JP2018184261A - Article sorting device and article suppler including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an article sorting device suitable for sorting articles conveyed by a single conveyance path at a plurality of places on the conveyance path along a conveyance direction, and an article suppler including the same.SOLUTION: Articles are distributed uniformly so as to prevent variance in conveyance between the upstream side and the downstream side in the article conveyance direction when article conveyance requests are received similarly from respective rear-stage conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3), on the basis of the output of conveyance article detection sensors Sa (1), (2) for detecting articles in a conveyance path and the article discharge requests to the rear-stage conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an article distribution apparatus that distributes articles conveyed through a single conveyance path and an article supply apparatus including the same.

  As this type of article distribution apparatus, there are, for example, the article distribution apparatuses described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2.

  In Patent Document 1, the conveyed article is weighed by a weighing conveyor on the upstream side of the conveying path, and when the weight of the article exceeds an allowable range, it is conveyed by one flipper gate of a flipper type sorter. If the weight of the article is lighter than the allowable range, and excluded by the other flipper gate of the sorting machine, it is excluded to the other of the conveyance path and the weight of the article is an appropriate amount within the allowable range. In this case, the sorter is allowed to pass through without operating the flipper gate of the sorter.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, it is determined by an upstream photoelectric device whether the articles being conveyed (frozen solid particles) are in contact with or separated from each other, and the articles are attached according to the determination result. It distributes to the discharge path corresponding to the goods which are in contact, and the discharge port corresponding to the goods which are separated.

JP-A-5-322634 JP-A-7-411162

  In Patent Documents 1 and 2 described above, articles are distributed to distribution destinations according to weighing results and determination results. Therefore, if measurement and determination are not performed, the distribution destination cannot be determined, and the articles Cannot sort.

  By the way, in the distribution of the articles, there are cases where the articles are distributed to a plurality of predetermined distribution destinations, instead of determining the distribution destination by measuring or determining the articles. For example, an article conveyed by a single conveyance path is distributed outside the conveyance path at a plurality of locations along the conveyance direction, and at each distribution destination, the distributed article is weighed, processed, for example, by a processing device at the subsequent stage. Alternatively, various processes such as packaging may be performed.

  In such a case, the above-mentioned Patent Documents 1 and 2 that distribute an article to a distribution destination according to a measurement result, a determination result, or the like cannot cope.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and is an article suitable for distributing articles conveyed through a single conveyance path at a plurality of locations along a conveyance path along the conveyance direction. An object is to provide a sorting apparatus and an article supply apparatus including the sorting apparatus.

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

  (1) An article distribution apparatus according to the present invention is an article distribution apparatus that distributes an article to be transported to a plurality of discharge locations, a transport unit that transports the article through a single transport path, A plurality of sorting means for sorting the articles to the discharge locations outside the transport path at a plurality of locations along the transport direction; an article detection means for detecting the articles on the transport route; and the discharge locations Control means for controlling the distribution of the articles by the distribution means based on the discharge request of the articles to the output and the output of the article detection means.

  The discharge request of the article to the discharge point may be anything that requests the control means to discharge the article. For example, it is detected that there is no article at the discharge part or the amount of the article is small. It may be an output from a sensor or the like, or an operation signal for requesting discharge of an article by an operator's operation.

  According to the article distribution device of the present invention, articles conveyed through a single conveyance path can be distributed to a plurality of discharge locations at a plurality of locations along the transport direction by a plurality of distribution means.

  In this way, when the articles conveyed by a single conveyance path are distributed at a plurality of locations along the conveyance direction, that is, at a plurality of locations on the conveyance path from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveyance direction, For example, when there is a request for discharging an article from a plurality of discharge places at the same time, the sorting means on the upstream side in the transport direction can sort the article. As a result of the distribution of articles on the upstream side of the distribution means, the articles are not conveyed, and it is difficult for the distribution means on the downstream side to distribute the articles.

  As described above, the upstream distribution means increases the amount of articles to be distributed, and the distribution of articles between the upstream side and the downstream side varies.

  According to the present invention, at the time of distribution, the distribution of articles by the plurality of distribution means is controlled based on the discharge request of the articles to the discharge location and the output of the article detection means that detects the articles on the transport path.

  Therefore, the articles can be distributed to the discharge locations where the articles are requested to be discharged.

  In addition, since the article detection unit detects the article on the conveyance path, for example, it is possible to grasp the amount of the article conveyed on the conveyance path based on the detection time of the article by the article detection unit.

  Therefore, for example, the article detection unit grasps the conveyance amount of the article on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the article relative to the distribution unit on the upstream side, and the conveyance amount of the article on the downstream side is at least distributed by the distribution unit on the downstream side. The distribution of articles by the upstream distribution unit can be controlled so that the amount necessary for the distribution is reached. As a result, an amount of articles necessary for distribution is transported to the downstream sorting means in the article transport direction, and the articles are sorted by the downstream sorting means, and the downstream discharge in the article transport direction is performed. Compared to the location, it is possible to improve a state in which more articles are distributed to the upstream discharge location.

  Further, at the same time as the distribution means distributes the article out of the conveyance path, the quantity of the article on the upstream side immediately before the distribution means is grasped by the article detection means, and the amount is distributed to the discharge point by the distribution means. The amount of discharged goods. Thereby, the distribution of the articles by the distribution means can be controlled so that the discharge amount of the articles discharged out of the conveyance path grasped by the article detection means becomes a required amount.

  (2) In one embodiment of the present invention, the article detection means is a first article detection means, and a plurality of second article detections that respectively detect articles distributed outside the transport path by the plurality of distribution means. And the control means is configured to control the distribution of the articles by the distribution means based on the discharge request of the articles to the discharge location, the output of the first article detection means, and the output of the second article detection means. Control distribution.

According to this embodiment, since the first article detection means detects an article on the conveyance path, for example, based on the output of the first article detection means, grasps the amount of articles conveyed on the conveyance path, and conveys the article. It is possible to control the sorting by the upstream sorting unit so that at least an amount of articles necessary for sorting is conveyed to the sorting unit downstream in the direction. As a result, it is possible to improve a state in which a large number of articles are distributed to the upstream discharge location compared to the downstream discharge location.

  The plurality of second article detection means respectively detect the articles distributed out of the conveyance path by the plurality of distribution means, and therefore, based on the output of the plurality of second article detection means, the plurality of distribution means distributes the articles. By controlling, for example, it is possible to perform control so that the amount of distributed articles detected by the second article detection means becomes a required amount.

  (3) In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first article detection means detects the article conveyed on the conveyance path and outputs a detection output to the control means. The second article The detection means detects the article discharged from the transport path to the discharge point and outputs a detection output to the control means. The control means is configured to detect the article by the first article detection means. Based on the detection time and the detection time of the article by the second article detection means, the distribution of the article by the distribution means is controlled.

  The detection time of an article by the first article detection means is a time during which an article conveyed on the conveyance path is detected, and is a time according to the amount of articles conveyed. The detection time of the article by the second article detection means is the time during which the article discharged from the transport path to the discharge point is detected, and is the time corresponding to the amount of discharged articles.

  According to this embodiment, the control means controls the distribution of the articles by the distribution means based on the detection time of the articles by the first article detection means and the detection time of the articles by the second article detection means. Based on the detection time of the article by the first article detection unit, for example, the upstream side distribution so that the conveyance amount of the article on the downstream side of the conveyance path is at least the amount necessary for the distribution by the distribution unit on the downstream side. The distribution of the articles by the means can be controlled, and based on the detection time of the articles by the second article detection means, the discharge amount of the articles discharged from the transport path to the discharge point by each distribution means is a required amount. The distribution of articles by each distribution means can be controlled so that

  (4) In another embodiment of the present invention, the distribution means includes N (N is a positive integer equal to or greater than 2), the first article detection means includes at least (N-1), At least (N-1) first article detection means respectively correspond to at least (N-1) distribution means and pass through at least (N-1) detection areas in the transport path. The control means controls the distribution of the articles by the distribution means corresponding to the first article detection means based on the detection time of the articles by the first article detection means. Then, the conveyance amount of the article conveyed to the downstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the corresponding distribution unit is controlled.

  If it is not necessary to control the amount of articles conveyed to the downstream side in the most downstream sorting means in the article transport direction, it is necessary to provide the first article detection means corresponding to the sorting means. Absent.

  According to this embodiment, since the distribution of articles by at least (N−1) corresponding distribution means is controlled based on the detection time of the articles by at least (N−1) first article detection means, The amount of articles passing through at least (N-1) detection areas can be controlled by at least (N-1) corresponding distribution means. This makes it possible to control the distribution of articles by the upstream distribution means so that the amount of articles passing through the downstream detection area is at least the amount necessary for distribution, and the upstream discharge location. As compared with the above, it is possible to prevent a reduction in the number of articles distributed to the discharge location on the downstream side.

  (5) In still another embodiment of the present invention, the (N-1) number of detection areas of the (N-1) first article detection means are assigned to the most downstream side in the transport direction. The areas on the downstream side in the transport direction are adjacent to the (N-1) sorting means, excluding the means.

  According to this embodiment, each detection area of the (N−1) first article detection means is a downstream area adjacent to each of the (N−1) distribution means. The distribution of articles by each distribution means upstream of each detection area can be controlled so that the amount of articles passing through each detection area is at least the amount necessary for distribution.

  In addition, since the detection area of the first article detection means is a downstream area adjacent to the corresponding distribution means, the detection area of the first article detection means is an upstream area adjacent to the corresponding distribution means. Compared to the case, articles can be efficiently distributed.

  That is, when the detection area of the first article detection means is an upstream area adjacent to the corresponding distribution means, even if it is detected that the amount of articles necessary for distribution has passed through the detection area. Until the required amount of articles passes through the corresponding distribution means on the downstream side adjacent to the detection area, the corresponding distribution means cannot distribute the articles outside the conveyance path, I have to wait.

  On the other hand, as in this embodiment, by setting the detection area of the first article detection means as a downstream area adjacent to the corresponding distribution means, the detection area is an amount of articles necessary for distribution. Is detected, the corresponding distribution means on the upstream side adjacent to the detection area has already passed the necessary amount of articles. It can be sorted out of the transport path.

  (6) In another embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of distribution means are configured to obliquely intersect the permissible state in which the article is allowed to pass by being retracted from the conveyance path and the article is conveyed. Each of the distribution members is capable of switching to a discharge state in which the article advances into the conveyance path and guides and discharges the article to the outside of the conveyance path. Switching between the permissible state and the discharge state is controlled.

  According to this embodiment, the control means is configured so that the distribution members of the plurality of distribution means are allowed to retreat from the conveyance path and allow the article to move, and on the conveyance path obliquely intersect the conveyance direction. By switching to the discharge state in which the article moves forward and guides and discharges the article out of the conveyance path, the article conveyed on the single conveyance path is distributed to a plurality of discharge places at a plurality of places along the conveyance direction. be able to.

  (7) In still another embodiment of the present invention, the discharge location is at a lower position than the transport path, and the second article detection means is located outside the transport path by the sorting member in the discharge state. The article that has been guided and discharged to the discharge location is detected.

  Depending on the transport status, articles transported on a single transport path may be transported as a stack of multiple articles or lined up in the width direction of the transport path. Then, the correspondence between the detection time for detecting the article and the amount of the article to be conveyed may be deteriorated.

  According to this embodiment, the article to be conveyed is gradually guided to the outside of the conveying path along the sorting member that has advanced so as to obliquely intersect the conveying direction, and is dropped and discharged to the lower discharge location. Compared to the state in which the route is being conveyed, the article is discharged in a loose state. Since the separated article is detected by the second article detection unit, the amount of the article can be grasped more accurately than in the state where the article is being conveyed on the conveyance path.

  (8) In still another embodiment of the present invention, the control means issues a discharge request for the article from the discharge point, and discharges the article from a discharge point upstream of the discharge point in the transport direction. Priority over request.

  According to this embodiment, since the discharge request from the discharge point has priority over the discharge request from the discharge point upstream from the discharge point, the upstream discharge point is not included in the discharge point downstream in the transport direction. It is possible to prevent a state in which the number of articles to be distributed is less than that of the location.

  (9) In another embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of discharge places are supplied with the articles distributed by the plurality of distributing means, and a plurality of subsequent stages of conveying the supplied articles, respectively. A third article detection means for detecting the article in the plurality of subsequent transport means, and the discharge request for the article does not detect the article in the subsequent transport means This is a non-detection output of the detection means.

  According to this embodiment, the articles distributed by the plurality of distributing means and discharged to the plurality of subsequent conveying means are conveyed to the subsequent stage by the subsequent conveying means. When the articles in the plurality of succeeding transport means are transported to the succeeding stage and the articles are not detected by the third article detecting means, that is, when the output of the third article detecting means is a non-detection output, a new one is sent to the succeeding transport means. Since it is necessary to distribute the articles, the non-detection output is given to the control means as a discharge request for the articles. Thus, the control unit controls the sorting unit corresponding to the subsequent transport unit that has requested discharge of the article, and sorts the article to the subsequent transport unit.

  (10) In the article supply device of the present invention, the article distribution device according to any one of (1) to (8) above, and the articles distributed by the plurality of distribution means as the plurality of discharge locations. And a distribution conveyance means for conveying the supplied articles and distributing them to a plurality of distribution destinations.

  According to the article supply device of the present invention, when an article is supplied on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of a single conveyance path, the article conveyed by the conveyance means is separated from the conveyance path by a plurality of distribution means at a plurality of locations in the conveyance path. The discharged articles are discharged to a plurality of distribution transport means as a plurality of discharge locations, and the discharged articles are further distributed to a plurality of distribution destinations by the respective distribution transport means. Therefore, for example, when the distributing means is arranged at three places on the transport path and is further distributed to three places by the distribution transport means, the article supplied to one place on the upstream side of the single transport path It becomes possible to distribute and supply to nine places.

  Thus, by supplying an article that has been manually supplied to a semi-automatic combination weigher to one place upstream of a single transport path, a plurality of article input ports of the semi-automatic combination weigher are provided. Since articles can be distributed and supplied, it is not necessary for the operator to grab the articles one by one and put them into the article input port of the semi-automatic combination weigher, which greatly reduces the labor of the operator. Is done.

  According to the article distribution device of the present invention, articles conveyed through a single conveyance path can be distributed to a plurality of discharge locations at a plurality of locations along the transport direction by a plurality of distribution means. In this case, the distribution of the articles by the plurality of distribution means is controlled based on the discharge request of the articles to the discharge location and the output of the article detection means for detecting the articles on the transport path.

