JP4886602B2 - Combination scale - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a combination weigher that puts a weighed object into a packaging machine or the like.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a combination weigher that selectively discharges an object to be weighed from each weighing hopper to two different chutes, for example, there is a structure as shown in FIG. 4 (see Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram of a partial cross section of a combination weigher according to the related art viewed from the side, and FIG. 4B is a collective chute (inner chute and two outer chutes) of the same combination weigher. FIG. 4C is a schematic diagram of the two lower chutes, the intermediate hopper, and the discharge hopper of the combination weigher viewed from above.

  In this combination weigher, a conical dispersion feeder 1 that disperses the object to be weighed supplied from an external supply device radially by vibration is provided at the upper part of a center base body 5, and around the dispersion feeder 1. A plurality of linear feeders 2 are provided for feeding the objects to be weighed sent from the dispersion feeder 1 to the supply hoppers 3 by vibration. Below each linear feeder 2, a supply hopper 3 and a weighing hopper 4 are provided correspondingly, and the plurality of supply hoppers 3 and the weighing hoppers 4 are arranged in a circle around the center base 5. Each weighing hopper 4 is provided with a weight sensor 41 for measuring the weight of the object to be weighed in the weighing hopper 4. An inner chute 26a and two outer chutes 26b and 26c are disposed below the weighing hoppers 4 arranged in a circle. Each weighing hopper 4 is configured to selectively discharge an object to be measured to the inner chute 26a and the outer chute 26b or 26c below the weighing hopper 4. Intermediate hoppers 27a, 27b, and 27c are disposed at lower discharge ports of the inner chute 26a and the outer chutes 26b and 26c, respectively, and two discharge hoppers (28aL) are provided below the intermediate hoppers 27a, 27b, and 27c. , 28aR), (28bL, 28bR), and (28cL, 28cR). A lower chute 29L is disposed below the discharge hoppers 28aL, 28bL, 28cL, and a lower chute 29R is disposed below the discharge hoppers 28aR, 28bR, 28cR. The objects to be weighed discharged from the weighing hopper 4 to the chutes 26a, 26b and 26c are temporarily held by the intermediate hoppers 27a, 27b and 27c, respectively. The intermediate hoppers 27a, 27b, and 27c alternately discharge the objects to be weighed sequentially to the discharge hoppers 28aL, 28bL, and 28cL on the lower chute 29L side and the discharge hoppers 28aR, 28bR, and 28cR on the lower chute 29R side. The objects to be weighed are sequentially discharged from the discharge hoppers 28aL, 28bL, 28cL and the discharge hoppers 28aR, 28bR, 28cR, and the objects to be weighed discharged from the discharge ports 29La, 29Ra of the lower chutes 29L, 29R It is thrown into the slot.

The control unit 30 controls the operation of the entire combination weigher and performs combination processing. In the combination processing, combination calculation is performed based on the measurement value (measurement value by the weight sensor 41) of the group Y weighing hopper 4 disposed above the one outer chute 26b, and the total of the measurement values of the measurement hopper 4 is the target. The weighing hopper 4 of the combination that is within the allowable range for the weight value and is closest to the target weight value is obtained and selected as the weighing hopper 4 of the optimum combination, and the weighing of the group Z arranged above the other outer chute 26c is performed. A combination calculation is performed based on the measured value of the hopper 4, and the weighing hopper 4 of the optimum combination is selected in the same manner. Of the groups X consisting of all the weighing hoppers 4, in the groups Y and Z, the combination calculation is performed based on the weighing values of the weighing hoppers 4 that are not selected as the optimum combination. select. Then, the objects to be weighed are simultaneously discharged from the weighing hopper 4 of the optimum combination selected by the above combination processing. Thereby, the objects to be weighed in the weighing hopper 4 of the optimum combination for the group X are discharged to the inner chute 26a, and the objects to be weighed of the weighing hopper 4 in the optimum combination for the group Y are discharged to the outer chute 26b. The objects to be weighed in the weighing hopper 4 of the optimal combination are discharged to the outer chute 26c.
Japanese Patent Publication No.8-1395

  According to the above-described conventional configuration, the combination processing for determining the combination weighing hoppers 4 to discharge the objects to be weighed to the respective chutes 26a, 26b, and 26c is the optimum combination weighing hopper for discharging to each of the outer chutes 26b and 26c. After selecting 4, the optimum combination weighing hopper 4 to be discharged to the inner chute 26a is selected from the remaining non-selected weighing hoppers 4.

