Method for utilizing information obtained from a chicken egg sorting device and weighing unit.

Abstract

This chicken egg sorting device (1) includes a weighing unit (7), an egg conveying unit (2), a trigger unit (8), and an abnormality detection unit (9). One chicken egg (E) at a time is placed on the weighing unit (7) to measure the weight of the chicken egg. The egg conveying unit (2) conveys the chicken egg before and after the weighing unit (7). The trigger unit (8) indicates a weighing timing at which to acquire a chicken egg weight from the weighing unit (7). The abnormality detection unit (9) detects, on the basis of information about the chicken egg weight collected from the weighing unit (7) at a timing other than the weighing timing, an abnormality of at least one of a mechanical portion of the weighing unit (7) and a mechanical portion of the egg conveying unit (2). Additionally, a method of using information obtainable from the weighing unit (7) includes: collecting information about the chicken egg weight, other than at the weighing timing, from the weighing unit (7) provided in the chicken egg (E) sorting device (1); and using the collected information in monitoring of the normal operation of at least one of the mechanical portion of the weighing unit (7) and the mechanical portion of the sorting device (1).

Description

Technical Field

[0005] , ,

[0001] The present invention relates to an egg sorting device and a method for using information obtained from a weighing unit equipped in the egg sorting device.

Background Art

[0002] As a weighing unit, one that measures the weight of eggs one by one is known (for example, refer to Patent Document 1 below). In an egg weight sorting device that sorts eggs based on the measured weight, the weight of an egg is measured using a weighing unit provided in the middle of an egg feeding unit. The weighing unit uses, for example, a load cell, and the upper plate is fixed. The egg feeding unit positions eggs from the previous process one by one in sequence on the weighing unit. Also, after acquiring weighing data for specifying the weight of the egg, the egg is taken out from the weighing unit and sent to the next process. Along with the operation of sending it to the next process, another egg is positioned from the previous process on the weighing unit.

[0003] When an egg is positioned on the weighing unit, it rolls in from the previous process. Therefore, after some time, the weighing data for the egg is determined based on the value when the egg has settled on the weighing unit. Specifically, the trigger unit indicates at which timing to acquire the weighing data.

[0004] By the way, these weighing units usually weigh a large number of eggs every day. Therefore, not only the weighing unit but also peripheral devices, that is, components in the previous process of the weighing unit, components in the next process of the weighing unit, etc., may malfunction. Examples of malfunctions include foreign objects getting stuck, parts being worn down by eggs and deformed, or a part of the weighing unit getting caught in another place. There is a problem that the egg weight cannot be correctly measured not only when there is a trouble with the weighing unit but also when there is a trouble in the previous process or the next process of the weighing unit.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-150941 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] The present invention aims to contribute to preventive maintenance by utilizing information that can be obtained from the weighing unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The egg sorting device of the present invention comprises a weighing unit, an egg delivery unit, a trigger unit, and an abnormality detection unit. The weighing unit measures the weight of eggs placed on it one by one. The egg delivery unit delivers eggs before and after the weighing unit. The abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality in at least one of the mechanical parts of the weighing unit and the mechanical part of the egg delivery unit based on the egg weight information collected from the weighing unit.

[0008] Furthermore, the information obtained from the weighing unit is used to collect information other than the timing of weighing the eggs from the weighing unit equipped in the egg sorting device, and to monitor the normal operation of at least one of the mechanical parts of the weighing unit and the sorting device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, information obtained from the weighing unit can be used to contribute to preventive maintenance.

[0010] The above and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description relating to this invention, which will be understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This diagram shows the area near the weighing section of an egg sorting device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This figure shows the area near the weighing section of the egg sorting device according to the same embodiment. [Figure 3] This is an example of information that can be obtained from the weighing unit, shown as a waveform. [Figure 4] This is another example of how information obtained from the weighing unit can be shown in waveform form. [Figure 5] This diagram shows a modified example of an egg sorting device. [Figure 6] This diagram shows yet another variation of the egg sorting device. [Figure 7] This is a flowchart of the anomaly detection process. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] The following describes how to utilize the information that can be obtained from the weighing unit 7 according to this embodiment, relating to the weighing unit 7 equipped in the egg sorting device 1 for chicken eggs E.

