Patent Description:
Conventionally, the combination scale may be typically equipped with a dispersion feeder with a top cone disposed in an upper part of its body, a plurality of linear feeders radially disposed around the dispersion feeder, and a plurality of feeding feeders disposed correspondingly to the linear feeders. First, articles to be weighed are supplied into the top cone and then vibrationally transported outward by the dispersion feeder. The articles are then vibrationally transported further outward by the linear feeders and thrown into the feeding hoppers.

A plurality of weighing hoppers are disposed below and correspondingly to the feeding hoppers. The feeding hoppers each discharge the articles into a respective one of the weighing hoppers to be weighed. Then, combinatorial computations are executed based on weights of the articles measured in the weighing hoppers to select a combination of hoppers containing the articles of a weight that stays within a predetermined range of weights. Then, the articles are discharged out of the selected hoppers, dropping downward along a collection chute into a packaging machine disposed down below.

In any combinations scales used to weigh foodstuffs, regular cleaning is indispensable in view of hygiene, as well as optional cleaning every time when the type of food to be weighed is changed. The top cone of the dispersion feeder, troughs of the linear feeders, feeding hoppers and weighing hoppers need to be cleaned at regular intervals and are thus attached to the combination scale in an easily detachable manner.

The linear feeders each have a trough; an article transporter. The trough is used to put in and transport the articles and is attached to and removed from the vibratory head of an electromagnetic vibration mechanism. Patent literature <NUM> describes an example of how to removably attach the trough to the vibratory head, which uses a coupling member disposed on the lower surface of each linear feeder's trough and a fastening unit with an operation lever. The operation lever of the fastening unit is rotated with the coupling member being positionally fixed and engaged with the vibratory head, so that the trough is engageably pushed against and firmly coupled to the vibratory head.

<CIT> discloses a vibrating conveyer provided with a trough attachment/detachment mechanism, and a combined weighing device.

Such a fastening structure, if enabled by rotating the operation lever, may need to be equipped with, in part thereof, an elastically deformable member that exerts an elastic fastening force. The elastically deformable member used in patent literature <NUM> is a coil spring.

The coil spring, however, may easily catch broken pieces and/or scraps of the articles, and it is quite a labor to remove such broken pieces that adhere to or penetrated into the coil spring. In the case of food-handling combination scales, in particular, cleaning should be more careful and thorough in view of hygiene, requiring an enormous amount of time and labor for cleaning of a large number of feeders.

This invention was accomplished to address these issues of the known art and is directed to providing an article transport feeder easily cleanable that allows an article transporter to be stably and accurately coupled by fastening to a vibratory head, and a combination scale equipped with the feeder.

To this end, this invention provides an article transport feeder comprising the features of claim <NUM>. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined by the subclaims.

The article transport feeder according to this invention is equipped with an elastically deformable spindle to elastically keep the article transporter and the vibratory head engaged with each other. This spindle is rather simple in shape and is easily cleanable.

The elasticity of the spindle may be decided by its material, diameter, and support span, which are all easily and accurately manageable factors. Thus, the elasticity of this spindle may be easily kept at a constant level, which may reliably ensure a desirable fastening property.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the article transporter includes the fastening unit and the movable coupling member, the vibratory head and the movable coupling member each have a wedge inclined surface for engagement purpose, and the article transporter is pushed toward the vibratory head by a wedge action exerted by the wedge inclined surfaces along with the movement of the movable coupling member.

According to this embodiment, the vibratory head and the movable coupling member may be reliably engaged with each other through elastic fastening using the wedge inclined surfaces. Thus, the movable coupling member, if repeatedly attached to and detached from the vibratory head, may be pushed against and coupled to the vibratory head without losing an expected fastening force.

<NUM>) In another preferred embodiment of this invention, the spindle of the movable coupling member and the operation lever of the fastening unit are coupled to each other with a fastening rod.

According to this embodiment, an external force is applied to the spindle of the movable coupling member through the fastening rod along with the rotation of the operation lever. As a result, the spindle is elastically deformed to stabilize the fastening.

