JPH0250797B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device for sorting and transferring articles.

Goods such as eggs and fruits are often sold in packages of several items of the same size or weight. For example, eggs are usually sorted into seven weight levels, and six to ten eggs of the middle four weight levels are packaged in plastic containers.

Conventional automatic egg sorting and packaging equipment has a number of transfer paths (for example, 7 rows) arranged in parallel according to the number of weight categories to be sorted (for example, 7 categories), and sorting is carried out at one end of each transfer path. It is constructed so that eggs of corresponding sections are placed and transferred, and fed into packaging containers arranged at a packaging place or station at the other end of each transfer path. Therefore, a number of transfer paths and packaging stations are required corresponding to the number of categories to be sorted.

In such a configuration, for example, if the eggs to be sorted and packaged are all in the same category,
Since the material is fed to a packaging station via only one corresponding transport path, all remaining transport paths and packaging stations are idle in the meantime. In reality, it is unlikely that all eggs before being sorted belong to the same category, but the equipment must be designed with such an extreme case in mind, so the equipment becomes larger and more expensive. Become.

In view of the above points, the present invention proposes an apparatus that can sort articles into predetermined grades, and transport a predetermined number of sorted articles of the same grade all at once to a predetermined location. This is what I did.

When the device of the present invention is used, for example, in a packaging device,
It becomes possible to use a single packaging station for multiple different grades in a time-sharing manner, which makes it possible to downsize the device and reduce costs. In addition, if the packaging station is automated, a signal to determine which grade of packaged goods has been transferred to the packaging station is sent from this sorting and transfer device to the packaging station, and the packaging station uses the packaging material of that grade according to the signal. If the packaging station requires the assistance of a worker for the wrapping operation, the packaging station can receive a discrimination signal from this device and display it to the worker. The worker can then judge this display, select, for example, a packaging material of that grade and proceed with the work.

For example, in the case of chicken eggs, when a message is displayed to a worker that 10 large-sized eggs will be sent, the worker selects a container of that grade (for large-sized eggs), a label to enclose, etc. 5 or 10 pieces using a vacuum suction device, etc.
By adsorbing individual eggs at once and storing them in a container, it becomes possible to efficiently perform time-sharing tasks.

Note that in this specification, the "grade" of an article refers to physical quantities, evaluation values, etc. (for example, weight, volume,
means a stage, division, or grade of length, shape, color, quality, ripeness, flavor, etc.)

According to the present invention, the grade of the article is determined, and the articles of the corresponding grade are sent and sent to a plurality of waiting places corresponding to each of a plurality of predetermined grades, and are made to temporarily stand by, and at each waiting place. When the number of waiting items reaches a predetermined number (for example, the number of packaging units) or more, the standby state is canceled and the waiting items are moved in batches to a specific predetermined position, such as a packaging station. Transport.

In other words, articles of different grades are made to temporarily stand by at different locations, and articles of the same grade are grouped in unit quantities and sent to a single predetermined location. Processing can be performed in a time-division manner.

Examples will be described below with reference to the drawings, but for the convenience of explanation, the target product is chicken eggs (simply referred to as eggs) that are to be packaged in unit numbers, and the grades to be sorted are classified by weight. Eggs shall be divided into two weight categories, large and small, and packaged in batches of 6 large eggs and 10 small eggs.

In Figure 1, 1 is a conveyor mechanism, and arrow
Eggs E are sequentially placed via a holder 2 on an endless belt 1' that circulates in the direction of the egg. Eggs E are transferred onto the endless belt 1' automatically from, for example, an egg washer/dryer (not shown), or placed manually by a worker, and eggs of various sizes and weights are placed on the endless belt 1'. mixed indiscriminately.

Reference numeral 4 denotes an automatic weight measuring machine, which is placed adjacent to the end of the endless belt 1', receives the eggs E in sequence with the holder 2, measures the weight of each egg, and outputs a signal (weight signal) corresponding to each measurement value. occurs.

