Slicer

Abstract

To cut two pieces of lump meat conveyed by right and left endless belts and to form two rows of aggregates composed of a plurality of pieces of meat on the endless belts.SOLUTION: A first endless belt for conveying a lump of meat is divided into right and left to form a left first endless belt and a right first endless belt which are independently driven, the lump of meat conveyed by the left first endless belt and the lump of meat conveyed by the right first endless belt are cut at a cutting part, and a second endless belt for conveying a piece of meat is divided into right and left, such that left side second endless belt and a right side second endless belt which are independently driven are formed. By a controller provided on a control section, a plurality of meat pieces (m) cut by the cutting part is arranged on respective upper parts of a left side second endless belt and a right side second endless belt so as to at least partially overlap each other to perform aggregate formation control for forming an aggregate (M) of the meat pieces.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a slicer. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional slicer includes a slicer that sequentially slices a block of food, such as raw meat, processed meat, or cheese, into thin pieces, and then arranges a number of these food pieces so that some of the food pieces overlap each other to form a collection of food pieces. By forming a plurality of food pieces into an aggregate in this manner, they can be easily accommodated in a container, improving the efficiency of operations in food processing plants. It also becomes easier to separate and remove food pieces from the container, improving convenience in cooking. In the case where the food is raw meat, the raw meat is usually cut into thin slices, which are then folded and arranged in parallel in groups of 5 to 10 pieces, and this group is then placed on a tray and packaged. The total weight, price per weight, etc. are then displayed and the product is shipped.

[0003] As such a slicer, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a block of raw meat is cut in an up-down direction from its tip to successively form a plurality of thin slices, the thin slices are folded at their middle portions, and the folded thin slices are arranged in parallel so that parts of them overlap each other to form an assembly. Moreover, Patent Document 2 discloses a technique in which an assembly formed from a plurality of thin pieces is transported at predetermined intervals and stored in a tray. Patent Document 3 discloses a technique for automatically changing the number of meat pieces arranged in parallel and the cutting thickness of the meat pieces so that the weight of the collection of meat pieces approaches a set weight. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4264518 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 5875156 [Patent Document 3] Patent No. 4942696 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, a block of food, such as raw meat, does not have a uniform cross-sectional shape from the front to the back end, but rather the cross-sectional shape changes irregularly, so even if it is cut to a uniform thickness, the size (length) and weight of the cut food pieces will not be uniform. For this reason, when the same number of food pieces are stacked at the same pitch, the overall length and weight of the resulting assembly will vary. When the weight of each aggregate varies in this way, it becomes difficult to align the displayed weight range and the associated displayed price range for the product, which necessitates manual adjustments and reduces work efficiency.

[0006] Furthermore, when using the technology disclosed in Patent Document 3 to automatically change the number of food pieces arranged in a row and the cutting thickness, even if it is possible to reduce the variation in weight of each collection of food pieces, the pitch at which each food piece is arranged in a row is not automatically adjusted, so the overall length of the collection cannot be made uniform. This variation in overall length can cause problems such as the overall length of the assembly becoming too large, causing it to protrude from a container such as a tray when placed in the container, or conversely, the overall length of the assembly becoming too small, causing gaps within the container, requiring the food pieces to be rearranged manually, reducing work efficiency. Furthermore, there may be a problem that the thickness of food pieces contained in the same tray or other container varies, resulting in a decrease in commercial value.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, and to provide a slicer that can make the overall length of an aggregate of meat pieces uniform and reduce variation in the weight of the aggregate. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following technical solutions. That is, the invention described in claim 1 is a slicer comprising a supply section which transports chunks of meat before they are cut, a cutting section which cuts the chunks of meat transported by the supply section, a transport section which transports pieces of meat cut from the chunks of meat by the cutting section, and a control section, wherein a first endless belt for transporting chunks of meat provided in the supply section is divided into left and right halves to form a left first endless belt and a right first endless belt, and the left first endless belt and the right first endless belt are configured to be driven independently, and the chunks of meat transported by the left first endless belt and the chunks of meat transported by the right first endless belt are transported by the cut section. the second endless belt for transporting the meat pieces provided in the transport section is divided into left and right halves to form a left second endless belt and a right second endless belt, the left second endless belt and the right second endless belt are configured to be driven independently, and a controller provided in the control section performs aggregate formation control to arrange the multiple meat pieces cut in the cutting section on top of the independently driven left second endless belt and right second endless belt so that at least a portion of the pieces overlap each other to form an aggregate of meat pieces.

[0009] The invention described in claim 2 is the slicer described in claim 1, wherein the chunks of meat transported by the left first endless belt and the chunks of meat transported by the right first endless belt are cut in a single cutting section, and the multiple pieces of meat cut in this single cutting section are arranged on top of the independently driven left second endless belt and right second endless belt so that at least a portion of the pieces overlap each other, forming two rows of meat pieces.

[0010] The invention described in claim 3 is the slicer described in claim 1, configured so that the cutting portion cuts the chunk of meat at approximately equal intervals, and the aggregate is formed from the multiple pieces of meat cut at approximately equal intervals.

[0011] The invention described in claim 4 is a slicer as described in claim 3, which is equipped with a pitch changing means that automatically changes the pitch at which the meat pieces are arranged on the second endless belt depending on the length of the pieces in the arrangement direction, and forms the overall length of each collection to a set length.

[0012] The invention described in claim 5 is the slicer described in claim 4, which is configured so that automatic change of the pitch at which the meat pieces are arranged is prohibited until the formation of identical clusters is completed.

[0013] The invention described in claim 6 is a slicer described in claim 5, which is equipped with a measuring means capable of measuring the thickness or height of the chunk of meat before it is cut, and a length calculation means for calculating the length of the pieces of meat in the arrangement direction after cutting based on the measurement results by the measuring means.

[0014] The invention described in claim 7 is a slicer described in any one of claims 1 to 6, which is equipped with a measuring means capable of measuring the thickness or height of the chunk of meat before it is cut, and a quantity changing means for automatically changing the number of meat pieces that form the aggregate based on the measurement results by the measuring means.

[0015] The invention described in claim 8 is the slicer described in claim 7, which is configured so that automatic change of the number of meat pieces forming the aggregate is prohibited until formation of the same aggregate is completed. Effect of the Invention

[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a slicer that can make the overall length of an aggregate of meat pieces uniform and reduce the variation in weight of the aggregate. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a slicer according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a left side view of the slicer according to the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a front view of the slicer according to the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an explanatory left side view showing the slicer according to the present invention, broken away at the middle part in the left-right direction. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of power transmission of a slicer according to the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] 13 is a front view of a frame member provided at the delivery port of the supply section. FIG. [Figure 10] 1A is a right side view of the cut portion, and FIG. 1B is an enlarged view of the part surrounded by the dashed line in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a left side view for explaining the periphery of the cutting portion and the connecting portion. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is an explanatory plan view of the periphery of the cut portion and the connecting portion. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is an explanatory left side view showing a collection of folded meat pieces. [Figure 14] 13 is a right side view of the transport portion on the downstream side in the transport direction. FIG. [Figure 15] 13 is a plan view of a transport action portion on the downstream side in the transport direction. FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the article moving device in a closed state. [Figure 17] FIG. 2 is a front view of the article moving device in a closed state. [Figure 18] 13 is a plan view of the article moving device when adjusting the distance. FIG. [Figure 19] 13 is a front view of the article moving device when adjusting the distance. FIG. [Figure 20] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the article moving device in an open state. [Figure 21] FIG. 2 is a front view of the article moving device in an open state. [Figure 22] 1A and 1B are left side views of an article moving device, in which FIG. [Diagram 23] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a transfer belt of the article moving device. [Figure 24] 1A and 1B are front views for explaining the operating state of an article moving device, in which (a) shows a closed state and (b) shows an open state. [Diagram 25] FIG. 13 is an explanatory rear view of the container supply unit. [Figure 26] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of a container supply unit. [Figure 27] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of a container supply unit. [Figure 28] FIG. 4 is a left side view for explaining the operating state of the article moving device and its surroundings. [Figure 29] FIG. 4 is a left side view for explaining the operating state of the article moving device and its surroundings. [Diagram 30] 1 is an explanatory plan view of the periphery of the article moving device in an initial state before the gap is adjusted; FIG. [Diagram 31] 1 is an explanatory front view of the periphery of the article moving device in an initial state before the gap is adjusted; FIG. [Diagram 32] 13 is an explanatory plan view of the periphery of the article moving device during interval adjustment; FIG. [Diagram 33] 13 is a front view for explaining the periphery of the article moving device during interval adjustment. FIG. [Diagram 34] FIG. 2 is an explanatory plan view of the periphery of the article moving device in a partially open state. [Diagram 35] FIG. 4 is a front view for explaining the periphery of the article moving device in a partially opened state. [Diagram 36] FIG. 2 is an explanatory plan view of the periphery of the article moving device in an open state. [Figure 37] FIG. 2 is a front view for explaining the periphery of the article moving device in an open state. [Figure 38] 13 is a left side view for explaining the operating state around the article moving device in the storage completed state. FIG. [Figure 39] FIG. 2 is a pneumatic circuit diagram of an air cylinder. [Diagram 40] FIG. [Diagram 41] 1 is a first part of a control flowchart. [Diagram 42] 11 is the latter part of a control flowchart. [Diagram 43]FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which an aggregate is formed. [Diagram 44] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a change in height of a chunk of meat. [Diagram 45] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing the relationship between the height of a meat chunk and the total weight of a collection of meat pieces. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] As an embodiment for carrying out the present invention, a slicer 1 that continuously cuts a block of meat MF and conveys a plurality of meat pieces m as an assembly M of a plurality of pieces will be described in detail as an embodiment. In addition, based on the transport direction of the aggregate of chunks of meat MF and meat pieces m cut by this slicer 1, the upstream side is defined as the "rear side" and the downstream side as the "front side", and the left side when facing the downstream side is defined as the "left side" and the right side is defined as the "right side".

[0019] (Overall configuration of slicer) As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the slicer 1 includes a machine base 2 serving as a base, a supply section 3, a cutting section 4, a conveying section 5, a storage section 6, and a control section 7 provided thereon. The machine base 2 is a frame having a predetermined height and a rectangular shape in a plan view. The supply section 3 receives the chunks of meat MF inserted by the operator and transports them forward, and the cutting section 4 cuts the front end of the chunks of meat MF protruding forward from the front end of the supply section 3 to a predetermined thickness. The conveying section 5 conveys the meat pieces m cut by the cutting section 4 forward, and the storing section 6 stores the conveyed meat pieces m in a container and carries them out. The control unit 7 controls the operating state of the electric motors, air cylinders, and the like that drive each part. From a hygienic standpoint, each part is mainly made of stainless steel and covered with a stainless steel cover C. In Figure 4 and subsequent figures, this cover C is removed.

[0020] (Supply Department) As shown in Figures 4 to 7, the supply unit 3 includes a frame body 8 formed into a rectangular shape in a plan view, and a chunk meat conveying device 9 attached to this frame body 8 and conveying chunk meat MF supplied manually forward. In this chunk meat transport device 9, left and right side walls 10, 10 are erected on both left and right sides of a frame 8, and left and right fulcrum shafts 11, 11 are fixed to the rear ends of the left and right side walls 10, 10 in a position protruding outward. The left and right fulcrum shafts 11, 11 are arranged on the same axis, and both ends thereof are supported on the machine base 2 side via left and right bearings 12, 12.

[0021] (Supply section swing mechanism) As shown in FIG. 5, an electric motor 13 for swinging is attached to a portion below the frame 8 of the machine base 2, and one end of a crank arm 15 is attached to an output shaft 14 of the electric motor 13 for swinging. A bearing 16 journalled to the other end of the crank arm 15 and a bearing 17 supported at a position forward and below the fulcrum axes 11, 11 on the frame body 8 are fitted and fixed to cylindrical portions (not shown) provided at both ends of the interlocking rod 18. As a result, the supply unit 3 is supported in a posture inclined downward toward the front so that the front end portion, which is the transfer end side, is lower. When the swing electric motor 13 is driven, the supply unit 3 swings obliquely up and down about the fulcrum shaft 11 , and the front end of the supply unit 3 moves back and forth on a circular arc trajectory about the fulcrum shaft 11 .

[0022] (Conveying passage of supply section) As shown in Figs. 5 and 7, the frame 8 is integrally provided with one partition wall 19 between the side walls 10, 10 at both left and right ends. Between these two side walls 10 and one partition wall 19, two conveying passages 20 are formed. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the side walls 10, 10 at both the left and right ends are connected at the front and rear by gate- or arch-shaped reinforcing frames 21, 21 arranged above the two conveying passages 20, 20, thereby ensuring the rigidity of the frame body 8.

[0023] (Feed section conveyor) As shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 7, the chunk meat transporting device 9 is configured by providing two transport paths 20, 20 with wide lower conveyors 22 for transporting chunk meat, respectively. The lower conveyor 22 forms the bottom of the two transport paths 20, 20, and transports the chunks of meat MF thereon. The lower conveyor 22 is composed of a front end roller 23, a rear end roller 24, a lower endless belt 25 with a rough surface that is wound around the front end roller 23 and the rear end roller 24, and a tension roller 26 in the middle in the front-to-rear direction that applies tension to the lower endless belt 25.

[0024] The front end roller 23 is rotatably supported on a left-right axis fixed to the front ends of left and right frames (not shown). The left and right frames are integrally constructed and are detachably attached to the lower part of the frame body 8. The rear end rollers 24 are fixed to lower drive shafts 27 in the left and right direction which are supported by the rear ends of the left and right frames. The tension roller 26 is disposed in the front-rear direction central portion of the frame 8, and is brought into contact with the upper surface of the lower winding region of the lower endless belt 25, and elastically urges the lower endless belt 25 downward. This provides the lower endless belt 25 with a tension suitable for conveyance. Also, instead of a configuration in which the tension roller 26 is elastically biased, a configuration in which the height of the tension roller 26 is adjusted and fixed may be used. The front end roller 23, rear end roller 24, tension roller 26 and lower endless belt 25 are formed wider than the distance between the inner surfaces of the left and right side walls 10, 10, and each of their left and right ends is inserted below the left and right side walls 10, 10.

[0025] In addition, a sliding plate (not shown) that supports and slides on the lower surface of the upper winding region of the lower endless belt 25 is attached between the front end roller 23 and the tension roller 26 in the frame 8, and between the tension roller 26 and the rear end roller 24. This sliding plate is formed to have a wide width that spans between the inner surfaces of the left and right side walls 10, 10. The upper surface of the lower endless belt 25 is disposed immediately below the partition wall 19 with a gap therebetween so as not to come into contact with the partition wall 19. As a result, the upper surface of the lower endless belt 25 forms the bottom of the two conveying paths 20, 20 described above.

[0026] (Press plate of supply section) As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, base portions of left and right pressing arms 28, 28 are supported by bearings at portions of the left and right fulcrum shafts 11, 11 between the side walls 10, 10 and the bearings 12, 12. As a result, the left and right pressing arms 28, 28 are disposed outside the left and right side walls 10, 10 so as to be able to swing up and down. The left and right pressing arms 28,28 have front ends to which pressing plates 29,29 are attached, facing the upper front end portions of the transport paths 20,20, respectively. The pressure plates 29, 29 are fastened and fixed to mounting stays 30, 30 attached to the front ends of the left and right pressure arms 28, 28 by knob bolts 30N, 30N. The mounting stays 30, 30 extend upward from the front ends (free ends) of the pressing arms 28, 28, and then bend upwardly of the conveying paths 20, 20. The pressure plates 29, 29 are plates having an upper surface portion fastened to the mounting stays 30, 30, an inclined surface portion sloping downward from the front end of the upper surface portion, and a pressure surface portion extending forward from the front end of the inclined surface portion.

