JPH0881046A - Long-sized material sorting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To reduce a head at the time of transferring long-sized material so as to prevent the value of goods from being spoiled by providing each long part of a bucket body with a receiving part hanging in the vertically opened/ closed state, and providing each receiving part in such a way as to be opened/ closed between a closed angle for holding the long-sized material in a specified height position and an opened angle for releasing the long-sized material. CONSTITUTION: The sorting conveyor of a cucumber sorting device is provided with numerous buckets 10... located at specified equal spaces apart to the feeding direction, and the supporting rollers 11... journalled to one side parts of the respective buckets 10... are engaged with the upper part of a travel rail laid at the lower stage on the same side so as to support cucumbers K in the horizontal state with the cucumbers K placed in the lateral attude. Each bucket 10 is formed of a pair of receiving plates 10b with the upper end parts fixed to supporting shafts 13 at the long-side side front and rear end parts of a supporting frame 10a, and the respective receiving plates 10b, 10b are rotated to open/close being interlocked through a pair of connecting plates 14 by the vertical action of supporting rollers 11. Each receiving part 10b drops the cucumber K on a tray T at the time of being opened downward.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】Detailed Description of the Invention

【０００１】[0001]

【産業上の利用分野】この発明は、例えば、胡瓜、人
参、長芋、長茄子等の長尺物を等階級別に仕分けする作
業に用いられる長尺物仕分け装置に関する。BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a long object sorting device used for sorting long objects such as cucumber, carrot, potato, and eggplant into equal classes.

【０００２】[0002]

【従来の技術】従来、上述例のような胡瓜を等階級別に
仕分ける方法としては、例えば、図１８に示すように、
仕分け用コンベア７３を構成する左右の各周回用チェー
ン７４，７４間に多数本の各支持軸７５…を軸架し、同
各支持軸７５…上に１本分の胡瓜Ｋが載置される大きさ
及び形状に形成した各バケット７６…の前端側を上下回
動可能に連結している。つまり、仕分け用コンベア７３
の各バケット７６…に多数本の各胡瓜Ｋ…を１本ずつ載
置し、等階級判定装置（図示省略）による判定と対応す
る仕分け位置に各バケット７６…が移動したとき、支持
軸７５を支点にしてバケット７６の後端側を下方に回動
し、同位置直下に移動した整列用トレイＴの各凹状載置
部Ｔｂ…に胡瓜Ｋを１本ずつ投入する仕分け方法があ
る。2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method for classifying cucumbers according to the above-mentioned example into equal classes, for example, as shown in FIG.
A large number of support shafts 75 are mounted between the left and right circulation chains 74, 74 forming the sorting conveyor 73, and one cucumber K is placed on each support shaft 75. The front end side of each bucket 76 formed in the size and shape is connected so as to be vertically rotatable. That is, the sorting conveyor 73
A large number of each cucumber K ... is placed on each of the buckets 76 of No. 1, and when the buckets 76 are moved to the sorting position corresponding to the determination by the equal rank determination device (not shown), the support shaft 75 is moved. There is a sorting method in which the rear end side of the bucket 76 is rotated downward with the fulcrum as a fulcrum, and one cucumber K is put into each concave mounting portion Tb of the aligning tray T that has moved right below the same position.

【０００３】[0003]

【発明が解決しようとする課題】しかし、上述のように
各周回用チェーン７４，７４間に軸架した支持軸７５を
支点にしてバケット７６を下方に回動した場合、バケッ
ト７６の回転半径が長くなり、仕分け用コンベア７３上
に設定した仕分け位置下部に、バケット７６の上下回動
が許容される大きさのスペースを確保しなければならな
い。且つ、整列用トレイＴの各凹状載置部Ｔｂ…に胡瓜
Ｋを投入するときの落差が大きく、バケット７６上に載
置された胡瓜Ｋを転動しながら落下投入するため、投入
時に生じる衝撃により胡瓜Ｋの載置姿勢及び載置位置が
変位しやすく、整列用トレイＴの各凹状載置部Ｔｂ…に
対して正確に投入することが難しい。且つ、胡瓜Ｋの表
皮部分に突出した多数の各突起が剥がれ落ちたり、胡瓜
Ｋの表皮部分に打ち傷や擦り傷等が付くことがあり、胡
瓜Ｋの商品価値が損なわれてしまうという問題点を有し
ている。However, when the bucket 76 is rotated downward with the support shaft 75 mounted between the orbiting chains 74, 74 as a fulcrum as described above, the rotation radius of the bucket 76 is reduced. It is necessary to secure a space that is long and below the sorting position set on the sorting conveyor 73, and has a size that allows vertical rotation of the bucket 76. In addition, the drop of cucumber K is large when the cucumber K is placed in each of the concave mounting portions Tb ... of the tray for alignment T, and the cucumber K placed on the bucket 76 is dropped while being rolled. Therefore, the mounting posture and the mounting position of the cucumber K are easily displaced, and it is difficult to accurately insert the cucumber K into the concave mounting portions Tb ... Of the alignment tray T. In addition, many protrusions protruding from the skin of the cucumber K may peel off, and the skin of the cucumber K may be scratched or scratched, thereby deteriorating the commercial value of the cucumber K. are doing.

【０００４】この発明は上記問題に鑑み、バケットの各
受け部間に載置された長尺物と、仕分け位置直下の長尺
物載置部とを適宜上下間隔に近接することにより、長尺
物を移載するときの落差が小さくなり、移載作業が適確
に行えると共に、その商品価値が損なわれるのを防止で
きる長尺物仕分け装置の提供を目的とする。In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a long object placed between the receiving portions of the bucket and a long object placing portion immediately below the sorting position by appropriately adjoining the long object at a vertical interval. An object of the present invention is to provide a long product sorting device which can reduce the drop when transferring products, can perform transfer work properly, and can prevent the product value from being impaired.

【０００５】[0005]

【課題を解決するための手段】この発明の請求項１記載
の発明は、上記横長形状に形成したバケット本体の各長
辺部に、上記長尺物が保持される大きさに形成した各受
け部を上下開閉可能に垂設し、上記バケット本体に垂設
した各受け部を、上記長尺物載置部に対して適宜上下間
隔に近接した高さ位置に長尺物が保持される閉角度と、
該長尺物載置部に対して長尺物が垂直落下される開角度
とに開閉可能に設け、上記等階級別に設定した仕分け位
置に移動したとき、上記等階級判定手段による判定に基
づいてバケット本体の各受け部を長尺物の落下が許容さ
れる開角度に開放するバケット開放手段を設けた長尺物
仕分け装置であることを特徴とする。According to a first aspect of the present invention, each of the receptacles formed to have a size capable of holding the elongated object is provided on each of the long sides of the horizontally elongated bucket body. The holder is vertically opened and closed, and each of the receiving portions hung on the bucket body is closed so that the long object is held at a height position close to the long object placing portion at an appropriate vertical interval. Angle and
The long object is provided so as to be opened and closed at an opening angle at which the long object is vertically dropped onto the long object placing part, and when the long object is moved to a sorting position set for each of the equal classes, based on the determination by the equal class determination means. It is characterized in that it is a long object sorting device provided with bucket opening means for opening each receiving portion of the bucket body to an opening angle at which the long object can be dropped.

【０００６】この発明の請求項２記載の発明は、上記請
求項１記載の構成と併せて、上記バケット本体に垂設し
た各受け部を、上記長尺物が横向き姿勢に保持される半
開角度に開放するバケット半開放手段を設けた長尺物仕
分け装置であることを特徴とする。According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration according to the first aspect, the receiving portions vertically provided on the bucket body hold the elongated object in a half-open angle. It is characterized in that it is a long product sorting device provided with a half-opening means for opening the bucket halfway.

【０００７】この発明の請求項３記載の発明は、上記請
求項１記載の構成と併せて、上記バケット本体に垂設し
た各受け部を、該各受け部の短辺側中心部を支点にして
開閉可能に設けた長尺物仕分け装置であることを特徴と
する。According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the structure of the first aspect, each receiving portion vertically provided on the bucket main body is provided with a center of a short side of each receiving portion as a fulcrum. It is characterized in that it is a long-sized object sorting device that can be opened and closed.

【０００８】[0008]

【作用】請求項１記載の長尺物仕分け装置は、バケット
の各受け部間に載置された長尺物と、仕分け位置直下の
長尺物載置部とを適宜上下間隔に近接した後、等階級判
定手段による判定に基づいて、等階級別に設定した仕分
け位置にバケットが移動したときバケット開放手段を駆
動し、バケットの各受け部間に保持された長尺物を垂直
落下させて長尺物載置部に移載するので、長尺物を移載
するときの落差が小さくなり、長尺物の移載作業が適確
に行える。In the long item sorting apparatus according to the first aspect, the long item placed between the receiving portions of the bucket and the long item placing section immediately below the sorting position are appropriately close to each other at a vertical interval. , When the bucket moves to the sorting position set for each equal rank based on the judgment by the equal rank judgment means, the bucket opening means is driven to vertically drop the long object held between the receiving portions of the bucket. Since the long object is transferred to the long object placing portion, the drop when transferring the long object is small, and the operation of transferring the long object can be appropriately performed.

【０００９】請求項２記載の長尺物仕分け装置は、上記
請求項１記載の作用と併せて、バケット半開放手段によ
り、バケットの各受け部を長尺物が横向き姿勢に保持さ
れる半開角度に開放することで、全閉した各受け部間に
長尺物を載置するよりも低い位置で保持することがで
き、バケットの各受け部間に載置された長尺物と、仕分
け位置直下の長尺物載置部とを適宜上下間隔に近接し
て、長尺物を移載するときの落差を小さくする。According to the long item sorting apparatus of the second aspect, in addition to the operation of the first aspect, the half open angle at which each of the bucket receiving portions is held in a horizontal posture by the bucket half opening means. It is possible to hold the long objects between the fully closed receiving parts at a position lower than that when they are placed, and the long objects placed between the receiving parts of the bucket and the sorting position. The length of the long object mounting portion immediately below is appropriately close to the vertical interval to reduce the drop when the long object is transferred.

【００１０】請求項３記載の長尺物仕分け装置は、上記
請求項１記載の作用と併せて、バケット本体に軸支した
各受け部を、同各受け部の短辺側中心部を支点にして回
動することで、一側端部を支点にして回動するよりも各
受け部の回転半径が短くなり、バケットの各受け部間に
載置された長尺物と、仕分け位置直下の長尺物載置部と
を適宜上下間隔に近接して、長尺物を移載するときの落
差を小さくする。According to the long item sorting apparatus of the third aspect, in addition to the operation of the first aspect, each receiving portion pivotally supported by the bucket body is fulcrumed at the center portion on the short side of each receiving portion. The rotation radius of each receiving part becomes shorter than that of rotating by using one end as a fulcrum, and the long object placed between the receiving parts of the bucket and the portion immediately below the sorting position are rotated. The length of the long object placing portion is appropriately close to the vertical interval to reduce the drop when the long object is transferred.

