Agricultural product collection and shipping apparatus

Abstract

To provide an agricultural product collection and shipping apparatus that can perform storage designed for a variety of product types and grades while suppressing the number of pool conveyors.SOLUTION: Pool conveyors 14A-14H of an agricultural product collection and shipping apparatus 10 include a first pool conveyor that stores cases C of the same grade, and a second pool conveyor that stores cases C of different grades in a random manner. The agricultural product collection and shipping apparatus includes a first reading device 18 provided on a supply conveyor 12 and configured to read identification information of the cases C supplied to the pool conveyors 14A-14H, and a control device 20 that controls operations of the first pool conveyor and the second pool conveyor on the basis of the read identification information. When a predetermined number of cases C of the same grade are stored in the first pool conveyor, the control device 20 discharges the cases to a discharge conveyor 22 and counts the number of cases of the same grade stored randomly in the second pool conveyor. When a predetermined number of cases of the same grade are stored in the second pool conveyor, the control device discharges the cases to the discharge conveyor 22.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a collection and shipping device used for collecting and shipping cases containing agricultural products. [Background technology]

[0002] A method for pre-shipment processing of agricultural produce has been proposed in which cases containing different items and grades of agricultural produce are sorted and stacked by item and grade in a collection and shipping device that randomly transports cases containing different items and grades of agricultural produce on a conveyor line (Patent Document 1). In Patent Document 1, agricultural produce stored in cases 2 and 3 are inspected and sorted in upstream line section 50 of receiving lines 11A and 11B, and the inspected and sorted cases 2 and 3 are sorted by item and grade and accumulated in each intermediate line section 51. A predetermined number of cases 2 and 3 containing the same item and grade are then moved to downstream line section 52, and in downstream line section 52, cases 2 and 3 containing the same item and grade of agricultural produce are stacked in multiple tiers by stacking means 55. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-037423 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the collection and shipping device of Patent Document 1, only cases of the same type and grade can be pooled on each intermediate line 51, and if it is necessary to handle multiple types or grades, intermediate lines 51 (pool conveyors) that can handle combinations of types and grades are required, which creates the problem of the facility becoming larger.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an agricultural product collection and shipping device that can store a variety of varieties and grades while reducing the number of pool conveyors. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The first invention of the present invention is an agricultural produce collection and shipping device comprising a supply conveyor that supplies cases in which agricultural produce is packed by grade, a plurality of pool conveyors that are provided downstream of the supply conveyor and that store the cases, and a plurality of cases stored on the pool conveyors that are discharged to a discharge conveyor in predetermined numbers for shipping processing, the pool conveyors comprising a first pool conveyor that stores cases of the same grade, and a second pool conveyor that randomly stores cases of different grades, and a plurality of pool conveyors that are provided on the supply conveyor and that store cases of different grades. and a control means for controlling the operation of the first pool conveyor and the second pool conveyor based on the identification information read by the first reading means, wherein the control means discharges cases to a discharge conveyor when a predetermined number of cases of the same class have accumulated on the first pool conveyor, counts the number of cases of the same class randomly accumulated on the second pool conveyor, and discharges the cases to the discharge conveyor when a predetermined number of cases of the same class have accumulated on the second pool conveyor.

[0007] The second invention of the present invention is an agricultural product collection and shipping device according to the first invention, which is characterized in that it comprises a second reading means provided on the discharge conveyor for reading the identification information of the cases transported by the discharge conveyor, and a second sorting means for sorting the cases transported by the discharge conveyor, and the control means sorts the predetermined number of cases of the same class stored from other cases among the cases randomly stored on the second pool conveyor using the second sorting means.

[0008] The third invention of the present invention is an agricultural product collection and shipping device according to the first invention, characterized in that the second pool conveyor is equipped with a loop conveyor that transports cases along a circular movement path, and the control means discharges cases to a discharge conveyor when a predetermined number of cases of the same class that are randomly stored on the loop conveyor have accumulated. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an agricultural product collection and shipping device that can store a variety of varieties and grades of produce while reducing the number of pool conveyors. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view showing the layout of an agricultural product collection and shipping device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view showing the configuration of a portion of the downstream portion of the pool conveyor. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged plan view showing a state in which a case being transported by a discharge conveyor is pushed onto a palletizer conveyor by a pusher. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the layout of the agricultural product collection and shipping device according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the layout of an agricultural product collection and shipping device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] In the agricultural produce collection and shipping device 10 of the first embodiment, agricultural products that have been classified into grades based on multiple criteria such as quality and size in an upstream sorting section are sorted and packed into cases C such as cardboard boxes. In this embodiment, fruit is assumed as an example of agricultural products, and the fruits are classified into three grades (excellent, good, and fair) and three classes (L, M, and S). That is, each case C is packed with agricultural products that have been sorted into one of nine classes based on a combination of grade (quality) and class (size).

