JP6728017B2 - Nori foreign matter removal device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a foreign matter removing device for seaweed. That is, the present invention relates to a foreign matter removing device that is used in the production process of dried seaweed and removes foreign matter that has adhered.

<Technical background>
Dried seaweed that is picked from the sea and produced (hereinafter simply referred to as seaweed) has many foreign substances such as contaminants and metals.
That is, contaminants such as reed leaves, straw, vinyl pieces, bird feathers, shells, paper, wood chips, straw chips, shrimp, insects, etc. are often attached. Further, metal such as tooth spilled pieces, debris, wear pieces, rust pieces, and residues of iron, aluminum, copper, and other metals are often attached.
The attachment of contaminants is due to the inclusion of contaminants that had flowed into and floating in the sea when the raw algae that were cultured in the sea were collected. Examples of the cause of metal adhesion include the use of a metal reaper during plucking of algae, and the use of metal ware in subsequent production steps such as cutting, washing with water, paper making, dehydration, and drying.
The seaweed to which such foreign matter adheres reaches about several percent of the seaweed produced, and there is a problem in using it directly for edible use, leading to a decline in commercial value. It was once removed from the line after being sorted by.
That is, in the seaweed production line, a foreign matter inspection device (foreign matter sorter) is provided to inspect, detect, sort, and remove the seaweed with foreign matter.

<<Conventional technology: Part 1>>
The seaweed on which foreign matter has adhered is thus sorted by the foreign matter inspection device, once removed from the production line, and collected, so that in the past, manual removal of foreign matter was performed. The worker picked up the seaweed with foreign matter one by one by hand to visually determine the position of the foreign matter and determine it, and manually removed the found foreign matter with a knife or the like.
Conventionally, the seaweed to which foreign matter has adhered has generally been manually removed in this way and then returned to the production line.

<<Conventional technology: Part 2>>
On the other hand, the applicant previously proposed in Patent Document 1 below that the apparatus automatically performs such a foreign matter removing operation.
The foreign matter removing device proposed in Patent Document 1 uses a. Adhesive system, b. Suction method, or c. The cutting method is used to remove foreign substances such as foreign substances and metals attached to the seaweed.
a. In the adhesive method, for example, an adhesive tape is pressure-bonded to the foreign matter of the seaweed to remove the foreign matter from the seaweed on the tape to remove the adhesive.
b. In the suction method, the foreign matter is suctioned and removed from the seaweed to the nozzle by, for example, applying a suction nozzle to the foreign matter of the seaweed.
c. In the cutting (punching) method, for example, a metal mold is used, or a laser beam is applied to a foreign matter of seaweed to remove the foreign matter by cutting or burning.
The foreign matter removing device proposed in Patent Document 1 removes the foreign matter of seaweed by such a removing method and returns it to the production line again.

Such prior arts 1 and 2 are disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1 below.
JP, 2005-198594, A

By the way, the following problems have been pointed out as problems in the related arts 1 and 2.
<<Problems of Prior Art 1>>
As described above, the following problems have been pointed out in the conventional manual foreign material removal work of the prior art 1, which is generally performed.
It has been pointed out that there are problems in terms of production efficiency and production cost, such as a detailed work that requires the eyesight and nerves of the operator, which is troublesome and cumbersome and requires a great deal of time and labor. For example, there is a demand for foreign matter removal work at a pace of 100 to 200 sheets of nori seawater per hour, and there were many calls for automation due to a labor shortage.
In addition, the mistake of overlooking and overlooking foreign matter was also pointed out. That is, some foreign substances are difficult to visually identify and detect (for example, dark foreign substances with a dark tone), and it has been pointed out that some foreign substances cannot be reliably removed and remain attached.

<<Problems of Prior Art 2>>
As described above, the foreign substance removing device proposed by the applicant in Patent Document 1, namely, the prior art 2 is proposed to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art 1, but the following problems have been pointed out. ..
That is, the applicant, after applying the foreign matter removing device of Patent Document 1, confirmed the foreign matter removal state and the like with a test machine for each of the disclosed foreign matter removing methods, but there was a problem in removing the foreign matter as follows.
a. Adhesive system or b. In the suction method, there is concern about reliable foreign matter removal, and about 80% of cases were unable to remove foreign matter in a single operation. In addition, it was pointed out that due to excessive adhesive tape crimping force and suction nozzle sucking force, defective drilling, tearing, tearing, and other defective seaweed damage occurred, making it difficult to adjust the crimping force and suction force.
c. In the cutting method using a laser or the like, the seaweed near the surrounding area was burned and burned off, and the foreign matter removal location was often punctured. Moreover, it has been pointed out that the laser output adjustment and handling are not easy, and that it takes time to confirm the position of the foreign matter. The punching method using a die has a fatal difficulty in that holes are formed.

<<About the present invention>>
The seaweed foreign matter removing device of the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art in view of such circumstances.
The present invention is firstly excellent in production efficiency and production cost due to deviceization and automation of foreign matter removing work, and secondly, foreign matter removal of laver that can be reliably and easily realized. The purpose is to propose a removal device.

