JP3585341B2

JP3585341B2 - Agricultural transport equipment

Info

Publication number: JP3585341B2
Application number: JP06830797A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 隆岩川; 憲一石見
Original assignee: Kubota Corp
Current assignee: Kubota Corp
Priority date: 1997-03-21
Filing date: 1997-03-21
Publication date: 2004-11-04
Anticipated expiration: 2017-03-21
Also published as: JPH10265021A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、農用搬送装置に関し、詳しくは、球状農作物を持ち上げ方向に送る装置に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来、上記のように構成された農用搬送装置としてバケットコンベアやエレベータ式のコンベア装置が存在する。
【０００３】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
従来から存在するバケットコンベアやエレベータ式のコンベア装置は、球状農作物でも零れ落ちのない状態で農作物を持ち上げ方向に搬送し得るものであるが、構造が複雑であるばかりか、搬送する農作物の大きさと比較して大型化するものとなり、農作物を１つずつ送る簡易な搬送には不向きな面もある。
【０００４】
本発明の目的は、球状農作物を１つずつ確実に高所に搬送し得る搬送装置を簡便に構成する点にある。
【０００５】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明の第１の特徴（請求項１）は、搬送経路に沿って駆動回動自在に無端ベルトを配置すると共に、この無端ベルトの幅方向に沿って配置される帯状の支持部材に、農作物を係止搬送するための係止部材を突設固定し、前記搬送経路の直線移動箇所で前記無端ベルトの表面に対して当接支持されている前記支持部材の接当面のうち、前記支持部材における前記無端ベルトの搬送方向上手側に位置する上手側端縁部を、前記搬送経路の回動移動箇所では前記無端ベルトの表面に対して離間することを許すように、前記支持部材における前記無端ベルトの搬送方向下手側に位置する下手側端縁部のみを、保持手段を介して前記無端ベルトに止着連結してある点にあり、その作用、及び、効果は次の通りである。
【０００６】
本発明の第２の特徴（請求項２）は請求項１において、前記保持手段が無端ベルトと、支持部材とを縫い着ける糸で構成されている点にあり、その作用、及び、効果は次の通りである。
【０００７】
本発明の第３の特徴（請求項３）は請求項１において、前記支持部材に板状部材が用いられると共に、前記係止部材が無端ベルトの幅方向に沿って並列配置された複数のロッドで構成されている点にあり、その作用、及び、効果は次の通りである。
【０００８】
本発明の第４の特徴（請求項４）は請求項３において、前記無端ベルトの送り位置検出用の被検出片を前記板状部材の横幅方向の端部に突設してある点にあり、その作用、及び、効果は次の通りである。
【０００９】
〔作用〕
上記第１の特徴によると、該装置で農作物を持ち上げ方向に搬送する場合には無端ベルトの回動と共に係止部材に係止された農作物が搬送されるものとなり、又、係止部材が無端ベルトに直接支持されるのでは無く、支持部材を介して支持され、しかも、この支持部材が無端ベルトの搬送方向の下手位置の端縁部を保持手段を介して止着連結してあるので、無端ベルトの搬送端で係止部材がローラ等を回り込む際にも、搬送方向で保持手段を設けた部位とは逆側の部位である搬送方向上手側端縁部が無端ベルトの表面から離間する状態となり、前記無端ベルト等の変形が回避される。
【００１０】
上記第２の特徴によると、柔軟に変形し得る糸を用いたことにより無端ベルトの搬送端で係止部材がローラ等を回り込む際に支持部材が無端ベルトから容易に持ち上がるものとなり、ヒンジを用いるものと比較して簡単な構造で済む。
【００１１】
上記第３の特徴によると、農作物の搬送時には複数のロッドに係止される状態となり、このロッドが板状部材に支持されるので姿勢が安定すると共に、板状等の幅広の係止部材を用いる場合と比較して小型軽量で済む。
【００１２】
