Bean sorting machine

Abstract

To provide a bean classifier which can reduce the possibility where beans such as soybeans are transferred without executing attitude change.SOLUTION: A bean classifier comprises: a screening part which screens beans as objects G to be screened; a transfer part 4 which slidingly transfers the objects G to be screened into the screening part; and an attitude change part 3 which slidingly transfers the objects G to be screened and changes attitude of the objects G to be screened. The transfer part 4 includes a transfer path Ra extending along a transfer direction. The attitude change part 3 is arranged at an upper stream side of the transfer path, and includes a sliding surface 31 which slidingly transfers the objects G to be screened in the transfer direction. The sliding surface 31 includes a sliding marginal part 34 which is positioned at an end part of the sliding surface 31 in the transfer direction and obliquely extends relative to the transfer direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a bean sorter for sorting beans such as green soybeans. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional bean sorting machine is an edamame sorting machine for sorting edamame beans, such as that described in Patent Document 1. This edamame sorting machine is equipped with an edamame distribution section into which edamame beans are introduced, and an edamame conveying section that conveys the edamame beans transferred from the edamame distribution section toward a discrimination device. The edamame conveying section is located below the edamame distribution section, and the edamame beans supplied to the edamame distribution section slide along the edamame distribution section, drop from the edamame distribution section, and are then supplied to the edamame conveying section. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-195971 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in conventional edamame sorting machines, the edamame supplied from the edamame distribution section to the edamame conveying section sometimes ended up in a position where the longitudinal direction of the edamame was perpendicular to the transport direction in a plan view. For example, if a sorting device that sorts edamame sorts edamame by blowing air at the edamame, if the edamame are transported to the sorting device in a position where the longitudinal direction is perpendicular to the transport direction in a plan view, it becomes difficult to blow air at the appropriate parts of the edamame, and the edamame sorting process may not be performed properly.

[0005] Furthermore, some conventional edamame sorting machines are equipped with a guide unit in the edamame conveying section, as described in Patent Document 1, for example. However, there are cases where the edamame supplied from the edamame distribution section to the edamame conveying section end up straddling the upper ends of both side walls of the guide unit, and the edamame do not fit between the guide units. In this case, there is a risk that the edamame will be transported to the sorting section without changing their position.

[0006] In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a bean sorting machine that can reduce the risk of beans such as edamame being transported to the sorting machine without changing their posture. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The bean sorting machine of the present invention comprises a sorting section that sorts beans as objects to be sorted, a transport section that slides and transports the objects to be sorted toward the sorting section, and a posture change section that slides and transports the objects to be sorted and changes the posture of the objects to be sorted, wherein the transport section has a transport path that extends along the transport direction, and the posture change section is provided above the transport path and has a sliding surface that slides and transports the objects to be sorted in the transport direction, and the sliding surface is located at the end of the sliding surface in the transport direction and has a sliding edge that extends obliquely relative to the transport direction.

[0008] According to this invention, the objects to be sorted supplied to the position-changing section are slidably transported on the sliding surface toward the sliding edge. The objects to be sorted that reach the sliding edge are then supplied from the sliding edge to the transfer section. Here, when the objects to be sorted are beans that have a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction, such as edamame, the sliding edge extends obliquely with respect to the transfer direction. Therefore, for example, when the objects to be sorted are transported near the sliding edge with their longitudinal direction intersecting the transfer direction in a plan view, only one side of the beans in the longitudinal direction protrudes from the sliding edge. As the objects to be sorted are further transported in the transfer direction, the end of the objects that protrudes from the sliding edge faces downward, and the objects fall into the transfer path of the transfer section. In other words, even if the sorted object has a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction, the sorted object enters the transfer path of the transfer section with one longitudinal end of the object facing downward, thereby reducing the possibility of the sorted object being unable to enter the transfer path due to straddling both side walls of the transfer path, etc.

[0009] Furthermore, when only one longitudinal end of the sorted object is in contact with the transfer section, the end of the sorted object in contact with the transfer section is pulled in the transfer direction by the transfer section, so the sorted object tends to assume a position in which its longitudinal direction is aligned with the transfer direction.

