Combined scale

Abstract

The combination scale of the present invention comprises: two metering units, each including a dispersion feeder having a top cone, a straight feeder, a supply hopper, and a metering hopper; and two article supply feeders that supply articles to the respective top cones of the respective metering units, the respective guide grooves of the respective article supply feeders extending in the conveying direction of the articles and being parallel to each other, and being arranged in parallel so that a part of the respective guide grooves overlap in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the articles.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a combination scale that combines and discharges articles in a manner to become a prescribed weight. BACKGROUND

[0002] As a combination scale, for example, a combination scale is disclosed in Patent Document 1, which has a plurality of scale units that have a dispersion feeder that transports received articles in a radial manner, a plurality of straight feeders that are arranged in a circumferential manner around the dispersion feeder and transport the articles from the dispersion feeder, a plurality of supply hoppers that temporarily hold and discharge the articles received from the plurality of straight feeders, and a plurality of scale hoppers that scale the articles discharged from the plurality of supply hoppers.

[0003] In this Patent Document 1, a structure in which two scale units are arranged close to each other is disclosed in FIG. 10 thereof. In this structure, the plurality of straight feeders are arranged in a circular arc shape around each of the dispersion feeders, except for a close portion around each of the dispersion feeders of each of the scale units.

[0004] In this way, the straight feeders, the supply hoppers, the scale hoppers, and the like are not arranged in the close portion of the two scale units, and cleaning work that needs to be performed without removing the straight feeders and the like is not required in the close portion of the two scale units.

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-69101 (FIG. 10)

[0006] In the above-described Patent Document 1, it is described that the dispersion feeders of the two scale units are respectively supplied with articles from an external supply device. However, in this Patent Document 1, a specific structure for stably supplying the dispersion feeders of the two scale units close to each other with articles without deviation is not described. SUMMARY

[0007] The present application was completed in view of the above-described problems, and a main object thereof is to be able to stably supply the dispersion feeders of scale units close to each other with articles.

[0008] In order to achieve the above-described object, the present application is configured as follows.

[0009] (1) A combination scale of the present application has two scale units of a first scale unit and a second scale unit, the scale units including a dispersion feeder having a top cone that is circular in plan view for transporting articles to an outer periphery, a plurality of straight feeders arranged in a circumferential direction of the top cone around the top cone and for transporting the articles received from the top cone, a plurality of supply hoppers that respectively receive the articles from the plurality of straight feeders, and a plurality of scale hoppers for respectively scaling the articles received from the plurality of supply hoppers,

[0010] The combination scale is provided with first and second article supply conveyors for supplying the articles to the top cones of the first and second weighing units, respectively, the first and second article supply conveyors having guide grooves for conveying the articles and supplying the articles to the respective top cones, the guide grooves of the first and second article supply conveyors extending in the conveying direction of the articles and being parallel to each other, and being arranged side by side with a portion of each guide groove overlapping in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the articles.

[0011] According to the combination scale of the present application, the guide grooves of the first and second article supply conveyors extending in the conveying direction of the articles are arranged side by side with a portion of each guide groove overlapping in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the articles. Thus, even if the first and second weighing units are arranged close to each other with the two top cones of the two weighing units close to each other, the length of each guide groove of the first and second article supply conveyors in the conveying direction of the articles can be made longer as described later.

[0012] Since the length of each guide groove of the first and second article supply conveyors in the conveying direction of the articles can be made longer as described above, the control of the articles supplied from each guide groove of the first and second article supply conveyors to each top cone of the first and second weighing units becomes easy, and the articles can be prevented from being retained on the guide grooves, so that the articles can be stably supplied to each top cone.

[0013] (2) In a preferred embodiment of the present application, each guide groove of the first and second article supply conveyors is arranged on one side or the other side with respect to an imaginary line linking the centers of the circular top cones of the first and second weighing units.

[0014] According to this embodiment, each guide groove of the first and second article supply conveyors is arranged on one side or the other side with respect to an imaginary line linking the centers of the top cones of the first and second weighing units.

