JP3543304B2 - Long onion root cutting equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a long onion root cutting device, and in particular, contrives to prevent unevenness of root cutting length due to excessive cutting due to dirt such as soil or mud around the base axis of long onion during root cutting operation. The present invention relates to a root cutting device for applied onion.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Rooted green onion harvested in vegetable fields etc. can be shipped as it is, or the harvested rooted green onion can be cut off at the processing plant, etc. at the root of the white stalk and discarded. Are cut into uniform lengths before shipping.
[0003]
Conventionally, such root cutting of long onions is performed one by one manually by an operator at a processing site or the like.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
For this reason, extremely troublesome processing operations such as root cutting of the root portion of the white stalk of long onion and alignment of the root cutting length as described above are required. Moreover, the processing of the root cutting length of long onions requires appropriate skill, which reduces workability and mass productivity, and consequently reduces the value of the product due to the uneven root cutting length of long onions. A big problem has arisen.
[0005]
Conventionally, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a root cutting apparatus capable of automatically performing processing such as root cutting of long onion and aligning the root cutting length has been developed and put into practical use. ing.
[0006]
Using a photodetector composed of a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element, a root-cutting device that controls the length of root cutting of long onions emits light to the outer peripheral surface of the cut green onions. Light is transmitted in the axial direction and emitted from a part of the outer peripheral surface or the axial cross section of the long onion, and the amount of emitted light is detected. The root cutting position (cutting position) of the long onion is adjusted based on the detected output light amount.
[0007]
However, in such a conventional root cutting device for long onion, soil or mud such as a field may be directly attached to the outer periphery around the base axis, and the light projected on the outer peripheral surface of the long onion Since the light does not pass through the green onions properly, the detection accuracy of the amount of light emitted from the green onions decreases, and the root cutting length of the green onions may vary. Therefore, the big problem of a decrease in commercial value due to the uneven root cutting length of the green onion adjusted after cutting has not yet been completely solved.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to improve the workability and mass productivity of the root cutting process of rooted green onions, and to reduce the commercial value due to the uneven root cutting length. An object of the present invention is to provide a root cutting device for long onions, which can surely prevent the drop.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention provides a root cutting device for long onion, which includes a cutting unit for cutting off an axial root portion of a long onion to be subjected to a root cutting process, and a root cutting operation performed by the cutting unit. A light projecting means for projecting the light in the axial direction so that the light is transmitted in the axial direction, and detecting an amount of light emitted from the light projecting means and emitted through the outer peripheral surface and the axial section of the green onion. Light receiving means, cutting position changing means for setting and changing the root cutting length by moving the position of the long onion rooted by the cutting means in the axial direction, and long onion by projection of the light projecting means Length control by controlling the cutting of the long onion by the cutting position changing means in the axial direction and the cutting of the long onion by the cutting means when the output light amount of the light transmitted through the inside is equal to or less than a specified value. Means and light emitting means on the outer peripheral surface around the base axis of the long onion near the cutting means. Characterized by comprising a cleaning means for cleaning the dirt passing position of the projected light.
[0010]
With such a configuration, a cleaning unit is provided in the vicinity of the cutting unit for cleaning dirt on the outer peripheral surface around the base axis of the long onion at a passing position of light projected from the light projection unit. The detection accuracy of the amount of emitted light by the means and the light receiving means is increased. This makes it possible to improve the accuracy of the length of root cuttings of long onions, so that it is possible to reliably prevent a decrease in commercial value due to unevenness of root cutting lengths as in the past, and furthermore, root cutting of rooted green onions. Processing workability and mass productivity are also improved.
[0011]
Further, the present invention provides the above-described onion root cutting device, wherein the cleaning means comprises: an injection nozzle which is installed close to the outer periphery around a base axis of the green onion; and an air pump which supplies compressed air to the injection nozzle. It is characterized by comprising.
[0012]
With such a configuration, the outer peripheral surface around the base axis of the long onion can be efficiently washed during the root cutting process, and the detection accuracy of the amount of emitted light by the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit can be improved. It is possible to improve the accuracy of the length of root cutting of long onions. In addition, since the cleaning is performed by wind pressure, unlike the cleaning process using water, it is not necessary to dispose of the dirty water after the cleaning, and the cleaning operation can be simplified.
