Hopper and combination weigher equipped with same

Abstract

To provide a hopper which can effectively suppress adhesion of an article to a gate inner face and can be easily cleaned.SOLUTION: A hopper comprises a cylindrical hopper body and a gate for opening / closing a lower end opening of the hopper body, and stores supplied articles and discharges the same downward. A plurality of projections 17, which extend along an article flow-down direction, are arranged in parallel on an inner face of the gate 13, and a cross-sectional shape of each projection 17 has an apex of an angular chevron shape.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a hopper that stores and discharges articles by opening and closing a gate, and a combination weigher equipped with the same. [Background technology]

[0002] A typical combination weigher is configured such that multiple linear feeders are arranged around a dispersion feeder that radially disperses and transports items supplied from above the center, and the dispersed and transported items are further transported outward, and the items are supplied to multiple weighing units arranged corresponding to each linear feeder.

[0003] The weighing unit includes a supply hopper that temporarily stores and discharges articles supplied from the linear feeder, and a weighing hopper that stores and weighs the articles discharged from the supply hopper.

[0004] The combination weigher performs a combination calculation to select a combination of weighing hoppers from which to discharge articles, that is, a combination weight of the weighing hoppers, that is, the total weight of the combined weights of the articles in the weighing hoppers, within a predetermined weight range based on the target combined weight. The combination weigher is configured to discharge articles from the weighing hoppers of the appropriate combination selected by this combination calculation, temporarily store the discharged articles within the predetermined weight range in a collecting hopper, and discharge them to the packaging device based on a supply request command from the packaging device.

[0005] If the item to be weighed is sticky, the item may remain attached to the inner surface of the hopper that comes into contact with the item, for example, the inner surface of a weighing hopper.In such cases, the weight of the item discharged from the weighing hopper may not be within the specified weight range, which may result in an incorrect weighing.

[0006] Therefore, in order to prevent articles from adhering to the inner surface of the hopper, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a hopper with a mesh-like inner surface. In addition to mesh-like surfaces, it is also common to emboss or coat the inner surface of the hopper. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-55545 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] However, the mesh-like inner surface of the hopper is prone to clogging with articles, and clogging makes it difficult to wash away the articles during cleaning.

[0009] Embossing creates a large number of protrusions, which make it easy for articles to adhere to the protrusions, while coating treatment has a large contact area with the article, making it difficult to sufficiently prevent the article from adhering to the protrusions.

[0010] The present invention has been made in light of the above points, and aims to provide a hopper that can effectively prevent articles from adhering to the hopper, and a combination weigher equipped with the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows.

[0012] (1) The hopper according to the present invention is a hopper that stores supplied articles and discharges them downward, and comprises a cylindrical hopper body and a gate that opens and closes the lower end opening of the hopper body. A plurality of ridges extending in the direction of the downward flow of the articles are arranged in parallel on the inner surface of the gate, and the cross-sectional shape of each ridge is a mountain shape with an angular apex.

[0013] According to the hopper of the present invention, the inner surface of the gate is provided with a plurality of parallel ridges extending in the direction of the flow of the articles, so that the articles fed into the hopper are supported in a point-like or linear manner by the angular, mountain-shaped peaks of the ridges. In other words, the articles are supported by the plurality of ridges on the inner surface of the gate with a small contact area, which prevents the articles from adhering to the inner surface of the gate.

[0014] Furthermore, since multiple ridges are arranged in parallel, when cleaning the hopper, cleaning water can flow smoothly along the ridges, and even if any deposits remain, they can be washed away reliably and easily.

[0015] (2) In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the top of the protrusion is triangular.

[0016] In this embodiment, the articles supplied into the hopper are received and supported in a point or line manner by the apexes of the triangular cross-section protrusions, so that the articles are supported with a small contact area, which prevents the articles from adhering to the inner surface of the gate.

[0017] (3) In one embodiment of the present invention, two or more types of ridges having different heights are arranged in parallel.

[0018] In this embodiment, two or more types of ridges of different heights are arranged in parallel, so the article support surface connecting the peaks of the ridges in the width direction of the hopper varies in height. As a result, articles are received and supported by the peaks of the ridges at various heights and positions. When the gate is rapidly opened, static inertia causes articles at various heights and positions to smoothly separate from the peaks of the ridges of the ridges extending in the direction of the article flow and drop out.

[0019] (4) In another embodiment of the present invention, the gate and the plurality of protrusions are integrally molded from a resin material.

[0020] According to this embodiment, by making the entire gate out of resin, the inner surface of the hopper that comes into contact with the articles can be made highly smooth overall, which, combined with the above-mentioned function of the multiple protrusions, can provide excellent adhesion prevention function.

