JPH05228448A - Sorting device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] Based on the weight of a weighed item, the arrival time of the item to the sorting conveyor is managed, and in a weighing and sorting device that sorts the article, the sorting operation is ensured for each sorting conveyor. And automate the resetting of the arrival time. In the automatic setting mode, one article M is flown on a line, the article arrival detection sensor 3 detects the arrival of the article M at each sorting conveyor CVn, and the timer means 4 measures the arrival time. From this arrival time, the timing setting means 2 automatically sets the allowable time zone. On the other hand, in the normal operation mode, the operation control means 6 outputs the distribution signal b from the weight signal w of the weighing conveyor 1 to each distribution conveyor control means 7 based on the weight of the article M. Each sorting conveyor control means 7 detects the arrival of the article M by the article arrival detection sensor 3 only during the allowable time zone, and when the article M arrives within the allowable time zone, the sorting conveyor CVn performs the sorting operation. To do.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sorting device that sorts and sorts articles during transportation of the articles by a plurality of sorting conveyors provided in a line based on the weight of the articles weighed by a weighing conveyor. ..

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Sorting devices of this type are used for sorting articles in which fish or the like are packaged, for example, based on their weight. As an example of a conventional weighing and sorting apparatus, there is one in which a sensor for detecting the arrival of articles is provided on each sorting conveyor, and a control unit instructs a sorting destination corresponding to the weighing order of articles to perform sorting control. .. However, in such a control method, when an article falls in the middle of a line or an error occurs in the detection of a sensor, the allocation destination is shifted by one with respect to the weighing order of the article, so that the articles after that are sorted. Has the disadvantage that it is all wrong, which causes a lot of confusion.

Therefore, conventionally, each time required for an article to arrive from the reference position of the weighing conveyor to the tip of each sorting conveyor is determined in advance by a test before the operation without providing the sensor, and the required time is After the lapse of time, the guide 50 of the sorting conveyor CVn in FIG. 6A is inclined to perform the sorting operation to sort the articles M.
Thus, even if the article M is unexpectedly lined out on the way, the destination of the succeeding article is not mistaken.

[0004]

However, there is a case where the articles slip on each conveyor and the time to arrive at the sorting conveyor to be sorted is delayed. Here, in the above-mentioned conventional technology, since the sorting conveyor is operated for an extremely short time after the passage of the required time, when the arrival is delayed as described above, the article arrives at the sorting conveyor. The timing of the distribution and the timing of the distribution operation do not match. Therefore, the article cannot be distributed, or when the guide 50 returns to the passing position shown by the broken line as shown in FIG. Not only are the articles M not sorted by the sorting conveyor CVn, but the articles M are laterally displaced, and the articles M do not flow smoothly on each subsequent sorting conveyor CVn + 1 such that the articles M contact the guides 50. That is, the certainty of the distribution operation of each distribution conveyor CVn is low.

In this type of weighing and sorting apparatus, the speed of each conveyor may be changed. In this case, if the distribution control is performed based on the arrival time, an expert such as a service technician must go to the site, perform a retest, and set the required time again. Therefore, the resetting is troublesome. is there.
Also, when changing the layout by changing the layout by installing a curve conveyor between the sorting conveyors,
With the same trouble. In addition, such a defect similarly occurs in a sorting device other than the weighing sorting device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art. It is possible to prevent an error in the allocation destination, improve the reliability of the distribution operation of each distribution conveyor, and change the sorting line. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sorting device that can be reconfigured extremely easily due to such circumstances.

[0007]

The structure of the present invention for achieving the above object is shown in FIG.
Will be explained. In FIG. 1, the weighing conveyor 1 weighs the weight of the articles M on the conveyor and outputs a weight signal (a signal serving as a reference for sorting articles) w. A plurality of sorting conveyors CVn for sorting the articles M are provided in series downstream of the weighing conveyor 1. Each sorting conveyor C
Vn is provided with an article arrival detection sensor 3 that detects arrival of the article M and outputs an arrival signal a. Switching means 11
Switches between the operation mode and the automatic setting mode based on the command.

