WO2007063781A1

WO2007063781A1 - Hopper, metering device, and packaging device

Info

Publication number: WO2007063781A1
Application number: PCT/JP2006/323503
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yukio Nakagawa; Hiroshi Hattori; Teruo Hayakawa; Masaya Ogi
Original assignee: Ishida Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2005-12-01
Filing date: 2006-11-24
Publication date: 2007-06-07
Also published as: JPWO2007063781A1

Abstract

[PROBLEMS] To provide a hopper that stores articles received from an upper opening and discharges them from a lower opening, and a metering and a packaging device having the hopper. Such a hopper can arrange in a compact form the articles to be discharged and, simultaneously, can prevent clogging of the articles. [MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS] This hopper receives the articles from the upper opening, stores them in a storage part formed by closing the lower opening by a gate, and downwardly discharges the stored articles by opening the gate. The gate has two gate members of L-shaped cross section rotatively supported so as to face each other. The gate member is characterized in that the L-shaped cross section is formed by a body wall of which lower ends approach each other to form a reverse roof shape when the gate is closed and side walls extending from the one ends to cover the side ends of the body wall facing each other when the gate is closed.

Description

Specification

Hopper, weighing device and packaging device

Technical field

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a hopper that stores articles received with an upper opening force and discharges a lower opening force, and a weighing device and a packaging device including the hopper.

Background art

[0002] When an article weighed to a predetermined weight is dropped and discharged and filled into a bag, the weighed article is stored, and the gate is opened in accordance with the filling operation cycle, whereby the stored article is stored in the bag. A hot bar to supply is provided. After the weighed articles are stored in the hot tub, the gate can be opened at a predetermined timing and dropped and discharged all at once, so that the articles can be continuously filled in a high-speed cycle. Here, if the articles are discharged together in a vertically long manner in the hopper so that the width is smaller than the receiving opening to the bag, the contact resistance between the discharged article and the receiving opening can be suppressed, and the filling speed of the bag can be increased. Enhanced. As shown in Fig. 12, as a method of discharging articles together into a compact in the hopper, a technique is proposed in which the gate member has a tapered beak shape and the horizontal width of the hopper is reduced as it is directed downward. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1.) o In FIG. 12, (a) is a front view of the hot bar, and (b) and (c) are A-A cross section and B view in (a). FIG.

Patent Document 1: JP 2001-527498

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0003] When a gate member having a U-shaped cross section as shown in FIG. 12 is formed into a tapered beak shape as shown in FIG. 12, it falls from a wide upper opening as shown in FIGS. 12 (b) and (c). Even if an article rushes into a narrow part near the tip and gets caught and the gate is fully opened, the article may become jammed and not be discharged. In addition, by collecting the articles vertically in the hopper, the contact resistance between the dropped and discharged articles and the hopper side wall increases, and the high speed of article discharge is impaired. In view of the circumstances, the present invention provides a hopper for storing articles received from the upper opening and discharging them from the lower opening, and a weighing device and a packaging apparatus including the hopper. Provided are a hopper, a weighing device, and a packaging device capable of preventing the clogging of an article while reducing the contact resistance between the dropped article and the side wall of the hopper while collecting the article to be compacted with a hot bar.

Means for solving the problem

[0004] The invention according to claim 1 receives an article from an upper opening, stores the article in a storage section formed by closing the lower opening with a gate, and drops and discharges the stored article by opening the gate. Provided is a hopper characterized by separating opposing side walls from each other when an article is dropped and discharged.

[0005] The invention according to claim 2 receives the article from the upper opening, stores the article in a storage section formed by closing the lower opening with a gate, and drops and discharges the stored article by opening the gate. It is a hot-spot, and the gate is configured to support two L-shaped gate members that rotate in a mutually opposing manner, and the gate members have an inverted roof shape with their lower ends approaching each other when the gate is closed. And a side wall covering the side end of the main body wall that extends from one end of the main body and faces the opposite side when the gate is closed.

[0006] The invention according to claim 3 provides the hopper according to claim 2, wherein when the gate is opened, the inclination angles of the opposing main body walls are different.

[0007] The invention according to claim 4 is provided with a detecting means for detecting the falling length of the article below the lower opening, and the operation speed of the gate member is based on the detection result of the detecting means. 4. The hopper according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the hopper can be changed.

