阅读说明：本技术 异物除去方法以及分类系统 (Foreign matter removing method and sorting system ) 是由 河津祐介 难波谅 野濑诚 藤冈俊文 物部浩之 于 2019-09-05 设计创作，主要内容包括：提供一种经济的聚合物的制造技术,其能够可靠地检测异物、可靠地分类为产品和非标准品、并且生产损失少。一种异物除去方法,其中,该异物除去方法具备：连续地供给经聚合并脱水干燥后的碎屑状聚合物的工序；检测上述碎屑状聚合物内的异物的工序；测量与捆包相当的碎屑状聚合物的重量的工序；对捆包相当重量的碎屑状聚合物进行加压而成型出捆包的工序；去除包含检测出上述异物的碎屑状聚合物的捆包的工序；以及将由未检测出上述异物的碎屑状聚合物形成的捆包搬出的工序。(Provided is an economical polymer production technique which can reliably detect foreign matter, reliably classify the foreign matter into a product and a non-standard product, and which has a small production loss. A foreign matter removal method, comprising: continuously supplying the polymerized, dehydrated and dried crumb polymer; detecting foreign matter in the polymer chips; a step of measuring the weight of the crumb-like polymer corresponding to the bale; a step of pressing a crumb-like polymer having a considerable bale weight to form a bale; removing the bales of the crumb polymer containing the detected foreign matter; and a step of carrying out a package formed of a crumb polymer in which the foreign matter is not detected.)

1. A method for removing foreign matter, characterized in that,

the foreign matter removal method comprises:

continuously supplying the polymerized, dehydrated and dried crumb polymer;

detecting foreign matter in the polymer chips;

a step of measuring the weight of the crumb-like polymer corresponding to the bale;

a step of pressing a crumb-like polymer having a considerable bale weight to form a bale;

removing the bales containing the crumb polymer from which the foreign matter is detected; and

and a step of carrying out a package made of a crumb polymer in which the foreign matter is not detected.

2. A foreign matter removal method according to claim 1,

the weight of the bale formed of the crumb polymer in which the foreign matter was not detected was in the standard range,

the weight of the bale containing the crumb-like polymer from which the foreign matter was detected is outside of the standard range,

the foreign matter removing method comprises a step of measuring the weight of the package,

the weight of the bales is different, the bales with the weight in the standard range are carried out, and the bales with the weight not in the standard range are removed.

3. The method of removing foreign matter according to claim 2,

the weight of the bale containing the crumb-like polymer in which the foreign matter is detected is not more than 1 st threshold value which is smaller than the lower limit value of the standard range.

4. The method of removing foreign matter according to claim 2,

when the measured weight of the crumb-like polymer at the time of detection of the foreign matter is not less than the 1 st threshold value which is lighter than the lower limit value of the standard range,

the weight of the bale containing the crumb-like polymer in which the foreign matter is detected is not less than a2 nd threshold value which is heavier than an upper limit value of the standard range.

5. The method for removing foreign matter according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

the foreign matter includes garbage, thermally deteriorated debris, resin pieces, catalyst residues, excess moisture,

removing the bales containing foreign matter other than the excess moisture,

reprocessing the bales containing the excess moisture.

6. A foreign matter removal method according to any one of claims 1 to 5,

the polymer is a conjugated diene polymer.

7. A classification system is characterized by comprising:

a continuous supply unit continuously supplying the crumb polymer after polymerization and dehydration drying;

a foreign matter detection unit that detects foreign matter within the crumb-like polymer;

a bale-equivalent weight measuring unit that measures the weight of the crumb-like polymer equivalent to a bale;

a bale forming unit for pressing the crumb polymer with a certain weight to form a bale;

a package carrying-out unit that carries out the package; and

a control unit for controlling the operation of the display unit,

the control unit causes the carrying-out unit to carry out a bale made of a crumb polymer in which the foreign matter is not detected and remove the bale containing the crumb polymer in which the foreign matter is detected.

