JP2017176942A - Sorting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sorting device capable of suppressing an increase in size in a conveyance direction while highly keeping reading accuracy of information given to cargoes.SOLUTION: A conveyance device 1 includes a first conveyor 2, a conversion section 3, and a second conveyor 4. A reading device 8 reads information displayed on cargoes 9. A delivery device 5 delivers the cargoes 9 to cargo receiving sections 91. The plurality of cargo receiving sections 91 are arranged at a first pitch along the second conveyor 4. The first conveyor 2 is configured to continuously convey the cargoes 9. In the second conveyor 4, a plurality of mounting regions are sectioned at a second pitch which is a reciprocal multiple of a natural number of the first pitch, and the cargoes are intermittently conveyed so that movement and stop corresponding to the second pitch are repeated. The conversion section 3 delivers the cargoes 9 to the second conveyor 4 so that the cargo 9 of 0 or 1 is mounted in each of the plurality of mounting regions.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a sorting device, and more particularly, to a sorting device that sorts a package based on information attached to the package.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a conventional sorting apparatus. This conventional sorting apparatus includes a belt conveyor that moves a conveyed product, a sorting mechanism, and a plurality of dispensing chutes arranged along the belt conveyor. The sorting mechanism has a pressing member that presses the conveyed product in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. By pressing the conveyed product, the conveyed product can be delivered to the payout chute.

  This sorting apparatus is provided with a reading reader for reading a barcode or QR code (registered trademark) attached to a conveyed product in the conveyance process. The sorting device is configured to sort the conveyed items based on the information read by the reading reader.

JP 2012-197139 A

  By the way, in the conventional sorting apparatus, since the conveyed product is always conveyed continuously, the conveyed product moves in the conveying direction even at the moment when the pressing member pushes the conveyed product toward the discharge chute. For this reason, the conveyed product also advances in the conveying direction while facing the payout chute. That is, in the conventional transport apparatus, when arranging a plurality of payout chutes along the transport direction, the pitch of the plurality of payout chutes needs to be a pitch that takes into account the movement of the transported material in the transport direction. There was a problem that it was easy to enlarge.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said situation, The place made into the objective is to provide the sorting apparatus which can suppress the enlargement to a conveyance direction.

  A sorting apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a first conveyor, a conversion unit, and a second conveyor, and corresponds to the first conveyor and a transport device that transports a load placed on a transport surface. A reading device that reads information displayed on the baggage, and any one of a plurality of baggage receiving units arranged at a first pitch along the second conveyor. A delivery device that selects based on the information read by the reader and sends the package to the selected package receiver, and the first conveyor is configured to convey the package continuously, The second conveyor has a plurality of placement areas defined at a second pitch that is a reciprocal of the natural number of the first pitch, and is intermittently moved and stopped repeatedly for the second pitch. Configured to transport luggage to the front The conversion unit is configured to receive the load from the first conveyor and send the load to the second conveyor so that a load of 0 or 1 is loaded on each of the plurality of loading areas. It is characterized by being.

  The sorting apparatus according to a second aspect is the sorting apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the first conveyor includes an inclined portion in which the transport surface is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane.

  A sorting apparatus according to a third aspect is the sorting apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the reading device includes a line sensor.

  A sorting apparatus according to a fourth aspect is characterized in that in the sorting apparatus according to the second aspect, the sorting apparatus includes a pair of line sensors arranged on both sides in the normal direction of the transport surface with respect to the inclined portion.

  The sorting apparatus according to the fifth aspect is the sorting apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the transport direction of the first conveyor and the transport direction of the second conveyor intersect in plan view. It is arrange | positioned and the said conversion part is comprised so that the conveyance direction of the said load may be changed from the conveyance direction of a said 1st conveyor to the conveyance direction of a said 2nd conveyor.

  The sorting apparatus according to a sixth aspect is the sorting apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the second conveyor is arranged at a position overlapping the upper conveyor and the upper conveyor in a plan view. It has a conveyor and a folding transfer section provided at an end portion on the downstream side in the transport direction of the upper conveyor and configured to transfer the cargo transported by the upper conveyor to the lower conveyor.

  According to the sorting apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to suppress an increase in size in the transport direction while maintaining high reading accuracy of information attached to a package.

It is a perspective view of the sorting device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view for demonstrating the intermittent drive of a 2nd conveyor same as the above. It is a front view of the 2nd conveyor same as the above. It is an enlarged view of the return transfer part same as the above. It is the side view which looked at the 2nd conveyor same as the above along the conveyance direction. It is a perspective view of the same dispenser. It is a side view showing operation | movement of a dispensing machine same as the above. It is a block diagram of a control part same as the above. It is a side view of the 1st conveyor same as the above. 10 is a plan view of Modification 1. FIG. FIG. 10 is a plan view of a second modification. 10 is a plan view of Modification 3. FIG. It is a top view of the modification 4.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(1) Outline The sorting device of this embodiment is a device that sorts a plurality of collected packages 9 according to a delivery destination. The sorting device reads the delivery destination information (delivery destination information) attached to each package 9 by the reading device 8 while conveying the plurality of packages 9 by the transport device 1, and based on the read delivery destination information, The package 9 is distributed to a plurality of package receiving units 91. The luggage 9 according to the present embodiment includes, for example, a parcel, a booklet parcel, a sealed letter, and a postcard. As shown in FIG. 1, the sorting apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a conveying device 1, a reading device 8, and a sending device 5.

