Combination measuring device with hoppers having an arcuate arrangement

This national phase application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-107499 filed on Apr. 17, 2008 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-108419 filed on Apr. 18, 2008. The entire disclosures of Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2008-107499 and 2008-108419 are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates to a combination measuring device.

An example of a combination measuring device relating to background art is disclosed in Japanese Examined Utility Model Application Publication No. 4-41304. The combination measuring device comprises a dispersing table; fourteen feed troughs arranged at regular intervals on a circle surrounding the dispersing table; fourteen pool hoppers, which being respectively provided below distal end portions of the feed troughs; and fourteen measuring hoppers, which being respectively provided below the pool hoppers. In other words, the combination measuring device is one that comprises fourteen heads.

A method for modifying the combination measuring device comprising fourteen heads, disclosed in Japanese Examined Utility Model Application Publication no. 4-41304, into one comprising, for example, nine heads, is examined. In such an instance, the simplest modification would be to provide nine feed troughs at regular intervals along the whole of the circle surrounding the dispersing table.

However, simply reducing the number of feed troughs from fourteen to nine would result in a gap between adjacent feed troughs. Therefore, in order to fill the gap between each of the adjacent feed troughs, it is necessary to increase the width of each of the feed troughs (“trough width” hereafter). However, in an instance where the trough width exceeds an optimum width, articles disperse excessively within the feed trough, causing a decrease in the efficiency of conveyance of the articles by the feed trough. As a result, the stability of the supply of the articles from the feed trough to the pool hopper is compromised.

It is also possible to reduce the diameter of the dispersing table, instead of increasing the trough width, to fill the gap between adjacent feed troughs. However, in such an instance, the upper area of the dispersing table decreases with the reduction in the diameter, and the function of the dispersing table of accumulating the articles therefore decreases. As a result, the stability of the supply of the articles from the dispersing table to the feed trough, and the stability of the supply of the articles from the feed trough to the pool hopper, are compromised.

With the above-mentioned circumstances in view, an object of the present invention is to obtain a combination measuring device that neither requires an increase in the trough width nor a reduction in the diameter of the dispersing table, thereby making it possible to prevent the stability of the supply of the articles to each of the hoppers in a plurality of heads from being compromised.

A combination measuring device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a combination measuring unit. The combination measuring unit has a dispersing section configured and arranged to radially disperse articles loaded thereinto from above, a plurality of head sections configured and arranged to receive the articles from the dispersing section with each of the head sections having a hopper to hold the articles therein, and an assembling section configured and arranged to assemble the articles, which are contained in one or more of the hoppers selected according to a target weight. The head sections are arranged on a line formed by cutting away a circular arc from a circle surrounding the dispersing section.

According to the combination measuring unit in the combination measuring device of the first aspect, the heads are arranged on the line formed by cutting away a circular arc from the circle, which has the circular arc as a part thereof, surrounding the dispersing section. Therefore, in comparison to a combination measuring unit in which the same number of heads are arranged along the whole of the circle surrounding the dispersing section, the heads can be provided in close proximity to each other. Therefore, there is no need to increase the trough width in order to fill the gap between adjacent troughs, making it possible to use troughs having an optimum trough width. As a result, it is possible to prevent the efficiency of conveyance of the articles by the trough from decreasing. Also, there is no need to reduce the diameter of the dispersing section in order to fill the gap between adjacent troughs, making it possible to prevent the function of the dispersing section of accumulating the articles from decreasing. As a result, according to the combination measuring device according to the first aspect, it is possible to achieve stable supply of the articles into the hoppers.

The combination measuring device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the combination measuring device according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the at least one combination measuring unit includes a plurality of the combination measuring units. The combination measuring units are connected so that regions corresponding to the circular arcs face each other.

According to the combination measuring device of the second aspect, a plurality of the combination measuring units are connected so that respective portions corresponding to the circular arcs, which do not face the heads, face each other. Therefore, it becomes possible to reduce the overall area on which the device is installed in comparison with an instance in which a plurality of combination measuring units are arranged individually in a row without being connected. In other words, it becomes possible to effectively utilize dead spaces on which the heads are not provided, while reducing the area on which the device is installed.

