JPH07110656B2 - Automatic apple sorting machine - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an automatic sorting device for sorting harvested apples according to a standard according to color tone and size grade.

[Prior Art] Harvested apples are sorted into 4 grades of color tone, 8 grades of size grade, 4 (grades) x 8 (grades) = 32 (kinds), and then boxed and shipped to the market. . One of the characteristics of apple selection work is to carry out 32 types of selection. In order to perform such a sorting operation with high efficiency, an apparatus having an automatic sorting function has been developed.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a recent automatic apple sorting apparatus. In the figure, 11 is a multiple conveyor consisting of four rows of transportation lanes (A) 11A to transportation lanes (B) 11B, and 12 is automatic weighing for weighing apples transported in the transportation lane to determine a size class. It is a vessel. 4 rows of transportation lane 11A
Eight unloaders are arranged in each of 11D. For example, unloaders A1 to A8 are arranged along the transportation lane (A) 11A.

The harvested apples are manually selected by the worker M1 into four stages of "A" to "D" based on the color tone of the apples. Apples with color "A" are for transportation lane (A) 11A
The apple with color "B" is on the transportation lane (B) 11B.
Apples with color “C” are installed in the transportation lane (C) 11C, and apples with color “D” are installed in the transportation lane (D) 11D. Towards the left side of the drawing, each transportation lane 11A-1
Transported by 1D. When the automatic weighing device 12 determines that the size class of an apple being transported on the transportation lane (A) 11A is "1", the determination result is input to a determination means (not shown) including a CPU (central processing unit). Is
When the apple reaches the unloader A1, it is unloaded from the transport lane (A) 11A by the unloader A1. Similarly, apples with size class “2” are unloaders A2.
Then, the apples having the size grade “8” are carried out to the unloader A8, and thus the apples having the color tone “A” on the transport lane (A) 11A are transported by the unloaders A1 to A8 according to the size grade. A) It is carried out from 11A. Apples with color tone "B" being conveyed to the conveyance lane (B) 11B are also selected in the same manner and are conveyed by the unloaders B1 to B8 according to the size grade.
Be shipped from. Then, apples having a color tone of "C" are selected in the same manner, and are unloaded from the transport lane (C) 11C by the unloaders C1 to C8, and apples having a color tone of "D" are also selected, and then the unloaders D1 to It is unloaded from the transportation lane (D) 11C by D8. Therefore, for example, the apple carried out to the transportation lane (D) 11D by the unloader D7 is an apple having a color tone of "D" and a size grade of "7".

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional automatic sorting apparatus, the apples thus automatically sorted are automatically sorted according to the color tone and the size grade, but the packaging is performed by, for example, the worker M2 in FIG. Ships by hand in a box, but it requires a lot of labor for the boxing work.

The object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily and quickly carry out an apple boxing operation, and also to provide apples having a specific color and size grade in a concentrated manner without providing an excessive processing capacity. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic apple sorting device capable of automatically sorting apples without discharging unsorted apples.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the automatic apple sorting apparatus of the present invention has four rows of transport lanes for transporting a large number of apples sorted in four stages according to color tones. There is provided a size grade selection means for dividing the apples on each of the transportation lanes into eight types of size grades and carrying them out from the transportation lane. The size grade selection means is configured to sort apples from each of the four rows of transportation lanes. It is circulated and conveyed to four horizontal endless circular circulation conveyors that are supplied and circulated and conveyed, and at least two circulation conveyors among the above four horizontal endless circular circulation conveyors. Eight rotating arm-shaped fruit catchers that carry out apples of eight different size classes from the circulation conveyor to the tray, and along each of the above two circulation conveyors Provided 8
An XY table is provided to match the apple carry-out position of a majority of the rotating arm type fruit catchers of the rotating arm type fruit catchers of the stand with the apple loading position on the tray.