<<About each claim>>
The technical means of the present invention for solving such a problem are as follows, as described in the claims.
Claim 1 is as follows.
The apparatus for removing foreign matter from seaweed according to claim 1 is used in a dry seaweed production process and has a conveyor and a cutting unit. Then, the conveyor carries the seaweed one by one and conveys it. The cutting unit cuts and removes foreign matter attached to seaweed.
Then, the cutting unit has cutting means. The cutting means comprises a cutting tool having a cutting blade at the lower end, and the foreign matter adhered to the surface side of the seaweed which has been stopped can be removed by shaft rotation together with the seaweed surface side around the foreign matter. Is. In the seaweed, such a cut-and-removed portion has a recessed shape, and the remaining thickness of the seaweed maintains the hole without making holes.
The cutting means cuts and removes the surface of the seaweed around the foreign matter up to a depth of about half the thickness of the seaweed.
The foreign matter removing device further has a suction unit. The suction means of the suction unit is capable of immovably sucking the back surface side of the foreign matter under the cutting unit for cutting and removing the seaweed that has been stopped from the interval between the conveyors.

Claim 2 is as follows.
In the foreign matter removing device for laver according to a second aspect, the foreign matter removing device according to the first aspect further includes a guide plate.
The guide plate has a large number of holes and is provided along the processing line. The processing line is set in an area in the left-right direction X where the cutting unit can cut and remove the foreign matter. The suction means of the suction unit is characterized in that at least the upper end portion is made of an elastic material and suction is performed through the guide plate.
Claim 3 is as follows.
According to a third aspect of the apparatus for removing foreign matter from seaweed, in the first or second aspect, the cutting unit further includes a holding means. The pressing means is provided outside the cutting means, and is capable of immovably pressing and gripping the periphery of the foreign matter of the seaweed that has been stopped to be conveyed toward the suction unit and the guide plate. To do.

Claim 4 is as follows.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a foreign matter removing device for laver according to the first, second or third aspect, which further comprises a light source, a camera and a control unit.
Then, the light source irradiates the transported seaweed. The camera receives the irradiation light from the light source as reflected light through the seaweed. The control unit is characterized in that based on the light reception data of the camera, the seaweed is inspected and discriminated to obtain position detection information of the foreign matter.
Claim 5 is as follows.
The laver foreign matter removing device according to claim 5 is the device according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3 and 4, wherein the cutting unit is located at a normal retreat position and an operating position during cutting in a horizontal direction X and a vertical direction along the processing line. It is movable in the direction Z. The suction unit is movable at least in the vertical direction Z between the normal retreat position and the suction operation position.
Based on the obtained position detection information, the control unit can send a convey signal and a convey stop signal to the conveyor, a movement signal and an actuation signal to the suction unit, and a movement signal and an actuation signal to the cutting unit, respectively. It is characterized by.

<< about action >>
Since the present invention comprises such means, it is as follows.
(1) Nori with foreign matter attached is detected, sorted and collected by the foreign matter inspection device on the production line.
(2) After recovery, the seaweed with foreign matter attached is provided to the foreign matter removing device and is supplied to the conveyor from the supply unit.
(3) Therefore, the seaweed is inspected for foreign matter while being conveyed by the conveyor. That is, the seaweed is sequentially irradiated by the light source, the reflected light is received by the camera, and the control unit sequentially inspects and determines the position of the foreign matter based on the received light data.
(4) When the control unit obtains the position detection information indicating that there is a foreign substance, the conveyor conveys the seaweed and stops until the foreign substance reaches the processing line. The suction unit and the cutting unit move to their respective operating positions.
(5) The seaweed that has stopped being conveyed on the processing line is sucked from the lower side via the guide plate by the suction means of the suction unit, and is pressed upward by the pressing means of the cutting unit toward the guide plate and the suction means. It is pressed and gripped by and is immobilized to withstand the cutting force.
(6) Then, the foreign matter is cut and removed by the axial rotation of the cutting means of the cutting unit. Therefore, the seaweed is cut and removed, with the depth of about half of the wall thickness, including the surroundings of the foreign matter, as a limit, and the cut and removed portion has a concave shape.
(7) In such cutting removal, the contact surface accuracy between the suction unit and the cutting unit is improved by the guide plate or the like.
That is, the contact surface sandwiching the seaweed between the upper end surface of the suction means and the lower end surface of the cutting means has a fixed guide plate, whereby the angular deviation and inclination between the two are buffered, absorbed and overcome, and the accuracy is improved. .. Further, the suction means is made of an elastic material or is of a left-right fixed type on the processing line, so that the accuracy is further ensured.
(8) When the cutting removal is completed, the cutting unit and the suction unit are moved to their original retracted positions, and the conveyor restarts the conveyance.
(9) After that, the same foreign matter position inspection and foreign matter cutting removal are sequentially repeated for each part of the seaweed. One piece of seaweed that has undergone the foreign matter position inspection and foreign matter cutting and removal is collected in the stockyard, and the next one piece of seaweed is supplied from the supply unit to the conveyor.
(10) According to the foreign matter removing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to remove foreign matter adhering to seaweed in a device-like manner automatically.
(11) Moreover, since the cutting method is adopted as the foreign matter removing method, for example, it is possible to remove the foreign matter with a depth limited to about half the thickness of the seaweed. Therefore, it is possible to remove foreign matter without perforation or damage.
(12) Then, the foreign matter removing device for seaweed according to the present invention exhibits the following effects.