[0008] The invention according to claim 5 receives the article from the upper opening of the cylindrical body, stores the article in a storage section formed by closing the lower opening of the cylindrical body with a gate, and stores the stored article. A hopper that opens and discharges the gate, and the cylindrical body is formed of a plurality of side wall pieces divided in a circumferential direction, and the diameter of the cylindrical body is moved by moving the side wall piece. 2. The hopper according to claim 1, further comprising: a hopper shape changing mechanism that changes the diameter of the cylindrical body when the article is dropped and discharged. [0009] In the invention according to claim 6, the cylindrical body is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and the hopper shape changing mechanism rotates the side wall piece to adjust the diameter of the cylindrical body. 6. The hopper according to claim 5, wherein the hopper is continuously changed concentrically.

[0010] The invention according to claim 7 is provided with detection means for detecting a drop length of the article below the lower opening, and the shape of the cylindrical body is determined based on a detection result of the detection means. The hopper according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the hopper is changeable.

The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that the shape of the cylindrical body can be changed so that the lower opening is accommodated in a receiving opening provided below the lower opening. The hopper according to any one of 5 to 7 is provided.

[0012] The invention according to claim 9 is characterized in that the shape of the tubular body is such that the width of the lower opening is smaller than the receiving opening provided below and the article dropping path that follows the receiving opening. The hopper according to any one of claims 5 to 7 is provided.

[0013] The invention according to claim 10 is characterized in that the shape of the cylindrical body can be changed according to information on the receiving opening and Z or the dropping path. A hopper as described is provided.

[0014] The invention according to claim 11 is formed by discharging an article weighed to a predetermined weight, receiving the article discharged from the weighing section from the upper opening, and closing the lower opening with a gate. 11. A weighing device comprising: a hopper that stores in the storage unit, and that drops and discharges the stored article by opening the gate, wherein the hopper is the hopper according to any one of claims 1 to 10. A weighing device is provided.

[0015] In the invention of claim 12, the article is received from the upper opening, stored in a storage section formed by closing the lower opening with a gate, and the stored article is dropped and discharged by opening the gate. A packaging device comprising a hot bar and a packaging unit that receives the article discharged from the lower opening force and fills and wraps it in a packaging container, wherein the hot bar is any one of claims 1 to 10. There is provided a packaging apparatus characterized by being a hopper.

The invention's effect

[0016] According to the invention of claim 1, the following excellent effects are obtained. Accepted from top opening In the hopper that stores the articles and discharges the lower opening force, when the articles are dropped and discharged, the opposed side walls are separated from each other, so that clogging of the articles between the opposed side walls is prevented and the side walls of the hot tub are prevented. The contact resistance of the article is reduced, and the article discharge speed can be increased.

[0017] According to the invention of claim 2, in addition to the same effects as those of claim 1, the following excellent effects are obtained. Since the gate member is formed in an L-shaped cross section, the article can be clogged like the conventional U-shaped gate member even if the horizontal width of the hot bar is reduced downward. There is no. In addition, even if an article is hardened inside the hopper, the opposite side walls slide in the opposite direction when the gate is opened, and the article hardened inside the hopper is destroyed, so that the article is surely dropped and discharged. Can do.

[0018] According to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 2, the following excellent effect is obtained. Since the inclination angles of the opposing main body walls are different, the behavior of articles falling along each main body wall can be made different so that the horizontal width of the hot bar becomes smaller as it is directed downward. In this way, it is possible to prevent the article from rushing into and clogging the narrow part below.

[0019] According to the invention of claim 4, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 2 or 3, the following excellent effect is obtained. Since the operation speed of the gate is changed based on the result of detecting the falling length of the article, the falling discharge speed of the article can be further increased while operating the apparatus.

[0020] According to the invention of claim 5, in addition to the same effects as in claim 1, the following excellent effects are obtained. Upper opening force of the cylindrical body In the hopper for storing the received articles and discharging the lower opening force, the cylindrical body is formed with side wall pieces divided in the circumferential direction, and the side wall piece is moved to move the cylindrical body A hopper shape changing mechanism is provided to change the diameter of the cylinder, and the diameter of the cylindrical body is enlarged when the product is dropped and discharged, preventing clogging of articles.

[0021] According to the invention of claim 6, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 5, the following excellent effect is obtained. Since the inner cross-sectional shape of the cylindrical body is maintained in a substantially circular shape, the contact area force between the cylindrical body and the article is reduced. As a result, the contact resistance is suppressed, and the falling discharge speed of the article is increased. You can speed up.

[0022] According to the invention of claim 7, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 5 or 6, the following excellent effect is obtained. Since the shape of the cylindrical body is changed based on the result of detecting the falling length of the article, it is possible to further increase the falling discharge speed of the article while operating the apparatus.