[0015] Since each guide groove of the first and second article supply conveyors is arranged on one side or the other side with respect to an imaginary line linking the centers of the top cones of the first and second weighing units as described above, even if the first and second weighing units are arranged close to each other with the two top cones of the two weighing units close to each other, the length of each guide groove of the first and second article supply conveyors in the conveying direction of the articles can be made longer as described later.

[0016] (3) In another embodiment of the present invention, each guide groove of the first and second article supply feeders has: a bottom plate extending along the conveying direction of the article; and two side plates standing up from both sides of the bottom plate in the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the article, and the bottom plate has an extension portion, and the extension portion is formed by extending the terminal end of the bottom plate in the conveying direction of the article toward the downstream side of the conveying direction of the article than the two side plates.

[0017] According to this embodiment, the bottom plate of each guide trough of the first and second article supply feeders has an extension extending downstream from the two side plates in the direction of article conveyance. In this extension, article discharge is not restricted by the side plates, and the articles can be discharged and supplied to the top cones of the first and second metering units.

[0018] (4) In another embodiment of the present invention, the extension portion of each guide groove of the first and second article supply feeders extends toward the center of each top cone of the first and second metering units respectively from the terminal ends on both sides of the width direction of the bottom plate.

[0019] According to this embodiment, the extensions of the bottom plates of the guide channels of the first and second article supply feeders extend further than the widthwise ends of the bottom plates toward the centers of the top cones of the first and second metering units. This allows articles to be conveyed and supplied from the extensions of the bottom plates of the guide channels of the first and second article supply feeders toward the vicinity of the centers of the top cones of the first and second metering units.

[0020] Thus, even if the guide grooves of the first and second article supply feeders are arranged on one side or the other side with the imaginary line connecting the centers of the top cones of the first and second metering units clamped as described above, articles can be reliably supplied to the vicinity of the center of each top cone, and articles can be dispersed on each top cone and supplied to multiple straight-feed feeders around it.

[0021] Furthermore, since articles can be supplied to the top cone from both ends of the width direction of the bottom plate of the guide trough, the supply of articles is not concentrated near the center of the top cone, and articles can be supplied to the top cone more widely.

[0022] (5) In one embodiment of the present invention, each guide groove of the first and second article supply feeders has: a first supply path for supplying articles from the terminal on one of the two sides in the width direction of the bottom plate to the top cone; a second supply path for supplying the articles from the extended end of the extension part to the top cone; and a third supply path for supplying articles from the terminal on the other side of the two sides in the width direction of the bottom plate to the top cone.

[0023] According to this embodiment, since the first to third feed paths in the at least three directions of the terminal of the one side in the width direction of the floor, the extension end of the extension of the floor, and the terminal of the other side in the width direction of the floor of each of the guide grooves of the first and second article supply feeders supply articles to each of the top tapers of the first and second metering units, the articles are not deviated on the top tapers but are supplied more widely.

[0024] (6) In another embodiment of the present application, the periphery of each of the top tapers of the first and second metering units is divided into a configuration region in which the plurality of straight feeders are arranged in a circular arc shape and a non-configuration region in which the straight feeders are not arranged, each of the top tapers of the first and second metering units is used to transport the articles received from each of the guide grooves of the first and second article supply feeders to the outer periphery of the top taper in the circumferential direction of the top taper, and a partition wall extending from the center of the top taper viewed in a plan view to the outer periphery of the top taper is vertically provided at a boundary between the configuration region and the non-configuration region of the top taper, the partition wall being used to prevent the articles transported to the outer periphery in the circumferential direction of the top taper from moving from the region of the top taper corresponding to the configuration region to the region corresponding to the non-configuration region.

[0025] According to this embodiment, at the top taper at a boundary between the configuration region in which the plurality of straight feeders are arranged in a circular arc shape and the non-configuration region, a partition wall extending from the center of the top taper to the outer periphery of the top taper is vertically provided. Thus, the articles transported to the outer periphery in the circumferential direction of the top taper do not move from the region of the top taper corresponding to the configuration region to the region corresponding to the non-configuration region but are supplied to the straight feeder arranged at the most downstream side in the direction of transport of the articles in the circumferential direction of the top taper.

