JP4561166B2 - Sorting device and sorting method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sorting apparatus and a sorting method for judging an object to be sorted conveyed on a conveyance path based on a predetermined determination criterion and sorting based on the determination result.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, sorting apparatuses that take out a large number of objects to be sorted in an aligned state from a feeder or rack, inspect the objects to be sorted one by one, and classify them into non-defective products and defective products are known. For example, it is as described in Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document 1.

  The sorting apparatus described in Patent Document 1 uses screws as objects to be sorted, and sorts and removes different types of screws and defective screws mixed in non-defective screws. The sorting device takes out the screws in an aligned state from the parts feeder, and inspects the external shape of the screws by the image processing device one by one on the conveyance path, and the different types of screws and defective screws that have reached the sorting position are left as they are. Non-defective screws that have been transported and collected downstream of the transport path and have reached the sorting position are moved out of the transport path by blowing air with an air nozzle, and collected in a non-defective pocket provided on the side of the transport path.

  In addition, the sorting device described in Non-Patent Document 1 sorts metal pieces called elements (blocks of CVT belts), which are components that constitute a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) used in automobiles and the like. In this case, defective products mixed with non-defective products (those with scratches on the saddle surface) are selected and removed. The sorting apparatus takes out the elements arranged and stored in a predetermined container (supply rack) in the previous process one by one by a cutting mechanism, and transports the extracted elements along a transport path. And while acquiring the image information of the element conveyed along a conveyance path | route by the image processing apparatus provided in the middle part of this conveyance path | route, element based on this acquired image information and a predetermined criterion The defective product is collected in a sorted product unit provided on the downstream side of the image processing apparatus in the transport path, and the non-defective product is stored in a predetermined container (storage rack) provided at the end of the transport path. To recover.

JP-A-6-167323 Honda R & D Technical Review Vol. 15 No. 2 (October 2003) p. 59-66

The sorting device described in Patent Document 1 is excellent in that defective screws and different types of screws are not mixed into a non-defective pocket even when air blowing by an air nozzle does not work well.
However, the sorting device described in Patent Document 1 does not recognize individual screws and is required for the screws to move from a position for inspection (inspection position) to a position for selection (selection position) along the transport path. Based on the premise that the time is substantially constant, the air nozzle stops blowing air to the screw that has reached the sorting position in a time zone in which a different type of screw or a defective screw is expected to pass through the sorting position.
For this reason, the non-defective screw that moves on the conveyance path in the vicinity of the dissimilar screw or the defective screw is collected together with the dissimilar screw or the defective screw, and the yield of the non-defective screw recovered in the non-defective pocket decreases. is there.

The sorting device described in Non-Patent Document 1 is such that the elements are transported one by one on the transport path, and the next element is transported on the transport path until the element taken out by the cutting mechanism is collected in the sorted product unit or the storage rack. Therefore, it is superior to the sorting apparatus described in Patent Document 1 in that a non-defective product is not mixed with a defective product during sorting, and the good product can be reliably collected.
However, the sorting device described in Non-Patent Document 1 has a problem that the time required for sorting per element becomes long.

  In view of the circumstances as described above, the present invention provides a sorting apparatus and a sorting method that can sort the objects to be sorted one by one and that can sort at high speed (the time required for sorting can be shortened).

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is as described above. Next, means for solving the problem will be described.

