WO2018180309A1 - Product-constraining apparatus and product-supplying apparatus equipped with same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention comprises a conveyance-constraining mechanism for constraining products to be conveyed. The conveyance-constraining mechanism has a conveyance-constraining member which allows passage of products having a height equal to or less than a preset height, while catching products having a height exceeding the preset height and constraining the movement thereof downstream relative to the conveyance direction. The conveyance-constraining mechanism biasedly supports, with a preset biasing force, the conveyance-constraining member at a constraint position corresponding to the preset height, and supports the conveyance-constraining member such that the conveyance-constraining member can be compelled upward and downstream relative to the conveyance direction by an external force which exceeds the biasing force and is oriented downstream relative to the conveyance direction, and can return to the constraint position when the external force ceases.

Description

Article regulating apparatus and article supply apparatus provided with the same

The present invention relates to an article supply apparatus that conveys an article and supplies the article to a destination, and an article regulation apparatus that is provided in the article supply apparatus and regulates the article to be conveyed.

As an apparatus for supplying articles, for example, there is a combination weigher. This combination weigher has a plurality of weighing units, and selects and selects a combination of weighing units in which a combined weight, which is a total weight obtained by combining various weights of articles supplied to each weighing unit, falls within a predetermined weight range. It discharges the goods in the measuring section.

¡Combination weighers can be broadly classified into automatic, semi-automatic, and manual types depending on the method of supplying and discharging articles to the weighing unit. In the manual combination weigher, supply and discharge of articles are performed manually. In the semi-automatic combination weigher, the article is supplied manually and the article is automatically discharged. Further, in an automatic combination weigher, supply and discharge of articles are automatically performed regardless of human hands.

Semi-automatic combination weighers manually supply articles to the combination weigher, so that the unit weight is relatively large and irregular, or difficult to handle by machines, such as sticky chicken pieces or seafood It is suitable for handling.

As such a semi-automatic combination weigher that manually supplies articles, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a combination provided with a circulation conveyor that circulates articles around the inlets of a plurality of weighing hoppers of the combination weigher. A scale is described. In this combination weigher, an operator grasps an article on a circulation conveyor in the vicinity of the input port of each weighing hopper and inputs it to the input port.

Patent Document 2 describes a combination weigher in which articles are manually placed on a plurality of supply conveyors. In this combination weigher, the placed article is supplied to each of the plurality of weighing conveyors by each supply conveyor and weighed. A combination of weighing conveyors is selected in which the combined weight, which is the total weight of various weights of the weighed articles on each weighing conveyor, falls within a predetermined weight range. Articles on the selected weighing conveyor are ejected through the collecting conveyor.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 60-7033 JP 2012-251990 A

In the semi-automatic combination weighers described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 above, an operator must grab and supply articles on a plurality of weighing hopper input ports and a plurality of supply conveyors. For this reason, a great deal of labor is required for weighing a large amount of articles.

Therefore, it is conceivable that the articles are automatically conveyed to the input of the combination weigher by a conveyor or the like and supplied to the input of the combination weigher. However, if a plurality of articles are transported in an overlapped state and are excessively supplied to one of the plurality of inlets of the combination weigher, there are problems such as a decrease in combination accuracy in subsequent combination weighing. May occur. In particular, in the case of an article having adhesiveness, the overlapping of a plurality of articles is difficult to be disrupted, and there is a significant possibility that the above-described adverse effects occur.

The present invention has been made paying attention to such a point, and even if a plurality of articles are conveyed in an overlapping manner, the overlapping can be broken and conveyed, and the processing at the conveying destination is suitably performed. The aim is to be able to do it.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows.

(1) An article regulating apparatus according to the present invention includes a conveyance regulating mechanism that regulates the height of the article to be conveyed in a conveyance path of the article, and the conveyance regulating mechanism passes an article having a set height or less. On the other hand, it has a conveyance regulating member that receives an article that exceeds the set height and regulates the movement of the article to the lower side in the conveyance direction, and the conveyance regulating mechanism moves the conveyance regulating member to the set height. The conveyance regulating mechanism is configured to urge and support the conveyance regulating member by an external force toward the lower side in the conveyance direction that exceeds the urging force. It is supported so that it can be moved backward in the lower side of the direction, and can be returned to the restriction position when the external force is released.

The “set biasing force” is preferably set as the biasing force of a biasing member such as a spring, for example. For example, it is preferable that the urging force can be variably set by replacing the urging member or adjusting the mounting state of the urging member.

According to the article regulating apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of articles conveyed in an overlapping manner are subjected to the action of the conveyance regulating member of the article conveying mechanism, and a plurality of articles that are stacked higher than a set height are received and conveyed by the conveyance regulating member. The movement to the lower side in the direction is restricted, and an article having a set height or less passes through the conveyance restriction member and is conveyed to the lower side in the conveyance direction.

Of the plurality of overlapping articles that are received by the conveyance regulating member and whose movement is regulated, the article on the lower layer below the set height moves to the lower side in the conveyance direction through the conveyance regulating member. With this movement, the upper layer article separated from the lower layer article falls on the lower article on the upper side in the transport direction or on the transport surface of the transport path and becomes lower in height. When the height is lowered and becomes equal to or lower than the set height, the sheet passes through the conveyance regulating member and is conveyed to the lower side in the conveyance direction.

Thus, a plurality of articles conveyed in an overlapped state are conveyed with their overlap broken along the conveying direction.

In addition, when a plurality of overlapping articles are caught between the conveyance surface of the conveyance path and the conveyance regulating member and become clogged, the force on the lower side in the conveyance direction caused by the clogging is applied to the conveyance regulating member as an external force. Works. When the external force exceeds the urging force for holding the conveyance regulating member at the regulation position, the conveyance regulating member moves backward on the lower side in the conveyance direction. As a result, the distance between the conveyance surface of the conveyance path and the conveyance restriction member is widened, the article passes through the conveyance restriction member and is conveyed to the lower side in the conveyance direction, and the external force is released by the disappearance of the clogging. The transport restriction member returns to the original restriction position again.

(2) In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the transport regulating mechanism includes a biasing member that biases the transport regulating member to the regulation position with the biasing force.

According to this embodiment, since the biasing member that biases the conveyance regulating member is provided, the biasing force of the biasing member is selected, for example, the tension of the spring as the biasing member is selected. Specifically, it is possible to variably set the urging force that urges the conveyance restricting member to the restricting position by replacing the spring. This makes it easy to set the urging force necessary to break the overlap of the plurality of articles according to the properties of the article to be conveyed such as adhesiveness.

(3) In one embodiment of the present invention, the transport regulating mechanism is capable of moving the transport regulating member backward along an arcuate trajectory and allowing the return movement along the arcuate trajectory. To support.

According to this embodiment, when the external force toward the lower side in the transport direction exceeds the biasing force, the transport restricting member moves backward along the arc-shaped locus upward on the lower side in the transport direction. The height gradually increases with the backward movement. Thus, the action of the conveyance regulating member can be applied to a plurality of overlapping articles while changing the height, and the overlapping of the articles can be effectively broken.

(4) In another embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus includes a plurality of conveyance restriction mechanisms respectively installed at a plurality of locations along the conveyance direction, and the conveyance restriction mechanism on the upper side of the conveyance direction includes the conveyance direction. The set height by the conveyance restriction member is set to be higher than the conveyance restriction mechanism on the lower side.

According to this embodiment, the plurality of articles that have been conveyed in a highly overlapping manner are first lowered to a certain extent by being subjected to the action of the conveyance restriction member on the upper side in the conveyance direction that is installed higher. Next, the height is further lowered by receiving the action of the conveyance restriction member installed lower on the lower side in the conveyance direction. Therefore, by carrying out a plurality of stages of conveyance regulation with different regulation heights, it is possible to convey a plurality of articles that overlap in multiple layers in stages.

(5) In still another embodiment of the present invention, the transport regulating member is a rod-like body supported above the transport path so as to intersect the transport path.

According to this embodiment, even an article having parts with different heights in the width direction of the conveyance path can be received by the conveyance restriction member made of a rod-like body and accurately regulated. Moreover, since the conveyance regulating member is a rod-shaped body, contact with the article can be minimized. Accordingly, when the article is a food such as a piece of meat having oil and fat on the surface, it is possible to prevent the oil and fat from adhering and depositing on the conveyance regulating member.