[0027] 4 to 6, stays 30T, 30T are raised from the left and right side walls 10, 10 of the frame body 8, and the cylinder portions of the left and right air cylinders 30S, 30S are rotatably supported by the stays 30T, 30T on left and right shafts 30Y, 30Y. As a result, the air cylinders 30S, 30S are attached in a vertical position. The tips of the pistons of the air cylinders 30S, 30S are supported at the front parts of the left and right pressing arms 28, 28 so as to be rotatable about an axis extending in the left-right direction.

[0028] When the air cylinders 30S, 30S are extended, the pressure arm 28 rotates downward and the pressure plates 29, 29 are pressed downward toward the upper surface of the lower endless belt 25, and the pressure surface of the pressure plates 29, 29 presses the front end of the chunks of meat MF that have been transported to the front of the conveying passages 20, 20. That is, the timing of extension and contraction of the air cylinders 30S, 30S is controlled so as to synchronize with the swing of the supply unit 3 about the fulcrum shaft 11.

[0029] As a result, just before the front end of the chunk of meat MF is cut by the cutting section 4 due to the upward swing of the supply section 3, the air cylinders 30S, 30S extend and press the front end of the chunk of meat MF, preventing it from shifting position when cut. After cutting, the air cylinders 30S, 30S are contracted to release the pressure on the chunks of meat MF, and the lower endless belt 25 is driven to feed the chunks of meat MF until the front end of the chunks of meat MF abuts against a receiving plate, which will be described later.

[0030] (Supply section transmission) As shown in FIG. 5, a transport electric motor 31 is attached to the lower surface side of the frame 8 in the supply unit 3 so as to face in the left-right direction, and an output gear 32 is fixed to the left-right output shaft of this transport electric motor 31. The output gear 32 is meshed with an intermediate gear 33 that is supported on the rear part of the frame 8 , and the intermediate gear 33 is meshed with an input gear 34 that is fixed to the left end of the lower drive shaft 27 .

[0031] (Cutting-related parts in the supply section) As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a frame member 36 having two openings 35, 35 is fastened and fixed to the front end of the frame body 8 in the supply section 3 with bolts 37. As shown in FIG. 9, the frame member 36 includes mounting portions 38, 38 having bolt holes at both left and right ends, and two rectangular openings 35, 35 are formed between the left and right mounting portions 38, 38 so as to penetrate therethrough. Between these two rectangular openings 35, 35, a vertical crosspiece 39 is formed. The front surface of this crosspiece 39 and the outer front surfaces of the left and right openings 35, 35 in the frame member 36 are formed with sliding edge portions 40, 40 that continuously surround three edges, the left and right side edges and the bottom side edges of each opening 35, by raising them forward.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 10(a), the front surface of the sliding edge portions 40, 40 is formed in an arc shape centered on the fulcrum shaft 11 of the supply portion 3 in a side view. As shown in FIG. 9(b), the upper front surface of each of the sliding edges 40, 40 is an inclined surface 41 that rises upward, and when the supply section 3 swings upward, an endless strip blade 49, which will be described later, slides and guides along the sliding edges 40, 40. The upper edge of the bottom side edge of each of the openings 35, 35 is formed into a blade shape.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 9, a recess 42 that is continuous in the up-down direction is formed only in the center in the width direction (left-right direction) of the sliding contact edges 40, 40 formed on the front surface of the crosspiece 39. As a result, sliding edges 40,40 remain on both the left and right sides of the bottom of the recess 42, and the rear surface of the cutting edge of an endless strip blade 49, which will be described later, also comes into sliding contact with these sliding edges 40,40. The bottom surface of the recess 42 is also formed in an arc shape centered on the fulcrum axis 11 of the supply unit 3 when viewed from the side.

[0034] (Cutting section receiving plate) As shown in Figures 4, 8, 10 and 11, a receiving plate 43 is arranged at a position facing the front side of the swinging trajectory of the frame member 36 described above to receive the front end of the chunks of meat MF delivered from the two openings 35, 35. The entire rear surface of the receiving plate 43 or a part of the rear surface is formed to have a curvature along a circular arc centered on the fulcrum shaft 11 of the supply unit 3 in a side view. As a result, the front surface of the sliding edge portions 40, 40 of the frame member 36 and the rear surface of the receiving plate 43 have an arc shape with the same or similar curvature when viewed from the side.

[0035] (cutting blade) As shown in FIG. 5, the cutting section 4 includes an electric cutting motor 44, a drive pulley 46 attached to an output shaft 45 of the electric cutting motor 44, a driven pulley 48 attached to a driven shaft 47, and a steel endless band blade 49 wound around the drive pulley 46 and the driven pulley 48. The electric cutting motor 44 is fixed to a position away from the two openings 35, 35 on the left side. On the other hand, the driven shaft 47 is supported rotatably via a bearing 50 at a position away to the right of the two openings 35, 35, and is supported on the machine base 2 so that its position can be adjusted left and right by the operation of an air cylinder (not shown). The output shaft 45 and the driven shaft 47 are held parallel to each other in the same forward upward inclination position. As a result, by operating the air cylinder to reduce the distance between the drive pulley 46 and the driven pulley 48, the endless blade 49 can be easily wound around and removed from these two pulleys 46, 48.

[0036] When the electric cutting motor 44 is started with the endless strip blade 49 wound around the drive pulley 46 and the driven pulley 48, the drive pulley 46 rotates counterclockwise when viewed from the front upper extension direction of the axis of the output shaft 45. Further, the driven pulley 48 is also rotated counterclockwise via the endless band blade 49. As a result, in the lower winding region of the endless strip blade 49, the endless strip blade 49 moves in a circular motion from the driven pulley 48 side to the driving pulley 46 side (from right to left). Therefore, in this lower winding region, the endless band blade 49 moves circumferentially under tension, and the lower winding region of the endless band blade 49 is used as an action region for cutting the chunk of meat MF. Furthermore, if the endless band blade 49 moving in this manner is overloaded due to the cutting resistance of the chunks of meat MF, a force will be applied to the driven shaft 47 in a direction toward the output shaft 45. However, the air in the air cylinder that adjusts the movement of this driven shaft 47 is compressed, thereby preventing damage due to the overload. One side edge of the endless blade 49 is formed into a sharp cutting edge.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 10, a guide member 51 for guiding the endless strip blade 49 is disposed above the receiving plate 43 between the driving pulley 46 and the driven pulley 48 . This guide member 51 has a left-right groove that opens downward in the lower edge of a long plate body, and the side edge portion of the endless strip blade 49 without a blade edge is fitted into this groove so that it can slide freely left-right. By fixing the position of this guide member 51, the winding surface of the endless strip blade 49 is held in a set position inclined downward to the rear, and a gap T is formed between the blade edge of the endless strip blade 49 and the upper end of the receiving plate 43. Since the inner and outer surfaces of the endless strip blade 49 are supported in sliding contact with each other by the guide member 51, the inclined posture of the endless strip blade 49 during the circular movement is stable.

[0038] (Support for the cutting portion, first support member, third support member) As shown in FIG. 4, two flat rails 52, 52 are fixed to the upper left and right sides of the machine base 2, facing in the front-rear direction and spaced apart in the left-right direction. The third support member 53 has a rectangular frame shape in plan view, and at its lower part, two rollers 54 are supported on each of the left and right sides of the front part in a balance swinging manner. Further, a roller 54 is journalled on each of the left and right sides of the rear part of the lower part of the third support member 53. With the third support member 53 mounted on the machine base 2, all six rollers 54 are placed on the upper surfaces of the left and right rails 52, 52, and the third support member 53 is supported so as to be freely movable in the front-rear direction relative to the machine base 2.

[0039] A first support member 55 formed into a rectangular frame in a plan view is placed on the upper side of this third support member 53, and the upper ends of four upper link arms 56 are attached to four locations on the front, back, left and right of this first support member 55 so that they can freely rotate around upper shafts 57 in the left-right direction. The lower ends of the four upper link arms 56 are fixed to the left and right ends of left-right lower shafts 58, 58 that are bearing-supported at the front-to-rear central portion and rear portion of the third support member 53, and the left and right upper link arms 56, 56 are configured to rotate integrally around the lower shafts 58, 58. Additionally, the upper ends of the lower link arms 59 are connected and fixed to the lower ends of the four upper link arms 56. As a result, the lower link arm 59 and the upper link arm 56 form an inverted V shape when viewed from the left side. In addition, front and rear tension springs 60, 60 connect the left-right shafts 59P, 59P provided at the lower ends of the front and rear lower link arms 59, 59 to the shafts 53P, 53P provided at the front and rear of the third support member 53, respectively, and the elastic force of these tension springs 60, 60 in the contraction direction urges the first support member 55 in the upward direction.

[0040] The base of the electric motor 61 is supported on the third support member 53 around a left-right axis, a female screw member 64 is screwed into a screw shaft 63 that is driven to rotate by the electric motor 61, and the tip of an intermediate member 64a that moves together with the female screw member 64 is axially attached to a stay 55b on the left-right frame 55a side provided at the middle part of the front-to-rear direction of the first support member 55 by a left-right axis 65 so as to be freely rotatable. When the screw shaft 63 rotates by the drive of this electric motor 61, the female screw member 64 screwed into it moves in the axial direction of the screw shaft 63, pushing and pulling the frame 55a of the first support member 55 via the intermediate member 64a, and the first support member 55 moves relative to the third support member 53. The movement trajectory of this first support member 55 is determined by setting the swing trajectories of the upper ends of the front and rear upper link arms 56. That is, all four upper link arms 56 are formed to have the same length, and the bearing position of the front lower shaft 58 relative to the third support member 53 is set higher than the bearing position of the rear lower shaft 58 relative to the third support member 53.

[0041] The rearward downward inclination of the left and right upper link arms 56, 56 on the front side is set to be gentler than the rearward downward inclination of the left and right upper link arms 56, 56 on the rear side. As a result, the closer the first support member 55 gets to the third support member 53 (the more it descends), the more the front side of the first support member 55 descends compared to the rear side, and the first support member 55 tilts downward toward the front. A rear support base 67 having left and right side plates 66, 66 has its lower end fixed to the rear of the first support member 55 by bolting. The lower portions of the left and right side plates 66, 66 are connected and reinforced by round bar-shaped frames 68, 68 in the left and right direction.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 11, the upward extending portions of the left and right side plates 66, 66 are connected by a frame 69 in the left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 4, an oblique side portion sloping upward toward the front is formed in the upper rear portion of the left and right side plates 66, 66, and stays 70, 70 protruding forward from both left and right ends of the front surface of the above-mentioned receiving plate 43 are fastened to this oblique side portion by nuts 71. This causes the receiving plate 43 to be fixed in position on the first support member 55. Furthermore, when the third support member 53 is moved forward relative to the machine base 2, the receiving plate 43 moves away from the opening 35, and a space for maintenance is formed between this receiving plate 43 and the opening 35. This space can be used to perform maintenance on the cutting section 4 and the conveying section 5, which will be described later.

[0043] (Adjusting the thickness of the cut meat) When the electric motor 61 is driven, the first support member 55 and the receiving plate 43 supported integrally therewith move in a direction constrained by the swing trajectory of the upper link arms 56,56. In other words, when the thickness of the cut meat piece m is to be increased, the first support member 55 is moved forward, and at this time, the first support member 55 moves downward and frontward while inclining downward toward the front. At this time, the rear surface of the receiving plate 43 supported by the first support member 55 changes its position so as to tilt forward.

[0044] As a result, regardless of changes in the distance between the front surface of the sliding edge portions 40,40 and the rear surface of the receiving plate 43, when viewed from the side, the rear surface of the receiving plate 43 remains positioned on an arc (an imaginary arc) centered on the fulcrum axis 11, which is the center of swing of the sliding edge portions 40,40. In other words, the distance between the front surface of the sliding edge portion 40, 40 and the rear surface of the receiving plate 43 is adjusted while maintaining the distance from the fulcrum axis 11 to the upper end of the rear surface of the receiving plate 43 and the distance from the fulcrum axis 11 to the lower end of the rear surface of the receiving plate 43 equal. This allows the thickness of the cut meat pieces m to be adjusted to a substantially uniform thickness over the entire surface. The curvature of the front surface of the sliding contact edge portions 40, 40 and the curvature of the rear surface of the receiving plate 43 in a side view are made substantially equal.

[0045] Therefore, strictly speaking, when the above-mentioned thickness adjustment is performed, the distances from the fulcrum shaft 11 to the upper and lower ends of the rear surface of the receiving plate 43 and the distance from the fulcrum shaft 11 to the vertical middle part of the rear surface of the receiving plate 43 will be slightly different. However, this slight difference is not significant enough to affect the commercial value of the cut piece of meat m. In addition, this configuration of tilting the receiving plate 43 forward while moving it downward and forward is applied to a configuration in which a chunk of meat MF is cut in the lower area of ​​the arc trajectory of the sliding edge portions 40, 40 centered on the fulcrum axis 11, such as the slicer in this embodiment.

[0046] (Cutting part transfer rotor) As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 11, left and right transition rotors 72, 72 which rotate independently on the same axis are provided between the upper portions of the left and right side plates 66, 66. The left and right transition rotors 72, 72 are made up of a number of annular plates 74 with numerous sharp protrusions arranged at intervals on the outer periphery of a body 73, and the body 73, 73 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 75 installed across the left and right side plates 66, 66. The projections formed on the periphery of the annular plate 74 have sharp tips that are sharp enough to pierce the cut meat pieces m.

[0047] Also, as shown in FIG. 5, take-over electric motors 76, 76 are attached to the upper outer surfaces of the left and right side plates 66, 66, and output shafts 77, 77 driven by these take-over electric motors 76, 76 protrude inward of each side plate 66, 66 through holes drilled in the left and right side plates 66, 66. Output gears 78, 78 are fixed to the protruding ends of the output shafts 77, 77, and input gears 79, 79 are fixed to the outer ends of the left and right bodies 73, 73, and the output gears 78, 78 and the input gears 79, 79 are meshed with each other. In addition, a portion of the peripheral edge of the annular plate 74 is inserted into a vertical slit formed in the upper part of the receiving plate 43, and the protrusions formed on this peripheral edge are pierced into the meat pieces m during and after cutting, so that the meat pieces are transferred onto the transfer rotors 72, 72. At this time, by setting the upward movement speed of the openings 35, 35 and the peripheral speed of the annular plates 74, 74 of the transfer rotors 72, 72 in the same direction and at the same speed, the cut meat pieces m can be transferred smoothly.