That is, in claim 1, a transport path for transporting a plurality of objects to be sorted while maintaining the order;
An inspection unit that is provided in the middle of the conveyance path, detects each object to be sorted, and acquires information related to each object to be sorted;
Based on the information from the inspection unit and a predetermined criterion, it is possible to determine each item to be sorted, and for each item to be sorted, information including the determination result and the order of passage through the inspection unit can be stored. A determination unit,
A sorting unit that is provided on the downstream side of the inspection unit in the transport path, and that sorts the objects to be sorted based on the determination result corresponding to the same passing order as the arrival order reached by the objects to be sorted ,
The transport path is configured by a gutter member that can be transported while holding an object to be sorted in a predetermined posture,
The objects to be sorted are substantially the same shape and can be arranged without gaps in the conveyance direction, and are conveyed in a state of being arranged without gaps by the conveyance path,
The transport path is configured to hold the order of the objects to be transported along the transport path at least from the position where the inspection unit is disposed to the position where the screening unit is disposed. It is what.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the plurality of objects to be sorted are CVT belt blocks.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the number of objects to be sorted, which is the number of objects to be sorted that are arranged without gaps from the sorting unit toward the upstream side of the conveyance path, has no gap in the section sandwiched between the inspection unit and the sorting unit. If the number is less than the number of stays, the sorting of the items to be sorted by the sorting unit is temporarily stopped.
When the number of alignment is equal to or greater than the number of stays, the sorting of the objects to be sorted by the sorting unit is resumed.

In Claim 4 , when a predetermined time has elapsed after the first object to be detected is detected by the inspection unit, if the same number of objects to be retained are not detected by the inspection unit, the selection unit This stops the sorting of objects to be sorted.

In Claim 5 , when the remaining number of the to-be-sorted objects conveyed along the conveyance path from the upstream side of the inspection unit becomes less than the staying number, the aligned number becomes less than the staying number. Also, the sorting of sorting objects by the sorting unit is not temporarily stopped.

In claim 6 , a plurality of objects to be sorted are transported while maintaining the order along the transport path,
Detecting the plurality of objects to be sorted at an inspection position in the middle of the conveyance path and acquiring information related to the plurality of objects to be sorted,
Based on the acquired information and a predetermined determination criterion, determine each item to be sorted,
For each item to be sorted, information that combines the determination result and the passing order of inspection positions is stored,
In the sorting position located on the downstream side of the inspection position on the transport path, the sorting object is sorted based on the determination result corresponding to the same passing order as the arrival order that the sorting object has reached the sorting position ,
The transport path is configured by a gutter member that can be transported while holding an object to be sorted in a predetermined posture,
The objects to be sorted are substantially the same shape and can be arranged without gaps in the conveyance direction, and are conveyed in a state of being arranged without gaps by the conveyance path,
The transport path is configured to hold the order of the objects to be transported along the transport path at least from the position where the inspection unit is disposed to the position where the screening unit is disposed. It is what.

In a seventh aspect of the present invention, the plurality of objects to be sorted are CVT belt blocks.

According to claim 8 , the number of objects to be sorted, which is the number of objects to be sorted arranged without gaps from the sorting position toward the upstream side of the conveyance path, is selected without gaps in a section sandwiched between the inspection position and the sorting position. If the number is less than the number of stays, the sorting of the objects to be sorted at the sorting position is temporarily stopped.
When the number of alignment is equal to or greater than the number of stays, the sorting of the objects to be sorted at the sorting position is resumed.

The selection position according to claim 9 , wherein, even when a predetermined time elapses after the first object to be detected is detected at the inspection position, the same number of objects to be detected are not detected at the inspection position. This stops the sorting of objects to be sorted.

In Claim 10 , when the remaining number of the to-be-sorted objects conveyed along the conveyance path from the upstream side of the inspection position becomes less than the staying number, the alignment number becomes less than the staying number. Also, the sorting of the objects to be sorted at the sorting position is not temporarily stopped.

  As effects of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reliably sort the objects to be sorted one by one, and to shorten the time required for sorting the objects to be sorted from inspection to sorting, thereby enabling high-speed sorting.
Further, it is not necessary to provide a mechanism for temporarily stopping the object to be sorted at a predetermined position corresponding to the inspection unit, and the sorting device can be simplified.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is not necessary to provide a mechanism for temporarily stopping the block of the CVT belt at a predetermined position corresponding to the inspection unit, and the sorting device can be simplified.

