Combination weighing device

Abstract

To ensure that ejection of articles remaining in a device is terminated in a short time.SOLUTION: A combination weighing device 100 according to one embodiment comprises: a dispersion unit 11 for dispersing articles; a plurality of conveyance units 21 for conveying articles ejected from the dispersion unit 11 by a plurality of troughs in a direction away from the dispersion unit 11; an imaging unit 60 for imaging the conveyance unit 21; an image processing unit 101 for identifying a location in the conveyance unit 21 where an article remains, on the basis of the captured image of the conveyance unit 21 having been imaged by the imaging unit 60; and a control unit 102 for controlling the drive of the dispersion unit 11 and the conveyance unit 21. In a mode in which articles remaining in the combination weighing device 1 are ejected while supply of new articles to the dispersion unit 11 is shut off, the control unit 102 drives the conveyance unit 21 at the location identified by the image processing unit 101 until no more articles remain.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in a combination weighing device, there is a full discharge mode for discharging articles remaining in the combination weighing device.

[0003] In such a full discharge mode, there are a type in which the conveying unit that supplies articles to the hopper is driven with the supply of new articles to the combination weighing device cut off, all the gates of the hoppers are opened, and the articles are discharged in a short time, and a type in which the articles remaining in the combination weighing device are discharged while being combinatorially weighed.

[0004] However, in the case of articles that tend to stay in the conveying unit of articles including a dispersion unit, such as sticky broilers, even if the conveying unit is driven for a longer time than usual, the articles may not be discharged. Therefore, there is a problem that the combination weighing device cannot be stopped unless it is visually confirmed whether the articles have been discharged.

[0005] Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, a technique for determining the residence area of articles on a trough constituting a conveying unit is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] However, in such a technique, there is a problem that only the retention area of the articles is determined, and it is not possible to end the discharge from the combination weighing device in a short time, and thus it is not possible to shorten the changeover time and the processing time associated with the end of production.

[0008] 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 ending the discharge of articles remaining in the device in a short time.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] A combination weighing device according to an embodiment includes a dispersion unit that disperses articles, a plurality of transport units that transport the articles discharged from the dispersion unit in a direction away from the dispersion unit using a plurality of troughs, an imaging unit that images the transport units, and an image processing unit that identifies locations where the articles remain in the transport units based on the captured images of the transport units captured by the imaging unit. The control unit that drives and controls the dispersion unit and the transport units, and in a mode of discharging the articles remaining in the combination weighing device with the supply of new articles to the dispersion unit interrupted, the control unit drives the transport units at the locations identified by the image processing unit until the articles are gone. This is the gist.

Effects of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, since only the transport units where articles remain are driven until the articles are discharged, it is possible to provide a combination weighing device capable of ending the discharge of articles remaining in the device in a short time.

[0011] Further, according to the present invention, since the transport units where no articles remain are not driven, it is possible to provide a combination weighing device that can contribute to reducing power consumption.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] 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 functions and configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals to omit redundant description, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not shown.

[0014] (First Embodiment) Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 1, the combination weighing device 100 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 100 according to the first embodiment.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the combination weighing 100 according to the present embodiment includes a dispersion table 11, a plurality of conveying units 21, a plurality of pool hoppers 30, a weighing hopper 40, a collective discharge chute 110, an imaging unit 60, an image processing unit 101, and a control unit 102.

[0016] The dispersion table 11 constitutes a dispersion unit that disperses the articles supplied from the external device 90. For example, the dispersion table 11 may disperse the articles supplied from the external device 90 by vibration or rotation in a horizontal plane, and discharge them to each conveying unit 21.

[0017] Here, as the articles in the present embodiment, it is assumed that there are broiler breast meat and leg meat that are sticky and absorb vibration, block meat that easily forms lumps when staying, and snack foods similar thereto. However, the present invention is not limited to these and can be applied to other articles.

[0018] The conveying unit 21 conveys the articles discharged from the distribution table 11 in a direction away from the distribution table 11 using a plurality of troughs. As shown in FIG. 1, each conveying unit 21 is arranged substantially circumferentially below and around the distribution table 11. Further, the conveying unit 21 may be composed of a supply feeder that vibrates the trough with an electromagnetic vibrator, or may be a belt conveyor.

[0019] Each of the plurality of pool hoppers 30 is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of conveying units 21, and receives and stores the articles supplied from each of the plurality of conveying units 21. Then, when the weighing hopper 40 becomes empty, the pool hopper 30 opens and closes its gate to discharge the articles into the weighing hopper 40. Here, when the pool hopper 30 is not provided, the articles are supplied from each of the plurality of conveying units 21 to each of the plurality of weighing hoppers 40.

[0020] The imaging unit 60 images the conveying unit 21, and may also image the distribution table 11. Note that the imaging unit 60 may be one or a plurality. For example, two imaging units 60 may complement each other to image all the conveying units 21 and the distribution table 11. Also, a plurality of imaging units 60 corresponding to each of the plurality of conveying units 21 may be provided.

[0021] The image processing unit 101 identifies the locations on the conveying unit 21 where articles remain based on the captured images of the conveying unit 21 captured by the imaging unit 60.