[0013]
Further, the present invention provides the above-described onion root cutting apparatus, wherein the cleaning means is driven and controlled to be swingable in the axial direction of the onion, and a scraping device comprising a scraper for scraping the surface of the base portion of the onion. A device is provided.
[0014]
Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-described root onion cutting apparatus of the long onion, the cleaning means includes a scraping device comprising a brush for brushing the surface of the base of the long onion.
[0015]
By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to efficiently wash the long onion without damaging the outer peripheral surface around the root axis during the root cutting process. Further, if the above various cleaning means are used in combination, the cleaning is performed more efficiently, and the detection accuracy of the amount of emitted light by the light projecting means and the light receiving means is increased. Thereby, the accuracy of the root cutting length of the long onion can be further improved.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the entire configuration of a long onion root cutting apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the long onion support member. FIG. 4 is a side view showing a cutting device for cutting rooted green onions. FIG. 5 is a front view showing the root cutting state of the rooted green onion by the cutting device. FIG. 6 is a side view showing an onion pressing device for pressing and holding the rooted green onion at the cleaning and root cutting site on the conveying member. FIG. 7 is a side view showing a cleaning state of a rooted green onion at a cleaning site. FIG. 8 is a side view showing the cutting state of the rooted green onion at the cutting site. FIG. 9 is a front view showing an adjusted state of the root cutting position by the optical detection means for cutting onion after cutting. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a root cutting procedure of a netsuke long onion.
[0017]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a root cutting device 1 for long onions according to the present invention includes a gantry 2. On this gantry 2, supporting shafts 3 and 4 are rotatably opposed to each other via bearings (not shown) on the upstream side and the downstream side in the transport direction X of the rooted long onion N. . Sprockets 5, 5 and 6, 6 having the same diameter are provided at both ends corresponding to the root end and the leaf end in the axial direction of the root onion N in each of the support shafts 3 and 4, respectively. I have. Chain belts 7, 7 are stretched between the sprockets 5, 5, 6, and 6.
[0018]
A sprocket 8 is provided at an end of one support shaft 4 on the downstream side of the gantry 2. The sprocket 8 is connected to a control device 21 to be described later and is driven by a motor M whose rotation is controlled by a belt. Thus, the driving force of the motor M is transmitted to the support shaft 3 and the rotation of the support shaft 4 to the support shaft 3 via the chain belts 7.
[0019]
Further, between the support shafts 3 and 4, transport belts 9, 9 and 9 are respectively stretched. On each of the transport belts 9, an onion support member 10 for mounting the rooted green onions N is attached across the transport belts 9, 9, 9 at regular intervals.
[0020]
As shown in detail in FIG. 3, the long onion support member 10 has a wide V-shaped configuration in which the root-side mounting portion 10A of the rooted green onion N has a wide V-shape, and has a narrow-width V-shaped configuration in which the stem-side mounting portion 10B has a narrow width. The leaf-side mounting portion 10C of the rooted long green onion N has the form of a flat receiving plate. In this way, particularly, the lateral movement of the rooted green onion N on the root side is suppressed, and the rooted green onion N can be stably placed in the axial direction.
[0021]
Further, on one side on the downstream side of the gantry 2, that is, at a portion corresponding to the root-side end of the rooted green onion N, a cutting device 11 which is a means for root-cutting the axial root of the rooted green onion N is provided. Are located. As shown in FIG. 4, the cutting device 11 is provided with a cutting blade 15 supported on a rotating shaft 14 of a motor 13 on a base 12. The driving method of the motor 13 is not limited, such as an induction motor or a stepping motor.
[0022]
A disk-shaped backup plate 16 rotatably supported on the rotating shaft 14 of the stepping motor 13 together with the cutting blade 15 is provided on the back surface of the cutting blade 15. The backup plate 16 has a notch formed with a sensor window 17 for optical detection means for detecting the amount of light emitted from the axial section of the root-cut long onion N1.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 5, the optical detecting means is provided with a light projector 18 composed of a light emitting element for projecting light on a part of the outer periphery of the long onion N1 rooted by the cutting device 11, and this light projector 18 is provided. Is diffusely reflected in the green onion N1 so that a part of the light L is transmitted along the axial direction of the green onion N1, and emitted from the axial section of the rooted green onion N1. It has become.
