Combination Weighing Device

Abstract

To effectively implement preventive measures for adhesion of products at a low cost.SOLUTION: A combination weighing device 1 according to one embodiment comprises a plurality of hoppers 5 to 6 receiving products inserted from the outside, temporarily retaining them and discharging them to a downstream side, a discharge chute 9 receiving the products discharged from the hoppers 4 to 6 and sliding down them to the downstream side, an acquisition part 50 for acquiring weight values of the products retained in the respective hoppers 5 to 6, and a control part 30 performing a combination calculation based on the weight values acquired by the acquisition part 50 and discharging the products from hoppers 5 to 6 determined by the combination calculation to the discharge chute 9. The discharge chute 9 includes a first slide surface 91 having a plurality of openings 91A, and a second slide surface 92 for closing parts of the openings 91A and disposed at a position inward the discharge chute 9 with respect to the first slide surface 91, where the second slide surface 92 is formed continuously from the first slide surface 91 in the upstream side, left side and right side of the opening 91A.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a combination weighing device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a technique of adopting a shutter structure as a measure against adhesion of articles to a discharge chute has been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] WO2014 / 067533A1 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the above-mentioned technology, the discharge chute is processed from both sides, but processing the surfaces on which the articles do not flow is costly and has no effect on preventing the adhesion of articles, which is a problem.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has an object to provide a combination weighing device that can effectively implement measures against article adhesion at low cost. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A combination weighing device according to one embodiment includes a plurality of hoppers that receive items introduced from the outside, temporarily retain the items, and then discharge them downstream; a discharge chute that receives the items discharged from the hoppers and slides them further downstream; an acquisition unit that acquires weight values ​​of the items stored in each of the hoppers; and a control unit that performs a combination calculation based on the weight values ​​acquired by the acquisition unit and discharges the items from the hopper determined by the combination calculation to the discharge chute, wherein the discharge chute has a first slide surface having a plurality of openings, and a second slide surface that blocks part of the openings and is positioned more inward on the discharge chute than the first slide surface, and the second slide surface is formed continuously with the first slide surface on the upstream side, left side, and right side of the openings. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, a combination weighing device can be provided that can provide cost-effective measures against article adhesion. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a combination weighing device 1 according to one embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an inner flow path surface of the discharge chute 9 of the combination weighing device 1 according to one embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of region A in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are given the same or similar reference numerals. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and the ratios of the dimensions are different from the actual ones. Therefore, the specific dimensions should be determined with reference to the following description. In addition, the drawings may include parts with different dimensional relationships and ratios. In this specification and the drawings, elements having substantially the same functions and configurations are given the same reference numerals to avoid repeated explanations, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not illustrated.

[0010] (First embodiment) A combination weighing device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figs.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a combination weighing device 1 according to this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an inner flow path surface of a discharge chute 9 of the combination weighing device 1 according to this embodiment, FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of region A in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 3.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 1, the combination weighing device 1 according to this embodiment includes a dispersion feeder 2, n heads 40, a discharge chute 9, an acquisition unit 50, and a control unit 30. n is a natural number equal to or greater than 1, and may be a natural number equal to or greater than 2. n is, for example, 14.

[0013] The heads 40 are arranged in an annular shape when viewed from above. The heads 40 are made up of a first head 40-1 to an n-th head 40-n. The first head 40-1 to the n-th head 40-n are arranged in numerical order counterclockwise when viewed from above. Here, the term "annular shape" includes a circular ring shape, a polygonal ring shape, and the like. In this embodiment, the heads 40 arranged in an annular shape will be described as an example.

[0014] Each of the heads 40 includes a radial feeder 3, a pool hopper 4, a weighing hopper 5, a booster hopper 6, and a distribution chute 7. Therefore, the radial feeder 3, the pool hopper 4, the weighing hopper 5, the booster hopper 6, and the distribution chute 7 are also each arranged in a ring shape when viewed from above.