5 ₁ and 5 ₂ are a large egg standby mechanism and a small egg standby mechanism, respectively, and include endless conveyor belts 6 ₁ and 6 ₂ , respectively. These endless conveyor belts 6 ₁ ,
6 ₂ are arranged in parallel and one end of each is placed near the side of the automatic weight measuring device 4 . belt 6
₁ and 6 ₂ are caused to circulate continuously in the direction of arrow X by a suitable drive mechanism (not shown).

7 distributes and loads the eggs measured by the automatic weight measuring device 4 onto one end (upstream end _{) of the endless conveyor belt 6 1 or} 6 ₂ of the large egg waiting mechanism 5 ₁ or the small egg waiting mechanism 5 2 according to their grade. A means for placing the rod 9, specifically, for example, an electric cylinder 8, a rod 9 that protrudes and retracts from the cylinder, and a drive means 8' including a pulse motor that drives the rod. After weighing the egg E on the weighing plate 4' of the weighing machine 4 by 10, the egg E is pushed along with the holder 2 and placed on the conveyor belt 6 ₁ or 6 ₂ . The stroke of the rod 9 (push plate 10) is controlled as described below.

11 ₁ and 11 ₂ are respectively between the weighing machine 4 and the conveyor belt 6 ₂ and the conveyor belts 6 ₁ and 6 ₂
It is the gangplank between the two.

12 ₁ and 12 ₂ are opening/closing doors constituting the large egg standby mechanism 5 ₁ and the small egg standby mechanism 5 ₂ , respectively, and are arranged at the other ends (downstream ends) of the endless conveyor belts 6 ₁ and 6 ₂ , respectively, and are indicated by solid lines in the figure. At the closed position indicated by , large eggs and small eggs are placed on standby on the conveyor belts 6 ₁ and 6 ₂ respectively (at this time, the bottom surface of the holder 2 slips against the top surface of the conveyor belts 6 ₁ and 6 ₂ ), and as described below, When each door 12 ₁ , 12 ₂ is alternatively opened to the chain line position, the group of eggs that have been kept on standby are sequentially delivered onto the transfer conveyor mechanism 13 .

14 ₁ and 14 ₂ are rotary solenoids that selectively drive the doors 12 ₁ and 12 ₂ to the closed position and the open position, respectively.

15 ₁ and 15 ₂ are standby release egg number detectors arranged on the other end ₍ downstream end) sides of the large egg standby mechanism 5 ₁ and _{the small egg standby mechanism 5 2 ,} respectively; The number of large eggs and small eggs transferred from the transfer mechanism 13 to the transfer mechanism 13 is counted, and a counting signal (for example, one pulse per egg) is generated.

A packaging station (not shown) is arranged at the downstream end of the transfer conveyor mechanism 13 for storing and packaging eggs in packaging containers. At this packaging station, the eggs may be automatically placed in packaging containers using a suitable device, or the packaging may be done manually by an operator.

Reference numeral 16 denotes an operation unit, which has a built-in control circuit including a computer, which will be described later, and also has an operation panel 1.
7 shows the setting display section 19 ₁ of the large egg packaging unit number (required standby number) setting device 18 ₁ (Figure 2) and the small egg packaging unit number (required standby number) setting device 18 ₂ (second
setting display section 19 ₂ of the figure), and setting display section 2 of the large and small egg weight division boundary value setting device 20 (see FIG. 2).
1. Other switches (not shown) are arranged and equipped.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the control circuit built into the above-mentioned operating unit 16, in which the same reference symbols as in FIG. 1 indicate corresponding elements, 22 is an input port, 23 is a microcomputer, 2
4 is an output port. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an example of an operation control program for the device of the present invention, which is written in the memory of the microcomputer 23 in advance. explain.

Weight category boundary value W _d set by large egg small egg weight category boundary value setter 20 (for example, 60 g in the above example)
(hereinafter referred to as boundary value), large egg packaging unit number setting device 1
The number of large egg packaging units NP ₁ set by 8 ₁ and the number of small egg packaging units NP ₂ set by the small egg packaging unit number setting device 18 ₂ are input to the memory of the computer 23 via the input port 22 . is memorized.

