JP6555999B2 - Supply device - Google Patents

Description

  The present disclosure relates to a supply device that supplies, for example, fruits and vegetables to containers in a transport conveyor or the like.

  Patent document 1 discloses a supply apparatus. In this supply device, the suction device is also in the operating state in the operating state of the sorting conveyor and the supply conveyor. Then, the agricultural product W that is transported by the supply conveyor and dropped (released) from the end side thereof is dropped to the transport start end side (supply position) on the forward path of the sorting conveyor as indicated by an arrow A in FIGS. Since the fallen agricultural product W is set so that the supply conveyor and the sorting conveyor 2 operate in synchronization, the agricultural product W is supplied from the supply conveyor 3 onto the tray of the sorting conveyor bucket at a constant pitch. .

  At this time, the bottom of the agricultural product W supplied to the tray is sucked through the through opening by the operation of the blower of the suction device. As a result, the agricultural product W is placed in a sucked state on the substantially central portion (mounting portion) of the tray. Thereby, even if it is a case where the suction to the center part is instantaneously performed from mounting of the agricultural product W on the cushioning material and the mounting position of the agricultural product W on the cushioning material slightly varies, the suctioning action is performed. Thus, it can be surely drawn to the central portion, and the agricultural product W to be dropped is reliably supplied onto the tray.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-240229

  In the case of the said structure, in order to place the agricultural product W on a saucer stably, the agricultural product W is attracted | sucked through the through-opening of a saucer. However, the agricultural product W is simply dropped into the tray, and there is a case where the falling moment of the agricultural product W cannot be suppressed in relation to the momentum of the agricultural product W falling and the suction force in the suction device. As a result, the agricultural product W is not stably placed on the saucer, such as spilling from the saucer or bounces off the saucer. As a result, the agricultural product W is likely to be damaged.

  Therefore, the present disclosure provides a supply device that can reduce damage to a transported article due to spillage or rebound from a container at the time of charging.

  A supply device according to the present disclosure includes a transport unit that transports a transport article supplied from the outside, at least one hopper that temporarily retains the transport article transported by the transport unit, and a transport article that is discharged from the hopper A plurality of containers for retaining the container are arranged adjacent to each other continuously, and a conveying conveyor that conveys the conveyed article remaining in the container to another apparatus disposed downstream of the own apparatus, and at least a gate opening / closing timing of the hopper A control unit that controls, when the control unit discharges a transported article related to discharge among the transported articles staying in the hopper to a discharge container that is a discharge destination of the transported article among a plurality of containers, By controlling the opening and closing timing of the hopper, the transported article related to the discharge is discharged between the discharge container and the adjacent container that is disposed downstream of the discharge container and adjacent thereto.

  The supply device in the present disclosure can discharge the conveyed article between adjacent containers, that is, at the edge of the container. The edge of the container is closer to the hopper compared to a predetermined position in the container. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the damage to the transported article due to rebounding at the time of loading.

The schematic diagram which shows the case where the supply apparatus in this embodiment is seen from a substantially vertical upward direction The schematic diagram which shows the case where the supply apparatus in this embodiment is seen from a horizontal direction The schematic diagram which shows the structure seen from the one side of the hopper in this embodiment The schematic diagram which shows the structure seen from the one side of the hopper in this embodiment The schematic diagram which shows the structure seen from the one side of the hopper in this embodiment Block configuration diagram of the supply device in the present embodiment The figure for demonstrating the opening / closing operation | movement of the gate which the hopper has in the control part in this embodiment

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. However, more detailed description than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed descriptions of already well-known matters and repeated descriptions for substantially the same configuration may be omitted. This is to avoid the following description from becoming unnecessarily redundant and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

  The inventor provides the accompanying drawings and the following description in order for those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and is not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims. Absent.

(Embodiment)
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the supply device 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.

(Constitution)
First, a specific configuration of the supply device 100 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The supply device 100 is a device that transports fruits and vegetables to other devices arranged downstream of the transport conveyor 106 in the transport direction shown in FIG. The fruits and vegetables may be anything such as cherry tomatoes, oranges or yuzu.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a case where the supply device in the present embodiment is viewed from a substantially vertical direction.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a case where the supply device according to the present embodiment is viewed from the horizontal direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the supply device 100 according to the present embodiment includes a mounting table 101, a first transport feeder 102, a second transport feeder 103, a third transport feeder 104, a hopper 105, a transport conveyor 106, and a bucket 107. Composed.

