JP2008128769A - Combination balance - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a combination balance capable of throwing objects to be weighed into a plurality of packaging inlets in speedy and easy manner. <P>SOLUTION: The combination balance comprises two weighing units A1, A2 including a first collection chute 6a, collection hoppers 7a, a second collection chute 6b, collection hoppers 7b and a plurality of weighing hoppers 4 arranged in linear manner; a lower chute 8a for loading objects to be weighed which are discharged from two collection hoppers 7a, into a first packaging inlet; a lower chute 8b for loading objects to be weighed which are discharged from two collection hoppers 7b, into a second packaging inlet; and a control section 10 for simultaneously obtaining first and second discharge combinations, that brings the weighing hoppers 4 which belong to the first discharge combination, to discharge the objects to be weighed to the first collection chute 6a, bringing the weighing hoppers 4 which belong to the second discharge combination, to discharge the objects to be weighed to the second collection chute 6b, and in synchronization with these operations, discharging the objects to be weighed from the collection hoppers 7a and the collection hoppers 7b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a combination weigher in which, for example, a combination hopper selected as a combination of a weighing hopper or the like is linearly arranged, and a weighed object is put into a packaging machine or the like.

  Generally, objects to be weighed such as detergents and confectionery, which are weighed with a combination weigher and have a predetermined weight, are packaged by a packaging machine. A combination weigher for weighing such objects to be weighed has a configuration in which weighing hoppers are linearly arranged as shown in FIG. 13 (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 13A is a schematic diagram of a conventional combination weigher as viewed from above, and FIG. 13B is a schematic diagram of the same combination weigher as viewed from the front.

  This combination weigher has a configuration in which a plurality of supply hoppers 3 and weighing hoppers 4 are arranged in a straight line, and a collective chute 6 is disposed below them, and the operation of the entire combination weigher is controlled by the control unit 30. At the same time, a combination operation is performed. An object to be weighed is supplied to the supply hopper 3 by means (not shown). When the weighing hopper 4 disposed below the supply hopper 3 becomes empty, the object to be weighed is put into the weighing hopper 4. A weight sensor such as a load cell is attached to the weighing hopper 4, and the weight of the object to be weighed in the weighing hopper 4 is measured by this weight sensor, and the measured value is sent to the control unit 30. The control unit 30 performs a combination calculation based on the weight value of the objects to be weighed in the weighing hopper 4 to obtain a combination of hoppers to be discharged from the plurality of weighing hoppers 4, and the weighing selected as the combination. The objects to be weighed are discharged from the hopper 4 onto the collecting chute 6. The objects to be weighed discharged from the weighing hopper 4 slide on the collective chute 6, are discharged from the discharge port below the collective chute 6, and are sent out to a packaging machine (not shown), for example. In the packaging machine, for example, while manufacturing a bag, the bag is filled with an object to be weighed discharged from the combination weigher and packaged.

In addition, in the configuration of FIG. 13, there is also a combination weigher having a configuration in which a belt conveyor is provided instead of the collective chute 6 (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In the case of such a configuration, the objects to be weighed discharged from the weighing hopper 4 are placed on a belt conveyor and conveyed in one direction, and for example, a packaging machine is disposed at the end of the belt conveyor in the conveying direction, An object to be weighed is supplied from a belt conveyor to a packaging machine and packaged.
JP 58-161829 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-016928

  In the configuration shown in FIG. 13 in the related art, when performing high speed operation (high-speed combination discharge operation) in order to improve the production amount (total number of discharges from the combination weigher to the packaging machine) within a predetermined time, Even when the discharge time interval of the objects to be discharged from the hopper 4 is shortened, the speed of the objects to be discharged that are discharged from the weighing hopper 4 and slide on the collecting chute 6 does not increase. Therefore, depending on the properties of the objects to be weighed such as the bulk of the objects to be weighed (the bulk density is small), if the operation speed is not slowed down, it will be discharged from the weighing hopper 4 selected for the previous combination on the collecting chute 6 The distance between the object to be weighed and the object to be weighed discharged from the weighing hopper 4 selected for the next combination is not sufficient and mixed, making it difficult to perform high-speed operation. Improve production volume.

  In addition, in the case of a configuration in which a belt conveyor is provided instead of the collective chute 6, unless the objects to be weighed on the belt conveyor discharged from the weighing hopper 4 selected in the previous combination are discharged, The weighing hopper 4 selected for the next combination cannot be discharged onto the belt conveyor, and the conveyor speed of the belt conveyor is limited. is there.

  Further, in any configuration in which the collecting chute is disposed below the weighing hopper 4 or the belt conveyor is disposed, even if high speed operation can be performed, In order to place a plurality of packaging machines or a packaging machine having a plurality of weighing object inlets at the subsequent stage, and to load the objects to be measured into a plurality of packaging machine inlets, a plurality of outlets of the combination weigher have a plurality of A sorting device for sorting and discharging the objects to be weighed to the packaging machine inlet is required, which cannot be easily handled, and it is difficult to quickly feed each of the packaging machine inlets. .

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and it is possible to improve the production amount within a predetermined time, and at the same time, to load the objects to be weighed into a plurality of packaging machine input ports. It is an object of the present invention to provide a combination weigher that can be easily performed.

  In order to achieve the above object, the combination weigher according to the present invention is arranged in a straight line, and each of the objects to be weighed is supplied in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the arranged direction. A hopper row composed of a plurality of combination hoppers configured to be selectively discharged in the two directions, and disposed below the hopper row and discharged from the combination hopper in the first direction. A first discharging means for transferring an object to be weighed and discharging it to a first discharging position; the first discharging means arranged below the hopper row along with the first discharging means; One or more weighing unit groups having p weighing units (p is plural) having a second discharging means for transferring an object to be weighed discharged in the direction of 2 and discharging it to the second discharging position Corresponding to each of the weighing unit groups. With respect to a pair of packaging machine inlets provided, the objects discharged from either the first discharging means or the second discharging means of each of the weighing units included in the weighing unit group. It is configured to put a weighing object into one of the pair of packaging machine inlets into the packaging machine inlet, and to put an object to be weighed discharged from the other discharging means into the other packaging machine inlet, In each of the weighing units, a combination calculation is performed based on the weight of the objects to be weighed supplied to the combination hopper, and each of the combination weight values obtained by the combination calculation is within an allowable range with respect to a target weight value. Two combinations of the combination hoppers, each of which is not included in the same combination hopper, and one of the two combinations is determined as the first discharge group. Combination calculation means for performing a combination process for determining the other as the second discharge combination at the same time, and in each of the weighing units, the weighing object is sent to the combination hopper belonging to the first discharge combination. Control means for performing discharge processing for discharging the objects to be weighed in the second direction to the combination hopper belonging to the second discharge combination at the same time as discharging in the first direction. The calculation means and the control means repeatedly perform a series of processes including the combination process and the discharge process in each of the weighing units, and at this time, each of the weighing unit groups included in the weighing unit group The series of processing of the weighing unit is configured to be performed at different timings.

  According to this configuration, each weighing unit includes the first and second discharging means, and the combination hopper can selectively discharge the object to be measured to the two discharging means. On the other hand, the first and second two sets of discharge combinations are obtained by one combination process, and the objects to be weighed in the two sets of discharge combinations are discharged to the first and second discharge means at the same time. The production amount can be improved within a predetermined time. In addition, the objects to be weighed in one of the two discharge combinations are discharged to the first discharging means, and the objects to be weighed in the other discharging combination are discharged to the second discharging means. Because it is possible to ensure the distance between the object to be weighed first on the discharging means and the object to be weighed afterwards, the combined discharging operation (high speed operation) is performed faster than when there is only one discharging means. It becomes easy to improve the production amount within a predetermined time. Also, two sets of discharge combinations are required at the same time, and the objects to be weighed are fed into a pair of packaging machine inlets from a weighing unit group composed of a plurality of weighing units having the first and second discharging means. Therefore, in one weighing unit group, it is possible to easily put the objects to be weighed into the two packaging machine inlets at high speed, and two packaging machines or twins that are operated at high speed. It is possible to easily cope with a mold packaging machine. In addition, when a plurality of weighing unit groups are provided, it is possible to deal with more packaging machines that are operated at high speed. Further, by simultaneously determining the two sets of discharge combinations, it is possible to improve the combination weighing accuracy as a whole of the objects to be discharged.

  In addition, the combination calculation means and the control means are configured so that the series of processes of each of the weighing units included in the weighing unit group in each of the weighing unit groups is approximately 1 / p of the time required for the series of processes. It is configured so as to be carried out by shifting each time.

  In addition, the combination calculation means may perform the combination processing performed later in the combination processing performed k times (k is a predetermined plural number) continuously when the combination processing is repeatedly performed in each of the weighing units. You may comprise so that a combination calculation may be performed based on the weight of the to-be-measured object supplied to the said combination hopper which does not belong to the 1st and 2nd discharge | emission combination determined by the said combination process.

  According to this configuration, during one operation cycle time (for example, one weighing cycle time), k combination processes are performed, and the objects to be weighed are discharged k times from the first and second discharging means, respectively. It is possible to easily cope with two packaging machines or twin type packaging machines operated at a higher speed in one weighing unit group. For example, k is a value such as 2, 3.

  The first discharge means is disposed below the hopper row, collects the objects to be discharged from the combination hopper in the first direction, and collects the first discharge from a lower discharge port. The first collecting chute is discharged to a discharging position, and the second discharging means is disposed below the hopper row alongside the first collecting chute, and from the combination hopper to the second direction. It may be configured to include a second collecting chute for collecting the objects to be discharged to the second discharge port from the lower discharge port to the second discharge position.

  According to this configuration, the first and second collecting chutes are provided, and the combination hopper can selectively discharge the objects to be weighed to the two collecting chutes. It is easy to perform a combination discharge operation (high-speed operation), and the production amount can be improved within a predetermined time.

  The first discharging means is disposed below the hopper row, and collects objects to be discharged from the combination hopper in the first direction and discharges them from a lower discharge port. And a first collecting hopper provided at a discharge port of the first collecting chute and temporarily holding an object to be weighed discharged from the discharging port and discharging it to the first discharge position. The second discharging means is disposed below the hopper row along with the first collecting chute, and collects objects to be discharged from the combination hopper in the second direction. The second collecting chute to be discharged from the discharge port and the discharge port of the second collecting chute are temporarily held and discharged to the second discharging position by temporarily holding the objects to be discharged from the discharging port. A second collective hopper, In each of the weighing units, the means is configured to cause the first collective hopper and the second collective hopper to discharge the objects to be weighed simultaneously to the first collective hopper and the second collective hopper. May also be configured to control.

  According to this configuration, the first and second collecting chutes are provided, and the combination hopper can selectively discharge the objects to be weighed to the two collecting chutes. It is easy to perform a combination discharge operation (high-speed operation), and the production amount can be improved within a predetermined time. Furthermore, since the objects to be weighed are discharged together by the first and second collecting hoppers provided at the respective discharge ports of the first and second collecting chutes, there is a packaging machine for packaging the objects to be weighed. Easy packaging operation.

  The first discharging means is disposed below the hopper row, and loads the objects to be weighed discharged from the combination hopper in the first direction in one direction. A first conveyor for discharging to the first discharging position, and the second discharging means is disposed alongside the first conveyor below the hopper row, and is connected to the first hopper from the combination hopper. And a second conveyor that carries the object to be weighed in the direction of 2 and transports it in the one direction, and ejects it from the transport terminal to the second discharge position, and the control means has each of the weighing In the unit, the conveying operation of the objects to be weighed by the first conveyor and the second conveyor is also controlled so that the objects to be weighed are discharged simultaneously to the first conveyor and the second conveyor. It may be configured as follows.

  According to this configuration, the first and second conveyors are provided, and the combination hopper can selectively discharge the objects to be weighed to the two conveyors. It becomes easy to perform the operation (high-speed operation), and the production amount can be improved within a predetermined time.