[0013] In the agricultural produce collection and shipping device 10, cases C containing boxed agricultural produce of a specific quality and size are randomly supplied from the sorting section via a supply conveyor 12. A storage section 14 that stores the cases C is arranged downstream of the supply conveyor 12 (sorting section 12A) along one side. The storage section 14 includes a plurality of (e.g., eight) pool conveyors 14A to 14H, each of which has its upstream end connected to the sorting section 12A. In this embodiment, the pool conveyors 14A to 14H are arranged at predetermined intervals so as to intersect perpendicularly with the supply conveyor 12.

[0014] On the opposite side of the sorting unit 12A from the pool conveyors 14A-14H is disposed a first sorting device 16 having pushers 16A-16H that selectively push cases C transported on the supply conveyor 12 onto each of the pool conveyors 14A-14H. Also, on the upstream side of the sorting unit 12A is disposed a first reading device (first reading means) 18 that reads an identifier (identification information) such as a barcode or QR code (registered trademark) attached to each case C transported on the supply conveyor 12. The identifier read by the first reading device 18 is sent to a control device (control means) 20, which controls the driving of the pushers 16A-16H of the first sorting device 16 based on the identifier. The identifier is linked to unique information relating to the grade of the agricultural produce packed in each case C in the sorting section, and the control device 20 sends that case C to the pool conveyor 14A-14H that corresponds to the unique information linked to the identifier. Note that the first sorting device 16 can be not only a pusher but also various right-angle transfer devices. For example, a V-belt type transer, a flat belt type transer, a chain type transer, etc. can be used.

[0015] The downstream ends of the pool conveyors 14A to 14H are connected at predetermined intervals along one side of the upstream section (dispensing section 22A) of the discharge conveyor 22. The upstream end of a palletizer conveyor 26, the downstream end of which is connected to a robot palletizer 24, is connected to one side of the discharge conveyor 22, and a second sorting device 28 is disposed on the opposite side of the palletizer conveyor 26 across the discharge conveyor 22.

[0016] The second sorting device 28 is equipped with a pusher 28A that advances and retreats across the discharge conveyor 22 from the side, and the advance and retreat of the pusher 28A is controlled by the control device 20. The control device 20 controls the operation of the second sorting device 28 based on unique information linked to the identifier of the case C that is read by a second reading device (second reading means) 30 that is arranged upstream of the second sorting device 28. In this embodiment, identifiers are provided at multiple locations on the case C so that the identifiers can be read by either the first reading device 18 or the second reading device 30. However, it is also possible to provide only one identifier on the case C, and to arrange the first reading device 18 and the second reading device 30 so that this identifier can be read.

[0017] Cases C pushed by pusher 28A from discharge conveyor 22 to palletizer conveyor 26 are automatically stacked on a pallet (not shown) by robot palletizer 24. Meanwhile, the downstream end of discharge conveyor 22 is connected to a manual stacking section (not shown), where the cases are manually stacked on a pallet. Note that the manual stacking section may be located near the upstream section (sorting section) of supply conveyor 12, and cases C that have not been discharged onto the palletizer conveyor 26 may be manually returned onto supply conveyor 12, for example.

[0018] The pool conveyors 14A to 14H of the storage unit 14 in this embodiment are divided into pool conveyors that store only cases C belonging to the same class, and pool conveyors that store a random mixture of cases C belonging to different classes.

[0019] In the illustrated example, pool conveyors 14A and 14B (area 1 of the first pool conveyor) store only cases C packed with agricultural produce of "excellent" quality and "medium" size (excellent, M), while pool conveyors 14C and 14D (area 2 of the first pool conveyor) store only cases C packed with agricultural produce of "excellent" quality and "medium" size (excellent, M). Pool conveyors 14E, 14F, 14G, and 14H (second pool conveyor: mixed area) store a random mix of cases C packed with agricultural produce classified in other grades (excellent, L, excellent, S, excellent, L, excellent, S, good, L, good, M, good, S). In addition, the first pool conveyor stores case C corresponding to a grade with a large number of lots, and the second pool conveyor stores case C corresponding to a grade with a small number of lots.

