JPH0524007B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is directed to fruits and vegetables (hereinafter referred to as fruits).
This invention relates to a method for automatically packing fruits into packs at a collection, shipping, or fruit sorting site where fruits are boxed, packaged, and shipped.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, as a device for automatically packing fruits into bags, the device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-28930 is known.

The above-mentioned known method changes the direction of the fruit by means of a diagonal deflection plate installed on an endless belt of a conveyor that conveys the fruit in an irregular manner, and a large number of chutes are placed on the chute provided on the side of the conveyor. The fruits are guided so that they are spread out to the full width using a pressing method, and a pack is sent out from below to the tip of the chute (downhill path), and the fruits that roll on the chute and fall one by one from the tip of the chute are brought together on the pack. The parts overlap and fit into the holes in the pack, so that they are automatically packed into the pack.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the above-mentioned known method, the direction of the fruit is changed by a diverter plate, and the fruits that fall one by one from the tip of the chute partially overlap on the pack. There was a drawback that the fruit could be damaged by colliding with the deflector plate and causing rolling contact, or by colliding with fruit.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned known method, the fruits are lined up to the full width of the shoot, and the fruits in the row are pushed by the succeeding fruits, so the side with few succeeding fruits is hardly pressed, and the side with fewer succeeding fruits is hardly pressed, and the side with fewer succeeding fruits is pushed by the succeeding fruits. Since only the flowing side is strongly pressed, it is not only impossible to pack the packs with multiple rows of holes uniformly in the width direction, but also, especially on the side that is strongly pressed, there is a possibility that the fruit will not be packed between the holes of the pack. Problems such as being pushed out and riding on the pack occurred, and there was a drawback that it was not possible to reliably fill each hole in the pack one by one.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks, and the hole row of the pack (in the present invention, a row refers to a row of holes along the traveling direction of the pack) is arranged in an odd number row (in addition, In the present invention, a row refers to a row of holes along a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the pack.) and even-numbered packs,
To provide an automatic packing method for fruits which can pack fruits without damaging them and can surely pack one fruit into each hole.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention takes the following technical means to achieve the above object.

That is, in the present invention, fruits are conveyed in a line and separated from each other by a conveyor, and fruits are sequentially supplied one by one from the conveyor by an automatic arrangement conveyor connected to the end of the conveyor. , sequentially switching paths and transporting the pack to each branch path corresponding to each hole row of the pack where odd rows and even rows have different hole rows in a preset order according to the hole arrangement pattern, On the other hand, the pack feeding conveyor feeds the empty packs through the lower part of the automatic arranging conveyor so that the holes in the packs are exposed to the end of the automatic arranging conveyor, and the empty packs are fed from the automatic arranging conveyor according to the holes in the packs. This automatic packing method for fruits is configured to receive the fruits one by one one by one, and feed the packs in increments every time each hole in the row direction is filled, and stuff the fruits one after another into the packs.

In this way, the present invention conveys fruits at a distance from each other on a conveyor and an automatic arranging conveyor, and brings empty packs, in which the rows of holes in the packs are different in odd and even rows, to the end of the automatic arranging conveyor. By feeding the fruits one by one according to the holes in the pack, there will be no collision between the fruits, and the fruits will not fit into the deflection board or other members of conventional ones. There is no collision or rolling contact between the containers, and the fruits can be packed without damaging them.In addition, this automatic arrangement conveyor allows the fruits to be fed one by one, The holes in the pack are transferred by sequentially switching paths in a preset order according to the hole arrangement pattern to each branch path corresponding to each hole row of the pack where the hole rows are different in odd-numbered rows and even-numbered rows. By supplying one piece at a time according to the
This allows one fruit to be reliably stuffed into each hole of the pack.

In the present invention, preferably, the conveyor conveys the fruits sorted and discharged from the discharge section of a sorting machine for sorting fruits, and the pack conveyor conveys fruits in a direction transverse to the sorting machine. Advantageously, empty packs supplied from outside beyond the sorting machine are conveyed past the sorting machine and below the transport conveyor.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on drawings showing an example of an apparatus for carrying out the present invention.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a sorting machine, which measures the weight or shape of fruits 2 one by one, determines the class, and sorts and discharges each fruit from a predetermined discharge section 3 according to class.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a drawer conveyor as a conveyor, and the drawer conveyor 4 conveys the fruits 2 sorted and discharged from the discharge section 3 in a row to the side of the sorting machine 1 and spaced apart from each other.