  Here, for example, as shown in FIG. 1 (b), when two inner chutes 6a, 6b and three outer chutes 7a, 7b, 7c are arranged, Similarly, after selecting the optimum combination of the weighing hoppers 4 to be discharged to each of the outer chutes 7a, 7b, 7c, the remaining hoppers 4 not selected are discharged to each of the inner chutes 6a, 6b. If the optimum combination weighing hopper 4 is selected, there may be a case where good combination weighing accuracy cannot be obtained when the optimum combination weighing hopper 4 discharged to each of the inner chutes 6a and 6b is selected. For example, the optimum combination to be discharged to the outer chute 7c is selected from the group C of the weighing hoppers 4 corresponding to the outer chute 7c, and all the weighing hoppers 4 selected for the optimum combination correspond to the inner chute 6a. When the weighing hopper 4 belongs to the group D, the number of the weighing hoppers 4 that can be subjected to the combination calculation is very small when selecting the weighing hopper 4 of the optimum combination to be discharged to the inner chute 6a. Combination weighing accuracy cannot be obtained. Similarly, when all of the weighing hoppers 4 selected as the optimum combination to be discharged to the outer chute 7c belong to the group E of the weighing hoppers 4 corresponding to the inner chute 6b, the optimum combination weighing hopper to be discharged to the inner chute 6b. When the number 4 is selected, the number of weighing hoppers 4 that can be subjected to the combination calculation becomes very small, so that a good combination weighing accuracy cannot be obtained.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems. In a combination weigher that selectively discharges an object to be weighed from each combination hopper such as a weighing hopper to two chutes, a good combination weighing accuracy is obtained. The object is to provide a combination weigher that can be obtained.

  In order to achieve the above object, the combination weigher of the present invention includes a plurality of combination hoppers that are configured to selectively discharge the supplied objects to be weighed in the first and second directions. A combination hopper row corresponding to each of the plurality of first groups formed by dividing the combination hopper row into a plurality, and from the corresponding combination hopper of the first group A plurality of first collecting chutes for collecting the objects to be weighed discharged in the first direction and discharging them from the lower discharge port, and a plurality of the combination hopper rows different from the first group, respectively. A plurality of second groups that are divided into a plurality of second groups, and a lower portion that collects the objects to be weighed discharged in the second direction from the combination hoppers of the corresponding second group Outlet The sum of the weight values of the objects to be weighed supplied to the combination hopper is a value within an allowable range with respect to the target weight value for each of the plurality of second collective chutes to be discharged and the first group. One combination hopper combination is obtained and determined as a first discharge combination, and when the first discharge combination is determined, the first discharge combination includes a plurality of combination hoppers belonging to the second group. For the group, the first discharge combination is determined so as to include a combination hopper belonging to at least two of the second groups, and then the first discharge for each of the second groups. Among the combination hoppers not selected for the combination, the total weight value of the objects to be weighed supplied to the combination hopper becomes a value within an allowable range with respect to the target weight value. A combination process is performed in which one combination hopper combination is obtained and determined as a second discharge combination, and the combination hopper selected for each first discharge combination is covered in the first direction. And a control means for performing discharge processing for discharging the objects to be weighed in the second direction from the combination hoppers selected for each of the second discharge combinations.

  According to this configuration, after obtaining the first discharge combination for the first group corresponding to the first collective chute, the second discharge combination for the second group corresponding to the second collective chute is determined. The first group including combination hoppers belonging to a plurality of second groups when determining the first discharge combination is a combination including at least two combination hoppers belonging to the second group. Therefore, when obtaining the second discharge combination, it is possible to prevent the number of combination hoppers to be combined from becoming very small and to obtain good combination weighing accuracy. it can. Further, since only the above conditions are given, the amount of calculation in the combination process increases, the time required for the combination process does not increase, and the operating speed (driving speed) does not decrease.

  Further, it is preferable that the number of the first collective chutes is larger than the number of the second collective chutes.

  According to this configuration, by increasing the number of the first collective chutes than the number of the second collective chutes, each second shoot is more than the number of combination hoppers corresponding to each first collective chutes. The number of combination hoppers corresponding to the collective chute can be increased. Therefore, after obtaining the discharge combination (first discharge combination) for the first group corresponding to the first collective chute with a small number of corresponding combination hoppers first, the number of corresponding combination hoppers is By obtaining a discharge combination (second discharge combination) for the second group corresponding to many second collective chutes, a discharge combination (second discharge combination) to be obtained later is determined as a combination target. It is preferable to prevent the number of combination hoppers from becoming small and to realize good combination weighing accuracy.