The combination measuring device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the combination measuring device according to the second aspect, wherein in each of the combination measuring units, the assembly section has an ejecting outlet via which the article are ejected to the exterior of the combination measuring unit, and the ejecting outlet is positioned at substantially a center of the circle.

According to the combination measuring device of the third aspect, in each of the combined measuring units, the ejecting outlet for ejecting the articles is positioned at substantially a center of the circle along which the plurality of hoppers are arranged. Therefore, in each of the combined measuring units, the distances between each of the hoppers and the ejecting outlet are substantially equal. Therefore, it becomes possible to substantially equalize, in the hoppers, the time required for an article ejected by the hopper to reach the ejecting outlet, and the falling velocity of the article upon reaching the ejecting outlet. Consequently, the processing speed of the combined measuring device can be prevented from being diminished as a result of any variation in the required time or the fall velocity.

A combination measuring device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the combination measuring device according to the second or third aspects, wherein in each of the combination measuring units, a part of an outer peripheral region of the dispersing section is designated as a non-ejecting region in which articles are not ejected, and the non-ejecting region includes a route for carrying the articles from a vicinity of one of the head sections that is adjacent to one end of the non-ejecting region to a vicinity of one of the head sections that is adjacent to the other end of the non-ejecting region.

According to the combination measuring device of the fourth aspect, a route for carrying the articles from the vicinity of a head adjacent to one end of the non-ejecting region to the vicinity of a head adjacent to the other end of the non-ejecting region is provided to the non-ejecting region of the dispersing section. Therefore, it becomes possible to effectively utilize the non-ejecting region, which represents a dead space, while effectively preventing excessive supply of articles to the head adjacent to one end as well as a shortfall in supply of articles to the head adjacent to the other end.

A combination measuring device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the combination measuring device according to any of the first through fourth aspects, wherein a part of an outer peripheral region of the dispersing section is designated as a non-ejecting region in which the articles are not ejected. The dispersing section includes a first path, along a radial direction of the dispersing section, for channeling the articles from a center section of the dispersing section toward a vicinity of one of the head sections, and a second path, along a circumferential direction of the dispersing section, for channeling the articles from the non-ejecting region towards the vicinity of the one of the head sections. The one of the head sections is adjacent to the non-ejecting region.

According to the combination measuring device of the fifth aspect, a region forming part of the dispersing section is designated as a non-ejecting region in which the articles are not ejected from the dispersing section. In addition to a first path for carrying the articles towards the vicinity of the first head that is adjacent to the non-ejecting region, where there is likely to be a shortfall in the amount of articles supplied from the dispersing section, there is also provided a second path. Therefore, more articles can be supplied to the first head compared to a device in which only the first path is provided. As a result, it becomes possible to prevent the amount of articles supplied from the dispersing section from deviating significantly from an appropriate level in the first head.

A combination measuring device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is a combination measuring device according to any of the first through fourth aspects, wherein a part of an outer peripheral region of the dispersing section is designated as a non-ejecting region in which the articles are not ejected. The dispersing section includes a path for channeling, towards the non-ejecting region, the articles that were carried on the dispersing section towards a vicinity of one of the head sections adjacent to the non-ejecting region but that was not supplied to the second head.

According to the combination measuring device of the sixth aspect, a region forming part of the dispersing section is designated as a non-ejecting region in which articles are not ejected from the dispersing section. There is provided a path for ejecting, towards the non-ejecting region, articles that were carried on the dispersing section towards the vicinity of the second head that is adjacent to the non-ejecting region, where there is likely to be an excess in the amount of articles supplied from the dispersing section, but not supplied to the second head. Therefore, the device makes it possible to reduce the degree by which the amount of articles supplied from the dispersing section to the second head becomes excessive, compared to a device that does not have such a path. As a result, it becomes possible to prevent the amount of articles supplied from the dispersing section from deviating significantly from an appropriate level in the second head.