8. The classification system according to claim 7,

further comprises a bale weight measuring unit for measuring the weight of the bale formed by the bale forming unit,

the control unit causes the bale equivalent weight measuring unit to measure the bale equivalent weight in a manner that the bale equivalent weight is within a standard range when the foreign matter is not detected, and to measure the bale equivalent weight in a manner that the bale equivalent weight is not within the standard range when the foreign matter is detected,

the bale weight measuring unit obtains the bale weight, and the carrying-out unit carries out the bales with the weight in the standard range and removes the bales with the weight not in the standard range based on the bale weight.

9. The classification system according to claim 7 or 8,

the foreign matter detection unit is a foreign matter detection camera and a thermal imaging camera.

10. A bale according to any one of claims 7 to 9 sorted by the sorting system and then discharged.

11. A method of producing a bale,

a bale produced by removing foreign matter by the foreign matter removal method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

Technical Field

The present invention is a technique for detecting foreign matter in a crumb-like polymer supplied and conveyed and classifying the foreign matter into a product (standard product) and a non-standard product.

Background

As an example of the process for producing the crumb polymer, a process for producing a synthetic rubber such as butadiene rubber will be briefly described.

A butadiene solution as a raw material is prepared, and a catalyst is added thereto to carry out polymerization to form a polymer solution (polymerization step). The obtained polymer solution was subjected to steam treatment to recover a polymer in the form of a crumb slurry (desolventizing step). The polymer containing moisture is dehydrated by an extruder and dried by hot air or the like to be in a dry crumb state (dehydration/drying step). The polymer in the form of chips is compressed and molded (molding step).

The present invention relates to a molding process. The molding step will be described in some detail.

The chip-shaped or powdery semi-finished product is press-formed into a press-formed product (generally referred to as a bale (ベール), hereinafter referred to as a bale) having a regular hexahedral shape by a press-forming machine (generally referred to as a baler, hereinafter referred to as a baler).

At this time, the polymer in the form of chips is automatically measured and adjusted to a predetermined weight range (for example, patent document 1). The rubber packages are wrapped with film packaging bags such as polyethylene films and polystyrene films, and a plurality of rubber packages are stored in a storage container such as a container and shipped to a user.

The bale is melted or dissolved on the user side, and is vulcanized and processed.

However, foreign matter such as garbage, thermally deteriorated debris, resin pieces, catalyst residues, and excessive moisture may be contained in the package.

In contrast, in a conventional general forming process, a package containing foreign matter is detected by visual inspection based on the appearance of a monitoring person after the package is formed and before the package is carried out, and is classified into a product and a non-standard product. However, the monitoring person cannot detect foreign matter inside the package. In addition, the burden on the monitoring personnel is also large.

In contrast, a technique has been proposed in which foreign matter is detected on a belt conveyor that conveys a crumb polymer from a dehydration/drying step, and the foreign matter is removed before bale forming (for example, patent document 2).

Patent document 2 discloses, as an example of the foreign substance removing means, the following: air pressure is applied to the debris containing the foreign matter in the middle of dropping, so that the dropping trajectory of the debris containing the foreign matter is changed, thereby removing the foreign matter.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent No. 3015214

Patent document 2: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2017-171803

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

However, the crumb-like polymer has adhesive properties, and the particles easily adhere to each other. As a result, the particle size becomes uneven, and behavior cannot be predicted.

Therefore, there is a possibility that the foreign matter cannot be removed as assumed by the foreign matter removal unit described in patent document 2.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an economical polymer production technique capable of reliably detecting foreign matter, reliably classifying the foreign matter into a product and a non-standard product, and reducing production loss.

Means for solving the problems

The present invention for solving the above problems is a method for removing foreign matter in a process for producing a polymer. The disclosed device is provided with: continuously supplying the polymerized, dehydrated and dried crumb polymer; detecting foreign matter in the polymer chips; a step of measuring the weight of the crumb-like polymer corresponding to the bale; a step of pressing a crumb-like polymer having a considerable bale weight to form a bale; removing the bales of the crumb polymer containing the detected foreign matter; and a step of carrying out a package formed of a crumb polymer in which the foreign matter is not detected.

In the present invention, foreign matter contained in the package, which has not been detected conventionally, can be detected by detecting the foreign matter in the state of the crumb-like polymer before the package is formed.