[0024]
The light L emitted from the axial cross section of the long onion N1 is received by a light receiver 19 including a light receiving element installed at a lower portion on the back side of the backup plate 16. The light receiver 19 detects the amount of emitted light L emitted through the sensor window 17 of the backup plate 16 and the light receiving and condensing body 20. The light receiving and condensing body 20 is, for example, a frustoconical cylindrical member having openings at both ends and an inner surface serving as a reflecting mirror, and a light receiving device 19 with a large opening facing the green onion N1. Is installed on the light-receiving surface side of. Then, the light L emitted from the long onion N1 is introduced into the inside through the large opening, reflected by the internal reflecting mirror, and condensed on the side of the condensing window 20a, which is a small opening, so that the light receiving device 19 has high efficiency. Light is received well, and the light receiving accuracy is increased.
[0025]
Note that data on the amount of emitted light L detected by the light receiver 19 is sent to a control device 21 including, for example, a programmable logic controller (PLC) (see FIG. 1). This control device 21 drives and controls the rotation of a motor cylinder 22 which is a root cutting length control means of the long onion N1. The motor cylinder 22 moves the cutting device 11 supported on the base 12 in the axial direction Y of the green onion N1 based on the data on the amount of emitted light, and adjusts the root cutting length of the green onion N1. I do.
[0026]
The root cutting length control means for the long onion N1 moves the cutting device 11 with the cutting blade 15 rotated until the output light amount of the light L detected by the light receiver 19 exceeds a predetermined value. The cutting device 11 is moved to the side of the green onion N1 to increase the amount of root cutting of the green onion N1, and when the output light amount of the light L detected by the light receiver 19 exceeds a specified value, the cutting device 11 is moved to the side opposite to the green onion N1 side. Is controlled to end the root cutting.
[0027]
Also, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an optical sensor 23 is installed on the upstream side of the gantry 2, and the optical sensor 23 is moved by the conveyor belts 9, 9, 9. When the presence or absence of the rooted green onion N before cutting placed on the support member 10 is detected, and when the optical sensor 23 detects the presence of the rooted green onion N on the green onion support member 10, a signal is output from the optical sensor 23. Is transmitted to the control device 21.
[0028]
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6, a cleaning device 24 for cleaning around the root axis of the rooted green onion N is installed above the transport belt 9 on the upstream side of the cutting device 11. . The cleaning device 24 includes an injection nozzle 25 disposed immediately above the outer periphery of the rooted green onion N around the root axis before cutting, and an air pump 26 that supplies compressed air to the injection nozzle 25. When the rooted green onion N is conveyed to the position, the air pump 26 is operated to inject compressed air from the injection nozzle 25 around the root axis of the rooted green onion N placed on the green onion support member 10. I do. As a result, soil, mud, etc. around the root axis of the rooted green onion N are blown off to remove dirt and wash.
[0029]
Further, as shown in FIG. 6, long onion holding devices 27A and 27B are installed in the cleaning device 24 and the cutting device 11 installed near the downstream side of the cleaning device 24. The cleaning device 24 side long onion holding device 27A includes a vertically movable lifting bar 28A that presses the root side of the rooted green onion N on the root side mounting portion 10A of the long onion support member 10, and the lifting bar 28A. And a spring 29A that is wound around and biases downward.
[0030]
On the other hand, the onion holding device 27B on the cutting device 11 side includes a vertically movable lifting bar 28B that presses the root side of the rooted green onion N on the root side mounting portion 10A of the long onion support member 10, and the lifting bar 28B. It comprises a spring 29B which is wound around the bar 28B and urges downward, and a pad 30B which can be raised and lowered together with the lifting bar 28B.
[0031]
Each of the long onion holding devices 27A and 27B is suspended by an elevating arm 31 which is moved up and down by an air cylinder (not shown) so as to be located directly above the long onion support member 10. Further, each of the lifting bars 28A, 28B has an inverted-Y shape in which their tips 28a, 28b can press around the axis of the root of the rooted green onion N.
[0032]
That is, when the cleaning device 24 performs cleaning around the base axis of the rooted long onion N, as shown in FIG. 7, the root side mounting portion 10A of the long onion support member 10 is located below the elevating bar 28A. When moved, the control device 21 stops driving of the motor M, and the lowering / lowering arm 31 lowers the lowering bar 28A of the long onion holding device 27A by the lowering operation. As a result, the rotation of the root of the rooted green onion N at the cleaning position is elastically placed on the root-side mounting part 10A of the green onion supporting member 10 with a cushioning property against the urging force of the spring 29A. It is pressed down and washed in this state.