  In this case, the first conveyor and the second conveyor may be integrated into one conveyor.

  According to this configuration, by providing one wide conveyor, only one drive circuit is required, and control is also easier than in the case of two.

  Further, the first conveyor and the second conveyor may be configured such that the conveyance direction of the object to be measured can be changed.

  According to this structure, according to arrangement | positioning of the packaging machine which packages the to-be-measured object discharged | emitted from the 1st and 2nd conveyor, the conveyance direction by a 1st and 2nd conveyor can be changed.

  Further, the combination processing by the combination calculating means performs a combination calculation based on the weight of the objects to be weighed supplied to the combination hopper, so that the combination weight value is a value within an allowable range with respect to a target weight value. All combinations of the combination hoppers to be obtained are determined as appropriate combinations, and each appropriate combination is combined in two sets, and the same combination hoppers are not included in the appropriate combination to be combined First processing for obtaining an appropriate amount combination pair, and for each of the appropriate amount combination pairs, a sum of absolute values of differences between a combination weight value of each appropriate amount combination included in the appropriate amount combination pair and a target weight value is calculated. , Selecting one appropriate combination pair having the smallest absolute value of the differences, and including the two sets of the appropriate combination combinations included in the selected appropriate combination pair It may be configured such that the other and a second process of determining the second discharge combination and determines either the first discharge combination of the amount of the combination.

  According to this configuration, an appropriate combination pair having the minimum absolute value of the difference between the combination weight value of each appropriate combination and the target weight value is selected, and two appropriate combination combinations included in the appropriate combination pair are selected. Since each is determined as a discharge combination, it is possible to improve the combination weighing accuracy as a whole of the objects to be weighed discharged from the combination hoppers belonging to each discharge combination.

  Further, the combination processing by the combination calculating means performs a combination calculation based on the weight of the objects to be weighed supplied to the combination hopper, so that the combination weight value is a value within an allowable range with respect to a target weight value. Find all combinations of the combination hoppers to be allowed combinations, and give priority to the combinations having the smallest absolute value of the difference between the combination weight value and the target weight value from among all the allowed combinations. m (m is a predetermined plural number) of the permissible combinations, each of which is set as a first proper amount combination, and each of the first proper amount combinations, the combination hopper belonging to the first proper amount combination One of the allowable combinations consisting of the combination hopper combinations excluding the combination is selected as the allowable combination having the smallest absolute value of the difference between the combined weight value and the target weight value. A second appropriate amount combination, a first process for obtaining m appropriate amount combination pairs each consisting of the first appropriate amount combination and the second appropriate amount combination, and for each appropriate amount combination pair, Calculate the sum of the absolute values of the difference between the combination weight value of each of the first and second appropriate amount combinations and the target weight value, and select one appropriate combination pair having the minimum sum of the absolute values of the differences. And determining one of the first and second appropriate amount combinations included in the selected appropriate amount combination pair as the first discharge combination and determining the other as the second discharge combination. It may be configured to consist of these processes.

  According to this configuration, an appropriate combination pair having the minimum sum of absolute values of the difference between the combination weight value of each of the first and second appropriate combination and the target weight value is selected and included in the appropriate combination pair. Since each of the two appropriate combinations is determined as a discharge combination, the accuracy of combination weighing as a whole of the objects to be weighed discharged from the combination hopper belonging to each discharge combination can be improved.

  Further, the combination processing by the combination calculating means performs a combination calculation based on the weight of the objects to be weighed supplied to the combination hopper, so that the combination weight value is a value within an allowable range with respect to a target weight value. Find all combinations of the combination hoppers that are to be allowed combinations, and select one of all the allowed combinations that has the smallest absolute value of the difference between the combination weight value and the target weight value. Then, a difference between the combination weight value and the target weight value is selected from the allowable combinations including the combination hopper combinations excluding the combination hoppers belonging to the first appropriate amount combination. One of the allowable combinations having the smallest absolute value is selected as a second appropriate amount combination, and one of the first and second appropriate amount combinations is selected as the first discharge combination. It may be configured to determine the second discharge combination and the other with a constant.

  According to this configuration, from among all the allowable combinations, the one having the smallest absolute value of the difference between the combination weight value and the target weight value is selected as the first appropriate amount combination, and the first appropriate amount combination is selected. A second appropriate amount by selecting one allowable combination having the smallest absolute value of the difference between the combination weight value and the target weight value from the allowable combinations including the combination hoppers excluding the combination hopper belonging to Since these combinations are determined as discharge combinations, the combination weighing accuracy as a whole of the objects to be weighed discharged from the combination hoppers belonging to the respective discharge combinations can be improved.

  The combination hopper includes two weighing chambers arranged side by side in the row direction of the combination hopper, weighs the objects to be weighed supplied to the respective weighing chambers, A weighing hopper capable of selectively discharging an object to be weighed in each of the weighing chambers in the first direction and the second direction, wherein the combination calculation means is supplied with the first and second discharge combinations; The total weight of the objects to be weighed may be determined so as to be a combination of the weighing chambers that makes the value within an allowable range with respect to the target weight value.

  According to this configuration, since the weighing hopper having two weighing chambers is provided as the combination hopper, an increase in the length of the combination hopper in the row direction is suppressed, and the number of weight values used for the combination calculation is increased. This makes it possible to improve the combination weighing accuracy.

  In addition, a plurality of weighing hoppers for measuring the weight of the objects to be weighed are disposed above the combination hoppers corresponding to the respective combination hoppers, and the combination hoppers have two storage chambers. The objects to be weighed by the weighing hopper are supplied to the respective storage chambers, and the objects to be weighed are selectively discharged in the first direction and the second direction for each of the storage chambers. A memory hopper capable of selectively discharging the objects to be weighed into the two storage chambers of the corresponding memory hopper, and the combination calculation means includes the first and second combination calculating means. The discharge combination may be determined so as to be a combination of the storage chambers in which the total weight of the objects to be weighed is a value within an allowable range with respect to the target weight value.

  According to this configuration, since the memory hopper having the two storage chambers is provided as the combination hopper, an increase in the length of the combination hopper in the row direction is suppressed, and the number of weight values used for the combination calculation is increased. This makes it possible to improve the combination weighing accuracy.

  The combination hoppers are arranged in two upper rows and one lower row, and the upper two rows of the combination hoppers are weighing hoppers for weighing the weights of the objects to be weighed respectively. The lower one row of the combination hoppers is a memory hopper provided corresponding to each of the two weighing hoppers and supplied with an object to be weighed by the weighing hopper. The objects to be weighed discharged in the first direction from the weighing hopper in the row near the first discharge means are discharged to the first discharge means and discharged in the second direction. The objects to be weighed are discharged to the corresponding memory hopper, and the objects to be weighed discharged from the weighing hopper in the row closer to the second discharging means in the upper two rows to the first direction correspond. Discharged to the memory hopper and the second The objects to be weighed which have been discharged to the direction may be configured so as to be discharged to the second discharge means.

  According to this configuration, since the weighing hoppers in the upper two rows and the memory hopper in the lower row are provided as the combination hopper, an increase in the length of the combination hopper in the row direction is suppressed, and the combination hopper is used for the combination calculation. It becomes possible to increase the number of weight values and improve the combination weighing accuracy.

  The present invention has the above-described configuration, and it is possible to improve the production amount within a predetermined time, and easily perform the high-speed loading of the objects to be weighed into a plurality of packaging machine inlets. There is an effect that it is possible to provide a combination weigher that makes possible.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1A is a schematic schematic view of the combination weigher according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention viewed from above, and FIG. 1B is a schematic schematic view of the combination weigher viewed from the front. FIG.1 (c) is the schematic diagram which looked at the combination weigher from the side surface direction.

  This combination weigher includes a control unit 10, two lower chutes 8a and 8b, and a first weighing unit A1 and a second weighing unit A2 whose operations are controlled by the control unit 10. The first weighing unit A1 and the second weighing unit A2 have the same configuration.

  Each weighing unit A1, A2 includes a drive unit area 1, a vibration feeder 2, a supply hopper 3, a weighing hopper 4, collecting chutes 6a, 6b, and collecting hoppers 7a, 7b.

  Each of the weighing units A1 and A2 has a configuration in which a plurality of supply hoppers 3 and weighing hoppers 4 are arranged in a straight line and are arranged corresponding to each other. Each weighing hopper 4 is attached with a weight sensor 41 (FIG. 1C) such as a load cell that measures the weight of the object to be weighed in the weighing hopper 4. The measurement value by each weight sensor 41 is output to the control unit 10. The objects to be weighed are supplied to the supply hoppers 3 arranged immediately above the weighing hoppers 4 from the vibration feeders 2 arranged above them. An object to be weighed is supplied to each vibration feeder 2 from supply means (not shown). In each of the weighing units A1 and A2, the vibration feeders 2 may be integrally formed.

  Below the weighing hoppers 4 arranged in a straight line, two substantially inverted pyramid shaped collecting chutes 6a and 6b are arranged side by side. Each weighing hopper 4 discharges the objects to be weighed to the first collecting chute 6a so that the objects to be weighed can be selectively discharged to the first collecting chute 6a and the second collecting chute 6b below it. One gate 5a and a second gate 5b for discharging an object to be weighed to the second collecting chute 6b are provided.

  The discharge port 6ae at the lower end of the first collective chute 6a is provided with a first collective hopper 7a for temporarily holding and discharging the objects that have slipped down on the first collective chute 6a. A discharge port 6be at the lower end of the collective chute 6b is provided with a second collective hopper 7b for temporarily holding and discharging the objects that have slipped down on the second collective chute 6b.

  In the drive unit region 1, a base body (body) (not shown) is disposed, and a vibration feeder 2, a supply hopper 3, and a weighing hopper 4 are attached to the base body. Drive units such as gate opening / closing devices of the hopper 3, the weighing hopper 4, and the collecting hoppers 7a and 7b are accommodated. A weight sensor 41 attached to each weighing hopper 4 is also housed in the base body together with the drive unit.

  Each of the first weighing unit A1 and the second weighing unit A2 is configured as described above.

  A lower chute 8a is disposed below the collecting hopper 7a of the first weighing unit A1 and the collecting hopper 7a of the second weighing unit A2, and is discharged from each of the two collecting hoppers 7a. The object to be weighed is transported (slid down) on the lower chute 8a and discharged from the lower discharge port 8ae. Similarly, a lower chute 8b is disposed below the collecting hopper 7b of the first weighing unit A1 and the collecting hopper 7b of the second weighing unit A2, and is discharged from each of the two collecting hoppers 7b. The object to be weighed is transferred (slid down) on the lower chute 8b and discharged from the lower discharge port 8be.

  Below the lower chutes 8a and 8b of this combination weigher, although not shown in the figure, two packaging machines with one input port for an object to be weighed, or a twin type having two input ports for an object to be weighed , And the objects to be weighed discharged from the discharge port 8ae of the lower chute 8a and the discharge port 8be of the lower chute 8b are input to different packing machines (first and second packaging). Machine), and packaged while being packed in a bag by a packaging machine. Thus, the objects to be weighed discharged from the collecting hopper 7a of the first weighing unit A1 and the collecting hopper 7a of the second weighing unit A2 are put into the first packaging machine inlet through the lower chute 8a, The objects to be weighed discharged from the collecting hopper 7b of the first weighing unit A1 and the collecting hopper 7b of the second weighing unit A2 are introduced into the second packaging machine inlet through the lower chute 8b. ing. The lower chutes 8a and 8b may be provided in the packaging machine.