[Operation] Apples are transported by color conveyor by color conveyor, and are carried out by the rotating arm type fruit catcher in each circulation conveyor by size class from the circulation conveyor, and XY
It is mounted on a tray on the table, and the tray is packed in a cardboard box or the like. Even if apples with a certain color tone and a certain size grade are concentrated, the apples are circulated and conveyed by the circulation conveyors, and the rotating arm-shaped fruit catchers on each circulation conveyor can carry out the apples while they are circulating. Even if the rotating arm type fruit catcher and the XY table attached to it have a large processing capacity, size classification can be performed without discharging unsorted apples.

[Example] An apple sorting and shipping site equipped with an automatic sorting device is, for example,
It has a processing capacity of about 150,000 pieces per day, and the number of workers engaged is 120. Approximately 3/4 of workers
90 people are box workers.

Such labor saving of the apple packing operation can be performed by combining each unloader with a device for automatically loading the tray with the apples carried out from the transportation lane by the unloader. In the automatic apple sorting apparatus of the present invention,
The apples are placed in each of the grid-shaped dents on the tray, and the trays loaded with apples are packed in a cardboard box so that the packing can be performed. The loading of apples on the tray is performed by sequentially aligning the dents on the tray with the unloader's apple carry-out position, and then placing the apples on the dents on the tray one after another. For example, as shown in FIG.
27 is placed on the XY table, the tray 27 is intermittently moved by the XY table in the two orthogonal X and Y directions in the horizontal plane, and the fruits sent from the direction of the arrow e by the unloader and the dents of the tray 27 are sequentially placed. And the fruits are sequentially placed in the dents on the tray 27.
The unloader is a rotating arm type fruit catcher filed by the applicant of the present application, for example, as Japanese Patent Application No. Sho 63-232232. This rotating arm type fruit catcher has a large number of bands.The hands are sequentially moved to a certain position on the conveyor, and the fruits are gripped one after another by each hand and then moved to the outside of the conveyor. To release the fruit and return the hand to the fruit on the conveyor. FIG. 4 shows an example of such a rotating arm type fruit catcher. In this rotating arm type fruit catcher, the hand 24 is attached to an arm 25, which is attached to a shaft arranged at right angles to the plane of the drawing, so that it can rotate with the shaft and move up and down on the shaft. Although only one set of hand and arm is shown in the drawings, multiple sets are mounted radially on the shaft. Fruit 21 is conveyor
It is mounted on 22 and conveyed in the direction of arrow a. hand
The fruit 24 grips the fruit 21 while moving at a speed equal to the conveying speed of the fruit 21 due to the rotation of the shaft, and carries the fruit 21 out of the conveyor 22. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the hand 24 moves from the position 23a to the arrow b with the fingers kept open.
It is rotatably moved at the same speed as the fruit 21 while descending diagonally as shown by 1, closing the finger at the position 23b to grip the fruit 21, and then rotating while diagonally ascending as indicated by the arrow b2 to rotate the fruit. After being lifted up to the position 21c, it is rotated to a position set outside the conveyor 22, the fingers are opened to discharge the fruit 21 here, and the hand 24 is again conveyed to the conveyor 22 by the rotation of the shaft. Rotated on.

In the conventional sorting apparatus described with reference to FIG. 2, A1 to A8, B1 to B8, C1 to C8, D1 to D8 arranged along the transportation lane (A) 11A to the transportation lane (B) 11B. In place of each of the 32 unloaders in total, as shown in FIG. 6, a device having an XY table as described above (hereinafter abbreviated as XY table) and a rotating arm type fruit catcher are combined to form a rotating arm type fruit. The catcher grips the apple on the transportation lane according to the weighing result of the automatic weighing device 12, mounts it on the tray 27 as indicated by arrow e in FIG. 3, and the XY table mounts the apple. When the tray is moved so that the dents that are not loaded are moved to match the apple discharge position of the rotating-arm-shaped fruit catcher, the apples that are being transported by transport lane (A) 11A to transport lane (B) 11B are removed. Grab it automatically, It can be automatically placed on the tray, and the work that requires manpower is just to put the tray on which the apple is placed in a cardboard box and seal it.

