Layer thickness adjustment device and combination balance

Abstract

To provide a layer thickness adjustment device capable of reducing the burden of replacement work for layer thickness adjustment parts.SOLUTION: A layer thickness adjustment device 40, 40A which is provided in a combination balance 1 that is capable of conveying objects to be weighed to a plurality of weighing hoppers 60 arranged along a circumference in plan view, through a plurality of conveyance paths, comprises: a mounting member 41 which is attached to a support part 13 of the combination balance 1 and formed in an annular shape in plan view; a plurality of layer thickness adjustment parts 43 which are arranged along a circumferential direction of the mounting member 41 on the outer side in the radial direction of the mounting member 41 so as to be positioned on each of the plurality of conveyance paths, and capable of adjusting a layer thickness of the objects to be weighed on the conveyance paths; and a fixing member 42, 42A which is formed in an arc shape along a part of the circumferential direction of the mounting member 41, to which two or more of the layer thickness adjustment parts 43 being parts of the plurality of layer thickness adjustment parts 43 are fixed, and which is detachably attached to the mounting member 41.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a layer thickness adjusting device and a combination weigher technology. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a combination weigher is known in which objects to be weighed are transported to multiple weighing units and the objects are weighed using the weight measurements at each weighing unit. Also, a layer thickness adjusting device is known that is provided in the combination weigher and can adjust the layer thickness of the objects to be weighed so that the layer thickness of the objects on the transport path to each weighing unit is uniform. For example, this is described in Patent Document 1.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which a layer thickness adjustment device is provided in a combination weigher that measures the weight of transported objects to be weighed using multiple weighing sections (weighing hoppers). The combination weigher is equipped with a dispersion feeder that distributes the objects to be weighed along a conical top cone, and the multiple weighing hoppers are arranged circumferentially around the top cone. The combination weigher also has multiple linear feeders arranged radially so as to transport the objects to be weighed from the dispersion feeder to each of the multiple weighing hoppers.

[0004] The layer thickness adjusting device described in Patent Document 1 can adjust the layer thickness of the objects to be weighed moving on the linear feeder. The layer thickness adjusting device has a plurality of layer thickness regulating plates arranged along the circumferential direction of a ring-shaped frame so as to be positioned on each of the linear feeders. Each layer thickness regulating plate is fixed to the frame using bolts or the like. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-326023 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the above-described combination weigher, the layer thickness regulating plate (layer thickness adjusting unit) may be replaced, for example, depending on the type of object to be weighed. In the layer thickness adjusting device described in Patent Document 1, the layer thickness regulating plate may be replaced one by one, or all (all around) the layer thickness regulating plates may be replaced together with the frame.

[0007] However, if a method of replacing each layer-thickness regulating plate to be replaced is adopted, the burden of attaching and detaching each layer-thickness regulating plate may be increased. If a method of replacing all the layer-thickness regulating plates together with the frame is adopted, it becomes possible to replace multiple layer-thickness regulating plates at once, and the burden of attaching and detaching each layer-thickness regulating plate may be reduced. However, with the above method, even if only a portion of the all the layer-thickness regulating plates need to be replaced, it is necessary to prepare replacement parts that include all the layer-thickness regulating plates, which may increase the burden of the work.

[0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a layer thickness adjusting device and a combination weigher that can reduce the burden of replacing a layer thickness adjusting unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one embodiment of the present invention is a layer thickness adjustment device that is provided on a combination weigher that can transport objects to be weighed through multiple conveying paths to multiple weighing sections that are arranged along a circumference in a planar view, and includes an attachment member that is attached to an attachment target of the combination weigher and is formed in a ring shape in a planar view, multiple layer thickness adjustment sections that are arranged along the circumferential direction of the attachment member radially outside the attachment member so as to be positioned on each of the multiple conveying paths, and that can adjust the layer thickness of the objects to be weighed on the conveying paths, and a fixing member that is formed in an arc shape along part of the circumferential direction of the attachment member, is a part of the multiple layer thickness adjustment sections, and to which two or more of the layer thickness adjustment sections are fixed, and is detachably attached to the attachment member.

[0010] Furthermore, a combination weigher according to one aspect of the present invention includes a layer thickness adjustment device according to one aspect of the present invention, a plurality of weighing units arranged along a circumference in a plan view and measuring the weight of the objects to be weighed, and a plurality of conveying units that form the conveying path and convey the objects to the plurality of weighing units. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, the burden of replacing the layer thickness adjusting portion can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a combination weigher equipped with a layer thickness adjustment device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a layer thickness adjusting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] In the following, the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction will be defined according to the arrows shown in the drawings. In addition, for the convenience of explanation, the shapes and sizes of members in each drawing may be appropriately changed.