[0048] (Folding device) As shown in Figs. 5, 11 and 12, left and right rod-shaped bodies 81, 81 which are rotated back and forth by left and right electric motors 80, 80 for swinging are arranged below the front side of the support shaft 75 described above. A number of thin rods 82, 82 are attached to the left and right rod-shaped bodies 81, 81 at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction. Before the support shaft 75 begins to rotate, these numerous thin rods 82, 82 enter between the adjacent annular plates 74, 74 mentioned above, and are stored in a standby position where they are engaged with the upper peripheral surfaces of the annular plates 74, 74 and do not interfere with the meat pieces m being transported. Further, the electric motors 80, 80 for left and right swinging and the left and right rod-shaped bodies 81, 81 are unitized. As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the left and right units 83, 83 are supported so as to be freely slidable in their longitudinal direction by two round bar-shaped guide rails 83L, 83L which are attached in parallel to the outer sides of the left and right side plates 66, 66 and inclined upward toward the front.

[0049] Furthermore, one end of a crank arm 85, 85 is attached to the output shaft of a gear case 84G, 84G to which power is supplied from left and right electric motors 84, 84 for entering and exiting which are attached to the outer parts of the left and right side panels 66, 66, and both ends of a turnbuckle-type rod 86, 86 are axially attached to the other end of the crank arm 85, 85 and the unit 83, 83. As a result, the numerous thin rods 82, 82 attached to the left and right rod-shaped bodies 81, 81 swing back and forth so that their inclined postures are reversed in the front and rear directions by the operation of the left and right swing electric motors 80, 80. In addition, the numerous thin rods 82, 82 are guided by guide rails 83L, 83L as a unit by the operation of left and right electric motors 84, 84 for entry and exit, and slide back and forth in an inclined direction upward toward the front.

[0050] (Pressing device) As shown in Figs. 5 and 11, the cylinder portion of the air cylinder 87 is attached to the center of the left-right frame 69 connecting the upper portions of the left and right side plates 66, 66 so that the cylinder portion faces diagonally upward and downward. A left-right central portion of a pressing member 88 extending left-right is attached to the piston tip of the air cylinder 87 . Four linear pressing members 89, formed by bending elastic wire into a mountain shape, are attached to this pressing member 88 by fixing one end to the pressing member 88 and inserting the other end slidably into holes drilled in the pressing member 88. In this state, every two linear pressure members 89 intersect with each other, and the curved portions of the four linear pressure members 89 are positioned at the lower ends. When the air cylinder 87 is extended to move the pressing member 88 downward, the lower edge of the pressing member presses the upper surface of the folded meat piece m. Thereafter, when the air cylinder 87 is contracted and the pressing member 88 moves upward, the curved portions of the four linear pressing members 89 press each of the folded two rows of meat pieces m at two points simultaneously.

[0051] (Folding of meat pieces and formation of aggregates) When the above-mentioned electric motors 80, 80 for swinging are operated and the numerous thin rods 82 swing forward from the standby position, the pieces of meat m being transported on the upper peripheral surface of the annular plate 74 of the transfer rotor 72 are peeled off from the peripheral surface of the annular plate 74 by the tips of the numerous thin rods 82. At this time, the tips of the numerous thin rods 82 aligned in the left-right direction come into contact with the front-rear center portion of the underside of the meat piece m, push up the front-rear center portion of this meat piece m, and swing further forward. As a result, both the front and rear ends of the piece of meat m hang down under their own weight, causing the piece of meat m to bend in half at the position where the tips of the numerous thin rods 82 abut, and to be placed on the conveying section on the upstream (rear) side in the conveying direction described below. At this time, the air cylinder 87 is expanded, the pressing member 88 moves downward, and the lower edge of the pressing member 88 presses the folded meat piece m.

[0052] In this pressed state, the electric motors 84, 84 for entering and exiting are operated, and the left and right rod-shaped bodies 81, 81 slide downward and rearward together with the left and right electric motors 80, 80 for swinging, and the numerous thin rods 82 that were sandwiched between the folded meat pieces m are instantly pulled out. Thereafter, the curved portion of the linear pressing member 89 presses the upper surface of the folded meat piece m downward, while the pressing member 88 retreats upward. By repeatedly folding the meat pieces m in this manner, as shown in Figure 13, multiple folded meat pieces m (six meat pieces m in this embodiment) are sequentially placed on the conveying starting end of the endless belt 96 in conveying operation so that parts of the folded meat pieces m overlap each other, thereby forming a collection M of meat pieces m. In addition, a predetermined distance is formed between one aggregate M and the next aggregate M by controlling the conveying speed of the endless belt 96 to intermittently increase or decrease, or by controlling the time interval at which the thin rod 82 oscillates while keeping the rotational speed of the transfer rotor 72 and the oscillation timing of the thin rod 82 synchronized.

[0053] (Transportation section) As shown in Figures 4, 5, 11, 14, and 15, the conveying section 5 is configured by wrapping an endless belt 96 around a rear end driven roller 90, a rear driven roller group 91, a drive roller 92 and two driven rollers 93, 93 arranged in close proximity to the front and rear of the drive roller 92, an upper driven roller 92U arranged above the drive roller 92, and a group of driven rollers that form a reciprocating conveyor 95 described later. In addition, between each roller in the upper winding region of the endless belt 96, a sliding support plate (not shown) for supporting the inner peripheral surface of the endless belt 96 in sliding contact therewith is provided. This forms a continuous conveying area extending from the conveying start end to the conveying end. This series of transport action areas is formed by a transport action portion 5F on the upstream side (rear side) in the transport direction and a transport action portion 5R on the downstream side (front side) in the transport direction.

[0054] (Transportation action part on the upstream side in the transport direction) As shown in FIG. 4, a middle support base 98 made up of left and right asymmetrical plate members 97, 97 is mounted on the middle portion of the first support member 55 in the front-rear direction. That is, a boss member having a bearing hole in the front-rear direction is fixed to the lower end of the left and right plate bodies 97, 97, and both front and rear ends of a round bar-shaped sliding guide rod are fixed to both left and right side surfaces of the first support member 55, and the boss member is engaged with the sliding guide rod so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction (both the boss member and the sliding guide rod are not shown). In addition, a locking device (not shown) is provided for fixing and releasing the sliding position of the boss member relative to the sliding guide rod. When the intermediate support base 98 consisting of left and right plate bodies 97, 97 is slid to the rear end of the sliding range and the locking device is locked at this position, the wrapping circumferential length of the endless belt 96 is expanded and the endless belt 96 is tensioned so that it is ready for transport. On the other hand, when the locking device is unlocked and the intermediate support base 98 is slid forward, the wrapping circumferential length of the endless belt 96 is reduced and the endless belt 96 becomes slack, making it possible to remove the endless belt 96.

[0055] The bases of the left and right support stays 101, 101 are fixed to the front portions of the left and right plate bodies 97, 97 of the intermediate support base 98, and the left and right ends of a long support shaft 102 in the left-right direction are bearing-supported on the rearward extending ends of the left and right support stays 101, 101 so that it can freely rotate up and down. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the support shaft 102 rotatably supports the above-mentioned rear end driven roller 90 which is formed to be wide in the left-right direction. As a result, the rear end driven roller 90 is positioned below the front of the gap T in the cutting section 4 described above. The tops of swing arms 103, 103 branched into an upper piece and a lower piece are supported by bearings on both the left and right ends of the support shaft 102 so as to be vertically rotatable. Two rear upper driven rollers 91UF, 91UR are rotatably supported between the left and right upper sides of the swing arms 103, 103, and two rear lower driven rollers 91DF, 91DR are rotatably supported between the left and right lower sides of the swing arms 103, 103. As a result, the above-mentioned rear driven roller group 91 is formed, and this rear driven roller group 91 is disposed in front of the rear end driven roller 90. Further, an operating arm 104 is provided hanging down integrally from the top of the right swing arm 103 .

[0056] On the other hand, a gear case 106 to which power is transmitted from an electric motor 105 for vertical movement is fixed to the right side surface of the right plate body 97 of the intermediate support base 98 , and one end of a crank arm 108 is attached to the output shaft 107 of this gear case 106 . The tip end (lower end) of the operating arm 104 and the other end of the crank arm 108 are axially connected by a turnbuckle type interlocking rod 109. With this configuration, when the vertical movement electric motor 105 is driven in the forward direction, the crank arm 108 and the operating arm 104 rotate in conjunction with each other, and the left and right swing arms 103, 103 rotate upward around the axis of the support shaft 102. As a result, the two rear upper driven rollers 91UF, 91UR rise and push up the inner surface of the upper winding area of ​​the endless belt 96, forming a steeply inclined surface sloping upward toward the front at the conveying starting end (rear end) of the conveying action section 5F on the upstream side in the conveying direction in the series of conveying action areas. Thereafter, when the vertical movement electric motor 105 is driven in the reverse direction, the left and right swing arms 103, 103 rotate downward about the axis of the support shaft 102, and the two rear upper driven rollers 91UF, 91UR descend and return to their original positions. As a result, the front portion of the endless belt 96 is lowered to its original position, and the conveying start end portion of the conveying portion 5F returns to the gentle inclination surface. At this time, the inner surface of the lower winding region of the endless belt 96 is pressed down by the two lower rear driven rollers 91DF, 91DR that are descending, thereby preventing the endless belt 96 from slackening.

[0057] The drive roller 92 is disposed between the left and right plates 97, 97 of the intermediate support base 98, and both left and right ends of the rotation shaft 110 are supported by the left and right plates 97, 97 via bearings 111, 111. A gear case 113 to which power is supplied from a transport drive motor 112 is fixed to the right side surface of the right plate body 97 , and the rotation shaft of the drive roller 92 is connected to the output shaft of this gear case 113 . Two driven rollers 93, 93 arranged closely to the front and rear of the drive roller 92 are arranged at a position higher than the drive roller 92 and are supported between the left and right plate bodies 97, 97 by left and right bearings 114, 114. The endless belt 96 is then wound around the upper peripheral surfaces of these two driven rollers 93, 93, and further around the lower peripheral surface of the drive roller 92 disposed between the two, thereby lengthening the winding circumferential length of the endless belt 96 wound around the lower peripheral surface of the drive roller 92. This reduces slippage of the endless belt 96 relative to the drive roller 92 . The upper driven roller 92U is rotatably supported by a left-right shaft (not shown) attached between the upper portions of the left and right plate members 97 of the intermediate support base 98, and is disposed above the drive roller 92. Thus, the transport action portion 5F on the upstream side in the transport direction is formed mainly from the area extending from the rear end driven roller 90 to the upper driven roller 92U.

[0058] (Second support member) As shown in FIG. 4, a front support base 116 consisting of left and right plate members 115, 115 is fixed to the rear end of the third support member 53 described above. That is, the lower ends of the left and right plate bodies 115, 115 are fastened to the rear end of the third support member 53 with bolts 117, 117, and the upper ends of the left and right plate bodies 115, 115 are extended to a height equal to the upper ends of the left and right plate bodies 97, 97 in the intermediate support base 98 described above. Incidentally, the front support base 116 is disposed with a space in the front-rear direction between it and the first support member 55 described above, and there is no direct connection between the first support member 55 and the intermediate support base 98.

[0059] (Transportation section on the downstream side in the transport direction) As shown in Figures 4, 14 and 15, left and right extension plates 118, 118 having a narrow vertical width are integrally provided extending rearward from the upper portion of the front support base 116 (left and right plates 115, 115). In addition, on each inner surface of the left and right extension plate bodies 118, 118, a round bar-shaped guide rail 119, 119 in the front-to-rear direction is arranged at a distance from the inner surface, and the front and rear ends of the left and right guide rails 119, 119 are attached to the inner surfaces of the extension plate bodies 118, 118 via stays 120, 120.

[0060] A movable frame 124 is formed by the left and right movable plates 121, 121 in the front-rear direction and the front connecting rod 122 and the rear connecting rod 123 which connect the front and rear ends of the left and right movable plates 121, 121. The left and right moving plates 121, 121 of the moving frame 124 have inclined edges at their front upper edges which are inclined downward toward the front. The rear ends of the left and right inclined plates 125, 125 in the front-rear direction inclined along this inclined edge are supported by both left and right ends of a rear support shaft 126 installed between the left and right movable plates 121, 121 so as to be rotatable up and down. A bending portion driven roller 127 having a wide width in the left-right direction is rotatably fitted to the rear support shaft 126 .

[0061] In addition, vertical arc-shaped long holes 128, 128 are formed in the front ends of the left and right movable plates 121, 121, and bolts 130, 130 are inserted into these long holes 128, 128 from the outside. The tips of the bolts 130, 130 are inserted into weld nuts 129 provided on the left and right inclined plates 125, 125, and the movable plate 121 and the inclined plate 125 are fastened together to be fixed. By loosening these bolts 130, 130, the forward downward inclination angle of the left and right inclined plate bodies 125, 125 can be adjusted. Furthermore, left and right support arms 131, 131 are attached to the outsides of the front ends of the left and right inclined plate members 125, 125, and the front ends of the left and right support arms 131, 131 are connected by a connecting shaft 132. A front end driven roller 133 that is wide in the left-right direction is rotatably supported by a bearing on this connecting shaft 132 . The left and right movable plates 121, 121 have their lower rear portions extended downward and forward, and a shaft 149 is installed between the left and right extended ends to support a movable roller 150 which is wide in the left-right direction and can rotate freely.

[0062] The movable roller 150 moves together with the movable frame 124 and absorbs the change in the winding circumferential length of the endless belt 96 caused by the forward and backward movement of the front end driven roller 133 . Thus, boss members 134, 134 are attached to the front and rear of the outer surfaces of the left and right moving plates 121, 121, and these boss members 134, 134 are engaged with the left and right guide rails 119, 119 described above so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction. A gear case 136 to which power is supplied from an electric motor 135 for extension is fixed to the right side surface of the right plate 115 of the front support base 116. The lower end of a vertically oriented swing arm 138 is fixed to the inwardly protruding end of the right plate 115 of the output shaft 137 of the gear case 136 . The upper end of this swing arm 138 and the end of the front connecting rod 122 protruding outward from the moving plate body 121 are pivotally connected to the front and rear ends of turnbuckle-type connecting rods 139, 139.

[0063] As a result, when the extension electric motor 135 is driven, the bending section driven roller 127 and the front end driven roller 133 supported on the moving frame 124 side move together in the front-to-back direction, and the conveying terminal end (front end) of the endless belt 96 changes position in the front-to-back direction. The portion of this endless belt 96 extending from the bent portion driven roller 127 to the front end driven roller 133 is referred to as the reciprocating conveyor 95 described above. As shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 14, the front end driven roller 133 is disposed lower than the moving roller 150, and the lower winding area DA of the reciprocating conveyor 95 is inclined downward toward the front. This makes it possible to prevent interference between the endless belt 96 and the storage section 6 due to sagging of the lower winding region DA thereof during storage in the storage section 6, which will be described later.

[0064] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 14, the bases (rear ends) of tension arms 140, 140 are supported on the upper rear portions of the left and right plates 115 of the front support base 116 so as to be vertically rotatable about rotation shafts 141, 141. At the free ends (front ends) of the tension arms 140, 140, wide tension rollers 142, 142 are axially supported so as to be freely rotatable. Although not shown, a locking device is provided to fix the tension arms 140, 140 in a position in which they extend horizontally forward, and when this locking device is unlocked, the tension arms 140, 140 are configured to rotate downward. As a result, when the lock is released and the tension arms 140, 140 are rotated downward, the wrapping circumferential length of the endless belt 96 including the tension rollers 142, 142 is shortened, and the endless belt 96 slackens.

[0065] Although not shown in the figure, the left side panel 66 of the rear support base 67, the left plate body 97 of the intermediate support base 98, and the left plate body 115 of the front support base 116 are each formed as separate upper and lower panels, and by removing the connecting panel that connects the upper and lower panels, the endless belt 96 can be pulled out to the left side. This allows the endless belt 96 to be attached and detached.