[0013] Figures 1 and 2 show an example of a sorting device 1. The egg sorting device 1 for chicken eggs E comprises an egg delivery unit 2 and a weighing unit 7. The egg delivery unit 2 in this embodiment comprises a first egg delivery unit 3, a second egg delivery unit 4, and a third egg delivery unit 5. A posture changing unit 6 is positioned between the second egg delivery unit 4 and the third egg delivery unit 5.

[0014] The first egg-feeding unit 3 is composed of, for example, multiple rollers (not shown). The rollers are made of resin and gradually wear down due to repeated contact with eggshells. The first egg-feeding unit 3 holds and transports the egg E in a horizontal position. The egg E is held between two adjacent rollers on its upper side as it moves. The first egg-feeding unit 3 is a feeding unit that sends the chicken egg E to the weighing unit 7.

[0015] The second egg feeder 4 is, for example, composed of a rotary body in the shape of a turbine. The second egg feeder 4 is provided above the weighing unit 7. The second egg feeder 4 positions the chicken eggs E one by one in sequence from the previous process above the weighing unit 7. After the second egg feeder 4 obtains weighing data for specifying the weight of the chicken egg E, it removes the chicken egg E from the weighing unit 7 and sends it to the next process. At the same time, the second egg feeder 4 positions another chicken egg E on the weighing unit 7. That is, the second egg feeder 4 uses a turbine to prevent two chicken eggs E from being placed on the weighing unit 7 simultaneously.

[0016] The posture changing unit 6 changes the posture of the chicken egg E from a horizontal posture to a vertical posture. The vertically oriented chicken egg E is released to the third egg feeder 5.

[0017] The third egg feeder 5 is, for example, composed of a plurality of buckets. The third egg feeder 5 holds and conveys the chicken egg E in a vertical orientation. The third egg feeder 5 is a distribution conveyor for distributing based on the measurement result of the chicken egg weight.

[0018] The weighing unit 7 uses, for example, a load cell, and the upper plate is fixed. The upper plate is made of resin and gradually wears due to contact with the eggshells over many times. The weighing unit 7 is arranged such that the upper surface of the upper plate is lower than the upper surface of the first egg feeder 3. That is, the chicken egg E fed from the first egg feeder 3 rolls down to the weighing unit 7 while the timing of transferring to the weighing unit 7 by the second egg feeder 4 is adjusted. The weighing unit 7 measures the weight as each chicken egg E is placed.

[0019] The first egg feeder 3 includes a trigger unit 8. The trigger unit 8 is, for example, a sensor (encoder) capable of detecting the moving distance of a roller, that is, the moving distance of the chicken egg E placed on the roller. The trigger unit 8 indicates the timing (hereinafter referred to as "weighing timing") for obtaining weighing data based on the count value of the clock signal. At the weighing timing, the second egg feeder 4 is not in contact with the chicken egg E. Note that various methods for detecting the moving distance of the chicken egg E known in this field can be applied as the trigger unit 8.

[0020] Figures 3 and 4 are diagrams showing the waveforms of the output signals of the weighing unit 7. Here, the period between the two dashed-dotted lines in the figure is the weighing timing. In the waveforms of Figures 3 and 4, a first sharp and large peak can be seen before the weighing timing. This is because when the egg enters the tray of the weighing unit 7, its momentum causes the value to be larger than the true weight of the egg, and subsequently, due to the recoil, it shows a value smaller than the true value. After that, it shows a stabilized value as time passes. Usually, the weighing timing arrives when the weighing value has stabilized. Also, when the egg E is discharged from the weighing unit 7, a peak can be seen in the waveform due to its momentum.