[0014] First, the configuration of a combination weigher 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0015] The combination weigher 1 shown in Figures 1 and 4 weighs and discharges a predetermined amount of supplied objects. Granular items (for example, foods such as grains and dried fruits) can be used as the objects. The combination weigher 1 can be used in a packaging line where the weighed objects are fed into a packaging machine (not shown) and packed into bags. The combination weigher 1 includes a base 10, a dispersion feeder 20, a linear feeder 30, a layer thickness adjustment device 40, a supply hopper 50, a weighing hopper 60, and a collection unit 70.

[0016] The base 10 constitutes the center of the combination weigher 1 in a plan view. The base 10 is formed into a hollow shape capable of accommodating various devices inside. Note that FIG. 4 shows the base 10 in a schematic manner. In the illustrated example, the base 10 is formed into a substantially truncated cone shape with a diameter that decreases downward. The base 10 is supported via a plurality of legs 12 on a base 11 that is placed on an installation target such as a floor.

[0017] The base 10 is provided with rod-shaped support members 13 extending upward. A pair of support members 13 are provided with a gap in the radial direction of the base 10. A supply funnel 14 is provided above the base 10 to guide the objects to be weighed, which are fed from a predetermined supply device (not shown), to the center of the base 10 in a plan view (the top of a top cone 21, which will be described later). The supply funnel 14 is formed in a generally cylindrical shape. The upper part of the supply funnel 14 is formed in a generally cylindrical shape with a diameter that decreases downward. The supply funnel 14 is supported by the pair of support members 13 via support stays 14a extending horizontally.

[0018] The dispersion feeder 20 shown in Figures 4 and 5 disperses the objects to be weighed guided by the supply funnel 14 in the radial direction (horizontal direction) of the base 10. The dispersion feeder 20 includes a top cone 21 having a substantially conical shape (frustum shape) and a vibration mechanism 22 that vibrates the top cone 21. Note that Figures 4 and 5 show the vibration mechanism 22 schematically. The top cone 21 is provided on the top of the base 10 via the vibration mechanism 22 so that its apex (upper end) is located in the center of the base 10 in a plan view.

[0019] As the top cone 21 vibrates due to the operation of the vibration mechanism 22, the objects to be weighed supplied to the dispersion feeder 20 are dispersed radially along the inclined surface of the top cone 21 and fall downward (towards the linear feeder 30 described later) from the radial outer part of the top cone 21.

[0020] The objects to be weighed from the dispersion feeder 20 are supplied to a plurality of weighing units each consisting of a linear feeder 30, a supply hopper 50, and a weighing hopper 60, which will be described below. The weighing units are capable of weighing a predetermined amount of the objects to be weighed dispersed by the dispersion feeder 20. In this embodiment, 14 weighing units are arranged around the circumferential direction of the base 10.

[0021] The linear feeder 30 shown in Figures 1, 4, and 5 transports the objects to be weighed dispersed by the dispersion feeder 20 so that they move in a straight line radially outward of the base 10. A plurality of linear feeders 30 (14 in total) are arranged along the circumferential direction of the base 10. Each linear feeder 30 includes a straight trough 31 extending in the radial direction of the base 10 and a vibration mechanism 32 that vibrates each straight trough 31. Of the multiple linear feeders 30, only a linear feeder 30 with a cross section formed is shown in Figure 4. The vibration mechanism 32 is also shown schematically in Figure 4.

[0022] The straight trough 31 is formed in the shape of a gutter, having a bottom and a pair of side walls rising from the bottom. The pair of side walls are formed so that they move apart as they go upward (see FIG. 1). The straight troughs 31 are arranged radially so as to be located radially outside the dispersion feeder 20 via the respective vibration mechanisms 32. The straight troughs 31 are provided in shapes according to the type of objects to be weighed.

[0023] The end of the straight trough 31 on the dispersion feeder 20 side (hereinafter referred to as the "base end") is located below the top cone 21 and is arranged so as to overlap with the radially outer part of the top cone 21 in a plan view (see FIG. 5). In addition, the end of the straight trough 31 opposite the base end (hereinafter referred to as the "tip end") is located radially outward from the base 10.

[0024] As the vibration mechanism 32 operates to vibrate the straight trough 31, the objects to be weighed supplied to the linear feeder 30 move radially outward on the straight trough 31, drop from the tip of the straight trough 31, and are supplied to the supply hopper 50 described later.