【００１１】[0011]

【発明の効果】この発明によれば、バケットの各受け部
間に載置された長尺物と、仕分け位置直下の長尺物載置
部とを適宜上下間隔に近接して移載するので、長尺物を
移載するときの落差が小さくなり、移載時に生じる衝撃
が大幅に軽減されると共に、長尺物の載置姿勢及び載置
位置が変位するのを防止でき、例えば、整列用トレイ、
整列用コンベア、投入用ホッパ等の長尺物載置部に対し
て長尺物を１本ずつ適確に移載することができる。且
つ、適宜上下間隔に近接した長尺物載置部に長尺物を直
接移載するので、従来例のように長尺物が転動したりせ
ず、長尺物の商品価値が損なわれるのを確実に防止する
ことができる。According to the present invention, the long object placed between the receiving portions of the bucket and the long object placing portion immediately below the sorting position are appropriately transferred close to each other in the vertical interval. , The drop when transferring long objects is reduced, the impact generated during transfer is significantly reduced, and it is possible to prevent displacement of the mounting posture and mounting position of long objects. Tray,
It is possible to accurately transfer the long objects one by one to the long object placement parts such as the aligning conveyor and the loading hopper. Moreover, since the long object is directly transferred to the long object placing portion which is appropriately adjacent to the vertical interval, the long object does not roll like the conventional example, and the commercial value of the long object is impaired. Can be reliably prevented.

【００１２】[0012]

【実施例】この発明の一実施例を以下図面に基づいて詳
述する。図面は長尺物の一例として荷受けされる多数本
の各胡瓜を等階級別に仕分け処理する第１実施例の胡瓜
仕分け装置を示し、図１に於いて、この胡瓜仕分け装置
１は、仕分け用コンベア２上に設定した読取り位置に多
数本の各胡瓜Ｋ…を順次搬送し、同仕分け用コンベア２
上に載置された各胡瓜Ｋ…を等階級判定装置３による判
定に基づいて等階級別に仕分け処理する。仕分け用コン
ベア２上に設定した仕分け位置直下に多数台の各整列用
トレイＴ…を周回用コンベア４により順次移動し、同位
置下部に落下供給される同一等階級の各胡瓜Ｋ…を各整
列用トレイＴ…に順次載置する。周回用コンベア４上に
設定した揃え位置に各整列用トレイＴ，Ｔを搬送し、各
整列用トレイＴ，Ｔに載置された各胡瓜Ｋ…を胡瓜揃え
機５により箱詰め姿勢に揃える。周回用コンベア４上に
設定した吸着位置に各整列用トレイＴ，Ｔを搬送し、同
各整列用トレイＴ，Ｔに載置された各胡瓜Ｋ…を胡瓜箱
詰め機６により吸着保持して箱詰め位置に移動する。同
時に、製函工程（図示省略）から供給される段ボール箱
Ｂを箱昇降機７により箱詰め位置に持上げ、同段ボール
箱Ｂの各フラップＢａ…を箱開放機８により開放保持し
た後、上述の胡瓜箱詰め機６により保持した１８本の各
胡瓜Ｋ…を段ボール箱Ｂ内に一括して箱詰めする。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The drawing shows the cucumber sorting apparatus of the first embodiment that sorts a large number of each cucumber to be received according to an equal rank as an example of a long object. In FIG. 1, this cucumber sorting apparatus 1 is a sorting conveyor. A large number of each cucumber K ...
Each cucumber K ... Placed on the top is sorted by equal rank based on the judgment by the equal rank judgment device 3. Immediately below the sorting position set on the sorting conveyor 2, a large number of each of the sorting trays T ... Are sequentially moved by the orbiting conveyor 4, and the cucumbers K ... of the same class, which are dropped and supplied to the lower portion of the same position, are aligned. The trays T are sequentially placed. The aligning trays T, T are conveyed to the alignment position set on the orbiting conveyor 4, and the cucumbers K ... Mounted on the aligning trays T, T are aligned in the box packing posture by the cucumber aligning machine 5. The aligning trays T, T are conveyed to the suction position set on the orbiting conveyor 4, and the cucumber K ... Mounted on the aligning trays T, T are sucked and held by the cucumber cartoning machine 6 and packed. Move to position. At the same time, the cardboard box B supplied from the box making process (not shown) is lifted to the boxing position by the box elevator 7 and each flap Ba ... of the cardboard box B is opened and held by the box opening machine 8 and then the cucumber box is packed as described above. The 18 cucumbers K held by the machine 6 are packed in a corrugated box B at once.

【００１３】上述の仕分け用コンベア２は、図２、図
３、図４に示すように、左右に張架した各周回用チェー
ン９，９の対向側周面間に、例えば、合成ゴム、合成樹
脂等で被覆又は形成した多数台の各バケット１０…を送
り方向に対して所定等間隔に隔てて架設し、同各バケッ
ト１０…の一側部に軸支した各支持ローラ１１…を、同
側下段に架設した走行レール１２上に係合して胡瓜Ｋが
横向き姿勢に載置される水平状態に支持する。つまり、
減速機付きモータ（図示省略）の駆動力により各周回用
チェーン９，９を送り方向に周回して、同各周回用チェ
ーン９，９間に架設した多数台の各バケット１０…を送
り方向に周回移動させ、同各バケット１０…に載置され
た多数本の各胡瓜Ｋ…を送り方向に連続搬送する。As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4, the above-mentioned sorting conveyor 2 is made of, for example, synthetic rubber or synthetic rubber between the opposing circumferential surfaces of the respective circulating chains 9, 9 stretched to the left and right. A large number of buckets 10 ... Covered or formed with resin or the like are erected at a predetermined equal interval in the feed direction, and the support rollers 11 ... The cucumber K is supported in a horizontal state by being engaged with the traveling rail 12 installed on the lower side of the side and the cucumber K being placed in a sideways posture. That is,
The orbiting chains 9, 9 are orbited in the feed direction by the driving force of a motor with a reducer (not shown), and the multiple buckets 10 ... Installed between the orbiting chains 9, 9 are fed in the feed direction. A plurality of cucumbers K ... mounted on the respective buckets 10 ...

【００１４】上述の各バケット１０…は、左右に張架し
た各周回用チェーン９，９の対向側周面間に、同各周回
用チェーン９，９の周回方向に対して横長形状に形成し
た支持枠１０ａを直交して架設し、同支持枠１０ａの長
辺側前端部と長辺側後端部とに各支軸１３，１３を平行
して軸受し、同各支軸１３，１３の軸周面上に、１本分
の胡瓜Ｋを保持する大きさ及び形状に形成した各受け板
１０ｂ，１０ｂの長辺側上端部を固定している。且つ、
各支軸１３，１３の一側端部に各連結板１４，１４の基
端側を固定すると共に、一方の連結板１４の遊端側に固
定した支持ピン１５ａを、他方の連結板１４の遊端側に
形成したガイド孔１５ｂに挿通し、同支持ピン１５ａの
先端側周面上に支持ローラ１１を軸受して、同支持ロー
ラ１１の上下動作により各受け板１０ｂ，１０ｂを連動
して開閉回動する。Each of the above-mentioned buckets 10 ... Is formed in a laterally elongated shape between the opposite circumferential surfaces of the orbiting chains 9, 9 stretched to the left and right with respect to the orbiting direction of the orbiting chains 9, 9. The support frame 10a is installed orthogonally, and the support shafts 13 and 13 are borne in parallel with the long side front end and the long side rear end of the support frame 10a. The long-side upper ends of the receiving plates 10b, 10b formed to have a size and shape for holding one cucumber K are fixed on the circumferential surface of the shaft. and,
The support pins 15a fixed to the free end side of one of the connecting plates 14 are fixed to the base end side of the connecting plates 14 and 14 of the other connecting plate 14 while fixing the base ends of the connecting plates 14 and 14 to the one end portions of the supporting shafts 13 and 13. The support roller 11 is inserted into the guide hole 15b formed on the free end side, and the support roller 11 is borne on the peripheral surface of the support pin 15a on the front end side. The support roller 11 moves up and down to interlock the receiving plates 10b and 10b. Open and close pivot.

【００１５】つまり、各バケット１０…に軸支した各支
持ローラ１１…を走行レール１２上に係合したとき、各
支軸１３，１３を支点にして各受け板１０ｂ，１０ｂが
閉方向に回動し、各受け板１０ｂ，１０ｂの長辺側下端
部を当接して閉塞する。且つ、各バケット１０…に軸支
した各支持ローラ１１…を走行レール１２の各切欠き部
１２ａ…から脱落したとき、各支軸１３，１３を支点に
して各受け板１０ｂ，１０ｂが開方向に回動し、各受け
板１０ｂ，１０ｂの長辺側下端部を胡瓜Ｋの落下が許容
される間隔に開放する。また、バケット１０の他の開閉
手段として、図５に示すように、各支軸１３，１３の一
側端部に固定した各ラック１４ａ，１４ａを互いに噛合
し、２枚の各受け板１０ｂ，１０ｂを連動して開閉する
もよい。That is, when the support rollers 11 supported on the buckets 10 are engaged with the traveling rail 12, the receiving plates 10b and 10b rotate in the closing direction with the support shafts 13 and 13 as fulcrums. The lower ends of the receiving plates 10b, 10b on the long side are contacted and closed. Further, when the support rollers 11 supported on the buckets 10 are dropped from the cutouts 12a of the travel rail 12, the support plates 13b serve as fulcrums and the receiving plates 10b, 10b open. Then, the lower ends of the receiving plates 10b, 10b on the long sides are opened at intervals allowing the cucumber K to fall. Further, as another opening / closing means for the bucket 10, as shown in FIG. 5, the racks 14a, 14a fixed to one end of each of the support shafts 13, 13 are meshed with each other so that the two receiving plates 10b, 10b may be opened and closed in conjunction.

【００１６】且つ、仕分け用コンベア２上に設定した仕
分け位置と対応する走行レール１２に、上述した支持ロ
ーラ１１が落下許容される大きさの各切欠き部１２ａ…
を形成し、同各切欠き部１２ａ…を閉塞する長さに形成
した各支持レール１６…と、同位置側部に配設した各開
閉用ソレノイド１７…とを連結し、後述する等階級判定
装置３から出力される指令信号に基づいて各開閉用ソレ
ノイド１７…を作動して、走行レール１２の各切欠き部
１２ａ…を閉塞する前進位置と、同各切欠き部１２ａ…
を開放する後退位置とに各支持レール１６…を前後移動
する。Further, each notch 12a having a size that allows the above-mentioned support roller 11 to be dropped onto the traveling rail 12 corresponding to the sorting position set on the sorting conveyor 2.
, And each support rail 16 formed to have a length that closes each notch 12a ... And each opening / closing solenoid 17 ... Based on the command signal output from the device 3, the opening / closing solenoids 17 are operated to close the cutouts 12a of the traveling rail 12 and the forward movement position, and the cutouts 12a.
The support rails 16 ... Are moved back and forth to the retracted position for opening.

【００１７】前述の等階級判定装置３は、仕分け用コン
ベア２上に設定した読取り位置に撮像用カメラ３ａと番
地用リーダ３ｂとを備えると共に、仕分け位置に配設し
た各各開閉用ソレノイド１７…を接続している。上述し
た各バケット１０…には予め番地が順次設定されてお
り、例えば、バーコード、エンボス等の適宜手段で表示
された各バケット１０…の番地を番地用リーダ３ｂで読
取り、各バケット１０…に載置された胡瓜Ｋの外観形状
を撮像用カメラ３ａで読取り、等階級判定装置３は撮像
用カメラ３ａで読取った画像データで胡瓜Ｋの等階級を
判定し、この判定データと番地データとを対応させて記
憶する。The above-mentioned equal class judging device 3 is provided with an image pickup camera 3a and an address reader 3b at a reading position set on the sorting conveyor 2, and each opening / closing solenoid 17 arranged at the sorting position. Are connected. Addresses are sequentially set in advance in each of the buckets 10 ... As described above, for example, the address of each bucket 10 ... Displayed by an appropriate means such as a bar code or emboss is read by the address reader 3b, and each bucket 10 ... The appearance shape of the placed cucumber K is read by the imaging camera 3a, and the equal class determination device 3 determines the equal class of the cucumber K from the image data read by the imaging camera 3a, and the determination data and the address data are obtained. Correspond and memorize.