In the third aspect of the present invention, the object to be sorted that has already stayed in the state where there is no gap between the inspection unit and the selection unit is placed at a predetermined position corresponding to the inspection unit. It can serve as a stopper for temporarily stopping and simplify the sorting device.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the order of passage through the inspection unit and the order of arrival at the sorting unit are “shifted”, and the reliability of the sorting operation is improved.

According to the fifth aspect , even when the objects to be sorted are supplied to the sorting apparatus as a lot having a predetermined number as a unit, sorting work can be performed up to the last one for the lot.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the objects to be sorted are reliably sorted one by one, and the time required to sort each article to be sorted from inspection is shortened to enable high-speed sorting.
Further, it is not necessary to provide a mechanism for temporarily stopping the object to be sorted at a predetermined position corresponding to the inspection unit, and the sorting device can be simplified.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is not necessary to provide a mechanism for temporarily stopping the block of the CVT belt at a predetermined position corresponding to the inspection position, and the sorting device can be simplified.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the object to be sorted that has already stayed in the state where there is no gap between the inspection position and the selection position is a predetermined position corresponding to the inspection position. It can serve as a stopper for temporarily stopping and simplify the sorting device.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the order of passing through the inspection positions and the order of arrival at the sorting position are “shifted”, and the reliability of the sorting work is improved.

According to the tenth aspect , even when the sorting work is performed as a lot with a predetermined number as a unit, the sorting work can be performed up to the last one for the lot.

Below, the whole structure of the sorting apparatus 1 which is one Embodiment of the sorting apparatus of this invention is demonstrated using FIGS. 1-4.
The sorting apparatus of the present invention can be widely applied to uses for sorting objects to be sorted that can be transported along a transport path. Therefore, the object to be sorted is not limited to the CVT belt block 6 (shown in FIG. 3) handled by the sorting apparatus 1 of this embodiment. Hereinafter, the block 6 of the CVT belt is abbreviated as “block 6”.

  The sorting device 1 mainly includes a transport path 2, an inspection unit 3, a determination unit 4, a sorting unit 5, and the like.

The transport path 2 transports the blocks 6, 6... Supplied from the parts feeder 21 provided at the most upstream part of the transport path 2 toward the sorting unit 5.
At this time, the transport path 2 changes the order of the blocks 6 transported along the transport path 2 from the position (inspection position) where the inspection unit 3 is disposed at least (the position where the selection unit 5 is disposed). ) Until it is held.
Here, “preserve the order of the blocks 6” means that the block 6 transported along the transport path 2 overtakes another block 6 transported along the transport path 2 or another block 6. The order of passing through the inspection position (passing order) and the order of reaching the sorting position (arrival order) correspond to each other without being overtaken.

  The conveyance path 2 in the present embodiment is a substantially U-shaped rail (opening) whose upper surface is opened in a cross-sectional view, and supports the side surface so that the block 6 does not fall down (a predetermined posture on the conveyance path 2). Can be conveyed). The block 6 is transported to the downstream side of the transport path 2 by inclining so that the downstream side of the rail is lowered or by blowing air onto the rail.

In addition, the structure of a conveyance path | route is not limited to the said conveyance path | route 2, Other structures (if the plurality of blocks 6.6... Can be conveyed while maintaining the order of the plurality of blocks 6.6. For example, a belt conveyor may be used.
Further, when the transport path 2 is connected to another process and the blocks 6, 6,... Are supplied from the process to the transport path 2, the parts feeder 21 can be omitted.

The inspection unit 3 detects each block 6 transported along the transport path 2 and acquires information about each block 6, and is provided in the middle of the transport path 2. Here, “information about each block 6” refers to information used to determine the quality, grade, type, or the like of each block 6.
The inspection unit 3 in the present embodiment is mainly composed of passage information acquisition means 31, quality information acquisition means 32, and the like.