(6) In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the conveyance regulating mechanism supports the rod-like body by projecting in a cantilevered manner from the side of the conveyance path to above the conveyance path.

According to this embodiment, since the rod-shaped body that is the conveyance regulating member is protruded in a cantilevered manner above the conveyance path, the length of the rod-shaped body, that is, the length of the rod-shaped body, A regulation width that regulates the height can be set.

(7) In another embodiment of the present invention, the rod-like shape is provided with a plurality of the conveyance regulating mechanisms respectively installed at a plurality of locations along the conveyance direction, and protrudes in a cantilever shape above the conveyance path. The length of the body is shorter than the width of the transport path, and the plurality of transport restriction mechanisms are alternately installed on one side and the other side of the transport path along the transport direction.

According to this embodiment, since the length of the rod-like body that protrudes in a cantilevered manner from the side of the conveyance path to the upper side of the conveyance path is narrower than the width of the conveyance path, the article in the conveyance path outside the free end of the rod-shaped body The article can pass through the free end of the rod-like body and move to the lower side in the conveying direction. For this reason, it becomes difficult to cause clogging of articles that are likely to occur when the conveyance regulation is applied over the entire width of the conveyance path.

In addition, since the plurality of transport restriction mechanisms are alternately installed on one side and the other side of the transport path along the transport direction of the article, a plurality of rod-like bodies shorter than the width of the transport path, Instead, it protrudes in a cantilevered manner from the side of the conveyance path. As a result, an article that has passed through the rod-shaped body of the conveyance restriction mechanism on the upper side in the conveyance direction is also subjected to the conveyance restriction on the rod-shaped body of the conveyance restriction mechanism on the lower side in the conveyance direction. Accordingly, it is possible to accurately regulate the conveyance over the entire width of the conveyance path while suppressing the occurrence of clogging of articles.

(8) An article supply apparatus according to the present invention includes the article regulation apparatus according to the present invention and an article conveyance mechanism that conveys the article along the conveyance path.

According to the article supply apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of articles are conveyed in a highly overlapping manner in the conveyance path of the article conveyance mechanism that conveys the article along the conveyance path, and the article regulation apparatus disrupts the overlap of the articles. It becomes possible to do. As a result, it is possible to prevent a plurality of articles from being overlapped and excessively supplied to the transport destination to which the articles are transported by the article transport mechanism, and processing at the transport destination can be suitably performed. Become.

(9) In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the article transport mechanism includes a swivel conveyor capable of switching the lower side in the transport direction to a plurality of positions around the upper side in the transport direction.

According to this embodiment, even if a plurality of articles carried into the article transport mechanism overlap on the upper side in the transport direction, the overlap of the plurality of articles is broken by the article restricting device in the middle of being transported in the transport path, On the lower side in the conveying direction, articles whose overlap has been broken can be distributed and supplied to a plurality of positions.

According to the present invention, even if a plurality of articles are transported in a state of being overlapped, they can be transported with their overlapping, and a plurality of articles can be transported excessively while being overlapped to the transport destination. Can be prevented, and processing at the transport destination can be suitably performed.

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a weighing system including an article regulating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the weighing system of FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view of the metering system of FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a set of article distribution locations. FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the conveyance regulating mechanism on the upper side in the conveyance direction. FIG. 6 is a perspective view seen through the lower conveyance control mechanism in the conveyance direction. FIG. 7 is a front view in which a part of the article regulating apparatus is cut away. FIG. 8 is a side view in which a part of the article regulating apparatus is cut away. FIG. 9A is a schematic side view showing the operation mode of the article regulating apparatus. FIG. 9B is a schematic side view showing the operation mode of the article regulating apparatus. FIG. 9C is a schematic side view showing the operation mode of the article regulating apparatus. FIG. 10 is a schematic front view showing a set of article distribution locations. FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of the combination weigher. FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view showing an arrangement state of an article detection sensor for detecting an article. FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the weighing system of FIG. FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of overall control of the article supply apparatus. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of control of the vibration feeder. FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an example of control of the distribution transport mechanism. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of control of the article discharge mechanism. FIG. 18 is a front view showing another embodiment of the article regulating apparatus. FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing still another embodiment of the article regulating apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a weighing system including an article regulating apparatus 50 according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a side view thereof. The weighing system according to this embodiment includes an article supply apparatus 1 that supplies articles and a semi-automatic combination scale 2 that conventionally supplies articles manually.

This weighing system automatically supplies articles to the semi-automatic combination balance 2 by the article supply apparatus 1. Therefore, as a whole, it can also be called an automatic combination weigher that automatically supplies and discharges articles.

In this embodiment, an object having a relatively large single-unit weight and having an adhesive shape that is difficult to handle by a machine, for example, a block-shaped piece of meat such as a peach meat or a breast meat obtained by disassembling a broiler (meat chicken) is to be measured It is said.

That is, the measuring system of this embodiment is a system suitable for the measuring process of the broiler dismantling line.

The article supply apparatus 1 includes a front-stage transport mechanism 3 that is horizontally arranged, an article discharge mechanism 4 that is provided at a plurality of locations on the transport path, in this example, three locations, and three distributions corresponding to the respective article discharge mechanisms 4. A plurality of transport mechanisms 5 corresponding to each of the distribution transport mechanisms 5, and in this example, three vibration feeders 6 as rear transport mechanisms arranged in parallel in this example are provided.

As shown by an arrow A in FIG. 2, the front-stage transport mechanism 3 is configured by a belt conveyor that is rotated at a constant speed from right to left as indicated by an arrow A in FIG. . On the right-side start end side of the transport belt 7 of the front-stage transport mechanism 3, the broiler meat pieces disassembled are supplied as articles w.

The article discharge mechanism 4 includes a long plate-shaped guide member 8 that is installed on one side across the conveyance path in the front-stage conveyance mechanism 3 and can be driven to swing around the vertical fulcrum a. As shown by a solid line in FIG. 2, the guide member 8 is in an allowable state in which the guide member 8 moves away from the one side of the conveying path and assumes a retracted posture along the conveying direction. Passage is allowed. When the guide member 8 is driven and swings toward the conveyance path around the longitudinal fulcrum a as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 2, the long plate-shaped guide member 8 is inclined to the conveyance path in plan view. It becomes the discharge state of the discharge posture crossing. In this discharged state, the article w conveyed along the conveyance path gradually moves outward on the other side of the conveyance path along the plate surface of the guide member 8 that intersects the conveyance path diagonally. Guided and discharged from the transport path.

A discharge chute 9 having a slanted bottom is fixedly disposed on the discharge side of the front-stage transport mechanism 3. The article w guided and discharged by the guide member 8 is slid down and guided to the lower side of the other side via the discharge chute 9.

As described above, the article discharge mechanism 4 crosses the long plate-shaped guide member 8 so as to be inclined with respect to the transport path of the front-stage transport mechanism 3, and the article w transported by the front-stage transport mechanism 3 is guided to the guide member. 8 is guided along the plate surface and discharged. Thereby, the article w which is a piece of broiler meat having adhesiveness can be reliably discharged at a predetermined location.

The distribution and transport mechanism 5 transports the article funnel-shaped input funnel 10 that receives the articles w discharged by the article discharge mechanism 4 and the articles w that are input into the input funnel 10 and is rotated by a predetermined angle. Possible swivel conveyor 14. This distribution conveyance mechanism 5 has a function as an article conveyance mechanism which conveys the articles | goods w supplied with the turning conveyor 14 which comprises a conveyance path | route. The swivel conveyor 14 includes a conveyor belt 11 for placing and horizontally conveying the articles w guided by the input funnel 10, left and right side plates 12 erected on both sides of the conveyor belt 11, and both side plates 12. A discharge cover 13 having a U-shaped planar shape attached to the end portion is provided.

The discharge cover 13 forms a drop opening through which the article w placed and transported by the transport belt 11 is dropped without jumping out in the transport direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the discharge cover 13 is bolted and connected to the side plates 12 so that the position of the discharge cover 13 can be adjusted along the conveyance direction. By adjusting the position of the discharge cover 13, the opening length in the transport direction of the drop port is changed in accordance with the size of the article w, and the article w is dropped and released to a predetermined position accurately without clogging. .