【００１８】つまり、仕分け用コンベア２の各バケット
１０…に載置された胡瓜Ｋが何れの等階級（例えば、
秀、優、良等の等級及び２Ｌ、Ｌ、Ｍ、Ｓ等の階級）に
対応するかを判定し、その判定に基づいて仕分け用コン
ベア２の各バケット１０…に載置された各胡瓜Ｋ…を等
階級別に仕分け処理する。例えば、２Ｌ、Ｌ、Ｍ、Ｓ等
の等階級別に設定した仕分け位置にバケット１０が移動
するまでタイムラグを計数し、等階級判定装置３の判定
と対応する仕分け位置にそのバケット１０が移動したと
き、開閉用ソレノイド１７を作動して、判定と対応する
仕分け位置でバケット１０を開放する。That is, the cucumber K placed on each bucket 10 of the sorting conveyor 2 has any equal rank (for example,
It is determined whether or not it corresponds to a grade of excellent, excellent, good, etc. and a class of 2L, L, M, S, etc., and based on the determination, each cucumber K placed on each bucket 10 of the sorting conveyor 2 ... ... is sorted according to equal rank. For example, when the time lag is counted until the bucket 10 moves to the sorting position set for each equal rank such as 2L, L, M, and S, and the bucket 10 moves to the sorting position corresponding to the determination of the equal grade determination device 3. , The opening / closing solenoid 17 is operated to open the bucket 10 at the sorting position corresponding to the determination.

【００１９】前述の周回用コンベア４は、図１に示すよ
うに、各仕分け用コンベア２，２上に設定した仕分け位
置直下に各第１コンベア１８，１８を送り方向に平行し
て架設し、各第１コンベア１８，１８の送り側終端部に
第２コンベア１９を直交して架設し、第２コンベア１９
の下段側に第３コンベア２０を平行して架設し、第３コ
ンベア２０の送り側終端部に第４コンベア２１を直交し
て架設し、第４コンベア２１の送り側終端部に第５コン
ベア２２を直交して架設し、第５コンベア２２の送り側
終端部に各第１コンベア１８，１８を直交して架設し、
上段側に架設した第２コンベア１９の送り側終端部と、
下段側に架設した第３コンベア２０の送り側始端部との
間にトレイ昇降機２３を架設している。As shown in FIG. 1, the orbiting conveyor 4 is constructed such that the first conveyors 18, 18 are laid in parallel to the feed direction immediately below the sorting positions set on the sorting conveyors 2, 2. A second conveyor 19 is installed orthogonally to the end of each of the first conveyors 18, 18 on the feed side,
The third conveyor 20 is installed in parallel on the lower stage side, the fourth conveyor 21 is installed orthogonally on the sending end of the third conveyor 20, and the fifth conveyor 22 is installed on the sending end of the fourth conveyor 21. , And the first conveyors 18, 18 are orthogonally installed at the sending end of the fifth conveyor 22,
A feed-side end portion of the second conveyor 19 installed on the upper stage side,
A tray elevator 23 is installed between the starting end of the third conveyor 20 on the feed side and the lower end.

【００２０】且つ、仕分け用コンベア２を構成する各バ
ケット１０…と、周回用コンベア４を構成する第１コン
ベア１８との上下間隔を、適宜本数の各胡瓜Ｋ…が載置
された整列用トレイＴの上下高さよりも若干隔てられた
間隔に設定し、第２コンベア１９と第３コンベア２０と
の上下間隔を、空送りされる整列用トレイＴの上下高さ
よりも若干隔てられた間隔に設定している。Further, the vertical intervals between the buckets 10 forming the sorting conveyor 2 and the first conveyor 18 forming the circulating conveyor 4 are set such that an appropriate number of each cucumber K ... The vertical distance between the second conveyor 19 and the third conveyor 20 is set to be slightly separated from the vertical height of T, and the vertical distance between the second conveyor 19 and the third conveyor 20 is set to be slightly separated from the vertical height of the alignment tray T that is idly fed. are doing.

【００２１】つまり、減速機付きモータ（図示省略）の
駆動力により各コンベア１８，１９，２０，２１，２２
を周回方向に回転駆動して、各コンベア１８，１９，２
０，２１，２２に載置された各整列用トレイＴ…を仕分
け位置、揃え位置、吸着位置に周回移動すると共に、各
コンベア１８，１９，２０，２１，２２の直交部分に配
設した各プッシャ機構２４，２５，２６，２７を駆動し
て、多数台の各整列用トレイＴ…を各コンベア１８，１
９，２０，２１，２２に順次移載する。且つ、後述する
胡瓜箱詰め機６により各整列用トレイＴ，Ｔ上に載置さ
れた各胡瓜Ｋ…を吸着保持して箱詰め位置上方に移動し
たとき、トレイ昇降機２３を駆動して、空の各整列用ト
レイＴ，Ｔを第３コンベア２０に順次移載する。That is, each conveyor 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 is driven by the driving force of a motor with a reducer (not shown).
Is driven to rotate in the orbiting direction, and each conveyor 18, 19, 2
Each of the alignment trays T mounted on 0, 21, 22 is circularly moved to the sorting position, the aligning position, and the suction position, and is arranged on the orthogonal portions of the conveyors 18, 19, 20, 21, 22. By driving the pusher mechanisms 24, 25, 26, 27, the plurality of aligning trays T ...
It is transferred to 9, 20, 21, 22 in sequence. Further, when the cucumber boxing machine 6 described later sucks and holds the respective cucumbers K placed on the respective alignment trays T, T and moves to the upper part of the boxing position, the tray elevating machine 23 is driven to drive each empty cucumber. The alignment trays T, T are sequentially transferred to the third conveyor 20.

【００２２】上述の第１コンベア１８は、図６に示すよ
うに、送り側始端部に軸支したドラムローラ２８と、送
り側終端部に軸支したドラムローラ２９との間に送りベ
ルト３０を張架し、終端側下部に配設した減速機付き送
り用モータ３１の駆動力により、各スプロケット３２，
３３及び駆動チェーン３４を介して送りベルト３０を送
り方向に周回させ、同送りベルト３０上に載置された整
列用トレイＴを送り方向に搬送する。且つ、仕分け用コ
ンベア２上に設定した仕分け位置直下に移動される整列
用トレイＴの凹状載置部Ｔｂと対向して反射型の光電セ
ンサＳを配設すると共に、同位置下部に配設した制御ユ
ニット３５に送り用モータ３１と光電センサＳとを接続
している。つまり、整列用トレイＴの凹状載置部Ｔｂに
載置される胡瓜Ｋを光電センサＳで検知し、同光電セン
サＳから出力される検知信号に基づいて制御ユニット３
５により送り用モータ３１を間欠駆動し、仕分け用コン
ベア２上に設定した投入位置直下に整列用トレイＴの各
凹状載置部Ｔｂ…を間欠送りする。As shown in FIG. 6, the first conveyor 18 described above has a feed belt 30 between a drum roller 28 which is rotatably supported at the feed end and a drum roller 29 which is rotatably supported at the feed end. Each sprocket 32, is stretched by the driving force of the feed motor 31 with a reduction gear arranged at the lower end side.
The feed belt 30 is circulated in the feed direction via 33 and the drive chain 34, and the alignment tray T placed on the feed belt 30 is conveyed in the feed direction. In addition, the reflection type photoelectric sensor S is arranged facing the concave mounting portion Tb of the alignment tray T which is moved to the position just below the sorting position set on the sorting conveyor 2, and is also arranged at the lower part of the same position. The feed motor 31 and the photoelectric sensor S are connected to the control unit 35. That is, the cucumber K placed on the concave placement portion Tb of the alignment tray T is detected by the photoelectric sensor S, and the control unit 3 is detected based on the detection signal output from the photoelectric sensor S.
5, the feeding motor 31 is intermittently driven to intermittently feed the concave mounting portions Tb ... Of the alignment tray T directly below the loading position set on the sorting conveyor 2.

【００２３】なお、上述した整列用トレイＴは、横長形
状に形成したトレイ本体Ｔａの上面側短手方向に対して
１本分の胡瓜Ｋを載置するための凹状載置部Ｔｂを形成
し、同トレイ本体Ｔａの上面側長手方向に対して９本分
の各胡瓜Ｋ…を載置するための各凹状載置部Ｔｂ…を並
列に形成し、同トレイ本体Ｔａの長手側両縁部に各胡瓜
Ｋ…の前後端部と対向して各整列板Ｔｃ，Ｔｃを形成し
ている。The above-mentioned aligning tray T has a concave mounting portion Tb for mounting one cucumber K in the lateral direction on the upper surface side of the tray body Ta formed in a horizontally long shape. , The concave mounting portions Tb for mounting nine cucumbers K in the longitudinal direction on the upper surface side of the tray main body Ta are formed in parallel, and both longitudinal side edge portions of the tray main body Ta are formed. And the alignment plates Tc, Tc are formed so as to face the front and rear ends of each cucumber K.

【００２４】前述のトレイ昇降機２３は、図９、図１０
に示すように、第２コンベア１９の送り側終端部に設定
した吸着位置の両側部に、同位置に搬送される各整列用
トレイＴ，Ｔの両側端部と対向してＬ字形の各保持板３
６，３６を配設し、同位置両側部に配設した各保持用シ
リンダ３７，３７を各保持板３６，３６に連結して、各
保持用シリンダ３７，３７の作動により、各整列用トレ
イＴ，Ｔの両側端部を水平姿勢に保持する閉位置と、同
各整列用トレイＴ，Ｔの保持が解除される開位置とに各
保持板３６，３６を開閉動作する。且つ、第２コンベア
１９の送り側終端部に設定した吸着位置下部に、二つの
各整列用トレイＴ，Ｔを水平姿勢に支持する大きさ及び
形状に形成した昇降台３８を配設し、同位置下部に配設
した各昇降用シリンダ３９，３９を昇降台３８の下面側
に連結して、各昇降用シリンダ３９，３９の作動によ
り、上段側の各保持板３６，３６により保持された各整
列用トレイＴ，Ｔを持上げる上昇位置と、下段側の第３
コンベア２０上に各整列用トレイＴ，Ｔを載置する降下
位置とに昇降台３８を垂直昇降する。The tray elevator 23 described above is used in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 2, on both sides of the suction position set at the end of the second conveyor 19 on the feed side, the L-shaped holdings are provided so as to face the both side ends of the alignment trays T, T conveyed to the same position. Board 3
6 and 36 are arranged, and the respective holding cylinders 37 and 37 arranged on both sides of the same position are connected to the respective holding plates 36 and 36, and by the operation of the respective holding cylinders 37 and 37, the respective alignment trays The holding plates 36, 36 are opened and closed between a closed position in which both end portions of T and T are held horizontally and an open position in which the holding of the respective alignment trays T and T is released. In addition, below the suction position set at the end of the second conveyor 19 on the feed side, an elevating table 38 having a size and shape for supporting the two aligning trays T, T in a horizontal posture is provided. The lifting cylinders 39, 39 arranged at the lower part of the position are connected to the lower surface side of the lifting platform 38, and are held by the upper holding plates 36, 36 by the operation of the lifting cylinders 39, 39. Lifting position for raising the alignment trays T, T, and the third tray on the lower side
The elevating table 38 is vertically moved up and down to the lowered position where the trays T for alignment are placed on the conveyor 20.

