JP2001153714A - Dry ice piece metering and supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a metering / supplying device for supplying a fixed amount of dry ice pieces to a food container or the like, which can measure and supply the dry ice pieces smoothly without catching or freezing of the dry ice pieces. Provide equipment. A dry ice piece weighing and feeding device includes a feeder mechanism (3) for moving the dry ice piece forward while leveling the dry ice piece by vibration, and an opening for temporarily storing the dry ice piece supplied by the feeder mechanism (3). A possible bucket (5) and a weighing device (6) for weighing the dry ice pieces supplied into the bucket are provided, and the bucket (5) is formed in a box shape with an inclined bottom surface (5d). And it is comprised so that opening is possible along the edge part of the lower side of the bottom surface (5d).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dry ice piece weighing and feeding apparatus, and more particularly to a dry ice piece weighing and feeding apparatus for feeding a certain amount of dry ice pieces to a food container or the like. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dry ice piece measuring and supplying apparatus which can smoothly supply and measure dry ice pieces which are temporarily stored therein without catching or freezing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the low-temperature distribution of food and the like, dry ice pieces such as dry ice formed by crushing block-shaped dry ice into small pieces and dry ice obtained by cutting block-shaped dry ice into small dice. Is used. Since the dry ice pieces have good contact efficiency with the object to be cooled, the object to be cooled can be cooled to a certain extent quickly,
Since it has the same bulk density as block-shaped dry ice and has a relatively long sublimation time, it functions as a cold storage material in storage and transportation. For example, the dry ice pieces are usually supplied to food containers or the like by continuously supplying a large number of containers while continuously feeding them by a small conveyor, or by manually feeding them into individual containers.

[0003]

However, in the supply of dry ice pieces as described above, it is difficult to accurately supply a fixed amount of dry ice to a container, and it is not necessary to prevent a shortage of cold energy. As a result, there is a situation in which more dry ice pieces are used than necessary.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a dry ice piece measuring and supplying apparatus for supplying a fixed amount of dry ice pieces to a food container or the like. An object of the present invention is to provide a dry ice piece measuring and supplying apparatus which can smoothly supply and measure a temporarily stored dry ice piece without being caught or frozen.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a dry ice piece measuring and supplying apparatus according to the present invention measures a dry ice piece and supplies a predetermined amount of dry ice piece to a predetermined position. And a feeder mechanism for receiving the dry ice pieces and moving the dry ice pieces forward while oscillating the dry ice pieces, and temporarily storing the dry ice pieces provided at the front end side of the feeder mechanism and supplied by the feeder mechanism. Openable bucket, a weighing device for measuring the dry ice pieces supplied in the bucket, and controlling the supply of the dry ice pieces to the bucket by the feeder mechanism based on a weighing signal of the weighing device; Control means for controlling opening and closing of the bucket based on a bucket operation signal, wherein the bottom of the bucket is inclined. Along the edge of a box shape and a lower said bottom side, characterized in that it is openable configured.

In the above-described metering / supplying device, the feeder mechanism supplies the dry ice pieces to the bucket while leveling them by vibration. At that time, the measuring device detects the mass of the dry ice pieces in the bucket, and the control means controls the operation of the feeder based on the weighing signal of the measuring device so that the dry ice pieces in the bucket become a constant amount. . Then, the bucket discharges the dry ice pieces contained therein to a predetermined position by opening and closing control by the control means. In that case, the specific shape of the bucket whose bottom is inclined prevents the bridging phenomenon of the dry ice pieces stored in the bucket, and the structure of the bucket that opens along the lower edge of the bottom is
The overlapped portion of the members can be further reduced, and malfunction due to icing can be prevented.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a dry ice piece measuring and supplying apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view showing a main structure of a dry ice piece measuring and supplying apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a form of a bucket that can be opened, and FIG. 3 is a side view showing the structure and operation of the bucket. Hereinafter, in the description of the embodiment, the dry ice piece measuring and supplying apparatus is abbreviated as “a measuring and supplying apparatus”.

[0008] The measuring and supplying apparatus of the present invention is an apparatus for measuring dry ice pieces and supplying a predetermined amount of dry ice pieces to a predetermined position. As the dry ice pieces, typically, dry ice pieces formed by crushing block-shaped dry ice into small pieces, dry ice pieces obtained by cutting block-shaped dry ice into small dice or rods, powder Pellet dry ice obtained by compression-molding dry ice in a chalk shape using an extrusion die.

