JP2001009383A - Fruit sorting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the arrangement of a fruit sorting conveyor. SOLUTION: Left and right classifying conveyor 7, 7 are parallelly arranged to the terminal part of a distribution conveyor 6 so as to leave a space part of a predetermined interval and worker's spaces where sorting workers 12 stand are set on both left and right sides of the left and right classifying conveyors 7, 7 and left and right excellent grade sorting conveyors on which fruits of high grade quality are placed are arranged on the sides near to the left and right classifying conveyors 7, 7 and left and right medium grade sorting conveyors on which fruits of low grade quality are placed are arranged on the sides remote from the left and right classifying conveyors and the fruits placed on the left and right excellent grade sorting conveyors are detected by a shape detecting means 13 to be classified by grade and the fruits placed on the left and right medium grade sorting conveyors are detected by a wt. detecting means 14 to be classified by grade.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a fruit sorting device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a fruit sorting device, a left and right sorting conveyor is arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval at the end of a distribution conveyor, and a left and right sorting conveyor is positioned on both left and right sides of the left and right sorting conveyor. A space, and a plurality of rows of excellent / excellent / average sorting conveyors are arranged in the space section, and the sorting operator visually performs high- or low-quality class sorting to form an excellent / excellent / average sorting conveyor. There is a fruit sorting apparatus that places fruits of the corresponding grade quality, detects the shape or weight of the fruits while being transported by a sorting conveyor, and classifies the fruits into a plurality of grades.

[0003]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] When sorting fruits, the sorting operator visually judges the class quality of the fruits on the left and right sorting conveyors, and when placing the fruits on the corresponding sorting conveyors, Grade-quality fruits must then be placed on a sorting conveyor with their spars facing down to further detect the shape and classify them into multiple grades. Thereafter, since the weight is further detected and classified into a plurality of grades, there is a situation in which the fruit can be supplied in any posture regardless of whether it is up or down.

[0004] However, in the conventional device, the left
Insufficient attention was paid to the placement of excellent, excellent, and average sorting conveyors placed in the space inside the right sorting conveyor, and the sorting conveyor for high-grade quality was located in the center far from the sorting workers, There was a problem that it was difficult to place fruits. Therefore, the present invention is to solve such a problem.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve such a technical problem, the present invention is directed to a left / right sorting conveyor 7, which is provided at a terminal end of a distribution conveyor 6 with a predetermined space therebetween.
7 are arranged in parallel, left and right sides of the left and right sorting conveyors 7 and 7 are defined as worker spaces where sorting workers 12 and 12 are located, and a side of the space near the left and right sorting conveyors 7 and 7. The left and right sorting conveyors 9 and 9 for placing high-grade quality fruits and the left and right sorting conveyors 10 and 10 are arranged respectively, and the left and right sorting conveyors 7, 7
On the side far from the left and right side sorting conveyors 11, 11 for placing low-grade quality fruits, the left and right sorting conveyors 9, 9 and the left and right superior sorting conveyors 10, 10 are placed. The figurines are detected by the shape detecting means 13 and classified according to grade.
The fruit sorting apparatus is characterized in that the fruits placed on the left and right side sorting conveyors 11, 11 are detected by the weight detecting means 14 and classified according to grade.

[0006]

The effects of the present invention are as follows. The sorting operator judges the fruits of the left and right sorting conveyors 7 and 7 visually into high and low class qualities, and the left and right excellent sorting conveyors 9 and 9 and the left and right at close positions. The fruit can be easily and easily placed on the predominantly selected conveyors 10, 10 in a state where the fruits are turned down. In addition, the left and right side sorting conveyor 1 is located at a distance from low-grade quality fruits.
Since the upper and lower sides can be freely placed on the first and the first 11, it is possible to relatively easily place and supply the fruit even at a long distance, and it is possible to efficiently and easily supply the fruit.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a fruit sorting apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 are plan views of the fruit sorting device. The container 1 containing the fruits is conveyed and supplied to the automatic damper 3 by the receiving conveyor 2. Next, the container 1 is inverted by the automatic damper 3, the fruit is taken out on the transport conveyor 4, and the fruit being transported on the transport conveyor 4 is
In this configuration, the cleaning liquid is sprayed by the cleaning machine 5 while being cleaned by a brush, and then supplied to the distribution conveyor 6.

