JP4857474B2 - Fruit sorting equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a fruit sorting apparatus that sorts fruits into equal classes while transporting them on a tray.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, there is a technique using a tray as disclosed in JP-A-2001-9383 as a configuration for classifying fruits such as strawberries and melons into equal classes according to quality and size. In FIG. 8 of this publication, the left / right classification conveyor supports a large number of guide rods 57, 57,... Between two endless chains 33, 33 parallel to the left and right, and guide rods 57, 57. ,... Is provided with a slide base 58 that slides laterally, and a slide base 58 having protrusions 59 is arranged at predetermined intervals. Thus, a tray 39 with fruits is placed between the front and rear ridges 59,59. Further, a guide pin 60 is integrally projected on the back surface of the slide base 58, and is slidably contacted with a predetermined guide rail 61 to switch and move the slide base 58 sideways. This switching movement of the slide base 58 is, for example, by providing the switching device 62 at the distal end of the guide rail 61 and changing the direction thereof, so that the guide pin 60 is brought into contact with the guide rail 61 side and slidably moved. Alternatively, when the guide pin 60 comes into contact with the guide rail 61 and the slide base 58 moves sideways, the tray 39 on which the fruit is placed also moves in the horizontal direction. Then, it is taken out to the classification discharge section.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, as described above, after the tray moving path is gradually switched to the lateral side and classified and discharged, it is transferred to a predetermined boxing processing position by taking over the drawer conveyor, but in the transfer direction of the classification conveyor. Although the predetermined span is required, the classification target is only a predetermined single rank, and there is a disadvantage that the total length becomes longer as the equal class sorting rank increases.
In addition, since a load receiving conveyor is provided toward the grade conveyor on which the grade evaluator waits, and the container is transferred by this load receiving conveyor, a waiting time for work such as time-saving sorting occurs in the work of opening the fruit in the container.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has tried to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks and has taken the following technical measures. That is, the invention according to claim 1 is provided with a classification conveyor that packs selected fruits in a container and conveys them by a load receiving conveyor, and transfers the selected fruits taken out from the container on a tray. In the fruit sorting device to take out to the discharge part while shifting the position laterally toward the classification discharge part,
A plurality of classifying and discharging sections are provided, and a path switching mechanism for sorting and discharging the classified fruits to each section is provided on the start end side. This path switching mechanism switches to a predetermined state based on a predetermined equal class command signal. Configure to work,
The container is sandwiched in an upward direction and transferred upward, and at the upper transfer end part, an automatic damper is provided that gradually lifts the inverted container upward and discharges the sorted fruit to the supply conveyor,
On the transfer start end side of this auto damper, a feed conveyor is provided to connect the first load receiving conveyor and the second load receiving conveyor for transferring containers from the left and right sides,
These first and second cargo receiving conveyors are provided with container detectors for detecting whether or not the container has reached a predetermined position at the respective transfer terminal portions, and with regulation plates that can be moved forward and backward on the respective conveyance surfaces,
When either one of the first and second load receiving conveyors detects a dummy container for confirming a load change, a restriction plate provided on the load receiving conveyor on the side not detecting the dummy container enters the path and the dummy is detected. The drive of the load receiving conveyor on the side where the container is not detected is controlled to stop, and one load receiving portion of the load receiving conveyor on the side where the dummy container is detected continuously enters the feed conveyor and is sequentially reversed and transferred by the auto damper. When one shipment is received,
The load receiving conveyor waiting on the side not detecting the dummy container is activated, and the control unit controls the container on the conveyor to supply the auto damper.
[0005]
[Action and effect of the invention]
Since the present invention has the above-described configuration, the classifying and discharging unit can be divided into a plurality of sections, so that the classifying conveyor that has been previously taken out from the classifying conveyor can be divided into a plurality of sections. It is not necessary to extend in the longitudinal direction, and it is possible to sort a wide range of equal ranks without expanding the installation area of the selection facility.
