JPH104816A - Apparatus for selecting and collecting chicken egg or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a selecting and collecting apparatus capable of gathering materials to be collected such as fruits or hen's eggs varied in weight, size, shape, etc., further with a small occupying space. SOLUTION: This selecting and collecting apparatus 1 is equipped with a transporting means 21 for sending chicken eggs 2, transferring means 22 and 23 for conveying the chicken eggs 2 from the transporting means 21 to packaging packs 3 to 8, a weight detecting means 26 for detecting the weights of the chicken eggs 2 to be fed to the transporting means 21 and a controlling means 27 which determines the charge which transfers the chicken eggs 2 in any of he weight division from the transporting means 21 through either of the transferring means 22 and 23 to any of the packaging packs 3 to 8 prepared according to the weight division based on the supply frequency distribution to the transporting means 21, concerning the weight division of the hen's eggs 2 obtained from the weight detection signal of the weigh detecting means 26 and controls the transferring means 22 and 23 based on the determined result and the weight detection signal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for prepackaging objects, such as fruits, vegetables, eggs, etc., which vary in their properties such as weight, size, shape, sugar content, acidity, etc., for each property category. The present invention relates to a sorting and collecting device for sorting and collecting these sorted articles for each property category and for each collection unit in order to sort and pack the packaging for each packaging unit.

[0002]

For example, in the sorting and packaging of eggs whose weight category is usually 7 grades, a packing place is provided for each weight category, and the eggs after weight measurement are sorted and sorted into the corresponding packaging places. The eggs distributed to the respective packaging locations are then accommodated in a packaging container and packaged by an accommodation device provided for each weight category.

[0003] By the way, the central value of the weight distribution of chicken eggs varies little by little depending on the age of the chickens, and the egg weight is not evenly distributed. Therefore, the egg storage devices for the weight categories other than the eggs corresponding to the weight category corresponding to the weight category at the center of the weight distribution become substantially idle and have an extremely low operation rate. For this purpose, a storage device must be installed, and an installation space for it must be provided.

Accordingly, the applicant of the present invention has disclosed Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-76847.
The packaging system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-115,097 has been proposed in which at least one shared storage device is provided, thereby reducing the number of storage places, thereby saving space and reducing equipment costs. The packaging system specifically disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-76847 is one in which a waiting station for eggs, that is, an egg collecting section is fixedly provided one by one corresponding to each of the weight sections. Thus, each of the waiting stations is formed with the same space corresponding to the maximum waiting amount that would occur in the egg packaging. By the way, as described above, since the egg weight distribution is not uniform, at the standby station for the weight division including the center value of the weight distribution, a large number of eggs are always in a standby state, while the weight separated from the center value of the weight distribution. At the waiting station for the section, not many eggs are always waiting, occupying wasted space. Standby stations that occupy this much wasted space vary by producer or production site based on chicken age. Note that such a problem does not occur only in the packaging device for eggs, but can also occur in packaging devices for fruits, vegetables, and the like.

Further, the present applicant has disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-156910.
As described in Japanese Patent Application Publication, a packaging device capable of packaging fruits, chicken eggs, and the like, whose weight, size, shape, and the like vary, has been proposed in a small occupied space. The chicken eggs are sorted out for each of a plurality of different weight divisions set in advance, and the eggs are collected in the corresponding collection division of the collection divisions arranged at least one more than the number of weight divisions. The eggs are taken out and stored in a packaging container. According to this, the initial purpose can be achieved for the time being, however, even in the packaging apparatus according to this proposal, since at least one collection section is provided more than the number of weight sections, an occupied space for this is required, and When a large number of articles to be packaged are sorted and packaged at high speed in large quantities, there is a possibility that an extremely large space must be prepared. In addition, since the sorted eggs are once collected in a collecting section, and then the collected eggs are taken out of each collecting section and stored in a packaging container for packaging, the collecting means inevitably collecting the eggs. In addition to this, a packing means is provided separately from the gathering means. In this respect, a large space must be prepared, and it is difficult to further reduce the space.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and an object of the present invention is to select sorted articles such as fruits, hen eggs and the like, whose properties such as weight, size, shape, sugar content, acidity and the like vary. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sorting and collecting apparatus capable of simultaneously and directly sorting (collecting) and collecting (packaging) the items to be sorted and collecting items to be sorted in a smaller occupied space.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sorting and collecting apparatus capable of collecting a large number of sorted articles having an extremely large number of property categories without increasing the occupied space. Is to do.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide fruits, vegetables, and the like whose weight, size, shape, and other properties vary.
An object of the present invention is to provide a sorting and collecting device suitable for a sorting and packaging device for chicken eggs and the like.

[0009]

According to the present invention, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for collecting selected articles such as chicken eggs in a collection unit set in advance for each of the predetermined property categories and corresponding to each of the property categories. A sorting and collecting device for sorting and collecting one after another in a storage container prepared in accordance with the property section, a transporting means for transporting the articles to be supplied, and a sorting means arranged along the transporting means. A plurality of transfer means for transferring the selected articles from the conveying means to the storage container, a property detecting means for detecting properties of the sorted articles supplied to the conveying means, and properties of the property detecting means Based on the supply frequency distribution to the transport means for the property section of the sorted article obtained from the detection signal, the sorted article of any property section of the plurality of property sections is transferred to any of the plurality of transfer sections. From transfer means via transfer means The charge of the transfer means as to whether or not the transfer should be performed to the container corresponding to the property section is determined, and the transfer operation of the plurality of transfer means is controlled based on the determination result and the property detection signal. This is achieved by an apparatus for sorting and collecting articles to be sorted, such as chicken eggs, comprising a control means.