  The control unit 10 includes a control unit and a combination calculation unit, controls the operation of the entire combination weigher, and combines the weighing hoppers 4 to discharge the objects to be weighed for each weighing unit A1 and A2 (discharge combination). A combination process for determining two sets is performed. In this combination processing, a combination calculation is performed based on the measurement value of the weighing hopper 4 (measured value of the weight of the object to be weighed in the weighing hopper 4 by the weight sensor 41), and the combined weight value that is the sum of the measured values is the target weight. Two combinations of the weighing hoppers 4 within a permissible range (predetermined weight range) for the values are obtained, and each is determined as a discharge combination. Details of this combination processing will be described later.

  First, the outline of the operation of the combination weigher configured as described above will be described.

  In each weighing unit A1, A2, the objects to be weighed supplied from the supply means (not shown) to each vibration feeder 2 are supplied to each supply hopper 3, and the objects to be weighed are fed from each supply hopper 3 to each weighing hopper 4. The The weight of the object to be weighed in each weighing hopper 4 is measured by each weight sensor 41, and the measured value is sent to the control unit 10. And the combination process by the control part 10 is performed, and two sets of discharge | emission combinations are determined simultaneously. The objects to be weighed are simultaneously discharged from the weighing hopper 4 selected as the two discharge combinations, and the objects to be weighed are supplied from the supply hopper 3 to the empty weighing hopper 4. Further, the object to be weighed is supplied from the vibration feeder 2 to the empty supply hopper 3.

  In the above description, in each of the weighing units A1 and A2, the discharge directions from the weighing hopper 4 of the two discharge combinations determined simultaneously in the respective combination processes are made different. That is, the objects to be weighed are discharged from the weighing hopper 4 of one of the two discharge combinations to the first collecting chute 6a, and at the same time, the weighing hopper 4 of the other discharging combination is discharged from the second collecting chute 6b. Drain the object to be measured. The objects to be weighed discharged to the first and second collective chutes 6a and 6b are temporarily held by the first and second collective hoppers 7a and 7b, and then the first collective hopper 7a and the second collective hopper 7b Are discharged at the same time.

  In addition, although mentioned later in detail, in each measuring unit A1 and A2, the same operation | movement is performed as mentioned above, However, The timing of the operation | movement differs.

  Next, details of the combination processing in the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing combination processing (first combination processing) in the present embodiment. The control part 10 performs the combination process shown by step S1-step S4 with respect to each of 1st and 2nd measurement unit A1, A2.

  In step S1, a combination calculation is performed using the measurement value (weight value of the object to be weighed) of the weighing hopper 4 holding the object whose weight value has been measured by each weight sensor 41. All combinations in which the total combination weight value is within the allowable range with respect to the target weight value are obtained, and each combination is determined as an appropriate combination.

  In step S2, an appropriate amount combination pair obtained by combining two appropriate amount combinations not including the same weighing hopper 4 is obtained.

  In step S3, for each appropriate combination pair, the absolute value of the difference between the combination weight value of each appropriate combination and the target weight value constituting the appropriate combination pair is obtained, and the sum of the absolute values of these differences is calculated. . The absolute value of the difference between the combination weight value and the target weight value is an absolute value obtained by subtracting the target weight value from the combination weight value, or an absolute value obtained by subtracting the combination weight value from the target weight value. Will be zero or positive.

  In step S4, one appropriate combination pair having the minimum sum of absolute values of the differences obtained in step 3 is selected, and one of the two appropriate combination combinations constituting the pair is discharged to the first collective chute 6a. The discharge combination to be discharged (first discharge combination) is determined, and the other is determined to be the discharge combination (second discharge combination) to be discharged to the second collecting chute 6b. Here, the determination method of the first discharge combination and the second discharge combination is determined in advance, and any method may be used. For example, numbers are assigned to the weighing hoppers 4 in order, the proper combination of the weighing hoppers 4 with the smallest number is determined as the first discharge combination, and the other proper combination is set as the second discharge combination. It may be determined or vice versa. Or you may make it determine with the magnitude of a combination weight value. For example, an appropriate amount combination having a larger combination weight value may be determined as the first discharge combination, and an appropriate amount combination having a smaller combination weight value may be determined as the second discharge combination, and vice versa. But you can. Alternatively, each time the combination process is performed, an appropriate combination with a larger combination weight value and an appropriate combination with a smaller combination weight are alternately determined as the first discharge combination and the second discharge combination. Also good.

  In steps S3 and S4, for each appropriate combination pair, the sum of the absolute values of the differences between the combination weight value of each appropriate combination and the target weight value is calculated, and the appropriate amount with the minimum sum of the absolute values of the differences is calculated. One combination pair was selected to determine two discharge combinations. For each proper combination pair, the sum of the squares of the difference between the combination weight value of each proper combination and the target weight value is calculated. It is also possible to calculate and select one appropriate combination pair having the smallest sum of the squares of the differences to determine two discharge combinations. In either case, the same result is obtained.

  As described above, two discharge combinations are obtained by one combination process.

  FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing an example of the operation of the combination weigher of the present embodiment.

  One operation cycle time Tw in each of the weighing units A1 and A2 is, for example, a measurement selected as the two discharge combinations immediately after the two discharge combinations are determined by the combination process in the immediately preceding operation cycle. The object to be weighed is discharged from the hopper 4 (when the weighing hopper 4 is selected as the discharge combination), and then the object to be weighed is loaded into the weighing hopper 4 of the discharge combination, and the stable time of the weight sensor 41 has elapsed. This is the time required to determine two discharge combinations by the next combination processing after measuring the weight of the weighing object in the weighing hopper 4. Note that one weighing cycle time is, for example, the weighing hopper 4 selected as the two discharge combinations determined by the combination processing in the immediately preceding operation cycle (when the weighing hopper 4 is selected as the discharge combination) ), The objects to be weighed are then loaded into the weighing hoppers 4 of the two discharge combinations, and after the stable time of the weight sensor 41 has elapsed, the objects in the weighing hopper 4 This is the time required to determine two discharge combinations by the next combination process after measuring the weight of the weighing object. Therefore, one weighing cycle time is a margin time or waiting time until the object to be weighed starts to be discharged from the hopper selected for the two discharge combinations after the two discharge combinations are determined by the combination processing. It is equal to one operation cycle time Tw when is zero. Since it is preferable to make one operation cycle time Tw equal to one metering cycle time for high speed operation, in the present embodiment, one operation cycle time Tw is set to a time equal to or substantially equal to one metering cycle time. It is set to be.

  In the present embodiment, the timing of the operation of the first weighing unit A1 and the timing of the operation of the second weighing unit A2 are shifted by Tw / 2 hours, but the operations in the weighing units A1 and A2 are the same. is there. In each of the weighing units A1 and A2, combination processing for simultaneously determining two sets of discharge combinations is performed every Tw time, and the objects to be weighed simultaneously from the weighing hoppers 4 of the two sets of discharge combinations determined in the combination processing Is discharged. In addition, the objects to be weighed are discharged simultaneously from the first collective hopper 7a and the second collective hopper 7b every Tw time. As a result, from the weighing units A1 and A2, two sets of discharge combinations to be weighed are put into the packaging machine within one operation cycle time Tw. In this case, one discharge cycle time Td1 of each weighing unit A1, A2 is the same as one operation cycle time Tw. One discharge cycle time Td1 is twice as long as one packaging cycle time Tp1 of the packaging machine. In this case, in each of the weighing units A1 and A2, for example, the total number of weighing hoppers 4 is set to 14, and the appropriate number combination selection number (the planned number of weighing hoppers 4 selected for one set of appropriate amount combinations) is set to 4. Thus, good combination weighing accuracy can be obtained. Setting the appropriate combination number to four means that the target input amount of the objects to be weighed at one time from each supply hopper 3 to the weighing hopper 4 is approximately ¼ of the target weight value. The operation setting of the vibration feeder 2 and the like is made.

  For example, when the input command signal is input from the packaging machine, the control unit 10 responds to the input command signal, for example, in the first weighing unit A1, the gates of the first collective hopper 7a and the second collective hopper 7b. At the same time, it opens and discharges the object to be weighed to the packaging machine (time t1). Then, based on the operation timing of the gates of the collection hoppers 7a and 7b, the first gate 5a of the weighing hopper 4 selected as the first discharge combination is opened, and the weighing hopper 4 covers the first collection chute 6a. At the same time as discharging the weighing object, the second gate 5b of the weighing hopper 4 selected as the second discharge combination is opened, and the weighing object is discharged from the weighing hopper 4 to the second collective chute 6b (time t1). . When the next input command signal is input, the second weighing unit A2 opens the gates of the first collecting hopper 7a and the second collecting hopper 7b at the same time, and discharges the objects to be weighed to the packaging machine (time t2). Then, based on the operation timing of the gates of the collection hoppers 7a and 7b, the first gate 5a of the weighing hopper 4 selected as the first discharge combination is opened, and the weighing hopper 4 covers the first collection chute 6a. At the same time as discharging the weighing object, the second gate 5b of the weighing hopper 4 selected as the second discharge combination is opened, and the weighing object is discharged from the weighing hopper 4 to the second collecting chute 6b (time t2). . The above operation is repeated each time a closing command signal is input (time t3, t4, t5).

  In the case of FIG. 3, in the first weighing unit A1, the objects to be weighed discharged from the weighing hopper 4 when the first gate 5a is opened at the time t1 are transferred to the first collecting hopper 7a until the time t3. Collected and held, the gate of the collecting hopper 7a is opened at time t3, and the objects to be weighed in the collecting hopper 7a pass through the lower chute 8a and are thrown into the first packaging machine inlet. Similarly, in the first weighing unit A1, the objects to be weighed discharged from the weighing hopper 4 by opening the second gate 5b at the time t1 are collected in the second collecting hopper 7b until the time t3. At time t3, the gate of the collecting hopper 7b is opened, and the objects to be weighed in the collecting hopper 7b pass through the lower chute 8b and are thrown into the second packaging machine inlet.

  In the second weighing unit A2, the objects to be weighed discharged from the weighing hopper 4 when the first gate 5a is opened at time t2 are collected and held in the first collecting hopper 7a until time t4. At time t4, the gate of the collecting hopper 7a is opened, and the objects to be weighed in the collecting hopper 7a pass through the lower chute 8a and are fed into the first packaging machine inlet. Similarly, at time t2, in the second weighing unit A2, the objects to be weighed discharged from the weighing hopper 4 by opening the second gate 5b are collected in the second collecting hopper 7b until time t4. At time t4, the gate of the collecting hopper 7b is opened, and the objects to be weighed in the collecting hopper 7b pass through the lower chute 8b and are fed into the second packaging machine inlet.

  In the case of FIG. 3, in each of the weighing units A1 and A2, the gate opening / closing timing of the collecting hoppers 7a and 7b and the opening / closing timing of the first gate 5a and the second gate 5b of the weighing hopper 4 are the same. It is not limited to this. The control unit 10 controls the opening / closing timing of the first gate 5a and the second gate 5b of the weighing hopper 4 based on, for example, the opening / closing timing of the gates of the collecting hoppers 7a, 7b in each weighing unit A1, A2. Thus, the timing of opening and closing the gates of the collecting hoppers 7a and 7b and the weighing hopper 4 can be made different.

  By operating the two weighing units as described above, the objects to be weighed are put into the two packaging machine inlets every Tw / 2 hours. Accordingly, in one operation cycle time Tw, the objects to be weighed are discharged twice to each of the two packaging machine inlets, and the production amount (total number of discharges from the combination weigher to the packaging machine) within a predetermined time is improved. be able to.

  Further, in the combination process (first combination process) shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2, an appropriate amount combination pair in which the sum of absolute values of the difference between the combination weight value of each appropriate amount combination and the target weight value is the minimum is selected. Since each of the two proper amount combinations included in the proper amount combination pair is determined to be the discharge combination, it is possible to improve the combination weighing accuracy as a whole of the discharged objects to be weighed.

  Further, instead of the first combination process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2, a second or third combination process described below may be performed.

  First, the second combination process will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the second combination processing in the present embodiment. The control unit 10 performs the combination process shown in steps S11 to S15 on each of the first and second weighing units A1 and A2.

