JPH0371872B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention provides a method and apparatus for automatically cutting the stem and removing the paper bag in the pre-processing process of sorting fruits such as Nijisseiki pears and apples grown with paper bags over them. It takes.

Conventionally, a paper bag was placed over the fruit and the opening of the bag was tied at the stem part.As a device for cutting the fruit and removing the paper bag, Japanese Patent Publications No. 50-580 and Tokko Sho.
The device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 52-27052 is mainly used and has been used with repeated improvements, but although the purpose of cutting off the binding part of the fruit stem and the wrapping bag has been achieved, the removal of the wrapping bag is still difficult. The disadvantage was that only a 30% bag removal rate could be achieved, and the remaining 70% had to be removed manually.

In addition, Special Publication No. 55-9187, Special Publication No. 55-9188
Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-25831, Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-25832, Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-25833, and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-56498 have been proposed, but there are few examples of implementation in any of them. A bag removal device with a high bag removal rate has not been developed, and the current situation is that a large number of people are assigned to the bag removal work and the bag removal is done manually.

In all of these known bag removal methods and devices, after cutting off the binding part between the fruit stem and the bag, air is blown into the cut opening, the bag is sucked with air, or the bag is grabbed and the fruit is removed. It is a type that allows you to take it off.

However, these systems have the disadvantage that, although small fruits with plenty of room in the bag can be easily removed, fruits that have grown to fill the inside of the bag cannot be removed.

In general, if a paper bag is too large for the diameter of the fruit, wind damage will cause bag scratches on the surface of the fruit, so paper bags are made to be full and not too large for the fruit.

Therefore, for fruits of average size and larger ones (for example, L, LL, 3L, etc.), the equatorial part of the fruit is taut as if pushing the bag open from the inside, so the above-mentioned Known technical means have the drawback of not being able to increase the bag removal rate.

The present invention is a method and apparatus for eliminating these drawbacks and improving the bag removal rate, and its operating method is summarized as follows.

(b) Make a cut in the stem of the wrapped fruit to the extent that it goes beyond the center of the binding part (axis or stem), but do not cut it off.
Cut the fruit stalks, and cut at least 1/2 of the paper bag, leaving the remaining portion uncut. (See Figure 2 A) (B) Pull the tied part of the torn paper bag toward the equator of the wrapped fruit, and tear the uncut portion to the equator of the fruit. (See Figure 2 B) (C) Grasp the torn paper bag (wrapping bag) that has been opened to the equator and remove it from the fruit. (See Figure 2 C) As mentioned above, the paper bag of the wrapped fruit is incised at the binding part and then torn to the equator of the fruit to open it wide, releasing the tension of the fruit against the inside of the bag and making it easier. It is something that can be removed from the bag.

In the above operating method, the stem is cut in step (a), and in step (b), the cut bundle is pulled in the equator direction of the wrapped fruit while the posture of the wrapped fruit is kept as it is, and the stem is cut in the step (b). In some cases, the wrapped fruit is torn to the equator by grasping the tied part and holding it as it is, rotating the wrapped fruit laterally and lifting it up. The bag can be removed from the fruit by using the incision, or the bag can be removed by blowing air into the incision.

To explain in more detail, the supply conveyor that places the wrapped fruit with the stem tied part aligned in a certain direction is one that has a mechanism that moves the supplied wrapped fruit while holding it in a certain posture. Used as a conveyor. Next, the second means is a mechanism that grasps and pulls the binding part of the wrapping bag during conveyance on the first conveyor.
The means may be one that is incorporated in the wrapped fruit holding section of the first conveyor and acts to pull the portion gripped by a cam, rail, etc. as it progresses;
In some cases, a device that rotates synchronously with the first conveyor and grips the binding portion and pulls it with a cam, rail, etc. as it moves forward is sometimes used. This binding portion gripping mechanism preferably uses a gripping method from the front and rear directions, rather than a gripping method from the left and right or from above and below with respect to the direction of travel. In other words, a mechanism is used to grasp the pinched and crushed bundle so that it spreads out in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel, and the cut is made to the center of the fruit stem, but the bundle is not completely cut off and a part of the packet is cut off. Allow it to be left uncut.

A cutting knife is held between the tied part gripped and pulled by the second means and the wrapped fruit, and the cutting blade is placed so as to extend beyond the center of the grip width (centering on the fruit stem) (the fruit stem is cut off), The third means is provided with a tearing and cutting device that leaves a part of the wrapping bag uncut.