[0010] According to the present invention, the above object is also achieved by providing a packaged object such as a chicken egg in a package unit which is set in advance for each property section and which is set in advance corresponding to each property section. A sorting and packaging apparatus for sorting and packaging one after another, a transporting means for transporting the supplied packaged articles, and arranged along the transporting means. A plurality of transfer means for transferring, property detecting means for detecting the property of the package supplied to the transport means, and transport means for the property classification of the package obtained from the property detection signal of the property detecting means; Based on the supply frequency distribution to the package, the packaged object of any one of the plurality of property sections is transferred from the transport means to the property section via any one of the plurality of transfer means. Whether it can be transferred to the prepared package And a control means for controlling the transfer operation of the plurality of transfer means based on the determination result and the property detection signal. This is also achieved by a packaging device.

[0011] In the present invention, the articles to be sorted or the articles to be packaged (hereinafter referred to as articles to be sorted) include chicken eggs or rod-shaped root vegetables such as cucumber, leek, and eggplant, or spherical fruits such as tomato, apple or potato. Root vegetables that may vary in their properties such as weight, size, shape, sugar content, acidity and color may be exemplified, but other types may be used, and fruits, chicken eggs and the like that are easily damaged may be used. It is preferable to perform the collection and packaging by using the sorting and collecting apparatus or the sorting and wrapping apparatus of the present invention with the protective equipment attached.

On the other hand, the storage container or package (hereinafter referred to as the storage container) includes bags, boxes, etc. in addition to so-called containers in connection with storage means, shipping means, transport means, sales means, and the like for sorted articles. Or various things, such as a tray, can be mentioned, and the container of the present invention also includes these. In addition, at least one storage container may be arranged more than the number of the property sections, and in this case, at least two storage containers have the same property section, for example, the sorted articles of the property section with the highest supply frequency. Are transferred by different transfer means.

The storage container is arranged at a predetermined position by manual operation by an operator, and when the selected articles of the collection unit are collected, the container is manually removed by the operator. You may. In this case, after removing the storage container in which the sorted articles of the collection unit (packaging unit) are collected, a new empty storage container is manually placed again at a predetermined position by an operator. Further, instead of this, a container supply means for unloading the container in which the sorted articles of the collection unit are collected and supplying a new empty container to a predetermined position, such as a container supply robot, may be further provided. The container may be provided to automatically carry out and supply the container.

The transporting means may be one having a receiving end for receiving the supplied sorted articles and a sending end for sending out the sorted articles which have not been transferred by the transfer means. Specifically, an endless belt having a bucket or a partition plate for individually storing each of the articles to be sorted, and a belt conveyor or the like having a driving device for running the endless belt can be used.
The present invention is not necessarily limited to this. When the endless belt does not have a bucket or a partition plate, the separated articles supplied separately on the running endless belt are imaged with a camera or the like, and the position and properties of the plane coordinates of each of the sorted articles on the endless belt and May be identified and detected, and the operation of the transfer means may be controlled based on the identification and detection result and the traveling amount of the endless belt. If there is a possibility that sorted articles remaining in the transport unit without being transferred by the transfer unit may occur, the transfer unit is controlled by the control unit to reduce the transport speed of the transport unit including stopping. Although it may be configured to be controlled, another transfer means is arranged at the sending end, and the sorted articles sent from the sending end are successively transferred to other storage containers by the other transferring means. In addition, a storage container in which sorted articles of different property categories are collected may be obtained. In addition, the transporting means may include a return means for returning the sorted articles conveyed to the sending end to the receiving end in order to make the sorted articles re-transferred, and may be configured in a circulating manner. .

The transfer means can be embodied by a gripper for gripping the articles to be sorted at the hand, for example, a multi-axis robot equipped with a vacuum suction device. It is also possible to arrange one transfer means for a plurality of storage containers, and by using this one transfer means, to each of the plurality of storage containers, the sorted articles having different property sections from each other are selected. You may make it transfer. In this case, which of the plurality of storage containers is to be loaded with the sorted articles of which property category is determined and updated by the control means based on the supply frequency distribution.
Then, when the supply frequency of the sorted articles of the property section for which one transfer unit is in charge of transfer exceeds the transfer capability of the one transfer unit, that is, the transfer cannot be completed by the one transfer unit. In the case where a leftover occurs, a plurality of transfer means may be in charge of transferring the sorted articles of the same property section, and in this case, the same property section, for example, the most Sorted articles of the property section having a high frequency are transferred from the transfer means via the plurality of transfer means. In other words, articles to be sorted having a specific property category can be sorted and collected via a plurality of transfer means.

[0016] The control means is configured to determine and update the charge of the transfer means when the sorting of the selected articles in one of the storage containers is completed. It is not always necessary to determine and update the transfer unit in charge when the transfer to the collection unit is completed. For example, when the transfer is completed a predetermined number of times or when a new supply frequency distribution is obtained. When the calculated supply frequency distribution fluctuates to a predetermined value or more, the assignment of the transfer means may be determined and updated when the transfer is completed. The control means is responsible for transferring to at least one transfer means to a plurality of storage containers, and each storage container to the at least one transfer means is subjected to sorting of different property sections from each other. It may be configured to control the at least one transfer means so as to transfer the article.