[0066] An inner guide roller 143 for rolling guide the inner circumferential surface of the endless belt 96 and an outer guide roller 144 for rolling guide the outer circumferential surface of the endless belt 96 are provided at a vertically intermediate position on the rear of the front support stand 116 . Then, support stays 145, 145 are fastened to both the left and right sides of the front end of the above-mentioned first support member 55 with bolts 146, 146, and a lower driven roller 148 that is wide in the left-right direction is bearing-supported on a shaft 147 installed between the left and right support stays 145, 145. As described above, when adjusting to increase the thickness of the cut meat piece m, the closer the first support member 55 is to the third support member 53 (the more it descends), the more the front side of the first support member 55 descends more than the rear side, and the first support member 55 tilts downward toward the front. At this time, the wrapping circumferential length of the endless belt 96 is shortened and the endless belt 96 becomes slack, but the lower driven roller 148 provided at the front end of the first support member 55 moves forward and downward, absorbing the change in the circumferential length of the endless belt 96.

[0067] Thus, the above-mentioned reciprocating conveyor 95 forms a downstream transport section 5R in the transport section 5 in the transport direction. Incidentally, a continuous transport action area is formed by the endless belt 96 from the transport action portion 5F on the upstream side in the transport direction to the transport action portion 5R on the downstream side in the transport direction. Between the rollers, a sliding contact plate (not shown) is provided to support the lower surface of the upper winding region of the endless belt 96 from below.

[0068] (Storage section) A receiving surface 201 provided on an article moving device 200 shown in Figs. 16 to 22 is disposed below the front-rear moving range of the transfer end portion of the transfer action section 5R on the downstream side in the transfer direction (the transfer end portion of the reciprocating conveyor 95). This article moving device 200 comprises a right-side moving unit 200R and a left-side moving unit 200L, and is provided with left and right receiving plates 202, 202 in a substantially horizontal direction with receiving surfaces 201, 201 formed on the upper portions thereof. The shapes, support structures, and drive structures of the left and right receiving plates 202, 202 are configured to be substantially symmetrical between the left and right moving units 200R, 200L. Therefore, unless otherwise specified, the following description applies symmetrically to both the left and right moving units 200R, 200L.

[0069] (Support structure of storage unit) First, the lower ends of the left and right support stays 204, 204, which are formed in a plate shape, are fastened to the upper part of the machine base 203 with bolts 205, 205, and the left and right fulcrum shaft 206 is inserted into the left and right holes provided in the upper ends of the left and right support stays 204, 204 so as to be freely rotatable around its axis. A fulcrum shaft cylinder 207 is fitted to the outer periphery of the fulcrum shaft 206 so as to be rotatable about its axis and slidable in the axial direction. Then, the lower end of a plate-shaped upper support stay 208 arranged on one of the left and right sides (outside) is fastened to the left and right side end portions (outer end portions) protruding outward from the left and right outer support stays 204 on the fulcrum axis 206 with a bolt 209. In addition, the lower end of an approximately rectangular inner support plate 210 arranged on the other left and right side (inner side) is fastened to the other left and right end (inner end) of the fulcrum axis 206 protruding inward from the inner left and right support stays 204 by a bolt 211.

[0070] (Framework of the housing) As shown in Figures 16 to 22, a roughly rectangular outer support plate 212 is arranged at a distance outward from the upper support stay 208 arranged on one of the left and right sides (outside) described above, and this outer support plate 212 and the inner support plate 210 are connected as follows to form a framework. That is, both ends of a round bar-shaped first connecting rod 213 are positioned on the inner surface of the vertical middle part at the front of the inner support plate 210 and the lower inner surface at the front of the outer support plate 212 and fastened with bolts 214,214. The left-right intermediate portion of this first connecting rod 213 is fixed by passing through holes formed in the upper portions of the left-right outer upper support stays 208 . In addition, both ends of a round bar-shaped lower connecting rod 215 are positioned on the upper inner surfaces of the left and right outer upper support stays 208 and the inner surfaces of the vertical middle parts at the front of the left and right inner support plates 210, and fastened with bolts 216,216.

[0071] Then, both ends of a round bar-shaped second connecting rod 217 are positioned on the upper inner surface of the rear part of the inner support plate 210 and the lower inner surface of the rear part of the outer support plate 212, and fastened in place with bolts 218,218. In addition, both ends of a round bar-shaped third connecting rod 219 are positioned on the upper inner surface of the rear portion of the inner support plate 210 and the upper inner surface of the rear portion of the outer support plate 212, and are fastened and fixed with bolts 220,220. As a result, the third connecting rod 219 is disposed directly above the second connecting rod 217 .

[0072] In addition, both ends of a round bar-shaped fourth connecting rod 221 are positioned on the upper inner surface at the rear end of the inner support plate 210 and the inner surfaces of the vertical middle parts at the rear ends of the left and right outer support plates 212, and fastened in place with bolts 222, 222. The base of the left-right sliding guide rod SS1 is positioned on the upper left side surface of the middle part in the front-rear direction of the inner support plate 210 provided on the right moving unit 200R, and is fastened with a bolt SS2. On the other hand, the base of a sliding guide cylinder SS3 having a left-right hole is positioned and fixed to the upper left side surface of the upper end portion of the middle portion in the front-rear direction of the inner support plate 210 provided on the left moving unit 200L. Then, the tip end of the sliding guide rod SS1 is slidably fitted into the hole of the sliding guide cylinder SS3.

[0073] This forms a position restriction part PK that allows the left and right moving units 200L, 200R to move independently in the axial direction of the fulcrum shaft 206, while restricting the left and right moving units 200L, 200R from swinging up and down around the fulcrum shaft 206 independently. The first connecting rod 213, the second connecting rod 217, the third connecting rod 219, the fourth connecting rod 221 and the sliding guide rod SS1 are arranged in the horizontal direction and in parallel with each other. In addition, the front left and right ends of a left-right rear connecting plate 223, which is narrow in the vertical direction, are placed against the upper rear end surface of the outer support plate 212 and the upper rear end surface of the inner support plate 210, and fastened in place with bolts 224, 224.

[0074] (Gap adjustment mechanism for article moving device) As shown in FIGS. 16 to 22, the base of a double-acting first air cylinder 225 for adjusting the distance is attached to the inner surface of the front lower part of the inner support plate 210. Further, the base of a stay 226 is fixed to the left-right intermediate portion of the fulcrum shaft tube 207, and a box-shaped holder 227 is fixed to the inner surface of the upper portion of the stay 226 which is thus arranged vertically. The holder 227 is hollow and has an opening on the side opposite to the portion fixed to the stay 226 . Inside this holder 227, the head of an adjustment bolt 228, which is formed larger than the aforementioned opening, is placed with a gap between it and the inner wall of the holder 227 and in a state where its posture can be freely changed, and the male screw portion of this adjustment bolt 228 is made to protrude inward from the aforementioned opening. The tip of this male screw portion is screwed into a female screw portion formed at the tip of a piston 229 of a first air cylinder 225 for connection, and then fixed with a lock nut 230 .

[0075] As a result, even if there is an error between the extension and contraction direction of the piston 229 and the sliding direction of the fulcrum shaft 206 relative to the fulcrum shaft tube 207 and their parallel postures, this error can be absorbed by changing the posture of the head of the adjustment bolt 228 relative to the holder 227, allowing the fulcrum shaft 206 to slide smoothly. By expanding and contracting both of the left and right first air cylinders 225, 225, the right moving unit 200R and the left moving unit 200L move in opposite directions. At this time, the sliding guide rod SS1 is slidably fitted into the sliding guide cylinder body SS3, so that the relative posture between the right moving unit 200R and the left moving unit 200L is maintained. Furthermore, as described below, when the article moving device 200 is swung upward around the axis of the fulcrum shaft 206, the right-side moving unit 200R and the left-side moving unit 200L swung upward as a unit because the sliding guide rod SS1 is freely slidably fitted into the sliding guide cylinder SS3.

[0076] (receiver plate) As shown in Figures 16 to 22, the receiving plate 202 is formed from a rectangular stainless steel plate, with the front edge bent vertically upward, the rear edge bent with a rearwardly downward sloping position, the left and right outer edges bent with an outwardly downward sloping position, and the left and right inner edges rolled downward. Alternatively, a round bar in the front-rear direction may be welded to the inner end in the left-right direction. Also, a wide, small-diameter roller that is rotatable about an axis in the front-rear direction may be attached to the inner end in the left-right direction. In addition, in two corners on the front side of this receiving plate 202, cutouts 202K, 202K are formed to prevent interference with the inner support plate 210 and the outer support plate 212 described above. Further, at two corners on the rear side of the receiving plate 202, cutout portions 202L, 202L for operating a first index plunger 270, which will be described later, are formed. A horizontal receiving surface 201 is formed on the upper side of the intermediate portion in the front-rear direction of the receiving plate 202 thus formed.

[0077] (Sliding mechanism of receiving plate) As shown in Figs. 16 to 22, sliding members 231, 231 arranged on the left and right outer sides and the left and right inner sides are slidably engaged with the third connecting rod 219 at a predetermined interval in the left and right direction. The sliding members 231, 231 have a through hole through which the third connecting rod 219 is inserted, and a ball-type sliding member for reducing the sliding resistance against the third connecting rod 219 is provided in this through hole portion, and grease acting on this sliding member is sealed in. Then, the vertically upwardly bent portion formed at the front end portion of the receiving plate 202 is brought into contact with the rear side surfaces of the sliding members 231, 231, and then fastened and fixed by bolts 232, 232.

[0078] (Timing belt interlocking mechanism) A first timing pulley 233 is supported at the bottom of the outer sliding member 231 so as to be rotatable about a shaft center 234 in the front-rear direction. On the other hand, a second timing pulley 235 is supported at the lower part of the inner sliding member 231 so as to be rotatable about a shaft center 236 in the front-rear direction. The effective diameters of the first timing pulley 233 and the second timing pulley 235 are set to be equal. A timing belt 237 is wound around the first timing pulley 233 and the second timing pulley 235 . A part of the upper winding region of this timing belt 237 is fixed to the longitudinal center of the third connecting rod 219 via a fixing member 238 . The upper part of the fixing member 238 is fastened and fixed to the third connecting rod 219 so that its position can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction, and the lower part of the fixing member 238 fixedly holds a part of the timing belt 237 .

[0079] That is, the fixing member 238 holds a part of the upper winding area of ​​the timing belt 237 at a fixed position. The outer sliding member 231 and the inner sliding member 231 are connected by bolts 240, 240 to both left and right ends of a left and right support plate 239 arranged in front of them with a gap therebetween. In addition, it is preferable to form a shaft portion at the tip portion of the bolts 240, 240 for bearing-supporting the first timing pulley 233 and the second timing pulley 235 described above. The first timing pulley 233, the second timing pulley 235, the timing belt 237, the fixed member 238, the first slider 246, and the pulling plate 250 constitute an interlocking means RA that moves the transfer belt 295 in conjunction with the movement of the receiving plate 202.

[0080] (Sliding drive) The base of a double-acting second air cylinder 241 for sliding is axially supported by a front-rear pin 243 on front and rear stays 242, 242 attached to the upper inside surface of the middle part of the inner support plate 210 in the front-rear direction. The tip of the piston 244 of the second air cylinder 241 is connected by a bolt 245 to the lower end of the bent portion that is bent downward from the outer end of the support plate 239 described above.

[0081] (Air pressure circuit) The air pressure circuit 320 shown in FIG. 39 is provided for each of the left and right second air cylinders 241, 241. This air pressure circuit 320 is provided with an electromagnetic switching valve 323 that switches the supply and exhaust direction of air supplied from an air pressure pump (not shown) to cause the piston 244 of the second air cylinder 241 to expand and contract. The three ports on one side of this electromagnetic switching valve 323 are switchably connected to an IN port 321 which communicates with an upstream air pressure pump and two OUT ports 322 . The two ports on the other side of this electromagnetic switching valve 323 are switchably connected to a first flow path 324 which communicates with the extension side port of the second air cylinder 241, and a second flow path 326 which communicates with a buffer / speed adjustment circuit 325.

[0082] The buffer / speed adjustment circuit 325 has a pilot check valve 327 whose check direction can be switched in both directions, a check valve 328, a manually operated first variable throttle valve 329, an air tank 330, a two-position switching valve 331, a first atmosphere release device 332 for buffering, a manually operated second variable throttle valve 333 that adjusts the amount of air sent to this first atmosphere release device 332, a second atmosphere release device 334 for speed adjustment, and a manually operated third variable throttle valve 335 that adjusts the amount of air sent to this second atmosphere release device 334. Additionally, a third flow path 336 branching off from within pilot check valve 327 is connected to a port on the retracted side of second air cylinder 241 .

[0083] One end of a fifth flow path 338 is connected to a midway portion of a fourth flow path 337 that is connected to the second flow path 326 in the buffer / speed adjustment circuit 325 , and the other end of the fifth flow path 338 is connected to the air tank 330 . A check valve 328 and a first variable throttle valve 329 are connected in parallel to a midway portion of the fifth flow passage 338 . Moreover, one side of pilot check valve 327 is connected to an intermediate portion of fourth flow passage 337 , and the other side of this fourth flow passage 337 is connected to the IN port of two-position switching valve 331 . An OUT port of this two-position switching valve 331 is selectively connected to either a first atmosphere opening device 332 or a second atmosphere opening device 334 by switching operation of this two-position switching valve 331 . The switching operation of the two-position switching valve 331 is performed in conjunction with the amount of air remaining in the air tank 330.

[0084] In addition, a second variable throttle valve 333 is connected between the OUT port of the two-position switching valve 331 and the first atmosphere opening device 332, and a third variable throttle valve 335 is connected between the OUT port of the two-position switching valve 331 and the second atmosphere opening device 334. Therefore, when the electromagnetic switching valve 323 is switched to one side position shown in Figure 39 by the output from the controller to the switching solenoid 323S, the air flowing in from the IN port 321 passes through the second flow path 326, the fourth flow path 337 and the pilot check valve 327 without load, and flows via the third flow path 336 into the retracting side port of the second air cylinder 241, causing the piston 244 of the second air cylinder 241 to retract at high speed.

[0085] As a result, the receiving plate 202 slides inwardly to the left and right, and the distance between the opposing ends of the left and right receiving plates 202, 202 becomes the minimum distance P1. In addition, a portion of the air that flows into the fourth flow path 337 flows from the fifth flow path 338 through the check valve 328 into the air tank 330, and is accumulated in this air tank 330. This accumulated pressure holds the two-position switching valve 331 in the position shown in Figure 39 against the elastic force of the return spring 331S. In this state, the pilot check valve 327 blocks air from flowing from the fourth flow path 337 to the two-position switching valve 331 .

[0086] Then, when the electromagnetic switching valve 323 is switched to the other position by output from the controller to the switching solenoid 323S, the air flowing in from the IN port 321 flows through the first flow path 324 into the extension side port of the second air cylinder 241, and the piston 244 of the second air cylinder 241 begins to extend at high speed. As a result, the receiving plate 202 starts to slide outwardly to the left and right. During this sliding, the air in the retracted chamber of the second air cylinder 241 is discharged into the third flow path 336 by the operation of the piston 244 toward the extended side, and passes through the pilot check valve 327 and the open side fourth flow path 337 to reach the IN port of the two-position switching valve 331.