[0033]
Then, after the washing, the elevating bar 28A of the onion holding device 27A is raised by the ascending operation of the elevating arm 31, so that the root of the rooted green onion N at the cleaning position is pressed onto the onion support member 10 around the axis. The attachment state is released. Then, the transport belt 9 is moved by the drive of the motor M, and the long onion support member 10 is moved again, so that the washed rooted green onion N is transported to the cutting position in the next step.
[0034]
As described above, when the rooted green onion N after the cleaning by the cleaning device 24 is transported to the cutting device 11 side as shown in FIG. 8, the motor M for moving each transport belt 9 stops, and again, The elevating arm 31 moves down to lower the elevating bar 28B of the long onion holding device 27B. As a result, the rotation of the root of the rooted green onion N at the cutting position is elastically placed on the root-side mounting portion 10A of the green onion supporting member 10 with a cushioning property against the urging force of the spring 29B. It is held down. The root portion is cut by the cutting device 11 while maintaining the state in which the rooted green onion N is pressed and held on the base-side mounting portion 10A of the green onion support member 10. Further, the amount of root cutting by the cutting device 11 is adjusted by root cutting length control means described later.
[0035]
During the cutting process, when the next rooted green onion N is conveyed to the cleaning position of the cleaning device 24, the next rooted green onion N is also lowered by the green onion holding devices 27A and 27B. At the same time, it is pressed and held on the base-side mounting portion 10A of the long onion support member 10. Then, the next rooted green onion N is washed by the cleaning device 24 together with the root cutting of the preceding rooted green onion N by the cutting device 11.
[0036]
Also, after the root cutting process, when the elevating bar 28B of the long onion holding device 27B is raised, the pressing state of the long onion support member 10 around the axis of the base of the long onion N1 on the base side mounting portion 10A is changed. Be released. Then, each conveyor belt 9 is moved by the drive of the motor M (see FIG. 1), and the long onion support member 10 is moved again, so that the long onion N1 after the root cutting process is moved downstream in the conveying direction X. It is conveyed and carried out.
[0037]
Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the light projector 18 constituting the above-described root cutting length control means is assembled to the rear end side of the pad 30B of the long onion holding device 27B, and cooperates with the elevating operation of the pad 30B. Then, together with the root cutting of the rooted green onion N at the cutting position cc of the cutting device 11, the light projector 18 including the light emitting element is turned on, and the light L is applied to a part of the outer periphery of the cut green onion N1. Emits light. The light L emitted from the light projector 18 is irregularly reflected in the green onion N1, and a part of the light L is transmitted along the axial direction of the green onion N1, and the root of the green onion N1 is truncated. Light is emitted from the cross section of the shaft. As described above, the light L emitted from the axial section of the long onion N1 is received by the light receiver 19 formed of a light receiving element via the light receiving and condensing body 20, and the amount of emitted light is detected.
[0038]
Next, the root cutting procedure of the long onion by the root cutting apparatus 1 according to the present invention will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. First, before performing the root cutting process of the rooted green onion N, a specified value R for ON determination of a not-shown photoelectric switch is set by adjusting the amplifier sensitivity of the optical sensor (Step 0: hereinafter abbreviated as S0). .
[0039]
This specified value R is obtained when the light L projected from the light projector 18 is transmitted through the rooted test long green onion and the intensity of the light L detected via the light receiver 19 exceeds a certain reference. In addition, the criterion for judging that the cutting between the root portion and the stem portion of the test long onion was appropriately performed. For this purpose, for example, several cut test onions are used, and the amount of light L emitted from the axial section is measured by the light receiver 19. When it is determined that the value of the emitted light amount of the light L corresponds to the root cutting length of the predetermined green onion, the amount measured by the light receiver 19 is set as a specified value R at which the photoelectric switch is turned on.
[0040]
When the amount of light received by the light receiver 19 exceeds the specified value R, the photoelectric switch is turned on, and the light receiver 19 is set to output an ON signal to the control device 21. At this time, when the amount of light received by the light receiver 19 is equal to or less than the specified value R, the OFF state is maintained until the photoelectric switch is turned ON, and no ON signal is output from the light receiver 19 to the control device 21.
