JP7633965B2 - Item sorting device - Google Patents

Description

Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Act applies June 11, 2021 Product catalog (Catalog No. 43579-A-1) Anritsu Corporation June 15, 2021 ACHEMA Pulse 2021 (Web exhibition) https://www. sensum. eu/ja/achema-pulse-2021-ja/ June 15, 2021 https://www. anritsu. com/ja-jp/about-anritsu/news/news-releases/2021/2021-06-15-jp01 June 16, 2021 https://www. anritsu. com/ja-JP/infivis/products/checkweighers/for-pharma/capsule-checkweigher July 19, 2021 Newsletter for registered users (Title: ■New product information■Capsule weight sorter [Anritsu]) November 26, 2021 Newsletter for registered users (Title: Easy-to-understand explanation in video! Metal detector for tablets and capsules [Anritsu]) December 1, 2021 Capsule auto checker Brochure Anritsu Corporation December 8 to 10, 2021 23rd Interphex Week Tokyo (Interphex Japan) December 8, 2021 Capsule auto checker 20-series and 30-series models Anritsu Corporation Infivis Company January 4, 2022 Product catalog (catalog No. 43579-D-1) Anritsu Corporation January 19, 2022 https://www. anritsu. com/ja-JP/infivis/products/checkweighers/for-pharma/capsule-checkweigher February 2, 2022 Email newsletter for subscribers (title: New capsule weight sorter now available in 20-series and 30-series types! [Anritsu])

Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Act applies February 15th to February 18th, 2020 JAPAN PACK 2022 March 17th, 2020 YouTube address: https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=c1N3mmkP-Ys March 30, 2020 Pharm Tech Japan (Web exhibition) April 4, 2020 YouTube address: https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=3_N37bHY5L8 April 7, 2020 https://video-pqa. anritsu. com/ja-jp/detail/videos/latest-videos/video/6302795751001

The present invention relates to an item sorting device.

Conventionally, a sorting chute system is known that includes a chute that guides the cargo (objects) that are transported by a cargo transport means and sorted and discharged (see Patent Document 1).

This chute equipment is equipped with a chute with multiple transport lanes, and stoppers that are provided midway along the chute and for each transport lane to control the movement of the load within the chute. The load being transported along the chute is temporarily stopped by the stoppers, thereby slowing it down. This makes it possible to prevent the load from falling off the chute.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-69936

However, in the chute equipment described in Patent Document 1, a stopper is provided for each transport lane of the chute, and when performing maintenance on the chute equipment, the stopper must be attached and detached for each lane, which may reduce the ease of maintenance work on the chute equipment.

In addition, there is a risk that the stoppers may be forgotten to be attached to the chute after maintenance work is completed, which may result in a situation where the load conveying speed (slide speed) cannot be slowed down in some conveying lanes during operation.

The present invention aims to provide an item sorting device that can improve the workability of attaching and detaching the inclined chute to the main body member, and can reliably slow down the sliding speed of objects when the inclined chute is attached to the main body member.

The article sorting device of the present invention has a main body member and an inclined chute attached to the main body member and inclined downward, and sorts objects that are pushed out from an inspection section at a constant cycle and slide down the inclined chute, the inclined chute has an inclined surface along which the objects to be sorted pushed out from the inspection section slide down, side plates protruding upward are provided on both side ends of the inclined surface, and a discharge outlet that opens to the downstream part of the inclined chute and discharges the objects to be sorted pushed out from the inspection section from the inclined chute to the main body member side. The device comprises an opening/closing member that is provided at the discharge outlet to open and close the discharge outlet and selects objects sliding down the inclined chute, and a sliding direction changing section that is located upstream of the opening/closing member and is provided integrally with the inclined chute, and the sliding direction changing section comes into contact with the object sliding down the inclined chute to change the orientation of the object to a direction different from the inclination direction of the inclined chute, and the inclined chute and the sliding direction changing section are configured to be integral with the side plates and can be freely attached and detached to the main body member.

This configuration allows the inclined chute and the sliding direction changer to be attached and detached to the main body member as a single unit, improving the workability of attaching and detaching the inclined chute to and from the main body member, for example, during maintenance of the item sorting device or when removing the objects to be sorted from the main body member.

In addition, when the inclined chute is attached to the main body member, it is possible to reliably prevent forgetting to attach the sliding direction changer to the inclined chute, and it is possible to reliably slow down the sliding speed of the objects to be sorted sliding down the inclined chute.

Therefore, even if the overall length of the inclined chute is shortened, there is a sufficient time until the rejection gate opens with the discharge outlet closed, and the objects to be sorted can be reliably discharged to the discharge outlet. As a result, the item sorting device can be made more compact.

In addition, in the item sorting device of the present invention, the sliding direction changing section includes a protruding chute section that protrudes upward from the inclined surface of the inclined chute and has a sliding surface along which the object slides, and the inclination angle of the sliding surface relative to the horizontal plane is smaller than the inclination angle of the inclined surface of the inclined chute relative to the horizontal plane.

With this configuration, when the object slides down the sliding surface of the protruding chute section, the sliding speed of the object can be slowed down compared to when the object slides down an inclined chute.

In the article sorting device of the present invention, the sliding direction changing section is located on the opening/closing member side of the sliding surface and has a regulating wall capable of contacting the object, the regulating wall being attached to the side plate opposite the sliding surface and extending from a position lower than the sliding surface to a position higher than the sliding surface.

With this configuration, the sliding speed of the object can be further slowed down by bringing the object that has passed over the sliding surface of the protruding chute into contact with the regulating wall.

This allows the speed at which objects slide down the inclined chute to be further slowed, and even if the overall length of the inclined chute is further shortened, there is a sufficient amount of time before the opening and closing member that closes the discharge outlet is released, so that the objects to be sorted can be reliably discharged to the discharge outlet. As a result, the item sorting device can be made even more compact.

In addition, in the item sorting device of the present invention, the sliding direction changing section is configured to include a plurality of guide plates which protrude upward from the inclined surface of the inclined chute and are inclined with respect to the inclination direction of the inclined chute, and the plurality of guide plates are arranged such that some of them face each other in the inclination direction of the inclined chute and are oppositely disposed in the inclination direction of the inclined chute, and among the plurality of guide plates, the guide plate located downstream of the guide plate located upstream is located on an extension line of the extension direction of the guide plate located upstream.

With this configuration, the guide plates that overlap in part in the inclination direction of the inclined chute are installed in the opposite direction in the inclination direction of the inclined chute, and adjacent guide plates in a direction perpendicular to the inclination direction of the inclined chute are installed in the opposite direction, so that when an object comes into contact with the guide plate located upstream, the orientation of the object is changed to a direction different from the inclination direction of the inclined chute, and then when the object comes into contact with the guide plate located downstream, the orientation of the object is changed to a direction different from the inclination direction of the inclined chute.

In addition, when an object comes into contact with the guide plate located downstream of the guide plate located upstream, the orientation of the object can be changed to a direction different from the inclination direction of the inclined chute.

In this way, the object's sliding speed can be slowed down by colliding with the guide plate and changing the object's orientation to a direction different from the inclination direction of the inclined chute.

In addition, in the item sorting device of the present invention, the sliding direction changing section is configured to include a plurality of guide plates which protrude upward from the inclined surface of the inclined chute and are inclined with respect to the inclination direction of the inclined chute, and the plurality of guide plates are partially opposed to each other in the inclination direction of the inclined chute and adjacent to each other in a direction perpendicular to the inclination direction of the inclined chute, and the plurality of guide plates are configured such that the guide plates which partially overlap in the inclination direction of the inclined chute are installed in opposite directions in the inclination direction of the inclined chute and adjacent guide plates in the direction perpendicular to the inclination direction of the inclined chute are installed in opposite directions, and the guide plate located downstream of the guide plate located upstream is located on an extension line of the extension direction of the guide plate located upstream.

With this configuration, the guide plates that overlap in part in the inclination direction of the inclined chute are installed in the opposite direction in the inclination direction of the inclined chute, and adjacent guide plates in a direction perpendicular to the inclination direction of the inclined chute are installed in the opposite direction, so that when an object comes into contact with the guide plate located on the upstream side of the guide plate on one side perpendicular to the inclination direction of the inclined chute, the orientation of the object can be changed to a direction different from the inclination direction of the inclined chute, and then when the object comes into contact with the guide plate located on the downstream side, the orientation of the object can be changed to a direction different from the inclination direction of the inclined chute.