[0015] The dispersion feeder 2 is a flat cone-shaped member. Articles are supplied to the dispersion feeder 2 by a supply conveyor 90 provided above the dispersion feeder 2. The upper surface of the dispersion feeder 2 is vibrated by an electromagnet (not shown) provided below the dispersion feeder 2. The dispersion feeder 2 transports the articles supplied to the upper surface in a radial direction while dispersing them in a circumferential direction, and supplies the articles to each radial feeder 3.

[0016] Each radial feeder 3 is a member made of sheet metal formed by bending a stainless steel plate. The radial feeders 3 are arranged radially around the periphery of the dispersion feeder 2.

[0017] Each radial feeder 3 is configured to vibrate the conveying surface by an electromagnet (not shown) provided at the bottom of the radial feeder 3. Each radial feeder 3 is configured to convey articles outward by the vibration of the conveying surface.

[0018] Each radial feeder 3 is also configured to feed articles into the pool hopper 4 of the head 40 to which it belongs.

[0019] The conveying capacity of the radial feeder 3 can be adjusted by the vibration strength (vibration amplitude) and vibration time on the conveying surface. Therefore, by adjusting the vibration strength and vibration time, the weight value of the articles supplied to each pool hopper 4 can be kept within a predetermined range.

[0020] Each pool hopper 4 is disposed below the tip of the corresponding radial feeder 3. Each pool hopper 4 is configured to temporarily hold and discharge the articles supplied from the radial feeder 3.

[0021] The pool hopper 4 is provided with a gate 4a for opening and closing the bottom of the pool hopper 4, and a stepping motor (not shown) for driving the gate 4a.

[0022] Gate 4a is configured to open and close by controlling a stepping motor by control unit 30. Pool hopper 4 is configured to hold articles inside pool hopper 4 when gate 4a is closed, and to discharge articles into weighing hopper 5 of head 40 to which gate 4a belongs when gate 4a is open.

[0023] The weighing hopper 5 is configured to temporarily receive articles in order to weigh the articles, and to distribute and discharge the weighed articles in either one of a first direction FD and a second direction SD.

[0024] Each weighing hopper 5 is disposed directly below the pool hopper 4 of the head 40 to which it belongs. The weighing hopper 5 is configured to hold the articles supplied from the pool hopper 4 and measure the weight values ​​of the articles.

[0025] The weighing hopper 5 is provided with gates 5a and 5b for opening and closing the bottom of the weighing hopper 5, and a stepping motor (not shown) for driving the gates 5a and 5b.

[0026] The weighing hopper 5 is configured to hold articles therein when both gates 5a and 5b are closed. In this state, the weighing hopper 5 temporarily receives articles.

[0027] The weighing hopper 5 is configured to distribute and discharge the weighed articles in either a first direction FD or a second direction SD by opening one of the gates 5a, 5b.

[0028] The weighing hopper 5 is configured to sort and discharge the articles in a first direction FD when the gate 5b is open, and to discharge the articles into the booster hopper 6 of the head 40 to which the weighing hopper 5 belongs.

[0029] On the other hand, when the gate 5a is open, the weighing hopper 5 is configured to sort and discharge the articles in the second direction SD, and discharge the articles into the sorting chute 7 of the head 40 to which it belongs.

[0030] The booster hoppers 6 are configured to temporarily receive the articles discharged in the first direction FD and discharge the received articles downstream. Each booster hopper 6 is disposed below and toward the center of the combination weighing device 1 of the weighing hopper 5 of the head 40 to which it belongs.

[0031] The booster hopper 6 is configured to temporarily hold and discharge the articles supplied from the weighing hopper 5.

[0032] The booster hopper 6 has an openable and closable gate 6a. Specifically, the booster hopper 6 is provided with a gate 6a that opens and closes the bottom of the booster hopper 6.

[0033] The booster hopper 6 is configured to hold articles therein when the gate 6a is closed. In this state, the booster hopper 6 temporarily receives articles.

