JP3505611B2 - Head Vegetable Preparation Equipment - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heading vegetable preparation apparatus used for finally finishing cutting the root side base portion of heading vegetables such as cabbage and lettuce when shipping.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Usually, in the case of shipping bulb vegetables such as cabbage, the roots of the bulbs are cut at a shallow depth during harvesting in the field, and the root side of the bulb vegetables is manually determined at the collection point. It is cut to the depth, finished, and then boxed and shipped.

[0003]

However, as described above, if the final cutting of the root side of the headed vegetable is performed manually, not only the work efficiency is poor, but also the cutting position of the root side is unsatisfactory. It is likely to be accurate. For example, if the root side base part is cut too deeply, it becomes a defective product that cannot be shipped, and conversely if it is cut too shallowly, it is necessary to perform the finish cutting again.

The main object of the present invention is to produce a headed vegetable capable of cutting the root-side base of the headed vegetable by final mechanical cutting efficiently and mechanically, and accurately cutting the optimum position of the root-side base. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a preparation device.

[0005]

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above main purpose, the invention according to claim 1 is the actual condition from the top to the root of the headed vegetable without being affected by the thick veins of the headed vegetable. In order to detect the height of the ball and to accurately adjust the cutting height of the cutting blade based on the detected value, as shown in FIG. A pair of sensors contacting the base portion is used, and the height of the cutting blade is adjusted based on the smaller detection value detected by each sensor.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the headed vegetables are conveyed in a stable posture, the height of the heads is accurately detected by a pair of sensors, and a predetermined position of the headed vegetables is cut. In order to be able to cut accurately with the blade,
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a bucket-shaped receiving body for receiving the top side of the headed vegetables is provided in the headed vegetable conveying path.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, as the ball height detector, a pair of sensors that come into contact with both sides of the head portion of the headed vegetable are sandwiched, and the one having a smaller detection value detected by each sensor is used. Since the height of the cutting blade is adjusted based on the detected value of, the cutting is performed based on the actual ball height from the top to the root of the headed vegetable, without being affected by the veins that have the thickness of the headed vegetable. The cutting height of the blade can be adjusted accurately, and good final cutting of headed vegetables can be performed.

[0009]

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the top side of the headed vegetables is put into the bucket-shaped receiving member provided in the transfer path for the transfer, the headed vegetables can be transferred in a stable posture, As a result, the ball height of the headed vegetables can be accurately detected by the pair of sensors, and the predetermined portion of the headed head of the headed vegetables can be accurately cut by the cutting blade based on the output signals from the sensors.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The preparation apparatus shown in FIGS.
The root side core A of the heading vegetable A, which was previously cut shallowly on the root side
It is used for finally finishing cutting the base portion A3 near 2 to a predetermined proper height, and is attached to the conveying device 1 and the conveying device 1, and the top portion A1 side of the headed vegetable A faces downward. A plurality of bucket-shaped receivers 2 that are loaded so that the root-side cores A2 face upward and transport the heading vegetables A; and the bucket-shaped receivers 2 that are arranged on the upper side of the transport device 1 and are loaded into the receiver 2. It is provided with a pair of left and right side surface transport devices 3 and 3 which are brought into contact with the side surface of the headed vegetable A and transported.

A ball height detector 4 for detecting the actual ball height from the top portion A1 of the headed vegetable A to the base portion A3 near the core portion A2 on the conveyance trajectory of the headed vegetable A by the receiver 2.
And a cutting blade 5 for cutting the root portion A3 side of the headed vegetable A based on the output signal from the detector 4 is provided on the front side of the detector 4 in the vegetable conveying direction. The cutting blade 5 is provided with a motor 51 such as a stepping motor for rotating the cutting blade 5 and an adjusting device 52 such as an elevating cylinder for vertically moving the cutting blade 5 to adjust the cutting height.

The ball height detector 4 is a headed vegetable A
A value close to the actual ball height of the heading vegetable A is detected without being affected by the vein A4 having a thickness extending from the core portion A2, and the cutting height of the cutting blade 5 is accurately determined based on the detected value. In order to make the adjustment possible, as shown in FIG. 3, as the ball height detector 4, a pair of left and right sensors (hereinafter referred to as a pair of left and right sensors composed of idle wheels that contact both side bases A3 sandwiching the core portion A2 of the headed vegetable A). 1 sensor, referred to as a second sensor) 41, 42, and an output signal having a smaller detection value among the first and second sensors 41, 42, in other words, detection detected by the first and second sensors 41, 42. The height of the cutting blade 5 is adjusted based on the smaller detected value.

Specifically, first and second support arms 44 and 45 which are independently swingable on the left and right sides of a support shaft 43 which is supported in a direction orthogonal to the carrying direction of the carrying device 1.
While supporting the first and second sensors 41, 42 on the tip side of each of the arms 44, 45 in a freely rolling manner, the sensors 41, 42 are provided with the respective sensors 41, 42. A stroke detector 46 that detects the vertical stroke amount of each of the arms 44 and 45 when rolling while contacting the heading vegetable A is connected, and the detector 46 is connected to the controller 6 including the manual operation unit 61. While connecting, the output side of the controller 6 is connected to the motor 51 of the cutting blade 5 and the adjusting device 52. The first and second support arms 44 and 45 have the first and second support arms 44 and 45, respectively.
Biasing springs 47, 47 for urging the sensors 41, 42 so as to always contact the headed vegetable A side are provided.