In particular, the dry ice pellets, which are distributed under the names of dry ice pellets, chalk dry ice, granular dry ice, etc., are formed to have a diameter of about 3 to 20 mm and a length of about 5 to 50 mm. Since it has good contact efficiency with the object to be cooled, it is a preferable piece of dry ice that can exhibit both functions of a rapid cooling material and a cold storage material. In addition, pellet-shaped dry ice can also be manufactured by further compressing block-shaped dry ice with a large pressure from a hydraulic device or the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, the feeder mechanism (3) for moving a piece of dry ice is provided in the metering device of the present invention.
And a bucket (5) for putting dry ice pieces into a container or the like, and a control means for controlling the feeder mechanism (3) and the bucket (5). These members are, for example, a frame (1) having a frame structure. ).

The feeder mechanism (3) is a mechanism that accommodates the dry ice pieces supplied to the apparatus and moves the dry ice pieces forward, that is, from the left side to the right side in FIG. Feeder mechanism (3)
Are a main feeder (3A) for storing a relatively large amount of dry ice pieces supplied to the apparatus, and a main feeder (3A).
A) An intermediate feeder (3B) for feeding the dry ice pieces stored in A) to an even height while sending the pieces to the front, and a bucket feeding feeder for feeding the dry ice pieces in the leveled state to the bucket (5) (3). 3C).

The main feeder (3A), the intermediate feeder (3B) and the feeder for bucket input (3C)
The front end and the upper part are formed in a horizontally long box shape that is open.
These feeders are respectively provided with electromagnetic vibrating devices (31), (32) disposed below the gantry (1) via elastic bodies.
And (33). Further, the intermediate feeder (3B) is arranged on the lower front side of the main feeder (3A), and the bucket feeder (3C) is arranged on the lower front side of the intermediate feeder (3B). Each front end is set slightly lower. As a result, the dry ice pieces supplied to the main feeder (3A) are fed into the bucket feeder (3C).
Can be sequentially conveyed to the side by vibration.

Above the main feeder (3A), a hopper (2) for putting pieces of dry ice into the main feeder is arranged. In addition, a rectifying plate having a sensor for detecting a flow rate such as a proximity switch at the base end is inserted into the inside of the intermediate feeder (3B) from the upper part of the gantry (1), and moves the intermediate feeder (3B). The arrangement is such that the height of the dry ice pieces is made uniform and the presence or absence of the dry ice pieces is detected.

Further, a feeder for bucket input (3C)
Is preferably provided with a gutter (member indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 1) for sieving powdery dry ice mixed with the dry ice pieces supplied from the intermediate feeder (3B). Such a gutter is formed with an opening width that does not allow a lump of dry ice pieces to enter, and is disposed along the longitudinal direction at the center of the width of the bucket input feeder (3C). A vibrating device (not shown) provided separately from the device vibrates independently of the bucket input feeder (3C).

The above-mentioned gutter can capture only powdery dry ice mixed with the dry ice pieces and supply it to the bucket (5). When supplying to the bucket (5), powdery dry ice can also be supplied to the bucket (5) at an equal ratio. Therefore, when dry ice pieces are supplied to a plurality of containers or the like via the bucket (5), the dry ice pieces are supplied together with the massive dry ice pieces.
Powdery dry ice generated during handling can be evenly put into each container, and the mixing amount of the powdery dry ice can be prevented from varying from container to container.

The bucket (5) includes a feeder mechanism (3)
Is a releasable member that is disposed on the front end side of the device and temporarily stores the dry ice pieces supplied by the feeder mechanism (3), and is usually made of stainless steel in order to increase strength and prevent corrosion. The bucket (5) can be formed in an appropriate outer shape, but is formed in a box shape in which the horizontal cross section becomes gradually smaller toward the lower end so that the stored dry ice pieces can be dropped smoothly. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the bucket (5) is formed in a box shape with the bottom surface (5d) inclined. In addition, the opening is formed along the lower edge of the bottom surface (5d).

More specifically, the bucket (5) has a guide plate (51) having a horizontal cross-sectional shape substantially U-shaped and a side shape narrowing toward the lower end, and restricting the falling direction of the dry ice pieces. And a storage plate (53) having a horizontal cross-sectional shape substantially U-shaped and a lower end edge of a side shape formed obliquely, and holding a dry ice piece in a closed state. It is formed along the lower edge of the plate (53). The guide plate (51) and the storage plate (53) are arranged such that both side walls of the guide plate (51) are the storage plate (53).
Are connected by pins (52) so as to cover both outer side surfaces of the two.