  The present invention has a configuration as described above, and in a combination weigher that selectively discharges an object to be weighed from each combination hopper such as a weighing hopper to two chutes, it can be said that good combination weighing accuracy can be obtained. There is an effect.

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

  FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a partial cross section of a combination weigher according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the side, and FIG. 1B shows a collective chute (two inner chutes) of the combination weigher. And three outer chutes) and a weighing hopper when viewed from above.

  In this combination weigher, as shown in FIG. 1 (a), objects to be weighed supplied from an external supply device are radially distributed by vibration on the upper portion of a center substrate (body) 5 disposed in the center of the device. A conical dispersion feeder 1 is provided. Around the dispersion feeder 1, a plurality of linear feeders 2 are provided for feeding an object to be weighed sent from the dispersion feeder 1 to each supply hopper 3 by vibration. Below each linear feeder 2, a supply hopper 3 and a weighing hopper 4 are provided correspondingly, and the plurality of supply hoppers 3 and the weighing hoppers 4 are arranged in a circle around the center base 5. The dispersion feeder 1, the linear feeder 2, the supply hopper 3, and the weighing hopper 4 are attached to the center base 5. Each weighing hopper 4 is attached with a weight sensor 41 such as a load cell that measures the weight of the object to be weighed in the weighing hopper 4, and the measurement value by each weight sensor 41 is output to the control unit 20.

  Below the weighing hopper 4 arranged in a circle, two inner chutes 6a and 6b each having a substantially inverted frustoconical chute divided into two halves are disposed and around the inner chutes 6a and 6b. Are provided with three outer chutes 7a, 7b and 7c which are concentrically formed in the upper opening and divided into three. Each weighing hopper 4 has a configuration in which a gate is provided so that an object to be weighed can be selectively discharged to the inner chutes 6a, 6b and the outer chutes 7a, 7b, 7c below the weighing hoppers 4. That is, each weighing hopper 4 is provided with a gate for discharging the objects to be weighed to the inner chutes 6a and 6b and a gate for discharging the objects to be weighed to the outer chutes 7a, 7b and 7c. In addition, in the circle | round | yen 21 in Fig.1 (a), the shape near the real thing of the measurement hopper 4, the gate 22 for discharging | emitting a to-be-measured object to an inner side chute, and the gate for discharging to-be-measured item to an outer side chute 23 is schematically shown.

  Collective hoppers 8 for temporarily holding and discharging the objects to be weighed are disposed at the lower discharge ports 6ae and 6be of the inner chutes 6a and 6b, respectively. Similarly, collective hoppers 8 are disposed at the lower discharge ports 7ae, 7be, 7ce of the outer chutes 7a, 7b, 7c, respectively.

  Below this combination weigher, for example, five packaging machines (not shown) or a packaging machine having five input ports for the objects to be weighed are arranged, and the objects to be weighed discharged from the five collective hoppers 8 are respectively It is put into the input port of the packaging machine and packed while being packed in a bag by the packaging machine.

  The control unit 20 is configured by, for example, a microcomputer, controls the operation of the entire combination weigher, and performs a combination process to be described later, thereby performing an object to be weighed on each chute (6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 7c). A discharge combination that is a combination of the weighing hoppers 4 to be discharged is determined.

  The operation of the combination weigher configured as described above will be described.

  The objects to be weighed supplied from the external supply device to the dispersion feeder 1 are supplied from the dispersion feeder 1 to each supply hopper 3 via each linear feeder 2, and the objects to be weighed are input from each supply hopper 3 to each weighing hopper 4. Is done. A combination process described later is performed, and the objects to be weighed are discharged from the weighing hopper 4 selected for each discharge combination. The objects to be weighed are fed from the supply hopper 3 to the weighing hopper 4 which has become empty after the objects to be weighed are discharged. Similarly, an object to be weighed is supplied from the linear feeder 2 to the empty supply hopper 3.

