Pod bean conveying apparatus

Abstract

To provide an unconventional and practical device for conveying beans in a pod.SOLUTION: The bean-in-pod conveying device for upwardly conveying bean-in-pods P includes a belt conveyor portion 1 provided with a bean-in-pod placing surface 1b ' on which the bean-in-pods P are placed, wherein the bean-in-pod placing surface 1b ' is an inclined surface set at an inclination angle of 40 to 70 degrees, and a plurality of projecting plate portions 2 each having a length in a widthwise direction perpendicular to the conveying direction are arranged side by side at intervals in the conveying direction on the bean-in-pod placing surface 1b '. Further, a hopper part 3 for storing the legume-containing beans P to be conveyed by the belt conveyor part 1 is provided, and a base end side part to be the lower part of the gradient of the belt conveyor part 1 is provided in the hopper part 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for transporting podded beans. [Background technology]

[0002] The present applicant has proposed, for example, a bagging device for beans in pods (hereinafter referred to as "prior art") disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1 as a device for bagging beans in pods.

[0003] This conventional example has a storage section for storing beans in pods and a supply section for supplying beans in pods to the storage section, and this supply section is provided with a belt conveyor section for transporting the beans in pods stored in a hopper.

[0004] In addition, in the conventional example, the storage section is provided with a weighing section (load cell type weighing scale), and when the amount of podded beans stored reaches a set amount, supply from the supply section stops and a predetermined amount of podded beans is stored.In order to adjust the amount of podded beans stored in this storage section, the conveying speed of the belt conveyor is slowed down in the latter half of the supply period from the start to the completion of supply to the storage section that supplies the podded beans, thereby reducing (fine-tuning) the amount supplied per unit time. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0005] [Non-Patent Document 1] "Edamame Quantitative Bagging Machine MEF-100 Type," [online], Mitsuwa Corporation website, "Searched June 2, 2024," Internet <https: / / kk-mitsuwa.com / products / %e3%81%88%e3%81%a0%e3%81%be%e3%82%81%e5%ae%9a%e9%87%8f%e8%a2%8b%e8%a9%b0%e6%a9%9f%e3%80%80mef-100%e5%9e%8b / > Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the conventional example, the podded beans are dropped from a hopper section located at the top of the device onto the upper surface of the belt conveyor (the podded bean placement surface) and placed thereon. However, if the podded beans end up piled up on top of the belt conveyor (in clumps), and are transported in that state, this can hinder the fine-tuning of the podded beans when they are fed into the storage section mentioned above.

[0007] In view of the above-mentioned problems, the inventors of the present invention have carried out further research and development, and as a result have developed a highly practical, unprecedented conveying device for podded beans. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The gist of the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0009] This is a podded bean conveying device that conveys podded beans P upward, and is characterized in that it comprises a belt conveyor section 1 with a podded bean placing surface 1b' on which the podded beans P are placed, the podded bean placing surface 1b' being provided on an inclined surface with a gradient angle set to 40 to 70 degrees, and the podded bean placing surface 1b' has a plurality of protruding plate sections 2 that have a length in the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction and are arranged side by side at intervals in the conveying direction, and further comprises a hopper section 3 that stores the podded beans P to be conveyed by the belt conveyor section 1, and this hopper section 3 has a base end section that is below the gradient of the belt conveyor section 1.

[0010] The present invention also relates to a podded bean conveying device as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the in-pod bean placing surface 1b' has an inclination angle of about 55°.

[0011] The present invention also relates to a podded bean conveying device according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the protruding height of the protruding plate portion 2 is 10 to 15 mm.

[0012] The present invention also relates to a podded bean conveying device, characterized in that in the podded bean conveying device described in either claim 1 or 2, a podded bean breaking section 4 is provided at a predetermined position on the belt conveyor section 1, opposite the podded bean placing surface 1b', and is made of a wire 4a or plate material arranged toward the podded bean placing surface 1b'.

