JP2005041534A - Sorting-packaging device for egg - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sorting-packaging device for eggs of a high processing efficiency by starting the preparation of a next packaging container at the packing position of a packaging container feeding means at an early stage until the completion of the packing of specified eggs. <P>SOLUTION: This sorting-packaging device for eggs is constituted of a sorting-collecting means, the packaging container feeding means, and a transferring means. In this case, the sorting-collecting means sorts eggs E according to classes, and collects the eggs E to respective circulate-carrying conveyors which are partitioned according to the classes. The packaging container feeding means arranges packaging containers P which are determined in advance according to the classes at the specified packing position. The transferring means takes out the eggs E from the collecting place in which the eggs E have reached a collected state of a specified quantity, and transfers the eggs E to the packaging container P which is arranged at the specified packing position of the packaging container feeding means. By the time when the packing of the eggs E is completed for the packaging container P which stands by at the packing position of the first packaging container conveyor 6 of the packaging container feeding means, the preparing work for a next packaging container P to the packing position of the second packaging container conveyor 9 is started. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an egg sorting and packaging apparatus, and more specifically, washing, drying, egg inspection, and weighing while carrying eggs, and sorting for each egg weight category based on the result of weighing, and a predetermined packaging container The present invention relates to an egg sorting and packaging apparatus for performing a process of filling (pack).

  Conventionally, the egg sorting / packaging apparatus T1 operating at the GP center (egg egg sorting and packaging facility) etc., as shown in FIG. 2, roughly sorts the eggs E by class, and the sorted eggs E etc. Sorting and collecting means for gathering at each gathering place (circulation transport conveyors 5a to 5c) divided by class, packaging container supplying means for arranging a packaging container P predetermined for each class in a predetermined filling position, Of the tray supply means arranged adjacent to the packaging container supply means and the respective collection places (circulation conveyance conveyors 5a to 5c), the eggs E are collected from the collection place where the eggs E have reached a predetermined number of collection states. What is known is composed of transfer means for taking out and transferring to a packaging container P disposed at a predetermined filling position of the packaging container supply means (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The egg sorting and packaging apparatus T1 having the above-described configuration sequentially undergoes egg washing, drying, direction alignment, and egg-checking steps while the egg E is being conveyed in the Y direction in, for example, six rows in the supply conveyor 1. Then, the individual egg weights of the eggs E are weighed by the weighing machines 1a provided at the discharge ends of the supply conveyor 1, and automatic selection is performed for each egg weight division based on the measurement result. When the egg E passes through the measuring instrument 1a, it is transferred to the single-line distribution conveyor 3 by the transfer device 2, and the egg E is conveyed in the X direction in a single-row state. Based on the sorting result, the sorting and discharging means 4a to 4c sort and discharge to any one of the circulation transport conveyors 5a to 5c arranged in the direction orthogonal to the distribution conveyor 3. In the circulation transport conveyors 5a to 5c, a large number of temporary containers C are configured to be circulated and transported along the circulation path Y ′. The temporary containers C can accommodate, for example, six chicken eggs E in a horizontal row. It has become. That is, the eggs E sorted and released from the sorting and releasing means 4a to 4c are accommodated in a temporary container C, and the temporary containers C in which the eggs E are accommodated in the circulation conveyors 5a to 5c are placed at a predetermined take-out position (transfer device). A predetermined number is accumulated at a position where the egg E is taken out at 8a.

  Then, for example, in the circulating conveyor 5c in which LL size eggs E are gathered, when a predetermined number of temporary containers C containing eggs E are accumulated at the take-out position, the transfer device 8a of the transfer means is moved to the guide rail. While moving to the circulation conveyor 5c along 8b, the transfer device 8a descends, and the eggs E are vacuum-sucked by a sucker (not shown). The LL-sized egg E taken out from the temporary container C on the circulation conveyor 5c by the transfer device 8a is transferred to the packaging container conveyor 6 of the packaging container supply means, and the transfer device 8a is lowered. The LL-sized packaging container P disposed at a predetermined filling position of the packaging container conveyor 6 is filled. Thereafter, the packaging container P containing the eggs E is transported in the Y ′ direction and sent to the next process.