<<First effect>>
Firstly, it is excellent in terms of production efficiency and production cost due to the deviceization and automation of the foreign matter removal work.
The apparatus for removing foreign matter from seaweed of the present invention employs a conveyor, a cutting unit, a suction unit, a guide plate, a light source, a camera, a control unit, and the like in a predetermined combination, so that it can be automatically and easily and in a short time. In time, the foreign matter can be removed.
Compared to the above-mentioned conventional technology that removes foreign matter by relying on the operator's visual inspection and manual work, the time and labor required for foreign matter removal work are greatly reduced, and production efficiency and production cost are excellent. There is. The foreign matter removal work by hand, which is troublesome and cumbersome and requires a great deal of time and labor, is eliminated.

<<Second effect>>
Secondly, the foreign matter removal is surely, easily and easily realized.
Since the foreign matter removing device of the present invention adopts the cutting method as the foreign matter removing method, the seaweed is maintained without forming a hole by forming the cutting removal portion in the concave shape. A suction unit, a guide plate, a rubber suction means, etc. are also employed to support the removal by cutting.
Therefore, it is possible to reliably remove the foreign matter, as compared with the adhesive method, the suction method, the cutout method and the like shown in the above-mentioned prior art. Further, the damage of seaweed, the defect of drilling, the defect of tearing, the problem of tearing, and other damage defects are prevented, and the appearance is good and the product value is improved. In addition, foreign matter can be removed easily and easily as compared with the case where the pressure bonding force, the suction force, the laser, and the like have to be troublesomely adjusted.
Furthermore, the combination of a conveyor, a cutting unit, a suction unit, a guide plate, a light source, a camera, a control unit, etc. enables the foreign matter position to be accurately detected and grasped, and the contact surface accuracy to be secured. It As in the prior art that relies on human hands, the mistake of overlooking and overlooking the foreign matter is prevented, and the foreign matter is reliably removed from this aspect as well.
As described above, the effects of the present invention are remarkably large, such that all the problems existing in this type of conventional technology are solved.

FIG. 1 is a plan explanatory view of a foreign matter removing device for seaweed according to the present invention, for explaining a mode for carrying out the invention. FIG. 3 is a side view for explaining the mode for carrying out the invention, in which (1) shows a foreign matter inspection and (2) shows a conveyance stop. FIG. 3 is a side view for explaining the mode for carrying out the invention, in which (1) shows a state of preparation for removing foreign matter, and (2) shows a state of removing foreign matter. FIG. 4 is a side view for explaining the mode for carrying out the invention, in which (1) shows the state after the foreign matter is removed, and (2) shows the next time the laver is inspected for foreign matter. It is a plane explanatory view of other examples for explaining the form for carrying out the present invention. FIG. 5 is a process explanatory view of foreign matter removal of seaweed, which is used for explaining the mode for carrying out the invention. Further, FIG. 1A is a plan view before removal, and FIG. 2B is a side view thereof. (3) is a plan view immediately before removal, and (4) is a side view of the same. FIG. 5() is a plan view during removal, and FIG. 6( 6) is a side view of the same. (7) is a plan view immediately after removal, and (8) is a side view of the same. FIG. 9() is a plan view after that, and FIG. 10() is a side view of the same. FIG. 1 is a plan view of seaweed, and FIG. 2B is a vertical cross-sectional view of seaweed. 3 is an example of a flow chart of control, which is provided for explaining the mode for carrying out the invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
<About Nori A and foreign matter inspection equipment>
First, the seaweed A and the foreign matter inspection device which are the premise of the present invention will be described. First, the seaweed A will be described with reference to FIG. 7.
The produced seaweed (that is, dried seaweed) A is formed by stacking several pieces of raw seaweed (original algae) on a standard basis. (standard) (front and back) length dimension 210 mm, (right and left) width dimension 190 mm, wall thickness 0 It has a rectangular thin sheet shape of about 2 mm to 0.5 mm.
Then, the seaweed A may have foreign matter B such as foreign matter or metal attached (for the foreign matter B such as foreign matter or metal, see the section described in the background art section).
That is, the foreign matter B adheres to about several percent of the seaweed A produced, and in the production line of the production process of the seaweed A, the foreign matter inspection device is used to inspect and detect the seaweed A to which the foreign matter B adheres. , Sorting and removal are performed. The seaweed A to which the foreign matter B is attached is removed from other normal seaweed A, is once removed from the production line, and is separately collected.

The foreign matter inspection device (foreign matter sorter) (not shown) includes a foreign substance dedicated type, a metal dedicated type, and a foreign substance metallic dual-use type. See, for example, JP 2012-217427 A and other known examples. Then, the foreign matter inspection device is arranged in the seaweed A production line after each step such as raw seaweed harvesting, water washing, paper making, dehydration, drying, peeling, and inversion.
By the way, the seaweed A to which the foreign matter B adhered was a. A type in which the foreign matter B is attached to the surface side of the seaweed A, b. A type in which the foreign matter B is attached to the back side of the seaweed A, c. A type in which the foreign matter B is attached to both front and back sides of the seaweed A, and d. It is classified into a type in which the foreign material B is sandwiched in the seaweed A.
The foreign matter inspection apparatus sorts, removes, and collects the seaweed A having the foreign matter B adhered to each of these types.
And, 95% or more of the seaweed A to which the foreign matter B adheres is of the a, b, and c types. 95% or more of the foreign matter B adheres to the front and back surfaces of the seaweed A.
In most cases, such foreign matter B is attached to the seaweed A at a thickness of half or less. That is, the foreign matter B is attached to the seaweed A by biting into the seaweed A with a thickness of less than 50% of the thickness of the seaweed A. The diameter of the foreign matter B is often about 3 mm to 5 mm.
The seaweed A and foreign matter inspection equipment are as described above.