[0025] The layer thickness adjusting device 40 is capable of adjusting the thickness of the layer of the objects to be weighed moving on the linear trough 31 in each of the plurality of linear feeders 30. The layer thickness adjusting device 40 will be described in detail later.

[0026] 1 and 4 temporarily store the objects to be weighed conveyed by the linear feeder 30 and supply the stored objects to a weighing hopper 60, which will be described later. A plurality of (14) supply hoppers 50 are arranged along the circumferential direction on the radially outer side of the base 10 so as to correspond to each of the linear feeders 30. The supply hoppers 50 are supported on the base 10 via appropriate support members. Note that in FIG. 4, of the plurality of supply hoppers 50, only a supply hopper 50 with a cross section formed is shown, and the support members are schematically indicated by two-dot chain lines.

[0027] The supply hopper 50 is formed in a generally cylindrical shape that opens upward. A gate 51 that forms the bottom of the supply hopper 50 is provided. The gate 51 is provided so that it can be opened and closed by an appropriate drive mechanism (not shown). When the gate 51 is opened, the objects to be weighed in the supply hopper 50 fall and are supplied to the weighing hopper 60.

[0028] The weighing hoppers 60 measure the weight of the objects to be weighed supplied from the supply hoppers 50 and supply the measured weighted objects to a collecting section 70, which will be described later. The weight of the objects to be weighed in the weighing hoppers 60 is measured using an appropriate weight sensor (not shown). A plurality of weighing hoppers 60 (14 weighing hoppers 60) are arranged along the circumferential direction, radially outward from the base 10, so as to be located below each of the plurality of supply hoppers 50. The weighing hoppers 60 are supported on the base 10 via appropriate support members. Note that FIG. 4 shows only a cross-section of one of the plurality of weighing hoppers 60, and the support members are schematically indicated by two-dot chain lines.

[0029] The weighing hopper 60 is formed in a generally cylindrical shape that opens upward. The weighing hopper 60 is provided with a gate 61 that forms the bottom. The gate 61 is provided so that it can be opened and closed by an appropriate drive mechanism (not shown). When the gate 61 is opened, the objects to be weighed in the weighing hopper 60 fall and are supplied to the collecting section 70.

[0030] 4 is capable of collecting the objects to be weighed supplied from the weighing hoppers 60 and feeding the objects to be weighed into the packaging machine. The collecting section 70 is equipped with a collecting chute 71, a collecting funnel 72, and a collecting hopper 73.

[0031] The collecting chute 71 is an inclined member so as to collect the objects to be weighed that have fallen from the weighing hoppers 60 in the center of the combination weigher 1 in a plan view. The collecting funnel 72 is a member that guides the objects to be weighed from the collecting chute 71 to a collecting hopper 73, which will be described later. The collecting funnel 72 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with a diameter that decreases as it extends downward. The collecting hopper 73 temporarily stores the objects to be weighed from the collecting funnel 72 and then feeds the stored objects into a packaging machine. The collecting hopper 73 discharges the stored objects to the packaging machine, for example, based on a discharge command from the packaging machine.

[0032] The combination weigher 1 also includes a control device (not shown) that performs various calculations based on the measurement values ​​of the weight sensors. The control device is provided, for example, on the base 10. The control device can control the operation of each mechanism of the combination weigher 1 (such as the vibration mechanism 22, the vibration mechanism 32, and the drive mechanisms of the supply hopper 50 and the weighing hopper 60).

[0033] The combination weigher 1 (controller) described above weighs the objects to be weighed and controls the discharge of a predetermined weight of the objects to the packaging machine. More specifically, the objects to be weighed fed into the combination weigher 1 are dispersed by the dispersion feeder 20 and transported to each weighing unit (linear feeder 30, supply hopper 50, and weighing hopper 60). The control unit acquires the weight values ​​(measured values ​​based on weight sensors) of the objects to be weighed for each weighing unit, calculates a total weight (combined weight) by appropriately combining the respective weight values, and executes control to select a combination of weighing units (weighing hoppers 60) such that the combined weight falls within a predetermined weight range. The control unit then discharges the objects to be weighed of the selected weighing units to the packaging machine. In this way, the combination weigher 1 can appropriately discharge a predetermined weight of the objects to be weighed to the packaging machine.

[0034] The combination weigher 1 can also simultaneously weigh multiple different types of objects. In this case, one object can be weighed using some (e.g., half) of the multiple weighing units, and the remaining weighing units can be used to weigh the other objects. In this case, the linear trough 31 is changed appropriately depending on the type of object.