[0021] Conventionally, the weighing values other than the weighing timing have not been utilized at all. On the other hand, the weighing unit 7 measures weighing values other than the weighing timing. Also, even in the state of idling operation where no egg E is placed on the weighing unit 7, vibrations of the mechanical device, etc. affect the weighing unit 7 and are manifested in the waveform output from the weighing unit 7.

[0022] In this embodiment, the method of using the information that can be obtained from the weighing unit 7 can be realized by the abnormality detection unit 9. The abnormality detection unit 9 detects abnormalities in the devices around the weighing unit 7 including the weighing unit 7 and the egg delivery unit 2 based on information other than the weighing data obtained from the weighing unit 7. The abnormality detection unit 9 collects information other than the weighing timing of the egg weight from the weighing unit 7 and uses it to monitor the normal operation of at least one of the mechanical parts of the weighing unit 7 and the sorting device 1.

[0023] The abnormality detection unit 9 is composed of a dedicated or general-purpose computer such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an internal memory, an input / output interface, and an AD (Analog Digital) conversion unit. Then, the functions of the abnormality detection unit 9 are exerted by the CPU and other peripheral devices cooperating according to the program stored in the internal memory. In addition, when the abnormality detection unit 9 detects an abnormality, it may be provided with a notification unit (not shown) for notifying a display (not shown). When an abnormality is detected by the processing of the abnormality detection unit 9, the fact and the details of the abnormality may be notified by a display or the like.

[0024] According to this abnormality detection unit 9, for example, if a waveform like the one shown in Figure 4 is obtained from the weighing unit 7, it can be estimated that the chicken egg E was placed on the receiving tray of the weighing unit 7 in a turbulent manner for some reason, based on the weighed values ​​before and after the weighing timing, the presence or absence of a stable state, and the magnitude of the peaks during transfer and discharge. Possible reasons include a problem with the mechanical parts of the weighing unit 7, an electrical system problem, or a problem with the mechanical parts of the sorting device 1. Specifically, problems with the mechanical parts of the weighing unit 7 include wear on the receiving tray of the weighing unit 7 and a timing discrepancy in when the chicken egg E is placed on the weighing unit 7. Specifically, problems with the mechanical parts of the sorting device 1 include problems with the mechanism that feeds the chicken egg E to the weighing unit 7 (for example, the first egg feeding unit 3 or the second egg feeding unit 4) or the discharge mechanism from the weighing unit 7 (for example, the second egg feeding unit 4 or the posture change unit 6), roller wear, shaft distortion, and a timing discrepancy in the transfer.

[0025] For example, if it is detected that either the mechanism of the weighing unit 7 or the mechanism of the egg delivery unit 2 is gradually wearing down due to contact with the eggshells of chicken eggs, the notification unit will display a message indicating that either mechanism is "worn out" or that a replacement part for that mechanism "needs to be replaced". As these mechanism parts gradually wear down, the weighed value becomes unstable at the weighing timing. Therefore, detection is possible, for example, based on information about the weight of chicken eggs collected from the weighing unit 7 during acceleration and deceleration of the egg delivery unit 2.

[0026] As described above, the egg sorting device 1 comprises a weighing unit 7, an egg delivery unit 2, a trigger unit 8, and an abnormality detection unit 9. The weighing unit 7 measures the weight of each egg E placed on it. The egg delivery unit 2 delivers the eggs E before and after the weighing unit 7. The trigger unit 8 indicates the weighing timing for acquiring the egg weight from the weighing unit 7. The abnormality detection unit 9 detects an abnormality in at least one of the mechanical parts of the weighing unit 7 and the mechanical parts of the egg delivery unit 2 based on the egg weight information collected from the weighing unit 7 other than the weighing timing. Therefore, information other than the weight information used to determine the egg weight can also be used for the purpose of preventive maintenance of the egg delivery unit 2 and the weighing unit 7.