【００２５】つまり、後述する胡瓜箱詰め機６により各
整列用トレイＴ，Ｔに載置された各胡瓜Ｋ…を吸着保持
して箱詰め位置上方に移動したとき、各昇降用シリンダ
３９，３９を作動して、各保持板３６，３６上に載置さ
れた各整列用トレイＴ，Ｔを昇降台３８により一旦持上
げる。各保持用シリンダ３７，３７を開動作して各保持
板３６，３６を開位置に移動させ、同昇降台３８を垂直
降下して第３コンベア２０上に各整列用トレイＴ，Ｔを
載置した後、各保持用シリンダ３７，３７を閉動作して
各保持板３６，３６を閉位置に移動させ、次の各整列用
トレイＴ，Ｔを各保持板３６，３６上に移載する。That is, when the cucumber cartoning machine 6 which will be described later sucks and holds the cucumbers K placed on the aligning trays T, T, and moves the cucumbers 39, 39 upward and upward, the lifting cylinders 39, 39 are operated. Then, the alignment trays T, T placed on the holding plates 36, 36 are once lifted by the elevating table 38. The holding cylinders 37, 37 are opened to move the holding plates 36, 36 to the open position, the elevator 38 is vertically lowered, and the alignment trays T, T are placed on the third conveyor 20. After that, the holding cylinders 37, 37 are closed to move the holding plates 36, 36 to the closed position, and the next aligning trays T, T are transferred onto the holding plates 36, 36.

【００２６】前述の胡瓜揃え機５は、図７に示すよう
に、第２コンベア１９上に設定した揃え位置にストッパ
４０を出没可能に設け、同位置下部に配設した出没用シ
リンダ４１をストッパ４０に連結して、同出没用シリン
ダ４１の作動により、第２コンベア１９により搬送され
る整列用トレイＴと当接する突出位置と、同整列用トレ
イＴとの当接が回避される没入位置とにストッパ４０を
上下動する。且つ、揃え位置の後列側に停止される整列
用トレイＴの一側端部と対向して受け板４２を配設し、
同整列用トレイＴの他側端部と対向して挾持板４３を配
設し、同位置側部に配設した挾持用シリンダ４４を挾持
板４３に連結している。且つ、揃え位置上部に配設した
前後部の各揃え用シリンダ４５，４５をＬ字形の各支持
板４６，４６に連結し、同各支持板４６，４６に垂直固
定した各押圧用シリンダ４７，４７を、例えば、合成ゴ
ム、合成樹脂等の弾性体で形成した各押圧パッド４８，
４８の上面側に連結している。In the cucumber aligning machine 5 described above, as shown in FIG. 7, the stopper 40 is provided at the aligning position set on the second conveyor 19 so as to be retractable, and the retracting cylinder 41 disposed at the lower portion of the same is used as the stopper. A projecting position in contact with the alignment tray T conveyed by the second conveyor 19 and an immersion position in which the contact with the alignment tray T is avoided by being connected to 40 and operating the same retracting cylinder 41. Then, the stopper 40 is moved up and down. In addition, the receiving plate 42 is disposed so as to face one end of the aligning tray T stopped at the rear row side of the aligning position,
A holding plate 43 is arranged so as to face the other end of the aligning tray T, and a holding cylinder 44 arranged at the same position side is connected to the holding plate 43. In addition, the front and rear aligning cylinders 45, 45 disposed at the upper part of the aligning position are connected to the L-shaped support plates 46, 46, and the pressing cylinders 47 fixed vertically to the support plates 46, 46, respectively. 47 is a pressing pad 48 formed of an elastic body such as synthetic rubber or synthetic resin.
It is connected to the upper surface side of 48.

【００２７】つまり、出没用シリンダ４１を作動して、
二つの各整列用トレイＴ，Ｔをストッパ４０で揃え位置
に一旦停止した後、挾持用シリンダ４４を作動して、後
列側の整列用トレイＴを受け板４２と挾持板４３とで挾
持する。この後、各シリンダ４５，４７を作動して、各
整列用トレイＴ，Ｔに載置された各胡瓜Ｋ…を各押圧パ
ッド４８，４８で夫々押圧し、前列側の整列用トレイＴ
に載置された各胡瓜Ｋ…を前端側の整列板Ｔｃに当接し
て横一線に揃え、後列側の整列用トレイＴに載置された
各胡瓜Ｋ…を後端側の整列板Ｔｃに当接して横一線に揃
える。That is, by operating the retracting cylinder 41,
The two aligning trays T, T are temporarily stopped by the stopper 40 at the aligning position, and then the holding cylinder 44 is operated to hold the aligning tray T on the rear row side between the receiving plate 42 and the holding plate 43. Thereafter, the cylinders 45 and 47 are operated to press the cucumbers K ... Mounted on the aligning trays T and T with the pressing pads 48 and 48, respectively, and the aligning tray T on the front row side is pressed.
The cucumbers K ... Placed on the rear end side aligning plate Tc are brought into contact with the front end side aligning plate Tc and aligned in a horizontal line, and the cucumber K ... Placed on the rear row side aligning tray T is attached to the rear end side aligning plate Tc. Abut and align in a horizontal line.

【００２８】前述の胡瓜箱詰め機６は、図８、図９、図
１０に示すように、第２コンベア１９上に設定した吸着
位置上方と、同位置側部に設定した箱詰め位置上方との
間に各ガイドレール４９，４９を架設し、箱詰め位置上
部に配設した移動用シリンダ５０を、各ガイドレール４
９，４９間に取付けた移動枠５１に連結して、同移動用
シリンダ５０の作動により、吸着位置上方と箱詰め位置
上方とに移動枠５１全体を水平移動する。且つ、移動枠
５１上部に配設した昇降用シリンダ５２を昇降枠５３の
上面側に連結して、同昇降用シリンダ５２の作動によ
り、吸着位置直上と箱詰め位置直上とで昇降枠５３全体
を垂直昇降する。As shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, the cucumber cartoning machine 6 described above is arranged between the suction position above the second conveyor 19 and the cartoning position above the same side. Each of the guide rails 49, 49 is erected on the above, and the moving cylinder 50 disposed above the boxing position is attached to each of the guide rails 4.
It is connected to the moving frame 51 mounted between the 9 and 49, and the entire moving frame 51 is horizontally moved above the suction position and above the packing position by the operation of the moving cylinder 50. In addition, the lifting cylinder 52 disposed above the moving frame 51 is connected to the upper surface side of the lifting frame 53, and the lifting cylinder 53 is actuated so that the lifting frame 53 as a whole is vertically positioned between the suction position and the boxing position. Move up and down.

【００２９】上述の昇降枠５３は、同枠両側部に架設し
た各ガイドレール５４，５４上の前後端部に各可動台５
５，５５を前後摺動可能に取付け、同各可動台５５，５
５間に架設した各ガイドレール５６，５６上に９個の各
可動板５７…を左右摺動可能に取付け、同各可動板５７
…に垂設した各支持管５８…の下端部に、例えば、合成
ゴム又は合成樹脂等の弾性体で形成した各吸着パッド５
９…を夫々取付けている。且つ、同枠両側部に取付けた
各進退用シリンダ６０，６０を後端側の各可動台５５，
５５に連結して、各進退用シリンダ６０，６０の作動に
より、二つの各整列用トレイＴ，Ｔ上に載置された前後
列の各胡瓜Ｋ…を各吸着パッド５９…により吸着保持す
る離間位置と、同各吸着パッド５９…により吸着保持し
た前後列の各胡瓜Ｋ…を上下段違いに一部重合する集合
位置とに各可動台５５，５５を前後移動する。The elevating frame 53 described above is provided with movable bases 5 at the front and rear ends on the guide rails 54, 54 installed on both sides of the frame.
5 and 55 are mounted so that they can slide back and forth, and movable tables 55 and 5 of the same
Nine movable plates 57 are mounted on the respective guide rails 56, 56 erected between 5 so as to be slidable left and right, and each movable plate 57 is attached.
At the lower end of each of the support tubes 58 hung vertically, the suction pads 5 are made of an elastic material such as synthetic rubber or synthetic resin.
9 ... are attached respectively. In addition, each of the advancing / retreating cylinders 60, 60 attached to both sides of the same frame is attached to each of the movable bases 55,
55. By connecting the advancing / retreating cylinders 60, 60 to each other, the front and rear rows of the cucumbers K ... Mounted on the two aligning trays T, T are attracted and held by the suction pads 59. The movable tables 55, 55 are moved back and forth to a position and a gathering position where the cucumbers K ... in the front and rear rows sucked and held by the suction pads 59 ...

【００３０】且つ、各可動台５５，５５に取付けた各拡
縮用シリンダ６１，６１を両側部の各可動板５７，５７
に連結して、各拡縮用シリンダ６１，６１の作動によ
り、整列用トレイＴ上に載置された各胡瓜Ｋ…を各吸着
パッド５９…により吸着保持する離間位置と、同各吸着
パッド５９…により吸着保持した各胡瓜Ｋ…を箱詰め状
態に集合する集合位置とに各可動板５７…を左右移動す
る。つまり、第４コンベア２１上の吸着位置に二つの各
整列用トレイＴ，Ｔを搬送停止したとき、同各整列用ト
レイＴ，Ｔに載置された各胡瓜Ｋ…に各吸着パッド５９
…を夫々密着し、同各吸着パッド５９…に接続した吸引
用ブロワ（図示省略）の負圧で１８本分の各胡瓜Ｋ…を
吸着保持する。一方、各吸着パッド５９…で吸着保持し
た１８本分の各胡瓜Ｋ…を段ボール箱Ｂ内に収納したと
き、吸引用ブロワ（図示省略）による負圧を遮断又は停
止して各胡瓜Ｋ…の吸着保持を解除する。The expansion / reduction cylinders 61, 61 mounted on the movable bases 55, 55 are connected to the movable plates 57, 57 on both sides.
And the suction cylinders 59, 61 which are mounted on the tray for alignment T are sucked and held by the suction pads 59. The movable plates 57 are moved to the left and right to the gathering position where the cucumbers K attracted and held by are gathered in a boxed state. In other words, when the two alignment trays T, T are stopped at the suction position on the fourth conveyer 21, the suction pads 59 are attached to the cucumbers K placed on the alignment trays T, T.
Are closely contacted with each other, and 18 cucumbers K for 18 are adsorbed and held by a negative pressure of a suction blower (not shown) connected to each suction pad 59. On the other hand, when the 18 cucumbers K adsorbed and held by the adsorption pads 59 ... Are stored in the corrugated cardboard box B, the negative pressure by the suction blower (not shown) is shut off or stopped, and each cucumber K ... Release the suction hold.

