Supply device

Abstract

To provide a supply device with a configuration that is easily miniaturized. [Solution] The supply device includes a cylindrical part that can accommodate objects from one end on the top, a shaft part that can rotate around a first axis of the cylindrical part, a connecting part that integrally connects the cylindrical part and the shaft part, and a closing part that closes the lower end of the cylindrical part and has an opening of a size that can only allow a first number or less of objects to pass through at one time. The shaft part is rotated by a first drive unit, and the cylindrical part that is integrally connected to the shaft part via the connecting part is rotated together with the shaft part around the first axis, thereby moving the objects inside the cylindrical part to the opening and discharging them from the opening.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a supply device.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, the shortage of labor force due to the decrease in the population engaged in agriculture has become a serious problem. In order to improve the labor-intensive fruit selection work, for example, attempts to realize fruit selection automation and smart agriculture by utilizing technologies such as robotics and AI (Artificial Intelligence) are being made everywhere.

[0003] In the fruit selection work, as a preliminary step for discriminating the grades of individual agricultural products, it is necessary to divide a large number of agricultural products into small amounts (for example, one by one) and send them to a downstream device (such as a conveyor or a fruit selection device). For example, Patent Document 1 describes a specific configuration of a supply device that sends a large number of agricultural products to a downstream device one by one.

[0004] The supply device described in Patent Document 1 rotates a rotating drum containing a large number of agricultural products by a wheel-type drive mechanism. During the rotation of the rotating drum, one of the agricultural products is caught by a protrusion in the rotating drum, carried to the opening of the bottom plate of the rotating drum, and discharged from the opening to the downstream device.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] In the supply device described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of wheel-type drive mechanisms are installed on the outer periphery of the rotating drum. Therefore, this supply device has a configuration that is not suitable for miniaturization.

[0007] In view of the above circumstances, the embodiments of this disclosure aim to provide a supply device with a configuration that is easily miniaturized. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A supply device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a cylindrical portion capable of accommodating objects from one upper end, a shaft portion rotatable about a first axis of the cylindrical portion, a connecting portion integrally connecting the cylindrical portion and the shaft portion, and a closing portion that closes the lower end of the cylindrical portion and has an opening of a size that can only allow a first number or less of objects to pass through at one time. The shaft portion is rotated by a first drive unit, and the cylindrical portion, which is integrally connected to the shaft portion via the connecting portion, is rotated together with the shaft portion about the first axis, thereby moving the objects inside the cylindrical portion to the opening and discharging them from the opening. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a supply device with a configuration that is easily miniaturized is provided. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a side view of a supply device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of a supply device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of a supply device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of a supply device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] This is an external view of a secondary supply device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] This is an enlarged view of the rectangular region A in Figure 5. [Figure 7] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of a terminal device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] This figure schematically illustrates the operation of a primary supply device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] This figure schematically illustrates the operation of a primary supply device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the flow of shishito peppers from a primary supply device to a secondary supply device and then to discharge, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the flow of shishito peppers from a primary supply device to a secondary supply device and then to discharge, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 12] This figure schematically shows the configuration of a secondary supply device according to Modification 1 of the present disclosure. [Figure 13] This figure schematically shows the configuration of a secondary supply device according to Modification 2 of the present disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The following description relates to a supply device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Common or corresponding elements are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted or simplified as appropriate.

[0012] Figures 1 to 4 are external views of a supply device 1 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 1 is a side view of the supply device 1. Figures 2 to 4 are perspective views of the supply device 1.

[0013] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the supply device 1 includes a primary supply device 10 and a secondary supply device 20. Figure 5 is an external view of the secondary supply device 20. Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the rectangular area A in Figure 5.

[0014] In this embodiment, the gravitational direction in the environment where the supply device 1 is assumed to be used is taken as the downward direction, the opposite direction of the downward direction is taken as the upward direction, and the direction orthogonal to the vertical direction (vertical direction) is taken as the horizontal direction. Incidentally, the two horizontal directions orthogonal to each other are taken as the X direction and the Y direction. The vertical direction orthogonal to both the X direction and the Y direction is taken as the Z direction. That is, the X, Y, and Z directions are orthogonal to each other. The X direction may be called the front-rear direction. The Y direction may be called the left-right direction. The Z direction may be called the up-down direction. Note that the naming of the directions is for convenience in explaining the relative positional relationship of the components and does not indicate an absolute direction. For example, depending on the posture of the device, the X direction is not necessarily the front-rear direction and may be the left-right direction.