[0023] According to the invention of claim 8 or 9, in addition to the effect of the invention of any of claims 5 to 7, the following excellent effect is obtained. The lower opening of the hot bar is made smaller than the receiving opening below it, or the stored articles are held so that the width is smaller than the receiving opening below the hopper and the subsequent article dropping path, so that the articles are packed together. In such a case, the product can be stored in such a manner that the spread of the articles at the time of dropping can be suppressed and defects such as seal stagnation in the lower packaging apparatus can be prevented. Further, if the drop length of the article is shortened, the article can be dropped instantaneously by reducing the contact resistance of the article with respect to the receiving opening.

[0024] According to the invention of claim 10, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 8 or 9, the following excellent effect is obtained. Since the shape of the cylindrical body is changed according to information on the receiving opening and the article dropping path (for example, the diameter, path length, type of received article, etc.), the setup change accompanying the change of the article type, etc. Can be done.

[0025] According to the invention of claim 11 or 12, the same excellent effects as those of the invention of any of claims 1 to 10 can be obtained.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a weighing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention and a packaging device arranged therebelow.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view showing a state in which the gate of the weighing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is closed.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view showing a state in which the gate of the weighing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is opened.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing only the gate member of the weighing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a separated state of the gate member, (b) is a closed gate state, and (c) is a closed state. The figure which shows a gate open state.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view showing only the gate member of the weighing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. (B) and (c) are diagrams corresponding to (b) and (c) of FIG. 4, respectively.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the utility due to different inclination angles of two gate members of the hot bar according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a weighing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cylindrical body constituting a hopper according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a gate constituting a hopper according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view for explaining the operation of the cylindrical body of the hot bar according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a cylindrical body constituting a hopper of a weighing device as a modification of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a problem with a hot bar having a conventional U-shaped gate.

Explanation of symbols

1 Weighing device

2 Weighing unit

3 Hopper

3a Top opening

3b Reservoir

3c Bottom opening

30 Collecting frame

31 gate

32, 33 Gate material

321, 331 wall

322, 332 side wall

4 Gate drive mechanism

5 Packaging equipment

51 Receiving opening

7 Weighing device

8 Hopper 82, 83

8b Reservoir

8c Bottom opening

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(First embodiment of the present invention)

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a part of the weighing device 1 according to the present embodiment and a packaging device disposed below the weighing device 1. 2 and 3 are enlarged front views showing a state where the gate 31 of the hopper 3 constituting the weighing device 1 is closed and a state where the gate 31 is opened. 4A and 4B are perspective views showing only the gate members 32 and 33 in order to make the configuration of the gate 31 easy to be divided. FIG. 4A shows a state in which the gate member is separated, and FIG. 4B shows a state in which the gate is closed. , (C) corresponds to the gate open state. FIG. 5 is a bottom view showing only the gate members 32 and 33, and (b) and (c) correspond to (b) and (c) of FIG. 4, respectively.

[0029] (Weighing device 1)

The weighing device 1 shown in FIG. 1 receives, on a base 11, a weighing unit 2 that discharges an article weighed to a predetermined weight every predetermined time, and an article discharged from the weighing unit 2 from an upper opening 3a. A hopper 3 that stores the stored article in a storage section 3b that is formed by closing the opening 3c with a gate 31 and opens and discharges the stored articles; a gate drive mechanism 4 that opens and closes the gate 31; It is equipped with. As a result, the article is supplied to the receiving opening 51 of the packaging device 5 arranged below the lower opening 3c.

[0030] (Weighing unit 2)

The weighing unit 2 shown in FIG. 1 temporarily disperses individual articles having different weights in a plurality of paths, weighs the dispersed articles, and determines a predetermined target weight based on these measured values. The combination is discharged every predetermined time, and is arranged in a circle so as to correspond to the dispersion table 21, a plurality of vibration troughs 22 arranged radially around the dispersion table 21, and the vibration troughs 22. A plurality of pool hoppers 23 and weighing hoppers 24, and a collecting chute 25 disposed below the weighing hoppers 24.

[0031] The distribution table 21 is a circle on which articles supplied from an article supply device (not shown) are placed. A cone-shaped table body, which is microvibrated by the vibrator 211, disperses the article in a plurality of radially formed paths and drops from the peripheral edge 21a. The vibration trough 22 receives the articles dispersed in a plurality of paths by the dispersion table 21 and vibrates them by the vibrator 221 so as to supply the articles to the pool hopper 23 by a substantially constant amount. The vibration trough 22 is slightly inclined so that the article can be easily moved to the pool hopper 23. The pull hopper 23 temporarily holds the supplied goods, and drops and discharges when the weighing hopper 24 directly below is empty. The weighing hopper 24 measures the weight of the articles with the load cell, and drops and discharges a combination of articles having a predetermined target weight onto the collecting chute 25. The collecting chute 25 collects articles supplied from the weighing hopper 24 in one place and discharges them from the discharge port 25a.