In the automatic setting mode, the timer means 4 measures the time required for the article M to arrive at the sorting conveyor CVn from the reference position P in response to the arrival signal a, which is the time required signal t. Output as. In the automatic setting mode, the timing setting means 2 receives the required time signal t and determines an allowable allowable time period for the article M in the operation mode from the reference position P to reach each sorting conveyor CVn. Set new from time.

The operation control means 6 receives the weight signal w from the weighing conveyor 1, selects the destination to which the articles M are distributed, and outputs the distribution signal b. The sorting conveyor control means 7 is
The timer means 4 is provided, and when the distribution signal b is received in the operation mode and the arrival signal a is received during the allowable time period, the distribution signal C is sent to the distribution conveyor CVn. Based on the action.

[0010]

According to this sorting device, in the operation mode,
When the distribution conveyor control means 7 receives the arrival signal a from the article arrival detection sensor 3 during the allowable time zone, it causes the distribution conveyor CVn to perform the distribution operation based on the distribution signal b. Even if the arrival of the article M is slightly delayed, the arrival of the article M and the timing of the sorting operation of the sorting conveyor CVn coincide with each other.

Further, in the automatic setting mode, the arrival time a of the article arrival detection sensor 3 is received, the required time of the article M is measured by the timer means 4, and the allowable time zone is set on the basis of the required time. Since the means 2 sets,
Switch the mode to automatic setting mode,
If you pass, the allowable time zone is automatically set.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 2 shows the weighing and sorting apparatus in the automatic setting mode, and FIG. 3 shows the weighing and sorting apparatus in the operation mode.

Here, the automatic setting mode is a mode in which only one article M is flown on the line and the time required for the article M to reach each sorting conveyor CVn from the reference position P on the weighing conveyor 1 is measured. Say. On the other hand, the operating mode is
A mode in which the articles M are sorted and sorted based on the weight of the articles M weighed. These modes are switched by the switching means 1
From 1 the operator commands the mode by mode setting,
Based on this command, the switching means 11 sends the mode signal m (see FIG. 1) to the operation control means 6 and each sorting conveyor control means 7.
And the output to the timing setting means 2 switches between the operation mode and the automatic setting mode. In addition, in FIGS. 3 and 2, the mode signal m is omitted in order to make the drawings easy to see.

A standard distribution conveyor 8 is provided downstream of the weighing conveyor 1, and a plurality of distribution conveyors CVn are connected in series further downstream of the standard distribution conveyor 8. .. The weighing conveyor 1 has a conveyor loaded on a load cell (not shown), measures the weight of the article M while transporting the article M on the conveyor, and controls the weight signal (a signal serving as a reference for sorting articles) w. It outputs to the means 6 and the standard distribution control means 10.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the standard sorting conveyor 8 and each sorting conveyor CVn have a sorting mechanism for sorting the articles M by swinging a guide 50 provided on the conveyor, for example. .. At the upstream ends of the weighing conveyor 1 and the sorting conveyor CVn shown in FIG. 2, a start sensor 9 and an article arrival detection sensor 3 each including, for example, a light projector and a light receiver are provided. The article arrival detection sensor 3 detects arrival of the article M at the sorting conveyor CVn and outputs an arrival signal a. The weighing conveyor 1 receives the article detection signal (not shown) from the start sensor 9 and starts weighing at a predetermined timing.

The standard distribution control means 10 controls the standard distribution conveyor 8. That is, the standard distribution control means 10 receives the weight signal w from the weighing conveyor 1, determines whether or not the article M should be distributed by the standard distribution conveyor 8, and based on the result of the determination, the standard distribution control means 10 The distribution operation signal c is output to the distribution conveyor 8 to cause the standard distribution conveyor 8 to perform the distribution operation. In addition,
The standard distribution control means 10 manages the timing of weighing by the weighing conveyor 1 and the timing of sorting by the standard sorting conveyor 8.