The control means includes a judgment means for judging which of the plurality of property sections the selected article belongs to from the property detection signal of the property detection means, and a judgment result of the judgment means in succession. A calculating means for storing and calculating a supply frequency distribution to the conveying means for the property classification of the sorted articles; a determining means for determining the charge of the transfer means based on the calculation result of the calculating means; Transport amount detecting means for detecting the transport amount of the transport means, and the properties of the sorted articles being transported by the transport means and the transport position thereof based on the transport amount detection signal of the transport amount detecting means and the determination result of the determining means. A storage means for sequentially storing the information may be provided. Further, the control means is in charge of the transfer means so that the selected articles of the property section showing the maximum supply frequency are transferred from the transport means to the storage container corresponding to the property section via at least two transfer means. May be determined and updated.

As the property detecting means, at least one of a weight detector, a size detector, a shape detector, a length detector, a color detector, and the like is used for each classification target. The properties are not limited to the weight, size, etc. as described above,
Others include physical and chemical items to be sorted, for example, the chemical items include sugar content and acidity, etc., and in these cases, the property detecting means may be an appropriate one corresponding thereto. A detector, for example, a sugar content detector, an acidity detector, or the like may be used.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention and embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings. The present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0020]

1 and 2, a sorting and collecting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is configured such that a chicken egg 2 as an article to be sorted is divided into 2L (70 g or more) and L (64 g or more in this example) for each predetermined property section. ~ 70 g), M (58 g or more and less than 64 g), M
N = 5 types of weight divisions consisting of S (52 g or more to less than 58 g) and S (less than 52 g), and a collection unit set in advance corresponding to each of the weight divisions, 2L in this example,
L, MS and S are every 6 pieces, M is every 10 pieces,
The storage containers, in this example, the packing packs 3 to 8 are configured to be collected one after another.

The sorting and collecting apparatus 1 is provided along a transporting means 21 for transporting the supplied eggs 2 and the transporting means 21. Each of the sorting and collecting apparatuses 1 transports the eggs 2 from the transporting means 21 to the packing packs 3-8. Transfer means 22 and 23 for transferring to
And carrying out the packaging pack in which the eggs 2 of the collection unit (packing unit) are collected in the packaging packs 3 to 8 to a predetermined position,
Next, a packaging pack supply means 24 for supplying a new empty packaging pack to the position where the unloaded packaging pack is located, and a property of the eggs 2 supplied to the transport means 21, that is, a weight for detecting the weight Detecting means 26 and weight division 2 of the chicken egg 2 obtained from the weight detection signal of the weight detecting means 26
Based on the supply frequency distribution of L, L, M, MS, and S to the transport means 21, any one of the weight categories 2L, L, M, MS, and S is used to transfer the eggs 2 into two transfer means. Which one of the transfer means 22 and 23 is to be transferred from the transport means 21 to the packing packs 3 to 8 prepared corresponding to the weight classification, and the determination result and the weight detection Transfer means 22 and 2 based on the signal
And control means 27 for controlling the transfer operation of the package 3 and also controlling the supply operation of the packaging pack supply means 24 based on the determination result, and the upper and lower limits of the weight divisions 2L, L, M, MS and S. And a setting unit 28 which can arbitrarily set a collection unit corresponding to each of the weight divisions 2L, L, M, MS and S, for example, the number of collection units or the collection unit weight.

The weight detecting means 26 feeds the eggs 2 successively supplied in two rows from the supply conveyor 31 to the conveying means 21.
And two weight detectors 32 and 33 for measuring the individual weight of the egg 2 while transporting the eggs 2
The individual weights of the eggs 2 measured by the weight detectors 32 and 33 are supplied to the control means 27 as weight detection signals.

The conveying means 21 transfers the chicken eggs 2 supplied to the receiving ends 35 and 36 one after another in two rows from the weight detecting means 26 to the sending ends 37 and 38 one after another with the longitudinal axis thereof also in two rows. The belt conveyors 39 and 40 are operated in synchronism with each other so as to be conveyed toward each other. A partition plate 41 is provided on each of the running endless belts of the belt conveyors 39 and 40, and a partition plate 4 is provided.
Each of the eggs 2 is supplied to a space on the endless belt defined by 1. Weight detector 3 from supply conveyor 31
2 and 33, and from the weight detectors 32 and 33 to the receiving ends 35 and 36 of the belt conveyors 39 and 40, the same transfer robot as the transfer means 22 and 23 may be used. In short, an appropriate known transfer device can be used. In this example, as described above, chicken egg 2
Are transported in two rows. Alternatively, one row or three or more rows may be used.
What is necessary is just to configure suitably in connection with the transfer capacity and number of 2 and 23.