【００３１】前述の箱昇降機７は、箱詰め位置下部に配
設した昇降台６２の下部中央にナット部６３を固定し、
同位置下部に垂直軸受したネジ軸６４上にナット部６３
を螺合して、下部一側に配設した減速機付き昇降用モー
タ６５の駆動力により、各スプロケット６６，６７及び
駆動チェーン６８を介してネジ軸６４を正逆回転させ、
後述する搬入用コンベア７１及び搬出用コンベア７２と
水平となる降下位置と、上面開放形態に組立てられた段
ボール箱Ｂを箱詰め位置に供給する上昇位置とに昇降台
６２を垂直昇降する。In the box elevator 7 described above, the nut portion 63 is fixed to the center of the lower portion of the elevator table 62 arranged below the box packing position.
The nut 63 is mounted on the screw shaft 64 that is vertically bearing in the lower part of the same position.
Is screwed, and the screw shaft 64 is normally and reversely rotated through the respective sprockets 66 and 67 and the drive chain 68 by the driving force of the lifting / lowering motor 65 with a reduction gear arranged on one side of the lower portion.
The elevating table 62 is vertically moved up and down to a descending position, which is horizontal to the carry-in conveyor 71 and the carry-out conveyor 72, which will be described later, and an ascending position for supplying the cardboard box B assembled in the top open form to the packing position.

【００３２】前述の箱開放機８は、箱詰め位置の前後及
び左右に各開放板６９…を上下開閉可能に軸支し、同各
開放板６９…の軸端部を傘歯車機構（図示省略）を介し
て動力伝達可能に連結すると共に、同位置側部に配設し
た開閉用シリンダ７０を開放板６９の軸端部に連結し
て、同開閉用シリンダ７０の作動により、箱詰め位置に
供給された段ボール箱Ｂの各フラップＢａ…と対向する
閉位置と、同段ボール箱Ｂの各フラップＢａ…を適宜角
度に開放する開位置とに各開放板６９…を連動して上下
開閉する。The above-mentioned box opening machine 8 pivotally supports the open plates 69 ... In the front and rear and left and right of the box packing position so that the open plates can be opened and closed, and the shaft ends of the open plates 69 ... Bevel gear mechanism (not shown). Power is transmitted via the open / close cylinder 70 and the open / close cylinder 70 arranged on the side of the same position is connected to the shaft end of the open plate 69, and the open / close cylinder 70 is operated to supply the open / close cylinder 70 to the boxing position. Further, the open plates 69 are opened and closed in an interlocking manner with the closed position facing the flaps Ba of the cardboard box B and the open position for opening the flaps Ba of the cardboard box B at an appropriate angle.

【００３３】且つ、箱詰め位置下部の搬入側に、前工程
（例えば、製函工程）から供給される空の段ボール箱Ｂ
を搬送するための搬入用コンベア７１を配設し、同位置
下部の搬出側に、後工程（例えば、封函工程）に箱詰め
済みの段ボール箱Ｂを搬送するための搬出用コンベア７
２を配設している。なお、上述の段ボール箱Ｂには、例
えば、合成樹脂製又は紙製の包装袋Ｐを上向きに開口し
て敷設すると共に、同包装袋Ｐの投入口Ｐａをダブル折
り又はシングル折りして段ボール箱Ｂの各フラップＢａ
…に被覆している。An empty cardboard box B supplied from a previous step (for example, a box making step) to the carry-in side below the boxing position.
A carry-in conveyer 71 for carrying the cardboard box B for carrying the boxed cardboard boxes B in the subsequent process (for example, a packaging process) is provided on the carry-out side at the lower part of the same position.
2 are arranged. In addition, in the above-mentioned cardboard box B, for example, a packaging bag P made of synthetic resin or paper is laid with the opening facing upward, and the input port Pa of the packaging bag P is double-folded or single-folded to form a cardboard box. Each flap Ba of B
It is coated on ...

【００３４】図示実施例は上記の如く構成するものとし
て、以下、胡瓜仕分け装置１による胡瓜Ｋの仕分け動作
及び箱詰め動作を説明する。先ず、図１に示すように、
仕分け用コンベア２の各バケット１０…を送り方向に周
回移動すると共に、送り側始端部に回帰するバケット１
０の支持ローラ１１を走行レール１２上に順次係合し
て、バケット１０の各受け板１０ｂ，１０ｂを閉塞した
状態のまま送り方向に周回移動する。同時に、各バケッ
ト１０…を構成する各受け板１０ｂ，１０ｂの下端部間
に、荷受けされる多数本の各胡瓜Ｋ…を１本ずつ横向き
姿勢に載置して搬送する。Assuming that the illustrated embodiment is configured as described above, the sorting operation and the packing operation of the cucumber K by the cucumber sorting apparatus 1 will be described below. First, as shown in FIG.
The bucket 1 that revolves around each bucket 10 of the sorting conveyor 2 in the feeding direction and returns to the starting end of the feeding side.
The support roller 11 of 0 is sequentially engaged with the traveling rail 12 to move circularly in the feeding direction while the receiving plates 10b, 10b of the bucket 10 are closed. At the same time, a large number of cucumbers K ... to be loaded are placed one by one in a horizontal position between the lower ends of the receiving plates 10b, 10b constituting the buckets 10 ...

【００３５】次に、仕分け用コンベア２上に設定した読
取り位置に於いて、各バケット１０…に載置された各胡
瓜Ｋ…の等階級を等階級判定装置３により順次読取る。
つまり、番地用リーダ３ｂによるバケット１０の番地読
取りに対応して、バケット１０に載置された胡瓜Ｋを撮
像用カメラ３ａで撮像し、同撮像用カメラ３ａで読取っ
た画像データに基づいて等階級判定装置３は胡瓜Ｋの等
階級を判定し、その判定データと番地データとを対応さ
せて記憶する。且つ、その判定と対応する仕分け位置に
バケット１０が移動するまでのタイムラグを計数する。
例えば、「Ｍ」サイズの判定データを持ったバケット１
０がＭサイズの仕分け位置に移動したとき、図２、図
３、図４に示すように、開閉用ソレノイド１７を作動し
て、その仕分け位置に架設した支持レール１６を後退移
動させ、バケット１０に軸支した支持ローラ１１を走行
レール１２の切欠き部１２ａから脱落させる。つまり、
バケット１０の各受け板１０ｂ，１０ｂ間に載置された
胡瓜Ｋと、整列用トレイＴの各凹状載置部Ｔｂ…とを適
宜上下間隔に近接し、バケット１０の各受け板１０ｂ，
１０ｂを全開放して、同各受け板１０ｂ，１０ｂ間に載
置された胡瓜Ｋを垂直落下させ、仕分け位置直下に移動
した整列用トレイＴの各凹状載置部Ｔｂ…に対して胡瓜
Ｋを直接投入する。Next, at the reading position set on the sorting conveyor 2, the equal grades of the cucumbers K placed on the buckets 10 are sequentially read by the equal grade determination device 3.
That is, in response to the address reading of the bucket 10 by the address reader 3b, the cucumber K placed on the bucket 10 is imaged by the imaging camera 3a, and the equal rank is obtained based on the image data read by the imaging camera 3a. The determination device 3 determines the equal class of the cucumber K and stores the determination data and the address data in association with each other. In addition, the time lag until the bucket 10 moves to the sorting position corresponding to the determination is counted.
For example, bucket 1 having judgment data of "M" size
When 0 moves to the M size sorting position, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the opening / closing solenoid 17 is actuated to move the support rail 16 installed at the sorting position backward to move the bucket 10 The supporting roller 11 pivotally supported on the running rail 12 is disengaged from the notch 12a of the traveling rail 12. That is,
The cucumber K placed between the receiving plates 10b and 10b of the bucket 10 and the concave mounting portions Tb of the aligning tray T are brought close to each other at appropriate vertical intervals so that the receiving plates 10b of the bucket 10
10b is fully opened, and the cucumber K placed between the receiving plates 10b and 10b is vertically dropped, and the cucumber K is placed on the concave mounting portions Tb of the aligning tray T which has been moved right below the sorting position. Directly.

【００３６】同時に、図６に示すように、整列用トレイ
Ｔの凹状載置部Ｔｂに垂直投入された胡瓜Ｋを光電セン
サＳで検知し、その検知信号を制御ユニット５７に出力
する。同制御ユニット５７は光電センサＳから出力され
る検知信号に基づいて第１コンベア１８を間欠駆動し、
仕分け位置直下に整列用トレイＴの各凹状載置部Ｔｂ…
を間欠送りして、各バケット１０…から落下供給される
同一等階級の各胡瓜Ｋ…を整列用トレイＴの各凹状載置
部Ｔｂ…に対して１本ずつ投入する。なお、整列用トレ
イＴに載置された胡瓜Ｋの姿勢が不適切或いは本数に過
不足がある場合、第２コンベア１９の搬送途中に待機す
る作業者の手で胡瓜Ｋの姿勢及び本数を補正する。At the same time, as shown in FIG. 6, the cucumber K vertically inserted into the concave mounting portion Tb of the tray for alignment T is detected by the photoelectric sensor S, and the detection signal is output to the control unit 57. The control unit 57 intermittently drives the first conveyor 18 based on the detection signal output from the photoelectric sensor S,
Immediately below the sorting position, each concave mounting portion Tb of the tray for alignment T ...
Are intermittently fed, and the cucumbers K ... of the same class that are dropped and supplied from the buckets 10 ... Are thrown into the concave mounting portions Tb. If the posture of the cucumbers K placed on the alignment tray T is inappropriate or the number of the cucumbers K is excessive or insufficient, the posture and the number of the cucumbers K are corrected by the hand of the worker who waits during the conveyance of the second conveyor 19. To do.

【００３７】次に、第２コンベア１９上の揃え位置に二
つの各整列用トレイＴ，Ｔを搬送停止した後、図７に示
すように、胡瓜揃え機５を駆動して、前列側の整列用ト
レイＴに載置された各胡瓜Ｋ…の前端部と、後列側の整
列用トレイＴに載置された各胡瓜Ｋ…の後端部とを横一
線に揃える。第２コンベア１９上の吸着位置に各整列用
トレイＴ，Ｔを搬送し、トレイ昇降機２３を構成する左
右の各保持板３６，３６上に各整列用トレイＴ，Ｔを移
載した後、図８に示すように、胡瓜箱詰め機６を駆動し
て、各整列用トレイＴ，Ｔに載置された各胡瓜Ｋ…を各
吸着パッド５９…で吸着保持し、同各吸着パッド５９…
で吸着保持した前後列の各胡瓜Ｋ…を上下段違いに重合
して箱詰め位置に移動する。Next, after stopping transportation of the two aligning trays T, T to the aligning position on the second conveyor 19, the cucumber aligning machine 5 is driven to align the front row side as shown in FIG. The front end portions of the cucumbers K ... Mounted on the tray T and the rear end portions of the cucumbers K mounted on the rear tray side aligning tray T are aligned in a horizontal line. After the respective alignment trays T, T are transported to the suction position on the second conveyor 19 and the respective alignment trays T, T are transferred onto the left and right holding plates 36, 36 constituting the tray elevator 23, As shown in FIG. 8, the cucumber boxing machine 6 is driven to suck and hold the cucumbers K ... Mounted on the trays T for alignment by the suction pads 59.
The cucumbers K ... in the front and rear rows that have been adsorbed and held in step S11 are superposed in different steps and moved to the boxing position.

