JPH1081309A - Flower/grass binding equipment and method therefore - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide binding equipment for binding flowers/grasses which can bind a predetermined number of flowers/grasses sorted out by weight and length by a flower sorting machine. SOLUTION: A bundle of flowers/grasses K sorted out by a flower sorting machine is delivered by a conveyor 2A onto a belt 13 of a conveyor 11. Then the conveyor 11 rotates downward on its rotating axis 15a and becomes tilted. By this, the bundle K slides down on the belt 13, and its tip end part hits a stopper 21 leaving the tip end part in a neatly arranged condition. Then the conveyor 11 rotates upward and returns to the horizontal position. Next, the holding member 43 of a holding means 41 holds the bundle K and delivers the bundle K to a binding machine by driving a moving table 40. There, the bundle K is horizontally moved in the X and Y directions, the tip end part of the stem is bound in 2 places by a binding thread, and then the bundle K is dropped onto an accumulation part for collection.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flower binding apparatus and a flower binding method for binding a predetermined number of flowers selected by weight or length by a flower selector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various flowers such as chrysanthemums, roses, carnations and lilies are sorted by weight or length and shipped to the market. In this case, the flowers are generally bound together by a predetermined number (generally 10) by a binding string and shipped to the market. Therefore, the present applicant has previously proposed a binding device for automatically binding flowers (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 7-39355, 3996).
No. 9, 39970). According to these binding machines, a predetermined number of flowers selected according to weight or length can be bound by the binding string.

[0003]

However, each of the above-mentioned conventional binding machines has a problem that the structure and operation are complicated and the reliability is not sufficient. In particular, when bundling flowers, it is desirable to align the positions of the tips of the stems. However, the conventional binding device described above has a problem that the tips are difficult to align properly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a flower binding apparatus and a flower binding method which are simple in structure and operation, and can securely bind flowers by aligning the tips of the flower stems neatly.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a flower bundling apparatus for conveying a predetermined number of selected flowers, rotating means for rotating the conveyor to incline the conveyor, and inclining the conveyor. A stopper for abutting the tips of a predetermined number of flowers on the conveyor to align the positions of the tips, a binding machine disposed on the side of the conveyor, and a bundle of flowers from the conveyor to the binding machine. And a transport unit for transporting.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of binding flowers, wherein a predetermined number of flowers selected by a flower selector are conveyed onto a conveyor, and the predetermined number of flowers on the conveyor are rotated and inclined. A step of bringing the tip of the abutment against a stopper provided at the front of the conveyor to align the position of the tip, and a step of holding a bundle of flowers on the conveyor by holding means and transporting the bundle to the binding machine; While holding the bundle of flowers by the holding means, the bundle of flowers is moved in a horizontal direction relative to the binding machine, and the leading end of the bundle of flowers is bound with a binding string. Releasing the holding state of the holding means after being removed from above the binding machine, thereby dropping the bundle of bound flowers and collecting the bundle in the collection unit.

[0007]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, a predetermined number of flowers selected by weight or length by a flower selector are arranged in a beautifully aligned position at the tip end, and then tied with a binding string. Can be united.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a plan view of a flower selecting machine and a flower binding device, FIG. 2 is a side view of the flower binding device, FIG. 3 is a plan view thereof, FIG. 4 is a front view thereof, and FIG. 5 is a flower binding device. It is a side view of the bunch of done flowers.

First, the overall configuration of a flower selector and a flower binding apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 1 denotes a flower sorter, which sorts flowers K by weighing or length measuring instruments while transporting flowers K one by one in a direction of an arrow A by a conveyor. And the lower conveyor 2A, 2
B, Drop on 2C. In this embodiment, heavy, medium,
The light is sorted into three stages and dropped on the conveyor 2A, the conveyor 2B, and the conveyor 2C, respectively. In addition, the flower selection machine 1
For example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-74683 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 6-247.
No. 78, Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 7-25730, and the like, and therefore detailed description is omitted.

On the side of the flower selector 1, a flower binding device 10 is provided. Three flower bundling devices 10 are installed so that three stages of heavy, medium and light flowers K carried out by a predetermined number from the three conveyors 2A, 2B and 2C can be individually bound. The three flower binding devices 10 have the same structure, and include a conveyor 11 and a binding device 12. The conveyor 11 is connected to the conveyors 2A, 2B, and 2C, and the flowers K accumulated on the conveyors 2A, 2B, and 2C in a predetermined number (usually 10) are conveyed by the conveyors 2A, 2B, and 2C as indicated by the arrow B. From above to a conveyor 11.

Next, the structure of the flower binding device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the conveyor 11 will be described. The conveyor 11 connects the belt 13 with the pulley 14
a and 14b, and is rotated by being driven by a drive system such as a motor (omitted for simplicity of the drawing). Reference numeral 16 denotes a support frame, which includes pulleys 14a,
The rotating shafts 15a and 15b of the 14b are supported.

