JPH0521489B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field of the Present Invention> The present invention relates to a combined object to be weighed device that combines and collectively discharges objects to be weighed housed in a plurality of combination hoppers.

<Prior art> (Fig. 3) In order to efficiently group objects to be weighed that vary in weight, such as confectionery, fruits, meat products, etc., into a target weight, a conventional method as shown in Fig. 3 has been used. A combination weighing device is used.

In the figure, a plurality of combination hoppers 1 ₁ to 1 _o are
The objects to be weighed up to a predetermined weight and the objects to be weighed which can be accommodated and discharged and which are accommodated in each of the combination hoppers 1 ₁ to 1 _o are weighed by the respective weighing devices 2 ₂ to 2 _o , This measurement signal is sent to the control section 3.

The control unit 3 combines the weight values of the objects to be weighed according to the respective weighing signals, selects the optimum combination for the target weight, and discharges the objects to be weighed from the selected combination hopper.

The objects to be weighed discharged from the selected combination hoppers are discharged all at once via the collection chute 4 and packed into bags by the packaging machine 5.
During this time, a new object to be weighed is stored in the empty combination hopper, and the next combination is selected.

In such a combination weighing device, there are cases where it is desired to group together objects to be weighed whose target weight is so large that it cannot be combined at one time.

For example, when using a combination weighing device with a target weight of 2 kg that allows for accurate combination selection, when weighing objects with an overall target weight of 10 kg, conventionally the temporary target weight is set to 2 kg and the combination discharge operation is performed 4 times.
Then, subtract the cumulative weight of the discharged weight of the objects to be weighed for each of these four discharge operations from the overall target weight of 10 kg, and use this subtraction result as the target weight of the combination and perform the fifth combined discharge operation. Well, almost 10
Kg of objects to be weighed were packed together in bags.

<Problems to be Solved by the Present Invention> However, performing the combination selection operation multiple times as described above, which requires combination calculation and determination processing for all combinations, for each combination selection is difficult to measure. There is a problem in that it causes a reduction in driving speed.

As a technique to solve this problem, the objects to be weighed from all hoppers are discharged simultaneously until the difference between the total discharge amount due to simultaneous discharge and the target weight becomes less than the weight value that can be discharged in combination in one combination selection operation. A combination weighing method has been proposed in which the measurement is carried out m times and finally the combination is discharged once by normal combination selection (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Nos. 58-223716 and 1983-1983).

However, the weighing method disclosed in JP-A No. 58-223716 is a method in which the total weight of objects to be weighed in all hoppers is subtracted from the target weight at once, so the target weight for the final combination selection fluctuates greatly. There is a problem that combinations cannot be obtained with good accuracy.

In order to solve this problem, in JP-A-59-198323, the total discharge weight after all hoppers are discharged simultaneously is subtracted from the target weight, and from the result, the optimal combination weight by combination calculation is further subtracted to obtain a weight value A. , calculates the average capacity a of the articles accommodated in all new hoppers, and simultaneously discharges the articles from an integer number k of hoppers close to A/a. Then, the difference between the total discharge weight resulting from this partial discharge and all previous discharges and the overall target weight is used as the target weight for combination selection, and a combination is selected, and articles corresponding to the total target weight are grouped together.

However, in this combination weighing method, articles are discharged from k hoppers determined based on the average storage capacity a of all hoppers, so if there is a large variation in the amount of articles supplied to each hopper, k itself also changes greatly, and the weight of the items actually discharged from k hoppers (W ₁ + W ₂ +...Wk)
A large difference arises between A and A, and the target weight for the final combination selection varies by k hoppers.Although there is a large amount of calculation processing, it is difficult to obtain combinations with good accuracy.

Furthermore, in these prior art techniques, a large amount of articles simultaneously discharged from all hoppers gather at the exit of the collecting chute, so that a bridging phenomenon in which the outlet is blocked by the discharged articles is likely to occur.

The present invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and for objects to be weighed whose target weight is too large to be combined in one combination, the processing time is short, there is little variation in accuracy, and bridge The purpose is to provide a combination weighing device that generates fewer occurrences.