<NUM>) In yet another preferred embodiment of this invention, a coupling member is externally mounted to an intermediate portion of the spindle of the movable coupling member, and a bush is fitted to a portion of the movable coupling member at which the spindle is inserted.

In case, for example, the coupling member made of a metallic material is externally mounted to the spindle of the movable coupling member made of a hard resin material, the edge of a hole formed in the coupling member for spindle insertion may possibly bite directly into the spindle, causing damage to the spindle. According to this embodiment, however, the bush fitted to the spindle inserting portion may avoid such damage to the spindle, promising an expected elastic property. Thus, the spindle often deformed and warped may durable for long-term use.

<NUM>) In yet another preferred embodiment of this invention, the fastening rod is threadedly connected to the coupling member externally fitted to the intermediate portion of the spindle and the spindle of the operation lever in a reverse threaded relationship.

According to this embodiment, the distance between the coupling member and the spindle of the operation lever may be suitably adjustable by rotating the fastening rod. Such factors as aging degradation and unrestorable warp the spindle of the movable coupling member may weaken its elastic property, resulting in a poor fastening force. Yet, a desired fastening property may be regained by adjustably rotating the fastening rod.

<NUM>) A combination scale according to this invention is equipped with a dispersion feeder, a plurality of linear feeders radially disposed around the dispersion feeder, and a plurality of feeding feeders disposed correspondingly to the linear feeders. The linear feeders are each the article transport feeder as defined in <NUM>) to <NUM>). The article transport feeders each have a trough, and the troughs each serve as the article transporter removably attachable to the vibratory head of the vibration mechanism.

The combination scale according to this invention uses the elastically deformable spindle to elastically keep the engagement between the trough and the vibratory head of the liner feeder. The spindle simpler in shape than the coil spring may be more easily cleanable, conducing to reduction of time and labor required for cleaning of the multiple linear feeders.

The trough of the linear feeder removed and cleaned may be accurately coupled again to the vibratory head of the vibration mechanism with a predetermined fastening force.

This invention may thus facilitate cleaning work and may allow the article transporter to be stably and accurately coupled by fastening to the vibratory head.

An embodiment of this invention is hereinafter described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a schematic drawing of a combination scale equipped with an article transport feeder according to an embodiment of this invention. The combination scale according to this embodiment weights and discharges a predetermined quantity of articles, for example, different kinds of foodstuffs. This combination scale may be installed on a floor surface F and is used in a packaging line in which the weighed articles are thrown into a packaging machine disposed below (not illustrated in the drawings) and then packed into bags.

A hollow pedestal <NUM> rectangular in planar view is disposed on the floor surface F. This hollow pedestal <NUM> has a large, vertically through opening at its center. At the center of the scale and in the upper direction of the pedestal <NUM>, a center base <NUM> is supported by the pedestal <NUM> through a plurality of leg portions <NUM>.

A dispersion feeder <NUM> is disposed at the center and in the upper direction of the center base <NUM>. The dispersion feeder <NUM> receives articles dropping from a feeding conveyer not illustrated in the drawings, and then transports the received articles by radially dispersing them through vibrations. A large number of linear feeders <NUM>; article transport feeders, are disposed radially around the dispersion feeder <NUM>. These linear feeders <NUM> receive the articles from the dispersion feeder <NUM> and linearly transports the articles outward through vibrations.

This combination scale further has, in the outer circumference of the center base <NUM>, feeding hoppers <NUM> and weighing hoppers <NUM>. The feeding hoppers <NUM> temporarily retain the articles transported by the linear feeders <NUM>. The weighing hoppers <NUM> weigh the articles discharged from the feeding hoppers <NUM>. The articles are variously combined, weighed and then discharged by a large number of weighing units each having the linear feeder <NUM>, feeding hopper <NUM> and weighing hopper <NUM>.

A collection chute <NUM> is disposed at a position below the weighing hoppers <NUM>. The collection chute <NUM> receives the articles discharged from the weighing hoppers <NUM> containing the articles having a summed weight that falls within a predetermined range of weights. At a position below the collection chute <NUM> is disposed a collection funnel <NUM> that collects the articles dropping from the collection chute <NUM>. A collection hopper <NUM> is disposed below the collection funnel <NUM>. The articles collected by the collection funnel <NUM> are received and temporarily retained by the collection hopper <NUM> and then discharged from the collection hopper <NUM> based on an article discharge request from the packaging machine.