[0015] The primary supply device 10 has a capacity to store a large number (for example, about 400) of agricultural products. Examples of the object, agricultural products, include, for example, food crops, feed crops, green manure crops, horticultural crops, industrial crops, and special forest products such as mushrooms. In this embodiment, the object is, for example, lion peppers. Hereinafter, for convenience, the object input into and discharged from the supply device 1 is denoted as "lion pepper P".

[0016] The operator inputs a large number of lion peppers P into the primary supply device 10. The primary supply device 10 divides the input large number of agricultural products into several (for example, 3 to 4) pieces and supplies them to the secondary supply device 20 one by one. The secondary supply device 20 discharges the agricultural products supplied from the primary supply device 10 to the downstream device (such as a conveyor or a sorting device) one by one. The downstream device (sorting device) sequentially inspects and ranks the lion peppers P supplied one by one and discharges them into the storage containers according to the ranks.

[0017] Thus, in this embodiment, the primary supply device 10 divides a large number of lion peppers P into several pieces and supplies them to the secondary supply device 20. A large amount of lion peppers P does not accumulate in the secondary supply device 20. Therefore, the secondary supply device 20 can discharge the lion peppers P to the downstream device one by one without clogging.

[0018] The supply device 1 has a communication interface (not shown). A terminal device 4 is connected to the supply device 1 wirelessly or via a wired connection. The terminal device 4 is an example of a computer. The terminal device 4 is a controller that controls the operation of the supply device 1 and is an example of a control unit. The terminal device 4 is, for example, a PC (Personal Computer), a smartphone, or a tablet device. The terminal device 4 is not limited to a general-purpose device such as a PC, but may also be a dedicated device for the supply device 1.

[0019] In another embodiment, a control unit having control functions similar to those of the terminal device 4 may be incorporated into the supply device 1. In this case, a control unit composed of an LSI (Large Scale Integration) or the like is an example of a computer. In addition to the control unit, an input device and a display device may be incorporated into the supply device 1. The supply device 1 is not limited to the configuration shown in Figures 1 to 6. There is a degree of freedom in the design of the supply device 1, and various forms are possible.

[0020] Figure 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of terminal device 4. As shown in Figure 7, terminal device 4 comprises a processor 410, memory 420, storage 430, communication interface 440, input device 450, and display device 460. The parts of terminal device 4 are connected via a bus 470. Note that Figure 7 is merely one example of the configuration of terminal device 4. Terminal device 4 may include other elements not shown in Figure 7 (e.g., a speaker). Terminal device 4 may also have a configuration that does not include some of the elements shown in Figure 7.

[0021] The processor 410 reads programs and data stored in the storage 430. The memory 420 is, for example, RAM (Random Access Memory). The processor 410 controls the terminal device 4 comprehensively by using the memory 420 as a work area.

[0022] The processor 410 is, for example, a single processor or a multi-processor, and includes at least one processor. In a configuration including multiple processors, the processor 410 may be packaged as a single device, or it may consist of multiple physically separated devices within the terminal device 4. The processor 410 may be called, for example, a control unit, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processor Unit), or an MCU (Micro Controller Unit).

[0023] Storage 430 includes, for example, non-volatile semiconductor memory such as flash memory, EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and SSD (Solid State Drive).

[0024] The storage 430 stores a control program 432 for controlling the supply device 1. The control program 432 is, for example, downloaded in advance from an app store and installed on the terminal device 4. The processor 410 executes the control program 432, thereby performing various processes according to one embodiment of this disclosure (for example, drive control of the primary supply device 10 and the secondary supply device 20).

[0025] Some of the various processes according to one embodiment of this disclosure may be executed by a device other than the terminal device 4 (for example, a cloud server).

[0026] The communication interface 440 is a communication interface with various media. The terminal device 4 is connected to the supply device 1, external storage, a server on the network, etc., via the communication interface 440.