  The mounting table 101 temporarily retains fruits and vegetables thrown in by the user shown in FIG. The fruits and vegetables staying on the mounting table 101 are leveled by the user's hand, and are transported from the first transport feeder 102_1 to one of the first transport feeders 102_10. The mounting table 101 may be connected to a vibration exciter that is vibrated by an electromagnet or the like (not shown) and convey fruits and vegetables by vibrations from the vibration exciter.

  The first transport feeder 102 transports fruits and vegetables transported from the mounting table 101. The first transport feeder 102 is disposed below the outer edge side of the mounting table 101.

  In the case of the present embodiment, a total of ten members are arranged in parallel from the first transport feeder 102_1 to the first transport feeder 102_10. In FIG. 1, only the first transport feeder 102_1 and the first transport feeder 102_10 are shown, but the member adjacent to the right of the first transport feeder 102_1 is the first transport feeder 102_2. Numbers are assigned to the first transport feeder 102_3 to the first transport feeder 102_9 according to the same rule.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the ten first transport feeders 102 are arranged has been described. However, the number of the first transport feeders 102 such as 15 or 20 depends on the production scale or installation area of the user. Changed.

  The first transport feeder 102 vibrates, for example, by the action of an electromagnet (not shown), thereby causing the fruits and vegetables supplied from the mounting table 101 to move in the end direction opposite to the end located near the mounting table 101 (the mounting table 101). Transport in the direction away from the head). The 1st conveyance feeder 102 supplies the fruit and vegetables conveyed to the outer edge to the 2nd conveyance feeder 103 arrange | positioned under the outer edge side of the 1st conveyance feeder 102. FIG.

  The second transport feeder 103 further transports the fruits and vegetables transported from the first transport feeder 102. In the case of the present embodiment, a total of ten members are arranged in parallel from the second transport feeder 103_1 to the second transport feeder 103_10 corresponding to the first transport feeder 102_1 to the first transport feeder 102_10. In FIG. 1, only the second transport feeder 103_1 and the second transport feeder 103_10 are illustrated, but the member adjacent to the right of the second transport feeder 103_1 is the second transport feeder 103_2. Numbers are assigned to the second transport feeder 103_3 to the second transport feeder 103_9 according to the same rule.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the ten second transport feeders 103 are arranged has been described. However, the number of the second transport feeders 103 such as 15 or 20 depends on the production scale or installation area of the user. Changed.

  The second transport feeders 103 are arranged one by one below the outer end side of each of the first transport feeders 102.

  For example, the second transport feeder 103 vibrates due to the action of an electromagnet (not shown) so that the fruits and vegetables supplied from the first transport feeder 102 are in the end direction opposite to the end located in the vicinity of the first transport feeder 102. Transport in the direction away from the first transport feeder 102. The 2nd conveyance feeder 103 supplies the fruit and vegetables conveyed to the outer edge to the 3rd conveyance feeder 104 arrange | positioned under the outer edge side of the 2nd conveyance feeder 103. FIG.

  The third transport feeder 104 further transports the fruits and vegetables transported from the second transport feeder 103. In the case of the present embodiment, a total of ten members are arranged in parallel from the third transport feeder 104_1 to the third transport feeder 104_10 corresponding to the second transport feeder 103_1 to the second transport feeder 103_10. Although only the third transport feeder 104_1 and the third transport feeder 104_10 are illustrated in FIG. 1, the member adjacent to the right of the third transport feeder 104_1 is the third transport feeder 104_2. Numbers are assigned to the third transport feeder 104_3 to the third transport feeder 104_9 according to the same rule.

  In this embodiment, the configuration in which ten third transport feeders 104 are arranged has been described. However, the number of third transport feeders 104, such as 15 or 20, depends on the production scale or installation area of the user. Changed.

  In addition, it is preferable that the installation number of the 1st conveyance feeder 102 in the above, the 2nd conveyance feeder 103, and the 3rd conveyance feeder 104 is the same number, respectively. This is because each of the first transport feeder 102, the second transport feeder 103, and the third transport feeder 104 has a one-to-one correspondence.

  The third transport feeders 104 are arranged one by one below the outer end side of each of the second transport feeders 103.

