JP4097349B2

JP4097349B2 - Container type weight detector

Info

Publication number: JP4097349B2
Application number: JP07028899A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 孝橋　　徹; 信弘川井
Original assignee: Yamato Scale Co Ltd
Current assignee: Yamato Scale Co Ltd
Priority date: 1999-03-16
Filing date: 1999-03-16
Publication date: 2008-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 2019-03-16
Also published as: JP2000266590A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
容器式重量選別機に主に適用され、容器に収容若しくは載置された物品を容器と共に移送する途中で、移動中の物品重量を検出する容器式の重量検出装置に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
容器式重量選別機は、容器式重量検出装置と選別装置とを備えており、その容器式重量検出装置が物品重量を検出し、その検出した物品重量を基に選別装置が物品を選別する。従来の容器式重量選別機の容器式重量検出装置は、被計量物品を収容した複数の容器を計量部上へ逐次搬入しそして搬出し、計量部上を移動中の被計量物品を容器と共に計量して容器重量を含む重量を検出し、予め計量されている既知の容器重量を差し引いて物品重量を求めるようになっている。また、計量部の近傍で物品を容器から計量部へ移して物品のみを計量し、計量後に再び容器へ戻す方式もある。
【０００３】
従来の容器式重量検出装置には、次の(1) 〜(5) に示すような構成のものがある。
(1) 計量部上を、計量部に接触状態で通過するチェーン、紐、帯状の無端周回体に直接容器（物品載台）を装着し、計量部上に存在する前記無端周回体の部分及び容器と共に物品重量を計量する構成（特公昭６３−７６１０号参照）。
(2) 無端周回体は、容器（物品支持台）を装着され、計量部上を通過する容器の一部が接触して容器と収容物品の重量が検出されるように、容器に対する無端周回体からの搬送力をできるかぎり重量検出に影響のない方向に受ける構成（特公平１−２３５０号参照）。
(3) 容器搬送用無端周回体は、計量部上に容器が到達するまでは容器に接触して容器および収容物品を搬送し、計量部上において容器と接触しない解放状態を作り、その時容器及び収容物品が計量部に接触して駆動される別の無端周回体（計量部のコンベア）によって搬送されながら計量され、そして元の容器搬送用無端周回体によって計量部から搬出される構成であって、容器搬送用無端周回体と別の無端周回体とが、同じ速度であるもの（特公平４−２６４１１号参照）。
(4) 前記(3) の容器搬送用無端周回体と別の無端周回体とが、速度差のあるもの（特公昭５８−１９２０３号、実開昭５５−１１９９３７号参照）。
(5) 無端周回体に容器（櫛状の搬送爪）が装着され、容器が計量部の近傍にまで搬送されてきたとき容器と略同じ速度の計量部のコンベア（複数の移送ベルト）と上下に交差してコンベアに物品のみを受渡し、計量後に再び物品を容器に受け取って搬出する構成（特開昭５９−４０１２０号参照）。
【０００４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
前記従来技術の(1) に記載のものは、無端周回体の計量部上に存在する部分が容器とともに風袋重量として計量される。物品を計量するには、予め風袋重量を求めておいて、物品を風袋と共に計量して風袋重量を差し引くから、無端周回体の計量部上に存在する部分の重量が、風袋重量を求めるときも物品を計量するときも常に関係していて、その部分の計量精度は物品の計量値に影響を与える。このため、無端周回体の計量部上に存在する部分の重量は、できるだけ高精度で計量されるべきである。しかし、前記の無端周回体は、モータによって回転駆動され、多くの容器を装着されてているから、回転駆動されると、質量を持った容器の揺れによって無端周回体のみが回転する場合に比べて大きな張力変化と振動を発生する。それ故に、無端周回体には前記振動により、進行方向と垂直の位置関係にある重量センサーの荷重検出方向にも力が発生し、無視できない計量誤差が生じる。そして、前述したように無端周回体の計量部上に存在する部分の重量は、風袋重量を求めるときと物品を計量するときとの両方に関係しているから、物品計量値は大きい誤差を含むことになる。
【０００５】
前記従来技術の(2) に記載のものは、無端周回体がモータで回転駆動され、容器が無端周回体に固定装着されてはいないものの無端周回体からある大きさの押しつけ力を受け、それによって搬送されている。無端周回体は、回転駆動装置から振動を直接受け、さらに、装着された多くの容器の揺れによる振動と、無端周回体と固定部との接触摺動よって生じる振動とを受ける。容器は、計量部上を通過するときも無端周回体によって与えられる上記の搬送力によって搬送され、容器と無端周回体は常にある大きさの力が作用した状態で接触しているので、無端周回体の上下方向の振動が計量中の容器及び重量センサに与えられる。また、押しつけ力は重量検出方向に正確に垂直とはならないため、押しつけ力による重量検出方向の分力が容器を介して重量センサへ加わり、計量精度を低下させる要因となる。
【０００６】
前記従来技術の(3) に記載のものは、容器搬送用無端周回体に支持部材で支持した容器を、容器搬送用無端周回体から計量部上で離脱させるので、容器が支持部材から解放された状態の時間が少なくなること、支持部材の離脱時の衝撃を計量部に与えること、による誤差が発生する。特に高速計量時には、十分に容器を計量部上に滞在させる時間を確保できない。
【０００７】
前記従来技術の(4) に記載のものは、容器を容器搬送用無端周回体から計量コンベア上で、容器搬送用無端周回体と計量コンベアとの速度差により解放して計量するが、容器及び物品が計量部への乗り込み途中、及び乗り込み直後にも加速状態にあるので計量部に振動を与える。特に、高速での計量時には、この影響が大きい。
本発明は、このような従来の容器式計量装置の問題点に対し、容器および物品が計量部上を通過する際に振動的な外乱を発生させないようにし、また物品及び容器が計量部上にある間を計量のために有効（秤の安定と計測のため）に使えるようにして、より高速高精度で計量することが可能な容器式計量装置を提供することを課題とする。
【０００８】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明の手段は、所定の水平な計量用区間を含む周回経路に沿って所定の速度で走行するように設けられた容器搬送用無端周回体を有する容器搬送手段と、前記無端周回体の進行方向に列をなし間隔を隔てて夫々無端周回体に離脱可能に装着され無端周回体から搬送力を受けて進行する計量物品用容器と、前記計量用区間を通過する前記容器を支持して前記無端周回体よりも速く且つ共に同じ速度で移送するように設けられ容器と共に物品を計量する計量コンベア及びその計量コンベアの前段に配置されている送り込みコンベアとを具備し、前記無端周回体と前記送り込みコンベア及び計量コンベアとの速度差によって前記計量用区間における前記容器を前記無端周回体から離脱させるようにしたことを特徴とする（請求項１）。
【０００９】
計量コンベアの前段に送り込みコンベアを設けた構成により、使用において物品を収容される容器が、計量区間を通過するとき、先ず送り込みコンベアに支持されて移送されるようになり、これによって速度差で容器搬送用無端周回体から離脱させられ、次に計量コンベアに移って計量され、そして計量区間から送りだされて容器搬送用無端周回体で搬送されるようになる。容器が送り込みコンベアに移る段階で、速度差による衝撃が生じて送り込みコンベアに作用するが、この衝撃は、送り込みコンベアと計量コンベアの設け方にもより、計量コンベアには作用しないか又は作用しにくい。また、送り込みコンベアを通過中に容器及び物品は等速運動状態になる。従って計量コンベアに対しては容器及び物品は同速で搬入される上、計量コンベアを通過している計量中の容器の計量に影響を与えないか又は与えにくい。そして、容器が送り込みコンベアから計量コンベアに移るときは双方共に同じ移送速度であるから、容器は計量コンベアに衝撃を与えない。これによって従来よりも計量精度が向上する。
【００１０】
前記手段（請求項１）において、前記送り込みコンベアと前記計量コンベアとが、互いに干渉しないように各別に独立して設けられている構成とするのがよい（請求項２）。この構成では、送り込みコンベアと計量コンベアとが互いに干渉しないように各別に独立して設けられているから、仮に容器搬送用無端周回体から送り込みコンベアに容器が移るときに速度差その他による衝撃等が送り込みコンベアに作用したとしても、計量コンベアには衝撃等が及ぶことはなく、勿論、送り込みコンベアと計量コンベアとは同じ速度であるから、容器が送り込みコンベアから計量コンベアへ移るときに衝撃等は生じない。従って、この構成では計量コンベアが、計量前に計量に影響するような外乱を受けることはなく、また計量中は確実に送り込みコンベア及び容器搬送用無端周回体から切り離された状態となるので、より高精度の計量が可能となる。
【００１１】
前記構成（請求項２）において、前記計量コンベアの次段に前記計量コンベアと同じ速度の独立した送り出しコンベアを介在させて前記計量用区間の終端を形成した構成とするのがよい（請求項３）。この構成では、送り出しコンベアを設けていないときは、容器が容器搬送用無端周回体に再支持される時に速度差による抵抗を受けるから、その抵抗が計量コンベアに及んで振動等の外乱要因となって計量精度に影響を与える場合があり得る。これに対し、計量コンベアと同じ速度の送り出しコンベアを設けたことにより、計量を終わった容器が抵抗なく滑らかに送り出しコンベアに移り、計量コンベアに振動等を与えるような悪影響を回避でき、更により高精度の計量が可能となる。
【００１２】
前記構成（請求項２、又は請求項３）において、前記計量コンベアが、幅方向に間隔を隔てた平行な複数本の無端走行条体からなる組を複数組有し各組毎に別々に重量検出可能に構成され、前記容器が、前記無端走行条体の組のいずれかによって支持される被支持部を有し前記無端走行条体の組数に対応した複数種類のもので構成され且つ進行方向に順次異なる種類のものを容器搬送用無端周回体に装着されている構成とするのがよい（請求項４）。
【００１３】
この構成では、例えば、計量コンベアの無端走行条体の組数を２（場合によっては３以上の組数も有る）として無端走行条体の被支持部位置の異なる種類の容器を交互に容器搬送用無端周回体に装着した場合は、計量コンベアの長さを容器装着ピッチの２倍（組数倍）弱の長さに長くしても同じ種類の容器が同じ計量コンベア上にないようにすることができるので計量時間が長くなる。これに対して組数が１であるときは、計量コンベアの長さは、容器搬送用無端周回体に装着される容器の装着ピッチより長くできない。何故ならば、計量コンベアを長くすると、常に２個以上の容器が計量コンベア上に存在し、計量できない状態になってしまうからである。これにより、容器搬送用無端周回体の速度を同じとして、１組の無端走行条体で計量する計量コンベアを設けた構成と、２組以上の無端走行条体で計量する計量コンベアを設けた構成とでは、２組以上の無端走行条体で計量する計量コンベアを設けた方が計量に使用できる時間を長くでき、搬送用無端周回体の速度を遅くすることなく、高精度で計量できる。また、場合によっては計量精度を低下させない範囲で、搬送用無端周回体の速度を速くすることができ、つまり計量速度を上げるようにすることができる。
【００１４】
前記手段（請求項１）において、前記送り込みコンベアと前記計量コンベアとが、前記容器を支持して走行する共通の無端走行条体からなるコンベアに形成され、その無端走行条体の前記容器を支持して走行する前段の部分を前記送り込みコンベアとし、次段の部分を前記容器毎に重量を検出する計量コンベアとしてある構成とするのがよい（請求項５）。
【００１５】
この構成では送り込みコンベア及び計量コンベア上を移送される容器が、容器搬送用無端周回体から切り離された状態になるので、容器搬送用無端周回体側から計量前及び計量中に計量に影響するような外乱が及ぶことはない。また、送り込みコンベアと計量コンベアとが無端走行条体を共用する構成であるから、容器が送り込みコンベアに移る時の容器の加速によって発生する力が無端走行条体に作用するが、この場合の抵抗による作用力は無端周回体から切り離された１個の容器とその中の物品の質量が関係するのみであり、従来の無端周回体に結合されている数多くの容器の振れ運動により発生する力の如く、合計質量の大きい物体による無端周回体側からの作用力と比べると格段に小さく、計量コンベアの計量に与える影響は極めて小さい。しかも容器と物品の加速による作用力は送り込みコンベアに対してのみ作用するので、計量には影響しない。容器が送り込みコンベアから計量コンベアに移る時は、すでに容器は計量コンベアと等速状態にあり、且つ共通の無端走行条体であるから衝撃を生じるようなことはない。従って、従来よりも格段と高精度の計量が可能となる。
【００１６】
前記構成（請求項５）において、前記送り込みコンベアと前記計量コンベアとが、幅方向に間隔を隔てた平行な複数本の無端走行条体からなる組を複数組有し各組毎に別々に前記計量コンベアで重量検出可能に構成され、前記容器が、前記無端走行条体の組のいずれかによって支持される被支持部を有し前記組の数に対応した複数種類のもので構成され且つ進行方向に順次異なる種類のものを容器搬送用無端周回体に装着されている構成とするのがよい（請求項６）。
【００１７】