[0026] (7) In still another embodiment of the present application, a guide wall extending in the circumferential direction is vertically provided on the outer periphery of the top taper of the non-configuration region, and the first feed path supplies the articles to the region of the top taper corresponding to the non-configuration region.

[0027] According to this embodiment, since the guide wall extending in the circumferential direction is vertically provided on the outer periphery of the top taper of the non-configuration region in which the straight feeder is not arranged, the articles transported to the outer periphery in the circumferential direction of the top taper are guided to the configuration region in which the straight feeder is arranged by the guide wall.

[0028] Further, in each of the guide grooves of the first and second article supply feeders, since the first supply path that supplies the articles from the terminal on the width direction side of the floor to the top cone supplies the articles to the area of the top cone corresponding to the non-arrangement area, the supplied articles are guided from the non-arrangement area to the straight feeders arranged on the most upstream side of the arrangement area and can be reliably supplied.

[0029] According to the combination scale of the present application, the guide grooves of the first and second article supply feeders that supply the articles to the respective top cones of the first and second weighing units respectively are arranged in parallel to each other in the direction in which the articles are conveyed. Thus, even if the first and second weighing units are arranged close to each other, the length of each of the guide grooves of the first and second article supply feeders in the direction in which the articles are conveyed can be made long as described later.

[0030] Since the length of each of the guide grooves of the first and second article supply feeders in the direction in which the articles are conveyed can thus be made long, the control of the articles supplied from each of the guide grooves of the first and second article supply feeders to the respective top cones of the first and second weighing units becomes easy, the articles can be prevented from being retained on the guide grooves, and the articles can be stably supplied to the top cones.

[0031] Thus, the articles can be sufficiently dispersed on each of the top cones, the articles can be supplied to the plurality of straight feeders without deviation, and the supply of the articles to the plurality of supply hoppers and the plurality of weighing hoppers via the plurality of straight feeders can be performed without deviation and stably.

[0032] Thus, it is possible to prevent the case where the proper combination of the weighing hoppers that become the prescribed weight range in the combination operation based on the weights of the articles supplied to the plurality of weighing hoppers is difficult to establish or the combination accuracy deteriorates. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0033] Figure 1 is a front view of the combination scale of one embodiment of the present application.

[0034] Figure 2 is a plan view of the combination scale of Figure 1

[0035] Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing the schematic structure of the combination scale of Figure 1

[0036] Figure 4 is a plan view of the main part of the combination scale of Figure 1

[0037] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the main part of the combination scale of Figure 1 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] ​​​​An embodiment of the present application will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0039] Figure 1 is a front view of a combination scale of an embodiment of the present application, Figure 2 is a plan view thereof, Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing the outline structure thereof.

[0040] The combination scale of the present embodiment measures and discharges articles such as various foods or snacks in a prescribed amount. The combination scale is configured by arranging two measuring units, first and second measuring units 15A, 15B, which are constructed in the same specifications, in close juxtaposition left and right (left and right of Figure 1 、 Figure 2

[0041] The combination scale is provided on a platform F on the upper layer of a frame assembled in a tower shape that allows an operator to ascend and descend. The weight values of the articles measured by the two measuring units 15A, 15B are combined and calculated, and articles in a prescribed weight range are dropped and supplied to a not-shown packaging device or the like provided on the lower layer.

[0042] A base 1 in the shape of a horizontal H in plan view is provided on the platform F with openings through the upper and lower portions of the left and right portions. Above the base 1, a horizontally long center base body 2 is joined and supported by a plurality of legs 3, and the center base body 2 is shared by the left and right first and second measuring units 15A, 15B.