  For example, the third transport feeder 104 vibrates due to the action of an electromagnet (not shown), so that the fruits and vegetables supplied from the second transport feeder 103 are in the end direction opposite to the end located in the vicinity of the second transport feeder 103. Transport in the direction away from the second transport feeder 103. The 3rd conveyance feeder 104 supplies the fruit and vegetables conveyed to the outer edge to the hopper 105 arrange | positioned under the outer edge side of the 3rd conveyance feeder 104. FIG.

  The hopper 105 temporarily stores the fruits and vegetables supplied from the third transport feeder 104. Then, the first gate member 1054 and the second gate member 1055 included in the hopper 105 are opened and closed by a control signal from the control unit 201. By this action, the fruits and vegetables staying in the hopper 105 are discharged to the bucket 107 in the transport conveyor 106.

  In the case of the present embodiment, hoppers 105_1 to 105_10 are arranged one by one with respect to the lower side of the outer edge end of each of the third transport feeders 104.

  A specific configuration of the hopper 105 will be described later.

  A plurality of buckets 107 are continuously arranged adjacent to each other, and the conveyer 106 conveys the staying fruit and vegetables to another apparatus disposed downstream of the own apparatus. The conveyor 106 is driven by the control unit 201.

  More specifically, the transfer conveyor 106 moves the buckets 107 in the transfer direction with the plurality of buckets 107 aligned in a line with respect to the transfer direction. In this case, the space between adjacent buckets 107 is smaller than the size of the fruits and vegetables. As a result, the fruits and vegetables discharged from the hopper 105 between the adjacent buckets 107 do not enter between the adjacent buckets 107.

  The bucket 107 retains the fruits and vegetables discharged from the hopper 105. This 107 is conveyed downstream by the conveyor 106. As a result, the fruits and vegetables are transported to another device arranged downstream.

  Further, the bucket 107 has a bowl shape as shown in FIG. 7 in which a portion facing the hopper 105 opens. The bucket 107 has a mechanism capable of discharging the staying fruit and vegetables at a desired position by opening a bottom portion according to a control signal of at least one of the other device and the control unit 201 arranged downstream.

  Here, it is preferable that the edge of the bucket 107 has a configuration in which a buffer member for buffering an impact caused by dropping of fruits and vegetables is arranged. Thereby, after the fruits and vegetables are discharged from the hopper 105, when the fruits and vegetables contact the edge of the bucket 107, the phenomenon that the fruits and vegetables are damaged can be reduced.

(Specific description of the hopper 105)
Hereinafter, a specific configuration of the hopper 105 will be described with reference to the drawings.

  3, 4, and 5 are schematic diagrams illustrating a configuration viewed from one side surface of the hopper according to the present embodiment.

  The hopper 105 includes a hopper body 1051, a link mechanism 1052, an attachment member 1053, a first gate member 1054, a second gate member 1055, and an inclined surface 1056.

  The hopper body 1051 is a cylindrical member having openings in the vertical direction. The hopper body 1051 has an inclined surface 1056 in part. Specifically, the hopper body 1051 has a wall surface extending in a substantially vertical direction, and an inclined surface 1056 that is continuously formed as a member with the wall surface and has an angle with respect to the substantially vertical direction. As a result, some fruits and vegetables supplied from the third transport feeder 104 are supplied into the hopper body 1051 and then slide down along the inclined surface 1056. The fruits and vegetables reach the vicinity of the opening formed on the lower side of the substantially vertical direction, in other words, the vicinity of the tip of the inclined surface 1056. The control unit 201 normally closes the first gate member 1054 and the second gate member 1055. Therefore, the fruits and vegetables that have slipped down the inclined surface 1056 stay near the tip of the inclined surface 1056.

  Specifically, the inclined surface 1056 is formed so as to slide the fruits and vegetables in the transport direction (see FIG. 1) in which the transport conveyor 106 transports the bucket 107. That is, when the conveyance direction is a direction from right to left as shown in FIG. 1, the inclined surface 1056 is a surface inclined downward from right to left. Thereby, the conveyance speed of the bucket 107 conveyed by the conveyance conveyor 106 and the conveyance speed of the fruits and vegetables falling to the bucket 107 from the tip of the inclined surface 1056 when the first gate member 1054 and the second gate member 1055 are opened. The speed with respect to the direction and the difference can be reduced. Thereby, when the fruits and vegetables contact the bucket 107, the magnitude of the force applied from the bucket 107 can be reduced. As a result, the damage to fruits and vegetables can be reduced.