The dispersion feeder <NUM> includes a top cone <NUM> having a gently inclined umbrella-like shape. The dispersion feeder <NUM> further has a vibration mechanism <NUM> driven to vibrate the top cone <NUM>. The vibration mechanism <NUM> has a vibratory head and is installed on the inner side and at the center of the center base <NUM>. Though not illustrated in the drawings in detail, the vibratory head of the vibration mechanism <NUM> is exposed out of the upper surface of the center base <NUM>. The top cone <NUM> is removably attached to the vibratory head. The vibration mechanism <NUM> is supported by a weight sensor <NUM> in the center base <NUM>. This weight sensor <NUM> detects the weight of the articles on the dispersion feeder <NUM>. The feeding conveyer, not illustrated in the drawings, is turned on and off based on information of the detected weight to feed the articles of a weight that stays within a preset range onto the dispersion feeder.

The linear feeders <NUM> each have a trough <NUM> and an electromagnetic vibration mechanism <NUM> driven to vibration this trough. The vibration mechanisms <NUM> of the linear feeders <NUM> are disposed in the center base <NUM> in a manner that surround the vibration mechanism <NUM> of the dispersion feeder <NUM>.

A driving unit <NUM> including driving mechanisms and weight sensors is mounted to the outer circumference of the center base <NUM>. The driving mechanism is driven to open and close gates of the feeding hopper <NUM> and of the weighing hopper <NUM>. The weight sensor is used to detect the weight of the articles in the weighing hopper <NUM>. The feeding hopper <NUM> and the weighing hopper <NUM> are removably attached to this driving unit <NUM>.

In the combination scale according to this embodiment, the trough <NUM> is attached and detached to and from the linear feeder <NUM>; an example of the article transport feeder, as described below. In the description below, "front side" (ahead) refers to a transport-starting side of the linear feeder <NUM>, "rear side" (behind) refers to a transport-ending side of the linear feeder <NUM> (closer to the feeding hopper <NUM>), and "lateral direction" refers to a horizontal direction orthogonal to the direction of transport of the linear feeder <NUM>.

<FIG> is a lateral view of the linear feeder <NUM> in the combination scale illustrated in <FIG>. <FIG> is a bottom view of the linear feeder <NUM>. <FIG> is a perspective view from below of the trough mounting portion of the linear feeder <NUM>. <FIG> is a perspective view of the vibratory head of the linear feeder <NUM>. <FIG> is a bottom view of the trough mounting portion of the linear feeder <NUM>.

The trough <NUM>; an example of the article transporter, of the linear feeder <NUM> includes a trough body 14a, a reinforcing plate 14b and a support plate 14c. The trough body 14a is obtained by bending a thin plate member into the form of a trough-like container with an opening larger more upward on its upper side. The support plate 14c is large in length in its longitudinal direction and is obtained by bending a thick plate member into a U-like shape. The reinforcing plate 14b is securely welded to the outer and lower surfaces of the trough body 14a, and the plate 14c is securely welded to the lower surface of the reinforcing plate 14b. The support plate 14c has, on its lower surface, an attach-detach mechanism <NUM> used for the vibratory head 15a of the vibration mechanism <NUM>.

The attach-detach mechanism <NUM> is equipped with a coupling plate <NUM> and a movable coupling plate <NUM>. The coupling plate <NUM> is made of a thick plate member and is securely welded to the support plate 14c on the lower surface of the trough. The movable coupling member <NUM>; an example of the movable coupling member, is a longitudinally long plate and is supportably fitted to the coupling plate <NUM> so as to slide forward and backward.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the coupling plate <NUM> has, in its rear part, a substantially circular setting portion 21a. The coupling plate <NUM> further has, in its front part, an engageable coupling portion 21b having a rectangular shape. The setting portion 21a has a guiding recess <NUM> with an opening directed backward. The guiding recess <NUM> is formed to receive the movable coupling plate <NUM> which is inserted and fitted into this recess so as to slide forward and backward. The engageable coupling portion 21b has, on its lower surface, an engagement hook <NUM> directed forward, and an engagement pin <NUM> used for lateral positioning. The engagement hook <NUM> and the engagement pin <NUM> are protruding from the lower surface.