[0021] (5) In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a support plate on which the plurality of ridges are arranged in parallel is detachably attached to the gate to form the inner surface.

[0022] According to this embodiment, support plates with different specifications, each with a different parallel pitch and height of the protrusions, are prepared in advance to correspond to the size and properties of the article, and by replacing and attaching the support plates according to changes in the type of article, it is possible to achieve an appropriate adhesion suppression function corresponding to the article.

[0023] (6) In one embodiment of the present invention, the support plate and the plurality of ridges are integrally molded from a resin material.

[0024] According to this embodiment, by molding the support plate and the plurality of ridges integrally from a resin material, manufacturing is easier than, for example, connecting and fixing the plurality of ridges in parallel to the support plate.

[0025] (7) A combination weigher according to the present invention is a combination weigher comprising a dispersion feeder that radially disperses and conveys supplied articles, a plurality of linear feeders that convey the dispersedly conveyed articles outward, a plurality of supply hoppers that store and discharge the articles conveyed by each linear feeder, a plurality of weighing hoppers that weigh the articles discharged from each supply hopper, a collecting chute that collects and discharges the articles discharged from the weighing hoppers, and a collecting hopper that stores and discharges the articles discharged from the collecting chute, At least one of the supply hopper, the weighing hopper, and the collecting hopper is any one of the hoppers (1) to (6) above.

[0026] According to the combination weigher of the present invention, adhesion of articles to the hopper can be effectively suppressed, and highly accurate combination weighing can be performed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0027] Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a hopper that can effectively prevent articles from adhering to the inner surface of the gate and that is easy to clean, and a combination weigher equipped with the same. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional front view showing the schematic configuration of a combination weigher according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the collecting hopper of FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional front view of the collecting hopper of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the outer gate of the collecting hopper of the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the outer gate of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the inner gate of the collecting hopper of the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a plan view of the inner gate of FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the outer gate of the collecting hopper of the second embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a plan view of the outer gate of FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE in FIG. [Figure 15]FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the inner gate of the collecting hopper of the second embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a plan view of the inner gate of FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line FF in FIG. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the outer gate of the collecting hopper of the third embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a plan view of the outer gate of FIG. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along line GG in FIG. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along line HH in FIG. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the inner gate of the collecting hopper of the third embodiment. [Figure 23] FIG. 23 is a plan view of the inner gate of FIG. [Figure 24] FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II in FIG. [Figure 25] FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view taken along line JJ in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0030] 1 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing the schematic configuration of a combination weigher according to one embodiment of the present invention. The combination weigher of this embodiment weighs and discharges predetermined amounts of various foods and other items, and is installed on a floor F and used in a packaging line where the weighed items are fed into a packaging device (not shown) below and packed into bags.

[0031] A hollow base 1 with a vertically penetrating opening in the center is installed on the floor surface F, and above the center of this base 1, a hollow center base 2 formed in the shape of a polygonal short pillar is supported via multiple legs 3.

[0032] Above the center of the center base 2, there is provided a dispersion feeder 4 that places articles dropped and supplied from a supply conveyor (not shown) on a vibration-driven top cone 4a and distributes and transports them radially. Surrounding this dispersion feeder 4, there are multiple linear feeders 5 that place the dispersed and transported articles on vibration-driven troughs 5a and transport them in a straight line outward.

[0033] Furthermore, on the outer peripheral wall of the center base 2, there are provided supply hoppers 6 that temporarily store and discharge articles from each linear feeder 5, and weighing hoppers 7 that weigh the articles discharged from each supply hopper 6. A multi-series weighing unit consisting of a series of these linear feeders 5, supply hoppers 6, and weighing hoppers 7 performs combined weighing and discharge of articles.

[0034] Below each weighing hopper 7, a collecting chute 8 is provided for collecting articles discharged from the multiple weighing hoppers 7 selected by a combination calculation so that the weight falls within a predetermined range. Below this collecting chute 8, a collecting funnel 9 is provided for further collecting articles that have slid down from the collecting chute 8. Furthermore, below the collecting funnel 9, a collecting hopper 10 is provided for temporarily receiving and storing the articles collected by the collecting funnel 9 and discharging them based on a supply request command from the packaging device, and is supported by a support frame 11 provided below the hollow base 1.

[0035] In this embodiment, in order to prevent highly sticky items, such as dried pickled plums sprinkled with sugar, from adhering to the collecting hopper 10, the collecting hopper 10 is provided with an adhesion prevention structure, which will be described below.

[0036] [Embodiment 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the collecting hopper 10 of the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional front view thereof.