Therefore, the first and second sensors 41,
When detecting the ball height of the headed vegetable A conveyed by the receiving body 2 by 42, both side base parts A3 sandwiching the core part A2 are detected.
The respective sensors 41, 42 are brought into contact with each other in the vicinity. At this time, for example, when the second sensor 42 rides on the leaf vein A4 extending from the core portion A2 of the heading vegetable A, FIG.
As shown in (a) of the above, a peak P1 due to the vein A4 is generated in the output signal output from the stroke detector 46. However, the vein A of the headed vegetable A
Since 4 usually extends in the radial direction at intervals of 120 degrees, the first sensor 41 will pass through the surface of the root A3 without detecting the vein A4, and At this time, since the first sensor 41 passes through the branch vein extending from the leaf vein A4, the peak P1 is added to the output signal output from the stroke detector 46, as shown in FIG. A plurality of peaks P2 due to the smaller veins will be generated. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7C, the ball height value D between the peaks P2 due to the branch vein is input from the stroke detector 46 to the controller 6, and the output from the controller 6 based on the ball height value D Cutting blade 5 by the adjusting device 52
By adjusting the height of the head and simultaneously rotating the cutting blade 5 at the same time, based on the value D close to the actual ball height of the headed vegetable A without being affected by the vein A4 of the headed vegetable A. The cutting height of the cutting blade 5 is accurately adjusted, and as shown on the right side of FIG.
3 can be cut to obtain an accurate cut surface A5 on the side of the base portion A3.

Further, the transfer device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a pair of left and right first sprockets 1 arranged in front and rear.
1, 11 and a second sprocket 12, 12 and a pair of left and right endless chains 13 and 13 that are wound between the first and second sprockets 11, 12, and each of the receiving bodies 2 has As is apparent from FIG. 5, the connecting bodies 21 and 21 are provided on the left and right sides at the front end in the conveying direction, and the connecting bodies 2 are provided.
1 is swingably supported by a pin 13b of a chain link 13a constituting each chain 13, and the receiving body 2
On the left and right sides of the rear end side, abutting bodies 22 and 22 that abut the receiving guide rails 14 and 14 arranged in parallel on the upper side of each chain 13 are provided.

In this case, when the chains are traveling, the contact bodies 22 of the receiving body 2 arranged on the transport path between the chains 13 are brought into contact with the guide rails 14 while contacting the contact bodies 22. By moving the whole of the receiving body 2 in a horizontal posture, the headed vegetables A put in the receiving body 2 are held in a posture in which the top portion A1 side is downward and the base portion A3 side is upward. It can be transported stably,
Therefore, the ball height detector 4 can accurately detect the ball height of the headed vegetable A in a stable posture, and the cutting blade 5 surely and accurately cuts the base portion A3 side of the headed vegetable A to a predetermined height. can do. In addition, on the lower surface side of the receiving body 2, the receiving body 2
The presence / absence sensor 20 of the heading vegetable A for detecting whether or not the heading vegetable A is put therein is provided.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, it is preferable to form an opening 23 on the bottom side of the receiving body 2 so that a part of the top A1 side of the headed vegetable A can be received therein. By inserting a portion of the headed vegetable A on the side of the top A1 into the opening 23 and carrying it, the headed vegetable A is prevented from rising from the receiving body 2 and the headed vegetable A is further stabilized. Can be conveyed in a predetermined posture, the ball height detector 4 can detect the ball height of the headed vegetable A more accurately, and moreover, the cutting blade 5 can be used for the base portion A of the headed vegetable A.
It is also possible to more reliably and accurately cut the 3 side to a predetermined height. Further, in each of the drawings, the receiving body 2 is integrally formed in a bucket shape, but the receiving body 2 is formed of two divided members, and the opening 23 is formed between the facing portions thereof. You may

Further, as described above, when forming the opening 23 on the bottom side of the receiving body 2, not only the base portion A3 side of the headed vegetable A is exposed above the receiving body 2, but Since the central portion of the top portion A1 of the vegetable A is always exposed downward from the opening 23, as shown in the figure, the central portion of the top portion A1 of the headed vegetable A and the base portion A3 are in contact with each other. Then, a pair of upper and lower ball height detectors 4, 4 for detecting the actual ball height of the headed vegetable A are used, and each of these detectors 4 is affected by the size of the headed vegetable with respect to the bucket-shaped receiver 2. Alternatively, the actual ball height of the headed vegetable A can be detected more accurately.