A combination measuring device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is a combination measuring device according to any of the fourth through sixth aspects, wherein the non-ejecting region faces a region corresponding to the circular arc.

According to the present invention, there is no need to increase the trough width or reduce the diameter of the dispersing section, and it therefore becomes possible to prevent the stability of supply of articles to each of the hoppers in a plurality of heads from being compromised.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a combination measuring device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view showing the combination measuring device viewed from the direction of arrow X 1 shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the combination measuring device viewed from the direction of arrow X 2 shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the combination measuring device viewed from the direction of arrow X 3 shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 5 is a top view showing, in isolation, one of the combination measuring units shown in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view showing a configuration of a head section.

FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating a positional relationship between an article-ejecting outlet and a head section.

FIG. 8 is a drawing illustrating a positional relationship between an article-ejecting outlet and a pool hopper.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a dispersing table.

FIG. 10 is a top view showing the dispersing table viewed from the direction of arrow Z 1 shown in FIG. 9 .

FIG. 11 is a side view showing the dispersing table viewed from the direction of arrow Z 2 shown in FIG. 9 .

FIG. 12 is a rear view showing the dispersing table viewed from the direction of arrow Z 3 shown in FIG. 9 .

FIG. 13 is a drawing showing a flow of articles on the dispersing table.

FIG. 14 is a drawing showing a part of FIG. 13 as an enlargement.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Elements affixed with identical labels on different drawings represent elements that are identical or equivalent.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a combination measuring device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a top view showing the combination measuring device 1 viewed from the direction of arrow X 1 shown in FIG. 1 ; FIG. 3 is a front view showing the combination measuring device 1 viewed from the direction of arrow X 2 shown in FIG. 1 ; and FIG. 4 is a side view showing the combination measuring device 1 viewed from the direction of arrow X 3 shown in FIG. 1 .

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 , the combination measuring device 1 comprises a combination measuring unit 1 A and a combination measuring unit 1 B. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the combination measuring unit 1 A has a dispersing table 2 A, and the combination measuring unit 1 B has a dispersing table 2 B. The dispersing table 2 A is provided at a center (including substantially the center) of a main unit body of the combination measuring unit 1 A, and the dispersing table 2 B is provided at a center (including substantially the center) of a main unit body of the combination measuring unit 1 B. As shown in FIG. 2 , the combination measuring unit 1 A has a plurality (nine in the present example) of head sections or heads HA 1 through HA 9 . Similarly, the combination measuring unit 1 B has a plurality (nine in the present example) of head sections or heads HB 1 through HB 9 . In other words, each of the combination measuring units 1 A, 1 B is a combination measuring unit comprising 9 head sections.

FIG. 5 is a top view showing, in isolation, the combination measuring unit 1 A shown in FIG. 2 . The heads HA 1 through HA 9 are provided in a row on a circle 50 surrounding the dispersing table 2 A. The circle 50 may not necessarily be a true circle, but may also be an ellipse approximating a true circle. In the present embodiment, a maximum of fourteen heads may be arranged in a row on the circle 50 ; however, in the present example, five of the fourteen heads in a region correspond to a circular arc region 51 forming part of the circle 50 have been removed (in other words, the five heads are not provided). The heads HA 1 through HA 9 are provided in close proximity to each other on a region on the circle 50 other than the circular arc region 51 (in other words, the heads HA 1 through HA 9 are arranged on a line formed by cutting away the circular arc region 51 from the circle 50 , which has the circular arc region 51 as a part thereof, so as to trace the line). The number of heads to be removed is not limited to five as described above; one or more heads may be removed as desired.