[0027] The input device 450 includes, for example, a keyboard, mouse, touch panel, operation buttons, microphone, and various sensors. The operator can operate the supply device 1 by operating the input device 450.

[0028] The display device 460 includes a display and a driver. When the driver operates the display according to a control signal from the processor 410, a screen corresponding to the control signal is displayed. The display may be a touch panel display. The display may be, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an OLED (Electro Luminescence) display.

[0029] Various types of information are displayed on the screen. For example, guidance for the operator is displayed. Operational information from downstream equipment (such as inspection results like rank, progress of sorting work, and final sorting results) may also be displayed.

[0030] The supply device 1 includes a base 3. A support 100 is erected on the base 3. The primary supply device 10 is supported by the support 100. The base 3 and the support 100 are, for example, metal parts. The base 3 and the support 100 may be formed from another material such as resin.

[0031] The primary supply device 10 includes a housing section 110, a rotating body 120, and a drive mechanism 130.

[0032] The storage section 110 is a chute that temporarily stores the shishito peppers P and transfers them to the secondary supply device 20. The storage section 110 is supported by the support body 100. The storage section 110 is, for example, a sheet metal part with a U-shaped cross-section in the width direction, and consists of an inclined plate 112 that is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane (XY plane) and guide plates 114 erected on both sides of the inclined plate 112. The inclination angle of the inclined plate 112 is, for example, 40 degrees. This inclination angle is set appropriately according to the coefficient of friction of the inclined surface of the inclined plate 112, the shape, size, weight of the object, etc.

[0033] The operator, for example, puts shishito peppers P into the inclined plate 112 from the upper end. The put-in shishito peppers P slide or roll along the inclined plate 112 toward the lower end. Guide plates 114 erected on both sides of the inclined plate 112 prevent the shishito peppers P that have been put into the storage section 110 from falling out. The storage section 110 has a capacity to accommodate a large number of shishito peppers P (an example of the object) (for example, about 400 pieces, an example of a second number that is greater than the first number). The storage section 110 may be formed of another material such as resin. It is desirable to form the storage section 110 of a material with low frictional resistance so that the shishito peppers P slide or roll smoothly along the inclined plate 112.

[0034] Any reference to elements using designations such as “First,” “Second,” etc., as used in this disclosure, does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. These designations are used for convenience to distinguish between two or more elements. Therefore, references to the First and Second elements do not imply, for example, that only two elements are adopted, or that the First element must precede the Second element.

[0035] The rotating body 120 is a waterwheel-type component. The rotating body 120 is installed below the inclined plate 112 (near the lower end of the inclined plate 112) and is supported by the support 100 so as to be rotatable around axis AXa. The rotating body 120 comprises a cylindrical body 122 with axis AXa as its axis. Multiple partition plates 124 are provided on the circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 122 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. In addition, the multiple partition plates 124 are provided radially around axis AXa (an example of a second axis), which is the center of the cylindrical body 122.

[0036] Figures 8 and 9 schematically illustrate the operation of the primary supply device 10. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, regions R are formed between the partition plates 124. Each region R is large enough to accommodate several (for example, 3 to 4, which is an example of a third number that is more than the first number but less than the second number) shishito peppers P (an example of an object).

[0037] The height of the partition plate 124 is set appropriately according to the number of shishito peppers P to be accommodated in area R at one time. For example, the taller the partition plate 124 is, the more shishito peppers P can be accommodated in area R.

[0038] The drive mechanism 130 is an example of a second drive unit. The drive mechanism 130 is supported by the support body 100. The drive mechanism 130 includes a motor and a transmission mechanism. The terminal device 4 outputs a drive signal to the motor of the drive mechanism 130. When the drive signal is input, this motor rotates. The transmission mechanism of the drive mechanism 130 transmits the driving force of the motor to the rotating body 120. As a result, the rotating body 120 rotates around axis AXa.

[0039] As the rotating body 120 rotates, each region R of the rotating body 120 sequentially enters the landing point of the shishito peppers P. The shishito peppers P near the lower end of the inclined plate 112 fall from the lower end of the inclined plate 112 and are sequentially contained in the region R that enters the landing point (see Figure 8). Any shishito peppers P that do not fit into the region R that enters the landing point and overflow from that region R roll into the next region R that enters the landing point.