[0032] (Hopper 3)

The hopper 3 temporarily stores the articles supplied from the collecting chute 25, discharges them at a predetermined timing according to the work cycle of the packaging device 5, and supplies them to the packaging container (bag) set in the packaging device 5. It is a hopper and is arranged so that the upper opening 3a faces the discharge port 25a of the collecting chute 25. As shown in FIG. 2, the hopper 3 has a frame 34 including an article collection frame 30 that forms an upper opening 3a, and a gate 31 that forms a tapered beak-shaped storage portion 3b below the article collection frame 30. Be prepared for.

[0033] (Goods collection frame 30)

The article collection frame 30 is a frame formed in a funnel shape, and is fixed to the frame 34 by a mounting bracket 301 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and the narrowed lower end is the upper end of the gate 31. The articles supplied from the collecting chute 25 are further collected and smoothly introduced into the narrow reservoir 3b (FIG. 2). Note that the article collection frame 30 changes the flow of articles falling along each wall surface by varying the inclination angle of the opposing wall surfaces so that the articles supplied from the collecting chute 25 are not clogged in the middle. Is attached.

[0034] (Gate 31)

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the gate 31 is composed of two gate members 32 and 33 provided so as to face each other, and the gate members 32 and 33 are attached to these with bolts. It is supported by the frame 34 so that it can be opened and closed by the support pins 37 and 38 through the brackets 35 and 36. As shown in FIG. 1 (solid line) and FIG. 2, the gate 31 forms a storage portion 3b for storing articles received from the upper opening 3a by closing the gate members 3 2 and 33. As shown in FIG. 3 (dotted line), the gate members 32 and 33 are opened to form the lower opening 3c for supplying the article to the packaging device 5. The lower opening 3c is opened narrower than the receiving opening 51 so that the article supply to the packaging device 5 can be performed smoothly. Below the lower opening 3c, as shown in FIG. 1, a photoelectric tube 6 serving as a detecting means for detecting the falling length of the article discharged from the lower opening 3c is provided. Based on this, the operation speed of the gate drive mechanism for rotating the gate members 32 and 33 to open and close is changed. For example, when the falling length of the article is short, the processing time can be improved by shortening the opening time of the lower opening 3c.

[0035] (Gate members 32, 33)

As shown in FIG. 4 (a), the gate members 32 and 33 are composed of a main body wall 321 and 331 and side walls 322 and 332 respectively extending from one end 321b and 331b thereof. It is formed into a mold. As shown in Fig. 4 (b) and Fig. 5 (b), the bottom walls 321a and 331a approach each other when the gate is closed to form an inverted roof shape that becomes the reservoir 3b. The article stored in the storage part 3b is received from below. The side wall 322 extends from one side end 321b of the main body wall 321 and forms the side surface of the storage portion 3b so as to cover the side end 3 31c of the main body wall 331 of the gate member 33 that faces each other when the gate is closed. The side wall 332 extends from one side end 33 lb of the main body wall 331, and forms the side surface of the storage portion 3b so as to cover the side end 321c of the main body wall 321 of the gate member 32 facing each other when the gate is closed. . The side walls 322 and 332 are inclined so that the size of the side walls 322 and 332 decreases as the gate 31 is directed downward.

[0036] The gate members 32 and 33 are rotated around the support pins 37 and 38, so that the lower ends 321a of the main body walls 321 and 331 are formed as shown in FIGS. 4 (c) and 5 (c). , 331a are separated from each other to form a lower opening 3c for dropping and discharging the stored articles. The inclination angles α ΐ, «2 when the gates of the main body walls 321, 331 are opened are different from each other as shown in FIG. 3, and the main body wall 321 having a large inclination angle is used for collecting articles 30 when the gate is closed. The upper part is bent outward to avoid interference. The main body wall 331 of the gate member 33 is A bracket 333 that is rotatably connected to the swing link 44 described below is provided.

[0037] (Gate drive mechanism 4)

Next, the gate drive mechanism 4 that opens and closes the gate members 32 and 33 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the gate drive mechanism 4 is fixed to the base 11 in the vicinity of the gate member 32. The drive device 41 has a crank arm 43 attached to a rotating shaft 42 driven by a motor, and the crank arm 43 is connected to the gate member 32 via a swing link 44 and a bracket 333. The gate members 32 and 33 are interconnected by a swinging link 39 for opening and closing them simultaneously. As a result, when the rotary shaft 42 is rotated halfway, the gate members 3 2 and 33 are moved from the closed position shown in FIG. 1 (solid line) and FIG. 2 to the open position shown in FIG. 1 (dashed line) and FIG. Swings to the original closed position by further half-turning. Although the detailed structure is not shown, the radius of rotation of the crank arm 43 (the mounting position of the crank arm 43 with respect to the rotating shaft 42) and the length of the swing link 44 can be adjusted, whereby the gate members 32, 33 can be opened. The degree can be changed in accordance with the size of the receiving opening 51 of the packaging device 5 installed below.

