JPH0812053A - Aligning conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To provide an aligning conveyor capable of preventing the commercial value of a long product from being impaired when it is transported. [Structure] A large number of each cucumber supplied from the cargo receiving conveyor is transferred one by one between each feed roller of the alignment conveyor, and conveyed in the feeding direction with each cucumber placed between each feed roller. To do. While moving each feed roller in the feeding direction in an appropriate distance, the cucumbers placed between the feed rollers are also spaced in the front-back distance, so that each cucumber rolls and contacts. Without doing so, it is possible to prevent the commercial value of the product from being impaired. In addition, since each cucumber is placed in a horizontal position between the feed rollers that are appropriately close to each other, it is possible to prevent the number of cucumbers to be placed and the placement posture from changing, and a large number can be provided for each bucket of the sorting conveyor. Each cucumber in a book can be transferred exactly one by one.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an aligning conveyor used for quantitatively supplying long objects such as cucumber, carrot, potato, and eggplant to a selecting conveyor arranged in a selecting line. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a large number of cucumbers such as those mentioned above are transferred one by one to each bucket of a sorting conveyor, for example, a transportation container brought in by a producer is turned upside down. Then, while transferring a large number of each cucumber placed in the same transportation container to each of the three conveyors,
When the feeding speed of each conveyor is rotationally driven at low speed, medium speed, and high speed to transfer many cucumbers to each conveyor,
Accelerate each preceding cucumber in the feed direction, and roll multiple cucumbers in the feed direction and separate them at appropriate front-rear intervals, so that a large number of each cucumber can be transferred to each bucket of the sorting conveyor. Books can be transferred one by one.

[0003]

However, since a large number of cucumbers are separated while rolling in the feeding direction as described above, the outer peripheral surface of each cucumber conveyed by each conveyor is in the middle of conveyance. Rotating contact in opposite directions, many protrusions protruding on the skin of cucumber may peel off, or the skin of cucumber may be scratched or scratched, resulting in poor color and appearance of cucumber. . Moreover, since the peeled part of the epidermis is dried and putrefaction, it is difficult to maintain the freshness of the product upon receipt, and there is a problem that the commercial value of cucumber is impaired.

Further, when transferring a large number of each cucumber to each bucket of the sorting conveyor, if there is a large step between each conveyor arranged on the front side and the sorting conveyor arranged on the rear side, the Each cucumber bounces during loading, and its placement position and placement attitude change, which makes it difficult to transfer one cucumber to each bucket of the sorting conveyor. ing.

In view of the above problems, the present invention rolls and makes contact with a long object by rotating the alignment conveyor in the feeding direction and sequentially extending the plurality of long objects so that the long objects are separated from each other at appropriate front and rear intervals. It is an object of the present invention to provide an alignment conveyor that can prevent the commercial value of the alignment conveyor from being impaired without doing so.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
The alignment conveyor is provided so as to be bendable so that the entire transport surface of the conveyor is in a converged state in which the width of the elongated object is narrower than the width of the elongated object, and in a stretched state in which the elongated width of the elongated object is wider. When returning the conveyor, it is sequentially converged in a width narrower than the lateral dimension of the long objects, and when the orienting conveyor is rotated in the feeding direction, a conveyor bending means that sequentially extends wider than the lateral dimension of the long objects is provided. It is characterized in that it is a provided alignment conveyor.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, each of the plurality of feed rollers is formed such that the aligning conveyor has a length for placing the long object in a horizontal position. It is characterized in that it is an aligning conveyor configured by axially mounting in the feeding direction.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the aligning conveyor feeds a large number of feed plates each of which is sized to horizontally mount the long object. The present invention is characterized in that it is an aligning conveyor configured by connecting in the directions.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the structure of the first aspect, a feed belt formed by the alignment conveyor is formed in a feed width for laterally mounting the long objects in a feed direction. It is characterized in that it is an aligning conveyor configured as described above.

