Combination weighing device

Abstract

To correctly image an article supplied on a shutter.SOLUTION: A combination weighing device 1 includes: a plurality of feeders 21 which conveys articles X; a plurality of hoppers 10 / 15 which is provided so as to correspond to each of the plurality of feeders 21 and receives and stores the articles X supplied from each of the plurality of feeders 21; a plurality of shutters 11 which is arranged in an article throwing port of each of the plurality of hoppers 10 and temporarily receives the articles X inputted into the hoppers 10 / 15 in a closed state; a camera 3 which images the articles X supplied on the plurality of shutters 11; and a control part 13 which changes at least one of the plurality of shutters 11 to an open state from the closed state on the basis of captured images of the articles X captured by the camera 3 and inputs the articles X into the hoppers 10 / 15 corresponding to the shutters 11. The control part 13 allows the camera 3 to re-image the articles X on the shutters 11, when the shutters 11 in the closed state exist after the captured image is acquired.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a combination weighing device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in a combination weighing device, a technique is known in which an image of an article supplied onto a shutter is taken only once at the supply timing to a hopper using an image processing technique (including AI) such as a camera, and the number of articles supplied onto the shutter is determined.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the prior art, there is a problem that imaging may be performed before the movement of the article supplied onto the shutter has settled.

[0005] Further, in the prior art, if the imaging timing is delayed, the shutter opens and the article cannot be imaged correctly, which is a problem.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a combination weighing device capable of correctly imaging an article supplied onto a shutter.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] A combination weighing device according to an embodiment includes a plurality of feeders for conveying articles, a plurality of hoppers (10) provided corresponding to each of the plurality of feeders for receiving and storing the articles supplied from each of the plurality of feeders, a plurality of shutters (11) disposed at the article inlets of each of the plurality of hoppers for temporarily receiving the articles introduced into the hoppers in a closed state, a camera (3) for imaging the articles supplied onto the plurality of shutters, and a control unit (13) for changing at least one of the plurality of shutters from a closed state to an open state based on an imaging image of the articles imaged by the camera and introducing the articles into the hopper corresponding to the shutter. After acquiring the imaging image, when there is a shutter in the closed state, the control unit causes the camera to image the articles on the shutter again.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a combination weighing device capable of correctly imaging an article supplied onto a shutter.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by 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 ones. Therefore, specific dimensions and the like should be determined with reference to the following description. Also, there may be portions where the relationships and ratios of the dimensions are different between the drawings. In this specification and the drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals to omit redundant description, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not shown.

[0011] (First Embodiment) Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 2, the combination weighing device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an example of the overall configuration of the combination weighing device 1 according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a state in which an article supplied onto a shutter is imaged in the combination weighing device 1 according to the present embodiment.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the combination weighing 1 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of feeders 21, a plurality of hoppers 10, a plurality of shutters 11, a camera 3, an image processing unit 12, and a control unit 13.

[0013] Each of the plurality of feeders 21 is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of pool hoppers 10, and is configured to convey the article X received from the distribution table and supply it to each of the plurality of pool hoppers 10. In the example of FIG. 1, each of such feeders 21 is radially arranged around the distribution table at the center of the apparatus. Also, such a feeder 21 is composed of a supply feeder that vibrates a trough with an electromagnetic vibrator, but it may be a belt conveyor.

[0014] The plurality of hoppers 10 are provided corresponding to each of the plurality of feeders 21, and are pool hoppers that receive and store the article X supplied from each of the plurality of feeders 21.

[0015] In the example of FIG. 1, a plurality of weighing hoppers 15 are arranged below a plurality of pool hoppers 10. However, the configuration may be such that the upper pool hoppers 10 are eliminated and weighing hoppers 15 are arranged there. That is, a shutter 11 may be arranged instead of the pool hopper 10, and a weighing hopper 15 may be arranged immediately below it.

[0016] The plurality of shutters 11 are arranged at the article inlets of the plurality of hoppers 10, and are configured to temporarily receive the article X introduced into the hopper 10 in the closed state, as shown in FIG. 2. When the shutter 11 is in the open state, the article X temporarily staying on the shutter 11 drops into the article inlet of the hopper 10.

[0017] The camera 3 is configured to image the article X supplied on the plurality of shutters 11.

[0018] The image processing unit 12 is configured to calculate the number of articles based on the captured image of the article X captured from above the shutter 11 by the camera 3.