The fruit supplied to the distribution conveyor 6 is distributed and conveyed to the left and right sides by the distribution conveyor 6, and is sent to the start ends of the left and right sorting conveyors 7, 7. Six sorting conveyors having a large number of fruit trays 8 are arranged in the space inside the left and right sorting conveyors 7,7. Out of the sorting conveyors, left and right sorting conveyors 9, 9 are arranged near the left and right sorting conveyors 7, 7 for placing and sorting high-grade quality excellent fruits. Inside the left and right selection conveyors 9, 9, left and right selection conveyors 10, 1 for placing and sorting relatively high-grade quality yu fruit.
0 is placed, and the fruit of Yu is placed and sorted. left·
On the inside of the right-hand sorting conveyors 9, 9, that is, near the center,
Left and right sorting conveyors 11, 11 for placing and sorting average fruits of average rank are arranged.

Thus, while the left and right sorting conveyors 7, 7 are being conveyed from the starting end to the end side, the sorting operators 12, 12 beside the left and right sorting conveyors 7, 7 provide:
Fruits are visually judged according to excellent, excellent, and average ranks based on criteria such as shape, color, scratches, and size, and are placed on a sorting conveyor of each corresponding quality. The left and right excellent selection conveyors 9 and 9 and the left and right excellent selection conveyors 10 and 1
0, a shape detecting means 13 such as a camera is provided in the middle part,
In the middle of the left and right side sorting conveyors 11, 11,
A weight detecting means 14 for measuring the weight by a load cell or the like is provided.

[0010] Shape detection means 1 in the sorting conveyor
3 and the lower position of the weight detecting means 14 on the lower side of the conveyance, the left and right excellent classifying discharge units 15 and 15, the left and right
Right superior classification discharge section 16,16, left / right side classification discharge section 17,
17 are provided respectively. The detected shape information and detected weight information of the transported fruit detected by the shape detecting means 13 and the weight detecting means 14 are input to a control unit (not shown), and are compared with various reference shapes and various reference weights. Depending on the size and weight, 3L, 2L, L, M, 3S,
It is a configuration that is classified into 7 classes of 2S and S.

Thus, the fruits being conveyed on the left and right selection conveyors 9, 9 are further 3L, 2L, L, M, 3S, 2
If the fruit tray 8 is conveyed to the position of the corresponding grade of the left and right classifying discharge units 15 and 15 when it is discriminated into the 7 grades of S and S, it is stored in the control unit. In response to the discharge command, the discharge driving means (not shown) is operated, and the fruit tray 8 is tilted and rotated, and the left and right excellent classifying receiving portions 18 and 18 are rotated.
In this configuration, the fruit is discharged. In addition, left / right selection conveyors 10, 10 and left / right parallel selection conveyors 11, 11
In the same way, for the fruits being transported by
9 and 19 and the left and right parallel classification receiving portions 20 and 20 are discharged to respective grading positions.

When the sorting operator visually determines the rank of the fruits being transported by the left / right sorting conveyors 7 and 7 and places them on the sorting conveyor, the excellent fruits and the excellent fruits are further processed by the shape detecting means 13. In order to determine the grade based on the shape,
It is necessary to place the parts on the sorting conveyor with the parts of the parts down, and after the fruits of average rank quality are placed on the sorting conveyor, they are further graded on a weight basis, so the top and bottom of the parts Regardless of the feeding posture, the left and right sorting conveyors 9, 9 and the left and right dominant conveyors 10, 1 are located close to the left and right sorting conveyors 7, 7 as described above.
No. 0 and left and right sorting conveyors 11, 11 are located near the center far from the left and right sorting conveyors 7, 7, so that excellent fruit and excellent fruit can be supplied near the sorting operator. In addition, the feeding of the left and right side sorting conveyors 11 and 11 can be easily placed and supplied because the feeding posture is free even if the sorting conveyors 11 and 11 are far from the sorting operator. In addition, the supply operation can be performed easily.

