JPH0224592B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for sorting grades of fruits and vegetables in a fruit sorting machine, and more particularly to a sorting method capable of sorting multiple grades in one line.

When sorting fruits and vegetables, it is possible to sort them mechanically or electrically based on weight and size, but sorting by grade, which takes into account various factors such as color, gloss, and ripeness, requires human judgment. The current situation is that we have no choice but to rely on. The simplest conventional fruit sorting machine has a conveyor structure with the same number of lines as grades arranged in parallel.The grade of each line is specified, and the sorted fruits and vegetables are manually placed on the corresponding line. They were sorted and placed in boxes according to grade. This 1-line 1-grade type fruit sorting machine
Fruits and vegetables sorted into each grade are not averaged numerically,
Because of the inevitable numerical disparity between grades, each line cannot be used efficiently, and
If the number of grades is large, it is necessary to install a large number of lines, which has the disadvantage of increasing the occupied area and equipment cost. As a solution to this drawback, a one-line two-line system as shown in Figure 1 is proposed.
A fruit sorting machine that enables grade sorting has been developed.
This fruit sorting machine 1 is composed of, for example, four sorting lines, in which the first sorting line 2a and the fourth sorting line 2d sort out the good and the good, and the second sorting line 2b and the third sorting line 2c sort out the good and the good. Two grades are designated for each sorting line, such as sorting. In addition, on the conveyance path of each sorting line, a grade determination section 3 and a camera measurement section 4 are arranged in the direction of movement.
(However, in the case of outer diameter sorting) are provided sequentially,
Fruits and vegetables judged to be excellent or good (not shown) are placed in front of the grade judgment unit 3 of the corresponding line in the direction of travel, and fruits and vegetables judged to be fair or excellent are placed between the grade judgment unit 3 of the corresponding line and camera measurement. It is placed between the part 4 and the part 4. Regarding the buckets for which fruits and vegetables are detected to be placed by the photodetector etc. in the grade determination section 3, if they are from the first sorting line 2a or the fourth sorting line 2d, then the buckets are excellent; 2b or the third sorting line 2c, it is determined to be good, and for buckets that are not detected, they are similarly determined to be acceptable or excellent depending on the line, and a determination signal is output from the detector. Furthermore, the fruits and vegetables on each bucket are pattern-measured in the camera measuring section 4, and are classified into classes based on the size of the outer diameter, and a determination signal is output. These two judgment signals identify the grade and class of the fruits and vegetables on each bucket, and the bucket is tilted at a predetermined position on each line so that the fruits and vegetables fall and are sorted.
Although this fruit sorting machine 1 is certainly capable of sorting two grades in one line, the fruits and vegetables of the grade to be sorted must be distinguished and placed on the bucket before and after the grade determining section 3 in each line. This mounting work must be performed at two locations, which results in a long line up to the camera measuring section 4 and a disadvantage that a large number of mounting personnel are required.

The present invention was developed in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and eliminates the conventionally required grading section and uses a one-line multi-grading system that judges grading based on the position of the bucket rather than the presence or absence of fruits and vegetables. The purpose is to provide a screening method for The features of the present invention are:
In a fruit sorting machine that transports fruits and vegetables on buckets and sorts and sorts the fruits and vegetables according to grades such as ripeness, within one line where the fruits and vegetables are transferred, the buckets on which fruits and vegetables are placed are moved along the bucket conveyor. The container is manually supported in a direction perpendicular to the above direction so as to be slidable between predetermined positions, and is slid to the predetermined positions that vary depending on the grade such as the ripeness of the fruits and vegetables placed on the transport path of the bucket conveyor. The present invention is further provided with a detection device for detecting the displacement position of the bucket bag which has been positioned.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the accompanying drawings.