上記第４の特徴によると、被検出片の位置を検出することで農作物の搬送位置を正確に判別し得るものとなり、この被検出片を板状部材に備えるので、この被検出片を備えるための特別の構造を必要としない。
【００１３】
〔発明の効果〕
従って、球状農作物を１つずつ確実に高所に搬送し得る搬送装置が簡便に構成されたのである（請求項１）。又、極めて簡単な構造で係止部材を支持し得るものとなり（請求項２）、簡単な構造で係止部材が構成され（請求項３）、簡単な構造で搬送途中の農作物の位置を判別できるものとなった（請求項４）。
【００１４】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の実施の形態を図面に基づいて説明する。
図１〜図３に示すように、農作物の一例としてのレタスを包装するレタス包装機Ｐから送り出されれる包装レタスＱを受け止めて所定の高さまで持ち上げる傾斜姿勢のコンベア装置Ｃと、このコンベア装置Ｃで送られる包装レタスＱの大きさを計測する接触式の計測装置Ｍと、コンベア装置Ｃの上端まで持ち上げられた包装レタスＱを計測装置Ｍの計測結果に基づき自重を利用した転がりや滑りによって大きさに対応した所定位置に回収する回収装置Ｒとを備えて包装レタスの選別部が構成されている。
【００１５】
前記レタス包装機Ｐは本体１の上面に包装台２が形成されると共に、本体上面に包装ロール３を備え、包装作業時には包装台２に予め拡げられた切断状態の包装ロールからの包装シートの上面に対し、包装台２の開口２Ａを介してレタスを落とし込み、上面の一対のスイッチ４，４を同時にＯＮ操作することで内蔵された電動モータ（図示せず）の駆動力で包装シートにレタスを包み込むと同時に包装シートの上部を絞り込み、又、上部の余りシートを切断し、包装シートの上部を熱溶着する、あるいは、粘着テープで固定した後、シュート５を介して包装機外に送出し、更に、次の包装シートを包装ロール３から包装台に引出し、かつ、所定の大きさに切断する作動を自動的に行うよう構成されている。
【００１６】
図１，図４に示すように、前記コンベア装置Ｃは主フレーム６に対して斜め姿勢で支持された左右一対の側部フレーム７，７の上下端に遊転支承されたローラ８，８に対してゴム等の可撓性の素材で成る無端ベルト９を巻回すると共に、一方のローラ８を駆動する電動モータ（図示せず）を備えている。又、この無端ベルト９に一対の係止ロッド１０，１０を複数箇所に突設し、下端部にはレタス包装機Ｐのシュート５から送り出される包装レタスＱを受け止めるようフォーク状に複数の受止めロッド１１を配置し、上端部には包装レタスＱを送り出すようフォーク状に複数のガイドロッド１２を備えている。
【００１７】
図５に示すように、係止ロッド１０，１０は、その基端部を横長姿勢（長手方向を無端ベルト９の幅方向に設定した姿勢）の板状の支持部材４５に固設してあり、この支持部材４５における無端ベルト９の送り方向の下手側の端縁部を無端ベルト９に糸４６で縫い付けて固定することで図６に示す如く、ローラ８の部位の移動時にも非縫い付け側を無端ベルト９から離間させて無端ベルト９の円滑な回動を許すものとなっている。
【００１８】
図４，図９〜図１１に示すように、前記計測装置Ｍは前記係止ロッド１０に受け止められた状態で送られる包装レタスＱの両側に接触して包装レタスＱの幅方向の直径を求める左右一対の計測機構ＭＳ，ＭＳと、包装レタスＱの送り方向下手側に接触して包装レタスＱの送り方向での直径、及び、包装レタスＱの上面に接触して高さ方向での直径を求めるよう構成された計測機構ＭＴとで成り、図１０，図１１に示すように、左右の計測機構ＭＳはコンベア装置Ｃの側部フレーム７に取付けたブラケット１５に筒状部材１６を固設し、この筒状部材１６に対して無端ベルト９のベルト面と直交する姿勢で回動自在に回動軸１７を内嵌し、この回動軸１７と一体揺動する揺動部材１８に対して変位部材としての樹脂板製の接触片１９を取付け、又、この接触片１９を無端ベルト９の幅方向の中央側に張出すよう付勢する板バネ２０を備え、更に、接触片１９の揺動量を計測するよう回動軸１７で回動操作されるポテンショメータ型の側部センサ２１，２１を備えて構成されている。
【００１９】
図４，図７，図８に示すように、前記計測機構ＭＴは左右の側部フレーム７，７の間にアーチ型に形成した中間フレーム２２に筒状部材２３を固設し、この筒状部材２３に対してコンベア装置Ｃのローラ８の軸芯と平行する姿勢で回動自在に回動軸２４を内嵌し、この回動軸２４と一体揺動する揺動部材２５に対して変位部材としての樹脂板製の接触片２６を取付け、又、この接触片２６の揺動端がコンベア装置Ｃのベルト面の側に張出すよう付勢するコイルバネ２７を備え、更に、接触片２６の揺動量を計測するポテンショメータ型の上部センサ２８を備えて構成されている。又、無端ベルト９の送り面のには前記係止ロッド１０を支持する支持部材４５に対して係止ロッド１０，１０と並列する位置に操作片２９（被検出片の一例）を備え、側部フレーム７にはこの操作片２９で押圧操作されるリミットスイッチ３０を備えている。