In addition, when an object comes into contact with the guide plate located on the upstream side of the other guide plate that is perpendicular to the inclination direction of the inclined chute, the orientation of the object can be changed to a direction different from the inclination direction of the inclined chute, and then when the object comes into contact with the guide plate located on the downstream side, the orientation of the object can be changed to a direction different from the inclination direction of the inclined chute.

In this way, the object's sliding speed can be slowed down by colliding with the guide plate and changing the object's orientation to a direction different from the inclination direction of the inclined chute.

The present invention can improve the workability of attaching and detaching the inclined chute to the main body member, and can provide an item sorting device that can reliably slow down the sliding speed of objects when the inclined chute is attached to the main body member.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an article inspection apparatus equipped with an article sorting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the inclined chute is removed from the main body member of the article sorting device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a view of an inclined chute of an article sorting device according to one embodiment of the present invention, viewed obliquely from above and in front. FIG. 4 is a side view of a first sorting member of an article sorting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the size, length, and outer diameter of capsules selected by an article selection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7(a) shows a state in which a capsule No. 5 is being transported along a transport path of an item selection device according to one embodiment of the present invention, and (b) shows a state in which a capsule No. 000 is being transported. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a downstream inclined chute of an article sorting device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 shows a state in which a correct-weight article is selected by an article selection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 shows a state in which light items are sorted by an article sorting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 shows a state in which an overweight article is sorted by an article sorting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 shows a state in which an unknown item is sorted by an item sorting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a movement trajectory of a capsule as it slides down the downstream inclined chute of an article sorting device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an article inspection apparatus equipped with an article sorting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and shows the movement trajectory of a capsule sliding down the downstream inclined chute. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an article inspection apparatus equipped with an article sorting device according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and shows the movement trajectory of a capsule sliding down the downstream inclined chute.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a configuration of an article inspection apparatus equipped with an article selection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 13. FIG.

The item inspection device according to this embodiment will be described as a weight measuring device 1 that inspects, i.e., weighs, the weight of an object (item) to be inspected.

In addition to weight inspection, the item inspection device can also be used as an item inspection device that selects objects based on the results of inspection, such as an appearance inspection device that inspects the shape and appearance of an object, an X-ray inspection device that irradiates an object with X-rays and inspects the object's mass, defects, and the presence or absence of foreign matter based on the amount of X-rays that penetrate the object, and a metal detection device that detects changes in the magnetic field or residual magnetism in the object to detect metallic foreign matter.

In this embodiment, the object is a long, cylindrical capsule 50 with both ends formed into a hemispherical shape.

Materials that can be used for the capsule 50 include gelatin and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose.

Other objects that can be inspected by the item inspection device include stick packets (stick-shaped packages) that contain tablets, granulated medicine, sugar, etc.

In FIG. 1, the weight measuring device 1 as an item inspection device is configured to include a supply unit 2 for capsules 50, an item sorting device 3 that sorts the capsules 50 into good items (non-NG items) and defective items (NG items), a weighing unit 4 that constitutes the inspection unit, a sorting confirmation sensor 5, and a control unit (not shown).

The capsules 50 are transported from the supply section 2 to the item sorting device 3. The item sorting device 3 includes a main body member 21 and an inclined chute 22 attached to the main body member 21.

The inclined chute 22 is inclined downward from the upstream to the downstream in the sliding direction of the capsule 50, and the capsule 50 slides down the inclined chute 22 by its own weight. For ease of explanation, in Figures 1 to 5 and 7 to 13, the weight measuring device 1 will be described with the supply unit 2 side (upstream side) as the rear side, and the inclined chute 22 side (downstream side) relative to the supply unit 2 as the front side.

Here, upstream and downstream refer to the upstream and downstream in the sliding direction of the capsule 50. In other words, the inclined chute 22 is downstream of the supply unit 2, and the supply unit 2 is upstream of the inclined chute 22.

The supply section 2 has a hopper 6, a magazine 7 and a shutter 8, and the hopper 6, the magazine 7 and the shutter 8 are installed above the inclined chute 22.

Multiple capsules 50 are placed into the hopper 6. The magazine 7 is connected to the bottom of the hopper 6, and the capsules 50 are supplied from the hopper 6 to the magazine 7 by gravity.

A supply path 7A is formed inside the magazine 7, extending in the vertical direction, and the supply paths 7A are formed in, for example, 10 rows in the left-right direction of the weight measuring device 1.

Inside the magazine 7, the capsules 50 are stored in a vertical line along the supply path 7A, and adjacent supply paths 7A in the left-right direction are divided by a partition (not shown). This ensures that adjacent capsules 50 in the left-right direction do not come into contact with each other and do not interfere with each other.

The hopper 6 and magazine 7 move vertically periodically, and the capsules 50 that fall from the hopper 6 under their own weight are guided downward along the supply path 7A of the magazine 7.

The shutter 8 is located near the bottom opening 7a of the magazine 7 and moves vertically together with the magazine 7.

The shutter 8 is movable between a closed position where it closes the bottom opening 7a of the magazine 7 and an open position where it opens the bottom opening 7a of the magazine 7.

When the magazine 7 is in the lower end position, the shutter 8 is in the open position, allowing the capsule 50 located at the lowest end of the supply path 7A to fall from the lower end opening 7a, and when the magazine 7 moves upward from the lower end position, the shutter 8 closes the lower end opening 7a to stop the capsule 50 from falling from the lower end opening 7a.

In other words, when the magazine 7 is in the lower end position, the shutter 8 moves to the release position for a time that allows one capsule 50 to fall through the lower end opening 7a.

The supply unit 2 has a holding unit 9. The holding unit 9 is provided below the magazine 7 and extends in the left-right direction with a length approximately equal to that of the magazine 7.

The holding unit 9 has ten rows of curved recesses 9a, which are arranged in a discontinuous and independent manner in the left-right direction. The curved recesses 9a are aligned with the ten rows of supply paths 7A in the direction in which the capsules 50 slide down.

When the capsule 50 falls from the magazine 7, it lands in the curved recess 9a and is held in the curved recess 9a in an inclined position with its long axis pointing diagonally upward. In other words, the bottom surface of the curved recess 9a is formed as an inclined surface that slopes diagonally upward from the rear to the front.

The supply unit 2 has a pusher 10. The pusher 10 is provided upstream of the holding unit 9 and is movable horizontally. The pusher 10 moves from the rear to the front of the holding unit 9, pushing the capsule 50 located in the curved recess 9a forward.

The weighing section 4 includes a weighing platform 4A, which is provided on the opposite side of the pusher 10 across the holding unit 9 in the front-to-rear direction. Ten weighing platforms 4A (ten rows) are provided so as to align with the ten rows of curved recesses 9a in the direction in which the capsules 50 slide down.

The weighing platform 4A has a pair of left and right side walls 4a (only the left side wall is shown) that sandwich the capsule 50 from the left and right directions, and the capsule 50 pushed forward from the curved recess 9a by the pusher 10 is placed on the weighing platform 4A and sandwiched between the pair of left and right side walls 4a.

The supply unit 2 has an ejector 11. The ejector 11 is provided on the opposite side of the pusher 10 across the holding unit 9 in the front-rear direction and above the weighing platform 4A.

There are ten ejectors 11, each paired with a weighing platform 4A, and they can move freely in the vertical and horizontal directions.

A push-out section 11a is provided at the lower rear end of the ejector 11. When the capsule 50 placed on the weighing platform 4A is transported to the next process, the ejector 11 moves downward from a state in which the push-out section 11a is located above the capsule 50 and behind the rear end of the capsule 50 (the state shown in FIG. 1), and moves forward when the push-out section 11a and the rear end of the capsule 50 are at the same height, and the push-out section 11a pushes the capsule 50 forward from the weighing platform 4A.

After this, the ejector 11 moves upward away from the weighing platform 4A, and then moves backward so that the pushing part 11a is positioned rearward of the rear end of the capsule 50 (as shown in FIG. 1). By repeating this operation, the capsule 50 is pushed out of the weighing platform 4A to the next process at regular intervals.

The timing at which the ejector 11 pushes the capsule 50 forward from the weighing platform 4A and the timing at which the pusher 10 pushes the capsule 50 from the curved recess 9a onto the weighing platform 4A are synchronized, and the capsules 50 are supplied to the weighing platform 4A at a constant cycle.

The weighing unit 4 is provided in the next process after the supply unit 2, and the capsules 50 sent out from the supply unit 2 at a regular interval are placed on the weighing unit 4 one by one to measure the weight of each capsule 50.