  Next, for example, assuming that a predetermined number of temporary containers C containing eggs E are accumulated at the take-out position in the circulating transfer conveyor 5a in which M-sized eggs E are gathered, the transfer device 8a as described above. Moves along the guide rails 8b to the circulation conveyor 5a, and the transfer device 8a descends to suck the eggs E by vacuum using a suction cup (not shown). In the meantime, a predetermined number of M-size packaging containers P are discharged from the pack feeder 6c, and then conveyed to the filling position. Similarly to the above, the M-sized egg E taken out from the temporary container C on the circulation conveyor 5a by the transfer device 8a is transferred to the packaging container conveyor 6 of the packaging container supply means, and the transfer is performed. The loading device 8a is lowered and filled into an M size packaging container P disposed at a predetermined filling position of the packaging container conveyor 6. Thereafter, the packaging container P containing the eggs E is transported in the Y ′ direction and sent to the next process.

  Here, as described above, for example, when the setup change operation from the LL size packaging container P to the M size packaging container P is not in time, the transfer device 8a continues to gather on each circulation conveyance conveyor 5a. The egg E is transferred to a temporary storage container V waiting on the tray conveyor 7 of the tray supply means arranged adjacent to the packaging container supply means.

JP 2002-179015 (Section 2-5, FIG. 1)

  The problems of the egg sorting and packaging apparatus T1 are as follows. First, the egg sorting and packaging apparatus T1 arranges pack feeders 6a to 6c each containing a packaging container P for each size along the transport path Y 'of the packaging container conveyor 6, and supplies the corresponding packs. The container discharges only one desired packaging container P onto the packaging container conveyor 6 based on a control signal from a control means (not shown). And the packaging container conveyor 6 is driven and the next packaging container P is discharged | emitted. Thereafter, by repeating the above operation and discharging a predetermined number of the packaging containers P, the arrangement of the packaging containers P at a predetermined filling position is completed. Thus, it takes a predetermined time to complete the arrangement of the packaging container P at the predetermined filling position. In particular, the packaging container P discharged from a position away from the filling position necessarily has a transport distance. Since it becomes longer, the predetermined time becomes longer. As a result, the transfer device 8a that sucked the chicken egg E waits for the arrival of the packaging container P at the filling position of the packaging container conveyor 6, and while waiting for the arrival of the packaging container P, the egg E Since the packaging container P cannot be filled, the ability of the transfer means can be fully exerted. As a result, the processing efficiency of the egg sorting and packaging apparatus T1 is reduced.

  The egg sorting and packaging apparatus T1 operates when the transfer container 8a is activated when the predetermined number of temporary containers C in which the eggs E are stored in the circulation conveyers 5a to 5c are accumulated at the take-out position. The egg E is taken out from the temporary container C on the conveyor and transferred to the packaging container P arranged at a predetermined filling position of the packaging container conveyor 6. However, if the transfer device 8a is controlled as described above, the following problems occur. That is, the egg E processed by the sorting and packaging apparatus T1 has a different distribution ratio of each size, for example, what percentage of the M size, what percentage of the L size, and what percentage of the LL size. The egg E is frequently sorted and released to the corresponding circulating conveyor, so there is no time for the circulating conveyor to become full, whereas the egg E with a low distribution rate has a corresponding circulation. Since it is sporadically selected and discharged to the conveyor, there is a sufficient time until the circulating conveyor becomes full. In this way, if only the predetermined accumulated number of temporary containers C is checked without considering the time until the circulation conveyor is full, the transfer device 8a has a size with a low distribution rate. While the egg E is being transferred, the circulating conveyor that collects the eggs E with a high distribution rate becomes full and unacceptable, and may cause a situation where the sorting and collecting means are stopped. Similarly, the processing efficiency of the chicken egg sorting and packaging apparatus T1 was reduced.

  Furthermore, when the packaging container conveyor 6 and the pack feeders 6a to 6c have troubles for some reason, the egg sorting and packaging apparatus T1 is gathered on a circulation conveyor having a corresponding size until the trouble is solved. If the egg E is transferred to the temporary storage container V waiting on the tray conveyor 7 of the tray supply means, stopping of the sorting and collecting means can be avoided, but it is accommodated in the temporary storage container V. It was necessary to transfer the egg E to the packaging container P again, resulting in a decrease in work efficiency.

