved along the inclined path while being caught by one or two of the holding plates 331a and moving upward.

A guide plate 333 inclined downward is disposed on the upper end of the third moving part 330 .

The cutlery or fork caught on each of the holding plates 331a and moved along the inclined path falls along the guide plate 333 from the upper end of the second movable part 320, and the fourth movable part 340 disposed below it fall down to

5 is a diagram showing a movement path between a third moving unit and a fourth moving unit according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5 , the fourth movable unit 340 according to the present invention is a device including a conveyor belt 341 and is moved along a different direction to form an inclined path.

The fourth movable part 340 includes a moving conveyor belt 341 . A slip-preventing pattern is formed on the outer surface of the conveyor belt 341 and is made of a material such as rubber. The conveyor belt 341 may be driven in the same way as the first, second and third moving parts 310, 320 and 330.

Accordingly, cutlery and forks falling through the guide plate 333 fall onto the conveyor belt 341 of the fourth movable unit 340 at a time interval according to the interval of the holding plate 331a.

The cutlery and forks dropped onto the conveyor belt 341 of the fourth moving unit 340 are moved upward along the moving conveyor belt 341 .

The cutlery and forks moved to the upper end of the conveyor belt 341 are supplied to the posture alignment inducing unit 400 through the second guide plate 343 disposed inclined downward.

That is, the second guide plate 343 forms a drop path for spoons and forks.

The posture alignment inducing unit 400 and the posture alignment inducing step will be described.

The posture alignment guide unit 400 according to the present invention is installed on the main body unit 100 and aligns the postures of spoons and forks that are separated and moved sequentially toward a certain direction.

The posture aligning moving unit 400 is disposed at the lower end of the drop path, and includes a partition member 430 that partitions the first cylinder 410 and the second cylinder 420 and the section, and a lower portion of the partition member. The moving conveyor device 440, which is disposed in the first and second cylinders 410 and 420 and moves the cutlery and forks, which are aligned and seated through the section, toward the sorting unit 500, and the partition member 430 ), and the falling cutlery and forks can be guided to enter the first and second cylinders 410 and 420 and the section by the second guide plate 343.

Through this, the spoons and forks are arranged side by side along the Z-axis direction on the conveyor 441 of the moving conveyor device 440 through the partition member 430 disposed between the first and second barrels 410 and 420. It falls in a state of being primarily aligned, and is moved toward the sorting unit through the movement of the conveyor 441.

6 is a view showing a process of sorting spoons and forks according to the present invention. 7 is a view showing the configuration of a process device in which the selected spoons and forks are loaded.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the selection, sorting, and stacking processes will be described.

The selection unit 500 according to the present invention is installed on the main body unit 100 and separates the spoons 1 and forks 2, which are aligned, to move along the same movement path.

The sorting unit 500 has a first sorting part 510 and a second sorting part 520 .

The first sorting unit 510 and the second sorting unit 520 are disposed at intervals along the moving path of the conveyor 441 . The first sorting unit 510 is disposed at the first position P1 and the second sorting unit 520 is disposed at the second position P2.

The first sorting unit 510 and the second sorting unit 520 have substantially the same configuration.

The first sorting unit 510 includes a first imaging device 511 and a first orthogonal robot 512 . The first imaging device 511 acquires and discriminates an image of the cutlery 1 being moved on the conveyor 441 .

Singgi's first orthogonal robot 512 has a first clamp and members capable of rotation, elevation, and horizontal movement. The controller 900 clamps only the cutlery 1 determined by the first imaging device 511 using the first clamp of the first orthogonal robot.

In addition, the second sorting unit 520 includes a second imaging device 521 and a second orthogonal robot 522 . The second imaging device 521 acquires and discriminates an image of the fork 2 moving on the conveyor 441 .

The Singgi second orthogonal robot 522 has a second clamp and members capable of rotation, elevation, and horizontal movement. The controller 900 clamps only the fork 2 determined by the second imaging device 521 using the second clamp of the second orthogonal robot 522 .

Subsequently, the first sorting unit according to the present invention may align and seat the cutlery picked up by the first clamp in the first alignment unit.

In addition, the second sorting unit according to the present invention may align and seat the fork picked up by the second clamp in the second alignment unit.

loading part

The loading unit according to the present invention includes a first loading device and a second loading device.

The first loading device is installed in the main body and sequentially loads the first alignment trays of the first alignment unit on which the cutlery to be aligned is loaded into the first stacking unit.