  In step S11, a combination calculation is performed using the measurement value (weight value of the object to be measured) of the weighing hopper 4 holding the object whose weight value has been measured by each weight sensor 41. All combinations in which the combined combination weight value is a value within an allowable range with respect to the target weight value are obtained, and each combination is set as an allowable combination. The processing in step S11 is the same as the processing in step S1 in FIG. 2, and the appropriate amount combination obtained in step S1 corresponds to the allowable combination obtained in step S11.

  In step S12, a predetermined m number (m is a plurality), for example, 10 is selected and selected, giving priority to the one having the smallest absolute value of the difference between the combination weight value and the target weight value, from among all the allowable combinations. Each allowable combination is defined as a first appropriate amount combination.

  In step S13, an allowable combination consisting of a combination of the weighing hoppers 4 other than the weighing hopper 4 belonging to an arbitrary first appropriate combination is selected so that the absolute value of the difference between the combination weight value and the target weight value is small. One allowable combination is selected preferentially, and this allowable combination is set as a second appropriate amount combination corresponding to any one of the first appropriate amount combinations. Similarly, the second appropriate amount combination corresponding to each of the m first appropriate amount combinations is obtained. In this way, the second appropriate amount combination corresponding to each of the m first appropriate amount combinations is obtained, and m appropriate amount combination pairs each including the corresponding first appropriate amount combination and second appropriate amount combination are obtained.

  In step S14, for each appropriate amount combination pair, the absolute value of the difference between the combination weight value of each of the first and second appropriate amount combinations constituting the appropriate amount combination pair and the target weight value is obtained, and the absolute value of the difference is obtained. Calculate the sum of the values.

  In step S15, one appropriate combination combination having the minimum absolute value of the differences obtained in step 14 is selected, and either one of the two appropriate combinations constituting the pair is discharged to the first collective chute 6a. The discharge combination to be discharged (first discharge combination) is determined, and the other is determined to be the discharge combination (second discharge combination) to be discharged to the second collecting chute 6b. Here, the determination method of the first discharge combination and the second discharge combination is determined in advance, and any method may be used. For example, the first appropriate amount combination may be determined as the first discharge combination, and the second appropriate amount combination may be determined as the second discharge combination, or vice versa. Alternatively, each weighing hopper 4 is numbered in turn, and the appropriate combination of the weighing hoppers 4 with the smallest number is determined as the first discharge combination, and the other appropriate combination is set as the second discharge combination. It may be determined or vice versa. Or you may make it determine with the magnitude of a combination weight value. For example, an appropriate amount combination having a larger combination weight value may be determined as the first discharge combination, and an appropriate amount combination having a smaller combination weight value may be determined as the second discharge combination, and vice versa. But you can. Alternatively, each time the combination process is performed, an appropriate combination with a larger combination weight value and an appropriate combination with a smaller combination weight are alternately determined as the first discharge combination and the second discharge combination. Also good.

  In steps S14 and S15, for each appropriate combination pair, the sum of the absolute values of the differences between the combination weight value of each appropriate combination and the target weight value is calculated, and the appropriate amount with the minimum sum of the absolute values of the differences is the minimum. One combination pair was selected to determine two discharge combinations. For each proper combination pair, the sum of the squares of the difference between the combination weight value of each proper combination and the target weight value is calculated. It is also possible to calculate and select one appropriate combination pair having the smallest sum of the squares of the differences to determine two discharge combinations. In either case, the same result is obtained.

  Next, the third combination process will be described. The control unit 10 performs a third combination process described below for each of the first and second weighing units A1 and A2.

  In the third combination process, first, combination calculation is performed using the measurement value (weight value of the object to be weighed) of the weighing hopper 4 holding the object to be measured whose weight value has been measured by each weight sensor 41. Thus, all combinations in which the combined weight value, which is the sum of the measured values, falls within the allowable range with respect to the target weight value are obtained, and each combination is set as an allowable combination. Then, one allowable combination having the smallest absolute value of the difference between the combination weight value and the target weight value is selected from all the allowable combinations, and this selected allowable combination is set as the first appropriate amount combination.

  Next, one allowable combination in which the absolute value of the difference between the combination weight value and the target weight value is minimum is selected from the allowable combinations formed by combinations of the weighing hoppers 4 other than the weighing hopper 4 belonging to the first appropriate amount combination. The selected allowable combination is set as the second appropriate amount combination. Then, one of the first proper amount combination and the second proper amount combination is determined as a discharge combination (first discharge combination) discharged to the first collective chute 6a, and the other is discharged to the second collective chute 6b. The combination (second discharge combination) is determined. Here, the determination method of the first discharge combination and the second discharge combination is predetermined in the same manner as in the case of the second combination process described above.

  In the first, second, and third combination processes, when the allowable range for the target weight value is set to a range that is equal to or greater than the target weight value, that is, the lower limit value of the allowable range is equal to the target weight value. When set to a value, the absolute value of the difference between the combination weight value of the appropriate amount combination or the allowable combination and the target weight value is equal to a value (difference) obtained by subtracting the target weight value from the combination weight value. Therefore, in this case, for example, in step S3 of FIG. 2 and step S14 of FIG. 4, calculating the sum of the absolute values of the difference between the combination weight value of each appropriate amount combination and the target weight value is equivalent to each appropriate amount. This is equivalent to calculating the sum of differences obtained by subtracting the target weight value from the combination weight value of the combination.

  Further, when the lower limit value of the allowable range is set to a value equal to the target weight value, an appropriate amount is obtained for each appropriate combination pair in place of steps S3 and S4 in FIG. 2 and steps S14 and S15 in FIG. The sum of the combination weight values of the two appropriate combination combinations constituting the combination pair is calculated, one optimal combination pair having the smallest calculated total is selected, and the two appropriate combination combinations constituting the set are first selected. The second discharge combination may be determined. Also in this case, the same two sets of discharge combinations as the processing results of steps S3 and S4 and steps S14 and S15 are obtained.

  In each weighing unit A1, A2, by performing the first, second or third combination processing described above, two sets of discharge combinations to be discharged every operation cycle time Tw are simultaneously determined. It is possible to use the weights of the objects to be weighed in all the weighing hoppers 4 in the respective weighing units A1 and A2 in the combination calculation for obtaining the discharge combination of the set, and the combined weighing of the discharged objects to be weighed as a whole. The accuracy can be improved.

  In the second combination process, in the third combination process, the selection conditions for the first appropriate amount combination are expanded to obtain a plurality of first appropriate amount combinations, and the first combination corresponding to each first appropriate amount combination is obtained. Two proper amount combinations are obtained, and the one having the smallest total combination weight value of the two proper amount combinations is selected. Therefore, when the second combination process is used, it is possible to improve the combination weighing accuracy of the whole object to be discharged as compared with the case where the third combination process is used. Further, in the first combination process, the absolute value of the difference between the combination weight value of the two appropriate combination combinations and the target weight value is selected from among the appropriate combination pairs formed by combining two combinations of all appropriate combination. Since the one having the smallest sum is selected, the combined weighing accuracy as the whole discharged objects to be weighed can be further improved.

  In addition, the processing amount of calculation decreases in the order of the first combination process, the second combination process, and the third combination process, and the time required for the combination process can be reduced in that order.

  In the present embodiment, in the two weighing units A1 and A2, the objects to be weighed discharged from the weighing hopper 4 to the first collecting chute 6a are loaded into the first packaging machine inlet, and the weighing hopper 4 The object to be weighed discharged to the second collecting chute 6b is configured to be fed into the second packaging machine inlet, and either the first collecting chute 6a or the second collecting chute 6b of the first weighing unit A1 is used. An object to be weighed discharged into one collecting chute is introduced into the first packaging machine inlet, and an object to be weighed discharged into the other collecting chute is introduced into the second packaging machine inlet. The objects to be weighed discharged to one of the first collective chutes 6a and the second collective chutes 6b of the second weighing unit A2 are fed into the first packaging machine inlet and to the other collective chute. Discharged weighing The it is sufficient to configure so as to introduce into the second packaging machine inlet. About this, it can respond easily by changing the position of the discharge port of each collection chute 6a, 6b, arrangement | positioning of lower chute 8a, 8b, etc., for example.

  In the present embodiment, two sets of discharge combinations are obtained for each weighing unit A1, A2 by one combination process, and the objects to be weighed of the two sets of discharge combinations are discharged simultaneously. The production amount can be improved. In addition, the objects to be weighed in one of the two discharge combinations are discharged to the first collecting chute 6a, and the objects to be weighed in the other discharging combination are discharged to the second collecting chute 6b. It is possible to secure an interval between the objects to be weighed first on the collective chutes 6a and 6b and the objects to be weighed later, which facilitates high-speed operation and improves the production amount within a predetermined time. Can be planned. Also, two sets of discharge combinations are required at the same time, and two packaging machines are loaded from a plurality of weighing units A1 and A2 having two discharge means (collecting chute 6a and collecting hopper 7a, collecting chute 6b and collecting hopper 7b). Since the objects to be weighed are put into the mouth, it is possible to easily cope with two packaging machines or twin type packaging machines operated at high speed. In addition, since two sets of discharge combinations are determined at the same time, it is possible to use the weight of the objects to be weighed in many weighing hoppers 4 in the combination calculation when obtaining the two sets of discharge combinations. It becomes possible to improve the combination weighing accuracy as a whole.

  In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, a single weighing discharge unit including two weighing units A1 and A2 and two lower chutes 8a and 8b is provided. However, a configuration including a plurality of such weighing discharge units. It is good. For example, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are plan views showing an example of the arrangement of each weighing unit when two weighing discharge units are provided.

  5 and FIG. 6, although not shown in each of the first to fourth weighing units A1 to A4, the drive unit region 1 and the vibration feeder 2 are respectively similar to the weighing unit A1 of FIG. A supply hopper 3 and the like are provided. The vibration feeder 2 and the like may be appropriately disposed in accordance with the position of the supply hopper 3 disposed above the weighing hopper 4. The first and second two weighing units A1 and A2 and the two lower chutes 8a and 8b arranged below the first and second weighing units A1 and A2 constitute a first weighing discharge unit U1, and the third and fourth two weighing units. A3, A4 and two lower chutes 8a, 8b arranged below them constitute a second metering discharge unit U2.

  In each of the weighing discharge units U1 and U2, below the two lower chutes 8a and 8b, for example, two packaging machines having one weighing object inlet or two weighing objects inlets are provided. Twin type packaging machines are arranged. Therefore, below this combination weigher, four packaging machine inlets are arranged, and the objects to be weighed discharged from the respective outlets 8ae of the two lower chutes 8a and the respective outlets 8be of the two lower chutes 8b. Are put into the inlets (first to fourth packaging machine inlets) of different packaging machines, and are packed while being packed in bags by the packaging machines.

  5 and 6, the objects to be weighed discharged from the collecting hopper 7a of the first weighing unit A1 and the collecting hopper 7a of the second weighing unit A2 are passed through the lower chute 8a. The objects to be weighed are discharged from the collecting hopper 7b of the first weighing unit A1 and the collecting hopper 7b of the second weighing unit A2 through the lower chute 8b. It is configured to input to. In addition, the objects to be weighed discharged from the collection hopper 7a of the third weighing unit A3 and the collection hopper 7a of the fourth weighing unit A4 are introduced into the third packaging machine inlet through the lower chute 8a, and the third The objects to be weighed discharged from the collecting hopper 7b of the weighing unit A3 and the collecting hopper 7b of the fourth weighing unit A4 are fed into the fourth packaging machine inlet through the lower chute 8b.

  Further, in the control unit 10 (see FIG. 1B), the combination of the weighing hoppers 4 to discharge the objects to be weighed (discharge) for each of the first, second, third and fourth weighing units A1 to A4. Combination processing for determining two combinations at the same time is performed, and the operations of the weighing units A1 to A4 are controlled. The combination process in each of the weighing units A1 to A4 is the same as that in the configuration of FIG.