  Also, in recent years, the GP Center has been able to produce a variety of small-lot production in which the same class of packed eggs are produced in parallel in the packaging container designated by the customer in order to meet the diverse demands of major supermarket customers. Sorting and packaging work is becoming necessary. However, although the egg sorting and packaging apparatus T1 includes the packaging container conveyor 6 and the tray conveyor 7, the packaging container conveyor 6 and the pack supply for some reason or when the setup change operation of the packaging container P is not in time. In the case where trouble occurs in the containers 6a to 6c, the above-mentioned delivery destination because the technical idea is to urgently evacuate the eggs E that continue to be gathered on the corresponding circulating conveyor to the temporary storage container V waiting on the tray conveyor 7 Was unable to realize a multi-variety low-volume sorting and wrapping operation in which packed chicken eggs of the same class were produced in parallel in the packaging container designated by No.1.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and its object is to follow the filling position of the packaging container supply means at an early stage until the filling of a predetermined egg is completed. An object of the present invention is to provide a chicken egg sorting and packaging apparatus having a high processing efficiency by starting the preparation of a packaging container.

  In addition, the time until each gathering place becomes full is predicted, and a packaging container corresponding to an equal class egg that gathers at the gathering place where the estimated time is shortest is prepared at the filling position of the packaging container supply means. Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a chicken egg sorting and packaging apparatus with high processing efficiency.

  Furthermore, even if a problem occurs in the packaging container conveyor or pack feeder of the packaging container supply means for some reason, the egg filling operation can be continued with the same packaging container, and the packaging container specified by the delivery destination can be used. An object of the present invention is to provide an egg sorting / packaging apparatus capable of realizing a sorting / packaging operation of small-lot production of multiple varieties in which packed eggs of the same class are produced in parallel.

  According to the present invention, the eggs are sorted according to equal classes, the sorting and collecting means for collecting the selected eggs at the respective gathering places divided according to the equal classes, and the predetermined packaging positions for the packaging containers determined according to the equal classes. The packaging container supply means disposed on the packaging container supply means and, out of the respective gathering locations, the chicken egg is taken out from one gathering location where the predetermined amount of the gathering state has been reached and placed at a predetermined filling position of the packaging container supply means. In the egg sorting and packaging apparatus provided with the transfer means for transferring to the packaging container, a plurality of the packaging container supply means are provided, and the transfer means is waiting at the filling position of one packaging container supply means. The preparation of the packaging container is started to the filling position of the other packaging container supply means until the filling of the egg to the packaging container is completed.

  In addition, for each of the gathering locations, the time required to exceed the number of eggs that can be gathered is predicted, and among the respective gathering locations, it corresponds to the equal class of eggs that are gathered in the gathering location with the shortest predicted time. It is preferable that the packaging container is prepared at the filling position of the packaging container supply means.

  Further, the plurality of packaging container supply means may be configured to prepare the same packaging container at each filling position with respect to at least one equal class egg.

  Further, the plurality of packaging container supply means may be configured to prepare packaging containers of different types and shapes at respective filling positions with respect to at least one equal class of eggs.

  The egg sorting and packaging apparatus according to the present invention is arranged such that the packing container is placed at the filling position of the second packaging container conveyor until the filling of the egg is completed with respect to the packaging container waiting at the filling position of the first packaging container conveyor. Since the setup operation is started, the transfer means in the state of sucking the eggs does not wait for the arrival of the packaging container at the second packaging container conveyor filling position, so that the ability of the transfer means can be fully exhibited. As a result, a chicken egg sorting and packaging apparatus with high processing efficiency can be provided.

  In addition, when the egg sorting and packaging apparatus according to the present invention is in a state in which a predetermined number of temporary containers containing eggs are accumulated in the accumulation area of the plurality of circulation conveyance conveyors, From the number of temporary containers sent to the waiting area, the time for which each of the circulating conveyors is full is calculated. Then, the control means preferentially transfers the same class of eggs accumulated in the shortest circulating transport conveyor among the respective circulating transport conveyors based on the calculation result and transfers them to the next step. Since the packaging containers corresponding to the equal class of eggs are controlled to start preparation at the filling position of the corresponding packaging container conveyor, the corresponding circulating transport conveyor cannot be accepted and the sorting and gathering means can be prevented from being stopped. It is possible to provide an egg sorting and packaging apparatus with high processing efficiency.