[0038] (Packaging equipment 5)

The packaging device 5 shown in FIG. 1 introduces a film-like film roll (not shown) into a former 5a and winds it around the tube 5b to form a tube. A suction belt (not shown) is provided on the lower side surface of the tube 5b, and conveys the film formed into a cylindrical shape downward. The cylindrical film is welded and sealed at the overlapping and lower end portions of the side during transportation, and after the article is supplied from the hopper 3 through the receiving opening 51, the upper end part is welded and sealed, and the article is filled and packaged. Forming a bag. The tube 5b is not limited to a closed cross-sectional shape, and includes, for example, a U-shaped cross section. Accordingly, the receiving opening 51 includes the opening of the bag formed by the packaging device 5 in addition to the one formed by the packaging device 5 itself.

[0039] (Features of the weighing device 1 according to the first embodiment)

The weighing device 1 according to the first embodiment has the following features. First, in the weighing device 1 according to the present embodiment, the gate members 32 and 33 are formed in an L-shaped cross section including the main body walls 321 and 331 and the side walls 322 and 332, so that when the article is dropped and discharged, The opposing side walls 322, 3 32 are spaced apart from each other. Therefore, move the gate 31 (hopper 3) downward as much as possible. Reduces contact resistance of articles against side walls 322 and 332 of hopper 3, which does not clog articles between side walls even when formed into a tapered beak shape with a narrow width, unlike conventional U-shaped gate members As a result, a high speed of the article discharge speed can be achieved. Further, even if the article is hardened inside the hopper 3, the side walls 322 and 332 extending in the direction of the main body walls 321 and 331 slide in the opposite direction when the gate is opened, as indicated by arrows in FIG. 5 (b). As a result, the solid article is broken and is surely dropped and discharged.

[0040] Second, the measuring device 1 according to the present embodiment is shown in FIG. 6 (a) because the inclination angles α α and α2 of the opposing main body walls 321, 331 are different from each other. As described above, the behavior of the articles falling along the main body walls can be made different from each other. As a result, it is possible to avoid the inconvenience of flooding articles into the narrow part below like a conventional hopper that rotates symmetrically (FIG. 6 (b)). As a result, the discharge of the article from the lower opening 3c can be made smooth to reliably prevent the article from being clogged.

[0041] Thirdly, the weighing device 1 according to the present embodiment is provided with a photoelectric tube 6 for detecting the falling length of the article below the lower opening 3c. Based on the detection result of the photoelectric tube 6, the gate member 3 is provided. Since the operation speeds of 2 and 33 can be changed, it is possible to further increase the speed of dropping and discharging articles while operating the device.

(Modified example of the first embodiment)

In the first embodiment, the example in which the hopper 3 forms part of the weighing device 1 is shown, but the hopper 3 may form part of the packaging device 5 instead. In other words, the packaging device 5 may be configured by the hopper 3 and a packaging unit that accepts articles discharged from the lower opening 3c and fills and packages them in a packaging container such as a bag.

In the first embodiment described above, the hopper 3 is configured by the article collection frame 30 and the gate 31. The force collection frame 30 may be omitted and the hopper 3 may be configured by only the gate 31. In addition, the side walls 3 22 and 332 are inclined so that the dimensions thereof become smaller as the gate 31 is directed downward. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the side walls 3 22 and 332 extend in the vertical direction without being inclined. It may be slanted so that it spreads downward as it is directed.

(Second embodiment of the present invention)

Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This implementation In the embodiment, common parts with the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0045] (Weighing device 7)

The weighing device 7 shown in FIG. 7 includes a weighing unit 2 for discharging an article weighed to a predetermined weight every predetermined time on a base 71, and an article weighed to a predetermined weight by the weighing unit 2 on a cylindrical body 81. Receiving from the upper opening 8a, the lower opening 8c of the cylindrical body 81 is stored in a storage portion 8b (FIG. 9) which is closed by a shutter-type gate 82, 83 which can be opened and closed. , 83 is provided to drop and discharge articles stored by opening the lower opening 8c and to supply the articles to the receiving opening 51 of the packaging device 5 disposed below the lower opening 8c.