Each of the transfer means 22 and 23 has a column 51, a first arm 52 rotatably mounted on the column 51 in a horizontal plane, and a second arm 52 rotatably mounted on the arm 52 in a horizontal plane. Arm 53 and second arm 5
A third arm 54 movably mounted on the third arm 3;
A vacuum sucker 55 attached to the lower end of the arm 54,
It consists of a multi-axis robot equipped with arms 52, 53, 54 and a drive mechanism (not shown) for operating the vacuum sucker 55. Such a multi-axis robot is well known and will be described in detail. Is omitted. The transfer units 22 and 23 are not limited to the multi-axis robot, but may be other robots. Each of the transfer means 22 and 23
The chicken eggs 2 on the belt conveyors 39 and 40 to reach the vacuum sucker 55 are vacuum-sucked by the vacuum sucker 45, lifted from the belt conveyors 39 and 40, and transferred to predetermined packing packs 3 to 8. That is, the transfer means 22 transfers the corresponding eggs 2 in the transport area A of the belt conveyors 39 and 40,
And the corresponding chicken eggs 2 in the transport area B are lifted from the belt conveyors 37 and 38, respectively, and transferred to predetermined packing packs 3 to 8.

The packaging pack supply means 24 is provided with a slider 57 that moves on a rail 56, a rod 59 provided on the slider 57 so as to be vertically movable, and a rod 59 having a clamping tool 58 attached to the tip, and a slider 57 on the rail 56. Along with a driving device (not shown) for moving the rod 59 up and down and operating the holding tool 58, and a package in which a large number of empty packaging packs 3 to 8 are stored in a predetermined position in advance. One designated empty packaging pack is taken out from the pack storage rack 60 and placed at the designated specified position. In addition, in this example, the packaging packs are weight categories 2L, L, M,
One more than the number of MSs and Ss is arranged. The packaging pack supply means 24 may also be embodied by the same multi-axis robot as the transfer means 22 and 23.

The control means 25 includes weight detectors 32 and 33
Weight division 2L of chicken egg 2 obtained from the weight detection signal of
Based on the supply frequency distribution of L, M, MS and S to the belt conveyors 39 and 40, weight divisions 2L, L,
Packing pack prepared corresponding to the corresponding weight category from the belt conveyors 37 and 38 via any of the transfer means 22 and 23 for transferring the chicken eggs 2 of any weight category among M, MS and S. In order to control the transfer operations of the transfer units 22 and 23 based on the determination result and the weight detection signal, it is determined whether the transfer units 22 and 23 are to be transferred to 3 to 8 or not. , Weight detectors 32 and 33
A determination means 61 for determining which weight category the egg 2 belongs to from the weight detection signal of the first and the determination results of the determination means 61 are sequentially stored, and the weight categories 2L, L, M, and MS of the egg 2 are stored.
Calculating means 62 for calculating the distribution of supply frequency of the eggs 2 and S to the transport means 21, and based on the calculation results of the calculating means 62, the eggs 2 of any of the weight categories 2 L, L, M, MS and S Which of the transfer units 22 and 23 should be transferred from the belt conveyors 37 and 38 to the packing packs 3 to 8 prepared corresponding to the corresponding weight divisions. Loading means 21 and 2
2 and the packaging pack to be unloaded by the packaging pack supply means 24 and the packaging pack storage rack 6.
Determining means 63 for determining an empty packaging pack to be taken out from 0 and a position where the empty packaging pack is to be arranged; transport amount detecting means 64 for detecting the transport amount of the transport means 21 with respect to the egg 2; At least storage means 65 is provided for sequentially storing weight divisions of the eggs 2 being conveyed by the conveyance means 21 and their conveyance positions based on the conveyance amount detection signal 64 and the judgment result of the judgment means 61.

The conveyance amount detecting means 64 is provided for the belt conveyor 3.
The control means 25 comprises a pulse generator which detects the running of the endless belts 9 and 40 and generates a predetermined number of pulses for each unit running amount of the endless belt. The control means 25 receives the pulses from the pulse generator. The transport position of each egg 2 on the belt conveyors 39 and 40 is specified.

In the control means 27, the judgment means 6
1. The calculation means 62, the determination means 63, the storage means 65 and the like are constituted by a so-called microcomputer or the like,
The above-described operation and other operations to be described later are performed by the microcomputer programmed in advance.

The setting unit 28 has an operation panel provided with a large number of manual setting switches. The setting switches enable the upper and lower limits of the weight divisions 2L, L, M, MS and S and the weight divisions. The collection unit (total number or total weight to be collected in the packaging pack) corresponding to each of 2L, L, M, MS and S can be arbitrarily set.

The sorting and collecting apparatus 1 configured as described above operates as follows. First, for example, the setting unit 28 sets a weight classification of 2 L (70 g or more) and L (64 g or more to 7 g).
0 g), MS (from 52 g to less than 58 g) and S
For each (for less than 52 g), six eggs are set as the collection unit, and for the weight division M (58 g or more and less than 64 g), ten eggs are set as the collection unit, and ten eggs are collected. Further, in the sorting and collecting apparatus 1 of the present example, the transfer means 22 transfers the eggs 2 of weight divisions 2L, L and M from the belt conveyors 39 and 40 to the packing packs 3 to 5; , Eggs 2 of weight categories M, MS and S
The initial settings are made so as to take charge of the transfer from the belt conveyors 39 and 40 to the packaging packs 6 to 8, respectively. In this initial setting, it is assumed that the supply frequency of the weight section M is the highest. The packing packs 3 to 5 are located at preset positions 81 to 83, and the packing packs 6 to 8 are located at preset positions 84 to 86, respectively.
4 is initially placed. Such an initial setting is performed by the setting device 2
8 or in advance on a program.