The swivel conveyor 14 can be driven to rotate by a predetermined angle by a servo motor around a vertical fulcrum b set on the start end side in the transport direction of the transport belt 11 on which articles from the input funnel 10 slide down. The swivel conveyor 14 has a dropping port at the end in the transport direction of the transport belt 11 positioned immediately above each vibration feeder 6 at the three positions of the center position in the rotation range and the rotation end positions on both sides thereof. It has become. That is, the swivel conveyor 14 turns by a predetermined angle around the vertical fulcrum b, and distributes the articles w to the three vibration feeders 6 on the lower side in the transport direction.

As described above, the swivel conveyor 14 rotates around the vertical fulcrum b set on the conveyance start end side of the conveyance belt 11 where the articles from the input funnel 10 slide down. As a result, the article w transported by the preceding transport mechanism 3 is discharged by the guide member 8 of the article discharge mechanism 4 and supplied to the transport start end side of the swirl conveyor 14 regardless of the rotation position of the swirl conveyor 14. can do. Therefore, when it is necessary to supply an article to the conveyance start end side of the swivel conveyor 14, the article of the preceding conveyance mechanism 3 is discharged by the article discharge mechanism 4 regardless of the rotation position of the swivel conveyor 14, and is supplied to the swivel conveyor 14. Articles can be supplied quickly.

In some cases, a plurality of articles w are carried into the pre-stage transport mechanism 3 shown in FIGS. In this way, when a plurality of articles w are carried in a state where they overlap and are gathered, they are discharged from the pre-stage transport mechanism 3 as they are. Therefore, the swivel conveyor 14 is easily supplied with a plurality of overlapping articles w that are guided down by the input funnel 10.

When the plurality of articles w are supplied to the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5 while being overlapped and supplied to the vibration feeder 6 which is the next distribution transport destination, the articles of the combination scale 2 are supplied from the vibration feeder 6. It becomes easy to excessively put a plurality of articles w together into the insertion port 25. If a plurality of articles w are excessively charged into the article input port 25 of the combination weigher 2, it is difficult to establish a combination in the combination calculation or the yield is higher than when a single article w is input. Will be reduced.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the swirl conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5 is configured as follows in order to prevent the articles w from being transported in a bundled state and fed into the vibration feeder 6. .

That is, in this embodiment, an article regulating device 50 that regulates the article w conveyed by the swivel conveyor 14 is provided. As shown in FIG. 4, the article regulating apparatus 50 includes two first and second conveyance regulating mechanisms 50A and 50B. The article regulating device 50 is installed at a location where the article w is supplied to the swivel conveyor 14, that is, at a location on the lower side in the transport direction than the installation funnel 10 installation location. The first and second transport regulating mechanisms 50A and 50B are installed with their positions shifted along the transport direction (front-rear direction) on both sides of the transport path. Both transport regulating mechanisms 50A and 50B have the same specifications with different left and right sides, and their detailed structures are shown in FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the first conveyance restriction mechanism 50A on the upper side in the conveyance direction, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view seen through the second conveyance restriction mechanism 50B on the lower side in the conveyance direction. 7 is a front view in which a part of the article regulating device 50 is cut out, and FIG. 8 is a side view in which a part of the article regulating device 50 is cut out.

The first and second transport regulation mechanisms 50A and 50B include a box-shaped support frame 51, and each support frame 51 is connected and supported by a support base (not shown) installed on the side of the transport path. The first and second transport regulation mechanisms 50A and 50B have a structure in which a transport regulation member 52 made of a stainless steel round bar protrudes from the side surface on the transport path side of each support frame 51 above the transport path. It has become. Each conveyance regulating member 52 protrudes from each support frame 51 in a laterally cantilever shape so as to intersect the conveyance path at a substantially right angle. Each transport regulating member 52 is set to have a length shorter than the lateral width of the transport path, and its free end is located inside the lateral width end of the transport path.

Rotating arm 53 is supported on the inner surface of the support frame 51 on the side of the conveyance path, which is rotatable about a lateral fulcrum c. A base end of the conveyance restricting member 52 is connected and supported by a butterfly bolt 54 to the lower free end portion of the rotating arm 53 so as to be detachable. On the side plate on the conveyance path side in the support frame 51, an arc-shaped long hole 55 centering on the lateral fulcrum c of the rotating arm 53 is formed. The conveyance regulating member 52 connected to the lower free end portion of the rotating arm 53 protrudes through the long hole 55 to the conveyance path. Accordingly, the conveyance regulating member 52 can move up and down along an arcuate locus while maintaining a state parallel to the conveyance surface of the conveyance belt 11 as the rotation arm 53 rotates.

A spring 58 is stretched over a spring receiving pin 56 attached to the lower portion of the rotating arm 53 and a spring receiving bolt 57 attached and fixed to a side plate on the conveyance path side of the support frame 51. Due to the spring tension of the spring 58, the rotation arm 53 is urged to rotate in a direction in which the lower end portion thereof is directed toward the upper side in the transport direction. Accordingly, in a normal state, the conveyance restriction member 52 is pressed against and supported by the lower end of the long hole 55, and the conveyance restriction member 52 is held at a restriction position at a certain height from the conveyance surface.

The spring receiving bolt 57 that supports the fixed end of the spring 58 is inserted into a vertically long slot 59 formed in the side plate of the support frame 51 and is fastened and fixed by a nut 60. By adjusting the tightening fixing position of the spring receiving bolt 57 up and down along the long hole 59, the downward rotation biasing force of the rotary arm 53, that is, the conveyance regulating member 52 is pressed and biased to the lower end of the long hole 55. The initial set pressure can be adjusted.

In addition, the back part of the support frame 51 formed in a box shape can be opened. That is, a longitudinal guide groove 51b is formed on the back surface of the support frame 51 so as to face the front and rear. A back plate 51a is attached to the guide groove 51b so as to be slidable up and down. The back plate 51a can be removed and the back portion of the support frame 51 can be largely opened. With the back portion of the support frame 51 greatly opened, an operation of attaching / detaching the conveyance regulating member 52 to / from the rotating arm 53 and an operation of changing and adjusting the tightening fixing position of the spring receiving bolt 57 can be performed during cleaning. .

The two first and second transport regulation mechanisms 50A and 50B arranged on both sides of the transport path are different in installation position in the transport direction as described above. Further, the height of the conveyance restriction member 52 in the first conveyance restriction mechanism 50A located on the upper side in the conveyance direction is higher than the height of the conveyance restriction member 52 in the second conveyance restriction mechanism 50B located on the lower side in the conveyance direction. Is set. Here, the height from the conveyance surface of the conveyance regulating member 52 in the second conveyance regulating mechanism 50B located on the lower side in the conveyance direction is, for example, about the average vertical thickness of the article w, and is superior in the conveyance direction. The height from the conveyance surface of the conveyance regulating member 52 in the first conveyance regulating mechanism 50A located on the side is preferably set to about 1.5 to 2 times the average vertical thickness of the article w, for example. .

The first and second transport regulating mechanisms 50A and 50B are configured as described above, and schematic side views for facilitating understanding of the operation mode are shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C.

When the articles w are discharged from the front-stage transport mechanism 3 in a state of being collected and put into the input funnel 10, the plurality of articles w are conveyed by the swivel conveyor 14 in a state of being stacked.

For example, as shown in FIG. 9A, a plurality of overlapping articles w placed on and conveyed on the conveyor belt 11 of the swivel conveyor 14 is first conveyed at a high position in the first conveyance regulating mechanism 50A in the upper conveyance direction. The action of the regulating member 52 is received. As a result, the upper layer article w that is higher than the conveyance restriction member 52 is received by the conveyance restriction member 52 and is prevented from moving backward, and the lower layer article w passes through the conveyance restriction member 52 and is conveyed. The

As a result, for example, as shown in FIG. 9B, the article w received and restricted by the conveyance regulating member 52 is relatively moved in the conveyance direction as the lower-layer article w moves toward the lower side in the conveyance direction. It is moved to the upper side and is transported by falling onto the lower lower article w or on the conveyor belt 11.

At this time, since the conveyance regulating member 52 is set to be shorter than the conveyance path width, it is possible for a part of the article w to be conveyed to protrude beyond the free end portion (tip portion) of the conveyance regulating member 52. is there. As a result, it is alleviated that the article w is forcibly blocked by the full width of the conveyance path and develops to clogging.