  The transport device 1 transports the luggage 9 from the collection area (first area) to the end of the area (second area) where the plurality of luggage receiving units 91 are located. The transport apparatus 1 includes a first conveyor 2 that transports the cargo 9 from the collection area, a conversion unit 3, and a second conveyor 4 that transports the cargo 9 in an area where a plurality of cargo receiving units 91 are located. Yes. The plurality of baggage receiving portions 91 are arranged along the second conveyor 4 at a predetermined pitch (hereinafter referred to as the first pitch P1).

  The reading device 8 is arranged so as to be able to read the delivery destination information of the luggage 9 being conveyed by the first conveyor 2. The sending device 5 operates based on the delivery destination information read by the reading device 8. The sending device 5 is configured to send the package 9 being conveyed by the second conveyor 4 to any one of the plurality of package receiving units 91 based on the delivery destination information.

  The 1st conveyor 2 of this embodiment is comprised so that the load 9 may be conveyed from the upstream edge part of a conveyance direction to a downstream edge part, without stopping. That is, the 1st conveyor 2 conveys the luggage | load 9 continuously. Since the baggage 9 is continuously transported, the position of the baggage is less likely to be shifted during the transport, so that the reader 8 can accurately read the delivery destination information displayed on the baggage 9.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the second conveyor 4 has a pitch P2 (P2 = P1 / n: hereinafter referred to as a second pitch) which is a reciprocal of the natural number n of the first pitch P1 of the package receiving portion 91. The placement area 49 is partitioned at P2). The second conveyor 4 conveys the load intermittently so as to repeat the movement and stop for the second pitch P2. The sending device 5 sends the baggage 9 to a predetermined baggage receiving unit 91 during a period when the baggage 9 is stopped on the second conveyor 4, thereby loading the baggage in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the second conveyor 4. 9 can be sent out. Thereby, according to the sorting device of the present embodiment, it is not necessary to arrange a plurality of baggage receiving portions 91 in consideration of movement in the transport direction when the baggage 9 is sent out by the sending device 5. As a result, according to the sorting apparatus of the present embodiment, the pitch of the package receiving unit 91 in the direction parallel to the transport direction and the size of the package receiving unit 91 can be made as small as possible.

  Here, since the second conveyor 4 intermittently conveys the luggage 9 as described above, the luggage 9 needs to be placed at positions corresponding to the plurality of luggage receiving portions 91 in the stopped state. On the other hand, since the plurality of collected cargos 9 are placed on the first conveyor 2 by, for example, an operator, it is preferable that the first conveyors 2 can be placed randomly without considering equal intervals between the packages 9.

  For this reason, in the sorting apparatus according to the present embodiment, the transfer unit 1 is provided with the conversion unit 3. The conversion unit 3 is configured to send the packages 9 randomly transported from the first conveyor 2 to the second conveyor 4 in accordance with the pitch of the package receiving unit 91. That is, after receiving the load 9 from the first conveyor 2, the conversion unit 3 puts the load 9 on the second conveyor 4 so that 0 or 1 load 9 is placed on each of the plurality of placement areas 49. It is configured to send out. Thereby, when placing a plurality of loads 9 on the first conveyor 2, the worker only has to load the loads 9 at random, and the workability can be improved.

(2) Details Hereinafter, the sorting apparatus of this embodiment will be described in detail. However, the configuration described below is merely an example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment. Various modifications from the following embodiments can be made in accordance with the environment and specifications of the installation site as long as they do not depart from the technical idea according to the present invention.

(2.1) Transport Device The transport device 1 is a device that transports the luggage 9 from the collection area to the end of the area where the plurality of luggage receiving units 91 are located. The transport apparatus 1 includes a first conveyor 2, a conversion unit 3, and a second conveyor 4.

(2.1.1) 1st conveyor The 1st conveyor 2 conveys the load 9 to the conversion part 3 from a collection area. The 1st conveyor 2 is provided with the 1st horizontal part 21 and the inclination part 22, and these 1st horizontal part 21 and the inclination part 22 are arrange | positioned linearly seeing from upper direction (henceforth planar view). ing. When the first conveyor 2 conveys one load 9 from the collection area to the conversion unit 3, it conveys the load without stopping in the order of the first horizontal portion 21 and the inclined portion 22. That is, the 1st conveyor 2 is comprised so that the load 9 may be conveyed continuously.

  The first horizontal portion 21 is disposed in the collection area. The 1st horizontal part 21 is comprised by the belt conveyor which has a horizontal conveyance surface (surface in which the luggage | load 9 is mounted). The first horizontal portion 21 is configured to continuously transport the luggage 9, and more specifically, is configured to transport the luggage 9 at a constant speed.