  In both cases of FIGS. 5 and 6, the operation timing is taken for each of the metering discharge units U1 and U2. Therefore, the timing chart of the first weighing unit A1 and the second weighing unit A2 and the timing chart of the third weighing unit A3 and the fourth weighing unit A4 are respectively the first weighing unit shown in FIG. And the timing chart of the second weighing unit. That is, in this case, the pair of the first weighing unit A1 and the second weighing unit A2 and the pair of the third weighing unit A3 and the fourth weighing unit A4 are the first weighing unit in the configuration of FIG. An operation similar to that of the pair of A1 and the second weighing unit A2 may be performed, and the description thereof is omitted. The pair of the first weighing unit A1 and the second weighing unit A2 and the pair of the third weighing unit A3 and the fourth weighing unit A4 in FIGS. 5 and 6 are controlled by different input command signals. You may make it do. That is, between the two weighing units constituting each pair, the operation timing needs to be shifted by a time of Tw / 2 as shown in FIG. 3, but the operation timing between the two pairs is particularly It does not have to be related.

  5 and FIG. 6 is different from the combination weigher of FIG. 1 only in the number of weighing discharge units constituted by a pair of weighing units and two lower chutes. The same effect as the combination weigher can be obtained. Furthermore, by providing a plurality of weighing and discharging units, it is possible to further improve the production amount within a predetermined time, and it is possible to easily cope with more packaging machines.

  In the configuration of FIG. 1, the configuration including one weighing discharge unit is described, and in FIGS. 5 and 6, the configuration including two weighing discharge units is described. It is good also as a structure provided.

  Further, in the above, in each weighing unit in the weighing discharge unit, combination processing for simultaneously determining two sets of discharge combinations is performed every Tw time, and the weighing hoppers of the two sets of discharge combinations determined by the combination processing are performed. The weighing objects are discharged simultaneously from 4 and the weighing objects are simultaneously discharged from the first collective hopper 7a and the second collective hopper 7b, and the two weighings constituting the weighing discharge unit are operated. Although the operation timing is shifted by Tw / 2 between units, the present invention is not limited to this. In each weighing unit, for each Tw / k time (k is an integer of 2 or more), a combination process for simultaneously determining two sets of discharge combinations is performed, and the two sets of discharge combination weighing hoppers determined in the combination process The weighing objects are discharged simultaneously from 4 and the weighing objects are simultaneously discharged from the first collective hopper 7a and the second collective hopper 7b, and the two weighings constituting the weighing discharge unit are operated. You may comprise so that the timing of operation | movement may be shifted in time of Tw / 2k between units. For example, when k = 2, the objects to be weighed are discharged to the respective packaging machine inlets once every Tw / 4 hours, and the production amount can be further improved within a predetermined time period. It can be used for packaging machines that operate at higher speeds.

  In the above description, one weighing discharge unit is constituted by two weighing units and two lower chutes. However, one weighing discharge unit is constituted by three or more weighing units and two lower chutes. May be. For example, FIG. 7 shows an example in which one weighing discharge unit is configured by three weighing units and two lower chutes.

  FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an example of the arrangement of each weighing unit of a combination weigher provided with one weighing discharge unit including three weighing units and two lower chutes.

  In the case of FIG. 7, it is the structure provided with one measurement discharge | emission unit which consists of 1st-3rd three measurement units A1-A3 and two lower chute | shoots 8a and 8b. Although not shown in FIG. 7, each of the weighing units A1 to A3 is provided with a drive unit region 1, a vibration feeder 2, a supply hopper 3, and the like, like the weighing unit A1 of FIG. The vibration feeder 2 and the like may be appropriately disposed in accordance with the position of the supply hopper 3 disposed above the weighing hopper 4.

  In the case of FIG. 7, a lower chute 8a is disposed below the three collecting hoppers 7a of the first to third weighing units A1 to A3, and the three collecting hoppers of the first to third weighing units A1 to A3 are arranged. A lower chute 8b is disposed below 7b. 1. Similarly to the case of FIG. 1, below the two lower chutes 8a and 8b, for example, two packaging machines having one weighing object inlet or a twin having two weighing objects inlets. A type packaging machine is arranged. Accordingly, two packaging machine inlets are arranged below the combination scale, and the objects to be weighed discharged from the respective outlets 8ae and 8be of the two lower chutes 8a and 8b are different from each other. The first and second packaging machine inlets are charged and packed while being packed in a bag by the packaging machine.

  In the case of FIG. 7, the objects to be weighed discharged from the collecting hopper 7a of the first weighing unit A1, the collecting hopper 7a of the second weighing unit A2, and the collecting hopper 7a of the third weighing unit A3 are moved through the lower chute 8a. And then discharged from the collecting hopper 7b of the first weighing unit A1, the collecting hopper 7b of the second weighing unit A2, and the collecting hopper 7b of the third weighing unit A3. An object to be weighed is introduced into the second packaging machine inlet through the lower chute 8b.

  Further, in the control unit 10 (see FIG. 1B), for each of the first, second and third weighing units A1 to A3, a combination (discharge combination) of the weighing hoppers 4 to discharge the objects to be weighed is used. The combination processing for determining two sets at the same time is performed, and the operations of the weighing units A1 to A3 are controlled. The combination process in each of the weighing units A1 to A3 is the same as that in the configuration of FIG.

  In the case of FIG. 7, the operation in each weighing unit is the same as in FIG. In the case of FIG. 1, the timing of the operation of the two weighing units A1 and A2 is shifted by Tw / 2 as shown in FIG. 3, whereas in the case of FIG. The timing of the operations of .about.A3 is shifted by a time of Tw / 3. As a result, the objects to be weighed are introduced into each of the two packaging machine inlets every Tw / 3 hours. Therefore, in one operation cycle time Tw, the objects to be weighed are discharged three times each to the two packaging machine inlets, so that it can be applied to a packaging machine that operates at a higher speed. The total number of emissions can be improved.

  In addition, although the structure provided with one measurement discharge | emission unit which has three measurement units was described in FIG. 7, it is good also as a structure provided with one measurement discharge | emission unit which has four or more measurement units similarly. Moreover, it is good also as a structure provided with two or more such measurement discharge | emission units.

  In the various configurations of the present embodiment described above, all the objects to be weighed discharged from the weighing hopper 4 slide down on the collecting chutes 6a and 6b in a short time, which hinders the packaging operation of the packaging machine and the like. In the case where the set hoppers 7a and 7b are not provided, the configuration may be employed. In this case, by not providing the collective hopper, the configuration becomes simple and the control becomes unnecessary, and the control unit 10 is, for example, the weighing hopper 4 selected as the discharge combination in response to the input command signal from the packaging machine. The objects to be weighed may be discharged from the weighing hopper 4 through the outlets 6ae and 6be of the collecting chutes 6a and 6b through the lower chutes 8a and 8b and then put into the respective packaging machines. It is thrown into the mouth.

  The combination weigher of the present embodiment described above is a linear combination weigher having a weighing unit in which the weighing hoppers 4 are arranged in a straight line. On the other hand, the weighing hoppers are arranged in a circle, and the weighing hoppers can discharge the objects to be measured in the inner and outer directions of the circles in the arranged shape. It consists of an inner chute that collects and discharges the objects to be weighed to the outside, and an outer chute that collects and discharges the objects to be weighed discharged from each weighing hopper in the outer direction, and the inner chute and the outer chute intersect. There is a circular combination weigher arranged as described above. In contrast to such a circular combination weigher, in the linear combination weigher according to the present embodiment, the two collective chutes 6a and 6b of the weighing unit can be formed in the same and simple shape. Can be simplified and the cost can be reduced. Also, since the objects to be weighed down on the collective chutes 6a and 6b can slide down almost straight, the spread of the objects to be weighed on the collective chutes 6a and 6b is small. It is easy to ensure the interval between the object to be weighed first and the object to be weighed later.

  In the present embodiment, the arrangement of the discharge ports 6ae and 6be of the two collecting chutes 6a and 6b of the weighing unit may be changed as appropriate. For example, FIG. 8 shows another example of the collecting chute provided in the weighing discharge unit having two weighing units. FIG. 8A is a schematic schematic view of another example of the collective chute as viewed from above, and FIG. 8B is a schematic schematic view of the collective chute as viewed from the front. In this example, the two discharge ports 6ae and 6be are arranged side by side in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the collective chutes 6a and 6b are arranged. Also in this case, the two collective chutes 6a and 6b can be made the same and simple shape with respect to the inner chute and the outer chute of the circular combination weigher described above. Note that the collecting chutes 6a and 6b provided in the weighing discharge unit having three or more weighing units also have the outlets 6ae and 6be of the collecting chutes 6a and 6b as shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b). The position may be changed.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 9A is a schematic schematic view of the combination weigher according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention viewed from above, and FIG. 9B is a schematic schematic view of the combination weigher viewed from the front. FIG.9 (c) is the schematic model which looked at the combination weigher from the side surface direction. FIG. 9D is a plan view showing a collecting hopper and a lower chute as another example of the combination weigher of the present embodiment.

  The combination weigher of the present embodiment includes a control unit 20, two lower chutes 8A and 8B, and a first weighing unit B1 and a second weighing unit B2 whose operations are controlled by the control unit 20. . The first weighing unit B1 and the second weighing unit B2 have the same configuration.

  As shown in FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C, the combination weigher of the present embodiment is different from the combination weigher shown in FIG. 1 in the collective chutes 6a, 6b, collective hoppers 7a, 7b, and Instead of the lower chutes 8a and 8b, belt conveyors 21a and 21b, a partition plate 22, collecting hoppers 23a and 23b, and lower chutes 8A and 8B are different. The drive unit region 1, the vibration feeder 2, the supply hopper 3, and the weighing hopper 4 have the same configuration as that shown in FIG. Further, the control unit 20 performs the same combination process as in the first embodiment, and two sets of discharge combinations are simultaneously determined in each of the weighing units B1 and B2.

  Each weighing unit B1, B2 is provided with a drive unit area 1, a vibration feeder 2, a supply hopper 3, a weighing hopper 4, belt conveyors 21a, 21b, a partition plate 22, and collecting hoppers 23a, 23b.

  In each weighing unit B1, B2, each belt conveyor 21a, 21b conveys an object to be weighed discharged from the weighing hopper 4 selected for the discharge combination in the direction of arrow A, and is conveyed by each belt conveyor 21a, 21b. Collective hoppers 23a and 23b for temporarily holding and discharging the objects to be weighed discharged from the respective belt conveyors 21a and 21b are provided at the end portions. A partition plate 22 is provided between the belt conveyors 21a and 21b so that the objects to be weighed discharged from the weighing hopper 4 onto the belt conveyor 21a and the objects to be weighed discharged onto the belt conveyor 21b are not mixed. It has been.

  One lower chute 8A is disposed below the collecting hopper 23a of the first weighing unit B1 and the collecting hopper 23a of the second weighing unit B2, and the objects to be weighed discharged from the two collecting hoppers 23a. The object is transported (slid down) on the lower chute 8A and discharged from the lower discharge port 8Ae. Similarly, one lower chute 8B is disposed below the collecting hopper 23b of the first weighing unit B1 and the collecting hopper 23b of the second weighing unit B2, and is discharged from each of the two collecting hoppers 23b. The object to be weighed is transported (slid down) on the lower chute 8B and discharged from the lower discharge port 8Be.