[0040] The terminal device 4 may control the drive mechanism 130 to rotate the rotating body 120 at a constant speed, or it may rotate it at a variable speed within a predetermined speed range. The terminal device 4 may periodically perform rotation control and stop control to rotate the rotating body 120 intermittently.

[0041] Flanges 126 are formed at both ends of the cylindrical body 122. The flanges 126 prevent the shishito peppers P housed in area R from falling out.

[0042] As the rotating body 120 rotates, the shishito peppers P contained in region R are transported to the discharge position. Once transported to the discharge position, the shishito peppers P fall from the rotating body 120 and enter the drum 220 of the secondary supply device 20 (see Figure 9). As the rotating body 120 rotates, each region R of the rotating body 120 sequentially reaches the discharge position. Therefore, approximately 3 to 4 shishito peppers P fall from the rotating body 120 and enter the secondary supply device 20 every certain period of time (for example, a few seconds).

[0043] In other words, when the rotating body 120 rotates around axis AXa (an example of a second axis) by the drive mechanism 130 (an example of a second drive unit), at least some (for example, about 3 to 4) of the shishito peppers P stored in the storage unit 110 are sequentially stored in each region R and transported sequentially to the discharge position, and the shishito peppers P that have been transported to the discharge position fall from the rotating body 120 and enter the secondary supply device 20.

[0044] A support 200 is erected on the base 3. The secondary supply device 20 is supported by the support 200. The support 200 is, for example, a metal component. The support 200 may be formed from another material, such as resin.

[0045] The secondary supply device 20 includes a shaft 210, a drum 220, a connecting part 230, a bottom plate 240, and a drive mechanism 250.

[0046] The drive mechanism 250 is an example of the first drive unit. The drive mechanism 250 is mounted on the underside of the base plate 240. The drive mechanism 250 includes a motor and a transmission mechanism. The terminal device 4 outputs a drive signal to the motor of the drive mechanism 250. When the drive signal is input, this motor rotates. The shaft portion 210 is connected to the transmission mechanism of the drive mechanism 250.

[0047] The shaft portion 210 is, for example, a metal shaft. The shaft portion 210 is installed at an angle with respect to the horizontal plane (XY plane). When the driving force of the motor of the drive mechanism 250 is transmitted to the shaft portion 210 via the transmission mechanism, the shaft portion 210 rotates around an axis AXb (an example of a first axis) that is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane (XY plane).

[0048] The drum 220 is, for example, a resin component formed in a cylindrical shape. The drum 220 has an annular wall portion 222 that forms a cylindrical shape and is installed at an angle with respect to the horizontal plane (XY plane). The shishito peppers P that fall from the rotating body 120 enter the drum 220 from the open end of the drum 220 that is on the upper side in the installed state.

[0049] The drum 220 has an opening (in other words, the diameter of the drum 220) that is large enough to accommodate, for example, a dozen or so shishito peppers P. The wall portion 222 has a height (for example, about 130 mm) that is large enough for the size of the shishito peppers P to prevent them from accidentally falling out of the drum 220.

[0050] The diameter of the drum 220 and the height of the wall portion 222 are set appropriately according to the shape and size of the object. The drum 220 may be made of another material such as metal.

[0051] Thus, the drum 220 is an example of a cylindrical part that can accommodate multiple (an example of a first number) shishito peppers P (an example of an object) from the open end (an example of one end on the upper side) that is on the upper side when installed.

[0052] The shaft portion 210 is installed at the rotational center of the drum 220. More specifically, the shaft portion 210 is installed on axis AXb (an example of a first axis) which is located at the center of the space enclosed by the annular wall portion 222 that makes up the drum 220 (an example of a cylindrical portion) (i.e., it is the central axis of the drum 220).

[0053] The connecting portion 230 is, for example, a resin part integrally molded with the drum 220. The connecting portion 230 comprises a connecting portion 232 and a plurality of blade portions 234. A hole is formed in the center of the connecting portion 232. The tip of the shaft portion 210 is press-fitted into this hole. The plurality of blade portions 234 are formed extending radially from the connecting portion 232.