Further, the foreign matter can be reliably removed by removing the package containing the foreign matter after the package is formed. As a result, the product can be classified into a product and a non-standard product.

The foreign matter is a substance which causes coloring of the polymer or gives an adverse effect when the polymer is processed into a product, and examples thereof include waste such as metal pieces, thermally deteriorated chips, resin pieces, catalyst residues, excessive moisture, and the like.

In the above invention, it is preferable that the weight of the bale made of the crumb-like polymer in which the foreign matter is not detected is in a standard range, the weight of the bale containing the crumb-like polymer in which the foreign matter is detected is out of the standard range, and the method further includes a step of measuring the weight of the bale, and the method further includes a step of removing the bale in the standard range and removing the bale in the standard range based on the difference in the weight of the bale.

This enables reliable classification into products and non-standard products. The process of measuring the weight of the package before the removal is common to the conventional system. That is, foreign matter can be removed by an existing system.

In the above invention, it is preferable that the weight of the bale containing the crumb polymer in which the foreign matter is detected is not more than 1 st threshold value which is smaller than the lower limit value of the standard range. The 1 st threshold value is preferably a value smaller than the lower limit value of the standard range by 1 mass% or more, more preferably a value smaller by 2 mass% or more, and particularly preferably a value smaller by 3 mass% or more.

This can minimize production loss, and is economical.

In the above invention, it is preferable that, when the measured weight of the crumb polymer at the time of detecting the foreign matter is equal to or greater than the 1 st threshold value which is lighter than the lower limit value of the standard range, the weight of the bale of the crumb polymer including the foreign matter detected is equal to or greater than the 2 nd threshold value which is heavier than the upper limit value of the standard range. The 2 nd threshold value is preferably a value larger than the upper limit value of the standard range by 1 mass% or more, more preferably a value larger than 2 mass% or more, and particularly preferably a value larger than 3 mass% or more.

Thus, even when foreign matter is detected in the vicinity of the standard range weight, the foreign matter can be more reliably classified into products and non-standard products.

In the above invention, it is preferable that the foreign matter includes garbage such as metal pieces, thermally deteriorated chips, resin pieces, catalyst residues, and excess water, and the package containing the foreign matter other than the excess water is removed and the package containing the excess water is reprocessed.

Reprocessing is the removal of moisture from bales containing excess moisture and forming standard bales. Examples of the method of reprocessing include the following methods: cutting the bales containing excess moisture finely into chips, drying the polymer chips with hot air or the like to form dried chips, and then bale-forming again; and so on.

Excess moisture, unlike other foreign materials, has no substantial disadvantage and can be reprocessed for crumb polymer containing excess moisture. Thereby enabling production loss to be suppressed.

The classification system according to the present invention for solving the above problems includes: a continuous supply unit continuously supplying the crumb polymer after polymerization and dehydration drying; a foreign matter detection unit for detecting foreign matter in the crumb polymer; a bale-equivalent weight measuring unit that measures the weight of the crumb-like polymer equivalent to a bale; a bale forming unit for pressing the crumb polymer with a certain weight to form a bale; a package carrying-out unit for carrying out the package; and a control unit. The control unit causes the carrying-out unit to carry out a package formed of a scrap polymer in which the foreign matter is not detected and remove the package containing the scrap polymer in which the foreign matter is detected.

In the above invention, it is preferable that the control unit further includes a package weight measuring unit that measures a weight of the package formed by the package forming unit, wherein the control unit causes the package equivalent weight measuring unit to measure the package equivalent weight so as to be within a standard range when the foreign matter is not detected, and to measure the package equivalent weight so as to be not within the standard range when the foreign matter is detected, obtains the package weight by the package weight measuring unit, and causes the carrying-out unit to carry out the package having the weight within the standard range and remove the package having the weight not within the standard range based on the package weight.

In the above invention, it is preferable that the foreign object detection means is a foreign object detection camera or a thermal imaging camera.

The present invention for solving the above problems is a package sorted by the sorting system and then carried out.