The weighing section 4 is equipped with a measuring device 4B that supports the weighing platform 4A. The weighing platform 4A is supported by the measuring device 4B via a Roberval mechanism. The Roberval mechanism has a parallelogram-shaped framework in which each side can move freely.

The weighing platform 4A is attached to one of the pillars of this framework, and the other pillar serves as a fixed end of a weighing sensor. This allows the capsule 50 to be accurately weighed no matter where it is placed on the weighing platform 4A. The measuring device 4B has, for example, a load cell (not shown) as a weighing sensor.

The weighing unit 4 measures the weight of the capsule 50 by an electrical signal from a load cell to which a load is applied when the capsule 50 is placed on the weighing platform 4A. Note that the weighing sensor is not limited to a load cell, and various other weighing sensors can be used.

The item sorting device 3 is installed in the next process after the weighing section 4. The inclined chute 22 has an upstream inclined chute 23 and a downstream inclined chute 24.

As shown in FIG. 2, the upstream inclined chute 23 is integral with the main body member 21 and has an inclined surface 23a that slopes downward from the weighing platform 4A toward the front.

The downstream inclined chute 24 is detachably attached to the main body member 21. The upper part of the main body member 21 is open below the downstream inclined chute 24, and as shown in Figure 1, when the downstream inclined chute 24 is attached to the main body member 21, the opening of the main body member 21 is closed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the downstream inclined chute 24 is inclined downward toward the front from the upstream inclined chute 23, and has an inclined surface 24a that is inclined at the same angle as the inclined surface 23a of the upstream inclined chute 23.

In other words, the upstream inclined chute 23 and the downstream inclined chute 24 have inclined surfaces 23a, 24a that slope downward from the weighing platform 4A toward the front, and the capsule 50 pushed out from the weighing platform 4A slides downward from upstream to downstream along the upstream inclined chute 23 and the downstream inclined chute 24 due to its own weight. The inclined surfaces 23a, 24a in this embodiment form the inclined surfaces of the inclined chute.

The left-right direction of the weight measuring device 1 is a direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction and the inclination direction of the inclined surface 23a of the upstream inclined chute 23 and the inclined surface 24a of the downstream inclined chute 24. In this embodiment, the downstream inclined chute 24 constitutes an inclined chute.

As shown in FIG. 3, the upstream inclined chute 23 is provided with a plurality of partition walls 23c, which are installed at regular intervals in the left-right direction. The partition walls 23c protrude upward from the upstream inclined chute 23, and the capsules 50 are partitioned in the left-right direction by the partition walls 23c.

That is, the upstream inclined chute 23 is provided with 10 rows of weighing tables 4A and 10 rows of conveying lanes aligned in the sliding direction of the capsules 50, and the upstream inclined chute 23 is arranged so that 10 rows of capsules 50 can slide down aligned in the left-right direction.

In this embodiment, the supply path 7A, curved recess 9a, weighing table 4A and upstream inclined chute 23 of the magazine 7 are aligned in the left-right direction and form 10 rows of conveying lanes aligned in the direction in which the capsules 50 slide, so that the capsules 50 sliding down the supply path 7A, curved recess 9a, weighing table 4A and upstream inclined chute 23 of the magazine 7 do not interfere with each other.

In other words, the weight measuring device 1 of this embodiment allows 10 capsules 50 to slide down the supply path 7A of the magazine 7, the curved recess 9a, the weighing platform 4A, and the upstream inclined chute 23 at the same time, side by side, at a fixed interval, and can simultaneously measure the weight of the 10 capsules 50 by the weighing unit 4. As shown in FIG. 3, no partition plate is provided in the downstream inclined chute 24.

As shown in FIG. 1, the item sorting device 3 has a first sorting member 26, and one first sorting member 26 is provided for each of the 10 rows of conveying lanes of the upstream inclined chute 23. In other words, the first sorting members 26 are arranged in 10 rows in the left-right direction of the item sorting device 3.

The first sorting member 26 extends longer in the up-down direction than it does in the front-to-rear direction. In other words, the up-down direction is the long side of the first sorting member 26, and the front-to-rear direction is the short side.

A first conveying path 26A is formed inside the first sorting member 26, and the first conveying path 26A has a first inlet 26a that opens on the upstream side and a first outlet 26b that is located below the first inlet 26a and opens on the downstream side (see Figure 4).

The first conveying path 26A has a first straight section 26c that extends vertically in a straight line from the first entrance 26a, and a first curved section 26d that curves from the downstream portion of the first straight section 26c in the inclined direction L of the inclined chute 22.

As shown in FIG. 5, the first transport path 26A has a U-shaped horizontal cross section, and the opening of the U-shaped cross section is closed by the side wall 21A to form a rectangular closed space for transporting the capsules 50.

Specifically, the main body member 21 is partitioned in the left-right direction by multiple side walls 21A, and the first sorting member 26 and the second sorting member 27 described below are provided between the side walls 21A.

As shown in FIG. 1, the upstream inclined chute 23 has an opening 23b through which the first sorting member 26 can be inserted.

A first air cylinder 28 is attached to the bottom of the first sorting member 26, and the first sorting member 26 can be moved freely in the vertical direction by the first air cylinder 28.

The first air cylinder 28 has a main body portion 28A housed in the housing portion 21B of the main body member 21 and a rod portion 28B that is provided so as to be freely retractable into the main body portion 28A.

A coil spring (not shown) is housed in the main body portion 28A, and the rod portion 28B is constantly biased upward by the coil spring.

When air is not supplied to the main body 28A, the rod 28B is biased upward by the coil spring, and the first sorting member 26 protrudes above the inclined surfaces 23a and 24a such that the first inlet 26a is located above the inclined surfaces 23a and 24a of the upstream inclined chute 23 and the downstream inclined chute 24.

A first inclined surface 26e is formed on the upper surface of the first sorting member 26, and the first inclined surface 26e is formed at the same inclination angle as the inclined surface 23a of the upstream inclined chute 23 and the inclined surface 24a of the downstream inclined chute 24.

When air is supplied to the main body 28A of the first air cylinder 28, the rod 28B moves downward against the biasing force of the coil spring and sinks into the main body 28A. At this time, the first inclined surface 26e of the first sorting member 26 is continuous with the inclined surfaces 23a and 24a so as to form part of the inclined surface 23a of the upstream inclined chute 23 and the inclined surface 24a of the downstream inclined chute 24.

In this way, the first sorting member 26 is movable between a first sorting position that protrudes above the inclined surfaces 23a and 24a, and a retracted position that is continuous with the inclined surfaces 23a and 24a.

In this embodiment of the item sorting device 3, when the capsule 50 to be sorted slides down the upstream inclined chute 23, the first sorting member 26 moves to the first sorting position, and the defective products that have flowed from upstream are guided through the first inlet 26a to the first conveying path 26A, and sorted in a direction different from the inclined chute 22.

In addition, when a good capsule 50 slides down the upstream inclined chute 23, the first sorting member 26 moves to a retracted position, and the good capsule 50 flowing from the upstream flows from the upstream inclined chute 23 through the first inclined surface 26e of the first sorting member 26 to the downstream inclined chute 24.

A final inclined chute 25 is provided downstream of the downstream inclined chute 24, and the final inclined chute 25 is provided integrally with the main body member 21.

The good capsules 50 slide down the final inclined chute 25, and the good capsules 50 that slide down the downstream inclined chute 24 are transported from the downstream inclined chute 24 through the final inclined chute 25 to the next process.

The item sorting device 3 is equipped with second sorting members 27. The second sorting members 27 are installed downstream of the first sorting members 26 below the downstream inclined chute 24, and are arranged in 10 rows in the left-right direction of the item sorting device 3 so as to pair with the first sorting members 26 in the inclination direction L of the downstream inclined chute 24.

The second sorting member 27 extends longer in the up-down direction than it does in the front-to-rear direction. In other words, the up-down direction is the long side of the second sorting member 27, and the front-to-rear direction is the short side.

A second transport path 27A is formed inside the second sorting member 27, and the second transport path 27A has a second inlet 27a that opens on the upstream side and a second outlet 27b that is located below the second inlet 27a and opens on the downstream side.

The second conveying path 27A has a second straight section 27c that extends vertically in a straight line from the second entrance 27a, and a second curved section 27d that curves from the downstream portion of the second straight section 27c in the inclined direction L of the inclined chute 22.

The second sorting member 27 in this embodiment is formed in the same shape as the first sorting member 26, and the second sorting member 27 can also be used as the first sorting member 26, and the first sorting member 26 can also be used as the second sorting member 27. Therefore, the second conveying path 27A is also formed in a U-shape in horizontal cross section, like the first conveying path 26A, and forms a square space for conveying the capsules 50.