<<Outline of the Present Invention>>
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the outline of the present invention is as follows.
This foreign matter removing device 1 for seaweed A is used in the production process of seaweed (dried seaweed) A, and first has a conveyor 2 and a cutting unit 3. The conveyor 2 carries and conveys the seaweed A one by one, and the cutting unit 3 scrapes off and removes the foreign matter B adhering to the seaweed A.
That is, the foreign matter removing device 1 is attached to the production line of seaweed A, is used to remove the foreign matter B of the seaweed A, and put it back into the production line again. It has a camera 6, a control unit 7, a cutting unit 3, a suction unit 9 such as suction means 8, a guide plate 10 and the like.
The outline of the present invention is as described above. Hereinafter, the foreign matter removing device 1 of the present invention will be described in detail.

<About supply unit 4>
First, the supply unit 4 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The supply unit 4 of the foreign matter removing apparatus 1 supplies the seaweed A to which the foreign matter B, which has been sorted and collected in advance by a foreign matter inspection apparatus (not shown), adheres to the conveyor 2 one by one. The foreign material B is composed of at least impurities.
That is, in the foreign matter inspection device, as described above, the seaweed A on which the foreign matter B adheres is detected, sorted, and collected. Then, the recovered seaweed A is provided to the supply unit 4 of the foreign matter removing apparatus 1, and is supplied from the supply unit 4 to the conveyor 2.
The seaweed A to be supplied is made of foreign matter B to which foreign matters are attached, but the foreign matter B to which metal is attached may be supplied together. Further, it may be possible to supply only the foreign matter B to which metal is attached.
Then, the supply unit 4 supplies the next one sheet to the conveyor 2 after the foreign matter removal processing of the one sheet of seaweed A previously supplied and previously conveyed by the conveyor 2 is completed. This supply control is performed by transmitting/receiving a signal to/from the control unit 7.
Further, the supply unit 4 supplies the seaweed A with the foreign matter B attached to the front side of the seaweed A, and reverses the front and back of the seaweed A with the foreign matter B attached to the back side of the seaweed A, and thus the foreign matter on the front side. It is supplied as seaweed A to which B adheres (see also (2) in FIG. 7). The same applies to the seaweed A in which the foreign matter B is attached to both front and back sides of the seaweed A.
The supply unit 4 is as described above.

<<About conveyor 2>>
Next, the container 2 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The conveyor 2 of the foreign matter removing device 1 carries and transports the seaweed A one by one. The conveyor 2 will be described in more detail. The conveyor 2 carries the seaweed A supplied from the supply unit 4 and horizontally conveys it from the upstream side to the downstream side along the front-back (conveyance) direction Y, and can be stopped midway.
Then, the seaweed A conveyed by the conveyer 2 in this way has the detection irradiation line L set to the left-right direction X full width and the processing line C set to the left-right direction X full width from the front end side to the rear end side. Pass one by one.
The conveyor 2 is composed of a plurality of cord belt conveyors, travels between rollers 11 and 12 connected to a drive motor (not shown), and is traveled by transmitting and receiving signals to and from the control unit 7. Further, two sets of conveyors 2 are provided in the front-rear direction Y, and there is a space between both conveyors 2.

One of the rollers 11 and 12 that configure the conveyor 2 is a suction roller. In the illustrated example, the rollers 11 on the front side of both conveyors 2 are suction rollers. That is, it is composed of a punching roller having a large number of holes formed on the outer surface thereof and is connected to a negative pressure means such as a blower so that the seaweed A can be sucked from below.
That is, the seaweed A has a thin sheet shape and is light in weight and easily slips during transportation, but since it is sucked by at least one of the rollers 11 during transportation, the occurrence of slippage is avoided.
Therefore, the seaweed A is transported by a predetermined transport amount according to the rotation amount of the roller 11. Therefore, the seaweed A is accurately conveyed by a predetermined conveyance amount from the detection irradiation line L of the foreign matter B by the light source 5, reaches the processing line C of the foreign matter B by the cutting unit 3, and is stopped.
Conveyor 2 is as described above.

<<About light source 5 and camera 6>>
Next, the light source 5 and the camera 6 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The light source 5 of the foreign matter removing apparatus 1 irradiates the conveyed seaweed A, and the camera 6 receives the irradiation light from the light source 5 via the seaweed A as reflected light. These are arranged above the front side of the seaweed A being conveyed.

The light source 5 and the camera 6 will be described in more detail. The light source 5 has a long shape capable of irradiating the entire width X of the seaweed A in the left-right direction with the detection irradiation line L, and is fixed so as to irradiate the seaweed A being conveyed and passing from the surface side thereof. It is possible to irradiate the foreign material B attached to the surface side of A.
The camera 6 is fixed to receive the irradiation light from the light source 5 as reflected light from the surface of the seaweed A on the detection irradiation line L, photoelectrically converts the reflected light thus received, and the received light data is a control unit. Send to 7.
A line sensor camera is typically used as such a camera 6, and the image receiving elements thereof are linearly arranged in the left-right direction X, and the minute width of the seaweed A conveyed on the detection irradiation line L is Originally, the light-receiving images are taken sequentially.
Compared to an area sensor camera in which image receiving elements are arranged vertically and horizontally to perform light-receiving and imaging in a two-dimensional manner, the line sensor camera has a number of pixels to be photographed, resolution, inspection accuracy, stability, inspection speed, light source conditions, It is known to be excellent in cost and the like, and is suitable for the foreign matter removing device 1.
The light source 5 and the camera 6 are as described above.