  The combination process will be described. When an object to be weighed is put into the weighing hopper 4 and the weight of the object to be weighed in the weighing hopper 4 is measured by the weight sensor 41, the control unit 20 measures the measured value (measured value by the weight sensor 41) of the weighing hopper 4. ) To perform the combination processing. Here, the groups A, B, and C are groups each including a plurality of (for example, 10 to 12) weighing hoppers 4 disposed above the outer chutes 7a, 7b, and 7c and corresponding to the outer chutes 7a, 7b, and 7c. The groups D and E are groups each including a plurality of weighing hoppers 4 disposed above the inner chutes 6a and 6b and corresponding to the inner chutes 6a and 6b. Therefore, each weighing hopper 4 belongs to two groups, a group corresponding to one outer chute and a group corresponding to one inner chute. Further, all the weighing hoppers 4 belonging to the group A corresponding to the outer chute 7a belong to the group D corresponding to one inner chute 6a, and all the weighing hoppers 4 belonging to the group B corresponding to the outer chute 7b are all one inner hopper 7a. It belongs to group E corresponding to the chute 6b. On the other hand, the weighing hoppers 4 belonging to the group C corresponding to the outer chute 7c include those belonging to the group D corresponding to the inner chute 6a and those belonging to the group E corresponding to the inner chute 6b.

  In the combination processing in the present embodiment, the combination (discharge combination) of the weighing hoppers 4 to which the objects to be weighed are to be discharged to the outer chute 7a is determined from the group A of the weighing hoppers 4 corresponding to the outer chute 7a. From the group B of the weighing hopper 4 corresponding to the outer chute 7b, a combination (discharge combination) of the weighing hoppers 4 to discharge the objects to be weighed to the outer chute 7b is determined, and the weighing hopper 4 corresponding to the outer chute 7c. From the group C, a combination (discharge combination) of the weighing hoppers 4 to discharge the objects to be weighed to the outer chute 7c is determined. Here, for each of the groups A and B, combination calculation is performed based on the measurement value of the weighing hopper 4 (measurement value of the weight of the object to be weighed by the weight sensor 41), and the total of the measurement values of the measurement hopper 4 (combination) (Weight value) becomes a value within the allowable range (predetermined weight range) with respect to the target weight value, and one combination of the weighing hoppers 4 having the smallest absolute value difference from the target weight value is obtained and determined as the discharge combination. . And, when the group D and E weighing hoppers 4 corresponding to the plurality of inner chutes 6a and 6b are included as in the group C, the discharge combination for the group C is selected from both the group D and the group E It is determined so as to be a combination of the measured weighing hoppers 4. In other words, the discharge combination for group C is determined such that at least one weighing hopper 4 is selected from each of group D and group E. Therefore, for group C, a combination operation is performed based on the measurement value of the weighing hopper 4, and at least one weighing hopper 4 is selected from each of the groups D and E. The total of the measured values is within the allowable range (predetermined weight range) with respect to the target weight value, and one combination of the weighing hoppers 4 having the smallest absolute value difference from the target weight value is obtained and determined as the discharge combination. To do. The group C weighing hoppers 4 are arranged such that a plurality of weighing hoppers 4 belonging to each of the groups D and E exist.

  Next, the combination (discharge combination) of the weighing hoppers 4 to discharge the objects to be weighed to the inner chute 6a is determined from the group D of the weighing hoppers 4 corresponding to the inner chute 6a, and the weighing corresponding to the inner chute 6b. From the group E of hoppers 4, the combination (discharge combination) of the weighing hoppers 4 to discharge the objects to be weighed to the inner chute 6 b is determined. Here, for each of the groups D and E, the weighing value of the weighing hopper 4 excluding the weighing hopper 4 of the discharge combination discharged to the outer chute (7a, 7b, 7c) obtained previously (the object to be weighed by the weight sensor 41) The total of the measured values of the weighing hopper 4 is within the allowable range (predetermined weight range) with respect to the target weight value, and the absolute value of the difference from the target weight value Is determined as a discharge combination by obtaining one combination of the weighing hoppers 4 having the smallest.

  In the combination weigher, a target weight value and an allowable range for the target weight value are determined in advance. The allowable range is determined, for example, with a target weight value as a lower limit value and a value larger than the target weight value as an upper limit value. For example, the target weight value is set to 400 g, and the allowable range is set to 400 g whose lower limit value is the target weight value, and its upper limit value is set to 420 g that is larger than the target weight value. In addition, the allowable range may be a value lower than the target weight value as the lower limit value, and the upper limit value may not be determined (in this case, the upper limit value may be considered infinite).

  After obtaining the discharge combination for each chute (6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 7c) by the above combination processing, the objects to be weighed are discharged simultaneously from the weighing hopper 4 selected for each discharge combination. After being held by each collecting hopper 8, the objects to be weighed are discharged from the collecting hopper 8 at a predetermined timing (for example, in response to a discharge request signal from the packaging machine). The objects to be weighed discharged from the respective collection hoppers 8 are, for example, introduced into an input port of a packaging machine and packed in a bag. A configuration without the collective hopper 8 is also possible. In this case, the objects to be weighed discharged from the weighing hopper 4 are directly input from the discharge ports 6ae, 6be, 7ae, 7be, 7ce of each chute 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 7c directly to the input port of the packaging machine. Is done.