【００２０】
又、側部センサ２１と、上部センサ２８とは夫々とも回動軸１７，２４に対する軸芯精度を高くするための構造が採用され、上部センサ２８を例に挙げて説明すると図７、図８に示す如く、上部センサ２８の操作軸２８Ａを回動軸２４に連結すると共に、この上部センサ２８の本体２８Ｂが連結される回り止め用の支持部材４７が保持機構４８を介して固定系の部材に保持されており、この保持機構４８は、回動軸２４の軸芯方向に沿う方向視で回動軸２４の軸芯位置と保持位置とを結ぶ方向に長手方向を設定して前記支持部材４７に穿設した長孔４８Ａと、この長孔４８Ａに係入して支持部材４７の回動を阻止するピン４８Ｂとで構成され、この支持部材４７が回動軸２４の軸芯方向に沿う方向視で回動軸２４の軸芯位置と保持位置とを結ぶ方向への移動が許される結果、センサ２８に外力を作用させず軸芯精度を高く維持できるものとなっている。
【００２１】
図１〜図３に示すように、前記回収装置Ｒは、包装レタスＱを例えば同図のＳサイズ、Ｍサイズ、Ｌサイズ、ＬＬサイズのように大きさの異なる４種の包装レタスＱを収納する４つの回収部３１‥が並列状態に備えられると共に、この回収部のうち両端位置にものに対して包装レタスＱを案内する傾斜姿勢の一対の案内部３２，３２と、コンベア装置Ｃの上端からガイドロッド１２を介して送り出される包装レタスＱを受け止めて４つの回収部３１‥のうち中央の２つに対しては直接的に包装レタスＱを落とし込み、又、４つの回収部３１‥のうち両端の２つに対しては前記一対の案内部３２，３２を介して包装レタスＱを送り込むよう４方向の何れに対しても送り出し方向を設定自在できるよう縦向き姿勢の軸芯Ｙ周りで姿勢切換え自在に構成された経路切換板３３とを備えて構成され、この経路切換板３３は中央部に案内用の凹溝３３Ａが形成されると共に、該回収装置Ｒのフレーム３４に対して支承された縦向き姿勢の支軸３５に支持され、又、この支軸３５を回動操作する切換モータ３６と、支軸３５の回動姿勢を計測するポテンショメータ型の姿勢センサ３７とを備えている。
【００２２】
図１２に示すように選別部の制御系が構成され、この制御系ではマイクロプロセッサを備えた制御装置４１に対して前記一対の側部センサ２１，２１からの信号、前記上部センサ２８からの信号、リミットスイッチ３０からの信号、ダイヤル（図示せず）で人為的に回動操作されるポテンショメータ型の第１，第２，第３設定器５１，５２，５３、及び、前記姿勢センサ３７からの信号が入力する系を形成し、又、該制御装置４１からは前記切換モータ３６を制御する信号が出力される系を形成してあり、包装レタスＱの選別時には制御装置４１が以下のように制御動作を行う。
【００２３】
又、コンベア装置Ｃはレタス包装器Ｐが包装処理に要する時間（７秒程度）のうちに包装レタスを２個以上持ち上げ得るよう送り速度が設定されており、又、コンベア装置Ｃで包装レタスＱが送られる際には左右の計測機構ＭＳ，ＭＳ接触片１９，１９を通過した後に、操作片２９がリミットスイッチ３０をＯＮ操作し、この後に包装レタスＱが上部の計測機構ＭＴの接触片２６を通過するよう位置関係が設定され、制御装置４１に設定された選別ルーチンは図１３のフローチャートに示す処理を行う。
【００２４】
つまり、処理時には側部センサ２１，２１からの信号を入力して、図１４に示す如く、接触片１９，１９の揺動量が最大に達した際の値に基づいて包装レタスＱの幅方向の直径Ｗを演算する（＃１０１〜＃１０３ステップ）。この処理は同図に示すように揺動軸１７の軸芯から接触片１９の揺動端までの距離Ｌと、接触片１９の揺動角度θｗと、揺動軸１７の軸芯間距離Ｗｓとに基づいて、
Ｗ＝Ｗｓ−Ｌ（ｃｏｓθｗ＋ｃｏｓθｗ）
の式に基づく演算で幅方向の直径Ｗを求め、その値をメモリ、レジスタ等に保持する作動を行うものとなっている。
【００２５】
次に、図１６に示す如く、リミットスイッチ３０がＯＮ操作されたタイミングで上部センサ２８からの信号を入力して包装レタスＱの前後方向の直径Ｄを演算する（＃１０４〜＃１０６ステップ）。この処理は同図に示すように揺動軸２４の軸芯から接触片２６の揺動端までの距離Ｌと、接触片２６の揺動角度θｄと、揺動軸２４から係止ロッド１０までの距離Ｄｓとに基づいて、
Ｄ＝Ｄｓ＋Ｌｓｉｎθｄ
の式に基づく演算で前後方向の直径Ｄを求め、その値をメモリ、レジスタ等に保持する作動を行うものとなっている。
【００２６】