First, an example of the configuration of a fruit sorting machine for implementing the present invention will be explained based on FIGS. 2 and 3.
As shown in FIG. 2, the fruit sorting machine 11 has a bucket conveyor system 13 having four sorting lines 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d, and is located directly above each sorting line 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d. Four cameras 16 serve as detection devices that detect the position of the bucket 15 fixed to the support stand 14 and the size of fruits and vegetables on the bucket 15 as image signals.
a, 16b, 16c, and 16d, and a sorting control device 18 that controls the falling position of fruits and vegetables 17 on each bucket 15 in accordance with the imaging signals sent from these cameras 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d. Further, the fruit sorting machine 11 has collection lines 1 of the same number as the number of sorting categories corresponding to the dropping position of the fruits and vegetables 17.
9, and the four grades of Excellent, Excellent, Good, and Fair are L,
When collecting in three classes, M and S, 12
collection lines 19 are provided (however, only eight are shown). Each collection line 19 is a set of two,
Dispensing lines 20 are provided on both sides of each set so that adjacent sets share the dispensing lines 20, and each dispensing line 20 is connected to a collection line 21. Then, the products are loaded onto a transport vehicle (not shown) from the end of the collection line 21 and shipped.
Reference numeral 22 denotes a fruit and vegetable delivery line, through which fruits and vegetables 17 to be sorted are stored in a container 23 and delivered. The above configuration is almost the same as a known one-line, two-grade sorting machine,
The only difference is the structure of the bucket 15. As shown in FIG. 3, the bucket 15 is tiltably supported by a shaft 24 fixed to a chain (not shown) of the bucket conveyor system 13 and positioned in the direction of movement, and fruits and vegetables are placed in the center of the shaft 24. 1
A recess 25 is formed for placing 7.
On both sides of the opposite end of the bucket 15, there are a pair of rollers 2 rolling on guide rails (not shown).
6 and 27 are provided, and these rollers 26,
When a part of the guide rail supporting the bucket 27 is lowered or the like and its support is released, the bucket 1
5 tilts downward and releases fruits and vegetables 17. The bucket 15 is connected to the shaft 24
It is slidable between a pair of strip rings 28 and 29 fixed to the strip ring 2.
The bucket bag 15 is positioned and locked so that the side surface of the bucket bag 15 is brought into contact with the side surfaces of 8 and 29. At this time, the bucket 15 is held stationary from the displaced position by the frictional force between the shaft 24 and the bucket 15. When the bucket 15 is conveyed on the bucket conveyor, the thrust force in the axial direction of the shaft 24 does not act on the bucket 15, so the bucket 15 is maintained at a predetermined displacement position by the frictional force. The displacement position is detected by a detection device.

FIG. 3 shows an example in which the bucket 15 is displaced and positioned in two positions: a solid line position and a virtual line position.

In addition, as a means for locking the bucket belt 15 in a displaced position, the bucket belt 15 is connected to stop springs 28 and 2.
It is also possible to position and fix the position with a stop pin at the position where it abuts 9.

Next, a one-line two-grade sorting method performed using the above-mentioned fruit sorting machine 11 will be explained.

The fruits and vegetables 17 carried in containers 23 by the fruits and vegetables delivery line 22 shown in FIG. Good is placed on each bucket 15 of either the first sorting line 12a or fourth sorting line 12d, and good and fair are placed on the second sorting line 12b or third sorting line 12c.
It is placed on each bucket 15 of either line. At this time, when placing the excellent and superior fruits and vegetables 17 on the bucket 15, the objects are manually slid onto the bucket 15 (in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the bucket conveyor) at the position of the bucket 15 shown in the solid line in FIG. When placing good and acceptable fruits and vegetables 17 on the bucket 15, slide the bucket 15 to the virtual line position shown in FIG. place As a result, each sorting line 12a, 1
At 2b, 12c, and 12d, the bucket bag 15 is displaced and fixed at two different positions.
The fruits and vegetables 17 placed on the bucket 15 in this way are transported to the cameras 16a, 16b,
It passes directly under 16c and 16d. Here, the position of each bucket 15 and the outer diameter of the fruits and vegetables 17 on each bucket 15 are detected, the grade and class are identified, and a control signal is sent from the sorting control device 18 to each bucket.
5 is output. and each bucket 15
is tilted at a predetermined position according to the grade and class to eject fruits and vegetables 17, and the ejected fruits and vegetables 17 fall onto a predetermined collection line 19. The fruits and vegetables 17 collected for each grade and class are boxed on a delivery line 20 and shipped via a collection line 21.

Next, another embodiment of the bucket for selecting the outer diameter used in the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. A pair of lower hanging parts 32 and 33 are vertically provided on the lower surface of the mounting tray 31 of the bucket 30, and a long hole 34 extending in the horizontal direction is provided in these lower hanging parts 32 and 33.
(However, the lower hanging part 33 is not shown) is transparently provided at the same height position. Each long hole 34
Each end of an upper support shaft 36 which is fitted and fixed to the upper end of the vertical rod 35 is fitted into each of the upper ends of the vertical rod 35, so that the mounting plate 31 is moved in the horizontal direction in FIG. 4 with respect to the vertical rod 35. In other words, it is movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel. Further, at a position above and outward from the lower hanging parts 32 and 33 on the lower surface of the mounting tray 31, there is also a pair of upper hanging parts 37 (however,
The lower hanging portion 33 side is provided vertically (not shown), and the upper hanging portion 37 is also provided with an arc-shaped elongated hole 38 that bulges downward at the same height. The upper ends of upper arms 39 and 40 are respectively pivotally supported in these elongated holes 38 by pins (not shown) so as to be located inside each of the upper hanging parts 37, and each of the pins is bolt 41
(However, only the upper hanging portion 37 side is shown) is fixed to the pair of frames 42 and 43, respectively. The lower ends of each of the upper arms 39 and 40 are pivoted to each end of the upper support shaft 36 so as to be located inside the lower hanging parts 32 and 33, respectively. A lower support shaft 44 is fitted and fixed below and parallel to the upper support shaft 36 in the vertical rod 35, and at each end of this lower support shaft 44, a lower end of a lower arm 45 (however, only one is shown) is attached. is supported. The upper end of each of the lower arms 45 is pivotally supported by a pin 46 (however, only one is shown), and each of the pins 46 is connected to the pair of frames 42, 43 by a bolt (not shown). Upper arm 39,4
They are each fixed so that they are positioned parallel to 0. Therefore, the upper arm 39 and the lower arm 4
5. The upper arm 40 and the lower arm (not shown) each constitute a parallel link mechanism. An upper pin 47 and a lower pin 48, which are parallel to each other, are provided on the opposite side of the vertical rod 35 of the pair of frames 42, 43 from the respective arms 39, 40, 45. It is located inside, and each end thereof is fixed to the pair of frames 42, 43 by bolts 49, 50, 51, 52. A mounting plate 31 is attached to the upper pin 47.
is placed on the side opposite to the upper hanging portion 37.
Moreover, each frame body 42, 43 is connected to the chain 5 of the conveyor.
3 and 54, respectively.
55 is a cylindrical block screwed to one side of the lower end of the vertical rod 35.