[0087] The air that has reached the IN port of this two-position switching valve 331 flows out from the OUT port of this two-position switching valve 331 , and with its flow rate restricted by the third variable throttle valve 335 , is discharged to the outside through the second atmosphere opening device 334 . By limiting the discharge flow rate by this third variable throttle valve 335, the discharge amount from the short outlet chamber of the second air cylinder 241 is limited, and as a result, the extension speed of the piston 244 of the second air cylinder 241 is controlled to a high constant speed, and the sliding speed of the receiving plate 202 outward to the left and right is maintained constant. The extension speed of the piston 244 of the second air cylinder 241 , that is, the sliding speed of the receiving plate 202 can be changed by manually adjusting the third variable throttle valve 335 . Furthermore, while the piston 244 of the second air cylinder 241 is extending at high speed in this manner, the air that had been stored in the air tank 330 flows out into the fifth flow path 338, and with the flow rate restricted by the first variable throttle valve 329, it is gradually discharged through the second flow path 326 and the electromagnetic switching valve 323 to the OUT port 322.

[0088] When the air stored in the air tank 330 is exhausted, the two-position switching valve 331 is switched by the elastic force of the return spring 331S. As a result, the air that has passed through the open side fourth flow path 337 from the pilot check valve 327 is discharged to the outside through the first atmosphere opening device 332 while its flow rate is restricted by the second variable throttle valve 333. This state occurs immediately before the piston 244 of the second air cylinder 241 reaches the end of its stroke in the extension direction, and the extension speed of the piston 244 drops significantly compared to the speed before that. This buffers the impact when the piston 244 reaches the stroke end in the extension direction, and reduces the impact and noise caused by the sudden stop of the receiving plate 202.

[0089] (Traction board) Further, a first slider 246 is slidably supported on the second connecting rod 217 located immediately below the third connecting rod 219 , and this first slider 246 is disposed immediately below the lower winding region of the timing belt 237 . A portion of the lower winding region of the timing belt 237 is sandwiched from above and below between the upper surface of this first slider 246 and the lower surface of a plate 247 attached to the upper part of this first slider 246, and the plate 247 is fastened and fixed to the first slider 246 with bolts 248.

[0090] Further, second sliders 249, 249 incorporating ball-type sliding members and filled with grease are arranged on both the left and right sides of the first slider 246, and these second sliders 249, 249 are supported relative to the second connecting rod 217 so as to be slidable and rotatable. The vertical surface of a towing plate 250 having a vertical surface portion and a horizontal surface portion and bent into an L shape is fastened and fixed to the rear surfaces of the left and right second sliders 249, 249 by bolts 251. As a result, the towing plate 250 and the two second sliders 249, 249 arranged on either side of the first slider 246 are integrated, and the towing plate 250 is supported so as to be slidable in the left-right direction and rotatable in the up-down direction. The front and rear ends of the horizontal surface of the towing plate 250 are made wider than the intermediate portion in the front-to-rear direction so that the ends of the transfer belts 295 can be stably retained.

[0091] (Support for the rear end of the receiving plate and the towing plate, and the upward rotation mechanism of the article moving device) As shown in FIGS. 16 to 22, the front end of a cylindrical frame 252 that is long in the front-rear direction is positioned on the outer left-right portions of the rear surface of the rear connecting plate 223 and fastened with bolts 253 . Furthermore, the front end of a rectangular cylindrical frame 254 that is long in the front-rear direction is brought into contact with the left-right middle portion of the rear surface of the rear connecting member 223 , and fastened and fixed by a bolt 255 . Then, the front faces of both left and right ends of a connecting plate 256 are abutted against the rear end of the cylindrical frame 252 and the rear end of the square tube frame 254 and fastened in place by bolts 257, 258, respectively. As shown in FIG. 22, a holder 259 having an inverted L-shaped cross section is fixed to the lower end of this connecting plate 256 .

[0092] Then, the upper surface of a first resin rail 260 is abutted against the lower surface of the upper edge of the holder 259, a plate 261 is abutted against the lower surface of the first resin rail 260, and a fall prevention plate 262 is placed on the lower surface of the plate 261 and fastened together with a bolt 263. The cross section of the first resin rail 260 is formed into a trapezoid shape with the upper side longer than the lower side, and a slanted guide surface 260S that slopes downward toward the rear is formed on the front surface. This inclined guide surface 260S is capable of slidingly guiding the rear edge portion of the receiving plate 202 that is formed at the rear end portion thereof in a rearwardly downwardly inclined position from above. This restricts the upward rotation of the receiving plate 202 about the axis of the third connecting rod 219.

[0093] Further, the drop-out prevention plate 262 has a cross-sectional shape that is bent in a V-shape, and its front edge is inclined downwardly in the above-mentioned fixed state. As a result, when the article moving device 200 rotates upward around the fulcrum axis 206 as described below, the rear end of the receiving plate 202 abuts against the upper surface of the front edge portion that is inclined downward, preventing the receiving plate 202 from rotating downward and falling off.

[0094] Support arms 264, 264 have their one ends attached to the left and right ends of the holder 259 by bolt pins 265 so as to be vertically rotatable, and mounting plates 266 have their left and right ends fastened to the other ends of the left and right support arms 264, 264 by bolts 267. A second resin rail 268 long in the left-right direction abutting against the front surface of the mounting plate 266 is sandwiched and fixed between a plate 269 abutting against the front surface of the second resin rail 268 and the mounting plate 266. As shown in FIG. 22, a first flat portion 268A is formed on the front upper portion of the second resin rail 268, on which the lower surface of the rear end portion of the towing plate 250 is placed and slidably guided. The upper rear end portion of the second resin rail 268 is protruded upward, and a second flat portion 268B is formed on this upper end portion to support and guide the lower surface of the rear end portion of the receiving plate 202 thereon. The left and right support arms 264, 264 are provided with first index plungers 270, 270 for fixing and releasing the up and down rotation thereof.

[0095] Then, the upper end of a support plate 271 is fixed to the front lower end of the holder 259, and a plurality of guide rollers 272 that can freely rotate around an axis in the front-to-rear direction are attached to the rear lower end of this support plate 271 with pin bolts 273. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 22, the lower end of a vertical support plate 274 is fixed to a frame 275 integrated with the machine base 203 side. The left and right ends and the upper portion of this support plate 274 are bent backward to form side walls 274S and an upper wall 274U.

[0096] Left and right rotating arms 276, 276 are attached to the upper portion of the side wall portion 274S by bolt pins 277, 277 so as to be vertically rotatable. Of these pivot arms 276, 276, the left and right outer pivot arms 276 are fitted with second index plungers 278 capable of fixing the pivot arms 276 in an upright position by engaging their noses with the side wall portions 274S. The front surface of a lock plate 279 bent in an inverted L shape in side view is brought into contact with the rear surfaces of the left and right rotating arms 276, 276, and then fastened and fixed by bolts 280, 280. The lock plate 279 has an upper portion formed with a restricting portion 279K that is bent forward.

[0097] (Upward swing mechanism of article moving device) As shown in Figs. 16 to 22, a rotary plate 281 formed in a sector shape is disposed in a vertical orientation between the inner support plates 210, 210 provided on the left and right moving units 200L, 200R. In addition, a support plate 282 is fixed to the machine base 203 side with bolts 283, and a left stay 284L and a right stay 284R are fastened to the forward extension of this support plate 282 in an upright position with bolts 285, and the lower part of the rotating plate 281 is positioned between the left and right stays 284L, 284R. The lower portion of the rotating plate 281 is supported between left and right stays 284L, 284R by a left-right shaft 286 so as to be swingable back and forth. The right stay 284R is formed higher than the left stay 284L, and a third index plunger 287 is attached to the upper portion of the right stay 284R.

[0098] A first through hole 288 is formed in the lower part of the rotating plate 281 at a position forward of the axis 286, and with the nose of a third index plunger 287 inserted into this first through hole 288, the rotating plate 281 is held in a rearward upward inclined position. In addition, a second through hole 289 is formed in the rotating plate 281 at a portion above the shaft 286, and the nose of a third index plunger 287 is inserted into this second through hole 289 when the rotating plate 281 is swung forward.

[0099] The right end of a left-right swing support shaft 290 is fastened and fixed with a bolt 291 to the lower center in the front-rear direction of the inner support plate 210 of the right moving unit 200R. The left portion of the swing support shaft 290 is slidably inserted into a hole formed in the lower center in the front-rear direction of the inner support plate 210 of the left moving unit 200L, and is extended further leftward. As shown in FIG. 22, an arc-shaped cam groove 292 is formed through the above-mentioned rotating plate 281, the distance from the shaft 286 becoming shorter toward its lower end and the distance from the shaft 286 becoming longer toward its upper end, and the above-mentioned oscillating support shaft 290 is inserted into this cam groove 292. Further, an upward extension 294 is integrally formed at the rear of the rotating plate 281, to which an operating tool 293 such as a long pipe can be fitted.

[0100] (Upward swing of the article moving device) Thus, as shown in FIG. 22(a), in a state in which the nose of the second index plunger 278 is engaged with the side wall portion 274S, the lock plate 279 stands up together with the rotating arms 276, 276. In this state, the guide roller 272 rests on the upper surface of the upper wall 274U, and the restriction portion 279K is located above the guide roller 272. As a result, the guide roller 272 is supported on the upper side wall 274U so as to be freely rollable in the left-right direction, and is restricted from floating up by the restricting portion 279K. As a result, the lower surface of the rear end of the receiving plate 202 of the article moving device 200 is supported by the upper surface of the second flat portion 268B of the second resin rail 268, and is maintained in a substantially horizontal position. The lower surface of the rear end of the pulling plate 250 is supported by the upper surface of the first flat portion 268 A of the second resin rail 268 , and is maintained in a position along the lower surface of the receiving plate 202 . In this state, the article moving device 200 carries out the operation of storing the meat pieces m in the container.

[0101] On the other hand, as shown in (b) of FIG. 22, when performing maintenance on the article moving device 200, the knob of the second index plunger 278 is pulled to detach the nose from the side wall portion 274S, and the regulating portion 279K formed on the upper part of the lock plate 279 is retracted rearward from above the guide roller 272. As a result, the left and right moving units 200L, 200R are able to swing upward about the fulcrum shaft 206.

[0102] Furthermore, the knob of the third index plunger 287 is pulled to remove the nose from the first through-hole 288, thereby making the rotating plate 281 swingable backward. In this state, the operator engages the operating tool 293 with the upward extension 294 of the rotating plate 281, and operates the operating tool 293 forward and downward to swing the rotating plate 281 backward. The backward swing of the rotating plate 281 causes the cam groove 292 to swing around the shaft 286, and the swing support shaft 290 is pulled (pushed down) by the sliding contact between the swing support shaft 290 and the inner edge portion of the cam groove 292 on the side away from the shaft 286. This allows the article moving device 200, which is made up of the left and right moving units 200L, 200R, to be swung forward and upward about the fulcrum shaft 206 with a light operating force. At this time, the left and right moving units 200L, 200R are integrally swung forward and upward by the position regulating portion PK.

[0103] Furthermore, when the article moving device 200 swings forward and upward in this manner to be open, the center of gravity of the article moving device 200 moves from the front to the rear of the fulcrum axis 206. In addition, by inserting the nose of the third index plunger 287 into the second through hole 289, the article moving device 200 is stably supported in the open state. As shown in FIG. 22(b), when the article moving device 200 is in the open state, the downward rotation of the towing plate 250 is restricted by abutment with the fourth connecting rod 221. By opening the article moving device 200 in this manner, the space above the tray transport device 305 disposed in the space Q described below is opened, making it possible to easily perform maintenance on the tray transport device 305.

[0104] (Detachable structure of transfer belt) As shown in FIG. 16, when forming the above-mentioned towing plate 250, both front and rear ends are made wide, and the middle part in the front-to-rear direction is made narrow over its long length, and a cutout part in the front-to-rear direction is formed at the corner where the narrow part changes to the wide part. Thus, the transfer belts 295 are attached with the article moving device 200 in an open state as shown in FIG. 22(b). In this state, the knob of the first index plunger 270 is pulled to release the left and right support arms 264, 264 from being fixed, and the left and right support arms 264, 264 are rotated downward. As a result, the second resin rail 268 retreats downward, and the pulling plate 250 supported by this second resin rail 268 can be rotated downward.

[0105] The downward rotation position of the towing plate 250 around the second connecting rod 217 is restricted when the lower surface of the front end of the towing plate 250 abuts against the fourth connecting rod 221 . The rear end of the receiving plate 202 supported by the second resin rail 268 is prevented from rotating downward (falling off) by abutting against the fall-off prevention plate 262. In this state, as shown in Figure 23, the pulling plate 250 is inserted into the first gap 295S formed by sealing one end of the transfer belt 295 in a double-stitched manner, and the front and rear ends of the portion of the transfer belt 295 surrounding the first gap 295S are hooked into the front and rear cutouts formed in the pulling plate 250. As a result, one end of the transfer belt 295 is attached to the towing plate 250, and is moved by being pulled by the towing plate 250.

[0106] On the other hand, the bases of hook members 296 are fixed to the front and rear ends of the cylindrical frame 252 described above. An opening portion that opens obliquely outward and upward is formed in the upper portion of this hook member 296, and fourth index plungers 297, 297 having a nose that closes the entrance of this opening portion are provided. As a result, with the tips of the noses of the fourth index plungers 297, 297 fitted into the holes formed in the circumferential surface of the cylindrical frame 252, the entrance to the opening is closed. Furthermore, when the knob of the fourth index plunger 297, 297 is pulled up and the nose comes out of the hole and then moves further upward and retreats, thereby opening the entrance to the opening.

[0107] Further, a round bar 298 longer than the front-rear width of the transfer belt 295 is inserted into a second gap 295E formed by sealing the other end of the transfer belt 295. The other end of the transfer belt 295 is then pulled inward in the left-right direction along the lower surface of the receiving plate 202 , and then wrapped around the inner edge of the receiving plate 202 in the left-right direction and folded back toward the upper surface of the receiving plate 202 . Then, the other end of the transfer belt 295 is pulled outward in the left-right direction along the upper surface of the receiving plate 202 , passed under the square tubular frame 254 , passed under the cylindrical frame 252 , and then wound back around the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical frame 252 .

[0108] The front and rear ends of a round bar 298 inserted into the other end of the transfer belt 295 are fitted into the openings of the front and rear hook members 296, 296 and secured in place. In this state, the nose tips of the front and rear fourth index plungers 297,297 are fitted into holes formed in the peripheral surface of the cylindrical frame 252, preventing the round rod 298 from falling off from the openings of the hook members 296,296. As a result, the other end of the transfer belt 295 is attached to the cylindrical frame 252 and fixed at a fixed position.

[0109] As a result of the above, the lower surface of the upper winding region of the transfer belt 295 is supported in sliding contact with the receiving surface 201 formed on the upper surface of the receiving plate 202 . Alternatively, a groove may be formed in the circumferential surface of the cylindrical frame 252 in the front-to-rear direction, and a round bar 298 inserted into the other end of the transfer belt 295 may be fitted into this groove, and then the fourth index plungers 297, 297 may be used to prevent the bar from falling out. The operation of removing the transfer belt 295 is carried out in the reverse order to that described above.