[0037] The collecting hopper 10 is configured so that the bottom of the hopper can be opened and closed in a double-door manner by pivotally connecting a gate 13 that can rotate about a fulcrum p and a gate 14 that can rotate about a fulcrum q to a rectangular cylindrical hopper body 12 that is open at the top and bottom. The collecting hopper 10 is detachably connected and supported to the support frame 11 via mounting brackets 12a that protrude from the outside of the upper part of the hopper body 12.

[0038] Both gates 13, 14 are made of stainless steel plate and, as shown in Figures 4 and 8, are configured with flat bottom plate portions 13a, 14a and side plate portions 13b, 14b respectively bent upright from both side edges. The width of one gate 13 is set slightly larger than the width of the other gate 14, so that when the hopper is closed, the side plate portion 13a of one gate 13 embraces the side plate portion 14a of the other gate 14 from the outside. In the following description, one gate 13 will be referred to as the outer gate and the other gate 14 as the inner gate.

[0039] Furthermore, as shown by the phantom lines in Figures 4 to 11, the outer surfaces of the side plate portions 13b, 14b of both gates 13, 14 are respectively provided with fulcrum bosses 13c, 14c and connecting shafts 13d, 14d for pivotal connection to the hopper body 12 by crimping or the like.

[0040] 2 and 3, an operating protrusion 15 is provided on the outer surface of the bottom plate portion 13a of the outer gate 13. This operating protrusion 15 is linked to a drive unit (not shown) mounted on the support frame 11, and is operated to open and close. By attaching a link 16 across both gates 13, 14, as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 3, the inner gate 14 is opened and closed in conjunction with the opening and closing of the outer gate 13.

[0041] 5 is a plan view of the outer gate 13, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.

[0042] As shown in Figures 4 to 7, on the inner surface of the bottom plate portion 13a of the outer gate 13, a large number of protrusions 17, each having a triangular cross section, are arranged in parallel in the gate width direction at a constant pitch.

[0043] The group of ridges 17 is molded integrally with the surface of a support plate 18, which is made of a dense, hard, and smooth resin material (such as ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene) and has a thickness of, for example, about 3 mm. This support plate 18 is detachably attached to the bottom plate 13a of the outer gate 13 via flat head screws 19 and nuts 20.

[0044] Each ridge 17 extends in the downward flow direction of the articles indicated by arrow D1 in FIG. 3, and has a length spanning from the upper end to the lower end of the outer gate 13.

[0045] 9 is a plan view of the inner gate 14, FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 9, and FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD in FIG.

[0046] As shown in Figures 8 to 11, the inner surface of the bottom plate portion 14a of the inner gate 14 is configured in the same manner as the outer gate 13, and a support plate 22, on which ribs 21 having the same specifications as the ribs 17 are formed in parallel, is connected to the bottom plate portion 14a of the inner gate 14 via flat head screws 23 and nuts 24.

[0047] Each of the protrusions 21 extends in the downward flow direction of the articles indicated by the arrow D2 in FIG. 3, and has a length spanning from the upper end to the lower end of the inner gate 14.

[0048] In this embodiment, the parallel pitch of adjacent ridges 17, 21 is, for example, about 10 mm, and the cross-sectional shape of ridges 17, 21 is, for example, an isosceles triangle with a height of about 5 mm, a width of about 6 mm, and an apex that forms an acute angle close to a right angle (about 60 to 80 degrees).

[0049] In this embodiment, when weighed articles are collected and stored in the collecting hopper 10, the inclined inner surfaces of both V-shaped gates 13, 14 form a vertical lattice along the direction of the articles' downward flow, due to the parallel groups of ridges 17, 21. As a result, the articles in the hopper are received and supported in a point-like or linear manner by the linear ridges of the groups of ridges 17, 21. In other words, the articles are received and supported by the groups of ridges 17, 21 with a small contact area, which prevents the articles from coming into contact with and adhering to the inner surface of the gate.

[0050] Furthermore, since the groups of ridges 17, 21 are arranged in parallel to form a vertical drainage basin, the wash water can flow smoothly along the groups of ridges 17, 21, and any remaining deposits can be washed away reliably and easily.

[0051] [Embodiment 2] 12 to 17 show an outer gate 13 and an inner gate 14 according to the second embodiment.

[0052] This embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment, and in the outer gate 13, the protrusions 17 are spaced widely apart, and the protrusions 17, 17a are arranged alternately and in parallel with each other so that the shorter protrusions 17a are located between the protrusions 17, and are integrally formed with the support plate 18.

[0053] The cross-sectional shape of the low ridges 17a is an isosceles triangle with a height of, for example, about 1.5 mm and a width of, for example, about 3 mm, and a peak that forms an acute angle that is nearly a right angle or close to a right angle. The pitch between the high ridges 17 and the low ridges 17a is, for example, about 6 mm, and therefore the pitch between the high ridges 17 and the low ridges 17a is, for example, about 12 mm.