In parallel with the step of grasping, pulling, and cutting the bundled portion by the second means, a fourth means grips and holds the wrapped fruit on the first conveyor with a fruit gripping mechanism, progresses synchronously, and further transports it to the destination. During the transfer process by the conveyor, that is, after passing through the cutting process of the third means, the packaged fruit gripped by the conveyor of the fourth means and the tied part gripped by the second means and partially torn are transferred to each other. a fifth means of a mechanism that acts in a tensile manner to tear the envelope in the equator direction;
After tearing the wrapping bag from the binding part to the equator part so that the fruit can be easily taken out, the second means returns and the first conveyor also returns. At the end of the first conveyor, there is a conveyor that conveys the fruit to the sorting machine for the next process.

On the other hand, the conveyor of the fourth means, which grabs and holds the torn wrapped fruit and moves forward, reaches the conveyor, further extends and translates, and then returns, that is, when it reaches the top of the conveyor, the wrapped fruit is removed. After being lowered onto the conveyor, the gripping mechanism is temporarily loosened, the gripping position is changed to a position where the fruit will slide down, and only the wrapping bag is picked up, leaving the fruit intact on the conveyor, and the wrapping bag and fruit are separated. After passing through the sixth means, the conveyor of the fourth means, which grips the wrapping bag pinched and peeled off from the fruit, returns. The sixth means may consist of a cam, rail, etc. that opens/closes and moves up and down the gripping mechanism provided on the conveyor of the fourth means, or it releases the gripping mechanism after lowering the wrapped fruit onto the conveyor. In some cases, the wrapping bag is released using air on a conveyor. The bag torn off by the former method is discharged from the apparatus by releasing the gripping mechanism as part of the return process.

On the other hand, the naked fruits that have been placed on the conveyor and have been removed from bags are conveyed as they are to the sorting machine by the conveyor.

As described above, the present invention cuts the wrapping part of the wrapped fruit to the stem, but leaves a part of the wrapped fruit and tears the uncut part to the maximum diameter part of the wrapped fruit, that is, the equator. Since the wrapping bag is opened wide using this method, even if a large fruit is sticking out inside the wrapping bag, the wrapping bag is torn and loosened, so the wrapping bag can be easily separated from the fruit and removed at a high rate. Can be bagged.

In addition, in the present invention, after the wrapped fruit is supplied to the first conveyor at the start, the fruit is transferred while being grasped from outside the wrapped bag until it is placed on the conveyor to the sorting machine in the final process. Cutting, tearing, and bag removal are performed during the process, and the fruit is not rolled even once, so there are no scratches, bruises, or other damage that would occur in the past when fruit is rolled between processes, making the fruit a better product. This has the effect of not setting the value at a fixed price.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart using the apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 4 shows the apparatus.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a first conveyor, which has a receiving part 3 on which the fruit stem binding part 2a of the wrapped fruit 2 is placed in a fixed direction, and runs horizontally. This first conveyor may be similar to a conventionally known conveyor.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a second means of a mechanism for grasping and pulling the stem binding part 2a of the wrapped fruit 2 conveyed by the first conveyor 1, and runs and rotates in synchronization with the first conveyor 1. The second means 4 has a gripping mechanism 5 mounted at the same interval as the receiving part 3 of the first conveyor 1, and this gripping mechanism 5 approaches and leaves the receiving part 3 by means of a guide rail 6. is opened and closed by a cam rail 8. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, this gripping piece 7 is formed so as to grip the stem binding part 2a of the wrapped fruit 2 flatly in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction (arrow) of the conveyor. Different from conventional ones. That is, it is configured so that a part of the wrapping bag in the binding part is left uncut. The gripping mechanism 5 grips the stem binding part 2a and then pulls the part to a certain distance.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a cutting device as a third means, and a rotary cutter similar to a conventional one may be used, or another saw-type cutting mechanism or the like may be used.

10 is a fourth means, which is a receiving part 3 of the first conveyor 1;
It has a mechanism for grasping and holding the wrapped fruit 2 placed on top in a certain direction, lifting it up, transferring it, and lowering it onto the conveyor 21, and runs and rotates in synchronization with the first conveyor 1.

The fourth means 10 has a fruit gripping mechanism 11 installed at the same interval as the receiving part 3 of the first conveyor 1, and this fruit gripping mechanism 11 approaches and leaves the receiving part 3 by means of a guide rail 12.

The fruit gripping mechanism 11 has fingers 13 for gripping the wrapped fruit 2 softly and firmly, and the fingers 13 are opened and closed by an opening/closing cam rail 14 and held by a spring 15. The fruit grasping mechanism 11 is connected to the fruit stalk binding portion 2a of the second means 4.
The wrapped fruit 2 is gripped at approximately the same time as the gripping mechanism 5 operates, and held in a constant position until the binding part is pulled and cut by the cutting device 9.