  Although not shown below the lower chutes 8A and 8B of this combination weigher, as in the case of FIG. 1, two packaging machines with one input port for an object to be weighed, or an object to be weighed A twin-type packaging machine having two ports is arranged, and the objects to be weighed discharged from the discharge port 8Ae of the lower chute 8A and the discharge port 8Be of the lower chute 8B are input to different packaging machines ( The first and second packaging machine inlets) are packed while being packed in the packaging machine. Thus, the objects to be weighed discharged from the collecting hopper 23a of the first weighing unit B1 and the collecting hopper 23a of the second weighing unit A2 are fed into the first packaging machine inlet through the lower chute 8A. The objects to be weighed discharged from the collecting hopper 23b of the first weighing unit B1 and the collecting hopper 23b of the second weighing unit A2 are fed into the second packaging machine inlet through the lower chute 8B. ing. The lower chutes 8A and 8B may be provided in the packaging machine. Moreover, you may arrange | position the pop-out prevention board for preventing that a to-be-measured item jumps out in parallel with the partition plate 22 on both sides of the two belt conveyors 21a and 21b as needed.

  The control unit 20 includes a control unit and a combination calculation unit, and controls the operation of the entire combination weigher and performs a combination process for determining a combination (discharge combination) of the weighing hoppers 4 to discharge the objects to be weighed. This control unit 20 performs opening / closing control of the gates of the collection hoppers 23a, 23b instead of the opening / closing control of the collection hoppers 7a, 7b in the control unit 10 of FIG. Further, the operation of the belt conveyors 21a and 21b is also controlled. The belt conveyors 21a and 21b are driven by respective motors (not shown), and the control unit 20 controls the operations of the belt conveyors 21a and 21b via drive circuits of these motors. Usually, the belt conveyors 21a and 21b operate so as to convey the objects to be weighed on them in the direction of the arrow A, but can also be operated so as to convey them in the opposite direction.

  In the configuration of FIG. 9, any combination processing described in Embodiment 1 is performed as the combination processing by the control unit 20. Accordingly, the combination processing is performed with the timing shifted for each of the weighing units B1 and B2. In each weighing unit B1, B2, two sets of discharge combinations are simultaneously determined by performing a combination process. Here, as for the two discharge combinations, for example, the discharge combination discharged onto the belt conveyor 21a is determined as the first discharge combination, and the discharge combination discharged onto the belt conveyor 21b is determined as the second discharge combination. Is done. The objects to be weighed are simultaneously discharged onto the two belt conveyors 21a and 21b from the weighing hopper 4 selected as the two discharge combinations, and further the objects to be weighed are conveyed in the direction of arrow A by the belt conveyors 21a and 21b. And collected in the collecting hoppers 23a and 23b. After being temporarily held by each of the collecting hoppers 23a and 23b, the objects to be weighed discharged from the collecting hoppers 23a and 23b pass through the lower chutes 8A and 8B and are put into the packaging machine.

  For example, the control unit 20 causes the weighing units B1 and B2 to discharge the objects to be weighed from the respective collection hoppers 23a and 23b based on the input command signal from the packaging machine, and then the objects to be weighed are discharged. The two belt conveyors 21a and 21b corresponding to the collecting hoppers 23a and 23b are simultaneously driven, and the objects to be weighed are transported, discharged to the collecting hoppers 23a and 23b, and then stopped simultaneously. For example, as the driving time of the belt conveyors 21a and 21b, a time required for discharging all of the objects to be weighed discharged from the weighing hopper 4 by the conveyance of the belt conveyors 21a and 21b is set in advance. Then, it may be stopped after the preset drive time has elapsed. Then, the objects to be weighed are simultaneously discharged from the weighing hoppers 4 of the two discharge combinations onto the belt conveyors 21a and 21b from which the objects to be weighed have been discharged.

  Also in the present embodiment, the operation timing of the first weighing unit B1 and the operation timing of the second weighing unit B2 are, for example, Tw / 2, as in the operations of the weighing units A1 and A2 in the first embodiment. Although the operation is performed with a time lag, the operations in the weighing units B1 and B2 are the same. In each of the weighing units B1 and B2, for example, every Tw time, a combination process for simultaneously determining two sets of discharge combinations is performed, and the weighing hoppers 4 of the two sets of discharge combinations determined in the combination process are simultaneously weighed. The objects are discharged, conveyed by the belt conveyors 21a and 21b, and discharged to the collecting hoppers 23a and 23b. For example, the objects to be weighed are simultaneously discharged from the first collection hopper 23a and the second collection hopper 23b every Tw time based on the input command signal from the packaging machine. As a result, the objects to be weighed in two sets of discharge combinations are put into the packaging machine from each weighing unit B1, B2 within one operation cycle time Tw.

  Further, in each of the weighing units B1 and B2, even if the objects to be weighed are supplied to all the weighing hoppers 4 and the weighing values of all the weighing hoppers 4 are used for the combination processing, combinations within the allowable range with respect to the target weight value can be obtained. If not obtained (in the case of a combination failure), the objects to be weighed are discharged from a predetermined number of weighing hoppers 4 to at least one of the belt conveyors 21a and 21b, and the discharged belt conveyors 21a and 21b are conveyed. The direction is reversed, and it is configured to discharge to a defective discharge container (not shown) disposed at the end of the belt conveyors 21a, 21b opposite to the lower chute 8. Here, the weighing object is supplied from the supply hopper 3 to the weighing hopper 4 from which the object to be weighed is discharged, and then the combination processing is performed using the measured value of the supplied weighing object.

  In the case of FIG. 9, the packaging machine inlet is arranged on the right side of the combination weigher, but when the packaging machine inlet is arranged on the left side, conveyance of the objects to be weighed in the discharge combination by the belt conveyors 21 a and 21 b. The direction (the direction of arrow A) may be reversed, and the lower chutes 8A and 8B may be disposed on the left side.

  Further, in the above, in the two weighing units B1 and B2, the objects to be weighed discharged from the weighing hopper 4 to the first conveyor 21a are discharged to the first packaging machine inlet, and from the weighing hopper 4 to the second conveyor 21b. The discharged objects to be weighed are configured to be discharged to the second packaging machine input port, but the objects to be measured on either the first conveyor 21a or the second conveyor 21b of the first weighing unit B1. The weighing object is discharged to the first packaging machine inlet, and the objects to be weighed on the other conveyor are discharged to the second packaging machine inlet, and the first conveyor 21a of the second weighing unit B2 and The weighing object on either one of the second conveyors 21b is discharged to the first packaging machine inlet, and the weighing object on the other conveyor is discharged to the second packaging machine inlet. Just need

  In the present embodiment, two sets of discharge combinations are obtained by one combination process for each weighing unit B1 and B2, and the objects to be weighed in the two sets of discharge combinations are discharged at the same time. The production amount can be improved. In addition, an object to be weighed in one of the two discharge combinations (first discharge combination) is discharged to the belt conveyor 21a, and an object to be weighed in the other discharge combination (second discharge combination) is a belt. Since it is discharged to the conveyor 21b, it is possible to secure the interval between the objects to be weighed first on the belt conveyors 21a and 21b and the objects to be weighed later, and it is easy to perform high-speed operation. The production amount can be improved within a predetermined time. Also, two sets of discharge combinations are required at the same time, and two packaging machines are loaded from a plurality of weighing units B1 and B2 having two discharge means (the belt conveyor 21a and the collective hopper 23a, and the belt conveyor 21b and the collective hopper 23b). Since the objects to be weighed are put into the mouth, it is possible to easily cope with two packaging machines or twin type packaging machines operated at high speed. In addition, since two sets of discharge combinations are determined at the same time, it is possible to use the weight of the objects to be weighed in many weighing hoppers 4 in the combination calculation when obtaining the two sets of discharge combinations. It becomes possible to improve the combination weighing accuracy as a whole.

  In this embodiment, instead of the two belt conveyors 21a and 21b, one wide belt conveyor 21 (see FIG. 9C) in which these two belt conveyors 21a and 21b are integrated is provided. As a result, only one drive circuit is required, and control is easier than in the case of two.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9 (d), two lower chutes 8A and 8B are arranged in parallel below the collecting hoppers 23a and 23b of the first and second weighing units B1 and B2, so that The chutes 8A and 8B can be formed into a simple shape. In this case, the gates of the respective collection hoppers 23a are configured so that the objects to be weighed discharged from the two collecting hoppers 23a are discharged to the lower chute 8A, and the objects to be weighed discharged from the other two collecting hoppers 23b What is necessary is just to comprise the gate of each collection hopper 23b so that it may discharge | emit to the lower chute 8B.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10, a first weighing unit B1 and a second weighing unit B2 may be arranged. FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating another arrangement example of the first weighing unit B1 and the second weighing unit B2 in the present embodiment, and illustrates the drive unit region 1, the vibration feeder 2, and the supply hopper 3. Omitted. In this case, the conveyors 21a and 21b of the first weighing unit B1 and the conveyors 21a and 21b of the second weighing unit B2 are arranged linearly with an interval therebetween, and the first and second The collecting hoppers 23a and 23b of the weighing units B1 and B2 are arranged, the lower chute 8A is arranged below the two collecting hoppers 23a of the weighing units B1 and B2, and the lower chute is arranged below the two collecting hoppers 23b. 8B is provided. In this case, the objects to be weighed discharged from the weighing hopper 4 of the discharge combination are conveyed by the respective conveyors 21a and 21b in the direction of arrow A in the first weighing unit B1, and in the direction of arrow B in the second weighing unit B2. To be transported. In this case, each of the collecting hoppers 23a and 23b may be configured so that the objects to be weighed can be discharged downward, and the lower chutes 8A and 8B have a simple shape as in the case of FIGS. It can be.

  9 and 10, the weighing unit is composed of two weighing units B1 and B2 and two lower chutes 8A and 8B. However, the configuration is the same as in the first embodiment. Alternatively, a configuration including a plurality of metering discharge units may be employed.

  In the above description, one weighing discharge unit is constituted by two weighing units and two lower chutes. However, one weighing discharge unit is constituted by three or more weighing units and two lower chutes. May be. For example, FIG. 11 shows an example in which one weighing discharge unit is constituted by three weighing units and two lower chutes.

  FIG. 11 is a plan view showing an example of the arrangement of each weighing unit of the combination weigher provided with one weighing discharge unit including three weighing units and two lower chutes.

  In the case of FIG. 11, the first to third three weighing units B1 to B3 and the two lower chutes 8A and 8B are provided with one weighing discharge unit. Although not shown in FIG. 11, each of the weighing units B1 to B3 is provided with a drive unit region 1, a vibration feeder 2, a supply hopper 3, and the like, like the weighing unit B1 of FIG. The vibration feeder 2 and the like may be appropriately disposed in accordance with the position of the supply hopper 3 disposed above the weighing hopper 4.

  In the case of FIG. 11, two lower chutes 8A and 8B are arranged in parallel below the collecting hoppers 23a and 23b of the first to third weighing units B1 to B3. Here, for example, the gates of the collecting hoppers 23a are configured so that the objects to be weighed discharged from the three collecting hoppers 23a of the weighing units B1 to B3 are discharged to the lower chute 8A, and the weighing units B1 to B3 3 The gates of the collecting hoppers 23b are configured so that the objects to be weighed discharged from the two collecting hoppers 23b are discharged to the lower chute 8B. As in the case of FIG. 9, below the two lower chutes 8A and 8B, for example, two packaging machines having one weighing object inlet or a twin having two weighing objects inlets. A type packaging machine is arranged. Accordingly, two packaging machine inlets are arranged below the combination scale, and the objects to be weighed discharged from the respective outlets 8Ae and 8Be of the two lower chutes 8A and 8B are different from each other. The first and second packaging machine inlets are charged and packed while being packed in a bag by the packaging machine.

  In the case of FIG. 11, the objects to be weighed discharged from the collecting hopper 23a of the first weighing unit B1, the collecting hopper 23a of the second weighing unit B2, and the collecting hopper 23a of the third weighing unit B3 are transferred to the lower chute 8A. And is discharged from the collecting hopper 23b of the first weighing unit B1, the collecting hopper 23b of the second weighing unit B2, and the collecting hopper 23b of the third weighing unit B3. The object to be weighed is fed into the second packaging machine inlet through the lower chute 8B.