[0035] Next, the layer thickness adjustment device 40 will be described in detail with reference to Figures 1 to 5. The layer thickness adjustment device 40 is disposed so as to be located above the straight trough 31 (see Figures 1 and 4). The layer thickness adjustment device 40 is attached to the base 10 via a support part 13. The layer thickness adjustment device 40 includes an attachment member 41, a fixing member 42, and a layer thickness adjustment part 43.

[0036] 1 to 3 is attached to the support portion 13, and a fixing member 42 (described later) is attached to the attachment member 41. The attachment member 41 includes a ring portion 41a, a support stay 41b, and a protrusion 41c.

[0037] The ring portion 41a shown in FIG. 3 is the main structural element of the mounting member 41. The ring portion 41a is formed in a substantially annular shape that opens at the top and bottom. More specifically, the ring portion 41a is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with its axis pointing up and down. The ring portion 41a is arranged so that its center is located at the substantially center of the base body 10 in a plan view. The outer diameter of the ring portion 41a is formed to be larger than the outer diameter of the top cone 21 (see FIG. 4).

[0038] The support stays 41b are attached to the support parts 13. A pair of support stays 41b are provided so as to extend from the side surfaces of the ring part 41a towards the pair of support parts 13. A hole that penetrates vertically is formed at the tip of each support stay 41b in the extending direction. The support stays 41b are attached to the support parts 13 by inserting the support parts 13 into the hole.

[0039] As shown in Fig. 3, the pair of support stays 41b divide the side surfaces of the ring portion 41a into a front side (right front side) and a rear side (left rear side). Hereinafter, the front side surface of the ring portion 41a will be referred to as the "front side surface F" and the rear side surface will be referred to as the "rear side surface B."

[0040] The protrusions 41c are portions to which the fixing member 42, which will be described later, is attached. The protrusions 41c are formed so as to protrude radially outward from the side surfaces of the ring portion 41a. In this embodiment, a plurality of protrusions 41c (four in total) are provided so as to be positioned on both circumferential ends of each side surface (front side surface F and rear side surface B) of the ring portion 41a.

[0041] The protrusion 41c is formed by a screw onto which a nut can be attached. As shown in Fig. 3, a wing nut 41d is attached to the protrusion 41c. A cap nut 41e is attached to the tip of the protrusion 41c to prevent the wing nut 41d from coming off.

[0042] The fixing member 42 is detachably attached to the mounting member 41, and a layer thickness adjusting portion 43, which will be described later, is fixed to the fixing member 42. The fixing member 42 is arranged radially outward from the mounting member 41. In this embodiment, a pair of fixing members 42 is provided so as to be positioned on each of the front side surface F and the rear side surface B of the ring portion 41a. The fixing members 42 are formed identically to each other. Below, the configuration of the fixing member 42 will be described, focusing on the fixing member 42 provided on the front side surface F. Also, FIG. 3 illustrates only the fixing member 42 provided on the front side surface F. The fixing member 42 includes a main body portion 42a and a fixing protrusion 42c.

[0043] The main body portion 42a is the main structural element of the fixing member 42. The main body portion 42a is formed in an arc shape that follows the circumferential direction of the ring portion 41a. More specifically, the main body portion 42a is formed in a substantially half-cylindrical shape that corresponds to the front side surface F of the ring portion 41a. The main body portion 42a is disposed so as to cover the front side surface F from the radially outer side.

[0044] 3, the main body 42a is formed with slits 42b for attachment to the attachment member 41. The slits 42b are formed by cutting out the main body 42a from the lower end to the middle in the up-down direction. The slits 42b are formed on both circumferential ends of the main body 42a so as to be positioned corresponding to the protrusions 41c of the attachment member 41.

[0045] The fixing protrusions 42c are portions to which the layer thickness adjusting portions 43, which will be described later, are attached. The fixing protrusions 42c are formed so as to protrude radially outward from the side surface of the main body portion 42a. A plurality of fixing protrusions 42c (seven in this embodiment) are provided to correspond to the number of layer thickness adjusting portions 43 attached to one fixing member 42. The plurality of fixing protrusions 42c are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0046] Fixing protrusion 42c is formed by a screw to which a nut can be attached. As shown in Fig. 3, a wing nut 42d is attached to fixing protrusion 42c. A cap nut 42e is attached to the tip of fixing protrusion 42c to prevent wing nut 42d from coming off.

[0047] 2, the fixing member 42 can be held on the mounting member 41 by engaging the slits 42b of the fixing member 42 with the protrusions 41c of the mounting member 41. In this state, the fixing member 42 can be attached to the mounting member 41 by tightening the wing nut 41d and pressing the main body 42a toward the mounting member 41. Furthermore, the fixing member 42 can be removed from the mounting member 41 by loosening the wing nut 41d and moving the fixing member 42 upward.

