JP7520320B2 - Pusher and sorting device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a pusher that pushes out trays carrying fruits and vegetables, and a fruit and vegetable sorting device.

In a fruit and vegetable sorting and packing device that sorts and packs harvested fruit and vegetables while transporting them, the fruit and vegetables are transported placed on a tray to prevent them from being damaged or scratched by vibrations or shocks that occur on the transport path. Specifically, for example, fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes and strawberries are transported placed on a tray with their stems positioned approximately in the center. An example of a fruit and vegetable sorting device that sorts the fruit and vegetables placed on the tray according to grade or class is the device described in Patent Document 1.

In Patent Document 1, a conveyor is provided that transports fruits and vegetables on trays, and multiple pool conveyors are arranged along the conveyor's transport direction for each sorting category of fruits and vegetables. Each pool conveyor extends in a horizontal direction that is approximately perpendicular to the conveyor's transport direction, and free tray ejection devices that eject free trays from the conveyor to the pool conveyor are arranged on the opposite side of the pool conveyor across the conveyor. This free tray ejection device includes an actuator, a push rod that is moved back and forth horizontally by the actuator, and a disk-shaped push plate attached to the head of the push rod. When a sorting ejection signal is input to the actuator from the processing device, the actuator pushes the push rod forward at high speed. As a result, the push plate attached to the tip of the push rod pushes the trays flowing on the conveyor toward the pool conveyor to sort the fruits and vegetables.

Patent No. 4875425

However, in the sorting device described in Patent Document 1, the external force from the push plate is directly transmitted to the tray, and the external force is applied to the tray in an impulse manner (instantaneous manner), causing the fruits and vegetables placed on the tray to rotate due to the impact. For example, in the case of fruits and vegetables with stems such as the tomatoes and strawberries mentioned above, the stems that were located approximately in the center may shift to the side.

Here, in the boxing process for shipping fruits and vegetables, for example, an arm is used to pick up the fruits and vegetables by suction, but if the orientation (direction) of the fruits and vegetables placed on the tray, for example the stem part, is misaligned, a gap will be created between the fruits and vegetables and the suction part, and the arms will not be able to pick up the fruits and vegetables because they cannot be picked up. Even if the fruits and vegetables are picked up, they will not be able to be packed neatly into the box because the orientation of the fruits and vegetables will be different from the other fruits and vegetables. This creates the problem of additional staff being needed to return the stem parts to approximately the center and to arrange the packed fruits and vegetables.

This problem can also occur when changing the tray transport direction by pushing the tray out with a pusher.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a pusher and sorting device that reduces the impact on fruits and vegetables placed on the tray.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a pusher that changes the conveying direction of a tray on which fruits and vegetables are placed, and has a head portion that contacts the tray when pushing the tray out, and the head portion applies a force to the tray over time while elastically deforming when pushing the tray out.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a conveyor that transports trays on which the fruits and vegetables are placed, and a plurality of pushers that sort the trays transported by the conveyor according to the quality of the fruits and vegetables, each of the pushers having a head portion that contacts the tray, and the head portion applies a force to the tray over time while elastically deforming when pushing out the tray.

The present invention can reduce the impact on fruits and vegetables placed on the tray.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a fruit and vegetable sorting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the sorting device. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a pusher of the sorting device. 1A is a graph showing the external force applied to the tray in a conventional pusher on the vertical axis and the time the external force is applied to the tray on the horizontal axis, and FIG. 1B is a graph showing the external force applied to the tray in the pusher of the present embodiment on the vertical axis and the time the external force is applied to the tray on the horizontal axis. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a head portion according to another embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line a-a in FIG. 5 .

Using a tomato sorting device as an example, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sorting device 1 of this embodiment is a device that sorts the tomatoes 100 according to their class while transporting the trays 3 on which the tomatoes 100 are placed, and includes a plurality of trays 3 on which the tomatoes 100 are placed, and a transport mechanism 2 provided with a transport path 4 along which the trays 3 are transported. Note that, for the purposes of explanation, this embodiment assumes tomatoes 100, but any fruit or vegetable that can be placed on the trays 3 and transported can be used.

The tray 3 is for placing the tomatoes 100 delivered by the farmer, and in this embodiment, it is annular with a hole in the approximate center for placing the tomatoes 100. The hole is formed in a mortar shape, and the tomatoes 100 are placed in the hole. A tag (not shown) is embedded in the bottom and sides of the tray 3. This tag can be an IC tag, RF tag, barcode, etc., and tag data including identification information for identifying each tray 3 is input. Such trays 3 are so-called free trays that are not connected to the transport mechanism 2, and are transported while placed on the transport surface of each conveyor that makes up the transport mechanism 2.

The conveying mechanism 2 is composed of multiple conveyors. The multiple conveyors include an input conveyor 6 arranged in input area A where tomatoes 100 are placed on trays 3 and arranged on the conveying path 4, an inspection conveyor (not shown) arranged in inspection area B where tomatoes 100 traveling on the conveying path 4 are individually inspected, a sorting conveyor 7 arranged in sorting area C where tomatoes 100 are sorted based on the inspection results, and an output conveyor (not shown) arranged in an output area (not shown) where tomatoes 100 are boxed and output. The input conveyor 6 and the inspection conveyor, the inspection conveyor and the sorting conveyor 7, and the sorting conveyor 7 and the output conveyor are each arranged so as to be continuous with each other.