[0110] (Operation of main parts of the article moving device) In the following, the first position PS1, the second position PS2, and the third position PS3 will be described based on the position of the inner end of the receiving surface 201 or the receiving plate 202 that supports the transfer belt 295.

[0111] (1st position) That is, when the inner end of the receiving surface 201 or the receiving plate 202 is located at the first position PS1, the receiving surface 201 or the receiving plate 202 covers the entire upper area of ​​the tray G1 that has been transported below it. (This state indicates a state in which the receiving surface 201 or the receiving plate 202 overlaps with the entire area of ​​the tray G1 in a plan view.) Then, with the inner ends of the left and right receiving surfaces 201, 201 or the left and right receiving plates 202, 202 positioned at the first positions PS1, PS1 in this manner, each of the meat pieces m or clusters M of meat pieces m transported in two rows is supplied onto the left and right transfer belts 295, 295 from the transport terminal end of the reciprocating conveyor 95.

[0112] (Movement from 1st position to 2nd position) In addition, even when the inner ends of the left and right receiving surfaces 201, 201 or receiving plates 202, 202 are moved to the second positions PS2, PS2, which are biased outwardly by a small distance from the first positions PS1, PS1, the receiving surfaces 201, 201 or receiving plates 202, 202 substantially cover the upper sides of the two adjacent trays G1, G1 that have been transported below them. (This state includes a state in which, in a plan view, a small portion of the end of the tray G1, G1 is exposed and not covered.) In this manner, the inner ends of the left and right receiving surfaces 201, 201 or the left and right receiving plates 202, 202 move from the first position PS1, PS1 to the second position PS2, PS2, thereby expanding the left-right spacing of the meat pieces m or clusters M of meat pieces m on the left and right transfer belts 295, 295, and aligning them to positions where they can be placed on each of the two adjacent trays G1, G1 waiting below.

[0113] The amount of adjustment of the left-right spacing of the meat pieces m or aggregates M on the left and right transfer belts 295, 295 is determined by the left-right spacing of the two conveying passages 20, 20 of the chunk meat conveying device 9 in the cutting section 4 and the conveying pitch of the numerous trays G1 conveyed by the tray conveying device 305. That is, since the conveying pitch of the multiple trays G1 conveyed by the tray conveying device 305 is determined by the left-right width of the tray G1 itself, there is a limit to how small this conveying pitch can be.

[0114] On the other hand, the left-right distance between the two rows of meat pieces m or aggregates M cut out and conveyed in the cutting section 4 is determined by the left-right distance between the two conveying paths 20, 20 of the chunk meat conveying device 9. Furthermore, the center-to-center distance between two adjacent trays G1, G1 (food trays of commonly used standards) transported at the above-mentioned transport pitch is longer (wider in the left-right direction) than the center-to-center distance between the two transport passages 20, 20 of the chunk meat transport device 9. Therefore, in order to place two rows of meat pieces m or aggregates M on two adjacent trays G1, G1, it is necessary to expand the left-right spacing of the meat pieces m or aggregates M that have been transported in two narrow rows to eliminate the difference between the two center-to-center distances mentioned above. For this reason, as described above, by moving the inner ends of the left and right receiving surfaces 201, 201 or the left and right receiving plates 202, 202 from the first position PS1, PS1 to the second position PS2, PS2, the left-right spacing of the meat pieces m or groups M of meat pieces m on the left and right transfer belts 295, 295 is increased, and the pieces are aligned at a position where they can be placed on each of the two adjacent trays G1, G1 waiting below.

[0115] (Movement from 2nd position to 3rd position) Then, when the inner end of the receiving surface 201 or the receiving plate 202 has moved significantly outward from the second position PS2 to the third position P3, the receiving surface 201 or the receiving plate 202 retreats from the upper side of the tray G1 that has been transported below it, and the entire upper area of ​​the tray G1 is opened. When the inner ends of the left and right receiving surfaces 201, 201 or the left and right receiving plates 202, 202 move to the third position PS3, PS3 located outward in this manner, the left and right transfer belts 295, 295 move inward relative to the left and right receiving plates 202, 202, respectively. As a result, the pieces of meat m or the aggregates M on the left and right transfer belts 295, 295 are lowered and placed on the two trays G1, G1, respectively, without any change in position in the left and right direction.

[0116] (Operation explanation of receiving plate and transfer belt) FIG. 24 is a front view for explaining the operating state of each moving unit after the left and right moving units 200R, 200L have moved outward (away from each other) due to the retraction of the first air cylinders 225, 225. That is, in the state (a) of Figure 24, the left and right first air cylinders 225, 225 are shortened, and the inner ends of the receiving surfaces 201, 201 or receiving plates 202, 202 supporting the transfer belts 295, 295 move from the first position PS1, PS1 covering the entire upper area of ​​the two trays G1, G1 transported below to the second position PS2, PS2 biased a small distance outward. As a result, the distance between the inner ends of the left and right receiving plates 202, 202 is expanded from P1 shown in FIG. 16 to P2 shown in FIG. Even in this state, the receiving surfaces 201, 201 or the receiving plates 202, 202 supporting the transfer belts 295, 295 substantially cover the upper sides of the two trays G1, G1 that have been transported below them.

[0117] Furthermore, the left and right second air cylinders 241, 241 are contracted, and the left and right receiving plates 202, 202 integrated with the tip ends of the pistons 244, 244 of the second air cylinders 241, 241 move toward the inside of the article moving device 200. When the second air cylinder 241 is extended from this state, the inner end of the receiving surface 201 or receiving plate 202 supporting the transfer belt 295 moves from the second position PS2 to the third position PS3, as shown in (b). Together with this receiving plate 202, the axis 234 of a first timing pulley 233 and the axis 236 of a second timing pulley 235 which are integrated with the tip of the piston 244 of the second air cylinder 241 move outward by a full stroke.

[0118] Here, a part of the upper winding region of the timing belt 237 wound around the first timing pulley 233 and the second timing pulley 235 is held in a fixed position by a fixing member 238. Therefore, when the axis 234 of the first timing pulley 233 and the axis 236 of the second timing pulley 235 move outward, the lower winding area of ​​the timing belt 237 moves outward as the two timing pulleys 233, 235 rotate in the same direction. As a result, the first slider 246 attached to the lower winding region of the timing belt 237 moves outward together with the pulling plate 250, and one end of the transfer belt 295 is pulled outward by the pulling plate 250.

[0119] At this time, the transfer belt 295 folds back from the upper surface of the receiving plate 202 at the inner end of the receiving plate 202 and runs along the lower surface of the receiving plate 202. Therefore, in order to move the inner end of the receiving plate 202 outward without causing slack in the transfer belt 295, it is necessary to move the traction plate 250 outward a distance twice as far as the amount of outward movement of the receiving plate 202. That is, as shown by the state change from (a) to (b) in Figure 24, a virtual fixed point CP1 is set at a position on the receiving plate 202 of the transfer belt 295 (Figure 24(a)), and a state is assumed in which the inner end of the receiving plate 202 supporting this transfer belt 295 moves to this virtual fixed point CP1 (Figure 24(b)).

[0120] At this time, the outer end of the towing plate 250 needs to move a second moving distance T, which is twice the first moving distance S, relative to the first moving distance S until the inner end of the receiving surface 201 or receiving plate 202 supporting the transfer belt 295 reaches the virtual fixed point CP1. For this purpose, a mechanism consisting of the above-mentioned timing belt 237 and two timing pulleys 233, 235 is provided, which makes the outward movement speed of the towing plate 250 twice as fast as the outward movement speed of the receiving plate 202 (the extension speed of the piston 244 of the second air cylinder 241). As a result, when the receiving surface 201 or the receiving plate 202 supporting the transfer belt 295 moves from the second position PS2 to the third position PS3, the transfer belt 295 moves in the opposite direction to the moving direction of the receiving surface 201 at the same speed.

[0121] In addition, in Figure 24, (a) shows a closed state in which the receiving plate 202 or receiving surface 201 supporting the transfer belt 295 enters above the tray G1 and roughly covers the upper part of the tray G1, and (b) shows an open state in which the receiving plate 202 (receiving surface 201) retreats from above the tray G1 and opens up the upper part of the tray G1. In the state of (b), due to the return movement of the transfer belt 295 at the inner end of the receiving plate 202, the meat pieces m or aggregates M on the transfer belt 295 are peeled off from the surface of the transfer belt 295 and dropped into and stored in the tray G1. In other words, the meat pieces m or aggregates M that have been placed on the receiving surface 201 from the conveying end of the conveying section 5R on the downstream side in the conveying direction are lowered so that they fall into the tray G1 directly below, with their left-right and front-to-back positions remaining unchanged, and are placed and stored therein.

[0122] Note that Figures 16 and 17 show the state in which the receiving surface 201 or receiving plate 202 supporting the transfer belt 295 is positioned at a first position PS1 covering the entire upper area of ​​the tray G1, while Figures 18 and 19 show the state in which the receiving surface 201 or receiving plate 202 has moved outward to a second position PS2 (a second position shifted a predetermined distance from the first position) in which the receiving surface 201 or receiving plate 202 roughly covers the upper side of the tray G1. 20 and 21 show a state in which the receiving surface 201 or receiving plate 202 supporting the transfer belt 295 has moved outward to the third position PS3 (the third position where the articles on the transfer belt 295 are unloaded) to open the upper side of the tray G1. As described above, the receiving surface 201 or the receiving plate 202 is disposed below the forward and backward movement range of the conveying end portion of the conveying action portion 5R on the downstream side in the conveying direction.

[0123] (Tray transport device) 25 to 27 show a tray conveying device 305 equipped with a container supplying section 300. In FIG. As shown in FIG. 25, the container supplying section 300 includes a rail-shaped tray receiving section 303 and a tray peeling device 304 . The tray storage section 303 is configured with a rail-like frame that stores a large number of stacked empty trays G1 and guides them to slide diagonally downward while preventing them from falling out. The tray peeling device 304 peels off and removes the trays G1 one by one from the lower end of the tray storage section 303. This tray peeling device 304 includes a rotating arm 307 having a suction cup 306 at its tip, and an electric motor 308 for rotating this rotating arm 307 . The suction cup 306 is connected to the tip of an intake pipe (not shown) arranged inside the rotating arm 307, so that when the rotating arm 307 rotates upward, a negative pressure is generated and the lower surface of the tray G1 is sucked. After this suction, the rotating arm 307 is rotated downward to release the negative pressure, and the suctioned tray G1 is placed on the tray conveying device 305.

[0124] This tray conveying device 305 conveys the tray G1 peeled off by the tray peeling device 304 in a direction perpendicular to the above-mentioned conveying section 5 in a planar view, and passes it from right to left through the space Q formed below the left and right receiving plates 202, 202 of the article moving device 200 in the storage section 6. This tray conveying device 305 is constructed by winding an endless chain 316 between a driving sprocket 315 arranged at the conveying end side and a driven sprocket 314 arranged at the conveying start end side. The endless chain 316 is provided with a number of locking plates 317 spaced apart at intervals corresponding to the width of the tray G1.

[0125] Further, a conveyance guide rail 318 having a U-shaped cross section for guiding the tray G1 while regulating the front-rear and up-down positions is arranged in three parts in the conveyance direction of the tray G1. This transport guide rail 318 is equipped with air cylinders 319, 319 that lift two adjacent trays G1, G1 that have been transported and stopped directly below the left and right receiving surfaces 201, 201 a predetermined distance when the receiving surface 201 of the article moving device 200 is positioned at the first position (first position for receiving articles) PS1 covering the upper side of the container G1 (before moving to the second position PS2 (second position for unloading the received articles)).

[0126] (Disconnection operation) The operating conditions are set according to the type and condition of the chunk of meat to be cut, the settings of each section are changed, and the start switch 401, which will be described later, is operated. As a result, the endless strip blade 49 of the cutting section 4 starts to rotate, and the conveying section 5 starts to be driven to convey the sheet. In this initial state, the supply unit 3 is located at the lower limit of its swing range, and when chunks of meat MF are fed into the supply unit 3 in this state and the feed switch is turned ON, the chunk meat conveying device 9 starts to operate. As a result, the inserted chunk of meat MF is transported forward by the transporting action of the chunk of meat transporting device 9, and the front end of the chunk of meat MF abuts against the rear surface of the receiving plate 43, regulating the position of the front end of the chunk of meat MF.

[0127] As the supply unit 3 swings upward from this state, the blade edge of the endless blade 49 which moves in a circular motion from right to left cuts from above into the front end portion of the chunk of meat MF protruding from the left and right openings 35. At this time, since the front end of the chunk of meat MF is positioned by the receiving plate 43, the front end of the chunk of meat MF is cut by the endless band blade 49 to a uniform thickness. When the supply unit 3 swings upward to a position near the upper limit of its swing range, the front end of the chunk of meat MF is cut off by the endless band blade 49 . Then, the meat pieces m cut to the specified thickness pass through the gap T formed between the upper end of the receiving plate 43 and the lower end of the endless band blade 49, and are transferred to the upper peripheral surfaces of the annular plates 74, 74 of the left and right transfer rotors 72, 72 arranged in front of the receiving plate 43. The supply unit 3 also swings downward to the lower limit of its swing range and returns to its initial state, after which the supply unit 3 swings upward again, and the cutting of the chunks of meat MF is repeated.

[0128] In this way, the meat piece m that passes through the gap T and is transferred to the upper peripheral surface of the annular plates 74, 74 of the transfer rotors 72, 72 is peeled off from the peripheral surface of the annular plate 74 by the tips of the numerous oscillating thin rods 82 and is folded in half. In this manner, the meat pieces m are successively placed on the conveying starting end of the endless belt 96 in conveying operation so that parts of the meat pieces m overlap one another, and two rows of aggregates M, M of meat pieces m are formed.

[0129] In these two rows of aggregates M, M, a predetermined interval (aggregate interval) P is formed between an aggregate M and the next aggregate M in each row. During such cutting operations, in order to adjust the thickness of the cut meat piece m, the electric motor 61 for adjusting the meat thickness is operated to adjust the position of the receiving plate 43 relative to the opening 35, and this receiving plate 43 and the first support member 55 supporting the conveying action part 5F on the upstream side in the conveying direction move in the front-to-rear direction. However, the front support stand 116 that supports the conveying section 5R on the downstream side in the conveying direction is integrally attached to the third support member 53 on the machine base 2 side, and therefore does not move in the forward / backward direction due to the position adjustment of the receiving plate 43.

[0130] Therefore, even if the thickness of the meat pieces m to be cut is adjusted, the position of the conveying section 5R on the downstream side of the conveying direction in the conveying section 5 does not change, so the handover position of the meat pieces m or the collection M of meat pieces m from the conveying end of the conveying section 5R to the storage section 6 is stable. That is, the position of the meat piece m or the aggregate M relative to the receiving surface 201 of the article moving device 200 provided in the storage section 6 is less likely to change, and the subsequent storage operation can be performed smoothly. Furthermore, since the positional relationship between the receiving plate 43 and the upstream conveying section 5F in the conveying section 5 in the conveying direction does not change, the cut and folded meat pieces m are smoothly taken over by the conveying section 5F and conveyed.

[0131] (Containment Operation) The two rows of assemblies M, M formed by the above-mentioned cutting operation are transported to the storage section 6 with a predetermined narrow gap formed between each row. As shown in Figs. 30 to 37, the interval between each row in the aggregates M, M being conveyed is referred to as "meat row interval P0."

