Combined metering device

Abstract

A combination weighing device can minimize the breakage and damage of articles and improve the weighing accuracy. The combination weighing device (1) involved in one embodiment is configured to carry out the combined weighing of at least two different articles, wherein a weighing hopper (5) and an auxiliary hopper (6) are divided into at least two groups based on the categories of the articles, and a control unit (11) sets each of the groups to any one of a first mode and a second mode. In the group set to the first mode, the articles retained in the weighing hopper (5) are discharged to a receiving unit (9) by means of the auxiliary hopper (6), and in the group set to the second mode, the articles retained in the weighing hopper (5) are discharged to any one of the auxiliary hopper (6) and the receiving unit (9).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a combined metering device. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a first type of combined weighing device configured to discharge articles accumulated in a weighing hopper into either an auxiliary hopper or a discharge chute (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] In addition, a second type of combined weighing device is known which is configured to discharge articles accumulated in a weighing hopper to a discharge chute via an auxiliary hopper.

[0004] Prior art literature

[0005] Patent Literature

[0006] Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Publication No. 2018-77075. Summary of the invention

[0007] Technical problem to be solved by the invention

[0008] However, the first type of combination weighing device has a problem that the height difference when discharging from the weighing hopper to the discharge chute is large, and the possibility of the articles being broken or damaged is high.

[0009] In the second type of combination weighing device, although the possibility of breaking or damaging the articles is low due to the small drop when discharging from the weighing hopper to the auxiliary hopper, there is a problem that the weighing accuracy is reduced because the number of combinations of hoppers for discharging articles is reduced.

[0010] Therefore, the present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned technical problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a combined weighing device that can minimize breakage and damage of articles and improve weighing accuracy.

[0011] Solutions for solving technical problems

[0012] A combination weighing device according to one embodiment is a combination weighing device for weighing at least two different articles, and is mainly composed of: a plurality of weighing hoppers for temporarily retaining the articles and discharging the articles downstream after obtaining the weighing values ​​of the retained articles; a plurality of auxiliary hoppers arranged downstream of the weighing hoppers and discharging the articles discharged from the weighing hoppers downstream after temporarily retaining the articles; a receiving unit for receiving the articles discharged from the weighing hoppers or the auxiliary hoppers; and a control unit for performing combination weighing based on the obtained weighing values. The control unit controls the control unit to measure the amount of the objects and discharge the objects from the measuring hopper or the auxiliary hopper, divide the measuring hopper and the auxiliary hopper into at least two groups based on the types of the objects, and set each of the groups to any one of a first mode and a second mode. In the group set to the first mode, the objects retained in the measuring hopper are discharged to the receiving unit with the aid of the auxiliary hopper, and in the group set to the second mode, the objects retained in the measuring hopper are discharged to any one of the auxiliary hopper and the receiving unit.

[0013] Effects of the Invention

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a combined weighing device that can minimize breakage and damage of articles and improve weighing accuracy. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 It is a diagram for explaining an example of the overall configuration of the combination metering device 1 according to one embodiment.

[0016] Figure 2 It is a diagram showing a display example of the display unit 12 of the combination measuring device 1 according to one embodiment.

[0017] Figure 3 This is a diagram showing an example of a method of discharging articles in a group set to the first mode in the combination weighing device 1 according to one embodiment.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing an example of a method of discharging articles in a group set in the second mode in the combination weighing device 1 according to one embodiment.

[0019] Figure 5 This is a diagram for explaining an example of the combination metering device 1 according to Modification Example 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that in the description of the following drawings, the same or similar parts are marked with the same or similar figure marks. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and the ratios of various dimensions are different from the actual ones. Therefore, the specific dimensions should be determined with reference to the following description. In addition, the drawings may also include parts with different dimensional relationships and ratios. In this specification and the drawings, the same figure marks are marked for elements that have substantially the same function and structure to omit repeated descriptions. In addition, the elements that are not directly related to the present invention are omitted from the drawings.

[0021] (First Embodiment)

[0022] The following reference Figure 1 to Figure 4 A combination weighing device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. The combination weighing device 1 according to this embodiment mixes at least two different articles and performs combination weighing.

