JPS6321346Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (a) Field of the invention This invention relates to a fruit vegetable grade discriminating device that discriminates the grade of fruit vegetables such as peaches, persimmons, apples, melons, yams, etc. while transporting them.

(b) Background of the invention When determining the grade of fruits and vegetables mentioned above, for example, by their weight, in order to weigh each fruit and vegetable while transporting them, the fruits and vegetables must be separated at a predetermined interval, that is, necessary to weigh one fruit and vegetable. must be transported at appropriate intervals.

If this conveying means is configured with a conveyor belt, the intervals between the fruits and vegetables may be disturbed due to the vibrations that occur during conveyance, and a plurality of fruits and vegetables may be fed to the scale at one time. In consideration of the above-mentioned disturbance in the interval caused by vibration, it is necessary to widen the interval during conveyance, and when the disturbance in interval is taken into account, the conveyance speed cannot be increased, and as a result, the weighing speed is slow. It had some problems.

(c) Purpose of the invention This invention divides fruits and vegetables into partitions for each classification and transports them, and also divides the conveyor belt before and after the classification, so that the intervals between the fruits and vegetables to be transported can be adjusted to the predetermined distance required for classification. To provide a grade discriminating device for fruits and vegetables that can reliably maintain the interval, increase the discriminating speed, and accurately discriminate the grade without being affected by vibrations during conveyance.

(d) Structure of the device This device places fruits and vegetables on the same conveying surface as the front and rear conveyor belts and at a constant speed between the front and rear conveyor belts that carry fruits and vegetables at a constant speed. A grade discriminator equipped with a conveyor belt for conveyance is interposed, and a frame-shaped endless belt is provided above the conveyance path surface of the three conveyor belts to allow the conveyance of fruits and vegetables in a state where the fruits and vegetables are separated by partition frames for each classification. At the same time, the frame-shaped endless belt is inclined so that the conveyance start end side is close to the conveyance start end side of the front conveyor belt, and the conveyance end side is close to the conveyance end side of the rear conveyor belt. The apparatus is characterized in that it is a fruit and vegetable grade discriminating device in which a portion is spaced apart from each conveyor belt.

(E) Effects of the invention According to this invention, the fruits and vegetables transported by the transport belt are separated by frame-shaped endless band partitions and transported for each classification, so that the vibrations of the transport belt cause the vegetables to roll. However, a plurality of fruits and vegetables do not come together, and each fruit and vegetable can be reliably supplied to the grade discriminator.

As a result, the conveyance interval of fruits and vegetables can be set to the minimum interval necessary for the pitch required for discrimination, and the conveyance speed can also be increased to the maximum speed at which discrimination is possible, allowing for quick and reliable grade discrimination.

Furthermore, because the conveyor belt of the grade discriminator is divided into front and rear halves, vibrations caused during transfer when fruits and vegetables are supplied from the sorting section in the front stage and sorting operations in the sorting section in the rear stage can be avoided. Since the vibrations that occur are not transmitted to the conveyor belt of the grade discriminator, accurate grade discrimination is possible without the discrimination being disturbed by these vibrations.

In particular, the frame-shaped endless belt of the present invention has a transport start end where fruits and vegetables are transferred to the grading device, and a terminal end where fruits and vegetables are discharged.
Since they are each slanted so that they are close to the conveyor belt, when fruits and vegetables are transferred, the partition frame of the frame-shaped endless belt is located close to the conveyor surface of the front conveyor belt, which prevents the alignment and conveyance of the front stage. The partition frame does not get in the way when transferring fruits and vegetables from the device, and the process can be carried out smoothly with fewer steps.In addition, in the discharge section that supplies fruits and vegetables to the subsequent device, the partition frame is also placed close to the conveying surface of the belt. Because the partition frame is located in the middle of the room, the release of fruits and vegetables is not hindered by the partition frame and can be carried out smoothly.

In the middle part of the grading device, the partition frame is spaced above the conveyor belt surface, so even if fruits and vegetables roll on the belt surface, they will not go over the partition frame and will be reliably separated one by one. It is possible to determine the grade of fruits and vegetables.

(F) Embodiment of the invention An embodiment of the invention will be described below in detail based on the drawings.

The drawing shows an apparatus for grading fruits and vegetables, and in this embodiment, grading is performed based on the weight of the fruits and vegetables.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, an alignment feeder 10 arranges irregularly placed fruits 11 in a line,
It is supplied to the next stage alignment section 12.