[0041]
When starting the root cutting process of the rooted green onion N, a worker (not shown) places the rooted green onion N on each of the green onion support members 10 on the upstream side of the gantry 2 and then starts the start switch for driving the conveyor belt. (Not shown). When the start switch is pressed, the motor M is driven to rotate, and each conveyor belt 9 moves on the gantry 2 in the transport direction X from the upstream side to the downstream side. Thereby, the rooted green onion N on the green onion support member 10 is transported from the upstream side and passes through the optical sensor 23 installed on the downstream side. The optical sensor 23 detects whether or not the rooted green onion N exists on the green onion support member 10 passing therethrough (S1).
[0042]
In this case, when the rooted green onion N does not exist on the green onion support member 10, the green onion N passes through the cleaning position by the cleaning device 24 and the cutting position by the cutting device 11 or temporarily stops.
[0043]
As described above, when the rooted green onion N placed on the green onion support member 10 passes through the optical sensor 23, the rooted green onion N is transported to the cleaning device 24 and stopped at the cleaning position (S2). When the rooted green onion N stops at this washing position, the lifting arm 31 moves downward. As a result, the elevating bar 28A of the onion holding device 27A descends from the standby position, and elastically presses and holds the rotation of the root of the rooted onion N on the base side mounting portion 10A of the onion support member 10. (S3).
[0044]
In this state, the rooted green onion N is washed while being pressed and held on the base-side placing portion 10A of the green onion support member 10 by the green onion pressing device 27A (S4). After the washing, the elevating bar 28A of the long onion holding device 27A is lifted to the standby position (S5). As a result, the state in which the long onion support member 10 presses the rooted onion N around the base axis is released. Then, the long onion support member 10 is moved again by the movement of each conveyor belt 9 driven by the motor M, so that the rooted long onion N is conveyed to the next cutting device 11 and stopped (S6).
[0045]
As described above, when the rooted green onion N stops at the cutting position c-c of the cutting device 11, the elevating arm 31 moves down again to lower the long onion holding device 27B. As a result, the elevating bar 28B of the onion holding device 27B descends from the standby position, and elastically presses and holds the rotation of the root portion of the rooted onion N on the base side mounting portion 10A of the onion support member 10. (S7).
[0046]
Then, in this state, with the cutting blade 15 of the cutting device 11 rotating, the motor cylinder 22 drives the backup blade 16 and advances the rooted green onion N in the axial direction Y (S8). When the cutting blade 15 reaches the root of the rooted green onion N, the root of the rooted green onion N is cut by the rotating cutting blade 15 (S9).
[0047]
At the same time that the start switch for driving the conveyor belt is pressed, the light projector 18 is turned on, and the light L is projected from directly above the root-side stem of the cut onion N1 toward the outer periphery around the axis. Have been. The light L emitted from the light projector 18 is irregularly reflected in the long onion N1, and is transmitted in the axial direction Y of the long onion N1. The light L transmitted through the inside of the long onion N1 along the axial direction Y is emitted from the axial section where the root portion of the long onion N1 is cut off, and is received through the sensor window 17 opened at the lower part of the backup plate 16. The light is received by the device 19. The light receiver 19 detects the intensity of the light L received through the light receiving / collecting body 20, that is, the detection of the amount of the emitted light L, and the determination of the photoelectric switch ON (not shown) based on the set value of the specified value R. Is performed (S10).
[0048]
At this time, it is determined whether or not the output light amount of the light L detected by the light receiver 19 exceeds a preset specified value R, that is, the presence or absence of the photoelectric switch ON signal and the control instruction are performed (S11). When the output light amount of the light L is smaller than the specified value R, the cutting blade 15 of the cutting device 11 is advanced along the axial direction Y of the green onion N1 by driving the motor cylinder 22 to perform root cutting. When the output light amount of L exceeds the specified value R and it is determined that "there is a signal", an ON signal of the photoelectric switch is transmitted to the control device 21 and the cutting blade 15 of the cutting device 11 is moved in the axial direction of the green onion N1. The vehicle is moved backward along Y and the root cutting is completed (S12). Thereby, the long onion N1 is cut at a predetermined root cutting length.
[0049]
Then, the cutting blade 15 of the cutting device 11 that has moved backward in the axial direction Y of the long onion N1 returns to the origin position, which is the standby position (S13). Next, the elevating arm 31 is raised, and the long onion pressing device 27B is lifted together with the long onion pressing device 27B to the standby position (S14). As a result, the pressed state of the long onion N1 after the root cutting on the long onion support member 10 around the base portion side axis is released. Then, the conveyor belt 9 is moved by driving the motor M, and the long onion support member 10 is moved again, thereby discharging the long onion N1 (S15).