この構成では、前述したと同様に、容器搬送用無端周回体の速度を同じとして、１組の無端走行条体で計量する計量コンベアを設けた構成と、２組以上の無端走行条体で計量する計量コンベアを設けた構成とでは、２組以上の無端走行条体で計量する計量コンベアを設けた方が計量に使用できる時間を長くでき、容器搬送用無端周回体の速度を遅くすることなく、高精度で計量できる。また、場合によっては計量精度を低下させない範囲で、容器搬送用無端周回体の速度、つまり計量速度を上げるようにすることができる。
【００１８】
前記構成（請求項５）において、前記送り込みコンベア部分と前記計量コンベア部分とが、幅方向に間隔を隔てた平行な複数本の無端走行条体からなる組を複数組有しその組毎に前記計量コンベア部分の長さを異ならせて構成され、前記容器が、いずれも一組の前記無端走行条体によって支持されるようにいずれかの組に対応した被支持部を有し且つ対応する前記計量コンベア部分の長さで計量可能な移送方向の被支持部長さを有する前記組数に応じた複数種類のもので構成され、前記容器搬送用無端周回体が、同じ種類の容器を計量可能な状態に接近して装着されるように容器の種類に応じた容器交換用の容器装着部を有する構成とするのがよい（請求項７）。この構成では、複数種類の、例えば、大小２種類の容器を交換使用するとして、大きい容器を使用しても小さい容器を使用しても、容器は容器搬送用無端周回体に計量可能な状態に接近して装着されるから、また、その容器に対応する計量コンベア部分によって計量が行われるから、能率良く、高精度で計量することができる。
【００１９】
前記構成（請求項５）において、前記送り込みコンベアと前記計量コンベアとが、幅方向に間隔を隔てた平行な８本以上の無端走行条体からなり、前記無端走行条体の複数本からなる組を４組以上有し、その４組以上の組をいずれも同じ複数の組からなる組群とし、前記組群の各々が同様に前記組別に前記計量コンベアの長さを異ならせた複数種類の計量コンベアとされ且つ組群別に前記計量コンベアが共通の重量検出器で重量検出を行うように構成され、前記容器が、前記計量コンベアの長さを異ならせた複数種類の各々に対応する種類の容器からなり、その容器の各々が前記計量コンベアの一つに支持されて計量される被支持部を下面に有し、前記容器搬送用無端周回体が、前記同じ種類の容器を移送方向に沿って計量可能な状態に接近して装着される容器交換用の容器装着部を容器の種類に対応して設けられ、前記同じ種類で且つ異なる計量コンベアに対応する容器が前後に位置する関係で順次装着されている構成とするのがよい（請求項８）。
【００２０】
この構成では、種類の異なる容器、すなわち、長さの異なる計量コンベアで計量される容器、例えば、容器進行方向に長さの異なる（被支持部長さの異なる）大小の容器（３種類以上の場合もあり得る）を、被支持部の長さの同じ大容器のみ又は小容器のみを無端周回体に接近して連続的に装着でき、大小を交換して使用できる。すなわち、容器交換用の装着部を使用して大きい容器のみ、又は小さい容器のみを無端周回体に支持させることができる。この容器の装着において前後で被支持部の異なるものが位置するように、つまり被支持位置の同じものが前後に連続しないように装着する。また、組群の各々が同様に組毎に計量コンベアの長さを異ならせてあるから、組群毎に計量コンベアの長さの違う組があって、組群同士では計量コンベアの長さの違うものが同じようにあり、そして、計量コンベア部分の長さが同じである組群同士では、計量コンベア部分が各別の重量検出器で重量検出が行われる。また、同じ長さの被支持部を有する容器は組群の数だけ被支持部の位置が異なる種類がある。従って、被支持部長さが同じ、つまり同じ大きさの容器が連続して同じ計量コンベア部を通過することはないから、夫々の計量コンベア部に容器が滞留する時間を長くとれるので、より計量精度が向上する。すなわち、容器を交換使用する構成においてもより高精度で計量することができる。
【００２１】
前記構成（請求項５、請求項６、請求項７、又は請求項８）において、前記計量コンベアが、前記無端走行条体の所定長さ範囲を下側から支持する受け台によって支持されその受け台に印加される重量を検出する構成とするのがよい（請求項９）。この構成では、無端走行条体の上面の水平状態を維持し、容器の揺動を防止するから、重量検出を良好に行うことができる。
【００２２】
前記構成（請求項１〜請求項９）において、前記無端周回体が、前記物品移送経路の両側に平行となるように設けられ、両側の前記無端周回体に容器搬送金具を所定の容器取付けピッチで多数設けてあり、前記容器搬送金具が、両側の無端周回体に内側に向き合うように対をなして面部材を取付けてその面部材の各々に両側に貫通した容器進行方向に長い長孔を穿設されており、前記容器が、前端部両側に突設した被牽引棒を前記長孔に余裕をもって挿通されることにより支持されている構成とするのがよい（請求項１０）。容器は計量区間に至るまでは長孔の後端縁で被牽引棒を牽引されることにより搬送されているが、計量区間に至ると無端周回体よりも速い速度で移送されることにより長孔の後端縁から被牽引棒が前方へ離れ、無端周回体から離脱する。長孔の被牽引棒に対する容器進行方向の余裕長さは、容器が計量区間を移送される際に無端周回体との速度差によって生じる位置のずれを許容できるものであればよい。
【００２３】
【発明の実施の形態】
本発明の第１の実施の形態を、図１〜図５を用いて説明する。この実施の形態は、図１に示すように、容器式重量選別機１に適用されている容器式重量検出装置２であり、通常は振り分け装置３と組み合わせて用いられる。この容器式重量検出装置２は、容器搬送手段９、容器１１、送り込みコンベア１２、計量コンベア１３、送り出しコンベア１４等で構成されている。
【００２４】
容器搬送手段９は、容器搬送用無端周回体１０を主体とするもので、これに容器装着部として容器搬送金具１６が設けられ、またこれに沿って後述するガイド２２が設けられる。無端周回体１０は、例えば図２に示すように、両側で平行し夫々垂直面に沿って周回するように張設された１対のチェーン１５、１５によって構成され、チェーン１５、１５が、図示していない回転駆動部によって所定の方向に一定速度で走行するように駆動される。そして、図１に示すように、このチェーン１５、１５の周回経路の上側の水平な直線部分が被計量物品を計量しそして振り分けるための物品移送経路として使用される。双方のチェーン１５、１５には容器の装着部としての容器搬送金具１６が内側に向き合うように対をなして所定の間隔で多数対を設けてある。容器搬送金具１６の取付け間隔は、容器１１の取付け間隔である。１対の容器搬送金具１６、１６は互いに向き合う面部材１７を有し、その面部材１７に、図３、図４に見られるように、両側に貫通しチェーン１５の長手方向に長い長孔１８を穿設してあり、長孔１８の形状は後端内縁が凹型の円弧状である。図中の矢印はチェーン１５の走行方向を示す。
【００２５】
容器１１は、この例では同じものが無端周回体１０に多数装着され、無端周回体１０の周回経路に従って周回するようになっている。容器１１の一つについて説明すると、図２に示すように、両側のチェーン１５、１５間に配置可能な幅で所定長さＬ２の長方形の上部開口を有する所定深さのものであり、底の下面に平面形状の外縁よりも内側にやや小さく下面を偏平に形成された長さＬ３の長方形の被支持部１９を突設されている。容器１１には、移送方向の前方端部の両側面に両側で同軸的に外方へ向かって被牽引棒２０、２０が突設されており、移送方向の後方端部の両側面に両側で同軸的にガイドローラ２１、２１が突出状態に軸支持されている。被牽引棒２０は直径が前記長孔１８の幅寸法よりも十分に小さい。容器１１の無端周回体１０に対する装着状態は、図２、図３、図４に見られるように、双方の被牽引棒２０、２０が容器搬送金具１６、１６の長孔１８、１８に夫々進入した状態である。また、無端周回体１０は、両側のチェーン１５、１５の内側にほぼ沿う位置に前記ガイドローラ２１、２１を支持して案内し、容器１１の姿勢を制御するレール状のガイド２２、２２を設けてある。ガイド２２、２２は、無端周回体１０の周回経路の大部分においてローラ２１、２１を支持して容器開口面が略チェーン１５、１５の進行方向に沿うように案内するが、後述する計量用区間では設けられておらず、振り分け位置では部分的に回動して一時的に案内方向を変更して振り分け動作するようになっている。
【００２６】
送り込みコンベア１２、計量コンベア１３、送り出しコンベア１４は、いずれも無端走行条体である上面が水平なベルトコンベアであり、図１に示すように、前記無端周回体１０の周回経路の上側の直線移送経路の途中に同じ移送経路に沿って容器１１を移送できるように順次連続するように設けてある。この送り込みコンベア１２、計量コンベア１３、送り出しコンベア１４を設けた移送区間が計量用区間であり、ガイド２２、２２を適切に除去してある。すなわち、移送中の容器１１は、ガイド２２、２２が無くなる位置で被牽引棒２０、２０側のみを容器搬送金具１６、１６によって支持されて後部のガイドローラ２１、２１側が下降しようとするが、丁度その下側に送り込みコンベア１２の始端部が位置して容器下面の被支持部１９を支持するようになっている。また、送り出しコンベア１４の終端部から容器下面の被支持部１９が外れる位置では、ガイドローラ２１、２１がガイド２２、２２に支持されるようになっている。
【００２７】
この例では送り込みコンベア１２と、計量コンベア１３と、送り出しコンベア１４とは、夫々に独立したベルトコンベアであり、別々の回転駆動部２３、２４、２５を備え、夫々のベルトが干渉しないようにコンベアの始端と終端とを接近させて配置してある。送り込みコンベア１２、計量コンベア１３、送り出しコンベア１４は、夫々にそのコンベアフレーム２６、２７、２８を固定部２９に固定支持して定位置に設けてあるが、計量コンベア１３ではコンベアフレーム２７と固定部２９との間に重量検出器３０を介在させてあり、計量コンベア上を通過する容器１１とその中の物品重量とが重量検出器３０に印加され、物品重量を電気信号として検出できるようになっている。そしてコンベア１２、１３、１４の移送速度が、いずれも同じで、無端周回体１０の走行速度よりも僅かに速く決められている。その速度差は、容器１１が一連の送り込みコンベア１２、計量コンベア１３、送り出しコンベア１４に支持されて進行する間に生じる容器１１と無端周回体１０との進行する距離の差が、前記容器搬送金具１６の長孔１８の内側を被牽引棒２０が進行方向に移動可能な長さ以下である。この構成により、容器１１が計量区間に至って送り込みコンベア１２に支持されるようになると、容器搬送金具１６の進行速度よりも送り込みコンベア１２の進行速度の方が速いことから、容器１１の被牽引棒２０を容器搬送金具１６の長孔１８の後端縁が押していた状態が離れて、被牽引棒２０が長孔内縁に接触しない状態で長孔１８内に位置するようになり、容器１１は無端周回体１０側から完全に離脱した状態となる。そして容器１１が移動するに従って被牽引棒２０は長孔１８内を進行方向へ進むが、長孔前端縁に当接するまでに容器１１が送り出しコンベア１４の終端に達する。従って、この計量用区間内では容器１１は無端周回体１０側から完全に離脱した状態となる。
【００２８】
振り分け装置３は、図１に示すように、計量用区間よりも後段に設けられていて、計量用区間で計量された容器内の物品が重量に基いて例えば等級分けされ、その等級の数に応じて設けられている振り分け部分３１ａ、３１ｂ、・・・・で等級別に振り分けられ、図示していない等級別シュートに移されて等級別に所望位置に送られるようになっている。その各振り分け部分は同様な構成であり容器移送経路に適当な間隔で設けてある。一つの振り分け部分３１ｂの構造を説明すると、両側の前記ガイド２２、２２を同じ位置で所定の長さに分断した分断ガイド部分２２ｂ設け、その両側の分断ガイド部分２２ｂを移送方向手前側の端部で同軸的に回動可能に格別に軸３２で支持し、エヤーシリンダ３３を結合してある。エヤーシリンダ３３を動作させることにより、分断ガイド部分２２ｂは前後のガイド２２と一致した水平な状態で容器１１をそのまま通過させる通過状態と、所定角度回動した傾斜状態で容器１１を移動に伴って傾斜させる傾動状態とに変更できる。分断ガイド部分２２ｂの傾動状態は、被牽引棒２０を牽引されガイドローラ２１をガイド２２で案内されている容器１１の水平な移送状態が、傾斜した分断ガイド部分２２ｂに至ると、被牽引棒２０はそのまま水平に進行するがガイドローラ２１が傾斜に従って下降して離脱するので、容器１１は後方へ傾いて物品を放出する。その物品放出位置に、例えばシュートの始端が位置する。
【００２９】
図５は図１の部分を拡大して示すものであり、図示の容器１１の形状が上面の開口部の進行方向長さＬ２が長く、底３４の長さＬ３が短い。所定間隙を隔てて容器１１は連続的に配列され高速で搬送されるが、殆どの場合容器１１の上方から物品が供給され、しかも自動供給機による例も多いので、物品を確実に容器内に収めるには容器の開口は隣同士で触れないようにできる限り広い方が良いからである。また、底３４の長さＬ３が短いことは、底３４の長さＬ３が開口部の長さＬ２と同じであれば、１個の容器１１ｂのみが計量コンベア１３上に存在する計量可能な期間が短いので、これを補うためのものである。すなわち、図５において、計量コンベアの長さＬ１、計量コンベア１３等の速度をＶとすると、容器１１が計量コンベア１３上に完全に載っている状態の距離はＬ１−Ｌ３であるから滞在時間Ｔは、Ｔ＝（Ｌ１−Ｌ３）／Ｖ、である。コンベア速度Ｖが与えられたとき計量精度を高めるためには、小さくすることが可能な底３４の長さＬ３を搬送中の転倒や不安定さによる計量精度の劣化を起こさない範囲でできるだけ小さくすることにより、（Ｌ１−Ｌ３）をできるだけ大きくして滞在時間Ｔを長くすればよいからである。なお、容器長さ寸法Ｌ２は被計量物品の大きさや機械全体の大きさから決められ、容器寸法が決まると、２個の容器が同時に計量コンベア１３に決して乗ることがないように計量コンベアの長さＬ１が決められる。つまり、計量コンベア１３の長さＬ１は精度の観点からではなく他の要素から与えられる。
【００３０】