The transport path 4 is a path along which the trays 3 carrying the tomatoes 100 flow in a fixed direction, and is provided on the input conveyor 6 in the input area A, the inspection conveyor in the inspection area B, the sorting conveyor 7 in the sorting area C, and the output conveyor in the output area.

In the loading area A, trays 3 on which tomatoes 100 are placed are placed on the transport path 4 of the loading conveyor 6. The trays 3 placed on the transport path 4 are transported to an inspection conveyor that is connected to the loading conveyor 6.

Inspection area B is provided with an appearance inspection device (not shown) and an internal inspection device (not shown). The appearance inspection device is a device that inspects the size (class) and appearance quality (appearance grade) of the tomatoes 100 traveling along the transport path 4, such as the presence or absence of blemishes and shape, and is equipped with a reader (RFID reader or barcode reader) that reads identification information from tags on trays 3 traveling along the transport path 4, a camera (not shown) that captures images of the appearance of the tomatoes 100, and a computer that determines the class and appearance grade of the tomatoes 100 based on the image sent from the camera. The computer is communicatively connected to the main computer, and transmits the determined class and appearance grade and the identification information acquired from the reader to the main computer. The main computer associates the received identification information with the class and appearance grade and stores them.

The internal inspection device is a device that inspects the internal quality (internal grade) of the tomatoes 100 traveling along the transport path 4, such as sugar content and ripeness, and is equipped with a reader (RFID reader or barcode reader) that reads identification information from tags on the trays 3 traveling along the transport path 4, a light irradiating unit (not shown) that is arranged above the transport path 4 and irradiates light onto the transported tomatoes 100, a light receiving unit that is arranged below the transport path 4 and receives the transmitted light that has passed through the tomatoes 100, and a computer that determines the internal grade of the tomatoes 100 based on the frequency spectrum of the received light. The computer is connected to the main computer so that it can communicate with the main computer, and transmits the determined internal grade and the identification information obtained from the reader to the main computer. The main computer associates the received identification information with the internal grade and stores them.

In the sorting area C, the tomatoes 100 placed on the trays 3 are sorted based on the class and external grade determined by the appearance inspection device and the internal grade determined by the internal inspection device. Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the sorting conveyor 7 includes a first sorting conveyor 7a and a second sorting conveyor 7b. The first sorting conveyor 7a is arranged continuously with the inspection conveyor. The second sorting conveyor 7b is arranged adjacent to the first sorting conveyor 7a so as to be approximately perpendicular to the first sorting conveyor 7a, so that the second conveying direction 2d of the trays 3 of the second sorting conveyor 7b is approximately perpendicular to the first conveying direction 1d of the trays 3 of the first sorting conveyor 7a. This second sorting conveyor 7b is arranged continuously with the carry-out conveyor. In addition, the second sorting conveyor 7b has a plurality of partition plates arranged parallel to the second conveying direction 2d, and a plurality of lanes 9 (9a, 9b) are provided.

A number of pushers 5 are arranged along the transport path 4 of the first sorting conveyor 7a. The pushers 5 are devices for changing the transport direction of the trays 3 flowing along the transport path 4. Each of the pushers 5 changes the transport direction of the trays 3 so that it is perpendicular to the transport path 4, and each pusher 5 is arranged opposite a lane 9 (9a, 9b) provided on the second sorting conveyor 7b across the first sorting conveyor 7a. As shown in FIG. 3, the pushers 5 include a head unit 10 that contacts the trays 3 and a power unit 11 that pushes the head unit 10 toward the transport path 4.

The power unit 11 is, for example, a hydraulic actuator, and includes a cylinder 12 having a cylindrical shape with one end closed, a piston 13 that moves linearly back and forth at high speed from the cylinder 12, a control unit (not shown) that controls the movement of the piston 13, and a mounting table 14 on which the cylinder 12 and piston 13 are placed.

The cylinder 12 has holes (not shown) at one end and the other end for allowing hydraulic oil to flow in and out of the cylinder 12, and a tube 15 for allowing hydraulic oil to flow in and out is connected to the holes. Here, two plate-like bodies 17, each with a hole having an inner diameter the same as the outer diameter of the cylinder 12, are arranged upright at a specified distance on the mounting table 14, and the cylinder 12 is inserted through the holes in the plate-like bodies 17 to fix the cylinder 12 to the mounting table 14.

The piston 13 comprises a piston body (not shown) disposed inside the cylinder 12, a piston rod 16 extending from approximately the center of the piston body and protruding from the other end of the cylinder 12, and a head portion 10 disposed at the tip of the piston rod 16.

The head unit 10 presses against the tray 3 flowing along the transport path 4, and the piston 13 is pushed out from inside the cylinder 12, thereby coming into contact with and pressing against the tray 3 flowing along the transport path 4. Here, the head unit 10 is elastically deformable, and in this embodiment, the head unit 10 is configured as a suction cup. The suction cup is made of rubber or synthetic resin, and is formed with a concave outer shape, i.e., a bowl shape (cone shape) with an opening that widens toward the tip.

