JP3797111B2 - Sorting equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sorting facility that is employed when, for example, various types of books are sorted for each store.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as this type, for example, a sorting facility as disclosed in JP-A-8-301438 has been provided. In this conventional configuration, a sorting belt conveyor (sorting transport device) that sorts loads in the horizontal and horizontal directions with respect to the traveling direction is provided on an upper portion of a traveling carriage that can travel on a certain traveling route. In addition, an input portion for feeding the load from the loading portion to the sorting belt conveyor of the traveling carriage is formed at a predetermined position on the constant traveling route, and a sorting portion is formed on the left and right sides of the constant traveling route.
[0003]
According to such a conventional configuration, the load is loaded onto the sorting belt conveyor of the empty traveling cart while the traveling cart group is traveling on a certain traveling route. When the actual traveling carriage reaches the target sorting section, the sorting belt conveyor that is fed in a non-contact manner is driven in the forward or reverse direction so that the load is delivered to the target sorting section.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to the above-described conventional configuration, each traveling carriage itself is provided with a driving means (control means) for the belt conveyor for sorting, and the entire structure is complicated by the occurrence of power feeding and signal exchange. It was also expensive and poor maintainability.
[0005]
In addition, the position of the load input from the input unit onto the sorting belt conveyor, that is, the support posture of the load by the sorting belt conveyor is not uniform. Therefore, when this sorting belt conveyor is driven to load (send out) the load to the sorting section, the direction of the load is not constant, and the load separation from the belt is not uniform, which is suitable for the sorting section. It is difficult to sort them into In particular, when the load is a book and the sorted books are stacked in the sorting unit, the stacking cannot be performed in an orderly manner.
[0006]
Accordingly According to one aspect of the present invention, together with may easily and inexpensively constitute the entire is intended to provide a sorting installation that can align the supporting posture of the sorting object according to the sorting conveyor .
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-described object, the sorting facility according to claim 1 of the present invention is configured such that an endless transport path is formed by providing a plurality of sorting conveyors in the endless drive body, and facing the transport path. A receiving unit group for receiving an object to be sorted from the sorting conveyor, the sorting conveyor including a pair of rings, an endless rotating body wound around the rings and rotatable in the direction of the conveyance path; Each receiving portion is provided with a turning force applying means for rotating an endless rotating body of a target sorting conveyor, and the sorting conveyor is provided with a horizontal rail on the endless rotating body , Mounted on the endless drive body side so as to be tiltable around a horizontal axis perpendicular to the direction of the transport path, the sorting conveyor accepts the sorting object with the endless rotating body horizontal, and After being largely inclined location has been supplied side as the lower, is returned to the small inclination is obtained is characterized in that is configured to reach the receiving unit group.
[0008]
Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the sorting object can be received by the sorting conveyor with respect to the horizontal endless rotating body. When the sorting conveyor supporting the article to be sorted on the endless rotating body moves to the receiving unit group side, the sorting conveyor can be largely inclined around the horizontal axis so that the supply side of the endless rotating body is in the lower order. Due to this inclination, the article to be sorted slides on the endless rotating body and comes into contact with the horizontal rail located on the supply side. After the support postures of the articles to be sorted are aligned in this way, the endless rotating body is tilted (rotated) around the horizontal axis so as to raise the supply side, and returned to a small tilt. Next, the sorting conveyor group is moved above the receiving unit group, and before and after reaching the target receiving unit, the turning force applying means corresponding to the receiving unit is operated. As a result, the endless rotating body can be rotated in the direction along the transport path, so that the article to be sorted supported by the endless rotating body can be sent out and put into a target receiving portion. Then, when the delivery of the articles to be sorted by the rotation of the endless rotating body is completed, the operation of the turning force applying means is stopped.
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the sorting facility according to the first aspect, wherein the sorting conveyor is provided with a passive ring body that is linked to one of the ring bodies, and the rotational force imparting means is the passive unit. It is characterized in that it is configured to rotate the passive ring by the moving force along the conveying path of the sorting conveyor by being able to approach and separate from the ring and by engaging with the passive ring by its approaching movement. is there.