[0043] The structure of each measuring unit 15A, 15B is basically the same as that of a combination scale constructed in a circular array type. That is, each measuring unit 15A, 15B is provided with a dispersion feeder 5 for vibrating-conveying articles supplied from above to the outer periphery using a top cone 4 in the shape of a circle in plan view, a plurality of (10 in this case) straight feeders 7 for receiving the dispersed articles using a groove-shaped guide groove 6 and further vibrating-conveying them to the outside, a supply hopper 8 for temporarily holding and discharging the articles conveyed by each straight feeder 7, a measuring hopper 9 for receiving the articles discharged from the supply hopper 8 and measuring their weight, a collection chute 10 for guiding the articles discharged from the measuring hopper 9 to flow downward below the center of the measuring unit 15A, 15B, and collection hoppers 11, 12 for further collecting the collected articles.

[0044] The dispersion feeder 5 is disposed above the center base body 2. The vibration direction of the substantially conical top cone 4 of the dispersion feeder 5 is set to the circumferential direction of the top cone 4 by a not-shown vibration mechanism provided inside the center base body, so that the top cone 4 is driven in vibration.

[0045] ​The linear feeders 7 are radially arranged above the center base 2 around the top cone 4 of the dispersion feeder 5. The guide grooves 6 of the linear feeders 7 are vibrated outward by a vibration mechanism (not shown) provided inside the center base 2.

[0046] The supply hopper 8 is detachably mounted on the outer periphery of the center base 2 , and a drive unit (not shown) controls the opening and closing of a gate at the bottom of the supply hopper 8 .

[0047] The weighing hopper 9 is detachably mounted on the outer periphery of the center base 2. A driving unit (not shown) controls the opening and closing of a gate at the bottom of the weighing hopper 9. In the weighing hopper 9, a load cell composed of a load cell measures the weight of the stored articles.

[0048] In the combination weigher configured as described above, a combination operation is performed based on the weight values ​​measured by the weighing hoppers 9 of the two weighing units 15A and 15B, and a combination of weighing hoppers 9 whose article weights fall within a specified weight range is selected. The combination weigher opens the gates at the bottom of the plurality of weighing hoppers 9 selected by the combination operation, and discharges articles within the specified weight range into the collecting hoppers 11 and 12.

[0049] In this embodiment, the article supply structure in the combination weighing scale including the first and second weighing units 15A and 15B arranged in parallel has characteristics, and the details are described below.

[0050] In the combination weighing machine of this embodiment, the first and second weighing units 15A and 15B are arranged close to each other, thereby reducing the installation space.

[0051] In the combination weighing machine in which the first and second weighing units 15A and 15B are arranged in parallel close to each other, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 As shown, mutually facing and close portions around the top cones 4 of the respective dispersing feeders 5 that are circular in plan view are set as non-arrangement areas where the linear feeders 7 are not arranged.

[0052] In addition, the remaining arc-shaped portion other than the non-arrangement area around each top cone 4 is set as the arrangement area for the straight feeder 7 group. It should be noted that in the following description, in order to clarify the arrangement position of the straight feeder 7 arranged in the arc shape, auxiliary symbols are attached to the component numbers of some straight feeders 7.

[0053] like Figure 1As shown, the discharge portion of the feed conveyor 20, which is composed of a bucket-type elevating conveyor, faces upward at a central position between the two metering units 15A, 15B. A distribution feed portion 21, which receives the articles dropped and discharged and distributes the articles, is provided directly below the feed conveyor 20. Two article feed conveyors, a first article feed conveyor 22A and a second article feed conveyor 22B, which receive the articles discharged and vibrate-convey the articles to the respective top tapers 4 of the respective diverging feeders 5 of the respective metering units 15A, 15B, are provided below the distribution feed portion 21.

[0054] The two article feed conveyors 22A, 22B are composed of the same specifications, and thus, although the following mainly describes one article feed conveyor 22A, the structure of the other article feed conveyor 22B is the same.

[0055] As shown in Figure 4 , Figure 5 , the article feed conveyor 22A is provided with a guide groove 23 formed in a horizontally long groove shape. The articles received from the distribution feed portion 21 are vibrate-conveyed to the top tapers 4 of the diverging feeders 5 through the guide groove 23.

