JPH03296474A - Fruit and vegetable multi-grade sorting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to a multi-grade sorter for fruits and vegetables.

(Prior art) As a conventional multi-grade sorter for fruits and vegetables, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-14
The one shown in Japanese Patent No. 8378 is known.

This sorting machine is equipped with multiple switches on the tray to set four grades of fruits and vegetables according to their color, scratches, shape, etc. (for example, excellent, excellent, good, average). The person operates a switch according to the grade and then places the fruits and vegetables on the tray. When the state of this switch is detected during transportation of fruits and vegetables, a grade signal corresponding to the state is emitted, and then the class of the size (2L, L, M, S, etc.) of the fruits and vegetables is detected. A class signal is emitted according to the detection. Next, based on both the grade and class signals, the sorting means sorts the fruits and vegetables on the tray.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in this conventional sorting machine, at least two switches are required in order to sort into four grades of excellent, excellent, good, and average in terms of color, scratches, shape, etc. using one conveyor. In addition, a means is required to electrically detect the four-class setting state when both switches are turned on, when both are turned off, or when either one is turned on. Since fruits and vegetables are sorted based on equal set signals generated in response to detection, there is a drawback that the overall configuration is complicated.

Furthermore, since one of the four grades must be set by turning two switches ON and OFF, it is easy to make a mistake in setting the grade due to malfunction of the switch, and as a result, it is easy to missort fruits and vegetables. There are drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-grade fruit and vegetable sorting machine that has a simple overall configuration and is less prone to operator errors.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a conveyor with a tray that has a tray for placing fruits and vegetables in a horizontal position and discharging the fruits and vegetables in an inclined position, and a conveyor with a tray that supports the tray in a horizontal position. In addition, there is an automatic supporting lever that can return to the supporting position after the support is released, and when placing vegetables or fruits on the tray, the operator operates the tray according to the grade of the fruits or vegetables to support the tray in a horizontal position. an operator operating lever; a detection means provided on the conveyor with a saucer for detecting the size of fruits and vegetables conveyed by the saucer; Based on the above, the automatic lever for support is released at a predetermined discharge position to change the saucer from a horizontal position to an inclined position, and is provided between two sorting means for sorting the size of fruits by grade, and between the two sorting means, The present invention is configured to include a lever automatic release means for releasing the support of the operator operating lever.

(Function) In the present invention configured as described above, when the worker stands up by operating the operator control lever according to the grade of fruits and vegetables, the automatic support lever is activated when passing through the first sorting means. Although the supporting state of the tray is released at the predetermined discharge position, the tray is still supported by the operator operation lever, so the tray does not tilt, and moreover, the automatic support lever returns to the supporting position. Thereafter, after the automatic lever release means releases the tray supporting state of the operator-operated lever, when passing through the second sorting means, the automatic support lever automatically releases the tray supporting state at a predetermined position. However, at this time, the tray tilts due to the weight of the fruits and vegetables and discharges the fruits and vegetables.

On the other hand, if the operator-operated lever is not operated from the beginning and is tilted down, the tray supporting state of the automatic support lever will be automatically released at the predetermined discharge position when passing through the first sorting means. Therefore, the tray tilts due to the weight of the fruits and vegetables and discharges the fruits and vegetables.

(Example) Embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a multi-grade fruit and vegetable sorter according to the present invention, in which four grades are sorted using two conveyors.

In FIG. 1, reference numerals 1 and 2 are conveyors with trays on which trays 3 for fruits and vegetables are mounted at equal intervals, and are driven by a drive unit 4 provided at one end of the conveyor 1. Further, on the conveyance path of the tray-equipped conveyor 1.2, a detection device 5 is provided, which optically detects the size (shape) of each fruit or vegetable, for example. 7 to 10 are sorting devices that are provided along the conveyors 1 and 2 with saucers and sort the size of fruits and vegetables by grade (excellent, excellent, good, average). Each of the sorting devices 7 to 10 determines the size (3L,
2L, L, M, S), the vegetables and fruits in three trays are discharged at a predetermined position.

A lever guide 6, which is an automatic lever release means, is provided on two conveyors with saucers between the sorting device 7 and the sorting device 8, and a lever guide 6 is similarly provided on the conveyor 1 with a saucer between the sorting device 9 and the sorting device 10. 6 will be provided.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the main parts of the embodiment of the present invention.

The saucer 3 is rotatably attached to the support shaft 11 at the inner side of the bottom and is tilted outward. Reference numeral 12 designates an automatic supporting lever that is rotatable up and down about a shaft 19, and is engaged with a support pin 13 integrated with the tray 3 to support the tray 3 in a horizontal position shown by a solid line. Further, when the inner end of the automatic support lever 12 engages with the cam 15 of the rotary solenoid 14, it descends and disengages from the support pin 13. The saucer 3 and the automatic support lever 12 are connected by a spring 16 and biased in the horizontal direction.

In addition to the automatic support lever 12, the shaft 19 is rotatably mounted with an operator operating lever 17 which is operated according to the grade of the fruit or vegetable when the worker places the fruit or vegetable on the tray 3. When this operator operating lever 17 is rotated counterclockwise and raised, it engages with the support pin 13, and when rotated clockwise toward the stopper 18, the engagement with the support pin 13 is released.