  A plurality of collected cargos 9 are randomly placed on the first horizontal portion 21. The plurality of luggage 9 placed on the first horizontal portion 21 may be placed manually by an operator or may be automatically placed by a robot.

  The inclined portion 22 is disposed adjacent to the downstream side in the transport direction of the first horizontal portion 21. The conveying surface of the inclined portion 22 is inclined so as to be positioned upward as it proceeds in the conveying direction, that is, inclined with respect to the horizontal plane. The inclined portion 22 is configured by a belt conveyor. Similar to the first horizontal portion 21, the inclined portion 22 is configured to continuously transport the load 9, and more specifically, is configured to transport the load 9 at a constant speed.

  The inclined portion 22 is divided into a plurality of inclined conveyors 220. The several inclined conveyor 220 is arrange | positioned through the clearance gap. The gap between the inclined conveyors 220 constitutes a window 221 for reading information displayed on the back surface (the surface facing the transport surface) of the luggage 9 by a reading device 8 described later.

  The first conveyor 2 of the present embodiment operates so that the first horizontal portion 21 and the inclined portion 22 have a constant transport speed, but if configured to continuously transport the luggage 9, The luggage 9 may be transported at different transport speeds. Further, the first conveyor 2 of the present embodiment may be stopped according to the state of conveyance of the luggage 9.

(2.1.2) Conversion unit The conversion unit 3 receives the load 9 from the first conveyor 2 and sends out the load 9 in synchronization with the intermittent conveyance of the second conveyor 4. The conversion unit 3 moves to the loading region 49 on the most upstream side in the transport direction of the second conveyor 4 during the period in which the transport surface is stopped among the intermittent movements of the transport surface of the second conveyor 4. Luggage 9 is sent out. At this time, the conversion unit 3 is configured to send out the luggage 9 so that 0 or 1 of the luggage 9 is placed on each of the plurality of placement areas 49. The conversion unit 3 includes a buffer unit 23, a base unit 31, and a dispenser 32.

  The buffer unit 23 is disposed adjacent to the inclined unit 22 on the downstream side in the transport direction. The buffer unit 23 receives the luggage 9 conveyed by the inclined unit 22 and conveys it to the base unit 31. When the baggage 9 on the base unit 31 is sent out by the dispenser 32, the buffer unit 23 conveys the next baggage 9 to the base unit 31. The buffer unit 23 can store a plurality of packages 9 that are continuously conveyed from the first conveyor 2. The buffer unit 23 is configured by a belt conveyor having a horizontal conveyance surface, like the first horizontal unit 21.

  The base unit 31 moves the baggage 9 received from the buffer unit 23 to a position suitable for being sent out by the dispenser 6. Similar to the first horizontal part 21 and the buffer part 23, the base part 31 is configured by a belt conveyor having a horizontal conveyance surface. When the base unit 31 receives the load 9 from the buffer unit 23 in a state where the load 9 on the transfer surface is sent out by the dispenser 6, the base unit 31 moves the transfer surface by a certain distance and positions the load 9 at a predetermined position. .

  The dispenser 32 sends the load 9 placed at a predetermined position on the transport surface of the base portion 31 toward the second conveyor 4. The dispenser 6 of the present embodiment pushes the luggage 9 in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the first conveyor 2. The dispenser 6 includes a delivery plate 65 that pushes out the luggage 9 and a drive unit 66 that drives the delivery plate 65. The dispenser 6 has the same structure as the dispenser 6 described in “(2.2.1) Dispenser” described later, and will be described in detail later.

  In the transport device 1 of the present embodiment, the transport direction of the first conveyor 2 and the transport direction of the second conveyor 4 are orthogonal to each other. For this reason, the conversion unit 3 also has a function of converting the conveyance direction of the load from the conveyance direction of the first conveyor 2 to the conveyance direction of the second conveyor 4.

(2.1.3) Second Conveyor The second conveyor 4 conveys the load 9 received from the conversion unit 3 in an area where a plurality of load receiving units 91 are located. The sorting apparatus according to the present embodiment is provided with a pair of package receiving units for the second conveyor 4.

  The pair of package receiving units are arranged one-on-one on both sides in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the second conveyor 4. Each package receiving unit includes a plurality of package receiving units 91 and a frame 92 that supports the plurality of package receiving units 91. The plurality of baggage receiving portions 91 are arranged along the second conveyor 4 at the first pitch P1. In the baggage receiving unit of the present embodiment, as a plurality of baggage receiving units 91, a plurality of baggage receiving units 91 arranged at a first pitch P1 are provided as a first-stage conveyor 41, a second-stage conveyor 42, and a second-stage conveyor. Corresponding to the three-stage conveyor 43, it is arranged so as to have three stages in the vertical direction. The package receiving unit 91 is constituted by, for example, a cardboard box, a bag, a basket or the like.

  The frame 92 supports a plurality of baggage receiving portions 91. A caster 921 (see FIG. 5) is attached to the lower end of the frame 92. Thereby, the package receiving unit can move the plurality of package receiving units 91 together.