この容器式重量選別機１は次のように動作する。選別される物品は、計量用区間（送り込みコンベア１２、計量コンベア１３、送り出しコンベア１４で構成される区間）の手前の適所で、開口を上にして水平に移送されている容器１１毎に、順次供給される。この物品を収容した容器１１が、計量用区間を通過する間に計量され、予め計量されている容器重量を差し引いた物品重量が検出さて等級分けされ、容器１１が等級に対応する振り分け部に、例えば振り分け部３１ｂに到達したときにエヤーシリンダ３３が動作し、分断ガイド部分２２ｂが回動して物品が振り分け放出される。
【００３１】
容器式重量検出器２の重量検出は、次のように高精度で計量できる。容器１１は計量用区間に到達するとき無端周回体１０の速度で移動しているから、無端周回体１０と送り込みコンベア１２との速度差による加速力を発生するが、送り込みコンベア１２に支持されてしばらく後には送り込みコンベアと等速運動状態になり、無端周回体１１を構成しているチェーン１５、１５から完全に離脱する。すなわち、容器１１は、被支持部１９の下面が送り込みコンベア１２に支持され、ガイドローラ２１がガイド２２から離れ、被牽引棒２０が容器搬送金具１６の長孔１８の後端縁から離れた状態であるから、送り込みコンベア１２のみによって支持されて進行している状態となる。そして容器１１は計量コンベアと同じ速度で計量コンベア１３に移され、更に送り出しコンベア１４に移されてその終端部でガイドローラ２１がガイド２２に支持されるようになり、再び長孔１８の後端縁に押されて移送されるようになる。従って、容器１１が計量コンベア１３に移った時及び送り出しコンベア１４に移った時に特別な振動的外乱を発生せず、チェーン１５から完全に離脱していて、荷重検出器３０は容器１１と物品の重量のみを検出し、高精度で計量できる。
【００３２】
第２の実施の形態を図６を用いて説明する。この容器式重量検出装置２ａは、重量検出において高い計量能力、すなわち単位時間当たりの計量回数の大きい値の仕様をユーザー側から要求されたときに対応できる構成のものであり、無端周回体１０、容器１１ａ、１１ｂ、送り込みコンベア１２、計量コンベア１３ａ、１３ｂ、図示していないガイド２２等で構成されている。第１の実施の形態と異なる点は、計量コンベア１３ａ、１３ｂの構成及び容器１１ａ、１１ｂ下面の構成と、送り出しコンベアが設けられていないことであり、この異なる点について説明し、他の構成は第１の実施の形態と略同じであるから図示説明を省略する。なお、同等部分は同一図面符号で示してある。
【００３３】
計量コンベア１３ａ、１３ｂは、別々に形成された同様なもので、一方が２本で１組の無端走行条体３５、３５、重量検出器３６を備え、他方が２本で１組の無端走行条体３７、３７、重量検出器３８を備えている。無端走行条体３６、３６、３８、３８は、いずれも上側走行部が平行して同一水平面に沿って走行するように各組毎のフレーム３９、４０に設けたプーリに張設され、コンベア長さが容器１１ａ（又は１１ｂ）の長さの略２倍の長さになるように形成され、各組毎に回転駆動部４１、４２によって駆動され、無端周回体１０よりも少し速い同一速度で走行する。各無端走行条体の上側走行部はフレーム側に下面を支持されて水平に走行し、上面が所定の容器１１ａ、又は１１ｂを支持するようになっている。容器１１ａ、１１ｂは、図６（ａ）、（ｂ）、（ｃ）に示すように、１組の無端走行条体３５、３５に支持される被支持部としての突条４３、４３を下面に有する容器１１ａと、他の１組の無端走行条体３７、３７に支持される被支持部としての突条４４、４４を下面に有する容器１１ｂとの２種類が準備されている。２種類の容器１１ａ、１１ｂは、無端周回体１０にその長手方向に交互に装着されている。計量コンベア１３ａ、１３ｂの前段の送り込みコンベア１２は、第１の実施の形態のものと同様の平坦な一つのベルトコンベアでもよいが、この場合は、計量コンベア１３ａ、１３ｂの無端走行条体３５、３５、３８、３８に対応する２組の無端走行条体４５、４５、４６、４６を有し、その無端走行条体の全てが、一つの回転駆動部４７によって計量コンベア１３ａ、１３ｂと同じ走行速度で回転駆動される構成としてある。
【００３４】
この構成では、送り込みコンベア１２に到達した容器１１ａ又は１１ｂは送り込みコンベア１２の速度で移送されるようになるから、第１の実施の形態と同じように、無端周回体１０から離脱し、計量コンベア１３ａ又は１３ｂに移され、この時容器１１ａは計量コンベア１３ａに乗り、容器１１ｂは計量コンベア１３ｂに乗り、夫々に計量され、計量コンベア１３ａ、又は１３ｂの終端部で再び無端周回体１０のチェーン１５と図示していないガイド２２とによって搬送されるようになる。
【００３５】
計量コンベア１３ａ、１３ｂの長さが夫々に容器の２倍に形成されているが、搬送方向に隣合う容器１１ａ、１１ｂは被支持部が異なる種類のものであるから、同じ計量コンベア１３ａ、又は１３ｂ上に２個の計量容器が同時に乗ることはない。従って、計量コンベアの長さが長いから、１個の計量容器がより長い時間計量コンベア上に滞在でき、より高精度で計量できる。すなわち、計量精度は、秤の過渡応答収束度合いから考えて被計量物ができるだけ長い時間計量コンベア上に滞在した方が良くなるからである。よって、この様な構成では、重量検出器において高い計量能力、すなわち単位時間当たりの計量回数の大きい仕様を要求されたとき、より具体的には、より速い搬送速度に対応して高精度で計量できる様にすることを要求されたとき、十分に対応できる。なお、第１の実施の形態における送り出しコンベア１４に相当するものを省略した理由は、ガイド２２と計量コンベア１３ａ、１３ｂのとの位置関係を、計量動作の終了した容器１１ａ、又は１１ｂの底面の被支持部（突条）が、計量コンベア１３ａ、又は１３ｂから離れる瞬間のタイミングに容器のガイドローラ２１をガイド２２が受けるようにすれば、そしてこの時点から容器の減速が始まるが後続の容器に接触する前に容器搬送金具１６が牽引棒２０を牽引するようにしておけば、計量精度に影響しないからである。
【００３６】
第３の実施の形態を図７を用いて説明する。この実施の形態は、第１の実施の形態に比べてやや簡略な容器式重量検出装置２ｂで、送り込みコンベア４８、計量コンベア４９、送り出しコンベア５０の構成が異なるものである。この異なる部分について次に説明し、他の部分の構成は第１の実施の形態と略同じであるから、同等部分は同一図面符号で示して説明を省略する。
【００３７】
送り込みコンベア４８、計量コンベア４９、送り出しコンベア５０は、例えばベルトコンベアであり、一連の無端走行条体（無端ベルト）６０で全体を構成してあり、容器を搬送する上側部分が同一水平面上にあるように張設され、１つの回転駆動部５１で無端周回体１０よりも少し速い速度で走行するように設けられている。送り込みコンベア４８、計量コンベア４９、送り出しコンベア５０は、いずれも固定部に各別にフレーム５２、５３、５４が支持されていて、夫々のフレーム５２、５３、５４がベルトコンベアの上側の水平走行部を下面から支持する受け台５５、５６、５７を設けられている。そして、計量コンベア４９では、受け台５６と固定部との間に重量検出器５８を介在させて、受け台５６に作用する重量を検出できるようになっている。
【００３８】
この構成では、送り込みコンベア４８に到達した容器１１は送り込みコンベア４８の速度で移送されるようになるから、第１の実施の形態と同じように、無端周回体１０から離脱し、計量コンベア４９部に移され、計量コンベア４９で計量され、そして送り出しコンベア５０に移され、送り出しコンベア５０の終端部で再び無端周回体１０と図示していないガイド２２とによって搬送されるようになる。
【００３９】
この構成では送り込みコンベア４８、計量コンベア４９、送り出しコンベア５０上を移送される容器１１が、容器搬送用無端周回体１０から切り離された状態になるので、無端周回体１０側から計量前及び計量中に計量に影響するような外乱が及ぶことはない。また、送り込みコンベア４８と計量コンベア４９と送り出しコンベア５０とが一つの無端走行条体６０を共用する構成であるから、容器が送り込みコンベア４８に移る時に発生する加速度により生じる力が無端走行条体６０に作用するが、この場合の作用力は無端周回体１０から切り離された１個の容器１１とその中の物品の質量が関係するのみであり、従来の無端周回体に結合されている容器の振動のように合計質量の大きい無端周回体側からの作用力と比べると格段に小さく、計量コンベア４９の計量に与える影響は極めて小さい。また、この加速度による力は無端周回体を介して送り込みコンベアのみに作用する。そして、容器１１が送り込みコンベア４８から計量コンベア４９に移る時は、容器は送り込みコンベア及び計量コンベアと等速状態になっており、共通の無端走行条体であるから衝撃力を計量コンベアへ与えるようなことはない。また、送り出しコンベア５０の終端から無端周回体１０とガイド２２による移送に移行する段階で、容器１１の被支持部１９が送り出しコンベア５０から外れ始めて減速が始まるころにガイドローラ２１がガイド２２に支持されるようにしておくことにより、非常に短い期間であるが徐々に減速が進み、無端周回体１０の速度の方が速くなり、容器搬送金具１６が被牽引棒２０に係合するようになる。この移行状態は殆ど衝撃を伴わず、計量精度に与える影響はほとんど無い。従って、従来よりも格段と高精度の計量が可能となる。
【００４０】
第４の実施の形態を第８図、第９図を用いて説明する。この第４の実施の形態は、第２の実施の形態のように単位時間当たりの計量回数の大きい値の仕様の要求を満足する構成で、第３の実施の形態に相当するような送り込み、計量、送り出しのコンベアに一連の無端ベルトを用いたものに対応できるように構成したものである。この第４の実施の形態の容器式重量検出装置２ｃは、無端周回体１０、容器１１ａ、１１ｂ、送り込みコンベア４８ａ、４８ｂ、計量コンベア４９ａ、４９ｂ、送り出しコンベア５０ａ、５０ｂ、図示していないガイド等で構成されている。第３の実施の形態とは、送り込み、計量、送り出しコンベアを一連の無端走行条体で構成した点は同じであるが、第２の実施の形態におけるように、平行な複数組の無端走行条体で構成した点で異なる。この第３の実施の形態と異なる点について説明する。
【００４１】
送り込みコンベア４８ａ、４８ｂ、計量コンベア４９ａ、４９ｂ、送り出しコンベア５０ａ、５０ｂは、例えば細い幅の４本の無端走行条体６１、６２、６３、６４からなる一連のベルトコンベアであり、容器を搬送する上側部分が幅方向に間隔を隔てて平行し同一水平面上にあるように張設され、４本の無端走行条体６１、６２、６３、６４が一つの回転駆動部６５で４本とも同じ速度で走行し無端周回体１０よりも少し速い速度で走行するように設けられている。各送り込み、計量、送り出しコンベアは２組構成されており、その組ごとに１種類の容器が移送されるように対応し、移送される２種類の容器が同じ一つの移送経路を移動するようになっている。すなわち、その１組は無端走行条体６１、６３によって容器１１ａが、他の１組は無端走行条体６２、６４によって容器１１ｂが移送されるようになっている。このため容器１１ａの下面に１組の無端走行条体６１、６３に対応する被支持部である突条６６、６６を設けてあり、容器１１ｂの下面に他の１組の無端走行条体６２、６４に対応する被支持部である突条６７、６７を設けてある。この場合２種類の容器１１ａ、１１ｂの長さ等他の部分は同じであり、無端周回体１０に対しては交互に装着されている。
【００４２】
各無端走行条体６１、６２、６３、６４は、送り込みコンベア４８ａ、４８ｂ、計量コンベア４９ａ、４９ｂ、送り出しコンベア５０ａ、５０ｂごとに夫々の上側の水平走行部を下面から支持する受け台６８、６８、６９、６９、７０、７０、７１、７１、７２、７２、７３、７３を設けられている。各受け台は固定部に支持されたフレームに設けられており、計量コンベア４９ａでは、受け台７０、７０と固定部との間に重量検出器５８ａを介在させて、受け台７０、７０に作用する重量を、計量コンベア４９ｂでは、受け台７１、７１と固定部との間に重量検出器５８ｂを介在させて、受け台７１、７１に作用する重量を、夫々検出できるようになっている。計量コンベア４９ａ、４９ｂの長さ、つまり受け台７０、７１の長さＬ５は容器１１ａ又は１１ｂの長さＬ４の略２倍の長さに決めてある。他の受け台６８、６９、７２、７３の長さは容器の長さＬ４よりやや長くしてある。他の部分の構成は第２の実施の形態と略同じであるから図示説明を省略する。なお、同等部分は同一図面符号で示してある。
【００４３】
このような構成を有する容器式重量検出装置２ｃは、次のように動作する。送り込みコンベア４８ａ又は４８ｂに到達した容器１１ａ又は１１ｂは、送り込みコンベア４８ａ又は４８ｂの速度で移送されるようになるから、第１の実施の形態と同じように、無端周回体１０から離脱し、そして次の計量コンベア４９ａ又は４９ｂに移され、すなわち、容器１１ａは計量コンベア４９ａに乗り、容器１１ｂは計量コンベア４９ｂに乗り、夫々に計量され、そして次の送り出しコンベア５０ａ、又は５０ｂに移され、その終端部で再び無端周回体１０と図示していないガイド２２とによって搬送されるようになる。
【００４４】
計量コンベア４９ａ、４９ｂの長さが夫々に容器の略２倍に形成されているが、第２の実施の形態で説明したように、搬送方向に隣合う容器は被支持部が異なる種類のものであるから、同じ計量コンベア上に２個の計量容器が同時に乗ることはなく、計量コンベアの長さが長いから、１個の計量容器がより長い時間計量コンベア上に滞在でき、より高精度で計量できる。そして、容器式重量検出器において高い計量能力、すなわち単位時間当たりの計量回数の大きい仕様を要求されたとき、十分に対応できる。また、この実施の形態では、２台（２連）の計量コンベアを使用した構成であるが、計量コンベアが１台の場合に比べて計量精度が向上するにもかかわらず、計量区間を容器位相方向に重複させてあるから、機械寸法全体の大きさが殆ど変わらない利点がある。なお、この第４の実施の形態の容器式重量検出装置２ｃは、計量コンベア４９ａ、４９ｂは干渉があってはならないので、独立して２台を設けねばならないが、送り込み、送り出しコンベアは受け台６８、６９、及び受け台７２、７３を共通の受け台としてもよい。また、更に高い精度や計量処理能力が要求される時は、計量コンベアは２台（２連）以上のもの、すなわち、２組以上の計量コンベアとしてもよい。
【００４５】