[0013] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a podded bean conveying device, characterized in that in the podded bean conveying device described in claim 3, a podded bean breaking section 4 is provided at a predetermined position on the belt conveyor section 1, opposite the podded bean placing surface 1b', and is made up of a wire 4a or plate material arranged toward the podded bean placing surface 1b'.

[0014] Furthermore, in the podded bean conveying device described in claim 4, the wire 4a or plate material constituting the podded bean breaking section 4 is set to a length that reaches the protruding plate section 2.

[0015] Furthermore, in the podded bean conveying device described in claim 5, the wire 4a or plate material constituting the podded bean breaking section 4 is set to a length that reaches the protruding plate section 2.

[0016] Furthermore, in the podded bean conveying device described in claim 4, the podded bean crushing section 4 is characterized in that it is provided at the tip side portion above the gradient of the belt conveyor section 1.

[0017] Furthermore, in the podded bean conveying device described in claim 5, the podded bean crushing section 4 is provided at the tip end portion above the gradient of the belt conveyor section 1.

[0018] Furthermore, in the podded bean conveying device described in claim 6, the podded bean crushing section 4 is provided at the tip end portion above the gradient of the belt conveyor section 1.

[0019] Furthermore, in the podded bean conveying device described in claim 7, the podded bean crushing section 4 is provided at the tip end portion above the gradient of the belt conveyor section 1.

[0020] The present invention also relates to a podded bean conveying device that conveys podded beans P upward, comprising a belt conveyor section 1 provided with a podded bean placing surface 1b' on which the podded beans P are placed, the podded bean placing surface 1b' being provided as an inclined surface with a gradient angle, and the podded bean placing surface 1b' has a plurality of protruding plate sections 2 that have a length in the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction and are arranged side by side at intervals in the conveying direction, the device also comprising a hopper section 3 that stores the podded beans P to be conveyed by the belt conveyor section 1, and this hopper section 3 has a base end section that is below the gradient of the belt conveyor section 1, and further comprising a podded bean breaking section 4 that is provided at a predetermined position on the belt conveyor section 1 opposite the podded bean placing surface 1b' and is made of a wire 4a or plate material that is arranged toward the podded bean placing surface 1b'.

[0021] Furthermore, in the podded bean conveying device described in claim 12, the podded bean conveying device is characterized in that the wire 4a or plate material constituting the podded bean crushing section 4 is set to a length that reaches the protruding plate section 2.

[0022] Furthermore, in the podded bean conveying device described in either claim 12 or 13, the podded bean crushing section 4 is provided at the tip end portion above the gradient of the belt conveyor section 1. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] Since the present invention is configured as described above, it is an unprecedented and very practical podded bean conveying device that can convey podded beans with no or little overlap (scattered state). [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the present embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a main part according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main part according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] 4A to 4C are explanatory diagrams illustrating the operation of the main parts according to the present embodiment. [Figure 5] 4A to 4C are explanatory diagrams illustrating the operation of the main parts according to the present embodiment. [Figure 6] 4A to 4C are explanatory diagrams illustrating the operation of the main parts according to the present embodiment. [Figure 7] 4A to 4C are explanatory diagrams illustrating the operation of the main parts according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be briefly described below, illustrating the operation of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

[0026] For example, when transporting podded beans P, when the belt conveyor section 1 is operated, the podded beans P stored in the hopper section 3 are scooped up by the veneer section 2 and placed on the podded bean placing surface 1b' for transport.

[0027] In the present invention, the podded bean placing surface 1b' is provided as an inclined surface with a gradient angle set at 40 to 70°, and with this configuration, even if the podded beans P are piled up in a pile (clustered in clumps) in the initial stage when they are placed on the podded bean placing surface 1b', the gradient of the podded bean placing surface 1b' will cause them to break up, allowing them to be transported in a state with no or little overlap (scattered state). [Example]

[0028] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0029] This embodiment is a podded bean conveying device that conveys podded beans P upward.

[0030] In this embodiment, edamame beans are used as the podded beans P, but other beans such as peas or green peas can also be used as appropriate as long as they exhibit the characteristics of this embodiment.