[0022] The control unit 102 drives and controls the distribution table 11 and the conveying unit 21. Specifically, in a mode (so-called full discharge mode) of discharging the articles remaining in the combination weighing device 100 with the supply of new articles to the distribution table 11 cut off, the control unit 102 drives the conveying unit 21 at the location identified by the image processing unit 101 until the articles are gone.

[0023] In the full discharge mode, since the gates of all hoppers (the pool hopper 30 and the weighing hopper 40) are opened, the articles supplied from the conveying unit 21 to the pool hopper 30 pass through the weighing hopper 40 and the collective discharge chute 110 and fall to the outside. Here, in the full discharge mode, the gates of all hoppers may be opened simultaneously or may be opened in a predetermined order for each group.

[0024] Further, the imaging unit 60 may be configured to image not only the conveying unit 21 but also the dispersion table 11.

[0025] In particular, when the dispersion table 11 rotates within a horizontal plane, the image processing unit 101 identifies the articles remaining on the dispersion table 11 based on the captured image of the dispersion table 11 captured by the imaging unit 60, and the control unit 102 may drive the dispersion table 11 until the articles identified by the image processing unit 101 disappear from the dispersion table 11 in the full discharge mode.

[0026] According to such a configuration, the articles remaining on the dispersion table 11 in the full discharge mode can be reliably discharged to the conveying unit 21.

[0027] Note that the control unit 102 may identify the articles remaining on the dispersion table 11 based on the weight of the articles on the dispersion table 11 loaded on the load cell that supports the dispersion table 11 instead of the captured image of the dispersion table 11 described above.

[0028] Further, the control unit 102 may drive the conveying unit 21 at a predetermined maximum conveying amount at the identified location in the full discharge mode. That is, when the conveying unit 21 is a supply feeder that vibrates the trough, it includes maximizing the vibration intensity (amplitude). According to such a configuration, in the full discharge mode, the articles on the dispersion table 11 can be quickly removed.

[0029] Further, the distribution table 11 may move the article from the distribution table 11 to the transport unit 21 by rotating within the horizontal plane. When articles jam in the transport unit 21, there may still be articles remaining on the distribution table 11. In such a case, when the distribution table 11 is rotated, the articles remaining on the distribution table 11 are sent to the transport unit 21 where no articles are jammed, so that the jamming of articles is resolved early.

[0030] Further, in the full discharge mode, the control unit 102 may not drive the parts of the transport unit 21 other than the location specified by the image processing unit 101. According to such a configuration, it is possible to contribute to reducing power consumption by not driving the transport unit 21 where no articles are specified.

[0031] Note that in the above-described full discharge mode, if the control unit 102 drives the transport unit 21 where articles remain for a predetermined time and no change is observed in the articles on the transport unit 21 specified by the image processing unit 101, the control unit 102 may be configured to output a warning signal indicating that the articles are to be removed from the specified transport unit 21 to a predetermined operation screen.

[0032] According to the present embodiment, since the transport unit 21 and the distribution table 11 at the location specified as the location where articles remain by the image processing unit 101 are driven to discharge the articles, it is possible to shorten the setup change time and the processing time associated with the end of production.

[0033] Further, according to the present embodiment, since the time during which the gate of the hopper is fully opened in the full discharge mode can be minimized, it is possible to contribute to reducing power consumption.

[0034] Although the present invention has been described in detail using the above-described embodiments, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in this specification. The present invention can be implemented in modified and changed forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. Therefore, the description in this specification is for illustrative purposes and has no restrictive meaning for the present invention.

Explanation of Symbols

[0035] 100…Combined weighing device 11…Dispersion table (dispersion unit) 21…Conveyor 30…Pool hopper 60…Imaging unit 90…External device 101…Image processing unit 102…Control unit

Claims

1. A combination weighing device, comprising: a dispersion unit that disperses articles; a plurality of conveying units that convey the articles discharged from the dispersion unit away from the dispersion unit in a direction away from the dispersion unit using a plurality of troughs; an imaging unit that images the conveying units; an image processing unit that identifies locations where the articles remain in the conveying units based on captured images of the conveying units captured by the imaging unit; a control unit that drives and controls the dispersion unit and the conveying units, wherein, in a mode in which the control unit discharges the articles remaining in the combination weighing device with the supply of new articles to the dispersion unit interrupted, the control unit drives the conveying units at the identified locations until the articles are gone.

2. The imaging unit images the dispersion unit, the image processing unit identifies the articles remaining in the dispersion unit based on the captured image of the dispersion unit captured by the imaging unit, and the control unit drives the dispersion unit until the articles identified by the image processing unit disappear from the dispersion unit in the mode according to Claim 1.

3. In the mode, the control unit drives the conveying units at the identified locations at a predetermined maximum conveying amount according to Claim 1.

4. The dispersion unit according to Claim 1 or 2 moves the articles from the dispersion unit to the conveying units by rotating in a horizontal plane.

5. In the mode, the control unit does not drive the conveying units other than the conveying units at the identified locations according to Claim 1.

Images