The control unit is connected to the main computer so that it can communicate with it, and in response to a discharge command from the main computer, it pushes the piston 13 out of the cylinder 12 at high speed by causing hydraulic oil to flow from one end to the other end, and it also pulls the piston 13 back into the cylinder 12 at high speed by causing hydraulic oil to flow from the other end to one end. Here, the stroke direction of the piston 13 is configured to be approximately perpendicular to the first conveying direction 1d of the first sorting conveyor 7a. The main computer can communicate with a reader located near the entrance of the sorting area C, and uses the identification information of the tray 3 received from the reader as a search key to search for the class corresponding to the identification information from the memory, and outputs the discharge command to the pusher 5 corresponding to the searched class.

In the unloading area, a boxing device is located that boxes the tomatoes 100 placed on the trays 3 that are moving along the transport path 4 of the unloading conveyor and prepares them for shipment. The boxing device is equipped with an arm that moves repeatedly toward the transport path 4 of the unloading conveyor and an arm control unit that controls the arm.

In the sorting device 1 of this embodiment having the above-mentioned configuration, when the head unit 10 pushes out the tray 3 to change the conveying direction of the tray 3, the head unit 10 elastically deforms. Here, in the conventional head unit, as shown in the graph of FIG. 4(a), an external force Fa is applied to the tray 3 in an impulse manner, and the external force Fa applied to the head unit 10 from the power unit 11 is applied directly to the tray 3. In contrast, in this embodiment, an elastically deforming suction cup is used for the head unit 10, and the periphery of the suction cup is provided so as to abut against the tray 3. As shown in the graph of FIG. 4(b), when the tray 3 approaches the pusher 5, the suction cup of the pusher 5 contacts the side of the tray 3, but the force from the power unit 11 is absorbed by the deformation of the suction cup, and the external force is gradually applied to the tray 3. Then, when the tray 3 is positioned in front of the pusher 5, an external force Fb is applied. That is, the pusher 5 gradually deforms from the periphery of the suction cup, absorbing the force from the power unit 11 while applying an external force to the tray 3, so that the external force Fb is applied to the tray 3 over time. As a result, the external force Fb applied to the tray 3 is less than the external force Fa, and the impact on the tray 3 is mitigated, preventing the tomatoes 100 on the tray 3 from shifting out of position.

This prevents the tomatoes 100 from being picked up incorrectly by the packing device's arm when grabbing them, and prevents the tomatoes 100 from being stored in a messy manner, allowing the tomatoes 100 to be packed neatly in boxes with the same orientation and posture. This prevents the need for extra manpower.

In addition, in this embodiment, the head portion 10 is configured as a suction cup, which can more efficiently absorb the external force acting on the tray 3 and prevent the tomatoes 100 placed on the tray 3 from shifting position.

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

The head part may be elastically deformable, and may be, for example, a spring. For example, the head part may be configured to include a cylindrical body formed to be expandable and contractible in the pushing direction, a spring provided inside the cylindrical body and expanding and contracting in the pushing direction, and an abutment plate provided at the tip of the cylindrical body and the spring. The cylindrical body of the head part is made of rubber, and a configuration in which the side is formed in a bellows shape can be adopted, for example, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. In addition, the spring of the head part may be a compression coil spring. As in the above embodiment, when the abutment plate abuts against the tray 3, as shown in Figure 4 (b), the cylindrical body and the spring gradually contract, and an external force is applied to the tray 3 while absorbing the force from the power unit 11, so that an external force Fb is applied to the tray 3 over time. As a result, the external force Fb applied to the tray 3 is reduced compared to the external force Fa, and the impact generated on the tray 3 is mitigated, and the positional displacement of the tomatoes 100 on the tray 3 can be prevented.

The power unit is not limited to a hydraulic actuator, but can be an electric actuator, a pneumatic actuator, etc.

The present invention can be implemented in various forms that include improvements, modifications, or variations based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. In addition, the invention can be implemented in a form in which any of the inventive features are replaced with other technologies within the scope of the same action or effect.

1: Sorting device 2: Conveying mechanism 3: Tray 4: Conveying path 5: Pusher 10: Head unit 11: Power unit 100: Tomato (fruit or vegetable)

Claims (2)

A pusher for pushing out a tray on which fruits and vegetables are placed,
A head portion that contacts the tray,
The tray has an outer shape formed in a circular ring shape in a plan view,
A pusher, wherein the head portion is composed of a suction cup that applies force to the tray over time while elastically deforming when pushing out the tray. a conveyor for transporting trays on which fruits and vegetables are placed;
A plurality of pushers that sort the trays transported by the conveyor according to the quality of the fruits and vegetables;
Equipped with
Each of the pushers has a head portion that abuts against the tray,
The tray has an outer shape formed in a circular ring shape in a plan view,
A fruit and vegetable sorting device, wherein the head portion is composed of a suction cup that elastically deforms and applies force to the tray over time when the tray is pushed out.