[0023] like Figure 1 As shown, the combined metering device 1 involved in this embodiment has a dispersed feeder (not shown), multiple radiation feeders 3, multiple storage hoppers 4, multiple metering hoppers 5, multiple auxiliary hoppers 6, multiple discharge chutes 9, a control unit 11 and a display unit 12.

[0024] The dispersed feeder is a flat member. Articles are fed to the dispersed feeder by a feeding conveyor (not shown) provided outside, i.e., above the dispersed feeder. The dispersed feeder is vibrated by an electromagnet (not shown) provided below the dispersed feeder. The dispersed feeder conveys the articles fed to the conveying surface in the direction of the radial feeder 3 and feeds them to the radial feeder 3.

[0025] Each radiating feeder 3 is a sheet metal component formed by bending a stainless steel plate. Each radiating feeder 3 is arranged along a straight line at the conveying terminal portion of the articles in the dispersed feeder. Figure 1 As shown, the radiation feeders 3 are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction so that their conveying surfaces become parallel.

[0026] Each radiation feeder 3 vibrates the conveying surface by an electromagnet (not shown) provided at the bottom of each radiation feeder 3. Each radiation feeder 3 conveys the articles outward by the vibration of the conveying surface. The radiation feeder 3 supplies the conveyed articles to the weighing hopper 5.

[0027] Each storage hopper 4 temporarily accumulates the articles supplied from each radiation feeder 3 , and then transfers the articles to the weighing hopper 5 disposed below each storage hopper 4 .

[0028] Each weighing hopper 5 temporarily retains the articles transferred from each storage hopper 4, and after obtaining the weighing value of the retained articles, discharges the articles downstream (each auxiliary hopper 6 or the discharge chute 9). Specifically, the weighing hopper 5 has a gate that is exclusively opened in two ways, and the articles are discharged to the auxiliary hopper 6 by opening one gate, and the articles are discharged to the discharge chute 9 by opening the other gate.

[0029] Specifically, the weighing hopper 5 opens the double-open gates exclusively to transfer the weighed items to the weighing hopper. Figure 4 The method shown is distributed to any direction of the first direction FD and the second direction SD for discharge.

[0030] Each auxiliary hopper 6 is disposed downstream of each weighing hopper 5 , and temporarily retains the articles discharged from each weighing hopper, and then discharges the articles downstream (to a receiving portion).

[0031] Each auxiliary hopper 6 obtains the measured value obtained by the weighing hopper 5 at the timing when the articles are discharged by the corresponding weighing hopper 5 arranged upstream. In other words, the measured value obtained by the weighing hopper 5 is transferred to the auxiliary hopper 6 as the articles are discharged. Thus, the measured value of the articles retained in the auxiliary hopper 6 can be identified.

[0032] In this embodiment, an example in which the discharge chute 9 is used as the above-mentioned receiving part is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this example. Specifically, a conveyor belt may be configured to replace the discharge chute 9. In this case, when the auxiliary hopper 6 discharges the retained articles, the articles are directly dropped onto the conveyor belt. In this example, the receiving part becomes the conveyor belt.

[0033] It should be noted that each auxiliary hopper 6 may also be configured to include a weighing sensor to obtain the weighing value of the articles retained in each auxiliary hopper 6 again.

[0034] The discharge chute 9 receives the articles discharged from the weighing hopper 5 or the auxiliary hopper 6 and causes the articles to slide toward an article processing device disposed downstream. The article processing device may also be a vertical packaging machine or a conveyor belt that individually packages the articles that slide down, and any device may be used as long as it performs a predetermined process on the articles.

[0035] The control unit 11 performs combined weighing based on the weighing values ​​acquired from the weighing hoppers 5 and the weighing values ​​transferred to the auxiliary hopper 6 , and discharges the target articles from the weighing hopper 5 or the auxiliary hopper 6 .

[0036] In the combination weighing device 1 according to the present embodiment, each weighing hopper 5 and each auxiliary hopper 6 are divided into at least two groups based on the type of articles to be combined and weighed. Figure 1 As shown, when the radiation feeder 3, storage hopper 4, weighing hopper 5 and auxiliary hopper 6 arranged in a vertical direction are grouped into one group, it is assumed that a plurality of such groups are grouped together and set as a group. Figure 1 In the example, 3 groups are set as Group A and 4 groups are set as Group B.

