COMBINATION WEIGHING APPARATUS

Abstract

A combination weighing apparatus (1) according to an embodiment has a control unit (51) that performs combination calculation based on a plurality of weight values acquired by acquisition units (71 to 7n) and discharges a combination of articles having a preset target weight value from hoppers (61 to 6n); a discharge chute (9) that receives the articles discharged from the hoppers (61 to 6n), has a conveyance surface (9B) having a plurality of openings (9D) smaller than the article, and discharges the articles downstream while sliding the articles on the conveyance surface (9B); and a moisture recovery mechanism (20) that is disposed below the openings in the discharge chute (9) and recovers moisture passing through the openings (9D) in the discharge chute (9) from an inside to an outside of the conveyance surface (90) and falling from the discharge chute (9).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-038508 filed on Mar. 13, 2023 in Japan, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a combination weighing apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, a combination weighing apparatus in which a shutter structure is provided on a conveyance surface of a distribution table, a supply trough, a hopper, a discharge chute or the like is known.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, in the conventional combination weighing apparatus, an opening is provided in the above-described conveyance surface, and thus, there is a problem that drips (moisture such as meat juice and sauce) of an article leak.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a combination weighing apparatus capable of preventing functional deterioration due to moisture leaked from articles or drying of such moisture, and improving cleaning performance even in a case where an opening is provided in a conveyance surface.

A combination weighing apparatus according to an embodiment is summarized as a combination weighing apparatus having: a conveyance unit that receives articles given from an outside and conveys the articles downstream; a plurality of hoppers that include first gates, temporarily receive the articles conveyed from the conveyance unit by closing the first gates, and discharge the articles downstream by opening the first gates; an acquisition unit that acquires a weight value of the article stored in each of the plurality of hoppers; a control unit that performs combination calculation based on a plurality of the weight values acquired by the acquisition unit and discharges a combination of the articles having a preset target weight value from the hoppers; a discharge chute that receives the articles discharged from the hoppers, has a conveyance surface having a plurality of openings smaller than the article, and discharges the articles downstream while sliding the articles on the conveyance surface; and a moisture recovery mechanism that is disposed below the openings in the discharge chute and recovers moisture passing through the openings in the discharge chute from an inside to an outside of the conveyance surface and falling from the discharge chute.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a combination weighing apparatus capable of preventing functional deterioration due to moisture leaked from articles or drying of such moisture, and improving cleaning performance even in a case where an opening is provided in a conveyance surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram for describing an example of an overall configuration of a combination weighing apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a diagram for describing an example of a conveyance surface 90 of a discharge chute 9 of the combination weighing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram for describing the example of the conveyance surface 90 of the discharge chute 9 of the combination weighing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a diagram for describing an example of a moisture recovery mechanism 20 of the combination weighing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment; and

FIG. 5 is a diagram for describing an example of a combination weighing apparatus 1 according to Modification 1.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference symbols. However, note that the drawings are schematic, and ratios of dimensions are different from actual ones. Therefore, specific dimensions and the like are determined in consideration of the following description. Moreover, there may be portions where dimensional relationships or proportions are different among the drawings. In this specification and the drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals to omit redundant description, and elements not directly related to the present invention are omitted.

First Embodiment

Hereinafter, a combination weighing apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overall configuration of the combination weighing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams for describing an example of a conveyance surface 90 of a discharge chute 9 of the combination weighing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a diagram for describing an example of a moisture recovery mechanism 20 of the combination weighing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the combination weighing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a distribution table 2, supply troughs 3₁ to 3_n, pool hoppers 4₁ to 4_n, weighing hoppers 6₁ to 6_n, the discharge chute 9, a timing hopper 10, a control unit 51, and the moisture recovery mechanism 20.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a conveyor 100 drops articles M, which are objects to be weighed, to a central portion of the distribution table 2 of the combination weighing apparatus 1.