[0046] (Weighing unit 2)

The weighing unit 2 shown in FIG. 7 temporarily disperses individual articles having different weights in a plurality of paths, weighs the dispersed articles, and determines a predetermined target weight based on the measured values. Are discharged from the outlet 25a of the collecting chute 25 at predetermined intervals.

[0047] (Hopper 8)

The hopper 8 temporarily stores a plurality of articles supplied from the collecting chute 25, and then discharges them at a predetermined timing according to the work cycle of the packaging device 5 and puts them into a packaging container (bag) set in the packaging device 5. It is a timing hot bar to be supplied, and is arranged so that the upper opening 8a faces the discharge port 25a of the collecting chute 25. The hopper 8 includes a cylindrical body 81 having an upper opening 8a and a lower opening 8c, and shutter-type gates 82 and 83 for closing the lower opening 8c.

[0048] (tubular body 81)

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the cylindrical body 81 is generally cylindrical and is formed of three (a plurality of) side wall pieces 811, 812, 813 divided in the circumferential direction. As shown in FIG. 10, pivotal arms 811a, 812a, and 813a are respectively fixed to the side wall pieces 811, 812, and 813, and these pivoting arms are fixed to the base 71 by arm support members 811c. , 812c, 813c, and is supported so as to be rotatable around the rotation support shafts 81lb, 812b, 813b. One end of each of the links 84 and 85 is rotatably connected to the arm support member 812c. Other arm support members 811c and 813c are rotatably connected to the other end of the link. Furthermore, the arm support member 812c has one end of a link 86 rotatably connected thereto, and the other end of the link 86 is rotatably connected to a drive crank 87b fixed to a drive shaft 87a of a servo motor 87. Has been. Therefore, by actuating the servo motor 87 and rotating the drive crank 87b clockwise, the side wall pieces 811, 812, 813 are moved from the position shown in FIG. And (c) can be moved continuously to the position shown by the solid line. Further, by rotating the drive crank 87b counterclockwise, the drive crank 87b can be returned from the position shown by the chain line in FIGS. 10 (b) and (c) to the position shown in FIG. 10 (a). In other words, the cylindrical body 81 rotates the side wall pieces 811, 812, 813 to change the diameter of the cylindrical body 81 concentrically and continuously (reducing diameter and expanding diameter). It has a hopper shape change mechanism.

(Gate 82, 83)

As shown in FIG. 7, the gates 82 and 83 are provided so that the upper surface is in contact with the lower opening 8c (the lower end of the cylindrical body 81), and the lower opening 8c is closed as shown by the solid line in FIG. By doing so, the storage part 8b which temporarily stores the articles supplied from the weighing part 2 is formed. The gates 82 and 83 are supported by the base 71 so as to be rotatable around the rotation support shafts 82b and 83b via the gate support members 82a and 83a. One ends of links 82c and 83c are rotatably connected to the gate support members 82a and 83a, and the other ends of these links are the drive rotation shafts of servo motors 88 and 89 (not shown), respectively. It is rotatably connected to driving cranks 88b and 89b fixed to 88a and 89a. Therefore, by operating the servo motors 88 and 89 simultaneously and rotating the drive cranks 88b and 89b in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 9, the gates 82 and 89 are connected via the links 82c and 83c and the gate support members 82a and 83a. 83 can be rotated from the closed position indicated by the solid line to the open position indicated by the one-dot chain line. As a result, the articles stored in the storage section 8b can be dropped and discharged and supplied to the receiving opening 51 of the packaging device 5 disposed below. Since the gates 82 and 83 are only provided so as to be in contact with the lower end of the cylindrical body 81 as described above, the lower opening 8c can be closed when the cylindrical body 81 is expanded to the maximum diameter. Once set, there is no need to replace the hopper shape change mechanism with one of a different size each time it is activated. Gate opening Can be changed to a size corresponding to the diameter of the cylindrical body 81 by appropriately setting the rotation range (rotation angle) of the servo motors 88 and 89.

[0050] (Dropping and discharging of articles from hopper 8)

The hopper 8 receives articles from the upper opening 8a of the cylindrical body 81 and stores them in the storage section 8b. The stored articles are dropped and discharged by opening the gates 82 and 83, but the articles are dropped and discharged. When the hopper shape changing mechanism described above is operated, the side wall pieces 811, 812, 813 of the cylindrical body 81 are rotated to increase the diameter of the cylindrical body 81, that is, the cylindrical body In 81, the opposing side walls are set apart from each other! Although the size that can be enlarged at this time is very small, the clogging of the article between the side walls is eliminated, and the contact resistance between the stored article and the side wall that holds the article can be significantly reduced. it can.