An inclined chute 30 is provided below the downstream inclined chute 24, and faces the downstream inclined chute 24 in the vertical direction. The inclined chute 30 has an inclined surface 30a that is inclined at the same angle as the inclined surface 24a of the downstream inclined chute 24, and extends parallel to the downstream inclined chute 24.

The second sorting member 27 is located upstream of the upstream portion of the inclined chute 30 and is not in contact with the inclined chute 30 in the inclination direction L of the inclined chute 30.

A second air cylinder 29 is attached to the bottom of the second sorting member 27, and the second sorting member 27 can be moved freely in the vertical direction by the second air cylinder 29.

The second air cylinder 29 has a main body portion 29A housed in the housing portion 21B of the main body member 21 and a rod portion 29B that is retractable into the main body portion 29A.

A coil spring (not shown) is housed in the main body portion 29A, and the rod portion 29B is constantly biased upward by the coil spring.

When air is not supplied to the main body 29A, the rod 29B is biased upward by the coil spring, and the second sorting member 27 is positioned at the top so as to be close to the downstream inclined chute 24.

When the second sorting member 27 is in the uppermost position, the second inlet 27a communicates with the first outlet 26b of the first sorting member 26. In this embodiment, the first air cylinder 28 and the second air cylinder 29 constitute a drive unit.

A second inclined surface 27e is formed on the upper surface of the second sorting member 27, and the second inclined surface 27e is formed at the same inclination angle as the inclined surface 30a of the inclined chute 30.

When air is supplied to the body 29A of the second air cylinder 29, the rod 29B moves downward against the biasing force of the coil spring and retracts into the body 29A. At this time, the second inclined surface 27e of the second sorting member 27 is continuous with the inclined surface 30a of the inclined chute 30 so as to form part of the inclined surface 30a (see FIG. 2).

In this way, the second sorting member 27 is provided so as to be freely movable between the second sorting position and the third sorting position, which is located below the second sorting position and forms part of the inclined surface 30a. Note that a hydraulic cylinder or the like may be used as the driving unit instead of the air cylinder.

Below the inclined chute 30 are a light product discharge section 32 where light products 50b (see FIG. 9) are discharged, and an overweight product discharge section 33 where overweight products 50c (see FIG. 9) are discharged. Light products 50b are those that contain less content than regular products 50a (see FIG. 9) that contain the proper amount of content, and overweight products 50c are those that contain more content than regular products 50a that contain the proper amount of content, and both are sorted into regular products 50a.

Of the capsules 50 selected by the item sorting device 3, the correct weight capsules 50a correspond to good products. The light weight capsules 50b, the overweight capsules 50c, and the unknown capsules 50d (see FIG. 9) described below correspond to defective products, and the unknown capsules 50d correspond to the objects to be sorted.

In the item sorting device 3 of this embodiment, when the first sorting member 26 is in the first sorting position and the second sorting member 27 is in the second sorting position, the first outlet 26b of the first conveying path 26A and the second inlet 27a of the second conveying path 27A are connected.

When the second sorting member 27 is positioned at the third sorting position, the overweight item 50c transported along the first conveying path 26A of the first sorting member 26 passes through the second inclined surface 27e, is sorted in the first direction, and is discharged to the overweight item discharge section 33.

On the other hand, when the second sorting member 27 is positioned at the second sorting position, the light goods 50b transported along the first conveying path 26A of the first sorting member 26 are passed through the second conveying path 27A, sorted in the second direction, and discharged to the light goods discharge section 32.

In this way, when the first sorting member 26 is located at the first sorting position, the second sorting member 27 is positioned at the second sorting position and the third sorting position, whereby the light weight products 50b and the overweight products 50c are sorted from the normal weight products 50a that slide down the upstream inclined chute 23, and are transported in a different direction from the downstream inclined chute 24.

Note that the capsule 50 slides down along the first conveying path 26A and the second conveying path 27A, and hereafter the capsule 50 sliding down the first conveying path 26A and the second conveying path 27A will be referred to as being conveyed.

Here, we will explain the groove width W1 (see Figure 4) of the first conveying path 26A and the second conveying path 27A, which are perpendicular to the forward/backward direction or the upward/downward diagonal direction relative to the sliding direction of the capsule 50.

Capsules are classified into a number of sizes as defined by the Japanese Pharmacopoeia (see Figure 6). In Figure 6, the length (mm) is the length of the capsule in the longitudinal direction (long axis direction), and the outer diameter (mm) is the dimension in the transverse direction (short axis direction) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the capsule. The dimensional tolerance is ±0.76 mm, with max indicating the maximum allowable dimensions of the capsule's length and outer diameter, and min indicating the minimum allowable dimensions of the capsule's length and outer diameter.

As shown in Figure 6, capsules are classified into sizes with decreasing capacity, starting with "000" (the largest capacity), followed by "00", "0", "1", "2", "3", "4", and "5", and the length and outer diameter dimensions are specified for each size.

When handling capsules of different sizes like this, it is desirable to use sorting members 26, 27 with conveying paths 26A, 27A of a common groove width W1 so that there is no need to prepare dedicated sorting members 26, 27 with conveying paths 26A, 27A with different groove widths W1 set according to the capsule size. In other words, it is desirable to be able to smoothly convey capsules of all sizes from "000" to "5" using sorting members 26, 27 with one type of conveying path 26A, 27A.

Specifically, we assumed that the groove width W1 of the transport paths 26A and 27A would be set based on the outer diameter of the capsule so that larger capsules could pass through, and then considered a range of dimensions that would not match the length of each capsule size.

This is because if the groove width W1 of the transport paths 26A and 27A were to match the length of the capsule, the capsule would form a bridge inside the transport paths 26A and 27A, which could cause the following capsule to become stuck.

For example, if the largest size is "No. 000," as shown in Figure 6, the outer diameter of the capsule is approximately 9.9 mm, and if the dimensional tolerance is 0.76 mm, the groove width cannot be less than 10.7 mm, and if the dimensional tolerance is 0.4 mm, it cannot be less than 10.3 mm.

Here, since the length range of the "No. 5" capsules and the outer diameter range of the "No. 000" capsules are similar, it was found that if the groove width W1 of the conveying paths 26A, 27A is set to a dimension that is slightly larger than the outer diameter range of the "No. 000", there is a risk that the "No. 5" capsules will become clogged in the conveying paths 26A, 27A.

It was found that by setting the groove width W1 of the transport paths 26A, 27A in the range of 11.9 to 13.5 mm between the length range of the "No. 5" capsule and the length range of the "No. 4" capsule, the transport paths 26A, 27A can be used in common for the commonly used "No. 000" to "No. 5" capsules, and the groove width W1 of the transport paths 26A, 27A can be minimized, allowing the sorting members 26, 27 to be made smaller.

In other words, if the groove width W1 of the transport paths 26A, 27A is set in the range of 11.9 to 13.5 mm, a "No. 5" capsule 50 will not form a bridge on the transport paths 26A, 27A even if it is transported lying sideways (see FIG. 7(a)), and capsules 50 of other sizes will not be transported lying sideways on the transport paths 26A, 27A from the start. FIG. 7(b) shows a "No. 000" capsule 50 being transported.

In addition, it was found that if a sealing defect occurs during the process of filling capsules with medicine, etc., the length of the capsule may exceed the standard range. Such sealing defects are likely to occur when capsules are overfilled with medicine, etc., and care must be taken to prevent clogging and ensure that the capsules are correctly sorted.

For example, the length of a No. 5 capsule when it is not properly sealed is longer than the standard dimensions, at approximately 12.3 to 13.3 mm. Therefore, it was found that by setting the groove width W1 of the conveying paths 26A and 27A in the range of 11.9 mm to 12.2 mm, there is no risk of clogging and the sorting members 26 and 27 can be made smaller.

In short, the groove width W1 of the conveying paths 26A and 27A should be set to a minimum groove width W1 that allows capsules of the maximum size (No. 000) to the minimum size (No. 5) to be conveyed without clogging.

The groove width of the conveying paths 26A and 27A, which are perpendicular to the left-right direction of the sliding direction of the capsule 50, is set to a groove width slightly larger than the groove width W1 so that the capsule 50 does not tilt in the left-right direction.

In this way, by setting the groove width W1 of the conveying paths 26A, 27A to the minimum necessary and miniaturizing the sorting members 26, 27, the item sorting device 3 can be miniaturized, and as a result, the weight measuring device 1 can be miniaturized.