  Therefore, the articles can be distributed to the discharge locations where the articles are requested to be discharged.

  In addition, since the article detection unit detects the article on the conveyance path, for example, it is possible to grasp the amount of the article conveyed on the conveyance path based on the detection time of the article by the article detection unit.

  Therefore, for example, the article detection unit grasps the conveyance amount of the article on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the article relative to the distribution unit on the upstream side, and the conveyance amount of the article on the downstream side is at least distributed by the distribution unit on the downstream side. The distribution of articles by the upstream distribution unit can be controlled so that the amount necessary for the distribution is reached. As a result, the amount of articles necessary for distribution is transported to the downstream sorting means in the article transport direction, and is sorted by the downstream sorting means, and is discharged to the discharge location on the downstream side in the article transport direction. In comparison, it is possible to improve a state in which a large number of articles are distributed to an upstream discharge location.

  Further, at the same time as the distribution means distributes the article out of the conveyance path, the quantity of the article on the upstream side immediately before the distribution means is grasped by the article detection means, and the amount is distributed to the discharge point by the distribution means. The amount of discharged goods. Thereby, the distribution of the articles by the distribution means can be controlled so that the discharge amount of the articles discharged out of the conveyance path grasped by the article detection means becomes a required amount.

  According to the article supply device of the present invention, when an article is supplied on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of a single conveyance path, the article conveyed by the conveyance means is conveyed by a plurality of distribution means at a plurality of locations on the conveyance path. The discharged articles are discharged to a plurality of distribution / conveyance means, and the discharged articles are further distributed to a plurality of distribution destinations by the distribution / conveyance means. Accordingly, by supplying an article that has conventionally been supplied manually to a semi-automatic combination weigher at one location on the upstream side of a single conveyance path, the articles are supplied to a plurality of article input ports of the semi-automatic combination weigher. Therefore, it is not necessary for the operator to grab the articles one by one and put them into the article input port of the semi-automatic combination weigher as in the past, and the labor of the operator is greatly reduced. The

FIG. 1 is a schematic schematic plan view of an article distribution apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the article distribution apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the first half process in the distribution control. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the latter half of the process in the distribution control. FIG. 5 is an overall perspective view of an embodiment of a weighing system including an article supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a plan view of the weighing system of FIG. FIG. 7 is a side view of the metering system of FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a set of article distribution locations. FIG. 9 is a schematic front view showing a set of article distribution locations. FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of the combination weigher. FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view showing an arrangement state of an article detection sensor for detecting an article. FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the weighing system of FIG. FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of overall control of the article supply apparatus. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of control of the vibration feeder. FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of control of the distribution transport mechanism. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of the first half process in the distribution control of the article discharge mechanism. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of the latter half of the distribution control of the article discharge mechanism. FIG. 18 is a schematic plan view corresponding to FIG. 1 of another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 19 is a schematic plan view corresponding to FIG. 1 of still another embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a schematic configuration of an article distribution apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The article sorting apparatus 1 of this embodiment includes a transport conveyor 2 as a transport means for transporting an article w through a single transport path, and a plurality of locations along the transport direction indicated by an arrow A in the transport path, in this example. The article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) to 4 (3) serving as three sorting units that sort the articles w to the discharge places outside the conveyance path at three places, and the sorted articles w are received and conveyed to the subsequent stages, respectively. Subsequent conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3) are provided as three subsequent-stage conveying means.

  The conveyor 2 that conveys the article w through a single conveyance path is a belt conveyor that is driven to rotate a conveyor belt 5 wound horizontally at a constant speed set from right to left in FIG. On the right start end side of the transport belt 5, the article w is supplied.

  The article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) to 4 (3) that distribute and discharge the articles w to be conveyed to the subsequent conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3) that are discharge places are arranged on both sides of the conveyor 2. It is installed on one side. Each of the article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) to 4 (3) includes a long plate-like distribution member 6 (1) to 6 (3) that can be driven to rotate within a predetermined angle range around a vertical longitudinal fulcrum. ing.

  As shown by the phantom lines in the drawing, each of the sorting members 6 (1) to 6 (3) moves away from the one side of the transport conveyor 2 and is in a retracted position along the transport direction. The passage of the article w conveyed by is permitted. When each of the distribution members 6 (1) to 6 (3) is driven and rotated onto the transport conveyor 2 around the vertical fulcrum as shown by the solid line in the figure, the long plate-shaped distribution member 6 (1) -6 (3) is in a discharge state in a posture that crosses obliquely with respect to the transport direction of the transport conveyor 2 in plan view. In this discharged state, the articles w conveyed by the conveyor 2 are gradually conveyed along the plate surfaces of the sorting members 6 (1) to 6 (3) intersecting so as to cross the conveyor 2 diagonally. It is guided out of the other side of the conveyor 2 and discharged from the conveyor 2.

  In this embodiment, the rear conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3) are installed at a lower position than the transport conveyor 2. For this reason, on the discharge side of the articles w of the transport conveyor 2 by the article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) to 4 (3), the discharge chute 39 (inclined downwardly inclined) that guides the articles w to be discharged downward. 1) to 39 (3) are fixedly deployed. The article w discharged from the conveyor 2 is the start end of the downstream conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3) in the conveying direction along the inclined surfaces of the discharge chutes 39 (1) to 39 (3). Slide down.

  Depending on the supply status of the articles w to the conveyor 2, the articles w to be conveyed are conveyed in a state in which a plurality of articles w are overlapped or aligned in the width direction (vertical direction in FIG. 1) of the conveyor 2. Or the transport state varies. Since the sorting members 6 (1) to 6 (3) advance onto the transport conveyor 2 so as to cross obliquely with respect to the transport direction, the article w transported by the transport conveyor 2 is tilted with respect to the transport direction. Along the plate surfaces of the sorting members 6 (1) to 6 (3) intersecting with, they are gradually guided out of the conveyor 2 and discharged to the discharge chutes 39 (1) to 39 (3). . For this reason, the article w that slides down along the inclined surfaces of the discharge chutes 39 (1) to 39 (3) is in a disperse state as compared with the state in which it is transported by the transport conveyor 2.

  The articles w distributed by the article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) to 4 (3) and discharged from the transport conveyor 2 pass through the discharge chutes 39 (1) to 39 (3) and the subsequent conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3). To (3). The latter conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3) are latter-stage conveying means for receiving discharged articles and conveying them to the latter stage. For example, the latter-stage processes for performing various processes such as weighing, processing, and packaging. Transport to equipment. The amount of articles w distributed by the article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) to 4 (3) and discharged to the subsequent conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3) depends on the processing speed of the subsequent processing apparatus. It is determined.

  In this embodiment, the articles w conveyed by the conveyor 2 are appropriately distributed to the latter conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3), for example, the latter conveyor 3 (3) on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the articles w. Compared to the upstream side downstream conveyor 3 (1), the upstream side and the downstream side such that many articles w are distributed so that the distribution of the articles w does not vary. For this reason, a plurality of article detection sensors for detecting the article w are provided, and the distribution of articles by the article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) to 4 (3) is controlled based on the outputs of the plurality of article detection sensors.

  The article detection sensor of this embodiment is, for example, a transmissive photoelectric sensor composed of a projector and a light receiver. The article detection sensor detects a product passing through a detection region between the light projector and the light receiver arranged to face each other, and outputs a detection output. give.

  Conveyance article detection as a first article detection means so as to be adjacent to the two article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) and 4 (2) on the upstream side in the conveyance direction on the conveyance path of the article w by the conveyance conveyor 2 Two sensors Sa (1) and Sa (2) are installed.

  Each conveyed article detection sensor Sa (1), Sa (2) is an article that passes through a detection region between a projector and a light receiver disposed opposite to each other on the downstream side of the article discharge mechanisms 4 (1), 4 (2). Is detected and a detection output is given. Therefore, the detection time when each of the conveyed article detection sensors Sa (1) and Sa (2) gives a detection output is the time when the article w passes through the detection area. Since the transport conveyor 2 is rotationally driven at a constant speed as described above, the transport speed of the article w is constant, and each transport article detection sensor Sa (1), Sa (2) detects the article w. The detected time corresponds to the amount of the article w that passes through each detection area.

  In this embodiment, based on the detection output of each conveyance article detection sensor Sa (1), Sa (2), the distribution of the upstream article discharge mechanisms 4 (1), 4 (2) is controlled. Yes.

  For example, while an amount of articles w necessary to distribute the detection area of the conveyed article detection sensor Sa (1) by the article discharge mechanism 4 (2) or the article discharge mechanism 4 (3) passes, The distribution member 6 (1) of the discharge mechanism 4 (1) is held in an allowable state that allows the passage of the article w, so that it is necessary for distribution downstream of the detection region of the transported article detection sensor Sa (1). A quantity of articles w can be conveyed.

  In addition, when an amount of articles w necessary for distribution is transported downstream of the detection area of the transported article detection sensor Sa (1), the detection area of the transported article detection sensor Sa (2) downstream of the transport area detection sensor Sa (1) While the quantity of articles w necessary for sorting in 4 (3) passes, the sorting member 6 (2) of the upstream article discharge mechanism 4 (2) is maintained in an allowable state that allows the article w to pass. By doing so, it is possible to transport the amount of articles w necessary for distribution downstream of the detection area of the transported article detection sensor Sa (2).

  This makes it possible to transport an amount of articles necessary for distribution to the most downstream article discharge mechanism 4 (3).

  In this embodiment, the most downstream article discharge mechanism 4 (3) does not need to convey the article w to the downstream side, so that the three article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) to 4 (3) are not used. Thus, two transported article detection sensors Sa (1) and Sa (2) are installed so as to correspond to the two upstream article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) to 4 (2), respectively.

  The discharge chutes 39 (1) to 39 (3) that collect and guide the articles w distributed outside the transport conveyor 2 by the article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) to 4 (3) to the subsequent conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3). ), The discharged article detection sensors Sb (1) to Sb (3) as second article detecting means for detecting articles w passing through the discharge chutes 39 (1) to 39 (3), respectively. is set up. In addition, through holes are formed in the bases of the respective discharge chutes 39 (1) to 39 (3) so as not to block the optical path serving as the detection areas of the respective discharged article detection sensors Sb (1) to Sb (3). Yes.

  The articles w discharged to the outside of the conveyor 2 are guided together by the discharge chutes 39 (1) to 39 (3) and slide down to the rear conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3) at a substantially constant speed. The detection time during which the article detection sensors Sb (1) to Sb (3) are detecting the article w sliding down is the value of the article discharged from the conveyor 2 to the subsequent conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3). It corresponds to the amount.

  Therefore, for example, the sorting member 6 (1) of the article discharge mechanism 4 (1) is advanced on the transport conveyor 2 so as to cross obliquely with respect to the transport direction, and the articles w are sorted out of the transport conveyor 2. Then, the passage of the articles w discharged out of the transport conveyor 2 is detected by the discharged article detection sensor Sb (1). By returning the sorting member 6 (1) to a permissible state that allows the passage of the article w so that the required amount of the article passes, the required amount of the article is transferred to the rear conveyor 3 (1). The article can be discharged. This required amount is determined by the processing speed of the subsequent processing device of the rear conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3) as described above, and the discharged article detection sensors Sb (1) to Sb (3). ) Is set in advance as a second predetermined time, which will be described later, serving as a threshold for the detection time of the article w.

  Along the plate surfaces of the sorting members 6 (1) to 6 (3) obliquely intersecting the transport direction, the guide members are gradually guided to the outside of the transport conveyor 2 and the discharge chutes 39 (1) to 39 (3). Since the article w sliding down along the inclined surface is in a disperse state as compared with the state of being conveyed by the conveyor 2, it is based on the detection time of the discharged article detection sensors Sb (1) to Sb (3). The amount of discharge of the obtained article w is accurate.

  At the start end of the rear conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3) on the upstream side in the transport direction, the rear article detection sensor Sc (1) as third article detection means for detecting the articles w at the start end. To Sc (3) are arranged.

  The rear conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3) are distributed to the transport conveyor 2 by the article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) to 4 (3), and are supplied to the start ends of the rear conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3). The finished article w is conveyed to the subsequent stage. Therefore, when the article w at the start end of the rear conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3) is transported to the rear stage and the article w disappears at the start end, a new article w is supplied to the start end. It is necessary to request the article discharge mechanism 4 (1) to 4 (3) to discharge the article w.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, there is no article at the start end of the rear conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3), and the outputs of the rear article detection sensors Sc (1) to Sc (3) do not detect the article w. When the output is a non-detection output, the non-detection output is a discharge request for an article that requires discharge of the article w to the subsequent conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3).

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the article distribution apparatus 1 of FIG.

  The article distribution device 1 of this embodiment includes a control device 7 that controls the whole and an operation setting display 8. In this operation setting display 8, for example, various speeds such as a transport speed of the transport conveyor 2 and the rear conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3) and a predetermined time described later serving as a threshold of a detection time by the article detection sensors Sa and Sb, etc. Setting operation and various displays are performed.

  The control device 7 includes the transported article detection sensors Sa (1) and Sa (2), the discharged article detection sensors Sb (1) to Sb (3), and the subsequent article detection sensors Sc (1) to Sc (3). ) Is input.

  The control device 7 controls the transfer conveyor 2 via the transfer conveyor drive control circuit 9, and distributes the distribution members 6 (1) to 6 (3) of the article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) to 4 (3). Control is performed via the member drive circuit 10. Moreover, the control apparatus 7 controls each back | latter stage conveyor 3 (1) -3 (3) via the back | latter stage conveyor drive control circuit 11 (1) -11 (3).

  Basically, the control device 7 applies to the rear conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3), that is, the rear article detection sensors Sc (1) to Sc (3) that give non-detection outputs. Control is performed so that articles are distributed to the corresponding rear conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3) by the corresponding article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) to 4 (3).

  Assume that a plurality of subsequent conveyors, for example, the upstream upstream conveyor 3 (1) in the conveyance direction of the article w and the downstream downstream conveyor 3 (3) are simultaneously requested to discharge articles. In this case, the corresponding article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) and 4 (3) corresponding to the rear conveyors 3 (1) and 3 (3) advance the sorting members 6 (1) and 6 (3) onto the conveyor 2 respectively. When the article w is discharged, the upstream article delivery mechanism 4 (1) distributes the article w to the upstream rear conveyor 3 (1). As a result, the downstream article delivery mechanism 4 (3). Therefore, the required amount of articles w is not conveyed, and the required quantity of articles cannot be distributed to the downstream rear conveyor 3 (3).