The passage information acquisition unit 31 acquires information on the presence or absence of the block 6 at the position (inspection position) where the inspection unit 3 is disposed (in other words, detects the block 6).
The passage information acquisition means 31 in this embodiment is an optical sensor, and is connected to an information processing apparatus 41 described later, and transmits information related to the presence or absence of the block 6 at the inspection position to the information processing apparatus 41.
Therefore, the information processing apparatus 41 shifts from the state where the block 6 is not detected (off) to the state where the block 6 is detected (on) based on the information from the passage information acquisition unit 31, and detects the block 6 again. When the state returns to the off state (off), it can be determined that one block 6 has passed the inspection unit 3.
The passage information acquisition unit 31 is not limited to the optical sensor as in the present embodiment, and may have another configuration (for example, a capacitance sensor or a touch sensor) as long as it can detect the presence or absence of the block 6 at the inspection position. Depending on the object to be sorted, it can be appropriately selected.

The quality information acquisition means 32 acquires information relating to the quality of the block 6 that passes through the position (inspection position) where the inspection unit 3 is disposed. Here, “the quality of the block 6” means the quality, grade or type of the block 6.
The quality information acquisition means 32 in this embodiment is a CCD camera, and acquires information (image information) related to the outer shape of the block 6.
Here, when the passage information acquisition means 31 shifts to the state where the block 6 is detected (ON), the block 6 is substantially in front of the quality information acquisition means 32 (that is, the quality information acquisition means 32 is the outer shape of the block 6). The positional relationship between the passage information acquisition unit 31 and the quality information acquisition unit 32 is determined so as to be positioned at a position suitable for acquiring information (image information) related to the above.
The quality information acquisition means 32 is connected to an information processing device 41 described later, and information (image information) relating to the outer shape of the block 6 that passes through the position (inspection position) where the inspection unit 3 is disposed. Send to.

The quality information acquisition means 32 is not limited to the CCD camera as in the present embodiment, and any other information can be used as long as it can acquire information relating to the quality of the block 6 that passes the position (inspection position) where the inspection unit 3 is disposed. (For example, an infrared camera, an infrared light sensor, etc.) may be used, and can be appropriately selected according to the object to be sorted.
In addition, the inspection unit 3 in the present embodiment includes the passage information acquisition unit 31 and the quality information acquisition unit 32, but the information on the presence / absence of the block 6 and the quality of the object to be sorted conveyed along the conveyance path 2. Any other configuration may be used as long as the information (information necessary for determination by the determination unit 4 described later) can be acquired.

The determination unit 4 is mainly composed of an information processing device 41 and the like.
More specifically, the information processing apparatus 41 includes a CPU, a memory, and the like, acquires various information from the passage information acquisition unit 31 and the quality information acquisition unit 32 connected to the information processing apparatus 41, and stores the information. It is possible to perform processing based on a program stored inside.

  Based on the information (image information) related to the outer shape of the block 6 acquired from the quality information acquisition unit 32 and the predetermined determination criterion stored in advance in the information processing apparatus 41, the information processing apparatus 41 Make a decision.

Here, the “predetermined criterion” is a criterion for determining the quality, grade, or type of the object to be sorted.
In this embodiment, when assembled as a CVT belt, the size of chips and scratches present on the saddle surface 6a (see FIG. 3) of the block 6, which is a portion that contacts the metal belt that bundles the blocks 6, 6,. The ratio of the chipping and scratches to the area of the saddle surface 6a (area ratio), the number of chips and scratches, and the like are the predetermined determination criteria.
In addition, it is necessary to appropriately set the predetermined criterion according to the type, size, material, etc. of the object to be sorted, and as in this embodiment, the size of the chipping or scratches based on the image information of the object to be sorted, It is not limited to the area ratio, number, etc.

  The information processing apparatus 41 appropriately processes information (image information) related to the outer shape of each block 6 acquired from the quality information acquisition unit 32 into a state suitable for determination. Next, the information processed for each block 6 is compared with a predetermined determination criterion, and the saddle surface 6a has a predetermined size, a predetermined area, or a predetermined number of chips and scratches that are non-defective. A certain thing is determined to be defective.