[0010] In the above description, the case where the objects to be sorted are transferred to the vicinity of the sliding edge portion in a position where their longitudinal direction intersects the transfer direction in a plan view has been described as an example, but even if the objects to be sorted are transferred to the vicinity of the sliding edge portion in a position where their longitudinal direction is along the transfer direction in a plan view, the objects to be sorted will have only one side in the longitudinal direction protruding from the sliding edge portion, and the same effect will be achieved. In this way, the position of the edamame beans is changed by the position changing unit, so even if the objects to be sorted have both a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction, it is possible to reduce the risk of the objects to be sorted being transferred to the sorting unit without changing their position.

[0011] In the present invention, it is preferable that the transport paths are provided in a plurality of rows arranged side by side, and that the sliding edge portions are provided separately for the plurality of transport paths.

[0012] According to this configuration, by providing a plurality of transport paths and sliding edges, it is possible to change the position and transport a greater number of objects to be sorted.

[0013] In the present invention, it is preferable that the sliding edge portions extend in a direction intersecting with the direction in which the adjacent sliding edge portions extend.

[0014] According to this configuration, since adjacent sliding edges extend in a direction intersecting the direction of extension, these sliding edges form a zigzag shape at the end of the sliding surface in the transport direction. At the end of the zigzag-shaped sliding surface in the transport direction, there is a location where there is a large opening between adjacent sliding edges. At the location where there is a large opening between adjacent sliding edges, it is possible to change the position of the sorted objects even if they are large.

[0015] In the present invention, it is preferable that the sliding surface is provided with a vertical wall that is disposed at a position corresponding to a position between adjacent ones of the transport paths and extends in a direction along the transport direction.

[0016] According to this configuration, when the objects to be sorted that have been transferred near the sliding edge portion come into contact with the vertical wall, their position is changed so that their longitudinal direction is aligned with the transfer direction in a plan view. Therefore, the position of the objects to be sorted is changed not only by the position changing portion but also by the vertical wall, making it possible to more effectively change the position of the objects to be sorted.

[0017] In the present invention, it is preferable that an intersection angle between the sliding surface and the upper portion of the vertical wall is an acute angle when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the transfer direction and parallel to the sliding surface.

[0018] According to this configuration, the objects to be sorted that come into contact with the vertical wall come into contact with the upper part of the vertical wall, which has an acute angle with the sliding surface. If the portion of the vertical wall where the objects to be sorted come into contact were formed to extend perpendicularly from the sliding surface, the objects that come into contact with the vertical wall would get caught on the vertical wall and be hindered from sliding toward the sorting section. However, in this configuration, the objects to be sorted come into contact with the upper part, which has an acute angle with the sliding surface, so the objects are less likely to get caught on the vertical wall, which makes it less likely that their sliding transfer would be hindered.

[0019] In the present invention, it is preferable that a hanging banner portion be provided, which is made of a flexible plate-like member and is provided from above the sliding surface to the sliding surface.

[0020] With this configuration, the objects to be sorted slide under the banner portion as they slide along the sliding surface toward the sliding edge portion. As the objects slide under the banner portion, they slide at a slower speed than the objects that have already passed under the banner portion. In other words, the objects that have already passed under the banner portion slide at a faster speed than the objects that are still passing under the banner portion, causing the gap between the objects to widen. If the gap between the objects is too narrow, it becomes difficult to accurately sort the objects. However, because the banner portion widens the gap between the objects, this gap can be reduced.

[0021] In the present invention, the transfer section comprises a first transfer section and a second transfer section located downstream of the first transfer section, and it is preferable that the downstream end of the first transfer section is located above the upstream end of the second transfer section.

[0022] According to this configuration, the first and second conveying sections have a height difference. When the objects to be sorted are transferred from the first conveying section to the second conveying section, they fall from the first conveying section to the second conveying section. If multiple objects to be sorted are transferred to the sorting section in an overlapping state, it can be difficult to accurately sort the objects. However, when the objects fall from the first conveying section to the second conveying section, they are separated by the impact of the fall, which can prevent this problem.

[0023] In the present invention, a sending section is provided which is located downstream of the transfer section and transfers the sorted materials transferred from the transfer section toward the sorting section, and it is preferable that the sending section transfers the sorted materials at a speed greater than that of the transfer section.

