JP6978748B2 - Leakage detector in egg carton - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a leak detection device in an egg carton.

Eggs packed in egg packs and shipped as commercial products are subjected to various inspections prior to packing, and for example, eggs in which cracks are detected are excluded without being packed. However, due to omission of detection of cracks and cracks in the egg handling process before shipping, so-called empty-packed products in which egg whites and yolks are removed from the cracked parts and remain as eggshells are on the market. Sometimes. In the inspection device described in Patent Document 1, whether or not such a state of missing contents is inspected by using microwaves.

Patent No. 6011772

In the inspection described in Patent Document 1, when it is determined that the egg is in an empty state, the contents of the egg may be leaked in the egg pack, or all the contents may be removed before being packed in the egg pack. In some cases, the contents of the egg have not leaked into the egg pack. On the contrary, even if it is determined that the contents of the eggs in the eggshell are not reduced and the contents are not missing, the contents of the eggs may be leaked into the egg pack. That is, in the inspection device described in Patent Document 1, the upper side of the egg is inspected without being related to the egg white or yolk staying in the concave portion of the egg pack. Therefore, there is a risk of missing an egg carton in which the contents of the egg are leaking.

An object of the present invention is to provide a leak detection device in an egg pack that detects the contents of eggs collected at the bottom of the egg pack.

The leak detection device in the egg carton of the present invention is on the electrode member based on the capacitance change between the capacitance sensor in which the detection area is formed above the electrode member and the electrode member of the capacitance sensor. It is equipped with a control unit that detects the contents of the eggs that have accumulated at the bottom of the egg pack placed on the egg carton.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a leak detection device in an egg pack that detects the contents of eggs collected at the bottom of the egg pack.

The above and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention as understood in connection with the accompanying drawings.

The front view which shows the inspection system of the egg carton of one Embodiment of this invention. The plan view which shows the inspection system of the egg carton of the same embodiment. The front view which shows an example of the inspection by the leak detection device in the egg pack of the same embodiment. The front view which shows the other example of the inspection by the leak detection device in the egg pack of the same embodiment. The front view which shows an example of the inspection by the egg dropout detection device in the egg pack of the same embodiment.

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

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the egg pack inspection system 1 of the present embodiment includes a transport device 2, a leak detection device 3 in the egg pack, and an egg omission detection device 4 in the egg pack. The egg pack PE contains one egg E vertically in each recess P1 of the container P.

The transport device 2 transports the egg pack PE as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The conveyor 2 includes an upstream conveyor 21 and a downstream conveyor 22, and a gap 23 is formed between the upstream conveyor 21 and the downstream conveyor 22. A leak detection device 3 in the egg pack and an egg omission detection device 4 in the egg pack are provided in the gap 23. The control units 32 and 42, which will be described later, may be arranged in a place other than the gap 23.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the leak detection device 3 in the egg carton includes a capacitance sensor 31 mainly composed of an electrode member and a control unit 32. The capacitance between the electrode members constituting the capacitance sensor 31 changes as the dielectric, which is the object to be detected, approaches. The sensitivity of the capacitance sensor 31 for detecting an object to be detected becomes weaker as the distance from the electrode member increases. The capacitance sensor 31 is arranged in a gap 23 formed between the conveyor 21 on the upstream side and the conveyor 22 on the downstream side for transporting the egg pack PE, and a detection area is formed above the electrode member. There is. The capacitance sensor 31 is arranged upward. One capacitance sensor 31 corresponds to one recess P1. The capacitance sensor 31 can detect water content, and detects egg white and yolk, which are the contents of an egg. Egg white and yolk contain a lot of water.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the egg drop detection device 4 in the egg carton includes a capacitance sensor 41 mainly composed of an electrode member and a control unit 42. The capacitance between the electrode members constituting the capacitance sensor 41 changes as the dielectric, which is the object to be detected, approaches. One capacitance sensor 41 corresponds to one recess P1. The capacitance sensor 41 can detect moisture, and an egg is detected. Eggs contain a large amount of water in the egg white and yolk that are the contents. The capacitance sensor 41 is provided at a position in the egg pack so as not to interfere with the capacitance sensor 31 for the leak detection device 3. In the figure, the capacitance sensor 41 is arranged sideways, but may be arranged on the upper side of the conveyor 2, or may be arranged in the gap 23 between the conveyor 21 on the upstream side and the conveyor 22 on the downstream side. May be. That is, as long as the presence or absence of eggs in the egg pack can be detected, they may be arranged on the side, above, or below the egg pack.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the control units 32 and 42 are composed of a dedicated or general-purpose computer such as a CPU, an internal memory, an input / output interface, and an AD conversion unit. Then, the functions as the control units 32 and 42 are exhibited by the cooperation of the CPU and other peripheral devices according to the program stored in the internal memory.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the control unit 32 is an egg staying at the bottom of the egg pack PE mounted on the capacitance sensor 31 based on the capacitance between the electrode members. Detects the contents EC. When the output from the capacitance sensor 31 is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value, the control unit 32 does not use the lower end of the egg E contained in the egg pack, but the EC inside the egg staying at the bottom of the egg pack PE. A predetermined threshold value is set so as to determine that.