Further, the information processing apparatus 41, based on the information regarding the presence / absence of the block 6 acquired from the passage information acquisition unit 31, the order in which each block 6 passed through the inspection unit 3 (hereinafter referred to as “passing order”). Give.
And the information (illustrated in FIG. 4) that combines the determination result for each block 6 and the passing order corresponding to the determination result is stored.

The information processing apparatus 41 according to the present embodiment is configured to perform pass / fail determination for selecting the blocks 6, 6... Into non-defective products (OK) and defective products (NG). It is also possible to adopt a configuration for performing type determination.
As an example of the grade determination, there is a case of sorting into three grades: a non-defective product, a defective product with small chipping, and a defective product with large chipping. In addition, as examples of the type determination, there are three types: a non-defective product, a defective product having an abnormality in the shape other than the saddle surface 6a, and a defective product having a chip or scratch on the saddle surface 6a. The case where it sorts into a type is mentioned.
In addition, regarding the handling of the information that combines the determination result and the passage order in the information processing apparatus 41, (1) store all the acquired information and perform manual work (work by the worker) or automatically sorted objects. A configuration in which information relating to the selected item is erased or erased after being printed out or stored in an external storage medium (CD-ROM, another hard disk, etc.), (2) a predetermined number (for example, the number of stays described later) A method of storing only information related to the object to be selected and automatically deleting information related to the object to be selected in order can be considered. However, the information may be appropriately selected according to the object to be selected.

The sorting unit 5 sorts the blocks 6 based on the determination result corresponding to the same passing order as the order in which the blocks 6 arrived (hereinafter referred to as “arrival order”). The sorting unit 5 is provided on the downstream side of the inspection unit 3 in the transport path 2.
The sorting unit 5 mainly includes a cutting device 51, arrival information acquisition means 52, a defective product collection mechanism 53, a non-defective product collection container 54, a control device 55, and the like.

The cutting device 51 is provided in the most downstream part of the transport path 2. The cutting device 51 takes out the first block 6 (located on the most downstream side in the transport path 2) from the transport path 2 among the blocks 6, 6... Transported along the transport path 2. .
The cutout device 51 in this embodiment is a position for taking out the earliest block 6 from the transport path 2 (takeout position, shown by a solid line in FIG. 2), and a position for dropping the earliest block 6 downward (falling position, FIG. 2 is moved up and down between the two lines.

  The cutting device 51 is not limited to the present embodiment, and any other block 6 can be taken out of the blocks 6, 6... Transported along the transport path 2. The configuration of

The arrival information acquisition means 52 is information regarding the presence or absence of the block 6 at the position (sorting position) where the sorting unit 5 is arranged (more specifically, a position where the cutting device 51 can take out the block 6 from the transport path 2). Information on whether or not the earliest block 6 has arrived.
The arrival information acquisition means 52 in this embodiment is an optical sensor, is connected to a control device 55 described later, and transmits information related to the presence or absence of the block 6 at the selection position to the control device 55.
Therefore, when the control device 55 shifts from the state where the block 6 is not detected (off) to the state where the block 6 is detected (on) based on the information from the arrival information acquisition unit 52, the clipping device 51 It is possible to determine that the earliest block 6 has arrived at a position where the block 6 can be taken out from the transport path 2, and when the block 6 is not detected again (off), it is cut out It can be determined that the device 51 has dropped the block 6 downward.
The arrival information acquisition means 52 is not limited to the optical sensor as in the present embodiment, and may have another configuration (for example, a capacitance sensor or a touch sensor) as long as it can detect the presence or absence of the block 6 at the sorting position. Depending on the object to be sorted, it can be appropriately selected.

The defective product collection mechanism 53 receives and collects the block 6 that has been determined to be defective by the determination unit 4 from the cutting device 51 and determines that the block 6 has been determined to be non-defective by the determination unit 4. When the block 6 has dropped from the cutting device 51, the block 6 is dropped as it is, so that the block 6 is sorted into a non-defective product and a defective product.
The defective product collection mechanism 53 includes a position below the cutout mechanism 51 (defective product collection position, shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2) and a position retracted from below the cutout mechanism 51 (non-defective product passing position, solid line in FIG. 2). ), And is configured to be movable between.