[0010]

According to the arranging conveyor according to claim 1, when the conveyor expanding / contracting means is driven so that the arranging conveyor is returned to the arranging conveyor, the arranging conveyors are sequentially converged in a width narrower than the lateral width of the elongated object, and are arranged at appropriate intervals. 1 long piece of each long piece on the conveyor's conveying surface
Place and transport books one by one. When orbiting the aligning conveyor in the feeding direction, the elongated objects are sequentially stretched to be wider than the lateral width dimension, and the long objects placed on the conveying surface of the aligning conveyor are separated from each other at appropriate front and rear intervals. Thus, it is possible to prevent the long objects from rolling and coming into contact with each other and the mounting position and the mounting attitude of the long objects from being displaced.

The aligning conveyor according to a second aspect of the invention, together with the operation of the first aspect, conveys a plurality of long objects, one by one, between the respective feed rollers which are appropriately spaced. To do. By sequentially separating each feed roller when orbiting in the feed direction, and by separating each long object placed between the respective feed rollers at an appropriate front-rear interval, each long object rolls and contacts. Can be prevented. In addition, since the long objects are placed between the feed rollers that are appropriately close to each other, the placement posture is stable.

In the aligning conveyor according to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the first aspect, a plurality of long objects are placed one by one between the feed plates that are closed at appropriate angles. Transport. When each feed plate is rotated in the feeding direction, the angles are sequentially opened, and the long objects placed between the feed plates are separated from each other at an appropriate front-rear distance, so that the long objects roll and contact with each other. Can be prevented. Moreover, the contact area between each feed plate and the long object is large, and the mounting posture of the long object is stable.

In addition to the operation of the first aspect of the invention, the aligning conveyor of the fourth aspect places a large number of long objects one by one on the conveying surface of the feed belt that is focused at appropriate intervals. To transport. When the feed belt orbits in the feed direction, it is extended in sequence, and the long objects placed on the conveying surface of the feed belt are separated from each other by an appropriate front-rear distance, so that the long objects roll and come into contact with each other. Can be prevented. In addition, the contact area between the feed belt and the long object is large, and the mounting posture of the long object is stable.

[0014]

According to the present invention, each long object is conveyed while being placed on the conveying surface of the aligning conveyor which is focused at appropriate intervals, and the aligning conveyor is circulated in the feeding direction. However, it is possible to convey each long object without rolling and contacting it by sequentially extending and separating each long object at an appropriate front-rear distance, and the protrusions on the skin of the cucumber like the conventional example. It is possible to reliably prevent the commercial value of a long object from being spoiled without peeling off or scratches or abrasions on the epidermis.

Moreover, since each long object is placed in a horizontal position on the conveying surface of the aligning conveyor which is bundled at appropriate intervals, it is possible to prevent the number of long objects to be placed and the placement attitude from being displaced. Since each long object is placed and conveyed on the concave conveying surface of the aligning conveyor which is extended at an appropriate interval, the step between the conveying means arranged in the front and rear stages and the aligning conveyor becomes small, Since the impact generated during loading is reduced, it is possible to transfer a large number of each long object one by one to each bucket of the sorting conveyor.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The drawing shows, as an example of a long product, an alignment conveyor used for transferring a large number of each cucumber to each bucket of the selection conveyor one by one, and in FIG. 1 and FIG. The conveyor 1 vertically inverts the respective transport containers C brought in from the producer side, and sequentially transfers a large number of the respective cucumbers K ... thrown into the respective transport containers C. . A large number of cucumbers K ... Placed on the cargo receiving conveyor 2 are conveyed in the feeding direction and sequentially transferred between the feeding rollers 3 of the aligning conveyor 1.
A large number of cucumbers K, which are placed between the feed rollers 3, are separated from each other at appropriate intervals while being conveyed in the feeding direction, and a large number of cucumbers K are provided for each bucket 5 of the sorting conveyor 4.
After transferring one by one, each cucumber K placed on each bucket 5 is sorted according to the equal rank based on the determination by the equal grade determination device 6.

The above-mentioned aligning conveyor 1 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 5, each sprocket 8, 8 is fixed to both end portions of a support shaft 7 which is erected on the feed side start end portion, and each sprocket is attached to both side end portions of a support shaft 9 which is erected on the feed side end portion. 1
0 and 10 are fixed, one end of each of the support shafts 7 and 9 is connected so as to be able to transmit power through a bevel gear mechanism (not shown), and each sprocket 8 and 8 and each sprocket 10 and 1 is connected.
The orbiting chains 11 and 11 are stretched between 0 and 0.