Next, for example, as shown in FIG. 9C, the plurality of articles w that have been lowered through the conveyance regulating member 52 of the first conveyance regulating mechanism 50 </ b> A on the upper side are second conveyance regulating mechanisms positioned on the lower side in the conveyance direction. In 50B, the operation by the lower conveyance regulating member 52 in the conveyance direction, which is set lower, is received again. As a result, the overlapped articles w are overlapped in the transport direction due to the two transport restrictions, so that there is no overlap or a low state with little overlap. That is, it reaches the end of the swivel conveyor 14 in a state of being substantially separated into individual articles w, and is distributed and conveyed to the vibration feeder 6 at the subsequent stage.

At this time, if a large amount of articles w are caught between the conveyor belt 11 and the conveyance regulating member 52 and clogged, a large external force acts on the conveyance regulating member 52 toward the lower side in the conveyance direction. As described above, the conveyance regulating member 52 is pressed and urged toward the upper conveyance side by a predetermined initial set pressure to the lower end of the long hole 55 by the spring 58. For this reason, when the external force on the lower side in the conveyance direction applied from the article w to the conveyance regulating member 52 becomes larger than the set pressure, the rotating arm 53 supporting the conveyance regulating member 52 resists the spring biasing force. Is rotated.

As a result, the conveyance regulating member 52 moves backward toward the lower side in the conveyance direction, and the article w that has been jammed passes through the conveyance regulating member 52 and is conveyed rearward. It is avoided.

Furthermore, since the conveyance regulating member 52 rotates along the arcuate locus on the lower side in the conveyance direction, the height of the conveyance regulating member 52 gradually increases with the rotation. Accordingly, it is possible to act on the plurality of articles w that are stacked with the plurality of articles w overlapping each other while changing the height. This makes it possible to effectively break the overlap of the plurality of articles w, and is particularly effective for the article w that is a piece of meat disassembled from an adhesive broiler that is not easy to break the overlap.

As shown in FIG. 3, the vibration feeder 6 serving as a post-stage transport mechanism is a linear feeder in which a trough-like trough 15 is detachably connected to a shaker 16. The vibration feeder 6 is configured to convey the article w placed by vibrating the trough 15 to the combination weigher 2. A support frame 17 is connected to the lower surface of the trough 15 to support the trough 15 in a state where the trough 15 is inclined downward toward the transport direction. The support frame 17 is positioned and engaged with a vibration head 16a provided at the upper end portion of the vibration exciter 16, and is fastened and fixed using a buckle type coupling mechanism 18 operated by a lever.

Further, a large number of slit-shaped through holes 19 along the longitudinal direction of the trough 15 are formed in alignment on the bottom surface and the left and right side surfaces of the trough 15. The through-hole 19 discharges the fats and oils floating on the surface of the article w, which is a piece of meat disassembled from the broiler, to the outside of the trough 15. This prevents a large amount of these fats and oils from adhering to the inner surface of the trough 15 and making it difficult to convey the article w.

In this way, the trough 15 of the vibration feeder 6 is inclined downward toward the conveyance direction and has a large number of through holes 19, so that the article w, which is a broiler meat piece that contains oil and has an adhesive property, is smoothly conveyed. be able to.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, three vibration feeders 6 are arranged in parallel on the swivel conveyor 14 of one distribution transport mechanism 5. Articles w can be respectively supplied from the respective swivel conveyors 14 to the troughs 15 of the three vibration feeders 6 in accordance with the switching of the swivel conveyor 14 to the center position and the rotation end positions on both sides thereof. Therefore, as a whole, the article w can be vibrated and conveyed to nine places by the nine vibration feeders 6 arranged in parallel in a straight line.

Each vibration feeder 6 can convey and stop the article w by driving and stopping. Therefore, the article w is controlled so as to be transported to the end of the trough 15 of the vibration feeder 6 and placed on standby, and the article is sent to the combination weigher 2 at a timing according to the input request to the article insertion port 25 of the combination weigher 2. Can be supplied.

Of the group of three vibratory feeders 6, the idler roller 20 is located at an intermediate position between the central trough 15 and the troughs 15 on both sides thereof so as to face the end turning locus of the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5. Is provided. Each idler roller 20 is supported horizontally by a fixed base (not shown) along the conveying direction. The idler roller 20 is located at a middle position between the central trough 15 and one side of both sides thereof, that is, the left or right trough 15 while the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5 is rotating. The article w that has been dropped undesirably is received. The idle roller 20 rotates and drops the received article w onto the central trough 15 or the left or right trough 15 by its own weight.

In addition, as shown in the schematic front view of FIG. 10, a relatively long article w may stay while riding on the idler roller 20. In this case, when the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5 is rotated in the opposite direction (leftward in the case of FIG. 10), the free end of the swivel conveyor 14, that is, the lower end of the discharge cover 13 is idled. The article w on the roller 20 is pushed and moved to rotate the idle roller 20, and the article w can be dropped into the trough 15 on the side where the swivel conveyor 14 moves.

Also, as shown in FIG. 4 and the like, a mountain-shaped inclination that inclines toward the inside of the trough 15 at the conveyance start end portion on the lateral outer side of the left and right troughs 15 in the group of troughs 15 in a set of three. The guide plate 21 is installed via a fixed base (not shown). The inclined guide plate 21 guides the article w put into the left or right trough 15 by dropping into the trough without being caught by the outer side wall of the trough 15.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, on the upper surface of the semi-automatic combination weigher 2, a large number, in this example, nine article insertion ports 25 are arranged in a straight line from side to side. The combination weigher 2 is installed so that these article insertion ports 25 face the distribution / discharge section of the article supply apparatus 1, that is, the end of the vibration feeder 6 group. In addition, each article insertion opening 25 is provided with a pair of left and right insertion gates 26 that can be opened and closed in the form of an inward opening door. Each input gate 26 is opened during a period when the input of articles is requested.

In the weighing system of this embodiment, the supply amount of the articles and the combination scale 2 are set so that the weighing processing amount of the articles of the semi-automatic combination weigher 2 exceeds the supply amount of the articles to the upstream conveying mechanism 3 of the article supply apparatus 1. The operation speed is set.

In addition, when the supply amount of the article to the upstream conveyance mechanism 3 of the article supply apparatus 1 temporarily exceeds the weighing processing amount of the combination weigher 2, the article conveyed by the upstream conveyance mechanism 3 is changed to the article. It can respond by letting it pass without discharging with the guide member 8 of the discharge mechanism 4.

FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of the semi-automatic combination weigher 2.

This combination weigher 2 is basically the same as a conventional semi-automatic combination weigher. A supply hopper 40 is disposed immediately below the input gate 26 of each article input port 25 of the combination weigher 2. Below each of the supply hoppers 40, a weighing hopper 41 as a weighing unit having two storage chambers 41-1 and 41-2 is disposed.

Each supply hopper 40 includes two discharge gates 40a and 40b that can be opened and closed independently. By opening one discharge gate 40a, the articles are discharged into one storage chamber 41-1 of the weighing hopper 41, and by opening the other discharge gate 40b, the other storage chamber 41-2 of the weighing hopper 41 is discharged. It is possible to discharge the article.

Each weighing hopper 41 is provided with a discharge gate 41a in one storage chamber 41-1 and a discharge gate 41b in the other storage chamber 41-2. By opening the discharge gates 41a and 41b, articles can be discharged separately from the storage chambers 41-1 and 41-2.

Each weighing hopper 41 is provided with a weight sensor 42 such as a load cell. The weight sensor 42 detects the weight of the article in the weighing hopper 41, and the output is sent to the control unit of the combination weigher 2 described later. Thus, the control unit of the combination weigher 2 calculates the weight of the articles in the storage chambers 41-1 and 41-2 of the weighing hopper 41 based on the change in the weight of the articles in the weighing hopper 41. Based on the calculated weights of the articles in the storage chambers 41-1 and 41-2 of each weighing hopper 41, the control unit performs a combination calculation described later.

Below the weighing hopper 41, a collective conveyor 43 that receives and conveys articles discharged from the weighing hopper 41 is disposed. The articles conveyed by the collective conveyor 43 are supplied to a packaging machine (not shown). In the packaging machine, an article having a predetermined weight range is vacuum packaged.

The control unit of the combination weigher 2 has a combination weight that is a total weight obtained by combining various weights of the articles in the storage chambers 41-1 and 41-2 of the weighing hopper 41 holding the articles within a predetermined weight range. A combination calculation for selecting one combination of the storage chambers 41-1 and 41-2 is performed. The articles in the storage chambers 41-1 and 41-2 selected by this combination calculation are discharged to the collective conveyor 43.