With reference to FIG. 2 , in the combination measuring unit 1 B, as with the combination measuring unit 1 A, the heads HB 1 through HB 9 are provided in a row on a circle surrounding the dispersing table 2 B, and five of the maximum fourteen heads have been removed. The combination measuring unit 1 A and the combination measuring unit 1 B are connected to each other in an orientation in which each of the respective regions from which the heads are removed are facing each other and the regions are shared between the combination measuring units 1 A and 1 B. In other words, the combination measuring unit 1 A and the combination measuring unit 1 B are connected to each other in an orientation in which a portion corresponding to the circular arc region 51 of the combination measuring unit 1 A and a portion corresponding to the circular arc region of the combination measuring unit 1 B face each other.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view showing a configuration of the head HA 5 . The head HAS (head section) comprises a trough 3 A 5 , a pool hopper 4 A 5 , a measurement hopper 5 A 5 , and a storage hopper 6 A 5 . The measurement hopper 5 A 5 is connected to a load cell or another measuring section 8 A 5 . A lower end portion of the storage hopper 6 A 5 extends up to an upper region of an open upper surface 7 AU of an assembling chute 7 A. An article-ejecting outlet 7 AL is formed on a bottom portion of the assembling chute 7 A.

Although not shown, each of the other heads HA 1 through HA 4 and HA 6 through HA 9 has a similar configuration to that of the head HA 5 . Hereafter, troughs 3 A 1 through 3 A 9 , pool hoppers 4 A 1 through 4 A 9 , measurement hoppers 5 A 1 through 5 A 9 , storage hoppers 6 A 1 through 6 A 9 , and measuring sections 8 A 1 through 8 A 9 , each provided to the heads HA 1 through HA 9 , are respectively also referred to as troughs 3 A, pool hoppers 4 A, measurement hoppers 5 A, storage hoppers 6 A, and measuring sections 8 A.

FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating a positional relationship between article-ejecting outlets 7 AL, 7 BL and the heads HA 1 through HA 9 and HB 1 through HB 9 . FIG. 7A is a top view showing a part of a structure on an upper surface of the combination measuring device 1 in isolation, FIG. 7B is a front view corresponding to FIG. 7A , and FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view relating to a position along line Y-Y in FIG. 7B .

With reference to FIG. 7C , in the combination measuring unit 1 A, the article-ejecting outlet 7 AL is positioned at a center (including the vicinity of the center), as viewed from above, of a circle on which the storage hoppers 6 A 1 through 6 A 9 are arranged. Accordingly, the distances between the article-ejecting outlet 7 AL and each respective lower end of each of the storage hoppers 6 A 1 through 6 A 9 are equal.

FIG. 8 is a drawing illustrating a positional relationship between the article-ejecting outlet 7 AL and the pool hoppers 4 A 1 through 4 A 9 . In the combination measuring unit 1 A, the article-ejecting outlet 7 AL is positioned at a center (including the vicinity of the center), as viewed from above, of the circle 50 on which the pool hoppers 4 A 1 through 4 A 9 (or measurement hoppers 5 A 1 to 5 A 9 ) are arranged. Similarly, in combination measuring unit 1 B, the article-ejecting outlet 7 BL is positioned at a center (including a region in the vicinity of the center), as viewed from above, of a circle on which the pool hoppers (or the measurement hoppers) of each of the heads HB 1 through HB 9 are arranged, although not shown.

With reference to FIGS. 7B and 7C , in the combination measuring unit 1 B, assembling chutes 6 B 1 through 6 B 3 are provided instead of the storage hoppers 6 A 1 through 6 A 9 in the combination measuring unit 1 A. The assembling chute 6 B 1 assembles articles ejected from each of the measurement hoppers of the heads HB 1 , HB 2 , and supplies the articles to an assembling chute 7 B. The assembling chute 6 B 2 assembles articles ejected from each of the measurement hoppers of the heads HB 3 through HB 7 , and supplies the articles to an assembling chute 7 B. The assembling chute 6 B 3 assembles articles ejected from each of the measurement hoppers of the heads HB 8 and HB 9 , and supplies the articles to an assembling chute 7 B. With reference to FIG. 7C , in the combination measuring unit 1 B, the article-ejecting outlet 7 BL is positioned at a center (including the vicinity of the center) of a circle on which the assembling chutes 6 B 1 through 6 B 3 are arranged. Accordingly, the distances between the article-ejecting outlet 7 BL and each respective lower end of each of the assembling chutes 6 B 1 through 6 B 3 are equal. An individual chute provided to each of the heads HB 1 through HB 9 may be used instead of the assembling chutes 6 B 1 through 6 B 3 . Storage hoppers may be used instead of the assembling chutes 6 B 1 through 6 B 3 or the individual chutes, as with the combination measuring unit 1 A.