[0054] In the inner gate 14, the protrusions 21, 21a are arranged alternately in parallel and integrally with the support plate 18 so that the low protrusions 21a are positioned between the high protrusions 21.

[0055] Although not shown, the side plate portions 13b, 14b of the outer gate 13 and the inner gate 14 are provided with fulcrum bosses and linking support shafts by caulking or the like, as in the first embodiment.

[0056] In this embodiment, the article support surface connecting the ridges of the protrusions 17, 17a; 21, 21a in the hopper width direction is wavy with repeated highs and lows, and articles are received and supported by the ridges at various heights and positions.

[0057] When the gates 13, 14 are rapidly opened, articles of various heights and positions are smoothly dropped and discharged due to static inertia, away from the vertices of the triangles of the ridges 17, 17a; 21, 21a extending in the direction of the articles flowing.

[0058] [Embodiment 3] 18 to 25 show the outer gate 13 and the inner gate 14 according to the third embodiment.

[0059] In this embodiment, the entire outer gate 13 and inner gate 14 are formed from a resin material (e.g., ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene) that is dense, hard, and has excellent surface smoothness, and high protrusions 17, 21 and low protrusions 17a, 21a of the same specifications as those shown in the above embodiment 2 are molded integrally with the bottom plate portions 13a, 14a.

[0060] Although not shown, the side plate portions 13b and 14b of the outer gate 13 and the inner gate 14, which are molded from resin, are provided with metal fulcrum bosses and the like, as in the first embodiment. The connecting shaft is provided by caulking or the like.

[0061] According to this embodiment, in addition to the above-mentioned advantages, adhesion to the inner surfaces of the bottom plate portions 13a, 14a and side plate portions 13b, 14b, which are made of a resin material with excellent surface smoothness, is suppressed.

[0062] [Other embodiments] The present invention can also be implemented in the following forms.

[0063] (1) In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the collecting hopper 10 that finally stores and discharges the items after being weighed, but it can also be applied to the weighing hopper 7 or the supply hopper 6. It can also be applied to a memory hopper that stores and discharges the items discharged from the weighing hoppers, which is provided to increase the number of hoppers that are the subject of the combination calculation.

[0064] (2) The hopper in the embodiment is shown as one in which the inner and outer gates are opened and closed in a double-wing manner, but it can also be applied to one in which a single gate is opened and closed in a single-wing manner. In a hopper in which a single-wing gate faces the inclined side wall of the hopper body, it is preferable to attach a support plate equipped with a group of upper protrusions in parallel to the inner surface of the inclined side wall of the hopper body.

[0065] (3) It is also possible to press-form the parallel ridges onto a support plate made of a metal plate such as a thin stainless steel plate, and then weld or screw this support plate to the bottom plate.

[0066] (4) In the above embodiment, two types of protrusions with different heights are alternately arranged on the inner surface of the gate, but they do not have to be alternately arranged, and three or more types of protrusions with different heights may be arranged.

[0067] (5) In the above embodiment, a combination weigher having multiple weighing units arranged in a ring is exemplified, but the present invention can also be applied to a combination weigher having multiple weighing units arranged in parallel in a horizontal row. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 6 Supply hopper 7 Weighing hopper 10 Collection Hopper 12 Hopper body Gate 13 (Outer Gate) Gate 14 (inner gate) 17 protrusion 17a Projection 18 Support plate 21 protrusion 21a protrusion 22 Support Plate

Claims

1. A hopper that stores and discharges the supplied items downward, The hopper has a cylindrical body and a gate for opening and closing a bottom opening of the hopper body. a plurality of ribs extending in a downstream direction of the articles are arranged in parallel on an inner surface of the gate, and each rib has a cross-sectional shape of a mountain shape with an angular apex; The apex of the protrusion is triangular, Two or more types of protrusions having different heights are arranged in parallel. A hopper characterized by:

2. The gate and the plurality of protrusions are integrally molded from a resin material.

2. The hopper of claim 1.

3. A support plate having the plurality of ribs arranged in parallel is detachably attached to the gate to form the inner surface.

3. A hopper according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The support plate and the plurality of protrusions are integrally formed from a resin material.

4. The hopper of claim 3.

5. A combination weigher comprising a dispersion feeder which radially disperses and conveys supplied articles, a plurality of linear feeders which convey the dispersed and conveyed articles outward, a plurality of supply hoppers which store and discharge the articles conveyed by each linear feeder, a plurality of weighing hoppers which weigh the articles discharged from each supply hopper, a collection chute which collects and discharges the articles discharged from the weighing hoppers, and a collection hopper which stores and discharges the articles discharged from the collection chute, At least one of the supply hopper, the weighing hopper, and the collecting hopper is the hopper according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A combination weigher characterized by the above.

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