Next, the eggs 2 are successively supplied from the supply conveyor 31 to the weight detectors 32 and 33, the weight of which is measured, and supplied to the control means 27 as a weight detection signal. The egg 2 whose weight has been measured is then moved to the belt conveyor 39.
, And are conveyed one after another toward the discharge ends 37 and 38. The control unit 25 detects, via the storage unit 65, the position on the belt conveyors 39 and 40 where the eggs 2 of a specific weight category are being transported. When it comes in,
The transfer means 22 is operated to transfer the eggs 2 of the weight category M to the packaging pack 5 arranged at the position 83. As a result, the transfer means 22 transfers the eggs 2 of the corresponding weight category M.
Is lifted from the belt conveyor 39 or 40 by vacuum suction and transferred to the packaging pack 5 arranged at the position 83.
Hereinafter, the same applies, for example, when the eggs 2 of the weight division L arrive in the transport area A, the transfer means is arranged to transfer the eggs 2 of the weight division L to the packaging pack 4 arranged at the position 82. Activate 22. Thereby, the transfer means 22 lifts the chicken eggs 2 of the corresponding weight category L from the belt conveyor 39 or 40 by vacuum suction and transfers the chicken eggs 2 to the packaging pack 4 arranged at the position 82. The control means 25 includes a weight class MS
When the eggs 2 of the weight class S arrive at the transport area B, the eggs 2 of the weight class MS are placed in the packaging pack 7 arranged at the position 85, and the eggs 2 of the weight class S are placed in the position 86. The transfer means 23 is operated so as to transfer each of the arranged packaging packs 8. Transfer means 2
As a result of exceeding the transfer capacity of No. 2, the weight division M
Cannot be transferred to the packaging pack 5, and when the eggs 2 of the weight category M arrive in the transport area B,
The control means 25 detects this via the storage means 65,
The transfer means 23 is operated to transfer the eggs 2 of the weight category M to the packaging pack 6 arranged at the position 84.

The eggs 2 remaining on the belt conveyor 39 or 40 without being transferred to any of the packaging packs 3 to 8 in any of the transport areas A and B are collected and collected in a mixed packaging pack. For this purpose, the transfer ends 37 and 38 may be further provided with other transfer means similar to the transfer means 22 and 23, and the transfer means 3 may be provided by the other transfer means.
The eggs 2 delivered from 7 and 38 may be successively transferred to another mixed packaging pack. Further, the conveying means 2
1 is a receiving end 3 of the egg 2 transported to the sending ends 37 and 38 so that the egg 2 can be re-transferred.
It may be configured in a circulating manner by providing return means for returning to 5 and 36. Furthermore, not all the eggs 2 of the weight divisions 2L and L are transferred in the transport area A or the weight divisions M,
All of the eggs 2 of MS and S are not transferred in the transport area B, and the eggs 2 remaining on the belt conveyor 39 or 40 are not transferred.
If there is a possibility that the transfer may occur, the control unit 25 may detect this and control the transfer unit 21 so as to reduce the transfer speed of the belt conveyors 39 and 40.

As described above, the chicken eggs 2 are sequentially collected in the packaging packs 3 to 8 and, for example, when 10 pieces, which are the collection unit, are collected in the packaging pack 6, the packaging pack 6 is supplied to the packaging pack supply means 24. Is carried out to a predetermined position, the charge of the transfer means 21 and 23 is determined by the determination means 63, and the empty packaging pack to be taken out from the packaging pack supply means 24 and the position where the empty packaging pack is to be arranged are determined. I do. Here, weight division 2L of chicken egg 2,
Assuming that the calculation means 62 has obtained the calculation result that the supply frequency distribution of L, M, MS and S to the transport means 21 is the highest for the egg 2 for the weight division L, the determination means 63 determines The charge of the loading means 22 is changed to position 84
And the empty packaging pack to be taken out from the packaging pack supply means 24 is set to the L packaging pack for accommodating six chicken eggs 2. I do. Thereby, the packaging pack supply means 2
4 takes out the packaging pack for the weight division L from the packaging pack storage rack 60 and arranges it at a predetermined position 84. Thereafter, the transfer means 23 transfers the chicken eggs 2 of the weight division L from the belt conveyors 37 and 38 to the packaging pack 6 for the weight division L arranged at the predetermined position 84, and transfers the weight division to the packaging pack 6. Collect L chicken eggs 2.

In the following, the packing packs 3 to 8 include the weight category 2
When L, L, M, L, MS and S are collected, and the egg 2 of each collection unit is generated in any one of the packaging packs, the above-described operation is repeated, whereby the weight divisions 2L, L,
Packing packs 3 to 8 in which a predetermined number of M, L, MS and S chicken eggs 2 are collected can be obtained one after another.

In the above example, when 10 units, which are the collection units, are collected in the packaging pack 6, the distribution frequency of supply to the conveying means 21 is determined to be the highest for the eggs 2 for the weight division L, and the eggs are transferred. This is a case where the charge of transfer by the means 23 is changed. Generally, when the collection unit is collected in one of the packaging packs, it is determined that the distribution frequency of supply to the transport means 21 is the highest. Means 2 for transferring eggs 2 of the weight category
2 and 23, and the transfer means 22 and 23 are in charge of transfer so that the same transfer means does not transfer two or more eggs 2 of the same weight division. It is decided and changed. Therefore, when six of the collection units are collected in any one of the packaging packs 3, 4, 7, and 8, the supply frequency distribution to the transporting means 21 temporarily assumes that the weight classification L Even if it is determined that the egg 2 is the highest, the charge of transfer by the transfer means 22 and 23 has been changed because the packaging packs 5 and 6 still do not contain the collection unit of 10 chicken eggs 2. In addition, at the time when ten collection units are collected in the packaging pack 5, even if it is determined that the distribution frequency of the supply to the conveying means 21 is the highest for the eggs 2 for the weight division L,
Since the transfer means 22 has already transferred the eggs 2 of the same weight category L to the packaging pack 4, the charge of transfer by the transfer means 22 is not changed.