<Means for Solving the Problem> In order to solve the above problem, the combination weighing device of the present invention includes: a plurality of combination hoppers each capable of storing and discharging objects to be weighed; a plurality of weighing instruments each measuring the weight of an object to be weighed, a discharge control means for discharging an object to be weighed from a designated combination hopper among the plurality of combination hoppers; a supply control means for supplying a new object to be weighed to the combination hopper from which the object to be weighed has been discharged; a target weight value setting means for storing an overall target weight value of the objects to be weighed together; and said discharge control means. , a continuous discharge means for specifying the combination hoppers containing the weighed objects one by one in a predetermined order and continuously and cyclically discharging the weighed objects at different timings; Calculating the difference between the cumulative value of the weighed objects discharged by the continuous discharge means and the overall target weight value each time a weighed object is discharged from one combination hopper. a calculation means for calculating, a reference weight value setting means for setting, as a reference weight value, a weight value within a range that can be obtained by one combination of objects to be weighed in the plurality of combination hoppers; Each time a weighed object is discharged, the result of the calculation means is compared with the reference weight value, and when the result of the calculation means is less than or equal to the reference weight value, the discharge operation by the continuous discharge means is performed. a comparison means for stopping the ejection operation of the continuous ejection means, when the ejection operation of the continuous ejection means is stopped by the comparison means, performs a combination calculation of the weight values of the objects to be weighed stored in the plurality of combination hoppers; combination selection means for selecting a combination resulting in a weight value equal to or close to the final result, and specifying the selected combination hopper to the discharge control means; The objects to be weighed that have been selected and the objects to be weighed that have been selected and discharged by the combination selection means are combined to form a set of objects to be weighed corresponding to the total target weight.

<Operation> For this reason, the combination hopper containing the weighed objects is designated to be discharged one by one by the continuous discharge control means, and the weighed objects are continuously and at staggered timings. The next object to be weighed is supplied to the discharged combination hopper by the supply control means. When the difference between the cumulative value of the weight of the objects to be weighed discharged by continuous discharge and the overall target weight value becomes less than the standard weight value, continuous discharge stops, and the total target weight value and the final cumulative value of continuous discharge are A combination with a weight value equal to or close to the difference between the two is selected, and the selected objects to be weighed are simultaneously discharged, and the objects to be weighed corresponding to the total target weight are grouped together.

<One Embodiment of the Present Invention> (FIGS. 1 and 2) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the entirety of one embodiment.

In the figure, 11 is a feeder that sequentially supplies objects to be weighed to a circular feeder 12. N intermediate hoppers 14 ₁ are provided below the periphery of the circular feeder 12 .
~14n are arranged in a circle, each with feeder 1
A plurality of objects to be weighed are supplied via 3 ₁ to 13n.

Weighing hoppers 16 ₁ to 16 _o are arranged below the intermediate hoppers 14 ₁ to 14 _o , respectively, and the objects to be weighed supplied to the intermediate hoppers 14 ₁ to 14 _o are discharged when the discharge gates 15 ₁ to 15 _o are opened. , each weighing hopper 1
6 ₁ to 16 _o .

_Measuring instruments 17 ₁ to 17 _o are installed in the weighing hoppers 16 ₁ to 16 _o , respectively.
_-17o weigh the objects to be weighed accommodated in the weighing hoppers _161-16o , respectively _, and output the weighing signals.

A collection chute 19 is installed below the weighing hoppers, and the objects to be weighed stored in the weighing hoppers 16 ₁ to 16 _o are collected when the discharge gates 18 ₁ to 18 _o of the weighing hoppers 16 ₁ to 16 _o are opened. It falls into assembly chute 19.

A packaging machine 21 is installed below the collection chute 19, and a timing hopper 20 that opens at a predetermined timing is provided at the bottom of the collection chute 19.

On the other hand, the weighing signals from the weighing instruments 17 ₁ to 17 _o are
The measured value storage units 22 ₁ to 22 _o of the control unit are respectively sent. The weighing value storage devices 22 ₁ to 22 _o receive the weighing signals from the weighing instruments 17 ₁ to 17 _o , detect the weight values of the objects to be weighed accommodated in each of the weighing hoppers 16 ₁ to 16 _o , and store the detected weight values respectively. do.

Each weight value stored in the weight value storage units 22 ₁ to 22 _o is sent to the continuous discharge control means 23 and the combination selection circuit 38 .

The continuous discharge control means 23 controls the weighing hopper 16 ₁ to
16 Continuously discharge the objects to be weighed stored in _o , and subtract the discharged weight from the target weight in sequence.
When the result of this subtraction becomes less than or equal to a predetermined value, the continuous discharge is stopped and the combination selection circuit 38 starts a combination selection operation. FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the continuous discharge control device.

In FIG. 2, AND circuits 24 ₁ to 24 _o are
A status signal from each weighing value memory 22 1 to 22 _o indicating the presence or absence of a weighed object in each weighing hopper _{16 1} to 16 _o , and a discharge signal from a decoder 35 to be described later.
The switch 26 is turned on by the AND output of a ₁ to _{a o} , and the subtraction results of each subtracter 25 ₁ to 25 _o are stored in a storage device 28 to be described later.