[0048] The layer thickness adjusting unit 43 is fixed to the fixing member 42 and adjusts the layer thickness of the objects to be weighed moving on the straight trough 31. A plurality of layer thickness adjusting units 43 (14 in this embodiment) are provided to correspond to the number of straight troughs 31. As shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of layer thickness adjusting units 43 are arranged along the circumferential direction of the mounting member 41 (pair of fixing members 42). Also, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, half the circumference (seven) of the layer thickness adjusting units 43 are fixed to one fixing member 42. The layer thickness adjusting unit 43 includes a fixing portion 43a and a plate portion 43c.

[0049] The fixing portion 43a is a portion that is fixed to the fixing member 42. The fixing portion 43a constitutes the upper portion of the layer thickness adjusting portion 43. The fixing portion 43a is formed in a generally plate shape with the plate surface facing in the radial direction of the fixing member 42. The fixing portion 43a has an elongated hole 43b that penetrates the fixing portion 43a and extends in the vertical direction. The fixing protrusion 42c of the fixing member 42 is inserted into the elongated hole 43b.

[0050] The plate portion 43c is a portion that adjusts the layer thickness of the object to be weighed. The plate portion 43c constitutes the lower portion of the layer thickness adjustment portion 43. The plate portion 43c is formed in a generally plate shape with its plate surface facing in the radial direction of the fixing member 42. The plate portion 43c is formed of an elastically deformable material. The lower end portion of the plate portion 43c is formed in a shape that corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the straight trough 31 when viewed in the radial direction (the shape defined by the bottom surface and side walls). The plate portion 43c is fixed to the fixing portion 43a using an appropriate fastener.

[0051] With the fixing protrusion 42c inserted into the elongated hole 43b of the fixing portion 43a, the wing nut 42d is tightened to press the fixing portion 43a toward the fixing member 42, thereby fixing the layer thickness adjusting portion 43 to the fixing member 42. Furthermore, with the wing nut 42d loosened, the layer thickness adjusting portion 43 can be moved along the elongated hole 43b relative to the fixing member 42 to adjust the vertical position of the layer thickness adjusting portion 43.

[0052] The following describes how the layer thickness of the objects to be weighed is adjusted by the layer thickness adjusting device 40. As shown in FIG. 5, the layer thickness adjusting unit 43 is disposed so that the plate portion 43c is located inside the conveying path of the straight-advancing trough 31. The objects to be weighed moving on the straight-advancing trough 31 are leveled so that their layer thickness is roughly constant as they pass through the gap between the bottom surface of the straight-advancing trough 31 and the plate portion 43c. The layer thickness adjusting device 40 can adjust the layer thickness of the objects to be weighed moving on the straight-advancing trough 31 by changing the vertical position of the layer thickness adjusting unit 43. This makes it possible to adjust the amount of the objects to be supplied to the supply hopper 50.

[0053] Here, in the combination weigher 1, when changing the type of object to be weighed, it is necessary to change the type of layer thickness adjustment unit 43 in conjunction with replacing the linear trough 31. According to the layer thickness adjustment device 40 of this embodiment, each half-circle layer thickness adjustment unit 43 is fixed to a fixing member 42 that is detachably formed on the mounting member 41. This reduces the burden of the replacement work when replacing the half-circle layer thickness adjustment unit 43, for example, when changing the type of object to be weighed using half of the weighing units. Specifically, the half-circle layer thickness adjustment unit 43 can be replaced together with the fixing member 42 on the mounting member 41, thereby reducing the burden of the replacement work. Furthermore, the removed layer thickness adjustment unit 43 can be cleaned together with the fixing member 42. An operator can prepare a replacement member in advance, in which the half-circle layer thickness adjustment unit 43 is fixed to the fixing member 42, depending on the type of object to be weighed, etc.

[0054] It is also possible to fix the layer-thickness adjusting portions 43 directly to the mounting member 41 without providing the fixing member 42 as described above, and replace all of the layer-thickness adjusting portions 43 along the entire circumference together with the mounting member 41 at once. However, with the above method, even if it is desired to change only a portion (half of the circumference in this embodiment) of the layer-thickness adjusting portions 43 along the entire circumference, the layer-thickness adjusting portions 43 that do not need to be replaced (half of the circumference of the layer-thickness adjusting portions 43) will have to be replaced. In this case, it will be time-consuming to prepare replacement members (mounting member 41 to which the layer-thickness adjusting portions 43 along the entire circumference are fixed), which may increase the workload.