In the weighing system of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, the article w supplied to the starting end on the upper side in the transport direction of the front transport mechanism 3 is discharged from three places in the transport direction by the article discharge mechanism 4. Then, it is sent to each distribution transport mechanism 5. The articles w sent to each distribution / conveying mechanism 5 are further distributed to three places and sent to the vibration feeder 6, and sent to a total of nine vibration feeders 6. The articles w distributed and conveyed by these nine vibratory feeders 6 are supplied to the article insertion ports 25 of the combination weigher 2. The article w that has passed through the three article discharge mechanisms 4 and has reached the end of the preceding transport mechanism 3 is unloaded, collected in a collection container, and supplied again to the starting end of the preceding transport mechanism 3 by hand at appropriate times. Is done.

In the supply of the articles as described above, the presence / absence of the articles w at each location, and the requirements of the articles at the article input ports 25 of the combination weigher 2, the vibratory feeders 6, the distribution transport mechanisms 5, and the article discharge mechanism 4. Each article discharge mechanism 4, each distribution transport mechanism 5, and each vibration feeder 6 are controlled according to the situation.

FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view corresponding to FIG. 2 showing an example of an installation state of the article detection sensor for detecting the article w.

Each article detection sensor Sa (1) to Sa (3), Sb (1) to Sb (3), Sc (1) to Sc (3), Sd (1) to Sd (3), Se () of this embodiment 1) to Se (9) and Sf (1) to Sf (9) are, for example, transmission type photoelectric sensors including a projector and a light receiver. These photoelectric sensors detect an article w that passes through a detection region between a projector and a light receiver that are arranged to face each other, and provide a detection output.

Pre-stage article detection sensors Sa (1) to Sa (3) for detecting the articles w passing through the detection area immediately before each article discharge mechanism 4 are arranged on the conveyance path of the pre-stage conveyance mechanism 3.

Also, at the base of each discharge chute 9 through which the articles w discharged by the respective article discharge mechanisms 4 pass, discharged article detection sensors Sb (1) to Sb (3) for detecting the discharged articles are respectively arranged. Yes. Note that through holes are formed in the base of each discharge chute 9 so as not to block the optical paths of the discharged article detection sensors Sb (1) to Sb (3).

Distributing start end article detection sensors Sc (1 for detecting the articles w at the start end and the end of the swivel conveyor 14 of each distribution transport mechanism 5 at the start end and the end at the lower end in the transport direction, respectively. ) To Sc (3) and distribution end article detection sensors Sd (1) to Sd (3) are arranged, respectively. The side plate 12 and the discharge cover 13 of the swivel conveyor 14 do not block the optical paths of the distribution start end product detection sensors Sc (1) to Sc (3) and the distribution end end product detection sensors Sd (1) to Sd (3). A through hole is formed in the.

A rear-stage start-end article detection sensor that detects an article w at the start-end section and the end-end section at the start-end section on the upper side and the lower-end end section in the transport direction of each trough 15 of each vibration feeder 6 as a rear-stage transport mechanism. Se (1) to Se (9) and rear end article detection sensors Sf (1) to Sf (9) are respectively arranged. The trough 15 of the vibration feeder 6 has a through-hole so as not to block the optical paths of the rear-stage start article detection sensors Se (1) to Se (9) and the rear-stage end article detection sensors Sf (1) to Sf (9). Is formed.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the control configuration of the weighing system of this embodiment.

The weighing system of this embodiment includes a programmable controller (hereinafter abbreviated as “PLC”) 27 as a control device for controlling the entire system.

The programmable display 29 which is an operation display terminal is connected to this PLC27. In the programmable display 29, various setting operations such as the transport speed of the upstream transport mechanism 3 and the swivel conveyor 14 and the vibration intensity of the vibration feeder 6 and various displays are performed.

The PLC 27 receives input request signals (1) to (9) when the control unit 28 of the semi-automatic combination weigher 2 requests input of articles to the nine article input ports 25, respectively. In addition, each of the article detection sensors Sa (1) to Sa (3), Sb (1) to Sb (3), Sc (1) to Sc (3), Sd (1) to Sd (3), Detection outputs of Se (1) to Se (9) and Sf (1) to Sf (9) are input.

The PLC 27 controls the front-stage transport mechanism 3 via the front-stage transport mechanism drive control circuit 30 and controls each guide member 8 of the article discharge mechanism 4 via the guide member drive circuit 31. The PLC 27 controls each swivel conveyor 14 of each distribution transport mechanism 5 via a swivel conveyor drive control circuit 32 and a swivel conveyor swivel drive control circuit 33, and each vibration feeder 6 via a vibration feeder drive circuit 34. Control.

The PLC 27 basically controls so that when an article is input from the combination weigher 2 to each article insertion port 25, the article can be immediately input into the article insertion port 25 that has been requested. The PLC 27 performs control so that the article can be conveyed to the end of the trough 15 of each vibration feeder 6 and can be on standby.

That is, in the vibration feeder 6, when there is no article at the end of the trough 15, the article detected at the start of the trough 15 is conveyed to the end of the trough 15. When there is no article detected at the starting end of the trough 15, the turning conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5 is requested to input the article.

The swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5 transports the article to the terminal end of the swivel conveyor 14 and controls the rotation position so that the article can be immediately put into the trough 15 of the vibration feeder 6 where the article is requested to be placed. Is done. When there is no article at the end of the swivel conveyor 14, the article detected at the start end of the swivel conveyor 14 is conveyed to the end, and when there is no article detected at the start end of the swivel conveyor 14, the article discharge mechanism 4. Is requested to input the article.

In the article discharge mechanism 4 in which the article input request has been made, when the article passing through the detection area immediately before the article discharge mechanism 4 is detected, the guide member 8 is driven and the discharge posture is advanced to the transport path. Thereby, the article discharge mechanism 4 supplies the article to be conveyed to the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution conveyance mechanism 5 outside the conveyance path.

Next, an example of control by the PLC 27 will be described in more detail.

FIG. 14 is a schematic flowchart showing an example of overall control of the article supply apparatus 1 of this embodiment.

First, it is determined whether or not the operation switch of the programmable display 29 is turned on (step S1). When the operation switch is turned on, the operation is started, and when input request signals (1) to (9) corresponding to nine article input ports 25 are input from the semi-automatic combination weigher 2 (step S2), The vibration feeder 6 that is the lowest in the conveyance direction of the article in the article supply apparatus 1 is controlled (step S3). Next, the distribution / delivery mechanism 5 that is superior is controlled (step S4), the article discharge mechanism 4 that is superior is further controlled (step S5), and it is determined whether or not the operation switch is turned off. (Step S6). When the operation switch is turned off, the process ends.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of control of the vibration feeder 6 which is a subroutine in the overall control flowchart of FIG.

The basic control is that when no article is detected by the rear end article detection sensors Sf (1) to Sf (9), that is, when there is no article at the end of the trough 15 of the vibration feeder 6, the vibration feeder 6 is turned on. Driving for a certain time, the article at the start end of the trough 15 is conveyed to the end of the trough 15. Instead of driving for a fixed time, the rear end article detection sensors Sf (1) to Sf (9) may be driven until the article at the end of the trough 15 is detected.

When an article is not detected by the subsequent-stage start-end article detection sensors Se (1) to Se (9), that is, when there is no article at the start end of the trough 15 of the vibration feeder 6, the article is put into the trough 15 of the vibration feeder 6. The article input command flag for instructing to be turned on is turned ON, and the article is input from the distribution transport mechanism 5 to the vibration feeder 6.

When an article is detected by the rear end article detection sensors Sf (1) to Sf (9) and there is an article at the end of the trough 15 of the vibration feeder 6, an input signal for an article input is input from the semi-automatic combination weigher 2 If there is, the vibration feeder 6 is driven for a certain time. As a result, the article at the end of the trough 15 of the vibration feeder 6 is supplied to the article insertion port 25 of the semi-automatic combination weigher 2. It should be noted that instead of driving for a certain period of time, when the articles at the end portion of the trough 15 are no longer detected by the rear end article detection sensors Sf (1) to Sf (9), the article becomes the article input port 25 of the combination weigher 2. As a result, the drive of the vibration feeder 6 may be stopped.

In this example, as shown in FIG. 15, first, the number k specifying one of the vibration feeders 6 is set to “1” (step S301), and the driving flag indicating that the vibration feeder 6 with the number k is being driven. It is determined whether or not is ON (step S302). When the driving flag is ON, the driving timer for driving time measurement corresponding to the vibration feeder 6 of number k is reduced (step S303), and it is determined whether or not the driving timer has expired (step S304).