In addition, a configuration in which a plurality of cargo receiving conveyors are connected to an infeed conveyor provided on the supply start end side of the auto damper, and containers can be sequentially supplied to the auto damper based on detection results of a container detector disposed on the terminal end side of each load receiving conveyor. Therefore, the container can be alternately supplied from both sides of the auto damper, the selection work can be performed with high efficiency, and a plurality of cargo receptacles can be accepted, so that the waiting time for the cargo receipt can be reduced.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The fruit selection machine classifies fruits such as persimmons and melons according to grades according to quality and size, and FIG. 1 is an overall plan view thereof. Here, the fruit is packed in a container and conveyed by the load receiving conveyor 1, and a grade worker takes it out of the box at the supply unit, divides the fruit into good and good, and puts it on the trays 2, 2. For example, a superior product is placed on the supply conveyor 3a side shown in the lower part of FIG. 1, and a non-defective product is placed on the supply conveyor 3b side shown above.
[0007]
Reference numeral 4 denotes a class detecting unit for detecting the shape (size) of the fruit. The class detecting unit 4 includes a shape detector 4 a such as a CCD, and is installed at the start end of the classifying conveyor 5 following the supply conveyor 3. Further, classification discharge units 6, 6... Are provided at fixed positions in the middle of the classification conveyor 5 that are determined for each grade.
[0008]
At the end of the supply conveyor 3, the tray 2 on which the fruit is placed is moved to the classification conveyor 5, the fruit grade is determined by the detection unit 4, and the result is sent to the control unit 7 and stored. When the fruit is placed on the classification conveyor 5 and reaches the classification discharge unit 6 of the determined grade, the fruit is taken out in a predetermined manner. The speed of the classifying conveyor 5 is detected by a rotary encoder 8 at the end of the classifying conveyor 5, and the speed is sent to the control unit 7 so as to know the fruit arrival position.
[0009]
The fruits of the same class that have reached the classification discharge unit 6 are automatically adsorbed and packed in a damper pole box, or are manually packed in a damp pole box on the lifting and lowering table 9 by an operator. The empty tray 2 of the classification discharge unit 6 is returned from the empty tray return port 10 to the tray return unit 12 by the tray return conveyor 11 passing under the classification conveyor 5, and then returned to the supply conveyor 3.
[0010]
The number of slide bases 13, 13... Described later occupied by the tray 2 is obtained from the detection result of the shape detector 4a. Thereafter, the number of slide bases 13 is stored in the control unit 7 to carry it. As the shape detector 4a, for example, the classification conveyor 5 is operated at a constant speed, an optical sensor is arranged on the endless chain 14, the front end of the tray 2 is detected by the optical sensor, and then the rear end of the same tray 2 is detected. There is one that calculates the length from the front end to the rear end of the tray 2 from the time until detection and the traveling speed of the supply conveyor 3.
[0011]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tray, and FIG. 3 is a side sectional view thereof. The tray 2 is made of resin, and a large-diameter collar portion 2a is provided on the upper portion so that the whole is formed in a mortar shape. A radial support piece 2b is passed to the mortar-shaped portion, a rubber plate 15 is placed on the upper surface, and the periphery is fitted and fixed to the collar portion 2a. 2c is a central through hole. Convex ridges are formed concentrically on the surface of the rubber dish 15 to form a cushion. In addition, by forming the body portion 2d of the lower half of the tray 2 to be smaller in diameter than the collar portion 2a, the tray 2 does not overlap with the same slide base 13 even if the tray 2 continuously contacts back and forth. Yes.