第５の実施の形態を図１０に示す。第４の実施の形態では、２台の計量コンベアを容器進行方向に前後位置が一致するように重ねた構成を示したが、複数の計量コンベアの夫々に専用の容器を用意するかぎりは、無端周回体１０に沿う任意の位置に夫々の計量コンベアを前後に位置をずらせて配置してもよい。その例がこの第５の実施の形態の容器式重量検出装置２ｄである。この第５の実施の形態は、第４の実施の形態と計量区間を構成している２組のコンベアの組、すなわち、送り込みコンベア４８ａ、計量コンベア４９ａ、送り出しコンベア５０ａの組と、送り込みコンベア４８ｂ、計量コンベア４９ｂ、送り出しコンベア５０ｂの組とが、位置を前後にずらせて設けてある点で相違しているのみであるから、同等部分を同一図面符号で示して説明を省略する。
【００４６】
第６の実施の形態を図１１に示す。容器式重量検出装置において、被計量物品に大小のサイズがあって、所定の小さいサイズの容器では小さいサイズの物品は計量できるが大きいサイズの物品を計量することができないときに、別に大きいサイズの容器を用意し、物品の大きさに合わせて全ての容器を交換して計量する場合がある。この実施の形態の容器式重量検出装置２ｆは、大小の容器が交換可能な構成のものである。この容器式重量検出装置２ｆは、大容器１１Ｌ、小容器１１Ｓとし、夫々の進行方向の長さの比が２対３であるとして両方の容器を交換して使用できるように無端周回体１０の搬送チェーン１５には、図１１（ａ）に示すように、大小いずれの容器でも装着出るようなピッチで容器搬送金具１６を設けてある。計量区間の送り込みコンベア８０ａ、８０ｂ、計量コンベア８１ａ、８１ｂ、送り出しコンベア８２ａ、８２ｂは、１組が２本の無端走行条体からなる２組の無端走行条体８３、８６と、８４、８５とで構成されている点は第４の実施の形態と似ているが、１個の重量検出器９４を使用している点が大きく異なる。すなわち、計量コンベア８１ａ、８１ｂの受け台８９、９０が同一フレームに９３に取り付けられ、容器進行方向の長さが大小の容器１１Ｌ、１１Ｓの長さに応じて長さＬ１１、Ｌ１と異ならせてあり、１個の重量検出器９４をフレーム９３と固定部９５との間に設けられている点が異なる。なお、送り込みコンベア８０ａ、８０ｂ、送り出しコンベア８２ａ、８２ｂの受け台８７、８８、９１、９２はフレームを固定部に固定されている。
【００４７】
また、大小の容器１１Ｌ、１１Ｓは、２組の無端走行条体が別々に対応しており、図示のように、大容器１１Ｌの被支持部としての突条９６、９６は間隔寸法Ｄ１１で無端走行条体８３、８６の間隔に対応し、小容器１１Ｓの被支持部としての突条９７、９７は間隔寸法Ｄ１で無端走行条体８４、８５の間隔に対応している。計量コンベア８１ａの受け台８９の長さＬ１１は大容器１１Ｌの被支持部の長さＬ３１に最適な長さであり、計量コンベア８１ｂの受け台９０の長さＬ１は小容器１１Ｓの被支持部の長さＬ３に最適な長さである。なお、図示説明を省略するが、無端走行条体８３〜８６は同一速度で、無端周回体１０よりも少し速い速度で１個の駆動源で駆動されるようになっており、容器１１Ｌ、１１Ｓは被牽引棒２０、ガイドローラ２１を有し、ガイド２２で案内されて所定の移送経路に沿って移送されるようになっている。
【００４８】
容器式重量検出装置２ｆの使用において、１種類の計量コンベアで計量し、進行方向の長さが異なる大小の容器１１Ｌ、１１Ｓを交換使用する場合、従来は大小の容器のいずれか一方を基準にして計量コンベアの長さが決められ、他方の計量速度または計量精度の低下を避けることができなかった。しかし、この実施の形態では、大小の容器を交換使用しても速度及び精度を低下させることなく計量することができる。すなわち、計量コンベア８１ａ、８１ｂの長さは、任意の長さに決められる受け台８９、９０の長さによって決まるから、予め大容器１１Ｌに最適な長さの受け台８９、及び小容器１１Ｓに最適な長さの受け台９０とすることができるからである。
【００４９】
第７の実施の形態を図１２に示す。この容器式重量検出装置２ｆは、夫々の進行方向の長さに大小のある大容器１１Ｌ−１、１１Ｌ−２、小容器１１Ｓ−１、１１Ｓ−２とし、大小の容器を交換して使用できるようにしたものである。この例では小容器は幅も小さいが、被牽引棒１６は長く形成して大容器と同じ容器搬送金具１６に装着可能としてある。容器は、図示のように、被支持部としての突条が、容器進行方向の寸法を容器の大小で異ならせてあり、幅方向位置を大容器で２種類、小容器で２種類に異ならせてある。すなわち、大容器１１Ｌ−１は突条９６ａ、９６ａを、大容器１１Ｌ−２は突条９６ｂ、９６ｂを、小容器１１Ｌ−１は突条９７ａ、９７ａを、小容器１１Ｌ−２は突条９７ｂ、９７ｂを、有するものとしてある。無端周回体１０の搬送チェーン１５には、図示を省略するが図１１（ａ）に示したと略同様に、大小いずれの容器でも装着出るようなピッチで容器搬送金具１６を設けてある。計量区間の全コンベアの図示は省略するが、第６の実施の形態のものを２台組み合わせた様な構成である。
【００５０】
すなわち、２本１組でコンベア４組を構成する８本の無端走行条体１００、１０１、１０２、１０３、１０４、１０５、１０６、１０７が張設されており、一方の重量検出器９４ａの支持するフレーム９３ａに、２組の受け台８９ａ、９０ａを設け、他方の重量検出器９４ｂの支持するフレーム９３ｂに、２組の受け台８９ｂ、９０ｂを設けてある。受け台８９ａに受けられる無端走行条体１００、１０６は大容器１１Ｌ−１を支持し、受け台８９ｂに支持される無端走行条体１０１、１０７は大容器１１Ｌ−２を支持し、受け台９０ａに支持される無端走行条体１０２、１０４は小容器１１Ｓ−１を支持し、受け台９０ｂに支持される無端走行条体１０３、１０５は小容器１１Ｓ−２を支持するようになっており、大容器１１Ｌ−１、１１Ｌ−２も、小容器１１Ｓ−１、１１Ｓ−２も、図示していない無端周回体１０のチェーン１５に装着するときは被支持部の異なる種類のものが交互に取り付けられる。
【００５１】
この構成は、第４若しくは第５の実施の形態の構成に、第６の実施の形態の構成を適用した構成である。従って、第４若しくは第５の実施の形態のように、同じ計量コンベア上に２個の計量容器が同時に乗ることはなく、計量コンベアの長さを長くできるから、１個の計量容器がより長い時間計量コンベア上に滞在でき、より高精度で計量できる利点と、そして、容器式重量検出装置において高い計量能力、すなわち単位時間当たりの計量回数の大きい仕様を要求されたとき、十分に対応できる利点と、更に、第６の実施の形態のように、大小の容器を交換使用しても、すなわち、大容器１１Ｌ−１、１１Ｌ−２と、小容器１１Ｓ−１、１１Ｓ−２とを交換使用しても、速度及び精度を低下させることなく計量することができる利点と、が得られる。
【００５２】
前述した実施の形態において、無端周回体１０は、チェーン１５、１５の例を示したが、紐、ベルト、ワイヤー、ロープ等であってもよい。また、無端走行条体も、紐、チェーン、ワイヤー、ロープ等であってもよい。
【００５３】
【発明の効果】
請求項１に記載の発明は、従来よりも計量精度が向上する効果を奏する。
請求項２に記載の発明は、計量コンベアが、計量前に計量に影響するような外乱を受けることはなく、また計量中は確実に送り込みコンベア及び容器搬送用無端周回体から切り離された状態となるので、より高精度の計量が可能となる効果を奏する。
請求項３に記載の発明は、計量を終わった容器が加（減）速力を発生することなく滑らかに送り出しコンベアに移り、計量コンベアに振動等を与えるような悪影響を回避できるので、更により高精度の計量が可能となる効果を奏する。
請求項４に記載の発明は、計量に使用できる時間を長くでき、搬送用無端周回体の速度を遅くすることなく、高精度で計量でき、また、計量精度を低下させない範囲で計量速度を上げるようにすることができる効果を奏する。
請求項５に記載の発明は、従来よりも格段と高精度の計量が可能となる効果を奏する。
請求項６に記載の発明は、２組以上の無端走行条体で計量する計量コンベアを設けて計量に使用できる時間を長くできることから、高精度で計量できる効果を奏する。
請求項７に記載の発明は、容器を交換使用する容器式重量検出装置で、異なる種類の容器に交換しても、能率良く、高精度で計量できる効果を奏する。
請求項８に記載の発明は、容器を交換使用する構成において、より高精度で計量することができる効果を奏する。
請求項９に記載の発明は、重量検出を良好に行うことができる効果を奏する。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の第１の実施の形態の全体の構成を示す概略側面図である。
【図２】図１における矢印Ａの方向から見た部分拡大平面図である。
【図３】同実施の形態の無端走行条体に牽引されている容器の状態を示す部分斜視図である。
【図４】同実施の形態の被牽引棒と長孔の関係を示し、（ａ）は容器牽引状態の部分側面図、（ｂ）は容器離脱状態の部分側面図である。
【図５】同実施の形態の部分拡大側面図である。
【図６】本発明の第２の実施の形態を示し、（ａ）は主要部の概略側面図、（ｂ）は同概略平面図、（ｃ）は（ｂ）との関連で示す容器の概略背面図である。
【図７】本発明の第３の実施の形態を示す主要部の概略側面図である。
【図８】本発明の第４の実施の形態を示し、（ａ）は主要部の概略側面図、（ｂ）は同概略平面図である。
【図９】同第４の実施の形態を示し、（ａ）は主要部の概略側面図、（ｂ）は同概略平面図、（ｃ）は（ｂ）との関連で示す容器の概略背面図である。
【図１０】本発明の第５の実施の形態を示し、（ａ）は主要部の概略側面図、（ｂ）は同概略平面図である。
【図１１】本発明の第６の実施の形態を示し、（ａ）は主要部の概略側面図、（ｂ）は同概略平面図、（ｃ）は（ｂ）との関連で示す容器の概略背面図である。
【図１２】本発明の第７の実施の形態を示し、（ａ）は大小の容器を示す概略側面図、（ｂ）は主要部の構成を説明するための主要部概略平面図、（ｃ）は（ｂ）との関連で示す容器の概略背面図である。
【符号の説明】
１容器式重量選別機
２容器式重量検出装置
３振り分け装置
１０無端周回体
１１容器
１１ａ容器
１１ｂ容器
１１Ｌ、１１Ｌ−１、１１Ｌ−２大容器
１１Ｓ、１１Ｓ−１、１１Ｓ−２小容器
１２送り込みコンベア
１３計量コンベア
１４送り出しコンベア
１５チェーン
１６容器搬送金具
１７面部材
１８長孔
１９被支持部
２０被牽引棒
２１ガイドローラ
２２ガイド
２３、２４、２５回転駆動部
２６、２７、２８コンベアフレーム
２９固定部
３０重量検出器
３４底
３５無端走行条体
３６重量検出器
３７無端走行条体
３８重量検出器
３９、４０フレーム
４１、４２回転駆動部
４３、４４突条
４５、４６無端走行条体
４７回転駆動部
４８、４８ａ、４８ｂ送り込みコンベア
４９、４９ａ、４９ｂ計量コンベア
５０、５０ａ、５０ｂ送り出しコンベア
５１回転駆動部
５２、５３、５４フレーム
５５、５６、５７受け台
５８、５８ａ、５８ｂ重量検出器
６０無端走行条体
６１〜６４無端走行条体
６５回転駆動部
６６突条
６８〜７３受け台
８０ａ、８０ｂ送り込みコンベア
８１ａ、８１ｂ計量コンベア
８２ａ、８２ｂ送り出しコンベア
８３〜８６無端走行条体
８７〜９２受け台
８９ａ−１、８９ａ−２受け台
９０ｂ−１、９０ｂ−２受け台
９３、９３ａ、９３ｂフレーム
９４、９４ａ、９４ｂ重量検出器
９５固定部
９６、９７突条
１００〜１０７無端走行条体[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a container-type weight detection apparatus that is mainly applied to a container-type weight sorter and detects the weight of a moving article during the transfer of the article housed or placed in the container together with the container.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The container-type weight sorter includes a container-type weight detection device and a sorting device. The container-type weight detection device detects an article weight, and the sorting device sorts the article based on the detected article weight. The conventional container-type weight detector of a container-type weight sorter sequentially loads and unloads a plurality of containers containing articles to be weighed onto a weighing section, and weighs the articles to be weighed on the weighing section together with the containers. Thus, the weight including the container weight is detected, and the weight of the article is obtained by subtracting the known container weight that has been measured in advance. There is also a method in which the article is moved from the container to the weighing section in the vicinity of the weighing section, only the article is weighed, and then returned to the container after weighing.