In order to prevent the dry ice pieces from sticking to the inner surface of the bucket (5) when the dry ice pieces are stored inside the bucket (5) for a long time, as shown in FIG. On the inner surface of 5), a cold-resistant resin layer (5f)
Is provided. As the resin material constituting the cold-resistant resin layer (5f), a material such as a fluororesin or high-density polyethylene, which does not cause cracking due to low-temperature curing and to which moisture hardly adheres, is used. The cold-resistant resin layer (5f) can be formed by coating, but is usually formed by sticking a resin sheet.

Further, although not shown, the bucket (5) may be provided with a heating means such as an electric heater or a hot air heater. By providing the heating means as described above to the bucket (5), even when the continuous operation is performed for a longer time, the sticking of the dry ice pieces to the inner surface of the bucket (5) can be effectively prevented.

A load cell is usually used as the measuring instrument (6). As shown in FIG. 1, the weighing device (6) is provided with a bucket input feeder (3) of the feeder mechanism (3).
C) is arranged below the front end side, and is configured to measure the dry ice pieces supplied into the bucket (5). That is, a part of the bucket (5) is supported by the measuring instrument (6) via the support plate (54) (see FIG. 2) attached to the back of the guide plate (51).

The measuring device (6) is, as shown in FIG.
Bucket feeder (3C) and bucket (5)
Is located in the vicinity of the center, so that the surrounding water vapor is liable to icing. Therefore, it is preferable that the measuring instrument (6) is covered with a heat insulating material such as styrene foam or glass wool in order to prevent an operation error.

A link (72) is provided on both sides of the measuring device (6).
A frame (15) provided with is erected from the gantry (1),
Another part of the bucket (5) is supported at one end of the link (72) via a receiving plate (55) (see FIG. 2) attached to the front surface of the storage plate (53). Such a link (7
2) The motor (7) provided on the top of the gantry (1)
And the rod (71) vertically moved by the motor and swings up and down, and the storage plate (53) is connected to the link (72).
It is made to open and close by the swing of.

The metering device of the present invention is provided with control means for controlling the operation of the feeder mechanism (3) and the bucket (5). The control means controls the supply of the dry ice pieces to the bucket (5) by the feeder mechanism (3) based on the weighing signal of the weighing device (6), and opens and closes the bucket (5) based on the bucket operation signal. A function to control is provided. Symbol (8) in FIG.
Denotes an operation panel for starting and stopping operation, selecting a continuous operation or intermittent operation program incorporated in the control means in advance, and the like.

The metering and feeding device of the present invention is used, for example, when a certain amount of dry ice pieces are put into a food container. The foodstuff containers are arranged below the gantry (1) by a conveyor device or individually. A large amount of dry ice pieces put into the food container are supplied to the hopper (2) in advance.

The hopper (2) feeds the supplied dry ice pieces to the main feeder (3) of the feeder mechanism (3).
Discharge sequentially in A). The main feeder (3A) is vibrated by the electromagnetic vibration device (31), and sequentially transfers the supplied dry ice pieces to the intermediate feeder (3B). The intermediate feeder (3B) transports the dry ice pieces supplied from the main feeder (3A) further forward by the vibration of the electromagnetic vibrating device (32) and equalizes the pieces to a uniform height.
In addition, the current plate (4) inserted in the intermediate feeder (3B) is leveled to a more uniform height by contacting the dry ice pieces being conveyed.

On the other hand, when a piece of dry ice comes into contact with the current plate (4) with a predetermined force or more, that is, when a piece of dry ice of a required amount or more flows into the intermediate feeder (3B),
A sensor at the base end of the current plate (4) detects the swing of the current plate (4), and the control means temporarily stops the operation of the main feeder (3A) based on a signal from the current plate (4). Stop. As a result, the amount of dry ice pieces stored in the intermediate feeder (3B) can be kept substantially constant.

The intermediate feeder (3B) supplies the dry ice pieces to the bucket input feeder (3C) while leveling the ice pieces at an even height. Further, the bucket input feeder (3C) transfers the dry ice pieces forward by the vibration of the electromagnetic vibration device (33) and supplies the pieces to the bucket (5). When a piece of dry ice is supplied to the bucket (5), the measuring device (6) detects the mass of the piece of dry ice in the bucket (5) and transmits a weighing signal to the control means.