When the driving timer corresponding to the vibration feeder 6 with the number k is up in step S304, the driving of the vibration feeder 6 with the number k is stopped assuming that the driving for a predetermined time is finished (step S305). The driving flag of the vibration feeder 6 with the number k that has stopped driving is turned OFF (step S306), the number k is incremented (step S307), and whether or not the number k has become “10”, that is, nine vibrations It is determined whether or not the processing for the feeder 6 has been completed (step S308). When the number k is not “10”, the process returns to step S302, and when the number k is “10”, the process returns from the subroutine.

In step S302, when the driving flag of the vibration feeder 6 of number k is not ON, whether or not an article is detected at the end of the trough 15 of the vibration feeder 6 of number k, that is, the vibration feeder of number k. It is determined whether or not an article is detected by the rear end article detection sensor Sf (k) corresponding to 6 (step S309). When an article is detected, it is determined whether or not an input request signal (k) corresponding to the number k has been input from the semi-automatic combination weigher 2 (step S310). When the input request signal is input, the driving flag of the vibration feeder 6 with the number k is turned ON (step S311), a driving timer corresponding to the vibration feeder 6 with the number k is set (step S312), and the number k with the vibration feeder 6 is set. The driving of the vibration feeder 6 is started and the process proceeds to step S307 (step S313).

If no article is detected at the end of the trough 15 of the vibration feeder 6 of number k in step S309, whether or not the article is detected at the start of the trough 15 of the vibration feeder 6 of number k, that is, number It is determined whether or not an article is detected by the rear-stage starting-end article detection sensor Se (k) corresponding to the k vibration feeder 6 (step S314). When the article is detected, the driving flag of the vibration feeder 6 with the number k is turned ON (step S315), a driving timer corresponding to the vibration feeder 6 with the number k is set (step S316), and the vibration feeder 6 with the number k is set. Driving is started and the process proceeds to step S307 (step S317).

If no article is detected at the start end of the trough 15 of the vibration feeder 6 of number k in step S314, the article is sent to the trough 15 of the vibration feeder 6 of number k with respect to the distribution transport mechanism 5 corresponding to number k. The input instruction flag for instructing the input of is turned ON, and the process proceeds to step S307 (step S318).

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of control of the distribution transport mechanism 5 which is a subroutine in the overall control flowchart of FIG.

Basic control is that if there is no article at the start end of the trough 15 of the vibration feeder 6, that is, if no article is detected by the rear-stage start-end article detection sensors Se (1) to Se (9), the trough of the vibration feeder 6 The article is transported to the terminal portion of the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5 so that the article can be put into the start end portion 15.

If the article is not detected by the distribution end article detection sensors Sd (1) to Sd (3), that is, if the article is not at the end of the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5, the swivel conveyor 14 is driven for a certain time. The article at the start end of the swivel conveyor 14 is conveyed to the terminal end of the swivel conveyor 14. Note that instead of driving for a certain period of time, it is assumed that the articles are conveyed to the terminal end of the swivel conveyor 14 when the articles are detected by the distribution end article detection sensors Sd (1) to Sd (3). The driving may be stopped.

If no articles are detected by the distribution start end article detection sensors Sc (1) to Sc (3), that is, if there is no article at the start end of the swivel conveyor 14, the article discharge mechanism 4 is connected to the swivel conveyor 14. The discharge command flag for commanding discharge is turned ON.

Further, when there is no article at the start end of the trough 15 of the vibration feeder 6 and there is an article at the end of the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5, the turning position of the swivel conveyor 14 is changed to the trough 15 of the vibration feeder 6. When the article loading position is not present, the swivel conveyor 14 is rotated to the loading position of the trough 15 of the vibration feeder 6. The swivel conveyor 14 that has been rotated is driven for a certain period of time, and articles are fed from the swivel conveyor 14 to the starting end of the vibration feeder 6. When there is no article at the beginning of the trough 15 of the vibration feeder 6 and there is an article at the end of the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5, the turning position of the swivel conveyor 14 is changed to the trough 15 of the vibration feeder 6. When the article is in the loading position, the swivel conveyor 14 is driven for a predetermined time. As a result, articles are fed from the swivel conveyor 14 to the starting end of the vibration feeder 6. Instead of driving for a certain period of time, when the articles at the end of the swivel conveyor 14 are no longer detected by the distribution end article detection sensors Sd (1) to Sd (3), the articles are removed from the trough 15 of the vibration feeder 6. The driving of the swivel conveyor 14 may be stopped assuming that it has been put into the starting end.

The swivel conveyor 14 of one distribution transport mechanism 5 is rotated to supply articles to the troughs 15 of the three vibration feeders 6. However, since the swivel conveyor 14 is rotated by a servo motor, the input position can be easily controlled. is there.

In this example, as shown in FIG. 16, first, a number j that designates one of the distribution transport mechanisms 5, a number k that designates one of the vibration feeders 6, and a vibration distributed by one distribution transport mechanism 5. The number a that defines the number of feeders 6 is set to “1” (step S401). It is determined whether a driving flag indicating that the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5 of number j is being driven is ON (step S402). When the driving flag is ON, the driving timer for driving time measurement corresponding to the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5 of number j is reduced (step S403), and it is determined whether or not the driving timer has timed up. (Step S404).

When the drive timer corresponding to the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5 of number j expires in step S404, the drive of the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5 of number j is stopped (step S405), and the distribution of number j is performed. The driving flag of the swivel conveyor 14 of the transport mechanism 5 is turned off (step S406). Next, the number k for designating the vibration feeder 6 and the number a of the vibration feeders 6 are incremented (step S407), and whether or not the number a has become “4”, that is, the distribution processing for the three vibration feeders 6 is performed. It is determined whether or not the processing has been completed (step S408). If the number a is not “4”, the distribution process for the three vibration feeders 6 is not completed, and the process returns to step S402.

When the number a becomes “4” in step S408, it is determined that the distribution process for the three vibration feeders 6 by the distribution transport mechanism 5 with the number j is completed, and the number j is incremented and the number s is set to “1”. Return (step S409). Next, it is determined whether or not the number j has become “4”, that is, whether or not the processing for the three distribution transport mechanisms 5 has been completed (step S410). When it is not “4”, the process returns to step S402, and when it is “4”, the process returns from the subroutine.

In step S402, when the driving flag of the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5 of number j is not ON, whether or not an article has been detected at the end of the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5 of number j, That is, it is determined whether or not an article is detected by the distribution end article detection sensor Sd (j) corresponding to the distribution transport mechanism 5 of number j (step S411). When an article is detected, it is determined whether or not an article input command flag to the trough 15 of the vibration feeder 6 of number k is ON, that is, whether or not there is a request to input an article to the trough 15 of the vibration feeder 6. Judgment is made (step S412). When the article input command flag is ON, the process proceeds to step S413. When the article input command flag is not ON, the process proceeds to step S407.

In step S413, whether or not the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5 with the number j is in the position where the article is put into the trough 15 of the vibration feeder 6 with the number k, that is, the transport belt of the swivel conveyor 14 is determined. It is determined whether or not the end of 11 is at a position immediately above the trough 15 of the vibration feeder 6 of number k. If it is in the loading position, an article loading command flag to the trough 15 of the vibration feeder 6 of number k is turned OFF (step S414). Next, the driving flag of the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5 of number j is turned ON (step S415), and a drive timer corresponding to the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5 of number j is set (step S416). The driving of the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5 of number j is started, and the process proceeds to step S407 (step S417). In step S413, when the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5 of number j is not in the article loading position with respect to the trough 15 of the vibration feeder 6 of number k, the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5 of number j is moved to the number k. Then, the vibration feeder 6 is turned to the loading position of the article with respect to the trough 15 of the vibration feeder 6, that is, is turned to move to Step S 407 (Step S 418).

In step S411, if no article is detected at the end of the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5 of number j, whether or not the article is detected at the start of the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5 of number j. That is, it is determined whether or not an article is detected by the distribution start end article detection sensor Sc (j) corresponding to the distribution transport mechanism 5 of number j (step S419). When an article is detected, the driving flag of the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5 of number j is turned ON (step S420), and a drive timer corresponding to the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5 of number j is set (step S420). S421), the driving of the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5 of number j is started, and the process proceeds to step S407 (step S422).

