Cutting out device, cutting out method and program

Abstract

To provide a cutting out device or the like capable of fully automating from cutting out to packaging when an object is a fixed-shaped article.SOLUTION: A cutting out device for cutting out a plurality of objects, which are fixed-shaped articles, includes: a container for holding the objects; a feeder for cutting out the objects; a conveyance path along which the objects are conveyed from the container to the feeder; and a vibration part that vibrates the container, the feeder, or the conveyance path, where the conveyance path has a step at which the objects fall on a downstream side close to the feeder.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cutting device, a cutting method, and a program, and in particular to a cutting device that cuts out a plurality of fixed-shape objects, powder-like, granular, minced, and other irregular-shape objects. [Background technology]

[0002] Currently, there are known cutting devices that cut out a variety of fixed-shape objects, as well as powder, granule, minced, and other irregular-shape objects. The inventors of the present application have been developing various cutting devices for many years. In particular, in recent years, they have focused on developing a cutout pipe-type cutting device that cuts out objects with high precision through a rotating cylinder (Patent Document 1).

[0003] A conventional segmentation device will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing an outline of a conventional segmentation device 201. The segmentation device 201 segments a target object to be segmented in fixed or constant amounts.

[0004] The cutting device 201 includes a container 203, a conveying path 205, a feeder 207, a vibration unit 209, and a weighing and counting unit 211. The container is a container that holds objects. The conveying path 205 is a conveying path along which the objects are sent from the container 203 to the feeder 207. The feeder 207 cuts out the objects. The vibration unit 209 vibrates the container 203, the conveying path 205, or the feeder 207. The vibration unit 209 has a vibration control unit 295 that controls the vibration unit. The weighing and counting unit 211 weighs and / or counts the objects cut out from the feeder 207.

[0005] When industrial machines are used to quickly cut out a large amount of objects, it is expected that objects of a certain shape will overlap. In this case, more objects than expected will fit into the packaging container, making it impossible to pack the same number of objects. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7002154 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, conventional cutting devices do not have a mechanism for eliminating overlaps between objects that are fixed in shape, and the only way to do this is to manually pick up the objects and place them in a packaging container.

[0008] For this reason, when the objects are of a fixed shape, the process from cutting to packaging cannot be fully automated, which is one of the reasons for human error and limitations on cutting speed.

[0009] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE An object of the present invention is to provide a cutting device etc. that can fully automate the process from cutting to packaging when the object is a fixed-shaped object. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] A first aspect of the present invention is an extrusion device for cutting out a plurality of fixed-shaped objects, the extrusion device comprising a container for holding the objects, a feeder for extruding the objects, a transport path along which the objects are transported from the container to the feeder, and a vibration unit for vibrating the container, the feeder, or the transport path, the transport path having a step on the downstream side close to the feeder along which the objects fall.

[0011] A second aspect of the present invention relates to the cutting device of the first aspect, further comprising a height limiting section that prevents the object from being conveyed to the feeder if the object has a height equal to or greater than a certain level.

[0012] A third aspect of the present invention is the cutting device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the object is a fixed-shaped object having a front and back, and the conveying path further includes an inverting section that inverts the object.

[0013] A fourth aspect of the present invention is the cutting device according to the third aspect, wherein the reversing section pokes a part of the object from a floor surface side of the transport path to reverse the object.

[0014] A fifth aspect of the present invention is the cutting device according to the fourth aspect, wherein the transport path has a side wall for preventing the object from being poked by the reversing section and falling from the transport path.

[0015] A sixth aspect of the present invention is an extraction device of any of the third to fifth aspects, wherein the conveying path further has a front / back sensor for detecting the front / back of the object, and the inversion unit inverts the object based on the detection result of the front / back sensor.

[0016] A seventh aspect of the present invention is an cutting method using an cutting device that cuts out a plurality of fixed-shaped objects, the cutting device comprising a container that holds the objects, a feeder that cuts out the objects, a transport path along which the objects are transported from the container to the feeder, and a vibration unit that vibrates the container, the feeder, or the transport path, the transport path having a step on the downstream side close to the feeder where the objects fall, and the cutting method further comprising a transport step of passing the objects through the step while being transported on the transport path.

[0017] An eighth aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as an inversion control unit that controls the inversion unit included in the extraction device of the sixth aspect. Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to each aspect of the present invention, when the objects are of a fixed shape, only one of the overlapping objects falls first, so the objects are forcibly separated. This eliminates the static frictional force that acted between the objects when they were overlapping, making it easy to automatically separate and transport the overlapping objects. This makes it possible to provide an extrusion device and the like that can be automated from extrusion to packaging, even if the objects are of a fixed shape.