  In this combination weigher, the above operations are repeated. One weighing cycle time of this combination weigher is, for example, from the time when an object to be weighed starts to be discharged from the weighing hopper 4 selected as the discharging combination in the immediately preceding weighing cycle, and then to the weighing hopper 4 of the discharging combination. The discharge combination is determined on the basis of the discharge / supply / stable time until the weight of the object to be weighed after the stable time of the weight sensor 41 is measured and the weight of the object to be weighed and the measured value of the weighing hopper 4. It consists of the combination processing time required for the combination processing.

  In this embodiment, after obtaining the discharge combination for the outer chute, the discharge combination for the inner chute is obtained. When obtaining the discharge combination for the outer chute, the weighing hoppers of the groups corresponding to the plurality of inner chutes In order to obtain the discharge combination for the group corresponding to the included outer chute with the condition that the combination of the weighing hoppers 4 selected from the two groups corresponding to the inner chute is given, either of the inner chutes 6a, 6b When obtaining the discharge combination for one inner chute, it is possible to prevent the number of weighing hoppers 4 that can be subjected to the combination calculation from becoming very small, and to obtain good combination weighing accuracy. In addition, since only the above conditions are given, the amount of calculation in the combination process increases and the time required for the combination process does not increase, preventing an increase in one weighing cycle time, and the operating speed (operating speed) There is no decline.

  In the above embodiment, the inner collective chute is divided into two parts and the outer collective chute is divided into three parts. However, the present invention is not limited to this structure. Another example is shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b). 2A and 2B, as in the case of FIG. 1, a supply hopper 3 and a linear feeder 2 are provided corresponding to each weighing hopper 4, and distributed in the center. A feeder 1 is provided, and an object to be weighed is supplied to each weighing hopper 2.

  FIG. 2A shows the collective chutes (three inner chutes and four outer chutes) and the weighing hopper viewed from above when the inner collective chutes are divided into three and the outer collective chutes are divided into four. It is a schematic diagram. In this case, the groups A1, B1, C1, and D1 are groups of the weighing hoppers 4 corresponding to the outer chutes 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d, respectively, and the groups E1, F1, and G1 are the inner chutes 6a, 6b, and 6c, respectively. Is a group of weighing hoppers 4 corresponding to.

  Similarly to the case of FIG. 1, the combination processing in this case also obtains the discharge combination for each inner chute after obtaining the discharge combination for each outer chute.

  For each of the groups A1 and B1 corresponding to the outer chutes 7a and 7b, combination calculation is performed based on the measurement value of the weighing hopper 4 (measured value of the weight of the object to be weighed by the weight sensor 41), and the weighing of the weighing hopper 4 is performed. One combination of the weighing hoppers 4 in which the sum of the values is within the allowable range with respect to the target weight value and the absolute value of the difference from the target weight value is minimum is determined and determined as the discharge combination. The group C1 corresponding to the outer chute 7c includes the weighing hoppers 4 of the groups F1 and G1 corresponding to the plurality of inner chutes 6b and 6c, so that at least one from each group of the group F1 and the group G1. Among the combinations in which the weighing hoppers 4 are selected, the total of the weighing values of the weighing hopper 4 as the combination weight value is within the allowable range with respect to the target weight value, and the absolute value of the difference from the target weight value is One combination of the weighing hoppers 4 that is the minimum is obtained and determined as a discharge combination. Similarly, the group D1 corresponding to the outer chute 7d includes the weighing hoppers 4 of the groups E1 and G1 corresponding to the plurality of inner chutes 6a and 6c, so that at least one from each of the groups E1 and G1. Among the combinations in which the individual weighing hoppers 4 are selected, the sum of the weighing values of the weighing hopper 4 which is the combined weight value becomes a value within an allowable range with respect to the target weight value, and the absolute value of the difference from the target weight value Is determined as a discharge combination by obtaining one combination of the weighing hoppers 4 having the smallest.

  Next, for each of the groups E1, F1, G1 corresponding to the inner chutes 6a, 6b, 6c, the weighing hopper 4 of the discharge combination discharged to the outer chutes (7a, 7b, 7c, 7d) obtained previously is excluded. The combination calculation is performed based on the measured value of the weighing hopper 4 (measured value of the weight of the object to be weighed by the weight sensor 41), and the total measured value of the weighing hopper 4 becomes a value within an allowable range with respect to the target weight value. One combination of the weighing hoppers 4 having the smallest absolute value of the difference from the target weight value is obtained and determined as a discharge combination.