[0037] Here, the control unit 11 sets each of the above-mentioned groups to either the first mode or the second mode.

[0038] like Figure 2 As shown, the display unit 12 displays which mode, the first mode or the second mode, is set for each of the above-mentioned groups.

[0039] exist Figure 2 In the example, the display unit 12 shows that the weighing hoppers #1 to #3 and the auxiliary hoppers #1 to #3 belong to group A, the weighing hoppers #4 to #7 and the auxiliary hoppers #4 to #7 belong to group B, group A is set to the first mode, and group B is set to the second mode.

[0040] Here, the display unit 12 may be a display of an operation unit of the combination weighing device 1 .

[0041] The user can set each of the above groups to either the first mode or the second mode via the display unit 12. For example, the user can perform the setting by operating the operation unit while viewing the display of the operation unit.

[0042] like Figure 3 As shown, in the case of the group set to the first mode, the control unit 11 discharges the articles accumulated in each weighing hopper 5 to the discharge chute 9 via the auxiliary hopper 6. In this case, the weighing hopper 5 discharges the articles to the auxiliary hopper 6 without fail.

[0043] Specifically, when performing combined metering, when the items are respectively retained in the metering hopper 5 and the auxiliary hopper 6, the control unit 11 uses the metering value of the items retained in the auxiliary hopper 6, or the value obtained by adding the metering values ​​of the items in the metering hopper 5 and the auxiliary hopper 6 for combined metering.

[0044] Here, when both the weighing hopper 5 and the auxiliary hopper 6 are selected in the combined metering, in the metering cycle of the repeated combined metering, the control unit 11 controls the gate opening timing of the weighing hopper 5 and the auxiliary hopper 6 after discharging the articles retained in the weighing hopper 5 into the auxiliary hopper 6 and forming a pile of articles (a group of articles) in the auxiliary hopper 6, so that the articles are discharged from the auxiliary hopper 6.

[0045] As described above, by forming a pile of articles (one article group) in the auxiliary hopper 6, it is possible to suppress the articles discharged from the weighing hopper 5 from being directly discharged to the discharge chute 9 via the auxiliary hopper 6. As a result, the possibility of cracking and damage can be reduced.

[0046] In the above, the metering cycle means a series of processes starting from the input of a linkage signal, performing combined metering, discharging items, and then supplying items prepared for the next metering cycle, wherein the linkage signal is a signal related to the item discharge sent from the item processing device configured downstream to the combined metering device 1.

[0047] In addition, when the combination weighing is performed, if the article is retained in the weighing hopper 5 and the article is not retained in the auxiliary hopper 6, the control unit 11 uses the weighing value of the article retained in the weighing hopper 5 for the combination weighing. When the weighing hopper 5 is selected in the combination weighing, in the weighing cycle of the repeated combination weighing, the control unit 11 controls the timing of opening the gates of the weighing hopper 5 and the auxiliary hopper 6 after discharging the article retained in the weighing hopper 5 to the auxiliary hopper 6 and temporarily retaining the article in the auxiliary hopper 6, so that the article is discharged from the auxiliary hopper 6.

[0048] According to this configuration, the height difference when discharging from each weighing hopper 5 to the discharge chute 9 (or conveyor) can be reduced, and the possibility of the occurrence of breakage and damage of the article can be reduced.

[0049] Therefore, it is preferable to set the group to which the weighing hopper 5 and the auxiliary hopper 6 that perform combined weighing of easily breakable articles belong to the first mode.

[0050] That is, in the group set to the first mode ( Figure 2 In group A), within one weighing cycle, the articles retained in the weighing hopper 5 are discharged to the receiving part (discharge chute 9 or conveyor belt) by means of the auxiliary hopper 6.

[0051] On the other hand, Figure 4 As shown, in the group set to the second mode, the articles accumulated in each weighing hopper 5 are discharged to either the auxiliary hopper 6 or the discharge chute 9 (or the conveyor).

[0052] According to this configuration, since the height difference when discharging from the weighing hopper 5 to the discharge chute 9 (or conveyor) increases, the possibility of the articles being broken or damaged increases, but since the number of combinations of hoppers for discharging the articles increases, the weighing accuracy can be improved.