Since the bucket bag 30 of this embodiment has the above-described configuration, by positioning the bolts 41 on both sides of the elongated hole 38, it can be displaced into two states. Then, when the block 55 is pushed up at a predetermined position on the conveyance path of the bucket 30 by a drive mechanism using a conventionally known solenoid or the like, according to the grade and class determined based on the detection of the displacement state, the vertical rod 35 is pushed up. By the action of the ascending parallel link mechanism, the mounting tray 31 is tilted in the counterclockwise direction of rotation of the hour hand in FIG. 3 using a pin (not shown) fixed to the bolt 41 as a fulcrum.

In addition, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, a bucket 1 for an outer diameter sorter that determines the class based on the outer diameter of fruits and vegetables is used.
5 and 30, the present invention can also be applied to a bucket for a weight sorter that determines the grade of fruits and vegetables based on their weight. However, in this case, it is necessary to use an electronic scale. Further, the buckets 15 and 30 may be configured to be able to be displaced not only in two stages as described above, but also in multiple stages of three or more stages.

As is clear from the above explanation, in the present invention, the bucket is displaced according to the grade of fruits and vegetables,
By detecting the displacement position of the bucket with a detection device to determine the grade of fruits and vegetables, the following remarkable effects can be achieved.

Multiple grades can be sorted on one line, and the number of sorting lines can be reduced. Also, 1
Since only one fruit or vegetable is placed on the sorting line, the sorting line can be reduced.
Space can be used efficiently.

It is not affected by the size of fruits and vegetables to be sorted because it detects the displacement position of the bucket body and sorts them.
Furthermore, since the displacement position of the bucket is detected, reliable detection without detection errors is possible.

Sliding and displacing the bucket by grade is done at the same time as determining the ripeness (grade) of fruits and vegetables to be sorted, so it is only necessary to position the bucket at the same time as determining the grade, making the sorting operation more efficient. Can be done.

Although the present invention has been variously explained above using preferred embodiments, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Of course, modifications can be made.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a plan view showing a conventional sorting line;
The figure is a perspective view showing a sorting line in one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a bucket bag,
FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway front view showing another embodiment of the bucket bag, and FIG. 5 is a side view of the same. 1... Fruit sorting machine, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d... Sorting line, 3... Grade determination section, 4... Camera measurement section, 5 to 10 none, 11... Fruit sorting machine, 12a, 1
2b, 12c, 12d... sorting line, 13...
Bucket conveyor system, 14...Support stand, 1
5... Bucket, 16a, 16b, 16c, 16
d... Camera, 17... Fruits and vegetables, 18... Sorting control device, 19... Collection line, 20... Dispatch line, 21... Collection line, 22... Fruits and vegetables delivery line, 23... Container, 24... Shaft, 2
5... Recess, 26, 27... Roller, 28, 29
...Stop spring, 30...Bucket, 31...
...Placement plate, 32, 33...Lower hanging part, 34...
Long hole, 35... Vertical rod, 36... Upper support shaft, 37
...Upper hanging part, 38...Long hole, 39,40...
Upper arm, 41... Bolt, 42, 43... Frame body, 44... Lower support shaft, 45... Lower arm,
46... Pin, 47... Upper pin, 48... Lower pin, 49, 50, 51, 52... Bolt, 5
3, 54...conveyor chain, 55...block.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a fruit sorting machine that transports fruits and vegetables on buckets and sorts and sorts the fruits and vegetables according to grades such as ripeness, the fruit and vegetables are placed in one line where the buckets are transported. The bucket is manually supported so as to be slidable between predetermined positions in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the bucket conveyor, and the fruits and vegetables placed on the transfer path of the bucket conveyor are supported according to the grade of ripeness, etc. 1. A one-line multi-grade sorting device for a fruit sorting machine, characterized in that a detection device is provided for detecting the displacement position of the bucket which is positioned by sliding it to different predetermined positions.