[0132] (Handing over of the assembly onto the receiving surface) As shown in Figures 28 and 29, when the storage operation begins, first, the two rows of meat aggregates M, M being transported with this meat row spacing P0 are taken over by moving the transport end of the reciprocating conveyor 95, which is in transport operation, backward and lowering them onto the left and right receiving surfaces 201, 201 of the article moving device 200. As a result, even when the left and right assemblies M, M are placed on the left and right receiving surfaces 201, 201 as shown in Figures 16, 30 and 31, the distance between the left and right assemblies M, M remains the meat row distance P0.

[0133] In this state, the two trays G1, G1 must be placed side by side under the left and right receiving surfaces 201, 201 and kept waiting, but the two trays G1, G1 must be spaced apart so that they do not overlap. As a result, the left-right center position of each assembly M carried over onto the receiving surface 201 and the left-right center position of the tray G1 become misaligned in the left-right direction, and if the assembly M on the receiving surface 201 is dropped in this state, the assembly M may protrude from the tray G1. (In Figures 30 and 31, the assembly M shown by the solid line and the tray G1 shown by the dashed line are misaligned.) The left-right positional misalignment between the assemblies M, M and the trays G1, G1 is eliminated as follows.

[0134] (First stage operation) First, as shown in Figures 16, 17, 30 and 31, the left and right first air cylinders 225, 225 are extended to bring the left and right receiving surfaces 201, 201 closest to each other, and with the distance between the inner ends of the left and right receiving plates 202, 202 (strictly speaking, the distance between the folded portions of the left and right transfer belts 295, 295) set to the minimum distance P1, two rows of assemblies M, M are transferred from the end of the reciprocating conveyor 95 onto the left and right receiving surfaces 201, 201. Then, as shown in Figures 18 and 32, the left and right first air cylinders 225, 225 are retracted by a set amount to move the left and right moving units 200L, 200R outward (in opposite directions), thereby expanding the distance between the inner ends of the left and right receiving surfaces 201, 201 to the intermediate distance P2. In this manner, the position of the left and right receiving surfaces 201, 201 in a state in which the distance between the inner ends of the left and right receiving surfaces 201, 201 becomes the intermediate distance P2 is defined as a second position PS2.

[0135] In this manner, while the distance between the inner ends of the left and right receiving surfaces 201, 201 is expanded from the minimum distance P1 to the intermediate distance P2, the left and right receiving surfaces 201, 201 intrude into the upper side of the trays G1, G1, and the upper parts of the trays G1, G1 are substantially covered by the receiving surfaces 201, 201. In this manner, the position of the left and right receiving surfaces 201, 201 in a state in which the distance between the inner ends of the left and right receiving surfaces 201, 201 is the minimum distance P1 is defined as a first position PS1. In this state, the aggregates M, M of meat pieces m on the left and right receiving surfaces 201, 201 are positioned directly above the trays G1, G1 waiting below.

[0136] (Second stage operation) In this state, the air cylinder 319 of the tray transport section 302 is operated to raise the trays G1, G1 to the set position. Then, as shown in Figures 20 and 36, while the trays G1, G1 are rising or after they have been raised, the left and right second air cylinders 241, 241 are extended by a set amount to expand the distance between the inner ends of the left and right receiving surfaces 201, 201 to the maximum distance P3. In this manner, the position of the left and right receiving surfaces 201, 201 in a state in which the distance between the inner ends of the left and right receiving surfaces 201, 201 becomes the maximum distance P3 is defined as a third position PS3. In this state, the left and right receiving surfaces 201, 201 are retracted from above the trays G1, G1 to the left and right outside, and the upper parts of the trays G1, G1 are opened. 34 and 35 show a state in which the distance between the inner ends of the left and right receiving surfaces 201, 201 is at an intermediate distance PM in the process of expanding from the intermediate distance P2 to the maximum distance P3.

[0137] In this way, while the distance between the inner ends of the left and right receiving surfaces 201, 201 expands from the intermediate distance P2 through the intermediate distance PM to the maximum distance P3, i.e., when both receiving surfaces 201, 201 move from the first position PS1 to the second position PS2, each transfer belt 295, 295 moves in the opposite direction to the movement direction of the receiving surfaces 201, 201 at the same speed. As a result, the assemblies M, M drop and are accommodated in the trays G1, G1 without any left-right or front-back positional changes. The trays G1, G1 containing the assemblies M, M are lowered to the initial position, passed through the space Q by the tray conveying device 305, and carried out to the left outer side.

[0138] The above operations are repeated in synchronization with the intervals at which the assemblies M, M are transported. In addition, as described above, when the left and right receiving surfaces 201, 201 (left and right receiving plates 202, 202, left and right transfer belts 295, 295) are expanded to the maximum distance P3, the transport action part 5R is located within this maximum distance P3. (The maximum distance P3 is larger than the left and right width of the transport action part 5R.) In addition, the lower winding region of the endless belt 96 in the reciprocating conveyor 95 must be set at a height close to the upper sides of the left and right receiving surfaces 201, 201 to improve the transferability of the aggregate M.

[0139] Therefore, if slack occurs in the lower winding area of ​​the endless belt 96 on the reciprocating conveyor 95, when the left and right second air cylinders 241, 241 are shortened by a set amount to return the left and right receiving surfaces 201, 201 to the intermediate distance P2, the inner ends of the left and right receiving plates 202, 202 may interfere with the endless belt 96 on the reciprocating conveyor 95. However, as described above, since the lower winding area DA of the endless belt 96 on the reciprocating conveyor 95 is inclined downward toward the front, it is possible to prevent interference between the lower winding area DA of the endless belt 96 and the inner ends of the left and right receiving plates 202, 202 (strictly speaking, the folded ends of the left and right transfer belts 295, 295) due to the sagging of the lower winding area DA of the endless belt 96 when the assembly M is being stored.

[0140] (Slicer control circuit) The slicer 1 configured as described above cuts the chunk of meat MF to a predetermined thickness from its tip, folds the cut meat pieces m, and arranges the folded meat pieces m in parallel so that some of them overlap each other to form an assembly M. 40, the input side of a controller 400 provided in the control section 7 is provided with a start switch 401, an automatic meat piece height setting on / off switch 402, a chunk meat height manual setting switch 403, a parallel length manual setting switch 404, a parallel number manual setting switch 405, a parallel number automatic control on / off switch 406, a left chunk meat height measuring potentiometer 407, a right chunk meat height measuring potentiometer 408, a supply section swing angle measuring potentiometer 409, a lower endless belt moving distance measuring sensor 410, a left takeover rotor rotation phase measuring potentiometer 411, a right takeover rotor rotation phase measuring potentiometer 412, a left rod-shaped body rotation angle detecting potentiometer 413, and a left rod-shaped body rotation angle detecting potentiometer 414. a potentiometer 413, a potentiometer 414 for detecting the rotation angle of the right side rod-shaped body, a potentiometer 415 for measuring the extension / retraction position of the air cylinder for operating the pressing member, a potentiometer 416 for detecting the swing arm swing angle, a sensor 417 for measuring the conveyor movement distance, a sensor 418 for measuring the advance / retraction position of the rear end of the conveyor, a potentiometer 419 for measuring the extension / retraction position of the first left side air cylinder, a potentiometer 420 for measuring the extension / retraction position of the first right side air cylinder, a potentiometer 421 for measuring the extension / retraction position of the second left side air cylinder, a potentiometer 422 for measuring the extension / retraction position of the second right side air cylinder, a tray conveyor movement distance sensor 423, and a potentiometer 424D for measuring the peeling arm rotation position are connected.

[0141] On the other hand, to the output side of the controller 400, there are connected a cutting motor driver 424, a swing motor driver 425, a transport motor driver 426, a left handover motor driver 427, a right handover motor driver 428, a left swing motor driver 429, a right swing motor driver 430, a left entry / exit motor driver 431, a right entry / exit motor driver 432, an air cylinder valve solenoid 433, a transport drive motor driver 434, a vertical movement motor driver 435, an extension / retraction motor driver 436, a left first air cylinder valve solenoid 437, a right first air cylinder valve solenoid 438, a left second air cylinder valve solenoid 439, a left second air cylinder valve solenoid 440, a tray transport motor driver 441, a tray moving arm motor driver 442, and a suction valve solenoid 443.

[0142] (Explanation of switches / sensors connected to the input side) The start switch 401 connected to the input side of the controller 400 is for starting up the entire slicer 1 and for switching to a state in which a command signal can be output from the output side of the controller 400 to a motor driver, etc. When the start switch 401 is turned on, command signals are first output from the output side of the controller 400 to a cutting motor driver 424, a swing motor driver 425, a conveying motor driver 426, a left-hand handover motor driver 427, and a right-hand handover motor driver 428, and the cutting unit 4, the supply unit 3, and the conveying unit 5 start to be driven.

[0143] The automatic meat piece height setting on / off switch 402 is for turning on / off (switching between enabled / disabled) an automatic meat piece height setting, which will be described later. The chunk meat height manual setting switch 403 is for visually determining and inputting (setting) the height of the chunk meat MF before cutting. The parallel length manual setting switch 404 is used to manually change and set the parallel length of the cut meat pieces m (total length of the aggregate M; manual parallel length setting value E, described later) before starting the cutting operation. The parallel number manual setting switch 405 is used to manually set the number of meat pieces m that form one aggregate M before starting the cutting operation. The parallel number automatic control on / off switch 406 is for turning on / off (switching between enabled / disabled) the parallel number automatic control, which will be described later. The above-mentioned switches are displayed on a liquid crystal panel and are operated by touching the screen.

[0144] The left chunk meat height measuring potentiometer 407 is used to measure the up and down position of the left pressure plate 29 located at the front of the left chunk meat conveying passage 20, thereby measuring the height of the tip of the chunk meat MF supplied to the left conveying passage 20. The right-side chunk meat height measuring potentiometer 408 is for measuring the up and down position of the right-side pressure plate 29 located at the front of the right-side chunk meat conveying passage 20, thereby measuring the height of the tip of the chunk meat MF supplied to the right-side conveying passage 20. The supply unit swing angle measuring potentiometer 409 measures the vertical swing angle of the supply unit 3 .

[0145] The lower endless belt movement distance measuring sensor 410 measures the movement distance of the lower endless belt 25 in the supply section 3 (the conveying distance of the chunks of meat MF) based on the rotation speed of the conveying electric motor 31 and the like.

[0146] The left handover rotor rotation phase measuring potentiometer 411 measures the rotation angle of the left handover rotor 72 . The right-side takeover rotor rotation phase measuring potentiometer 412 measures the rotation angle of the right-side takeover rotor 72 .

[0147] The left rod-shaped body rotation angle detection potentiometer 413 measures the rotation angle of the left rod-shaped body 81 having a number of thin rods 82 . The right rod-shaped body rotation angle detection potentiometer 414 measures the rotation angle of the right rod-shaped body 81 having a number of thin rods 82.

[0148] The potentiometer 415 for measuring the expansion / contraction position of the air cylinder for operating the pressing member measures the expansion / contraction position of the air cylinder 87 which moves the pressing member 88 having the linear pressing member 89 up and down. The swing arm swing angle detection potentiometer 416 measures the up and down swing angle of the swing arm 103 provided at the starting end of the transfer section 5 .

[0149] The conveyor movement distance measuring sensor 417 measures the movement distance (conveyance distance) of the endless belt 96 in the conveyor section 5 based on the rotation speed of the conveyor drive motor 112 and the like. The conveyor rear end advance / retract position measuring sensor 418 measures the movement position of the conveying end portion of the conveying action part 5R on the downstream side of the conveying section 5 in the conveying direction based on the rotation speed of the extension electric motor 135 and the like.

[0150] The left first air cylinder extension / retraction position measuring potentiometer 419 measures the extension / retraction position of the left first air cylinder 225 for adjusting the gap in the article moving device 200. The right first air cylinder extension / retraction position measuring potentiometer 420 measures the extension / retraction position of the right first air cylinder 225 for adjusting the gap in the article moving device 200.

[0151] The left second air cylinder extension / retraction position measuring potentiometer 421 measures the extension / retraction position of the left second air cylinder 241 for sliding in the article moving device 200. The right second air cylinder extension / retraction position measuring potentiometer 422 measures the extension / retraction position of the right second air cylinder 241 for sliding in the article moving device 200.

[0152] The tray conveyor movement distance sensor 423 measures the position of the tray G1 being transported by the tray transport device 305 based on the number of rotations of the electric motor 313 that drives the tray transport device 305, etc. The peeling arm rotation position measuring potentiometer 424D measures the rotation angle of the rotating arm 307 that peels and removes the tray G1 from the loading section based on the number of rotations of the electric motor 308 and the like.

[0153] (Description of drivers etc. connected to the output side) Further, a cutting motor driver 424 connected to the input side of the above-mentioned controller 400 supplies power to the cutting electric motor 44 to drive and control the endless band blade 49 . The swing motor driver 425 supplies power to the swing electric motor 13 to control the swing drive of the supply unit 3 in the diagonal upward and downward directions. The transport motor driver 426 supplies power to the transport drive motor 112 to control the driving of the transport unit 5 .

[0154] The left handover motor driver 427 supplies power to the left handover electric motor 76 to drive and control the left handover rotor 72 . The right handover motor driver 428 supplies power to the right handover electric motor 76 to drive and control the right handover rotor 72 .

[0155] The left swing motor driver 429 supplies power to the left swing electric motor 80 to drive and control the left rod-shaped body 81 having a number of thin rods 82 . The right-side swing motor driver 430 supplies power to the right-side swing electric motor 80 to drive and control the right-side rod-shaped body 81 having a number of thin rods 82 .

[0156] The left-side retraction motor driver 431 supplies power to the left-side retraction electric motor 84 to control the retraction and retraction drive of the thin rod 82 together with the left-side rod-shaped body 81. The right-side retraction motor driver 432 supplies power to the right-side retraction electric motor 84 to control the retraction and retraction drive of the thin rod 82 together with the right-side rod-shaped body 81.

[0157] The air cylinder valve solenoid 433 operates a valve that controls the amount of air supplied to and discharged from the air cylinder 87, thereby moving the pressing member 88 equipped with the linear pressing member 89 up and down.

[0158] The transport drive motor driver 434 supplies power to the transport drive motor 112 to control the driving of the endless belt 96 of the transport unit 5 . The vertical movement motor driver 435 supplies power to the vertical movement electric motor 105 to control the vertical swing of the swing arm 103 . The extension motor driver 436 supplies power to the extension electric motor 135 to control the movement of the transfer end portion of the transfer action portion 5R on the downstream side of the transfer section 5 in the transfer direction in the forward and backward directions.

[0159] The left first air cylinder valve solenoid 437 operates a valve that controls the amount of air supplied to and discharged from the left first air cylinder 225, thereby changing the left-right position of the left moving unit 200L. The right first air cylinder valve solenoid 438 operates a valve that controls the amount of air supplied to and discharged from the right first air cylinder 225, thereby changing the left-right position of the right moving unit 200R. The valve solenoid 439 for the left second air cylinder operates a valve that controls the amount of air supplied to and discharged from the left second air cylinder 241, thereby sliding the receiving plate 202 (receiving surface 201) of the left moving unit 200L in the left-right direction. The valve solenoid 440 for the right second air cylinder operates a valve that controls the amount of air supplied to and discharged from the right second air cylinder 241, thereby sliding the receiving plate 202 (receiving surface 201) of the right moving unit 200R in the left-right direction.