In addition, a large number of spindles 12 formed in a long dimension are provided between the opposing circumferential surfaces of the orbiting chains 11, 11.
, And a large number of spindles 13 ... Formed in a short dimension are alternately mounted at predetermined regular intervals in the feed direction, and the spindles 12 are provided outside the orbiting chains 11, 11. .. and both end portions of each of the support shafts 13 ...
Also, on the shafts of the respective support shafts 13 ..., a large number of respective feed rollers 3 formed or covered with synthetic rubber, synthetic resin, or the like are axially supported at intervals narrower than the width dimension of the cucumber K. , The same number of each feed roller 3 ...
The length of the cucumber K is set to the length.

Further, the traveling rails 14 and 14 and the traveling rails 15 and 15 are along the both side edges of the aligning conveyor 1 for the entire length from the feed side start end portion to the feed side end portion and the inner and outer route. Each feed roller 3 erected above, and engaging both side ends of each of the support shafts 12 ... ... is moved along the traveling rails 14 and 14 in the feed direction. On the other hand, the traveling rails 15 and 1 installed on the outer peripheral route
5 is formed so as to be gradually lowered from the feed-side start end toward the feed-side end, and both side ends of each of the support shafts 13 ... 13 ... Each feed roller 3, which is pivotally supported above, is orbitally moved in the feed direction along each traveling rail 15, 15.

That is, by engaging both side ends of each of the support shafts 12 and 13 with the feed-side start end of each of the travel rails 14 and 14 and each of the travel rails 15 and 15, 11 and 11 are bent at an acute angle, and the feed rollers 3 supported on the support shafts 13 are brought closer to each other at a narrower interval than the width dimension of the cucumber K. On the other hand, the support shafts 12 are provided at the feed-side end portions of the traveling rails 14, 14 and the traveling rails 15, 15.
By engaging both side ends of each of the support shafts 13 ..., Each of the orbiting chains 11, 11 is bent at an obtuse angle, and each of the support shafts 13 ...
The feed rollers 3 supported on the above are separated by a width wider than the width of the cucumber K.

In the middle portion of each of the support shafts 7 and 9 described above, 3
Sprockets 19 and 19 fixed to both end portions of the support shafts 16, 17 and 18 by suspending the support shafts 16, 17 and 18 of the book at appropriate front-rear intervals in the feed direction, and the sprocket. 20 and 20 and the sprockets 21 and 21 are engaged with the orbiting chains 11 and 11, respectively.
The interlocking chain 23 is stretched between the sprockets 22 and 22 fixed on the Nos. 6 and 17, and the interlocking chain 2 is interposed between the sprockets 24 and 24 fixed on the support shafts 17 and 18, respectively.
5 is stretched, and the interlocking chain 27 is stretched between the sprockets 26, 26 fixed on the support shafts 9, 18, and a large number of feed claws 23a projecting on the interlocking chain 23 are also provided. Are engaged with the respective spindles 12.

In addition, a sprocket 28 is fixed to one end of the support shaft 9 which is erected at the end of the alignment conveyor 1 on the feed side, and a sprocket 28 is erected on the end of the sorting conveyor 4 at the feed side. The sprocket 30 is fixed to one end portion, the interlocking chain 31 is stretched between the sprockets 28 and 29, and each of the alignment conveyors 1 is driven by the driving force of a drive motor (not shown) with a reduction gear. The feed rollers 3 and the buckets 5 of the sorting conveyor 4 are interlocked with each other in the same direction, and the plurality of cucumbers K, which are placed between the feed rollers 3 of the aligning conveyor 1, are fed to the sorting conveyor. One is transferred to each bucket 5 of No. 4 ...

Further, the travel rails 14, 14 and the travel plates 15, 15 are appropriately dimensionally extended toward the return path side, and the distribution plates 32, 32 are vertically swung at the end of the travel plates 15, 15 on the return side. The shafts are supported as much as possible, and the distribution plates 32, 32 are vertically swung by an appropriate driving means such as an air cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, and an electromagnetic solenoid.
The support shafts 12 are guided to travel in the direction in which they are engaged with the travel rails 14, 14 installed on the inner peripheral path, and are engaged with the travel rails 15, 15 installed on the outer peripheral path. The support shafts 13 ...
Each of the feed rollers 3 supported by the is revolved around the front and rear intervals as appropriate.