[0020] Note that Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view showing the configuration of part of the downstream portion of pool conveyors 14A to 14H, and exemplarily shows a state in which cases C corresponding to each class are already stored in pool conveyors 14A to 14G, and no cases C are stored in pool conveyor 14H.

[0021] The number of cases C supplied by the first sorting device 16 to each pool conveyor 14A-14D of the first pool conveyor is counted in the control device 20 based on the identifier. Also, the number of cases C supplied by the first sorting device 16 to each pool conveyor 14E-14H of the second pool conveyor is counted in the control device 20 for each class based on the identifier.

[0022] When the number of cases C stored on any of the pool conveyors 14A-14D of the first pool conveyors (area 1, area 2) reaches a predetermined number, the control device 20 drives the pool conveyor to discharge the stored cases C to the dispensing section 22A of the discharge conveyor 22. Furthermore, when the number of cases C corresponding to one of the classes stored on the second pool conveyors 14E-14H (mixed area) reaches a predetermined number, the control device 20 sequentially drives the second pool conveyors storing cases C corresponding to the same class to discharge the cases C corresponding to the same class, and discharges the cases C stored on these pool conveyors together with cases C corresponding to other classes to the dispensing section 22A of the discharge conveyor 22.

[0023] Figure 3 is a partially enlarged plan view of the agricultural produce collection and shipping device 10, showing how cases C transported by the discharge conveyor 22 are pushed onto the palletizer conveyor 26 by the pusher 28A of the second sorting device 28 and stacked by the robot palletizer 24.

[0024] The control device 20 obtains the unique information of the agricultural products packed in the case C from the identifier of the case C read by the second reading device 30, and pushes only the case C corresponding to the grade currently being processed in the robot palletizer 24 from the discharge conveyor 22 to the palletizer conveyor 26 by the pusher 28A of the second sorting device 28.

[0025] When a predetermined number of cases C of agricultural products (excellent, M) are discharged from area 1 of the first pool conveyor, or cases C of agricultural products (excellent, M) are discharged from area 2, all of the cases C transported on the discharge conveyor 22 correspond to the same grade, so the control device 20 causes all of the cases C on the discharge conveyor 22 to be pushed onto the palletizer conveyor 26 by the pusher 28A of the second sorting device 28.

[0026] On the other hand, when cases C are being discharged from the second pool conveyor (mixed area), the grades corresponding to the cases C being transported on the discharge conveyor 22 are varied, so the control device 20 selectively pushes out onto the palletizer conveyor 26 only those cases C corresponding to the grade whose accumulated number has reached a predetermined value (triggered the discharge process) in the second pool conveyors 14E to 14H (mixed area) from among the cases C being transported on the discharge conveyor 22 by the pusher 28A of the second sorting device 28.

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a state in which the number of cases C packed with agricultural produce of grade (Excellent, L) stored on the second pool conveyor (mixed area) has reached a predetermined number, and the cases C are transported from the second pool conveyor by the discharge conveyor 22 in a mixed state of agricultural produce ((Excellent, L), (Excellent, S), (Excellent, L), (Excellent, S), (Good, L), (Good, M), (Good, S)). Based on the identifiers of each case C on the discharge conveyor 22 read by the second reader 30, the control device 20 pushes only the cases C corresponding to (Excellent, L) onto the palletizer conveyor 26 using the pusher 28A. The cases C corresponding to (Excellent, L) discharged onto the palletizer conveyor 26 are stacked on pallets in the robot palletizer 24. The cases C other than (excellent, L) are sorted into classes by hand, for example, and stacked in a manual stacking section provided at the downstream end of the discharge conveyor 22.

[0028] As described above, the agricultural produce collection and shipping device of the first embodiment can store cases of different grades together on the same pool conveyor, making it possible to accommodate a variety of grades while limiting the number of pool conveyors. This prevents the agricultural produce collection and shipping device from becoming too large even when handling a variety of grades.

[0029] Next, an agricultural produce collection and shipping device according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the layout of the agricultural produce collection and shipping device according to the second embodiment.

[0030] In the agricultural produce collection and shipping device 10 of the first embodiment, each of the first and second pool conveyors 14A to 14H discharges the cases C using the discharge conveyor 22. In contrast, in the agricultural produce collection and shipping device 32 of the second embodiment, the first and second pool conveyors have different configurations. Note that the same reference numerals are used for the same configurations as in the first embodiment, and their description will be omitted.