次に、図１５に示す如く、上部センサ２８からの信号を入力して、接触片２６の揺動量が最大に達した際の値に基づいて包装レタスＱの高さ方向の直径Ｈを演算する（＃１０７〜＃１０９ステップ）。この処理は同図に示すように回動軸２４の軸芯から接触片２６の揺動端までの距離Ｌと、接触片２６の揺動角度θｈと、無端ベルト９の表面から回動軸２４までの距離Ｈｓとに基づいて、
Ｈ＝Ｈｓ−Ｌ・ｃｏｓθｈ
の式に基づく演算で高さ方向の直径Ｈを求め、その値をメモリ、レジスタ等に保持する作動を行うものとなっている。
【００２７】
従って３種の直径Ｗ，Ｄ，Ｈが求められると、これらの平均値を演算によって求め、この演算結果から包装レタスＱのサイズが前記第１，第２，第３設定器５１，５２，５３で設定されたＳサイズ、Ｍサイズ、Ｌサイズ、ＬＬサイズの何れに属するかを決定し、この決定結果に基づいて切換モータ３６を制御してコンベア装置Ｃから送り出される包装レタスＱを、図１７に示す如く、その大きさに対応した回収部３１に送り込むものとなっている。尚、前記第１，第２，第３設定器５１，５２，５３で設定される値はＳサイズとＭサイズとの境界の数値（閾値）、ＭサイズとＬサイズとの境界の数値（閾値）、ＬサイズとＬＬサイズとの境界の数値（閾値）である。
【００２８】
このように、本発明では、包装レタスＱを係止ロッド１０で係止状態で持ち上げ得るものとなり、又、係止ロッド１０が無端ベルト９で直接支持されるのでは無く、支持部材４５を介して支持され、しかも、この支持部材４５が無端ベルト９の搬送方向の下手位置の端縁部を糸４６で縫い付けてあるので、無端ベルト９の搬送端で係止ロッド１０がローラ８を回り込む際にも、搬送方向で糸４６と逆側の部位の支持部材４５の逆側の部位である搬送方向上手側端縁部が無端ベルトの表面から離間する状態となり、前記無端ベルト等の変形が回避される。
【００２９】
〔別実施の形態〕
本発明は上記実施の形態以外に、例えば、キャベツやトマトのようにレタス以外の農作物の大きさを計測するために用いることも可能であり、５種類以上の大きさに選別する形態で実施することも可能である。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】選別系の側面図
【図２】選別系の平面図
【図３】選別系の斜視図
【図４】コンベア装置の斜視図
【図５】係止ロッドの支持構造を示す斜視図
【図６】ローラの部位での支持部材と無端ベルトとを示す断面図
【図７】上部センサの取付構造を示す斜視図
【図８】上部センサの取付け構造示す平面図
【図９】計測装置の配置を示す平面図
【図１０】左右の計測機構の配置を示す平面図
【図１１】計測装置の配置を示す断面図
【図１２】制御系のブロック回路図
【図１３】制御動作を示すフローチャート
【図１４】側部センサで直径Ｗを計測する際の状態を示す模式図
【図１５】上部センサで直径Ｈを計測する際の状態を示す模式図
【図１６】上部センサで直径Ｄを計測する際の状態を示す模式図
【図１７】経路切換板からの包装レタスの４種の移動方向を示す図
【符号の説明】
９無端ベルト
１０ロッド
２９被検出片
４５支持部材
４６糸
Ｑ農作物[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an agricultural transport apparatus, and more particularly, to an apparatus for feeding a spherical crop in a lifting direction.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a bucket conveyor or an elevator-type conveyor device exists as the agricultural transport device configured as described above.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Conventional bucket conveyors and elevator-type conveyor devices are capable of transporting crops in the lifting direction without spilling even with spherical crops.However, not only is the structure complicated, but also the size of the crops to be transported is increased. This is relatively large, and is not suitable for simple transportation of crops one by one.