  The second conveyor 4 intermittently conveys the luggage 9 so as to repeat the movement of the second pitch P2 and the stop. Here, the pitch (first pitch P1) of the package receiving unit 91 is a pitch obtained by multiplying the second pitch P2 by a natural number. That is, the second pitch P2 has a relationship of P2 = P1 / n (n is a natural number) with respect to the pitch of the package receiving unit 91 (first pitch P1). In the present embodiment, the natural number n = 1.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, the 2nd conveyor 4 is divided into the some mounting area 49 by 2nd pitch P2. In the present embodiment, the placement area 49 may be a virtual area that is partitioned by the control of the second conveyor 4, and does not need to be partitioned by a partition or the like with an entity.

  The 2nd conveyor 4 of this embodiment conveys the load | burden 9 intermittently so that it may stop according to the position of the some load receiving part 91. FIG. After the transport surface of the second conveyor 4 has moved by the same distance as the pitch of the package receiving unit 91, the transport surface is stopped for a certain time, and the operation of moving again by the same distance as the pitch of the package receiving unit 91 is repeated.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the second conveyor 4 includes a first-stage conveyor 41, a second-stage conveyor 42 located below the first-stage conveyor 41, and a second-stage conveyor 42 located below the second-stage conveyor 42. A three-stage conveyor 43 and a folding transfer section 44 are provided. The 1st stage conveyor 41, the 2nd stage conveyor 42, and the 3rd stage conveyor 43 are comprised so that a conveyance surface may move synchronously.

  The second stage conveyor 42 is disposed at a position overlapping the first stage conveyor 41 in plan view. The third stage conveyor 43 is disposed at a position overlapping the second stage conveyor 42 in plan view. The transport surface of the first stage conveyor 41, the transport surface of the second stage conveyor 42, and the transport surface of the third stage conveyor 43 are horizontal and parallel to each other.

  The transport direction of the first stage conveyor 41 is opposite to the transport direction of the second stage conveyor 42. Further, the transport direction of the second stage conveyor 42 is opposite to the transport direction of the third stage conveyor 43. Between the first-stage conveyor 41 and the second-stage conveyor 42 and between the second-stage conveyor 42 and the third-stage conveyor 43, a turn-back transfer unit 44 is attached.

  The folding transfer unit 44 includes a first transfer unit 45 disposed between the first-stage conveyor 41 and the second-stage conveyor 42, and a second-stage transfer unit 44 disposed between the second-stage conveyor 42 and the third-stage conveyor 43. And a second transfer section 47. Since the 1st transfer part 45 and the 2nd transfer part 47 are symmetrical structures, the 1st transfer part 45 is demonstrated below.

  The first transfer unit 45 is disposed at the downstream end in the transport direction of the first stage conveyor 41 and at the upstream end in the transport direction of the second stage conveyor 42. The first transfer unit 45 is configured to transfer the cargo 9 conveyed by the first stage conveyor 41 to the second stage conveyor 42. As shown in FIG. 4, the first transfer part 45 includes a receiving part 451 and a movement restricting part 46 provided at the lower end of the receiving part 451.

  The receiving part 451 receives the load 9 released from the downstream end in the transport direction of the first stage conveyor 41 and moves it to the transport surface of the second stage conveyor 42. The receiving portion 451 includes a bottom plate 452 positioned downward toward the downstream side in the transport direction of the second-stage conveyor 42, and a rising plate raised from both sides of the bottom plate 452 in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the second-stage conveyor 42. 453. The end of the bottom plate 452 on the second stage conveyor 42 side is positioned so as to be substantially the same height as the transport surface of the second stage conveyor 42.

  The movement restricting unit 46 includes a restricting piece 461 disposed between the bottom plate 452 and the second stage conveyor 42, and a driving device 462 that drives the restricting piece 461. The drive device 462 is constituted by a cylinder device, for example. The restricting piece 461 restricts the load 9 moving along the inclination of the bottom plate 452 from moving to the transport surface of the second-stage conveyor 42 while protruding from the upper surface of the bottom plate 452. In this state, when the restriction piece 461 is not protruded from the upper surface of the bottom plate 452, the load 9 whose movement is restricted by the restriction piece 461 moves to the transport surface of the second stage conveyor 42. Thereby, the load 9 moving from the first stage conveyor 41 to the second stage conveyor 42 can be moved to the second stage conveyor 42 at an appropriate timing.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the cargo 9 sent from the conversion unit 3 to the second conveyor 4 is intermittently conveyed by the first-stage conveyor 41, and then the second-stage conveyor via the first transfer unit 45. Move to 42. Thereafter, the luggage 9 is intermittently conveyed by the second-stage conveyor 42, and then moves to the third-stage conveyor 43 via the second transfer unit 47. The luggage 9 moved to the third stage conveyor 43 is intermittently conveyed by the third stage conveyor 43. In this way, the baggage 9 conveyed by the second conveyor 4 is sent out to the specific baggage receiving unit 91 selected by the sending device 5.