[0012]
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the slide base switching device, and FIG. 5 is a side view thereof. The classification conveyor 5 passes a large number of guide bars 16, 16... Configure. .. Are provided on the upper surface of each guide bar 16, 16... Further, one end 13 s of each slide base 13, 13... Protrudes so as to cover the top of the chain 14 so as not to become a resistance when moving to the classification discharge unit 6. . A guide rail 19 is provided from the lower center of the guide bar 16 toward the classification discharge unit 6 determined for each class. Furthermore, a tray discharge guide 20 is provided toward the classification discharge unit 6 slightly behind the guide rail 19. The tray discharge guide 20 is provided at a position corresponding to the height of the body portion 2 d of the tray 2. In the classification discharge unit 6, two discharge rollers 21, 21 are arranged at intervals, and a driving roller 22 is provided adjacent to the lower side of the two discharge rollers 21, 21. The discharge rollers 21 and 21 have a predetermined length that exceeds the length of the tray 2, the roller surface is formed of a flexible material such as rubber, and the upper surfaces of the discharge rollers 21 and 21 are compared to the upper surface of the endless chain 14. It is provided to be equivalent or slightly higher. The driving roller 22 is formed integrally and long through the respective classifying discharge portions 6, and is continuously rotated counterclockwise by a motor (not shown). The surface of the driving roller 22 is made of a soft material such as rubber.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 5, a movable element 23 is provided on each lower surface of the slide bases 13, 13,... And two sets of slits 13a, 13b formed in parallel on the front and rear sides of the slide base 13 from the movable element 23. The pins 23a and 23b protrude and are inserted, and the movable element 23 is slidably supported within the range of the slits 13a and 13b. Further, a spring 24 is held on the lower surface of the slide base 13, one end of the spring 24 is fixed to substantially the center of the slide base 13, and the other end is connected to the counter take-out side of the moving element 23. The mover 23 is urged toward the take-out side by the force. Further, a locking piece 25 is attached to the opposite side of the slide base 13 so as to be pivotable around the longitudinal axis, and the moving element 23 is locked by the hook 25a of the locking piece 25, and this moving element 23 is held on the opposite side. To do. On the take-out side of the moving element 23, a guide pin 26 is formed protruding downward. A lock releaser 27 is provided opposite to the locking piece 25 of the moving element 23 on the side opposite to the extraction position before each extraction position. The lock releaser 27 is formed by fixing a cam 29 to the rotary shaft of the rotary solenoid 28 fixed to the frame, and rotates the rotary solenoid 28 by the control signal of the control unit 7 to rotate the cam 29. The locking piece 25 is pushed by the rotation, and the locking of the moving element 23 is released.
[0014]
The take-out portions by the discharge rollers 21 and 21 are provided with gate members 30 and 30 which are provided at a predetermined interval on the left and right sides, swing left and right with the base portion as a fulcrum, and distribute the tray 2 to the left and right to feed them out. A path switching mechanism 32 is constituted by an air cylinder mechanism 31 that expands and contracts in response to an expansion / contraction command signal from the control unit. Corresponding to this path switching mechanism 32, the classifying and discharging unit 6 is configured as a pair of two classifying and discharging units 6A and 6B, and the elevating-type packing bases 9 and 9 are disposed at the end portions of the discharging units 6A and 6B. Keep it. The control unit 7 assigns to the single classification discharge unit 6 every two ranks, outputs an operation signal to the rotary solenoid 28, and outputs the selection signal of the two ranks as an operation signal of the air cylinder mechanism 31. In this configuration, the classification discharge units 6A and 6B set in advance can be sorted and discharged.
[0015]
Next, the operation of the slide base switching device will be described. The tray 2 on which the fruit is placed is transferred from the supply conveyor 3 to the classification conveyor 5, its shape is detected by the detection unit 4, and the detection result is stored in the control unit 7. When the tray 2 moves on the surface of the classification conveyor 5 and the predetermined two classes reach the classification discharge unit 6, the rotary solenoid 28 provided at that position is actuated by a control signal from the control unit 7 to engage the slide base 13. The locking of the stop piece 25 is released. Subsequently, every time the slide base 13 reaches that position, the rotary solenoid 28 is operated to continuously release the locking pieces 25 of the slide base 13, and the length of the tray 2 stored in the control unit 7. The rotary solenoid 28 is stopped repeatedly by the number of slide bases 13 corresponding to the number. When the locking piece 25 is released, the movable element 23 is moved to the take-out side by the spring 24 within the slits 13a and 13b. Along with this movement, the guide pin 26 also moves to the take-out side beyond the position of the moving guide rail 19 (point in FIG. 4A).
[0016]
When the classification conveyor 5 further advances, the guide pins 26 move along the moving guide rails 19 and move to the take-out side of the slide base 13 on which the tray 2 is placed together with the mover 23 (points B to C in FIG. 4). When the slide base 13 reaches the chain 14 on the take-out side, it stops and keeps its state. At this time, the tip portion 13s of the slide base 13 is in a state of protruding like a hook on the endless chain 14, and the tray 2 moves further on the hook portion along the tray discharge guide 20 to the take-out side. (Points E to D in FIG. 4), the paper is transferred to the two discharge rollers 21 at the take-out position. The tray discharge guide 20 hits the body portion 2d of the tray 2 and pushes the tray 2 toward the take-out position. The two discharge rollers 21 sink due to the weight of the tray 2 on which the fruit is placed, come into contact with the driving roller 22 disposed below, and rotate along with the rotation of the tray 2 so that the tray 2 is moved to the classification discharge unit 6 side. To the drawer pool conveyor 33. Subsequently, the path switching mechanism 32 is operated, and the ranks are also divided here and pooled in predetermined classification discharge units 6A and 6B.