[0054] The blade portion 234 has its base end (in other words, one end) integrally connected to the shaft portion 210 via a connecting portion 232, and its tip (in other words, the other end) is integrally formed with the wall portion 222 that forms the drum 220. The number of blade portions 234 is not limited to three. One, two, or four or more blade portions 234 may be provided.

[0055] In this way, the connecting portion 230 integrally connects the shaft portion 210 and the drum 220 (an example of a cylindrical portion). The connecting portion 230 includes at least one blade portion 234 (an example of a rod-shaped portion) that extends from one end mechanically connected to the shaft portion 210 to the other end mechanically connected to the wall portion 222 of the drum 220 (an example of a wall portion of a cylindrical portion).

[0056] The drum 220 is supported on the shaft 210 via the connecting portion 230 so as to be rotatable about axis AXb. When the shaft 210 rotates by the drive mechanism 250, the connecting portion 232 fixed to the tip of the shaft 210 and the blade portion 234 formed integrally with it rotate about axis AXb, and furthermore, the drum 220, which is formed integrally with the blade portion 234, also rotates about axis AXb.

[0057] The terminal device 4 may control the drive mechanism 250 to rotate the drum 220 at a constant speed, or it may rotate it at a variable speed within a predetermined range. The terminal device 4 may periodically perform rotation control and stop control to rotate the drum 220 intermittently.

[0058] In some countries or regions, small to medium-sized agricultural producers with limited land and low production volume constitute the majority of the agricultural population. Characteristics of such small to medium-sized producers include limited capital, small cultivated areas, and low yields. Therefore, it is difficult and inadequate for small to medium-sized producers to introduce large-scale supply systems. It is desirable for small to medium-sized producers to have a low barrier to entry when introducing supply systems.

[0059] In the supply device 1 according to this embodiment, the driving force of the drive mechanism 250 can be transmitted to the drum 220 with a simple configuration in which the shaft portion 210 of the drive mechanism 250 and the drum 220 are integrally connected by a connecting portion 230. Because the transmission mechanism consisting of the connecting portion 230 is simple, it is easier to miniaturize compared to the supply device described in Patent Document 1, and the initial cost and running costs (e.g., maintenance costs) can also be kept low.

[0060] In the feeding device described in Patent Document 1, dust is generated due to friction between the drum and the wheels. As a result, there is a risk that dust will accumulate on the shishito peppers P, degrading their appearance quality. In contrast, in the feeding device 1 according to this embodiment, the driving force of the drive mechanism 250 is transmitted to the drum 220 at the connection part 230, so dust is less likely to be generated due to friction between parts. As a result, the deterioration of the appearance quality of the shishito peppers P due to dust accumulation is less likely to occur.

[0061] Projections 224 are formed on the inner circumferential surface of the wall portion 222 of the drum 220, projecting inward from the drum 220. Exemplarily, multiple projections 224 are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. In a more detailed example, a total of 12 projections 224 are formed at 30-degree intervals in the circumferential direction of the drum 220. The projections 224 are not limited to multiple; only one may be formed.

[0062] The bottom plate 240 is, for example, a metal plate (an aluminum plate as an example) and is an example of a closing part that closes the open end of the drum 220 that is on the lower side when installed. By the bottom plate 240 closing the lower open end of the drum 220, the shishito peppers P that fall from the primary supply device 10 remain inside the drum 220 without passing through it. The bottom plate 240 may be made of another material such as resin.

[0063] The base plate 240 is fixed to the support 200. Therefore, the base plate 240 does not move even while the drum 220, which is pivotally supported on the shaft 210, rotates. If the base plate 240 were to come into contact with the drum 220, the drum 220 might not rotate smoothly. For this reason, as shown in Figure 6, a gap 244 is created between the drum 220 and the base plate 240. The gap 244 extends across the entire outer circumference of the base plate 240 (in other words, across the entire inner circumference of the drum 220).

[0064] The width of the gap 244 is, for example, about 2 mm, so that the shishito peppers P do not fall out. In other words, in this embodiment, there is a gap between the drum 220 (an example of a cylindrical part) and the bottom plate 240 (an example of a closed part) that is too small for the shishito peppers P (an example of an object) to pass through.