In the illustrated embodiment configured as described above, hereinafter, a large number of cucumbers K ... to be received are transferred by the aligning conveyor 1 to the buckets 5 of the sorting conveyor 4 one by one. The operation when doing is explained. First, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, each of the transport containers C brought in from the producer side is turned upside down, and a large number of each cucumber K ... Are sequentially transferred onto the receiving conveyor 2. A large number of cucumbers K ... Placed on the cargo receiving conveyor 2 are conveyed in the feeding direction and sequentially transferred between the feeding rollers 3 of the aligning conveyor 1.

That is, a large number of the respective cucumbers K supplied from the cargo receiving conveyor 2 are transferred one by one between the respective feeding rollers 3 of the aligning conveyor 1 which are appropriately close to each other, and the respective feeding rollers 3 ... Carry in the feeding direction with each cucumber K ... placed in between. The feed rollers 3 are gradually separated while making a circular movement in the feed direction, and a large number of the cucumbers K mounted between the feed rollers 3 are separated from each other at appropriate front-rear intervals. It is possible to reliably prevent the commercial value of the cucumber K from being impaired by the rolling and contact of the cucumbers K ... placed between the three. In addition, the mounting posture of each cucumber K ... Is stable, and a large number of each cucumber K ... can be accurately transferred to each bucket 5 of the sorting conveyor 4 one by one.

Similarly, the feed rollers 3 of the aligning conveyor 1 are recirculated around the feed rollers 3 at appropriate intervals so that the subsequent cucumbers K supplied from the cargo receiving conveyor 2 are placed between the feed rollers 3. The cucumbers K are transferred to the buckets 5 of the sorting conveyor 4 one by one.

Further, when the number of cucumbers K placed between the feed rollers 3 becomes excessive, the excess cucumbers K placed between the feed rollers 3 ... Remove,
The number of cucumbers K as many as appropriate between the idle feed rollers 3 ...
Replenish. Alternatively, when the mounting posture of the cucumber K placed between the feed rollers 3 is inappropriate, the cucumber K is held by the operator's hand and the orientation is corrected to an appropriate posture.

As described above, a large number of each cucumber K ... Is placed one by one between the feeding rollers 3 which are appropriately spaced, and the feeding rollers 3 are circulated in the feeding direction. Each cucumber K as it is moved and moved apart as appropriate
Can be transported without rolling and contacting,
It is possible to reliably prevent the commercial value of cucumber K from being impaired without the projections on the skin of cucumber K peeling off and scratches or abrasions on the skin unlike the conventional example.

In addition, the respective feed rollers 3 which are close to each other at appropriate intervals
Since each cucumber K is placed and conveyed in a horizontal position between the feeding rollers 3, it is possible to prevent the number and mounting posture of the cucumbers K from being displaced, and at the same time, the feed rollers 3 are spaced at appropriate intervals.
Since each cucumber K ... is placed and conveyed between them, the step between the conveying means arranged in the front and rear and the aligning conveyor 1 becomes small, and the impact generated during transfer is reduced, so that the sorting is performed. Multiple cucumbers K for each bucket 5 of the conveyor 4 ...
Can be transferred accurately one by one.

FIG. 6 shows the aligning conveyor 1 of the second embodiment, which is appropriately arranged on the peripheral surfaces of the support shafts 12 ... And the support shafts 13 ... The feed plates 33 are mounted so that the number (for example, two, three, four) of the cucumbers K is placed, and the feed plates 33 are, for example, synthetic rubber, synthetic resin, or the like. Are formed or covered with. That is, a large number of the respective cucumbers K ... supplied from the conveyor 2 for receiving cargo are transferred one by one between the tops of the respective feed plates 33 ... Carry the cucumber K ... in the feed direction with the cucumber K. At the same time, the feed plates 33 are opened at an obtuse angle while being orbitally moved in the feed direction, and the cucumbers K placed between the tops of the feed plates 33 are separated from each other at an appropriate front-back interval. As in the case of the first embodiment, the cucumbers K placed between the feed plates 33 are prevented from rolling and coming into contact with each other, and the commercial value of the cucumbers K can be prevented from being impaired. Moreover, since the contact area between each feeding plate 33 ... And the cucumber K is large, and the mounting posture of the cucumber K is stable, a large number of each cucumber K ... is provided for each bucket 5 of the sorting conveyor 4. It is possible to transfer each one accurately.