[0019] Here, if there is a step in the conveying path, there is a risk of damaging the target object, which is a fixed-shaped object. Therefore, it was common technical knowledge for those skilled in the art to design the conveying path so that there would be no step.

[0020] However, the inventors noticed that when the objects are of a fixed shape, the static frictional force acting between the objects prevents the objects from overlapping, and so the technical idea unique to this invention lies in the deliberate provision of a step in the conveying path.

[0021] Furthermore, according to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reliably and automatically eliminate overlapping objects that have reached a certain height or higher.

[0022] Here, among objects that are fixed shapes, there are some that need to be packaged with the front and back distinguished. Conventionally, when objects are packaged manually, the person packages them by distinguishing the front and back. However, in order to automate cutting and packaging as in the present invention, it becomes necessary to distinguish the front and back and make them even.

[0023] Therefore, according to any one of the third to fifth aspects of the present invention, it becomes possible to turn a certain surface (for example, the front) of an object having a front and back face up.

[0024] Furthermore, according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to distinguish whether the object is being conveyed with its front or back side facing up, and to turn it over as necessary. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overview of an extraction device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an actual configuration of a cut-out device according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 3] 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating the effects of the cut-out device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a conventional extraction device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the contents described below. EXAMPLES

[0027] The configuration of an excision device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the outline of the excision device 1 according to the present embodiment. Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the excision device 1 according to the present embodiment.

[0028] The cutting device 1 according to this embodiment (an example of the "cutting device" in the claims) comprises a container 3, a conveying path 5, a feeder 7, a vibration unit 9, and a weighing and counting unit 11. The cutting device 1 cuts out objects which are a plurality of fixed-shaped objects. The container 3 holds the objects. The conveying path 5 is a conveying path along which the objects are conveyed from the container 3 to the feeder 7. The feeder 7 cuts out the objects. The vibration unit 9 vibrates other components. The weighing and counting unit 11 weighs or counts the objects cut out by the feeder 7.

[0029] The vibration unit 9 has a container vibration unit 91, a feeder vibration unit 93, and a vibration control unit 95. The vibration unit 9 vibrates other members. The container vibration unit 91 vibrates the container 3. The feeder vibration unit 93 vibrates the feeder 7. The vibration control unit 95 controls the intensity, frequency, timing, time, etc. of the vibrations of the container vibration unit 91 and the feeder vibration unit 93.

[0030] The conveying path 5, which is characteristic of this embodiment, will be described below. The conveying path 5 has a floor surface 50 (an example of the "floor surface" in the claims), a height limiting bar 51 (an example of the "height limiting portion" in the claims), a step 53 (an example of the "step" in the claims), a cylinder 55 (an example of the "reversing portion" in the claims), a hole 56 provided in the floor surface 50, a side wall 57 (an example of the "side wall" in the claims), a front / back sensor 59 (an example of the "front / back sensor" in the claims), and a cylinder control portion 61.

[0031] The height limiting bar 51 is provided on the conveying path 5 from the container 3 to the feeder 7 so as to block the path of the object. However, it is provided at a height that will not hit the object if the object is on the conveying path 5 in the expected orientation and is not overlapping. The height limiting bar 51 prevents the object from being conveyed toward the feeder 7 if the object is at a certain height or higher. For example, if the object is conveyed in an inappropriate diagonal orientation, it is caught by the height limiting bar 51 and either reoriented to the appropriate orientation or dropped into the container 3. Also, if multiple objects are conveyed completely overlapping, at least the overlapping objects are caught by the height limiting bar 51 and dropped to the container 3 or the floor surface 50.

[0032] On the way from the container 3 to the feeder 7, the conveying path 5 has a step 53 on the downstream side near the feeder 7 where the objects fall. Due to the presence of the step 53, only one of the overlapping objects falls first, forcing the objects to be separated. It is desirable that the drop of the step 53 is a height at which the object closer to the feeder 7 falls first among the overlapping objects. It is also desirable that the drop of the step 53 is equal to or less than a height at which the objects are not damaged.

[0033] Cylinder 55 is an air cylinder that operates under the control of cylinder control unit 61 on the conveying path 5 from container 3 to feeder 7. Cylinder 55 pokes part of the object through hole 56 provided in floor surface 50 to turn the object over. Hole 56 is sized and shaped so that the tip of cylinder 55 can pass through it without the object falling through.

[0034] The side wall 57 is provided at least near the cylinder 55. The side wall 57 prevents the object from being poked by the cylinder 55 and falling off the conveying path 5.