[0065] Foreign matter such as dust adhering to the inside of the drum 220 is moved, for example, to the vicinity of the wall portion 222 by centrifugal force accompanying the rotation of the drum 220. The foreign matter that has moved to the vicinity of the wall portion 222 is then discharged to the outside of the drum 220 through the gap 244. In other words, the gap 244 also plays a role in discharging dust and other foreign matter adhering to the inside of the drum 220 from the drum 220.

[0066] An opening 242 is formed in the bottom plate 240. The opening 242 is sized so that only one shishito pepper P (an example of an object of a first number or less) can pass through at a time. In this embodiment, the opening 242 is approximately triangular in shape, but it may be other shapes such as a circle (perfect circle, ellipse, etc.), a polygon (quadrilateral, pentagon, etc.), or a shape that approximates these.

[0067] In this embodiment, since the shishito peppers P are supplied one at a time to the downstream device, the opening 242 is formed to a size that allows only one shishito pepper P to pass through at a time. When supplying two or more predetermined numbers to the downstream device, the opening 242 may be formed to a size that allows a predetermined number of shishito peppers P to pass through at a time.

[0068] Figures 10 and 11 illustrate the flow of shishito peppers P from the primary supply device 10 to the secondary supply device 20 and then discharged. As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the drum 220 rotates in a clockwise direction when viewed from the upper opening end in the installed state.

[0069] As described above, the shishito peppers P fall from the rotating body 120 of the primary supply device 10 toward the drum 220. The symbol PT in Figure 10 indicates the point where the shishito peppers P fall.

[0070] If the blade section 234 enters the drop point PT as the drum 220 rotates at the moment the shishito pepper P falls, there is a risk that the shishito pepper P will collide with the blade section 234 and be knocked away, preventing it from entering the drum 220. Therefore, terminal device 4, which is an example of a control unit, controls the rotation speed of the drum 220 and the rotation speed of the rotating body 120 so that the shishito pepper P (an example of an object) that falls from the rotating body 120 of the primary supply device 10 enters the drum 220 (an example of a cylindrical part) without coming into contact with the blade section 234 (an example of a connecting part).

[0071] In other words, the terminal device 4 controls the rotational speed of the drum 220 and the rotational speed of the rotating body 120 so as to synchronize the timing at which the shishito pepper P that falls from the rotating body 120 enters the drum 220 from the upper opening end of the drum 220 with the timing at which the blade section 234 is not positioned at the falling point PT. The terminal device 4 may control the rotational speed of each part in an open loop or in a closed loop.

[0072] Increasing the number or size of the blades 234 increases the rigidity of the connecting part 230, making it easier to stably transmit the driving force from the shaft 210 to the drum 220. However, this also makes it easier for the shishito peppers P to collide with the blades 234 when they fall to the drop point PT. Decreasing the number or size of the blades 234 leaves a gap at the upper opening of the drum 220, making it easier for the shishito peppers P to enter the drum 220 without contacting the blades 234. However, this also reduces the rigidity of the connecting part 230, making it more difficult to stabilize the rotation of the drum 220. The number and size (width, thickness, etc.) of the blades 234 are set appropriately in consideration of these factors.

[0073] The drum 220 is installed at an angle of, for example, 35 degrees to the horizontal plane. Accordingly, the bottom plate 240 is also installed at an angle of, for example, 35 degrees to the horizontal plane. Therefore, when the shishito peppers P fall from the rotating body 120 of the primary supply device 10 and hit the bottom plate 240, they slide and roll on the inclined bottom plate 240 and accumulate in the lower region R1 (see Figure 11) inside the drum 220.

[0074] The blade portion 234 is positioned away from the bottom plate 240 (for example, near the upper opening end of the drum 220) so that it does not come into contact with the shishito peppers P accumulated in the lower region R1 when the drum 220 rotates.

[0075] As the drum 220 rotates, each projection 224 formed on the wall portion 222 sequentially enters the lower region R1. A portion of the shishito peppers P accumulated in the lower region R1 comes into contact with the projections 224 that have entered the lower region R1, and is transported through the drum 220 while being pushed in a clockwise direction.