After passing through the cutting device 9 of the third means, the gripping mechanism 5 of the second means approaches the receiving part 3 again by means of the guide rail 6, loosens the tension on the binding part, and advances while gripping the binding part. At the same time, the fruit grasping mechanism 11 of the fourth means slightly lifts the fruit from the receiving part by the guide rail 12 and advances.

A fifth means 16 is provided in this advancing step. The fifth means 16 is constructed in conjunction with the fruit gripping mechanism 11 of the fourth means 10, and in this embodiment, it grips the wrapped fruit 2 laterally by the neck as shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 9, and 10. A swinging cam rail 1 for tearing the wrapping bag from the uncut wrapping binding part in the equator direction of the fruit by tilting it in a swinging manner, and then returning it to the original position.
It is activated by 7. That is, the fruit grasping mechanism 11 is slidably incorporated into the holder 18 of the conveyor of the fourth means 10 so as to be able to move toward or away from the first conveyor 1, and the finger 13 is attached to this portion.
The fruit grasping mechanism 11 is constructed by attaching the opening/closing rod 19 to a swinging and tilting mechanism, and further incorporating the tilting rod 20. Therefore, this tilting movement rod 2
0 is guided by the oscillating cam rail 17, the finger 13 that grips the wrapped fruit is tilted as shown in Fig. 9, and since the binding part is gripped by the gripping mechanism of the second means 4, the interaction between them causes the wrapped fruit to be It is torn to its maximum diameter, that is, its equator.

When the tearing process is completed, the fingers 13 return to their original positions, and at the same time, the gripping mechanism 5 of the second means 4 releases the binding portion and returns to the starting side. The fruit grasping mechanism 11 of the fourth means 10 for one package gradually moves away from the receiving part 3 by the guide rail 12 while grasping the packaged fruit, and advances with the torn binding part hanging down. When the fruit is lifted from the receiving part 3, the first conveyor 1 comes to the end and returns to the starting side.

A conveyor 21 is provided at the end of the first conveyor 1 to convey the fruit to a sorting machine for the next process. The fruit gripping mechanism 11 of the fourth means for lifting and transferring the wrapped fruit approaches the starting end of the conveyor 21 so that the wrapped fruit gripped by the fingers 13 is lowered onto the conveyor 21 by the guide rail 12. After that, the finger 13 of the opening/closing rod 19 of the fruit gripping mechanism 11 is temporarily opened by the cam rail 22 of the sixth means, the grip is loosened, and the fruit gripping mechanism 11 is slightly shifted in the direction away from the conveyor 21 by the guide rail. That is, the tip of the finger 13 should be shallower than the equator of the fruit so that the fruit is
Change the grip so that it is half-off. The finger 13 which has changed its grasping position closes again and the fruit grasping mechanism 11 is moved by the guide rail 12.
further advances while moving away from the conveyor 21.
Therefore, although the tip of the finger 13 grasps a part of the spherical surface of the torn wrapped fruit, it is gripped shallower than the equator, so the fruit cannot be lifted and is left on the conveyor 21 in a state where it slides down from the torn part of the wrapped fruit. Only the wrapping bag remaining on the fruit and covering the fruit is picked up by the fingers 13, and the wrapping bag is peeled off from the fruit and removed.

Fruit gripping mechanism 11 that peels off the wrapper from the fruit
grabs only the empty bag and returns to the starting side, but during the return process, finger 1
Open 3 and release the empty bag you were holding. The discharged empty bags are carried out of the apparatus by means such as air conveyance and guided to an incinerator or the like.

The naked fruit on the conveyor 21 from which the single wrapper bag has been peeled off is conveyed as it is to the fruit sorting machine for the next process.

In the wrapping stripping step of the sixth means, air may be used to remove the wrapping bag.

In the wrapping tearing process of the fifth means, the bundle of the wrapped fruit is torn to the equator and further torn, and the torn pieces of the bundle are released from the grip in part of the return process of the gripping mechanism 5 of the second means. It may also be released.

In this embodiment, the second means is provided inside (lower part) of the first means, the conveying means is placed ahead of the first means, and the fourth means is extended and provided above the partner of the first means and the conveying means. Although the apparatus shown in FIG.
Apart from this, the structure and arrangement of each means can be changed to configure an apparatus that feeds the wrapped fruit with the stem binding part facing upward or sideways.