[0056] This embodiment is configured to have a long length of the guide groove 23 of the article feed conveyor 22A in the article conveyance direction in order to suppress the articles from remaining on the guide groove 23.

[0057] That is, as shown in Figure 2 and Figure 4 , the guide grooves 23 of the first and second article feed conveyors 22A, 22B extend in the article conveyance direction (left-right direction of Figure 2 , Figure 4 ). The guide grooves 23 are parallel to each other and are arranged in parallel so that a part of each guide groove 23 overlaps with another in a direction orthogonal to the article conveyance direction (up-down direction of Figure 2 , Figure 4 ). That is, the guide grooves 23 are arranged adjacent to each other in a side-by-side manner in a direction orthogonal to the article conveyance direction.

[0058] As shown in Figure 2 , the guide grooves 23 of the first and second article feed conveyors 22A, 22B are arranged on one side or the other side with respect to an imaginary line L connecting the centers C of the two top tapers 4, respectively.

[0059] The distribution feed portion 21 arranged directly below the feed conveyor 20 distributes the articles dropped and discharged from the feed conveyor 20 in a direction orthogonal to the article conveyance direction of the guide grooves 23, that is, in a front-rear direction, and discharges the articles to the start end portions of the guide grooves 23. That is, as shown in Figure 3As shown, the distribution feeders 21 respectively drive the openable and closable gate plates 21a of the pair of gates before and after, and respectively flow down the feed articles to the start end portions of the respective guide grooves 23 of the two article feeders 22A, 22B arranged side by side in a direction orthogonal to the article transport direction.

[0060] As described above, the respective guide grooves 23 of the first and second article feeders 22A, 22B are arranged side by side in parallel on one side or the other, and a portion of each of the guide grooves 23 is made to overlap in a direction orthogonal to the article transport direction, so that each of the guide grooves 23 can be made longer in the article transport direction thereof.

[0061] Here, a case is assumed in which the two guide grooves of the first and second article feeders 22A, 22B are not arranged side by side in parallel with each other with a portion of each of the guide grooves overlapping in a direction orthogonal to the article transport direction as in the present embodiment, but are arranged in the following manner.

[0062] A case is assumed in which Figure 2 As shown, the respective guide grooves 23 of the first and second article feeders 22A, 22B are arranged side by side in parallel on one side or the other, and a portion of each of the guide grooves 23 is made to overlap in a direction orthogonal to the article transport direction, so that each of the guide grooves 23 can be made longer in the article transport direction thereof.

[0063] That is, the two guide grooves of the first and second article feeders are arranged at a central portion between the two centers C of the two top cones 4, respectively receive the feed of articles from the distribution feeders 21 above, and one guide groove transports articles upward of the center C of one top cone 4, and the other guide groove transports articles upward of the center C of the other top cone 4.

[0064] In this case, the two guide grooves of the first and second article feeders 22A, 22B are arranged in a straight line along the article transport direction between the two centers C of the two top cones 4 of the first and second metering units 15A, 15B.

[0065] If the starting ends of the two guide channels of the first and second article feeders in the article conveying direction are positioned opposite each other at the center between the two centers C of each top cone 4, and the terminal ends of each guide channel are positioned above the centers C of each top cone 4, then the two guide channels do not overlap in a direction perpendicular to the article conveying direction, as in the present embodiment. Consequently, the length of each guide channel along the article conveying direction is shortened by the length of the overlapping portion compared to the present embodiment. In other words, the length of each guide channel along the article conveying direction is approximately half the distance between the two centers C of the two top cones 4 of the first and second metering units 15A and 15B. In other words, since the two guide channels are arranged in a straight line along the article conveying direction between the two centers C of the two top cones 4 of the first and second metering units 15A and 15B, the length of each guide channel is approximately half the distance between the two centers C of the two top cones 4.