[0031] Specifically, this embodiment includes a belt conveyor section 1 having a podded bean placing surface 1b' on which podded beans P are placed, and a hopper section 3 for storing the podded beans P transported by this belt conveyor section 1.

[0032] 1 to 3, the belt conveyor unit 1 is a conveyor structure consisting of a pair of rotating rollers 1a (one of which is a drive roller) located at the front and rear of a frame body 1' having a predetermined length, and a belt 1b wound between these rotating rollers 1a. On the podded bean placing surface 1b' formed by the upper surface of this belt 1b, a plurality of protruding plate members 2, each having a length in the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, are arranged side by side at intervals in the conveying direction. The upper surface of the protruding plate members 2 is formed into a convex curved surface when viewed from the side.

[0033] This belt conveyor section 1 is set at an angle, and the podded bean placing surface 1b' is provided on an inclined surface with a gradient angle, and the base end (upstream end in the conveying direction) of this belt conveyor section 1, which is below the gradient, is arranged inside the hopper section 3, and the tip end (downstream end in the conveying direction) of the belt conveyor section 1, which is above the gradient, is arranged in the vicinity of the upstream end in the conveying direction of the supply section 32 (conveying section) of the podded bean bagging device described below.

[0034] In this embodiment, the podded beans P supplied from the supply section 32 of the podded bean bagging device to the storage section 31 are not piled up in a state where the podded beans P are piled up (clustered in clumps), but rather in a state where there is no or little overlap (scattered state), which contributes to highly accurate weight measurement (quantification of the podded beans P) in the storage section 31.By devising the inclination angle of the podded bean placing surface 1b' in the belt conveyor section 1 and the protruding height of the protruding plate section 2, when the podded beans P are transported to the supply section 32, the podded beans P on the podded bean placing surface 1b' are scattered, making it possible to transport them quantitatively.

[0035] Specifically, repeated experiments have shown that the slope angle R of the podded bean placing surface 1b' is preferably 40 to 70°, with approximately 55° being optimal, and that the protruding height H of the veneer portion 2 is preferably 10 to 15 mm, with approximately 12 mm being optimal.With this configuration, it has been confirmed that when podded beans P are placed from the hopper portion 3 onto the podded bean placing surface 1b', even if the podded beans P are piled up, the podded beans P in the overlapping portions will collapse due to this slope and become scattered (see Figure 3).

[0036] In other words, the desirable gradient angle for the podded bean placing surface 1b' is 40 to 70 degrees. At an angle of less than 40 degrees, it is easier to place podded beans P on the podded bean placing surface 1b', but the podded beans P are more likely to pile up on the podded bean placing surface 1b' and this pile (collected in a clump) is difficult to break down, resulting in uneven conveyance volume. On the other hand, at an angle of more than 70 degrees, it becomes difficult to place podded beans P on the podded bean placing surface 1b' (the veneer portion 2 cannot effectively scrape up the podded beans P), making quantitative conveyance impossible. Therefore, the desirable gradient angle for the podded bean placing surface 1b' is 40 to 70 degrees.

[0037] Furthermore, the desirable height of the veneer portion 2 is 10 to 15 mm; if the height is less than 10 mm, the podded beans P will easily climb over the veneer portion 2, and the veneer portion 2 will not be able to sufficiently raise the podded beans P, making quantitative transport impossible; on the other hand, if the height is more than 15 mm, the podded beans P will have difficulty climbing over the veneer portion 2, but the veneer portion 2 will likely raise the podded beans P more than necessary, making it more likely that the podded beans P will end up piled up in the aforementioned pile; therefore, the protruding height of the veneer portion 2 is desirably 10 to 15 mm.

[0038] Therefore, in this embodiment, the belt conveyor section 1 makes it possible to transport the podded beans P in a scattered state, and enables highly accurate weight measurement (quantification of the podded beans P) in the storage section 31 of the podded bean bagging device.