[0050]
Next, another configuration of the cleaning device of the long onion root cutting device 1 according to the present invention will be described.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another configuration of the cleaning device in the long onion root cutting apparatus according to the present invention, and is a perspective view showing a state where the surface of the rooted green onion is scraped off by a scraper. FIG. 12 is a side view of the same. FIG. 13 is a side view showing a state in which the scraper returns to the standby position after the scraping of the surface of the rooted green onion is completed.
[0051]
As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the cleaning device 40 is provided with a device for scraping the surface of a rooted green onion N, as shown in FIGS. The scraping and cleaning device 40 includes a pair of elastically deformable thin metal scrapers 41 and 41. The scraper 41 is arranged so as to swing between the root-side mounting portion 10A and the stem-side mounting portion 10B of the long onion support member 10 arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction X of the cutting device 11 described above. ing. Further, each of the scrapers 41 is supported such that its tip portion 41a comes into contact with the upper outer peripheral surface of the rooted green onion N by the rocking device 42 to be described later rocking the green onion support member 10 in the axial direction Y. Have been.
[0052]
That is, the swinging device 42 includes a fixed frame 43, a rotating shaft 44 whose one end is supported by the fixed frame 43, and a pair of rotating links 45, 45 supported by both ends of the rotating shaft 44. And a swing bar 46 provided between the one end portions 45a of the respective rotary links 45, and an air cylinder 47 for swingably driving the swing bar 46. The rotation shaft 44 of the swing device 42 and the axial direction of the swing bar 46 are arranged in parallel along the transport direction X so as to straddle between the two rows of the long onion support members 10.
[0053]
On the other hand, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 12, each rotation link 45 is positioned substantially parallel to the axial direction Y of the rooted green onion N when the air cylinder 47 is in the contracted state (standby state). Has become. The end 41b of each scraper 41 is rotatably supported by the other end 45b of the rotating link 45 via a shaft 48 only in the direction toward the root of the rooted green onion N. One end 49a of a spring 49 is connected to the end 41b of each scraper 41, and the other end 49b of each spring 49 is connected to the rotation link 45 side. In this case, each spring 49 simply holds the scraper 41 such that the scraper 41 maintains a parallel state along the axial direction of the rotation link 45.
[0054]
That is, the rotation link 45 rotates in the counterclockwise direction Z1 about the rotation shaft 44 together with the swing of the swing bar 46 due to the extension operation of the air cylinder 47 from the standby state indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. I do. As a result, the distal end portion 41a of the scraper 41 moves toward the surface of the rooted green onion N placed on the lower green onion support member 10 while maintaining a state parallel to the rotating link 45. The tip 41a contacts the surface of the rooted green onion N. When the air cylinder 47 further extends in this state, the tip portion 41a of the scraper 41 scrapes the surface of the rooted green onion N in the axial direction of the root portion side. In this manner, cleaning is performed by removing mud, soil, and the like adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the netsuke long onion N.
[0055]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 13, to return the scraper 41 to the original standby position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 12, after the scraping is completed, the air cylinder 47 is shifted from the extended state to the contracting operation. Thereby, the rotation link 45 rotates in the clockwise direction Z2. At the same time, the scraper 41 moves toward the surface of the scraped rooted green onion N placed on the green onion support member 10 again while maintaining a state parallel to the rotation link 45, and The tip portion 41a again comes into contact with the surface of the rooted green onion N after the scraping is completed. At this time, the load applied to the tip portion 41 a of the scraper 41 causes the scraper 41 to rotate in the counterclockwise direction A about the shaft 48. As a result, the tip portion 41a of the scraper 41 moves so as to stroke the surface of the rooted green onion N, and returns to the original standby position.
[0056]
By the way, as shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the injection nozzle 25 for blowing the compressed air supplied from the air pump 26 constituting the cleaning device 24 by the wind pressure is attached to the tip end 41a of the scraper 41, and together with the scraper 41, as shown in FIGS. Rocking. Then, when the scraper 41 returns to the original standby position after the end of the scraping, compressed air is blown from the injection nozzle 25 around the axis of the root of the rooted green onion N. As a result, since the outer peripheral surface of the rooted green onion N after the scraping is completed, the detection accuracy of the amount of emitted light by the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit is improved, and the accuracy of the root cutting length of the rooted green onion N is improved. Improvement can be achieved. The spraying operation of the compressed air by the injection nozzle 25 may be performed at the same time as the scraper 41 performs the scraping operation.