[0019] The control unit 13 is configured to change at least one of the plurality of shutters 11 from the closed state to the open state based on the captured image of the article X captured by the camera 3, and to introduce the article X into the hopper 10 corresponding to such a shutter 11.

[0020] Here, after the control unit 13 acquires the captured image of the article X captured by the camera 3, if there is a shutter 11 in the closed state, the control unit 13 is configured to cause the camera 3 to image the article X on such a shutter 11 again.

[0021] Specifically, the control unit 13 opens the weighing hopper 13 selected based on the result of the combination weighing, opens the pool hopper 10 corresponding to such a weighing hopper 13, and sets the shutter 11 arranged at the article inlet of such a pool hopper 10 to the open state. Thereafter, the control unit 13 causes the feeder 21 corresponding to the shutter 11 where the retention of the article X has disappeared to convey the article X.

[0022] Therefore, according to the above configuration, for the article X that has a margin from the time it is conveyed to the shutter 11 until the imaging timing, such as the article X on the shutter 11 corresponding to the weighing hopper 13 that was not selected based on the result of the combination weighing, it can be imaged in a stationary state, and the misjudgment of the number of articles X on the shutter 11 can be reduced.

[0023] Moreover, the combination weighing device 1 according to the present embodiment may include a plurality of cameras 3 corresponding to the plurality of shutters 11. For example, one camera 3 may be provided for each hopper 10. In such a case, one image processing unit 12 may be provided for every predetermined number (for example, two) of hoppers 10. According to such a configuration, the determination of the number of articles X on the shutter 11 can be performed at high speed.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, the shutter 11 may have two members 11A / 11B that form a surface for receiving and storing the article X, and a rotation axis 11C of each of the two members 11A / 11B extending in the conveyance direction MD of the article X in the feeder 21.

[0025] In such a case, the control unit 13 rotates each of the two members 11A / 11B about the rotation axis 11C to transition each of the two members 11A / 11B from a horizontal state to a vertical state, and the article X is introduced from the center of the surface for receiving and storing the article X (that is, the slot S between the two members 11A / 11B) into the hopper 10 corresponding to such a shutter 11. According to such a configuration, the article X can be reliably and quickly introduced from the shutter 11 into the hopper 10.

[0026] The shutter 11 may have a shape that arranges the articles X supplied from the feeder 21 so as not to overlap vertically. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, in each of the two members constituting the shutter 11, a groove 11D extending in the conveyance direction of the article X may be formed. According to such a configuration, the articles X can be arranged on the shutter 11 so as not to overlap vertically, and the misjudgment of the number of articles X on the shutter 11 can be reduced.

[0027] According to the present embodiment, it is possible to correctly image the article X supplied onto each shutter 11.

[0028] Although the present invention has been described in detail using the above-described embodiment, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described in this specification. The present invention can be implemented as modifications and variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention defined by the claims. Therefore, the description of this specification is for illustrative purposes and has no restrictive meaning for the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0029] 1...Combined weighing device 3...Camera 10...Hopper 11...Shutter 11A, 11B...Members 11C...Rotation axis 11D...Groove 12...Image processing unit 13...Control unit 21...Feeder X...Article

Claims

1. a plurality of feeders for conveying articles; a plurality of hoppers provided corresponding to each of the plurality of feeders, for receiving and storing the articles supplied from each of the plurality of feeders; a plurality of shutters disposed at the article inlets of each of the plurality of hoppers, for temporarily receiving the articles introduced into the hoppers in a closed state; a camera for imaging the articles supplied onto the plurality of shutters; a control unit configured to change at least one of the plurality of shutters from a closed state to an open state based on an imaged image of the articles imaged by the camera, and to introduce the articles into the hopper corresponding to the shutter; and after acquiring the imaged image, when there is a shutter in a closed state, the control unit causes the camera to image the articles on the shutter again, the combination weighing apparatus.

2. The combination weighing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of the cameras corresponding to the plurality of shutters.

3. The shutter has two members constituting a surface for receiving and storing the articles; and a rotation axis of each of the two members extending in the conveyance direction of the articles in the feeder, and the control unit rotates each of the two members about the rotation axis to introduce the articles from the center of the surface into the hopper corresponding to the shutter, the combination weighing apparatus according to claim 1.

4. The shutter has a shape for arranging the articles supplied from the feeder so as not to overlap vertically, the combination weighing apparatus according to claim 1.

Images