[0003]
Some conventional container-type weight detection devices have the following configurations (1) to (5).
(1) A container (article mount) is directly attached to a chain, string, or strip-shaped endless loop passing through the measuring section in contact with the measuring section, and the endless rotating section existing on the measuring section and A configuration in which the weight of an article is measured together with a container (see Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 63-7610).
(2) An endless circular body is attached to a container (article support stand), and an endless circular body with respect to the container is detected so that a part of the container passing over the weighing unit contacts and the weight of the container and the stored article is detected. The structure which receives the conveyance force from the head as much as possible without affecting the weight detection (see Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-2350).
(3) The endless rotating body for container transporting contacts the container and transports the container and the contained articles until the container reaches the weighing section, and creates a released state that does not contact the container on the weighing section. The stored article is weighed while being transported by another endless rotating body (conveyor of the measuring section) driven in contact with the measuring section, and is transported out of the measuring section by the original endless circulating body for container transportation. A container-endless circular body and another endless-circular body have the same speed (see Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-26411).
(4) There is a difference in speed between the endless circulating body for transporting containers of the above (3) and another endless rotating body (see Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 58-19203, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-119937).
(5) When the container (comb-like conveyance claw) is attached to the endless rotating body, and the container is conveyed to the vicinity of the weighing unit, the conveyor (multiple transfer belts) of the weighing unit and the upper and lower sides of the container are almost the same speed as the container. A configuration in which only the article is delivered to the conveyor by crossing, and the article is received again in the container after weighing (see JP-A-59-40120).
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-mentioned prior art (1), the portion existing on the measuring portion of the endless circulating body is weighed together with the container as the tare weight. In order to weigh an article, the tare weight is obtained in advance, and the article is weighed together with the tare and the tare weight is subtracted. This is always relevant when weighing an article, and the weighing accuracy of that part affects the weighing value of the article. For this reason, the weight of the part which exists on the measurement part of an endless circulating body should be measured with the highest possible precision. However, since the endless rotating body is rotationally driven by a motor and a large number of containers are mounted, when driven to rotate, compared to the case where only the endless rotating body rotates due to the shaking of the container having mass. Large tension change and vibration. Therefore, a force is also generated in the endless rotating body in the load detection direction of the weight sensor, which is in a positional relationship perpendicular to the traveling direction, due to the vibration, resulting in a measurement error that cannot be ignored. As described above, the weight of the portion existing on the weighing part of the endless circling body is related to both when the tare weight is obtained and when the article is weighed, so that the article weighing value includes a large error. It will be.
[0005]
In the prior art (2), the endless rotating body is rotationally driven by a motor, and the container is not fixedly attached to the endless rotating body, but receives a pressing force of a certain size from the endless rotating body. Is being transported by. The endless circulator receives vibration directly from the rotation drive device, and further receives vibration caused by shaking of many mounted containers and vibration caused by contact sliding between the endless circulator and the fixed portion. The container is transported by the above-mentioned transport force given by the endless rotating body even when passing over the measuring unit, and the container and the endless rotating body are always in contact with a certain amount of force. Body vertical vibrations are applied to the weighing container and the weight sensor. Further, since the pressing force is not exactly perpendicular to the weight detection direction, a component force in the weight detection direction due to the pressing force is applied to the weight sensor through the container, which causes a reduction in measurement accuracy.
[0006]
In the above-mentioned prior art (3), the container supported by the endless circular body for transporting the container by the support member is separated from the endless circular body for transporting the container on the measuring unit, so that the container is released from the support member. An error occurs due to a decrease in the time of the contact state and an impact when the support member is detached from the weighing unit. In particular, at the time of high-speed weighing, it is not possible to secure sufficient time for the container to stay on the weighing unit.
[0007]
In the above-mentioned prior art (4), the container is released from the endless circular body for transporting the container on the weighing conveyor and is released by the speed difference between the endless circular body for transporting the container and the weighing conveyor. Since the article is in an accelerating state during and immediately after getting into the weighing unit, the weighing unit is vibrated. In particular, this effect is significant when weighing at high speeds.
The present invention prevents such a problem of the conventional container-type weighing device from causing a vibration disturbance when the container and the article pass over the weighing unit, and the article and the container are placed on the weighing unit. It is an object of the present invention to provide a container-type weighing device that can be used effectively for weighing (for stability and measurement of a balance) for a certain period, and capable of weighing with higher speed and accuracy.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The means of the present invention comprises a container transport means having an endless rotating body for container transport provided so as to travel at a predetermined speed along a circulating path including a predetermined horizontal weighing section, and the progression of the endless rotating body A container for weighing articles that is removably attached to an endless circular body at intervals with a line in a direction and that advances by receiving a conveying force from the endless circular body, and supports the container that passes through the weighing section, A measuring conveyor provided so as to be transported faster and at the same speed as the endless rotating body, and weighing the articles together with the containers, and a feeding conveyor arranged in a preceding stage of the weighing conveyor, the endless rotating body and the feeding The container in the weighing section is detached from the endless rotating body due to a speed difference between the conveyor and the weighing conveyor (Claim 1).
[0009]
Due to the configuration in which the feeding conveyor is provided in the preceding stage of the weighing conveyor, when a container that accommodates articles in use passes through the weighing section, the container is first supported and transferred by the feeding conveyor. It is separated from the endless circulating body for transport, then transferred to the weighing conveyor, weighed, and sent from the weighing section to be transported by the endless circulating body for container transport. At the stage where the container moves to the infeed conveyor, an impact due to the speed difference occurs and acts on the infeed conveyor. . Further, the container and the article are moved at a constant speed while passing through the infeed conveyor. Accordingly, the containers and articles are carried into the weighing conveyor at the same speed, and the weighing of the containers that are passing through the weighing conveyor is not affected or hardly given. And when a container moves from an infeed conveyor to a measurement conveyor, since both are the same transfer speed, a container does not give an impact to a measurement conveyor. As a result, the measurement accuracy is improved as compared with the prior art.
[0010]
In the means (Claim 1), the feeding conveyor and the weighing conveyor may be provided independently of each other so as not to interfere with each other (Claim 2). In this configuration, since the feeding conveyor and the weighing conveyor are provided independently so as not to interfere with each other, if the container is moved from the endless circulating body for transporting the container to the feeding conveyor, an impact due to a speed difference or the like may occur. Even if it acts on the infeed conveyor, there is no impact on the weighing conveyor, and of course, the impact is generated when the container moves from the infeed conveyor to the weighing conveyor because the infeed conveyor and the weighing conveyor are at the same speed. Absent. Therefore, in this configuration, the weighing conveyor is not subject to disturbances that affect weighing before weighing, and is reliably disconnected from the feeding conveyor and the endless circuit for transporting containers during weighing. High-precision weighing is possible.
[0011]
In the above-described configuration (Claim 2), it is preferable that an end of the weighing section is formed by interposing an independent delivery conveyor at the same speed as the weighing conveyor at the next stage of the weighing conveyor (Claim 3). ). In this configuration, when the delivery conveyor is not provided, the resistance is caused by the speed difference when the container is re-supported by the endless rotating body for transporting the container, and the resistance reaches the weighing conveyor and becomes a disturbance factor such as vibration. May affect weighing accuracy. On the other hand, by providing a delivery conveyor at the same speed as the weighing conveyor, the containers that have been weighed can be smoothly transferred to the delivery conveyor without resistance, and adverse effects such as vibration on the weighing conveyor can be avoided. Accurate weighing is possible.
[0012]
In the above configuration (Claim 2 or Claim 3), the weighing conveyor has a plurality of sets of a plurality of parallel endless running strips spaced in the width direction, and each set has a weight separately. The container is configured to be detectable, and the container has a supported portion supported by any of the endless running strips, and is composed of a plurality of types corresponding to the number of the endless running strips and travels. It is preferable that different types in the direction are mounted on the endless rotating body for transporting the container (claim 4).
[0013]
In this configuration, for example, the number of endless running strips of the weighing conveyor is set to 2 (in some cases, the number of sets is 3 or more), and different types of containers with different supported portion positions of the endless running strip are conveyed alternately. When mounted on an endless rotating body, the same type of containers should not be placed on the same weighing conveyor even if the length of the weighing conveyor is made slightly shorter than twice the container mounting pitch (multiple times the number of sets). The weighing time is longer. On the other hand, when the number of sets is 1, the length of the weighing conveyor cannot be longer than the mounting pitch of the containers to be mounted on the endless rotating body for transporting containers. This is because, when the weighing conveyor is lengthened, two or more containers are always present on the weighing conveyor and cannot be weighed. Accordingly, a configuration in which a weighing conveyor for weighing with one set of endless running strips and a weighing conveyor for weighing with two or more sets of endless running strips are provided with the same speed of the endless rotating body for container conveyance. Therefore, it is possible to lengthen the time that can be used for weighing by providing a weighing conveyor for weighing with two or more sets of endless running strips, and it is possible to measure with high accuracy without slowing the speed of the endless rotating body for conveyance. Further, in some cases, the speed of the endless circulating member can be increased within a range in which the measurement accuracy is not lowered, that is, the measurement speed can be increased.
[0014]
In the above-mentioned means (Claim 1), the feeding conveyor and the weighing conveyor are formed on a conveyor composed of a common endless running strip that supports the container and travels, and supports the container of the endless running strip. In this case, it is preferable that the preceding stage portion that travels as the feeding conveyor and the next stage portion as the weighing conveyor that detects the weight of each container.
[0015]
In this configuration, since the containers transported on the infeed conveyor and the weighing conveyor are separated from the endless circular body for container transfer, the measurement is affected before and during measurement from the endless circular body for container transfer. There is no disturbance. In addition, since the infeed conveyor and the weighing conveyor share the endless running strip, the force generated by the acceleration of the container when the container moves to the infeed conveyor acts on the endless running strip. The force exerted by is only related to the mass of one container separated from the endless circular body and the articles in the container, and the force generated by the shaking motion of many containers connected to the conventional endless circular body Thus, it is much smaller than the action force from the endless rotating body side by an object having a large total mass, and its influence on the weighing of the weighing conveyor is extremely small. Moreover, since the acting force due to the acceleration of the container and the article acts only on the feeding conveyor, it does not affect the weighing. When the container moves from the infeed conveyor to the weighing conveyor, the container is already at the same speed as the weighing conveyor and is a common endless running strip, so there is no impact. Therefore, it is possible to measure with much higher accuracy than before.
[0016]
In the above configuration (Claim 5), the feeding conveyor and the weighing conveyor have a plurality of sets of a plurality of parallel endless running strips spaced apart in the width direction, and each of the sets separately. The container is configured to be able to detect the weight with a weighing conveyor, and the container has a supported portion supported by one of the set of endless running strips, and is made up of a plurality of types corresponding to the number of the set and proceeds. It is preferable that different types in the direction are mounted on the endless rotating body for transporting the container (claim 6).
[0017]
In this configuration, as described above, the speed of the endless rotating body for container conveyance is the same, and a configuration is provided in which a weighing conveyor is used for weighing with one set of endless running strips, and weighing is performed with two or more sets of endless running strips. With the configuration provided with a weighing conveyor, it is possible to lengthen the time that can be used for weighing by providing a weighing conveyor for weighing with two or more sets of endless running strips, without slowing down the speed of the endless rotating body for container conveyance Can measure with high accuracy. In some cases, the speed of the endless rotating body for container conveyance, that is, the measurement speed can be increased within a range in which the measurement accuracy is not lowered.
[0018]
In the above configuration (Claim 5), the infeed conveyor portion and the weighing conveyor portion have a plurality of sets of a plurality of parallel endless running strips spaced apart in the width direction, and each set includes the The weighing conveyor portions are configured to have different lengths, and each of the containers has a supported portion corresponding to any of the sets so as to be supported by a set of the endless running strips, and the corresponding ones. Consists of a plurality of types corresponding to the number of sets having the supported portion length in the transfer direction that can be measured by the length of the weighing conveyor portion, and the endless revolving body for container conveyance can measure the same type of container It is preferable to have a container mounting portion for replacing the container according to the type of the container so as to be mounted close to the state (Claim 7). In this configuration, it is assumed that a plurality of types of containers, for example, two types of large and small, are used for replacement. Since they are mounted close to each other and are weighed by the weighing conveyor portion corresponding to the container, the weighing can be performed efficiently and with high accuracy.