  The link mechanism 1052 is a mechanism that is driven by the driving force of the stepping motor 204 to open and close the first gate member 1054 and the second gate member 1055. The control unit 201 outputs a control signal to the stepping motor 204. When receiving the control signal output from the control unit 201, the stepping motor 204 is driven to rotate based on the control signal. By rotating and driving in this manner, the link mechanism 1052 is operated, and the first gate member 1054 and the second gate member 1055 are opened and closed.

  The link mechanism 1052 described above may have any configuration as long as it converts a rotational force generated when the stepping motor 204 is rotationally driven into a force that opens and closes the first gate member 1054 and the second gate member 1055.

  The attachment member 1053 is a member that is connected to the hopper main body 1051 and connected to the apparatus main body.

  The first gate member 1054 is connected to the attachment member 1053, and closes the substantially vertical lower opening in the hopper body 1051. The first gate member 1054 is made of a metal member such as stainless steel.

  The second gate member 1055 is a member that is connected to the first gate member 1054 and closes the substantially vertical lower opening of the hopper body 1051 together with the first gate member 1054. The second gate member 1055 is made of, for example, a resin and a member that can be changed with a slight force. By configuring in this way, the second gate member 1055 can be easily changed even when the fruits and vegetables discharged from the tip of the inclined surface 1056 hit the second gate member 1055 after being discharged. Therefore, the damage to fruits and vegetables can be reduced.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the end portion of the second gate member 1055 opposite to the end portion connected to the first gate member 1054 (hereinafter simply referred to as an end portion) is an inclined surface. Compared with the tip portion of 1056, it protrudes in a substantially vertical downward direction, in other words, in a direction toward the bucket 107. As a result, when some fruits and vegetables discharged from the vicinity of the tip of the inclined surface 1056 to the bucket 107 fall on the bucket 107 after hitting the second gate member 1055, the second gate member 1055 protrudes. Compared to the case without it, the fall speed of fruits and vegetables can be reduced. Thereby, the damage | wound with respect to fruit and vegetables can be reduced more.

  In addition, when the second gate member 1055 is opened by the control unit 201, the space between the end of the second gate member 1055 and the edge of the bucket 107 is smaller than the size of the fruits and vegetables. In short, the second gate member 1055 regulates the transport operation in the transport direction of the fruits and vegetables that have fallen between the buckets 107, that is, at any edge of the adjacent buckets 107. In other words, even if the bucket 107 moves in the transport direction by the transport operation of the transport conveyor 106, the fruits and vegetables on the bucket 107 contact the second gate member 1055, and therefore cannot move further in the transport direction. . As a result, the fruits and vegetables that have fallen to one edge of the adjacent bucket 107 can be reliably supplied into the target bucket 107 by the second gate member 1055.

(Electrical configuration)
Hereinafter, the electrical configuration of the supply apparatus 100 will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a block configuration of the supply device according to the present embodiment.

  The supply apparatus 100 includes at least control units 201 and 204 as an electrical configuration.

  The control unit 201 controls at least a part of each member of the supply device 100 according to a control program stored in the memory 203 based on information input from a user via an input unit (not shown).

  The control unit 201 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 202 and a memory 203 such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory).

  The control unit 201 is connected to each part of the supply device 100 such as the first transport feeder 102, the second transport feeder 103, the third transport feeder 104, the memory 203, and the transport conveyor 106.

  Specifically, the control unit 201 outputs a control signal to the stepping motor 204. As a result, the first gate member 1054 and the second gate member 1055 in the hopper 105 are opened and closed.

  This control part 201 adjusts the timing which opens the 1st gate member 1054 and the 2nd gate member 1055 in the state which kept the conveyance speed of the bucket 107 in the conveyance conveyor 106 constant. Thereby, the control unit 201 adjusts the discharge timing of the fruits and vegetables staying near the tip of the inclined surface 1056. At this time, the control unit 201 drops the fruits and vegetables between the adjacent buckets 107, in other words, at least one of the edges of the adjacent buckets 107. That is, the control unit 201 does not drop fruits and vegetables directly on the wall surface or bottom surface inside the bucket 107.

  Hereinafter, an opening / closing operation of the first gate member 1054 and the second gate member 1055 in the control unit 201 will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 7 is a view for explaining an opening / closing operation of the first gate member 1054 and the second gate member 1055 included in the hopper 105 in the control unit 201 according to the present embodiment.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the opening / closing operations of the first gate member 1054 and the second gate member 1055 in the hopper 105 in time series. Furthermore, alphanumeric characters such as N and N-1 shown in FIG. 7 are shown for convenience in order to distinguish the plurality of buckets 107. That is, the bucket 107 described as N indicates the Nth bucket 107. The same applies to other alphanumeric characters.