As shown in FIG. 2, a discharge outlet 24b opens at the downstream portion of the downstream inclined chute 24, and an unknown item discharge section 34 is provided below the discharge outlet 24b, through which unknown items 50d are discharged.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the main body member 21 is provided with an exclusion gate 35, which is movable in the vertical direction. Specifically, the exclusion gate 35 is biased upward by a coil spring (not shown), and when driven by an actuator, it moves downward against the biasing force of the coil spring.

The rejection gate 35 has a vertical plate portion 35A extending in the vertical direction and an inclined plate portion 35B bent from the vertical plate portion 35A toward the first sorting member 26. The inclined plate portion 35B is inclined at the same inclination angle as the inclined surface 24a of the downstream inclined chute 24.

When the vertical plate portion 35A is at the lowest position, the inclined plate portion 35B closes the discharge opening 24b in continuity with the inclined surface 24a so as to form part of the inclined surface 24a of the downstream inclined chute 24, and when the vertical plate portion 35A is at the highest position, the inclined plate portion 35B opens the discharge opening 24b.

When the vertical plate portion 35A is in the highest position, the vertical plate portion 35A protrudes upward from the downstream inclined chute 24, causing the unknown item 50d sliding down the downstream inclined chute 24 to come into contact with the vertical plate portion 35A, and the unknown item 50d is selected from the downstream inclined chute 24 and discharged to the unknown item discharge section 34.

Unknown items 50d are objects that cannot be sorted when a power outage occurs, or objects whose shape differs from that of the correct items 50a due to a defective shape or the like. If these unknown items 50d are mixed with the correct items 50a, it will be necessary to separate the correct items 50a from the unknown items 50d in the next process, so the unknown items 50d that slide down the downstream inclined chute 24 are discharged to the unknown item discharge section 34 together with the correct items 50a.

In other words, if unknown products 50d are mixed with the normal products 50a that slide down the downstream inclined chute 24, the normal products 50a are also treated as unknown products 50d. The rejection gate 35 of this embodiment constitutes an opening and closing member.

The sorting confirmation sensor 5 is capable of detecting capsules 50 passing through the upstream part of the upstream inclined chute 23, and detects capsules that slide down the downstream inclined chute 24 at a different time than the correct quantity capsules 50a due to defective shape or other reasons, and transmits the detection result to the control unit.

The control unit is composed of a computer unit equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), a hard disk drive, and input/output ports, none of which are shown.

The control unit, for example, compares the capsule weight information stored in the RAM with the weight information of the capsule 50 transmitted from the weighing unit 4, determines whether the capsule 50 is a correct weight 50a, an overweight 50c, or an underweight 50b, and based on the determination result, drives the first sorting member 26 and the second sorting member 27 by the first air cylinder 28 and the second air cylinder 29 to sort the capsule 50.

When the control unit determines, based on the information transmitted from the sorting confirmation sensor 5, that an unknown item 50d has slid down the downstream inclined chute 24, it releases the rejection gate 35 and opens the discharge outlet 24b.

In other words, based on the detection information of the sorting confirmation sensor 5, when the sorting confirmation sensor 5 detects a capsule 50 or foreign object sliding down the upstream inclined chute 23 at a timing different from that of the correct quantity product 50a, the control unit releases the rejection gate 35 and opens the discharge outlet 24b.

The downstream inclined chute 24 is provided with protruding chute sections 36, 37, which are located upstream of the discharge port 24b and downstream of the upstream inclined chute 23.

As shown in Figures 2 and 8, the protruding chute sections 36 and 37 include upstream protruding chute sections 36A and 37A and downstream protruding chute sections 36B and 37B. The upstream protruding chute sections 36A and 37A and the downstream protruding chute sections 36B and 37B are integrally formed with the downstream inclined chute 24.

The upstream protruding chute sections 36A and 37A are bent from the downstream inclined chute 24 so as to protrude upward from the downstream inclined chute 24, and have sliding surfaces 36a and 37a on their upper surfaces for sliding the capsule 50 down.

The downstream protruding chute sections 36B and 37B are bent from the downstream inclined chute 24 so as to protrude upward from the downstream inclined chute 24, and are connected to the downstream sections of the upstream protruding chute sections 36A and 37A. The upstream protruding chute sections 36A and 37A constitute the protruding chute sections of this embodiment.

The protruding chute sections 36, 37 extend from one end (left end) of the downstream inclined chute 24 to the other end (right end), and the 10 rows of capsules 50 slide down side by side on the sliding surfaces 36a, 37a.

As shown in FIG. 8, the inclination angle θ1 (symbol omitted on the protruding chute section 36 side) of the sliding surfaces 36a, 37a relative to the horizontal plane H is smaller than the inclination angle θ2 (symbol omitted on the protruding chute section 36 side) of the inclination surface 24a of the downstream inclined chute 24 relative to the horizontal plane H.

Figure 8 shows the range S1 over which the downstream inclined chute 24 extends and the range S2 over which the protruding chute sections 36 and 37 extend.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, side plates 38, 39 are provided at both ends (left and right ends) of the downstream inclined chute 24 in the width direction, and the side plates 38, 39 protrude upward from the downstream inclined chute 24. Only one side plate 38 is shown in Figure 1.

As shown in Figures 3 and 8, the left and right ends of the regulating walls 40, 41 are attached to the side plates 38, 39, and the regulating walls 40, 41 extend in the width direction of the downstream inclined chute 24.

The restricting walls 40 and 41 are located on the side of the discharge gate 35 relative to the protruding chute sections 36 and 37, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 8, the regulating walls 40, 41 extend from a position lower than the sliding surfaces 36a, 37a to a position higher than the sliding surfaces 36a, 37a, and face the sliding surfaces 36a, 37b in the inclination direction L of the sliding surfaces 36a, 37a.

The restricting walls 40, 41 have vertical wall portions 40a, 41a and bent portions 40b, 41b that extend in the up-down direction. The bent portions 40b, 41b are bent from the lower ends of the vertical wall portions 40a, 41a toward the discharge port 24b along the downstream inclined chute 24.

The capsule 50 sliding down the downstream inclined chute 24 slides down along the sliding surfaces 36a, 37a of the protruding chute sections 36, 37 from the downstream inclined chute 24, and thus slides in a direction different from the inclination direction L of the downstream inclined chute 24. At this time, the sliding speed of the capsule 50 is decelerated relative to the sliding speed when sliding down the downstream inclined chute 24.

The capsule 50 sliding down along the sliding surfaces 36a, 37a is further decelerated by contacting the vertical wall portions 40a, 41a of the regulating walls 40, 41, and then passes between the vertical wall portions 40a, 41a and the downstream protruding chute portions 36B, 37B, before sliding down between the bent portions 40b, 41b and the downstream inclined chute 24.

The gap W2 between the vertical wall portions 40a, 41a and the downstream protruding chute portions 36B, 37B, the gap W3 between the folding portions 40b, 41b and the downstream inclined chute 24, and the groove width W1 between the first conveying path 26A and the second conveying path 27A are the same dimension.

This prevents clogging of capsules 50 of all sizes passing between the vertical wall portions 40a, 41a and the downstream protruding chute portions 36B, 37B, and between the folding portions 40b, 41b and the downstream inclined chute 24.

The inclination angle θ3 of the regulating walls 40, 41 relative to the sliding surfaces 36a, 37a is set to an angle that reduces the impact when the capsule 50 that has passed the sliding surfaces 36a, 37a collides with the regulating walls 40, 41 and can reliably reduce the sliding speed of the capsule 50.

The downstream inclined chute 24 of this embodiment is configured by integrally providing the protruding chute sections 36, 37, the side plates 38, 39, and the restricting walls 40, 41, and the protruding chute sections 36, 37, the side plates 38, 39, and the restricting walls 40, 41 are attached to and detached from the main body member 21 as a unit. The protruding chute sections 36, 37 and the restricting walls 40, 41 of this embodiment constitute the sliding direction change section.

Next, the operation of the article selection device 3 of this embodiment will be described.
The capsules 50 that have been placed on the weighing platform 4A and have their weight measured are pushed out of the weighing platform 4A by the ejector 11 while being aligned in ten rows in the left-right direction.

The capsule 50 pushed out from the weighing platform 4A slides down the upstream inclined chute 23 due to its own weight.

First, the operation of the article sorting device 3 when sorting the correct-weight article 50a will be described with reference to FIG.
When the control unit determines that all of the capsules 50 sliding down the conveying lane of the downstream inclined chute 24 are of the correct weight 50 a, air is supplied to the main body 28 A of the first air cylinder 28 .