[0010]
Therefore, according to the invention of claim 2, by moving the rotating power applying means closer, the passive wheel body of the sorting conveyor that has moved is engaged with the rotating power applying means, and one of the passive wheel bodies interlocked with the passive wheel body is engaged. The ring body can be forcibly rotated. By this forced rotation of one of the ring bodies, the endless rotating body can be rotated in the direction along the transport path while the other ring body is idle, and thus the sorted object supported by the endless rotating body. Can be sent out.
[0011]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the sorting apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the passive wheel is a friction wheel, and the rotational force imparting means is a friction rail that can be brought into contact with and separated from the friction wheel. It is characterized by having a body.
[0012]
Therefore, according to the invention of claim 3, when the friction rail body is moved closer, the friction ring body of the sorting conveyor that has moved contacts the friction rail body and rolls on the friction rail body. As a result, the frictional ring body can be rotated by a large frictional resistance, and one of the ring bodies linked to the frictional ring body can be forcibly rotated. By the forced rotation of the ring body, the endless rotating body can be rotated in the direction along the conveyance path.
[0013]
Furthermore, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the sorting equipment according to the third aspect, wherein the rotating power applying means is such that the friction rail body comes into contact with the friction ring body via an elastic force. It is characterized by.
[0014]
Therefore, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the contact of the friction ring body with the friction rail body can be performed while slightly separating the friction rail body against the elastic force. The friction ring body can be rotated in accordance with the amount of movement because it is elastically pressed.
[0015]
In addition, the sorting equipment according to claim 5 of the present invention is the above-described configuration according to claim 3, wherein the friction rail body is configured to be in contact with and separated from the friction ring body via a four-link mechanism, It is characterized by being biased in the contact direction by a spring.
[0016]
Therefore, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the friction rail body can move in contact with the friction ring body in parallel by the four-link mechanism, and even if the contact portion of the friction rail body or the friction ring body is worn out. By the contact urging by the spring, a uniform pressing force (contact force) can always be obtained within a predetermined range.
[0017]
The sorting installation according to claim 6 of the present invention, in the structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5 mentioned above, in order to tilt the sorting conveyor about a horizontal axis, the in the sorting conveyor side A guide body is provided, and an inclination regulating guide means for guiding the guided body is provided along the conveyance path.
[0018]
Therefore, according to the invention of claim 6, the sorting conveyor supporting the sorting object on the endless rotating body guides the guided body by the guide means when moving to the receiving unit group side, The supply side of the endless rotating body can be largely inclined around the horizontal axis so that the supply side is lower, and the supply side is inclined (rotated) around the horizontal axis to return to a small inclination. obtained Ru.
[0020]
The sorting facility according to claim 7 of the present invention is characterized in that, in the configuration according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the sorting conveyor group is attached to the endless drive body in a cantilever manner. It is a thing.
[0021]
Therefore, according to the invention of claim 7, it is possible to provide a simple and good maintainability structure in which the drive and support structure is provided only on one side.
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
2 and 3, a roller chain (an example of an endless drive body) 11 is rotatably provided on the machine frame 1 that can be installed on the floor side. That is, the machine frame 1 has a long frame shape, and the longitudinal axes 13 and 16 are rotatably provided at both end portions in the length direction via the bearing devices 12 and 15, respectively. Sprocket wheels (an example of a ring body) 14 and 17 are respectively attached to the upper portions of the vertical axes 13 and 16, and the roller chain 11 is wound between the sprocket wheels 14 and 17.
[0023]
One sprocket wheel 14 is on the driving side, and is linked to a motor (an example of a driving device) 21 provided in the machine casing 1. That is, the drive sprocket 23 provided on the drive shaft 22 on the motor 21 side and the passive sprocket 24 provided on the longitudinal axis 13 are linked and connected via the transmission chain 25. The passive sprocket wheel 17 is configured to be movable with respect to one sprocket wheel 14 by tension adjusting means (not shown) provided between the machine casing 1 and the bearing device 15. .