As shown in FIG. 2, three rollers 17 are provided at two intermediate portions of the upper running portion of the belt 13 in a staggered manner in the vertical direction. Make a detour. A notch 18 is formed in the frame 16 corresponding to the detour section. The notch 18 is formed so as not to hinder the opening / closing operation of the holding member (described later) 43.

In FIG. 2, a plate-shaped stopper 21 is provided upright at the front of the frame 16. One end of a chain 22 is attached to the stopper 21. Chain 22
Orbits the upper sprocket 23 and the lower drum 24
It is wound around.

When the motor 25 is driven to rotate the drum 24 in the rewinding direction and the chain 22 is rewound upward (in the direction of arrow C), the frame 16 is moved downward (arrow D) around the upstream rotation shaft 15a. Direction), so that the conveyor 1
1 inclines at a downward slope toward the front as shown in the figure (see the conveyor 11 shown by a chain line). Then belt 1
The predetermined number of flowers K on 3 slides down on the conveyor 13 (arrow E), and the tip of the flowers K hits the stopper 21 so that the positions of the tips are finely aligned. When the drum 24 rotates in the opposite direction and the chain 22 is pulled in the direction of arrow F,
The conveyor 11 rotates around the rotation shaft 15a in the direction of arrow G, and returns to a horizontal position. As mentioned above, Chain 2
2. The sprocket 23, the drum 24, the motor 25 and the like are rotating means for rotating the conveyor 11 in the vertical direction about the rotating shaft 15a.

Next, referring to FIG. 3 and FIG.
Structure 2 will be described. Since the binding machine 12 is a known one, it will be briefly described. Reference numeral 30 denotes a main body box, and a binding arm 31 is provided above the main body box so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 32. Reference numeral 33 denotes a spool around which a binding strap 34 is wound. The binding string 34 led out from the spool 33 is passed through the tip of the binding arm 31,
It enters the main body box 30 through an opening 35 opened on the upper surface of the main body box 30. On the upper surface of the main body box 30, a detection lever 36 for flowers K is provided. When the flower K is detected by the detection lever 36, the binding arm 31
Rotates around the rotation shaft 32 to bind the bundle of flowers K
4 unite.

Next, a description will be given of a transport means of a bundle of flowers K. 2 and 3, a moving table 40 is provided above the conveyor 11 and the binding machine 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the moving table 40 is provided with two holding units 41. The holding means 41 includes a case 42
And a pair of left and right holding members 43 assembled to the case 42. As shown in FIG.
Consists of a key-shaped arm, the upper end of which is pin 4
4 is attached to the shaft. When the drive system disposed inside the case 42 is driven, the holding member 43 rotates about the pin 44 and opens and closes. In FIG. 4, the holding member 4 indicated by a solid line
Reference numeral 3 denotes an open state, in which the bundle of flowers K on the belt 13 is held by holding it by rotating in the direction of arrow H and closing. The notch 18 is formed so that the frame 16 does not hinder the opening / closing operation of the holding member 43.

The moving table 40 is for horizontally moving the holding means 41 in the X and Y directions. In FIG. 4, a holding unit 41 indicated by a chain line shows a state in which the holding unit 41 holds the bundle of flowers K and moves toward the binding machine 12. The moving table 40 has a known structure including a driving system such as a chain, a sprocket, and a motor, and the holding member 43 is also driven by a known driving means such as a cam, a motor, or a solenoid to open and close. Since the figure becomes complicated, description of these specific structures will be omitted.

3 and 4, a collecting unit 50 is provided on the floor on the front side of the binding machine 12. As will be described later, the bundle of the flowers K, for which the binding by the binding straps 34 has been completed, falls into the collecting section 50 and is collected. In addition, although the collection | recovery part 50 of this Embodiment is a base plate, a container, a conveyor, etc. can be applied other than a base plate.

The flower binding device 10 is constructed as described above. Next, the overall operation will be described. In FIG. 1, flowers K are sorted by a flower sorter 1 and fall on conveyors 2A, 2B, 2C according to grade. Conveyor 2A, 2
When a predetermined number of flowers K are accumulated on B and 2C, the bundle of flowers K is sent onto the conveyor 11 of the flower binding device 10 as shown by the arrow B.

In FIG. 2, a bundle of flowers K is placed on a conveyor 11.
The motor 25 is driven, and the conveyor 11 rotates about the rotating shaft 15a to assume an inclined posture as shown by a chain line (arrow D). As a result, the flowers K on the belt 13 slide down on the belt 13 in the direction of arrow E, and the tips of the stems hit the stoppers 21 to align the positions of the tips (see the flowers K on the conveyor 11 indicated by chain lines). .

Next, the motor 25 is driven in the reverse direction, and the conveyor 11 returns to the horizontal position (arrow G). Then Figure 4
The holding member 43 is rotated in the direction of arrow H to hold the bundle of flowers K.