  Further, for convenience of explanation below, the bucket 107 serving as the fruit and vegetable discharge destination shown in FIG.

  (A) First, the control unit 201 determines whether or not the fruits and vegetables stay in the hopper 105. When the mass value of the fruits and vegetables put into the hopper 105 can be acquired, the control unit 201 determines stay based on the acquired mass value.

  (B) When it is determined that the fruits and vegetables stay in the hopper 105, the control unit 201 transmits a control signal to 204 to cause the stepping motor 204 to rotate. In conjunction with this rotational drive, the link mechanism 1052 is driven, and as a result, the first gate member 1054 and the second gate member 1055 start to open.

  Note that in the above case, the control unit 201, between the Nth bucket 107 and the N−1th bucket 107, in other words, the edge of the Nth bucket 107 and the N−1th bucket 107. The transmission timing of the control signal is adjusted so that the fruits and vegetables are discharged to at least one of the edges. This transmission timing may be determined experimentally. Further, the position in the bucket 107 may be detected by a sensor (not shown), and the control unit 201 may set the position based on the detected position and the conveyance speed of the bucket 107.

  (C) By supplying a control signal continuously from the control unit 201 to the stepping motor 204, the first gate member 1054 and the second gate member 1055 are continuously opened. As a result, a gap through which the fruits and vegetables can pass is formed between the tip of the inclined surface 1056 and the second gate member 1055. When this gap is formed, the fruits and vegetables slide down the inclined surface 1056 by their own weight and fall into the bucket 107.

  (D) By adjusting the transmission timing of the control signal transmitted from the control unit 201 to the stepping motor 204 as described above, the fruits and vegetables fall between the adjacent buckets 107. In other words, the fruits and vegetables fall on at least one of the edge of the Nth bucket 107 and the edge of the Nth bucket 107.

  (E) The fruits and vegetables dropped on at least one of the edge of the Nth bucket 107 and the edge of the Nth bucket 107 are conveyed as shown in FIG. Conveyed in the direction. However, the space between the end of the second gate member 1055 and the bucket 107 is narrower than the size of the fruits and vegetables. Therefore, the transport of fruits and vegetables is restricted by the second gate member 1055, and the bucket 107 is transported in the transport direction, but the fruits and vegetables are restricted by the second gate member 1055 and are not transported any further.

  (F) By restricting the conveyance of the fruits and vegetables by the second gate member 1055 as described above, the fruits and vegetables are accommodated in the Nth sound bucket 107 so as to roll off from the edge of the Nth bucket 107. The

(Summary)
In the present embodiment, the supply device 100 includes a first transport feeder 102, a second transport feeder 103, a third transport feeder 104, and a transported article transported by the third transport feeder 104 that transport transport articles supplied from the outside. And at least one hopper 105 that is temporarily retained. Further, the supply device 100 is configured such that a plurality of buckets 107 for retaining the transported articles discharged from the hopper 105 are continuously arranged adjacent to each other, and the retained transported articles are transported to another apparatus disposed downstream of the own apparatus. And a control unit 201 that controls the opening and closing timings of the first gate member 1054 and the second gate member 1055 included in at least the hopper 105.

  Here, the control unit 201 transfers the transported articles to be discharged in the transported articles staying in the hopper 105 to the Nth bucket 107 as the discharge destination among the buckets 107 that are continuously transported. When discharging, by controlling the opening / closing timing, the N-th bucket 107 is discharged between the N-th bucket 107 disposed downstream of the N-th bucket 107 and adjacent thereto. The transported article is discharged.

  Thereby, the fall distance of the conveyed article discharged | emitted from the hopper 105 can be shortened compared with the case where it discharges | emits in the bucket 107. FIG. Therefore, after being discharged from the hopper 105, the speed in the substantially vertical direction of the conveyed article when coming into contact with the bucket 107 can be reduced as compared with the case of being discharged directly to the wall surface or bottom surface inside the bucket 107. Thereby, the damage | wound attached to the conveyance article | item can be reduced by rebounding with respect to the bucket 107 after throwing in to the bucket 107 after contacting the bucket 107, or contacting with another member.