[0004]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to simply configure a transport device capable of transporting spherical crops one by one reliably to a high place.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A first aspect of the present invention (claim 1), as well as to place the endless belt freely rotatably drive along the conveyance path, the strip-shaped support member disposed along the width direction of the endless belt, agricultural A locking member for locking and transporting the crop is projected and fixed, and the contact surface of the support member, which is abutted against the surface of the endless belt at a linearly moving portion of the transport path, includes the support member. The upper edge of the endless belt, which is located on the upper side in the conveying direction of the endless belt, is separated from the surface of the endless belt at a position where the conveying path is rotationally moved. Only the lower side edge located on the lower side in the conveying direction of the endless belt is fixedly connected to the endless belt via a holding means , and the operation and effect are as follows.
[0006]
A second feature of the present invention (claim 2) is that, in claim 1, the holding means is constituted by a thread for sewing the endless belt and the support member, and the operation and effect are as follows. It is as follows.
[0007]
A third feature (claim 3) of the present invention is that in claim 1, a plate-like member is used as the support member, and the plurality of rods are arranged in parallel with each other along the width direction of the endless belt. The operation and effect are as follows.
[0008]
A fourth feature of the present invention (claim 4) is that, in claim 3, a detection piece for detecting a feed position of the endless belt is protruded from an end of the plate-shaped member in a width direction. , Its operation and effects are as follows.
[0009]
[Action]
According to the first feature, when the crop is transported in the lifting direction by the device, the crop locked by the locking member is transported with the rotation of the endless belt, and the locking member is moved endlessly. Since it is not directly supported by the belt, but is supported via a support member, and furthermore, since this support member is fixedly connected to the lower edge of the endless belt in the conveying direction via holding means, Even when the locking member goes around the roller or the like at the transport end of the endless belt, the upper edge in the transport direction, which is a portion opposite to the portion provided with the holding means in the transport direction, is separated from the surface of the endless belt. In this state, deformation of the endless belt and the like is avoided.
[0010]
According to the second feature, the use of the flexible deformable yarn allows the support member to be easily lifted from the endless belt when the locking member goes around the roller or the like at the transport end of the endless belt, and the hinge is used. A simple structure is enough compared with the thing.
[0011]
According to the third feature, when the agricultural product is transported, it is locked by the plurality of rods, and since the rod is supported by the plate-like member, the posture is stabilized, and the wide locking member such as a plate-like member is used. Smaller and lighter than required.
[0012]
According to the fourth feature, it is possible to accurately determine the transport position of the crop by detecting the position of the detected piece. Since the detected piece is provided on the plate-shaped member, the detected piece is provided. No special structure is required.
[0013]
〔The invention's effect〕
Therefore, a transport device capable of transporting the spherical crops one by one to a high place with certainty was simply configured (claim 1). Further, the locking member can be supported by an extremely simple structure (claim 2), and the locking member is configured by a simple structure (claim 3), and the position of the crop being transported is determined by the simple structure. It was made possible (claim 4).
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a conveyor device C having an inclined posture for receiving a packaging lettuce Q sent out from a lettuce packaging machine P for packaging lettuce as an example of agricultural crops and lifting the same to a predetermined height, and the conveyor device C The contact type measuring device M that measures the size of the packaging lettuce Q sent by the hopper and the packaging lettuce Q that has been lifted to the upper end of the conveyor device C are sized by rolling or sliding using their own weight based on the measurement results of the measuring device M. And a collecting device R for collecting the packaged lettuce at a predetermined position corresponding thereto.