Also, the second loading device is installed in the main body, and may sequentially load the second arranging trays of the second arranging unit on which the cutlery to be aligned is loaded into the second loading unit.

According to the configuration and operation described above, the present invention has the effect of selecting and discharging the spoons and forks after inserting the spoons and forks to be accommodated in each tray.

In addition, according to the present invention, the spoons and forks input through the tray of the spoons and forks that have been sorted may be additionally aligned to maintain a constant posture so as to be discharged to the final tray.

Since the above-described present invention is capable of various substitutions, modifications, and changes without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention to those skilled in the art in the technical field to which the present invention belongs, the above-described embodiments and accompanying drawings is not limited by

100: body part
200: input unit
210: Hopper
220: dust collector
300: moving part
310: first moving unit
400: posture alignment induction unit
500: sorting unit
510: first sorting unit
520: second sorting unit
900: control unit

Claims (10)

body part;
an input unit installed in the main body and into which washed spoons and forks are input;
a moving unit installed in the main body to be connected to the input unit and separating and moving the cutlery and forks introduced from the input unit along one or more ascending and descending paths to form a gap;
a posture alignment induction unit installed in the main body and aligning the postures of the separated and moved spoons and forks sequentially to face in a certain direction;
a sorting unit installed in the main body and separating the cutlery and forks to be moved along different moving paths;
an aligning unit installed in the main body and aligning the spoons and forks moving along the different moving paths to form a set reference posture; and,
The cutlery and fork sorting and sorting system, characterized in that it includes a loading part installed in the main body and loading the sorted cutlery and forks to another tray.
According to claim 1,
The moving part,
The spoon and fork sorting and sorting system, characterized in that one or more paths are formed to clean and move water remaining in the spoons and forks introduced through the input unit using air.
According to claim 1,
The moving part,
The spoons and forks are sequentially moved upward along an inclined path inclined at a certain angle so as to be separated from each other,
The cutlery and fork sorting and aligning system, characterized in that moving along the fall path toward the posture alignment inducing unit.
According to claim 3,
The posture alignment moving unit,
A partition member disposed at a lower end of the drop path and partitioning a first passage section and a second passage section;
a moving conveyor device disposed under the partition member and moving cutlery and forks, which are aligned and seated through first and second passage sections, toward the sorting unit;
The cutlery and fork sorting and sorting system, characterized in that, a second guide plate disposed on an outer side of the partition member and guiding the falling cutlery and forks to enter the first and second passage sections.
According to claim 4,
The selection unit,
a first sorting unit that selects the cutlery by taking an image of the cutlery;
A spoon and fork sorting and sorting system comprising a second sorting unit for sorting the forks by taking images of the cutlery.
an inputting step in which washed cutlery and forks are inputted using an inputting unit installed in the main body;
moving the cutlery and forks introduced from the input unit along one or more ascending and descending paths using a moving unit installed in the main body to be connected to the input unit and moving them separately to form a gap;
a posture alignment inducing step of aligning the postures of the separated and moved spoons and forks sequentially in a certain direction by using a posture alignment inducing unit installed in the main body;
a sorting step of separating the cutlery and forks, whose postures are aligned, to be moved along different moving paths by using a sorting unit installed in the main body;
an aligning step of aligning the spoons and forks moving along the different moving paths to achieve a set reference posture using an aligning unit installed in the main body; and,
and a loading step of loading the aligned cutlery and forks onto another tray using a loading unit installed in the main body.
According to claim 6,
The moving part,
The cutlery and fork sorting and sorting process, characterized in that forming one or more paths for washing and moving water remaining in the spoons and forks input through the input unit using air.
According to claim 6,
The moving part,
The spoons and forks are sequentially moved upward along an inclined path inclined at a certain angle so as to be separated from each other,
The spoon and fork sorting and aligning process, characterized in that moving along the fall path toward the posture alignment inducing unit.
According to claim 8,
The posture alignment moving unit,
A partition member disposed at a lower end of the drop path and partitioning a first passage section and a second passage section;
a moving conveyor device disposed under the partition member and moving cutlery and forks, which are aligned and seated through first and second passage sections, toward the sorting unit;
and a second guide plate disposed on an outer side of the partition member and guiding the falling spoons and forks to enter the first and second passage sections.
According to claim 9,
The selection unit,
a first sorting unit that selects the cutlery by taking an image of the cutlery;
A spoon and fork sorting and sorting process, characterized in that a second sorting unit for sorting the forks by taking images of the cutlery.

Images