[0053] That is to say, when the combined metering is being timed, even when items are trapped in the metering hopper 5 and the auxiliary hopper 6, the control unit 11 can respectively choose to use the metering value of the items trapped only in the metering hopper 5, the metering value of the items trapped only in the auxiliary hopper 6, and the added value of the metering values ​​of the items trapped in the metering hopper 5 and the auxiliary hopper 6, respectively.

[0054] Therefore, it is preferable to set the group to which the weighing hopper 5 and the auxiliary hopper 6 that perform combined weighing of articles that are not easily broken belong to the second mode.

[0055] According to the combination weighing device 1 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to minimize breakage and damage of articles and to improve weighing accuracy.

[0056] For example, when two kinds of articles are weighed in combination, the group to which the hoppers that handle easily broken articles belong is set to the first mode, and the group to which the hoppers that handle articles that are less susceptible to breaking belong to is set to the second mode. As a result, the breakage and damage of easily broken articles are minimized, and the first mode with poor weighing accuracy is corrected by the second mode with good weighing accuracy, so that the overall weighing accuracy can be improved.

[0057] Here, in one metering cycle, in the group ( Figure 2 Group A in the second mode and group ( Figure 2 When the articles are discharged from each group in group B), the discharged articles are discharged as a pile of articles (one article group) to the receiving section (discharge chute 9 or conveyor belt).

[0058] From the group set to the first mode ( Figure 2 The articles discharged from the group A) in the auxiliary hopper 6 are temporarily retained in the auxiliary hopper 6, and then discharged from the auxiliary hopper 6 to the receiving part (discharge chute 9 or conveyor belt) within one metering cycle, and are combined with the articles discharged from the group ( Figure 2 The items discharged from group B) in the above diagram together form a pile of items (1 item group).

[0059] (Change Example 1)

[0060] Hereinafter, the combination measuring device 1 according to Modification Example 1 will be described focusing on the differences from the combination measuring device 1 according to the above-described embodiment.

[0061] In variation example 1, in a group set to the second mode, when the control unit 11 combines and measures the articles retained in the weighing hopper 5 corresponding to the auxiliary hopper 6 in which no articles are retained, and selects the articles to be the above-mentioned objects, the articles retained in the weighing hopper 5 are discharged to the auxiliary hopper 6 instead of the receiving unit (discharge chute 9 or conveyor belt).

[0062] In addition, in Change Example 1, in the group set to the second mode, when the control unit 11 simultaneously selects the articles retained in the auxiliary hopper 6 and the articles retained in the weighing hopper 5 corresponding to the auxiliary hopper 6 as the articles to be the above-mentioned objects, the articles retained in the weighing hopper 5 are discharged to the auxiliary hopper 6 and discharged to the receiving part (discharge chute 9 or conveyor belt) as a pile of articles (1 article group) together with the articles retained in the auxiliary hopper 6.

[0063] Furthermore, in variation example 1, in the group set to the second mode, the control unit 11 determines, based on the currently set processing volume (processing capacity) per unit time, whether the items retained in the weighing hopper 5 will be discharged into the auxiliary hopper 6 or the receiving unit (discharge chute 9 or conveyor belt).

[0064] For example, in the group set to the second mode, in the combined metering device 1, when the current processing volume is set to 60 bags / minute, the control unit 11 may decide to discharge the articles to the auxiliary hopper 6, even if it is a configuration that allows the articles accumulated in the metering hopper 5 to be directly discharged to the receiving unit.

[0065] That is, in the group set to the second mode, in the combination weighing device 1 , when the currently set processing volume per unit time is less than a predetermined threshold, the control unit 11 may determine to discharge the articles accumulated in the weighing hopper 5 into the auxiliary hopper 6 .

[0066] According to this configuration, when the processing amount (processing capacity) per unit time is slow, the articles can be discharged to the receiving section via the auxiliary hopper 6 in consideration of the breakage and damage of the articles.

[0067] (Change Example 2)

[0068] Hereinafter, the combination metering device 1 according to Modification Example 2 will be described focusing on the differences from the combination metering device 1 according to the above-described embodiment.

[0069] In Modification 2, the weighing hopper 5 and the auxiliary hopper 6 belonging to the group set to the first mode are double-open hoppers. On the other hand, the weighing hopper 5 and the auxiliary hopper 6 belonging to the group set to the first mode may be double-open hoppers or single-open hoppers.