Note that the weighing value storage units 22 ₁ to 22 _o reset the AND outputs of the AND circuits 24 ₁ to 24 _o using a reset signal b _{1 .}
~ _bo , and reset the stored values to "0".

Each of the subtracters 25 ₁ to 25 _o , which together with the storage device 28 constitute the arithmetic means of this embodiment, is connected to the measurement value storage device 2
The weight values stored in 2 ₁ to 22 _o are stored in the memory 28.
is subtracted from the stored value, and the result of this subtraction is stored in the memory 28 via the switches 26 ₁ to 26 _o .

The target weight value setter 27 is set in advance with the overall target weight value of the objects to be weighed together. The overall target weight value of the lever is stored as an initial value, and the stored value is output to each subtractor 25 ₁ to 25 _o and updated with the result of the subtraction.

The reference value setter 30 is set with a reference weight value that approximately corresponds to the weight value of the object to be weighed that can be accurately summarized in one combination operation, and the comparator 31 stores this reference weight value and the memory 28. Compare the value with
When the stored value is greater than the reference weight value, it outputs the "L" level, and conversely, when the stored value is smaller than or equal to the reference weight value, it outputs the "H" level.

The switch 32 is turned ON when the output of the comparator 31 is at "H" level, and outputs the stored value of the memory 28 to the determination section 38a of the combination selection circuit 38.

The oscillator 33, counter 34, and decoder 35 are
Together with the AND circuits 24 ₁ to 24 _o , they constitute the continuous discharge means of this embodiment. The oscillator 33 outputs pulses of a predetermined frequency to the counter 34, and the counter 34 counts the pulses from the oscillator 33 and outputs this count number to the decoder 35 in BCD code. The decoder 35 has a counter 34
Converts the BCD code output from 1 to N-ary, and while the enable signal is at "H" level, the H level pulses are sequentially shifted from _a1 to _ao to the AND circuit 24.
Output from ₁ to 24 _o .

The output Q of the flip-flop 36 is set to the "H" level each time the continuous discharge start signal c is input, and is reset by the "H" level output from the comparator 31. The output Q of the flip-flop 36 is sent to the decoder 35 as an enable signal, and also resets the counter 34 as a reset signal.

Note that the comparison output of the comparator 31 is output to the combination calculation section 38a of the combination selection circuit 38 as the start signal d of the combination calculation, and the output of each AND circuit 24 ₁ to 24 _o outputs the hopper to be discharged. A discharge signal for designation is sent to a discharge supply control device 40, which will be described later.

When the combination selection circuit 38 receives the combination calculation start signal d from the comparator 31, the combination selection circuit 38 selects the following based on the measurement values stored in the measurement value storage devices _{22 1} to 22 _o .
A combination calculation section 38a calculates a combination weight for all different combinations and outputs the calculation results; and a combination calculation section 38a that calculates a combination weight for all different combinations and outputs the calculation results; and a discriminating section 38b that selects an equal or closest combination by comparing the stored values with the stored values, and outputs a discriminating signal corresponding to the selected combination.

The discharge supply control device 40 includes a combination selection circuit 38
In response to the discrimination signal output from the discrimination section 38b and the discharge signal from the AND circuits 24 ₁ to 24 _o , the discharge gates of the weighing hoppers corresponding to these signals are opened, and the empty weighing hopper is discharged. The discharge gate of the intermediate hopper corresponding to the empty intermediate hopper is opened, and the feeder corresponding to the empty intermediate hopper is driven to control the discharge and supply of the object to be weighed.

<Operation of the above-mentioned embodiment> Next, in the combination weighing device of the above-mentioned embodiment, the operation of supplying and discharging objects to be weighed whose total target weight is too large to be collected in one combined discharge will be described.

In advance, all intermediate hoppers 14 ₁ to 14 _o
Assuming that no objects to be weighed are stored in the weighing hoppers 16 ₁ to 16 _o , each feeder 13 ₁ to 13 o is driven by the discharge supply control device 40, and the feeders 13 1 to 13 _o are moved from the feeder 11 to the circular feeder 12. The objects to be weighed are supplied to each of the feeders 13 ₁ to 13 _o through the intermediate hoppers 14 ₁ to 14 _o , respectively.

The objects to be weighed supplied to the intermediate hoppers 14 ₁ to 14 _o are accommodated in the weighing hoppers 16 ₁ to 16 _o by opening respective discharge gates 15 ₁ to 15 _o .