[0027] At least one of the mechanical parts of the weighing unit 7 and the mechanical parts of the egg delivery unit 2 is made of resin, and the abnormality detection unit 9 detects that at least one of the mechanical parts of the weighing unit 7 and the mechanical parts of the egg delivery unit 2 is gradually worn down due to contact with the eggshell of the chicken egg E. Furthermore, it is preferable to have a notification unit that notifies the display when the abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality.

[0028] Furthermore, the method of utilizing the information obtained from the weighing unit 7 according to this embodiment involves collecting information other than the timing of weighing the eggs from the weighing unit 7 equipped in the egg sorting device 1 and using it to monitor the normal operation of at least one of the mechanical parts of the weighing unit 7 and the sorting device 1. Therefore, information other than the weight information used to determine the egg weight can also be used for the purpose of preventive maintenance of the egg delivery unit 2 and the weighing unit 7.

[0029] The egg sorting device 1 according to this embodiment includes an information processing system 10 for weighing eggs, which includes a weighing unit 7, an egg delivery unit 2, a trigger unit 8, and an abnormality detection unit 9. The weighing unit 7 measures the weight of eggs E as they are placed one by one. The egg delivery unit 2 positions the eggs E one by one in the weighing unit 7 sequentially from the previous process, acquires weighing data to identify the weight of the egg E, then removes the egg E from the weighing unit 7 and sends it to the next process, while simultaneously positioning another egg E in the weighing unit 7. The trigger unit 8 indicates the timing for acquiring weighing data. The abnormality detection unit 9 detects abnormalities in the weighing unit 7 and surrounding equipment, including the egg delivery unit 2, based on information other than the weighing data obtained from the weighing unit 7.

[0030] However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. The egg sorting device 1 for chicken eggs E is not limited to those described above. For example, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, it may not have a posture changing section. Figure 5 includes a rail-shaped first egg delivery section 3, a second egg delivery section 4 that supports and moves the chicken eggs E, and a rail-shaped third egg delivery section 5. The arrows in the figure indicate the direction of movement of the second egg delivery section 4. A weighing section 7 is positioned between the first egg delivery section 3 and the third egg delivery section 5. Figure 6 shows a carrier (egg delivery section 2) holding chicken eggs E that moves sequentially from the bottom side, with a weighing section 7 positioned to separate the chicken eggs E from the egg delivery section 2 and weigh them during the movement. The arrows in the figure indicate the direction of movement of the egg delivery section 2. Even with such a device, the same or similar effects as the embodiments described above can be obtained.

[0031] The abnormality detection unit 9 may detect abnormalities based only on egg weight information collected from the weighing unit 7 at times other than the weighing timing, or it may detect abnormalities based on both egg weight information at the weighing timing and egg weight information at times other than the weighing timing. In other words, the abnormality detection unit 9 may be configured to detect abnormalities based on egg weight information including the weighing timing.

[0032] Figure 7 is an example of a flowchart showing the abnormality detection process by the abnormality detection unit 9. The process in Figure 7 is executed at regular intervals (for example, every 0.1 seconds). In step S2, the abnormality detection unit 9 determines whether the measurement of one chicken egg has been completed. Here, as an example of the method for making this determination, the abnormality detection unit 9 determines whether the detection period has ended.

[0033] The detection period is a predetermined period. The detection period is the period during which the event described below, in which the difference value is less than the threshold, continues, provided that the above-mentioned abnormality has not been detected. The detection period is also included in the placement period from when one egg is placed on the weighing unit 7 (for example, when peak P1 in Figures 3 and 4 is detected) to when the egg is removed from the weighing unit 7 (for example, when the inverse peak P2 in Figures 3 and 4 is detected). For example, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the detection period is the period from the first timing A to the second timing B when one egg is placed on the weighing unit 7. The first timing A is the timing from when one egg is placed on the weighing unit 7 until the clock count (count value of the clock signal) reaches a predetermined first value. The second timing B is the timing from when one egg is placed on the weighing unit 7 until the clock count reaches a predetermined second value. The second value is greater than the first value.