  Furthermore, the egg sorting and packaging apparatus according to the present invention can intensively carry out the packing operation of packed eggs of the same class on both the first packaging container conveyor and the second packaging container conveyor. If a trouble occurs in one of the packaging container conveyors or pack feeders, the control means circulates the eggs of the appropriate size until the trouble in one of the packaging container conveyors is resolved. The transfer means can be controlled so that the eggs are transferred only from the transport conveyor to the other packaging container conveyor, and the packaging operation of the packed eggs of the corresponding size can be continued.

  The egg sorting and packaging apparatus according to the present invention is a multi-product small-volume production that produces packed chicken eggs of the same class in parallel in packaging containers designated by the delivery destination on both the first packaging container conveyor and the second packaging container conveyor. Production sorting and packaging work can be realized.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view for explaining an embodiment of an egg sorting and packaging apparatus according to the present invention. In addition, in this specification, the equal class of a chicken egg is demonstrated by the egg weight classification which is the transaction standard of a chicken egg.

  The “packaging container” described in the present specification refers to an egg pack that is distributed to general households. More specifically, it is made of vinyl chloride or A-PET made up of a container body, a bent portion, and a lid. It is a packaging container made of plastic resin such as (amorphous polyethylene terephthalate) resin.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the egg sorting and packaging apparatus T according to the present invention roughly sorts eggs E into equal classes, and each of the gathering places (circulation conveyors) where the selected eggs E are divided into equal classes. 5a to 5c), a sorting and collecting means for collecting, a packaging container supply means for arranging packaging containers P predetermined for each class in a predetermined filling position, and the respective collecting places (circulating transport conveyors 5a to 5c) Among them, it is composed of transfer means for taking out the egg E from the gathering place where the egg E has reached the gathering state of a predetermined quantity and transferring it to the packaging container P arranged at a predetermined filling position of the packaging container supply means. ing.

  The sorting / aggregating means is provided in each of the supply conveyor 1 that conveys the eggs E in the Y direction in, for example, six rows, and the discharge end of the supply conveyor 1, and each egg of the eggs E A weighing machine 1a for weighing the weight, a transfer device 2 for transferring a weighed egg E to a single-line distribution conveyor 3, a distribution conveyor 3 for conveying the egg E in the X direction in a single-line state, and the distribution Sorting and releasing means 4a to 4c for sorting and releasing the eggs E transported by the conveyor 3 for each egg weight category, and a predetermined number of the eggs E that have been sorted and released, for example, six eggs E can be accommodated in a horizontal row. A large number of temporary containers C are provided, and the conveyance containers 5a to 5c are configured to circulate and convey the numerous temporary containers C along the circulation path Y ′.

  Accumulation that can store a predetermined number (for example, 10 pieces) of temporary containers C in which the eggs E are accommodated in the circulation conveyors 5a to 5c at a predetermined take-out position (positions where the egg E is taken out by the transfer device 8a). An area and a waiting area for waiting a new temporary container C in which the sorted and released eggs E are accommodated are provided in front of the accumulation area (not shown). Further, a counter (not shown) for measuring the number of temporary containers C containing eggs E is provided on the entrance side of the accumulation area of each of the circulation conveyors 5a to 5c, and on the entrance side of the standby area A sensor (not shown) that detects passage of the temporary container C in which the chicken egg E is accommodated is provided. In addition, since the detailed structure of the said circulation conveyance conveyors 5a-5c is the same structure as the "conveyance apparatus" of the egg sorting device which this applicant has proposed in Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 8-11826, description is abbreviate | omitted. To do.

  Further, on the upstream side of the supply conveyor 1, a direction aligning section for aligning the direction of the egg E (not shown), an egg washing / drying section for washing the egg E with warm water and drying, cracked eggs, dirty eggs, blood And an egg inspection unit for detecting defective eggs such as eggs or spoiled eggs and excluding them.