[0066] In contrast, in this embodiment, the guide grooves 23 of the first and second article supply feeders 22A and 22B are not arranged in a straight line along the conveying direction of the articles as described above, but are located on one side or the other side with an imaginary line L sandwiched between the centers C of the top cones 4, and are arranged parallel to each other so that a portion of each guide groove 23 overlaps in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the articles of the guide grooves 23.

[0067] As a result, the length of the guide groove 23 in the article conveying direction can be increased by the length of the portion that overlaps in the direction perpendicular to the article conveying direction.

[0068] In this way, the length of each guide groove 23 of the first and second article supply feeders 22A and 22B along the conveying direction of the articles can be set longer. Compared with the case where the length along the conveying direction of the articles is shorter, the retention of articles on the guide groove 23 can be suppressed, and the control of the supply of articles to the top cone 4 becomes easy, so that the articles can be stably supplied to the top cone 4.

[0069] Furthermore, in this embodiment, if Figure 4 、 Figure 5 As shown, the width of the bottom plate 23a of the guide trough 23 is narrowed at the terminal end in the article conveying direction. This narrow portion is an extension 23d, which extends above and near the center C of the top cone 4, which is circular in plan view, compared to the terminal ends E1 and E2 of the two side plates 23b and 23c rising from the bottom plate 23a.

[0070] The guide groove 23 has three main supply paths of a first supply path x that supplies the articles to the top cone 4 from the terminal end El of the width direction of the bottom plate 23a, a second supply path y that supplies the articles to the top cone 4 from the extended end E3 of the extension portion 23d, and a third supply path z that supplies the articles to the top cone 4 from the terminal end E2 of the other side of the width direction of the bottom plate 23a.

[0071] Since the top cone 4 of the distribution feeder 5 is driven with the circumferential direction thereof as the vibration direction, as shown by the dotted arrow in FIG. 6, the articles on the top cone 4 are vibrationally conveyed toward the outer periphery of the top cone 4 along the circumferential direction p. Figure 4 、 Figure 5

[0072] At a boundary between a configuration region where the plurality of straight feeders 7 are arranged in a circular arc shape and a non-configuration region where the straight feeders 7 are not arranged, around the top cone 4, and specifically, a boundary between the lowermost side of the configuration region along the circumferential direction p and the non-configuration region, as shown in FIG. 6, a partition wall 25 that extends from the center C of the top cone 4 viewed in plan to the outer periphery of the top cone 4 is vertically provided on the top cone 4 at the boundary. Figure 5

[0073] The partition wall 25 prevents the articles that are vibrationally conveyed toward the outer periphery along the circumferential direction p of the top cone 4 from moving from the region corresponding to the configuration region to the region corresponding to the non-configuration region of the top cone 4.

[0074] In addition, on the outer periphery of the top cone 4, a guide wall 24 is vertically provided in a circular arc shape along the non-configuration region where the straight feeders 7 are not arranged. The articles are guided by the guide wall 24 to be conveyed toward the top cone 4 of the configuration region where the plurality of straight feeders 7 are arranged in a circular arc shape.

[0075] According to the above structure, the articles that are discharged from the distribution supply portion 21 are supplied to the horizontally long guide groove 23 of the article supply feeder 22A, and are vibrationally conveyed along the longer conveying path, whereby the articles are supplied to the top cone 4 of the distribution feeder 5 without being stagnated.

[0076] The articles that reach the terminal end portion of the guide groove 23 of the article supply feeder 22A are mainly supplied to the top cone 4 through the above-described three first to third supply paths x, y, z. The articles that are supplied via the second and third supply paths y, z are conveyed toward the outer periphery along the circumferential direction p of the top cone 4, and are distributed and supplied to the straight feeder 7 groups.