When the weight of the egg is measured by the weighing machine 4, the measured value (weight signal) W is sent to the computer 23. The computer 23 compares this weight measurement value with the previously stored set boundary value W _d , and if the set value W ₁ is equal to or larger than the boundary value W _d (W ₁ ≧ W _d ), a distribution signal S is sent. ₁ , and the measured value W ₂ is the boundary value W _d
If it is smaller (W ₂ <W _d ), the distribution signal S ₂ is applied to the drive means 8' of the distribution and mounting means 7 via the respective output ports 24. i.e. signal
Upon receiving S ₁ (in the case of large eggs), the drive means 8' move the rod 9 and therefore the push plate 10 to the conveyor belt ₆₁ and move the large eggs from the plate 4' of the measuring machine 4 onto the conveyor belt _61. Transfer and place. Upon receiving the signal S ₂ (in the case of small eggs), the drive means 8' moves the pushing plate 10 to the conveyor belt ₆₂ and transfers and deposits the small eggs onto this belt ₆₂ .

On the other hand, the computer 23 calculates the number of eggs (currently waiting number of eggs for each weight category) N ₁ , N ₂ of each weight category (large eggs and small eggs in the illustrated embodiment) of the eggs weighed by the weighing machine 7. When the number of stored items N ₁ and N ₂ exceeds the predetermined required number of waiting items (packaging unit number) NP ₁ and NP ₂ , respectively, a door open signal (standby release signal) SD ₁ or SD ₂ is generated. do. That is, in the illustrated example, the computer outputs the signal SD ₁ when the stored value N ₁ of the weighed large eggs (the current number on standby) becomes 6 or more, and the computer outputs the signal SD 1 when the stored value N ₂ of the weighed small eggs (the current number on standby) becomes 6 or more. When it becomes 10 or more, signal SD ₂ ,
They are generated and selectively applied to the opening/closing means of the doors 12 ₁ , 12 ₂ , for example, the rotary solenoids 14 ₁ , 14 ₂ via the output ports 24 , respectively, to open the doors 12 _{1 , 12 2 and to open the doors 12 1} , 12 ₂ respectively. The eggs on ₁ and 6 ₂ are transferred onto the conveyor belt 13.

Note that the doors 12 ₁ and 12 ₂ are not opened at the same time, and as long as one door is opened, the other door will not be opened until it is closed. In other words, during the operation of releasing the standby of the large egg (or small egg), the operation of releasing the standby of the small egg (or large egg) is not performed.

When the door 12 ₁ or 12 ₂ is opened, the conveyor belt 6
When the large eggs or small eggs on ₁ or 6 ₂ are transferred onto the conveyor belt 13, the number of transferred eggs is counted by the detector 15 ₁ or 15 ₂ and the counted value (number of transferred eggs released from standby) NC ₁ or NC ₂ to computer 23
give to The computer sets the number of packaging units (necessary standby number; in the example, 6 large eggs and 10 small eggs)
Count value NC ₁ or a number equal to NP ₁ or NP ₂
When receiving NC ₂ , door close signal SD′ ₁ or SD′ ₂
is applied to the rotary solenoid 14 ₁ or 14 ₂ to close the door 12 ₁ or 12 ₂ , and the count value is calculated from the stored value N ₁ or N ₂ of the currently waiting number of large eggs or small eggs.
While subtracting NC ₁ or NC ₂ , a standby release transfer indicating signal (signal SN ₁ or SN ₂ indicating that a unit number of large eggs or small eggs is being transferred after being released from standby) is generated. This signal may be used to activate a suitable indicator or may be sent to a subsequent device (eg, a packaging station) for appropriate use.

When the doors 12 ₁ and 12 ₂ are closed, the standby operation is restarted and the above-described operation is repeated.