[0024]
On the roller chain 11 side, sorting conveyors 31 are provided at a predetermined pitch, and thus a plurality of sorting conveyors 31 form endless transport paths 30. Here, the sorting conveyor 31 group is attached to the roller chain 11 in a cantilever manner.
That is, in FIGS. 2 to 4 and FIGS. 7 to 9, the frame bodies 3 are respectively disposed between the sprocket wheels 14 and 17 and below the pair of left and right linear paths by the roller chain 11. These frame bodies 3 are attached to the machine casing 1. Here, the frame body 3 is shaped like a rail, and on its upper side, a downward receiving guide surface 4 is formed at an inner position, a left and right guide surface 5 is formed at an intermediate position, and an upward support guide at an outer position. Surface 6 is formed. Further, a regulation guide surface 7 (an example of a constituent member of the guide means described later) 7 is formed at the outer position on the lower side.
[0025]
The sorting conveyor 31 is provided with a moving member 32 positioned at the frame body 3, and this moving member 32 is provided on the lower surface side of the roller chain 11 by using the link pin 11 a as a connector. It is connected. A pair of front and rear guide rollers 33 are provided below the moving member 32 to be guided by being fitted to the left and right guide surfaces 5.
[0026]
A support shaft 34 in the left-right direction is passed through the moving member 32, and a receiving roller 35 is provided at the inner end of the support shaft 34 so as to be freely rotatable. The receiving roller 35 is disposed below the receiving guide surface 4. It is contacted from. Further, outside the moving portion 32, a supported roller 36 is provided on the support shaft 34 so as to freely rotate. The supported roller 36 is in contact with the support guide surface 6 from above.
[0027]
The support shaft 34 is elongated outward, and a conveyor frame 37 is provided through a bearing 38. The conveyor frame 37 is orthogonal to the direction of the conveyance path 30 with respect to the roller chain 11 side. A horizontal axis of the shape, that is, a support axis 34A is attached so as to be tiltable. At this time, the position of the support shaft 34 is set closer to the front portion in the direction of the transport path 30, so that the conveyor frame 37 is automatically moved around the support shaft axis 34 </ b> A so that the rear portion thereof is in a lower position by its own weight. Will be inclined.
[0028]
A pair of front and rear roller bodies (an example of a ring body) 40 and 42 are provided on the conveyor frame 37 so as to be freely rotatable via left and right ring body shafts 41 and 43, respectively. An endless belt (an example of an endless rotating body) 44 is wound between the roller bodies 40 and 42, and the endless belt 44 is configured to be rotatable in the direction of the conveyance path 30. In addition, horizontal crosspieces 45 in the belt width direction are provided at four locations on the outer surface of the endless belt 44. At this time, the horizontal crosspiece 45 groups are arranged so as to be simultaneously positioned by being vertically distributed on both roller bodies 40 and 42. It is installed.
[0029]
A bracket 46 is connected to the rear of the conveyor frame 37 at a position on the frame body 3 side, and a guided roller (fitted to the regulation guide surface 7) is provided at the free end of the bracket 46. An example of a guided body) 47 is provided. A friction ring body (an example of a passive ring body) 48 linked to a roller body (one ring body) 40 is provided at an end of the front-side ring body shaft 41 on the frame body 3 side. A friction layer 48 a is laminated on the outer periphery of the friction ring 48.
[0030]
The conveyor frame 37 is provided with a side guide body 49 that is distributed to the left and right. The moving member 32 is provided with guide rollers 39 that are positioned before and after the receiving roller 35. Furthermore, the detected part 50 is provided in the moving member 32. The free end of the bracket 46 is provided with a block portion 46A that abuts against the regulating guide surface 7 when the guided roller 47 is detached and prevents unintentional tilting of the sorting conveyor 31. An example of the sorting conveyor 31 is configured by the above 32 to 50 and the like.
[0031]
The conveyance path 30 has an oval endless shape, and a pair of left and right linear path portions are formed. A supply means 51 is provided to supply a book (an example of an article to be sorted) A onto the sorting conveyor 31 so as to face the starting end portion of one of the linear path portions. Further, a receiving portion 71 group for receiving the book A from the sorting conveyor 31 is provided so as to face the end portion.