【００３８】同時に、箱昇降機７を駆動して、前工程か
ら供給される空の段ボール箱Ｂを搬入用コンベア７１を
介して昇降台６２上に移載した後、昇降台６２を垂直上
昇して空の段ボール箱Ｂを箱詰め位置に供給する。箱開
放機８を駆動して、昇降台６２上に載置された段ボール
箱Ｂの各フラップＢａ…及び包装袋Ｐの投入口Ｐａを四
方に開放し、上述の各吸着パッド５９…により吸着保持
した各胡瓜Ｋ…を段ボール箱Ｂ内に一括収納して吸着解
除することで、１段分の各胡瓜Ｋ…の箱詰め作業が完了
する。At the same time, the box elevator 7 is driven to transfer the empty cardboard box B supplied from the previous step onto the elevator 62 via the carry-in conveyor 71, and then the elevator 62 is vertically lifted. An empty cardboard box B is supplied to the boxing position. The box opening machine 8 is driven to open the flaps Ba of the cardboard box B placed on the elevating table 62 and the loading port Pa of the packaging bag P in all directions, and the suction holding is performed by the suction pads 59 described above. All the cucumbers K ... are collectively stored in the corrugated cardboard box B and the adsorption is released, whereby the boxing work of each cucumber K ... for one stage is completed.

【００３９】同時に、トレイ昇降機２３を駆動して、左
右の各保持板３６，３６上に載置された各整列用トレイ
Ｔ，Ｔを昇降台３８により一旦持上げ、各保持板３６，
３６を開位置に移動した後、昇降台３８を垂直降下して
空の各整列用トレイＴ，Ｔを第３コンベア２０上に移載
し、各整列用トレイＴ，Ｔを第４コンベア２１及び第５
コンベア２２を介して第１コンベア１８上に回帰搬送す
る。この後、左右の各保持板３６，３６を閉位置に移動
して、次の各整列用トレイＴ，Ｔを各保持板３６，３６
上に移載する。以下同様に、各整列用トレイＴ，Ｔに載
置された各胡瓜Ｋ…を各吸着パッド５９…で吸着保持し
て段ボール箱Ｂに順次箱詰めする。所定本数分の胡瓜Ｋ
を箱詰めした後、昇降台６２を垂直降下して、箱詰め済
の段ボール箱Ｂを搬出用コンベア７２を介して後工程に
搬送する。At the same time, the tray lifter 23 is driven to temporarily lift the respective alignment trays T, T placed on the left and right holding plates 36, 36 by the elevating table 38, and the holding plates 36,
After moving 36 to the open position, the elevating table 38 is vertically lowered to transfer the empty aligning trays T and T onto the third conveyor 20, and the aligning trays T and T to the fourth conveyor 21 and. Fifth
It is conveyed back onto the first conveyor 18 via the conveyor 22. After this, the left and right holding plates 36, 36 are moved to the closed position to move the next aligning trays T, T to the holding plates 36, 36.
Reprinted above. Similarly, the cucumbers K ... Mounted on the respective alignment trays T, T are sucked and held by the suction pads 59, and sequentially packed in the corrugated cardboard box B. A certain number of cucumber K
After the box is packed, the elevating table 62 is vertically lowered, and the packed corrugated cardboard box B is conveyed to the subsequent process via the carry-out conveyor 72.

【００４０】以上のように、バケット１０の各受け板１
０ｂ，１０ｂ間に載置された胡瓜Ｋと、仕分け位置直下
に移動された整列用トレイＴとを適宜上下間隔に近接し
て移載するので、胡瓜Ｋを投入するときの落差が小さく
なり、投入時に生じる衝撃が大幅に軽減されると共に、
胡瓜Ｋの載置姿勢及び載置位置が変位するのを防止で
き、整列用トレイＴの各凹状載置部Ｔｂ…に対して胡瓜
Ｋを１本ずつ適確に投入することができる。且つ、バケ
ット１０の各受け板１０ｂ，１０ｂを整列用トレイＴの
各凹状載置部Ｔｂ…上で開放し、同各受け板１０ｂ，１
０ｂ間に載置された胡瓜Ｋを整列用トレイＴの各凹状載
置部Ｔｂ…に対して直接投入するので、投入時に胡瓜Ｋ
が転動せず、胡瓜Ｋの商品価値が損なわれるのを防止す
ることができる。As described above, each receiving plate 1 of the bucket 10
Since the cucumber K placed between 0b and 10b and the aligning tray T moved immediately below the sorting position are appropriately transferred close to each other in the vertical interval, the drop when the cucumber K is thrown in becomes small, The impact generated at the time of loading is greatly reduced,
The placement posture and placement position of the cucumber K can be prevented from being displaced, and one cucumber K can be properly inserted into each concave placement portion Tb ... Of the alignment tray T. Moreover, the receiving plates 10b, 10b of the bucket 10 are opened on the concave mounting portions Tb ... Of the aligning tray T, and the receiving plates 10b, 1b are opened.
Since the cucumber K placed between 0b is directly put into each concave mounting portion Tb of the tray for alignment T ..
Can be prevented from rolling and spoiling the commercial value of cucumber K.

【００４１】図１１は第２実施例の仕分け用コンベア２
を示し、バケット１０を構成する２枚の各受け板１０
ｂ，１０ｂを全閉角度と、半開角度と、全開角度とに開
閉動作する構造である。つまり、仕分け用コンベア２上
に設定した読取り位置から前段側の走行レール１２を高
い位置に架設して、バケット１０に軸支した支持ローラ
１１を高い位置の走行レール１２上に係合することで、
バケット１０の各受け板１０ｂ，１０ｂが全開角度に回
動規制され、同各受け板１０ｂ，１０ｂ上に載置される
胡瓜Ｋを高い位置で保持する。一方、読取り位置から後
段側の走行レール１２を低い位置に架設して、バケット
１０に軸支した支持ローラ１１を低い位置の走行レール
１２上に係合することで、バケット１０の各受け板１０
ｂ，１０ｂか半開角度に回動規制され、同各受け板１０
ｂ，１０ｂ上に載置された胡瓜Ｋを低い位置で保持する
ことができ、バケット１０の各受け板１０ｂ，１０ｂ上
に載置された胡瓜Ｋと、第１コンベア１８上に載置され
た整列用トレイＴとが適宜上下間隔に近接され、整列用
トレイＴの各凹状載置部Ｔｂ…に胡瓜Ｋを投入するとき
の落差が小さくなるため、第１実施例と同様に、胡瓜Ｋ
の投入作業が適確に行えると共に、胡瓜Ｋの商品価値が
損なわれるのを防止できる。FIG. 11 shows a sorting conveyor 2 of the second embodiment.
And each of the two receiving plates 10 that make up the bucket 10.
This is a structure in which b and 10b are opened and closed at a fully closed angle, a half open angle, and a fully open angle. That is, the traveling rail 12 on the preceding stage is installed at a high position from the reading position set on the sorting conveyor 2, and the support roller 11 pivotally supported on the bucket 10 is engaged on the traveling rail 12 at a high position. ,
The receiving plates 10b, 10b of the bucket 10 are regulated to be rotated at a fully open angle, and the cucumber K placed on the receiving plates 10b, 10b is held at a high position. On the other hand, by arranging the traveling rail 12 on the rear stage side from the reading position at a low position and engaging the support roller 11 pivotally supported by the bucket 10 on the traveling rail 12 at the low position, each receiving plate 10 of the bucket 10 is engaged.
b, 10b is restricted to rotate at a half-open angle, and each of the receiving plates 10
The cucumber K placed on b, 10b can be held at a low position, and the cucumber K placed on each of the receiving plates 10b, 10b of the bucket 10 and the first conveyor 18 were placed. Since the alignment tray T is appropriately close to the vertical interval, and the head when the cucumber K is put into each concave mounting portion Tb of the alignment tray T is small, the cucumber K is the same as in the first embodiment.
It is possible to accurately put the cucumber into the container and prevent the commercial value of the cucumber K from being impaired.

【００４２】図１２は第３実施例の仕分け用コンベア２
を示し、バケット１０を構成する２枚の各受け板１０
ｂ，１０ｂを、同各受け板１０ｂ，１０ｂの短辺側中心
部を支点として全閉位置及び全開位置に開閉動作する構
造である。つまり、バケット１０に軸架した各支軸１
３，１３上に各受け板１０ｂ，１０ｂの短辺側中心部を
固定し、各支軸１３，１３を中心にして各受け板１０
ｂ，１０ｂを全閉位置と全開位置とに開閉動作するの
で、第１実施例及び第２実施例の構造に比べて各受け板
１０ｂ，１０ｂの回転半径が短くなり、仕分け位置下部
のスペースが小さくて済む。仕分け用コンベア２を構成
する各バケット１０…と、周回用コンベア４を構成する
第１コンベア１８とを適宜上下間隔に近接することがで
きる。且つ、整列用トレイＴの各凹状載置部Ｔｂ…に胡
瓜Ｋを投入するときの落差が小さくなるため、第１実施
例と同様に、胡瓜Ｋの投入作業が適確に行えると共に、
胡瓜Ｋの商品価値が損なわれるのを防止できる。FIG. 12 shows a sorting conveyor 2 of the third embodiment.
And each of the two receiving plates 10 that make up the bucket 10.
This is a structure in which the b and 10b are opened and closed to the fully closed position and the fully opened position with the center of the short side of each of the receiving plates 10b and 10b as a fulcrum. That is, each support shaft 1 mounted on the bucket 10
The center portions of the receiving plates 10b and 10b on the short side are fixed on the receiving plates 10 and 10, and the receiving plates 10 are centered around the supporting shafts 13 and 13.
Since b and 10b are opened and closed between the fully closed position and the fully opened position, the radius of rotation of each of the receiving plates 10b and 10b is shorter than that of the structure of the first and second embodiments, and the space below the sorting position is reduced. It can be small. The buckets 10 forming the sorting conveyor 2 and the first conveyor 18 forming the orbiting conveyor 4 can be appropriately close to each other in the vertical interval. Moreover, since the drop when the cucumber K is put into each of the concave mounting portions Tb ... of the tray for alignment T is small, the cucumber K can be put into the work properly as in the first embodiment.
It can prevent the commercial value of cucumber K from being impaired.

【００４３】図１３、図１４、図１５は上述した仕分け
用コンベア２の各バケット１０…から垂直落下される同
一等階級の各胡瓜Ｋ…を各ホッパ部７７…に一旦投入
し、同各ホッパ部７７…の下段側に設けた各ストック部
７８…に一時ストックした後、仕分け用コンベア２の仕
分け位置下部に配設した整列用コンベア７９に、各スト
ック部７８…に一時ストックされた適宜本数の各胡瓜Ｋ
…を順次移載する第４実施例の胡瓜仕分け装置１を示
し、例えば、６本、８本等の多数本を並設した各仕分け
用コンベア２…の仕分け位置下部に、同各仕分け用コン
ベア２…の周回方向に直交してベルト式の整列用コンベ
ア７９を配設すると共に、同整列用コンベア７９の搬送
面全長に、１本分の胡瓜Ｋを長手方向に整列載置する左
右間隔に隔てて多数条の各突条部７９ａ…を連続的又は
部分的に形成している。In FIGS. 13, 14 and 15, the cucumbers K of the same class, which are vertically dropped from the buckets 10 of the sorting conveyor 2 described above, are once put into the hoppers 77 ... After being temporarily stocked in each stock section 78 provided on the lower side of the section 77 ..., an appropriate number of stocks temporarily stocked in each stock section 78 are provided in the aligning conveyor 79 arranged below the sorting position of the sorting conveyor 2. Each cucumber K
The cucumber sorting apparatus 1 of the fourth embodiment in which the ... Is transferred in sequence is shown. For example, the sorting conveyors 2 each having a large number of six, eight, etc. arranged in parallel are located below the sorting positions of the sorting conveyors. 2. A belt type alignment conveyor 79 is arranged orthogonally to the orbiting direction of 2 ..., and at the entire length of the conveying surface of the alignment conveyor 79, one cucumber K is arranged in the longitudinal direction at the left and right intervals. A large number of protrusions 79a are formed continuously or partially at intervals.