However, even with this method, automatic selection of apples cannot be surely performed due to a unique statistical problem in fruit selection. Of the 32 unloaders, the unloader B2 that carries out apples with color "B" and size grade "2" was replaced with a rotating arm fruit catcher, and XY was used.
A case where the table 13 and the XY table 13 are combined with a tray feeder 13a for automatically feeding trays will be described.

In FIG. 6, apples having a color tone of “B” sent from the transportation lane (B) 11B are weighed by the automatic weighing device 12, and apples judged to have a size grade of “2” are rotated by the unloader B2. It is picked up by an arm-shaped fruit catcher and aligned on the tray of the XY table 13.
When the tray is full, the tray is unloaded from the XY table 13 by the carry-out conveyor 13b, and a new empty tray is supplied to the XY table 13 by the tray feeder 13a. Under normal working conditions, most of the sorting operations for apples with color "B" and size grade "2" are automated. However, unlike the mechanical industry products, the agricultural products may have an unpredictable quality distribution and may be temporarily supplied with apples having a specific color tone and size grade. Therefore, for example, when apples having a color tone of “B” and a size grade of “2” are concentrated and carried into the multiple conveyor 11, the processing capacity of the XY table 13 is smaller than that of the rotating arm type fruit catcher. Moreover, since the XY table requires replacement of the tray, the operation of the rotating arm type fruit catcher must be temporarily stopped even when the XY table 13 is fully operated. Color tone is "B" and size grade is "2"
Apples are transported by the transport lane (B) 11B even while the rotary arm type fruit catcher B2 is at rest, so they pass the rotary arm type fruit catcher B2 and fall from the end point E of the transport lane (B) 11B. To do. Therefore, even if the color tone is "B" at the end point E of the lane, apples of various size grades are randomly gathered, which necessitates re-sorting and may even prevent shipment as a damaged product. This problem can be solved by adopting the XY table 13 having the processing capability capable of covering the peak based on the past statistics regarding the variation of apple quality, but the quality classification number of apples is 4 (color tone) × 8
As many as (class) = 32 (type), 32 rotating arm type fruit catchers and XY tables are required, and trying to make all XY tables correspond to peaks, the manufacturing cost of the device rises significantly. To do. Since some of the four color tones and eight size grades have a low distribution rate, the number of XY tables should be reduced to half, for example, and the worker should be allowed to unload apples with a color tone and size grade with a low distribution rate. However, even if the degree of automation is reduced, it is quite difficult to determine which of the 16 XY tables will have the processing capacity. Even if the number is half, the reduction in manufacturing cost cannot be expected so much.

In the present invention, paying attention to the fact that the supply of apples of a specific color tone and size grade is concentrated, it is necessary to separately provide an automatic conveyance system R indicated by reference numeral R in FIG. The apples that have not been sorted with respect to the size class discharged to the end point E of the transport lane and have been sorted with respect to the color tone are collected as shown by the arrow r and returned to the start points of the transport lanes 11A to 11D. Specifically, each of the four rows of transportation lanes for selecting a color tone is provided with four horizontal endless circular circulation conveyors that are supplied with apples from these transportation lanes and cyclically transported.

By doing so, apples of a certain color and of a certain size grade are temporarily concentrated, and even if a set of rotating arm type fruit catcher and XY table passes the apple on the circulating conveyor, The apples are returned to the same set again because they are being circulated on the circulation conveyor, and if the congestion of the XY table is cleared at this time, the apples are carried out from the circulation conveyor to the XY table by the rotating arm type fruit catcher, The table is mounted on the tray. Even if there is congestion, apples of a specific color and size class will not be temporarily concentrated for a long time.Therefore, the rotating arm-shaped fruit catcher will carry the apples from the circulation conveyor to the XY table during the third circulation. , Mount on the tray on the XY table. And XY
Even if the table exchanges trays, the circulation conveyor circulates the apples, so once the trays have been exchanged, the rotating-arm fruit catcher and XY table are immediately loaded onto the trays.