[0077] ​​At this time, the partition wall 25 blocks the articles on the top taper 4 and guides them to the straight feeders 7(b) on the most downstream side in the article conveyance direction in the circumferential direction p. Note that the partition wall 25 extends over the outer periphery of the top taper 4 to above the straight feeders 7(b) on the most downstream side. The articles are reliably fed to the straight feeders 7(b) on the most downstream side in the article conveyance direction in the circumferential direction p by the extension 25a of the partition wall 25.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 6, the leading end of the straight feeder 7(a) on the most upstream side in the article conveyance direction in the circumferential direction p in the group of straight feeders 7 arranged in a circular arc around the top taper 4 is located below the terminal end of the guide groove 23 of the article feed feeder 22A. Figure 4

[0079] That is, the guide groove 23 of the article feed feeder 22A is arranged close to the straight feeder 7(a) on the most upstream side in the article conveyance direction in the circumferential direction p, and therefore, the articles fed via the third feed path z are hardly fed to the straight feeder 7(a) on the most upstream side.

[0080] However, the articles fed via the first feed path x of the guide groove 23 of the article feed feeder 22A are fed onto the top taper 4 corresponding to the non-arrangement region surrounded by the guide wall 24, and are vibratory conveyed along the guide wall 24 in the article conveyance direction in the circumferential direction p. Thus, the articles fed via the first feed path x reach the terminal end of the guide wall 24 by diving under the guide groove 23 of the article feed feeder 22A, and are fed to the straight feeder 7(a) on the most upstream side in the article conveyance direction in the circumferential direction p.

[0081] In addition, the articles not fed to the straight feeder 7(a) on the most upstream side continue to be conveyed to the outer periphery in the circumferential direction p, and are dispersedly fed to the straight feeders 7 on the downstream side.

[0082] Note that on the terminal end of the guide wall 24 in the circumferential direction p, the extension 24a of the guide wall 24 is connected to the straight feeder 7(a) on the most upstream side over the outer periphery of the top taper 4. Thus, the conveyed articles are reliably fed to the straight feeder 7(a) on the most upstream side.

[0083] As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if the first and second metering units 15A and 15B are arranged close to each other and the two top tapers 4 are close to each other, the lengths of the guide grooves 23 of the first and second article feed feeders 22A and 22B, which respectively feed articles to the top tapers 4, can be made long by arranging the guide grooves 23 parallel to each other.

[0084] ​Thus, it is possible to suppress the stagnation of the articles on the respective guide grooves 23 of the first and second article supply feeders 22A, 22B, and thereby stably supply the articles to the respective top tapers 4 of the first and second metering units 15A, 15B.

[0085] Further, the respective guide grooves 23 of the first and second article supply feeders 22A, 22B have an extension 23d in which the terminal end E3 of the article conveying direction of the floor 23a extends to the downstream side of the two side plates 23b, 23c. Thus, in the extension 23d, the article discharge is not restricted by the side plates 23b, 23c, and it is possible to discharge and supply the articles to the respective top tapers 4 of the first and second metering units 15A, 15B more widely.

[0086] Further, the extension 23d of the floor 23a of the respective guide grooves 23 of the first and second article supply feeders 22A, 22B extends to the center C of the respective top tapers 4 of the first and second metering units 15A, 15B, respectively. Thus, even if the imaginary line L connecting the centers C of the respective top tapers 4 of the first and second metering units 15A, 15B is arranged on one side or the other side with the respective guide grooves 23 sandwiched therebetween, it is possible to reliably supply the articles to the vicinity of the center C of the respective top tapers 4, and thereby disperse the articles on the respective top tapers 4 and supply to the surrounding plurality of straight feeders 7.

[0087] Further, the articles reaching the terminal end portion of the guide groove 23 of the article supply feeder 22A are supplied to the top taper 4 from at least three directions through the three supply paths x, y, z, and thus, compared to the case where the articles are supplied to the top taper 4 from one direction, it is possible to suppress the deviation of the articles on the top taper 4, and thereby sufficiently disperse the articles.

[0088] Thus, it is possible to stably supply the articles from the top taper 4 to the plurality of straight feeders 7 without deviation, and thereby the articles supplied from the plurality of straight feeders 7 to the plurality of metering hoppers 9 via the plurality of supply hoppers 8 also become articles without deviation and stably.