The objects to be weighed accommodated in the weighing hoppers 16 ₁ to 16 _o are weighed by the respective weighing devices 17 ₁ to 17 _o , and this weighing signal is stored in the weigh value storage devices 22 ₁ to 22 _o.
The weight values W ₁ -W _o of the objects to be weighed stored in the respective weighing hoppers 16 ₁ -16 _o are stored, and each status signal becomes "H" level.

Here, when the continuous discharge start signal c is input to the switch 29 and the flip-flop 36, the overall target weight Wa of the object to be weighed set in the target weight value setting device 27 is initialized in the memory 28, and the decoder There is an “H” level discharge signal from 35.
a ₁ , a ₂ , . . . , a _o , a ₁ , a ₂ , . . . are output to the AND circuits 74 ₁ to 74 _o in this order.

Therefore, when _a1 first becomes the "H" level, the measured value memory 2 changes from the stored value Wa in the memory 28.
The memory body W ₁ of 2 ₁ is subtracted by the subtractor 25 ₁ ,
The subtraction result W _a -W ₁ is stored in the memory 28 via the switch 26 ₁ in place of W _a . Here, the stored value of the measured value memory 22 ₁ is reset,
Since the output of the AND circuit 24 ₁ is output as a discharge signal to the discharge supply control device 40, the objects to be weighed in the hopper 16 ₁ are immediately discharged to the collecting chute 19. The empty weighing hopper 16 ₁ is immediately supplied with the next object to be weighed from the intermediate hopper 14 ₁ .
The weighing is started.

During this time, _a2 becomes “H” level instead of _a1 ,
The stored value W 2 of the measured value storage 22 ₂ is subtracted from _the stored value W _a −W ₁ of the storage 28, and this subtraction result W _a
-W ₁ -W ₂ is connected to the memory 28 via the switch 26 ₂ .
is memorized. Then, the object to be weighed from the weighing hopper 16 ₂ is discharged to the collecting chute 19, and the next object to be weighed is supplied from the intermediate hopper 14 ₂ to begin weighing.

Similarly, each time the discharge signal of the decoder 35 switches, the measured value memory 2
The weight values from 2 ₁ to 22 _o are subtracted in order,
For each subtraction, the stored value in each of the weighing value storage devices 22 ₁ to 22 _o is reset to "0", and the reset signals b ₁ to _bo are used as signals for specifying the weighing hopper to be discharged. The objects to be weighed are sequentially sent to the control device 40, and the discharge gates 181 to _18o of the weighing hoppers _{161 to 16o} are opened one after another, and the objects to be weighed are continuously discharged to the collection chute 19.

In this way, the weighing hopper which has been sequentially discharged and becomes empty is controlled by the discharge supply control device 40.
Discharge gate 15 1 - ₁ of intermediate hopper 14 ₁ - 14 _o
5 _o is opened and the next object to be weighed is stored in sequence, and the object to be weighed is supplied from each feeder to the empty intermediate hopper.

During this continuous discharging, the value stored in the memory 28, which decreases by approximately the weight step of one weighing hopper, is determined by the reference weight of the reference value setting device 30 in the comparator 31.
The stored value is compared with W _b , and this stored value becomes less than or equal to the reference value W _b (i.e., the overall target weight
When the value obtained by subtracting the total weight of continuously discharged objects to be weighed from W _a becomes the weight value that can be grouped together in one combination selection operation, the output of the comparator 31 becomes "H" level. The flip-flop 36 is then reset.

Therefore, the outputs a ₁ to a _o of the decoder 35 are stopped, and the continuous ejection operation is stopped.

At this time, the output of the comparator 31 turns on the switch 32 to send the final stored value of the memory 28 to the determination section 38b of the combination selection circuit 38, and also causes the combination calculation section 38a to start the combination calculation.

In the combination selection circuit 38, the combination calculation unit 38a calculates the combined weight of all the different combinations based on the weight value of the object to be weighed stored in the weighing hopper at this time, and the combined weight is stored in the memory 28. The determination unit 38b selects the closest or equal combination by comparing with the stored values, and sends a signal designating the selected weighing hopper to the discharge supply control device 40.

As a result, the discharge and supply control device 40 that has received the discrimination signal discharges the objects to be weighed in the weighing hoppers selected in combination all at once, and the timing hopper 2
0 is opened, and thereby the objects to be weighed whose total target weight is the object to be weighed by continuous discharge and the object to be weighed by combination selection are stored in the packaging machine 21,
Packaged together.