[0032]
The sorting conveyor 31 receives the book A from the supply means 51 with the endless belt 44 in a horizontal shape, and is largely inclined with the supply side (supply side with respect to the receiving portion 71) on which the cross rail 45 is positioned as a lower position. After that, an inclination regulating guide means for guiding the guided rollers 47 provided on the sorting conveyor 31 side is provided along the conveying path 30 so as to return to a small inclination and reach the receiving unit 71 group. ing.
[0033]
A part of the guide means is constituted by the restriction guide surface 7 described above, and when the guided roller 47 is guided by the restriction guide surface 7, the endless belt 44 of the sorting conveyor 31 has a small inclination (the inclination angle is 20 degrees). Then, between the upper part of the supply means 51 and the slightly upper part of the receiving portion 71, the forming member of the restriction guide surface 7 in the frame body 3 is removed, and the guide body (guide guide) is removed in the removed part. An example of a constituent member of the means) 8 is provided.
[0034]
The guide body 8 includes a start end raising portion 8a that lifts the guided roller 47 from the restriction guide surface 7, and an upper horizontal portion 8b that is continuous with the start end raising portion 8a and is positioned above the restriction guide surface 7. A descending portion 8c continuous to the upper horizontal portion 8b, a lower horizontal portion 8d continuing to the descending portion 8c and positioned below the regulation guide surface 7, and a regulation guide continuing to the lower horizontal portion 8d. It is comprised by the terminal raising part 8e which guides the to-be-guided roller 47 to the surface 7. FIG.
[0035]
Here, when the guided roller 47 is guided by the upper horizontal portion 8b, the endless belt 44 of the sorting conveyor 31 becomes horizontal, and when the guided roller 47 is guided by the lower horizontal portion 8d, The endless belt 44 of the sorting conveyor 31 is set to have a large inclination (the inclination angle is about 45 °). The guide body 8 is attached to the frame body 3 side.
[0036]
The supply means 51 includes a plurality of belt conveyors, that is, a receiving-side conveyor 52, an intermediate conveyor 53, an input-side conveyor 54, and the like. Then, a receiving portion 55 is formed by the start end portion of the receiving side conveyor 52, and the book A is handed over to the receiving side conveyor 52 artificially or mechanically in the receiving portion 55. Further, the input side conveyor 54 is disposed in an inclined manner with the end at the lower end, and the input portion 56 to the sorting conveyor 31 is formed by the outer side of the end. A bar code reader 57 is provided in the supply means 51.
[0037]
The receiving unit 71 group is disposed below the conveying path 30, and a rotating power applying means 61 for rotating the endless belt 44 of the target sorting conveyor 31 is provided in each receiving unit 71. . Here, the rotational force imparting means 61 is freely movable toward and away from the friction ring 48 and is engaged with the friction ring 48 by the movement of the friction ring 48 so that the friction wheel is moved by the moving force along the conveying path 30 of the sorting conveyor 31. The body 48 is configured to rotate.
[0038]
That is, in FIGS. 1, 7, and 8, the rotational force imparting means 61 has a cylinder device 63 with a guide attached to the frame body 3 via a bracket 62, and a downward piston rod 64 includes An upper elevating body 65 is provided. A lower elevating body 67 is provided below the upper elevating body 65 so as to be able to move up and down relatively via a 4-link mechanism 66. At this time, the lower swing limit of the 4-link mechanism 66 is the upper elevating body. It is regulated by the contact of the link with the stopper portion 68 on the 65 side.
[0039]
A friction rail body 69 that can be brought into contact with and separated from the friction ring body 48 from above is provided below the lower elevating body 67, and a friction layer 69a is laid on the lower surface side of the friction rail body 69. Yes. A coil spring (an example of an urging body) 70 that urges the four-link mechanism 66 to the lower swing limit is provided between the link of the four-link mechanism 66 and the upper elevating body 65. The friction body 69 a of the friction rail body 69 is configured to come into contact with the friction ring body 48 through the elastic force of the coil spring 70.