[0089] Thus, it is possible to prevent the combination of the metering hoppers 9 becoming the prescribed weight range in the combination calculation based on the weights of the articles supplied to the plurality of metering hoppers 9 from being difficult to establish, or the combination accuracy from deteriorating.

[0090] Note that the shape of the respective guide grooves 23 of the first and second article supply feeders 22A, 22B is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and although it can be any shape depending on the conveying characteristics of the articles and the like, it is preferable that the article discharge direction be at least three.

[0091] Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0092] 4 Top taper

[0093] 5 dispensing feeder

[0094] 7 straight feeder

[0095] 7(a) straight feeder on the most upstream side

[0096] 7(b) straight feeder on the most downstream side

[0097] 8 supply hopper

[0098] 9 metering hopper

[0099] 15A, 15B first and second metering units

[0100] 21 dispensing supply section

[0101] 22A, 22B first and second article supply feeders

[0102] 23 guide channel

[0103] 24 guide wall

[0104] 24a extension

[0105] 25 partition wall

[0106] 25a extension

Claims

1. A combination weigher, comprising a first measuring unit and a second measuring unit, wherein the measuring units include: A disperser feeder having a top cone that is circular in top view for conveying articles toward the outer periphery; A plurality of straight feeders are arranged around the top cone along the circumferential direction of the top cone and are used to convey the articles received from the top cone; a plurality of supply hoppers receive the articles from the plurality of straight feeders respectively; and a plurality of measuring hoppers are used to measure the articles received from the plurality of supply hoppers respectively. The combination weigher comprises: a first article feeding feeder and a second article feeding feeder, for feeding the articles to the top cones of the first and second weighing units respectively. The first and second article supply feeders have guide grooves for conveying articles and supplying them to each top cone respectively. The guide grooves of the first and second article supply feeders extend along the conveying direction of the articles and are parallel to each other, and are arranged side by side so that parts of the guide grooves overlap in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the articles.

2. The combination weigher according to claim 1, wherein: The guide grooves of the first and second article supply feeders are respectively arranged on one side or the other side of an imaginary line connecting the centers of the top cones of the first and second weighing units, which are circular in plan view.

3. The combination weigher according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: Each guide groove of the first and second article supply feeders has: a bottom plate extending along the conveying direction of the articles; and two side plates standing up from both sides of the bottom plate in the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the articles, the bottom plate having an extension portion, and the extension portion is formed by extending the terminal end of the bottom plate in the conveying direction of the articles toward the downstream side of the conveying direction of the articles than the two side plates.

4. The combination weigher according to claim 3, wherein: The extension portions of the guide grooves of the first and second article supply feeders extend further than the terminals on both sides of the bottom plate in the width direction toward the centers of the top cones of the first and second metering units.

5. The combination weigher according to claim 4, wherein: Each guide groove of the first and second article supply feeders has: a first supply path for supplying articles from the terminal on one of the two sides in the width direction of the base plate to the top cone; a second supply path for supplying the articles from the extended end of the extension part to the top cone; and a third supply path for supplying articles from the terminal on the other side of the two sides in the width direction of the base plate to the top cone.

6. The combination weigher according to claim 5, wherein: The periphery of each top cone of the first and second metering units is divided into an arrangement area where the plurality of straight feeders are arranged in an arc shape and a non-arrangement area where the straight feeders are not arranged. The top cones of the first and second metering units are used to transport the articles received from the guide grooves of the first and second article supply feeders along the circumferential direction of the top cone to the outer periphery of the top cone. On the top cone located at a boundary between the configuration area and the non-configuration area, a partition wall is erected, extending from the center of the top cone, which is circular when viewed from above, to the outer periphery of the top cone. The partition wall is used to prevent the articles transported toward the outer periphery along the circumferential direction of the top cone from moving from the area of ​​the top cone corresponding to the configuration area to the area corresponding to the non-configuration area.

7. The combination weigher according to claim 6, wherein: A guide wall extending along the circumferential direction is erected on the outer periphery of the top cone in the non-configuration area. The first supply path supplies the articles to an area of ​​the top cone corresponding to the non-arrangement area.

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