The present invention for solving the above problems is a method for producing a package in a process for producing a polymer. The disclosed device is provided with: continuously supplying the polymerized, dehydrated and dried crumb polymer; detecting foreign matter in the polymer chips; a step of measuring the weight of the crumb-like polymer corresponding to the bale; a step of pressing a crumb-like polymer having a considerable bale weight to form a bale; removing the bales of the crumb polymer containing the detected foreign matter; and a step of carrying out a package formed of a crumb polymer in which the foreign matter is not detected. Thus, a package from which foreign matter has been removed is produced.

In the above invention, it is preferable that the weight of the bale made of the crumb-like polymer in which the foreign matter is not detected is in a standard range, the weight of the bale containing the crumb-like polymer in which the foreign matter is detected is out of the standard range, and the method further includes a step of measuring the weight of the bale, and the method further includes a step of removing the bale in the standard range and removing the bale in the standard range based on the difference in the weight of the bale.

In the above invention, it is preferable that the weight of the bale containing the crumb polymer in which the foreign matter is detected is not more than 1 st threshold value which is smaller than the lower limit value of the standard range. The 1 st threshold value is preferably a value smaller than the lower limit value of the standard range by 1 mass% or more, more preferably a value smaller by 2 mass% or more, and particularly preferably a value smaller by 3 mass% or more.

In the above invention, it is preferable that, when the measured weight of the crumb polymer at the time of detecting the foreign matter is equal to or greater than the 1 st threshold value which is lighter than the lower limit value of the standard range, the weight of the bale of the crumb polymer including the foreign matter detected is equal to or greater than the 2 nd threshold value which is heavier than the upper limit value of the standard range. The 2 nd threshold value is preferably a value larger than the upper limit value of the standard range by 1 mass% or more, more preferably a value larger than 2 mass% or more, and particularly preferably a value larger than 3 mass% or more.

In the above invention, it is preferable that the foreign matter includes garbage such as metal pieces, thermally deteriorated chips, resin pieces, catalyst residues, and excess water, and the package containing the foreign matter other than the excess water is removed and the package containing the excess water is reprocessed.

In the above invention, the polymer is preferably a conjugated diene polymer.

Effects of the invention

The invention can reliably detect foreign matters and reliably classify the foreign matters into products and non-standard products.

The present invention has less production loss and is economical.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the operation of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a control flowchart at the time of package formation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a control flow chart in classification according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

System constitution ^ E

Fig. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

The system comprises a continuous supply unit, a foreign matter detection unit, a packing equivalent weight measurement unit, a packing forming unit, a carrying-out unit and a control unit, and performs a series of operations

The continuous supply unit is, for example, a vibratory feeder 1. The vibratory feeder 1 continuously feeds the crumb polymer 2 after polymerization and having passed through the dehydration/drying process 8 to the system.

The foreign substance detection unit is, for example, a thermal imaging camera 3 and foreign substance detection cameras 4, 5. The thermal imaging camera 3 is provided on the vibratory feeder 1, and detects excess moisture by detecting that the temperature does not rise due to insufficiently dried chips. Foreign matter detection cameras 4 and 5 are provided at the falling positions of the end of the vibration feeder 1, and detect foreign matters such as dust, thermally degraded debris, resin pieces, and catalyst residues by imaging the falling debris polymer. By imaging from both the front and rear directions of the falling path by the foreign object detection cameras 4 and 5, missing detection can be suppressed.

As another embodiment, the thermal imaging camera 3 may be provided at a position where the end of the vibratory feeder 1 falls, or the foreign object detection cameras 4 and 5 may be provided in the vibratory feeder. The foreign matter detection camera 4 may be provided on the feeder 1, and the foreign matter detection camera 5 may be provided at a position where the end of the feeder 1 falls, or only one of the foreign matter detection cameras may be provided.

The bale-equivalent weight measuring unit is constituted by, for example, the weighing device 6 and the hopper 6 a. The hopper 6a is provided between the continuous feeding unit and the bale forming unit. The hopper 6a has an upper hopper 6a1 and a lower hopper 6a 2. The weight of the crumb polymer accumulated in the hopper 6a is measured by the weighing device 6 while controlling the operations of the upper hopper 6a1 and the lower hopper 6a2 (details are described in the description corresponding to the control of fig. 3 and 4), thereby measuring the weight of the crumb polymer corresponding to the package.