[0040]
Therefore, in a state where the friction layer 69a of the friction rail body 69 is lowered together with the lower elevating body 67, the friction ring body 48 is brought into contact with the friction layer 69a from below so that the friction by the moving force of the sorting conveyor 31 occurs. The endless belt 44 can be rotated by rotating the ring body 48 to drive and rotate the roller body 40.
[0041]
At this time, the frictional action length of the friction rail body 69 is such that the pair of horizontal rails 45 positioned above the roller bodies 40 and 42 are positioned below the roller bodies 40 and 42, and both the roller bodies 40. , 42 is set so that the pair of horizontal rails 45 positioned above the roller bodies 40, 42 are positioned below the roller bodies 40, 42. An example of the rotational force applying means 61 is configured by the above-described 62 to 70 and the like.
[0042]
The receiving unit 71 group is configured by, for example, a storage box 72 having an open top provided below the transport path 30. Corresponding to each receiving part 71, a detecting means 75 for detecting the detected part 50 in the sorting conveyor 31 is provided.
[0043]
The operation in the above embodiment will be described below.
When sorting the books A by the sorting equipment, each receiving unit 71 sets an empty storage box 72. Here, the storage box 72 is, for example, for each store, and a signal for each store is input to the control unit.
[0044]
Moreover, the sorting conveyor 31 group is moving in an endless train shape on the transport path 30. This is because the drive shaft 22 is rotated by driving the motor 21, and the rotational force is transmitted to the sprocket wheel 14 via the drive sprocket 23, the transmission chain 25, the passive sprocket 24, and the vertical axis 13 to transmit the roller chain 11. By rotating, it is performed via a moving member 32 that is connected to the roller chain 11 and supported and guided to the frame body 3 side.
[0045]
At this time, the lateral deflection and displacement of the moving member 32 can be regulated by guiding the pair of front and rear guide rollers 33 by the left and right guide surfaces 5, and the lifting is received and guided by the receiving roller 35 and the guide roller 39. It can be prevented by receiving and guiding by the surface 4, and lowering can be prevented by supporting and guiding the supported roller 36 by the support guide surface 6.
[0046]
Therefore, while the sorting conveyor 31 group is mounted on the roller chain 11 in a cantilevered manner, that is, the driving and supporting structure is arranged only on one side, the movement of the sorting conveyor 31 group is easy. It can always be done stably. Note that the grouping conveyor 31 that is moving normally has the horizontal rails 45 grouped up and down above both roller bodies 40 and 42 and positioned simultaneously.
[0047]
In such a state, the book A to be sorted is placed on the receiving side conveyor 52 of the supply means 51 from the receiving unit 55. During conveyance from the receiving conveyor 52 to the intermediate conveyor 53, the barcode of the book A is read by the barcode reader 57, and a reading signal is input to the control unit. This book A is input from the input side conveyor 54 to the sorting conveyor 31 located below the input unit 56.
[0048]
At this time, in the sorting conveyor 31, as shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 9A, the guided roller 47 is guided by the upper horizontal portion 8b, so that the endless belt 44 becomes horizontal. It has become. Accordingly, the book A can be easily and reliably inserted into the horizontal endless belt 44. At that time, the book A is inserted by selecting either the right side or the left side in the width direction of the endless belt 44, thereby determining which of the left and right storage portions 73 is to be stored.
[0049]
As described above, the sorting conveyor 31 supporting the book A on the endless belt 44 can move from the input unit 56 to the receiving unit 71 group side. In this movement, as shown in FIG. 9 (b), the guided roller 47 is guided from the upper horizontal portion 8b to the descending portion 8c, so that the sorting conveyor 31, that is, the endless belt 44, It is inclined (rotated) around the support shaft axis 34A so that the supply side at the rear end is lower.
[0050]
Then, by guiding the guided roller 47 from the descending portion 8c to the lower horizontal portion 8d, the endless belt 44 is greatly inclined (the inclination angle is as shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 6 imaginary line, FIG. 9B). 45 degrees). Due to this inclination, the book A slides on the endless belt 44 and comes into contact with the crosspiece 45 located on the supply side at the rear end. As a result, the supporting posture of the book A that has been put on the endless belt 44 in an irregular direction can be automatically aligned.