In the automatic apple sorting apparatus of the present invention, among the color tones "A" to "D" of apple, there is a color tone with a small distribution rate, so that one or two circulation conveyors among the circulation conveyors are rotary arm type fruit catchers. Can be omitted. Also, regarding the circulation conveyor that conveys apples with color tones with a high distribution rate, the distribution rate of apples of all size classes is not high, so
For the rotating arm type fruit catcher corresponding to 1 to 4 types, the attachment of the XY table can be omitted. First
The figure shows such an automatic sorting device for apples.

This automatic sorting device has means for sorting apples by color tone and means for sorting apples by size grade.

The color tone selection means includes a multiple conveyor 11 '. The multiple conveyor 11 'is the multiple conveyor 11 in the conventional sorting device.
4) from the transportation lane 11'A for transporting apples with color "A" to the transportation lane 11'D for transporting apples with color "D".
It is composed of rows of transportation lanes.

The size class selecting means includes a circulating conveyor that conveys the apples selected in the conveying lane 11 'by color tone, a rotating arm-type fruit catcher that conveys the apples from the circulating conveyor to the tray, and an apple carry-out position of the rotating arm-type fruit catcher. It has an XY table that matches the apple mounting position on the tray.

The circulation conveyer is an endless circular circulation conveyer 15A that horizontally circulates apples with a color tone of "A" and a color tone of "B".
Endless annular endless conveyor 15B that circulates apples in the horizontal direction, endless annular endless conveyor 15C that circulates apples in the color "C" in the horizontal direction, and apples in the color "D" in the horizontal direction. Endless circular circulating conveyor 15D
It consists of The worker classifies each color tone, and the apples with the color tone "A" placed on the transport lane (A) 11'A are transported as shown by the arrow f and supplied to the circulation conveyor 15A, and the color tone "B". The apples are transported from the transport lane (B) 11'B as shown by arrows g1 and g2 and supplied to the circulation conveyor 15B at two points. The apples having the color "C" are transported from the transport lane (B) 11'C to the arrow h1. , h2 are fed and supplied to the circulation conveyor 15C at two places, and the apple having the color tone “D” is indicated by the arrow i from the transport lane (D) 11′D.
Are conveyed and supplied to the circulation conveyor 15D.

The rotating arm type fruit catcher is arranged on each of the circulating conveyors 15A to 15D. Since the number of apples with the color tone “A” on the circulation conveyor 15A is small in the total number of apples, the apples are delivered to any of the eight stations a1 to a8 arranged around the circulation conveyor 15A. Also, only the rotating arm type fruit catcher is placed, and no XY table is provided. Of the rotating arm type catcher,
Rotating arm type fruit catcher A1 and 2 are circulating conveyor 15A
The apples with size grade “1” and the apples with size grade “2” are transported to station a1 and station a2, respectively, and are transported by rotating arm type fruit catcher A3.
4 is an apple with size class "3" at station a3,
The size "4" apples are carried out to the station a4, and the rotating arm type fruit catcher A7 ・ 8 has the size "7" apples at the station a7 and the size "8" apples at the station a8. I try to carry it out. An image sensor 12 ', such as an ITV (industrial television camera), constitutes a means for detecting the apple size class together with a signal processing circuit. This size class detecting means images the shape of the apple that is placed on the circulating conveyor 15A and passes by the video sensor 12 ', and the video signal is image-processed by the signal processing circuit to determine the size class of the apple, and the determination is made. Depending on the size class, it outputs a signal to carry out apples to each of the rotating arm type fruit catchers A1, 2 to A7, 8.