Next, the automatic damper 3 for turning over the container and supplying the fruit to the conveyor will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The frame 21 includes an inner conveyor 22 that rotates in an arc shape by receiving the bottom surface of the container 1 in which fruits are stored, and an outer conveyor 23 that rotates in an arc shape by receiving the upper opening of the container 1. Is provided.

The lower conveyors 24 of the inner conveyor 22 and the outer conveyor 23 have feed conveyors 25.
The feeding device 26 for the container 1 is provided at the starting end of the feeding conveyor 25. In addition, the upper end portion 27 of the inner conveyor 22 and the outer conveyor 23 faces the starting end of the diffusion conveyor 28 that transports the fruits taken out of the inverted container 1, and the starting end of the diffusion conveyor 28 On the upper side, a guide body 2 that guides the container 1 conveyed upside down obliquely upward.
9 are provided.

Above the guide body 29, there is provided an empty box lifting device 31 which inverts and supplies the empty container 1 to the upper empty box discharge conveyor 30. The empty box lifting device 31 includes a rotating shaft 34 driven forward and reverse by a geared motor 32 via a chain 33, and a left / right reversing arm 3 attached to both ends of the rotating shaft 34.
5 and 35, left and right box holding cylinders 36 and 36 attached to the distal ends of the left and right reversing arms 35 and 35 and holding the container 1 by expanding and contracting, and the container 1 is reversed and emptied. And a rotation return sensor 38 that detects that the left and right reversing arms 35, 35 have been rotated upward and lifted the container 1 onto the empty box discharge conveyor 30. Make up.

When the empty container 1 discharges the fruits with the upper opening lower, the box confirmation sensor 37 detects that the empty container 1 is held by the guide body 29, and the controller (Not shown). Then, a downward rotation command is issued to the left and right reversing arms 35, 35 rotating upward, the left and right reversing arms 35, 35 rotate downward, and then the left and right box holding cylinders. The left and right rods 36, 36 move inward to press and support the left and right sides of the container 1. Next, the left and right reversing arms 35, 3
5 rotates upward and when rotation to a predetermined position is detected by the rotation return sensor 38, the left and right reversing arms 35, 35 stop, and then the left and right box holding cylinders 36, 36
The left and right rods move outward to release the pressing and holding of the container 1, and the container 1 is placed on the empty box discharge conveyor 30.

When the fruit 1 is discharged, the opening of the container 1 is directed downward. When the container 1 is lifted onto the empty box discharging conveyor 30, the opening of the container 1 is directed upward. Can be facilitated. In the conventional apparatus, the empty container 1
Although the discharging process of the empty container 1 is performed manually, the discharging process of the empty container 1 can be automatically performed by adopting the above configuration.

Next, an apparatus for collecting a sorting tray will be described with reference to FIGS. The empty tray 39 after the sorting of the fruits is completed is sent from the sorting line to the tray delivery conveyor 40. The end portion of the tray sending conveyor 40 faces the center of the start end side of the diffusion transport device 41. In this embodiment, the diffusion conveying device 41 is provided with a comb rubber 42 provided with an infinite number of small projections.
In this configuration, micro vibration is performed by an electromagnetic feeder 44 via a vibration arm 43. Thus, the tray 39 sent to the center of the start end of the comb rubber 42 is sequentially conveyed to the end side while spreading in the left-right direction. At the terminal end of the diffusion conveying device 41, a tray receiving plate 45, which can stop and arrange a number of trays 39, 39,. The extension of the rod of the stopper cylinder 46 allows the tray receiving plate 45 to hold the receiving position rotated upward, or allows the tray receiving plate 45 to rotate downward by retracting and shortening the rod. is there.