【００４４】つまり、各等階級判定装置３…による判定
と対応する仕分け位置に各仕分け用コンベア２…の各バ
ケット１０…を移動して、各バケット１０…に載置され
た各胡瓜Ｋ…と、同位置下部に配設した各ホッパ部７７
…とを適宜上下間隔に近接した後、バケット１０の各受
け板１０ｂ，１０ｂをホッパ部７７の直上位置で夫々開
放し、各バケット１０…に載置された同一等階級の各胡
瓜Ｋ…を各ホッパ部７７…に一旦投入する。That is, the buckets 10 of the sorting conveyors 2 are moved to the sorting positions corresponding to the determinations made by the equal grade determination devices 3 and the cucumbers K placed on the buckets 10 and so on. , Each hopper portion 77 arranged at the lower part of the same position
, And the appropriate distances between the receiving plates 10b, 10b of the bucket 10 at positions directly above the hopper 77, and the cucumbers K of the same rank placed on the buckets 10 ... Each hopper 77 is once charged.

【００４５】同時に、各ストック部７８…に設けた各光
電センサＳ1 …により胡瓜Ｋの有無を検知し、同各光電
センサＳ1 …から出力される検知信号に基づいて胡瓜Ｋ
が未投入であるか、投入済みであるかを図１６に示す制
御ユニット８３により判定する。胡瓜Ｋが未投入である
と判定された場合、各ホッパ部７７…の上面側に連結し
た各投入ガイド７７ａ…を各開閉用シリンダ８０…によ
り開閉動作し、仕分け用コンベア２の各バケット１０…
から垂直落下される各胡瓜Ｋ…を各投入ガイド７７ａ…
で夫々振分け、未投入の各ストック部７８…と対応する
各ホッパ部７７…に対して各胡瓜Ｋ…を１本ずつ振分け
投入する。且つ、各ホッパ部７７…の下面側に連結した
各シャッタ７７ｂ…を各開閉用シリンダ８１…により独
立開放して、同各ホッパ部７７…に投入された胡瓜Ｋを
各ストック部７８…に落下投入する。落下直後、各ホッ
パ部７７…の下面側に連結した各シャッタ７７ｂ…を閉
鎖する。At the same time, the presence or absence of cucumber K is detected by each photoelectric sensor S1 provided in each stock portion 78, and the cucumber K is detected based on the detection signal output from each photoelectric sensor S1.
It is determined by the control unit 83 shown in FIG. 16 whether or not has been input. When it is determined that the cucumber K has not been loaded, the loading guides 77a connected to the upper surface side of the hoppers 77 are opened and closed by the opening and closing cylinders 80, and the buckets 10 of the sorting conveyor 2 are opened.
Put each cucumber K ...
, And each cucumber K ... is distributed to each hopper 77 corresponding to the stock portion 78 ... Also, the shutters 77b ... Connected to the lower surface side of the hoppers 77 ... Are independently opened by the opening / closing cylinders 81 ..., and the cucumber K thrown into the hoppers 77 ... Drops into the stock 78. throw into. Immediately after the drop, the shutters 77b connected to the lower surface side of the hoppers 77 are closed.

【００４６】次に、各ストック部７８…に対して各胡瓜
Ｋ…の投入が完了した後、整列用コンベア７９に形成し
た各突条部７９ａ…間の搬送面と対向して設けた各光電
センサＳ2 …により胡瓜Ｋの有無を検知し、同各光電セ
ンサＳ2 …から出力される検知信号に基づいて胡瓜Ｋが
未載置であるか、載置済みであるかを制御ユニット８３
により判定する。胡瓜Ｋが未載置であると判定された場
合、各ストック部７８…の下面側に連結した各シャッタ
７８ａ…を各開閉用シリンダ８２…により連動開放又は
独立開放して、各ストック部７８…に一時ストックされ
た各胡瓜Ｋ…を整列用コンベア７９の空送り部分に一括
して移載する。この後、整列用コンベア７９の各突条部
７９ａ…間に載置された適宜本数の各胡瓜Ｋ…を、上述
した胡瓜箱詰め機６の各吸着パッド５９…により吸着保
持して段ボール箱Ｂに箱詰めする。Next, after the respective cucumbers K ... have been charged into the respective stock sections 78 ..., the photoelectric conversion elements provided on the alignment conveyor 79 so as to face the conveying surfaces between the ridges 79a. The presence or absence of the cucumber K is detected by the sensor S2, and the control unit 83 determines whether the cucumber K is not placed or has been placed based on the detection signal output from each photoelectric sensor S2.
Determined by When it is determined that the cucumber K is not placed, the shutters 78a connected to the lower surface side of the stock portions 78 ... Are interlockedly opened or independently opened by the open / close cylinders 82 ... The cucumbers K ... temporarily stocked in the above are collectively transferred to the idle feed portion of the aligning conveyor 79. After that, an appropriate number of cucumbers K, which are placed between the ridges 79a of the aligning conveyor 79, are adsorbed and held by the adsorption pads 59 of the cucumber cartoning machine 6 described above to the corrugated cardboard box B. Pack in a box.

【００４７】以上のように、バケット１０の各受け板１
０ｂ，１０ｂ間に載置された胡瓜Ｋと、仕分け位置直下
に配設したホッパ部７７とを適宜上下間隔に近接して投
入するので、第１実施例と同様に、胡瓜Ｋを投入すると
きの落差が小さくなり、胡瓜Ｋの投入作業が確実に行え
ると共に、各仕分け用コンベア２…の各バケット１０…
から垂直落下される同一等階級の各胡瓜Ｋ…を各ストッ
ク部７８…に一時ストックして、同位置下部に配設した
整列用コンベア７９上の空送り部分に各胡瓜Ｋ…を順次
移載するので、各仕分け用コンベア２…から整列用コン
ベア７９上に同一等階級の各胡瓜Ｋ…を移載するとき、
前後列の各胡瓜Ｋ…が互いに重なり合うのを確実に防止
することができ、適宜本数の各胡瓜Ｋ…を並列状態のま
ま搬送するため、胡瓜Ｋの仕分け作業及び箱詰め作業が
円滑に行える。As described above, each receiving plate 1 of the bucket 10
Since the cucumber K placed between 0b and 10b and the hopper 77 arranged immediately below the sorting position are appropriately placed close to each other in the vertical interval, when the cucumber K is introduced, as in the first embodiment. The head of cucumber K can be surely put in, and each bucket 10 of each sorting conveyor 2 ...
The cucumbers K ... of the same grade dropped vertically from the stock are temporarily stocked in the stocking sections 78 ..., and the cucumbers K ... are sequentially transferred to the idle feed portion on the aligning conveyor 79 arranged at the lower part of the same position. , When transferring each cucumber K ... of the same class from each sorting conveyor 2 ... onto the alignment conveyor 79:
It is possible to reliably prevent the cucumbers K ... in the front and back rows from overlapping each other, and the appropriate number of cucumbers K ... are conveyed in a parallel state, so that the cucumber K sorting work and the boxing work can be performed smoothly.

【００４８】図１７は上述の整列用コンベア７９により
搬送される各胡瓜Ｋ…を各整列用トレイＴ…に順次移載
し、同各整列用トレイＴ…に載置された適宜本数の各胡
瓜Ｋ…を胡瓜箱詰め機６により吸着保持して段ボール箱
Ｂに箱詰めする第５実施例の胡瓜仕分け装置１を示し、
上述した整列用コンベア７９の送り側終端部に、多数台
の各整列用トレイＴ…を水平方向に周回移動するための
周回用コンベア８４を近接して配設し、整列用コンベア
７９の送り側終端部と対向する位置に、周回用コンベア
８４に載置された多数台の各整列用トレイＴ…を周回移
動する。In FIG. 17, each cucumber K ... Carried by the above-mentioned alignment conveyor 79 is sequentially transferred to each alignment tray T ..., and an appropriate number of each cucumber placed on each alignment tray T ... The cucumber sorting apparatus 1 of the fifth embodiment for adsorbing and holding K ... by a cucumber boxing machine 6 and packing it in a corrugated cardboard box B is shown.
At the end of the above-mentioned alignment conveyor 79 on the feed side, a circulation conveyor 84 for horizontally moving the plurality of alignment trays T ... The plurality of alignment trays T mounted on the circulation conveyor 84 are circularly moved to a position facing the end portion.

【００４９】つまり、上述と同様にして、各等階級判定
装置３…による判定と対応する仕分け位置に仕分け用コ
ンベア２の各バケット１０…を移動して、各バケット１
０…に載置された各胡瓜Ｋ…と、同位置下部に配設した
各ホッパ部７７…とを適宜上下間隔に近接した後、バケ
ット１０の各受け板１０ｂ，１０ｂをホッパ部７７の直
上位置で夫々開放して、各バケット１０…に載置された
同一等階級の各胡瓜Ｋ…を各ホッパ部７７…に一旦投入
する。同各ホッパ部７７…の下段側に設けた各ストック
部７８…に適宜本数の各胡瓜Ｋ…を一時ストックして、
同各ストック部７８…に一時ストックされた適宜本数の
各胡瓜Ｋ…を整列用コンベア７９の空送り部分に順次移
載する。That is, in the same manner as described above, the buckets 10 of the sorting conveyor 2 are moved to the sorting positions corresponding to the determinations made by the equal class determination devices 3 ...
The cucumbers K placed on 0 ... and the hoppers 77 arranged at the lower part of the same position are appropriately brought close to each other in the vertical interval, and then the receiving plates 10b and 10b of the bucket 10 are directly above the hopper 77. The cucumbers K ... of the same class placed on the buckets 10 ... Are once loaded into the hoppers 77 ... The stock parts 78 provided on the lower side of the hoppers 77 ... are temporarily stocked with an appropriate number of each cucumber K ...
An appropriate number of each cucumber K ... temporarily stocked in each stock section 78 ... is sequentially transferred to the idle feed section of the alignment conveyor 79.

【００５０】同時に、整列用コンベア７９の送り側終端
部と対向する位置に、周回用コンベア８４に載置された
多数台の各整列用トレイＴ…を周回移動して、整列用コ
ンベア７９により搬送される各胡瓜Ｋ…を整列用トレイ
Ｔの各凹状載置部Ｔｂ…に順次移載すると共に、適宜本
数の各胡瓜Ｋ…が載置された各整列用トレイＴ…を胡瓜
箱詰め機６と対向する位置に移動して、同各整列用トレ
イＴ…に載置された各胡瓜Ｋ…を胡瓜箱詰め機６の各吸
着パッド５９…により吸着保持して段ボール箱Ｂに箱詰
めするので、第４実施例と同様に、胡瓜Ｋを投入すると
きの落差が小さくなり、胡瓜Ｋの投入作業が確実に行え
ると共に、各仕分け用コンベア２…の各バケット１０…
から垂直落下される同一等階級の各胡瓜Ｋ…が互いに重
なり合うのを確実に防止することができ、胡瓜Ｋの仕分
け作業及び箱詰め作業が円滑に行える。At the same time, a large number of the respective alignment trays T mounted on the orbiting conveyor 84 are circularly moved to a position opposed to the end of the aligning conveyor 79 on the feed side, and are conveyed by the orienting conveyor 79. The respective cucumbers K ... are sequentially transferred to the concave mounting portions Tb ... of the alignment tray T, and the respective alignment trays T, on which an appropriate number of the cucumbers K ... Are mounted, are transferred to the cucumber boxing machine 6. Since the cucumbers K ... Placed on the respective alignment trays T ... are adsorbed and held by the suction pads 59 ... As in the embodiment, the drop when the cucumber K is charged is small, and the cucumber K charging operation can be reliably performed, and the buckets 10 of the sorting conveyors 2 ...
It is possible to reliably prevent the cucumbers K ... of the same grade dropped vertically from overlapping each other, and the sorting work and the boxing work of the cucumber K can be performed smoothly.