Eight rotating-arm type fruit catchers B1 to B8 are arranged around the circulation conveyor 15B to which the apples of color "B" are supplied from the transport lane 11'B. Fruit catcher B2
An XY table 13 is provided at each of the stations for carrying out apples B8 to B8 being conveyed to the circulating conveyor 15B. However, there is no XY table at the station where the color-changing "fruit-shaped fruit catcher B1 carries out apples", and there is a fixed table 14. All XY tables 13 have substantially the same structure and are supplied by tray. The container 13a and the carry-out conveyor 13b that connects the XY table 13 to the shipping conveyor 14 are combined with each other.The rotating arm type fruit catcher B1 is arranged on the fixed table 14 for apples of size "1" being conveyed by the circulating conveyor 15B. Carry out. However, the rotating arm fruit catcher B2 is concerned with apples of size class "2" being conveyed by the circulating conveyor 15B.
On the XY table 13, the rotating arm type fruit catcher B3 is related to the XY table 13 related to the size grade "3" apples, and the rotating arm type fruit catcher B4 is related to the XY table 13 related to the size grade "4" apples. , Rotating arm type fruit catcher B5 is associated with XY table 13 for size 5 apples, rotating arm type fruit catcher B6 is associated with XY table 13 for size 6 apples, rotating arm type The fruit catcher B7 carries an apple of size "7" to the related XY table 13 and an apple of size "8" to the related XY table 13. As described above, each XY table 13 has a tray 27 in which the recesses for accommodating apples are arranged in a grid pattern.
Received from a and intermittently moved in two horizontal orthogonal X and Y directions, align the apple carry-out position by the rotating arm type fruit catchers B2 to B8 and the dent for storing apples in the tray, and rotate the arm type catcher. When B2 to B8 load apples on the tray, move the tray so that the next empty dent matches the apple unloading position by the rotating arm fruit catcher B2 to B8, and when the tray is full, send it to the unloading conveyor 13b. I am trying. Carry-out conveyor 1
The trays transported by 3b are packed into a corrugated cardboard box by the operator two by two, and the corrugated cardboard boxes packed with the trays are carried out by the shipping conveyor 14. According to the content of the harvest, among the apples whose color tone is “B”, the apples of the smaller size grade are sorted by the rotating arm type fruit catcher B1, transported to the fixed table 14, and manually sorted by size. The remaining apples mounted on the tray are the rotating arm-shaped fruit catchers B1 and XY table 13
Is automatically sorted by. In addition, the number of processed apples per day is 15 for apples with color tone “B” supplied to the circulating conveyor 15.
Since it is less than half of 10,000 and the distribution rate is large, carry in the apples from the transportation lane 11'B of the color selection means with an arrow.
Circulating conveyor with two paths as shown by g1, g2 1
The image sensor 12 'in the means for detecting the size class, which is made for 5B, has two corresponding circular conveyors.
It is located at 15B.

The circulation conveyor 15C that conveys apples with a color tone of "C" has a large distribution ratio in the total number, so that each station is configured similarly to the circulation conveyor 15B. That is, the rotating arm type fruit catcher C1 and the fixed table 14 are arranged at the station for carrying out the apples of the size class having a small distribution rate, and the rotating arm type fruit catchers C2 to C8 and the XY table 13 are arranged at the remaining stations. Each XY table 13 is combined with a tray feeder 13a and a carry-out conveyor that connects the XY table 13 to a shipping conveyor 14. Then, the transportation lane 1 of the color selection means
Carrying in of apples from 1'C is made from two paths to the circulation conveyor 15C as shown by arrows h1 and h2, and two image sensors 12 'in the means for detecting the size grade correspond to the circulation conveyor 15C. It is arranged. The apples are loaded from the transport lane 11'B in two paths as shown by arrows g1 and g2, and two image sensors 12 'in the means for detecting the size grade are arranged on the circulating conveyor 15B. Has been done.

The circulating conveyor 15D that conveys apples with color "C" is
Since the distribution ratio of apples having a color tone of "D" is low, one rotary arm type fruit catcher D1.2 to D7.8 is arranged for two stations as in the circulating conveyor 15A. The XY table is not located at stations d1 to d7, and station d8 along with the tray feeder and the carry-out conveyor that connects the XY table to the shipping conveyor 14
It is located only in. Only one image sensor 12 'in the means for detecting the size class is arranged, like the circulating conveyor 15A.