Reference numeral 5 denotes an automatic arrangement conveyor, and the entrance 51 of the automatic arrangement conveyor 5 is connected to the above-mentioned drawer conveyor 4.
The fruit 21 is connected to the terminal end 41 of the drawer conveyor 4, and the fruits 21,
As shown in FIG. 1, the packs 6 are received on a conveyor 52 and transported toward the exit 53 in a state where they are separated from each other and in a plurality of rows. As shown in FIG. 3C, the 61 rows of holes (a row of holes 61 along the traveling direction of the pack 6) are arranged in odd-numbered rows (according to the example, A, B,
Rows of C and rows of He, T, and Chi. In addition, the line is pack 6
A row of holes 6 along a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of
It means a sequence of 1. ) and even-numbered rows (according to the illustrated example, rows E and D), the automatic arrangement conveyor 5 has a branching path corresponding to each row of holes 61, as shown in FIG. 3C. (According to the example,
Five branching roads (three branching roads shown by solid lines and two branching roads shown by dotted lines) are provided, and each branching road has a preset order ( According to the example, A, B,
In the order of c, ni, ho, he [i], g [b], chi [c], ...), the conveyor 52 carrying fruits 21, 22, 23, ... , . . . are sequentially changed paths and run towards the exit 53, and the fruits 21, 22, 23, . . . It is supplied in accordance with the hole 61.

Moreover, the entrance 51 of the automatic arrangement conveyor 5 is used to convey fruits 21, 22, 2 from the terminal end 41 of the drawer conveyor 4.
3,... are arranged to be delivered smoothly, and furthermore, the outlet 53 is designed to allow the fruits 2 to be delivered from the conveyor 51.
1, 22, 23, . . . one by one into the holes 61 of the pack 6 with a small drop and more reliably, the space between the pack 6 and the pack 6 is small.

Reference numeral 7 designates a pack 6 feeding conveyor for placing the pack 6 and inchingly feeding the pack 6;
passes from below the drawer conveyor 4 to below the automatic arrangement conveyor 5 and slopes slightly up to reach the pack 6.
The hole 61 of the pack 6 faces the outlet 53 of the automatic arrangement conveyor 5, and the hole 61 of the pack 6 faces from the automatic arrangement conveyor 5.
Fruits supplied according to 1. 21, 22, 2
3,... are received one by one in each hole 61 in the row direction.
Each time the pack 6 is filled with fruits 21, 22, and 23, the pack 6 is fed in an inch, and after each hole 61 of the pack 6 is filled, the pack 6 is further carried forward horizontally. The feeding conveyor 7 has a starting end 71 extending further rearward through the lower part of the sorting machine 1 in the direction across the sorting machine 1, so that empty packs 6 are supplied from the outside of the sorting machine 1. It may be shortened to the bottom of the drawer conveyor 4 without crossing the sorter 1.

Further, the feed conveyor 7 may be constituted by three conveyors each divided into a horizontal portion 72 below the drawer conveyor 4, an inclined portion 73 below the automatic arrangement conveyor 5, and a delivery horizontal portion 74.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a detection device, and the detection device 8 controls a control device (not shown) every time it detects fruits 24, . A switching signal is outputted to one of a predetermined number of route switching devices (not shown) provided in the automatic arrangement conveyor 5, and the route of the conveyor 52 is divided into each branch for each fruit 24,... In this way, the fruits 21, 22, 23, 24, etc. are sequentially transferred one by one corresponding to each row of holes 61 in the pack 6, and automatically switched to the holes 61 in the pack 6. I try to pack it in.

In the control device (not shown), the order in which the switching signal is output to which path switching device each time the signal from the detection device 8 is inputted is set in advance according to the arrangement pattern of the holes 61 in the pack 6. A predetermined number of switching devices are sequentially activated in this set order, and the course of the conveyor 52 is changed to the fruits 21, 2.
2, 23, 24, . . . are sequentially switched to each branch path one by one. This control device is also connected to a drive device (not shown) for the feed conveyor 7, and fruits 21, 22, 23 are inserted into each hole 61 in the row direction of the pack 6.
A signal for inching the pack 6 is output every time the pack 6 is filled, and the feed conveyor 7 is driven by this signal to feed the pack 6 in increments.

This pack feeding conveyor 7 is connected to the first hole 6 of the empty pack 6 conveyed by the pack feeding conveyor 7.
1 reaches a predetermined position facing the exit of the automatic arrangement conveyor 5, a fixed position detection device (not shown) detects this and sends a detection signal to the pack conveyor 7.
The pack feeding conveyor 7 is stopped by sending the package to the drive device.

Note that instead of the detection device 8, a discharge signal that activates the discharge actuating device 31 of the discharge section 3 of the sorter 1 to discharge the fruits 25 is used, and the movement of the discharged fruits 25 is determined based on the discharge signal. It is also possible to output a switching signal to the route switching device in synchronization with the route switching device.