In this state, the rod portion 28B moves downward against the biasing force of the coil spring and sinks into the main body portion 28A, the first sorting member 26 is positioned in the retracted position, and the first inclined surface 26e of the first sorting member 26 is continuous with the inclined surfaces 23a, 24a so as to form part of the inclined surface 23a of the upstream inclined chute 23 and the inclined surface 24a of the downstream inclined chute 24.

In addition, the control unit does not supply air to the main body 29A of the second air cylinder 29, so the rod 29B is biased by the coil spring and protrudes upward from the main body 29A. As a result, the second sorting member 27 is located at the second sorting position.

When the product 50a slides down the downstream inclined chute 24, the rejection gate 35 is driven by the actuator to its lowest position. Therefore, the inclined plate portion 35B is continuous with the downstream inclined chute 24 so as to form part of the inclined surface 24a of the downstream inclined chute 24.

In this way, the control unit controls the first sorting member 26 and the second sorting member 27, so that the correct-weight product 50a flows from the upstream inclined chute 23 through the first inclined surface 26e of the first sorting member 26 to the downstream inclined chute 24, slides down through the inclined plate portion 35B of the rejection gate 35 to the final inclined chute 25, and is then transported from the final inclined chute 25 to the next process. Figure 9 shows the movement trajectory A of the correct-weight product 50a.

The operation of the article sorting device 3 when sorting light items 50b will be shown with reference to FIG.
When the control unit determines that the capsule 50 sliding down along the conveying lane of the downstream inclined chute 24 contains light goods 50b, air is discharged from the main body 28A of the first air cylinder 28 of the conveying lane through which the light goods 50b are flowing.

At this time, the rod portion 28B is biased by the coil spring and moves upward, protruding from the main body portion 28A. As a result, the first sorting member 26 is located at the first sorting position, and the first inlet 26a of the first sorting member 26 is located above the inclined surface 23a of the upstream inclined chute 23. The control unit also controls the second air cylinder 29 to position the second sorting member 27 at the second sorting position.

In this way, the control unit controls the first sorting member 26 and the second sorting member 27, so that the first outlet 26b of the first sorting member 26 and the second inlet 27a of the second sorting member 27 are connected to each other.

As a result, the lightweight items 50b flowing through the conveying lane of the downstream inclined chute 24 are fed into the first conveying path 26A through the first entrance 26a, pass through the second conveying path 27A of the second sorting member 27 from the first conveying path 26A, and are then discharged from the second exit 27b to the lightweight item discharge section 32. Figure 10 shows the movement trajectory B of the lightweight items 50b.

The operation of the article sorting device 3 when sorting an overweight article 50c will be shown with reference to FIG.
When the control unit determines that the capsule 50 sliding down along the conveying lane of the downstream inclined chute 24 contains an overweight item 50c, air is discharged from the main body 28A of the first air cylinder 28 of the conveying lane through which the overweight item 50c is flowing.

At this time, the rod portion 28B is biased by the coil spring and moves upward, protruding from the main body portion 28A. As a result, the first sorting member 26 is positioned at the first sorting position.

The control unit also supplies air to the main body 29A of the second air cylinder 29. At this time, the rod 29B moves downward against the biasing force of the coil spring and retracts into the main body 29A. As a result, the second sorting member 27 is positioned in the third retracted position, and the second inclined surface 27e of the second sorting member 27 is continuous with the inclined chute 30 so as to form part of the inclined chute 30.

In this way, by controlling the first sorting member 26 and the second sorting member 27 by the control unit, the first outlet 26b of the first sorting member 26 and the second inlet 27a of the second sorting member 27 are brought into a non-communicating state.

As a result, the overweight item 50c flowing through the conveying lane is introduced into the first conveying path 26A through the first entrance 26a, and the overweight item 50c discharged from the first exit 26b passes through the second inclined surface 27e of the second sorting member 27, and is then discharged along the inclined chute 30 to the overweight item discharge section 33. Figure 11 shows the movement trajectory C of the overweight item 50c.

Here, we explain the relationship between the interval at which capsules 50 are inserted and the sorting time for capsules 50.

The timing at which the ejector 11 pushes out the capsule 50 from the weighing platform 4A is set to the timing at which the previous capsule 50 passes through the first conveying path 26A and the second conveying path 27A and reaches the light product discharge section 32.

In other words, the period during which the capsules 50 are sequentially fed from the weighing platform 4A to the item sorting device 3 is set so that it is longer than the time it takes for the capsules 50 to pass through the first conveying path 26A and the second conveying path 27A to be selected.

It is desirable for this insertion period to be short, since it represents the weight measurement capability of the weight measuring device 1, but it is not desirable for the period to be shorter than the time required for the capsule 50 to pass through the longest transport path (transport paths 26A, 27A).

As a result, regardless of the pattern of weight measurement results associated with the capsules 50 sequentially fed from the weighing platform 4A to the item sorting device 3 (sorting of light items 50b or overweight items 50c), the first sorting member 26 and the second sorting member 27 are controlled to form a conveying path in the sorting direction according to the weight measurement results.

This is the capsule 50 injection period in which the distance between the light weight item 50b located upstream of the first inlet 26a and the light weight item 50b located downstream of the second outlet 27b shown in FIG. 10 is the shortest.

The operation of the article sorting device 3 when sorting the unknown item 50d will be shown with reference to FIG.
When the control unit determines that an unknown item 50d has slid down the downstream inclined chute 24, there is a possibility that the unknown item 50d has been mixed in with the normal items 50a flowing down the downstream inclined chute 24, so the actuator is controlled to move the exclusion gate 35 upward.

At this time, the inclined plate portion 35B opens the discharge port 24b, so that all capsules 50 flowing through the downstream inclined chute 24 collide with the vertical plate portion 35A and are guided to the discharge port 24b, through which they are discharged to the unknown item discharge section 34. Figure 12 shows the movement trajectory D of the unknown item 50d.

In addition, if a power interruption occurs, the ejection gate 35 is biased upward by the coil spring, so that all capsules 50 flowing through the downstream inclined chute 24 are ejected from the ejection port 24b to the unknown item ejection section 34.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 13, the capsules 50 flowing through the downstream inclined chute 24 slide down the sliding surfaces 36a, 37a of the protruding chute sections 36, 37, and thus slide down in a direction different from the inclination direction L of the downstream inclined chute 24.

The inclination angle θ1 of the sliding surfaces 36a, 37a relative to the horizontal plane H is smaller than the inclination angle θ2 of the inclined surface 24a of the downstream inclined chute 24 relative to the horizontal plane H, so that the capsule 50 sliding down the sliding surfaces 36a, 37a of the protruding chute portions 36, 37 slides in a direction closer to the horizontal direction than the downstream inclined chute 24, and the sliding speed of the capsule 50 is slower than the sliding speed of the capsule 50 sliding down the downstream inclined chute 24, and the capsule 50 is decelerated by the sliding surfaces 36a, 37a.

In addition, since restricting walls 40, 41 are provided downstream of each of the protruding chutes 36, 37, the capsule 50 that passes through the sliding surfaces 36a, 37a of the protruding chutes 36, 37 is further decelerated by contacting the restricting walls 40, 41. Figure 13 shows the movement trajectory E of the capsule 50.

In this embodiment, two pairs of protruding chute sections and restricting walls are provided when the protruding chute section 36 and the restricting wall 40 are considered as one pair, and the protruding chute section 37 and the restricting wall 41 are considered as one pair. However, the number of pairs of protruding chute sections and restricting walls may be one pair or three or more pairs.

The inclination angle θ3 of the protruding chute sections 36, 37 may be adjusted to adjust the deceleration time of the capsule 50 depending on the size, viscosity, etc. of the capsule 50.

In addition, the protruding chute sections 36 and 37 are molded integrally with the downstream inclined chute 24, but the protruding chute sections may be formed as separate members integral with the downstream inclined chute 24. In this case, the protruding chute sections may be made of a different material than the downstream inclined chute 24, and the deceleration time of the capsule 50 may be adjusted.

In this way, the item sorting device 3 of this embodiment can drive the first sorting member 26 and the second sorting member 27 according to the weighing result of the capsule 50, thereby sorting out the light weight items 50b and the overweight items 50c from the normal weight items 50a sliding down the inclined chute 22, and transport them in a direction different from the inclined chute 22.