[0024] According to this configuration, the discharge section transfers the objects to be sorted at a higher speed than the transfer section, so the distance between the objects being transferred by the discharge section and the objects being transferred by the transfer section increases. If the distance between the objects to be sorted is too narrow, the objects cannot be sorted accurately, but because the discharge section increases the distance between the objects to be sorted, this disadvantage can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the bean sorting machine. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the bean sorting machine. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of a position changing unit and a transport unit. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a side view showing the configuration of the attitude changing unit and the transport unit. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the configuration of a transfer unit and a sorting unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of a transfer unit and a sorting unit. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control form of the bean sorter. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The following description will be given of an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the direction of arrow F in the drawings will be referred to as "front," the direction of arrow B as "rear," the direction of arrow U as "up," and the direction of arrow D as "down."

[0027] [Overall configuration of the bean sorting machine] In this embodiment, the bean sorting machine 1 includes a discrimination unit P that photographs edamame soybeans G, which are beans to be sorted, and discriminates whether the edamame soybeans G are good or bad based on the photographed information, and a rejection device E that sprays air at defective beans to reject them. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the bean sorting machine 1 includes a supply unit 2 to which edamame soybeans G are supplied, a position change unit 3 that slides and transfers the edamame soybeans G and changes their position, a transfer unit 4 that slides and transfers the edamame soybeans G toward the discrimination unit P and the rejection device E, a delivery unit 5 that sends the edamame soybeans G toward the discrimination unit P and the rejection device E, a sorting unit 6 that includes the discrimination unit P and the rejection device E and sorts the edamame soybeans G, and a manual sorting unit 7 where sorting work is performed by an operator. The bean sorting machine 1 also includes a vibration generating mechanism 8 that applies vibrations to the position change unit 3 and the transfer unit 4.

[0028] Here, good quality edamame G means that the beans in the pods of edamame G have grown to a certain size and that the pods have multiple fruits. Defective edamame G means that the pods have at least one of the following: immature pods in which the fruit inside is smaller than a certain size, or single fruits covered by the pods (single pods).

[0029] [Configuration of the supply section] As shown in Figure 1, supply unit 2 includes hopper 21 that stores edamame G supplied from basket C1, and supply device 22 that supplies the edamame G stored in hopper 21 to position changing unit 3. Supply device 22 includes belt unit 22d that is wound around lower rotor 22a and upper rotor 22b and has a large number of receiving portions 22c that receive edamame G. When belt unit 22d is driven, the edamame G stored in hopper 21 is supplied to position changing unit 3 located above hopper 21.

[0030] The supply unit 2 also includes a side cover body 23 that covers the sides of the belt unit 22d in the width direction, and an upper cover body 24 that covers the upper rotor 22b from above.

[0031] [Configuration of the posture change unit] 3, the position changing unit 3 has a sliding surface 31 that slides and transports the edamame G in the transport direction, and side walls 32 that extend upward from the sliding surface 31 at both side edge portions in the transport direction of the sliding surface 31. The edamame G supplied from the supply unit 2 are supplied onto the sliding surface 31.

[0032] Specifically, the sliding surface 31 is the upper surface of a planar member and is flat. The sliding surface 31 is inclined, and is configured to be positioned lower in the direction of gravity as it moves downstream. The sliding surface 31 vibrates due to the operation of the vibration generating mechanism 8, thereby causing the edamame beans G on the sliding surface 31 to slide and be transported.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a hanging banner portion 33 is provided downstream of the downstream end of the upper cover body 24 of the supply unit 2, extending from above the sliding surface 31 to the sliding surface 31.

[0034] The hanging curtain portion 33 is made of a flexible rectangular plate-like member such as a rubber sheet. The hanging curtain portion 33 is supported by supports 33a provided across the upper edge portions of both side walls 32, with the lower end of the hanging curtain portion 33 in contact with the sliding surface 31. The hanging curtain portion 33 is fixed by fastening the upper portion of the hanging curtain portion 33 to the supports 33a with bolts. As shown in FIG. 3 , the hanging curtain portion 33 is provided across both side walls 32 in the width direction perpendicular to the transport direction.