[0051]
After aligning the supporting posture of the book A in this way, as shown in FIG. 9C, the guided roller 47 is guided from the lower horizontal portion 8d to the terminal ascending portion 8e. The belt 44 is inclined (rotated) around the support shaft axis 34A so as to raise the supply side at the rear end thereof. Then, by guiding the guided roller 47 from the terminal rising portion 8e to the restricting guide surface 7, the endless belt 44 is slightly inclined (inclined) as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, and FIG. The angle is returned to about 20 °).
[0052]
Thus, the sorting conveyor 31 group having the endless belt 44 having a small inclination is moved above the receiving unit 71 group. Then, before the sorting conveyor 31 reaches the intended receiving portion 71, the detecting unit 75 detects the detected portion 50 on the sorting conveyor 31 side. Based on the detection signal, the receiving portion 71 The corresponding turning force applying means 61 is operated.
[0053]
That is, the upper lifting body 65 is lowered by the extension movement of the cylinder device 63 and the lower lifting body 67 is lowered via the four-link mechanism 66, so that the friction rail body 69 is positioned lower. Then, the friction ring body 48 of the sorting conveyor 31 that has moved enters under the friction rail body 69, and the friction layer 48 a rolls on the friction layer 69 a of the friction rail body 69.
[0054]
Thereby, the friction ring 48 can be reliably rotated by a large frictional resistance, and the roller body 40 can be forcibly rotated via the ring body shaft 41 to which the friction ring 48 is attached. By the forced rotation of the roller body 40, the endless belt 44 can be rotated in the direction along the conveyance path 30 so that the upper portion thereof is inclined downward while the roller body 42 is rotated. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 9D, the book A supported by the endless belt 44 is sent out and put into a target storage box 72.
[0055]
At that time, as described above, the book A on the endless belt 44 has the same orientation and the like so that the direction of the book A can be sent out in a fixed state. Since it can be made uniform from the beginning to the end, it can be suitably sorted into the storage box 72.
[0056]
Further, as described above, with the endless belt 44 inclined, the endless belt 44 is rotated to send out the book A, whereby the receiving unit 71 group is provided below the sorting conveyor 31 group, that is, below the conveying path 30. The space can be saved, and can be directly sorted into the storage portion 73 of the storage box 72, and a slide (slide plate) is provided separately. Compared to the format, the plane space can be reduced and the layout configuration can be easily performed.
[0057]
The above-described entry of the friction ring body 48 under the friction rail body 69 is performed while slightly raising the friction rail body 69 against the coil spring 70, so that the friction layer 48a is in contact with the friction layer 69a. Therefore, the frictional ring body 48 can be reliably rotated according to the amount of movement.
[0058]
As a result, the endless belt 44 is rotated by positioning the pair of horizontal rails 45 located above the roller bodies 40 and 42 below the roller bodies 40 and 42, and below the roller bodies 40 and 42. The pair of horizontal rails 45 located at the position of the two can be reliably rotated half a turn so as to be positioned above the roller bodies 40 and 42.
[0059]
As described above, when the delivery operation of the book A by the rotation of the endless belt 44 is completed, the power applying means 61 is reversely operated, and the friction rail body 69 and the like are moved up to the non-operation position. In addition, when the book A that has been subsequently conveyed is sent out to the same storage box 72, the friction rail body 69 and the like may be put on standby in the lowered operating position without being moved up to the non-operating position.
[0060]
It should be noted that the storage of the book A in the storage box 72 and the insertion / removal of the storage box 72 with respect to the receiving portion 71 can be easily handled because the external shape of the storage box 72 is vertical.
[0061]
In the above-described embodiment, the book A is shown as an article to be sorted, but this may be another article, a load, or the like. And the shape of the receiving part 71 changes with kinds of to-be-sorted thing.
[0062]
In the above-described embodiment, the endless belt 44 is employed as the endless rotating body, but various forms such as a multi-strand chain, a roller chain, and a slat conveyor can be employed.