[0015]
The lettuce packaging machine P has a packaging table 2 formed on the upper surface of the main body 1 and a packaging roll 3 on the upper surface of the main body. The lettuce is dropped on the upper surface through the opening 2A of the packaging table 2 and the pair of switches 4 and 4 on the upper surface are simultaneously turned ON to drive the lettuce onto the packaging sheet by the driving force of a built-in electric motor (not shown). At the same time as wrapping, the upper part of the wrapping sheet is squeezed, the excess sheet is cut off, and the upper part of the wrapping sheet is heat-sealed or fixed with an adhesive tape, and then sent out of the wrapping machine via the chute 5. Further, it is configured to automatically perform an operation of pulling out the next packaging sheet from the packaging roll 3 to the packaging table and cutting it to a predetermined size.
[0016]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the conveyor device C includes a pair of left and right side frames 7, which are supported in an oblique posture with respect to a main frame 6, and rollers 8, 8 which are idlely supported at upper and lower ends of side frames 7, 7. An electric motor (not shown) that winds an endless belt 9 made of a flexible material such as rubber and drives one roller 8 is provided. Further, a pair of locking rods 10, 10 are protruded from the endless belt 9 at a plurality of places, and a plurality of fork-like receiving members are provided at a lower end portion thereof for receiving the packaging lettuce Q sent out from the chute 5 of the lettuce packaging machine P. A rod 11 is arranged, and a plurality of guide rods 12 are provided at the upper end thereof in a fork shape so as to feed out the packaging lettuce Q.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 5, the locking rods 10, 10 have their base ends fixed to a plate-like support member 45 in a horizontally long posture (a posture in which the longitudinal direction is set in the width direction of the endless belt 9). The lower end of the support member 45 in the feeding direction of the endless belt 9 is sewn to the endless belt 9 with a thread 46 to fix the endless belt 9 at the time of moving the roller 8 as shown in FIG. The attachment side is separated from the endless belt 9 to allow the endless belt 9 to rotate smoothly.
[0018]
As shown in FIGS. 4, 9 to 11, the measuring device M comes into contact with both sides of the packaging lettuce Q sent in a state of being received by the locking rod 10, and obtains the width direction diameter of the packaging lettuce Q. The pair of left and right measurement mechanisms MS, MS, the diameter in the feeding direction of the packaging lettuce Q by contacting the lower side in the feeding direction of the packaging lettuce Q, and the diameter in the height direction by contacting the upper surface of the packaging lettuce Q. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the left and right measurement mechanisms MS are provided with a cylindrical member 16 fixed to a bracket 15 attached to the side frame 7 of the conveyor device C, as shown in FIGS. A rotating shaft 17 is rotatably fitted in the tubular member 16 in a posture orthogonal to the belt surface of the endless belt 9, and the swing member 18 swings integrally with the rotating shaft 17. Attach a contact piece 19 made of a resin plate as a displacement member, A leaf spring 20 for urging the contact piece 19 to protrude toward the center in the width direction of the endless belt 9, and furthermore, is rotated by a rotation shaft 17 so as to measure the swing amount of the contact piece 19. It is provided with potentiometer type side sensors 21 and 21.
[0019]
As shown in FIGS. 4, 7, and 8, the measuring mechanism MT has a tubular member 23 fixedly mounted on an intermediate frame 22 formed in an arch shape between the left and right side frames 7, 7. A rotation shaft 24 is rotatably fitted inside the member 23 in a posture parallel to the axis of the roller 8 of the conveyor device C, and is displaced with respect to a swing member 25 that swings integrally with the rotation shaft 24. A contact piece 26 made of a resin plate is attached as a member, and a coil spring 27 is provided for urging the swing end of the contact piece 26 to protrude toward the belt surface of the conveyor device C. It is provided with a potentiometer type upper sensor 28 for measuring the swing amount. An operation piece 29 (an example of a detection piece) is provided on the feed surface of the endless belt 9 at a position parallel to the locking rods 10 with respect to a support member 45 that supports the locking rod 10. The unit frame 7 includes a limit switch 30 that is pressed by the operation piece 29.
[0020]
Further, the side sensor 21 and the upper sensor 28 each employ a structure for increasing the axis accuracy with respect to the rotating shafts 17 and 24. The upper sensor 28 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 7, an operation shaft 28A of the upper sensor 28 is connected to the rotation shaft 24, and a rotation preventing support member 47 to which the main body 28B of the upper sensor 28 is connected is a fixed member via a holding mechanism 48. The holding mechanism 48 sets a longitudinal direction in a direction connecting the axis position of the rotation shaft 24 and the holding position when viewed in a direction along the axis direction of the rotation shaft 24, and A long hole 48A formed in the long hole 47 and a pin 48B engaged with the long hole 48A to prevent the rotation of the support member 47 are provided. The support member 47 extends along the axis of the rotation shaft 24. When the axis position of the rotation shaft 24 and the holding position are Results movement in the direction is allowed, which is assumed to high can be maintained axial accuracy without an external force is applied to the sensor 28.