[0057]
Further, at the time of cleaning by the scraping cleaning device 40, a pair of green onion pressing devices 50, 50 for pressing the green onion N placed on each of the upstream and downstream green onion support members 10 are separately provided. Have been. Each of these long onion pressing devices 50 is supported on the fixed frame 43 so as to be rotatable in the transport direction X in a rotatable manner, and is supported on the press link 51 so as to be rotatable in the transport direction X. And a pressing roll 52 such as a sponge. The pressing roll 52 is arranged so as to be in contact with the stem-side placing portion 10B of the long onion support member 10 that supports the rooted green onion N. The pressing link 51 has a lower end 51B that supports the pressing roll 52 and a lower end 51B that supports the pressing roller 52 rotatably supported by the fixed frame 43 toward the downstream side in the transport direction X. It has a form that bends into the shape of a "".
[0058]
That is, in the long onion holding device 50, the long green onion N supported on the long onion support member 10 from the upstream side is transported between the pressing roll 52 and the stem-side mounting portion 10B of the long onion support member 10. Then, according to the thickness of the rooted green onion N, the pressing roll 52 floats so as to escape while being in contact with the rooted green onion N while rotating the pressing link 51. Thereby, at the time of washing, the stem side of the rooted green onion N is pressed and held on the stem side mounting portion 10B of the green onion support member 10 by the weight of the pressing roll 52 together with the pressing link 51.
[0059]
Further, as another embodiment of the cleaning device, for example, by installing optical detection means on the upstream side and the downstream side of the cleaning device, by detecting and comparing the amount of light emitted from the rooted green onion N before and after cleaning, If it is configured to grasp the cleaning state of the outer peripheral surface of the green onion, it will be possible to prevent the rooted green onion that has not been completely cleaned from being cut off, and to detect the amount of light output from the green onion. The accuracy of the root cutting length of the green onion can be further improved because the accuracy of the cutting can be improved.
[0060]
As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the scraping and cleaning device 40 is constituted by a pair of elastically deformable thin metal scrapers 41, 41. Instead of such scrapers 41, 41, A rotating brush that moves up and down above the root of the rooted green onion N may be used. In this configuration, the outer peripheral surface of the rooted green onion N is cleaned by the lowered rotating brush contacting the surface of the rooted green onion N. Is done.
[0061]
In addition, it goes without saying that the present invention can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, as a post-process after root cutting of rooted green onion, if a green onion peeling means for peeling the stem side of green onion is installed downstream of the cutting means, washing, root cutting and peeling of green onion can be performed. Can be performed in a continuous process. This makes it possible to improve the workability of the shipping operation of the long onion.
[0062]
【The invention's effect】
As explained above, the root cutting device for netted long onions according to the present invention has the following excellent effects.
[0063]
The present invention provides a cleaning means for cleaning dirt on an outer peripheral surface around a root axis of a long onion, in the vicinity of a cutting means for rooting an axial root of a rooted green onion to be subjected to a root cutting process. Since the light projected on the surface of the green onion passes through the green onion reliably, the accuracy of detecting the amount of light emitted by the light emitting means and the light receiving means can be improved. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent a decrease in commercial value due to an uneven root cutting length, as well as to improve the workability and mass productivity of the root cutting process of the rooted green onion.
[0064]
Further, according to the present invention, since the cleaning means includes an injection nozzle which is provided near the outer periphery of the base of the long onion and an air pump for supplying compressed air to the injection nozzle, the cleaning means is provided around the base of the long onion. The outer peripheral surface can be efficiently cleaned during the root cutting process of long onions. This makes it possible to increase the accuracy of detecting the amount of emitted light by the light projecting means and the light receiving means, and to improve the accuracy of the root cutting length of the long onion.
[0065]
Further, the cleaning means may be a scraping device provided with a scraper which is driven and controlled to be able to swing in the axial direction at a root portion of the long onion or a scraping device provided with a brush for brushing the surface of the root portion of the long onion. Thus, the outer peripheral surface around the base axis of the long onion can be easily scraped and cleaned.