[0039] Furthermore, similar to the supply section 32 (conveying section) of the in-pod bean bagging device, the belt conveyor section 1 is configured to reduce the conveying speed to reduce the amount of podded beans P supplied per unit time in the latter half of the supply period from the start to the completion of supply to the storage section 31. The fast conveying speed in the first half of the supply of in-pod beans P not only enables rapid supply, but also has the effect of scattering the in-pod beans P, contributing to keeping the in-pod beans P scattered as they are transported.

[0040] In this embodiment, a podded bean crushing section 4 is provided at a predetermined position on the belt conveyor section 1.

[0041] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, this podded bean crushing section 4 is located at the tip end (downstream end in the conveying direction) above the gradient of the belt conveyor section 1, opposite the podded bean placing surface 1b', and has a number of wires 4a protruding toward the podded bean placing surface 1b'.

[0042] More specifically, the wires 4a are brush wires made of a synthetic resin with moderate flexibility, and a number of these wires 4a are bundled together in a flat shape and placed across the width of the podded bean placement surface 1b' like a curtain. The podded bean crushing section 4 may also be made of a plate material.

[0043] The wire 4a (or plate) constituting the podded bean crushing section 4 is set to a length that reaches the protruding plate section 2 of the belt conveyor section 1 (see FIG. 6).

[0044] Therefore, if there are podded beans P piled up on the podded bean placing surface 1b' up to this position, the podded bean breaking section 4 will break up the podded beans P and cause them to fall, thereby further scattering the podded beans P being transported (see Figure 7).

[0045] The hopper section 3 is a box-shaped body provided at the lower end of the frame body 1' as shown in Figures 1 to 3, and each inner surface 3a of this hopper section 3 is configured as an inclined surface that slopes toward the podded bean placing surface 1b'.

[0046] Therefore, the podded beans P stored in the hopper section 3 are guided toward the podded bean placement surface 1b', and since the hopper section 3 is provided at a lower position, it is not necessary to lift a heavy container containing a large amount of podded beans P to a high position, which significantly reduces the burden on the worker.

[0047] Furthermore, in addition to the operator manually filling the hopper section 3 with podded beans P, other podded bean conveying devices can also be connected, and since the hopper section 3 is located at a low position, it is easy to connect other podded bean conveying devices, and there are many benefits to locating the hopper section 3 at a lower position.

[0048] The in-pod bean conveying device according to this embodiment having the above-described configuration is provided in an in-pod bean bagging device for bagging in-pod beans P.

[0049] This in-pod bean bagging device has a storage section 31 for storing in-pod beans, a supply section 32 for supplying in-pod beans P to the storage section 31, a switch section 33 that is activated to discharge the in-pod beans P stored in the storage section 31, and a chute section 34 for guiding the in-pod beans P discharged from the storage section 31. The storage section 31 is also provided with a weighing section (load cell type weighing scale), and when the amount of in-pod beans P stored reaches a set amount, supply from the supply section 32 stops and the specified amount of in-pod beans P is stored.

[0050] Since this embodiment is configured as described above, when the podded beans P are transported, when the belt conveyor section 1 operates, the podded beans P stored in the hopper section 3 are scraped up by the veneer section 2 and placed on the podded bean placing surface 1b' for transport.

[0051] In this embodiment, the podded bean placing surface 1b' is provided as an inclined surface with a gradient angle set at 40 to 70°, and with this configuration, for example, even if the podded beans P are piled up in a pile (clustered in clumps) in the initial stage when they are placed on the podded bean placing surface 1b', the gradient of the podded bean placing surface 1b' will cause them to break up, allowing them to be transported in a state with no or little overlap (scattered state).

[0052] In addition, in this embodiment, the inclination angle of the in-pod bean placing surface 1b' is about 55°, so that the above-mentioned effects can be reliably achieved.

[0053] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the protruding height of the projecting plate portion 2 is 10 to 15 mm, so that the above-mentioned effects can be reliably achieved.