  The packaging container supply means includes a first packaging container conveyor 6 and a second packaging container conveyor 9 which are arranged adjacent to each other, and pack feeders 6a to 6c are provided in the vicinity of the first packaging container conveyor 6. However, pack feeders 9a to 9c are provided in the vicinity of the second packaging container conveyor 9, respectively. In the figure, the packaging container supply means is constituted by the first packaging container conveyor 6 and the second packaging container conveyor 9, but there may be at least two packaging container conveyors, and the number of bases can be arbitrarily changed.

  Each of the pack feeders 6a to 6c and 9a to 9c stores a packaging container P for each size, and the pack feeder of the corresponding size based on a control signal from the control means S described later. To discharge one packaging container P onto the corresponding packaging container conveyor. Then, the packaging container conveyor is driven and conveyed in the Y ′ direction for a predetermined distance, and the next packaging container P is discharged. Thereafter, the above operation is repeated to discharge a predetermined number, for example, five of the packaging containers P, thereby arranging the packaging containers P at a predetermined filling position.

  The transfer means moves on the basis of a control signal from the control means S, which will be described later, and the transfer device 8a moves along the guide rail 8b to the corresponding circulation conveyor, and the transfer device 8a descends and is not shown. The chicken egg E is vacuum-adsorbed with a suction cup. And while transferring the egg E of the predetermined size taken out from the temporary container C on the said circulation conveyance conveyor to either the 1st packaging container conveyor 6 or the 2nd packaging container conveyor 9, this transfer apparatus 8a descends. Thus, the packaging container P disposed at a predetermined filling position of the corresponding packaging container conveyor is filled.

  In the egg sorting and packaging apparatus T of the present invention, a setting for setting a sorting condition for sorting and releasing eggs in which egg weight category to which circulating conveyor 5a to 5c based on the weighing result of the weighing instrument 1a. Means Sa are provided.

  In addition, the egg sorting and packaging apparatus T of the present invention is provided with a control means S, which controls the temporary container C in which the eggs E are accommodated in the accumulation regions of the circulation conveyors 5a to 5c. Based on a detection signal from a counter indicating that a predetermined number (for example, 10) has been accumulated, a control signal is transmitted to the corresponding pack feeder of the packaging container supply means, and the packaging container P of the corresponding size is obtained. A predetermined number is discharged. At the same time, the control means S moves the transfer device 8a along the guide rail 8b to the corresponding circulation conveyor, and lowers the transfer device 8a to store the eggs stored in the temporary container C. E is vacuum-adsorbed by a sucker (not shown) and then transferred to one packaging container conveyor of the packaging container supply means while adsorbing the egg E, and the transfer device 8a is lowered to move the one packaging Control is performed to fill the packaging container P disposed at the filling position of the container conveyor.

  When a predetermined number (for example, 10) of temporary containers C are accumulated in the accumulation area of another circulating and conveying conveyor, the control means S allows the other until the filling operation on the one packaging container conveyor is completed. A control signal is transmitted to the corresponding pack feeder of the packaging container conveyor to discharge a predetermined number of packaging containers P of the corresponding size, and control to start preparation of the packaging container P at the filling position is performed.

  Further, the control means S is in a state in which a predetermined number (for example, 10) of temporary containers C storing eggs E are accumulated in the accumulation area of the plurality of circulation conveyance conveyors among the circulation conveyance conveyors 5a to 5c. In this case, the time required for each of the circulating and conveying conveyors to be full is calculated from the number of temporary containers C sent to the standby area of each of the circulating and conveying conveyors. Then, the control means S transfers the eggs E accumulated in the shortest circulating transport conveyor among the circulating transport conveyors based on the calculation result so as to be transferred to the next process. While controlling the mounting apparatus 8a, the pack feeder is controlled so as to start preparation of the packaging container P corresponding to the equal class of the eggs E at the filling position of the corresponding packaging container conveyor.

  The control means S may cause trouble in either the packaging container conveyor or the pack feeder for any reason during the packaging operation of the packed chicken eggs of the same class on both the first packaging container conveyor 6 and the second packaging container conveyor 9. If this occurs, control is performed to continue the packaging operation of the packed chicken eggs of the same class on the other packaging container conveyor until the trouble on one packaging container conveyor is resolved.