The movable coupling plate <NUM> is slightly thinner than the coupling plate <NUM>. The coupling plate <NUM> has engagement pieces <NUM> on its inner surfaces facing each other across the guiding recess <NUM>. The engagement pieces <NUM> are large in length in its longitudinal direction. The engagement pieces <NUM> are securely welded to the lower surface of the coupling plate <NUM>, so that these pieces are flush with this lower surface and protrude toward the inner side of the guiding recess <NUM>. These engagement pieces <NUM> have a vertical thickness corresponding to the difference between thicknesses of the coupling plate <NUM> and of the movable coupling plate <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG> showing a cross-sectional view along A-A line in <FIG>, lateral end sides of the movable coupling plate <NUM> are inserted and fitted in the guiding recess <NUM> and are held between the lower surface of the support plate 14c and the upper surfaces of the engagement pieces <NUM>. In this manner, the engagement pieces <NUM> are supported and guided so as to slide forward and backward.

On the lateral end sides of the movable coupling plate <NUM> are formed fitting recesses <NUM> slightly larger than the longitudinal length of the engagement piece <NUM>. To allow the movable coupling plate <NUM> to fit to the coupling plate <NUM>, the fitting recesses <NUM> are positionally aligned to the engagement pieces <NUM>, the movable coupling plate <NUM> is then fitted into the guiding recess <NUM>, and the movable coupling plate <NUM> is moved backward, as illustrated in <FIG>. Thus, the movable coupling plate may be successfully fitted to and supported by the coupling plate <NUM> without the risk of being accidentally dropped.

The support plate 14c has, on its lower surface, a guiding pin <NUM> with a diametrically larger portion. The guiding pin <NUM> is formed so as to protrude from this lower surface. The movable coupling plate <NUM> has a guiding groove <NUM> into which the guiding pin <NUM> is engageably inserted. The movable coupling plate <NUM> is engaged and supported at two front and rear positions by the engagement pieces <NUM> and the guiding pin <NUM> and is fitted and supported so as to be slidable in the front and rear directions without dropping.

The movable coupling plate <NUM> has, at its front end part, an engagement hole <NUM>. This hole is reduced in width toward its front end and is used for engagement of the movable coupling plate <NUM> with the vibratory head 15a. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a wedge inclined surface "s" is formed in an peripheral edge of the engagement hole <NUM>. The wedge inclined surface "s" is directed inward and downward.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the movable coupling plate <NUM> is coupled to a fastening unit 20a disposed on the rear side of the attach-detach mechanism <NUM>. The fastening unit 20a has an operation lever <NUM>, and the movable coupling plate <NUM> is allowed to slide forward and backward by rotating the operation lever <NUM>.

Shaft struts <NUM> are laterally disposed in a pair on the rear end side of the movable coupling plate <NUM>. A spindle <NUM> is horizontally supported from one of the shaft struts to the other. A coupling member <NUM> is externally mounted in a rotatable manner to a laterally intermediate position of the spindle <NUM>.

The spindle <NUM> is made of a hard resin material elastically deformable, for example, carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP). As illustrated in the transverse bottom view of <FIG>, bearing members <NUM> are externally threaded into the shaft struts <NUM> securely to certain positions. The spindle <NUM>, with its ends being inserted into the bearing members <NUM>, is supported on the laterally both sides. The spindle <NUM> may be easily removed along the shaft center when the bearing members <NUM> are pulled off outward from the shaft struts <NUM>. This may facilitate replacement of the spindle <NUM>, if damaged or broken.