[0051] (Packaging equipment 5)

The packaging device 5 shown in FIG. 7 forms a belt-like film into a cylindrical shape, welds and seals the overlapping portion and the lower end portion of the side surface, and after the article is supplied from the hopper 8 through the receiving opening 51, the upper end The parts are welded and sealed to form a bag filled with the article. In the packaging device 5, the size of the receiving opening 51 varies depending on the type and amount of the article, when the belt-like film to be used is changed, or when the former or the tube is replaced with a different size. Further, the receiving opening 51 includes a bag opening formed by the packaging device 5 in addition to the one formed by the packaging device 5 itself.

[0052] (Change of hopper 8 diameter and gate 82, 83 opening)

In order to supply articles at a high speed to the bag formed by the packaging device 5, in addition to smooth article discharge from the hopper 8, the articles pass smoothly through the receiving opening 81 and the subsequent article drop path without resistance. However, according to this weighing device 7, as described above, the shape (caliber) of the hopper 8 can be changed simply by operating the servo motor 87, so that the receiving opening 51 and the subsequent article dropping path can be changed. Depending on the information (for example, the diameter, path length, type of received article, etc.), it is possible to supply the article to the packaging device 5 at the highest speed. Specifically, the lower opening 8c of the hopper 8 is accommodated in the receiving opening 51 in a plan view, or the article force when the hopper 8 is stored. The hopper shape change mechanism so that the width is smaller than the subsequent article drop path.

Change the aperture of 8. By setting the rotation range of the servo motors 88 and 89, the opening of the gates 82 and 83 can be changed to the minimum necessary, and the articles can be supplied to the packaging device 5 at a higher speed.

[0053] The operation of the servo motor 87 necessary for changing the diameter of the cylindrical body 81 and the setting of the rotation range of the servo motors 88, 89 required for changing the opening of the gates 82, 83 are performed by the receiving opening and the article dropping path The optimum set value and the calculation method thereof are determined in advance according to the information on the information, and are automatically performed by a control unit (not shown) provided in the weighing device itself. Information about the receiving opening 51 and the article dropping route is automatically acquired from the packaging device 5. A detecting means (not shown) for detecting the drop length of the article is provided downstream of the hopper 8, and based on the detection result, the cylindrical body 81 has a shorter drop length. The shape and the opening of the gates 82 and 83 are automatically changed.

(Features of weighing device 7 according to second embodiment)

The weighing device 1 according to this embodiment has the following features. First, the cylindrical body 81 is provided with a hopper shape changing mechanism that moves the plurality of side wall pieces 811, 812, 813 divided in the circumferential direction to change the diameter of the cylindrical body 81, and stores it. When the article is dropped and discharged, the diameter is enlarged and the opposing side walls in the cylindrical body 81 are separated from each other. Therefore, the clogging of the article between the opposing side walls can be prevented, and the contact resistance of the article to the side wall of the hot bar can be reduced, so that the article discharge speed can be increased.

[0055] Second, the hopper 8 has a feature that the diameter of the cylindrical body 81 can be changed concentrically and continuously by moving the side wall pieces 811, 812, 813. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 10 (a) to (c), the cross-sectional shape of the cylindrical body 81 is maintained in a substantially circular shape even when the aperture is changed. As a result, the contact area is reduced, and as a result, contact resistance can be suppressed and the speed of dropping and discharging articles can be increased. Further, it is not necessary to add another member or replace it with another hot bar in order to change the size of the lower opening 8c or the width of the stored article in the hopper 8. In particular, the diameter of the cylindrical body can be easily changed by simply operating the servo motor 87, so the setup change work can be performed efficiently. Yeah. In addition, since the opening shape of the former is a general circular shape, the articles can be efficiently supplied to the packaging device 5.

[0056] Third, based on the detection result of the detection means downstream of the hopper 8, the shape of the cylindrical body 81 and the opening degree of the gates 82 and 83 are automatically adjusted so that the falling length of the article becomes shorter. Since it can be changed, we can realize weighing packaging at a higher speed.

[0057] Fourth, the lower opening 8c of the hopper 8 is made smaller than the receiving opening 51 of the packaging device 5 in plan view, or an article stored in the storage portion 8b is received by the receiving opening 51 of the packaging device 5. Since the shape of the cylindrical body 81 and the opening degree of the gates 82 and 83 can be changed so that the lateral width is smaller than the subsequent article dropping path, the articles are packed together in the reservoir 8b. By storing and suppressing the spread expansion of the articles at the time of dropping, it is possible to prevent defects such as seal stagnation in the packaging device 5, and to reduce the contact resistance of the articles with respect to the receiving opening 51 if the drop length of the articles is shortened, The article can be dropped in a short time.