[0019]
In the above configuration (Claim 5), the feeding conveyor and the weighing conveyor are composed of eight or more endless traveling strips parallel in the width direction, and a plurality of the endless traveling strips. 4 or more sets, and each of the 4 or more sets is a set group consisting of the same plurality of sets, and each of the set groups similarly has a plurality of types in which the length of the weighing conveyor is different for each set. The weighing conveyor is configured to perform weight detection with a common weight detector for each set group, and the container is of a type corresponding to each of a plurality of types having different lengths of the weighing conveyor. Each container has a supported portion on the lower surface that is supported and weighed by one of the weighing conveyors, and the endless circular body for conveying the container passes the same type of container along the transfer direction. And ready for weighing A container mounting portion for replacing a container to be mounted is provided corresponding to the type of container, and the containers of the same type and corresponding to different weighing conveyors are sequentially mounted so as to be positioned in front and back. (Claim 8).
[0020]
In this configuration, different types of containers, that is, containers to be weighed by weighing conveyors having different lengths, for example, large and small containers having different lengths in the container traveling direction (different lengths of supported parts) (in the case of three or more types) It is possible to install only a large container or only a small container having the same length of the supported portion in close proximity to the endless rotating body, and use it by exchanging the size. That is, only the large container or only the small container can be supported by the endless rotating body using the container replacement mounting portion. The container is mounted so that different parts of the supported part are positioned before and after, that is, the same supported position is not connected to the front and back. In addition, since each set group has a different length of the weighing conveyor for each set, there is a set having a different weighing conveyor length for each set group. In the same group of different things and the lengths of the weighing conveyor portions being the same, the weighing conveyor portions are subjected to weight detection by different weight detectors. In addition, there are types of containers having supported portions of the same length in which the positions of the supported portions differ by the number of groups. Therefore, since the length of the supported part is the same, that is, the same size containers do not pass through the same weighing conveyor part continuously, it is possible to take longer time for the containers to stay in each weighing conveyor part. Will improve. That is, it is possible to measure with higher accuracy even in a configuration in which the container is used for replacement.
[0021]
In the above configuration (Claim 5, Claim 6, Claim 7 or Claim 8), the weighing conveyor is supported and supported by a cradle that supports a predetermined length range of the endless running strip from below. It is preferable that the weight applied to the table be detected. In this configuration, since the horizontal state of the upper surface of the endless running strip is maintained and the container is prevented from swinging, weight detection can be performed satisfactorily.
[0022]
In the above configuration (claims 1 to 9), the endless rotating body is provided so as to be parallel to both sides of the article transfer path, and a container transport bracket is attached to the endless rotating body on both sides with a predetermined container mounting pitch. A large number of the container transport metal fittings are attached to the endless circular bodies on both sides so as to face inward, and face members are attached to each of the surface members, and long holes are formed in the container traveling direction penetrating on both sides. Preferably, the container is supported by inserting a tow bar protruding from both sides of the front end portion with a margin through the elongated hole. The container is transported by pulling the towed rod at the trailing edge of the long hole until it reaches the measuring section, but when it reaches the measuring section, it is transported at a faster speed than the endless rotating body. The towed bar moves forward from the rear edge of the rear end, and is detached from the endless circular body. The marginal length of the elongated hole in the container traveling direction with respect to the towed bar may be any as long as it can tolerate a position shift caused by a speed difference from the endless rotating body when the container is transported through the measuring section.
[0023]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, this embodiment is a container-type weight detection device 2 applied to a container-type weight sorter 1, and is usually used in combination with a sorting device 3. The container-type weight detection device 2 includes a container transport unit 9, a container 11, a feed conveyor 12, a weighing conveyor 13, a feed conveyor 14, and the like.
[0024]
The container transport means 9 is mainly composed of a container transport endless rotating body 10, and is provided with a container transport bracket 16 as a container mounting portion, and a guide 22 described later is provided along this. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the endless circuit body 10 is constituted by a pair of chains 15 and 15 that are stretched so as to circulate along a vertical plane in parallel on both sides. It is driven so as to travel at a constant speed in a predetermined direction by a rotation driving unit not shown. As shown in FIG. 1, the horizontal linear portion on the upper side of the circulation path of the chains 15 and 15 is used as an article transfer path for weighing and distributing articles to be weighed. Both chains 15, 15 are provided with a plurality of pairs at a predetermined interval so that a container transport metal fitting 16 as a container mounting portion faces inward. The attachment interval of the container transport bracket 16 is the attachment interval of the container 11. The pair of container transport metal fittings 16 and 16 have surface members 17 that face each other, and the surface member 17 has a long hole 18 that penetrates both sides and is long in the longitudinal direction of the chain 15 as seen in FIGS. The long hole 18 has a circular arc shape with a concave inner edge at the rear end. The arrows in the figure indicate the traveling direction of the chain 15.
[0025]
In this example, a large number of the same containers 11 are mounted on the endless rotating body 10 and circulate according to the circuit path of the endless rotating body 10. Referring to one of the containers 11, as shown in FIG. 2, the container 11 is of a predetermined depth having a rectangular upper opening with a predetermined length L2 having a width that can be arranged between the chains 15 on both sides. On the lower surface, a rectangular supported portion 19 having a length L3 and having a slightly lower surface formed on the inner side of the outer edge of the planar shape is projected. The container 11 has towed rods 20 and 20 projecting coaxially outward on both sides of the front end portion in the transfer direction and on both sides of the rear end portion in the transfer direction. The guide rollers 21 and 21 are coaxially supported in a projecting state. The towed bar 20 has a diameter sufficiently smaller than the width dimension of the long hole 18. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the mounted state of the container 11 with respect to the endless rotating body 10 is such that both towed bars 20, 20 enter the long holes 18, 18 of the container transfer brackets 16, 16, respectively. It is in the state. Further, the endless circular body 10 is provided with rail-shaped guides 22 and 22 for supporting and guiding the guide rollers 21 and 21 at positions substantially along the inner sides of the chains 15 and 15 on both sides and controlling the posture of the container 11. It is. The guides 22 and 22 support the rollers 21 and 21 in most of the circulation path of the endless rotating body 10 and guide the container opening surface so as to substantially follow the traveling direction of the chains 15 and 15. In the distribution position, it is partially rotated to temporarily change the guide direction and perform a distribution operation.
[0026]
The feed conveyor 12, the weighing conveyor 13, and the feed conveyor 14 are all belt conveyors that are endless running strips with a horizontal top surface, and as shown in FIG. In order to be able to transfer the container 11 along the same transfer path in the middle of the path, it is provided so as to be successively arranged. The transfer section provided with the feeding conveyor 12, the weighing conveyor 13, and the feeding conveyor 14 is a weighing section, and the guides 22 and 22 are appropriately removed. That is, the container 11 being transported is supported by the container transport metal fittings 16 and 16 only on the towed rods 20 and 20 side at the position where the guides 22 and 22 disappear, and the rear guide rollers 21 and 21 side tries to descend. The starting end portion of the feed conveyor 12 is located just below that to support the supported portion 19 on the lower surface of the container. In addition, the guide rollers 21 and 21 are supported by the guides 22 and 22 at a position where the supported portion 19 on the lower surface of the container is removed from the terminal end of the delivery conveyor 14.
[0027]
In this example, the feeding conveyor 12, the weighing conveyor 13, and the feeding conveyor 14 are independent belt conveyors, and are provided with separate rotation driving units 23, 24, and 25 so that the respective belts do not interfere with each other. The start end and the end of the are placed close to each other. The infeed conveyor 12, the weighing conveyor 13, and the sending out conveyor 14 are fixedly supported by fixing the conveyor frames 26, 27, and 28 to a fixed portion 29. In the measuring conveyor 13, the conveyor frame 27 and the fixed portion are fixed. The weight detector 30 is interposed between the container 11 and the container 11 passing through the weighing conveyor, and the weight of the article in the container 11 is applied to the weight detector 30 so that the weight of the article can be detected as an electric signal. ing. The transfer speeds of the conveyors 12, 13, and 14 are all the same, and are determined slightly faster than the traveling speed of the endless rotating body 10. The difference in speed is that the difference in travel distance between the container 11 and the endless rotating body 10 that occurs while the container 11 is supported by the series of feed conveyor 12, weighing conveyor 13, and feed conveyor 14 travels. The length of the towed rod 20 is not longer than the length in which the towed rod 20 can move in the traveling direction inside the 16 long holes 18. With this configuration, when the container 11 reaches the weighing section and is supported by the infeed conveyor 12, the advancement speed of the infeed conveyor 12 is faster than the advancement speed of the container transport bracket 16. 20, the state where the rear end edge of the long hole 18 of the container transport metal fitting 16 is pushed away, and the towed rod 20 comes to be positioned in the long hole 18 without contacting the inner edge of the long hole, and the container 11 is endless. It will be in the state which left | separated completely from the circumference body 10 side. Then, as the container 11 moves, the towed bar 20 advances in the traveling direction in the long hole 18, but the container 11 reaches the end of the conveyor 14 until it comes into contact with the front end edge of the long hole. Therefore, the container 11 is completely detached from the endless rotating body 10 side in the measuring section.
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 1, the sorting device 3 is provided at a later stage than the weighing section. For example, the articles in the container weighed in the weighing section are classified based on the weight, and the number of the grades is determined. .. Are distributed according to the grade by the distribution portions 31a, 31b,... Provided, and transferred to a grade-specific chute (not shown) and sent to a desired position according to the grade. Each distribution portion has the same configuration and is provided at an appropriate interval in the container transfer path. The structure of one sorting part 31b will be described. The guides 22 and 22 on both sides are divided into predetermined lengths at the same position, and the divided guide parts 22b on both sides are provided at the end on the front side in the transfer direction. Are supported by a shaft 32 so as to be coaxially rotatable, and an air cylinder 33 is coupled thereto. By operating the air cylinder 33, the dividing guide portion 22b moves in a state of passing through the container 11 as it is in a horizontal state that coincides with the front and rear guides 22, and in a tilted state rotated by a predetermined angle as the container 11 is moved. It can be changed to the tilting state to be tilted. In the tilted state of the divided guide portion 22b, when the horizontal transfer state of the container 11 pulled by the towed rod 20 and guided by the guide roller 21 by the guide 22 reaches the inclined divided guide portion 22b, the towed rod 20 is moved. As the guide roller 21 descends and separates according to the inclination, the container 11 is inclined backward to discharge the article. For example, the starting end of the chute is located at the article discharge position.
[0029]
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the portion of FIG. 1, and the shape of the illustrated container 11 is such that the length L2 of the opening in the traveling direction is long and the length L3 of the bottom 34 is short. The containers 11 are continuously arranged with a predetermined gap and conveyed at a high speed. However, in most cases, articles are supplied from above the containers 11 and there are many examples using an automatic feeder, so that the articles are surely placed in the containers. This is because it is better that the opening of the container is as wide as possible so as not to touch it next to each other. Further, the length L3 of the bottom 34 is short because the length L3 of the bottom 34 is the same as the length L2 of the opening, and the period during which only one container 11b is present on the weighing conveyor 13 can be measured. This is to make up for this. That is, in FIG. 5, when the length of the weighing conveyor L1, the speed of the weighing conveyor 13 and the like is V, the distance when the container 11 is completely placed on the weighing conveyor 13 is L1-L3, so the stay time T Is T = (L1-L3) / V. In order to increase the measurement accuracy when the conveyor speed V is given, the length L3 of the bottom 34 that can be reduced is made as small as possible within a range that does not cause deterioration of the measurement accuracy due to overturn or instability during conveyance. This is because (L1-L3) should be made as large as possible to increase the stay time T. The container length dimension L2 is determined from the size of the article to be weighed and the size of the entire machine. When the container dimension is determined, the length of the weighing conveyor is set so that two containers never get on the weighing conveyor 13 at the same time. L1 is determined. That is, the length L1 of the weighing conveyor 13 is given not from the viewpoint of accuracy but from other elements.
[0030]
This container type weight sorter 1 operates as follows. The articles to be sorted are sequentially placed for each container 11 that is transported horizontally with the opening facing upward at an appropriate position in front of the weighing section (section composed of the feeding conveyor 12, the weighing conveyor 13, and the feeding conveyor 14). Supplied. The container 11 containing the article is weighed while passing through the weighing section, the weight of the article obtained by subtracting the pre-weighed container weight is detected and classified, and the container 11 is assigned to a sorting unit corresponding to the grade. For example, the air cylinder 33 operates when the sorting part 31b is reached, and the dividing guide part 22b rotates to sort and release the article.
[0031]
The weight detection of the container-type weight detector 2 can be measured with high accuracy as follows. Since the container 11 moves at the speed of the endless circular body 10 when it reaches the weighing section, it generates acceleration force due to the speed difference between the endless circular body 10 and the infeed conveyor 12, but is supported by the infeed conveyor 12. After a while, it is in a state of constant velocity with the infeed conveyor and is completely separated from the chains 15 and 15 constituting the endless rotating body 11. That is, in the container 11, the lower surface of the supported portion 19 is supported by the feeding conveyor 12, the guide roller 21 is separated from the guide 22, and the towed rod 20 is separated from the rear end edge of the long hole 18 of the container transport metal fitting 16. Therefore, it is in a state where it is supported and advanced only by the infeed conveyor 12. Then, the container 11 is moved to the weighing conveyor 13 at the same speed as the weighing conveyor, and further moved to the delivery conveyor 14, where the guide roller 21 is supported by the guide 22 at the end thereof, and the rear end of the long hole 18 is again formed. It is pushed by the edge and transferred. Therefore, when the container 11 moves to the weighing conveyor 13 and to the delivery conveyor 14, no special vibrational disturbance is generated and the container 11 is completely separated from the chain 15. Only the weight can be detected and weighed with high accuracy.