Laterally paired bushes <NUM> made of a resin material are fitted to a portion of the coupling member <NUM> at which the spindle <NUM> is inserted through. When the spindle <NUM> is inserted through a hole formed in the coupling member <NUM> made of a metallic material, for example, stainless steel, the edge of this hole may possibly bite directly into and damage or break the spindle <NUM>. The bushes <NUM> are intended to avoid such damage or breakage of the spindle <NUM>. The bushes <NUM> may instead be integral with the coupling member.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the fastening unit 20a is equipped with a fulcrum bracket <NUM> and an operation lever <NUM>. The fulcrum bracket <NUM> is coupled with bolts to the lower surface of the support plate 14c. The operation lever <NUM> is pivotally coupled to the fulcrum bracket <NUM> so as to vertically rotate around a laterally extending fulcrum "p". The operation lever <NUM> has, at a longitudinally intermediate portion thereof, a spindle <NUM> disposed in a rotatable manner. A fastening rod <NUM> is coupleably threaded orthogonally into a center part of the support shaft <NUM> so as to extend forward. A front end part of the fastening rod <NUM> is coupleably threaded into the coupling member <NUM> mounted to the movable coupling plate <NUM> through the spindle <NUM>.

The fastening rod <NUM> has, at its both ends, threads formed in reverse directions. The thread formed at one end is a left-hand thread, while the thread formed in the other is a right-hand thread. The distance between the coupling member <NUM> and the spindle <NUM> may be finely adjusted by rotating the fastening <NUM> forward and backward.

A mounting plate <NUM> made of a thick plate material is horizontally coupled, with a pair of screws <NUM>, securely to the vibratory head 15a of the vibration mechanism <NUM>. The mounting plate <NUM> has a circular mounting portion 41a and a rectangular, engageable coupling portion 41b extending forward from this mounting portion. A coupling pin <NUM> with a diametrically large head 43a is securely welded to the mounting portion 41a of the mounting plate <NUM>. The coupling pin <NUM> is standing upright from the center of the mounting portion 41a. The diametrically large head 43a of the coupling pin <NUM> has a reversed umbrella-like shape with a wedge inclined surface "t" directed outward and downward.

The engageable coupling portion 41b has a rectangular engaging hole <NUM> and a long hole <NUM>. The engaging hole <NUM> is so shaped that can correspond to the trough-side engagement hook <NUM>. The long hole <NUM> is so shaped that can correspond to the trough-side engagement pin <NUM>.

The mounting plate <NUM> is fastened, with the circular support plate <NUM> disposed therebelow, to the vibratory head 15a and thereby securely coupled to this head. The support plate <NUM> has an annular groove <NUM>, and the upper opening edge of a waterproof bellows <NUM> is supportably fitted into this annular groove. The lower opening edge of the waterproof bellows <NUM> is water-tightly fitted into and supported by the peripheral edge of an opening for head insertion formed in the upper surface of the center base <NUM>. The waterproof bellows <NUM> may successfully prevent the inflow of cleaning water into the center base <NUM> during cleaning of the removed trough <NUM>.

The trough <NUM> is securely coupled to the vibration mechanism <NUM> using the attach-detach mechanism <NUM>, steps of which are hereinafter described in detail.

First, the operation lever <NUM> of the fastening unit 20a is rotated downward through a large angle, as illustrated in <FIG>, so that the movable coupling plate <NUM> slides and moves forward. Then, the trough <NUM> is moved to an upper position of the vibratory head 15a.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the trough <NUM> is mounted to the vibratory head 15a, the engagement hook <NUM> is inserted into the engagement hole <NUM>, and the engagement pin <NUM> is engaged with the front part of the long hole <NUM>. At the time, the coupling pin <NUM> is inserted into a diametrically large portion of the engagement hole <NUM> formed in the movable coupling plate <NUM>.

Next, the trough <NUM> mounted to the vibratory head 15a is slightly moved forward to push an inner portion of the engagement hook <NUM> against the front edge of the engagement hole <NUM>. Then, the operation lever <NUM> is rotated upward, as illustrated in <FIG>. This upward rotation of the operation lever <NUM> moves the spindle <NUM> backward, inviting the movable coupling plate <NUM> to slide and move backward.

By the time when the shaft center of the spindle <NUM> moves upward beyond a dead point "d" passing through the level fulcrum "p" and shaft center "q", the coupling plate <NUM> moves backward. Then, a diametrically small portion of the engagement hole <NUM> is caught by the diametrically large head of the coupling pin <NUM>. As a result, the upward wedge inclined surface "s" of the engagement hole <NUM> is engaged with the downward wedge inclined surface "t" of the diametrically large head <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>.