<<About control unit 7>>
Next, the control unit 7 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 and 8.
The control unit 7 of the foreign matter removing device 1 sequentially inspects and determines the seaweed A conveyed on the detection irradiation line L based on the light reception data of the camera 6 to obtain the position detection information of the foreign matter B.
Then, based on the obtained position detection information, it is possible to send a convey signal and a convey stop signal to the conveyor 2, a movement signal and an actuation signal to the cutting unit 3, and a movement signal and an actuation signal to the suction unit 9. Is.

Such control unit 7 will be described in more detail. The control unit 7 first carries out a foreign matter inspection on the seaweed A which is being transported and is passing through the detection irradiation line L based on the light reception data of the camera 6. That is, the presence or absence of the foreign matter B adhering to the surface side is determined based on the comparison between the detected light amount value of the received light data sent from the camera 6 and the preset reference light amount value of the seaweed A.
As a result of such foreign matter position inspection, it is determined that there is a foreign matter B, and when position detection information of the foreign matter B in the left-right direction X is obtained, a stop signal is sent to the conveyor 2.
For example, the control unit 7 stores the presence of the foreign matter B on the detection irradiation line L, and at the timing when the foreign matter B arrives on the processing line C, that is, processing of a constant transport amount and a constant distance from the detection irradiation line L. When the line C is reached, a stop signal is sent, and the seaweed A stops the detected foreign matter B in correspondence with the processing line C.
At the same time, based on the position detection information of the foreign object B in the left-right direction X to the cutting unit 3 (the front-back direction Y is constant on the processing line C), a movement signal from the retracted position D to the operation position E up to that point, that is, After sending the movement signals in the left-right direction X and the up-down direction Z, the cutting operation signal is sent to the motor 16. Accordingly, the cutting unit 3 carries out the cutting removal of the foreign matter B at the operating position E (these will be described in detail below).
Further, to the suction unit 9, a movement signal from the retracted position F to the operation position G up to that point, in the illustrated example, a movement signal in the left-right direction X and a vertical direction Z is sent, and then the suction operation signal is sent to the suction means 8. Is sent. Accordingly, the suction unit 9 suctions the seaweed A at the operating position G (these will be described later in detail).
A microcomputer is typically used as the control unit 7, and the above-described inspection, discrimination, calculation, signal transmission/reception, etc. are performed based on the program (see also the flowchart of FIG. 8).
The control unit 7 is as described above.

<<About cutting unit 3>>
Next, the cutting unit 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 and 6.
The cutting unit 3 of the foreign matter removing apparatus 1 has a holding means 13 and a cutting means 14. The pressing means 13 is provided outside the cutting means 15, and can press and grip the periphery of the foreign matter B of the seaweed A that has been stopped to be conveyed toward the guide plate 10 and the suction unit 9 in a stationary manner.
The cutting means 14 is composed of a cutting tool having a cutting blade at the lower end, and removes the foreign matter B adhering to the surface side of the seaweed A, which has been stopped to be conveyed, along with the surrounding seaweed A by axial rotation.
Then, the cutting means 14 cuts and removes the surface side of the seaweed A around the foreign matter B, for example, up to a depth of about half the wall thickness. In the seaweed A, such a cut-and-removed portion H has a concave shape, and the remaining thickness allows the hole to be maintained without holes.
The cutting unit 3 is movable in the left-right direction X and the up-down direction Z between the normal retreat position D and the working position E during cutting.

Such a cutting unit 3 will be described in more detail. The cutting unit 3 has a main body 17 having a built-in motor 16, a holding means 13 hung down below the main body 17, and a cutting means 14 which is axially rotatable inside the holding means 13.
A motor 16 such as a stepping motor is used for rotating the cutting means 14. The pressing means 13 has a cylindrical shape or another cylindrical shape, and is attached to the main body 17 via a spring.
Then, the holding means 13 is capable of immovably pressing and gripping the outer circumference of the foreign matter B toward the guide plate 10 and the suction unit 9 with respect to the seaweed A that has been stopped being conveyed with the foreign matter B on the processing line C (( in FIG. 3). 2), (6) and (8) in FIG. 6). In order to withstand the cutting force of the cutting means 14, it can be fixedly pressed and gripped.
An example in which the pressing means 13 is not provided is also possible, but in addition to the immobilizing surface of the seaweed A to be cut, the cutting safety surface (protection of the hands etc. against the cutting means 14) and the scattering of cutting chips of the seaweed A are possible. In terms of prevention, it is often used.
As the cutting means 14, an end mill having a straight blade or a twisting blade at the lower end is typically used as a cutting tool, but a bottom blade cutter, a bottom milling machine, a rotary router, a rasp mechanism, and other cuttings for cutting. Tools (broadly defined) can also be used.