[0055] In this embodiment, the fixed member 42 to which half the circumference of the layer thickness adjustment portion 43 is fixed can be prepared as a replacement member, thereby reducing the effort required to prepare the layer thickness adjustment portion 43 that does not need to be replaced as described above, and also saving space for storing and cleaning the replacement member.

[0056] In the above explanation, an example was shown in which the layer thickness adjustment parts 43 were replaced together with the fixed member 42 in order to change the type of multiple layer thickness adjustment parts 43. However, according to the layer thickness adjustment device 40 of this embodiment, it is also possible to replace the layer thickness adjustment parts 43 together with the fixed member 42 in order to change the upper and lower positions of multiple layer thickness adjustment parts 43 (for example, half a circumference) at once.

[0057] Furthermore, the layer-thickness adjusting device 40 is not limited to the above-described example. Specifically, in the present embodiment, an example has been shown in which layer-thickness adjusting portions 43 corresponding to half the circumference are fixed to each of two fixing members 42, but the number of fixing members 42 and the number of layer-thickness adjusting portions 43 fixed to the fixing members 42 are not limited to the above-described example. The number of layer-thickness adjusting portions 43 fixed to the fixing members 42 is a portion of the entire circumference of the layer-thickness adjusting portions 43, such as 1 / 3 or 1 / 4 of the entire circumference, and various numbers of two or more can be used. Furthermore, the shape (circumferential length) and number of the fixing members 42 can be changed as appropriate depending on the number of layer-thickness adjusting portions 43 to be fixed. Specifically, when layer-thickness adjusting portions 43 corresponding to 1 / 4 of the entire circumference are fixed to one fixing member 42, a configuration in which four fixing members 42 each having a shape obtained by dividing a cylinder into four can be used.

[0058] Furthermore, it is possible to combine fixing members 42 with different shapes as appropriate depending on the type of object to be weighed. For example, when weighing three types of objects to be weighed, it is possible to combine one fixing member 42 to which half the circumference of the layer thickness adjusting portion 43 is fixed and two fixing members 42 to which one-fourth of the circumference of the layer thickness adjusting portion 43 is fixed.

[0059] In addition, in the present embodiment, an example has been shown in which all of the layer-thickness adjusting portions 43 are fixed to the fixing member 42 and can be replaced together with the fixing member 42, but the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, some of the layer-thickness adjusting portions 43 around the entire circumference may be fixed to the fixing member 42, and the remaining layer-thickness adjusting portions 43 may be fixed directly to the mounting member 41 without being provided on the fixing member 42.

[0060] The first embodiment of the present invention has been described above. Below, a layer thickness adjusting device 40A according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Note that the following will describe configurations different from those of the first embodiment, and descriptions of configurations similar to those of the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate.

[0061] The layer thickness adjustment device 40A differs from the first embodiment mainly in the configuration of the fixing member 42A. Like the fixing member 42, the fixing member 42A according to this embodiment has half the circumference of the layer thickness adjustment portions 43 fixed thereto. The fixing member 42A includes a first fixing member 44 and a second fixing member 45. Some of the half circumference of the layer thickness adjustment portions 43 (three on the left in the illustrated example) are fixed to the first fixing member 44, and the remaining layer thickness adjustment portions 43 (four on the right in the illustrated example) are fixed to the second fixing member 45. The first fixing member 44 and the second fixing member 45 are arranged so as to overlap each other in the radial direction.

[0062] 6 shows the first fixing member 44 on one side (front side) of the pair of fixing members 42. In the illustration, the layer-thickness adjusting portion 43 is shown schematically, and the members for fixing the layer-thickness adjusting portion 43 (fixing protrusion 42c, wing nut 42d, and cap nut 42e) are not shown. In addition, the second fixing member 45 and the layer-thickness adjusting portion 43 fixed to the second fixing member 45 are shown solid.

[0063] The first fixing member 44 is detachably attached to the attachment member 41, and is the attachment target for the second fixing member 45. The first fixing member 44 has a main body portion 44a that is generally similar to the main body portion 42a of the fixing member 42.

[0064] As shown in Fig. 6, three layer-thickness adjusting parts 43 are fixed to the left circumferential part of the main body part 44a. Although not shown, a fixing protrusion 42c, a wing nut 42d, and a cap nut 42e are provided on the left circumferential part of the main body part 44a. In addition, a slit 44b for attachment to the attachment member 41 is formed in the main body part 44a. The position and shape of the slit 44b are generally similar to those of the slit 42b of the fixing member 42.