(2.2) Sending device The sending device 5 selects one of the plurality of baggage receiving units 91 based on the information read by the reading device 8, and sends the selected baggage receiving unit 91 to the selected baggage receiving unit 91. Luggage 9 is sent out. As shown in FIG. 5, the sending device 5 includes a plurality of dispensing machines 6 disposed corresponding to the respective package receiving units 91 and a control unit 7 (see FIG. 8) that controls the plurality of dispensing machines 6. ing.

(2.2.1) Dispenser As shown in FIG. 6, the dispenser 6 includes a main body 61, a plurality of delivery plates 65 that deliver the luggage 9, and a drive unit 66 that drives the plurality of delivery plates 65. I have. The plurality of delivery plates 65 are moved in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the second conveyor 4 when the drive unit 66 is operated.

  The main body 61 constitutes the main body of the dispenser 6. The main body 61 includes a pair of rotating shafts 62, a plurality of sprockets 63 fixed to the rotating shafts 62, and a drive chain 64 connected between the pair of rotating shafts 62 via the sprockets 63.

  The pair of rotating shafts 62 are orthogonal to the transport direction of the second conveyor 4 and are separated in a direction along the horizontal plane. The central axis of each rotating shaft 62 extends in the transport direction of the second conveyor 4. A drive unit 66 is coupled to one of the pair of rotating shafts 62.

  The plurality of sprockets 63 are fixed apart from each other in the direction of the central axis on each rotating shaft 62. The plurality of sprockets 63 in the present embodiment are a pair of sprockets 63 and are fixed to both ends of each rotary shaft 62 in the central axis direction.

  The drive chain 64 is bridged between the pair of rotating shafts 62. The drive chain 64 meshes with a sprocket 63 fixed to each rotary shaft 62, and moves in a plane perpendicular to the length direction of the rotary shaft 62 when one of the pair of rotary shafts 62 rotates. Configured as follows. A plurality of drive chains 64 are provided corresponding to the plurality of sprockets 63 provided on each rotating shaft 62. A plurality of delivery plates 65 are fixed to the plurality of drive chains 64.

  The plurality of delivery plates 65 are fixed to the drive chain 64 and move according to the movement of the drive chain 64. The main surface of the delivery plate 65 is orthogonal to the length direction of the drive chain 64, and is in a state along the vertical plane when the delivery plate 65 is located above or below the main body 61. An elastically deformable member such as rubber or a brush is attached to an end of the delivery plate 65 opposite to the drive chain 64 (the tip of the delivery plate 65). The part is formed to be elastically deformable.

  The drive unit 66 rotates one of the pair of rotating shafts 62. The drive part 66 is comprised by the electric motor, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the dispenser 6 having such a configuration is separated from the transport surface of the second conveyor 4 by a predetermined dimension. The distance between the dispenser 6 and the transport surface of the second conveyor 4 is preferably set to such an extent that the tip of the delivery plate 65 contacts the transport surface of the second conveyor 4. When the drive unit 66 operates in this state, the delivery plate 65 moves on the transport surface of the second conveyor 4 in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the second conveyor 4. At this time, if the load 9 is placed on the transport surface of the second conveyor 4, the delivery plate 65 pushes the load 9 in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the second conveyor 4, and the load 9 is received. Move to section 91.

  Moreover, the drive part 66 is comprised so that normal / reverse rotation is possible. For this reason, according to the dispenser 6 of the present embodiment, the package 9 can be sent out to any of the package receivers 91 arranged on both sides in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the second conveyor 4. .

  In order to effectively deliver the small-sized baggage 9 by the dispenser 6, a plurality of protrusions extending in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the second conveyor 4 are provided on the conveyance belt of the second conveyor 4. It is preferred that The plurality of protrusions are formed at intervals in the transport direction of the second conveyor 4. The plurality of protrusions protrude upward from the conveyance surface.

  When protrusions are formed at intervals in the conveyance direction of the second conveyor 4 on the conveyance surface of the second conveyor 4, when the delivery plate 65 moves on the conveyance surface of the second conveyor 4, The leading end of the delivery plate 65 enters between the protrusions. Therefore, the leading end portion of the delivery plate 65 easily hits the end surface of the luggage 9 placed on the transport surface when the delivery plate 65 is moved, and the delivery of the luggage 9 can be performed effectively.

(2.2.2) Control unit The control unit 7 controls the plurality of dispensers 6. As shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 7 includes a recognition unit 71, a determination unit 72, and a dispenser control unit 73.

  The recognition unit 71 generates a two-dimensional image from the output of the line sensor, and recognizes the delivery destination from the two-dimensional image. The recognition unit 71 analyzes the image read by the reading device 8 and performs OCR (Optical Character Reader) processing for recognizing it as character data, or recognizes character data from a two-dimensional barcode or the like, and delivers it. Recognize the previous information. The recognition unit 71 outputs the recognized delivery destination information to the determination unit 72.

  The determination unit 72 selects a package receiving unit 91 as a sorting destination from the input delivery destination information. The determination unit 72 outputs information indicating that the dispenser 6 corresponding to the selected package receiving unit 91 is to be driven to the dispenser control unit 73.