[0070] According to this configuration, in the combination weighing device 1, hoppers having different structures can be mixed and used, and appropriate hoppers can be arranged for each group.

[0071] In addition, in Modification Example 2, if Figure 5 As shown, the discharge port 5 a of the weighing hopper 5 and the discharge port 6 a of the auxiliary hopper 6 belonging to the group set to the first mode are arranged in a substantially vertical direction.

[0072] By configuring as described above, adhesion to the gates in the weighing hopper 5 and the auxiliary hopper 6 can be reduced.

[0073] Although the present invention is described in detail using the above-mentioned embodiments, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in this specification. The present invention can be implemented as a modification and variation without departing from the gist and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. Therefore, the purpose of the description in this specification is to illustrate and explain, and it does not have any limiting meaning on the present invention.

[0074] Description of Reference Numerals

[0075] 1: combined metering device; 3: radiation feeder; 4: storage hopper; 5: metering hopper; 6: auxiliary hopper; 5a, 6a: discharge port; 9: discharge chute; 11: control unit; 12: display unit.

Claims

1. A combined weighing device for combined weighing of at least two different articles, wherein: The combined metering device comprises: A plurality of weighing hoppers for temporarily retaining the objects and discharging the objects downstream after obtaining the weighing values ​​of the retained objects; A plurality of auxiliary hoppers are arranged downstream of the weighing hopper and discharge the articles discharged from the weighing hopper to the downstream after temporarily retaining the articles; A receiving part, receiving the articles discharged from the measuring hopper or the auxiliary hopper; as well as The control unit performs combined weighing based on the obtained weighing value and discharges the target article from the weighing hopper or the auxiliary hopper. The weighing hopper and the auxiliary hopper are divided into at least two groups based on the categories of the objects. The control unit sets each of the groups to any one of the first mode and the second mode, In the group set to the first mode, the articles accumulated in the weighing hopper are discharged to the receiving portion via the auxiliary hopper. In the group set to the second mode, the articles accumulated in the weighing hopper are discharged to either the auxiliary hopper or the receiving section.

2. The combined metering device according to claim 1, wherein: In the group set to the first mode, the articles accumulated in the weighing hopper are discharged to the receiving portion via the auxiliary hopper in one weighing cycle.

3. The combined metering device according to claim 1, wherein: In one weighing cycle, when the articles are discharged from each of the group set to the first mode and the group set to the second mode, the discharged articles are discharged to the receiving unit as one article group.

4. The combined metering device according to claim 3, wherein: The articles discharged from the group set to the first mode are temporarily retained in the auxiliary hopper, and then discharged from the auxiliary hopper to the receiving unit within one weighing cycle to form the one article group together with the articles discharged from the group set to the second mode.

5. The combined metering device according to claim 1, wherein: The combination metering device further includes a display unit configured to display which of the first mode and the second mode is set for each of the groups. The user can set each of the groups to either the first mode or the second mode via the display unit.

6. The combined metering device according to claim 1, wherein: In the group set to the second mode, when the control unit selects the article accumulated in the weighing hopper corresponding to the auxiliary hopper in which the article is not accumulated as the target article, the article accumulated in the weighing hopper is discharged to the auxiliary hopper.

7. The combined metering device according to claim 1, wherein: In the group set to the second mode, when the control unit simultaneously selects the articles retained in the auxiliary hopper and the articles retained in the weighing hopper corresponding to the auxiliary hopper as the articles to be the objects, the articles retained in the weighing hopper are discharged into the auxiliary hopper and discharged to the receiving unit as one article group together with the articles retained in the auxiliary hopper.

8. The combined metering device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: In the group set to the second mode, the control unit determines whether to discharge the articles accumulated in the weighing hopper to the auxiliary hopper or the receiving unit based on the currently set processing volume per unit time.

9. The combined metering device according to claim 1, wherein: The weighing hopper and the auxiliary hopper belonging to the group set to the first mode are double-opening hoppers.

10. The combined metering device according to claim 1, wherein: The discharge ports of the weighing hopper and the auxiliary hopper belonging to the group set to the first mode are arranged in a vertical direction.

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