That is, at this time, each of the ball height detectors 4
As the first and second sensors 41, 42 contacting the base portion A3 of the heading vegetable A, the third sensor 48 contacting the central portion of the top portion A1, and these sensors 41, 4
2, 2 and 48 are supported to freely roll, and an intermediate portion is supported by a shaft rod 49a so as to be vertically swingable. Two upper and one lower support arms 49 (a total of three), and each sensor 4
Using three potentiometers 50 for detecting the amount of vertical swing of each arm 49 when 1, 42, 48 roll while contacting the base portion A3 and the top portion A1 of the headed vegetable A,
The sensors 41, 42 and 48 are connected to the base portion A of the headed vegetable A.
While contacting 3 and the top A1, the vertical swing amount of each arm 49 is detected by each potentiometer 50, and the detection value by each potentiometer 50, that is, the actual ball height of the headed vegetable A is shown in FIG. ~ Similar to the case of FIG. 4, the output to the controller 6, the controller 6
The height of the cutting blade 5 is adjusted by the adjusting device 52 and the cutting blade 5 is rotationally driven by the output from the device. still,
Also in this case, each arm 49 is provided with a biasing spring 47 that biases each sensor 41, 42, 48 so as to always contact the headed vegetable A side.

The side surface conveying device 3 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is provided with a pair of front and rear first and second rollers 31 and 32, and a belt 33 suspended between the rollers 31 and 32. , Between the rollers 31 and 32, on the inner side of the belt 33, the headed vegetable A carrying the belt 33 on the receiving body 2 is provided.
A plurality of pressing wheels 34, which are always in contact with both side surfaces of the head, are swingably supported so that the belt 33 is always in contact with the side surface of the headed vegetable A by these pressing wheels 34. Since the vegetables A can be conveyed more stably while being surely held in a predetermined posture, the ball height detector 4 can more accurately detect the ball height of the heading vegetables A in a stable posture. The cutting blade 5 can more reliably and accurately cut the head portion A2 side of the headed vegetable A to a predetermined height.

When the base portion A3 of the cabbage A is automatically cut by the cutting blade 5 by the above-mentioned preparation device, the height of the cutting blade 5 is adjusted as an initial work according to the flow chart shown in FIG. An approximate expression for is created in advance. In the figure, the dotted line shows the work or judgment by a human, and the solid line shows the work or judgment by the preparation device.

That is, in step 1 (ST1) of the figure, a person visually judges and selects the harvested cabbage A, and when the cutting depth of the base portion A3 of the cabbage A is appropriate, the ball diameter is determined. It is sent to size selection work based on weight, weight, etc. (step 2), and when deep-cutting, it is sunk because it cannot be shipped (step 3), and only when shallow-cutting, cabbage A is transferred to the preparation device in step 4. Sent in. next,
In step 5, the ball height detector 4 detects the ball height H1 of the cabbage A before cutting, and the height of the cutting blade 5 is adjusted by a person based on this ball height (step 6). The base portion A3 of the cabbage A is cut by the cutting blade 5 (step 7). Then, in step 8, a person visually confirms the ball height H2 of the cabbage A after cutting, and as a result, the work from step 6 is repeated in the case of shallow cutting and in step 3 in the case of deep cutting. When the depth of the cabbage A is set to the appropriate depth, it is determined in step 9 that the cutting height of the cutting blade 5 is appropriate, and the height H2 of the cabbage A after cutting with respect to the height H1 of the cabbage A is the operation panel. It is input to the controller 6 by the operation of 61. Further, in step 10, whether or not the number of samples required for creating the approximate expression is sufficient, for example, L, S, M
It is determined whether or not the number of grade samples has reached the required predetermined number respectively, and if the number is small, the work from step 1 is repeated. If appropriate, in step 11, before and after cutting the cabbage A. Ball height H1, H
An approximate expression showing the relationship of 2 is created. Then, based on this approximate expression, subsequent automatic cutting by the cutting blade 5 of the cabbage A is performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the overall structure of a preparation apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the main part.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing another embodiment of the ball height detector.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an output signal from each sensor.

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway side view showing another embodiment of a receiver and a ball height detector.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for automatically adjusting the cutting height of the cutting blade.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Conveying apparatus, 2 ... Receptor, 4 ... Sphere height detector, 41, 42
… Sensor, 5… Cutting blade, A… Head vegetables, A1… Top,
A3 ... Root side base part.

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Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A ball height detector for detecting a ball height from a root-side base to a top of a headed vegetable to be carried on a carrying route for receiving and carrying the headed side of the headed vegetable , and the head height detector . Contact preparation apparatus is heading vegetables and a cutting blade for cutting the root side original part of the head-forming vegetables based on the output signal outputted pressurized et al
The ball height detector is located on both sides of the core of the headed vegetable.
Detected by each sensor, consisting of a pair of sensors that touch the base
Of the cutting blade based on the smaller detection value of the detected values
A device for preparing headed vegetables, characterized in that its height is adjusted . 2. The transportation route receives the top side of headed vegetables
The apparatus for preparing headed vegetables according to claim 1, further comprising a bucket-shaped receiving body .