The distribution table 2 and each of the supply troughs 3₁ to 3_n are each vibrated by the drive of a vibrator, so that the articles M on the distribution table 2 are supplied to the multiple pool hoppers 4₁ to 4_n provided downstream of the supply troughs 3₁ to 3_n, respectively.

Here, the distribution table 2 and the supply troughs 3₁ to 3_n constitute a conveyance unit that receives the articles M given from the outside (the conveyor 100) and conveys the articles M downstream.

The pool hoppers 4₁ to 4_n are provided with gates 5₁ to 5_n, respectively, and temporarily house and store the articles M supplied and received from the corresponding supply troughs 3₁ to 3_n, respectively.

The weighing hoppers 6₁ to 6_n are provided downstream of the pool hoppers 4₁ to 4_n, respectively. The respective weighing hoppers 6₁ to 6_n are provided with weighing headers including weight detectors 7₁ to 7_n for weighing the articles M given from the pool hoppers 4₁ to 4_n and gates (first gates) 8₁ to 8_n.

That is, the respective weighing hoppers 6₁ to 6_n temporarily receive the articles M conveyed from the respective supply troughs 3₁ to 3_n by closing the gates 8₁ to 8_n, respectively, and discharge the articles M downstream by opening the gates 8₁ to 8_n.

Here, the weight detectors 7₁ to 7_n constitute an acquisition unit that acquires a weight value of the article M stored in each of the plurality of weighing hoppers 6₁ to 6_n.

The discharge chute 9 is provided below the gates 8₁ to 8_n of the respective weighing hoppers 6₁ to 6_n. The timing hopper 10 is disposed below the discharge chute 9.

The control unit 51 performs combination calculation based on a plurality of weight values acquired by the respective weight detectors 7₁ to 7_n, and discharges a combination of the articles M having a preset target weight value from the weighing hoppers 6₁ to 6_n.

The discharge chute 9 has the conveyance surface 90, receives the articles M discharged from the respective weighing hoppers 6₁ to 6_n, and discharges the articles M downstream (the timing hopper 10) while sliding the articles M on the conveyance surface 90.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration when the conveyance surface 90 is visually recognized from the front surface to the back surface.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the inside of the conveyance surface 90 may be subjected to shutter processing. Such shutter processing may be louver processing.

That is, the conveyance surface 90 may have a protrusion 9A protruding from the outside toward the inside of the discharge chute 9. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the protrusion 9A may be a flat inclined surface.

Specifically, the protrusion 9A is formed of three continuous flat surfaces. The flat surfaces include a flat trapezoidal main surface 9B and two side surfaces 9C formed to be continuous with the main surface 9B. Here, the main surface 9B and the two side surfaces 9C are connected to the conveyance surface 90.

In summary, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a plurality of protrusions 9A protrude from the conveyance surface 90 from an upstream direction U toward a downstream direction D.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for describing a configuration when the conveyance surface 90 is viewed from the back surface to the front surface.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, a plurality of openings 9D smaller than the above-described article M are provided in the conveyance surface 90. That is, the opening 9D directed from the front surface to the back surface of the conveyance surface 90 is formed at a lower end of each protrusion 9A in the downstream direction D (a conveyance direction of the article M).

In other words, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, an end portion of the main surface 9B in the downstream direction D protrudes from the conveyance surface 90, and the opening 9D is formed between the main surface 9B and the conveyance surface 90.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the moisture recovery mechanism 20 is disposed below the opening 9D in the discharge chute 9 and recovers moisture X passing through the opening 9D in the discharge chute 9 from the inside to the outside of the conveyance surface 90 and falling from the discharge chute 9.