As described above, the two packaging packs 5
In the case where the eggs 2 of the weight category M are transferred and shared by the transfer means 22 and 23, the distribution frequency of the supply of the eggs 2 to the transport means 21 for the weight category M is extremely low. When the amount of the eggs 2 of the weight category M is extremely low and the transfer of the eggs 2 of the weight category M to the packaging pack 6 is extremely small, and it takes time to collect 10 pieces of the packaging May be discharged to the discharge ends 37 and 38 without being collected in the packaging pack. In order to prevent this, in the determination result of the supply frequency distribution to the transport means 21 at the time when the collection unit is collected in the packaging pack,
If the same judgment result is continuous, the result is accumulated, and if the accumulation result is obtained more than a certain number of times, a packaging pack that meets the above general conditions among the two packaging packs is still collected in a collection unit. Even if chicken egg 2 has not been collected until now,
The eggs may be forcibly discharged by the packaging pack supply means 24, and at the place where the forcible discharge is performed, the eggs of the weight category in which the above-described integration result is continuously obtained a certain number of times or more may be collected.

When there are two weight categories in which it is determined that the distribution of the frequency of supply of the eggs 2 to the transport means 21 is the highest, the higher priority given in advance is transferred to the higher priority one. The transfer is shared by the loading means 22 and 23.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the control means 25 sets a predetermined number (set corresponding to each of the weight divisions 2L, L, M, MS and S) in any one of the packaging packs 3 to 8. When the egg 2 of collection unit) has been transferred,
The responsibilities of the transfer means 22 and 23 are updated, and the chicken eggs 2 of the weight category showing the maximum supply frequency are replaced with the two transfer means 22 and 23
Transfer means 22 and 23 so that they are transferred from the transfer means 21 to a packaging pack corresponding to the weight division.
In this embodiment, at least one of the transfer units 22 and 23 in this example is assigned to transfer to a plurality of packaging packs. The transfer means 22 and 23, the packing pack supply means 24, and the like are controlled so as to transfer the eggs 2 of different weight categories to the respective packaging packs corresponding to the packaging packs 23 and 23. And the control means 25
In order that the eggs 2 in the weight category showing the maximum supply frequency be transferred from the transport means 21 to the packaging pack prepared corresponding to the weight category via the two transfer means 22 and 23, the transfer means 22 and It is configured to determine 23 assignments. In addition, the sorting and collecting apparatus 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above.
Can be used as it is as a packaging device for chicken eggs 2.

In the above example, the two transfer means 22
And 23 are provided, and each of the transfer means 22 and 23 is in charge of transfer to a plurality of packaging packs having different weight divisions. However, instead of this, one of the transfer units 22 and 23 may be in charge of transfer to only one storage container. A transfer means may be provided, and two or more accommodation containers may be arranged more than the number of property sections. In such a modified embodiment, the point is that the eggs 2 of various weight divisions supplied to the conveying means 21 are almost equally sorted and collected as much as possible even if the supply frequency distribution of the weight divisions changes. The deciding means of the control means is constituted so that it can be transferred to the packaging pack.

For example, a method of determining which of the plurality of property sections is responsible for sorting and collecting each property section can be performed according to the following rules. First, the state in which the sorting and collecting apparatus operates efficiently means that all the transfer means increase the operating rate without limit. Therefore, the sorted articles allocated for sorting and collecting in the sorting and collecting available area of the transfer means are conveyed by the conveyance means in a quantity as close as possible to the transfer capacity of the transfer means. Further, it is desirable that the transfer capacity per unit time of the entire transfer means exceeds the total quantity of the sorted articles transported by the transport means in the unit time. In addition,
The transfer capacity per unit time of the transfer means does not need to be all the same, and a high-speed transfer means and a slower transfer means may be mixed and arranged. In this case, as described above, it is preferable to determine the responsibilities of the transfer of the property section so that the transfer means performs the sorting and collecting operation at a high operation rate.

As a specific example, 3 L, 2 L chicken eggs,
A case will be described in which seven types of weights, L, M, MS, S, and 2S, are sorted and collected, and each is packaged in a packaging container containing 10 containers. Here, the transport means transports 10,000 weighed eggs per hour, and the transfer means,
Three units having a transfer capacity of 4000 pieces per hour are provided, and supply frequencies for expected weight categories are 3L = 5%, 2L = 10%, L = 20%, and M = 3.
Assuming that 0%, MS = 20%, S = 10%, and 2S = 5%, in order for the respective transfer means to perform the transfer operation evenly, a combination of weight divisions in which the total supply frequency is about 33% is used. What is necessary is just to obtain by calculation. As one of the combinations, the first transfer means is assigned to the eggs of the weight category M, whereby the eggs are sorted and collected at a speed of 3000 eggs / hour, and the second transfer means is assigned to the weight categories 3L, 2L. And L chicken eggs, thereby being sorted and collected at a rate of 35,000 eggs / hour.
As S and 2S chicken eggs, this can be obtained by sorting at a rate of 3500 eggs / hour.