An operation of the combination measuring unit 1 A will now be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 . Food or other articles to be measured are loaded by being dropped onto a center portion of an upper surface of the dispersing table 2 A from above the dispersing table 2 A. The articles loaded onto the dispersing table 2 A are radially dispersed by the dispersing table 2 A, ejected from an outer peripheral edge of the dispersing table 2 A, and supplied to an inner end portion of each of the troughs 3 A of the heads HA 1 through HA 9 . The troughs 3 A carry the articles supplied from the dispersing table 2 A from an inner side towards an outer side by vibration. The articles ejected from an outer end portion of the troughs 3 A are supplied to the pool hoppers 4 A and temporarily stored in the pool hoppers 4 A. The articles ejected from the pool hoppers 4 A are supplied to the measurement hoppers 5 A. The articles are temporarily stored in the measurement hoppers 5 A while being weighed by the measuring sections 8 A. The articles ejected from the measurement hoppers 5 A are supplied to the storage hoppers 6 A, linked to the corresponding measurement value, and temporarily stored in the storage hoppers 6 A. A combination of hoppers that would result in a weight that is equal to or nearest to a target weight is computationally obtained from all storage hoppers 6 A (and measurement hoppers 5 A) storing the articles, and the articles are ejected from the one or more hoppers that have been selected. The articles ejected from the storage hoppers 6 A are supplied to the assembling chute 7 A, assembled by the assembling chute 7 A, and ejected from the article-ejecting outlet 7 AL on the bottom portion of the assembling chute 7 A towards a device further downstream (such as a packaging device). A timing hopper for synchronizing with an operation of the device further downstream may be provided between the assembling chute 7 A and the device further downstream.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a configuration of the dispersing table 2 A. FIG. 10 is a top view showing the dispersing table 2 A viewed from the direction of arrow Z 1 shown in FIG. 9 ; FIG. 11 is a side view showing the dispersing table 2 A viewed from the direction of arrow Z 2 shown in FIG. 9 ; and FIG. 12 is a rear view showing the dispersing table 2 A viewed from the direction of arrow Z 3 shown in FIG. 9 .

As shown in FIGS. 9 through 12 , the dispersing table 2 A has a conical inclined surface 2 A 1 having a high center portion and a low peripheral portion, and a horizontal surface 2 A 2 formed so as to surround the inclined surface 2 A 1 . An inner circumference of the horizontal surface 2 A 2 is connected to an outer circumference of the inclined surface 2 A 1 . A wall member 2 A 3 is mounted on a region forming part of an outer circumference of the horizontal surface 2 A 2 . A back surface of the wall member 2 A 3 and a reverse surface of the horizontal surface 2 A 2 are secured to each other by a brace 2 A 5 . An end portion 2 A 4 of the wall member 2 A 3 is angled outwards so as to prevent the end portion 2 A 4 from catching on the articles or damaging the articles due to a collision or a similar event. Mounting the wall member 2 A 3 on a region forming part of the outer circumference of the horizontal surface 2 A 2 results in the region being designated as a non-ejecting region 100 in which the articles are not ejected from the dispersing table 2 A. As shown in FIG. 1 , the non-ejecting region 100 of the dispersing table 2 A matches a region from which the heads are removed. Although not shown, the dispersing table 2 B has a structure that is similar to that of the dispersing table 2 A. Although FIGS. 9 through 12 show an example of a type of dispersing table in which an upper surface comprises the inclined surface and the horizontal surface, the dispersing table may instead be of a type in which an upper surface comprises an inclined surface only, without the presence of a horizontal surface. The dispersing table may also be of a type in which an upper surface comprises a horizontal surface only, without the presence of an inclined surface.