Then, the cutting means 14 cuts and removes the foreign matter B on the processing line C along with the surrounding seaweed A by axial rotation ((2) of FIG. 3, (6) of FIG. 6, (8), etc.). reference).
The depth to be removed by cutting is set to about half the thickness of the seaweed A of 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm, that is, about 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm from the surface, typically about 0.15 mm. When the cutting means 14 is adopted, such setting can be easily and easily realized with certainty (it is extremely difficult with the above-mentioned conventional adhesive method, suction method, cutout method, etc.).
In the seaweed A from which the foreign matter B has been removed by using the cutting means 14 in this manner, the cutting removal portion H has a recessed shape (see FIGS. 4 and 6 (10) and the like). That is, the seaweed A is maintained in its appearance without the occurrence of defective holes due to the remaining thickness of the cutting-removed portion H, for example, about half the original thickness.

The cutting unit 3 provided with such cutting means 14 and the like can move horizontally in the left-right direction X of the processing line C and move up-and-down in the vertical direction Z between the normal retracted position D and the operating position E during cutting. Is. These movements are drive-controlled by a servo motor.
At the normal retreat position D (see FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 4 and the like), the cutting unit 3 is located on the side of the processing line C and also at the retreat position F. The unit 9 is in an upper position apart from the unit 9.
At the operating position E (see (2) of FIG. 3, (6) and (8) of FIG. 6), the cutting unit 3 cuts and removes the foreign matter B on the processing line C, that is, the horizontal direction X. It is at the corresponding position and the vertical Z-fall position.
During cutting, the pressing means 13 and the cutting means 14 have the following positional relationship. That is, in the operating position E, first, the lower end of the pressing means 13 presses and grips the seaweed A first, and then the lower end of the cutting means 14 projects downward from the lower end of the pressing means 13.
The cutting unit 3 is as described above.

<<About suction unit 9>>
Next, the suction unit 9 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The suction means 8 of the suction unit 9 of the foreign matter inspection device 1 can suck the seaweed A, which has been stopped to be conveyed, from the back side of the foreign matter B below the cutting unit 3 to be cut and removed, from the interval between the conveyors 2. ..
In the illustrated example in which the guide plate 10 is provided, the back side of the seaweed A can be sucked through the guide plate 10.

Such suction unit 9 will be described in more detail. The suction unit 9 includes a guide rail 18, a slider 19 which is guided by the guide rail 18 and is movable in the left-right direction X, a suction means 8 which is erected on the slider 19, and vertically moves the suction unit 9 in the vertical direction Z. And a movable lifting mechanism (not shown).
At least the upper end of the suction means 8 is made of a hard material or an elastic material. That is, it is made of metal or rubber, synthetic rubber, or other elastic material having elasticity. For example, it has a cylindrical shape and its upper end surface is a punching surface having a large number of holes 20 and is connected to a blower or the like (not shown) so that the seaweed A can be sucked by negative pressure.
Accordingly, the suction means 8 can suction the back surface side of the foreign matter B on the processing line C of the seaweed A, which has been stopped to be conveyed, through the holes 21 of the guide plate 10 in the illustrated example (FIG. 3, FIG. 3). See (6) and (8) in 6). In order to withstand the cutting force of the cutting means 14, suction can be performed immovably.

The suction unit 9 provided with such suction means 8 can be moved up and down in the vertical direction Z between the normally retracted position F and the operating position G at the time of suction, and in the illustrated example, the horizontal direction X along the processing line C. It can be moved laterally. These movements are drive-controlled by a servo motor.
In the normal retreat position F (see FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and the like), the suction unit 9 is located on the side of the processing line C and is separated from the cutting unit 3 which is in the same retreat position D. In position.
At the operating position G (see FIGS. 3 and 6 (6) and (8)), the suction unit 9 sucks the back surface side of the foreign matter B of the seaweed A. That is, it is below the cutting unit 3 that cuts and removes the foreign matter B on the front surface side, and in the illustrated example, immediately below the guide plate 10.
The suction unit 9 is as described above.

<<About Guide Plate 10>>
Next, the guide plate 10 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The guide plate 10 of the foreign matter removing device 1 is provided with a large number of holes 21 and is provided along the processing line C. First, the processing line C, which is a prerequisite, is set in the entire area in the left-right direction X in which the cutting unit 3 can cut and remove the foreign matter B, and is located at the interval between the two sets of conveyors 2 described above.
The guide plate 10 has a left-right width that covers the entire processing line C as described above, and further has a front-back width in the illustrated example. The seaweed A is fixed at a height level where it comes into contact with the back surface side of the seaweed A that has been stopped. In the illustrated example, the upstream portion is inclined downward and the main body is horizontally arranged.
In the illustrated example described above, the guide plate 10 is provided in this manner, but an example in which the guide plate 10 is not provided is also possible regardless of the illustrated example.
The guide plate 10 is as described above.

<<About the example in Fig. 5>>
Here, another example of the foreign matter removing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 5 will be described.
The suction unit 9 of the foreign substance removing apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 described above is laterally movable along the processing line C in the left-right direction X, and includes the slide rail 18 and the slider 19. On the other hand, the suction unit 9 of the foreign matter removing device 1 shown in FIG. 5 is of a left-right fixed type and has a left-right width and a front-back width that entirely covers the processing line C from below.
Other configurations of the suction unit 9 of FIG. 5 are similar to those of the suction unit 9 of FIGS. 1 to 4 described above. For example, the point that a large number of holes 20 are formed on the upper end surface and the point that the whole body can be moved up and down are the same.
The example of FIG. 5 is as described above.