As can be easily seen from the above description, door 12 ₁ ,
When 12 ₂ is closed, the eggs transferred and placed on the conveyor belts 6 ₁ and 6 ₂ from the weighing machine 4 are placed on the conveyor belts 6 1 and 6 2
₁ , 6 _{2 ,} the eggs are transferred toward the doors 12 ₁ , 12 ₂ and are prevented from moving by the doors 12 ₁ , 12 ₂ or the eggs already there, and the bottom surface of the egg holding container 2 is covered by the belts 6 ₁ , 6 2 . 6 ₂ slips against the top surface of the door 12 ₁ ,
12 They are arranged in a row adjacent to each other in front of ₂ ,
They are made to wait as a group.

Therefore, when the number of waiting eggs reaches 6 or 10 and the door ₁₂₁ or ₁₂₂ is opened, the large eggs or small eggs are transferred onto the conveyor 13 as a group of 6 or 10. It is transferred to a packaging station (not shown).

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this and includes various modifications. For example, the grades to be sorted are not limited to two, large and small, but may be three or more grades. In that case, it goes without saying that the number of standby mechanisms will increase according to the number of grades.

In addition, since it is wasteful to keep the belts 6 ₁ and 6 ₂ running when the required number of standby devices is not reached for a long time in each of the standby mechanisms 5 ₁ and 5 ₂ , appropriate detection is performed to save energy and prevent noise. The belts 6 ₁ and 6 ₂ are stopped as appropriate using means or logical judgment means (for example, determining that the next egg has not been sorted even after a certain period of time has passed since the last egg was sorted). It can also be configured as

The sorting means 7 may be of a pick-up and moving type in addition to the illustrated push-and-move type, or may be of a plurality of units instead of one.

Even if the doors of the standby mechanisms 5 ₁ and 5 ₂ are of the rotation type shown in the figure, the rotation shafts may be arranged horizontally upward,
Further, instead of using the rotation method, a vertical movement method may be used. The detectors 15 ₁ and 15 ₂ may be of a contact type as well as a photoelectric type. Targeted items are not limited to eggs either.

In addition, it is not necessarily limited to distribution by weight,
For example, in the case of canned soft drinks, it is possible to classify them by the shape or color of the can, and in the case of fruits, it is also possible to use selection criteria other than weight, such as ripeness (sugar content). In this case, the determination may be made automatically or by an operator.

As described above, according to the present invention, a predetermined number of articles of different grades can be bundled together for each grade and transferred by a single transfer means, thereby simplifying and downsizing the device and improving efficiency. , cost reduction can be achieved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is a block diagram of the control circuit, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the operation. 4... Weight measuring machine, 5 ₁ , 5 ₂ ... Standby mechanism, 8
... Sorting mechanism, 12 ₁ , 12 ₂ ... Opening/closing door, 16
...control unit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 (a) means for setting standards for sorting articles into a plurality of grades, and (b) temporarily waiting articles at different predetermined positions corresponding to each of the grades. a plurality of waiting means; (c) means for setting the required number of waiting articles to be temporarily kept on standby in each of the waiting means; and (d) determining the grade of the article according to the set standard and generating a corresponding grade signal. (e) distribution means for distributing the graded articles to the corresponding waiting means based on the grade signal; (f) calculating the number of articles sorted to each waiting means in each waiting means; (g) comparing the stored number of articles sorted to each waiting means with a required number of waiting items preset for each waiting means, and determining the stored number of waiting items; (h) means for giving a release signal to the waiting means for canceling the article waiting state when the number is equal to or greater than the set required number of waiting articles; and (h) said means for selectively canceling the article waiting state. a transfer means for receiving the set required number of items on standby from the waiting means and transporting these items as a group to a predetermined location; (j) means for giving a signal to the waiting means, which has been released from the article waiting state, to return to the article waiting state when the number becomes equal to the number of articles waiting; (j) from the stored number of articles kept on standby by the waiting means; 1. A device for sorting and transferring articles, comprising means for subtracting the number of articles released from standby.