Combination metering device

Abstract

The invention relates to a combined metering device which can supply articles which are easy to flow to a storage hopper under proper conveying control. A combination metering device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention is provided with: an interface (11) for transmitting a control signal for instructing an external device (100) to start or stop the supply of an article on the basis of the weight of the article on a dispersion table (2) supplied from the external device (100); a chute (12) which is opened at the top and bottom and temporarily blocks the articles supplied to the dispersion table (2); a lifting mechanism (13) for moving the chute (12) up and down with respect to the dispersion table (2); and a control unit (14) that controls the timing at which the chute (12) is moved up and down by the lifting mechanism (13) on the basis of the transmission timing of the control signal transmitted from the interface (11).

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Conventionally, in a combined metering device, when an easily flowing article (e.g., a broiler chicken) is supplied from a supply unit to a conical-shaped dispersion table, the article flows onto a storage hopper all at once from the dispersion table. To suppress this, there is a known technique of providing an annular chute surrounding the dispersion table so as to be movable up and down, and while discharging the article from the supply unit, lowering the annular chute onto the dispersion table.

[0003] Thereby, after the annular chute reaches the dispersion table, the above-mentioned article reaches the dispersion table, and thus the article is appropriately discharged after being blocked by the annular chute.

[0004] Prior Art Documents

[0005] Patent Documents

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-212016 Summary of the Invention

[0007] Technical Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] However, in the prior art, when a part of the article remains on the dispersion table, there is a problem that the annular chute catches on it and hinders the flow of the article.

[0009] In addition, if the timing of the descent of the annular chute is delayed, there is a problem that the first article supplied from the supply unit slips through the gap between the annular chute and the dispersion table and flows onto the storage hopper all at once.

[0010] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above technical problems, and an object thereof is to provide a combined metering device that can supply an easily flowing article to a storage hopper under appropriate conveyance control.

[0011] Technical Solution for Solving the Technical Problem

[0012] A combined metering device according to an embodiment is characterized in that it includes: an interface that sends a control signal to an external device to indicate the start or stop of the supply of an article based on the weight of the article on a decentralized workbench supplied from the external device; a chute that is open at both the top and bottom and temporarily blocks the article supplied to the decentralized workbench; a lifting mechanism that moves the chute up and down relative to the decentralized workbench; and a control unit that controls the timing of moving the chute up and down by the lifting mechanism based on the timing of sending the control signal by the interface.

[0013] Effects of the Invention

[0014] According to the present invention, a combined metering device can be provided, which enables a ring-shaped chute that moves up and down relative to a decentralized workbench to move up and down at an appropriate time, and even for easily flowing articles, they can be supplied to a storage hopper under appropriate conveying control. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 FIG. is an example showing the overall structure of a combined metering device 1 according to an embodiment.

[0016] Figure 2 FIG. is an example for explaining the operation of a chute 12 of a combined metering device 1 according to an embodiment.

[0017] Figure 3 FIG. is an example showing the relationship between the sending time of a control signal and the time of moving a chute up and down in a combined metering device 1 according to an embodiment.

[0018] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0019] 1: Combined metering device; 2: Decentralized workbench; 11: Interface; 12: Chute; 13: Lifting mechanism; 14: Control unit; 100: External device; D: Lowest point; S: Gap. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached Figure 1 It should be noted that in the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are labeled with the same or similar reference numerals. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic, and the ratios of the respective dimensions are different from the actual situation. Therefore, specific dimensions and the like should be determined with reference to the following description. In addition, the drawings may also include parts with different dimensional relationships and ratios to each other. In this specification and the drawings, elements having substantially the same function and structure are labeled with the same reference numerals to omit repeated description, and elements not directly related to the present invention are omitted from the illustration.

[0021] (First Embodiment)

[0022] Hereinafter, with reference to Figures 1 to 3 the combined metering device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall structure of the combined metering device 1 according to the present embodiment, Figure 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of the operation of the chute 12 of the combined metering device 1 according to the present embodiment, Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the transmission timing of the control signal and the timing of moving the chute up and down in the combined metering device 1 according to the present embodiment.

[0023] Figure 1 The combined metering device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a dispersion table 2, a plurality of radial feeders 3, a plurality of storage hoppers 4, an interface 11, a chute 12, a lifting mechanism 13, and a control unit 14.

[0024] The dispersion table 2 disperses the articles supplied from the external device 100 radially. The dispersion table 2 may have a structure in which a conical table vibrates, or a structure in which a conical table rotates in a horizontal plane.

[0025] Here, as the articles in the present embodiment, it is assumed that they are the breast meat and leg meat of broilers having adhesiveness and capable of absorbing vibration, blocky meat that easily forms lumps after staying, and snack foods similar thereto. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and can also be applied to other articles.

[0026] It should be noted that, as Figure 2 shown, a disk 2A that can be freely tilted to a specified angle is provided at the top of the triangular cone of the dispersion table 2. The disk 2A is configured to be rotatable in a horizontal plane, and when an article falls and abuts against the disk 2A, the direction and angle of the disk 2A freely change according to the position where the force is applied. In addition, the disk 2A is restricted from facing the vertical direction and stays within a specified angle.