[0035] The front / back sensor 59 detects whether an object with a front and back is placed on the conveying path 5 with the front side facing up or the back side facing up. The front and back of the object in this embodiment have different colors. Therefore, the front / back sensor 59 in this embodiment employs a color sensor that distinguishes the front and back of the object by color.

[0036] The cylinder control unit 61 controls and operates the cylinder 55 based on the detection result of the front / back sensor 59 .

[0037] Next, the actual effect of using the cutting device 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0038] First, the separation effect of the step 53 will be described. Referring to FIG. 3(a), overlapping objects A and B approach the step 53. Object B, which is overlapping, is placed on top of object A. Referring to FIG. 3(b), object A approaches the step 53 first. Referring to FIG. 3(c), object A falls down the step 53 first, and is forcibly separated from object B. This eliminates the static friction force acting between object A and object B, and the objects are transported separately. Referring to FIG. 3(d), object B approaches the step 53 after object A. Referring to FIG. 3(e) and FIG. 3(f), it can be seen that object A and object B are completely separated.

[0039] Next, the reversing effect by the cylinder 55, the side wall 57, the front / back sensor 59, and the cylinder control unit 61 will be described. In this embodiment, the surface of the planar object on which various ingredients are attached is the front, and the opposite surface is the back. Also, it is assumed that the object is in an appropriate state when the front side faces upward and the back side faces the floor surface 50. With reference to Figs. 3(a) and 3(b), the object C with the back side facing upward is approaching the hole 56. With reference to Fig. 3(c), the front / back sensor 59 detects that the object C is in an inappropriate orientation. With reference to Fig. 3(d), the object C is poked by the cylinder 55 and reversed. With reference to Fig. 3(e), the object C is in a state supported by the inclined side wall 57. With reference to Fig. 3(f), the object C slides down from the side wall 57 to the floor surface 50 with the front side facing upward. With reference to Figs. 3(c) to 3(f), it can also be seen that the object D following the object C passes through the hole 56 without being reversed and facing the front side. In this way, the conveying path 5 can only invert objects that are backside up.

[0040] Next, the effect of the height limiting bar 51 will be described. Referring to FIG. 3(c), object F is completely on top of object E and approaches the height limiting bar 51. Referring to FIG. 3(d), object F is prevented from moving forward by the height limiting bar 51 and falls into the container 3. It can also be seen that object E below also falls with it. This makes it possible to prevent completely overlapping objects from moving forward into the feeder 7.

[0041] Instead of the height limiting bar 51, the extrusion device 1 may be provided with a tunnel-like structure in the middle of the conveying path.

[0042] Moreover, the cutting device 1 may include a reversing mechanism that reverses the object based on the detection result of the front / back sensor, instead of the cylinder 55. The front / back sensor may be a sensor other than a color sensor as long as it can detect the front / back of the object. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1; cutting device, 3; container, 5; conveying path, 51; height limiting bar, 53; step, 55; side wall, 56; hole, 57; cylinder, 59; front / back sensor, 61; cylinder control unit 7;Feeder, 9; vibration unit; 91; container vibration unit; 93; feeder vibration unit; 95; vibration control unit; 11: Weighing and counting section

Claims

1. An apparatus for cutting out a plurality of fixed-shaped objects, A container for holding the object; A feeder for cutting out the object; a conveying path along which the object is conveyed from the container to the feeder; a vibration unit that vibrates the container, the feeder, or the conveying path, The conveying path has a step on the downstream side closer to the feeder, where the object falls.

2. The cutting device according to claim 1 , further comprising a height limiting section that prevents the object from being conveyed to the feeder if the object has a height equal to or greater than a certain level.

3. The object is a fixed-shaped object having a front and back, The cutting device according to claim 1 , wherein the transport path further comprises an inverting section that inverts the object.

4. The cutting device according to claim 3 , wherein the reversing section reverses the object by poking a part of the object from a floor surface side of the conveying path.

5. 5. The cutting device according to claim 4, wherein the transport path has a side wall for preventing the object from being poked by the reversing section and falling off the transport path.

6. The conveying path further includes a front / back sensor for detecting the front / back of the object, The cut-out device according to claim 3 , wherein the reversing unit reverses the object based on a detection result of the front / back sensor.

7. A method for cutting out a plurality of fixed-shaped objects using a cutting device, comprising the steps of: The cutting device is A container for holding the object; A feeder for cutting out the object; a conveying path along which the object is conveyed from the container to the feeder; a vibration unit that vibrates the container, the feeder, or the conveying path, the conveying path has a step on a downstream side close to the feeder, onto which the object falls; The cutting method includes a conveying step of passing the object through the step while conveying the object on the conveying path.

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