Article retention device

Abstract

To prevent erroneous mounting of a hopper and to shorten the mounting time of the hopper.SOLUTION: An article retention device 1 regarding an embodiment includes a hopper 10 for temporarily retaining an article and discharging the article, a support 20 for detachably supporting the hopper 10, and a guide 30. The hopper 10 has a body part 11 for retaining the article and an extension part 12 extending along the width direction W of the body part 11. The support 20 has an engaging part 21 engaged with the extension part 12 at an engaging position 21A. The guide 30 is arranged at a predetermined interval with respect to the upper side of the engaging part 21 in the vertical direction. When the extension part 12 approaches the engaging part 21 from the upper side, the guide temporarily inhibits the extension part 12 and the engaging part 21 from engaging, and then moves the extension part 12 in the direction D1 opposite to the mounting direction of the hopper 10 and guides the extension part to the engaging position 21A.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an article retention device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a combination weighing device is known in which a booster hopper is attached to a support from above in the vertical direction. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6982923 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, with such a combination weighing device, there was a problem in that an operator could not visually check the mounting position of the booster hopper, and therefore there was a possibility that the booster hopper would not be mounted correctly on the support provided on the main body.

[0005] Here, with reference to Figs. 7 to 9, a case in which the booster hopper 10 cannot be properly attached to the support body 20 in the combination weighing device 1 will be described.

[0006] 7, when the worker holds the booster hopper 10 in his / her hand, the gate 14 remains open. In this state, the worker brings the booster hopper 10 closer to the support body 20.

[0007] At this time, since the support body 20 is provided at the bottom of the combination weighing device 1, the operator brings the booster hopper 10 closer to the support body 20 in a path that is approximately vertical, from top to bottom, as shown in Figures 7 and 8.

[0008] Here, as shown in Figure 9, when an operator attempts to attach the extension portion 12 of the booster hopper 10 to the engagement position 21A of the engagement portion 21 of the support body 20 via such a route, the roller 13 of the booster hopper 10 becomes caught on the protrusion 22X provided on the lever 22.

[0009] In this state, the gate 14 remains open, as shown in Fig. 9. Here, the control unit (not shown) of the combination weighing device 1 cannot recognize that the booster hopper 10 has been erroneously attached, and so performs the combination weighing operation without storing the articles to be weighed in the booster hopper 10. Also, while a skilled worker may notice the erroneous attachment, an inexperienced worker may overlook the erroneous attachment.

[0010] Furthermore, when the lever 22 of the booster hopper 10 moves, the lever 22 lifts the booster hopper 10, and in the worst case scenario, the booster hopper 10 may come off the support 20 and fall.

[0011] Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has an object to provide an article retention device that prevents incorrect installation of a hopper and shortens the installation time of the hopper. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] An article retention device according to one embodiment includes a hopper that temporarily retains articles and discharges the articles, a support that detachably supports the hopper, and a guide, the hopper having a main body portion that retains the articles and an extension portion that extends along a width direction of the main body portion, The support body has an engagement portion that engages with the extension portion at an engagement position, and the guide is arranged vertically above the engagement portion at a predetermined distance, and when the extension portion approaches the engagement portion from vertically above, the guide temporarily prevents the extension portion from engaging with the engagement portion, and then moves the extension portion in the opposite direction to the mounting direction of the hopper to guide it to the engagement position. Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, an article retention device can be provided that can prevent hopper installation errors and reduce the time required to install a hopper. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a combination weighing device (article retention device) 1 according to one embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of the operation of the combination weighing device (article retention device) 1 according to one embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of the operation of the combination weighing device (article retention device) 1 according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of the operation of the combination weighing device (article retention device) 1 according to one embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of the operation of the combination weighing device (article retention device) 1 according to one embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of the operation of the combination weighing device (article retention device) 1 according to one embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an example of the operation of a conventional article retention device. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an example of the operation of a conventional article retention device. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an example of the operation of a conventional article retention device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are given the same or similar reference numerals. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and the ratios of the 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 include parts with different dimensional relationships and ratios. In this specification and the drawings, elements having substantially the same functions and configurations are given the same reference numerals to avoid repeated explanations, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not illustrated.