When it is determined based on the weighing signal from the weighing device (6) that the predetermined amount of the dry ice pieces has been supplied to the bucket (5), the control means feeds the bucket feeder (3C). ) Is stopped and the supply of dry ice pieces is regulated. Then, the control means opens the bucket (5) based on a bucket operation signal, for example, a signal from a position sensor (not shown) indicating that the food container is located at a predetermined position below the bucket (5). .

That is, the control means operates the motor (7) based on the bucket operation signal, and the motor (7)
Is connected via a rod (71) and a link (72) to FIG.
(A) in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG.
3) is rotated. As a result, as shown in FIG.
The bottom of the bucket (5) can be opened, and the dry ice pieces contained therein can be put into the foodstuff container below. The metering and feeding device of the present invention always feeds a constant amount of dry ice pieces by repeating the operation control of the feeder mechanism (3) and the opening and closing of the bucket (5) by the signal of the meter (6).

As described above, in the metering / feeding device of the present invention, since the feeder mechanism (3) conveys the dry ice pieces by vibration, the dry ice pieces are fixed to each other by icing or fixed to the feeder mechanism (3). Without, and
Since it is supplied to the bucket (5) while leveling, it can be accurately measured by the measuring device (6). Since the bottom surface (5d) of the bucket (5) is formed in an inclined box shape, bridging of the dry ice pieces stored in the bucket (5) can be prevented, and smooth discharge can be guaranteed. Moreover,
Since the bucket (5) is configured to be openable along the lower edge of the bottom surface (5d), the overlapping portion of the two members, the guide plate (51) and the storage plate (53), can be further reduced.
Malfunction due to icing can be prevented.

In other words, the metering / supplying device of the present invention can smoothly supply a fixed amount of dry ice pieces without catching or freezing of the dry ice pieces temporarily stored therein.
In the weighing and feeding device of the present invention, for example, when supplying dry ice pieces to a small number of containers or the like, the opening and closing of the bucket may be controlled by an opening signal by manual operation.

[0032]

According to the dry ice piece weighing and feeding apparatus of the present invention, the feeder mechanism conveys the dry ice pieces by vibration, so that the dry ice pieces do not stick to each other due to icing or stick to the feeder mechanism. In addition, since it is supplied to the bucket while leveling, it can be accurately measured by the measuring device. And the specific shape of the bucket prevents the bridging phenomenon of the dry ice pieces in the bucket, and the specific opening structure of the bucket can prevent operation failure due to icing, so there is no catching or icing of the dry ice pieces, A certain amount of dry ice pieces can be metered smoothly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a main structure of a dry ice piece measuring and supplying apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a form of a bucket that can be opened.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the structure and operation of a bucket.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3: Feeder mechanism 3A: Main feeder 3B: Intermediate feeder 3C: Bucket feeding feeder 4: Rectifying plate 5: Bucket 51: Guide plate 53: Storage plate 5d: Bottom surface of bucket 5f: Cold-resistant resin layer 6: Measuring device

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A feeder for measuring dry ice pieces and supplying a predetermined amount of dry ice pieces to a predetermined position, the feeder accommodating the dry ice pieces and moving the dry ice pieces forward while oscillating the dry ice pieces. A mechanism (3), an openable bucket (5) disposed at the front end side of the feeder mechanism and temporarily storing dry ice pieces supplied by the feeder mechanism (3), and dry ice supplied to the bucket. A weigher (6) for weighing the pieces, and controlling the supply of the dry ice pieces to the bucket (5) by the feeder mechanism (3) based on the weighing signal of the weigher and controlling the bucket (5) based on the bucket operation signal. ) And control means for controlling the opening and closing of the bucket (5).
Is a dry ice piece weighing and feeding device characterized in that the bottom surface (5d) is formed in an inclined box shape and is openable along the lower edge of the bottom surface (5d). 2. The dry ice piece metering and feeding device according to claim 1, wherein a cold-resistant resin layer (5f) is provided on an inner surface of the bucket (5). 3. The dry ice piece weighing and feeding device according to claim 1, wherein a heating means is provided on the bucket (5). 4. The dry ice piece weighing and feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the weighing device (6) is covered with a heat insulating material.