<Action, etc.>
The foreign matter removing device 1 for laver of the present invention is configured as described above. Then it becomes as follows.
(1) In the production line of the seaweed A production process, a foreign matter inspection device (foreign matter sorter) inspects, detects, sorts, removes and collects the seaweed A to which the foreign matter B adheres.

(2) The recovered seaweed A, that is, the seaweed A having the foreign matter B adhered to the surface side is provided and put into the supply unit 4 of the foreign matter removing apparatus 1 provided along with the production line.
Then, the sheets are supplied from the supply unit 4 to the conveyor 2 in a unit of one sheet (see step S1 in FIG. 8 and FIGS. 6A and 6B).

(3) Therefore, the seaweed A is conveyed by the conveyor 2, and a foreign matter inspection is optically performed on the way (see step S2 in FIG. 8, (1) in FIG. 2 and the like).
That is, the seaweed A is irradiated with the irradiation light from the light source 5 sequentially from the front end side in the detection irradiation line L during the conveyance, and the reflected light is received by the camera 6. Then, based on the light reception data of the camera 6, the control unit 7 sequentially inspects and determines the presence/absence of the foreign matter B for the portion of the seaweed A reaching the detection irradiation line L.

(4) Then, when the control unit 7 obtains the position detection information as the presence of the foreign matter B, based on this, a stop signal is sent to the conveyor 2 and the cutting unit 3 is moved from the retracted position D until then to the operating position E. A movement signal is sent to the suction unit 9 from the retracted position F until then to the operating position G (see steps S3, S4, S5, etc. in FIG. 8).
Therefore, the conveyor 2 conveys the seaweed A until the foreign matter B reaches the processing line C and stops (see (2) of FIG. 2, (3) and (4) of FIG. 6, etc.).
In the illustrated example, the suction unit 9 laterally moves downward from the retracted position F up to that point and then moves upward toward the foreign object B (FIG. 3 (1), FIG. 6 (5), (6)). See the figures). In the example of FIG. 5, there is no movement in the left-right direction X.
The cutting unit 3 laterally moves from the retracted position D up to that point onto the foreign matter B and then descends toward the foreign matter B (see (2) of FIG. 3, (5) of FIG. 6, (6) of FIG. 6, etc.). reference).

(5) Then, the control unit 7 sends an operation signal, that is, a suction operation signal to the suction means 8 of the suction unit 9 and an operation signal, that is, a cutting operation signal to the cutting means 14 of the cutting unit 3, respectively.
Therefore, the seaweed A, which has been stopped to be conveyed, is sucked from below through the holes 21 of the guide plate 10 by the suction means 8 and, at the same time, to the guide plate 10 and the suction means 8 by the holding means 13 of the cutting unit 3. The grip is pressed from above. Therefore, the seaweed A is cut in a state of being immobilized so as to withstand the cutting force.
That is, the cutting means 14 of the cutting unit 3 cuts and removes the foreign matter B adhering to the seaweed A (FIG. 3 (2), FIG. 6 (5), (6), (7)). (See FIG. 8, (8), step S6, etc. in FIG. 8). The cutting means 14 of the cutting unit 3 at the operating position E rotates the shaft to cut and remove the adhering foreign matter B.

(6) As a result, the seaweed A is removed by the cutting means 14 along with the foreign matter B and surrounding parts. For example, the surface side is cut and removed with a depth of about half of the thickness as a limit, and the cut removed portion H has a recessed shape (FIG. 4 (1), FIG. 6 (9), (10) FIG. Etc.).

(7) By the way, in such cutting removal, the contact surface accuracy between the suction unit 9 and the cutting unit 3 is improved by the existence of the guide plate 10.
That is, it is ideal that the contact surfaces between the upper end surface of the suction means 8 and the lower end surface of the cutting means 14 sandwiching the seaweed A are exactly flush with each other (for example, in a horizontal plane). However, between the two that have moved to the left and right and moved up and down along with the operating positions E and G, they do not exactly correspond to the same plane and are relatively prone to angular deviation and inclination.
Therefore, by interposing the horizontally fixed guide plate 10 between them, the angle deviation and inclination between them are buffered, absorbed and overcome by the guide plate 10, and the accuracy is improved. The problem of the angle deviation and inclination when the two are directly opposed to each other is divided and replaced by the problem between the guide plate 10 and the suction means 8 and between the guide plate 10 and the cutting means 14. As the guide plate 10 is provided between them, the problems of angular deviation and inclination can be alleviated, absorbed and overcome.
Further, the accuracy can be further ensured by making the upper end of the suction means 8 made of an elastic material that can be expanded and contracted in the vertical direction or by fixing the suction means 8 to the left and right as in the example of FIG.

(8) When the cutting removal of the foreign matter B is completed, the control unit 7 sends a movement signal from the operating position E to the retracted position D to the cutting unit 3, and sends a moving signal from the operating position G to the retracted position F to the suction unit 9. The movement signals of the above are transmitted respectively.
As a result, the cutting unit 3 and the suction unit 9 are returned to the retracted positions D and F (see step S7 in FIGS. 4 and 8).
At the same time, the stop signal is released and the carrying signal is sent to the conveyor 2 (see (2) in FIG. 4, step S8 in FIG. 8 and the like), and the conveyor 2 restarts carrying.