  That is, even if there is a request for discharging the article in the same way on the upstream side and the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the article w, the article w cannot be uniformly distributed, and the distribution varies, and the upstream side The article w is preferentially distributed to a certain rear conveyor 3.

  Therefore, the processes after the rear conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3) are not performed equally between the upstream side and the downstream side, and for example, the operation rate of the subsequent stage processing apparatus performing the processing varies and is inefficient. It becomes.

  For this reason, when there is a request for discharging an article in the same way on the upstream side and the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the article w, the article w can be equally distributed between the upstream side and the downstream side. There is a need.

  In this embodiment, when there is a discharge request for the article w from the downstream conveyor 3 on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the article w, the upstream conveyor 3 corresponds to the upstream conveyor 3 on the upstream side of the downstream conveyor 3 that has issued the discharge request. The upstream-side article discharge mechanism 4 holds the sorting member 6 in a permissive state that allows passage of the articles w so that at least an amount of articles w necessary for sorting is conveyed to the downstream side. As described above, whether or not the amount of articles w required for distribution has passed through the upstream article discharge mechanism 4 is determined by the downstream conveyance article detection sensor Sa adjacent to the upstream article discharge mechanism 4. This can be determined based on the detection time during which the article w is detected.

  The upstream-side article discharge mechanism 4 holding the sorting member 6 in the allowable state is when there is no discharge request of articles from the rear conveyor 3 corresponding to the downstream-side article discharge mechanism 4, that is, more than that. When there is no need to transport the article w to the downstream side, the sorting member 6 of the upstream article ejection mechanism 4 can be put into the ejection state. That is, there is no need to transport the articles w downstream, and when there is a request for discharging the articles w from the rear conveyor 3 corresponding to the upstream article discharge mechanism 4, the sorting member 6 is placed on the conveyor 2 A discharge state in which the article w is discharged by advancing so as to cross obliquely with respect to the conveyance direction is set. Thereby, the article w can be distributed to the rear conveyor 3 corresponding to the upstream article discharge mechanism 4.

  It should be noted that the upstream article discharge mechanism 4 that holds the sorting member 6 in the allowable state is discharged even if there is a discharge request for the articles w from the rear stage conveyor 3 corresponding to the downstream article discharge mechanism 4. When it is detected by the transported article detection sensor Sb that the amount of articles w necessary for sorting corresponding to the request has already been transported to the downstream side, the sorting member 6 of the upstream article discharge mechanism 4 is moved to the article. You may be in the discharge state which discharges w. That is, even if there is a request for discharging the article w from the downstream conveyor 3 on the downstream side, when the quantity of articles w necessary for distribution corresponding to the discharge request has already been transported to the downstream side, the upstream article When there is a discharge request for the article w from the rear conveyor 3 corresponding to the discharge mechanism 4, the sorting member 6 is advanced onto the conveyor 2 so as to cross the conveyance direction obliquely, and the article w is discharged. You may be in the discharged state.

  For example, the article discharge mechanism 4 (1) on the most upstream side supplies articles from the rear conveyors 3 (2) and 3 (3) corresponding to the article discharge mechanisms 4 (2) and 4 (3) on the downstream side. When there is a discharge request, the sorting member 6 (1) is set in an allowable state in which the article w is allowed to pass, and the article w is transported downstream. As a result, the downstream article discharge mechanisms 4 (2) and 4 (3) distribute the conveyed articles w to the rear conveyors 3 (2) and 3 (3) that are requested to discharge the articles.

  The most upstream article discharge mechanism 4 (1) requests the discharge of articles from the rear conveyors 3 (2) and 3 (3) corresponding to the article discharge mechanisms 4 (2) and 4 (3) on the downstream side. When there is a request for discharging articles from the rear conveyor 3 (1) corresponding to the most upstream article discharge mechanism 4 (1), the sorting member 6 (1) is advanced onto the transport conveyor 2. The discharged product w is discharged to the subsequent conveyor 3 (1).

  When it is determined that the discharge amount of the article w to the rear conveyor 3 (1) has reached the required amount based on the detection output of the discharged article detection sensor Sb (1), the required amount of the article w is distributed. As described above, the sorting member 6 (1) is retracted from the transport conveyor 2 and returned to an allowable state in which the passage of the article w is allowed.

  As described above, the most upstream article discharge mechanism 4 (1) is connected to the downstream conveyors 3 (2), 3 (3) corresponding to the article discharge mechanisms 4 (2), 4 (3) on the downstream side. ), The amount of articles w necessary for the distribution corresponding to the discharge request is determined based on the detection output of the adjacent transport article detection sensor Sa (1). When it is determined that the sheet has passed through the detection region of (1) and conveyed downstream, there is a request for discharging the article w from the rear conveyor 3 (1) corresponding to the most upstream article discharge mechanism 4 (1). Then, the sorting member 6 (1) may be advanced onto the transport conveyor 2 so as to discharge the article w.

  Next, the article discharge mechanism 4 (2) at the midstream position in the conveyance direction of the article w requests the discharge of the article from the rear conveyor 3 (3) corresponding to the article discharge mechanism 4 (3) on the downstream side. When there is, the sorting member 6 (2) is set in an allowable state in which the article w is allowed to pass, and the article w is conveyed downstream. As a result, the downstream article discharge mechanism 4 (3) distributes the articles w to the rear conveyor 3 (3) that is requested to discharge the articles.

  The article discharge mechanism 4 (2) at the midstream position does not have an article discharge request from the rear conveyor 3 (3) corresponding to the article discharge mechanism 4 (3) on the downstream side of the article discharge mechanism 4 (2). ), The sorting member 6 (2) is advanced onto the transport conveyor 2 to be in a discharge state, and the transported article w is changed to the subsequent stage. Discharge to conveyor 3 (2).

  If it is determined that the discharge amount of the article w to the rear conveyor 3 (2) has reached the required amount based on the detection output of the discharged article detection sensor Sb (2), the required amount of articles has been distributed. Then, the sorting member 6 (2) is retracted from the conveying conveyor 2 and returned to the permissible state in which the article w is allowed to pass.

  As with the most upstream article discharge mechanism 4 (1), the article discharge mechanism 4 (2) at the midstream position corresponds to the downstream conveyor 3 (3) corresponding to the article discharge mechanism 4 (3) on the downstream side. 3) Even if there is an article discharge request from 3), the quantity of articles w necessary for sorting corresponding to the discharge request is detected based on the detection output of the adjacent transfer article detection sensor Sa (2). When it is determined that the article has passed through the detection area of Sa (2) and conveyed downstream, if there is a request for discharging the article from the rear conveyor 3 (2) corresponding to the article discharge mechanism 4 (2), the sorting member 6 (2) may be advanced onto the conveyor 2 to be in a discharge state in which the article w is discharged.

  Next, since the article discharge mechanism 4 (3) on the most downstream side has no article discharge mechanism on the downstream side, there is a request for discharge of articles from the corresponding rear conveyor 3 (3). The sorting member 6 (3) is advanced onto the transport conveyor 2 to a discharge state, and the transported article w is discharged to the rear conveyor 3 (3).

  If it is determined that the discharge amount of the articles w to the rear conveyor 3 (3) has reached the required amount based on the detection output of the discharged article detection sensor Sb (3), the required amount of articles has been distributed. Then, the sorting member 6 (3) is retracted from the conveying conveyor 2 to return to the permissible state in which the article w is allowed to pass.

  As described above, when there is a request for discharging articles from the downstream downstream conveyor 3, the upstream article discharge mechanism 4 performs distribution control so that at least an amount of articles necessary for distribution is conveyed to the downstream side. Therefore, it is possible to prevent variation in the distribution of articles between the upstream side and the downstream side.

  Next, an example of article distribution control by the control device 7 of this embodiment will be described based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4.

  In the basic control, there is an article discharge request from any one of the subsequent conveyors 3 (1) to (3), and the article discharge mechanism corresponding to the subsequent conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3) having the discharge request. When the article is being conveyed to 4 (1) to 4 (3), the conveyance flag indicating that the article is being conveyed to the article discharge mechanism 4 (1) to (3) is turned ON. At the same time when the conveying flag is turned on, the sorting members 6 (1) to 6 (3) of the article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) to 4 (3) that are turned on are placed on the conveying conveyor 2 in the conveying direction. On the other hand, the product is advanced so as to cross diagonally and the product w is discharged, and the distribution members 6 (1) and 6 (2) of the product discharge mechanisms (1) and (2) on the upstream side of the discharge state are arranged. Is allowed to pass through the article w by being retracted from the conveyor 2. That is, the article to be conveyed is conveyed to the article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) to 4 (3) whose conveyance flag is ON, and the articles are distributed by the sorting members 6 (1) to 6 (3) in the discharged state. It is set as the state which can be distributed to the back | latter stage conveyor 3 (1) -3 (3) with the discharge request | requirement of this.

  When there is no request for discharging articles from any of the rear conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3) and all the article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) to 4 (3) are not in the on-transport flag, downstream downstream conveyors Accepting a discharge request for an article with priority from 3 (3) to 3 (1). When an article discharge request is received, the in-conveyance flag of the article discharge mechanism 4 (3) -4 (1) corresponding to the received subsequent conveyor 3 (3) -3 (1) is turned ON, as described above. The distribution members 6 (1) to 6 (3) of the article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) to 4 (3) are advanced onto the transport conveyor 2 so that the articles w are guided and discharged out of the transport conveyor 2. That is, it is turned ON. At the same time, the distribution members 6 (1) and 6 (2) of the article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) and 4 (2) upstream of the article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) to 4 (3) whose conveyance flag is turned ON It is retracted from the transport conveyor 2 and returned to an allowable state that allows the passage of the article w, that is, turned off.

  Conveyed article detection on the upstream side of the article discharge mechanisms 4 (3), 4 (2) in the state where the conveyance flag of the article discharge mechanisms 4 (3), 4 (2) at the most downstream side or midstream position is ON. When the article w is detected by the sensors Sa (2) and Sa (1), the article w is distributed by the article discharge mechanisms 4 (3) and 4 (2) and the corresponding rear conveyor 3 (3), 3 (2), so that the discharge period of the article w is discharged to the subsequent conveyors 3 (3), 3 (2) of the article discharge mechanisms 4 (3), 4 (2). Turn on the middle flag.

  This discharging flag indicates that the required amount of articles w distributed by the article discharge mechanisms 4 (3) and 4 (2) has been discharged to the rear conveyors 3 (3) and 3 (2). When detected by Sb (3), Sb (2), it is turned off as the discharge is completed.

  In the state in which the discharging flag of the downstream conveyors 3 (3), 3 (2) of the article discharge mechanisms 4 (3), 4 (2) at the most downstream side or midstream position is ON, the conveyed article detection sensor Sa (2 ), When the detection time of the article conveyed by Sa (1) reaches the first predetermined time, the required amount of articles w has passed the detection area of the conveyance article detection sensors Sa (2), Sa (1), The required amount of articles w to be distributed to the subsequent conveyors 3 (3) and 3 (2) by the article discharge mechanisms 4 (3) and 4 (2) is conveyed to the article discharge mechanisms 4 (3) and 4 (2). As a result, the conveying flag of the article discharge mechanisms 4 (3) and 4 (2) is turned OFF.

  When the conveying flag is turned OFF, it becomes possible to newly accept an article discharge request.

  In this way, even if the discharge of the required amount of articles w to the downstream conveyors 3 (3) and 3 (2) by the article discharge mechanisms 4 (3) and 4 (2) at the most downstream side or midstream position is not completed. When the transported article detection sensors Sa (2) and Sa (1) detect that the required amount of articles w has been transported to the article discharge mechanisms 4 (3) and 4 (2), the article discharge mechanism 4 ( Since the conveyance flag of 3) and 4 (2) is turned OFF and a new article discharge request is accepted, the distribution of the articles w can be performed at high speed.

  The completion of the discharge of the required amount of articles w to the rear conveyors 3 (3), 3 (2) by the article discharge mechanisms 4 (3), 4 (2) is indicated by the discharged article detection sensors Sb (3), Sb ( When detected in 2), the conveying flag may be turned off.

  Since the distribution control program of this embodiment is turned on every predetermined time, for example, if it is turned on every 10 ms, the detection outputs of the transported article detection sensors Sa (2) and Sa (1) continue 10 times. In this case, the article w blocks the optical path that is the detection area of the conveyed article detection sensors Sa (2) and Sa (1) over a period of 10 ms × 10 = 100 ms, so that the approximate conveyance amount of the article is reduced. I can grasp. Therefore, when the detection time during which the articles are detected by the conveyed article detection sensors Sa (2) and Sa (1) reaches the first predetermined time, the required amount of articles corresponding to the first predetermined time is conveyed downstream. It will be done.

  As described above, when the detection time of the articles by the conveyed article detection sensors Sa (2) and Sa (1) reaches the first predetermined time, the required amount of articles w to the article discharge mechanisms 4 (3) and 4 (2). Is completed, a conveyance completion flag, which will be described later, indicating that the conveyance of the required amount of articles w has been completed is turned ON. At the same time, a timer after completion of conveyance which measures a set time from the completion point of conveyance is set and measurement is started. During the set time, after the required amount of articles w is conveyed to the article discharge mechanisms 4 (3) and 4 (2), the required quantity of articles w is supplied to the article discharge mechanisms 4 (3) and 4 (2). Is the time required to be discharged to the subsequent conveyors 3 (3) and 3 (2) and completed.

  When the discharge of the articles w to the subsequent conveyors 3 (3), 3 (2) is not completed beyond this set time, for example, between the sorting members 6 (3), 6 (2) and the conveyor 2 If an abnormality such as clogging of the article w has occurred, an alarm or the like notifies that adjustment is necessary.

  The article discharge mechanism 4 (1) on the most upstream side in the conveyance direction does not need to be provided with a conveyance article detection sensor upstream of the article discharge mechanism 4 (1). There is no discharge flag or transfer completion flag, and the transfer flag is determined based on the output of the discharged article detection sensor Sb (1) that a required amount of articles w has been discharged to the rear conveyor 3 (1). Then, turn it off.