【００５１】この発明の構成と、上述の実施例との対応
において、この発明の長尺物仕分け装置は、実施例の胡
瓜仕分け装置１に対応し、以下同様に、長尺物は、胡瓜
Ｋに対応し、長尺物載置部は、整列用トレイＴ及び各凹
状載置部Ｔｂ…と、各ホッパ部７７…と、整列用コンベ
ア７９及び各突条部７９ａ…とに対応し、等階級判定手
段は、等階級判定装置３及び撮像用カメラ３ａと、番地
用リーダ３ｂとに対応し、各受け部は、バケット１０の
各受け板１０ｂ，１０ｂに対応し、バケット本体は、バ
ケット１０の支持枠１０ａに対応し、バケット開閉手段
は、支持ローラ１１と、走行レール１２と、切欠き部１
２ａと、支軸１３と、連結板１４と、ラック１４ａと、
支持ピン１５ａと、ガイド孔１５ｂと、支持レール１６
と、開閉用ソレノイド１７とに対応し、バケット半開放
手段は、仕分け用コンベア２上に設定した読取り位置か
ら後段側の走行レール１２に対応するも、この発明は、
上述の実施例の構成のみに限定されるものではない。In the correspondence between the configuration of the present invention and the above-described embodiment, the long product sorting device of the present invention corresponds to the cucumber sorting device 1 of the embodiment, and hereinafter, similarly, the long product is a cucumber K. The long object placing portion corresponds to the aligning tray T and each concave placing portion Tb, each hopper portion 77, the aligning conveyor 79 and each ridge portion 79a, and so on. The class determining means corresponds to the equal class determining device 3 and the imaging camera 3a, and the address reader 3b, each receiving portion corresponds to each receiving plate 10b, 10b of the bucket 10, and the bucket body corresponds to the bucket 10. The bucket opening / closing means corresponds to the support frame 10a of the support roller 11, the traveling rail 12, and the cutout portion 1.
2a, a support shaft 13, a connecting plate 14, a rack 14a,
Support pin 15a, guide hole 15b, support rail 16
And the opening / closing solenoid 17 and the bucket half-opening means correspond to the traveling rail 12 on the rear stage side from the reading position set on the sorting conveyor 2.
It is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment.

【００５２】上述の実施例では、ベルトコンベアやロー
ラコンベア等で構成される周回用コンベア４上に多数台
の各整列用トレイＴ…を載置して周回移動するが、例え
ば、チェーンコンベア、ベルトコンベア等の適宜コンベ
ア上に各整列用トレイＴ…を連結して周回移動するもよ
い。In the above-described embodiment, a large number of the alignment trays T ... Are placed on the orbiting conveyor 4 composed of a belt conveyor, a roller conveyor, etc., and are moved circularly. It is also possible to connect each of the trays T for alignment on a conveyor such as a conveyor or the like and to move the tray in a circular manner.

【００５３】また、仕分け用コンベア２の各バケット１
０…から垂直落下される同一等階級の各胡瓜Ｋ…を整列
用コンベア７７上に直接移載して胡瓜箱詰め機６に搬送
供給するもよい。Further, each bucket 1 of the sorting conveyor 2
Each cucumber K ... of the same class dropped vertically from 0 may be directly transferred onto the alignment conveyor 77 and conveyed and supplied to the cucumber cartoning machine 6.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief description of drawings]

【図１】第１実施例の胡瓜仕分け装置を示す全体斜視
図。FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a cucumber sorting device according to a first embodiment.

【図２】仕分け用コンベアによる仕分け動作を示す平面
図。FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a sorting operation by a sorting conveyor.

【図３】バケットの開閉動作を示す側面図。FIG. 3 is a side view showing the opening / closing operation of the bucket.

【図４】バケットの開閉手段を示す側面図。FIG. 4 is a side view showing the opening / closing means of the bucket.

【図５】他の開閉手段を示す側面図。FIG. 5 is a side view showing another opening / closing means.

【図６】仕分け用コンベアによる仕分け動作を示す側面
図。FIG. 6 is a side view showing a sorting operation by a sorting conveyor.

【図７】胡瓜揃え機による揃え動作を示す平面図。FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an alignment operation by the cucumber alignment machine.

【図８】胡瓜箱詰め機による箱詰め動作を示す側面図。FIG. 8 is a side view showing a cartoning operation by the cucumber cartoning machine.

【図９】胡瓜の吸着状態を示す側面図。FIG. 9 is a side view showing an adsorbed state of cucumber.

【図１０】胡瓜の吸着状態を示す正面図。FIG. 10 is a front view showing a cucumber adsorption state.

【図１１】第２実施例の仕分け用コンベアによる仕分け
動作を示す側面図。FIG. 11 is a side view showing a sorting operation by the sorting conveyor of the second embodiment.

【図１２】第３実施例の仕分け用コンベアによる仕分け
動作を示す側面図。FIG. 12 is a side view showing a sorting operation by the sorting conveyor of the third embodiment.

【図１３】第４実施例の胡瓜仕分け装置を示す全体平面
図。FIG. 13 is an overall plan view showing a cucumber sorting device according to a fourth embodiment.

【図１４】適宜本数の各胡瓜を一時ストックした状態を
示す正面図。FIG. 14 is a front view showing a state in which an appropriate number of each cucumber is temporarily stocked.

【図１５】適宜本数の各胡瓜を一時ストックした状態を
示す側面図。FIG. 15 is a side view showing a state in which an appropriate number of cucumbers are temporarily stocked.

【図１６】ホッパ部及びストック部の動作を制御するブ
ロック図。FIG. 16 is a block diagram for controlling operations of a hopper unit and a stock unit.

【図１７】第５実施例の胡瓜仕分け装置を示す全体平面
図。FIG. 17 is an overall plan view showing a cucumber sorting device according to a fifth embodiment.

【図１８】従来例の仕分け用コンベアによる仕分け動作
を示す側面図。FIG. 18 is a side view showing a sorting operation by a conventional sorting conveyor.

【符号の説明】[Explanation of symbols]

Ｓ，Ｓ1 ，Ｓ2 …光電センサ Ｋ…胡瓜 Ｔ…整列用トレイ Ｔｂ…凹状載置部 １…胡瓜仕分け装置 ２…仕分け用コンベア ３…等階級判定装置 ４…周回用コンベア ５…胡瓜揃え機 ６…胡瓜箱詰め機 ７…箱昇降機 ８…箱開放機 １０…バケット １０ａ…支持枠 １０ｂ…受け板 １１…支持ローラ １２…走行レール １２ａ…切欠き部 １３…支軸 １４…連結板 １４ａ…ラック １５ａ…支持ピン １５ｂ…ガイド孔 １６…支持レール １７…開閉用ソレノイド ２３…トレイ昇降機 ３０…送りベルト ３１…送り用モータ ３５…制御ユニット ３６…保持板 ３８…昇降台 ５９…吸着パッド ７７…ホッパ部 ７８…ストック部 ７９…整列用コンベア ７９ａ…突条部 ８３…制御ユニット ８４…周回用コンベア S, S1, S2 ... Photoelectric sensor K ... Cucumber T ... Alignment tray Tb ... Recessed placement part 1 ... Cucumber sorting device 2 ... Sorting conveyor 3 ... Equal class determination device 4 ... Circulation conveyor 5 ... Cucumber aligning machine 6 ... Cucumber box packing machine 7 ... Box lifter 8 ... Box opening machine 10 ... Bucket 10a ... Support frame 10b ... Receiving plate 11 ... Support roller 12 ... Traveling rail 12a ... Notch portion 13 ... Spindle 14 ... Connecting plate 14a ... Rack 15a ... Support Pin 15b ... Guide hole 16 ... Support rail 17 ... Open / close solenoid 23 ... Tray elevator 30 ... Feed belt 31 ... Feed motor 35 ... Control unit 36 ... Holding plate 38 ... Elevating table 59 ... Suction pad 77 ... Hopper 78 ... Stock Part 79 ... Alignment conveyor 79a ... Ridge part 83 ... Control unit 84 ... Orbiting conveyor

Claims (3)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] 【請求項１】仕分け用コンベアの各バケットに載置され
た各長尺物を等階級判定手段による判定に基づいて等階
級別に仕分け処理し、該等階級判定手段による判定と対
応する仕分け位置に各バケットが移動したとき、該各バ
ケットに載置された各長尺物を垂直落下して仕分け位置
直下の長尺物載置部に移載する長尺物仕分け装置であっ
て、上記横長形状に形成したバケット本体の各長辺部
に、上記長尺物を保持する大きさに形成した各受け部を
上下開閉可能に垂設し、上記バケット本体に垂設した各
受け部を、上記長尺物載置部に対して適宜上下間隔に近
接した高さ位置に長尺物が保持される閉角度と、該長尺
物載置部に対して長尺物が垂直落下される開角度とに開
閉可能に設け、上記等階級別に設定した仕分け位置に移
動したとき、上記等階級判定手段による判定に基づいて
バケット本体の各受け部を長尺物の落下が許容される開
角度に開放するバケット開放手段を設けた長尺物仕分け
装置。Claims: 1. The long objects placed in each bucket of the sorting conveyor are sorted into equal ranks based on the judgment by the equal rank judging means, and are placed at the sorting position corresponding to the judgment by the equal rank judging means. A long object sorting device for vertically dropping each long object placed on each bucket and transferring it to a long object placing section immediately below a sorting position when each bucket moves, wherein Each of the long side portions of the bucket body formed in the above, each receiving portion formed to have a size for holding the long object is vertically installed so as to be vertically openable and closable, and each receiving portion provided on the bucket body is A closing angle at which the long object is held at a height position close to the vertical object placing portion at an appropriate vertical distance, and an opening angle at which the long object is vertically dropped to the long object placing portion. It can be opened and closed at the same time, and when it moves to the sorting position set according to the above class, Grade judging means according to the determination on the basis of the long object sorting apparatus provided with a bucket opening means for opening the respective receiving portions of the bucket body to the open angle falling acceptable long product. 【請求項２】上記バケット本体に垂設した各受け部を、
上記長尺物が横向き姿勢に保持される半開角度に開放す
るバケット半開放手段を設けた請求項１記載の長尺部仕
分け装置。2. Each of the receiving portions provided vertically on the bucket body,
The long-part sorting device according to claim 1, further comprising a bucket half-opening device that opens the long object at a half-opening angle for holding the long object in a horizontal position. 【請求項３】上記バケット本体に垂設した各受け部を、
該各受け部の短辺側中心部を支点にして開閉可能に設け
た請求項１記載の長尺物仕分け装置。3. Each of the receiving portions provided vertically on the bucket body,
2. The long item sorting device according to claim 1, wherein the long side sorting device is provided so as to be openable and closable with a center portion on a short side of each receiving portion as a fulcrum.