  Next, an operation example of the egg sorting and packaging apparatus T according to the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the pack feeder 6a of the egg sorting and packaging apparatus T has an LL size 12-packaging container P, and the pack feeder 6b has an L-size 12-packaging container P. Each of the feeders 6c contains 12 M-sized packaging containers P. Similarly, the pack feeder 9a has an LL-size packaging container P, the pack feeder 9b has an L-size packaging container P, and the pack feeder 9c has an M-size packaging container. Each container P is stored.

  First, the selection condition is set by the setting means Sa as follows. If the weighing result of the weighing instrument 1a is within the range of 58 g or more and less than 64 g (M size), the sorting and discharging means 4a sorts and discharges the egg to the M-size egg gathering place (circulation conveyance conveyor 5a). If the egg E is within the range of 70 g or less (L size), the sorting and releasing means 4b sorts and discharges the L size egg to the gathering place (circulation conveyance conveyor 5b), and the range is 70 g or more and less than 76 g (LL size). Is set to be selectively discharged to the gathering place of the LL size eggs (circulation conveyor 5c).

  The eggs E are conveyed in the Y direction by the supply conveyor 2 in, for example, six rows of double rows. Then, after predetermined processing is performed in the direction alignment unit, egg washing / drying unit (not shown), defective eggs such as cracked eggs, dirty eggs, blood eggs, or spoiled eggs are detected in the egg inspection unit, and only defective eggs are detected. It excludes without supplying to the next process, and only a normal egg is conveyed to the measuring device 1a.

  Thereafter, the egg weight of each egg E is weighed in the weighing instrument 1a, and the egg E is transferred from the supply conveyor 1 to the single-line distribution conveyor 3 by the transfer device 2, and the egg E corresponds to the egg E. It is conveyed in the X direction toward the circulation conveyance conveyors 5a to 5c.

  Then, for example, the egg E weighed to 60 g by the measuring instrument 1a is selectively discharged to the circulation conveyer 5a by the sorting and discharging means 4a, and the temporary container C waiting below the sorting and discharging means 4a. The egg E weighed 65 g is sorted and released to the circulation conveyor 5b by the sorting and discharging means 4b, and is stored in the temporary container C waiting below the sorting and discharging means 4b. Further, the egg E weighed 72 g is sorted and released by the sorting and discharging means 4 c to the circulation transport conveyor 5 c and is stored in the temporary container C waiting below the sorting and discharging means 4 c.

  Thereafter, the temporary containers C pass through sensors provided on the entrance side of the standby areas of the circulation conveyors 5a to 5c, and sequentially accumulate in the respective accumulation areas. For example, when 10 temporary containers C containing M-sized eggs E are accumulated in the accumulation area of each circulation conveyance conveyor 5a, the control means S stores the M-size 12 in the pack feeder 6c of the first packaging container conveyor 6. A discharge command signal for the individual packaging container P is transmitted.

  Based on the discharge command signal from the control means S, one M-size packaging container P is discharged from the pack feeder 6 c onto the first packaging container conveyor 6. Then, the packaging container conveyor is driven and conveyed in the Y ′ direction for a predetermined distance, and the next M-size packaging container P is discharged. Thereafter, by repeating the above operation and discharging five packaging containers P, the operation of arranging the M-size packaging container P at a predetermined filling position is completed.

  At the same time, the control means S controls the transfer device 8a to move the transfer device 8a to the circulation conveyance conveyor 5a, and lowers the transfer device 8a to be accommodated in the temporary container C. 60 chicken eggs E (the number of eggs corresponding to 5 12 packaging containers) are vacuum-adsorbed by a sucker (not shown), and the eggs E are transferred to the first packaging container conveyor 6 while adsorbing the eggs E. Then, the transfer device 8 a is lowered to fill the M-size packaging container P disposed at the filling position of the first packaging container conveyor 6.