The bale forming unit is, for example, a press forming machine (baler) 7. The polymer in the form of chips measured by a bale weight measuring unit is supplied and pressure-molded to form a bale.

The carrying-out unit is, for example, a conveyor 14. A weight measuring device 15 is provided midway on the conveyor 14. Based on the difference in weight of the bales measured by the weight measuring device 15, the bales having a weight within the standard range are carried out as standard articles 12 to the next step (packaging step) 9, and the bales having a weight not within the standard range are removed as non-standard articles 13 and sent to the other step 10 (defective article removal/reprocessing).

The control device 30 will be described in detail with reference to fig. 3.

Basic concept of this application E

The present application is characterized as follows.

The 1 st feature is that foreign matter is detected in a state of a crumb-like polymer before bale forming. This makes it possible to detect foreign matter contained in a package, which has not been detected conventionally.

The 2 nd feature is that the bale containing the foreign matter is removed after the bale is formed. However, it is believed that: in the case where the foreign matter can be detected in a chipped state, it is advantageous to remove the foreign matter before the bale is formed. However, the present inventors have paid attention to the fact that the crumb-like polymer has adhesiveness and the particles easily adhere to each other, resulting in non-uniform particle size and unpredictable behavior. Therefore, it is determined that it is reliable to remove the foreign matter by removing the bale containing the foreign matter.

The 3 rd feature is that the weight of the package is set to the standard range when the foreign matter is not detected, whereas the weight of the package is set to be out of the standard range when the foreign matter is detected. Thus, the product and the non-standard product can be reliably classified based on the difference in weight of the bale.

The operation of checking the weight of the bale before the delivery is common to the conventional system. That is, since foreign matter can be removed by carrying out a package having a weight in a standard range by using a conventional system and removing a package having a weight not in the standard range, the system is simpler and more economical than a new configuration and a new process.

Fig. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the operation of the present invention. The basic concept is described in cases 1-3.

In case 1, no foreign matter is detected. The weight of the bale is measured by the measuring device 6 so as to be within a standard range, and the bale is formed. The bales with the weight in the standard range are taken out as standard products.

In case 2, the foreign matter is detected before the measurement by the measuring device 6 reaches the 1 st threshold. The 1 st threshold is set to be lighter than the lower limit value of the standard range. Bales with weights outside the standard range (light) are intentionally formed. The bales containing the foreign matter were removed as non-standard products. In addition, since the bale is light, the production loss can be suppressed.

In case 3, the foreign matter is detected after the measurement by the measuring device 6 reaches the 1 st threshold value. Metering continues until the metering by the metering device 6 exceeds the 2 nd threshold. The 2 nd threshold is set to be heavier than the upper limit value of the standard range. Bales whose weight is outside the standard range (weight) are intentionally formed. The bales containing the foreign matter were removed as non-standard products. This enables the packages containing foreign matter to be reliably sorted.

Hereinafter, the basic concept of the present application will be described in detail and specifically.

Control device

Fig. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The control device 30 includes: a temperature information input unit 31, a1 st abnormality detection unit 32, an image information input unit 33, a2 nd abnormality detection unit 34, an in-hopper weight measurement unit 35, a hopper control unit 36, a package forming control unit 37, a package weight measurement unit 38, and a package carry-out control unit 39.

The temperature information input unit 31 inputs temperature information from the thermal imaging camera 3. The 1 st abnormality detection unit 32 detects debris containing excess moisture based on the temperature information from the temperature information input unit 31.

The image information input unit 33 inputs image information from the foreign object detection cameras 4 and 5. The 2 nd abnormality detection unit 34 detects foreign matter such as dust, thermally degraded debris, resin pieces, catalyst residues, and the like based on the image information from the image information input unit 33. For example, each foreign substance is identified based on the difference in color.

The hopper weight measuring unit 35 receives weight information of the chips in the hopper from the weighing device 6.