[0021]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the collecting device R stores four types of packaging lettuce Q having different sizes, for example, S size, M size, L size, and LL size in the drawing. Are provided in parallel with each other, and a pair of guide portions 32, 32 having an inclined posture for guiding the packaging lettuce Q with respect to the collection portions at both ends thereof, and an upper end of the conveyor device C. Receives the packaging lettuce Q sent out from the container via the guide rod 12, and directly drops the packaging lettuce Q into the central two of the four collection portions 31 #. With respect to the two ends, the package lettuce Q is fed through the pair of guides 32, 32 so that the feed direction can be freely set in any of four directions. Switch freely The path switching plate 33 has a concave groove 33A for guiding formed in the center portion, and has a vertical direction supported on a frame 34 of the collection device R. A switching motor 36 that is supported by the support shaft 35 in a posture and that rotates the support shaft 35 and a potentiometer-type posture sensor 37 that measures the rotation posture of the support shaft 35 are provided.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 12, a control system of the sorting unit is configured. In this control system, a signal from the pair of side sensors 21 and 21 and a signal from the upper sensor 28 are transmitted to a control device 41 having a microprocessor. A signal from the limit switch 30, a potentiometer type first, second, third setting device 51, 52, 53 which is manually turned by a dial (not shown); A signal input system is formed, and a system for outputting a signal for controlling the switching motor 36 is formed from the control device 41. When the packaging lettuce Q is selected, the control device 41 operates as follows. Perform control operation.
[0023]
Further, the feeding speed of the conveyor device C is set so that the lettuce packaging machine P can lift two or more packing lettuce in the time required for the packaging process (about 7 seconds). Is sent, after passing through the left and right measurement mechanisms MS, the MS contact pieces 19, 19, the operation piece 29 turns on the limit switch 30, and after that, the packaging lettuce Q is moved to the contact piece 26 of the upper measurement mechanism MT. Is set to pass through, and the sorting routine set in the control device 41 performs the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.
[0024]
That is, at the time of processing, signals from the side sensors 21 and 21 are input, and as shown in FIG. 14, the width of the packaging lettuce Q in the width direction is determined based on the value when the swing amount of the contact pieces 19 and 19 reaches the maximum. The diameter W is calculated (# 101 to # 103 steps). In this process, as shown in the figure, the distance L from the axis of the swing shaft 17 to the swing end of the contact piece 19, the swing angle θw of the contact piece 19, and the distance Ws between the axes of the swing shaft 17 are shown. And based on
W = Ws-L (cos θw + cos θw)
The operation of obtaining the diameter W in the width direction by the calculation based on the following expression and holding the value in a memory, a register, or the like is performed.
[0025]
Next, as shown in FIG. 16, the signal from the upper sensor 28 is input at the timing when the limit switch 30 is turned on to calculate the diameter D of the packaging lettuce Q in the front-rear direction (steps # 104 to # 106). As shown in the drawing, this processing is performed by the distance L from the axis of the swing shaft 24 to the swing end of the contact piece 26, the swing angle θd of the contact piece 26, and the distance from the swing shaft 24 to the locking rod 10. And the distance Ds of
D = Ds + Ls inθd
The diameter D in the front-rear direction is obtained by an operation based on the following equation, and the operation of holding the value in a memory, a register, or the like is performed.
[0026]
Next, as shown in FIG. 15, a signal from the upper sensor 28 is input, and a diameter H in the height direction of the packaging lettuce Q is calculated based on a value when the swing amount of the contact piece 26 reaches a maximum. (Steps # 107 to # 109). As shown in the drawing, this processing is performed by the distance L from the axis of the rotating shaft 24 to the swing end of the contact piece 26, the swing angle θh of the contact piece 26, and the rotation axis 24 from the surface of the endless belt 9. Based on the distance Hs to
H = Hs−L · cos θh
The operation of obtaining the diameter H in the height direction by an operation based on the following equation is performed, and holding the value in a memory, a register, or the like.