  The article discharge mechanism in a state in which the discharging flag indicating that the article w is being discharged to the rear conveyors 3 (3), 3 (2) of the article discharge mechanism 4 (3), 4 (2) is ON. 4 (3), 4 (2) starts the distribution of the articles w to the subsequent conveyors 3 (3), 3 (2), and the discharged articles w are detected as discharged article detection sensors Sb (3), Sb. When detected by (2), the output is turned ON. That is, provides a detection output for detecting an article. When the detection time during which this detection output is given is the second predetermined time, the required amount of articles w has been discharged to the subsequent conveyors 3 (3), 3 (2) in which the discharging flag is ON. That is, if the distribution is performed, the distribution members 6 (3) and 6 (2) of the article discharge mechanisms 4 (3) and 4 (2) are retracted from the transport conveyor 2 to allow the articles w to pass. An allowable state is set, that is, it is turned OFF.

  When the detection time of the discharged article detection sensors Sb (3) and Sb (2) for detecting the discharged article w becomes the second predetermined time, the distribution of the article discharge mechanisms 4 (3) and 4 (2) is performed. By retracting the members 6 (3) and 6 (2) from the transport conveyor 2 to an allowable state, the required amount of articles w can be discharged to the subsequent conveyors 3 (3) and 3 (2). it can.

  The first predetermined time and the second predetermined time are based on a difference between detection in a state where the article w is being conveyed or detection in a state where the article w is falling.

  As for the most upstream article discharge mechanism 4 (1), there is no discharging flag as described above, and the rear conveyor 3 (1) corresponding to the article discharge mechanism 4 (1) when the conveying flag is ON. ) When the detection time of the discharged article detection sensor Sb (1) reaches a predetermined time, it is assumed that the required amount of articles w has been discharged, that is, distributed to the rear conveyor 3 (1). 4 (1) is turned OFF, and the sorting member 6 (1) is retracted from the transfer conveyor 2 to enter a permissive state that allows passage of articles, that is, is turned OFF.

  In addition, when the carry-in amount of the articles | goods w carried in to the starting end side of the conveyance conveyor 2 is larger than the distribution amount of the articles | goods w discharged | emitted to the back | latter stage conveyors 3 (1) -3 (3), the extra article | item w Then, it is unloaded from the end of the transfer conveyor 2 and collected in a collection container or the like, and is again supplied to the start end of the transfer conveyor 2 by hand manually.

  Next, it demonstrates in detail based on the flowchart of FIG. First, it is determined whether or not the in-conveying flag of the most upstream article discharge mechanism 4 (1) is ON (step S1). If the in-conveying flag is not ON, the process proceeds to step S2, and the in-conveying flag is set. When is ON, the process proceeds to step S31.

  In step S2, it is determined whether or not the conveying flag of the article discharging mechanism 4 (2) downstream of the article discharging mechanism 4 (1) is ON. If the conveying flag is not ON, the process proceeds to step S3. When the carrying flag is ON, the process proceeds to step S24.

  In step S3, it is determined whether or not the conveying flag of the most downstream article discharge mechanism 4 (3) is ON. If the conveying flag is not ON, the process proceeds to step S4, and the conveying flag is ON. If so, the process proceeds to step S17.

  In step S4, since the conveying flags of all the article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) to 4 (3) are not ON, the most downstream downstream conveyor 3 (3) is given priority in order to give priority to the downstream article discharge request. ) To determine whether there is a request to discharge the item. That is, based on the output of the downstream most downstream article detection sensor Sc (3), it is determined whether or not there is an article at the start end of the subsequent conveyor 3 (3) corresponding to the subsequent article detection sensor Sc (3). When there is no article, it is determined that there is a request for discharging the article, and the process proceeds to step S5. When there is an article, the process proceeds to step S9 because there is no request for discharging the article.

  In step S5, the conveyance flag of the article discharge mechanism 4 (3) corresponding to the downstream downstream conveyor 3 (3) having the discharge request of the article is turned ON, and the conveyed article upstream of the article discharge mechanism 4 (3). The detection time of the detection sensor Sa (2) is initialized (step S6), and the sorting members 6 (1), 4 (2) of the article discharge mechanisms 4 (1), 4 (2) upstream of the article discharge mechanism 4 (3) are arranged. 6 (2) is withdrawn from the transport conveyor 2 to enter an allowable state in which the passage of the article is allowed, that is, turned OFF (step S7). Further, the sorting member 6 (3) of the article discharge mechanism 4 (3) is advanced onto the transport conveyor 2 so that the article can be discharged, that is, turned on, and the process proceeds to step S36 in FIG. 4 (step S8). ).

  In step S4, when the article is detected by the downstream most downstream article detection sensor Sc (3), that is, when there is an article at the start end of the latter conveyor 3 (3), the most downstream downstream conveyor 3 is detected. Assuming that there is no item discharge request in (3), the process proceeds to step S9. In step S9, whether or not the rear article detection sensor Sc (2) corresponding to the rear conveyor 3 (2) upstream of the most downstream rear conveyor 3 (3) detects an article, that is, the rear conveyor. It is determined whether or not there is an article at the starting end of 3 (2). If there is no article, it is determined that there is an article discharge request, and the process proceeds to step S10. If there is an article, there is no article discharge request. Move on to S14.

  In step S10, the in-convey flag of the article discharge mechanism 4 (2) corresponding to the rear conveyor 3 (2) having an article discharge request is turned ON, and the conveyed article detection sensor Sa (upstream of the article discharge mechanism 4 (2) is turned on. The detection time of 1) is initialized (step S11), and the distribution member 6 (1) of the article discharge mechanism 4 (1) upstream of the article discharge mechanism 4 (2) is allowed to pass the article w. That is, it is turned OFF (step S12). Further, the sorting member 6 (2) of the article discharge mechanism 4 (2) is set in a discharge state in which the article w can be discharged, that is, turned on and proceeds to step S36 in FIG. 4 (step S13).

  In step S9, when the article w is detected by the latter article detection sensor Sc (2), that is, when the article w is present at the start end of the latter conveyor 3 (2), the article of the latter conveyor 3 (2) is detected. Since there is no discharge request, the process proceeds to step S14. In step S14, whether or not the rear article detection sensor Sc (1) corresponding to the rear conveyor 3 (1) upstream of the rear conveyor 3 (2) detects the article w, that is, the rear conveyor 3 (1). If there is no article w, it is determined that there is an article discharge request, and the process proceeds to step S15. If there is an article, there is no article discharge request. The process moves to S36.

  In step S15, the conveyance flag of the most upstream article discharge mechanism 4 (1) corresponding to the rear conveyor 3 (1) having an article discharge request is turned on, and the sorting member 6 (1) of the article discharge mechanism 4 (1) is turned on. ) Is set to a discharge state in which the article w can be discharged, that is, turned on and proceeds to step S36 in FIG. 4 (step S16).

  In step S1, when the conveying flag of the most upstream article discharge mechanism 4 (1) is ON, the process proceeds to step S31 and discharged to the rear conveyor 3 (1) corresponding to the article discharge mechanism 4 (1). It is determined whether or not the article w is detected by the discharged article detection sensor Sb (1) that detects the article w to be processed. If the article w is not detected, the process proceeds to step S36 in FIG. 4 to detect the article w. Sometimes, the process proceeds to step S32.

  In step S32, the detection time of the discharged article w detected by the discharged article detection sensor Sb (1) is increased, and it is determined whether or not the detection time has reached a predetermined time (step S33). If not, the process proceeds to step S36 in FIG. 4, and if the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S34. In step S34, assuming that the required amount of articles w has been discharged to the rear conveyor 3 (1), that is, has been distributed, the conveying flag of the article discharge mechanism 4 (1) is turned OFF, and the article discharge mechanism 4 (1). The sorting member 6 (1) is set in an allowable state in which the passage of the article w is allowed, that is, turned off, and the process proceeds to step S36 in FIG. 4 (step S35).

  In step S2, when the conveying flag of the article discharge mechanism 4 (2) is ON, the process proceeds to step S24, and the article w is detected by the conveyed article detection sensor Sa (1) upstream of the article discharge mechanism 4 (2). It is determined whether or not the object w has been detected. If the article w is not detected, the process proceeds to step S36 in FIG. 4, and if the article w is detected, the process proceeds to step S25.

  In step S25, the discharging flag indicating that it is a discharging period for discharging the article detected by the conveyed article detection sensor Sa (1) to the rear conveyor 3 (2) of the article discharging mechanism 4 (2) is turned ON. The detection time of the conveyed article w detected by the transported article detection sensor Sa (1) is increased (step S26), and it is determined whether or not the detection time has reached the first predetermined time (step S27). If the predetermined time has not been reached, the process proceeds to step S36 in FIG. When the first predetermined time is reached, the process proceeds to step S28, and it is assumed that the required amount of articles to be conveyed to the article ejection mechanism 4 (2) has passed the detection area of the conveyed article detection sensor Sa (1). The in-conveying flag 4 (2) is turned OFF and the process proceeds to step S29. In step S29, assuming that the conveyance of the article w to the article discharge mechanism 4 (2) is completed, the conveyance completion flag of the article discharge mechanism 4 (2) is turned on, and the article discharge mechanism 4 (2) from the point when the conveyance is completed. After completion of conveyance for measuring the set time, a timer is set to start measurement, and the process proceeds to step S36 in FIG. 4 (step S30).

  In step S3, when the conveying flag of the article discharge mechanism 4 (3) is ON, the process proceeds to step S17, and the article w is detected by the conveyed article detection sensor Sa (2) upstream of the article discharge mechanism 4 (3). If it is determined whether or not the article w has been detected, the process proceeds to step S36 in FIG. 4, and if the article w is detected, the process proceeds to step S18.

  In step S18, the discharging flag indicating that it is a discharging period for discharging the article w detected by the transported article detection sensor Sa (2) to the rear conveyor 3 (3) of the article discharging mechanism 4 (3) is turned ON. The detection time of the article to be conveyed detected by the conveyed article detection sensor Sa (2) is increased (step S19), it is determined whether or not the detection time has reached the first predetermined time (step S20), and the first predetermined When it is not time, the process proceeds to step S36 in FIG. When the first predetermined time is reached, it is assumed that the required amount of articles w to be conveyed to the article ejection mechanism 4 (3) has passed the detection area of the conveyed article detection sensor Sa (2), and the article ejection mechanism 4 (3). Is turned OFF, and the process proceeds to step S22 (step S21). In step S22, assuming that the conveyance of the article w to the article discharge mechanism 4 (3) is completed, the conveyance completion flag of the article discharge mechanism 4 (3) is turned on (step S22), and the article discharge mechanism 4 (3) is conveyed. A timer after completion of conveyance for measuring the set time from the completion time is set and measurement is started, and the process proceeds to step S36 in FIG. 4 (step S23).

  Next, in step S36 shown in FIG. 4, the discharging flag indicating that the discharging period for discharging the article w to the downstream conveyor 3 (3) of the most downstream article discharging mechanism 4 (3) is ON. If the discharging flag is not ON, the process proceeds to step S47. If the discharging flag is ON, the process proceeds to step S37.

  In step S37, it is determined whether or not the article w discharged to the rear conveyor 3 (3) is detected by the discharged article detection sensor Sb (3) corresponding to the rear conveyor 3 (3) whose discharge flag is ON. If the article w is not detected, the process proceeds to step S43. If the article w is detected, the process proceeds to step S38.

  In step S38, the detection time of the discharged article w detected by the discharged article detection sensor Sb (3) is increased, and whether or not the detection time has reached the second predetermined time, that is, the discharged article detection sensor Sb (3). It is determined whether or not the amount w of articles discharged to the rear conveyor 3 (3) detected by step S3 has reached the required amount (step S39). If the second predetermined time is not reached, step S1 in FIG. Returning to step S40 when the second predetermined time is reached.

  In step S40, assuming that the required amount of articles w has been discharged to the rear conveyor 3 (3), the discharging flag of the rear conveyor 3 (3) of the article discharge mechanism 4 (3) is turned OFF, and the required quantity of articles is set. Since w has been discharged, the transfer completion flag of the article discharge mechanism 4 (3), which is a flag for measuring the set time after the transfer of the article w is completed, is turned OFF (step S41), and the article discharge mechanism 4 Assuming that the discharge of the article w by (3) is finished, the distribution member 6 (3) of the article discharge mechanism 4 (3) is set to an allowable state in which the passage of the article w is allowed, that is, turned off (step S42). Returning to step S1 of FIG.

  In step S43, it is determined whether or not the conveyance completion flag of the article discharge mechanism 4 (3) is ON. If the conveyance completion flag is not ON, the process returns to step S1 in FIG. 3 and the conveyance completion flag is ON. If so, the process proceeds to step S44. In step S44, the post-conveyance timer of the article discharge mechanism 4 (3) that measures the lapse of the set time from the completion of the conveyance is subtracted, and whether the timer after the completion of conveyance of the article discharge mechanism 4 (3) has expired. That is, it is determined whether or not the set time has elapsed since the completion of conveyance (step S45). When the time has not expired, the process returns to step S1 in FIG. 3, and when the time has expired, the article discharge mechanism 4 (3). The delivery of the required amount of articles w to the rear conveyor 3 (3) of the article discharge mechanism 4 (3) has not been completed despite the completion of the transport of the required quantity of articles w to the vehicle. It notifies that there exists (step S46) and moves to step S40.

  In step S36, when the discharging flag of the rear conveyor 3 (3) of the article discharging mechanism 4 (3) is not ON, the process proceeds to step S47 and the upstream conveyor 3 (2) upstream of the rear conveyor 3 (3). It is determined whether or not the discharging flag is ON. When the discharging flag is not ON, the process returns to step S1 in FIG. 3, and when the discharging flag is ON, the process proceeds to step S48.

  In step S48, it is determined whether or not the article w discharged to the rear conveyor 3 (2) is detected by the discharged article detection sensor Sb (2) corresponding to the rear conveyor 3 (2) whose discharging flag is ON. When the article w is not detected, the process proceeds to step S54. When the article w is detected, the process proceeds to step S49.

  In step S49, the detection time of the discharged article w detected by the discharged article detection sensor Sb (2) is increased, and whether or not the detection time has reached the second predetermined time, that is, the discharged article detection sensor Sb (2). It is determined whether or not the amount of articles w discharged to the rear conveyor 3 (2) detected by step 2 has reached the required amount (step S50). If the second predetermined time has not been reached, step S1 in FIG. Returning to step S51 when the second predetermined time is reached.