[0063]
In the above-described embodiment, a form in which the friction rail body 69 can be brought into contact with and separated from the friction ring body (passive ring body) 48 is shown as the rotational force imparting means 61. The type in which the rack body can be engaged with the ring body), the type in which the rail body is in contact with and separated from the roller (passive ring body) without using the friction layers 48a and 69a, or the like may be used.
[0064]
In the above-described embodiment, the endless belt 44 of the sorting conveyor 31 is inclined around the support shaft axis 34A so that the supply side at the rear end is lower, but this is such that the supply side at the front end is lower. Alternatively, it may be tilted around the support shaft axis 34A. In this case, the rotational force applying means 61 is configured such that the friction rail body 69 is in contact with and separated from the friction ring body 48 from below.
[0065]
In the above-described embodiment, the receiving unit 71 group is disposed below the transport path 30. This is because the book A sent out by the endless belt 44 is taken out to the side by a chute or a conveyor, and then the storage box 72. It may be in a form that is input to
[0066]
In the embodiment described above, the sorting conveyor 31 group is attached to the roller chain 11 in a cantilevered manner. This is because the roller chain 11 is disposed on both sides, and the sorting conveyor 31 group is interposed between the roller chains 11. It may be a form attached to both ends.
[0067]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention described above, it is possible to easily and surely accept the sorting object to the sorting conveyor with respect to the horizontal endless rotating body. When the sorting conveyor supporting the article to be sorted on the endless rotating body moves to the receiving unit group side, the sorting conveyor can be largely inclined around the horizontal axis so that the supply side of the endless rotating body is in the lower order. Due to this inclination, the object to be sorted slides on the endless rotating body and comes into contact with the horizontal rail located on the supply side, and thus the object to be supported is supported with uneven orientation on the endless rotating body. The support posture can be automatically aligned. After aligning the support posture of the articles to be sorted in this way, the endless rotating body can be tilted (rotated) around the horizontal axis so as to raise its supply side and returned to a small inclination.
Next, the sorting conveyor group is moved above the receiving unit group, and before and after reaching the target receiving unit, the turning force applying means corresponding to the receiving unit is operated to move the endless rotating body into the conveying path. It is possible to rotate in the direction along which the material to be sorted supported by the endless rotating body can be sent out and put into the intended receiving section. At that time, the objects to be sorted on the endless rotating body can be sent out in a uniform state by aligning the direction, etc., and the separation of the objects to be sorted from the endless rotating body is also from the beginning to the end. Since it can be made uniform, it can be suitably sorted into the receiving part. Further , it is not necessary to provide driving means (control means) on each sorting conveyor side, and since there is no need for power feeding and signal sharing, the whole can be configured easily and inexpensively and maintainability can be improved.
[0068]
According to claim 2 of the present invention described above, by moving the turning force applying means closer, the passive wheel body of the sorting conveyor that has moved is engaged with the turning force applying means, and interlocked with the passive wheel body. One wheel can be forcibly rotated. The forced rotation of the one ring body allows the endless rotating body to be rotated in the direction along the transport path while causing the other ring body to rotate, so that the sorting object supported by the endless rotating body can be Can be sent out.
[0069]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the friction rail body of the sorting conveyor that has moved can be brought into contact with the friction rail body and moved on the friction rail body by moving the friction rail body closer. become. As a result, the frictional ring body can be reliably rotated by a large frictional resistance, one of the ring bodies linked to the frictional ring body can be forcibly rotated, and the endless rotating body can be rotated in the direction along the conveyance path.
[0070]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention described above, the contact of the friction ring body with the friction rail body can be performed while slightly separating the friction rail body against the elastic force. The friction rail body is elastically pressed against the friction rail body, and the rotation of the friction ring body can be reliably performed in accordance with the amount of movement. Thereby, the endless rotating body can be reliably rotated by a desired amount of rotation.
[0071]
Moreover, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention described above, the friction rail body can be moved in contact with the friction ring body in parallel by the four-link mechanism, and the contact portion of the friction rail body and the friction ring body is worn out. Even so, by the contact urging by the spring, a uniform pressing force (contact force) can always be obtained within a predetermined range, so that the rotational power can be stably applied.