FIG. 13 is a drawing showing a flow of articles on the dispersing table 2 A. The dispersing table 2 A is caused to vibrate in the circumferential direction, thereby causing the articles to radially disperse while moving in a counterclockwise direction (i.e., moving in a rotary manner) on the dispersing table 2 A as shown by arrows on FIG. 13 , and the articles to be supplied to each of the heads HA 1 through HA 9 . In the non-ejecting region 100 on which the wall member 2 A 3 is formed, the articles are not ejected from atop the dispersing table 2 A.

A portion of the horizontal surface 2 A 2 along the wall member 2 A 3 (and inclined surface 2 A 1 ) functions as a path for supplying (i.e., circulating) the articles from the vicinity of the head HA 9 to the vicinity of the head HA 1 . Specifically, articles are carried from the inclined surface 2 A 1 and the vicinity of the head HA 8 further upstream to the vicinity of the head HA 9 , which is the most downstream-positioned, in the direction of the rotary motion, of the heads HA 1 through HA 9 . Of the articles carried to the vicinity of the head HA 9 , excess articles that were carried to the vicinity of the HA 9 but not supplied to the trough 3 A 9 of the head HA 9 move in a rotary manner on the dispersing table 2 A along the wall member 2 A 3 . Articles that moved from the inclined surface 2 A 1 towards the wall member 2 A 3 also move in a rotary manner on the dispersing table 2 A along the wall member 2 A 3 . All or part of the articles that have moved through the non-ejecting region 100 along the wall member 2 A 3 are supplied to the trough 3 A 1 of the head HA 1 , which is positioned the furthest upstream in the direction of the rotary motion.

A flow of articles carried in the vicinity of the non-ejecting region 100 of the dispersing table 2 A will now be described in detail with reference to FIG. 14 .

FIG. 14 is a drawing showing a part of FIG. 13 as an enlargement. A part of the outer peripheral region of the dispersing table 2 A (i.e., a region along the wall member 2 A 3 ) is designated as the non-ejecting region 100 .

An article supply path P 1 and an article supply path P 2 are provided as paths for articles moving towards the vicinity of the head HA 9 , which is adjacent to the non-ejecting region 100 on the upstream side of the non-ejecting region 100 in the direction of the rotary motion. The article supply path P 1 is a path from a region where the articles are loaded at a center portion of the dispersing table 2 A towards the vicinity of the trough 3 A 9 of the head HA 9 along a radial direction of the dispersing table 2 A (strictly speaking, the path curves due to rotation). The article supply path P 2 is a path from the upstream area of the head HA 9 in the direction of the rotary motion towards the vicinity of the trough 3 A 9 of the head HA 9 along a circumferential direction of the dispersing table 2 A. There is also provided, on the dispersing table 2 A, an article ejecting path P 3 for ejecting excess articles that were carried on the dispersing table 2 A to the vicinity of the HA 9 (i.e., along the article supply paths P 1 , P 2 ), but not supplied to the trough 3 A 9 of the head HA 9 , towards the non-ejecting region 100 . In other words, the article ejecting path P 3 is a path for carrying articles from the vicinity of the head HA 9 , which is positioned the furthest downstream in the direction of the rotary motion.

An article supply path Q 1 and an article supply path Q 2 are provided as paths for articles moving towards the vicinity of the head HA 1 , which is adjacent to the non-ejecting region 100 on the downstream side of the non-ejecting region 100 in the direction of the rotary motion. The article supply path Q 1 is a path from a region where the articles are loaded at a center portion of the dispersing table 2 A towards the vicinity of the trough 3 A 1 of the head HA 1 along a radial direction of the dispersing table 2 A (strictly speaking, the path curves due to rotation). The article supply path Q 2 is a path from the non-ejecting region 100 on the upstream area of the head HA 1 in the direction of the rotary motion towards the vicinity of the trough 3 A 1 of the head HA 1 along a circumferential direction of the dispersing table 2 A. In other words, the article supply path Q 2 is a path for carrying the articles towards the vicinity of the head HA 1 , which is positioned the furthest upstream in the direction of the rotary motion. The article ejecting path P 3 for ejecting articles from the vicinity of the head HA 9 and the article supply path Q 2 for supplying articles towards the vicinity of the head HA 1 impart the non-ejecting region 100 with a function of a path for circulating the articles from the vicinity of the head HA 9 to the vicinity of the head HA 1 .