[0035] [Configuration of the end portion of the sliding surface in the transfer direction] 3 and 4, the sliding surface 31 has a sliding edge 34 at the end in the transfer direction of the sliding surface 31. Specifically, the sliding edge 34 is the front edge of the flat plate-like member that forms the sliding surface 31. The edamame G pass over the sliding edge 34 and fall into the transfer section 4.

[0036] The sliding edges 34 are provided above a transfer path Ra of the transfer section 4, which will be described later, and are provided separately for each of the multiple transfer paths Ra. In the illustrated example, seven sliding edges 34 are provided for seven transfer paths Ra. In the following description, with respect to the forward direction in the transfer direction in FIG. 3 as the reference, the direction corresponding to the left side (the direction of arrow L) is referred to as "left" and the direction corresponding to the right side (the direction of arrow R) is referred to as "right", and the seven sliding edges 34 will be referred to as the first to seventh sliding edges 34 in order from the left.

[0037] The sliding edges 34 are located at the ends of the sliding surface 31 in the transfer direction and extend obliquely relative to the transfer direction. The first, third, fifth, and seventh sliding edges 34 extend obliquely so as to be positioned further left downstream, while the second, fourth, and sixth sliding edges 34 extend obliquely so as to be positioned further right downstream. In other words, the sliding edges 34 extend in a direction intersecting the extension direction of adjacent sliding edges 34, and the ends of the sliding surface 31 in the transfer direction are formed in a zigzag shape in plan view.

[0038] Because the sliding edge 34 extends obliquely with respect to the transfer direction, for example, when edamame G are transferred near the sliding edge 34 in a position where their longitudinal direction intersects with the transfer direction in a plan view, only one side of the edamame G in the longitudinal direction protrudes from the sliding edge 34. When the edamame G are further transferred in the transfer direction, the end of the edamame G that protrudes from the sliding edge 34 faces downward, and falls as is onto the transfer path Ra of the transfer section 4. When only one longitudinal end of the edamame G is in contact with the transfer section 4, the end of the edamame G in contact with the transfer section 4 is pulled in the transfer direction by the transfer section 4, and the edamame G are likely to be in a position where their longitudinal direction is along the transfer direction.

[0039] The sliding surface 31 is provided with a plurality of vertical walls 35 that are arranged at positions corresponding to the positions between adjacent transfer paths Ra and extend in the transfer direction. Specifically, the vertical walls 35 are plate-shaped members that extend perpendicular to the sliding surface 31. In this embodiment, three vertical walls 35 are provided. The three vertical walls 35 in FIG. 3 are referred to as the first to third vertical walls 35, in order from the left.

[0040] Each vertical wall 35 is provided between the side walls 32 on both sides at a position corresponding to the downstream end of each of the plurality of sliding edges 34. The first vertical wall 35 is located between the second sliding edge 34 and the third sliding edge 34, the second vertical wall 35 is located between the fourth sliding edge 34 and the fifth sliding edge 34, and the third vertical wall 35 is located between the sixth sliding edge 34 and the seventh sliding edge 34.

[0041] As shown in Figure 4, the upper part 35a of each vertical wall 35 is inclined so that it moves away from the sliding surface 31 toward the downstream side, and in the upstream part of the vertical wall 35, when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the transfer direction and parallel to the sliding surface 31, the intersection angle θ between the sliding surface 31 and the upper part 35a of the vertical wall 35 is configured to be an acute angle.

[0042] Further, the downstream end 35b of each vertical wall 35 is formed so as to be perpendicular to the sliding surface 31, and each vertical wall 35 is formed in the shape of a right triangle. Further, the downstream end 35b of each vertical wall 35 is located at a position corresponding to the downstream end of the sliding edge portion 34.

[0043] [Configuration of the transfer section] 3 and 4, the transfer section 4 includes a first transfer section 4A and a second transfer section 4B located downstream of the first transfer section 4A. The first transfer section 4A and the second transfer section 4B are inclined, and are configured so that the more downstream they are located, the lower they are in the direction of gravity. The transfer section 4 vibrates due to the operation of the vibration generating mechanism 8, thereby slidingly transferring the edamame beans G on the transfer section 4.