[0031] As shown in Fig. 4, the configurations of the pool conveyors 14A, 14B, 14C, and 14D belonging to the first pool conveyor and the configurations of the pushers 16A, 16B, 16C, and 16D are the same as those in the first embodiment. That is, the upstream ends of the pool conveyors 14A-14D are each connected to the sorting section 12A of the supply conveyor 12, and the pushers 16A, 16B, 16C, and 16D of the first sorting device 16 are disposed on the opposite side of each upstream end of the sorting section 12A. In addition, the downstream ends of the pool conveyors 14A-14D are each connected to the dispensing section 22A of the discharge conveyor 22. Note that in the second embodiment, the downstream end of the discharge conveyor 22 is directly connected to the robot palletizer 24.

[0032] The second pool conveyor is composed of a supply / discharge conveyor (second pool conveyor, discharge conveyor) 34 and a loop conveyor 36 having a circular movement path. Similar to the pool conveyors 14A-14D, the upstream end of the supply / discharge conveyor 34 is connected to the sorting section 12A of the supply conveyor 12, and a pusher 16E of the first sorting device 16 is disposed on the opposite side of the upstream end of the supply / discharge conveyor 34 of the sorting section 12A. The supply / discharge conveyor 34 is disposed parallel to the pool conveyor 14D, and its downstream side is disposed parallel to and along the outer side of the discharge conveyor 22. The downstream end of the supply / discharge conveyor 34 is connected to the robot palletizer 24 or the stacking section. The configuration of the first sorting device 16 corresponds to the first sorting device 16 of the first embodiment, with the pushers 16F, 16G, and 16H removed.

[0033] The loop conveyor 36 has, for example, an oval shape, and one straight section 36A thereof is disposed adjacent to the supply / discharge conveyor 34. The loop conveyor 36 is driven so that the straight section 36A adjacent to the supply / discharge conveyor 34 transports cases C in the opposite direction to the supply / discharge conveyor 34, and between the supply / discharge conveyor 34 and the straight section 36A of the loop conveyor 36, there are provided a crossover plate 38A for transferring cases C from the supply / discharge conveyor 34 to the straight section 36A of the loop conveyor 36, and a crossover plate 38B for transferring cases C from the loop conveyor 36 to the supply / discharge conveyor 34.

[0034] On the side of the supply / discharge conveyor 34, the transition plate 38A is disposed upstream of the transition plate 38B. In this embodiment, the transition plate 38A is disposed upstream of the transition plate 38B with a gap equivalent to one to several cases C. In this embodiment, the transition plates 38A and 38B are disposed upstream of the center of the supply / discharge conveyor 34.

[0035] A pusher 40A is disposed on the opposite side of the crossover plate 38A across the supply / discharge conveyor 34, and pushes cases C on the supply / discharge conveyor 34 onto the straight section 36A of the loop conveyor 36. Further, a pusher 40B is disposed adjacent to the crossover plate 38B across the straight section 36A, and pushes cases C on the loop conveyor 36 onto the supply / discharge conveyor 34. A third reader (third reading means) 42A is disposed near the crossover plate 38A, and reads the identifiers of cases C on the supply / discharge conveyor 34 located between the crossover plate 38A and the pusher 40A. A fourth reader (fourth reading means) 42B is disposed near the crossover plate 38B, and reads the identifiers of cases C on the loop conveyor 36 located between the crossover plate 38B and the pusher 40B.

[0036] As in the first embodiment, pushers 16A, 16B, 16C, and 16D supply and store cases C packed with agricultural products of a specific grade to pool conveyors 14A and 14B in area 1 and pool conveyors 14C and 14D in area 2. For example, pool conveyors 14A and 14B in area 1 store only cases C packed with agricultural products of "excellent" quality and "medium" size (excellent, M), while pool conveyors 14C and 14D in area 2 store only cases C packed with agricultural products of "excellent" quality and "medium" size (excellent, M).

[0037] Meanwhile, cases C packed with agricultural produce classified into grades other than those stored on the first pool conveyor (for example, (Excellent, L), (Excellent, S), (Excellent, L), (Excellent, S), (Good, L), (Good, M), (Good, S)) are supplied by pusher 16E to supply / discharge conveyor 34. The sorting device 16 sorts each case C transported on supply conveyor 12 to one of pool conveyors 14A-14D or supply / discharge conveyor 34 based on the identifier of each case C read by first reading device 18.