As mentioned above, the present invention involves gripping the fruit stem binding part of the wrapped fruit so as to crush it flat, cutting the fruit stem to the extent that the fruit stem is cut and leaving the paper bag uncut, and using the uncut part to cut the fruit to the maximum size. Since the bag is torn open up to the trunk diameter, that is, the equator, the bag can be peeled off very easily even if the fruit has grown inside the bag and is taut, making it easier to remove the bag. It is possible to automate the process and reduce the number of workers, which has a large economic effect.

Furthermore, when using the device of the present invention, the fruit is always grasped from outside the wrapping bag until the fruit is removed from the wrapping bag, without directly touching the bare fruit, and without rolling the fruit during transfer between each process. Since the fruit can be transported, it does not cause scratches or rolling bruises on the fruit, and the original commercial value of the fruit can be maintained, which has the effect of gaining a high reputation in the market.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional system, and Fig. 2 and the following are all diagrams showing embodiments of the present invention.
3 is a flowchart showing an example of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a side view of the device shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the gripping state of the binding part.
Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the incision, Fig. 7 is a schematic sectional view of the main part of the third means step, Fig. 8 is a schematic side view of Fig. 7,
FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view of the main part of the fifth means step, and FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of another embodiment. 1...First conveyor, 2...Wrapped fruit, 3...
Receiving portion, 4... second means, 5... grasping mechanism, 6...
... Guide rail, 7 ... Grip piece, 8 ... Cam rail, 9 ... Cutting device, 10 ... Fourth means, 11
...Fruit grasping mechanism, 12...Guide rail, 1
3...Finger, 14...Opening/closing cam rail, 1
5... Spring, 16... Fifth means, 17...
Cam rail for swinging, 18...Holder, 19...
...Opening/closing operating rod, 20...Tilt operating rod, 21...Transfer conveyor, 22...Cam rail.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. The wrapped fruit is conveyed to the first conveyor with the stem tied part held in a fixed direction, and during the conveyance,
A bundle gripping device that runs and rotates in synchronization with the first conveyor grabs and pulls the fruit stem binding part to advance the wrapped fruit, and a cutting device facing the path of the fruit stem binding part removes the fruit stem binding part. A part of the wrapping bag of the bundled part is left and cut together with the fruit stem, while the first
A fruit gripping device that runs and rotates in synchronization with the conveyor grabs and holds the wrapped fruit, and pulls the wrapped fruit in a predetermined direction against the partially cut and grabbed fruit stalk binding portion to move the wrapped fruit from the stalk binding portion to the equator. After the fruit has been torn to the top, the binding part gripping device releases the grip of the stem binding part, and the fruit gripping device continues to grip the torn wrapped fruit and lowers the wrapped fruit onto a conveyor. A method for cutting and removing the stem from a wrapped fruit, characterized in that the wrapping is separated from the fruit. 2. In the method described in claim 1,
The method for cutting and removing the stem from a packaged fruit, characterized in that the first conveyor conveys the packaged fruit while holding the packaged fruit by holding the packaged fruit in either an upward or downward direction. 3. In the method according to claim 1 or 2, the wrapping of the wrapped fruit is torn from the stem binding part to the equator by rotating the fruit gripping device laterally. A method for cutting and removing the stem of a wrapped fruit, which is characterized by the following. 4. A first means for transporting the wrapped fruit while holding its stalk binding part in a fixed direction; and a stalk binding for the wrapped fruit that runs and rotates in synchronization with the first means and is transported by the first means. a second means for grasping and advancing the part and releasing the grip at the terminal part;
a third means for cutting the fruit stem binding part together with the fruit stem while leaving a part of the wrapper of the binding part; and a fruit grasping device that runs and rotates in synchronization with the first means; a fourth means for gripping and holding the wrapped fruit conveyed by the first means with the fruit gripping device, conveying it and then lowering it onto the conveyor; a fifth means provided in front of the terminal end and acting on the fruit grasping device to tear the wrapping bag from the uncut fruit stem binding part to the equator;
A device for cutting and removing the stems of wrapped fruits, comprising a sixth means for removing the wrapped fruit from the wrapped fruit after the wrapped fruit has been torn and placed on the conveyor. 5. In the device according to claim 4,
The first means is to sandwich the wrapped fruit with the stem binding part thereof facing either upward or downward;
A device for cutting and removing the stem from a wrapped fruit, which is characterized by holding and transporting the fruit. 6. The apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the fifth means rotates the fruit grasping device laterally to tear the wrapper from the stem binding part to the equator part. A device for cutting and removing the stems of wrapped fruits.