[0044] Each of the first conveying section 4A and the second conveying section 4B extends along the conveying direction and includes a plurality of conveying partitions 41 spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. Between the conveying partitions 41, the bottom of the conveying section 4 is formed into a V-shape in cross section perpendicular to the conveying direction.

[0045] The edamame G enter between the multiple transfer partitions 41 and are transferred in the transfer direction. In other words, the transfer route Ra of the transfer section 4 is formed by the multiple transfer partitions 41, and the transfer section 4 has multiple transfer routes Ra extending along the transfer direction, with the multiple transfer routes Ra arranged in multiple rows side by side. In this embodiment, seven transfer routes Ra are provided. In FIG. 3, with respect to the forward direction in the transfer direction, the direction corresponding to the left side (the direction of arrow L) is defined as "left" and the direction corresponding to the right side (the direction of arrow R) is defined as "right," and the seven transfer routes Ra are referred to as the first to seventh transfer routes Ra in order from the left.

[0046] 3, the first transfer path Ra of the first transfer section 4A is disposed at a position corresponding to the first transfer path Ra of the second transfer section 4B, and the edamame G transferred on the first transfer path Ra of the first transfer section 4A are transferred on the first transfer path Ra of the second transfer section 4B. Similarly, the second to seventh transfer paths Ra of the first transfer section 4A are disposed at positions corresponding to the second to seventh transfer paths Ra of the second transfer section 4B, respectively.

[0047] The downstream end of the first transfer section 4A is located above the upstream end of the second transfer section 4B, and a step is formed between the downstream end of the first transfer section 4A and the upstream end of the second transfer section 4B. The transfer partition 41a of the first transfer section 4A is connected to the transfer partition 41b of the second transfer section 4B, and the edamame G are configured to be transferred between the transfer partitions 41a even at the step.

[0048] [Configuration of vibration generating mechanism] 4, the vibration generating mechanism 8 includes a drive device 81 made up of an electric motor and a rotating member 82 that generates vibrations. The rotating member 82 includes a rotation axis (not shown) at a position offset from the center position.

[0049] Although not described in detail, the rotating member 82 abuts against the abutment portion 42 provided at the bottom of the transfer section 4, and is driven to rotate by the drive device 81, thereby generating vibrations in the transfer section 4. The rotating member 82 also applies vibrations to the attitude changing section 3 via the transfer section 4.

[0050] [Configuration of the sending section] 5 and 6, the delivery section 5 is located downstream of the transfer section 4. The delivery section 5 delivers the edamame G transferred from the transfer section 4 toward the sorting section 6.

[0051] The delivery section 5 includes a delivery device 51 that delivers the edamame G in the delivery direction, and a posture maintaining mechanism 52 that maintains the posture of the edamame G such that the longitudinal direction thereof is along the delivery direction.

[0052] The delivery device 51 is a belt conveyor including an upstream rotor 51a, a downstream rotor 51b, and an endless belt 51c wound around these, and delivers the edamame G in the delivery direction at a speed faster than that of the transfer section 4. The upper surface of the endless belt 51c is configured to extend in a substantially horizontal direction.

[0053] The position maintaining mechanism 52 is provided above the delivery device 51 and includes a plurality of position maintaining partitions 52a aligned along the delivery direction.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 6, the posture maintaining partitions 52a are arranged at intervals in a direction perpendicular to the sending direction, and the edamame G are sent out by the sending device 51 in a state where they are inserted between the posture maintaining partitions 52a. That is, in the sending section 5, the sending path Rb is composed of a plurality of posture maintaining partitions 52a. In this embodiment, seven sending paths Rb are provided. In the following description, in FIG. 6, the direction corresponding to the left side (the direction of arrow L) is defined as "left" and the direction corresponding to the right side (the direction of arrow R) is defined as "right" with respect to the forward direction in the sending direction, and the seven sending paths Rb will be referred to as the first to seventh sending paths Rb from the left, and the seven transfer paths Ra will be referred to as the first to seventh transfer paths Ra from the left.