[0038] When the cases C sequentially supplied to the supply / discharge conveyor 34 reach the transfer position adjacent to the crossing plate 38A, the identifiers are read by the third reader 42A and the cases are sequentially transferred to the loop conveyor 36 by the pusher 40A. From the identifiers read by the third reader 42A, the control device 20 counts the number of cases C corresponding to each class stored on the loop conveyor 36.

[0039] As in the first embodiment, when the number of cases C stored in area 1 or area 2 reaches a predetermined number, the predetermined number of cases C stored on pool conveyors 14A, 14B in area 1 or pool conveyors 14C, 14D in area 2 are sequentially discharged onto discharge conveyor 22 and sent to a robot palletizer not shown.

[0040] On the other hand, when the number of cases C corresponding to a certain class stored on the loop conveyor 36 reaches a predetermined number, the pusher 40B sequentially transfers the predetermined number of cases C corresponding to that class onto the supply / discharge conveyor 34. The supply / discharge conveyor 34, loop conveyor 36, and pushers 40A and 40B are driven in cooperation, and cases C transferred from the loop conveyor 36 to the supply / discharge conveyor 34 are sequentially sent downstream to a robot palletizer or a manual stacking section. Meanwhile, cases C supplied from the supply conveyor 12 to the supply / discharge conveyor 34 are transferred onto the loop conveyor 36 by the pusher 40A. Note that if the case C detected by the third reader 42A corresponds to a class that has reached a predetermined number, the case C may be transported directly downstream of the supply / discharge conveyor 34 without being transferred to the loop conveyor 36 by the pusher 40A.

[0041] As described above, the agricultural produce collection and shipping device of the second embodiment also provides the same effects as those of the first embodiment.

[0042] In this embodiment, a combination of quality (excellent, good, good) and size (L, M, S) is given as an example of a classification, but the classification in this specification and the present invention is not limited to this as long as it is a standard used for classifying and separating agricultural products that require separate handling of cases in downstream processing (palletizing, etc.) of the agricultural product collection and shipping device. For example, in addition to the above quality and size, various other criteria such as variety and weight can be combined.

[0043] In the second embodiment, an oval conveyor is arranged parallel to the supply / discharge conveyor as a pool conveyor with a circular movement path, but the arrangement is not limited to this embodiment and is not limited to an oval shape as long as it is configured to receive and store cases from the supply / discharge conveyor and then transfer the stored cases back to the supply / discharge conveyor 34. Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the supply / discharge conveyor 34 may be connected to the discharge conveyor 22 on its downstream side and may be configured to include a second sorting device 28 as in the first embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 10, 32 Agricultural product collection and shipping equipment 12 Supply conveyor 14A~14D 1st pool conveyor 14E~14H, 34, 36 Second pool conveyor 18 First reading device (first reading means) 20 Control device (control means) 22 Discharge conveyor 30 Second reading device (second reading means) 34 Supply / Discharge Conveyor (Second Pool Conveyor, Discharge Conveyor) 36 Loop conveyor (second pool conveyor)

Claims

1. a supply conveyor that supplies cases in which agricultural products are packed by class; a plurality of pool conveyors provided downstream of the supply conveyor for storing cases; In the agricultural product collection and shipping device, the cases stored on the pool conveyor are discharged to a discharge conveyor in predetermined numbers for shipping processing, The pool conveyor includes a first pool conveyor for storing cases of the same class; a second pool conveyor for randomly storing cases of different classes; a first reading means provided on the supply conveyor for reading identification information of cases supplied to the first pool conveyor and the second pool conveyor; and a control means for controlling the operation of the first pool conveyor and the second pool conveyor based on the identification information read by the first reading means. The control means When a predetermined number of cases of the same class are stored on the first pool conveyor, the cases are discharged onto a discharge conveyor; The number of cases of the same class randomly stored on the second pool conveyor is counted, and when a predetermined number of cases of the same class are stored on the second pool conveyor, the cases of the same class on the second pool conveyor or the cases stored on the second pool conveyor are discharged onto a discharge conveyor. A device for collecting and shipping agricultural products.

2. a second reading means provided on the discharge conveyor for reading the identification information of the cases transported by the discharge conveyor; a second sorting means for sorting the cases conveyed by the discharge conveyor, The agricultural produce collection and shipping device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means sorts the predetermined number of cases of the same class stored in the second pool conveyor from other cases using the second sorting means.

3. the second pool conveyor comprises a loop conveyor that transports cases along a circular path of travel; 2. The agricultural produce collection and shipping device according to claim 1, wherein the control means discharges cases of the same class randomly stored on the loop conveyor to a discharge conveyor when a predetermined number of the cases have been stored.

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