[0034] On the other hand, the booster hopper 6 is configured to discharge articles into the discharge chute 9 when the gate 6a is open.

[0035] The booster hopper 6 may be provided with a weighing sensor so that the weight of the articles retained in the booster hopper 6 can be measured.

[0036] Here, the weighing hoppers 5 and the booster hoppers 6 constitute a plurality of hoppers that receive articles input from the outside, temporarily retain the articles, and then discharge them downstream.

[0037] The sorting chute 7 is configured to discharge the articles discharged in the second direction SD downstream. Each sorting chute 7 is disposed below and toward the outside of the combination weighing device 1 of the weighing hopper 5 of the head 40 to which it belongs.

[0038] The position of the sorting chute 7 is switched by a drive unit. In the first position, the sorting chute 7 is configured to discharge the articles discharged in the second direction SD to the discharge chute 9, and in the second position, the sorting chute 7 is configured to discharge the articles discharged in the second direction SD to the outside of the discharge chute 9 (outside the system).

[0039] In the discharge chute 9, the articles discharged from the booster hopper 6 and the sorting chute 7 slide down. That is, the discharge chute 9 is configured to discharge such articles downstream.

[0040] The discharge chute 9 is configured to collect the articles discharged from the weighing hoppers 5 and the booster hoppers 6, which are determined by a combination calculation by the control unit 30 described later, in one place and discharge them downward. The articles discharged from the discharge chute 9 are supplied to a subsequent packaging device or the like.

[0041] That is, the discharge chute 9 is configured to receive the articles discharged from the weighing hoppers 5 and the booster hoppers 6 described above, and slide them further downstream.

[0042] The acquisition unit 50 is configured to acquire the weight values ​​of the articles retained in each of the weighing hoppers 5 and each of the booster hoppers 6.

[0043] Specifically, the acquisition unit 50 may be configured to acquire the weight value measured by the weighing sensor of the weighing hopper 5 as the weight value of the articles held in the weighing hopper 5.

[0044] In addition, if a weighing sensor is provided in the booster hopper 6, the acquisition unit 50 may be configured to acquire the weight value measured by the weighing sensor, and if a weighing sensor is not provided in the booster hopper 6, to acquire the weight value of the items retained in the weighing hopper 5 acquired just before the weighing hopper 5 opens the gate 5b and distributes and discharges the items in the first direction FD as the weight value of the items retained in the booster hopper 6.

[0045] The control unit 30 is configured to perform a combination calculation based on the weight values ​​of the items acquired by the acquisition unit 50, and to discharge the items from the weighing hopper 5 and booster hopper 6 determined by such combination calculation into the discharge chute 9.

[0046] Hereinafter, an example of a flow path surface on the inside I of the discharge chute 9 of the combination weighing device 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs.

[0047] Fig. 2 shows the discharge chute 9 in an unfolded state with the flow passage surface of the inner side I facing up. As shown in Fig. 2, the flow passage surface of the inner side I of the discharge chute 9 is subjected to a shutter processing over the entire surface.

[0048] In the following, in this embodiment, a case will be described in which shutter processing is applied to the flow path surface on the inner side I of the discharge chute 9 as an example, however, the present invention is not limited to such a case and can be applied to a case in which shutter processing is applied to any surface (flow path surface) along which articles slide down due to their own weight, such as the dispersion feeder 2, the radial feeder 3, the pool hopper 4 (gate 4a), the weighing hopper 5 (gates 5a, 5b), the booster hopper 6 (gate 6a), and the inner side I of the sorting chute 7.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 3, the discharge chute 9 has a first sliding surface 91 and a second sliding surface 92 .

[0050] Here, the first sliding surface 91 has a plurality of openings 91A as shown in FIGS.

[0051] 4, the second sliding surface 92 is configured to cover a part of the opening 91A. The second sliding surface 92 is disposed at a position on the inner side I of the discharge chute 9 relative to the first sliding surface 91.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 3, the second sliding surface 92 is formed continuously with the first sliding surface 91 on the upstream side U, the left side L, and the right side R of the opening 91A.