Next, the effects of the article selection device 3 of this embodiment will be described.
The item sorting device 3 of this embodiment is provided with a discharge outlet 24b that is provided downstream of the downstream inclined chute 24 and discharges unknown items 50d from the downstream inclined chute 24 to the main body member 21 side, a rejection gate 35 that is provided at the discharge outlet 24b to open and close the discharge outlet 24b and selects capsules 50 sliding down the downstream inclined chute 24, and protruding chute portions 36, 37 that are located upstream of the rejection gate 35 and are provided integrally with the downstream inclined chute 24.

The protruding chute sections 36 and 37 come into contact with the capsule 50 sliding down the downstream inclined chute 24, thereby changing the orientation of the capsule 50 to a direction different from the inclination direction L of the downstream inclined chute 24. The downstream inclined chute 24 and the protruding chute sections 36 and 37 are integrally detachable from the main body member 21.

This allows the downstream inclined chute 24 and the protruding chute sections 36, 37 to be attached and detached as a single unit to the main body member 21, improving the workability of attaching and detaching the downstream inclined chute 24 to and from the main body member 21, for example, during maintenance of the item sorting device 3 or when removing light items 50b, overweight items 50c, and unknown items 50d from the main body member 21.

In addition, when the downstream inclined chute 24 is attached to the main body member 21, it is possible to reliably prevent the protruding chute portions 36 and 37 from being forgotten to be attached to the downstream inclined chute 24, and it is possible to reliably slow down the sliding speed of the capsule 50 sliding down the downstream inclined chute 24.

Therefore, even if the overall length of the downstream inclined chute 24 is shortened, the discharge outlet 24b can be opened by the exclusion gate 35 before the capsule 50 reaches the discharge outlet 24b. In other words, there is a sufficient time until the exclusion gate 35, which has closed the discharge outlet 24b, is released, and the unknown item 50d can be reliably discharged to the discharge outlet 24b. As a result, the item sorting device 3 can be made more compact.

In addition, according to the item sorting device 3 of this embodiment, the protruding chute sections 36, 37 include upstream protruding chute sections 36A, 37A that protrude upward from the downstream inclined chute 24 and have sliding surfaces 36a, 37a that transport the capsules 50, and the inclination angle θ1 of the sliding surfaces 36a, 37a relative to the horizontal plane H is smaller than the inclination angle θ2 of the inclined surface 24a of the downstream inclined chute 24 relative to the horizontal plane H.

As a result, when the capsule 50 is transported along the sliding surfaces 36a, 37a of the upstream protruding chute sections 36A, 37A, the sliding speed of the capsule 50 can be slowed down compared to when the capsule 50 is transported along the downstream inclined chute 24.

In addition, according to the item sorting device 3 of this embodiment, the upstream protruding chute sections 36A, 37A have restricting walls 40, 41 that are located on the exclusion gate 35 side relative to the sliding surfaces 36a, 36b and can contact the capsules 50, and the restricting walls 40, 41 extend from a position lower than the sliding surfaces 36a, 37a to a position higher than the sliding surfaces 36a, 37a.

This allows the capsule 50 that has passed through the sliding surfaces 36a, 37a to come into contact with the regulating walls 40, 41, thereby further slowing down the sliding speed of the capsule 50.

This allows the capsules 50 to slide down the downstream inclined chute 24 at a slower rate, and even if the overall length of the downstream inclined chute 24 is further shortened, there is a sufficient amount of time before the rejection gate 35 with the discharge outlet 24b closed is opened, so that the unknown items 50d can be reliably discharged through the discharge outlet 24b. As a result, the item sorting device 3 can be made even more compact.

Second Embodiment
The configuration of an item sorting device and an item inspection device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 14. Note that the item sorting device and the item inspection device of this embodiment differ from the first embodiment in that the sliding direction changing section is configured from a guide plate, and the same components as those of the first embodiment are given the same numbers and will not be described.

In FIG. 14, the downstream inclined chute 24 is provided with guide plates 42 and 43, which are integral with the downstream inclined chute 24. The guide plates 42 and 43 form a sliding direction changer.

The guide plates 42 and 43 protrude upward from the downstream inclined chute 24 and are inclined with respect to the inclination direction L of the downstream inclined chute 24.

The guide plates 42, 43 are arranged so that the downstream portions 42a, 43a face each other in the inclination direction L of the downstream inclined chute 24, and are installed facing in opposite directions in the inclination direction of the downstream inclined chute 24.

Specifically, the upstream guide plate 42 is inclined forward from one end (right end) of the downstream inclined chute 24 in the width direction toward the center (left-right center) of the downstream inclined chute 24 in the width direction, and the downstream guide plate 43 is inclined forward from the other end (left end) of the downstream inclined chute 24 in the width direction toward the center (left-right center) of the downstream inclined chute 24 in the width direction.

The guide plate 43 located downstream of the guide plate 42 located upstream is located on the extension line L1 of the guide plate 42.

Next, the operation of the article selection device 3 of this embodiment will be described.
Of the capsules 50 that flow downstream from the upstream inclined chute 23, several capsules 50 (hereinafter referred to as capsules 50A) that face the guide plate 42 in the inclination direction L of the downstream inclined chute 24 have their orientation changed to a diagonal forward left direction, which is different from the inclination direction L of the downstream inclined chute 24, by coming into contact with the guide plate 42.

The guide plate 43 located downstream of the guide plate 42 located upstream is located on the extension line L1 of the extension direction of the guide plate 42, so that the capsule 50A that comes into contact with the guide plate 42 slides toward the guide plate 43 while the sliding speed is slowed down by the guide plate 42.

When the capsule 50A slides down toward the guide plate 43, it comes into contact with the guide plate 43 and changes direction to the right-front direction, which is different from the inclination direction L of the downstream inclined chute 24. In FIG. 14, the movement trajectory of the capsule 50A is shown as F-G.

The capsule 50A that has escaped from the downstream portion 43a of the guide plate 43 slides down the downstream inclined chute 24 along the inclined direction L.

The downstream portions 42a, 43a of the guide plates 42, 43 face each other in the inclination direction L of the downstream inclined chute 24, so that the capsule 50A that has escaped the guide plate 42 can be prevented from sliding down along the inclination direction L of the downstream inclined chute 24 without coming into contact with the guide plate 43, and can be reliably collided with the guide plate 43.

On the other hand, among the capsules 50 that have flowed downstream from the upstream inclined chute 23, several capsules 50 (hereinafter referred to as capsules 50B) that face the guide plate 43 in the inclination direction L of the downstream inclined chute 24 come into contact with the guide plate 43 and are redirected diagonally forward to the right, which is different from the inclination direction L of the downstream inclined chute 24.

As a result, the sliding speed of the capsule 50B that comes into contact with the guide plate 43 is decelerated, and the capsule 50B that has left the downstream portion 43a of the guide plate 43 slides down the downstream inclined chute 24 along the inclined direction L. Figure 14 shows the movement trajectory H-G of the capsule 50A.

In this way, even in the item sorting device 3 of this embodiment, the sliding speed of the capsules 50A, 50B can be slowed down by colliding the capsules 50A, 50B with the guide plates 42, 43 to change the orientation of the capsules 50A, 50B to a direction different from the inclination direction L of the downstream inclined chute 24.

In addition, when the downstream inclined chute 24 is attached to or detached from the main body member 21 during maintenance of the item sorting device 3 or when light items 50b, overweight items 50c, and unknown items 50d are removed from the main body member 21, the downstream inclined chute 24 and the guide plates 42, 43 can be attached and detached together. This makes it possible to prevent the guide plates 42, 43 from being left attached when the downstream inclined chute 24 is attached to the main body member 21, and ensures that the sliding speed of the capsules 50 can be reduced when the capsules 50 are sorted.

In this embodiment, two guide plates 42 and 43 are provided, but three or more guide plates may be provided.

Third Embodiment
The configuration of an item sorting device and an item inspection device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 15. Note that the item sorting device and the item inspection device of this embodiment differ from the first embodiment in that the sliding direction changing section is configured from a guide plate, and the same components as those of the first embodiment are given the same numbers and will not be described.

In FIG. 15, the downstream inclined chute 24 is provided with guide plates 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, and 49, and guide plates 44 to 49 are provided integrally with the downstream inclined chute 24. Guide plates 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, and 49 constitute the sliding direction change section.

Guide plates 44 to 49 protrude upward from the downstream inclined chute 24 and are inclined with respect to the inclination direction L of the downstream inclined chute 24.