  In step S51, assuming that the required amount of articles has been discharged to the rear conveyor 3 (2), the discharging flag of the rear conveyor 3 (2) of the article discharge mechanism 4 (2) is turned OFF, and the required amount of articles has been discharged. Since it has been discharged, the transfer completion flag of the article discharge mechanism 4 (2), which is a flag for measuring the set time after the transfer of the article w is completed, is turned off (step S52), and the article discharge mechanism 4 (2 3), the distribution member 6 (2) of the article discharge mechanism 4 (2) is set in an allowable state that allows the article w to pass, that is, is turned OFF (step S53). Return to step S1.

  In step S54, it is determined whether or not the conveyance completion flag of the article discharge mechanism 4 (2) is ON. If the conveyance completion flag is not ON, the process returns to step S1 in FIG. 3 and the conveyance completion flag is ON. If so, the process proceeds to step S55. In step S55, the post-conveyance timer of the article discharge mechanism 4 (2) that measures the elapse of the set time from the completion of the conveyance is subtracted, and whether or not the post-conveyance timer of the article discharge mechanism 4 (2) has expired. That is, it is determined whether or not the set time has elapsed since the completion of the conveyance (step 56). When the time is not up, the process returns to step S1 in FIG. Although the conveyance of the article w is completed by (1), a notification is made that the required amount of the article w is not discharged to the rear conveyor 3 (2) and adjustment is required (step S57), and step S51. Move on.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when an article discharge request is issued from the downstream rear conveyor 3, the upstream article discharge mechanism 4 moves to the article discharge mechanism 4 corresponding to the rear conveyor 3 having the discharge request. Since the passage of the article w is permitted so that the article w is transported, the state in which the amount of the article w to be distributed is increased in the upstream downstream conveyor 3 can be improved. As a result, when there is a request for discharging the articles w in the same manner, the articles w can be uniformly distributed to the three rear conveyors 3, and the operating rate of the processing apparatus after the rear conveyor 3 can be increased. Can be operated efficiently.

  In addition, since the transported article detection sensors Sa, Sb, and Sc including the photoelectric sensor that detects the article w grasp the amount and presence of the article w and control the sorting by the article discharge mechanism 4, for example, an imaging camera and image processing This can be realized at a lower cost compared to a case where an apparatus or the like is used to uniformly distribute articles between the upstream side and the downstream side in the transport direction.

  In the above embodiment, the transported article detection sensors Sa (1) and Sa (2) are arranged on the downstream side adjacent to the article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) and 4 (2), but the transported article detection sensor Sa (1). , Sa (2) may be arranged on the upstream side adjacent to the article discharge mechanisms 4 (1), 4 (2). In this case, even if the required amount of articles w passes through the detection areas of the transported article detection sensors Sa (1) and Sa (2), the required quantity of articles is still downstream of the article discharge mechanism 4 (1), If the sorting members 6 (1) and 6 (2) are not held in a permissible state allowing passage of articles until they pass 4 (2), the article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) and 4 (2 ), The required amount of articles w cannot be transported downstream.

  On the other hand, if the transported article detection sensors Sa (1) and Sa (2) are arranged on the downstream side adjacent to the article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) and 4 (2) as in the above embodiment, the required amount When the article w passes through the detection areas of the transport article detection sensors Sa (1) and Sa (2), the sorting members 6 (1) and 6 (2) are discharged to sort the articles w out of the transport conveyor 2 Even if the switching is immediately performed, the required amount of articles w can be conveyed downstream of the article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) and 4 (2). Therefore, in the above embodiment, as soon as the required amount of articles w passes through the detection areas of the transported article detection sensors Sa (1) and Sa (2), the sorting members of the article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) and 4 (2) are immediately used. By switching 6 (1) and 6 (2) to the discharge state, the articles w can be discharged to the subsequent conveyors 3 (1) and 3 (2), and the distribution of the articles w can be performed at high speed.

  The first and second predetermined times and the like can be set by operating the operation setting indicator 8. However, the first and second predetermined times and the like are made variable according to the discharge request for the downstream article. May be.

  In the above embodiment, each rear conveyor 3 (1) is detected by the discharged article detection sensors Sb (1) to Sb (3) that detect the articles w discharged from the transport conveyor 2 to the rear conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3). ) To 3 (3), the amount of the article w distributed to 3 (3) is grasped. For example, the conveyance for detecting the article w to be conveyed immediately before each of the article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) to 4 (3). After each article detection sensor is installed and each sorting member 6 (1) to 6 (3) of each article discharge mechanism 4 (1) to 4 (3) is advanced onto the transport conveyor 2 to be in a discharge state, The quantity of articles detected by the immediately preceding transported article detection sensor is sorted by the sorted sorting members 6 (1) to 6 (3) and discharged to the respective rear conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3). You may make it grasp | ascertain as the quantity of the articles | goods w done. That is, the amount of articles w discharged to the rear conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3) by the respective article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) to 4 (3) is set to the respective article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) to 4 (3). ) On the basis of the detection output of each transported article detection sensor immediately before. In this case, the discharged article detection sensors Sc (1) to Sc (3) that detect the articles w discharged to the rear conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3) are unnecessary.

  Further, the rear conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3) may be set to the same height without being lower than the transport conveyor 2.

  Next, a weighing system provided with an article supply apparatus using the article distribution apparatus 1 of the above embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a weighing system including an article supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 7 is a side view thereof. The weighing system of this embodiment includes an article supply device 12 that supplies articles and a semi-automatic combination scale 13 that conventionally supplies articles by hand.

  This weighing system automatically supplies articles to the semi-automatic combination balance 13 by the article supply device 12, and as a whole, an automatic combination scale that automatically supplies and discharges articles. It can also be called.

  In this embodiment, an object having a relatively large single-unit weight and having an adhesive shape that is difficult to handle by a machine, for example, a block-shaped piece of meat such as a peach meat or a breast meat obtained by disassembling a broiler (meat chicken) is to be measured. It is said.

  That is, the measuring system of this embodiment is a system suitable for the measuring process of the broiler dismantling line.

  The article supply device 12 includes a front-stage transport mechanism 14 disposed horizontally, article discharge mechanisms 15 (1) to 15 (3) disposed at a plurality of locations on the transport path, in this example, three locations, and each article discharge mechanism 15. (1) to 15 (3) corresponding to each of three distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3), and a plurality of distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3) corresponding to each of the distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3). In this example, a vibration feeder 17 is provided as a rear-stage transport mechanism arranged in parallel by three units.

  The article supply apparatus 12 includes the configuration of the article sorting apparatus 1 according to the above-described embodiment. The front-stage transport mechanism 14 is the transport conveyor 2, and the article discharge mechanisms 15 (1) to 15 (3) are the article discharge mechanism 4 ( 1) to 4 (3), the revolving conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3), which will be described later, of the distribution and transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3) are transferred to the rear conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3), respectively. Correspond.

  The front conveyor mechanism 14 of the article supply apparatus 12 is a belt conveyor that rotates a horizontally wound conveyor belt 18 from right to left at a constant speed as indicated by an arrow A in FIG. It consists of On the right-side start end side of the transport belt 18 of the pre-stage transport mechanism 14, the disassembled broiler meat pieces are supplied as articles w.

  The article discharge mechanisms 15 (1) to 15 (3) are installed on one side of both sides of the conveyance path in the front-stage conveyance mechanism 14, and are distributed in a long plate shape that can be driven to rotate around the vertical fulcrum a. Members 19 (1) to 19 (3) are provided.

  As shown by the solid line in FIG. 6, the sorting members 19 (1) to 19 (3) are separated from the one side of the transport path and are in a retracted posture along the transport direction. The passage of the article w on the transport path is allowed. When the distribution members 19 (1) to 19 (3) are driven and rotated to the conveyance path side around the longitudinal fulcrum a as shown by the phantom lines in FIG. 6, the long plate-shaped distribution members 19 ( 1) to 19 (3) are in a discharge state in a discharge posture that crosses obliquely with respect to the transport direction in plan view. In this discharge state, the article w transported along the transport direction is gradually transported along the plate surfaces of the sorting members 19 (1) to 19 (3) that obliquely intersect the transport direction. Is guided to the outside of the other side and discharged from the conveyance path.

  On the discharge side of the pre-stage transport mechanism 14, discharge chutes 20 (1) to 20 (3) that are inclined downward are fixedly arranged and guided and discharged by the distribution members 19 (1) to 19 (3). The article w is guided to slide down through the discharge chute 20 on the other side.

  As described above, the article discharge mechanisms 15 (1) to 15 (4) cross the long plate-shaped sorting members 19 (1) to 19 (3) so as to be inclined with respect to the transport path of the preceding transport mechanism 14. Thus, the article w conveyed by the front-stage conveyance mechanism 14 is guided and discharged along the plate surfaces of the sorting members 19 (1) to 19 (3), so that the article w that is an adhesive broiler meat piece is removed. It is possible to reliably discharge at a predetermined location.

  The distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3) are an upward funnel-shaped input funnel 21 that receives the articles w discharged by the article discharge mechanisms 15 (1) to 15 (3), and an input funnel 21. A swivel conveyor 22 (1) to 22 (3) that transports the thrown article w and can be driven to rotate by a predetermined angle. The swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) are provided with a conveyor belt 23 that carries and horizontally conveys the article w guided by the input funnel 21, and left and right conveyors that are erected on both sides of the conveyor belt 23. A side plate 24 and a discharge cover 25 having a U-shaped planar shape attached to the end portions of both side plates 24 are provided.

  The discharge cover 25 forms a drop opening for dropping the article w placed and transported by the transport belt 23 without jumping out in the transport direction. As shown in FIG. And are bolted so that the position can be adjusted along the conveying direction. By adjusting the position of the discharge cover 25, the opening length in the transport direction of the drop port is changed in accordance with the size of the article w, and the article w is accurately dropped and released to a predetermined position without clogging. . In FIG. 8, the distribution / delivery mechanism 16 (2) at the center in the conveyance direction of the article w is representatively shown.

  The swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) can be driven to rotate by a predetermined angle by a servo motor around a longitudinal fulcrum b set on the conveyance start end side of the conveyance belt 23 on which articles from the input funnel 21 slide down. It is. The swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) are arranged so that the dropping port at the conveyance end of the conveyance belt 23 is directly connected to each vibration feeder 17 at the three positions of the central position in the rotation range and the rotation end positions on both sides thereof. It is located above. That is, each of the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) swivels by a predetermined angle around the vertical fulcrum b, and distributes the article w to the three vibration feeders 17.

  As described above, the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) rotate around the vertical fulcrum b set on the conveyance start end side of the conveyance belt 23 on which the article w from the input funnel 21 slides down. Regardless of the rotation position of the conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3), the articles w transported by the preceding transport mechanism 14 are transferred to the sorting members 19 (1) of the article discharge mechanisms 15 (1) to 15 (3). ) To 19 (3) and can be supplied to the conveying start end side of the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3). Therefore, when it is necessary to supply the article w to the conveyance start end side of the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3), the preceding conveyance mechanism regardless of the rotation position of the swirl conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3). 14 articles | goods w are discharged | emitted by the articles | goods discharge mechanism 15 (1) -15 (3), and the articles | goods w can be rapidly supplied to turning conveyor 22 (1) -22 (3).

  As shown in FIG. 7, the vibration feeder 17 serving as a rear-stage transport mechanism is a linear feeder in which a trough-like trough 26 is detachably connected to a vibration exciter 27. The linear feeder 17 is configured to convey the article w placed by vibrating the trough 26 to the combination weigher 13. A support frame 28 is connected to the lower surface of the trough 26 to support the trough 26 in a state where the trough 26 is inclined downward toward the transport direction. The support frame 28 is positioned and engaged with a vibration head 27a provided at the upper end portion of the vibration exciter 27, and is fastened and fixed by using a buckle type coupling mechanism 29 operated by a lever.

  In addition, a large number of slit-like through holes 30 along the longitudinal direction of the trough 26 are formed in alignment on the bottom surface and the left and right side surfaces of the trough 26. This through hole 30 discharges the fat and oil floating on the surface of the article w, which is a piece of meat disassembled from the broiler, to the outside of the trough 26, and a large amount of these fat and oil liquid adheres to the inner surface of the trough 26 and solidifies. This makes it difficult to transport the machine.

  As described above, the trough 26 of the vibration feeder 17 is inclined downward toward the conveyance direction and has a large number of through holes 30, so that the article w that is a broiler meat piece that contains oil and has adhesiveness is smoothly conveyed. be able to.

  Three vibratory feeders 17 are arranged in parallel with respect to the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) of one distribution transport mechanism 16 (1) to 16 (3), and the swirl conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (2). The article w is transferred from the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) to the troughs 26 of the three vibration feeders 17 according to the center position of (3) and the switching rotation to the rotation end positions on both sides. Each can be supplied. Therefore, as a whole, the article w can be vibrated and conveyed to nine places by the nine vibration feeders 17 arranged in parallel in a straight line.

  Each vibration feeder 17 can transport and stop the article w by its driving and stopping. Therefore, the article w is controlled so as to be transported to the end of the trough 26 of the vibration feeder 17 and put on standby. Articles can be supplied to the combination weigher 13 at a timing corresponding to the input requests to the 13 article insertion ports 31.

  Among the group of three sets of vibration feeders 17, the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (22) of the distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3) are provided at the middle position between the central trough 26 and the troughs 26 on both sides. The idler roller 32 is supported horizontally in the transport direction via a fixed base (not shown) so as to face the end turning locus of (3). This idler roller 32 is arranged in the middle of the trough 26 at the center and on both sides of the swivel conveyors 22 (1) -22 (3) of the distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) -16 (3). An article w that is undesirably dropped is received at one side, that is, at an intermediate position with the left or right trough 26, and is rotated and dropped to the central trough 26 or the left or right trough 26 by its own weight.

  Further, as shown in the schematic front view of FIG. 9, the relatively long article w may stay while straddling the idle roller 32, but then the distribution transport mechanism 16 (1) to 16 (1) to 16. When the 16 (3) swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) rotate in the opposite direction (leftward in the case of FIG. 9), the end of the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3), That is, at the lower end portion of the discharge cover 25, the article w on the idler roller 32 is pushed and moved, the idler roller 32 rotates, and the conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) move. The article w can be dropped into the trough 26.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8 and the like, a mountain-shaped slope that inclines toward the inner side of the trough 26 at the conveyance start end portion on the lateral outer side of the left and right troughs 26 in a set of three troughs 26. A guide plate 33 is installed via a fixed base (not shown), and an article w put into the left or right trough 26 is guided into the trough without being caught by the outer side wall of the trough 26. It has become so.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, on the upper surface of the semi-automatic combination weigher 13, a large number, in this example, nine article input ports 31 are arranged in a straight line from side to side. The combination weigher 13 is installed so that 31 faces the distribution / discharge section of the article supply device 12, that is, the end of the group of vibration feeders 17. Each article insertion port 31 is provided with a pair of left and right insertion gates 34 that can be opened and closed in the shape of an inward opening door. Each input gate 34 is opened during a period when the input of articles is requested.