The hopper control unit 36 controls the operations of the upper hopper 6a1 and the lower hopper 6a2 based on the weight information from the hopper internal weight measuring unit 35 and the presence/absence of the 1 st abnormality detection signal 11a from the 1 st abnormality detecting unit 32 and the 2 nd abnormality detection signal 11b from the 2 nd abnormality detecting unit 34. Specifically, in a state where the upper hopper 6a1 is opened and the lower hopper 6a2 is closed, the supply of the chips to the hoppers is started. When the specified weight in the hopper is reached, the upper hopper 6a1 is closed, the supply of chips to the hopper is stopped, and the lower hopper 6a2 is opened to supply chips to the baler 7.

Details of the control based on the weight information and the abnormality detection signal are described in detail in the description of the control flow of fig. 4.

When the scraps are supplied from the hopper 6a, the bale forming control unit 37 operates the baler 7 to form a bale, and after the bale is formed, the bale is fed out by the conveyor 14.

The bale weight measuring unit 38 receives weight information of the bale from the weight measuring device 15 provided midway on the conveyor 14.

The package carry-out controller 39 determines whether to carry out the product 12 to the next step 9 or to remove the product as the non-standard product 13 and send the product to the other step 10, based on the weight information of the package from the package weight measuring unit 38.

Bale forming control message

Fig. 4 is a control flowchart at the time of package formation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The predetermined amount of chips is supplied to the hopper 6a, and when the predetermined amount of chips is reached, the predetermined amount of chips is supplied to the baler 7. The debris in the hopper 6a becomes zero (starts).

Then, the supply of the chips to the hopper 6a is restarted (step S11). On the other hand, the chips 2 are continuously supplied from the vibratory feeder 1. Debris accumulates in the hopper 6 a.

The weight of the chips in the hopper is measured while the supply of chips is started (step S12). The weight increases approximately proportionally from zero.

In the weight measurement, it is determined whether or not an abnormality signal is detected (step S13).

If it is determined in step S13 that the abnormality signal has not been detected, it is determined whether the weight of the chips in the hopper is within a standard range (step S14). If it is determined that the weight of the chips in the hopper is not within the standard range, the above control is repeated until the weight of the chips in the hopper reaches the standard range (S14 → S12 → S13 → S14).

If it is determined in step S14 that the weight of the chips in the hopper is within the standard range, the supply of chips to the hopper 6a is stopped (step S15). At the same time, all the debris accumulated in the hopper is fed. The baler 7 is supplied with scrap in a weight range of standards. At this time, foreign matter is not contained.

The chips supplied to the baler 7 are press-formed (step S16).

That is, the above control makes it possible to form a bale having a weight within a standard range and containing no foreign matter.

The explanation returns to step S13. In the case where it is determined that the abnormality signal is detected in repeating the control until the weight of the chips in the hopper reaches the standard range (S14 → S12 → S13 → S14), it is determined whether or not the weight of the chips in the hopper is smaller than the 1 st threshold (step S17).

If it is determined in step S17 that the weight of the chips in the hopper is less than the 1 st threshold value, the supply of chips to the hopper 6a is stopped (step S15). At the same time, all the debris accumulated in the hopper is fed. The baler 7 is intentionally fed with low-weight debris. At this time, foreign matter is contained.

The chips supplied to the baler 7 are press-formed (step S16).

That is, by the above control, a package having a weight out of the standard range (light) and containing foreign matter is formed.

The explanation returns to step S17. In step S17, if it is determined that the weight of the chips in the hopper is not lower than the 1 st threshold, it is determined whether or not the weight of the chips in the hopper exceeds the 2 nd threshold (step S18).

In step S18, in the case where it is determined that the weight of the chips inside the hopper does not exceed the 2 nd threshold value, the above control is repeated until the weight of the chips inside the hopper exceeds the 2 nd threshold value (S18 → S12 → S13 → S17 → S18).

If it is determined in step S18 that the weight of the chips in the hopper exceeds the 2 nd threshold value, the supply of chips to the hopper 6a is stopped (step S15). While feeding all the debris accumulated in the hopper. The baler 7 is intentionally fed with heavy chips. At this time, foreign matter is contained.

The chips supplied to the baler 7 are press-formed (step S16).