  After obtaining the discharge combination for each chute (6a, 6b, 6c, 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d) by the above combination processing, the objects to be weighed are simultaneously sent from the weighing hopper 4 selected for each discharge combination. Let it drain. The objects to be weighed discharged from the weighing hopper 4 slide down the respective chutes 6a, 6b, 6c, 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d and are discharged from the discharge ports 6ae, 6be, 6ce, 7ae, 7be, 7ce, 7de. If the collecting hopper 8 (see FIG. 1A) is provided at each discharge port, once held by the collecting hopper 8, and directly when the collecting hopper 8 is not provided, It is fed into the seven slot of the packaging machine.

  FIG. 2 (b) shows the collective chutes (four inner chutes and three outer chutes) and the weighing hopper from above when the inner collective chutes are divided into four and the outer collective chutes are divided into three. It is the schematic schematic seen. In this case, the groups A2, B2, and C2 are groups of the weighing hoppers 4 corresponding to the outer chutes 7a, 7b, and 7c, respectively, and the groups D2, E2, F2, and G2 are the inner chutes 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d, respectively. Is a group of weighing hoppers 4 corresponding to.

  In the combination processing in this case, after obtaining the discharge combination discharged to the inner chutes 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, the discharge combination discharged to the outer chutes 7a, 7b, 7c is obtained.

  For each of the groups D2 and E2 corresponding to the inner chutes 6a and 6b, combination calculation is performed based on the measurement value of the weighing hopper 4 (measurement value of the weight of the object to be weighed by the weight sensor 41). One combination of the weighing hoppers 4 in which the sum of the values is within the allowable range with respect to the target weight value and the absolute value of the difference from the target weight value is minimum is determined and determined as the discharge combination. The group F2 corresponding to the inner chute 6c includes the weighing hoppers 4 of the groups B2 and C2 corresponding to the plurality of outer chutes 7b and 7c. Therefore, at least one of the groups B2 and C2 is included. Among the combinations in which the weighing hoppers 4 are selected, the total of the weighing values of the weighing hopper 4 as the combination weight value is within the allowable range with respect to the target weight value, and the absolute value of the difference from the target weight value is One combination of the weighing hoppers 4 that is the minimum is obtained and determined as a discharge combination. Similarly, the group G2 corresponding to the inner chute 6d includes the weighing hoppers 4 of the groups A2 and C2 corresponding to the plurality of outer chutes 7a and 7c, so that at least one from each of the groups A2 and C2 is included. Among the combinations in which the individual weighing hoppers 4 are selected, the sum of the weighing values of the weighing hopper 4 which is the combined weight value becomes a value within an allowable range with respect to the target weight value, and the absolute value of the difference from the target weight value Is determined as a discharge combination by obtaining one combination of the weighing hoppers 4 having the smallest.

  Next, for each of the groups A2, B2, and C2 corresponding to the outer chutes 7a, 7b, and 7c, the weighing hopper 4 of the discharge combination that is discharged to the inner chutes (6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d) obtained previously is excluded. The combination calculation is performed based on the measured value of the weighing hopper 4 (measured value of the weight of the object to be weighed by the weight sensor 41), and the total measured value of the weighing hopper 4 becomes a value within an allowable range with respect to the target weight value. One combination of the weighing hoppers 4 having the smallest absolute value of the difference from the target weight value is obtained and determined as a discharge combination.

  After obtaining the discharge combinations for the respective chutes (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 7a, 7b, 7c) by the above combination processing, the objects to be weighed are simultaneously measured from the weighing hoppers 4 selected for the respective discharge combinations. Let it drain. The objects to be weighed discharged from the weighing hopper 4 slide down the respective chutes 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 7a, 7b, 7c and are discharged from the discharge ports 6ae, 6be, 6ce, 6de, 7ae, 7be, 7ce. If the collecting hopper 8 (see FIG. 1A) is provided at each discharge port, once held by the collecting hopper 8, and directly when the collecting hopper 8 is not provided, It is fed into the seven slot of the packaging machine.