Specifically, the guide plates 44 and 47 are inclined forward from both ends (left and right ends) of the downstream inclined chute 24 in the width direction toward the center of the downstream inclined chute 24 in the width direction, and the guide plates 45 and 48 are inclined forward from the center of the downstream inclined chute 24 in the width direction toward both ends of the downstream inclined chute 24 in the width direction.

The guide plates 46 and 49 are each inclined forward from both ends of the downstream inclined chute 24 in the width direction toward the center of the downstream inclined chute 24 in the width direction.

The guide plates 44, 45, and 46 have downstream portions 44a, 45a, and 46a facing each other in the inclination direction L of the downstream inclined chute 24, and the guide plates 47, 48, and 49 have downstream portions 47a, 48a, and 49a facing each other in the inclination direction L of the downstream inclined chute 24.

Guide plates 44 and 47, guide plates 45 and 48, and guide plates 46 and 49 are adjacent to each other in the width direction perpendicular to the inclination direction L of the downstream inclined chute 24.

Guide plates 44, 45, and 46, whose downstream portions 44a, 45a, and 46a overlap in the inclination direction L of the downstream inclined chute 24, are installed in opposite directions in the inclination direction L of the downstream inclined chute 24, and guide plates 47, 48, and 49, whose downstream portions 47a, 48a, and 49a overlap in the inclination direction L of the downstream inclined chute 24, are installed in opposite directions in the inclination direction L of the downstream inclined chute 24.

The guide plates 44 and 47, the guide plates 45 and 48, and the guide plates 46 and 49, which are adjacent in the width direction perpendicular to the inclination direction L of the downstream inclined chute 24, are installed facing in the opposite direction.

Next, the operation of the article selection device 3 of this embodiment will be described.
Of the capsules 50 that flow downstream from the upstream inclined chute 23, several capsules 50 (hereinafter referred to as capsules 50C) that face the guide plate 44 in the inclination direction L of the downstream inclined chute 24 come into contact with the guide plate 44 and have their orientation changed to a diagonally forward left direction, which is different from the inclination direction L of the downstream inclined chute 24.

The guide plate 45 located downstream of the guide plate 44 located upstream is located on the extension line L2 of the extension direction of the guide plate 44, so that the capsule 50A that comes into contact with the guide plate 44 slides toward the guide plate 45 while the sliding speed is slowed down by the guide plate 44.

When the capsule 50C slides down toward the guide plate 45, it comes into contact with the guide plate 45 and changes direction to a diagonally forward left direction, which is different from the inclination direction of the downstream inclined chute 24.

The guide plate 46 located downstream of the guide plate 45 located upstream is located on the extension line L2 of the extension direction of the guide plate 45, so that the capsule 50C that comes into contact with the guide plate 45 slides toward the guide plate 46 while the sliding speed is slowed down by the guide plate 45.

The capsule 50C that has passed through the downstream portion 46a of the guide plate 46 slides down the downstream inclined chute 24 along the inclined direction L. Figure 15 shows the movement trajectory I-J-K of the capsule 50C.

On the other hand, capsules 50 (hereafter referred to as capsules 50D) facing guide plate 45 in the inclination direction L of downstream inclined chute 24 come into contact with guide plate 45, and are redirected diagonally forward to the right, which is different from the inclination direction L of downstream inclined chute 24. They then come into contact with guide plate 45 and then guide plate 46, and their sliding speed is slowed down. The movement trajectory N-J-K of capsule 50D is shown in FIG. 15.

Note that the capsules 50C and 50D that flow from guide plate 47 to guide plate 49 follow the same flow as the capsules 50C and 50D that flow from guide plate 44 to guide plate 46, so their explanation is omitted.

In this way, even in the item sorting device 3 of this embodiment, the falling speed of the capsules 50C, 50D can be slowed down by causing the capsules 50C, 50D to collide with the guide plate 49 from the guide plate 44, changing the orientation of the capsules 50C, 50D to a direction different from the inclination direction L of the downstream inclined chute 24.

In addition, when the downstream inclined chute 24 is attached to or detached from the main body member 21 during maintenance of the item sorting device 3 or when light items 50b, overweight items 50c, and unknown items 50d are removed from the main body member 21, the downstream inclined chute 24 and the guide plate 49 can be attached and detached from the guide plate 44 as a single unit. This makes it possible to prevent the guide plates 42 and 43 from being left attached when the downstream inclined chute 24 is attached to the main body member 21, and ensures that the sliding speed of the capsules 50 can be reduced when the capsules 50 are sorted.

In addition, a guide plate may be provided downstream of guide plates 46 and 49, or guide plates 46 and 49 may not be provided.

In other words, if the guide plates 44, 45, 46, and 47 form one set, only one set of guide plates may be provided, or two sets may be provided.

Although an embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed, it is apparent that modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. All such modifications and equivalents are intended to be included in the following claims.

3 Article sorting device 21 Main body member 24 Downstream inclined chute (inclined chute)
24a Inclined surface (inclined surface of inclined chute)
24b Discharge port 35 Exclusion gate (opening/closing member)
36, 37 Protruding chute section (slide direction change section)
36A, 37A: upstream protruding chute portion (protruding chute portion)
36a, 37a: sliding surface 40, 41: regulating wall 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49: guide plate (sliding direction changing portion)
42a, 43a, 44a, 45a, 46a, 47a, 48a, 49a: downstream portion (part of guide plate)
50 capsules (object)
50d Unknown item (item to be sorted)
H Horizontal plane θ1 Angle of inclination of the slide surface relative to the horizontal plane θ2 Angle of inclination of the inclined surface of the inclined chute relative to the horizontal plane

Claims (5)

An article sorting device (3) having a main body member (21) and an inclined chute (24) attached to the main body member and inclined downward, for sorting objects (50) pushed out from an inspection section at a constant cycle and sliding down the inclined chute,
The inclined chute has an inclined surface (24a) along which the object (50d) to be sorted that is pushed out from the inspection section slides down, and side plates (38, 39) protruding upward are provided on both side ends of the inclined surface,
a discharge port (24b) that opens to a downstream portion of the inclined chute and discharges the object to be sorted that is pushed out from the inspection section from the inclined chute to the main body member side;
an opening/closing member (35) that is provided at the discharge outlet to open and close the discharge outlet and selects objects that slide down the inclined chute;
a sliding direction changing section (36, 37) located upstream of the opening/closing member and integrally provided with the inclined chute;
the sliding direction changing unit changes the orientation of the object sliding down the inclined chute to a direction different from the inclination direction (L) of the inclined chute by contacting the object,
An article sorting device in which the inclined chute and the sliding direction changing portion are integral with the side plates and can be freely attached and detached to the main body member. The sliding direction changing portion includes a protruding chute portion (36, 37) that protrudes upward from the inclined surface of the inclined chute and has a sliding surface (36a, 37a) along which the object slides,
2. The article sorting device according to claim 1, wherein an inclination angle (θ1) of the sliding surface relative to a horizontal plane (H) is smaller than an inclination angle (θ2) of the inclined surface (24a) of the inclined chute relative to the horizontal plane. The sliding direction changing portion has a regulating wall (40, 41) located on the opening/closing member side with respect to the sliding surface and capable of contacting the object,
3. The article sorting device according to claim 2, wherein the regulating wall is attached to the side plate opposite the sliding surface and extends from a position lower than the sliding surface to a position higher than the sliding surface. The sliding direction changing section includes a plurality of guide plates (42, 43) that protrude upward from the inclined surface of the inclined chute and are inclined with respect to the inclination direction of the inclined chute,
The plurality of guide plates are arranged such that some (42a, 43a) face each other in the inclination direction of the inclined chute and face opposite directions in the inclination direction of the inclined chute,
2. The item sorting device according to claim 1, wherein, among the plurality of guide plates, a guide plate located downstream of a guide plate located upstream is located on an extension line (L1) in the extension direction of the guide plate located upstream. The sliding direction changing section includes a plurality of guide plates (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49) that protrude upward from the inclined surface of the inclined chute and are inclined with respect to the inclination direction of the inclined chute,
The plurality of guide plates are opposed to each other in the inclination direction of the inclined chute, and are adjacent to each other in a direction perpendicular to the inclination direction of the inclined chute.
The plurality of guide plates are arranged such that guide plates which overlap with each other in the inclination direction of the inclined chute are arranged in opposite directions in the inclination direction of the inclined chute, and adjacent guide plates in a direction perpendicular to the inclination direction of the inclined chute are arranged in opposite directions,
2. The article selecting device according to claim 1, wherein the guide plate located downstream of the guide plate located upstream is located on an extension line (L2) of the extending direction of the guide plate located upstream.

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