The sensitivity of the capacitance sensor 31 is set based on the distance and the volume. Here, the distance means the degree of separation between the object to be detected (egg E or the contents EC leaked from the egg E) detected by the capacitance sensor 31 and the capacitance sensor 31. The volume means the amount of the object to be detected (egg E or the content EC leaked from the egg E) detected by the capacitance sensor 31. Even if the volume of the object to be detected is the same, the output of the capacitance sensor 31 differs depending on the distance. Specifically, when the distance to the object to be detected is short, the output is large, and when the distance to the object to be detected is long, the output is small. Therefore, the control unit 32 can distinguish between the EC content of the egg staying at the bottom of the egg pack PE and the lower end of the egg contained in the egg pack PE by using a predetermined threshold value.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the control unit 42 inserts the egg E housed in the recess P1 of the egg pack PE located next to the capacitance sensor 41 based on the capacitance between the electrode members. To detect. The control unit 42 determines the presence or absence of the egg E in the concave portion P1 together with the output from the concave portion detecting sensor (not shown) that detects the concave portion P1 of the egg pack PE.

Next, an example of inspection by the egg pack inspection system 1 will be described.

Whether or not the two recesses P1 of the egg pack PE moved to the gap 23 by the transport device 2 have the egg E based on the electrostatic capacitance between the electrode members of the egg drop detection device 4 in the egg pack. Is inspected. As shown in FIG. 5, when the concave portion P1 has the egg E, the capacitance changes (see the concave portion P1 on the left side). On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, when there is no egg E in the recess P1, the capacitance does not change (see the recess P1 on the right side). That is, when the sensor for detecting the concave portion detects the concave portion P1, the control unit 42 determines that the egg E is housed in the concave portion P1 if there is a change in the capacitance of the capacitance sensor 41. On the other hand, when the sensor for detecting the concave portion detects the concave portion P1, the control unit 42 determines that the egg E is not housed in the concave portion P1 if there is no change in the capacitance of the capacitance sensor 41.

The two recesses P1 are inspected for leakage of the EC contents of the egg based on the capacitance between the electrode members of the leak detection device 3 in the egg pack. As shown in FIG. 3, when the EC inside the egg is accumulated in the bottom of the recess P1, the capacitance changes (see the recess P1 on the left side). On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, when the EC inside the egg is not accumulated in the bottom of the recess P1, the capacitance does not change (see the recess P1 on the right side). That is, if the change in the capacitance of the capacitance sensor 31 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, the control unit 32 determines that there is a leak in the egg pack PE. On the other hand, if the change in the capacitance of the capacitance sensor 31 is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, the control unit 32 determines that there is no leakage in the egg pack PE.