The tray receiving plate 45 rotated downward
Is configured to be rotated upward by the return cylinder 47 to return to the receiving position. Also, the state of accumulation of the trays 39 on the tray receiving plate 45 can be detected by a photoelectric sensor (not shown). Below the tray receiving plate 45, a wide drop guide plate 48, a plurality of tray conveyors 48a, a plurality of feed conveyors 25a
Is connected and provided, and a tray collection conveyor 49 faces the orthogonal direction at the end of the feed conveyor 25a.

At the end of the feed conveyor 25, tray stoppers 50, 50,... Are respectively provided, and the tray stoppers 50, 50,. The state is changed to a state or the state is switched to a state where the tray 39 can be retracted and the tray 39 can be fed. The tray collection conveyor 49 is provided with a tray detection unit 51 that can detect the presence or absence of a tray.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. The empty trays 39, 39,... Are conveyed to the terminal side by the tray feed conveyor 40,
2 is supplied to the central portion on the starting end side. Next, Com Rubber 4
The sheet is conveyed to the terminal end side while being diffused to the left and right sides by the slight vibration of 2, and supplied to the tray receiving plate 45. When it is detected by the photoelectric sensor (not shown) that a predetermined number of trays 39 have been supplied to the tray receiving plate 45, the rod of the stopper cylinder 46 is retracted and shortened, and the tray receiving plate 45 is rotated downward, and the tray 39 is rotated. Drop.

Then, the tray 39 is transported to the terminal side by the drop guide plate 48 and the tray transport conveyor 4, and is transported to the feed conveyor 25a. Next, when the tray detecting means 51 detects that the tray is not being conveyed to the tray collection conveyor 49, the tray stoppers 50, 50,... Are retracted by a command from the control unit, and the tray 39 is moved to the tray collection conveyor 49. Send to

As described above, the tray delivery conveyor 40
The trays 39, 39,...
When the tray 39 is supplied to the center of the start end of the tray 1, the trays 39, 39,.
Can be collected smoothly without stagnation on the way.

Next, another embodiment of the fruit sorting apparatus shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 will be described. This fruit sorter classifies fruits such as persimmons and melons by grade according to quality and size, and FIG. 7 shows an overall plan view thereof. The fruits are packed in a container 1 and transported by a receiving conveyor 2,
In the supply unit 12a, the sorting operator 12 sorts the fruits in parallel with the excellent ones and places them on the tray 39. For example, places the excellent fruits on the left supply conveyor 52 and places the average fruits on the right supply conveyor 53.

At the ends of the left and right supply conveyors 52 and 53, the start ends of the left and right classification conveyors 54 and 54 are faced.
Shape detection means 13 is provided at the beginning of the left and right classifying conveyors 54, 54, and the outlets 55, 5 are provided at predetermined positions determined by the grade in the middle of the left and right classifying conveyors 54, 54.
5, ... are provided. When the fruits placed on the tray 39 from the end portions of the left and right supply conveyors 52 and 53 are sent to the left and right classification conveyors 54 and 54, the grade of the fruits is determined by the shape detecting means 13 and the control unit (not shown). ) And memorize it.
When the fruit reaches the classification position determined by the left and right classification conveyors 54, 54, it is taken out.

The left and right classifying conveyors 54, 54 include left and right classifying conveyors.
A large number of guide rods 57, 57,... Are supported between two right-endless endless chains 33, 33, and guide rods 57, 57,.
Are provided with a slide base 58 that slides laterally. The upper surface of the slide base 58 has a protruding ridge 59 protruding upward and extending in the left-right direction.
And a ridge 59 at predetermined intervals.
The slide base 58 having the shape is arranged. Then
Tray 39 with fruit between front and rear ridges 59
Is to put.