  Further, preferably, when the gate of the hopper 105 in the control unit 201 is in an open state, the gap between the tip of the gate of the hopper 105 and the conveyor 106 is smaller than the size of the conveyed article.

  Preferably, the main body of the hopper 105 has an inclined surface 1056 in which the conveyed article slides down in the conveying direction of the conveying conveyor 106 due to its own weight.

  Preferably, the tip of the gate of the hopper 105 protrudes closer to the transport conveyor 106 than the tip of the hopper 105 main body.

  In addition, preferably, the control unit 201 controls the opening / closing timing so that the conveyed article falls on at least one of the edge of the discharge bucket 107 and the edge of the discharge bucket 107 and the edge adjacent to the adjacent bucket 107. .

  Preferably, a buffer member for buffering an impact caused by the fall of the transported article is disposed on the edge of the bucket 107.

(Other embodiments)
As described above, the embodiments have been described as examples of the technology disclosed in the present application. However, the technology in the present disclosure is not limited to this, and can also be applied to an embodiment in which changes, replacements, additions, omissions, and the like are appropriately performed.

  In the above embodiment, the hopper 105 may be connected to the load cell. In this case, the mass value of the fruits and vegetables put into the hopper 105 is detected by the load cell. And it becomes the structure which outputs the detected mass value to the control part 201 from a load cell. The control unit 201 can sort fruits and vegetables based on the acquired mass value.

  In this case, the control unit 201 can combine fruits and vegetables staying in the plurality of hoppers 105 based on the mass value detected by the load cell, and discharge only the fruits and vegetables having a preset target mass value.

  As described above, the embodiments have been described as examples of the technology in the present disclosure. For this purpose, the accompanying drawings and detailed description are provided.

  Accordingly, among the components described in the accompanying drawings and the detailed description, not only the components essential for solving the problem, but also the components not essential for solving the problem in order to illustrate the above technique. May also be included. Therefore, it should not be immediately recognized that these non-essential components are essential as those non-essential components are described in the accompanying drawings and detailed description.

  Moreover, since the above-mentioned embodiment is for demonstrating the technique in this indication, a various change, replacement, addition, abbreviation, etc. can be performed in a claim or its equivalent range.

  The present disclosure is applicable to a supply device that supplies an easily damaged article from a hopper to a bucket disposed downstream thereof. Specifically, the present disclosure is applicable to supply devices such as cherry tomatoes.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Supply apparatus 101 Mounting stand 102 1st conveyance feeder 103 2nd conveyance feeder 104 3rd conveyance feeder 105 Hopper 106 Conveyor 107 Bucket 201 Control part 202 CPU
203 Memory 204 Stepping Motor 1051 Hopper Body 1052 Link Mechanism 1053 Mounting Member 1054 First Gate Member 1055 Second Gate Member 1056 Inclined Surface

Claims (6)

A transport unit for transporting a transport article supplied from the outside;
At least one hopper for temporarily retaining the transported article transported by the transport unit;
A plurality of containers that retain the transported articles discharged from the hopper are continuously arranged adjacent to each other, and transport the transported articles that stay in the containers to another apparatus disposed downstream of the apparatus. A conveyor,
A control unit that controls at least the opening and closing timing of the gate of the hopper,
The control unit controls the opening and closing timing when a transported article related to discharge among the transported articles staying in the hopper is discharged to a discharge container that is a discharge destination of the transported article among the plurality of containers. By this, between the said discharge container and the adjacent container which is arrange | positioned downstream from the said discharge container and adjoins, the conveyance article which concerns on the said discharge is discharged,
Feeding device.   When the gate which the said hopper has in the said control part is an open state, The space | interval between the front-end | tip part with the gate which the said hopper has, and the said conveyance conveyor is narrower than the magnitude | size of the said conveyance article. Feeding device.   The supply device according to claim 1, wherein the hopper body has an inclined surface in which the transported article slides down in a transport direction of the transport conveyor due to its own weight.   The supply device according to claim 3, wherein a front end portion of the gate of the hopper protrudes toward the transport conveyor side than a front end portion of the hopper main body. The control unit controls the opening and closing timing so that the transported article falls on at least one of an edge of the discharge container and an edge adjacent to the edge of the discharge container among the adjacent containers.
The supply device according to claim 1. The supply device according to claim 1, wherein a buffer member for buffering an impact caused by dropping of the transported article is disposed on an edge of the container.