(9) After that, according to the above-mentioned place, the foreign material position inspection by the light source 5, the camera 6, the control unit 7, etc., and the cutting removal of the foreign matter B by the cutting unit 3, the suction unit 9, etc., which is carried out as necessary. However, it is repeatedly carried out for one piece of seaweed A which is the object of conveyance.
The seaweed A is repeatedly subjected to the foreign matter position inspection and the like for each part until reaching the rear end (see (1) of FIG. 4 and step S9 of FIG. 8).
Then, when the foreign matter inspection and the cutting and removal of the foreign matter B are completed for the entire target seaweed A, the one piece of seaweed A is once collected in the stockyard bucket 22 as a foreign matter removal completed product (Fig. After that, it will be returned to the seaweed A production line.
At the same time, the next piece of seaweed A is supplied as a new target from the supply unit 4 to the conveyor 2 for foreign matter inspection and the like (see FIG. 4 (2)).

(10) As described above, the foreign matter removing apparatus 1 of the present invention uses the cutting unit 3, the conveyor 2, the suction unit 9, the guide plate 10, the light source 5, the camera 6, the control unit 7, and the like in combination, The foreign matter B adhering to the seaweed A can be removed automatically in a device-like manner.

(11) Moreover, since the foreign matter removing apparatus 1 of the present invention adopts the cutting method as the foreign matter removing method, the foreign matter can be removed reliably and without any defect, and can be easily realized. Only after the cutting method, the surface side of the seaweed A can be removed, for example, up to a depth of about half the wall thickness.
That is, the foreign matter B adheres to the seaweed A in an amount of not more than half the thickness of the seaweed A, and the foreign matter B adheres to the seaweed A by digging into the seaweed A at less than 50% of the thickness of the seaweed A. In view of this, the foreign matter B can be reliably removed by cutting with a depth of about half the thickness of the seaweed A (of course, there is also a case of cutting about 20 to 30% shallower than half).
Therefore, it is possible to easily and easily and surely make the cutting removal portion H into a concave shape and remove the foreign matter B adhering to the seaweed A without piercing and damage due to the remaining thickness of the remaining portion.
The actions, etc. are as described above.

1 Foreign Material Removal Device 2 Conveyor 3 Cutting Unit 4 Supply Unit 5 Light Source 6 Camera 7 Control Unit 8 Suction Unit 9 Suction Unit 10 Guide Plate 11 Roller 12 Roller 13 Pressing Means 14 Cutting Means 16 Motor 17 Main Body 18 Guide Rail 19 Slider 20 Hole 21 Hole 22 Stockyard bucket A Laver B Foreign material C Processing line D Evacuation position E Operating position F Evacuation position G Operating position H Cutting removal point L Detection irradiation line X Horizontal direction Y Front-rear (conveyance) direction Z Vertical direction

Claims (5)

A foreign matter removing device used in a dry seaweed production process, which has a conveyor and a cutting unit, and the conveyor carries and transports the seaweed one by one, and the cutting unit adheres to the seaweed. Remove foreign matter by cutting,
The cutting unit has a cutting means, and the cutting means is composed of a cutting tool having a cutting edge at the lower end, and the foreign matter adhering to the surface side of the seaweed that has been conveyed is stopped by the axial rotation. The seaweed surface side around the foreign matter can be removed by cutting, and the seaweed has a recessed portion at such a cut-away portion, and the remaining thickness allows the seaweed to be maintained without holes.
The cutting means cuts and removes the surface of the seaweed around the foreign matter to a depth of about half the thickness of the seaweed,
The foreign matter removing device further includes a suction unit, and the suction means of the suction unit removes the seaweed that has been conveyed from the back side of the foreign matter below the cutting unit for cutting and removing the space between the conveyors. A foreign matter removing device for seaweed, characterized in that it can be suctioned immovably. The foreign matter removing device according to claim 1, further comprising a guide plate,
The guide plate is provided with a large number of holes and is provided along a processing line, and the processing line is set in an area in the left-right direction X where the cutting unit can cut and remove the foreign matter,
At least the upper end of the suction means of the suction unit is made of an elastic material, and suction is performed through the guide plate. The cutting unit according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a holding means.
The holding means is provided outside the cutting means, and is capable of immovably pressing and gripping the periphery of the foreign matter of the seaweed that has been stopped to be conveyed toward the guide plate or the suction unit. Foreign material removal device for seaweed. The foreign matter removing device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising a light source, a camera, and a control unit,
The light source irradiates the transported seaweed, the camera receives the irradiation light from the light source as reflected light through the seaweed, and the control unit inspects the seaweed for foreign matter based on the light reception data of the camera. An apparatus for removing foreign matter from seaweed, characterized in that it determines and obtains position detection information of the foreign matter. The suction unit according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the cutting unit is movable in a left-right direction X and a vertical direction Z along the processing line between a normal retracted position and an operating position during cutting. Is movable at least in the up-down direction Z between the normal retreat position and the suction operation position.
Based on the obtained position detection information, the control unit can send a convey signal and a convey stop signal to the conveyor, a movement signal and an actuation signal to the suction unit, and a movement signal and an actuation signal to the cutting unit, respectively. The foreign matter removing device for seaweed, which is characterized by:

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