[0032]
A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The container-type weight detection device 2a is configured to be able to cope with a high weighing capacity in weight detection, that is, a configuration that can cope with the specification of a large value of the number of times of measurement per unit time. It consists of containers 11a and 11b, an infeed conveyor 12, weighing conveyors 13a and 13b, a guide 22 (not shown), and the like. The difference from the first embodiment is that the configuration of the weighing conveyors 13a and 13b and the configuration of the lower surfaces of the containers 11a and 11b and the delivery conveyor are not provided. This different point will be described, and the other configurations are as follows. Since it is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, a description thereof is omitted. In addition, the equivalent part is shown with the same drawing code | symbol.
[0033]
The weighing conveyors 13a and 13b are the same ones formed separately. One of the weighing conveyors 13a and 13b includes two sets of endless running strips 35 and 35 and a weight detector 36, and the other has two sets of endless running. Strips 37 and 37 and a weight detector 38 are provided. The endless running strips 36, 36, 38, 38 are all stretched on pulleys provided on the frames 39, 40 for each set so that the upper running parts run in parallel along the same horizontal plane. Is formed to be approximately twice as long as the length of the container 11a (or 11b), and is driven by the rotation drive units 41 and 42 for each group, and at the same speed slightly faster than the endless rotating body 10. Run. The upper running portion of each endless running strip runs horizontally with the lower surface supported on the frame side, and the upper surface supports a predetermined container 11a or 11b. As shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C, the containers 11a and 11b have protrusions 43 and 43 as supported parts supported by a pair of endless running stripes 35 and 35 on the bottom surface. Two types are prepared: a container 11a having a protrusion 11 and a container 11b having protrusions 44, 44 as supported parts supported on the other endless running stripes 37, 37 on the lower surface. The two types of containers 11a and 11b are alternately attached to the endless rotating body 10 in the longitudinal direction. The infeed conveyor 12 in the previous stage of the weighing conveyors 13a and 13b may be a single flat belt conveyor similar to that of the first embodiment, but in this case, the endless running strip 35 of the weighing conveyors 13a and 13b, Two endless running strips 45, 45, 46, 46 corresponding to 35, 38, and 38, and all of the endless running strips travel the same as the weighing conveyors 13 a and 13 b by a single rotation drive unit 47. It is configured to be rotationally driven at a speed.
[0034]
In this configuration, since the container 11a or 11b that has reached the infeed conveyor 12 is transferred at the speed of the infeed conveyor 12, it is detached from the endless rotating body 10 in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the weighing conveyor 13a or 13b. At this time, the container 11a rides on the weighing conveyor 13a, the container 11b rides on the weighing conveyor 13b, is weighed, and the chain 15 of the endless rotating body 10 is again measured at the end of the weighing conveyor 13a or 13b. And a guide 22 (not shown).
[0035]
The lengths of the weighing conveyors 13a and 13b are each twice as long as the containers, but the containers 11a and 11b adjacent in the transport direction are of different types, so the same weighing conveyor 13a or Two weighing containers do not get on 13b at the same time. Accordingly, since the length of the weighing conveyor is long, one weighing container can stay on the weighing conveyor for a longer time and can be measured with higher accuracy. That is, the weighing accuracy is better when the object to be weighed stays on the weighing conveyor for as long as possible in view of the degree of transient response convergence of the scale. Therefore, in such a configuration, when the weight detector requires a high weighing capacity, that is, a specification with a large number of weighings per unit time, more specifically, weighing with high accuracy corresponding to a higher transport speed. When you are asked to make it possible, you can respond well. The reason for omitting the one corresponding to the delivery conveyor 14 in the first embodiment is that the positional relationship between the guide 22 and the weighing conveyors 13a and 13b is the same as that of the bottom surface of the container 11a or 11b that has finished the weighing operation. If the guide 22 receives the guide roller 21 of the container at the moment when the supported part (protrusion) leaves the weighing conveyor 13a or 13b, the container starts decelerating from this point, but the subsequent container This is because if the container transport bracket 16 pulls the tow bar 20 before contact, the weighing accuracy is not affected.
[0036]
A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment is a slightly simple container-type weight detection device 2b as compared with the first embodiment, and is different in configuration of the feeding conveyor 48, the weighing conveyor 49, and the feeding conveyor 50. This different part will be described next, and the configuration of the other part is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment.
[0037]
The infeed conveyor 48, the weighing conveyor 49, and the outfeed conveyor 50 are, for example, belt conveyors, and are composed entirely of a series of endless running strips (endless belts) 60, and upper portions for conveying containers are on the same horizontal plane. It is provided in such a way as to run at a slightly higher speed than the endless rotating body 10 by one rotational drive unit 51. The feed conveyor 48, the weighing conveyor 49, and the delivery conveyor 50 all have frames 52, 53, and 54 supported by fixed parts, respectively, and the frames 52, 53, and 54 respectively serve as a horizontal running section on the upper side of the belt conveyor. Receiving bases 55, 56, and 57 supported from the lower surface are provided. In the weighing conveyor 49, a weight detector 58 is interposed between the cradle 56 and the fixed portion so that the weight acting on the cradle 56 can be detected.
[0038]
In this configuration, since the container 11 that has reached the infeed conveyor 48 is transferred at the speed of the infeed conveyor 48, it is detached from the endless rotating body 10 and 49 parts of the weighing conveyor as in the first embodiment. , Measured by the weighing conveyor 49, transferred to the delivery conveyor 50, and again conveyed by the endless circular body 10 and the guide 22 (not shown) at the end of the delivery conveyor 50.
[0039]
In this configuration, the containers 11 transported on the infeed conveyor 48, the weighing conveyor 49, and the delivery conveyor 50 are separated from the endless circulating body 10 for container transport, and therefore before and during measurement from the endless rotating body 10 side. There is no disturbance that affects the measurement. Further, since the feeding conveyor 48, the weighing conveyor 49, and the feeding conveyor 50 share one endless running strip 60, the force generated by the acceleration generated when the container moves to the feeding conveyor 48 is endless running strip 60. However, in this case, the acting force is only related to the mass of one container 11 separated from the endless circular body 10 and the articles therein, and the conventional force is applied to the container connected to the endless circular body. Compared with the action force from the endless rotating body side having a large total mass such as vibration, the influence on the weighing of the weighing conveyor 49 is extremely small. Moreover, the force by this acceleration acts only on an infeed conveyor via an endless rotating body. When the container 11 moves from the infeed conveyor 48 to the weighing conveyor 49, the container is in a constant speed state with the infeed conveyor and the weighing conveyor, and since it is a common endless running strip, an impact force is applied to the weighing conveyor. There is nothing wrong. Further, the guide roller 21 is supported by the guide 22 when the supported portion 19 of the container 11 starts to come off from the delivery conveyor 50 and starts decelerating at the stage of transition from the end of the delivery conveyor 50 to the transfer by the endless rotating body 10 and the guide 22. By doing so, the deceleration gradually progresses for a very short period, the speed of the endless rotating body 10 becomes faster, and the container transport bracket 16 becomes engaged with the towed bar 20. . This transition state is hardly accompanied by an impact and has almost no influence on the measurement accuracy. Therefore, it is possible to measure with much higher accuracy than before.
[0040]
A fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The fourth embodiment is configured to satisfy the requirement of the specification of a large value of the number of measurements per unit time as in the second embodiment, and is fed in as corresponding to the third embodiment. It is constructed so as to be compatible with a weighing and feeding conveyor using a series of endless belts. The container-type weight detection device 2c according to the fourth embodiment includes an endless rotating body 10, containers 11a and 11b, infeed conveyors 48a and 48b, weighing conveyors 49a and 49b, delivery conveyors 50a and 50b, guides not shown, and the like. It consists of The third embodiment is the same in that the feeding, weighing, and feeding conveyors are constituted by a series of endless running strips. However, as in the second embodiment, a plurality of parallel endless running strips are parallel to each other. It differs in that it is composed of bodies. Differences from the third embodiment will be described.
[0041]
The feed conveyors 48a and 48b, the weighing conveyors 49a and 49b, and the feed conveyors 50a and 50b are, for example, a series of belt conveyors composed of four endless strips 61, 62, 63, and 64 having a narrow width, and convey containers. The upper part is stretched so as to be parallel to each other in the width direction and on the same horizontal plane, and the four endless running strips 61, 62, 63, 64 are one rotational drive unit 65, and all four have the same speed. It is provided to travel at a speed slightly higher than the endless rotating body 10. Each infeed, metering, and delivery conveyor is configured in two sets, and each type corresponds to one type of container being transferred, so that the two types of transferred containers move on the same transfer path. It has become. That is, the container 11a is transferred by the endless running strips 61 and 63 in one set, and the container 11b is transferred by the endless running strips 62 and 64 in the other set. For this reason, protrusions 66 and 66, which are supported parts corresponding to the pair of endless running strips 61 and 63, are provided on the lower surface of the container 11a, and another set of endless running strips 62 is provided on the lower surface of the container 11b. , 64 is provided as a supported portion corresponding to. In this case, other portions such as the lengths of the two types of containers 11a and 11b are the same, and are mounted alternately on the endless rotating body 10.
[0042]
The endless running strips 61, 62, 63, 64 are cradles 68, 68 for supporting the upper horizontal running section from the lower surface for each of the feed conveyors 48a, 48b, the weighing conveyors 49a, 49b, and the feed conveyors 50a, 50b. 69, 69, 70, 70, 71, 71, 72, 72, 73, 73. Each cradle is provided on a frame supported by a fixed part. In the weighing conveyor 49a, a weight detector 58a is interposed between the cradles 70 and 70 and the fixed part to act on the cradle 70 and 70. In the weighing conveyor 49b, the weight acting on the pedestals 71 and 71 can be detected by interposing the weight detector 58b between the pedestals 71 and 71 and the fixed portion. The length of the weighing conveyors 49a, 49b, that is, the length L5 of the cradle 70, 71 is determined to be approximately twice the length L4 of the container 11a or 11b. The lengths of the other cradles 68, 69, 72, 73 are slightly longer than the container length L4. Since the configuration of the other parts is substantially the same as that of the second embodiment, the illustration and explanation are omitted. In addition, the equivalent part is shown with the same drawing code | symbol.
[0043]
The container-type weight detection device 2c having such a configuration operates as follows. Since the container 11a or 11b that has reached the infeed conveyor 48a or 48b is transferred at the speed of the infeed conveyor 48a or 48b, the container 11a or 11b is detached from the endless rotating body 10 as in the first embodiment, and Moved to the next weighing conveyor 49a or 49b, i.e. the container 11a rides on the weighing conveyor 49a, the container 11b rides on the weighing conveyor 49b and is weighed respectively, and then moved to the next delivery conveyor 50a or 50b It is again conveyed by the endless circular body 10 and the guide 22 (not shown) at the end portion.
[0044]
The lengths of the weighing conveyors 49a and 49b are each approximately twice the length of the container, but as described in the second embodiment, the containers adjacent in the transport direction are of different types with supported parts. Therefore, two weighing containers do not get on the same weighing conveyor at the same time, and the length of the weighing conveyor is long, so one weighing container can stay on the weighing conveyor for a longer time, and with higher accuracy. Can be weighed. When the container type weight detector requires a high weighing capacity, that is, a specification with a large number of times of measurement per unit time, it can sufficiently cope. In this embodiment, although two weighing conveyors (two stations) are used, the weighing section is arranged in the container phase even though the weighing accuracy is improved as compared with the case of one weighing conveyor. Since they are overlapped in the direction, there is an advantage that the overall size of the machine dimension hardly changes. In the container-type weight detection device 2c of the fourth embodiment, the weighing conveyors 49a and 49b must not interfere with each other, so two units must be provided independently. 68 and 69 and cradles 72 and 73 may be used as a common cradle. When higher accuracy and weighing capacity are required, the weighing conveyors may be two (two stations) or more, that is, two or more sets of weighing conveyors.
[0045]
A fifth embodiment is shown in FIG. In the fourth embodiment, a configuration is shown in which two weighing conveyors are stacked so that the front and rear positions thereof coincide with each other in the container moving direction. However, as long as a dedicated container is prepared for each of the plurality of weighing conveyors, endless You may arrange | position each weighing conveyor to the arbitrary positions along the circulation body 10, shifting the position back and forth. The example is the container-type weight detection apparatus 2d of this 5th Embodiment. In the fifth embodiment, a set of two conveyors constituting the weighing section with the fourth embodiment, that is, a set of an infeed conveyor 48a, a weighing conveyor 49a, an outfeed conveyor 50a, and an infeed conveyor 48b. The weighing conveyor 49b and the delivery conveyor 50b are different from each other only in that their positions are shifted back and forth, so that the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
[0046]
A sixth embodiment is shown in FIG. In a container-type weight detection device, when an article to be weighed has a large and small size, and a small-sized container can weigh a small-sized article but cannot measure a large-sized article, the large-sized article cannot be weighed. There are cases where containers are prepared, and all containers are exchanged and weighed according to the size of the article. The container-type weight detection device 2f of this embodiment has a configuration in which large and small containers can be exchanged. The container-type weight detection device 2f is composed of a large container 11L and a small container 11S, and the ratio of the lengths in the respective traveling directions is 2 to 3, so that both containers can be used interchangeably. As shown in FIG. 11A, the transport chain 15 is provided with the container transport metal fittings 16 at a pitch that allows the container to be mounted in any size. The feeding conveyors 80a and 80b, the weighing conveyors 81a and 81b, and the feeding conveyors 82a and 82b in the weighing section are composed of two endless running strips 83, 86, 84, 85 each consisting of two endless running strips. Is similar to the fourth embodiment, except that one weight detector 94 is used. That is, the receiving bases 89 and 90 of the weighing conveyors 81a and 81b are attached to the same frame 93, and the length in the container traveling direction is made different from the lengths L11 and L1 according to the lengths of the large and small containers 11L and 11S. There is a difference in that one weight detector 94 is provided between the frame 93 and the fixed portion 95. Note that the frames 87, 88, 91, and 92 of the feed conveyors 80a and 80b and the feed conveyors 82a and 82b have frames fixed to a fixed portion.