[0053] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the second sliding surface 92 has a left plane 92L, a right plane 92R, and an upper plane 92U.

[0054] Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the left flat surface 92L is formed so as to rise from the first sliding surface 91 toward the inside I on the left side L of the opening 91A.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 3, the right flat surface 92R is formed so as to rise from the first sliding surface 91 toward the inside I on the right side R of the opening 91A.

[0056] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, the upper flat surface 92U is formed so as to connect the left flat surface 92L and the right flat surface 92R.

[0057] On the flow path surface on the inside I of the discharge chute 9, the articles slide down from the upper side U to the lower side D along the upper flat surface 92U of the first sliding surface 91 and the second sliding surface 92 due to their own weight, as shown in FIG.

[0058] According to the above-mentioned configuration, a second sliding surface 92 is provided which is composed of a left plane 92L, a right plane 92R and an upper plane 92U, thereby reducing the contact area between the highly adhesive article (item to be weighed) and the flow path surface of the discharge chute 9, thereby reducing adhesion of the articles and reducing weighing errors.

[0059] Furthermore, according to the above-mentioned configuration, the openings 91A are provided in the first sliding surface 91, so that air can enter through the openings 91A, thereby reducing adhesion of articles.

[0060] Furthermore, since the second sliding surface 92 is provided with the left flat surface 92L and the right flat surface 92R, the situation in which moisture contained in the articles leaks to the outside O of the discharge chute 9 can be reduced.

[0061] Here, the combination weighing device 1 according to this embodiment may further include a jetting unit 100, as shown in FIG.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 4, the blowing section 100 is configured to blow air from the outside O to the inside I of the discharge chute 9 at the opening 91A.

[0063] According to this configuration, the air ejected by the ejection part 100 can further reduce adhesion of objects.

[0064] According to the combination weighing device 1 of this embodiment, measures against adhesion of articles can be implemented cost-effectively.

[0065] Although the present invention has been described in detail using the above-mentioned embodiment, it is clear to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described in the present specification. The present invention can be implemented in modified and altered forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention defined by the description of the claims. Therefore, the description in this specification is intended to be illustrative and does not have any limiting meaning on the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 1...Combination weighing device 2. Dispersion feeder 3...Radiant feeder 4. Pool hopper 4a…Gate 5…Weighing hopper 5a, 5b...Gate 6…Booster Hopper 6a…Gate 7...Split shot 9…Ejection chute 30...Control section 40…Head 50…Acquisition part 90…Feed conveyor 91…1st sliding surface 91A…Aperture 92…Second sliding surface 92L…Left side plane 92R…Right side plane 92U…Upper plane 100…Gushing part

Claims

1. A plurality of hoppers that receive objects input from the outside, temporarily store them, and then discharge them downstream; a discharge chute that receives the articles discharged from the hopper and slides them further downstream; an acquisition unit that acquires weight values ​​of the items stored in each of the hoppers; a control unit that performs a combination calculation based on the weight value acquired by the acquisition unit and discharges the article from a hopper determined by the combination calculation to the discharge chute, The discharge chute is a first sliding surface having a plurality of openings; a second sliding surface that closes the opening and is disposed at a position on the inside of the discharge chute relative to the first sliding surface; The second sliding surface is formed continuously with the first sliding surface on the upstream side, the left side and the right side of the opening, The second sliding surface is a left side plane rising from the first sliding surface toward the inside on the left side of the opening; a right side plane rising from the first sliding surface toward the inside on the right side of the opening; an upper planar surface connecting the left planar surface and the right planar surface; A combination weighing device, wherein the left side plane, the right side plane and the upper plane cover the entire opening.

2. The combination weighing device according to claim 1 , further comprising an air outlet portion at the opening for blowing air from an outside of the discharge chute toward the inside of the discharge chute.

Images