In step S419, when no article is detected at the starting end of the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5 of number j, the number j is set so as to be discharged to the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5 of number j. The discharge command flag to the corresponding article discharge mechanism 4 is turned on, and the process proceeds to step S407 (step S423).

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of control of the article discharge mechanism 4, which is a subroutine in the overall control flowchart of FIG.

The basic control is that when the article discharge command flag to the article discharge mechanism 4 is turned ON in the control of the distribution and transport mechanism 5, the preceding article detection is performed in order to discharge the articles to the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution and transport mechanism 5. When the articles are detected by the sensors Sa (1) to Sa (3), the guide member 8 of the article discharge mechanism 4 is driven to set the discharge posture to advance into the conveyance path. As a result, the article is guided by the guide member 8 in the discharge posture and falls from the transport belt 7 of the front-stage transport mechanism 3 to the discharge chute 9 side, and the falling articles are discharged article detection sensors Sb (1) to Sb ( Detected in 3).

Since the control program of the article discharge mechanism 4 is turned on at regular intervals, for example, if it is turned on every 10 ms, the detection outputs of the discharged article detection sensors Sb (1) to Sb (3) are continued 10 times. In this case, the article blocks the optical path of the discharged article detection sensors Sb (1) to Sb (3) over a period of 10 ms × 10 = 100 ms, and the amount of articles discharged can be grasped. Therefore, when the article detection time during which articles discharged by the discharged article detection sensors Sb (1) to Sb (3) are detected continues for a predetermined time, the guide member 8 of the article discharge mechanism 4 is retracted from the conveyance path. By returning to the posture, an appropriate amount of articles can be discharged to the distribution transport mechanism 5.

When the article is detected by the preceding article detection sensors Sa (1) to (3) that detect the article passing through the detection area immediately before the article discharge mechanism 4 and the guide member 8 is driven, the article is Guided by the guide member 8 in the discharging posture. Accordingly, the article should be discharged from the transport belt 7 of the upstream transport mechanism 3 to the discharge chute 9 side, and the articles should be detected by the discharged article detection sensors Sb (1) to Sb (3). If the discharged article detection sensors Sb (1) to (3) are not detected, it can be determined that some trouble has occurred. For example, it is possible to detect a problem that an article is sandwiched between the guide member 8 and the transport belt 7.

In this example, as shown in FIG. 17, first, the number k that designates one of the article discharge mechanisms 4 is set to “1” (step S501), and the articles discharged from the article discharge mechanism 4 of the number k are handled. It is determined whether or not a discharging detection flag indicating that the discharged article detection sensor Sb (k) to be detected is being detected (step S502). When the discharging detection flag is ON, it is determined whether the discharged article detection sensor Sb (k) is ON, that is, whether the article is continuously detected (step S503). When the article is continuously detected, the article discharge detection time (k) of the article discharge mechanism 4 of number k is increased (step S504), and whether or not the article discharge detection time k has reached a predetermined time. Determination is made (step S505), and when a predetermined time is reached, the guide member 8 is turned off, that is, the guide member 8 is retracted from the conveyance path, assuming that an appropriate amount of articles has been discharged (step S506). Next, the discharge detection flag indicating that the article discharged from the article discharge mechanism 4 of number k is being detected is turned OFF (step S507), and the guide member 8 of the article discharge mechanism 4 of number k is being driven. The driving flag indicating the presence is turned off (step S508). Next, the number k is incremented (step S509), and it is determined whether or not the number k has become “4”, that is, whether or not the discharge processing of the three article discharge mechanisms 4 has been completed (step S510). When the value is not “4”, the process returns to step S502. When the value is “4”, the process returns from the subroutine.

In the above step S502, when the discharge detection flag indicating that the corresponding discharge article detection sensor Sb (k) is detecting the article discharged from the article discharge mechanism 4 of number k is not ON, the article of number k It is determined whether or not a driving flag indicating that the guide member 8 of the discharging mechanism 4 is being driven is ON (step S511). When the driving flag is ON, it is determined whether or not the discharged article detection sensor Sb (k) is ON, that is, whether or not an article has been detected (step S512). When the discharged article detection sensor Sb (k) is turned on, the discharge detection flag indicating that the article discharged from the article discharge mechanism 4 of number k is being detected is turned on, and the process proceeds to step S509 (step S513).

When the discharged article detection sensor Sb (k) is not turned on in step S512, the discharge defect detection time for detecting the discharge defect of the article discharge mechanism 4 of number k is increased (step S514), and the discharge defect detection time is predetermined. It is determined whether it is time (step S515). When the predetermined time is reached, the discharge failure of the article discharge mechanism 4 of number k is displayed, for example, on the programmable display 29, and the process proceeds to step S509 (step S516).

In step S511, when the driving flag indicating that the guide member 8 of the article discharge mechanism 4 of number k is being driven is not ON, the article discharge command flag for the article discharge mechanism 4 of number k is turned ON. It is determined whether or not (step S517). When the discharge command flag is ON, whether or not the preceding article detection sensor Sa (k) that detects the article passing through the detection area immediately before the article discharge mechanism 4 of number k is turned on, that is, the article is detected. It is determined whether or not (step S518). When the article is detected, the guide member 8 of the article discharge mechanism 4 with the number k is driven to set the discharge posture to advance into the conveyance path (step S519). Next, the driving flag indicating that the guide member 8 of the article discharge mechanism 4 of number k is being driven is turned ON (step S520), and the article discharge command flag for the article discharge mechanism 4 of number k is turned OFF (step S520). In step S521), the discharge failure detection time of the article discharge mechanism 4 of number k is set to “0”, and the process proceeds to step S509 (step S522).

As described above, when an article is supplied on the upper side in the conveyance direction of the preceding conveyance mechanism 3, each of the three distribution conveyance mechanisms 5 outside the conveyance path is guided by the guide member 8 of the article discharge mechanism 4 at three positions on the conveyance path. It is discharged to each swivel conveyor 14. The discharged articles are distributed and conveyed to the troughs 15 of the three vibration feeders 6 by the swivel conveyors 14 respectively. That is, the article supplied at one location on the upper side in the conveyance direction of the front-stage conveyance mechanism 3 is distributed and conveyed to the troughs 15 of the nine vibration feeders 6, and the troughs 15 of the vibration feeders 6 use the 9 of the combination weigher 2. It can be supplied to the individual article inlet 25.

Therefore, the article w, which is a piece of sticky broiler meat, can be automatically supplied to the nine article insertion ports 25 of the combination weigher 2. As a result, it is not necessary for the operator to grab the articles one by one and put them into the article insertion port of the semi-automatic combination weigher as in the prior art, and the labor of the operator can be greatly reduced.

For example, when a 2 kg vacuum pack of broiler meat pieces is manufactured in a subsequent packaging machine of a semi-automatic combination weigher, assuming that the weighing capacity of the combination weigher is, for example, 20 times / minute, the operator is 1 In time, a piece of meat corresponding to 2 kg × 20 × 60 = 2.4 t is grasped and put into the article insertion port of the semi-automatic combination weigher. In addition, since the worker works while standing, if the work is performed for a long time, the physical strength is excessively consumed.

According to the present embodiment, since the article w is automatically distributed and supplied to the article insertion port 25 of the combination weigher 2 by the article supply device 1, the operator grasps a piece of meat and puts it into the article insertion port 25 of the combination scale 2. There is no need, and a great deal of labor can be saved.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the plurality of articles w are carried into the preceding stage transport mechanism 3 in a state of being overlapped and gathered, and the plurality of articles w are superposed on the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5. Even if it is supplied in a state of being gathered together, the overlap of the plurality of articles w is broken along the transport direction by the first and second transport restriction mechanisms 50A and 50B while being transported by the swivel conveyor 14. Is possible. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a plurality of articles w from being collectively supplied to the vibration feeder 6 from the end of the swivel conveyor 14. Therefore, the plurality of articles w are not excessively charged at once to the article insertion port 25 of the combination weigher 2 from the vibration feeder 6, and it is possible to prevent the combination accuracy and yield of the combination weigher 2 from being lowered.

[Other Embodiments]
The present invention can also be implemented in the following forms.

(1) In the above embodiment, the article restriction device 50 includes the two conveyance restriction mechanisms 50A and 50B. However, the conveyance restriction mechanism is not limited to two, and may be one or three. It may be the above.