On the other hand, each distribution conveyor CVn is controlled by the corresponding distribution conveyor control means 7. Each of these sorting conveyor control means 7 has a timer means 4. In the automatic setting mode, the timer means 4 receives the arrival signal a from the article arrival detection sensor 3 and measures the time Tn required for the article M to reach the sorting conveyor CVn from the reference position P, This is output as the required time signal t to the required time storage means 12 of the timing setting means 2.

The operation control means 6 incorporates the timing storage means 5. The timing storage means 5 allows an allowable time period T until the article M in the operation mode arrives at each sorting conveyor CVn from the reference position P.
1n is stored.

The timing setting means 2 calculates the allowable time zone T1n in the operation mode from the required time Tn in the automatic setting mode, and the writing means (not shown)
The stored contents of the timing storage means 5 are rewritten to the newly calculated allowable time zone T1n. This calculation method will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

First, in the automatic setting mode, the timing setting means 2 of FIG. 2 stores the required time Tn in the required time storage means 12 based on the required time signal t output from the timer means 4. On the other hand, the allowable time zone T1n in FIG.
The difference between the start time Tns and the end time Tne is the shortest weighing cycle time T for weighing the articles M on the weighing conveyor 1.
is set to s. The allowable cycle T1n is set by dividing the weighing cycle time Ts into 1/4 times and 3/4 times based on the required time Tn.

The operation control means 6 in FIG. 3 outputs the allowable time zone T1n stored in the timing storage means 5 as a timing signal t1 to each distribution conveyor control means 7 when the operation mode rises. The allowable time zone T1n
Is stored as the timer start time of the timer means 4 of the sorting conveyor control means 7. In the operation mode, the operation control means 6 selects the distribution destination of the weighed articles M each time the weight signal w from the weighing conveyor 1 is received, and allocates the distribution signal b to each distribution conveyor control means 7. Is output.

Upon receiving the distribution signal b and the timing signal t1, the distribution conveyor control means 7 receives the distribution signal b and the timing signal t1, and in the operation mode, as described below, the permissible time period T1n.
When the arrival signal a is received during
Vn is caused to perform an operation based on the distribution signal b.
Each of the sorting conveyor control means 7 has a signal extraction means 14 and a drive control circuit 15 in addition to the timer means 4. The signal take-out means 14 receives the take-out command signal d from the timer means 4 during the allowable time period T1n, while receiving the arrival signal a from the article arrival detection sensor 3,
Only during the allowable time period T1n, it is determined whether or not the article M arrives at the sorting conveyor CVn. As a result of this determination, when the article M arrives, the timing of receiving the arrival signal a is adjusted. Then, the drive signal e is output to the drive control circuit 15. When receiving the drive signal e, the drive control circuit 15 causes the sorting conveyor CVn to perform a sorting operation. When the arrival signal a is not received during the allowable time period T1n, the distribution conveyor control means 7 erases the command of the received arrival signal a.

Next, the operation of the operation mode shown in FIG. 3 will be described. First, the operator operates the switching means 11 to switch from the automatic setting mode to the operation mode. By this switching, the operation control means 6 sets the allowable time zone T1n set in advance in the automatic setting mode to the timing storage means 5.
And outputs to the timer means 4 of all the sorting conveyor control means 7 as a timing signal t1. Then,
The articles M to be sorted are made to flow from the upstream side of the line. When each article M arrives at the weighing conveyor 1, it is weighed, and then the standard distribution control means 10 distributes the article M to the standard distribution conveyor 8.
It is determined whether or not it should be sorted out. If it is to be sorted out, the articles M are sorted by the standard sorting conveyor 8.