According to the present invention, the charge of each transfer means is updated at a predetermined time during the operation of the sorting and collecting apparatus,
As described above, a change in charge is made in order to increase the operation rate of all the transfer means for the bias of the property section of the sorting object to be sorted and collected. In the case where a plurality of equivalent combinations occur in the above example, the priorities may be appropriately set in advance, and the combination may be determined based on the priorities.

In the above description, the supply frequency distribution is calculated based on the property detection signal obtained upstream of the transport means. Instead, the required property classification is performed upstream of the transport means regardless of the supply frequency. Sort and collect the items to be sorted,
The calculation of the supply frequency distribution is performed based on the property detection signal from the remaining sorted articles obtained in the middle stream of the transport means, thereby determining the charge of the transfer means similar to the above, from the middle stream to the downstream of the transport means. You may make it arrange | position the transfer means which performs the same operation | movement as the above.

The total transfer capacity of the transfer means does not necessarily need to exceed the number of pieces transferred by the transfer means per unit time, and only the selected articles of the main property section are sorted and collected by the transfer means. You may do so. The sorted articles left by the transfer means may be manually taken out by an operator and packed in containers.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention, the articles to be sorted are directly transferred from the transporting means to the storage container by the plurality of transferring means, and further, to the transporting means for the property division of the articles to be sorted. Based on the supply frequency distribution, the selected articles of any one of the plurality of property sections are prepared from the transport means via the one of the plurality of transfer means in accordance with the property section. The responsibility for the transfer of the transfer means as to whether or not it should be transferred to the stored container is determined, so that the fruit whose weight, size, shape, etc.
Even if the supply frequency distribution of the property category of the sorted articles to the transport means is changed, such as chicken eggs, it can be collected in an extremely small occupied space, and the number of property categories is extremely large. Can be collected at high speed and in large quantities, without increasing the occupied space, and with as little collection residue as possible.
Further, it is possible to provide a sorting / collecting device suitable for a packaging device for fruits, chicken eggs, etc., whose properties such as weight, size, shape and the like vary.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the embodiment shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sorting and collecting apparatus 2 Chicken eggs 3-8 Packaging pack 21 Conveying means 22, 23 Transfer means 26 Weight detecting means 27 Control means

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI Technical display location B65B 57/00 B65B 57/00 A