[0072]
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention described above, the sorting conveyor supporting the sorting object on the endless rotating body guides the guided body by the guide means when moving to the receiving section group side. Thus, the supply side of the endless rotating body can be tilted largely around the horizontal axis so that the supply side is lower, and the supply side is tilted (rotated) around the horizontal axis to raise the supply side to a small inclination. Can be returned .
[0074]
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention described above, it is possible to provide a simple and good maintainability structure in which the driving and supporting structure is provided only on one side.
[Brief description of the drawings]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a longitudinal side view showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention, in a state where a sorting conveyor is inclined slightly in a sorting facility.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the sorting equipment.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the sorting equipment.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the sorting equipment with the sorting conveyor in a horizontal state.
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal side view of the sorting equipment with a sorting conveyor greatly inclined.
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal front view of the sorting equipment with the sorting conveyor in a horizontal state.
FIG. 7 is a longitudinal front view of the sorting equipment with the sorting conveyor inclined slightly.
FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway plan view of the sorting equipment with the sorting conveyor tilted slightly.
FIG. 9 is a schematic side view illustrating an inclined state of a sorting conveyor in the sorting facility.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Machine frame 3 Frame body 4 Guide guide surface 5 Left and right guide surface 6 Support guide surface 7 Regulation guide surface (guide means)
8 Guide body (guide means)
8a Start end rising portion 8b Upper horizontal portion 8c Lowering portion 8d Lower horizontal portion 8e End raising portion 11 Roller chain (endless drive body)
14 Sprocket wheel
17 Sprocket wheel
21 Motor (drive device)
25 Transmission chain 30 Transport path 31 Sorting conveyor 32 Moving member 33 Guide roller 34A Support shaft axis (horizontal axis)
35 Supported roller 36 Supported roller 40 Roller body (ring body)
42 Roller body
44 Endless belt (endless rotating body)
45 Horizontal rail 47 Guided roller (guided body)
48 Friction wheel (passive wheel)
48a Friction layer 50 Detected part 51 Supply means 56 Input part 61 Turning power applying means 63 Cylinder device 65 Upper lift body 66 Quad linkage mechanism 67 Lower lift body 69 Friction rail body 69a Friction layer 70 Coil spring (biasing body)
71 Receiving part 72 Storage box A Book (sorted item)

Claims (7)

A plurality of sorting conveyors are provided on the endless drive body to form an endless transfer path, and a receiving unit group for receiving an object to be sorted from the sorting conveyor is provided opposite to the transfer path. And an endless rotating body that is wound between these annular bodies and is rotatable in the direction of the conveyance path, and an endless rotating body of a target sorting conveyor is wound around each receiving portion. Rotating force imparting means is provided, and the sorting conveyor is provided with a horizontal rail on the endless rotating body, and can be tilted around the horizontal axis perpendicular to the direction of the conveyance path on the endless driving body side. The sorting conveyor receives an article to be sorted with its endless rotating body in a horizontal state, and is largely inclined with the supply side on which the horizontal rail is positioned as a lower position, and then returned to a small inclination and received. Sorting installation, characterized by being configured to reach the putting portion group.   The sorting conveyor is provided with a passive ring body linked to one of the ring bodies. 2. The sorting equipment according to claim 1, wherein the passive wheel is rotated by a moving force along a conveying path of the conveyor.   3. The sorting equipment according to claim 2, wherein the passive ring body is a friction ring body, and the rotational force imparting means has a friction rail body that can be brought into contact with and separated from the friction ring body.   4. The sorting equipment according to claim 3, wherein the rotating power applying means is such that the friction rail body is brought into contact with the friction ring body via an elastic force.   4. The sorting equipment according to claim 3, wherein the friction rail body is configured so as to be in contact with and separated from the friction ring body via a four-link mechanism and is biased in a contact direction by a spring. . In order to incline the sorting conveyor about a horizontal axis, together with the guide body is provided on the sorting conveyor side, the guide means for the inclined regulating this guided body is guided are provided along the conveying path The sorting facility according to claim 1, wherein the sorting facility is provided.   The sorting equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the sorting conveyor group is attached to the endless drive body in a cantilever manner.

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