  In the weighing system of this embodiment, the supply amount of the article w is set so that the weighing processing amount of the article w of the semi-automatic combination weigher 13 exceeds the supply amount of the article w to the upstream conveyance mechanism 14 of the article supply device 12. The operating speed of the combination scale 13 is set.

  In addition, when the supply amount of the articles | goods w to the front | former stage conveyance mechanism 14 of the article | item supply apparatus 12 temporarily exceeds the measurement processing amount of the combination scale 13, the articles | goods w conveyed by the front | former stage conveyance mechanism 14 are used. This can be dealt with by letting the article discharge mechanisms 15 (1) to 15 (3) pass through the sorting members 19 (1) to 19 (3) without discharging them.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of the semi-automatic combination weigher 13.

  This combination scale 13 is basically the same as a conventional semi-automatic combination scale. A supply hopper 35 is disposed immediately below the input gate 34 of each article input port 31 of the combination weigher 13, and a measurement having two storage chambers 36-1 and 36-2 below each supply hopper 35. A weighing hopper 36 as a part is disposed.

  Each supply hopper 35 includes two discharge gates 35a and 35b that can be opened and closed independently. By opening one discharge gate 35a, the article w is discharged into one storage chamber 36-1 of the weighing hopper 36. The article w can be discharged into the other storage chamber 36-2 of the weighing hopper 36 by opening the other discharge gate 35b.

  Each weighing hopper 36 is provided with a discharge gate 36a in one storage chamber 36-1 and a discharge gate 36b in the other storage chamber 36-2. By opening the discharge gates 36a and 36b, The articles w can be discharged separately from the storage chambers 36-1 and 36-2.

  Each weighing hopper 36 is provided with a weight sensor 37 such as a load cell. The weight sensor 37 detects the weight of the article w in the weighing hopper 36, and the output is sent to a control unit of the combination weigher 13 described later. Sent. Accordingly, the control unit of the combination weigher 13 calculates the weight of the article w in each of the storage chambers 36-1 and 36-2 of the weighing hopper 36 based on the change in the weight of the article w in the weighing hopper 36. Based on the weight of the article w in each of the storage chambers 36-1 and 36-2 of each weighing hopper 36, a combination calculation described later is performed.

  Below the weighing hopper 36, a collective conveyor 38 that receives and conveys the articles w discharged from the weighing hopper 36 is disposed. The articles w conveyed by the collective conveyor 38 are supplied to a packaging machine (not shown). In the packaging machine, the article w having a predetermined weight range is vacuum-packed.

  The control unit of the combination weigher 13 has a combination weight that is a total weight obtained by combining various weights of the articles w in the storage chambers 36-1 and 36-2 of the weighing hopper 36 holding the articles w within a predetermined weight range. A combination operation for selecting one combination of the storage chambers 36-1 and 36-2 inside is performed, and the articles w in the selected storage chambers 36-1 and 36-2 are discharged to the collective conveyor 38.

  In the weighing system of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, the article w supplied to the starting end portion that is upstream in the transport direction of the front transport mechanism 14 is sent by the article discharge mechanisms 15 (1) to 15 (3). Articles w distributed at three locations along the transport direction and discharged to the respective distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3) and discharged to the respective distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3) The articles w distributed to the three places and fed into the vibration feeder 17 and distributed and conveyed by the nine vibration feeders 17 are supplied to the article input ports 31 of the combination scale 13. The article w that has passed through the three article discharge mechanisms 15 (1) to 15 (3) and has reached the end of the preceding conveyance mechanism 14 is unloaded and collected in a collection container or the like. It is supplied to the starting end of the transport mechanism 14.

  In the supply of the article w as described above, the presence / absence of the article w at each location, each article input port 31 of each combination weigher 13, each vibration feeder 17, each distribution transport mechanism 16 (1) to 16 (3), Each article discharge mechanism 15 (1) to 15 (3) and each distribution transport mechanism 16 (1) to 16 (3) according to the request status of the article w in the article discharge mechanism 15 (1) to 15 (3). And each vibration feeder 17 is controlled.

  FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view corresponding to FIG. 6 illustrating an example of an installation state of the article detection sensor that detects the article w.

  Each article detection sensor Sa (1), Sa (2), Sb (1) to Sb (3), Sc (1) to Sc (3), Sd (1) to Sd (3), Se () of this embodiment 1) to Se (9) and Sf (1) to Sf (9) are, for example, transmission type photoelectric sensors each including a projector and a light receiver, as in the article sorting apparatus 1, The article w passing through the detection area between the light receivers is detected and a detection output is given.

  The transport path of the upstream transport mechanism 14 includes transported article detection sensors that respectively detect the articles w that pass through the detection area immediately after the respective article discharge mechanisms 15 (1) and 15 (2) on the upstream side in the transport direction of the articles w. Sa (1) and Sa (2) are arranged.

  In addition, at the base of each discharge chute 20 (1) to 20 (3) through which the article w discharged by each article discharge mechanism 15 (1) to 15 (3) passes, the discharge that detects the discharged article w is detected. Article detection sensors Sb (1) to Sb (3) are respectively arranged. In addition, a through hole is formed in the base of each discharge chute 9 so as not to block the optical path in the detection area of each discharged article detection sensor Sb (1) to Sb (3).

  Distributing start end article detection sensors Sc (1) to Sc (3) that detect articles w are respectively detected at the upstream end of the swiveling conveyor 22 of each of the distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3) in the transport direction. ) Is arranged.

  The transported article detection sensors Sa (1) and Sa (2), the discharged article detection sensors Sb (1) to Sb (3), and the distribution start end article detection sensor (second stage article detection sensor) Sc (1) to Sc ( 3) is the same as the configuration of the article sorting apparatus 1 of the above embodiment.

  In this embodiment, the distribution end article detection for detecting the article w at the end of the swivel conveyor 22 of each of the distribution transfer mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3) is further provided at the end of the downstream in the transfer direction. Sensors Sd (1) to Sd (3) are arranged. It should be noted that the distribution start end article detection sensors Sc (1) to Sc (3) and the distribution end article detection sensors Sd (1) to Sd () are provided on the side plates 24 and the discharge cover 25 of the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3). A through hole is formed so as not to block the optical path of 3).

  A rear-stage start-end article detection sensor that detects articles w at the start-end section and the end-end section at the start-end section on the upstream side and the end-end section on the downstream side in the transport direction of each trough 26 of each vibration feeder 17 as a rear-stage transport mechanism. Se (1) to Se (9) and rear end article detection sensors Sf (1) to Sf (9) are respectively arranged. The trough 26 of the vibration feeder 17 has a through hole so as not to block the optical paths of the rear-stage start-end article detection sensors Se (1) to Se (9) and the rear-stage end-end article detection sensors Sf (1) to Sf (9). Is formed.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the weighing system of this embodiment.

  The weighing system of this embodiment includes a programmable controller (hereinafter abbreviated as “PLC”) 40 as a control device that controls the whole.

  A programmable display 41 as an operation display terminal is connected to the PLC 40. In the programmable display 41, the transport speed of the upstream transport mechanism 14 and the swivel conveyor 22, the vibration strength of the vibration feeder 17, and the article detection Various setting operations such as the predetermined time, which are threshold values for the detection time of articles by the sensors Sa and Sb, and various displays are performed.

  The PLC 40 receives input request signals (1) to (9) when the control unit 42 of the semi-automatic combination weigher 13 requests input of articles to each of the nine article input ports 31, respectively. In addition, each of the article detection sensors Sa (1), Sa (2), Sb (1) to Sb (3), Sc (1) to Sc (3), Sd (1) to Sd (3), Detection outputs of Se (1) to Se (9) and Sf (1) to Sf (9) are input.

  The PLC 40 controls the front-stage transport mechanism 14 via the front-stage transport mechanism drive control circuit 43, and distributes the sorting members 19 (1) to 19 (3) of the article discharge mechanisms 15 (1) to 15 (3). Control is performed via the member drive circuit 44. In addition, the PLC 40 connects the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) of the distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3) via the swivel conveyor drive control circuit 45 and the swivel conveyor swivel drive control circuit 46. The vibration feeders 17 are controlled via the vibration feeder drive circuit 47.

  The PLC 40 basically controls so that when an article is input from the combination weigher 13 to each article insertion port 31, the article can be immediately inserted into the article insertion port 31 that has been requested. Control is performed so that the article can be transported to the end of the trough 26 of the vibration feeder 17 and waited.

  That is, in the vibration feeder 17, when there is no article at the end of the trough 26, the article detected at the start end of the trough 26 is conveyed to the end of the trough 26, and the article detected at the start end of the trough 26 is detected. If not, the turning conveyor 22 of the distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3) is requested to input articles.

  In the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) of the distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3), the swivel conveyors can be immediately loaded into the trough 26 of the vibration feeder 17 that has been requested to load the articles. The article is conveyed to the terminal portions 22 (1) to 22 (3), and the rotational position is controlled. When there are no articles at the end of the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3), the articles detected at the start ends of the swirl conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) are conveyed to the end, and the swivel conveyor 22 ( When there is no article detected at the starting end of 1) to 22 (3), the article discharge mechanism 15 (1) to 15 (3) is requested to input the article.

  The article discharge mechanisms 15 (1) to 15 (3) are distributed and transferred on the upstream side and the downstream side in the transfer direction in the same manner as the article discharge mechanisms 4 (1) to 4 (3) of the above-described article distribution device 1. Control is performed so that the distribution of the articles w to 16 (1) to 16 (3) does not vary.

  Next, an example of control by the PLC 40 will be described in more detail.

  FIG. 13 is a schematic flowchart showing an example of overall control of the article supply apparatus 12 of this embodiment.

  First, it is determined whether or not the operation switch of the programmable display 41 is turned on (step S101). When the operation switch is turned on, the operation is started, and the semi-automatic combination weigher 13 loads the nine article loading ports 31 correspondingly. When the request signals (1) to (9) are input (step S102), the vibration feeder 17 that is the most downstream in the article transport direction in the article supply device 12 is controlled (step S103), and then the vibration feeder is used. 17 controls the distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3) upstream (step S104), and further, the article discharge mechanism 15 (1) upstream of the distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3). ) To 15 (3) (step S105), it is determined whether or not the operation switch is turned off (step S106), and when the operation switch is turned off. To the end.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of control of the vibration feeder 17 which is a subroutine in the overall control flowchart of FIG.

  Basic control is that when the article w is not detected by the rear end article detection sensors Sf (1) to Sf (9), that is, when there is no article w at the end of the trough 26 of the vibration feeder 17, the vibration feeder 17 is driven for a certain period of time, and the article w at the start end of the trough 26 is conveyed to the end of the trough 26. Instead of driving for a certain period of time, the rear end article detection sensors Sf (1) to Sf (9) may be driven until the article w at the end of the trough 26 is detected.

  When the article w is not detected by the rear-stage start-end article detection sensors Se (1) to Se (9), that is, when there is no article w at the start end of the trough 26 of the vibration feeder 17, the article is sent to the trough 26 of the vibration feeder 17. The article insertion command flag for instructing to input w is turned ON, and the article w is input from the distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3) to the vibration feeder 17.

  When an article w is detected by the rear end article detection sensors Sf (1) to Sf (9) and the article w is present at the end of the trough 26 of the vibration feeder 17, an article input request signal from the semi-automatic combination weigher 13 Is input, the vibration feeder 17 is driven for a certain period of time, and the article w at the end of the trough 26 of the vibration feeder 17 is supplied to the article insertion port 31 of the semi-automatic combination weigher 13. In addition, instead of driving for a certain period of time, the article w is put into the article of the combination weigher 13 when the article w at the end portion of the trough 26 is no longer detected by the rear end article detection sensors Sf (1) to Sf (9). Assuming that the vibration feeder 17 is supplied to the port 31, the driving of the vibration feeder 17 may be stopped.

  In this example, as shown in FIG. 14, first, the number k for designating one of the vibration feeders 17 is set to “1” (step S201), and the driving flag indicating that the vibration feeder 17 with the number k is being driven. Is determined to be ON (step S202). When the driving flag is ON, the driving timer for driving time measurement corresponding to the vibration feeder 17 of number k is subtracted (step S203), and the driving timer is determined. It is determined whether or not the time has expired (step S204).

  When the drive timer corresponding to the vibration feeder 17 with the number k expires in step S204, the drive of the vibration feeder 17 with the number k is stopped (step S205), assuming that the driving for a certain period of time has ended (step S205). The 17 driving flag is turned off (step S206), the number k is incremented (step S207), and whether or not the number k is “10”, that is, whether the processing for the nine vibration feeders 17 is completed. If the number k is not “10”, the process returns to step S202. If the number k is “10”, the process returns from the subroutine.

  In step S202, when the driving flag of the vibration feeder 17 with the number k is not ON, whether or not the article w is detected at the end of the trough 26 of the vibration feeder 17 with the number k, that is, the vibration with the number k. It is determined whether or not the article w is detected by the rear end article detection sensor Sf (k) corresponding to the feeder 17 (step S209). When the article w is detected, the semi-automatic combination scale 13 corresponds to the number k. It is determined whether or not the input request signal (k) has been input (step S210). When the input request signal has been input, the driving flag of the vibration feeder 17 of number k is turned on (step S211), and number k The drive timer corresponding to the vibration feeder 17 of the number is set (step S212), and the drive of the vibration feeder 17 of number k is started and the step It moves to 207 (step S213).

  In step S209, when the article w is not detected at the end of the trough 26 of the vibration feeder 17 of number k, whether or not the article w is detected at the starting end of the trough 26 of the vibration feeder 17 of number k, that is, , It is determined whether or not the article w is detected by the rear-stage starting-end article detection sensor Se (k) corresponding to the vibration feeder 17 of number k (step S214). When the article w is detected, the vibration feeder 17 of number k is detected. The driving flag is turned on (step S215), a driving timer corresponding to the vibration feeder 17 with the number k is set (step S216), the driving of the vibration feeder 17 with the number k is started, and the process proceeds to step S207 (step S217). .