On the other hand, the operation control means 6 outputs the distribution signal b from the weight signal w to the timer means 4 of the distribution conveyor control means 7 based on the weight of the article M. The sorting conveyor control means 7 receiving the above output waits for the arrival signal a from the article arrival detection sensor 3 of FIG. 3 during the allowable time period T1n of FIG. When the article M arrives at the sorting conveyor CVn during the allowable time period T1n, the article arrival detection sensor 3 outputs an arrival signal a to the sorting conveyor control means 7. With this output, the distribution conveyor control means 7 slightly rotates the guide 50 of FIG. 6A of the distribution conveyor CVn to make it stand still in the oblique state for the distribution time Tss of FIG. On the other hand, the article M of FIG.
It is carried into the distribution conveyor CVn, guided by the guide 50, and distributed to a predetermined distribution destination.

After the distribution time Tss (FIG. 5) has elapsed, the guide 50 returns to the original parallel passing position. By performing the control as described above, each article M
Are sorted to a predetermined sorting destination, and sorted based on the weight of the articles M.

As described above, in the operation mode of FIG. 3, when the distribution conveyor control means 7 receives the arrival signal a from the article arrival detection sensor 3 during the allowable time period T1n, the distribution conveyor CVn is supplied. Since the sorting operation is performed,
Even if the arrival of the article M is slightly delayed due to a slip or the like, the arrival of the article M and the timing of the sorting operation of the sorting conveyor CVn coincide with each other. Therefore, the reliability of the distribution operation is improved.

In addition, even if the article M is unexpectedly removed on the line after the weighing, each sorting conveyor CVn
Is controlled based on the allowable time zone T1n,
Subsequent articles M after the removed article M can be sorted without any trouble. In other words, there is no risk that the distribution destination will be mistaken continuously.

On the other hand, when a curve conveyor is inserted between the sorting conveyors CVn or the sorting line is changed such as changing the speed of each conveyor, the required time Tn and the allowable time zone T1n change. Therefore, it is necessary to reset the allowable time zone T1n of the timing storage means 5. In such a case, the allowable time zone T1n is reset by the automatic setting mode described next.

In the automatic setting mode, the operator operates the switching means 11 shown in FIG. 2 to switch from the operation mode to the automatic setting mode, and then only one article M is made to flow from the upstream side of the line. When the articles M arrive at the weighing conveyor 1, they are weighed, and the weighing conveyor 1 outputs the weight signal w to the operation control means 6. The operation control means 6 outputs the distribution signal b to the timer means 4 of each distribution conveyor control means 7 at the same time.
The distribution conveyor control means 7 grasps this distribution signal b only as the timing of the weighing time. On the other hand, when the articles M sequentially arrive at the sorting conveyors CV1, CV2 ... CVn and are detected by the article arrival detection sensors 3, the arrival signals a are output from the article arrival detection sensors 3 to the timer means 4. The timer means 4 uses the distribution signal b and the arrival signal a.
The required time Tn from the weighing time to the arrival time is measured based on the input timing of, and the measurement result is output to the required time storage means 12 of the timing setting means 2 as the required time signal t. The timing setting means 2 sets an allowable time zone T1n from each required time Tn of FIG. 4 stored in the required time storage means 12, and the allowable time zone T1n is set to the timing storage means 5 of the operation control means 6 of FIG. To memorize.

As described above, in the weighing and sorting apparatus, the switching means 11 switches the mode to the automatic setting mode, and thereafter, only one article M is allowed to flow to allow the allowable time period T1.
Since n can be reset, the allowable time period T1n is extremely easy.
Can be reset.

In the above embodiment, only one article M is made to flow in the automatic setting mode. However, according to the present invention, a plurality of articles M are intermittently flowed, and each sorting conveyor C
The required time storage means 1 stores a plurality of required times Tn for Vn.
Alternatively, the allowable time zone T1n may be set as the required time Tn by storing the average value for each sorting conveyor CVn.