[0076] The projection 224 is sized to accommodate only one shishito pepper P. For example, the projection 224 is 30 mm in length (radial direction of the drum 220) and 30 mm in thickness (direction perpendicular to the surface of the bottom plate 240). All shishito peppers except the one that is pressed against the projection 224 in a balanced orientation fall off the projection 224, slide or roll on the bottom plate 240, and accumulate again in the lower region R1.

[0077] For example, shishito peppers P whose longitudinal direction is closer to the circumferential direction of the drum 220 are more likely to rest on the protrusion 224.

[0078] Depending on the position and orientation of the shishito peppers P accumulated in the lower region R1, it is possible that no shishito peppers P may land on the projection 224. However, as the drum 220 rotates, the position and orientation of the shishito peppers P accumulated in the lower region R1 change fluidly. Therefore, one of the shishito peppers P accumulated in the lower region R1 will land on the projection 224 as the projection 224 enters the lower region R1, and will be transported to the opening 242, as described later. By continuously rotating the drum 220, the shishito peppers P accumulated in the lower region R1 are sequentially transported to the opening 242 by the projection 224.

[0079] If the projection 224 comes into contact with the bottom plate 240, the drum 220 may not rotate smoothly. If the projection 224 is too far from the bottom plate 240, the shishito peppers P accumulated in the lower region R1 inside the drum 220 will have difficulty settling onto the projection 224. For this reason, the projection 224 is formed at a position that is only slightly (for example, a few mm) away from the bottom plate 240.

[0080] The bottom plate 240 is made of a metal plate with a low coefficient of friction. Therefore, any shishito peppers P that do not fit on the protrusions 224 slide or roll smoothly on the bottom plate 240 and accumulate again in the lower region R1 inside the drum 220. To allow the shishito peppers P to slide or roll more smoothly, for example, a tape-like material with a lower coefficient of friction than the metal plate may be attached to at least a part of the bottom plate 240.

[0081] The opening 242 formed in the bottom plate 240 is positioned so as to coincide with the trajectory of the projection 224 when the drum 220 rotates, when viewed from the upper opening end in the installed state. Therefore, the shishito pepper P (see upper diagram in Figure 11) placed on the projection 224 is transported to the opening 242 (see lower diagram in Figure 11).

[0082] The shishito peppers P, transported to the opening 242, fall from the opening 242. The upstream end of a downstream device (such as a conveyor or sorting device) is installed at the point where the peppers fall. In other words, the secondary supply device 20 discharges the shishito peppers P supplied from the primary supply device 10 to the downstream device one by one.

[0083] As described above, the supply device 1 according to this embodiment rotates the shaft portion 210 with a drive mechanism 250 (an example of a first drive portion), and rotates the drum 220 (an example of a cylindrical portion) which is integrally connected to the shaft portion 210 via a connecting portion 230, together with the shaft portion 210 around axis AXb (an example of a first axis), thereby moving the shishito peppers P (an example of an object) inside the drum 220 to the opening 242 and discharging them from the opening 242.

[0084] In this embodiment, the rotating body 120 and the drum 220 are installed in such a way that the axis AXa of the rotating body 120 and the axis AXb of the rotating drum 220 intersect. By installing the rotating body 120 and the drum 220 in such a way that their axes intersect, the primary supply device 10 and the secondary supply device 20 can be arranged in a space-saving manner, and the entire supply device 1 can be made compact.

[0085] The above is a description of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to those described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present disclosure. For example, embodiments of the present application include combinations of embodiments explicitly shown in the specification or obvious embodiments as appropriate.

[0086] For example, in the above embodiment, the projection 224 is integrally molded with the wall portion 222. In another embodiment, the projection 224 is a separate part from the wall portion 222 and may be detachable from the wall portion 222. In this case, the worker may appropriately replace the projection 224 with a projection 224 of a corresponding shape and size, for example, depending on the type, shape, size, and weight of the object, and the number of objects to be placed on the projection 224 at one time.

[0087] The bottom plate 240 may be detachable from the support 200, for example. In this case, the operator may appropriately replace the bottom plate 240 with a bottom plate 240 having an opening 242 of a corresponding shape and size, depending on the type, shape, size, weight of the object, the number of objects to be discharged at one time, etc.