The defective product collecting mechanism 53 is not limited to the present embodiment, and may have another configuration as long as the block 6 taken out by the cutting device 51 can be selectively collected.
If the block 6 taken out by the cutting device 51 itself can be selectively moved (for example, a good product and a defective product are dropped to another location), the defective product collection mechanism 53 is omitted. It is also possible to do.

The non-defective product collection container 54 is a container for collecting the block 6 that is determined to be non-defective by the determination unit 4. The non-defective product collection container 54 is disposed below the cutting device 51 and at a position below the defective product collection mechanism 53 when it is in the defective product collection position.
In addition, when the good product which fell from the cutting-out apparatus 51 is continuously supplied to the conveyance path | route (not shown) to the following process, it is also possible to abbreviate | omit the good product collection container 54. FIG.

  The control device 55 is connected to the cutout mechanism 51, the arrival information acquisition means 52, the defective product collection mechanism 53, and the determination unit 4 (information processing device 41). More specifically, the control device 55 is configured by a CPU, a memory, and the like, and may acquire various information from each component member connected to the control device 55 or issue a command to each component member. Is possible.

Based on the information acquired from the arrival information acquisition means 52, the control device 55 assigns an order (hereinafter referred to as “arrival order”) to each block 6 that has reached the clipping device 51.
The control device 55 compares the information obtained by combining the passage order acquired from the information processing device 41 and the determination result with the arrival order of the block 6 reaching the clipping device 51, and the same passage order as the arrival order. The defective product collection mechanism 53 is operated based on the determination result corresponding to.
That is, if the determination result corresponding to the same passing order as the arrival order of the blocks 6 reaching the clipping device 51 is a non-defective product (OK), the control device 55 holds the defective product recovery mechanism 53 at the non-defective product passing position. If the determination result is a defective product (NG), the defective product collection mechanism 53 is moved to the defective product collection position.

  Next, the control device 55 moves (lowers) the cutout mechanism 51 from the takeout position to the drop position, and drops the block 6 that has reached the cutout mechanism 51. The block 6 is collected in the non-defective product collection container 54 when it is determined to be a non-defective product by the determination unit 4, and is recovered by the defective product recovery mechanism 53 if it is determined as a defective product by the determination unit 4.

  Subsequently, the control device 55 moves (raises) the cut-out mechanism 51 from the drop position to the take-out position, and holds the defective product collection mechanism 53 at the non-defective product passage position (or moves from the defective product collection position to the non-defective product passage position). . The first block 6 among the blocks 6, 6... Being conveyed while maintaining the order along the conveyance path 2 at this time reaches the cut-out mechanism 51 moved to the take-out position, and acquisition information is acquired. The means 52 detects that the block 6 has reached the cutting mechanism 51. Thereafter, the selection unit 5 repeats the above operation.

  In the present embodiment, the control device 55 and the information processing device 41 are configured separately, but the control device 55 and the information processing device 41 may be configured integrally. A commercially available personal computer or the like can also be used as the control device 55 or the information processing device 41.

As described above, the sorting apparatus 1 which is one embodiment of the sorting apparatus of the present invention is
A transport path 2 for transporting a plurality of objects to be sorted (block 6) while maintaining the order;
An inspection unit 3 that is provided in the middle of the conveyance path 2 and obtains information on each object to be sorted;
While determining each object to be sorted based on information from the inspection unit 3 and a predetermined determination criterion, for each object to be sorted, information including the determination result and the order of passage through the inspection unit 3 A determination unit 4 capable of storing;
A sorting unit 5 that is provided on the downstream side of the inspection unit 3 in the transport path 2 and sorts the objects to be sorted based on a determination result corresponding to the same passing order as the arrival order of the objects to be sorted;
It comprises.