[0055] The multiple sending-out paths Rb are each arranged at a position corresponding to the multiple rows of transfer paths Ra of the transfer unit 4. In the sending-out unit 5, the edamame G are inserted between the position maintaining partitions 52a, and are maintained in a position with their longitudinal direction along the sending direction. Specifically, the first sending-out path Rb is arranged at a position corresponding to the first transfer path Ra, and the edamame G transferred on the first transfer path Ra enters the first sending-out path Rb and is sent out on the first sending-out path Rb toward the sorting unit 6. Similarly, the second to seventh sending-out paths Rb are arranged at positions corresponding to the second to seventh transfer paths Ra, respectively.

[0056] The upper edge of the upstream portion of the attitude maintaining partition 52a in the feeding direction is formed to be positioned higher than the upper edge of the downstream portion of the attitude maintaining partition 52a in the feeding direction. In addition, a gap S is formed between the attitude maintaining partition 52a and the feeding device 51.

[0057] The attitude maintaining partition 52a is supported by a first support member 53 provided on the upstream side of the upper edge of the attitude maintaining partition 52a, and a second support member 54 provided on the downstream side of the upper edge of the attitude maintaining partition 52a.

[0058] Covers 55 that cover both lateral sides of the delivery device 51 are provided on both lateral outer sides of the delivery device 51 in the width direction perpendicular to the delivery direction of the delivery device 51. The first support member 53 is supported by the covers 55.

[0059] [Configuration of the sorting unit] 5 and 6, the sorting unit 6 includes a photographing device 61 that photographs edamame G, and a rejection device E that rejects defective edamame G. The sorting unit 6 also includes an ECU 64 shown in Fig. 7. The ECU 64 is a processing device, and as shown in Fig. 7, the sorting unit 6 includes a discrimination unit P and a central position detection unit T, which are functional units realized by the ECU 64 executing a program.

[0060] The sorting unit 6 includes a cover body 62 that covers the exclusion device E from above. A plurality of light sources 63 that are used to photograph the edamame G are provided inside the cover body 62. A second support member 54 that supports the attitude maintaining partition 52a is supported on the cover body 62.

[0061] 5 and 6, the photographing device 61 is provided downstream and above the downstream end of the delivery device 51. The edamame G delivered from the delivery device 51 falls freely in a parabolic curve from the downstream end of the delivery device 51 as shown by the arrow in Fig. 5. The photographing device 61 photographs the edamame G as they fall freely.

[0062] The rejecting device E blows air at defective edamame G sent out from the sending device 51 to reject them. A plurality of rejecting devices E are arranged side by side with gaps between them. In this embodiment, seven rejecting devices E are arranged. In the following explanation, the seven rejecting devices E in FIG. 6 will be referred to as the first to seventh rejecting devices E, from the left.

[0063] The plurality of delivery paths Rb of the delivery unit 5 are configured to be located at positions corresponding to the respective excluding devices E. Specifically, the first delivery path Rb is located at a position corresponding to the first excluding device E, and the edamame G delivered from the first delivery path Rb are removed by being blown with air by the first excluding device E. Similarly, the second to seventh delivery paths Rb are located at positions corresponding to the second to seventh excluding devices E, respectively.

[0064] The photographing information from the photographing device 61 is sent to a discrimination unit P and a central position detection unit T of the ECU 64. The discrimination unit P discriminates whether the edamame G is good or bad based on the photographing information from the photographing device 61. The central position detection unit T detects the longitudinal central position of the edamame G based on the photographing information.

[0065] The rejection device E is configured to blow air toward the longitudinal center of edamame G that has been determined to be defective by the discrimination unit P, based on the detection results of the center position detection unit T. The edamame G that have been blown with air have their falling path changed as shown by the dashed arrow in Figure 5, and are placed in a basket C2 (see Figure 1).

[0066] The non-defective edamame beans G are not subjected to air blowing by the excluding device E, and are sent to the manual sorting section 7. The edamame beans G sent to the manual sorting section 7 are sorted by an operator.

[0067] [Another embodiment] Hereinafter, another embodiment in which the above embodiment is modified will be exemplified.

[0068] (1) In the above embodiment, a configuration has been described in which a plurality of sliding edges 34 are provided, one for each of the plurality of transfer paths Ra, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and a configuration may be provided in which only one sliding edge 34 is provided. Also, one sliding edge 34 may be provided across the plurality of transfer paths Ra.