  In each example described above, the case where the weighing hoppers 4 are arranged in a circle has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the weighing hoppers 4 are arranged not only in a circular shape but also in an elliptical shape, a polygonal shape such as a rectangle or a rectangle, or a linear shape, and two chutes are provided corresponding to the weighing hoppers 4 arranged in the row. It only has to be.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic schematic view of the collecting chute and the weighing hopper as viewed from above when the weighing hoppers 4 are arranged in a straight line. In this case, a plurality of collective chutes are disposed below the weighing hopper row composed of a plurality of weighing hoppers 4 arranged in a straight line and on both sides of the weighing hopper row. First chutes 17a, 17b, and 17c, which are three-divided collective chutes, are disposed on one side of the weighing hopper row, and a second chute that is divided into two halves is arranged on the other side of the weighing hopper row. Two chutes 16a and 16b are provided. Each weighing hopper 4 has a configuration capable of selectively discharging an object to be measured to the first chutes 17a, 17b, 17c and the second chutes 16a, 16b located below the weighing hoppers 4. That is, each weighing hopper 4 has a gate for discharging the objects to be weighed to the first chutes 17a, 17b and 17c and a gate for discharging the objects to be weighed to the second chutes 16a and 16b, for example, FIG. As shown in a circle 21 in (a), two gates 22 and 23 are provided. In this case, the groups A3, B3 and C3 are groups of weighing hoppers 4 corresponding to the first chutes 17a, 17b and 17c, respectively, and the groups D3 and E3 are weighing hoppers 4 corresponding to the second chutes 16a and 16b, respectively. It is a group. 1 is different from the case of FIG. 1 in that the arrangement shape of the weighing hoppers 4 is circular or linear, but as in the case of FIG. A linear feeder (not shown) for supplying an object to be weighed to each supply hopper is provided.

  In the combination process in this case, after determining the discharge combination discharged to the first chutes 17a, 17b, and 17c, the discharge combination discharged to the second chutes 16a and 16b is determined.

  For each of the groups A3 and C3 corresponding to the first chutes 17a and 17c, a combination calculation is performed based on the measured value of the weighing hopper 4 (measured value of the weight of the object to be weighed by the weight sensor 41). One combination of the weighing hoppers 4 in which the total of the measured values is within the allowable range with respect to the target weight value and the absolute value of the difference from the target weight value is minimum is determined and determined as the discharge combination. And about the group B3 corresponding to the 1st chute | shoot 17b, since the measurement hopper 4 of the groups D3 and E3 corresponding to several 2nd chute | shoots 16a and 16b is included, at least from each group of the group D3 and the group E3 Among the combinations in which one weighing hopper 4 is selected, the total of the weighing values of the weighing hopper 4 which is the combined weight value is within the allowable range with respect to the target weight value, and the absolute difference from the target weight value One combination of the weighing hoppers 4 having the smallest value is obtained and determined as a discharge combination.

  Next, for each of the groups D3 and E3 corresponding to the second chutes 16a and 16b, the weighing hopper 4 excluding the weighing hopper 4 of the discharge combination discharged to the first chute (17a, 17b and 17c) obtained previously. The combination calculation is performed based on the measured value (measured value of the weight of the object to be weighed by the weight sensor 41), and the total of the measured values of the weighing hopper 4 is within the allowable range with respect to the target weight value, and the target weight value One combination of the weighing hoppers 4 having the smallest absolute value of the difference is obtained and determined as a discharge combination.

  After obtaining the discharge combination for each chute (16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 17c) by the above combination processing, the objects to be weighed are discharged simultaneously from the weighing hopper 4 selected for each discharge combination. The objects to be weighed discharged from the weighing hopper 4 slide down the respective chutes 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, and 17c, are discharged from the discharge ports 16ae, 16be, 17ae, 17be, and 17ce, and are collected at each discharge port. 8 (see FIG. 1 (a)) is once held by the collecting hopper 8, and then directly to the five input ports of the packaging machine when the collecting hopper 8 is not provided. It is thrown.

  Further, as shown in each example described above, the weighing hopper 4 discharges the objects to be weighed in two directions (first direction and second direction) orthogonal to the direction in which the weighing hoppers 4 are arranged. The number of first collecting chutes for collecting and discharging the objects to be discharged in the first direction and the objects to be measured discharged in the second direction are configured. If the number of second collective chutes for discharging is different and the number of first collective chutes is larger than the number of second collective chutes, The number of weighing hoppers corresponding to each second collecting chute can be made larger than the number of corresponding weighing hoppers. Therefore, after obtaining the discharge combination for the group corresponding to the first collective chute with a small number of weighing hoppers, the combination is obtained by obtaining the discharge combination for the group corresponding to the second collective chute with a large number of weighing hoppers. The number of weighing hoppers to be calculated is not reduced too much, which is preferable for realizing good combination weighing accuracy.