[0034] As a variation, the first timing A may be defined as the time when one egg is placed on the weighing unit 7 and one hour (corresponding to the first value above) has elapsed. The second timing B may be defined as the time when one egg is placed on the weighing unit 7 and two hours (corresponding to the second value above) have elapsed. The second hour is longer than the first hour.

[0035] Next, in step S4, the abnormality detection unit 9 acquires weighing data from one egg by the weighing unit 7 during the detection period. The weighing data during the detection period corresponds to the "egg weight information" in this disclosure. This weighing data shows the temporal variation (trajectory) of the weighed value during the detection period.

[0036] Next, in step S6, the anomaly detection unit 9 obtains the maximum and minimum values ​​of the measured value during the detection period based on the measured data acquired in step S4. Next, in step S8, the anomaly detection unit 9 calculates the difference between the maximum and minimum values. The difference is calculated, for example, by subtracting the minimum value from the maximum value. Next, in step S10, the anomaly detection unit 9 determines whether the difference value is greater than a predetermined threshold. If the difference value is greater than the threshold (YES in step S10), that is, if the fluctuation of the measured value is as shown in Figure 4, then in step S12, the anomaly detection unit 9 detects an anomaly and terminates the anomaly detection process. On the other hand, if the difference value is less than or equal to the threshold (NO in step S10), that is, if the fluctuation of the measured value is as shown in Figure 3, the anomaly detection unit 9 terminates the anomaly detection process without detecting an anomaly.

[0037] As described above, the abnormality detection unit 9 detects abnormalities based on fluctuations in the measured value (information on the weight of chicken eggs) during the detection period. In the example shown in Figure 7, the abnormality detection unit 9 detects abnormalities based on the difference between the maximum and minimum measured values ​​during the detection period. The abnormality detection unit 9 may also detect abnormalities using other methods based on fluctuations in the measured value during the detection period. For example, if the measured value during the detection period falls within a predetermined normal range, the abnormality detection unit 9 will determine that it is normal without detecting an abnormality. On the other hand, if the measured value during the detection period is outside the normal range, the abnormality detection unit 9 will detect an abnormality.

[0038] The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative and not limiting. The present invention is indicated by the claims, not the scope described above, and all modifications in the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are intended. [Industrial applicability]

[0039] This invention can be used in a chicken egg sorting device equipped with a weighing unit. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0040] 1…Sorting device 2...Egg feeding department 7...Measuring part 8... Trigger part 9... Anomaly detection unit E...Chicken egg

Claims

1. A weighing unit on which chicken eggs are placed one by one and on which their weight is measured, The egg transport unit provides eggs before and after the weighing unit, An egg sorting device comprising an abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormality in at least one of the mechanical parts of the weighing unit and the mechanical parts of the egg delivery unit based on information other than the timing of weighing the egg weight collected from the weighing unit.

2. At least one of the mechanical parts of the weighing unit and the mechanical parts of the egg-feeding unit is made of resin. The egg sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality detection unit detects that at least one of the mechanical parts of the weighing unit and the mechanical parts of the egg delivery unit is gradually worn down due to contact with the eggshells of chicken eggs.

3. The egg sorting device according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a notification unit that notifies a display unit when the abnormality detection unit detects the abnormality.

4. The egg sorting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a trigger unit that indicates the timing for obtaining the weight of the eggs from the weighing unit.

5. A method for utilizing information obtainable from a weighing unit equipped in an egg sorting device, comprising collecting information other than the timing of weighing the eggs from the weighing unit and using it to monitor the normal operation of at least one of the mechanical parts of the weighing unit and the mechanical parts of the sorting device.

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