In the above embodiment, the operation control means 6 shown in FIG. 3 is provided with the timing storage means 5, and when the operation mode is entered, the allowable time zone T1n is output to the timer means 4 as the timing signal t1. In the present invention, the allowable time zone T1n obtained by the timing setting means 2 may be output to the timer means 4 and stored therein in the automatic setting mode.

Further, in the above embodiment, the distribution mechanism of the distribution conveyor CVn has a structure for actuating the guide 50 of FIG. 6 (a). However, in the present invention, the distribution mechanism is, for example, distributed by the wind pressure of air. May be. Further, in the above embodiment, the sorting conveyors CVn are adjacent to each other, but it goes without saying that the invention is included in the scope even if another conveyor or the like is inserted therebetween.

Further, in the above-described embodiments and the like, the weighing and sorting device for sorting the articles M based on the detected weight has been described, but the present invention can be applied to other sorting devices and is included in the scope of the present invention. As another sorting device, for example, a sorting device that is provided upstream of the sorting conveyor CV1 to discriminate the maturity of agricultural products (articles) by color, and sorts the agricultural products according to the maturity. is there. Further, an image sensor for discriminating the size is provided upstream of the sorting conveyor CV1, and the sorting device for sorting the articles M such as agricultural products into S size, M size or L size can be applied. Further, in the distribution center, the number of the articles M is counted and sorted for each truck on which the articles M are loaded. However, the present invention can be applied to a sorting device of such a distribution center.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the normal operation mode, it is detected that the articles M arrive at the sorting conveyor CVn during the allowable time zone, and the arrival timing is detected. In addition, since the sorting conveyor CVn performs the sorting operation, even if the arrival of the article M is slightly delayed due to slip or the like, the arrival of the article M and the sorting conveyor CVn
Since the timing of the distribution operation of n is matched, the reliability of the distribution operation is improved. Further, since the control of each sorting conveyor CVn is performed based on the allowable time zone, even if the article M is unexpectedly removed from the line, there is no risk of erroneous sorting destinations for the subsequent articles M.

In particular, in the automatic setting mode, the article M
The time required for the arrival of the product is measured by the timer means 4, and the allowable time zone is automatically set by the timing setting means 2 from this time required, so that the article M can be easily reset by flowing it in one line, for example. Can be done.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a weighing and sorting apparatus in an automatic setting mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a weighing and sorting apparatus in the same operation mode.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a method of calculating an allowable time zone from a required time.

FIG. 5 is a characteristic diagram showing the operation of the sorting conveyor with respect to time.

FIG. 6A is a plan view showing a distribution operation of the distribution conveyor, and FIG. 6B is a plan view showing a case where the timing of the distribution operation is deviated.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 ... Timing setting means, 3 ... Article arrival detection sensor, 4
... timer means, 6 ... operation control means, 7 ... distribution conveyor control means, CVn ... distribution conveyor, a ... arrival signal, b ... distribution signal, t ... required time signal, w ... (weight) signal, M ... Article, P ... Reference position.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location B65G 47/68 B 8010-3F

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A sorting device in which a plurality of sorting conveyors for sorting articles are connected in series to sort the articles during transportation by the sorting conveyors, the sorting apparatus being provided in each of the sorting conveyors to receive the articles. An article arrival detection sensor that detects an arrival signal and outputs an arrival signal, a switching unit that switches between the operation mode and the automatic setting mode based on a command, and the article receives the arrival signal in the automatic setting mode from the reference position. Timer means for measuring the time required to reach the sorting conveyor and outputting this as a required time signal, and receiving the required time signal, the article in the operation mode arrives at each sorting conveyor from the reference position. Up to the allowable time zone up to the time setting means to newly set from the time required in the automatic setting mode, and become the standard for sorting goods The operation control means for selecting the distribution destination of the article and outputting the distribution signal and the timer means, and receiving the distribution signal in the operation mode for the allowable time zone. And a sorting conveyor control means for causing the sorting conveyor to perform an operation based on the sorting signal when receiving the arrival signal.