When the operation lever <NUM> is rotated hard further upward, the spindle <NUM> is deterred from moving backward by the engagement of the coupling pin <NUM> with the engagement hole <NUM>. Then, the spindle <NUM> is further displaced backward, and the fastening rod <NUM> is pulled hard backward. This force generated backward acts on the center portion of the spindle <NUM> through the coupling member <NUM>, causing the spindle <NUM> to elastically deform backward.

Once the shaft center "q" of the spindle <NUM> arrives at the dead point "d" passing through the lever fulcrum "p" and the shaft center "q" of the spindle <NUM>, the spindle <NUM> is deformed to the maximum.

When the upper end side of the operation lever <NUM> reaches an upper limit of rotation at which contact is made with the bottom surface of the fulcrum bracket <NUM>, the shaft center of the spindle <NUM> is at a position slightly past the dead point "p" in the upper direction. At the time, the spindle <NUM> is slightly warping. The elastic restoration force exerted then pulls the movable coupling plate <NUM> forward and pushes the coupling plate <NUM> forward. Thus, the engaging hook <NUM> may be firmly engaged with the engagement hole <NUM>. Further, a wedging action is exerted by the engaged wedge inclined surfaces "s" and "t" of the engagement hole <NUM> and of the coupling pint <NUM>. This wedging action pushes the movable coupling plate <NUM> against the vibratory head 15a, as a result of which the coupling plate <NUM> is pushed against and engaged with the mounting plate <NUM> of the vibratory head 15a.

Thus, the whole trough <NUM> may be accurately located at a given position relative to the vibratory head 15a and firmly secured by fastening.

By reversing the steps described so far, the trough <NUM> may be readily removed from the vibratory head 15a. Then, the trough <NUM> and the vibratory head 15a exposed out of the center base <NUM> may be both easily cleaned.

Cleaning water is flashed against the trough <NUM> that has been removed while, at the same time, sliding and moving the movable coupling plate <NUM> forward and backward by rotating the operation lever <NUM> forward and backward. Thus, any unwanted material adhered to the trough <NUM> may be easily cleaned off.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the trough-removed vibratory head 15a is substantially flat except the engagement hole <NUM> and the long hole <NUM> formed in the mounting plate <NUM> and the coupling pin <NUM> sticking out from this mounting plate. Any broken pieces or scraps of the articles, if adhered to the mounting plate <NUM>, may be easily cleaned off.

According to this embodiment, any error generated in the production or assembling of parts may be absorbed by the elastic deformation of the spindle <NUM>. Conventionally, the linear feeders <NUM> of the combination scale may have to be adjusted, one by one, to gain an equal fastening strength and accuracy. This embodiment, however, may dispense with such a time-consuming labor.

The elasticity of the spindle <NUM> may change with time due to, for example, abrasion, resulting in a poor fastening strength. The degree of fastening strength, however, may be adjusted and regained by rotating the fastening rod <NUM>. The spindle <NUM> may significantly degrade in elasticity or break in part or in whole. Yet, the spindle <NUM> may be easily removed and replaced with a new one by simply pulling the bearing members <NUM> outward from the shaft struts <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An article transport feeder, comprising:
an article transporter used to put in and transport an article, the article transporter being removably attachable to a vibratory head (15a) of a vibration mechanism (<NUM>);
a fastening unit (20a) comprising an operation lever (<NUM>), the fastening unit (20a) rotating the operation lever (<NUM>) to retainably engage the article transporter with the vibratory head (15a) by fastening;
characterized in that the article transport feeder further comprises a movable coupling member (<NUM>) comprising a spindle (<NUM>) elastically deformable, the movable coupling member (<NUM>) being coupleable to the fastening unit (20a) and allowed to move along with the rotation of the operation lever (<NUM>),
the spindle (<NUM>) being elastically deformable by moving the movable coupling member (<NUM>) along with the rotation of the operation lever (<NUM>) of the fastening unit (20a) to elastically retain the engagement of the article transporter with the vibratory head (15a).