FIG. 7 shows the aligning conveyor 1 of the third embodiment, which is appropriately arranged on the peripheral surfaces of the support shafts 12 ... And the support shafts 13 ... Axed between the left and right orbiting chains 11, 11. A feeding belt 34 made of synthetic rubber is stretched to have a conveyance width on which the number (for example, two, three, four) of the cucumber K is placed. That is, a large number of each cucumber K, which are supplied from the cargo receiving conveyor 2, are transferred one by one between the crests of the feed belt 34, which are bundled at appropriate intervals, and the cucumbers K ... It is conveyed in the feed direction with the placed. At the same time, the feed belt 34 is gradually extended while moving in the feed direction, and the cucumbers K ... Mounted between the crests of the feed belt 34 are appropriately separated from each other in the front-rear direction. , Each cucumber K placed between the mountains of the feed belt 34
It is possible to prevent the commercial value of cucumber K from being impaired without rolling or contacting. Moreover, the feeding belt 34 and the cucumber K
Since the contact area with the cucumber is large and the mounting posture of the cucumber K is stable, a large number of each cucumber K can be accurately transferred to each bucket 5 of the sorting conveyor 4. .

In the correspondence between the configuration of the present invention and the above-described embodiment, the long product of the present invention corresponds to the cucumber K of the embodiment, and hereinafter, similarly, the alignment conveyor is the alignment conveyor 1
, And each feed plate 33 ...
And the conveyor belt, corresponding to the feed belt 34,
Although it corresponds to the traveling rails 14, 14, 15, 15 and the distribution plates 32, 32, the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment.

In the above embodiment, the feed rollers 3 of the aligning conveyor 1 are circulated along the running guides 14 and 14 and the running guides 15 and 15, and the feed rollers 3 are moved.
Are separated from each other by an appropriate distance, and each feed roller 3 is made of an elastic material such as a coil spring or a rubber belt.
It is also possible that the feeding rollers 3 are pulled and urged in the direction that they are always close to each other, and the respective feed rollers 3 are moved toward and away from each other at appropriate intervals against the elasticity thereof.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a cucumber feeding operation by an alignment conveyor according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a cucumber separating operation by the aligning conveyor.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a cucumber separating operation by the aligning conveyor.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a cucumber feeding operation by an alignment conveyor.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing one end of the aligning conveyor.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a cucumber feeding operation by the aligning conveyor of the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a cucumber feeding operation by the aligning conveyor of the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 K ... Cucumber 1 ... Aligning conveyor 2 ... Conveying conveyor 3 ... Feeding roller 4 ... Sorting conveyor 5 ... Bucket 6 ... Class determination device 11 ... Orbiting chain 12, 13 ... Spindle 14 ... Traveling rail 15 ... Traveling rail 33 ... Feed plate 34 ... Feed belt

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A large number of long objects to be received are aligned and conveyed in a lateral orientation with respect to the feed direction, and the long objects are transferred one by one to each bucket of a sorting conveyor. An aligning conveyor for aligning the entire length of the conveying surface of the aligning conveyor into a convergent state in which the width of the long object is narrower than the width of the elongated object and in a stretched state in which the length of the elongated object is wider than the lateral width of the elongated object. It is provided so as to be bendable, and when the alignment conveyor is returned, it is sequentially converged in a width narrower than the width dimension of the long object, and when the alignment conveyor is rotated in the feeding direction, it is wider than the width dimension of the long object. An aligning conveyor provided with a conveyor bending means that sequentially extends. 2. The aligning conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the aligning conveyor is constructed by axially mounting a plurality of feed rollers formed in a length for placing the long object in a horizontal position in the feed direction. Conveyor. 3. The aligning conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the aligning conveyor is formed by connecting a plurality of feed plates, each of which is formed in a size for laterally mounting the elongated object, in the feed direction. 4. The aligning conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the aligning conveyor is constructed by stretching a feed belt formed in a feed width for laterally mounting the long object in a feed direction.