[0066]
In addition, if various cleaning means are used in combination, the outer peripheral surface around the base axis of the long onion can be more reliably cleaned, and the detection accuracy of the amount of emitted light by the light projecting means and the light receiving means can be increased. The accuracy of the root length can be further improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the entire configuration of a root cutting device for netted long onions according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view showing the overall configuration of a root cutting device for netted long onions according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a long onion support member.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing a cutting device for cutting rooted green onions;
FIG. 5 is a front view showing a root cutting state of a long green onion with a cutting device.
FIG. 6 is a side view showing an onion holding device for holding and holding a rooted green onion at a cleaning and root cutting site on a conveying member.
FIG. 7 is a side view showing a cleaning state of a rooted green onion at a cleaning site.
FIG. 8 is a side view showing a cutting state of a rooted green onion at a cutting site.
FIG. 9 is a front view showing an adjusted state of a root cutting position by optical detection means of long onion after cutting.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a root cutting procedure of a netted green onion;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another configuration of the cleaning device in the root cutting device for netted long onions according to the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a side view showing another configuration of the cleaning device in the root cutting device for netted long onions according to the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a side view showing a state in which the scraper returns to the standby position after the scraping of the surface of the rooted green onion is completed.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 .... Leek cutting device
2 ... stand
3 ... Spindle
4 ... Spindle
5. Sprocket
6. Sprocket
7. Chain chain
8 ... Sprocket
9 ... Conveyer belt
10 .... Leek support material
10A ··· Root side mounting part
10B ····· Stem side mounting part
10C ···· Leaf side mounting part
11 Cutting device
12. Base
13. Motor
14. Rotary axis
15 ... Cutting blade
16. Backup plate
17 ... Sensor window
18 ・ ・ ・ ・ Floodlight
19 ... Receiver
20 ···· Received light collector
20a ··· Focusing window
21 ... Control device
22 ... Motor cylinder
23 ··· Optical sensor
24 ... Cleaning device
25 ... Injection nozzle
26 ... Air pump
27A ··· Leg holding device
27B ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Leek holding device
28A ··· Lift bar
28a
28B ··· Lift bar
28b ··· Tip
29A ··· Spring
29B ··· Spring
30B pad
31 ... Lifting arm
40 ... Scraping and cleaning device
41 ... Scraper
41a ... · tip
41b ···· Shaft support end
42 ... Swing device
43 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Fixed frame
44 ··· Rotating axis
45 ... Rotating link
45a ... one end
45b ····· Other end
46 ... Swing bar
47 ... Air cylinder
48 ... axis
49 Spring
49a ... one end
49b... The other end
50 ・ ・ ・ ・ Length holding device
51 ···· Lifting frame
51A: Upper end side
51B: Lower end side
52 ... Pressing link
53 ... Pressing roll
M ... motor
N ... Negishi Onion
N1 ··· Root cutting long green onion
X: Transfer direction
Y ... axial direction of long onion

Claims (4)

Cutting means for root cutting the axial root of the long onion to be subjected to root cutting processing,
A light projecting means for projecting light into the long onion rooted by the cutting means so that the light is transmitted in the axial direction;
Light receiving means for detecting the amount of light emitted from the light emitting means and emitted through the outer peripheral surface and the axial cross section of the long onion;
Cutting position changing means for setting and changing the root cutting length by moving the position of the long onion to be cut by the cutting means in the axial direction thereof,
When the emitted light amount of the light transmitted through the green onion and detected by the projection of the light emitting means is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the cutting position changing means moves the green onion in the axial direction, and the cutting means changes the axial direction. Root cutting length control means for controlling root cutting,
Cleaning means for cleaning dirt on the outer peripheral surface around the base axis of the long onion at a passing position of light projected from the light projecting means in the vicinity of the cutting means. apparatus. The washing means, an injection nozzle installed close to the outer periphery of the root axis of the rooted green onion,
The root cutting device for long onions according to claim 1, further comprising an air pump for supplying compressed air to the injection nozzle. 3. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning unit is driven and controlled to be swingable in an axial direction of the long onion, and includes a scraping device including a scraper that scrapes a surface of a base portion of the long onion. 4. The described leek root cutting device. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning unit includes a scraping device including a brush for brushing a surface of a root portion of the long onion. 5.

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