The apples are sorted by 8 different color tones and the transportation lane 11'A
Mounted on ~ 11'D. Each transport lane 11'A-11 '
The apples in D are transferred to each of the circulating conveyors 15A to 15D by a human or an appropriate conveying mechanism, and are circulated and conveyed in each of the circulating conveyors 15A to 15D.

The apple of color tone "A" is circulated and conveyed on the circulation conveyor 15A, and when passing through the image sensor 12 ', the signal processing circuit detects the size class, and the apple related to the detected size class is a rotating arm type fruit catcher. Rotating arm type fruit catcher A1.2-A7 when going through A1.2-A7 / 8
・ Activating any one of 8 and related stations a5 ～
The apples are carried out to a8, and the workers carry the apples carried out to each station into a tray or the like.

The apple of color "B" is circulated and conveyed on the circulation conveyor 15B, and the size grade is detected by the signal processing circuit when passing through the image sensor 12 '. When the apple having the size grade “1” reaches the rotating arm type fruit catcher B1, the signal processing circuit causes the rotating arm type fruit catcher B1 to carry out the apple from the circulation conveyor 15. The rotating arm type fruit catcher B1 carries the apples to a fixed table 14 and a worker stores them in a tray. The size class is "2"
The "8" apple is a rotating arm-shaped fruit catcher B2-B8.
When each of the rotating arm type fruit catchers B2 to B8 is operated, the processing device activates one of the rotating arm type fruit catchers B2 to B8.
Load apples into the tray at. Each XY table 13
When the tray is full, the tray is
Send to 13b. When the trays are delivered, each tray feeder 13a will have a new tray associated with the XY table 13a.
Send to. The tray on which the apples have been loaded is packed by a worker in a cardboard box at the end of each carry-out conveyor 13b and sent to the shipping unit 14.

The apple of color "C" is circulated and conveyed on the circulation conveyor 15C, and when passing through the image sensor 12 ', the size grade is detected by the signal processing circuit. When the apple having the size grade “1” reaches the rotating arm type fruit catcher C1, the processing device causes the rotating arm type fruit catcher C1 to carry out the apple from the circulation conveyor 15C. The rotating arm type fruit catcher C1 carries apples to the fixed table 14,
A worker puts it in a tray. The size class is "2"
The "8" apple is a rotating arm-shaped fruit catcher C2-C8.
When each of the rotating arm type fruit catchers C2 to C8 is activated, the processing device activates one of the rotating arm type fruit catchers C2 to C8.
Load apples into the tray at 13. Each XY table
When the tray 13 is full, the tray 13 sends the tray to each carry-out conveyor 13b. When the trays are delivered, each tray feeder 13a connects the new tray to the XY table 1
Send to 3. The tray on which the apples have been loaded is packed by a worker in a cardboard box at the end of each carry-out conveyor 13b and sent to the shipping unit 14.

The apple of color "D" is circulated and conveyed by the circulation conveyor 15D, and when passing through the image sensor 12 ', the signal processing circuit determines the size class of the apple. Rotating-arm-shaped fruit catchers with apples of size grades "1" to "6"
Upon reaching D1.2-D5-6, one of the rotating arm-shaped fruit catchers D1.2-D5-6 involved in the signal processing circuit will carry out the apples to stations d1-d6. The worker stores the apples delivered to each of the stations d1 to d6 in a tray or the like. When the apple having a size grade of "7" reaches the rotating arm type fruit catcher D7.8, it is carried out to the station d by the rotating arm type fruit catcher D7.8 and is stored in a tray or the like by the worker. However, apples of size grade "8" are carried out to the XY table by the rotating arm type fruit catcher D7.8. When the tray of the XY table is full, the tray is sent to the carry-out conveyor, and the worker packs the tray in the cardboard box at the end of the carry-out conveyor and then sends it to the shipping unit 14. When the tray is sent out from the XY table, the tray feeder sends the new tray to the XY table.