The above-mentioned alignment unit 12 is composed of an endless alignment band 15 made up of a large number of drum-shaped rollers 13 with a constricted center and a chain 14 connecting both ends of these rollers 13, and is driven in the conveying direction by an appropriate drive source. In the recess formed between the adjacent drum-shaped rollers 13, 13,
Fruit vegetables 11 supplied from the front-stage alignment feeder 10
are stored, the fruit vegetables 11 are partitioned one by one, and the fruit vegetables 11 are arranged and conveyed to the latter stage.

A grade discrimination device 16 is provided after the above-mentioned alignment section 12.
The grade discrimination device 16 includes front and rear conveyor belts 17 and 18 whose conveyor surfaces are at the same height, a weighing device 19 located between these belts for measuring the weight of the fruit and vegetable 11, and a conveyor belt 17, It is constituted by a frame-shaped endless belt 20 stretched across the upper surface portion of the conveyor belt 18.

The above-mentioned front conveyor belt 17 includes pulleys 21 to 23.
The rear conveyor belt 18 is driven by a first motor 24 in the conveying direction, and the rear conveyor belt 18 is connected to a pulley 2.
5 to 27, and are driven in the same direction by a second motor 28.

The above-mentioned measuring instrument 19 has a conveyor belt 29 on the upper surface side, and this conveyor belt 29 is stretched around pulleys 30 to 32, and the front and rear conveyor belts 17, 18
It is driven in the transport direction by the third motor 33 at the same height as the transport surface.

When the fruit vegetables 11 are transported by the above-mentioned transport belt 29, their weight is measured and a measurement signal is output. In addition, the measuring device itself which weighs goods while conveying them is well known.

The aforementioned first, second, and third motors 24, 28,
33 are driven in synchronization, and each conveyor belt 1
7, 18, and 29 are driven at constant speed.

The frame-shaped endless belt 20 described above has chains 34 on both sides,
Partition frames 35 are constructed at predetermined intervals between the weighing scales 19 and 34, and the intervals between the partition frames 35 are such that under the condition that the conveyor belt 29 described above is driven at a set constant speed, one measuring instrument 19 The time required to weigh the fruits and vegetables 11 (measuring pitch), that is, the minimum interval that can be maintained by the measuring pitch is set.

The above-mentioned chains 34, 34 are connected to the conveyor belt 1
The upper surfaces of 7, 18, 29 are guided by guide rails 36, 36 provided on both sides, and the lower surfaces thereof are stretched between sprockets 37, 38, and are driven in the transport direction by a fourth motor 39. The speed is set to be the same as that of the aforementioned conveyor belts 17, 18, and 29.

As shown in FIG. 3, the aforementioned guide rail 3
6, 36 are formed in an inclined shape at the positions of the transport start end side of the front transport belt 17 and the transport end side of the rear transport belt 18, and this configuration is similar to the partition frames 35...
is provided to facilitate the delivery of fruits and vegetables 11 from the front stage or to the rear stage by approaching the conveyance surface. In addition, the intermediate portions of the guide rails 36, 36 are spaced apart from each other to a height that is approximately in the middle of the fruit 11 to be conveyed, so that even if the fruit 11 rolls on the belt surface, it will not go over the partition frame 35. It is set to not.

A brush roller 40 is installed above the conveyance start end of the aforementioned conveyance belt 17, and this brush roller 40 is driven from the preceding alignment section 12 via an appropriate transmission means such as a belt, and is supplied from the alignment section 12. Fruit vegetables 11 are placed on the upper surface of a conveyor belt 17 partitioned by a frame-shaped endless belt 20.

A step is formed between the rear end of the above-mentioned alignment section 12 and the conveyance start end of the conveyor belt 17, and an inclined plate 41 is interposed in this step, so that the fruit vegetables 1 from the alignment section 12 are
1 is supplied to the conveyor belt 17.

A bucket conveyor 42 is provided behind the conveyor belt 18. The bucket conveyor 42 conveys fruit and vegetables 1
The row-type fruit and vegetable storage system is formed by buckets 43 each storing one fruit and vegetable per bucket, and a chain 44 connecting the buckets 43 in a row. The fruit and vegetable 11 graded by the grade discriminating device 16 in the preceding stage are stored one by one in the buckets 43.

Further, the bucket 43 described above is provided so as to be able to roll to one side, and releases the stored fruits and vegetables 11 to predetermined positions corresponding to their grades.

The above-mentioned bucket conveyor 42 is given a conveying force by driving the large-diameter pulley 46 from the above-mentioned fourth motor 39 via the belt 45.