[0160] The tray transport motor driver 441 supplies power to the electric motor 313 to drive and control the endless chain 316 of the tray transport device 305 . The tray moving arm motor driver 442 supplies power to the electric motor 308 to control the rotation of the rotating arm 307 which peels off the tray G1 and transfers it onto the tray conveying device 305.

[0161] The suction valve solenoid 443 operates the suction valve to suck the tray G1 to the bottom surface of the tray G1 located at the lowest position among the multiple trays G1 stacked in a stack.

[0162] (Control of the formation of aggregates of meat pieces) Next, the control of the formation of the aggregate M of meat pieces m will be described with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS. In the following, a state in which the chunks of meat MF are supplied to only one of the left and right conveying passages 20, 20 of the supply unit 3 will be described. However, if the lower endless belt (the "first endless belt" in the claims) 25 provided across the left and right conveying passages 20, 20 of the supply section 3 and the endless belt (the "second endless belt" in the claims) 96 provided in the conveying section 5 are divided into left and right parts (the "left first endless belt and right first endless belt" and the "left second endless belt and right second endless belt" in the claims) and driven independently, it is also possible to supply meat chunks MF to both the left and right conveying passages 20, 20 and control the formation of the aggregate M. In this embodiment, the "meat piece height" refers to the length of the meat piece m in the conveying direction when the meat piece m formed by cutting in the vertical direction is conveyed by the endless belt 96. The following description will be given based on the flow charts shown in FIGS.

[0163] (First flow) First, the operating conditions are set according to the type and state of the chunk of meat MF to be cut, the setting conditions of each section are changed, and the start switch 401 is operated. As a result, based on the measurement results of the sensors 407-417, the controller 400 outputs control signals to the motor drivers 424-432 and 434-436 and the valve solenoid 433, and the above-mentioned driving of the cutting unit 4, the swinging and driving of the supply unit 3, and the driving of the conveying unit 5 are started. (STEP 1) This initiates the cutting (slicing) of the chunk of meat MF and the folding of the cut meat pieces m, and the folded meat pieces m are sequentially placed on the conveying starting end of the endless belt 96 in conveying operation so that at least a portion of each of the folded meat pieces m overlaps each other vertically, forming a collection M, M of meat pieces m. Between each of the successive aggregates M thus formed, a predetermined interval (aggregate interval) P, which will be described later, is formed.

[0164] In forming such an aggregate M of meat pieces m, when the meat piece height automatic setting on / off switch 402 is operated (or is being operated) to the on side (ON), the automatic setting of the meat piece height is switched on (enabled state), and the height (thickness) of the chunk of meat MF is measured (STEP 2).

[0165] In measuring the height (thickness) of this chunk of meat MF, the height (thickness) of the tip of this chunk of meat MF is measured by the potentiometer (the "measurement means" in the claims) that supplies the chunk of meat MF out of the left chunk of meat height measuring potentiometer 407 and the right chunk of meat height measuring potentiometer 408, and a chunk of meat height measurement value (thickness measurement value) X is obtained. (STEP 3)

[0166] Based on this, the height (length in the arrangement direction) of the meat piece m is calculated. That is, the calculated meat piece height value A is calculated from the measured meat piece height value X and the variable Y by the following formula: (STEP 4) A=X×Y The value of Y changes depending on the folding position of the meat piece m, and when the meat piece is folded at the center position of its height, Y=0.5. (STEP 4 corresponds to the "length calculation means" in the claims.)

[0167] The manual setting of the juxtaposition form is established based on the calculated meat piece height value A thus calculated, the manual juxtaposition length value E set by operating the manual juxtaposition length setting switch 404, and the manual juxtaposition number value F set by the manual juxtaposition number setting switch 405. (STEP 5) The parallel length manual setting value E is the length of each aggregate M in the conveying direction changed and set by the parallel length manual setting switch 404 in accordance with the size (length in the conveying direction) of the tray G1 used. Also, the parallel number manual setting value F is the number of meat pieces m forming each aggregate M changed and set arbitrarily by operating the parallel number manual setting switch 405.

[0168] When the parallel number automatic control on / off switch 406 is turned on (ON) (or is being turned on), the process shifts to automatic setting of the parallel reference value, which is performed at the automatic control start time T0 (STEP 6).

[0169] In this automatic setting of the parallel reference value, the calculated height A0 of the meat piece m at time T0 is replaced with the meat piece height reference value G and stored, and the parallel number manual setting value F is replaced with the parallel number reference value H and stored, and the process moves to the calculation of the parallel number I. (STEP 7)

[0170] The number of parallel pieces I is calculated from the calculated meat piece height A, the standard meat piece height G, and the standard number of parallel pieces H using the following formula, and the calculated value is rounded down to an integer (STEP 8). Calculated value = (G / A) x H For example, when the calculated value using the above formula is 5.1 or 5.9, the number of parallel sheets is 5 in both cases. The calculated meat piece height value A is constantly being calculated, but the number of pieces does not change while the integer value obtained by rounding down the decimal point does not change. (This corresponds to the claim "prohibition of automatic change of the number of meat pieces.") (STEPs 7 and 8 correspond to the "quantity changing means" in the claims.)

[0171] The parallel pitch K is calculated from the parallel length manually set value E, the calculated meat piece height value A, and the number of parallel pieces I by the following formula. (STEP 9) K = (EA) / (I-1)

[0172] Then, based on the measurement result of the conveyor movement distance measuring sensor 417, the endless belt 96 forming the conveyor of the transport section 5 is driven by a distance equal to the parallel pitch K (STEP 10), and the operation of placing the folded pieces of meat m cut out from the cutting section 4 one by one on the endless belt 96 is repeatedly performed (STEP 11). Even if the calculated value of the parallel pitch K changes while forming one cluster, the parallel pitch is prohibited from being changed until the number of pieces arranged in parallel reaches the integer obtained in STEP 8. (This corresponds to the claim "prohibition of automatic change of the pitch at which the pieces of meat are arranged.") (STEPs 9 to 11 correspond to the "pitch changing means" in the claims.)

[0173] The number of sheets placed on the endless belt 96 and arranged in parallel is determined by the number of times the left rod-shaped body rotation angle detection potentiometer 413 or the right rod-shaped body rotation angle detection potentiometer 414 rotates back and forth, and when this number of sheets arranged in parallel matches the above-mentioned number of sheets in parallel I, the process moves to calculation of the conveyor movement amount for forming the gap between the assemblies (STEP 12).

[0174] The conveyor movement amount P for forming the gap between the assemblies is calculated from the effective conveying length (effective conveyor length) L of the endless belt 96, the manually set parallel length value E, and the number of assemblies R using the following formula: (STEP13) P = (LE × R) / (R-1) This conveyor movement amount P is the interval between adjacent aggregates M, M, and is measured by a conveyor movement distance measuring sensor 417.

[0175] In this manner, the aggregates M are intermittently formed on the endless belt 96 at intervals P between adjacent aggregates, and are transported. FIG. 43 shows an assembly M of meat pieces m thus formed.

[0176] Then, when this assembly M reaches the transport terminal end of the endless belt 96 (the rear end of the conveyor), the controller 400 outputs to the extension motor driver 436, which activates the extension electric motor 135, causing the transport terminal end of the endless belt 96 (the rear end of the conveyor) to extend rearward. As a result, the conveying end of the endless belt 96 advances to above the rear end of the tray G1 waiting below the receiving surface 201 on one of the left and right sides of the article moving device 200. (STEP 14)

[0177] Then, when the conveying distance (conveyor movement distance) of the endless belt 96 measured by the conveyor movement distance measuring sensor 417 reaches the set distance (STEP 15, the point at which the rear end assembly M leaves the conveying end), the controller 400 outputs to the extension motor driver 436, which causes the extension electric motor 135 to operate in the reverse direction, and the conveying end of the endless belt 96 retreats backward from above the tray G1. (STEP 16)

[0178] The assembly M that has been detached from the conveying end of the endless belt 96 as described above is carried over onto the receiving surface 201 on one of the left and right sides of the article moving device 200, and is stored in the tray G1.

[0179] (Second flow) On the other hand, in STEP 6, if the parallel number automatic control on / off switch 406 is turned off (OFF) (or has been turned on), the process does not proceed to the automatic setting of the parallel reference value described above, but proceeds to the calculation of the parallel pitch.

[0180] The parallel pitch K is calculated from the parallel length manually set value E, the calculated meat piece height value A, and the parallel number manually set value F by the following formula (STEP 17). K=(EA) / (F-1)

[0181] Then, based on the measurement result of the conveyor movement distance measuring sensor 417, the endless belt 96 forming the conveyor of the transport section 5 is driven by a distance equal to the parallel pitch K (STEP 18), and the operation of placing the folded pieces of meat m cut out from the cutting section 4 one by one on the endless belt 96 is repeatedly performed (STEP 19).

[0182] The number of sheets placed on the endless belt 96 and aligned in parallel is determined by the number of reciprocating rotations of the left rod-shaped body rotation angle detection potentiometer 413 or the right rod-shaped body rotation angle detection potentiometer 414, and when this number of sheets aligned in parallel matches the above-mentioned parallel number manual setting value F, the process moves to calculation of the conveyor movement amount for forming the gap between the assemblies (STEP 20). The rest of the process is the same as in the first flow, so the explanation will be omitted.

[0183] (Third flow) Furthermore, in STEP 2, if the meat piece height automatic setting on / off switch 402 is turned off (OFF) (or has been turned on), the process moves to manual setting in the parallel mode without going through calculation of the meat piece height. Here, the manual setting of the juxtaposition form is established based on the meat piece height setting value J set by the meat chunk height manual setting switch 403, the juxtaposition length manual setting value E set by the juxtaposition length manual setting switch 404, and the juxtaposition number manual setting value F set by the juxtaposition number manual setting switch 405, and the process proceeds to the calculation of the juxtaposition pitch (STEP 21).

[0184] The parallel pitch K is calculated from the parallel length manually set value E, the meat piece height calculation value A, and the parallel number manually set value F in the same manner as in STEP 17, using the following formula (STEP 22): K=(EA) / (F-1) The rest of the process is the same as in the second flow, so the explanation will be omitted.

[0185] (State of aggregate formation) FIG. 43 illustrates the state of the aggregate formed as described above. In this example, an assembly M1 formed by arranging five pieces of meat m in a row so that at least a portion of them overlap, an assembly M2 formed by similarly arranging six pieces of meat m in a row, and an assembly M3 formed by similarly arranging seven pieces of meat m in a row are shown side by side. However, this is used for convenience of explanation, and the present invention is not limited to the aggregates M having different numbers of meat pieces being present on the same endless belt 96.

[0186] Thus, the assembly M1 is made up of five pieces of meat m1 of length (height) A arranged in parallel at a pitch K to form an assembly of total length E. In addition, the assembly M2 is formed by arranging six pieces of meat m2, which are shorter than the meat pieces m1, in parallel at a pitch shorter than K to form an assembly with a total length E. The assembly M3 is formed by arranging seven pieces of meat m3, each of which is shorter than the meat pieces m2, in parallel at a pitch shorter than that of the assembly M2, to form an assembly of total length E. In this way, by changing the number of pieces arranged in parallel and the pitch depending on the height of the meat pieces m, the overall length and weight of the collection M of meat pieces m can be made uniform.

[0187] That is, as shown in FIG. 44, a chunk of meat MF usually has a predetermined length, and the height V1 of its front end and the height V2 of its rear end are different, and the height also changes irregularly from the front end to the rear end. For this reason, when cutting (slicing) meat at a constant thickness in the vertical direction, pieces of meat with different heights are formed depending on the part that is cut, and the weight of these cut pieces of meat is also not uniform. In response to this, by controlling the number of parallel pieces in addition to controlling the parallel pitch as described above, it is possible to reduce the variation in the total weight of each aggregate M, for example by bringing the total weight of the aggregate M relative to the height of the meat chunk MF closer to the variation range α, as shown in Figure 45. [Explanation of symbols]

[0188] 1. Slicer 3 Supply section 4 Cut section 5. Conveyor 7 Control section 25 Lower endless belt (First endless belt (left side first endless belt · right side first endless belt)) 96 Endless belt (2nd endless belt (left 2nd endless belt / right 2nd endless belt)) 400 Controller 407 Potentiometer for measuring the height of the left chunk of meat (measurement means) 408 Right side potentiometer for measuring meat height (measurement means) A: Length of meat pieces in the direction of arrangement E Set length K Pitch m piece of meat M aggregate MF chunk meat

Claims

1. A slicer comprising a supply unit which transports raw chunks of meat before being cut, a cutting unit which cuts the raw chunks of meat transported by the supply unit, a transport unit which transports pieces of raw meat cut from the raw chunks of meat by the cutting unit, and a control unit, wherein a first endless belt for transporting the raw chunks of meat provided in the supply unit is divided into left and right parts to form a left first endless belt and a right first endless belt, and the left first endless belt and the right first endless belt are configured to be driven independently, and the raw chunks of meat transported by the left first endless belt and the raw chunks of meat transported by the right first endless belt are cut by the cutting unit, and the raw meat pieces provided in the transport unit are a second endless belt for conveying the raw meat is divided into left and right halves to form a left second endless belt and a right second endless belt, and the left second endless belt and the right second endless belt are configured to be driven independently; and a controller provided in the control unit controls the conveying speed of the left second endless belt and the conveying speed of the right second endless belt independently, thereby performing an aggregate formation control in which the multiple raw meat pieces cut in the cutting unit are arranged on top of the independently driven left second endless belt and right second endless belt so that at least a portion of the pieces overlap each other to form an aggregate of raw meat pieces.

2. 2. The slicer according to claim 1, wherein the raw chunks of meat transported by the left first endless belt and the raw chunks of meat transported by the right first endless belt are cut in a single cutting section, and the multiple pieces of raw meat cut in this single cutting section are arranged on top of the independently driven left second endless belt and right second endless belt so that at least a portion of the pieces overlap each other, forming two rows of collections of raw meat pieces.

3. 2. The slicer according to claim 1, wherein the cutting portion cuts the block of raw meat at substantially equal intervals, and the aggregate is formed from a plurality of pieces of raw meat cut at substantially equal intervals.

4. A slicer as described in claim 3, wherein the controller calculates the pitch for arranging the raw meat pieces on the second endless belt based on the length of the raw meat pieces in the arrangement direction, and independently controls the conveying speed of the left second endless belt and the conveying speed of the right second endless belt, thereby forming the overall length of each aggregate to a set length.

5. 5. The slicer according to claim 4, wherein the calculated pitch for arranging the raw meat pieces does not change until the formation of identical clusters is completed.

6. 6. The slicer according to claim 5, further comprising a measuring means for measuring the thickness or height of the raw meat block before it is cut, and a length calculating means for calculating the length of the raw meat pieces in the arrangement direction after the cut based on the measurement results by the measuring means.

7. 7. The slicer according to claim 1, further comprising a measuring means for measuring the thickness or height of the raw block of meat before it is cut, and the controller calculates the number of pieces of raw meat that form the aggregate based on the measurement results by the measuring means.

8. 8. The slicer according to claim 7, wherein the calculated number of pieces of raw meat forming the aggregates remains unchanged until the formation of the same aggregates is completed.

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