Combination weighing device

Abstract

To reduce excessive supply and insufficient supply of articles.SOLUTION: A combination weighing device 1 according to one embodiment comprises: a dispersion unit 2 for dispersing articles M supplied from an external device 100 in a radial form; a plurality of radial feeders 31, 3i, 3n for conveying the articles M conveyed from the dispersion unit 2 in a direction getting away from the dispersion unit 2; a camera 20 for imaging a region where an article M on the radial feeder is conveyed; and a control unit 40 for controlling supply of articles M by the external device 100 on the basis of a captured image having been captured by the camera 20.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, a technique is known in which an eccentric dispersion table is rotated and stopped toward a pool hopper lacking articles (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4).

[0003] Also, in a combination weighing device, a technique is known in which a residence area of an article on a radiation feeder is detected by a camera, and the radiation feeder having the detected residence area is driven and controlled (see, for example, Patent Document 5).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Patent Document 5

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the conventional technology, control of the supply of articles to the dispersion table was performed based on the output of a load sensor that detects the mass of the articles on the dispersion table. Therefore, even if an article remained on the radiation feeder, if there was no article on the dispersion table, an article was supplied to the dispersion table.

[0006] Therefore, for example, in the case of an article such as chicken thigh meat, when it is supplied to the dispersion table and immediately flows into the radial feeder, there is a problem that the article tends to be excessively supplied to the radial feeder.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a combined weighing device capable of reducing over-supply and under-supply of articles.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] A combined weighing device according to an embodiment includes a dispersion unit that disperses articles supplied from an external device in a radial manner, a plurality of radial feeders that convey the articles conveyed from the dispersion unit in a direction away from the dispersion unit, a camera that images a region for conveying the articles on the radial feeders, and a control unit that controls the supply of the articles by the external device based on an imaged image captured by the camera.

Effects of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a combined weighing device capable of reducing over-supply and under-supply of articles.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] 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, parts having different dimensional relationships and ratios may be included 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 descriptions, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not shown.

[0012] (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 an example of the regions R1 and R2 occupied by the articles M on the radiating feeders 31 and 3 i 、3 n in a certain embodiment.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the combination weighing 1 according to the present embodiment includes a dispersion table 2, a plurality of radiating feeders 3 (31, 3 i 、3 n ), a plurality of pool hoppers 41, 4 i 、4 n , a camera 20, an image processing unit 30, and a control unit 40.

[0014] The dispersion table 2 constitutes a dispersion unit that disperses the articles M supplied from the external device 100 in a radial manner. This dispersion table 2 may be configured such that a conical table 2 vibrates, or may be configured to rotate a conical dispersion table 2 in a horizontal plane.

[0015] The radiating feeders 3 (31, 3 i 、3 n) conveys the article M conveyed from the distribution table 2 in a direction away from the distribution table 2. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the radiation feeders 31, 3 i 、3 n are arranged in a substantially circumferential shape below and around the distribution table 2. Also, the radiation feeders 31, 3 i 、3 n may be composed of vibration feeders that advance the article M on the trough with an electromagnetic vibrator and a parallel plate spring, or may be belt conveyors.

[0016] The pool hoppers 41, 4 i 、4 n are provided corresponding to each of the plurality of radiation feeders 31, 3 i 、3 n and receive and store the articles M supplied from each of the plurality of radiation feeders 31, 3 i 、3 n .

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, the camera 20 images the areas R1, R2 where the article M on each radiation feeder 31, 3 i 、3 n is conveyed. Note that the camera 20 may be one or a plurality. For example, two cameras 20 may complement each other to image the areas R1, R2 where the article M on all the radiation feeders 31, 3 i 、3 n is conveyed.

[0018] Here, the area R1 is an area adjacent to the distribution table 2, and the area R2 is a downstream area following the area R1.

[0019] The control unit 40 controls the supply of the article M by the external device 100 based on the captured image captured by the camera 20.

[0020] The image processing unit 30 obtains a first ratio indicating the ratio of the area of the article M to the area of the area R1 based on the captured image captured by the camera 20.

[0021] When the first ratio is greater than or equal to the first predetermined value, the control unit 40 may instruct the external device 100 to stop the supply of the article M. When the first ratio is less than the second predetermined value, the control unit 40 may instruct the external device 100 to start the supply of the article M.

[0022] Here, the first predetermined value and the second predetermined value may be the same value or different values.

[0023] According to such a configuration, since the first ratio serves as an index of the residence status of the article M in the region R1 adjacent to the dispersion table 2, by controlling the supply of the article M by the external device 100 according to the residence status, it is possible to effectively reduce the over-supply and under-supply of the article M.

[0024] In addition to the above-described captured image, the control unit 40 may control the supply of the article M by the external device 100 based on the mass of the article M loaded on the load cell that supports the dispersion table 2. According to such a configuration, it is possible to control the supply of the article M by the external device 100 based on the mass of the article M on the dispersion table 2 in consideration of the residence status of the article M on the radiation feeder 3, so that over-supply of the article M can be reduced.