  In step S214, when the article w is not detected at the start end of the trough 26 of the vibration feeder 17 of number k, the number k is assigned to the distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3) corresponding to the number k. The loading command flag for commanding loading of the article w to the trough 26 of the vibration feeder 17 is turned on, and the process proceeds to step S207 (step S218).

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of control of the distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3), which is a subroutine in the overall control flowchart of FIG.

  The basic control is that if the article w disappears at the start end of the trough 26 of the vibration feeder 17, that is, if the article w is no longer detected by the rear-stage start article detection sensors Se (1) to Se (9), the vibration feeder 17 The articles w are transported to the terminal ends of the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) of the distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3) so that the articles w can be put into the start end of the trough 26. Is.

  The article w is not detected by the distribution end article detection sensors Sd (1) to Sd (3), that is, the article w is a swivel conveyor 22 (1) to 22 () of the distribution transport mechanism 16 (1) to 16 (3). If it is not at the terminal end of 3), the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) are driven for a certain time, and the article w at the start end of the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) 1) to 22 (3). It should be noted that, instead of driving for a certain period of time, when the article w is detected by the distribution end article detection sensors Sd (1) to Sd (3), the article is the end portion of the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3). As a result, the driving of the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) may be stopped.

  If the article w is not detected by the distribution start end article detection sensors Sc (1) to Sc (3), that is, if there is no article w at the start end of the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3), the article discharge mechanism 15 It becomes the discharge request | requirement of the articles | goods which request | require discharge | emission of the articles | goods to revolving conveyor 22 (1) -22 (3) with respect to (1) -15 (3).

  Further, when there is no article w at the start end of the trough 26 of the vibration feeder 17 and there is an article w at the end of the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) of the distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3). When the swiveling conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) are not at the position where the article w is put into the trough 26 of the vibration feeder 17, the swiveling conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) The swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) are rotated for a predetermined time by rotating to the insertion position of the trough 26 of the vibration feeder 17, and the start end of the vibration feeder 17 from the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3). Article w is put into the department. When there is no article w at the start end of the trough 26 of the vibration feeder 17 and there is an article w at the end of the swivel conveyors 22 (1) -22 (3) of the distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) -16 (3), When the swiveling conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) are at the position where the article w is put into the trough 26 of the vibration feeder 17, the swiveling conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) are driven for a certain time. Then, the swirl conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) are put into the starting end portion of the vibration feeder 17. In addition, instead of driving for a fixed time, when the article w at the end of the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) is no longer detected by the distribution end article detection sensors Sd (1) to Sd (3), The driving of the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) may be stopped assuming that the article w is thrown into the start end portion of the trough 22 of the vibration feeder 17.

  The swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) of one distribution transport mechanism 16 (1) to 16 (3) are rotated to supply articles w to the troughs 26 of the three vibration feeders 17. Since the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) are rotated, the charging position control is easy.

  In this example, as shown in FIG. 15, first, a number j that designates one of the distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3), a number k that designates one of the vibration feeders 17, and one The number a that defines the number of vibration feeders 17 distributed by the distribution transport mechanism 16 is set to “1” (step S301), and the swivel conveyors 22 (1) of the distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3) with the number j. ) To 22 (3) is judged whether or not a driving flag indicating that driving is in progress (step S302), and when the driving flag is ON, the distribution transport mechanism 16 of number j ( The drive timer for driving time measurement corresponding to the turning conveyor 22 of 1) to 16 (3) is subtracted (step S303), and it is determined whether or not the drive timer has expired (step S304).

  When the drive timer corresponding to the swivel conveyor 22 of the number j distribution transport mechanism 16 (1) -16 (3) expires in step S304, the number j distribution transport mechanism 16 (1) -16 (3) swivels. The driving of the conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) is stopped (step S305), and the swiveling conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) of the distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3) of number j are being driven. The flag is turned off (step S306), the number k for designating the vibration feeder 17 and the number a of the vibration feeders 17 are incremented (step S307), whether or not the number a has become “4”, that is, three vibrations. It is determined whether or not the distribution process for the feeders 17 has ended (step S308). If the number a is not “4”, the distribution process for the three vibration feeders 17 is performed. It returns to the step S302 as not been completed.

  When the number a becomes “4” in step S308, the distribution processing for the three vibration feeders 17 by the distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3) with the number j is completed, and the number j is incremented. The number a is returned to "1" (step S309), whether the number j has become "4", that is, whether the processing for the three distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3) has been completed. (Step S310), when it is not "4", it returns to step S302, and when it is "4", it returns from the subroutine.

  In step S302, when the driving flag of the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) of the distribution transport mechanism 16 (1) to 16 (3) of number j is not ON, the distribution transport mechanism 5 of number j. The article w is detected by the distribution end article detection sensor Sd (k) corresponding to the distribution conveyance mechanism 16 (1) to 16 (3) corresponding to the number k. It is determined whether or not the article is detected (step S311), and when the article w is detected, whether or not the article insertion command flag to the trough 26 of the vibration feeder 17 of number k is turned on, that is, the vibration feeder 17 It is determined whether or not there is a request for loading the article w into the trough 26 (step S312). If the article loading command flag is ON, the process proceeds to step S313, where the article loading command flag is set. When but not ON, the process proceeds to step S307.

  In step S313, the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) of the distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3) with the number j are articles w with respect to the trough 26 of the vibration feeder 17 whose rotational position is number k. Whether the end of the conveyor belt 23 of the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) is directly above the trough 26 of the vibration feeder 17 of number k. When the position is at the loading position, the article loading command flag to the trough 26 of the vibration feeder 17 of number k is turned off (step S314), and the swivel conveyor 22 of the number j distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3). The driving flag of (1) to 22 (3) is turned ON (step S315), and it corresponds to the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) of the distribution transport mechanism 16 (1) to 16 (3) of number j. Drive timer Sets (step S316), it proceeds to step S307 to start driving of the turning conveyor 22 of the dispensing transport mechanism 16 of the number j (1) ~16 (3) (1) ~22 (3) (step S317). In step S313, the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) of the number j distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3) are not in the loading position of the article w with respect to the trough 26 of the vibration feeder 17 of number k. Sometimes, the swiveling conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) of the distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3) of number j are rotated to the loading position of the article w with respect to the trough 26 of the vibration feeder 17 of number k. That is, it turns and moves to step S307 (step S318).

  If the article w is not detected at the end of the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) of the distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3) of number j in step S311, the distribution transport of number j is performed. Whether or not the article w is detected at the start end of the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) of the mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3), that is, the distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (number k) It is determined whether or not the article w is detected by the distribution start-end article detection sensor Sc (k) corresponding to 3) (step S319), and when the article w is detected, the distribution transport mechanism 16 (1) to 16 of number j is detected. The in-driving flag of the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) of (3) is turned ON (step S320), and the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (1) of the distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3) of number j The drive timer corresponding to 22 (3) Ttoshi (step S321), proceeds to step S307 to start driving of the turning conveyor 22 of the dispensing transport mechanism 16 of the number j (1) ~16 (3) (1) ~22 (3) (step S322).

  In step S319, when the article w is not detected at the starting end of the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) of the number j distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3), the process proceeds to step S307.

  16 and 17 are flowcharts showing an example of control of the article discharge mechanism 15 which is a subroutine in the overall control flowchart of FIG.

  The basic control is the same as the distribution control of the article distribution apparatus 1 shown in FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 16, it is determined whether or not a conveyance flag indicating that the article w is being conveyed to the article discharge mechanism 15 (1) is ON (step S401), and the conveyance flag is ON. If not, the process proceeds to step S402. If the in-conveying flag is ON, the process proceeds to step S431.

  In step S402, it is determined whether or not the in-conveying flag of the article discharge mechanism 15 (2) is ON. When the in-conveying flag is not ON, the process proceeds to step S403, and when the in-conveying flag is ON. Then, the process proceeds to step S424.

  In step S403, it is determined whether or not the conveying flag of the article discharge mechanism 15 (3) is ON. If the conveying flag is not ON, the process proceeds to step S404, and if the conveying flag is ON. Then, the process proceeds to step S417.

  In step S404, based on the output of the distribution start end article detection sensor Sc (3) on the most downstream side in the transport direction, it is determined whether or not the article w is present at the start end of the corresponding swivel conveyor 22 (3). If there is no w, it is determined that there is an article discharge request, and the process proceeds to step S405. If there is an article w, the process proceeds to step S409.

  In step S405, the conveyance flag of the article discharge mechanism 15 (3) on the most downstream side in the conveyance direction is turned ON, and the detection time of the conveyance article detection sensor Sa (2) upstream of the article discharge mechanism 15 (3) is initialized. (Step S406), the distribution members 19 (1) and 19 (2) of the article discharge mechanisms 15 (1) and 15 (2) on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the article w from the article discharge mechanism 15 (3) are transferred. The article w is retracted from the path and allowed to pass through the article w, that is, turned off (step S407), and the sorting member 19 (3) of the article discharge mechanism 15 (3) is advanced into the conveyance path to make the article w. Is set to a dischargeable state, that is, it is turned on and the process proceeds to step S436 in FIG. 17 (step S8).

  In step S404, when the article w is detected by the distribution start end article detection sensor Sc (3), that is, when the article w is present at the start end of the swivel conveyor 22 (3), the most downstream turn in the transport direction. Assuming that there is no request for discharging the article w to the conveyor 22 (3), the process proceeds to step S409. In step S409, the distribution start end article detection sensor Sc (2) corresponding to the turn conveyor 22 (2) upstream of the turn conveyor 22 (3) detects the article w at the start end of the turn conveyor 22 (2). That is, it is determined whether or not there is an article w at the start end of the swivel conveyor 22 (2), and when there is no article w, it is determined that there is an article discharge request, and the process proceeds to step S410. The process moves to step S414.

  In step S410, the conveying flag of the article discharge mechanism 15 (2) corresponding to the swivel conveyor 22 (2) is turned ON, and the detection time of the conveyed article detection sensor Sa (1) upstream of the article discharge mechanism 15 (2) is set. Initialization (step S411), the distribution member 19 (1) of the article discharge mechanism 15 (1) upstream of the article discharge mechanism 15 (2) is allowed, that is, turned off (step S412), and the article is discharged. The distribution member 19 (2) of the mechanism 15 (2) is set in the ejected state, that is, turned on and proceeds to step S436 in FIG. 17 (step S413).

  In step S409, when the article is detected by the distribution start end article detection sensor Sc (2), that is, when the article w is present at the start end of the swivel conveyor 22 (2), the article to the swivel conveyor 22 (2) , The process proceeds to step S414, and whether or not the distribution start end article detection sensor Sc (1) upstream of the swivel conveyor 22 (2) detects the article w at the start end of the swivel conveyor 22 (1). That is, it is determined whether or not there is an article w at the starting end of the swivel conveyor 22 (1). If there is no article w, it is determined that there is an article discharge request, and the process proceeds to step S415. Then, the process proceeds to 17 step S436.

  In step S415, the conveyance flag of the most upstream article discharge mechanism 15 (1) is turned ON, and the sorting member 19 (1) of the article discharge mechanism 15 (1) is advanced into the conveyance path to discharge the article w. The discharge state is set, that is, it is turned on and the process proceeds to step S436 in FIG. 17 (step S416).

  In step S401, when the conveying flag of the article discharge mechanism 15 (1) is ON, the process proceeds to step S431, and the discharged article detection sensor Sb (1) that detects the article w discharged to the swivel conveyor 22 (1). ), It is determined whether or not the article w is detected. If the article w is not detected, the process proceeds to step S436 in FIG. 17, and if the article w is detected, the process proceeds to step S432.

  In step S432, the article detection time is increased, and it is determined whether or not the detection time has reached a predetermined time (step S433). If the predetermined time has not been reached, the process proceeds to step S436 in FIG. 17 to reach the predetermined time. If the required amount of articles w has been discharged to the swivel conveyor 22 (1), that is, they have been distributed, the conveying flag of the article discharge mechanism 15 (1) is turned off (step S434), and the article discharge mechanism 15 The distribution member 19 (1) in (1) is set in an allowable state, that is, turned off, and the process proceeds to step S436 in FIG. 17 (step S435).

  In step S402, when the conveying flag of the article discharge mechanism 15 (2) is ON, the process proceeds to step S424, and the article w is detected by the conveyed article detection sensor Sa (1) upstream of the article discharge mechanism 15 (2). If it is determined whether or not the article w has been detected, the process proceeds to step S436 in FIG. 17, and if the article w is detected, the process proceeds to step S425.

  In step S425, a discharging flag indicating that the detected article w is being discharged to the swivel conveyor 22 (2) is turned ON, and the detection time of the article by the transported article detection sensor Sa (1) is increased (step S425). S426), it is determined whether or not the detection time has reached the first predetermined time (step S427). If the detection time has not reached the first predetermined time, the process proceeds to step S436 in FIG. Then, the conveyance flag of the article discharge mechanism 15 (2) is turned OFF assuming that the required amount of articles w to be transferred to the article discharge mechanism 15 (2) has passed the detection area of the transfer article detection sensor Sa (1) (step S428), assuming that the conveyance of the article to the article discharge mechanism 15 (2) is completed, the conveyance completion flag is turned on (step S429), and the conveyance of the article discharge mechanism 15 (2) is completed. Set the conveyor after completion timer for measuring a set time from the point the start of the measurement, the flow proceeds to step S436 of FIG. 17 (step S430).

  In step S403, when the conveyance flag of the article discharge mechanism 15 (3) is ON, the process proceeds to step S417, and the article w is detected by the conveyance article detection sensor Sa (2) upstream of the article discharge mechanism 15 (3). When it is determined whether or not the article w is detected, the process proceeds to step S436 in FIG. 17, and when the article w is detected, the process proceeds to step S418.

  In step S418, the discharging flag indicating that the detected article w is being discharged to the swivel conveyor 22 (3) is turned ON, and the detection time of the article by the transported article detection sensor Sa (2) is increased (step S418). S419) It is determined whether or not the detection time has reached the first predetermined time (step S420). If the detection time has not reached the first predetermined time, the process proceeds to step S436 in FIG. Then, the in-conveying flag of the article discharging mechanism 15 (3) is turned OFF, assuming that the required amount of articles w to be conveyed to the article discharging mechanism 15 (3) has passed the detection area of the conveying article detection sensor Sa (2) (step S421), assuming that the conveyance of the article w by the article discharge mechanism 15 (3) is completed, the conveyance completion flag is turned on (step S422), and the conveyance of the article discharge mechanism 15 (3) is completed. Set the conveyor after completion timer for measuring a set time from the point the start of the measurement, the flow proceeds to step S436 of FIG. 17 (step S423).