(2) In the above embodiment, the rod-shaped body as the conveyance regulating member 52 is cantilevered, but the rod-shaped body over the entire width of the conveyance path may be supported at both ends.

Further, the conveyance regulating member 52 is not limited to a rod shape, and may be a plate shape or other shapes.

(3) If the installation positions of the first and second conveyance restriction mechanisms 50A and 50B are configured to be adjustable in the front-rear direction and the vertical direction along the conveyance direction, the conveyance restriction member 52 can be adjusted to the size and property of the article. It can be installed at a suitable front-rear position and height according to the restriction, and the conveyance can be regulated.

(4) As shown in FIG. 18, a structure in which a cylindrical shaft roller 52b made of a stainless steel material or a resin material is freely loosely fitted to a support shaft 52a that supports a conveyance regulating member 52 in a lateral cantilever shape. You may do it. According to such a structure, the article w can smoothly pass through the conveyance regulating member 52 by the rotation of the roller 52b.

(5) In the above embodiment, each of the conveyance restriction mechanisms 50A and 50B includes one conveyance restriction member 52, but the conveyance restriction mechanism may include a plurality of conveyance restriction members.

For example, as shown in FIG. 19, the article regulating apparatus 50 includes a single conveyance regulating mechanism 50C, and the conveyance regulating mechanism 50C has two conveyance regulations that are higher on the upper side in the conveyance direction than on the lower side in the conveyance direction. A member 52 is provided.

Further, in FIG. 19, the conveyance regulating member 52 is configured in a comb shape in which a plurality of rod-shaped bodies 52d are connected downward to a support shaft 52c that is rotatably supported across the support frame 51 on both sides of the conveyance path. is doing. In this case, a torsion spring 62 is externally attached to the boss portion of the rotating arm 61 connected and fixed to one end of the support shaft 52c. One end 62 a of the torsion spring 62 is locked to the spring receiving pin 63 in the support frame 51, and the other end 62 b of the torsion spring 62 is locked to the rotating arm 61.

As a result, the comb-shaped conveyance regulating member 52 is urged to rotate in a certain direction, and the rotation arm 61 is received by the stopper 64 in the support frame 51, so that the rod-shaped body 52d moves downward. Keep biased to posture. According to this, it is possible to receive and restrict conveyance at a plurality of locations in the conveyance path lateral width direction of the article being conveyed by the rod-shaped body 52d group of the conveyance regulating member 52. Further, when a large number of articles w are pressed against the conveyance regulating member 52 and clogged, the conveyance regulating member 52 is swung up and rotated rearward around the axis d of the support shaft 52c against the torsion spring 62. Allow passage.

(6) The revolving conveyor 14 can arbitrarily select the conveyor belt 11 according to the size, weight, property, etc. of the article. For example, a slat type conveyor, a wire mesh belt conveyor, or the like in which a large number of lateral slat bars made of a hard resin material or a metal material are connected to form an annular belt can be used. Further, the articles w can be reliably conveyed by projecting a large number of small protrusions on the conveyance surface of the conveyance belt 11 or by projecting laterally extending ridges at a predetermined pitch in the conveyance direction.

(7) Instead of the guide member 8 of the article discharge mechanism 4, a pusher that can be moved in and out in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction is disposed beside the conveyance path, and the pusher is advanced into the conveyance path to convey the article w. It can also be a form of extruding to the outside of the path.

(8) Instead of the swivel conveyor 14 of the distribution transport mechanism 5, the article can be placed on a trough-like trough driven by vibration and transported by vibration.

(9) The rear-stage transport mechanism can be a belt conveyor type instead of the vibration feeder 6.

(10) The place where the article w is discharged by the article discharge mechanism 4 and the distribution destination to which the article is distributed by the distribution transport mechanism 5 are not limited to three places, but are arbitrary.

(11) In the above-described embodiment, the article is supplied to the article input port of the combination weigher by the article supply device. However, for example, on the plurality of supply conveyors of the semi-automatic combination weigher of Patent Document 2 described above. The article may be supplied to the apparatus, and the article may be supplied to other devices without being limited to the combination weigher.

(12) In the above embodiment, the articles distributed by the distribution transport mechanism are transported to the article input port of the combination weigher that is each supply destination by the vibration feeder as the rear transport mechanism, but the rear transport mechanism is omitted and distributed. Articles may be directly distributed and supplied to each supply destination by the transport mechanism.

(13) In the above embodiment, the article is described as being applied to a broiler meat piece that has been disassembled. However, the article is not limited to such a piece of meat. Also good. The present invention can be applied to the conveyance of various articles in which a plurality of articles are conveyed together so as to overlap.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Article supply apparatus 2 Combination balance 3 Previous stage conveyance mechanism 4 Article discharge mechanism 5 Distribution conveyance mechanism 6 Vibrating feeder 8 Guide member 14 Swivel conveyor 15 Trough 27 PLC
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 50 Article control apparatus 50A 1st conveyance control mechanism 50B 2nd conveyance control mechanism 50C Conveyance control mechanism 52 Conveyance control member w Article Sa Previous article detection sensor Sb Discharged article detection sensor

Claims (13)

1. A transport regulation mechanism that regulates the height of the article to be transported in the transport path of the article;
   The conveyance restriction mechanism has a conveyance restriction member that allows passage of an article having a set height or less and receives an article that exceeds the set height and restricts movement of the article to the lower side in the conveyance direction,
   The transport regulating mechanism biases and supports the transport regulating member with a set biasing force at a regulation position corresponding to the set height,
   The transport regulating mechanism is capable of moving the transport regulating member backward on the lower side in the transport direction by an external force on the lower side in the transport direction that exceeds the urging force, and the restriction position when the external force is released. Support to move back to
   Article regulation device.
2. The transport restriction mechanism includes a biasing member that biases the transport restriction member to the restriction position with the biasing force.
   The article regulating apparatus according to claim 1.
3. The transport regulating mechanism supports the transport regulating member so as to be able to move backward along an arcuate trajectory and to be able to move back along the arcuate trajectory.
   The article regulating apparatus according to claim 1.
4. The transport regulating mechanism supports the transport regulating member so as to be able to move backward along an arcuate trajectory and to be able to move back along the arcuate trajectory.
   The article regulating apparatus according to claim 2.
5. A plurality of the transport regulating mechanisms respectively installed at a plurality of locations along the transport direction;
   The conveyance restriction mechanism on the upper side in the conveyance direction is installed so that the set height by the conveyance restriction member is higher than the conveyance restriction mechanism on the lower side in the conveyance direction.
   The article regulating apparatus according to claim 1.
6. A plurality of the transport regulating mechanisms respectively installed at a plurality of locations along the transport direction;
   The conveyance restriction mechanism on the upper side in the conveyance direction is installed so that the set height by the conveyance restriction member is higher than the conveyance restriction mechanism on the lower side in the conveyance direction.
   The article regulating apparatus according to claim 2.
7. A plurality of the transport regulating mechanisms respectively installed at a plurality of locations along the transport direction;
   The conveyance restriction mechanism on the upper side in the conveyance direction is installed so that the set height by the conveyance restriction member is higher than the conveyance restriction mechanism on the lower side in the conveyance direction.
   The article | item control apparatus of Claim 3.
8. A plurality of the transport regulating mechanisms respectively installed at a plurality of locations along the transport direction;
   The conveyance restriction mechanism on the upper side in the conveyance direction is installed so that the set height by the conveyance restriction member is higher than the conveyance restriction mechanism on the lower side in the conveyance direction.
   The article | item control apparatus of Claim 4.
9. The transport regulating member is a rod-like body supported above the transport path so as to intersect the transport path.
   The article | item control apparatus in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 8.
10. The transport regulating mechanism supports the rod-like body by projecting in a cantilevered manner from the side of the transport path to the upper side of the transport path.
    The article | item control apparatus of Claim 9.
11. A plurality of the transport regulating mechanisms respectively installed at a plurality of locations along the transport direction;
    The length of the rod-like body protruding in the cantilever shape above the transport path is shorter than the width of the transport path,
    The plurality of transport regulation mechanisms are alternately installed on one side and the other side of the transport path along the transport direction.
    The article regulating apparatus according to claim 10.
12. The article regulating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
    An article conveyance mechanism for conveying the article along the conveyance path,
    Article supply device.
13. The article transport mechanism includes a swivel conveyor that is capable of switching and rotating the lower side of the transport direction to a plurality of positions around the upper side of the transport direction.
    The article supply apparatus according to claim 13.

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