[0016] (First embodiment) An article retention device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figs. 1 to 6. In this embodiment, a combination weighing device will be described as an example of the article retention device 1, but the present invention is not limited to this. The combination weighing device is a device that calculates the weight of articles supplied from a transport conveyor arranged upstream so that the weight reaches a target weight value and supplies the weight to a downstream device.

[0017] 1 to 6, the article retention device 1 according to this embodiment includes a hopper 10, a support 20, a guide 30, a drive unit 40, and a drive unit 50. The functions of the drive unit 40 and the drive unit 50 may be included in a single drive unit.

[0018] The hopper 10 temporarily stores articles and discharges the articles. For example, the hopper 10 is a booster hopper, but may be another type of hopper.

[0019] As shown in Figs. 2 to 6, the hopper 10 has a main body 11 for storing articles, and an extension 12 extending along the width direction W (see Fig. 1) of the main body 11. In this embodiment, the extension 12 is a cylindrical member. The extension 12 may be a rectangular column-shaped member in addition to a cylindrical member. In short, the cross-sectional shape of the extension 12 is not limited as long as it is a member that engages with the engagement position 21A.

[0020] 2 to 6, the support 20 is provided on the drive unit 50 and detachably supports the hopper 10. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the support 20 has an engagement portion 21 that engages with the extension portion 12 at an engagement position 21A.

[0021] 2 to 6, the guide 30 is disposed at a predetermined distance T from the vertically upper side of the engagement portion 21. Specifically, the guide 30 is spaced from the engagement position 21A of the engagement portion 21 by a distance that allows at least the extension portion 12 to be inserted therein.

[0022] When the extension portion 12 approaches the engagement portion 21 from above in the vertical direction, the guide 30 temporarily prevents the extension portion 12 from engaging with the engagement portion 21, and then moves the extension portion 12 in the direction D1 opposite to the mounting direction of the hopper 10, guiding it to the engagement position 21A.

[0023] 1 to 6, the guide 30 may be attached by bolts 41 of a drive unit 40 of an upstream hopper (e.g., a weighing hopper) disposed above the hopper 10. According to this configuration, there is no need to provide a new member for attaching the guide 30.

[0024] In the above, the guide 30 may be configured to be welded to the driving unit 40, or may be configured to be formed integrally with the driving unit 40. In short, the guide 30 may have any configuration as long as it is directly or indirectly connected to the driving unit 40.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the hopper 10 has a gate 14 and rollers 13 for opening and closing the gate 14. As shown in FIG.

[0026] The driving unit 50 opens and closes the gate 14 of the hopper 10. As shown in Figs. 1 to 6, the support 20 has a lever 22 that moves the roller 13 to open and close the gate 14.

[0027] As shown in Figures 2 to 6, when extension portion 12 is guided to engagement position 21A, roller 13 may slide downward while in contact with the outer side of lever 22 and fit into recess 22A provided in lever 22.

[0028] According to this configuration, when the extension portion 12 engages with the engagement position 21A, the roller 13 can also be fitted correctly into the recess 22A, and the hopper 10 can be attached to the support body 20 correctly.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, when the drive unit 40 / 50 is viewed from the side, the end 30E of the guide 30 may be disposed on the side of the end 20E of the support 20 in the direction D1 opposite to the mounting direction of the hopper 10.

[0030] According to this configuration, when the extension portion 12 approaching the guide 30 from above in the vertical direction moves in the opposite direction D1 to the mounting direction of the hopper 10 due to the action of the guide 30 and falls vertically downward, it is possible to prevent the hopper 10 from falling accidentally.

[0031] Specifically, when the extension 12 moves in the reverse direction D1 and comes off the guide 30, the hopper 10 starts to fall due to its own weight. At this time, the end 20E of the support 20 is disposed on the reverse direction D1 side of the mounting direction of the hopper 10 relative to the end 30E of the guide 30, so that the hopper 10 is received by a fall prevention surface including the end 30E of the guide 30.