[0065] The main body 44a is provided with a protrusion 44c for attaching the second fixing member 45. The protrusion 44c is provided in approximately the circumferential center of the main body 44a. The configuration of the protrusion 44c is generally similar to that of the protrusion 41c of the mounting member 41. The protrusion 44c is provided with a wing nut 44d and a cap nut 44e (which are generally similar to the wing nut 41d and the cap nut 41e).

[0066] The second fixing member 45 is disposed radially outward of the first fixing member 44 and is detachably attached to the first fixing member 44. The second fixing member 45 has a main body 45a in the shape of a divided cylinder so as to cover the right side portion of the first fixing member 44 (the portion from the right end to slightly left of the circumferential center).

[0067] 6, four layer thickness adjusting parts 43 are fixed to the main body part 45a. Although not shown, the main body part 45a is provided with a fixing protrusion 42c, a wing nut 42d, and a cap nut 42e.

[0068] A first slit 45b is formed on the circumferential right side of the main body portion 45a, which can engage with the protrusion 41c of the mounting member 41. Furthermore, a second slit 45c is formed on the circumferential left side of the main body portion 45a, which can engage with the protrusion 44c of the first fixing member 44. The shapes of the first slit 45b and the second slit 45c are generally similar to that of the slit 44b.

[0069] With first slits 45b and second slits 45c of main body 45a engaged with protrusions 41c and 44c, second fixing member 45 can be attached to mounting member 41 via first fixing member 44 by tightening wing nuts 41d and 44d. Furthermore, second fixing member 45 can be detached from first fixing member 44 by loosening wing nut 42d. Furthermore, in this embodiment, fixing member 42A can also be attached to and detached from mounting member 41 with second fixing member 45 fixed to first fixing member 44.

[0070] According to the layer thickness adjustment device 40A as described above, by attaching and detaching the second fixing member 45, some (four on the right in the illustrated example) of the layer thickness adjustment units 43 fixed to the fixing member 42A can be replaced together with the second fixing member 45. Also, by attaching and detaching the fixing member 42A while the second fixing member 45 is fixed to the first fixing member 44, all (seven) of the layer thickness adjustment units 43 fixed to the fixing member 42A can be replaced together. According to this embodiment, a layer thickness adjustment device 40A that can accommodate many measurement patterns can be formed with a simple replacement operation.

[0071] The layer thickness adjusting device 40A is not limited to the above-described example. Specifically, the number of layer thickness adjusting parts 43 fixed to the first fixing member 44 and the second fixing member 45 and the shape (circumferential length) of each fixing member can be changed as appropriate. In addition, although the present embodiment shows an example in which two fixing members (the first fixing member 44 and the second fixing member 45) are stacked in the radial direction, it is also possible to stack three or more fixing members. In this case, a configuration can be adopted in which an additional fixing member is detachably attached to the radially outer side of the second fixing member 45.

[0072] As described above, the layer thickness adjusting devices 40 and 40A according to this embodiment are as follows: A layer thickness adjusting device (40, 40A) provided in a combination weigher (1) capable of transporting objects to be weighed through a plurality of transport paths (paths of straight troughs (31)) to a plurality of weighing hoppers (60) arranged along a circumference in a plan view, a mounting member 41 that is attached to the support portion 13 (mounting target) of the combination weigher 1 and is formed in a ring shape in a plan view; a plurality of layer thickness adjusting units (43) arranged radially outside the mounting member (41) along the circumferential direction of the mounting member (41) so as to be positioned on each of the plurality of conveying paths, the layer thickness adjusting units (43) being capable of adjusting the layer thickness of the objects to be weighed on the conveying paths; a fixing member (42, 42A) formed in an arc shape along a part of the circumferential direction of the mounting member (41), which is a part of the plurality of layer thickness adjusting portions (43), to which two or more of the layer thickness adjusting portions (43) are fixed, and which is detachably attached to the mounting member (41); It is equipped with the following. This configuration can reduce the burden of replacing the layer thickness adjusting units 43 provided on the transport path of the combination weigher 1. That is, by attaching and detaching the fixing members 42, 42A to which some (e.g., half the circumference) of the plurality of layer thickness adjusting units 43 are fixed to the mounting member 41, all of the layer thickness adjusting units 43 can be replaced at once. Furthermore, with the above configuration, unlike when a replacement member is used to fix the entire circumference of the layer thickness adjusting units 43, it is possible to reduce the effort required to prepare replacement members (fixing members 42, 42A to which the layer thickness adjusting units 43 are fixed), and it is also possible to save space for storing and cleaning the replacement members.

[0073] The fixing members 42 and 42A are formed in a semicircular arc shape. Half of the plurality of layer thickness adjusting portions 43 are fixed to the fixing members 42, 42A. By configuring in this way, it is possible to suitably replace half of the thickness adjusting portion 43 around the circumference.