To explain the grade discrimination operation of the grade discrimination device 16 configured as described above, the fruit vegetables 11 fed from the sorting feeder 10 are stored in the recesses between the hourglass-shaped rollers 13 of the sorting section 12, and 13
It is conveyed at intervals set by , and is supplied to the grade discriminating device 16 at the next stage.

The brush roller 40 applies braking to the rolling of the fruit vegetables 11 supplied from the alignment section 12 while allowing the fruit vegetables 11 to be fed, and the fruit vegetables 11 are placed on the conveyor belt 17 at the front.

At this time, the partition frame 35 of the frame-shaped endless band 20 is
Since the starting end of the guide rail 36 is inclined, it is located close to the conveying surface of the conveying belt 17, so that the fruit vegetables 11 can be delivered smoothly.

Fruit vegetables 11 placed on the above-mentioned conveyor belt 17
Since the fruit vegetables 11 are transported one by one in each frame partitioned by the partition frame 35 of the frame-shaped endless belt 20, even if the fruit vegetables 11 roll on the transport surface due to the vibration of the transport belt 17, other fruits 11 , and does not impair the grading operation of single fruits and vegetables.

When the fruit vegetables 11 are supplied from the above-mentioned front conveyor belt 17 to the grade discriminating device 16, the grade discriminating device 16 weighs the fruit vegetables 11 with a weighing device 19 while conveying the fruit vegetables 11, and outputs a weighing signal. The grade of the fruit 11 is determined based on this weighing signal, and after the determination, it is sent to the conveyor belt 18 at the rear.

The above-mentioned conveyor belt 18 supplies the fruits and vegetables 11 partitioned by the partition frames 35 of the frame-shaped endless belt 20 to the bucket conveyor 42 at the subsequent stage.

At this time, the partition frame 35 of the frame-shaped endless band 20 is
Since the end of the guide rail 36 is inclined, it is located close to the conveyance surface of the conveyor belt 18, so that the fruit vegetables 11 can be delivered smoothly.

Fruit vegetables 11 classified by the above-mentioned grade classification device 16
The grade of the fruit vegetables 11 stored in the bucket 43 of the bucket conveyor 42 is stored in an appropriate storage device.
are transported in accordance with this grade and transported to a predetermined position where they are to be sorted.
is rolled and the fruit vegetables 11 are released.

As described above, the grade discriminating device 16 divides the fruit vegetables 11 to be graded into the partition frame 35 of the frame-shaped endless band 20.
Since the fruit vegetables 11 are individually partitioned and transported, a plurality of fruits 11 do not come together due to vibration during transport, and reliable grade discrimination is possible, and the fruit vegetables 11 can be delivered smoothly.

Furthermore, since the speeds of the conveyor belts 17, 18, 29 and the frame-shaped endless belt 20 are made constant, the measurement is the same whether or not the fruit 11 touches the partition frame 35 at the position of the scale 19. The status can be obtained and reliable measurements can be made.

Further, although the grade of the fruit vegetables 11 was determined based on its weight, another method is to determine the shape of the fruit vegetables 11 using a shape sensor 49 including a CCD array 47 and a light source 48, as shown in FIG. It may be read and its grade determined based on this shape. In this case, the conveyor belt 29 is made of a transparent material that transmits light. Alternatively, the grade may be determined using other grade determining means.

The grade discriminator in this invention corresponds to the measuring device 19 and shape sensor 49 in the embodiment.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of this invention, in which Fig. 1 is a side view of the grade discriminating device, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the grade discriminating device, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the grade discriminating device, and Fig. 4 is a side view of the grade discriminating device. FIG. 2 is a side view of a main part of a grade discriminating device showing an example. 11... Fruits and vegetables, 16... Grade discrimination device, 17,
18, 29... Conveyor belt, 19... Measuring device, 2
0... Frame-shaped endless band, 35... Partition frame, 49...
Shape sensor.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Utility Model Registration Claim] Fruits and vegetables are placed and transported between front and rear conveyor belts on which fruits and vegetables are placed and conveyed at a constant speed, on the same conveying surface as the front and rear conveyor belts, and at a constant speed. A grade discriminator equipped with a conveyor belt is installed, and a frame-shaped endless belt is placed above the conveyance path surface of the three conveyor belts to allow the conveyance of fruits and vegetables, with the fruits and vegetables separated by partition frames for each classification. At the same time, the frame-shaped endless belt is sloped so that the conveyance start end side is close to the conveyance start end side of the front conveyor belt, and the conveyance end side is close to the conveyance end side of the rear conveyor belt, and the conveyance middle part is inclined. A fruit and vegetable grade discrimination device formed at a distance from each conveyor belt.