Although not shown in FIG. 14 , excess articles that have been carried on the dispersing table 2 A to the vicinity of the HA 1 (i.e., along the article supply paths Q 1 , Q 2 ), but not supplied to the trough 3 A 1 of the head HA 1 , flow on the dispersing table 2 A downstream in the direction of the rotary motion.

While FIGS. 13 and 14 are used to describe the dispersing table 2 A, the dispersing table 2 B operates in a similar manner.

(1) According to the combination measuring units 1 A, 1 B according to the present embodiment, the heads HA 1 through HA 9 and HB 1 through HB 9 are arranged on a line formed by cutting away the circular arc region 51 from the circle 50 , which has the circular arc region as a part thereof, surrounding the dispersing tables 2 A, 2 B, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 . Therefore, in comparison to a unit in which the same number of heads are arranged in a row along the whole of the circle surrounding the dispersing tables 2 A, 2 B, the heads HA 1 through HA 9 and HB 1 through HB 9 can be provided in close proximity to each other. Therefore, there is no need to increase the trough width in order to fill the gap between adjacent troughs, making it possible to use troughs having an optimum trough width. As a result, it is possible to prevent the efficiency of conveyance of the articles by the trough from decreasing. Also, there is no need to reduce the diameter of the dispersing tables 2 A, 2 B in order to fill the gap between adjacent troughs, making it possible to prevent the function of the dispersing tables 2 A, 2 B of accumulating the articles from decreasing. As a result, according to the combination measuring unit 1 A, 1 B according to the present embodiment, it is possible to achieve stable supply of the articles into the pool hoppers or measurement hoppers.

(2) According to the combination measuring device 1 according to the present embodiment, a plurality of the combination measuring units 1 A, 1 B are connected so that respective portions corresponding to the circular arcs, which does not face the heads HA 1 through HA 9 and HB 1 through HB 9 , face each other, as shown in FIG. 2 . Therefore, it becomes possible to reduce the overall area on which the device is installed in comparison with an instance in which a plurality of combination measuring units 1 A, 1 B are arranged individually in a row without being connected. In other words, it becomes possible to effectively utilize dead spaces on which the heads are not provided, while reducing the area on which the device is installed.

(3) According to the combination measuring device 1 according to the present embodiment, in each of the combined measuring units 1 A, 1 B, each of the article-ejecting outlets 7 AL, 7 BL is positioned at a center of the circle 50 along which the pool hoppers and the measurement hoppers are arranged, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 . Therefore, in each of the combined measuring units 1 A, 1 B, the distances between each of the hoppers and the article ejecting outlet 7 AL, 7 BL are equal. Therefore, it becomes possible to equalize, in the hoppers, the time required for an article ejected by the hopper to reach the article ejecting outlet 7 AL, 7 BL, and the falling velocity of the article upon reaching the article ejecting outlet 7 AL, 7 BL. Consequently, the processing speed of each of the combination measuring units 1 A, 1 B can be prevented from being diminished as a result of any variation in the required time or the fall velocity.

(4) According to the combination measuring unit 1 A, 1 B according to the present embodiment,

in the combination measuring unit 1 A, as shown in FIG. 13 , a route for carrying the articles from the vicinity of the head HA 9 adjacent to one end of the non-ejecting region 100 to the vicinity of the head HA 1 adjacent to the other end of the non-ejecting region 100 is provided to the non-ejecting region 100 of the dispersing table 2 A. Therefore, it becomes possible to effectively utilize the non-ejecting region 100 , which represents a dead space, while effectively preventing excessive supply of articles to the head HA 9 adjacent to one end as well as a shortfall in supply of articles to the head HA 1 adjacent to the other end. The above is also true for the combination measuring unit 1 B.