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. An article to be sorted such as a chicken egg is prepared for each of the preset property sections and for each of the collection units set in advance corresponding to the property section, corresponding to the property section. A sorting and collecting apparatus for sorting and collecting one after another in a storage container, wherein the sorting means is provided along the conveying means for conveying the selected articles to be supplied, and each of the sorting means collects the selected articles from the conveying means. A plurality of transfer means to be transferred to the container, a property detection means for detecting properties of the sorted articles supplied to the transport means, and a property classification of the sorted articles obtained from property detection signals of the property detection means. Based on the supply frequency distribution to the transport means, the selected articles of any one of the plurality of property sections are transferred from the transport means to the corresponding property section via any one of the plurality of transfer means. Should be transferred to a corresponding container The transfer means for determining whether the transfer is successful, and controlling the transfer operation of the plurality of transfer means based on the determination result and the property detection signal. Sorting and collecting device for sorted items. 2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit updates the charge of the transfer unit when the transfer of the selected articles of the collection unit to one of the storage containers is completed. Item 4. The sorting and collecting device for sorted articles according to Item 1. 3. The control means causes at least one transfer means to transfer to a plurality of storage containers, and each storage container to the at least one transfer means has a different configuration. To transfer the sorted items of the property category,
3. The sorting and collecting apparatus for sorted articles according to claim 1, wherein the sorting and collecting apparatus is configured to control the at least one transfer unit. 4. The transporting means according to claim 1, wherein the transporting means has a receiving end for receiving the supplied articles to be supplied and a sending end for sending out the articles to be sorted which have not been transferred by the transferring means. 4. The sorting and collecting apparatus for sorted articles according to any one of the above items 3. 5. The control means is configured to reduce the transport speed of the transport means when there is a possibility that sorted articles remaining in the transport means without being transferred by the transfer means may occur. Item 4. A sorting and collecting apparatus for sorted articles according to Item 4. 6. The transport means includes a return means for returning the sorted articles conveyed to the sending end to the receiving end in order to make the sorted articles re-transferred, and is configured in a circulating manner. The sorting and collecting device for sorted articles according to claim 4 or 5, wherein 7. The apparatus further comprises another transfer means arranged at the sending end, wherein the other transferring means transfers the selected articles sent from the sending end to another storage container one after another. The sorting and collecting apparatus for sorted articles according to claim 4, wherein the sorting and collecting apparatus is configured to perform sorting. 8. The property detecting means includes a weight detector for detecting the weight of the article to be sorted, and the control means controls the weight classification of the article to be sorted obtained from the weight detection signal of the weight detector. Based on the supply frequency distribution to the transport means,
Items to be sorted in any of the plurality of weight sections are transferred from the transporting means to the storage containers prepared for the corresponding weight section via any of the plurality of transferring means. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it is configured to determine a charge of the transfer unit as to whether the transfer should be performed, and to control a transfer operation of the plurality of transfer units based on the determination result and the weight detection signal. The sorting and collecting apparatus for sorted articles according to any one of claims 7 to 7. 9. The property detecting means includes a size detector for detecting a size of the article to be sorted, and the control means includes a size detector for detecting the size of the article to be sorted obtained from the size detection signal of the size detector. Based on the supply frequency distribution to the transporting means for the size divisions, the selected articles of any one of the plurality of size divisions are transferred via any one of the plurality of transfer means. A transfer unit is in charge of determining whether or not the transfer unit should be transferred to a storage container prepared corresponding to the corresponding size division, and a plurality of transfer units are determined based on the determination result and the size detection signal. The sorting and collecting apparatus for sorted articles according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the sorting and collecting apparatus is configured to control a transferring operation of the transferring means. 10. The property detecting means includes a shape detector for detecting the shape of the article to be sorted, and the control means controls the shape classification of the article to be sorted obtained from the shape detection signal of the shape detector. Based on the supply frequency distribution to the transporting means, the selected articles in any of the plurality of shape sections are transferred from the transporting means to the corresponding shape section through any of the plurality of transferring means. The transfer means in charge of whether or not the transfer means should be transferred to the container prepared in accordance with the above, and control the transfer operation of the plurality of transfer means based on the determination result and the shape detection signal The sorting and collecting apparatus for sorted articles according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the sorting and collecting apparatus is configured to perform sorting. 11. The property detecting means includes a detector for detecting at least one of the sugar content and the acidity of the article to be sorted, and the control means includes at least one of the sugar content and the acidity of the detector. Any of the plurality of classes of at least one of the sugar content and the acidity based on the supply frequency distribution to the conveying means for at least one of the sugar content and the acid content of the sorted articles obtained from the detection signal Of the transfer means for determining which of the plurality of transfer means should be transferred from the transfer means to the storage container prepared corresponding to the corresponding section of the plurality of transfer means. 8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: determining a charge, and controlling a transfer operation of the plurality of transfer units based on the determination result and a detection signal of at least one of the sugar content and the acidity. 9. The sorting and collecting apparatus for sorted articles according to any one of claims 1 to 7. 12. The property detecting means includes a color detector for detecting the color of the article to be sorted, and the control means includes:
Based on the distribution of supply frequencies to the transporting means for the shade sections of the sorted articles obtained from the shade detection signals of the shade detector, a plurality of items to be sorted in any of the shade sections among the plurality of shade sections are transferred. Which of the means is to be transferred by the transfer means from the transport means to the storage container prepared corresponding to the corresponding shade classification, and the result of this determination The sorting and collecting device for sorted articles according to any one of claims 1 to 7, configured to control a transfer operation of a plurality of transfer means based on the color detection signal. 13. The property detecting means includes a detector for detecting at least one of a weight, a size, a shape, a sugar content, an acidity, and a color of the article to be sorted. Based on the supply frequency distribution of the sorted articles to the conveying means for the sorted classes obtained from the detection signal of the container, the sorted articles of any one of the plurality of sorted classes are transferred to the plurality of transferring means. Of the transfer means via which the transfer means should be transferred from the transport means to the container prepared corresponding to the corresponding class classification, and the result of this determination The sorting and collecting device for sorted articles according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the sorting and collecting device is configured to control a transfer operation of a plurality of transfer units based on the detection signal and the detection signal. 14. A control means for judging to which of a plurality of property sections the article to be sorted belongs from a property detection signal of the property detection means, and a judgment result of the judgment means one after another. Calculating means for calculating a supply frequency distribution to the transporting means for the property classification of the sorted articles, determining means for determining charge of the transfer means based on the calculation result of the calculating means, Transport amount detecting means for detecting the transport amount of the transport means with respect to the object, and the properties of the selected articles being transported by the transport means and the transport position thereof based on the transport amount detection signal of the transport amount detecting means and the determination result of the determining means. 14. A sorting and collecting apparatus for sorted articles according to any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising storage means for sequentially storing the items. 15. The control means, wherein the selected articles of the property section exhibiting the maximum supply frequency are transferred from the transport means to the storage containers prepared corresponding to the property sections via at least two transfer means. The sorting and collecting apparatus for sorted articles according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the sorting and collecting apparatus is configured to determine a charge of the transfer means. 16. The sorting and collecting device for sorted articles according to claim 1, wherein the number of the containers is at least one more than the number of the property sections. 17. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising storage container supply means for unloading the storage container in which the collection unit has been collected and supplying a new empty storage container to a predetermined position.
7. The sorting and collecting device for sorted articles according to any one of 6. 18. A sorting package for sorting and packaging objects such as chicken eggs one after another in package units for each of predetermined property sections and for each of predetermined packaging units corresponding to the property sections. An apparatus, and a transport unit that transports the packaged material to be supplied, and are arranged along the transport unit.
A plurality of transfer means for transferring the packaged object from the transporting means to the package, a property detecting means for detecting the property of the packaged article supplied to the transporting means, and a property detection signal obtained from the property detecting signal of the property detecting means Based on the distribution of supply frequency to the transporting means for the property section of the packaged article, the packaged article of any property section of the plurality of property sections is transferred via any of the plurality of transferring means. The transfer means determines whether transfer can be performed from the transfer means to the package prepared in accordance with the property classification, and a plurality of transfer means are determined based on the determination result and the property detection signal. And a control means for controlling the transfer operation of the container.