That is, the above control makes it possible to form a bale having a weight out of the standard range (heavy) and containing foreign matter.

Classification control &

Fig. 5 is a control flow chart in classification according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The formed bale is automatically fed from the baler 7 (step S21). The weight of the bale is measured (step S22). In the weight measurement, it is judged whether the weight of the bale is within the standard range (step S23).

If it is determined in step S23 that the weight of the bale is within the standard range, the bale is unloaded as a product (step S24). If it is determined that the weight of the bale is not within the standard range, the type of the abnormality signal detected in step S13 is determined (step S25).

In step S25, if the abnormality signal is the 2 nd abnormality signal 11b, it is removed as a defective item (step S26). If the error signal is the 1 st error signal 11a, it is temporarily removed and conveyed as a reprocessed product (step S27).

Implementation mode >

Further, specific embodiments will be described.

Examples of the vulcanizable rubber that is a crumb-like polymer to be packed include Natural Rubber (NR), Isoprene Rubber (IR), Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SBR), Butadiene Rubber (BR), Chloroprene Rubber (CR), butyl rubber (IIR), nitrile rubber (NBR), ethylene-propylene rubber (EPM, EPDM), chlorosulfonated polyethylene rubber (CSM), acrylic rubber (ACM), urethane rubber (U), silicone rubber (VMQ, PVMQ, FVMQ), Fluororubber (FKM), polysulfide rubber (T), and the like. In the present invention, a conjugated diene polymer is preferable, and particularly, it is most suitably applied to Butadiene Rubber (BR).

When the optimum polymer weight of the standard is A (kg), the predetermined weight range of the standard is 0.94 A.ltoreq.A.ltoreq.1.06A. More desirably, it is 0.95 A.ltoreq.A.ltoreq.1.05A, more preferably 0.97 A.ltoreq.1.03A, still more preferably 0.98 A.ltoreq.1.02A, and particularly preferably 0.99 A.ltoreq.A.ltoreq.1.01A.

The optimum polymer weight of the standard varies depending on the type and grade of the polymer, and in embodiment 1, the optimum polymer weight of the standard is set to 35kg, and the predetermined weight range of the standard is set to 34.54kg to 35.46 kg. In embodiment 2, the optimum polymer weight of the standard is 30kg, and the predetermined weight range of the standard is 29.54kg to 30.46 kg.

The 1 st threshold value of embodiment 1 is 33Kg lighter than the lower limit value (34.54Kg) of the standard range, and the 2 nd threshold value is 37Kg heavier than the upper limit value (35.46Kg) of the standard range. The 1 st threshold value of embodiment 2 is 28Kg lighter than the lower limit value (29.54Kg) of the standard range, and the 2 nd threshold value is 32Kg heavier than the upper limit value (30.46Kg) of the standard range.

The thermal imaging camera 3 may use, for example, CPA-L25B manufactured by CHINO corporation. The foreign object detection cameras 4 and 5 may be, for example, SP-20000C-PMCL manufactured by JAI corporation. The weight measuring device 15 may be, for example, CLH50L manufactured by mako and tarmac. Other configurations are common to existing systems, and existing systems may be used.

(embodiment mode 1)

Case 1

No foreign matter is detected, and a bale of a standard range of weight (e.g., about 35 Kg) is formed (S11 → S12 → S13 → S14 → S15 → S16). The bales whose weight is within the standard range are carried out as standard products (S21 → S22 → S23 → S24).

Case 2

The same action as in case 1 is started, but when a foreign object is detected before the 1 st threshold value of 33Kg is reached, a bale lighter than the 1 st threshold value (less than 33Kg) is formed (S11 → S12 → S13 → S17 → S15 → S16). Bales with weights outside the standard range (less than 33Kg) are removed as non-standard goods (S21 → S22 → S23 → S25 → S26). As a result, foreign matter contained in the bale is removed. Production losses are minimal.

When the foreign matter is merely excessive moisture, the foreign matter can be used as a material by reprocessing (S21 → S22 → S23 → S25 → S27).

For example, when foreign matter is detected before 15Kg is reached, a 15Kg bale may be formed when less than 15Kg makes bale formation difficult.