[0017]
In the above embodiment, the load receiving conveyor 1 is provided toward the grade conveyor 3 on which the grade evaluator waits and the container is transferred by the load receiving conveyor 1. However, the container is inverted by the auto damper 45 shown in FIG. The structure which can take out accommodated fruit at once and can supply it to a grade conveyor may be sufficient. The auto damper 45 of FIG. 6 has a container transport surface of a transport body 47 in which a plurality of slats 46, 46... Are arranged in an arc shape, and drives the container appropriately while holding the container between the opposing transport transport body 48. The container is reversely transferred in a sandwiched manner, and the inverted container is gradually lifted upward at the upper transfer end to receive the fruit inside by the supply conveyor 49.
[0018]
A feed conveyor 51 is provided on the transfer start end side of the auto damper 45 so as to connect the first load receiving conveyor 50L and the second load receiving conveyor 50R that convey containers from the left and right sides. Container detectors 52L and 52R for detecting whether or not the container has reached a predetermined position are provided at the transfer end portions of the first and second cargo receiving conveyors 50L and 50R, respectively, so as to prevent entry into the feeding conveyor 51. Restricting plates 53L and 53R that can freely move back and forth are provided on the surface. Containers containing the fruit to be sorted by different consignees are carried to the first and second consignment conveyors 50L and 50R. For example, the container detector 52L is used for confirming the change of load placed at the head of each consignee. When the dummy container is detected, the regulation plate 53R of the pair of regulation plates enters the path, and the drive of the other side load receiving conveyor 50R is controlled to stop. In this way, one load receiving portion of the load receiving conveyor 50L can continuously enter the infeed conveyor 51 and be sequentially reversed and transferred by the auto damper 45 and supplied to the grade conveyor 3. When one load is received, the load receiving conveyor 50R waiting on the other side is activated, and the container on the conveyor 50R can be supplied from the feed conveyor 51 to the auto damper 45. Reference numeral 54 denotes an extruding mechanism for extruding from the feeding conveyor 51 to the starting end of the auto damper 45.
[0019]
As described above, a plurality of cargo receiving conveyors 50L and 50R are connected to the feeding conveyor 51 provided on the supply starting end side of the auto damper 45, and the detection results of the container detectors 52L and 52R arranged on the terminal end side of the respective cargo receiving conveyors are obtained. Since the container can be sequentially supplied to the auto damper 45 on the basis of this, for example, the container can be supplied alternately from both sides of the auto damper 45, and the sorting operation can be performed with high efficiency, and a plurality of cargo receptacles can be received. The waiting time for receiving the goods can be reduced.
[0020]
FIG. 9 shows a polishing / dust collecting apparatus as a pretreatment step before being supplied to the grade conveyor 3 or the like. A load receiving and conveying conveyor 55 is arranged on the upper side, and an appropriate takeover conveyor 56 is arranged on the lower side, and a processing conveyor 57 having a roller conveyor form is provided. On the upper surface of the processing conveyor 57, umbrella-shaped dust collectors 58, 58 are formed with dust collecting air passages inside the left, right, left, right, left side, right side, left side, right side, right side, left side, right side, left side, right side, left side, right side, right side, left side Is provided in a hanging shape. In other words, a plurality of branch dust collection ducts 60, 60... Communicating with the outdoor dust collector 59 are provided with hanging ducts 61, 61..., And the dust collecting bodies 58, 58. The upper side cylinder portions 58a, 58a... Are fitted and connected so as to be rotatable about the vertical axis, and a belt 63 is wound between belt pulleys 62, 62... Fixed to the cylinder portions 58a, 58a. It is the structure which can be interlocked with rotation in the arrow direction. In addition, 65, 65 ... is a brush body provided at the lower edge of the dust collectors 58, 58 .... The dust collector 59 has a built-in suction fan.