[0054] In addition, in this embodiment, a podded bean breaking section 4 is provided at a predetermined position on the belt conveyor section 1 opposite the podded bean placing surface 1b', which is made up of a wire 4a or plate material arranged toward the podded bean placing surface 1b', making it even more possible to transport the podded beans P in a state with no or little overlap (scattered state).

[0055] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the wire 4a or plate material constituting the podded bean crushing section 4 is set to a length that reaches the veneer section 2, so that the above-mentioned effects can be reliably achieved.

[0056] In addition, in this embodiment, the podded bean crushing section 4 is provided at the tip end portion above the gradient of the belt conveyor section 1, so that the above-mentioned operational effects can be reliably achieved.

[0057] The present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and the specific configuration of each component can be designed as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] P Beans in pods 1 Belt conveyor section 1b' Bean pod placement surface 2 Veneer section 3 Hopper section 4. Bean pod crushing section 4a wire rod

Claims

1. A podded bean conveying device that conveys podded beans upward, comprising: a belt conveyor section provided with a podded bean placing surface on which the podded beans are placed, the podded bean placing surface being provided on an inclined surface with a gradient angle set to 40 to 70 degrees, the podded bean placing surface having a plurality of protruding plate sections that have a length in the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction and are arranged side by side at intervals in the conveying direction, and further comprising a hopper section that stores the podded beans to be conveyed by the belt conveyor section, and a base end section that is below the gradient of the belt conveyor section is provided within this hopper section.

2. 2. The apparatus for transporting podded beans according to claim 1, wherein the angle of inclination of the podded bean placing surface is about 55 degrees.

3. 3. The device for transporting podded beans according to claim 1, wherein the protruding height of the protruding plate portion is 10 to 15 mm.

4. 3. The podded bean conveying device according to claim 1, further comprising a podded bean crushing section at a predetermined position on the belt conveyor section opposite the podded bean placing surface, the podded bean crushing section being made of a wire or plate material arranged facing the podded bean placing surface.

5. 4. The podded bean conveying device according to claim 3, further comprising a podded bean breaking section at a predetermined position of the belt conveyor section opposite the podded bean placing surface, the podded bean breaking section being made up of a wire or plate material arranged facing the podded bean placing surface.

6. 5. The podded bean conveying device according to claim 4, wherein the wire or plate material constituting the podded bean breaking section is set to a length that reaches the protruding plate section.

7. 6. The podded bean conveying device according to claim 5, wherein the wire or plate material constituting the podded bean breaking section is set to a length that reaches the protruding plate section.

8. 5. The in-pod bean conveying device according to claim 4, wherein the in-pod bean breaking section is provided at a tip end portion above the gradient of the belt conveyor section.

9. 6. The in-pod bean conveying device according to claim 5, wherein the in-pod bean breaking section is provided at a tip end portion above the gradient of the belt conveyor section.

10. 7. The in-pod bean conveying device according to claim 6, wherein the in-pod bean breaking section is provided at a tip end portion above the gradient of the belt conveyor section.

11. 8. The in-pod bean conveying device according to claim 7, wherein the in-pod bean breaking section is provided at a tip end portion above the gradient of the belt conveyor section.

12. A podded bean conveying device that conveys podded beans upward, comprising: a belt conveyor section provided with a podded bean placing surface on which the podded beans are placed, the podded bean placing surface being an inclined surface with a gradient angle; the podded bean placing surface having a plurality of protruding plate sections that have a length in a width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction and are arranged side by side at intervals in the conveying direction; a hopper section that stores the podded beans to be conveyed by the belt conveyor section, the hopper section having a base end portion that is below the gradient of the belt conveyor section; and a podded bean breaking section that is formed by arranging a wire or plate material toward the podded bean placing surface at a predetermined position on the belt conveyor section, opposite the podded bean placing surface.

13. 13. The podded bean conveying device according to claim 12, wherein the wire or plate material constituting the podded bean breaking section is set to a length that reaches the protruding plate section.

14. 14. The podded bean conveying device according to claim 12, wherein the podded bean breaking section is provided at a tip end portion above the gradient of the belt conveyor section.

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