Case 3

In case 2, if a foreign object is detected at the 1 st threshold value of 33Kg or more, the weight difference from the standard article cannot be discriminated, and there is a possibility that classification cannot be performed reliably. Thus, a bale heavier than the 2 nd threshold (over 37kg) is formed (S11 → S12 → S13 → S17 → S18 → S15 → S16). Bales whose weight is outside the standard range (over 37Kg) are removed as non-standard goods (S21 → S22 → S23 → S25 → S26). As a result, foreign matter contained in the bale is removed.

When the weight of the chips in the hopper is 33 to 35Kg, the possibility of detecting foreign matter is low, and it is assumed that the case 2 is almost the case. In view of the overall operation of the system, the economic efficiency is maintained by suppressing the production loss.

(embodiment mode 2)

Case 1

No foreign matter was detected, and bales of a standard range of weight (e.g., 30Kg) were formed (S11 → S12 → S13 → S14 → S15 → S16). The bales whose weight is within the standard range are carried out as standard products (S21 → S22 → S23 → S24).

Case 2

The same action as in case 1 is started, but when a foreign object is detected before the 1 st threshold value of 28Kg is reached, a bale lighter than the 1 st threshold value (less than 28Kg) is formed (S11 → S12 → S13 → S17 → S15 → S16). Bales with weights outside the standard range (less than 28Kg) are removed as non-standard goods (S21 → S22 → S23 → S25 → S26). As a result, foreign matter contained in the bale is removed. Production losses are minimal.

In the case where the foreign matter is only the excessive moisture, it can be used as a material (S21 → S22 → S23 → S25 → S27).

In the case where foreign matter is detected before 15Kg, 15Kg of bales may be formed if the amount of foreign matter is less than 15Kg and forming of bales is difficult.

Case 3

In case 2, if a foreign object is detected at the 1 st threshold value of 28Kg or more, the weight difference from the standard article cannot be discriminated, and there is a possibility that classification cannot be performed reliably. Thus, a bale heavier than the 2 nd threshold (over 32Kg) is formed (S11 → S12 → S13 → S17 → S18 → S15 → S16). Bales whose weight is not within the standard range (over 32Kg) are removed as non-standard goods (S21 → S22 → S23 → S25 → S26). As a result, foreign matter contained in the bale is removed.

When the weight of the chips in the hopper is 28 to 30Kg, the possibility of detecting foreign matter is low, and it is assumed that the case 2 is almost the case. In view of the overall operation of the system, the economic efficiency is maintained by suppressing the production loss.

Deformation example >

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea of the invention of the present application.

In the above embodiment, the system is provided with the thermal imaging camera 3, but the thermal imaging camera 3 is not essential in the case where excessive moisture as a foreign substance is not detected.

In the above embodiment, the weight of the package is classified into the product and the non-standard product, but the control of classifying into the product and the non-standard product based on the abnormality detection signal may be used in combination. Each package is labeled with an identifier and associated with an abnormality detection signal.

In the above embodiment, visual inspection of the appearance by a monitoring person is omitted, but may be used in combination. Further, attention of the monitoring person may also be called by a warning lamp based on the abnormality signal.

The finding obtained by the present invention is a corresponding method after foreign matter detection using a weight measuring device, and therefore, not only vulcanizable rubber but also a rubber having a high hardness can be widely used in the fields of food, pharmaceutical products, and the like.

Description of the symbols

1 vibration feeder

2 rubber crumb

3 thermal imaging camera

4 foreign matter detection camera

5 foreign matter detection camera

6 metering device

6a hopper

7 packer (pressure forming machine)

8 dehydration/drying procedure

9 packaging Process

10 defective/reprocessing Process

11 abnormality detection signal

12 Standard substance (product)

13 non-standard substance

14 conveyer

15 weight measuring device

30 control device

31 temperature information input unit

32 1 st abnormality detection unit

33 image information input unit

34 2 nd abnormality detecting unit

35 internal hopper weight measuring part

36 hopper control part

37 packing forming control part

38 bale weight measuring unit

39 package unloading control part