  The dispenser control unit 73 places the package 9 on which the delivery destination information is read by the reader 8 at the position corresponding to the package receiving unit 91 selected based on the information input from the determination unit 72. When the placement area 49 moves, the selected dispenser 6 is activated. The dispenser control unit 73 receives information about the movement, stop, and timing of the intermittent drive of the conveying surface from the second conveyor. Thereby, the control unit 7 can control the driving of the plurality of dispensers 6 and distribute the plurality of packages 9 to the predetermined package receiving unit 91.

(2.3) Reading Device The reading device 8 reads information displayed on the luggage 9 being conveyed by the first conveyor 2. Here, the information displayed on the package 9 is information directly written on the package 9 or information displayed on a sticker attached to the package 9 in order to specify a delivery destination. As this information, for example, a two-dimensional bar code, a one-dimensional bar code, or a character describing a delivery destination can be cited. Further, as the delivery destination information, the delivery destination may be recognized by a specific mark.

  As illustrated in FIG. 9, the reading device 8 includes a pair of line sensors 81. The pair of line sensors 81 are arranged one-on-one on both sides in the normal direction of the transport surface with respect to the inclined portion 22 of the first conveyor 2. The optical axis direction of each line sensor 81 is orthogonal to the transport surface.

  The line sensor 81 arranged below the conveyance surface reads information displayed on the back surface of the luggage 9 through a window 221 (gap between the plurality of inclined conveyors 220) formed in the inclined portion 22. In addition, when the conveyance belt of the inclination part 22 is transparent, you may permeate | transmit a conveyance belt and read information. Alternatively, when the inclined portion 22 is a roller conveyor, information may be read through a gap between the rollers.

  The line sensor 81 arranged above the conveyance surface can read information displayed on the upper surface of the luggage 9.

  The timing at which the reader 8 images the luggage 9 is set according to the rotational speed of the drive pulley based on the output of the rotary encoder installed on the drive pulley of the first conveyor 2, for example.

(2.4) Other Configurations As shown in FIG. 7, the sorting device according to the present embodiment includes a full detection unit 93 that detects that the package 9 accommodated in the package receiving unit 91 is full. . The full detection unit 93 detects a state in which the baggage 9 protrudes from the upper end of the baggage receiving unit 91. When the full detection unit 93 detects that the baggage 9 accommodated in the baggage receiving unit 91 is full, the baggage 9 in the baggage receiving unit 91 is notified by a notification unit such as an indicator light, a rotating light, or a buzzer. Will be informed that is full.

(3) Operation The sorting apparatus configured as described above operates as follows. As shown in FIG. 1, the luggage 9 collected in the collection area is placed on the first conveyor 2 by an operator. The operator places a plurality of loads 9 on the first horizontal portion 21 of the first conveyor 2. Then, the baggage 9 is continuously conveyed in the order of the first horizontal portion 21 and the inclined portion 22. At this time, the delivery destination information of the luggage 9 moving on the inclined portion 22 is read by the reading device 8.

  Here, the reading device 8 is arranged on both sides of the inclined portion 22 in the normal direction of the transport surface. For this reason, the reading device 8 can read the delivery destination information regardless of which direction the delivery destination information of the parcel 9 is attached in the vertical direction.

  The luggage 9 conveyed to the conversion unit 3 by the first conveyor 2 is sent to the second conveyor 4. At this time, the conversion unit 3 sequentially sends the packages 9 to the second conveyor 4 according to the pitch of the plurality of package receiving units 91.

  The luggage 9 sent to the second conveyor 4 is intermittently conveyed by the second conveyor 4. The baggage 9 conveyed by the second conveyor 4 is sent out to a predetermined baggage receiving unit 91 by the sending device 5. Here, the package receiving unit 91 to which packages are sent is the package receiving unit 91 selected by the control unit 7 based on the delivery destination information read by the reading device 8. The control unit 7 drives the dispenser 6 corresponding to the selected package receiving unit 91. Thereby, the sorting apparatus of this embodiment can sort a plurality of loads 9.

(4) Effect As described above, the sorting device according to the present embodiment includes the transport device 1 that transports the luggage 9, the reading device 8, and the delivery device 5. The transport apparatus 1 includes a first conveyor 2, a conversion unit 3, and a second conveyor 4. The reading device 8 is arranged at a position corresponding to the first conveyor 2 and reads information displayed on the luggage 9. The sending device 5 selects one of the plurality of baggage receiving units 91 based on the information read by the reading device 8, and sends the baggage 9 to the selected baggage receiving unit 91. The plurality of baggage receiving portions 91 are arranged along the second conveyor 4 at the first pitch P1. The 1st conveyor 2 is comprised so that the load 9 may be conveyed continuously. The second conveyor 4 is divided into a plurality of placement areas 49 at a second pitch P2 that is a reciprocal of the natural number n of the first pitch P1, and repeats movement and stop for the second pitch P2. The baggage is configured to be intermittently transported. The converter 3 receives the luggage 9 from the first conveyor 2. The conversion unit 3 is configured to send the load 9 to the second conveyor 4 so that 0 or 1 load 9 is placed on each of the plurality of placement areas 49. According to this configuration, the baggage 9 is continuously conveyed when information is read by the reading device 8, and the baggage 9 is intermittently conveyed when the baggage 9 is sent to the baggage receiving unit 91. For this reason, since the luggage | load 9 can be sent out in the period which has stopped among the intermittent movements of the 2nd conveyor 4, the luggage | load 9 can be sent out in the direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction. As a result, an increase in size of the sorting device in the transport direction can be suppressed. Moreover, since the 1st conveyor 2 is comprised so that the load 9 may be conveyed continuously, an operator can mount the load 9 with respect to the 1st conveyor 2 at arbitrary timings, for example. . Therefore, there is no waiting time until the luggage 9 is placed, and the work efficiency is improved.