[0021]
Due to the above configuration, when the dust collector 59 and the processing conveyor 57 are driven, the driving roller rotates in contact with the lower body 66 and rolls fruits (for example, chestnuts) from the cargo receiving and feeding conveyor 55. Transfer to the lower side. At this time, when entering the lower surface of the dust collectors 58, 58..., Dust attached to the surface is separated by the rubbing action of the brush bodies 65, 65. As a result, the dust is collected in the dust collector 59 through the duct. In this configuration, while the dust collector 58 rotates around the vertical axis, the object to be processed that rolls on the surface of the processing conveyor 57 is separated by rubbing dust adhering to the surface by the rotating dust collector 58 with a brush. Since it is a structure that collects dust, the dust removal effect from the object to be processed is high, and the dust is collected in the dust collecting device 59 as it is immediately after the separation, thereby reducing the floating diffusion of dust.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall plan view of a fruit selection machine equipped with a slide base switching device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tray.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a tray.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the slide base switching device.
FIG. 5 is a side view of the same.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an auto damper.
FIG. 7 is a plan view of the same.
FIG. 8 is a side view of the polishing / dust collecting apparatus.
FIG. 9 is a plan view of the same.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Conveyance conveyor, 2 ... Tray, 3 ... Supply conveyor, 4 ... Class detection part, 4a ... Shape detector, 5 ... Classification conveyor, 6, 6A, 6B ... Classification discharge part 7 ... Control part, 8 ... Rotary encoder, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 9 ... Elevating packing stand, 10 ... Empty tray return port, 11 ... Tray return conveyor, 12 ... Tray return, 13 ... Slide base, 13a, 13b ... Slit, 14 ... Endless chain, 15 ... Rubber tray, 16 ... Guide bar, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 19 ... Guide rail, 20 ... Tray discharge guide, 21 ... Discharge roller, 22 ... Driving roller, 23 ... Mover, 23a, 23b ... Pin, 24 ... Spring, 25 ... Locking piece, 26 ... Guide pin, 27 ... Unlocker, 28 ... Rotary solenoid, 29 ... Cam, 30 ... Gate member, 31 ... Air cylinder mechanism, 32 ... Path switching mechanism, 33 ... Drawer pool Nbear

Claims (1)

Transported by the load receiving conveyor stuffed it is sorted fruit container (1), comprising a classifying conveyor for transporting put an object to be sorted fruit taken from this container to the tray (2) (5), the tray by classification command signal (2 ) In the fruit sorting device to be taken out to the discharge part (6, 6A, 6B) while being displaced laterally toward the classification discharge part,
The classifying discharge section (6, 6A, 6B) is provided in a plurality of strips, and a path switching mechanism (32) for sorting and discharging the classified fruits to each strip is provided on the start end side, and this path switching mechanism (32). Is configured to switch to a predetermined state based on a predetermined equal class command signal ,
The above-described container is reversed and transferred upward, and the upper end of the transfer is gradually lifted upward and the fruit to be sorted is discharged to the supply conveyor (49). 45)
A feed conveyor (51) is provided on the transfer start end side of the auto damper (45) so as to connect the first load receiving conveyor (50L) and the second load receiving conveyor (50R) for conveying containers from the left and right sides.
In these first and second cargo receiving conveyors (50L, 50R), container detectors (52L, 52R) for detecting whether or not the container has reached a predetermined position at the respective transfer terminal portions can be moved forward and backward on the respective conveyance surfaces. Regulation plates (53L, 53R)
When either one of the first and second cargo receiving conveyors (50L, 50R) detects a dummy container for confirming a load change, a regulation plate provided on the cargo receiving conveyor on the side not detecting the dummy container is in the path. The load receiving conveyor on the side where the dummy container is not detected is controlled to stop, and one load receiving portion of the load receiving conveyor on the side where the dummy container is detected continuously enters the infeed conveyor and sequentially enters the auto damper ( In 45), the product is reversed and transferred, and the receipt of the cargo is completed.
A fruit sorting apparatus , wherein a load receiving conveyor standing by on a side where no dummy container is detected is activated, and the controller (7) controls to supply the container on the conveyor to the automatic damper (45). .

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