  If, for example, ten temporary containers C containing L-sized eggs E are accumulated in the accumulation area of the circulation conveyor 5b before the filling operation on the first packaging container conveyor 6 is completed, the control means S transmits the discharge command signal of the 12-sized packaging container P of L size to the pack feeder 9b of the second packaging container conveyor 9. Based on the discharge command signal from the control means S, the pack feeder 9b discharges only one L-size packaging container P onto the second packaging container conveyor 9. Thereafter, the packaging container conveyor is driven and conveyed in the Y ′ direction for a predetermined distance, and the pack feeder 9b discharges the next L-sized packaging container P. Thereafter, by repeating the above operation and discharging the five packaging containers P, the operation of arranging the L size packaging container P at a predetermined filling position is completed.

  When the filling operation on the first packaging container conveyor 6 is completed, the control means S controls the transfer device 8a to move to the circulation conveyance conveyor 5b and lowers the transfer device 8a to move the temporary device. 60 eggs (the number of eggs corresponding to 5 packaging containers for 12 pieces) are vacuum-adsorbed by sucking cups (not shown) of the eggs E accommodated in the container C, and the second packaging container conveyor with the eggs E adsorbed. 9 Then, the transfer device 8 a is lowered to fill the M-size packaging container P disposed at the filling position of the second packaging container conveyor 9. Thereafter, the above operation is repeated.

  As described above, the egg sorting and packaging apparatus T of the present invention has the second packaging container conveyor until the filling of the egg E is completed with respect to the packaging container P waiting at the filling position of the first packaging container conveyor 6. As a result, the transfer device 8a that has sucked the eggs E does not wait for the arrival of the packaging container P at the second packaging container conveyor 9 filling position. As a result of sufficiently exerting the ability of the loading means, the processing efficiency of the egg sorting and packaging apparatus T can be increased.

  Next, the distribution ratio of each size of the egg is, for example, a lot whose M size is 60%, L size is 30%, and LL size is 10%, and this lot is subjected to predetermined processing by the egg sorting and packaging apparatus T. For example, 10 temporary containers C containing LL size eggs E are stored in the storage area of the circulation conveyor 5c, and then the temporary containers C are stored in the storage area of the circulation conveyor 5a. Assume that 10 C have accumulated.

  In such a case, the LL-sized eggs E having a low distribution rate are only selected and released sporadically on the circulating transport conveyor 5c, so there is sufficient time for the circulating transport conveyor 5c to become full. On the other hand, M-sized eggs E with a high distribution rate are frequently sorted and released to the circulation conveyor 5a, so that the time until the circulation conveyor is full is short and there is almost no margin. The means S calculates the time during which each of the circulating transport conveyors is full from the number of temporary containers C sent to the standby areas of the circulating transport conveyor 5a and the circulating transport conveyor 5c. And the said control means S gives priority to the M-sized egg E which has gathered to the said shortest circulation conveyance conveyor 5a among the said each circulation conveyance conveyor 5a, 5c based on the said calculation result. The transfer device 8a is controlled so as to be transferred to the process, and the pack feeder is controlled so as to start preparation of the packaging container P corresponding to the M size egg E at the filling position of the corresponding packaging container conveyor. .

  As described above, the egg sorting and packaging apparatus T according to the present invention is in a state where a predetermined number (for example, 10) of temporary containers C containing eggs E are accumulated in the accumulation region of the plurality of circulation conveyance conveyors. From the number of temporary containers C sent to the standby area of each circulation conveyance conveyor, the time for each circulation conveyance conveyor to become full is calculated. Based on the calculation result, the control means S preferentially moves the eggs E of a predetermined class that have accumulated in the shortest circulating conveyor among the circulating conveyors to the next step. At the same time, the packaging container P corresponding to the egg E of the same class is controlled to start preparation at the filling position of the corresponding packaging container conveyor. That is, since the time until the corresponding circulating transport conveyor becomes full is taken into consideration, the circulating transport conveyor cannot be accepted and the sorting and collecting means can be prevented from being stopped. Processing efficiency can be increased.