Further, the conveying body 52 of the automatic arrangement conveyor 5 is provided with a recess on the top thereof to stabilize the seating of the spherical fruits 21, 22, 23, and a buffer member (for example, a sponge or a raised member) is attached. is preferable.

To describe the operation based on the above configuration, the fruits 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, etc. sorted and discharged from the discharge section 3 of the sorting machine 1 are received in a line on the drawer conveyor 4 and then conveyed to the conveyor. 4
The sheets are conveyed in a line and spaced apart from each other, and are sequentially supplied one by one onto an automatic arrangement conveyor 5 connected to the terminal end of the conveyor 4 at a distance from each other. On the other hand, hole 6
Empty pack 6 where one column is different between odd and even rows
The pack 6 is fed by the conveyor 7 of the pack 6, passes under the automatic arrangement conveyor 5, and is sent to a position where the exit 53 of the automatic arrangement conveyor 5 faces the first hole 61 of the pack 6, where it stops and waits. , the fruits 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, etc., which are sequentially supplied on the automatic arrangement conveyor as described above, correspond to the 61 rows of holes in the pack 6, respectively, as shown in FIGS. 3A, B, and C. The route is sequentially switched to the right, middle, left, etc., one by one, in a preset order according to the arrangement pattern of the holes 61, and the exit 5
A, B of hole 61 of pack 6 waiting for 3
C is sequentially supplied from the outlet 53 of the automatic arrangement conveyor 5. In this way, when each hole 61 in the row direction is filled, the feed conveyor 7 feeds the pack 6 in increments, and the hole 61 in the next row faces the exit 53 of the automatic arrangement conveyor 5 and waits, and the fruits 24, 25 travels while being sequentially switched to branch roads different from the right, middle, and left branches (branch roads indicated by solid lines in FIG. 3B), and is supplied to holes 61 in the pack 6. be done.

By repeating this operation, the fruits 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, . . . are automatically packed into the pack 6.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the present invention conveys fruits on a conveyor and an automatic arranging conveyor while being separated from each other, and empty packs in which the hole rows of the packs are different between odd and even rows. The fruit is fed so that it faces the end of the automatic arrangement conveyor, and the fruits are placed one by one in accordance with the holes in the pack, so there is no collision between fruits and there is no need to use the deflection board of the conventional one. The fruits do not collide or come into rolling contact with other members, and have the effect of being able to pack the fruits into packs without damaging them.
In addition, in this automatic arrangement conveyor, fruits that are sequentially supplied one by one are placed in each branch path corresponding to each hole row of the pack, where the hole rows are different in odd-numbered rows and even-numbered rows, according to the hole arrangement pattern. The route is changed and transferred in a preset order according to the situation, and the fruit is fed one by one according to the hole in the pack, so it has the effect of being able to reliably pack one fruit into each hole in the pack. It is something.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings are explanatory diagrams showing one embodiment of the apparatus for carrying out the present invention, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the main part, Fig. 2 is a side view of the main part, and Fig. 3 A, B, and C are automatic diagrams. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the process of supplying packs by an array conveyor. 1... Sorting machine, 2... Fruits, 21, 22, 2
3, 24, 25... Fruits, 3... Discharge section, 31
...Discharge actuation device, 4...Drawer conveyor, 41
... Termination, 5 ... Automatic arrangement conveyor, 51 ... Inlet, 52 ... Conveyor, 53 ... Exit, 6 ... Pack, 61 ... Hole in pack, 7 ... Feeding conveyor,
71... Starting end side, 72... Horizontal part, 73... Inclined part, 74... Feeding horizontal part, 8... Detection device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Fruits are conveyed in a line and separated from each other by a conveyor, and fruits are sequentially supplied from the conveyor one by one by an automatic arrangement conveyor connected to the end of the conveyor. is transferred to each branch path corresponding to each hole row of the pack, where the hole rows of the pack are different between odd and even rows, by sequentially switching paths in a preset order according to the hole arrangement pattern. On the other hand, the pack feeding conveyor feeds the empty packs through the lower part of the automatic arranging conveyor so that the holes in the packs face the end of the automatic arranging conveyor, and the empty packs are fed from the automatic arranging conveyor according to the holes in the packs. One by one the fruits that are
An automatic packing method for fruits, characterized in that each fruit is accepted one by one, and each time the holes in the row direction are filled, the packs are fed in increments to fill the bags with fruits one after another. 2. The transport conveyor transports fruits that are sorted and discharged from the discharge section of a sorting machine that sorts fruits, and the pack feeding conveyor transports fruits that are sorted and discharged from the discharge section of a sorting machine that sorts fruits, and the pack feeding conveyor transports fruits that are fed from outside beyond the sorting machine in a direction that traverses the sorting machine. 2. The automatic packing method for fruits according to claim 1, wherein the empty packs are conveyed through a sorting machine and below the conveyor.