A guide pin 60 is integrally protruded from the rear surface of the slide base 58, and slides on a predetermined guide rail 61 to switch the slide base 58 to the lateral side. The switching movement of the slide base 58 is performed, for example, by providing a switching device 62 at the distal end of the guide rail 61 and changing the direction thereof so that the guide pin 60 is brought into contact with the guide rail 61 to perform sliding movement. Alternatively, the configuration is such that the vehicle goes straight without contact. When the guide pins 60 contact the guide rails 61 and the slide base 58 moves laterally, the tray 39 on which the fruits are placed also moves laterally, and the side of the tray 39 is positioned above the slide base 58. And is taken out to the classifying and discharging section.

When the tray 39 on which fruits are placed is slid and sorted, a flat slide base 5 is used.
The tray 39 on which fruits are placed is placed on 8, 58,.
Slide base 58 with ridges 59 before and after tray 39
, The displacement of the tray 39 with respect to the slide base 58 in the front-rear direction during the classification and discharge is prevented by the front and rear ridges 59, and classification errors can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a fruit sorting device.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a main part.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a waist.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a main part.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a main part.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a main part.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a fruit sorting device.

FIG. 8 is a plan view.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a main part.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container 2 Receiving conveyor 3 Auto damper 4 Conveyor 5 Washing machine 6 Distribution conveyor 7 Left / Right sorting conveyor 8 Fruit tray 9 Left / Right sorting conveyor 10 Left / Right sorting conveyor 11 Left / Right sorting conveyor 12 Sorting work 13 13 Shape detection means 14 Weight detection means 15 Left / right excellent classification discharge section 16 Left / right excellent classification discharge section 17 Left / right average classification discharge section 18 left / right excellent classification receiving section 19 left / right excellent classification receiving section 20 Left / Right Parallel Classification Receiving Unit 21 Frame 22 Inner Conveyor 23 Outer Conveyor 24 Lower Receiving Unit 25 Sending Conveyor 26 Sending Device 27 Upper Discharging Unit 28 Diffusion Conveyor 29 Guide Body 30 Empty Box Discharging Conveyor 31 Empty Box Lifting Device 32 Geared Motor 33 Chain 34 Rotation axis 35 Left / right reversing arm 36 Left / right box holding cylinder 7 Box Confirmation Sensor 38 Rotation Return Sensor 39 Tray 40 Tray Delivery Conveyor 41 Diffusion Conveyor 42 Comb Rubber 43 Vibration Arm 44 Electromagnetic Feeder 45 Tray Receiving Plate 46 Stopper Cylinder 47 Return Cylinder 48 Fall Guide Plate 49 Tray Collection Conveyor 50 Tray Stopper 51 tray detection means 52 left supply conveyor 53 right supply conveyor 54 left / right classification conveyor 55 discharge port 57 guide rod 58 slide base 59 protrusion 60 guide pin 61 guide rail 62 switch 63 tray discharge guide.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3F079 AC21 BA08 CA21 CA23 CA29 CB02 CB13 CB30 CB35 CC11 CC12 DA12 DA18

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A left / right sorting conveyor 7, 7 is arranged in parallel at a predetermined space at an end of a distribution conveyor 6, and the left and right sorting conveyors 7, 7 are separated on both left and right sides. The left and right sorting conveyors 9 for placing high-grade fruits are located on the side near the left and right sorting conveyors 7, 7 of the space part.
9. Left and right selection conveyors 10 and 10 are arranged separately, and on the side far from the left and right sorting conveyors 7 and 7 in the space, left and right rows of low-grade quality fruits are placed. Sorting conveyors 11 and 11 are arranged, and the fruits placed on the left and right excellent sorting conveyors 9 and 9 and the left and right excellent sorting conveyors 10 and 10 are detected by the shape detecting means 13 and classified according to grade. A fruit sorting apparatus characterized in that fruits placed on the right-side sorting conveyors 11 and 11 are detected by the weight detecting means 14 and classified by grade.