In the above configuration, there is a possibility that moisture (drip) contained in the article M flows backward due to an impact when the article M falls into the discharge chute 9, and the moisture leaks from the inside to the outside of the conveyance surface 90 through the opening 9D formed at the end portion of the conveyance surface 90 of the discharge chute 9 in the downstream direction D as illustrated in FIG. 4. However, with the above-described configuration, the leaked moisture can be recovered by the moisture recovery mechanism 20.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the moisture recovery mechanism 20 may extend more outward than an outer edge portion 9E of an upper end of the discharge chute 9. With such a configuration, moisture leaking from the discharge chute 9 can be more reliably recovered.

Further, in addition to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 4, among end portions of the moisture recovery mechanism 20, an end portion located on an inner side of the combination weighing apparatus 1 may be configured to be in contact with the discharge chute 9. Moisture leaked from the discharge chute 9 not only freely falls from the discharge chute 9 but also moves downstream along an outer surface of the discharge chute 9. Among the end portions of the moisture recovery mechanism 20, the end portion located on the inner side of the combination weighing apparatus 1 is configured to be in contact with the discharge chute 9 to recover such moisture. With this configuration, moisture moving downstream along the outer surface of the discharge chute 9 can be prevented from falling into the timing hopper 10, and a risk of mixing of foreign matter can be reduced.

Modification 1

Hereinafter, Modification 1 of the present invention will be described focusing on differences from the first embodiment described above with reference to FIG. 5.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, a timing hopper 10 includes a gate (second gate) 10G, temporarily receives an article M discharged from a discharge chute 9 by closing the gate 10G, and further discharges the article M downstream by opening the gate 10G.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, a moisture recovery mechanism 21 in Modification 1 is configured using a cover that protects a drive unit 10D that drives the gate 10G.

With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent performance deterioration of a combination weighing apparatus 1 by protecting the drive unit 10D whose function is highly likely to be affected by moisture leaked from the discharge chute 9.

Here, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the moisture recovery mechanism 21 may protect an inner cylinder 10A of an air cylinder constituting the drive unit 10D.

With such a configuration, it is possible to protect the air cylinder whose performance deteriorates particularly when moisture leaked from the discharge chute 9 adheres.

According to the present embodiment, even in a case where an opening 9D is provided in a conveyance surface 90 of the discharge chute 9, it is possible to prevent functional deterioration due to moisture leaked from the article M and to improve cleaning performance.

Although the present invention is explained in detail using the above-mentioned embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein. The present invention can be implemented as modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention defined by the description of the claims. Accordingly, the description of the present specification is for the purpose of illustration and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way.

Claims

1. A combination weighing apparatus comprising: a conveyance unit that receives articles given from an outside and conveys the articles downstream;a plurality of hoppers that include first gates, temporarily receive the articles conveyed from the conveyance unit by closing the first gates, and discharge the articles downstream by opening the first gates;an acquisition unit that acquires a weight value of the article stored in each of the plurality of hoppers;a control unit that performs combination calculation based on a plurality of the weight values acquired by the acquisition unit and discharges a combination of the articles having a preset target weight value from the hoppers;a discharge chute that receives the articles discharged from the hoppers, has a conveyance surface having a plurality of openings smaller than the article, and discharges the articles downstream while sliding the articles on the conveyance surface; anda moisture recovery mechanism that is disposed below the openings in the discharge chute and recovers moisture passing through the openings in the discharge chute from an inside to an outside of the conveyance surface and falling from the discharge chute.

2. The combination weighing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moisture recovery mechanism extends more outward than an outer edge portion of an upper end of the discharge chute.

3. The combination weighing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a timing hopper that includes a second gate, temporarily receives the articles discharged from the discharge chute by closing the second gate, and discharges the articles downstream by opening the second gate, wherein the moisture recovery mechanism is configured using a cover that protects a drive unit that drives the second gate.

4. The combination weighing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the moisture recovery mechanism protects an inner cylinder of an air cylinder constituting the drive unit.

5. The combination weighing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveyance surface has a protrusion protruding from an outside toward an inside of the discharge chute, andthe opening is formed at a lower end of the protrusion in a conveyance direction of the articles.