Further, when the timing hopper 20 closes, the continuous discharge start signal c is input, and the overall target weight W _a is stored as an initial value from the target weight setting device 27 to the storage device 28 in the same manner as described above.

Furthermore, the decoder 35 sends out the discharge signals a ₁ to a _o in order to the AND circuits 24 ₁ to 24 _o , but if the combination was selected last time and the object to be weighed has not yet been accommodated, or if the weighed value has not been stored yet. Continuous discharging operations are performed in the same manner as described above, except for weighing hoppers whose weight values have not yet been stored in the weighing hopper (i.e., weighing hoppers whose status signal from the weighing value storage device is at the "0" level), and the overall target weight is When the value obtained by subtracting the total weight of continuously discharged objects to be weighed from W _a becomes less than the reference value W _b , the combined discharge operation is performed once as described above, and the objects to be weighed corresponding to the overall target weight are collected together. It will be done.

Thereafter, similarly, the operation of discharging and supplying the objects to be weighed is repeated, and the objects to be weighed corresponding to the target weight are packaged.

Note that the above explanation has been made regarding the case where objects to be weighed are so large that the target weight cannot be combined in one combination. However, in the above device, if the output of the comparator 31 is always fixed at the "H" level, A combination discharge operation can be performed each time for objects to be weighed that are small in weight.

<Other Embodiments of the Present Invention> In the above embodiment, the weight value of the objects to be weighed that are continuously discharged is sequentially subtracted from the overall target weight of the objects to be weighed that are to be grouped together. Sequentially add the weight values of the objects to be weighed to be discharged,
When this added value exceeds a predetermined weight value, the continuous ejection operation may be stopped and a combined ejection operation may be performed.

<Effects of the present invention> As described above, in the combination weighing device of the present invention,
Combine the weighed objects in each combination until the difference between the overall target weight and the total weight of the objects continuously discharged from the combination hopper reaches a reference value that can be accurately summarized in one combination selection operation. After discharging from the hopper in a predetermined order while shifting the timing, this continuous discharging operation is stopped and switched to a discharging operation based on combination selection.

For this reason, it is possible to always approach the standard value, which can be accurately summarized by one combination selection, within the range of the variation of one hopper, making it possible to perform measurements with much higher precision than in the past.

Furthermore, during the continuous discharge operation, a large amount of objects to be weighed are not discharged at the same time, so there is no possibility of bridging in the collection chute or the like.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main parts of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional combination weighing device. be. 13 ₁ ~ 13 _o ... feeder, 14 ₁ ~ 14 _o ......
Intermediate hopper, 16 ₁ ~ 16 _o ...Measuring hopper, 17
₁ to 17 _o ...Measuring instrument, 22 ₁ to 22 _o ... Measurement value storage device, 23... Continuous emission control device, 25 ₁ to 25 _o
...Subtractor, 27...Target weight setter, 28...
Memory device, 30... Reference value setter, 31... Comparator, 33... Oscillator, 34... Counter, 35...
...Decoder, 38...Combination selection circuit, 40...
Emission supply control device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A plurality of combination hoppers each capable of storing and discharging objects to be weighed; a plurality of weighing instruments each measuring the weight of the objects to be weighed accommodated in the plurality of combination hoppers; and the above. A discharge control means for discharging the object to be weighed from a designated combination hopper among the plurality of combination hoppers, and supplying a new object to be weighed to the combination hopper from which the object to be weighed has been discharged by the discharge control means. a supply control means; a target weight value setting means for storing an overall target weight value of objects to be weighed together; continuous discharging means for discharging weighed objects one by one in the order in which they have been weighed in a continuous and cyclical manner while shifting the timing; and a measurement value of the weighed objects discharged by the continuous discharging means. calculation means for calculating the difference between the cumulative value of the total weight value and the overall target weight value each time a weighed object is discharged from one combination hopper; a reference weight value setting means for setting a weight value within a range that can be obtained by a combination of the above as a reference weight value; Comparing means for comparing the weight value with the reference weight value and stopping the ejecting operation by the continuous ejecting means when the result of the calculating means is equal to or less than the reference weight value; When the operation is stopped, a combination calculation is performed on the weight values of the objects to be weighed stored in the plurality of combination hoppers, and a combination that has a weight value equal to or close to the final result of the calculation means is selected; and a combination selection means for specifying a combination hopper to the discharge control means, wherein the object to be weighed is continuously discharged by the continuous discharge means and the selected combination hopper is discharged by the combination selection means. A combination weighing device characterized in that the objects to be weighed are combined with the objects to be weighed and the objects to be weighed equal to the total target weight are grouped together.