  Moreover, the sorting apparatus according to the present embodiment has the following additional configuration. That is, the 1st conveyor 2 of this embodiment contains the inclination part 22 in which the conveyance surface inclined with respect to the horizontal surface. According to this structure, since the load 9 can be continuously conveyed in the inclined part 22, it can suppress that the load 9 slips on a conveyance surface. That is, if the load 9 is intermittently transported in the inclined portion 22, an inertial force acts on the load 9 when moving from the stop state, and the load 9 may slip on the transfer surface. When the load 9 is continuously conveyed in the portion 22, this slip can be suppressed.

  Moreover, the sorting apparatus according to the present embodiment has the following additional configuration. That is, the reading device 8 of the present embodiment has a line sensor 81. According to this configuration, the reading device 8 suitable for reading the information displayed on the luggage 9 can be obtained while the luggage 9 is continuously conveyed on the first conveyor 2.

  Moreover, the sorting apparatus according to the present embodiment has the following additional configuration. That is, the reading device 8 of the present embodiment has a pair of line sensors 81 arranged on both sides of the inclined portion 22 in the normal direction of the transport surface. According to this configuration, the line sensor 81 can be easily arranged on the lower surface of the luggage 9 in a state where a certain working distance is secured. That is, for example, when the line sensors 81 are arranged on both sides in the normal direction of the transport surface with respect to the horizontal portion, even if an attempt is made to secure a constant working distance, the installation surface such as the floor surface gets in the way, and It may be difficult to ensure a working distance. On the other hand, when a pair of line sensors 81 are installed on the inclined portion 22 as in the present embodiment, it is easy to ensure a working distance.

  Moreover, the sorting apparatus according to the present embodiment has the following additional configuration. In other words, the transport device 1 of the present embodiment is arranged so that the transport direction of the first conveyor 2 and the transport direction of the second conveyor 4 intersect in plan view. The conversion unit 3 is configured to convert the conveyance direction of the luggage 9 from the conveyance direction of the first conveyor 2 to the conveyance direction of the second conveyor 4. According to this configuration, since the direction of the luggage 9 can be changed by the conversion unit 3, various layouts can be obtained depending on the combination of the first conveyor 2, the conversion unit 3, and the second conveyor 4. A sorting device can be configured.

  Moreover, the sorting apparatus according to the present embodiment has the following additional configuration. In other words, the second conveyor 4 includes an upper conveyor, a lower conveyor, and a folding transfer unit 44. The lower conveyor is disposed at a position overlapping the upper conveyor in plan view. The folding transfer unit 44 is provided at an end on the downstream side in the transfer direction of the upper conveyor, and transfers the cargo 9 transferred by the upper conveyor to the lower conveyor.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the “upper conveyor” is the first conveyor 41 and the “lower conveyor” is the second conveyor 42.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to achieve a compact configuration in plan view while installing a large number of baggage receiving portions 91.

(5) Example of layout change The sorting apparatus according to the above embodiment can configure sorting apparatuses having various layouts by changing the combination of the first conveyor 2, the conversion unit 3, and the second conveyor 4.

  In the first modification shown in FIG. 10, the arrangement relationship between the first conveyor 2 and the conversion unit 3 is the same as that in the above embodiment, but the arrangement of the second conveyor 4 is different. The second conveyor 4 includes a first part 491, a rotating part 48, and a second part 492 orthogonal to the transport direction of the first part 491, and is formed in an L shape in plan view. The second conveyor 4 (that is, the first part 491 and the second part 492) has at least an upper conveyor and a lower conveyor as in the above embodiment.

  In the second modification shown in FIG. 11, the arrangement relationship between the first conveyor 2 and the conversion unit 3 is the same as that in the above embodiment, but the arrangement of the second conveyor 4 is different. However, the conversion unit 3 is configured to be able to send out the load 9 in any direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the first conveyor 2 in a plan view (in a horizontal plane). The second conveyor 4 is arranged on both sides in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the first conveyor 2 in plan view. The second conveyor 4 has at least an upper conveyor and a lower conveyor as in the above embodiment.