[0027]
Therefore, when three types of diameters W, D, and H are obtained, their average values are obtained by calculation, and the size of the packaging lettuce Q is determined from the calculation result to the first, second, and third setting devices 51, 52, and 53. It is determined which one of the S size, M size, L size, and LL size belongs, and the packaging lettuce Q sent out from the conveyor device C by controlling the switching motor 36 based on the determination result is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the sheet is sent to the collecting section 31 corresponding to the size. The values set by the first, second, and third setting units 51, 52, and 53 are a numerical value (threshold) at the boundary between the S size and the M size, and a numerical value (threshold value) at the boundary between the M size and the L size. ), A numerical value (threshold) at the boundary between the L size and the LL size.
[0028]
As described above, in the present invention, the packaging lettuce Q can be lifted in the locked state with the locking rod 10, and the locking rod 10 is not directly supported by the endless belt 9, but is supported by the support member 45. Since the support member 45 is sewn to the end edge of the endless belt 9 at the lower position in the conveying direction with the thread 46, the locking rod 10 goes around the roller 8 at the conveying end of the endless belt 9. In this case, the upper edge in the transport direction, which is the opposite side of the support member 45 on the opposite side to the yarn 46 in the transport direction, is separated from the surface of the endless belt. Be avoided.
[0029]
[Another embodiment]
The present invention can be used to measure the size of agricultural products other than lettuce, such as cabbage and tomato, in addition to the above-described embodiment, and is implemented in a form in which five or more types are sorted. It is also possible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view of a sorting system. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a sorting system. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sorting system. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a conveyor device. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a support structure of a locking rod. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a supporting member and an endless belt at a roller portion. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a mounting structure of an upper sensor. FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a mounting structure of an upper sensor. FIG. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing an arrangement of left and right measuring mechanisms. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing an arrangement of a measuring device. FIG. 12 is a block circuit diagram of a control system. FIG. 13 shows a control operation. Flowchart FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a state when measuring a diameter W with a side sensor. FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing a state when measuring a diameter H with an upper sensor. FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing a state at the time of measurement. Shows the direction of movement of species [Description of symbols]
9 Endless belt 10 Rod 29 Detected piece 45 Support member 46 Thread Q Agricultural crop

Claims

搬送経路に沿って駆動回動自在に無端ベルトを配置すると共に、この無端ベルトの幅方向に沿って配置される帯状の支持部材に、農作物を係止搬送するための係止部材を突設固定し、前記搬送経路の直線移動箇所で前記無端ベルトの表面に対して当接支持されている前記支持部材の接当面のうち、前記支持部材における前記無端ベルトの搬送方向上手側に位置する上手側端縁部を、前記搬送経路の回動移動箇所では前記無端ベルトの表面に対して離間することを許すように、前記支持部材における前記無端ベルトの搬送方向下手側に位置する下手側端縁部のみを、保持手段を介して前記無端ベルトに止着連結してある農用搬送装置。With arranging the endless belt freely rotatably drive along the conveyance path, the strip-shaped support member disposed along the width direction of the endless belt, projecting locking member for locking conveying the crops Out of the contact surfaces of the support member, which are fixed and are abutted against the surface of the endless belt at the linearly moving portion of the transport path, the superior member located on the upstream side in the transport direction of the endless belt in the support member. A lower edge located on the lower side of the endless belt in the direction of conveyance of the endless belt in the support member so as to allow the side edge to be separated from the surface of the endless belt at the rotationally moved portion of the conveyance path. An agricultural transport device in which only a part is fixedly connected to the endless belt via a holding means .

前記保持手段が無端ベルトと、支持部材とを縫い着ける糸で構成されている請求項１記載の農用搬送装置。The agricultural transport device according to claim 1, wherein the holding means is formed of a thread for sewing the endless belt and the support member.

前記支持部材に板状部材が用いられると共に、前記係止部材が無端ベルトの幅方向に沿って並列配置された複数のロッドで構成されている請求項１記載の農用搬送装置。The agricultural transport device according to claim 1, wherein a plate-like member is used as the support member, and the locking member is configured by a plurality of rods arranged in parallel along the width direction of the endless belt.

前記無端ベルトの送り位置検出用の被検出片を前記板状部材の横幅方向の端部に突設してある請求項３記載の農用搬送装置。4. The agricultural transport device according to claim 3, wherein a detection piece for detecting a feed position of the endless belt protrudes from an end of the plate-shaped member in a lateral width direction. 5.