Also, in this automatic apple sorting device, station d8
The XY table, tray feeder, and unloading conveyor arranged in the are made to be able to sort apples of any size class, and when the distribution ratio is biased to a specific size class, The mounting is done automatically.

Although the distribution ratio of the apples having the color tones “A” and “D” is generally small, the apples of a specific size grade may be relatively mixed depending on the climatic conditions. In this automatic apple sorting device, even if the distribution ratio of apples with color tone "D" is biased to a specific size class, the rotating arm fruit catcher D5, 6 carries out apples of this size class to the circulating conveyor 15D. By setting like this, loading on the tray can be performed automatically. Also, the circulating conveyor
Even if the distribution ratio of the apples of color “A” being transported 15A is deviated to a specific size class, the apples of color “A” are placed on the transport lane (D) 11′D and the circulating conveyor 15
By supplying the apples to A and setting the rotating arm type fruit catchers D5 and D6 to carry out apples, they can be automatically loaded on the tray. At this time, the color tone is "D"
Apples from the transportation lane (A) 11'A
Supplied to 15A, rotating arm type fruit catcher A1.2-A
It is sent out to stations a1 to a8 for each size class by 7.8.

In this automatic sorter, 4 (color tone) x 8 (grade)
For a station corresponding to 32 (types), 24 rotary-arm fruit catchers and 15 XY tables can automate most of the apple sorting and boxing operations. As a result of conducting a practical application test, 90 of 120 employees at the apple sorting and shipping site equipped with the conventional sorting device shown in FIG. 2 were placed in the unloader, but equipped with the device according to the present invention. At the apple sorting plant, the number of workers assigned to the station could be 20 people, and the apple sorting plant equipped with the conventional equipment was processing 150,000 per day (actual working time 8 hours). Fifty workers were able to sort and box the apples.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the automatic sorting apparatus of the present invention is capable of packaging apples whose colors and size grades are sorted in a tray and packaging the trays in a cardboard box or the like. Can be done easily and quickly, and even if an apple of a certain color and size is temporarily concentrated,
Since the operation of the entire device can be maintained smoothly without the risk of slowing or confusing the selection of apples with other color and size grades, a large number of devices can be provided without giving a large margin to the processing capacity of the device. Apples can be automatically sorted by size.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a configuration of an embodiment of an automatic apple sorting apparatus of the present invention as seen from a plane. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a conventional automatic apple sorting device as seen from a plane. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the XY table. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are explanatory views of the rotating arm type fruit catcher. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the automatic sorting apparatus of the present invention. 11,11 '... Multiple conveyor, 11A, 11'A ... Transport lane (A), 11B, 11'B ... Transport lane (B), 11C, 11'C
... Transport lane (C), 11D, 11'D ... Transport lane (D), 12 ... Automatic weigher, 12 '... Image sensor, 13 ...
... XY table, 13a ... Tray feeder, 13b ... Unloading conveyor, 14 ... Shipping conveyor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A four-lane transportation lane for transporting a large number of apples sorted in four stages according to color tones, and apples on each transportation lane are classified into eight size classes and carried out from the transportation lane. In an automatic apple sorting device having a size grade sorting means for
Four horizontal endless circular circulating conveyors for circulating and feeding apples from each of the four rows of transportation lanes,
Eight types of size grade apples circulated and conveyed to the circulation conveyors provided along at least two circulation conveyors among the above four horizontal endless circular circulation conveyors are carried out from the circulation conveyor to the tray 8 Of the rotating arm type fruit catchers and the eight of the rotating arm type fruit catchers provided along each of the two circulating conveyors, respectively, and a majority of the rotating arm type fruit catchers are carried out from the apples and the apples are mounted on the trays. An automatic apple sorting device, which is equipped with an XY table that is aligned with the position.