  The sorting apparatus of Modification 3 shown in FIG. 12 includes a first conversion unit 33 and a second conversion unit 34 as the conversion unit 3. In addition, the second conveyor 4 includes a second conveyor 4 a adjacent to the first converter 33 and a second conveyor 4 b adjacent to the second converter 34. The first conversion unit 33 can send the luggage 9 in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the first conveyor 2 in plan view. Based on the information read by the reading device 8, the first conversion unit 33 determines to which of the plurality of package receiving units 91 the package 9 is to be sent. When the first conversion unit 33 determines that the destination package receiving unit 91 is the package receiving unit 91 corresponding to the second conveyor 4a, the first conversion unit 33 drives the dispensing device 6 to move the package 9 toward the second conveyor 4a. Send out. On the other hand, when the package receiving unit 91 of the destination is not the package receiving unit 91 corresponding to the second conveyor 4a, the package 9 is transported by the base unit 31, and is transferred to the second conversion unit 34 by the first conveyor 2. Carry the luggage. Thereafter, the second conversion unit 34 sends the baggage 9 to the second conveyor 4 b and stores the baggage 9 in a predetermined baggage receiving unit 91.

  The sorting device of Modification 4 shown in FIG. 13 is configured to be able to send the luggage 9 in any direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the first conveyor 2 in plan view in the conversion unit 3 of Modification 3. ing. The first conversion unit 33 and the second conversion unit 34 are configured to be able to send the load 9 in any direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the first conveyor 2. Other configurations are the same as those of the third modification, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

(6) Application Although the reading device 8 of the above embodiment is configured by a pair of line sensors 81, it may be configured by a single line sensor 81 disposed only above the conveyance surface. Further, the reading device 8 may not be the line sensor 81 but may be constituted by an area sensor, for example.

  The sorting device according to the above embodiment is configured such that the image read by the reading device 8 is recognized by the control unit 7 of the sending device 5. For example, the reading device 8 recognizes character information, and the character information is displayed. It may be configured to output to the sending device 5.

  The inclined portion 22 of the above-described embodiment is inclined so as to be positioned upward as it proceeds in the transport direction, but may be inclined so as to be positioned downward as it proceeds in the transport direction. This is useful, for example, when the collection area is on the upper floor and the conversion unit 3 and the second conveyor 4 are on the lower floor.

  Although the 2nd conveyor 4 of the said embodiment was the structure of several steps of the 1st stage conveyor 41, the 2nd stage conveyor 42, and the 3rd stage conveyor 43, it is the structure of one stage or two stages, or four or more stages. It may be.

  Although the 1st conveyor 2 and the 2nd conveyor 4 of the said embodiment were comprised by the belt conveyor, you may be comprised by the roller conveyor.

  The conversion unit 3 of the above embodiment is configured to change the direction in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the first conveyor 2, but for example, in a direction inclined by 45 ° with respect to the conveyance direction of the first conveyor 2. The direction may be changed. Moreover, the conversion part 3 may be comprised so that a load may be sent out in the direction parallel to the conveyance direction of the 1st conveyor 2, that is, it may be comprised so that a direction change may not be carried out.

  The dispenser of the above embodiment has two delivery plates 65, but may be one delivery plate 65.

  In the above embodiment, the relationship P1 = P1 / n (n is a natural number) between the first pitch P1 and the second pitch is n = 1, but n may be a natural number of 2 or more. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Conveyance apparatus 2 1st conveyor 22 Inclination part 3 Conversion part 4 2nd conveyor 41 1st stage conveyor (upper stage conveyor)
42 Second stage conveyor (lower conveyor)
44 Folding and transferring section 49 Placement area 5 Sending device 8 Reading device 81 Line sensor 9 Baggage 91 Baggage receiving unit P1 First pitch P2 Second pitch

Claims (6)

A transport device having a first conveyor, a conversion unit, and a second conveyor, for transporting a load placed on a transport surface;
A reader which is arranged at a position corresponding to the first conveyor and reads information displayed on the luggage;
Based on the information read by the reading device, one of the plurality of package receiving units arranged at the first pitch along the second conveyor is selected, and the selected package receiving unit is selected. A delivery device for delivering the package to the department,
The first conveyor is configured to continuously convey the load;
The second conveyor has a plurality of placement areas defined at a second pitch that is a reciprocal of the natural number of the first pitch, and is intermittently moved and stopped repeatedly for the second pitch. Configured to transport luggage to
The conversion unit is configured to receive the load from the first conveyor, and to send the load to the second conveyor so that 0 or 1 load is loaded on each of the plurality of placement areas. The sorting device. The first conveyor includes an inclined portion in which the transport surface is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane.
The sorting apparatus according to claim 1. The reader has a line sensor;
The sorting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The reading device has a pair of line sensors arranged on both sides of the inclined portion in the normal direction of the transport surface,
The sorting apparatus according to claim 2. The transport direction of the first conveyor and the transport direction of the second conveyor are arranged so as to intersect in plan view,
The conversion unit is configured to convert the conveyance direction of the luggage from the conveyance direction of the first conveyor to the conveyance direction of the second conveyor.
The sorting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The second conveyor is
An upper conveyor,
A lower conveyor disposed at a position overlapping with the upper conveyor in plan view;
A folding transfer section that is provided at an end portion on the downstream side in the transport direction of the upper conveyor, and that transfers the cargo transported by the upper conveyor to the lower conveyor;
The sorting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

Images