Next, the operation of the embodiment configured as described above will be explained.

First, an operator is located at the starting end side of the conveyors 1 and 2 (on the left side in FIG. 1), and visually determines the grade of fruits and vegetables. If the grade determined at this time is excellent or average, it is placed on the tray 3 on the conveyor 1, and if it is excellent or good, it is placed on the tray 3 on the conveyor 2.

If the grade is excellent or excellent, rotate the operator operating lever 17 clockwise to bring it down to the stopper 18, and if the grade is average or good, rotate the operator operating lever 17 counterclockwise to raise it.
3 and engage state.

If the grade of the fruits and vegetables is good, they are placed on the tray 3 on the conveyor 2, and the operator lever 17 is pulled up to engage the support pin 13. Then, when the tray 3 passes the detection device 5, the size of the fruits and vegetables on the tray 3 is detected by the detection device 5, and the size is determined as L, for example.

Then, when the tray 3 reaches the position for discharging fruits and vegetables of size L in the sorting device 7, the cam 15 of the corresponding rotary solenoid 14 rotates, and the automatic support lever 12 descends to support the tray 3. Release the condition. However, at this time, the operator operating lever 17 is engaged with the support pin 13 to support the tray 3, so the tray 3 does not tilt and the fruits and vegetables are not discharged but move on the conveyor 2. Furthermore, the automatic support lever 12 once released from the supported state engages with the support pin 13 again due to the restoring force of the spring 16 and returns to its original state.

When the saucer 3 passes through the lever guide 6, the lever guide 6 moves the operator operating lever 17 to the support pin 13.
However, since the automatic support lever 12 is in engagement with the support pin 13, the saucer 3 does not tilt.

Thereafter, when the tray 3 reaches the position for discharging fruits and vegetables of size L in the sorting device 8, the automatic support lever 12 releases the supporting state of the tray 3 by rotation of the cam 15 of the corresponding rotary solenoid 14. At this time, the operator control lever 17 does not support the saucer, so the saucer 3
tilts outward due to the weight of fruits and vegetables to eject fruits and vegetables,
After being discharged, the spring 16 returns it to the horizontal position.

Next, a case will be explained in which the grade of the fruits and vegetables is excellent. In this case, it is sufficient to simply place the fruits and vegetables on the tray 3 of the conveyor 2 without operating the operator control lever 17 at all. Then, when the saucer 3 passes the detection device 5, the size of the fruits and vegetables is detected to be, for example, M. Next, when the tray 3 reaches the position for discharging fruits and vegetables of size M in the sorting device 17, the cam 15 of the corresponding rotary solenoid 14 rotates, and the automatic support lever 12 moves to the support pin 13.
Since the tray 3 is disengaged from the tray 3, the tray 3 tilts outward due to the weight of the fruits and vegetables and discharges the fruits and vegetables.

In addition, when the grade of fruits and vegetables is excellent or average, the conveyor 1 is used, and its operation is the same as the case where the conveyor 2 is used as described above, so the explanation thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the rotary solenoid 14 is oriented upward rather than sideways as shown in FIG. This has the advantage that the line width can be narrow and the installation space does not need to be large.

(Effects of the Invention) Since the present invention has the above configuration, it is possible to sort two grades per line with a simple configuration, and when separating fruits and vegetables, the operator can simply operate the operator control lever 17. Therefore, fruits and vegetables can be sorted accurately without any erroneous operation.Furthermore, the conventional conveyor with trays has one strip, but the present invention has two adjacent strips, which has the effect of making the whole more compact. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a multi-grade fruit and vegetable sorter, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the main parts of an embodiment, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the main parts of another embodiment. 1.2 is a conveyor with a saucer, 3 is a saucer, 4 is a drive unit, 5
is a detection device, 6 is a lever guide, 7 to 10 are sorting devices,
11 is a support shaft, 12 is an automatic support lever, 13 is a support pin, 14 is a rotary lens, 15 is a cam, 16 is a spring, 17 is an operator operation lever, and 18 is a stopper.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A conveyor with a tray having a tray for placing fruits and vegetables in a horizontal position and discharging fruits and vegetables in an inclined position, and a conveyor with a tray that supports the tray in a horizontal position and is capable of returning to the supporting position after the support is released. an automatic support lever; an operator-operated lever that is operated by an operator according to the grade of the fruits and vegetables when placing fruits and vegetables on the tray to support the tray in a horizontal position; and provided on the conveyor with the tray; A detection means for detecting the size of fruits and vegetables conveyed in a tray is provided along the conveyor with the tray, and based on a detection signal from the detection means, the automatic support lever is released at a predetermined discharge position to remove the fruits and vegetables from the tray. two sorting means for changing the size of the fruit from a horizontal position to an inclined position and sorting the size of the fruit by grade; and an automatic lever release means provided between the two sorting means for releasing support for the operator-operated lever; A multi-grade sorting machine for fruits and vegetables.