  Further, in the control unit 20 (see FIG. 9B), for each of the first, second, and third weighing units B1 to B3, a combination (discharge combination) of the weighing hoppers 4 to discharge the objects to be weighed is used. The combination processing for determining two sets at the same time is performed, and the operation of each weighing unit B1 to B3 is controlled. The combination process in each of the weighing units B1 to B3 is the same as that in the configuration of FIG.

  In the case of FIG. 11, the operation in each weighing unit is the same as in FIG. In the case of FIG. 9, the operation timings of the two weighing units B1 and B2 are shifted by, for example, time Tw / 2, whereas in the case of FIG. 11, the operation of the three weighing units B1 to B3 is performed. The timing is shifted by a time of Tw / 3. As a result, the objects to be weighed are introduced into each of the two packaging machine inlets every Tw / 3 hours. Therefore, in one operation cycle time Tw, the objects to be weighed are discharged three times each to the two packaging machine inlets, so that it can be applied to a packaging machine that operates at a higher speed. The total number of emissions can be improved.

  In addition, although the structure provided with one measurement discharge | emission unit which has three measurement units was described in FIG. 11, it is good also as a structure provided with one measurement discharge | emission unit which has four or more measurement units similarly. Moreover, it is good also as a structure provided with two or more such measurement discharge | emission units.

  In the various configurations of the present embodiment described above, the collecting hoppers 23a and 23b are not provided when the conveying speed by the belt conveyors 21a and 21b is fast and does not hinder the packaging operation of the packaging machine. It is good also as a structure. In this case, for example, the lower chutes 8A and 8B are raised to the height of the collecting hoppers 23a and 23b, and the objects to be weighed discharged from the conveying terminal portions of the belt conveyors 21a and 21b are directly fed into the lower chutes 8A and 8B. So that For example, the control unit 20 drives the belt conveyors 21a and 21b in response to the input command signal from the packaging machine to discharge the objects to be weighed from the conveyance end portions of the belt conveyors 21a and 21b, and then stops them. Control. Thereafter, the objects to be weighed may be discharged from the weighing hopper 4 of the discharge combination onto the belt conveyors 21a and 21b from which the objects to be weighed are discharged. The objects to be weighed discharged from the conveyance end portions of the belt conveyors 21a and 21b pass through the lower chutes 8A and 8B and are fed into the respective packaging machine inlets. In this case, by not providing the collective hopper, the configuration becomes simple and the control thereof becomes unnecessary.

  Further, in each combination weigher in the above-described first and second embodiments, an example in which only the weighing hopper 4 is used as the combination hopper used for the combination calculation using the measurement value of the supplied object to be weighed is shown. It is not limited to such a combination hopper. 12A, 12B, 12C, and 12D are plan views schematically showing hoppers such as combination hoppers of other examples. 12 (a), (b), (c), and (d) show the case of the first embodiment using the collective chutes 6a and 6b, but in the case of the second embodiment, FIG. Instead of the collecting chutes 6a and 6b, belt conveyors 21a and 21b or one wide belt conveyor 21 are arranged.

  Each of the weighing hopper 4 in FIGS. 12A and 12B and the weighing hoppers 4A and 4B in FIGS. 12C and 12D has one weight sensor 41 (FIG. 1C and FIG. 9B). c) etc.) is attached.

  For example, in the case of FIG. 12 (a), each weighing hopper 4 is configured to have two chambers (weighing chambers) 4a and 4b into which objects to be weighed are placed. The two weighing chambers 4a and 4b of each weighing hopper 4 are arranged side by side in the same direction as the arrangement direction (row arrangement direction) of the plurality of weighing hoppers 4. In this case, the supply hopper 3 is configured to be able to selectively discharge an object to be weighed into the weighing chamber 4a and the weighing chamber 4b of the weighing hopper 4, and the two weighing chambers 4a and 4b of the weighing hopper 4 are each in the first set. In this configuration, the objects to be weighed can be selectively discharged to the chute 6a and the second collective chute 6b. The combination calculation is performed using the weight (measured value) of the objects to be weighed in the weighing chambers 4a and 4b of each weighing hopper 4, and each weighing chamber 4a and 4b is selected as the discharge combination. In each weighing hopper 4, the weight sensor 41 measures the weight of the weighing object in the weighing chamber 4a when the weighing object is supplied only to one weighing chamber, for example, the weighing chamber 4a. Further, when the object to be weighed is supplied to the other weighing chamber 4b, the total weight of the objects to be weighed in the two weighing chambers 4a and 4b is weighed by the weight sensor 41. In the control units 10 and 20 (see FIG. 1B, FIG. 9B, etc.), the weight of the weighing object in the weighing chamber 4a is calculated from the total weight of the weighing objects in the two weighing chambers 4a and 4b. By subtracting, the weight (measured value) of the object to be weighed in the measuring chamber 4b is calculated.

  In the case of FIG. 12B, a memory hopper 9 having two chambers (accommodating chambers) 9 a and 9 b to which the objects to be weighed are supplied from the weighing hopper 4 is provided below each weighing hopper 4. is there. The two storage chambers 9 a and 9 b of each memory hopper 9 are arranged side by side in the same direction as the arrangement direction (row arrangement direction) of the plurality of memory hoppers 9. Here, the supply hopper 3 (see FIGS. 1 and 9 and the like) for supplying an object to be weighed to the weighing hopper 4 is not shown. In this case, the weighing hopper 4 is configured to selectively discharge the objects to be weighed to the storage chamber 9a and the storage chamber 9b of the memory hopper 9, and from the weighing hopper 4 onto the first collecting chute 6a and the second collecting chute 6b. Is not discharged. The two storage chambers 9a and 9b of the memory hopper 9 are configured so that the objects to be weighed can be selectively discharged to the first collecting chute 6a and the second collecting chute 6b, respectively. The combination calculation is performed using, for example, the weight (measurement value) of the objects to be weighed in the storage chambers 9a and 9b of each memory hopper 9, and each of the storage chambers 9a and 9b is selected as a discharge combination. Do not participate in the combination. As the weight of the objects to be weighed in each of the storage chambers 9a and 9b, the weight when weighed in the weighing hopper 4 thereabove is used. Note that the weighing hoppers 4 can be allowed to participate in the combination by making only the combination in which each weighing hopper 4 and one of the storage chambers 9a and 9b of the corresponding memory hopper 9 are simultaneously selected valid. For example, when the corresponding weighing hopper 4 and the storage chamber 9a (or 9b) of the memory hopper 9 are simultaneously selected as the discharge combination, the object to be weighed in the weighing hopper 4 passes through the storage chamber 9a (or 9b) and enters the first position. It is discharged onto the first collective chute 6a or the second collective chute 6b.

  In the case of FIG. 12C, the weighing hoppers 4A and 4B each having the weight sensor 41 attached are arranged in two rows, and the weighing hoppers 4A and 4B are covered by the weighing hoppers 4A and 4B below the weighing hoppers 4A and 4B. This is a configuration in which a memory hopper 9 having one chamber to which a sample is supplied is provided. Here, like the weighing hopper 4B and the memory hopper 9, the weighing hopper 4A may be configured to be held by the base in the drive unit area 1 (FIG. 1, FIG. 9, etc.), or the drive unit area. You may comprise so that it may be hold | maintained from the opposite side to 1. FIG. In this case, the supply hopper 3 is configured to selectively discharge the object to be weighed to the weighing hopper 4A and the weighing hopper 4B below the supply hopper 3, and the one weighing hopper 4A is connected to the memory hopper 9 and the first collecting chute 6a. The weighing object hopper 4B can selectively discharge the object to be weighed, and the other weighing hopper 4B can selectively discharge the object to be measured to the memory hopper 9 and the second collecting chute 6b. The combination calculation is performed using the weights (measurement values) of the objects to be weighed in each weighing hopper 4A, 4B and each memory hopper 9. Here, for example, the combination calculation is performed so that the weighing hopper 4B is not selected and the weighing hopper 4A and the memory hopper 9 are selected for the discharge combination of the objects to be discharged onto the first collecting chute 6a. The combination calculation is performed so that the weighing hopper 4A and the memory hopper 9 are selected for the discharge combination of the objects to be discharged onto the second collective chute 6b. As the weight of the objects to be weighed in each memory hopper 9, the weight when weighed in the weighing hoppers that supply the objects to be weighed to the memory hopper 9 among the weighing hoppers 4A and 4B is used. When obtaining the discharge combination discharged onto the first collective chute 6a, only the combination in which the memory hopper 9 and the weighing hopper 4B above it are simultaneously selected as the discharge combination is valid, and the weighing hopper 4B is set to the first set. It is also possible to participate in a combination discharged onto the chute 6a. In this case, the objects to be weighed in the weighing hopper 4B pass through the memory hopper 9 and are discharged onto the first collective chute 6a. Similarly, when obtaining the discharge combination discharged onto the second collecting chute 6b, only the combination in which the memory hopper 9 and the weighing hopper 4A above it are selected as the discharge combination is valid, and the weighing hopper 4A is set to the second It is also possible to participate in a combination discharged onto the collective chute 6b. In this case, the object to be weighed in the weighing hopper 4A passes through the memory hopper 9 and is discharged onto the second collective chute 6b.

  In the case of FIG. 12D, two supply hoppers 3A and 3B are provided instead of the one supply hopper 3 in the configuration of FIG. 12C, and the hoppers participating in the combination are shown in FIG. Same as (c). In this case, vibration feeders 2A and 2B are provided corresponding to the supply hoppers 3A and 3B, respectively, and the objects to be weighed are supplied from the vibration feeders 2A and 2B to the corresponding supply hoppers 3A and 3B. The Further, the supply hopper 3A supplies the objects to be weighed to the weighing hopper 4A disposed below the supply hopper 3A, and the supply hopper 3B supplies the objects to be weighed to the weighing hopper 4B disposed below the supply hopper 3A. Thus, since the supply hoppers 3A and 3B are provided corresponding to the weighing hoppers 4A and 4B, for example, the two weighing hoppers 4A and 4B making a pair are simultaneously selected as the discharge combination and become empty. Also, the objects to be weighed can be supplied to both weighing hoppers 4A and 4B simultaneously. Thereby, compared with the case of FIG.12 (c), the reduction | decrease in the number of the measured values used by subsequent combination calculation can be suppressed, and the improvement of combination measurement precision can be aimed at.

  In addition to the above, the hopper configuration such as a combination hopper may be variously changed. 1, 9, etc., one weighing value used in the combination calculation is obtained for one weight sensor 41 attached to the weighing hopper 4. On the other hand, in the case of the configuration of FIG. 12A, two weighing values used in the combination calculation are obtained for one weight sensor 41. In the configuration of FIG. When not participating in the combination, two weight values used in the combination calculation are obtained for one weight sensor 41, and when the weighing hopper 4 is included in the combination, one weight sensor 41 is obtained. Three measurement values used in the combination calculation are obtained. In the case of the configuration shown in FIGS. 12C and 12D, three measurement values used in the combination calculation are obtained for the two weight sensors 41. Therefore, by using the hopper configuration as shown in FIGS. 12A to 12D, the expensive weight sensor 41 can be effectively used. Further, it is possible to suppress an increase in the length of the combination hoppers in the row direction and increase the number of measurement values used for the combination calculation, thereby improving the combination weighing accuracy.

  In the first and second embodiments, the configuration in which the object to be weighed is supplied to the supply hopper 3 by the vibration feeder 2 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. There is also a case where the article is supplied to the supply hopper 3.

  In the first and second embodiments, the control units 10 and 20 are not necessarily configured by a single control device, and a plurality of control devices are arranged in a distributed manner. It may be configured to control the operation.

  The combination weigher according to the present invention is useful for a combination weigher connected to a packaging machine or the like having a plurality of input ports operated at high speed.