Such a configuration has the following advantages. In other words, the sorting apparatus described in Non-Patent Document 1 acquires information on the object to be sorted in the inspection unit, and performs a pass / fail judgment based on the information (determination result) and the sorted object that has reached the sorting unit. In order to match the objects, the objects to be sorted must be transported one by one in the section sandwiched between the inspection section and the sorting section in the transport path (two or more in the section sandwiched between the inspection section and the sorting section) There is a restriction that the objects to be sorted must not exist at the same time.
Here, T1 (sec / piece) is the time required for the work to acquire information related to one object to be sorted (hereinafter referred to as “inspection work”) by the inspection unit. T2 (sec / piece) is the time required to move the section between the two (hereinafter referred to as “moving work”), and the sorting section selects one item to be sorted (hereinafter referred to as “sorting work”). .)) Is T3 (sec / piece), the time (hereinafter referred to as “working time”) from the arrival at the inspection unit to the selection of one item to be selected by the selection unit (hereinafter referred to as “working time”) is T1 + T2 + T3 (sec / piece).

On the other hand, the sorting device 1 which is one embodiment of the sorting device of the present invention stores, in the judging unit 4, information obtained by combining the judgment result and the passing order passing through the inspection unit 3 for each object to be sorted. It is possible to obtain the arrival order that has reached the sorting unit 5.
Therefore, when the object to be sorted arrives at the sorting unit 5, the sorting may be performed based on the determination result corresponding to the object to be sorted, and the section sandwiched between the inspection unit 3 and the sorting unit 5 in the transport path 2. Then, there is no restriction that the objects to be sorted must be transported one by one (two or more objects to be sorted must not be present at the same time between the inspection section and the sorting section).
Therefore, when the time T1 required for the inspection work is shorter than the time T3 required for the sorting work, another sorting target that is transported along the transport path 2 during the sorting work for one sorting target object. The inspection work is performed on the object in advance, and the transfer work is sequentially performed regardless of the state of the sorting work (that is, two or more objects to be sorted are retained in the section sandwiched between the inspection unit 3 and the sorting unit 5). ), The inspection work can be overlapped with the sorting work.

Further, by retaining a plurality of objects to be sorted in the section sandwiched between the inspection unit 3 and the sorting unit 5 while maintaining the order (passing order), the time T2 required for the movement time is greater than the time T3 required for the sorting work. Even in the case of a long time, it is possible to continue to supply the sorting object 5 to the sorting unit 5, and the sorting operation by the sorting unit 5 is temporarily stopped until the next sorting object reaches the sorting unit 5. Never do.
Therefore, in addition to the inspection work, the moving work can be performed by overlapping the sorting work.

  As a result, the sorting apparatus 1 which is an embodiment of the sorting apparatus of the present invention can reduce the work time to T3 (sec / piece).

  As described above, the sorting apparatus 1 which is an embodiment of the sorting apparatus according to the present invention reliably sorts the objects to be sorted one by one, and shortens the time required to sort each article to be sorted from inspection. This enables high-speed sorting.

  In addition, the sorting device 1 which is an embodiment of the sorting device according to the present invention has an inspection unit, a determination unit, and a sorting unit (cutout) in the case where there are existing transport paths and take-out devices for the objects to be sorted. It is possible to provide a sorting device in an existing conveyance line only by additionally providing (excluding the device), the cost for introducing the sorting device can be reduced, and the installation space is small.

In the sorting apparatus 1 which is an embodiment of the sorting apparatus of the present invention, the objects to be sorted are arranged in substantially the same shape (there is almost no difference in shape between individuals) like the block 6 and without gaps in the transport direction. In the case of a shape that is possible, the following advantages are obtained.
That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the section sandwiched between the inspection unit 3 and the selection unit 5 (in the case of the present embodiment, more precisely, the quality information acquisition means 32 is connected to the block 6 from the clipping device 51 in the inspection unit 3). If the blocks 6 are arranged without gaps in the section from the position where the passage information acquisition means 31 can detect the block 6 without any gap), the cutout device 51 moves to the fall position again. In the time zone until returning to the take-out position, the positional relationship between the passage information acquisition unit 31 and the quality information acquisition unit 32 and the block 6 that stops near the front is substantially the same.