Further, the capacitance sensor 31 becomes less sensitive to detect the contents of the egg as the distance from the electrode member increases. When the output from the capacitance sensor 31 is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value, the control unit 32 determines that the egg E staying at the bottom of the egg pack PE instead of the lower end of the egg E housed in the egg pack PE. A predetermined threshold value is set so as to determine that it is the contents. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, when the EC inside the egg is present on the bottom surface of the recess P1, the capacitance changes significantly (see the recess P1 on the left side). On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, when the lower end of the egg E is present at a position away from the bottom surface of the recess P1, the change in capacitance is small (see the recess P1 on the right side). That is, if the change in the capacitance of the capacitance sensor 31 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, the control unit 32 determines that there is a leak in the egg pack PE. On the other hand, the control unit 32 determines that there is no leakage in the egg pack PE if the change in the capacitance of the capacitance sensor is smaller than a predetermined threshold value.

As described above, the leak detection device 3 in the egg carton of the present embodiment is static between the capacitance sensor 31 in which the detection area is formed above the electrode member and the electrode member of the capacitance sensor 31. A control unit 32 for detecting the EC content of the egg staying at the bottom of the egg carton PE placed on the electrode member based on the change in capacitance is provided. In other words, the leak detection device 3 in the egg pack uses the capacitance sensor 31 to detect the EC inside the egg staying at the bottom of the egg pack PE placed on the capacitance sensor 31.

Since it uses capacitance, the device can be made more compact than the one using conventional microwaves. Further, it can be used not only for the transparent plastic container P used as the egg pack PE but also for the opaque mold pack.

The sensitivity of the capacitance sensor 31 to detect the contents of the egg decreases as the distance from the electrode member increases. Then, when the output from the capacitance sensor 31 is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value, the control unit 32 does not use the lower end of the egg E housed in the egg pack PE, but the egg staying at the bottom of the egg pack PE. Judge that the contents are EC. That is, the capacitance sensor 31 of the present embodiment can distinguish between the EC content EC of the egg staying at the bottom of the egg pack PE and the lower end portion of the egg E housed in the egg pack PE. Therefore, it is possible to distinguish between the lower end portion of the egg E that has penetrated to the lower side of the recess P1 and is housed, and the leak in the recess P1.

The capacitance sensor 31 is arranged in a gap 23 formed between the upstream conveyor 21 and the downstream conveyor 22 that convey the egg pack PE. Therefore, the inspection can be continuously performed.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

The leak detection device 3 in the egg pack may be arranged independently without being used together with the egg omission detection device 4 in the egg pack. The leak detection device 3 in the egg pack is not limited to the one in which the capacitance sensor 31 faces directly upward, and may be one in which the capacitance sensor 31 faces diagonally upward. The leak inspection device 3 in the egg pack may be inspected with the lid of the egg pack PE open, or may be inspected with the lid closed.

The control unit 32 may change a predetermined threshold value depending on the type of egg pack PE. For example, in the case of a mold pack, a predetermined threshold value different from that in the case of a plastic pack is set. If it is such a thing, even if different kinds of egg pack PEs are mixed, it can be continuously processed by the leak detection device 3 in one egg pack.

The capacitance sensor 31 may be capable of changing the relative position with the egg pack PE, which is the inspection target, for sensitivity adjustment. Specifically, it is conceivable that the capacitance sensor 31 is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction with respect to the transport device 2.

The embodiments disclosed this time are examples and are not limited thereto. The present invention is shown by the scope of claims, not the scope described above, and is intended to include all modifications in the sense and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used as a leak detection device in an egg pack that detects the contents of eggs collected at the bottom of the egg pack.

3 ... Leakage detection device 31 in the egg pack ... Capacitance sensor 32 ... Control unit 21 ... Upstream conveyor 22 ... Downstream conveyor 23 ... Gap PE ... Egg pack P1 ... Recess

Claims (3)

A capacitance sensor whose detection area is formed above the electrode member,
The inside of the egg pack including a control unit for detecting the contents of the egg staying at the bottom of the egg pack placed on the electrode member based on the change in the capacitance between the electrode members of the capacitance sensor. Leakage detector. When the output from the capacitance sensor is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value, the control unit is not the lower end of the egg contained in the egg pack, but the contents of the egg staying at the bottom of the egg pack. The leak detection device in an egg carton according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined threshold value is set so as to determine. The leak detection device in an egg pack according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electrode member is arranged in a gap formed between an upstream conveyor for transporting an egg pack and a downstream conveyor.

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