[0032] 1, the guide 30 has a portion 30A attached to the bolt 41, and a portion 30B standing from the portion 30A in a direction D1 opposite to the mounting direction of the hopper 10. Here, the portion 30B may have a slope shape that descends toward the side of the direction D1 opposite to the mounting direction of the hopper 10.

[0033] According to this configuration, the area for positioning the hopper 10 is expanded to the entire area including the guide 30. When the worker temporarily places the hopper 10 on the portion 30B and releases the grip, the hopper 10 moves vertically downward along the slope and can be attached to the engagement position 21A as it is.

[0034] Hereinafter, with reference to Figs. 2 to 6, an example of the operation of the article retention device 1 when an operator attaches the hopper 10 to the support body 20 will be described.

[0035] First, as shown in FIG. 2, with the gate 14 kept open, the worker moves the hopper 10 closer to the support 20 in a path from top to bottom in a substantially vertical direction.

[0036] Secondly, as shown in FIG. 3, the extension portion 12 of the hopper 10 comes into contact with the guide 30 (portion 30B), and engagement between the extension portion 12 and the engagement portion 21 is temporarily prevented.

[0037] 4, the extension 12 moves in a direction D1 opposite to the mounting direction of the hopper 10. At that time, the roller 13 slides downward while being in contact with the outer side of the lever 22.

[0038] Fourthly, as shown in FIG. 5, the extension portion 12 slides downward in the vertical direction and comes into contact with the engagement portion 21.

[0039] Fifth, as shown in FIG. 6, when the operator slides the extension portion 12 in the mounting direction D2 of the hopper 10, the extension portion 12 engages with the engagement position 21A and the roller 13 fits into the recess 22A provided in the lever 22.

[0040] As a result, the gate 14 is in a closed state, and the hopper 10 is correctly attached to the support 20. From now on, the gate 14 will be opened and closed by moving the lever 22 up and down.

[0041] According to the article retention device 1 of this embodiment, it is possible to prevent erroneous attachment of the hopper 10 and to shorten the time required to attach the hopper 10.

[0042] Although the present invention has been described in detail using the above-mentioned embodiment, it is clear to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described in the present specification. The present invention can be implemented in modified and altered forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention defined by the description of the claims. Therefore, the description in this specification is intended to be illustrative and does not have any limiting meaning on the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1...Article retention device 10…Hopper 11...Main body 12...Extension part 13…Roller 14…Gate 20...Support 20E...End of support 21...Engagement portion 21A…Engagement position 22...Lever 22A…Recess 30… Guide 30E…Guide end 40…Drive section of upper hopper 41…Bolt 50…Drive unit

Claims

1. An article retention device, comprising: a hopper for temporarily storing an article and discharging the article; A support body that detachably supports the hopper; A guide; The hopper is A main body portion for retaining the article; an extension portion extending along a width direction of the main body portion, The support body has an engagement portion that engages with the extension portion at an engagement position, The guide is positioned vertically above the engagement portion at a predetermined distance, and when the extension portion approaches the engagement portion from vertically above, it temporarily prevents the extension portion from engaging with the engagement portion, and then moves the extension portion in the opposite direction to the mounting direction of the hopper to guide it to the engagement position.

2. The article retention device according to claim 1 , wherein the guide is attached by a bolt of a drive section of an upstream hopper disposed above the hopper.

3. The hopper further includes a drive unit for opening and closing a gate of the hopper. The hopper has rollers for opening and closing the gate, the support has a lever that moves the roller to open and close the gate, 3. An article retention device as described in claim 2, wherein when the extension portion is guided to the engagement position, the roller slides downward while in contact with the outer side of the lever and engages with a recess provided in the lever.

4. The article retention device according to claim 1 , wherein, when the drive unit is viewed from the side, an end of the guide is positioned on the opposite side of the mounting direction of the hopper than an end of the support body.

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