[0027] The plurality of radial feeders 3 convey the articles conveyed from the dispersion table 2 in a direction away from the dispersion table 2. It should be noted that, as Figure 1 shown, the plurality of radial feeders 3 are arranged substantially in a circular shape below the dispersion table 2 and around the dispersion table 2. In addition, the radial feeder 3 may be composed of a vibratory feeder that uses an electromagnetic vibrator and parallel leaf springs to advance the articles on the trough, or may be a conveyor belt.

[0028] The plurality of storage hoppers 4 are provided corresponding to each of the plurality of radial feeders 3, and receive and store the articles supplied from each of the plurality of radial feeders 3.

[0029] Interface 11 sends a control signal to external device 100 to indicate the start or stop of the supply of articles based on the weight of the articles on the decentralized workbench 2 supplied from the external device 100. Here, interface 11 sends this control signal according to an instruction from control unit 14.

[0030] As Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, chute 12 is open at both the top and bottom and temporarily blocks the articles supplied to the decentralized workbench 2. In the present embodiment, chute 12 is an annular chute.

[0031] As Figure 2 shown, the lifting mechanism 13 moves chute 12 up and down relative to the decentralized workbench 2. Here, the lifting mechanism 13 moves chute 12 up and down according to an instruction from control unit 14.

[0032] Control unit 14 controls the timing at which the lifting mechanism 13 moves the chute up and down based on the transmission timing of the control signal issued by interface 11.

[0033] Here, control unit 14 controls the timing of moving chute 12 downward such that the timing when the articles supplied from external device 100 reach the decentralized workbench 2 and the timing when chute 12 reaches the lowest point D (refer to Figure 2 ) are simultaneous.

[0034] For example, control unit 14 may start moving chute 12 downward after a predetermined time has elapsed since sending the control signal indicating the start of the supply of articles.

[0035] Specifically, as Figure 3 shown, first, control unit 14 instructs interface 11 to send a control signal indicating the start of the supply of articles when the weight of the articles placed on the decentralized workbench 2 becomes below the threshold value. Thereby, articles are sequentially supplied from external device 100 to the decentralized workbench 2.

[0036] Second, after a predetermined period t1 has elapsed since sending the control signal indicating the start of the supply of articles (i.e., after a predetermined period t1 has elapsed since instructing the above-mentioned interface 11), control unit 14 instructs the lifting mechanism 13 to move chute 12 downward.

[0037] Thereby, it is possible to make chute 12 reach the lower dead point in accordance with the timing when the articles falling from external device 100 reach the decentralized workbench 2. It should be noted that during period t1, during the test run, fine adjustment can be performed from the operation unit while observing the timing deviation, and in addition, the descent speed of the lifting mechanism 13 can also be finely adjusted.

[0038] Third, when the weight of the article placed on the dispersion table 2 becomes equal to or greater than the threshold value, the control unit 14 instructs the interface 11 to send a control signal instructing to stop the supply of the article. Thereby, the supply of the article falling from the external device 100 can be stopped.

[0039] Fourth, after a predetermined period t2 has elapsed after the control unit 14 has sent a control signal instructing to stop the supply of the article (that is, after a predetermined period t2 has elapsed after instructing the interface 11), the control unit 14 instructs the lifting mechanism 13 to raise the chute 12. Thereby, by the drive control of the dispersion table 2, the articles stored on the dispersion table 2 can be sequentially conveyed to the radial feeder 3.

[0040] In addition, as Figure 2 shown, a gap S through which the article cannot slip may also exist between the lowest point D of the chute 12 and the dispersion table 2. With such a structure, it is possible to avoid the situation where the article remaining on the dispersion table 2 is damaged due to the downward movement of the chute 12.

[0041] According to the present embodiment, since the control unit 14 can adjust so that the annular chute 12 and the article discharged from the external device 100 substantially reach the dispersion table 2 at the same time, the article supplied to the dispersion table 2 stays in the chute 12 and then is discharged. Thereby, on the dispersion table 2, the momentum of the commodity falling from the external device 100 can be suppressed, and an appropriate amount of articles can be supplied to the storage hopper 4 by the drive control of the dispersion table 2 and the dispersion feeder 3.

[0042] The above-described embodiment has been described in detail with respect to the present invention, but those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in this specification. Without departing from the gist and scope of the present invention determined by the claims, the present invention can be implemented in modified and changed forms. Therefore, the description in this specification is for illustrative purposes and has no restrictive meaning for the present invention.

Claims

1. A combined metering device, comprising: An interface that sends a control signal instructing the start or stop of the supply of the article to the external device based on the weight of the article on the decentralized workbench supplied from the external device; A chute that is open at both the top and bottom and temporarily blocks the article supplied to the decentralized workbench; A lifting mechanism that moves the chute up and down relative to the decentralized workbench; and A control unit that controls the timing of moving the chute up and down by the lifting mechanism based on the transmission timing of the control signal issued by the interface.

2. The combined metering device according to claim 1, wherein The control unit controls the timing of moving the chute downward so that the time when the article supplied from the external device reaches the decentralized workbench and the time when the chute reaches the lowest point are simultaneous.

3. The combined metering device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The control unit starts moving the chute downward after a specified time has elapsed after sending a control signal instructing the start of the supply of the article.

4. The combined metering device according to claim 2, wherein There is a gap between the lowest point of the chute and the decentralized workbench.

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