[0069] (2) In the above embodiment, a configuration in which multiple transfer paths Ra and multiple output paths Rb are provided is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and a configuration in which only one transfer path Ra and one output path Rb are provided may also be used.

[0070] (3) In the above embodiment, the sliding edge portion 34 is described as extending in a direction intersecting the direction in which the adjacent sliding edge portion 34 extends. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the sliding edge portion 34 may extend in a direction parallel to the direction in which the adjacent sliding edge portion 34 extends.

[0071] (4) In the above embodiment, a configuration in which the sliding surface 31 is provided with a vertical wall 35 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the sliding surface 31 may be configured not to be provided with a vertical wall 35.

[0072] (5) In the above embodiment, the intersection angle between the sliding surface 31 and the upper portion 35a of the vertical wall 35 is an acute angle when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the transfer direction and parallel to the sliding surface 31. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the upper portion 35a of the vertical wall 35 may be configured to be parallel to the sliding surface 31.

[0073] (6) In the above embodiment, an example was described in which a configuration was provided with a hanging curtain portion 33 that extends from above the sliding surface 31 to the sliding surface 31. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and, for example, a configuration in which the hanging curtain portion 33 is not provided may also be used.

[0074] (7) In the above embodiment, the transport section 4 is described as having a first transport section 4A and a second transport section 4B, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the transport section 4 may be composed of only one of the first transport section 4A or the second transport section 4B.

[0075] (8) In the above embodiment, the sending section 5 is described as being configured to send out edamame G at a speed greater than that of the transfer section 4, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the sending section 5 may be configured to send out edamame G at the same speed as that of the transfer section 4 or at a speed less than that of the transfer section 4.

[0076] The configurations disclosed in the above embodiments (including other embodiments, the same applies hereinafter) can be applied in combination with the configurations disclosed in other embodiments, as long as no contradiction occurs. Furthermore, the embodiments disclosed in this specification are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0077] The present invention can be used as a bean sorter for sorting beans such as peas, kidney beans, broad beans, and peanuts in addition to edamame. [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 1:Bean sorting machine 3: Posture change section 4: Transfer section 4A:First transfer section 4B:Second transfer section 5: Transmission section 6: Sorting section 31: Sliding surface 33: Banner section 34:Sliding edge 35: Vertical wall G: Edamame (beans) Ra: Transport route

Claims

1. a sorting unit that sorts beans as the objects to be sorted; a transfer section that slides and transfers the objects to be sorted toward the sorting section; a posture changing unit that slides and transfers the objects to be sorted and changes the posture of the objects, the transfer section has a transfer path extending along a transfer direction, the position changing unit is provided above the transfer path and has a sliding surface that slides and transfers the objects to be sorted in the transfer direction, The bean sorting machine, wherein the sliding surface is located at an end of the sliding surface in the transport direction and has a sliding edge portion that extends obliquely with respect to the transport direction.

2. The transfer path is provided in a plurality of rows arranged side by side, 2. The bean sorter according to claim 1, wherein the sliding edge is provided for each of the plurality of transfer paths.

3. The pulse sorter according to claim 2, wherein the sliding edge portions extend in a direction intersecting with a direction in which adjacent sliding edge portions extend.

4. 4. The pulse sorter according to claim 2, wherein the sliding surface is provided with a vertical wall that is disposed at a position corresponding to a position between adjacent ones of the transport paths and extends in a direction along the transport direction.

5. 5. The bean sorter according to claim 4, wherein an intersection angle between the sliding surface and the upper portion of the vertical wall is an acute angle when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction and parallel to the sliding surface.

6. 2. The bean sorter according to claim 1, further comprising a hanging banner portion made of a flexible plate-like member and extending from above the sliding surface to the sliding surface.

7. the transfer section includes a first transfer section and a second transfer section located downstream of the first transfer section, The pulse sorter according to claim 1 , wherein a downstream end of the first conveying section is located above an upstream end of the second conveying section.

8. a delivery section that is located downstream of the transfer section and that delivers the objects to be sorted that have been transferred from the transfer section toward the sorting section; The pulse sorter according to claim 1 , wherein the delivery section delivers the objects to be sorted at a speed greater than that of the transfer section.

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