[0025] Further, when the above-described first ratio is less than the third predetermined value, the control unit 40 may increase the conveying force of the dispersion table 2.

[0026] For example, when the above-described first ratio is less than the third predetermined value, the control unit 40 may drive the dispersion table 2 with a predetermined vibration intensity, or may increase or decrease the rotation of the dispersion table 2 to forcibly discharge the article M on the radiation feeder 3.

[0027] According to such a configuration, it is possible to convey the article M from the dispersion table 2 to the radiation feeder 3 with less article M in the region R1 adjacent to the dispersion table 2.

[0028] Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, the distribution table 2 may be configured to rotate in a horizontal plane and form the outer diameter of an eccentric cone having a steep slope 2s and a gentle slope 2f.

[0029] Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, since the apex P of the distribution table 2 is eccentric, the rotation center C of the distribution table 2 is set on the gentle slope 2f. Therefore, if the gentle slope 2f is directed toward the radiation feeder 3 with fewer articles M, the article M supplied to the distribution table 2 will slide on the gentle slope 2f and reach the targeted radiation feeders 31, 3 i 、3 n and be conveyed onto them.

[0030] In such a case, the control unit 40 selects the radiation feeder 3 with the least above-mentioned first ratio, and when the first ratio in the selected radiation feeder 3 is equal to or greater than a fourth predetermined value, instructs the external device 100 to stop supplying the article M.

[0031] Here, when the first ratio in the radiation feeder 3 with the least above-mentioned first ratio is equal to or greater than a fourth predetermined value, it is assumed that the article M discharged from the distribution table 2 remains on all the radiation feeders 31, 3 i 、3 n . Therefore, according to such a configuration, even when there is no article M on the distribution table 2, if the supply of the article M by the external device 100 is stopped, the article M on the radiation feeder 3 can be moved to the downstream region R2 by the selectively driven radiation feeder 3 in the combined weighing 1.

[0032] Further, the image processing unit 30 may acquire a second ratio indicating the ratio of the area of the article M in the area of the above-mentioned region R2.

[0033] Here, when the control unit 40 can identify the radiation feeder 3 with the least total value of the above-mentioned first ratio and second ratio, it may control the rotation direction and stop position of the distribution table 2 so that the gentle slope 2f faces the radiation feeder 3.

[0034] According to such a configuration, the article M input from the external device 100 to the dispersion table 2 can be supplied toward the radiation feeder 3 where the article M is considered to be the least.

[0035] According to the present embodiment, if the article M stays in the radiation feeders 31 and 3 i 、3 n even when there is no article M on the dispersion table 2, the supply of articles from the external device 100 to the dispersion table 2 can be temporarily stopped. Therefore, the radiation feeder 3 where the article M stays will not be over-supplied with the article M.

[0036] 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 as modifications and variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention defined by the description of the claims. Therefore, the description of this specification is for the purpose of illustration and has no restrictive meaning for the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0037] 1...Combined weighing device 2...Dispersion table (dispersion unit) 2s...Steep slope 2f...Gentle slope 31, 3 i 、3 n ...Radiation feeder 41, 4 i 、4 n ...Pool hopper 20...Camera 30...Image processing unit 40...Control unit 100...External device M...Article

Claims

1. A dispersion unit that radially disperses articles supplied from an external device, a plurality of radial feeders that convey the articles conveyed from the dispersion unit in a direction away from the dispersion unit, a camera that images a region for conveying the articles on the radial feeder, and a control unit that controls the supply of the articles by the external device based on an imaging image captured by the camera. A combination weighing device.

2. The combination weighing device further includes an image processing unit that obtains a first ratio indicating a ratio of the area of the articles in the area adjacent to the dispersion unit among the areas based on the imaging image, wherein the control unit, when the first ratio is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value, instructs the external device to stop the supply of the articles, when the first ratio is less than a second predetermined value, instructs the external device to start the supply of the articles. The combination weighing device according to claim 1.

3. The control unit controls the supply of the articles by the external device based on the imaging image and the mass of the articles on the dispersion unit. The combination weighing device according to claim 1.

4. The control unit increases the conveying force of the dispersion unit when the first ratio is less than a third predetermined value. The combination weighing device according to claim 2.

5. The dispersion unit rotates in a horizontal plane and forms an outer diameter of an eccentric cone having a steep slope and a gentle slope, wherein the control unit, when the first ratio in the radial feeder with the smallest first ratio is equal to or greater than a fourth predetermined value, instructs the external device to stop the supply of the articles, and controls the rotation direction and stop position of the dispersion unit so that the gentle slope faces the radial feeder. The combination weighing device according to claim 2.

6. The image processing unit obtains a second ratio indicating a ratio of the area of the articles in the area on the downstream side following the area adjacent to the dispersion unit, wherein the control unit, when it is possible to identify the radial feeder with the smallest total value of the first ratio and the second ratio, controls the rotation direction and stop position of the dispersion unit so that the gentle slope faces the radial feeder. The combination weighing device according to claim 5.

Images