(5) In the combination measuring device according to prior art, articles to be measured are loaded, by being dropped, onto a dispersing table from above a main device body. A plurality of feed troughs are arranged in a row in a circle surrounding the dispersing table. The articles loaded onto the dispersing table are radially dispersed by the dispersing table and fed into the feed troughs. The dispersing table is made to vibrate in a circumferential direction of the dispersing table, thereby scattering the articles as they move over the dispersing table in a diagonally downward direction with a center of rotation located at a center of the dispersing table, and feeding the articles into the feed troughs.

A pool hopper is provided under a distal end portion of each of the feed troughs. The articles carried by the feed trough are fed into and stored in the pool hopper. A measurement hopper is provided under the pool hopper. The articles ejected from the pool hopper are fed into the measurement hopper and weighed. An assembling chute is provided under the measurement hopper. A combination of one or more measurement hoppers that result in a measurement value that is equal to or nearest to a target value is selected from all measurement hoppers. The articles ejected from the selected measurement hoppers are assembled by the assembling chute and ejected to the exterior of the device.

As disclosed in Japanese Examined Utility Model Application Publication 4-41304, one combination measuring device may be used to perform measurements on two types of articles. In such an instance, an upper surface of one dispersing table is divided by a partition into two sections, and different types of articles are loaded into each of the sections.

In a feed trough that is adjacent to the partition in a direction downstream in the direction of movement of the articles, there is likely to be an excess in the amount of articles supplied from the dispersing table. Meanwhile, in a feed trough that is adjacent to the partition in a direction upstream of the direction of movement of the articles, there is likely to be a shortfall in the amount of articles supplied from the dispersing table. Therefore, it is difficult to supply an appropriate amount of articles into measurement hoppers that correspond to such feed troughs.

However, according to the combination measuring device 1 of the present embodiment, the amount of articles supplied from the dispersing table to the feed trough can be prevented from deviating significantly from an appropriate level in a specific head.

More specifically, according to the combination measuring unit 1 A according to the present embodiment, a region forming part of the dispersing table 2 A is designated as a non-ejecting region 100 in which the articles are not ejected from the dispersing table 2 A. In addition to the article supply path Q 1 for carrying the articles towards the vicinity of the head HA 1 , the article supply path Q 2 is also provided. The head HA 1 is a head that is adjacent to the non-ejecting region 100 in a direction upstream in the direction of movement of the articles, where there is likely to be a shortfall in the amount of articles supplied from the dispersing section. Therefore, more articles can be supplied to the head HA 1 than in a device in which only the article supply path Q 1 is provided. As a result, it becomes possible to prevent the amount of articles supplied from the dispersing table 2 A to the trough 3 A 1 from deviating significantly from an appropriate level. The above is also true for the combination measuring unit 1 B.

According to the combination measuring unit 1 A according to the present embodiment, a region forming part of the dispersing table 2 A is designated as a non-ejecting region 100 in which articles are not ejected from the dispersing table 2 A. There is provided an article ejecting path P 3 for ejecting, towards the non-ejecting region 100 , excess articles that have been carried on the dispersing table 2 A to the vicinity of the HA 9 , but not supplied to the head HA 9 . The head HA 9 is a head that is adjacent to the non-ejecting region 100 in a direction downstream in the direction of movement of the articles, where there is likely to be an excess in the amount of articles supplied from the dispersing table 2 A. Therefore, it becomes possible to reduce the degree by which the amount of articles supplied from the dispersing table 2 A to the head HA 9 becomes excessive, compared to a device that does not have the article ejecting path P 3 . As a result, it becomes possible to prevent the amount of articles supplied from the dispersing table 2 A to the trough 3 A 9 from deviating significantly from an appropriate level. The above is also true for the combination measuring unit 1 B.