[0058] Fifth, depending on the information about the receiving opening 51 and the subsequent article dropping path (for example, the diameter, the path length, the type of the received article, etc.), the shape of the cylindrical body 81 and the gate 82, Since the opening degree of 83 is automatically changed as set in advance, it has the feature that the setup change accompanying the change of the type of goods can be performed quickly. In addition, since the information about the receiving opening and the item dropping path is automatically acquired from the packaging device 5, there is no fear of an information input error by the operator.

(Modification of Second Embodiment)

In the above embodiment, the diameter of the cylindrical body and the change in the gate opening are automatically performed by the control unit of the weighing device according to the information about the receiving opening and the article dropping path. It may be performed manually while confirming the supply status of the article. Further, the information regarding the receiving opening 51 and the article dropping path may be confirmed by an operator who does not automatically obtain the information from the packaging device 5 and input.

[0060] In the above-described embodiment, the force of rotating the three arc-shaped side wall pieces 811, 812, 813 to increase or decrease the diameter of the cylindrical body 81 is shown in FIG. 11 As shown in (a) to (c), two circular arc-shaped side wall pieces 911 and 912 are combined to form a cylindrical body 91, and the diameter is changed by rotating these side wall pieces. May be. In this tubular body 91 May cause a gap between the side wall pieces. By attaching an elastic resin plate or the like to the end of the side wall piece, or by configuring the side wall piece itself with an elastic resin plate or the like, the side wall piece It is also possible to close the gap by elastic interference. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the cylindrical body 81 may be a straight tube-shaped force that is inclined so that the diameter decreases from the upper side to the lower side.

Of course, the hot bar, weighing device and packaging device of the present invention are not limited to the first and second embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A hopper that receives an article from an upper opening, stores the article in a storage portion formed by closing a lower opening with a gate, and drops and discharges the stored article by opening the gate. In this case, the hopper is characterized in that the opposing side walls are separated from each other.

[2] A hopper that receives an article from an upper opening, stores the article in a storage portion formed by closing a lower opening with a gate, and opens the gate to drop and discharge the stored article, wherein the gate includes: Two pieces of L-shaped gate members are pivotally supported so as to face each other,

The gate member includes a main body wall that forms an inverted roof shape with lower ends approaching each other when the gate is closed, and a side wall that covers one side end of the main body wall that extends opposite to each other when the gate is closed. A hot tub characterized by forming an L-shaped cross section.

[3] The hot bar according to claim 2, wherein when the gate is opened, the inclination angles of the opposing main body walls are different.

[4] The detection means for detecting the falling length of the article is provided below the lower opening, and the operation speed of the gate member can be changed based on the detection result of the detection means. Hot tub according to claim 2 or 3.

[5] A hopper that receives an article from the upper opening of the cylindrical body, stores the article in a storage section formed by closing the lower opening of the cylindrical body with a gate, and drops the discharged article by opening the gate. Because

The cylindrical body is formed of a plurality of side wall pieces that are divided in the circumferential direction, and includes a hopper shape changing mechanism that moves the side wall pieces to change the diameter of the cylindrical body,

The hot bar according to claim 1, wherein when the article is dropped and discharged, the hopper shape changing mechanism enlarges the diameter of the cylindrical body.

[6] The cylindrical body is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape,

6. The hot bar according to claim 5, wherein the hopper shape changing mechanism rotates the side wall piece to continuously change the diameter of the cylindrical body concentrically.

[7] The present invention is characterized in that detection means for detecting the drop length of the article is provided below the lower opening, and the shape of the cylindrical body can be changed based on the detection result of the detection means. The hopper according to claim 5 or 6.

[8] The shape of the cylindrical body can be changed such that the lower opening is accommodated in a plan view in a receiving opening provided below the lower opening. Hopper.

[9] The shape of the cylindrical body can be changed so that the width is smaller in plan view than the receiving opening provided below the lower opening and the article dropping path following the receiving opening. The hopper according to any one of Items 5 to 7.

10. The hot bar according to claim 8, wherein the shape of the cylindrical body can be changed according to information on the receiving opening and Z or the dropping path.

[11] a weighing unit for discharging articles weighed to a predetermined weight;

The weighing part force receives the upper opening force, stores the discharged article in a storage part formed by closing the lower opening with a gate, and opens the gate to release and discharge the stored article. A weighing device comprising:

11. The weighing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hopper is the hopper according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

[12] A hot bar for receiving an article from an upper opening, storing the article in a storage part formed by closing a lower opening with a gate, and dropping the discharged article by opening the gate;

A packaging unit that accepts an article discharged from the lower opening and fills and wraps the product in a packaging container,

The packaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the hopper is the hopper according to any one of claims 1 to 10.