(A) is the schematic diagram which looked at the combination balance of Embodiment 1 of this invention from the top, (b) is the schematic diagram which looked at the combination balance from the front, (c) is It is the schematic model seen from the side direction of the combination scale. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the 1st combination process in the combination scale of Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a timing chart which shows an example of operation | movement of the combination weigher of Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the 2nd combination process in the combination scale of Embodiment 1 of this invention. In Embodiment 1 of this invention, it is a top view which shows an example of arrangement | positioning of each measurement unit of the combination scale provided with two measurement discharge | emission units which consist of two measurement units and two lower chutes. In Embodiment 1 of this invention, it is a top view which shows an example of arrangement | positioning of each measurement unit of the combination scale provided with two measurement discharge | emission units which consist of two measurement units and two lower chutes. In Embodiment 1 of this invention, it is a top view which shows an example of arrangement | positioning of each measurement unit of the combination scale provided with one measurement discharge | emission unit which consists of three measurement units and two lower chutes. (A) is the schematic model which looked at the collective chute of the other example used for the combination balance of Embodiment 1 of this invention from upper direction, (b) is the outline which looked at the collective chute from the front direction It is a schematic diagram. (A) is the schematic diagram which looked at the combination balance of Embodiment 2 of this invention from the top, (b) is the schematic diagram which looked at the combination balance from the front direction, (c) is FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram viewed from the side surface direction of the combination weigher, and FIG. 4D is a plan view showing a collecting hopper and a lower chute of another example of the combination weigher according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In Embodiment 2 of this invention, it is a top view which shows the other example of arrangement | positioning of two measuring units. In Embodiment 2 of this invention, it is a top view which shows an example of arrangement | positioning of each measurement unit of the combination scale provided with one measurement discharge | emission unit which consists of three measurement units and two lower chutes. (A)-(d) is the schematic schematic diagram which looked at the other example of the hopper used in the combination weigher of Embodiment 1, 2 of this invention from the upper direction, respectively. (A) is the schematic schematic diagram which looked at the conventional combination weigher from the upper part, (b) is the schematic model diagram which looked at the combination weigher from the front direction.

Explanation of symbols

2 Vibrating feeder 3 Supply hopper 4 Weighing hopper 5a 1st gate 5b 2nd gate 6a 1st collective chute 6b 2nd collective chute 7a 1st collective hopper 7b 2nd collective hopper 8a, 8b lower chute 8A, 8B lower chute 10, 20 Control unit 21a, 21b Belt conveyor 23a, 23b Collective hopper

Claims (14)

A plurality of objects arranged in a straight line and configured to selectively discharge the objects to be weighed respectively in two directions of a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the arranged direction. A hopper row consisting of hoppers for combination of
A first discharge means disposed below the hopper row, for transferring an object to be discharged from the combination hopper in the first direction and discharging it to a first discharge position;
Below the hopper row, arranged side by side with the first discharge means, for transferring the objects to be discharged from the combination hopper in the second direction and discharging them to the second discharge position Including at least one weighing unit group having p (p is a plurality) weighing units each having a second discharging means,
One of the first discharge means and the second discharge means of each of the weighing units included in the weighing unit group with respect to a pair of packaging machine inlets provided corresponding to each of the weighing unit groups An object to be weighed discharged from one of the discharging means is introduced into one of the packaging machine inlets of the pair of packaging machine inlets, and an object to be weighed discharged from the other discharging means is supplied to the other packaging machine Configured to feed into the inlet,
In each of the weighing units, a combination calculation is performed based on the weight of the objects to be weighed supplied to the combination hopper, and each of the combination weight values obtained by the combination calculation is within an allowable range with respect to a target weight value. Two combinations of the combination hoppers, each of which has a value and does not include the same combination hopper, are determined, and one of these two combinations is determined as the first discharge combination, and the other is A combination calculation means for performing a combination process to determine two discharge combinations;
Each weighing unit causes the combination hopper belonging to the first discharge combination to discharge the objects to be weighed in the first direction and simultaneously to the combination hopper belonging to the second discharge combination. Control means for performing discharge processing for discharging the object to be weighed in the second direction,
The combination calculation means and the control means repeatedly perform a series of processes including the combination process and the discharge process in each of the weighing units, and at this time, each of the weighing unit groups is included in the weighing unit group. A combination weigher configured to perform the series of processes of the weighing unit at different timings.   The combination calculation means and the control means are configured to perform the series of processing of each of the weighing units included in the weighing unit group in each of the weighing unit groups by a time approximately 1 / p of the time required for the series of processes. The combination weigher according to claim 1, wherein the combination weigher is configured to be shifted one by one.   In each of the weighing units, the combination calculation means performs the combination processing performed k times (k is a predetermined number) consecutively when the combination processing is repeatedly performed. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the combination calculation is performed based on a weight of the objects to be weighed supplied to the combination hopper not belonging to the first and second discharge combinations determined by the processing. Scale. The first discharge means is disposed below the hopper row, collects objects to be discharged from the combination hopper in the first direction, and collects the first discharge position from a lower discharge port. Consisting of a first collective chute to be discharged
The second discharging means is arranged below the hopper row alongside the first collecting chute, and collects objects to be weighed discharged from the combination hopper in the second direction, The combination weigher according to claim 1, wherein the combination weigher is configured to include a second collecting chute that is discharged from a discharge port to the second discharge position. The first discharging means is disposed below the hopper row, and a first set that collects objects to be discharged from the combination hopper in the first direction and discharges them from a lower discharge port. A chute and a first collecting hopper that is provided at a discharge port of the first collecting chute, temporarily holds an object to be weighed discharged from the discharging port, and discharges it to the first discharging position;
The second discharging means is arranged below the hopper row alongside the first collecting chute, and collects objects to be weighed discharged from the combination hopper in the second direction, A second collecting chute to be discharged from the discharge port; and a second collecting chute to be discharged from the second collecting chute, and a workpiece to be weighed discharged from the discharge port is temporarily held and discharged to the second discharge position. Consisting of two collective hoppers,
In each of the weighing units, the control means is configured to discharge the objects to be weighed simultaneously to the first and second collecting hoppers, and the second collecting hopper and the second collecting hopper. The combination weigher according to claim 1, wherein the combination weigher is also configured to control the collecting hopper. The first discharge means is disposed below the hopper row, and loads the objects to be discharged from the combination hopper in the first direction and conveys the objects in one direction, and from the conveyance end portion, the first discharge means. Having a first conveyor for discharging to one discharge position;
The second discharge means is arranged below the hopper row along with the first conveyor, and places the objects to be discharged from the combination hopper in the second direction in the one direction. Having a second conveyor for conveying and discharging from the conveying end to the second discharge position;
In each of the weighing units, the control means is configured to discharge the objects to be weighed from the first conveyor and the second conveyor at the same time. The combination weigher according to claim 1, wherein the combination weigher is also configured to control a conveying operation of the weighing object.   The combination weigher according to claim 6, wherein the first conveyor and the second conveyor are integrated into one conveyor.   The combination weigher according to claim 6, wherein the first conveyor and the second conveyor are capable of changing a conveyance direction of an object to be weighed. The combination processing by the combination calculation means is:
By performing a combination calculation based on the weight of the objects to be weighed supplied to the combination hopper, all combinations of the combination hoppers in which the combination weight value is within the allowable range with respect to the target weight value are obtained. A first process for determining an appropriate amount combination pair, each of which is an appropriate amount combination, each of the appropriate amount combinations being combined in pairs, and the appropriate amount combination to be combined does not include the same combination hopper; For the proper amount combination pair, the sum of the absolute values of the difference between the combination weight value of each of the proper amount combinations included in the proper amount combination pair and the target weight value is calculated, and the sum of the absolute values of the differences is the smallest One appropriate amount combination pair is selected, and one of the two appropriate amount combinations included in the selected appropriate amount combination pair is selected as the first discharge set. The combination weigher according to claim 1, the other with determining is configured to consist of a second process of determining the second discharge combination to cause. The combination processing by the combination calculation means is:
By performing a combination calculation based on the weight of the objects to be weighed supplied to the combination hopper, all combinations of the combination hoppers in which the combination weight value is within the allowable range with respect to the target weight value are obtained. Each of them is a permissible combination, and m (m is a predetermined number) of the permissible combinations, giving priority to the one having the smallest absolute value of the difference between the combined weight value and the target weight value. The combination is selected, and each of these is set as a first appropriate amount combination, and each of the first appropriate amount combinations includes the combination hopper combination excluding the combination hopper belonging to the first appropriate amount combination. From the allowable combinations, one of the allowable combinations having the smallest absolute value of the difference between the combination weight value and the target weight value is selected as a second appropriate amount combination, and the corresponding combination A first process for determining m appropriate combination pairs consisting of one appropriate combination and the second appropriate combination, and a combination weight value of each of the first and second appropriate combinations for each of the appropriate combination pairs. And calculating the sum of absolute values of differences between the target weight value and the target weight value, selecting one appropriate combination combination having the smallest absolute value of the differences, and selecting the first combination included in the selected appropriate combination pair. And a second process for determining one of the second appropriate amount combinations as the first discharge combination and determining the other as the second discharge combination. The combination weigher described. The combination processing by the combination calculation means is:
By performing a combination calculation based on the weight of the objects to be weighed supplied to the combination hopper, all combinations of the combination hoppers in which the combination weight value is within the allowable range with respect to the target weight value are obtained. Each of them is a permissible combination, and from among all the permissible combinations, one having the smallest absolute value of the difference between the combination weight value and the target weight value is selected as a first appropriate amount combination, and the first combination The allowable combination having the smallest absolute value of the difference between the combination weight value and the target weight value is selected from the allowable combinations including the combination hopper combinations excluding the combination hopper belonging to the appropriate amount combination. One is selected as a second appropriate amount combination, and one of the first and second appropriate amount combinations is determined as the first discharge combination and the other is determined as the second discharge combination. The combination weigher according to claim 1 configured to so that. The combination hopper includes two weighing chambers arranged side by side in the row direction of the combination hopper, measures the weight of an object to be weighed supplied to each of the weighing chambers, and each of the weighing chambers A weighing hopper capable of selectively discharging an object to be weighed in each of the first direction and the second direction,
The combination calculation means may be configured such that the first and second discharge combinations are combinations of the measuring chambers in which the total weight of the objects to be weighed is a value within an allowable range with respect to a target weight value. The combination weigher according to claim 1, wherein the combination weigher is configured to be determined. A plurality of weighing hoppers for weighing the objects to be weighed are disposed above the combination hoppers corresponding to the combination hoppers,
The combination hopper includes two storage chambers, and the objects to be weighed by the weighing hopper are supplied to the respective storage chambers, and the objects to be weighed are set in the first direction for each of the storage chambers. A memory hopper capable of selectively discharging in the second direction;
The weighing hopper is configured to selectively discharge an object to be measured into the two storage chambers of the corresponding memory hopper,
The combination calculation means may be configured such that the first and second discharge combinations are combinations of the storage chambers in which the total weight of the objects to be weighed is a value within an allowable range with respect to a target weight value. The combination weigher according to claim 1, wherein the combination weigher is configured to be determined. The combination hoppers are arranged in two upper rows and one lower row,
The upper two rows of the combination hoppers are weighing hoppers for weighing the objects to be supplied, respectively, and the lower one row of the combination hoppers corresponds to the two weighing hoppers. A memory hopper to which an object to be weighed provided by the weighing hopper is supplied,
The object to be weighed discharged in the first direction from the weighing hopper in the row closer to the first discharging means in the upper two rows is discharged to the first discharging means, and the second direction. The object to be weighed is discharged to the corresponding memory hopper,
The objects to be weighed discharged in the first direction from the weighing hopper in the row closer to the second discharging means in the upper two rows are discharged to the corresponding memory hopper and moved in the second direction. The combination weigher according to claim 1, wherein the objects to be weighed are configured to be discharged to the second discharging means.

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