  In the present embodiment, the description has been made on the assumption that ten temporary containers C containing the eggs E are accumulated in the circulation conveyance conveyors 5a and 5c accumulation regions. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Even if 8 temporary containers C are accumulated in the accumulation area of the conveyor 5a and 10 are accumulated in the accumulation area of the circulation conveyor 5a, the circulation container 5a is circulated in the same manner as described above. From the number of temporary containers C sent to the standby area of the transport conveyor 5c, the time for which each of the circulating transport conveyors becomes full is calculated, and among the circulating transport conveyors 5a and 5c, the time is the shortest. The M-sized eggs E gathered on the circulating conveyor 5a are preferentially transferred to the next process, and the packaging container P corresponding to the M-sized eggs E is applied to the corresponding packaging container container. Start preparing the filling position of the A.

  Although a detailed description of the operation is omitted, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, the pack feeder 6a of the egg sorting and packaging apparatus T has 12 LL-sized packaging containers P and the pack feeder 6b has an L size. A 12-pack packaging container P is stored in the pack feeder 6c with an M-size 12-pack packaging container P, and an LL-size 12-pack packaging container P is stored in the pack feeder 9a. If the 12-pack packaging container P is stored in the pack feeder 9c with the M-size 12-pack packaging container P, the same packaging class on both the first packaging container conveyor 6 and the second packaging container conveyor 9 will be described. Packing eggs can be intensively packed.

  Also, the packaging operation of M-sized packed eggs is carried out by both the first packaging container conveyor 6 and the second packaging container conveyor 9, and there is a problem with one of the packaging container conveyors and the pack feeder for some reason. In this case, until the trouble of one packaging container conveyor is resolved, the control means S transfers the egg E from the circulating conveyor 5a where the M-sized eggs E are gathered to only the other packaging container conveyor. The transfer device 8a is controlled so as to be loaded, and the packaging operation of the M-sized packed eggs is continued.

  For example, A supermarket packaging containers are stored in the pack feeders 6a to 6c, the LL size 12-packaging container P is stored in the pack feeder 6a, and the L-size 12-packaging container P is stored in the pack feeder 6b. Each of the pack feeders 6c accommodates 12 M-size packaging containers P, and each of the pack feeders 9a to 9c accommodates B supermarket packaging containers, and each of the pack feeders 9a has an LL size of 12 If the individual packaging container P is stored in the pack feeder 9b, the L-sized packaging container P is stored in the pack feeder 9c, and the M-sized packaging container P is stored in the pack feeder 9c. It is possible to realize a sorting and packaging operation of a large variety and small quantity production in which packed chicken eggs of the same class are produced in parallel in the packaging container to be produced. Note that the description of the operation is omitted because it overlaps with the previous description.

It is a top view explaining the selection packaging apparatus T of the egg of this invention. It is a top view explaining the conventional selection packaging apparatus T1 of an egg.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Supply conveyor 2 Transfer device 3 Distribution conveyor 4a-4c Sorting discharge | release means 5a-5c Circulation conveyance conveyor 6 1st packaging container conveyor 7 Tray conveyor 8a Transfer apparatus 8b Guide rail 9 2nd packaging container conveyor C Temporary container E Egg P Packaging container S Control means Sa Setting means T Egg sorting and packaging equipment

Claims (4)

Sorting and collecting means for sorting eggs by equal class and collecting the selected eggs at respective gathering locations divided by equal class, and packaging in which a predetermined packaging container for each class is arranged at a predetermined filling position A container supply means and a packaging container disposed at a predetermined filling position of the packaging container supply means by taking out the eggs from one of the collection places where the eggs have reached a predetermined number of gathering states. In the egg sorting and packaging apparatus provided with the transfer means for transferring, the packaging container supply means and a plurality of the packaging container supply means, and the transfer means is waiting at the filling position of one packaging container supply means Then, preparation of the packaging container is started at the filling position of the other packaging container supply means until the filling of the egg is completed.   Packaging corresponding to equal class eggs that are gathered at the gathering place with the shortest predicted time among the gathering places by predicting the time until the number of eggs that can be gathered for each gathering place 2. The egg sorting and packaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container is prepared at a filling position of the packaging container supply means.   The said several packaging container supply means can prepare the same packaging container in each filling position regarding the egg of at least 1 class, The selection of the egg of Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. Packaging equipment.   The said several packaging container supply means can prepare the packaging container from which a kind and a shape mutually differ at each filling position regarding at least one equal class egg. The chicken egg sorting and packaging apparatus described.

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