Next, the moving table 40 is driven, and the holding member 43 conveys the bundle of flowers K toward the binding machine 12 (FIG. 3).
And arrow I in FIG. 4). And flower K is binding machine 1
When the second detection lever 36 is hit, the driving of the moving table 40 is stopped, the tip of the bundle of flowers K is stopped on the main body box 30, and the binding described below is performed.

In FIG. 3, arrows X1, Y, X2, X3
Indicates a horizontal movement trajectory when the bundle of flowers K is bound by driving the moving table 40. Point P1 indicates the position where the bundle of flowers K conveyed in the direction of arrow I is detected by the detection lever 36 and stops moving. When the flower K is detected by the detection lever 36 and the conveyance thereof is stopped, the binding arm 31 of the binding machine 12 rotates about the rotation shaft 32 to bind the tip of the stem of the flower K bundle with the binding string 34. I do. FIG. 5 shows the first binding strap 34.

When the first binding is completed, the moving table 40 is driven to convey the bundle of flowers in the directions of arrows X1, Y and X2 to move to the point P2. Then, the binding arm 31 is rotated again to perform the second binding. FIG. 5 shows the second binding strap 34. The first
After performing the unity for the first time, the bundle of flowers K is marked with arrows X1, Y, X
The second binding by performing the detour movement in two directions is performed by using the opening 3 of the main body box 30 from the distal end of the binding arm 31.
The second predetermined position (point P2) while avoiding the tip of the bundle of flowers K from hitting the binding string 34 passed through 5
To move to

When a plurality of bindings (twice in this example) are completed as described above, the moving table 40 is driven to move the bundle of flowers K in the direction of arrow X3. As a result, the tip of the stem of the bundle of flowers K is retreated to the front side (left side in FIG. 3) of the main body box 30, and the bundle of flowers K is positioned above the collection unit 50. Then, the holding member 43 is opened to the left and right, and the bundle of the flowers K is dropped on the collecting unit 50 and collected (see the bundle of the flowers K on the collecting unit 50 in FIG. 4). Next, the holding means 41 returns above the conveyor 11 and waits for the next binding operation. The above operation is
It is controlled by an automatic control system using a microcomputer.

FIG. 6 shows another mode of use of the present embodiment. In this use mode, as shown, the chain 22 is rewound in the direction of arrow C, and the conveyor 11 in the inclined posture is
In response, a bundle of flowers K is sent from the conveyor 2A on the flower selector side (arrow B). Then, as the belt 13 rotates, the bundle of flowers K is sent forward as it is (arrow B '), and the tip of the stem hits the stopper 21 so that the positions of the tips are aligned. Next, when the chain 22 is wound in the direction of arrow F, the conveyor assumes a horizontal posture indicated by a chain line. The following operation is the same as the above case, the holding member 43 holds the bundle of flowers K, and the binding by the binding machine 12 is performed. Reference numeral 29 denotes a plate-shaped fall prevention member provided upright on the frame 16, and a flower K conveyed on the belt 13.
Is prevented from dropping from the conveyor 11.
Of course, the fall prevention member 29 may be provided on the conveyor 11 shown in FIGS.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the first and second binding may be performed by horizontally moving the binding machine 12 in the left-right direction in FIG. In short, a bundle of flowers K is bound by a binding machine 12
, A plurality of portions at the distal end may be bound by horizontally moving relative to.

[0028]

According to the present invention, with a simple structure and operation, the tips of the bundles of flowers selected by the flower selector are aligned neatly, and the bundles are tied with the binding string with good workability. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a flower selecting machine and a flower binding device.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a flower binding device.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a flower binding device.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a flower binding device.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a bundle of flowers bound by a flower binding device.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a flower binding device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Flower binding device 11 Conveyor 12 Binding machine 13 Belt 15a, 15b Rotating shaft 21 Stopper 22 Chain 25 Motor 30 Body box 31 Binding arm 34 Binding string 40 Moving table 41 Holding means 43 Holding member 50 Collection unit K Flower

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A conveyor for conveying a predetermined number of selected flowers, rotating means for rotating the conveyor to incline, and a tip of the predetermined number of flowers on the conveyor by inclining the conveyor. A stopper for abutting and aligning the position of the leading end, a binding machine disposed on the side of the conveyor, and a conveying means for conveying a bundle of flowers from the conveyor to the binding machine. A unit for binding flowers. 2. A step of transporting a predetermined number of flowers selected by a flower selector onto a conveyor, and rotating and inclining the conveyor so that a tip of the predetermined number of flowers on the conveyor is in front of the conveyor. Holding the bundle of flowers on the conveyor with a holding means and transporting the bundle of flowers to a binding machine; and holding the bundle of flowers with a holding means. In this state, the bundle of flowers was moved in a horizontal direction relative to the binding machine to bind the leading end of the bundle of flowers with the binding string, and the leading end of the bundle of flowers was retreated from above the binding machine. Releasing the holding state of the holding means to drop the bundle of bound flowers and collecting the bundle in the collection section.