  Of course, after obtaining the discharge combination for the group corresponding to the second collective chute with a large number of corresponding weighing hoppers, the discharge combination is obtained for the group corresponding to the first collective chute with a small number of corresponding weighing hoppers. It is also possible to do so. In this case, the group of weighing hoppers corresponding to the second collecting chute may include three or more weighing hoppers corresponding to the first collecting chute. The discharge combination for the group of weighing hoppers corresponding to the second collective chutes may be a combination including weighing hoppers belonging to at least two groups corresponding to the first collective chutes.

  In each of the above examples, the configuration using the weighing hopper 4 that can be discharged in two directions as the hopper (combination hopper) that is the target of the combination calculation is shown, but the configuration of the hopper that is the target of the combination calculation is as follows. Various changes are possible. For example, memory hoppers to which the objects to be weighed are supplied from the corresponding weighing hoppers are arranged below the weighing hoppers corresponding to the respective weighing hoppers, and the weighing hoppers correspond to the corresponding memory hoppers. The object to be weighed can be discharged only in the direction, and the memory hopper can be discharged in two directions (first direction and second direction). In this case, the hopper to be subjected to the combination calculation is a memory hopper.

  Note that the control unit 20 is not necessarily configured by a single control device, and a plurality of control devices may be arranged in a distributed manner, and may be configured such that they cooperate to control the operation of the combination weigher. Good.

  The combination weigher according to the present invention is useful for a combination weigher or the like provided with a plurality of discharge paths for an object to be discharged from each combination hopper such as a weighing hopper.

(A) is the schematic schematic diagram of the partial cross section which looked at the combination weigher of embodiment of this invention from the side, (b) is the outline which looked at the collection chute and weighing hopper of the combination weigher from the upper part It is a schematic diagram. (A) is a schematic diagram of the collective chute and the weighing hopper as viewed from above in the configuration in which the inner collective chute is divided into three and the outer collective chute is divided into four in the embodiment of the present invention, (B) is the schematic diagram which looked at the collective chute and the weighing hopper from the upper part in the case where the inner collective chute is divided into four and the outer collective chute is divided into three in the embodiment of the present invention. It is the schematic diagram which looked at the collection chute and weighing hopper in the case of the composition where the weighing hopper was arranged in a line in the embodiment of the present invention from the upper part. (A) is the schematic schematic diagram of the partial cross section which looked at the combination weigher of the prior art from the side, (b) is the schematic schematic diagram which looked at the collective chute and the weighing hopper of the combination weigher from the upper side (C) is the schematic diagram which looked at two lower chutes, an intermediate hopper, and a discharge hopper of the combination weigher from the upper part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Dispersing feeder 2 Linear feeder 3 Feeding hopper 4 Weighing hopper 5 Center base | substrates 6a-6d Inner chute 7a-7d Outer chute 16a, 16b 2nd chute 17a-17c 1st chute 8 Collecting hopper 20 Control part

Claims (2)

A combination hopper array in which a plurality of combination hoppers configured to selectively discharge the objects to be weighed respectively in the first and second directions;
Each of the combination hopper rows is provided corresponding to each of a plurality of first groups divided into a plurality, and discharged from the corresponding combination hoppers of the first group in the first direction. A plurality of first collecting chutes for collecting the objects to be weighed and discharging them from the lower discharge port;
Each of the combination hopper rows is provided corresponding to each of a plurality of second groups divided into a plurality so as to be different from the first group, and for the combination of the corresponding second group A plurality of second collecting chutes for collecting the objects to be weighed discharged from the hopper in the second direction and discharging them from the lower discharge port;
For each of the first groups, one combination hopper combination is obtained in which the total weight value of the objects to be weighed supplied to the combination hopper is a value within an allowable range with respect to the target weight value. When determining the first discharge combination and determining the first discharge combination, the first group including the combination hoppers belonging to a plurality of the second groups is divided into at least two second groups. The first discharge combination is determined to be a combination including the combination hopper to which it belongs, and then, for each of the second group, from among the combination hoppers not selected as the first discharge combination One combination hopper combination is obtained in which the total weight value of the objects to be weighed supplied to the combination hopper becomes a value within an allowable range with respect to the target weight value. A combination process for determining the discharge combination of the first and second discharge combinations, and discharging the objects to be weighed in the first direction from the combination hopper selected for each of the first discharge combinations. And a control means for performing a discharge process for discharging an object to be weighed in the second direction from the combination hopper selected as the discharge combination.   The combination weigher according to claim 1, wherein the number of the first collective chutes is greater than the number of the second collective chutes.

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