[0074] Moreover, the fixing members 42 and 42A are A plurality of such holes are provided along the circumferential direction of the mounting member 41 . With this configuration, the layer thickness adjusting portion 43 can be replaced for each of the plurality of fixing members 42, 42A.

[0075] Moreover, the fixing member 42A is a first fixing member 44 disposed radially outward of the mounting member 41 and detachably attached to the mounting member 41; a second fixing member 45 disposed radially outward of the first fixing member 44 and detachably attached to the mounting member 41 via the first fixing member 44; It is equipped with the following. With this configuration, it is possible to form a layer thickness adjustment device 40A that can accommodate many measurement patterns with a simple replacement operation. That is, by forming the second fixing member 45 so that it is detachable from the mounting member 41 via the first fixing member 44, it is possible to replace some (for example, four) of the layer thickness adjustment units 43 fixed to the fixing member 42A together with the second fixing member 45. Furthermore, by attaching and detaching the fixing member 42A while the second fixing member 45 is fixed to the first fixing member 44, it is possible to replace all (for example, seven) of the layer thickness adjustment units 43 fixed to the fixing member 42A at once.

[0076] In addition, the combination weigher 1 is Layer thickness adjusting devices 40, 40A, A plurality of weighing hoppers 60 (weighing units) arranged along a circumference in a plan view and measuring the weight of the objects to be weighed; a plurality of linear feeders 30 (transport units) that constitute the transport path and transport the objects to be weighed to a plurality of weighing hoppers 60; It is equipped with the following. By configuring in this way, the burden of replacing the layer thickness adjusting unit 43 of the combination weigher 1 can be reduced.

[0077] The linear feeder 30 according to this embodiment is one embodiment of a conveying section according to the present invention. The weighing hopper 60 according to this embodiment is one embodiment of the weighing section according to the present invention.

[0078] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above configurations, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims.

[0079] For example, the shapes of each part of the combination weigher 1 (base 10, dispersion feeder 20, linear feeder 30, layer thickness adjusting device 40, supply hopper 50, weighing hopper 60, and collecting unit 70) described in each of the above embodiments are merely examples, and are not limited to the above-mentioned shapes. The shapes of each of the above parts can be changed to any shape.

[0080] In addition, in each of the above embodiments, an example in which 14 weighing units (linear feeders 30, supply hoppers 50, and weighing hoppers 60) are provided is shown, but the number of weighing units is not limited to the above example, and various numbers can be set. When the number of weighing units is changed, the number of layer thickness adjustment units 43 is also changed to correspond to the number of weighing units.

[0081] Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, an example was shown in which a granular item (e.g., food) was used as the object to be weighed, but the object to be weighed is not limited to the above and various other items can be used. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 1 Combination weigher 20 Dispersion Feeder 30 Linear Feeder 40 Layer thickness adjustment device 50 Supply hopper 60 Weighing hopper

Claims

1. A layer thickness adjustment device provided in a combination weigher capable of conveying objects to be weighed through a plurality of conveying paths to a plurality of weighing sections arranged along a circumference in a plan view, a mounting member that is attached to an attachment target of the combination weigher and that is formed in a ring shape in a plan view; a plurality of layer thickness adjusting units arranged radially outside the mounting member along a circumferential direction of the mounting member so as to be positioned on each of the plurality of conveying paths, the layer thickness adjusting units being capable of adjusting a layer thickness of the objects to be weighed on the conveying paths; a fixing member formed in an arc shape along a portion of the circumferential direction of the mounting member, to which two or more of the layer-thickness adjusting portions, which are some of the plurality of layer-thickness adjusting portions, are fixed, and which is detachably attached to the mounting member; A layer thickness adjusting device comprising:

2. The fixing member is formed in a semicircular arc shape, Half of the plurality of layer thickness adjusting units are fixed to the fixing member. The layer thickness adjusting device according to claim 1 .

3. The fixing member is A plurality of the fixing members are provided along the circumferential direction of the fixing member. The layer thickness adjusting device according to claim 1 .

4. The fixing member is a first fixing member disposed radially outward of the mounting member and detachably attached to the mounting member; a second fixing member disposed radially outward of the first fixing member and detachably attached to the attachment member via the first fixing member; Equipped with The layer thickness adjusting device according to claim 1 .

5. A layer thickness adjusting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4; a plurality of weighing units arranged along a circumference in a plan view and configured to measure the weight of the objects to be weighed; a plurality of conveying units that form the conveying path and convey the objects to be weighed to a plurality of weighing units; A combination weigher comprising:

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