  In step S436 in FIG. 17, it is determined whether or not a discharging flag indicating that it is a discharging period in which the article w is discharged to the most downstream swivel conveyor 22 (3) is ON, and the discharging flag is ON. If not, the process proceeds to step S447. If the discharging flag is ON, the process proceeds to step S437.

  In step S437, it is determined whether or not the article w discharged to the swivel conveyor 22 (3) is detected by the discharged article detection sensor Sb (3) corresponding to the swivel conveyor 22 (3), and the article w is detected. If not, the process moves to step S443. If the article w is detected, the process moves to step S438.

  In step S438, the detection time of the article by the discharged article detection sensor Sb (3) is increased, and whether or not the detection time has reached the second predetermined time, that is, the swivel conveyor 22 detected by the discharged article detection sensor Sb (3). It is determined whether or not the amount w of the article discharged to (3) has reached the required amount (step S439), and if it is not the second predetermined time, the process returns to step S401 in FIG. When it becomes, it moves to step S440.

  In step S440, assuming that the required amount of articles w has been discharged to the swivel conveyor 22 (3), the discharging flag of the swivel conveyor 22 (3) is turned OFF, and the required amount of articles w has been discharged. The conveyance completion flag of the article discharge mechanism 15 (3), which is a flag for measuring the set time after the conveyance of w is completed, is turned OFF (step S441), and the article w is discharged by the article discharge mechanism 15 (3). Is completed, the distribution member 19 (3) of the article discharge mechanism 15 (3) is allowed, that is, turned off (step S442), and the process returns to step S401 in FIG.

  In step S443, it is determined whether or not the conveyance completion flag of the article discharge mechanism 15 (3) is ON. If the conveyance completion flag is not ON, the process returns to step S401 in FIG. 16, and the conveyance completion flag is ON. If it is, the timer after completion of conveyance of the article discharge mechanism 15 (3) is decremented (step S444), and it is determined whether the timer after completion of conveyance of the article discharge mechanism 15 (3) has expired (step S445). When the time is not up, the process returns to step S401 in FIG. 16, and when the time is up, the swivel conveyor 22 (3 (3) is conveyed despite the completion of the conveyance of the required amount of the goods w to the article discharge mechanism 15 (3). ) Is notified that the required amount of articles w has not been discharged and adjustment is required (step S446), and the process proceeds to step S440.

  In step S436, when the discharging flag of the turning conveyor 22 (3) is not ON, it is determined whether or not the discharging flag of the turning conveyor 22 (2) upstream of the turning conveyor 22 (3) is ON ( In step S447), when the discharging flag is not ON, the process returns to step S401 in FIG. 16, and when the discharging flag is ON, the process proceeds to step S448.

  In step S448, it is determined whether or not the article w discharged to the swivel conveyor 22 (2) is detected by the discharged article detection sensor Sb (2) corresponding to the swirl conveyor 22 (2), and the article w is detected. If not, the process moves to step S54. If the article w is detected, the process moves to step S449.

  In step S449, the detection time of the article by the discharged article detection sensor Sb (2) is increased, and whether or not the detection time has reached the second predetermined time, that is, the swivel conveyor 22 detected by the discharged article detection sensor Sb (2). It is determined whether or not the amount w of the article discharged to (2) has reached the required amount (step S450), and if it is not the second predetermined time, the process returns to step S401 in FIG. When it becomes, it moves to step S451.

  In step S451, assuming that the required amount of articles w has been discharged to the swivel conveyor 22 (2), the discharging flag of the swivel conveyor 22 (2) is turned OFF, and the required amount of articles w has been discharged. Is not necessary, the conveyance completion flag of the article discharge mechanism 15 (2), which is a flag for measuring the elapsed time after the conveyance by the article discharge mechanism 15 (2) is completed, is turned off (step S452). Assuming that the discharge of the article w by the article discharge mechanism 15 (2) is completed, the distribution member 19 (2) of the article discharge mechanism 15 (2) is set to an allowable state, that is, turned off (step S453), and FIG. The process returns to step S401.

  In step S454, it is determined whether or not the conveyance completion flag of the article discharge mechanism 15 (2) is ON. If the conveyance completion flag is not ON, the process returns to step S401 in FIG. 16 and the conveyance completion flag is ON. If it is, the timer after completion of conveyance of the article discharge mechanism 15 (2) is decremented (step S455), and it is determined whether or not the timer after completion of conveyance of the article discharge mechanism 15 (2) has expired (step 456). When the time has not expired, the process returns to step S401 in FIG. 16, and when the time has expired, the required amount is supplied to the swivel conveyor 22 (2) even though the conveyance of the article w is completed by the article discharge mechanism 15 (2). That the item w has not been discharged and adjustment is required (step S457), and the process proceeds to step S451.

  As described above, when the article w is supplied on the upstream side in the transport direction of the preceding transport mechanism 14, the distribution members 19 (1) to 19 (1) of the article discharge mechanisms 15 (1) to 15 (3) are provided at three locations on the transport path. 19 (3) distributes the article w to each of the swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 (3) of the three distribution transport mechanisms 16 (1) to 16 (3) outside the transport path, and each swivel conveyor 22 ( According to 1) to 22 (3), each of the troughs 26 of the three vibration feeders 17 is sorted and conveyed. That is, the articles supplied at one location upstream in the transport direction of the front transport mechanism 14 are distributed and transported to the troughs 26 of the nine vibration feeders 17, and the troughs 26 of the vibration feeders 17 are used to Nine article input ports 31 can be supplied.

  Therefore, the article w, which is a piece of sticky broiler meat, can be automatically supplied to the nine article insertion ports 31 of the combination weigher 13, and the operator can grasp the articles one by one and semi-automatically. There is no need to perform the operation of putting it into the article input port of the type combination weigher, and the labor of the operator can be greatly reduced.

For example, when a 2 kg vacuum pack of broiler meat pieces is manufactured in a subsequent packaging machine of a semi-automatic combination weigher, assuming that the weighing capacity of the combination weigher is, for example, 20 times / minute, the operator is 1 In time, a piece of meat corresponding to 2 kg × 20 × 60 = 2.4 t is grasped and put into the article insertion port of the semi-automatic combination weigher. Moreover, since the worker works while standing, if you work for a long time,
It will consume too much physical strength.

  According to this embodiment, since the article w is automatically distributed and supplied to the article insertion port 31 of the combination weigher 13 by the article supply device 12, the operator grasps the meat piece and puts it into the article insertion port 31 of the combination scale 13. There is no need, and a great deal of labor can be saved.

  Moreover, the distribution of the articles w by the article discharge mechanisms 15 (1) to 15 (3) does not vary between the upstream side and the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the articles w, and the three swivel conveyors 22 (1) to 22 ( The articles w can be uniformly distributed to 3), and the combination scale 13 can be operated efficiently.

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

  (1) As shown in FIG. 18 corresponding to FIG. 1 above, the transported article detection sensor Sa (0) is placed upstream of the most upstream article discharge mechanism 4 (1), and the most downstream article discharge mechanism. 4 (3), a transported article detection sensor Sa (4) is added to each downstream side, and the transported article detection sensor Sa (0) grasps the amount of articles w carried into the article sorting apparatus 1 and transports them. The article detection sensor Sa (4) may grasp the carry-out amount of the carried-out article w without being sorted by the article sorting apparatus 1.

  Thereby, for example, in the above-described weighing system, it is possible to determine whether or not the carry-in amount of the article w carried into the pre-stage carrying mechanism 14 is appropriate for the weighing processing capacity of the combination weigher 13.

  (2) The rear conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (3) are not limited to the form arranged on only one side on both sides of the conveyor 2, as in the above-described embodiment, for example, a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 19, the rear conveyors 3 (1) to 3 (4) may be arranged on both sides of the conveyor 2.

  (3) In the above embodiment, the articles w distributed outside the conveyance path by the article discharge mechanisms 4 and 15 are discharged to the conveying means for conveying the articles w, such as the rear conveyor 3 and the swivel conveyor 22. For example, it may be discharged to a storage space for storing the article w.

  As such an application, a processing line in which an operator sequentially disassembles a plurality of articles in a storage space, for example, a plurality of fishes, that is, sequentially slices them with a knife and sends them to a subsequent weighing and packaging line. There is. The amount of fish in the storage space is detected by, for example, a sensor such as a weight sensor. When the amount of fish to be processed decreases below a certain level, the output of the sensor is given to the control device 7 as a discharge request, and the fish is sent to the storage space. Sort out. In addition, when the amount of fish to be processed in the storage space decreases without using a sensor or the like, a discharge request may be given to the control device 7 by an operator's button operation or the like. In this case, a skilled worker is faster in processing fish than an unfamiliar worker, so the number of fish stored in the storage space is reduced quickly, and the frequency of discharge requests for articles increases. The amount of fish distributed to the storage space corresponding to the skilled worker is larger than the storage space corresponding to the unskilled worker.

  (4) The article detection sensor is not limited to the transmission type photoelectric sensor as described above, and other sensors such as a reflection type photoelectric sensor and an ultrasonic sensor can also be used.

  (5) The locations where the articles are discharged by the article discharge mechanisms 4 and 15 and the distribution destinations where the articles are distributed by the distribution and transport mechanism 16 are not limited to three, and may be two or four or more. .

  (6) The article is not limited to broiler meat pieces and fish that have been disassembled, and may be root vegetables such as salmon and onions, and other articles.

  (7) The transport means is not limited to the belt conveyor such as the transport conveyor 2, but, for example, a slat type conveyor, a wire mesh belt conveyor, etc., in which a large number of lateral slat bars made of a hard resin material or metal material are connected to form an annular belt Can also be used.

  (8) The distribution transport mechanism 16 may be configured to vibrate and transport instead of the conveyor.

  (9) The rear-stage transport mechanism can be a belt conveyor type instead of the vibration feeder 17.

  (10) In the above embodiment, the articles distributed by the distribution and transport mechanism 16 are transported by the vibration feeder 17 to the article input port of the combination weigher that is each supply destination, but the vibration feeder 17 is omitted and the distribution and transport mechanism 16 is omitted. Thus, the articles may be directly distributed and supplied to each supply destination.

1 Article sorting device 2 Conveyor (conveying means)
3 (1) to 3 (3) Rear conveyor (rear transport means)
4 (1) -4 (3) Article discharge mechanism (sorting means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 Conveyance belt 6 (1) -6 (3) Sorting member 7 Control apparatus 12 Article supply apparatus 13 Combination balance 14 Previous stage conveyance mechanism 15 (1) -15 (3) Article discharge | emission mechanism 16 (1) -16 (3) Distribution Conveying mechanism 17 Vibration feeder 19 (1) to 19 (3) Sorting member 22 (1) to 22 (3) Swivel conveyor 40 PLC
w Article Sa (1), Sa (2) Conveyance article detection sensor (first article detection sensor)
Sb (1) to Sb (3) Discharged article detection sensor (second article detection sensor)
Sc (1) to Sc (3) Rear article detection sensor (third article detection sensor)

Claims (10)

An article distribution device that distributes articles to be conveyed to a plurality of discharge locations,
Conveying means for conveying the article in a single conveying path;
A plurality of distribution means for distributing the article to the discharge location outside the conveyance path at a plurality of locations on the conveyance path along the conveyance direction of the article;
Article detection means for detecting the article in the transport path;
Control means for controlling the distribution of the article by the distribution means based on the discharge request of the article to the discharge location and the output of the article detection means;
An article distribution apparatus comprising: The article detection means is a first article detection means,
A plurality of second article detection means for detecting articles distributed to the outside of the transport path by the plurality of distribution means;
The control means controls the distribution of the article by the distribution means based on the discharge request of the article to the discharge location, the output of the first article detection means, and the output of the second article detection means. ,
The article distribution apparatus according to claim 1. The first article detection means detects the article conveyed on the conveyance path and outputs a detection output to the control means.
The second article detection means detects the article discharged from the transport path to the discharge location and outputs a detection output to the control means.
The control means controls the distribution of the article by the distribution means based on the detection time of the article by the first article detection means and the detection time of the article by the second article detection means.
The article distribution apparatus according to claim 2. N distribution means (N is a positive integer of 2 or more),
Having at least (N-1) first article detection means;
At least (N-1) first article detection means respectively correspond to at least (N-1) distribution means and pass through at least (N-1) detection areas in the transport path. Each item to be detected,
The control means controls the distribution of the articles by the distribution means corresponding to the first article detection means based on the detection time of the articles by the first article detection means, and the corresponding distribution means Control the amount of the article conveyed to the downstream side in the conveyance direction,
The article distribution apparatus according to claim 3. The (N-1) number of detection areas of the (N-1) number of first article detection means except for the most downstream distribution means in the transport direction. Each region on the downstream side in the transport direction adjacent to each means,
The article distribution apparatus according to claim 4. The plurality of sorting means advance into the transport path so that the article is allowed to move away from the transport path and obliquely intersect the transport direction of the article, and allow the article to move through the transport path. Each has a sorting member that can be switched to a discharge state for guiding and discharging out of the conveyance path,
The control means switches and controls the permissible state and the discharge state of the distribution member of the plurality of distribution means,
The article distribution apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5. The article where the discharge location is lower than the transport path, and the second article detection means is guided and discharged out of the transport path by the sorting member in the discharge state and falls to the discharge position. Detect,
The article distribution apparatus according to claim 6. The control means prioritizes the discharge request for the article from the discharge point over the discharge request for the article from the discharge point upstream in the transport direction over the discharge point.
The article distribution device according to any one of claims 2 to 7. The plurality of discharge locations are a plurality of subsequent transport means for respectively transporting the supplied articles while the articles distributed by the plurality of distribution means are supplied, A plurality of third article detection means for detecting each of the articles, and the discharge request of the article is a non-detection output of the third article detection means that has not detected the article in the subsequent transport means;
The article distribution device according to any one of claims 2 to 8. The article distribution device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
As the plurality of discharge locations, the articles distributed by the plurality of distribution means are supplied, and the distribution transport means for transporting the supplied articles and distributing them to a plurality of distribution destinations,
An article supply apparatus comprising:

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