[0047]
The large and small containers 11L and 11S correspond to two sets of endless running strips separately. As shown in the figure, the protrusions 96 and 96 as supported parts of the large container 11L are endless with a spacing dimension D11. Corresponding to the distance between the running strips 83, 86, the protrusions 97, 97 as the supported portions of the small container 11S correspond to the spacing between the endless running strips 84, 85 with a spacing dimension D1. The length L11 of the cradle 89 of the weighing conveyor 81a is the optimum length L31 of the supported portion of the large container 11L, and the length L1 of the cradle 90 of the weighing conveyor 81b is the supported portion of the small container 11S. This length is optimal for the length L3. In addition, although illustration description is abbreviate | omitted, the endless running strips 83-86 are driven by one drive source at the same speed and a little faster speed than the endless circulating body 10, and the containers 11L and 11S Has a towed rod 20 and a guide roller 21, and is guided by a guide 22 and transferred along a predetermined transfer path.
[0048]
When using the container-type weight detection device 2f, when measuring with one type of weighing conveyor and exchanging and using large and small containers 11L and 11S having different lengths in the traveling direction, conventionally one of the large and small containers is used as a reference. Thus, the length of the weighing conveyor was determined, and the other weighing speed or weighing accuracy could not be avoided. However, in this embodiment, even if a large and small container is exchanged, it can be measured without reducing the speed and accuracy. That is, the lengths of the weighing conveyors 81a and 81b are determined by the lengths of the cradles 89 and 90 that are determined to be arbitrary lengths. This is because the cradle 90 having an optimal length can be obtained.
[0049]
A seventh embodiment is shown in FIG. This container-type weight detection device 2f is made into large containers 11L-1, 11L-2 and small containers 11S-1, 11S-2 having a large and small length in the traveling direction, and can be used by exchanging large and small containers. It is what I did. In this example, the small container has a small width, but the towed bar 16 is formed long and can be mounted on the same container transport metal fitting 16 as the large container. As shown in the figure, the protrusions as the supported parts of the container have different sizes in the container traveling direction depending on the size of the container, and the width direction position is made different in two types for the large container and two types for the small container. It is. That is, the large container 11L-1 has protrusions 96a and 96a, the large container 11L-2 has protrusions 96b and 96b, the small container 11L-1 has protrusions 97a and 97a, and the small container 11L-2 has protrusions 97b. 97b. Although not shown, the transport chain 15 of the endless circular body 10 is provided with the container transport metal fittings 16 at a pitch that allows the container to be mounted on both large and small containers, as shown in FIG. 11A. Although illustration of all the conveyors of a measurement area is abbreviate | omitted, it is the structure which combined the thing of 6th Embodiment.
[0050]
That is, eight endless running strips 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, which constitute four sets of conveyors by one set of two, are stretched and supported by one weight detector 94a. Two sets of cradles 89a and 90a are provided on the frame 93a, and two sets of cradles 89b and 90b are provided on the frame 93b supported by the other weight detector 94b. Endless travel strips 100, 106 received by the cradle 89a support the large container 11L-1, and endless travel strips 101, 107 supported by the cradle 89b support the large container 11L-2, and the cradle 90a. The endless travel strips 102 and 104 supported by the support support the small container 11S-1, and the endless travel strips 103 and 105 supported by the cradle 90b support the small container 11S-2. When the large containers 11L-1 and 11L-2 and the small containers 11S-1 and 11S-2 are mounted on the chain 15 of the endless rotating body 10 (not shown), different types of supported parts are alternately attached. It is done.
[0051]
This configuration is obtained by applying the configuration of the sixth embodiment to the configuration of the fourth or fifth embodiment. Therefore, unlike the fourth or fifth embodiment, two weighing containers do not get on the same weighing conveyor at the same time, and the length of the weighing conveyor can be increased, so that one weighing container is longer. The advantage of being able to stay on the time weighing conveyor and weighing with higher accuracy, and the advantage that the container-type weight detection device can fully cope with the demand for high weighing capacity, that is, specifications with a large number of weighings per unit time Furthermore, as in the sixth embodiment, even if the large and small containers are exchanged and used, that is, the large containers 11L-1 and 11L-2 and the small containers 11S-1 and 11S-2 are exchanged and used. Even so, the advantage of being able to weigh without reducing speed and accuracy is obtained.
[0052]
In the above-described embodiment, the endless rotating body 10 is an example of the chains 15 and 15, but may be a string, a belt, a wire, a rope, or the like. The endless running strip may also be a string, chain, wire, rope, or the like.
[0053]
【The invention's effect】
The invention according to claim 1 has an effect that the measurement accuracy is improved as compared with the prior art.
The invention according to claim 2 is a state in which the weighing conveyor is not subject to disturbances that affect weighing before weighing, and is reliably separated from the feeding conveyor and the endless rotating body for container conveyance during weighing. As a result, there is an effect that more accurate weighing is possible.
The invention according to claim 3 can further avoid the adverse effect of the container that has been weighed being smoothly transferred to the delivery conveyor without generating an acceleration (decreasing) force, and giving vibration or the like to the weighing conveyor. There is an effect that enables accurate weighing.
The invention according to claim 4 can extend the time that can be used for weighing, can measure with high accuracy without slowing down the speed of the endless rotating body for conveyance, and increases the measuring speed within a range that does not decrease the measuring accuracy. The effect which can be made is produced.
The invention according to the fifth aspect has an effect that the measurement can be performed with much higher accuracy than before.
Since the time which can be used for measurement can be lengthened by providing the measurement conveyor which measures by 2 or more sets of endless running strips, the invention according to claim 6 has the effect of being able to measure with high accuracy.
The invention according to claim 7 is a container-type weight detection device that replaces and uses a container, and has the effect of being able to measure efficiently and with high accuracy even when the container is replaced with a different type of container.
The invention according to claim 8 has an effect of being able to measure with higher accuracy in the configuration in which the container is exchanged and used.
The invention according to claim 9 has an effect that the weight detection can be performed satisfactorily.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing an overall configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged plan view seen from the direction of arrow A in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing a state of the container being pulled by the endless running strip of the same embodiment.
4A and 4B show the relationship between the towed rod and the elongated hole according to the embodiment, where FIG. 4A is a partial side view in a container towing state, and FIG. 4B is a partial side view in a container detached state.
FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged side view of the same embodiment;
6A and 6B show a second embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 6A is a schematic side view of a main part, FIG. 6B is a schematic plan view of the main part, and FIG. It is a schematic rear view.
FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a main part showing a third embodiment of the present invention.
8A and 8B show a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 8A is a schematic side view of a main part, and FIG. 8B is a schematic plan view of the same.
9A and 9B show the fourth embodiment, wherein FIG. 9A is a schematic side view of a main part, FIG. 9B is a schematic plan view thereof, and FIG. 9C is a schematic rear view of a container shown in relation to FIG. FIG.
10A and 10B show a fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 10A is a schematic side view of a main part, and FIG. 10B is a schematic plan view of the same.
11A and 11B show a sixth embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 11A is a schematic side view of a main part, FIG. 11B is a schematic plan view thereof, and FIG. 11C is a view of a container shown in relation to FIG. It is a schematic rear view.
FIGS. 12A and 12B show a seventh embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 12A is a schematic side view showing a large and small container, FIG. 12B is a main part schematic plan view for explaining the configuration of the main part, and FIG. ) Is a schematic rear view of the container shown in connection with (b).
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Container type weight sorter
2 Container type weight detector
3 sorter
10 Endless circling body
11 containers
11a container
11b container
11L, 11L-1, 11L-2 large container
11S, 11S-1, 11S-2 Small container
12 Infeed conveyor
13 Weighing conveyor
14 Delivery conveyor
15 chain
16 Container transport bracket
17 Face members
18 Long hole
19 Supported parts
20 Towed stick
21 Guide roller
22 Guide
23, 24, 25 Rotation drive
26, 27, 28 Conveyor frame
29 Fixed part
30 Weight detector
34 Bottom
35 Endless running strip
36 Weight detector
37 Endless running strip
38 Weight detector
39, 40 frames
41, 42 Rotation drive unit
43, 44
45, 46 Endless running strip
47 Rotation drive
48, 48a, 48b Infeed conveyor
49, 49a, 49b Weighing conveyor
50, 50a, 50b Delivery conveyor
51 Rotation drive
52, 53, 54 frames
55, 56, 57 cradle
58, 58a, 58b Weight detector
60 Endless running strip
61-64 Endless running strip
65 Rotation drive
66 ridges
68-73 cradle
80a, 80b Infeed conveyor
81a, 81b Weighing conveyor
82a, 82b Delivery conveyor
83-86 Endless running strip
87-92 cradle
89a-1, 89a-2 cradle
90b-1, 90b-2 cradle
93, 93a, 93b Frame
94, 94a, 94b Weight detector
95 fixed part
96, 97 ridges
100-107 Endless running strip

Claims

A container transport means having an endless rotating body for transporting a container provided to travel at a predetermined speed along a circulating path including a predetermined horizontal weighing section, and a line in the traveling direction of the endless rotating body A measuring article container that is removably attached to the endless rotating body with a conveying force from the endless rotating body, and a container that passes through the weighing section, and that supports the container that passes through the measuring section, is faster than the endless rotating body. And a weighing conveyer that is provided so as to be transported at the same speed, and that weighs articles together with the containers, and a feeding conveyor arranged in the preceding stage of the weighing conveyor. A container-type weight detection apparatus, wherein the container in the weighing section is separated from the endless rotating body due to a speed difference.

2. The container-type weight detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the feeding conveyor and the weighing conveyor are provided independently of each other so as not to interfere with each other.

3. The container-type weight detection device according to claim 2, wherein an end of the weighing section is formed by interposing an independent delivery conveyor having the same speed as the weighing conveyor in a subsequent stage of the weighing conveyor. Type weight detector.

The container-type weight detection apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the weighing conveyor has a plurality of sets each including a plurality of parallel endless running strips spaced apart in the width direction. It is configured to be capable of separately detecting weight, and the container has a supported portion supported by any of the set of endless running strips, and is of a plurality of types corresponding to the number of sets of the endless running strips. A container-type weight detection apparatus comprising a plurality of differently configured and sequentially moving types mounted on an endless rotating body for container conveyance.

The container-type weight detection device according to claim 1, wherein the infeed conveyor and the weighing conveyor are formed on a conveyor composed of a common endless running strip that supports the container and travels, A container-type weight detection apparatus characterized in that a front stage portion that travels while supporting the container is the feeding conveyor, and a next stage section is a weighing conveyor that detects the weight of each container.

6. The container-type weight detection device according to claim 5, wherein each of the feeding conveyor and the weighing conveyor has a plurality of sets of a plurality of parallel endless running strips spaced apart in the width direction. It is configured to be able to detect the weight separately on the weighing conveyor, and the container has a supported portion supported by any one of the set of endless running strips and has a plurality of types corresponding to the number of the sets. A container-type weight detection apparatus comprising a plurality of differently configured and sequentially moving types mounted on an endless rotating body for container conveyance.

6. The container-type weight detection device according to claim 5, wherein the infeed conveyor portion and the weighing conveyor portion have a plurality of sets consisting of a plurality of parallel endless running strips spaced apart in the width direction. The length of the weighing conveyor portion is different for each set, and the container has a supported portion corresponding to any set so that each container is supported by one set of the endless running strips. And a plurality of types corresponding to the number of sets having supported lengths in the transfer direction that can be measured by the lengths of the corresponding weighing conveyor parts, and the endless circulating body for container transport is the same type of container A container-type weight detection device having a container mounting portion for replacing a container according to the type of the container so that the container can be mounted in a state where the container can be weighed.

6. The container-type weight detection device according to claim 5, wherein the infeed conveyor and the weighing conveyor are composed of eight or more endless running strips parallel to each other in the width direction, and a plurality of the endless running strips. There are four or more sets of books, and all of the four or more sets are set as a set group consisting of the same plurality of sets, and each of the set groups similarly varies the length of the weighing conveyor according to the set. A plurality of types of weighing conveyors, and the weighing conveyors are configured to detect weights by a common weight detector for each group, and the containers are provided for each of the plurality of types having different lengths of the weighing conveyors. A container of a corresponding type, each of which has a supported portion to be measured by being supported by one of the weighing conveyors on the lower surface, and the endless rotating body for container transportation includes the container of the same type Can be measured along the transfer direction Container replacement parts for container replacement that are mounted in close proximity to each other are provided corresponding to the type of container, and the containers of the same type and corresponding to different weighing conveyors are sequentially mounted so as to be positioned in the front and rear. A container-type weight detection device.

The container-type weight detection device according to claim 5, claim 6, claim 7, or claim 8, wherein the weighing conveyor is supported by a support base that supports a predetermined length range of the endless running strip from below. A container-type weight detection device characterized in that it is configured to detect weight applied to a support base.

10. The container-type weight detection device according to claim 1, wherein the endless circular body is provided so as to be parallel to both sides of the article transfer path, and a container transport bracket is provided on the endless circular body on both sides. A plurality of container mounting pitches are provided, and the container transport metal fittings are attached to the endless circular bodies on both sides so as to face inward, and face members are attached in the container traveling direction penetrating on both sides of each of the surface members. A container-type weight detection device, wherein a long elongated hole is formed, and the container is supported by inserting a towed rod projecting on both sides of the front end portion with a margin into the elongated hole. .