[0088] Figures 12 and 13 schematically show the configuration of the secondary supply device 20 according to Modification 1 and 2, respectively. Figures 12 and 13 show the secondary supply device 20 as seen from the open end side of the drum 220, which is on the upper side when installed (for convenience, this will be referred to as a "front view"). The secondary supply device 20 according to Modification 1 and Modification 2 differs from the secondary supply device 20 according to the above embodiment in the shape of the blade portion 234.

[0089] As shown in Figure 12, the blade portion 234 in Modification 1 has a fan shape with a central angle of less than 90 degrees when viewed from the front, and a total of three are formed. As shown in Figure 13, the blade portion 234 in Modification 2 has a fan shape with a central angle of 180 degrees or more when viewed from the front, and a total of one is formed.

[0090] In Modification 1 and Modification 2, the volume of the blade portion 234 is larger and the rigidity of the connecting portion 230 is higher compared to the above embodiment. As a result, the driving force of the shaft portion 210 is transmitted more stably by the drum 220.

[0091] In Modification 1 and Modification 2, the area of ​​the open end that is covered by the wing portion 234 and is on the upper side when installed is larger compared to the above embodiment. As a result, the shishito peppers P that have entered the drum 220 are less likely to fly out from the open end. Since the shishito peppers P are less likely to fall out of the drum 220, for example, the height of the drum 220 can be reduced (in other words, the drum 220 can be made thinner). [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 1: Feeding device 10:Primary supply device 20: Secondary supply device 100: Support 110: Containment Unit 112: Inclined plate 114: Guide plate 120: Solid of revolution 122: Cylinder 124: Partition plate 126: Flange 130: Drive mechanism 200:Support 210: Shaft 220: Drums 222: Wall 224:Protrusion 230: Connection part 232 :Connection part 234: Feather part 240: Bottom plate 242 :Aperture 244: Gap 250: Drive mechanism

Claims

1. A cylindrical section capable of accommodating an object is located at one end of the upper section, A shaft portion that can rotate around the first axis of the cylindrical portion, A connecting portion that integrally connects the cylindrical portion and the shaft portion, An opening is formed that is small enough to allow only a first number or less of the aforementioned objects to pass through at one time, and a closing portion is included that closes one end of the lower side of the cylindrical portion, The shaft is rotated by the first drive unit, and the cylindrical part, which is integrally connected to the shaft via the connecting part, is rotated together with the shaft around the first axis, thereby moving the object inside the cylindrical part to the opening and discharging it from the opening. Feeding device.

2. The shaft portion is installed on the first axis of the cylindrical portion within the space enclosed by the wall portion of the cylindrical portion. The connecting portion has one end mechanically connected to the shaft portion and the other end mechanically connected to the wall portion of the cylindrical portion. The supply device according to claim 1.

3. The connecting portion includes at least one rod-shaped portion extending from one end mechanically connected to the shaft portion to the other end mechanically connected to the wall portion of the cylindrical portion. The supply device according to claim 2.

4. The connecting portion and the cylindrical portion are formed integrally. The supply device according to claim 1.

5. There is a gap between the cylindrical portion and the closed portion that is too small for the object to pass through. The supply device according to claim 1.

6. At least one projection is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the wall portion of the cylindrical part, The projection is sized so that only one object can rest on it. The opening is formed in a position that overlaps with the trajectory of the projection when the cylindrical portion rotates, as viewed from one end of the upper part. The supply device according to claim 1.

7. A storage section capable of accommodating a second number of the aforementioned objects, which is greater than the first number, The rotating body includes partition plates arranged radially around a second axis, and having a region between the partition plates capable of accommodating a third number of the objects, which is greater than the first number and less than the second number. When the rotating body is rotated by the second drive unit around the second axis, at least some of the objects housed in the housing are sequentially housed in each of the regions and sequentially transported to the discharge position. The object, having been transported to the aforementioned discharge position, falls from the rotating body and enters the cylindrical part from one of its upper ends. The supply device according to claim 1.

8. The control unit includes a control unit that controls the rotation speed of the cylindrical part and the rotation speed of the rotating body so that the object that falls from the rotating body enters the cylindrical part without contacting the connecting part, The supply device according to claim 7.

9. The cylindrical portion and the rotating body are installed in a direction in which the first axis and the second axis intersect. The supply device according to claim 7.

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