  With this configuration, there is no need to provide a mechanism (such as a stopper) for temporarily stopping an object to be sorted at a predetermined position corresponding to the inspection unit 3 as in the sorting apparatus described in Non-Patent Document 1. It is possible to simplify the sorting device.

  It should be noted that even when there is a large difference in shape between individuals in the object to be selected, or even if the shape of the object to be selected is a shape that is difficult or impossible to arrange without gaps in the conveying direction, By preparing a plurality of trays having the same shape and a shape that can be arranged without gaps in the transport direction, and transporting the objects to be sorted along the transport path with the objects to be sorted placed on the trays, There is an effect.

Further, the sorting device 1 which is an embodiment of the sorting device of the present invention has a number of blocks 6, 6... (Hereinafter, “ .. Is less than the number of blocks 6, 6... Arranged without gaps in the section sandwiched between the inspection unit 3 and the sorting unit 5 (hereinafter referred to as “staying number”). Temporarily stops the sorting of the block 6 by the sorting unit 5.
After that, when new blocks 6, 6... Are transported by the transport path 2 and the aligned number becomes equal to or greater than the staying number, the sorting of the blocks 6 by the sorting unit 5 is resumed. The number of stays is preferably selected as appropriate according to the time T1 required for the inspection work, the time T2 required for the moving work, the time T3 required for the sorting work, and the like. ) Is not limited to.

By configuring in this way, the sorting apparatus 1 is in the initial stage (the sorting operation by the sorting apparatus 1 is started and the blocks 6... 6 are not spaced in the section sandwiched between the inspection unit 3 and the sorting unit 5. If the number of aligned items is equal to (the number of stays minus 1), the sorting operation is temporarily stopped.
Here, the inspection is performed in a state where a plurality of blocks 6, 6... That have not been inspected (information relating to detection and determination is not acquired by the inspection unit 3) are arranged without gaps in the transport direction of the transport path 2. .., Among the blocks 6, 6..., The first block 6 is already arranged without gaps from the sorting unit 5 toward the upstream side of the transport path 2.・ It will be aligned after the end of 6.
At this time, the uninspected blocks 6, 6... Are inspected positions (positions at which the inspecting unit 3 can acquire information about each block 6) or positions on the upstream side of the transport path 2 from the inspected positions. Are absorbed by the rows of blocks 6, 6... Arranged without gaps from the sorting unit 5 toward the upstream side of the transport path 2.
That is, the blocks 6, 6,... Already arranged without gaps from the sorting unit 5 toward the upstream side of the transport path 2 stop the blocks 6, 6,. It will fulfill the function of the stopper.
Accordingly, the inspection unit 3 does not need to be provided with a mechanism (stopper or the like) for temporarily stopping the object to be selected at a predetermined position corresponding to the inspection unit 3 unlike the sorting device described in Non-Patent Document 1. It is possible to simplify the apparatus.
In addition, in the initial stage (the stage where the sorting operation by the sorting apparatus 1 is started and the blocks 6, 6... Are not arranged without any gaps in the section sandwiched between the inspection unit 3 and the selection unit 5) In order to reliably acquire information related to the quality of the block passing through the unit 3 (in the present embodiment, the image information is prevented from being blurred and the block is correctly imaged in the image range). The block 6 is stopped at the inspection position (position where the inspection unit 3 can acquire information about each block 6) by a method such as setting the conveyance speed of the path 2 low or intermittently operating the conveyance path 2. Or, it is necessary to pass through the inspection position at a low speed.

In this regard, if the quality information acquisition means 32 can acquire information related to quality even when the block is moving at a low speed, the sorting device can be configured as shown in FIGS.
In the case of another embodiment of the sorting apparatus of the present invention shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the inspection unit 3 includes passage information acquisition means 31, quality information acquisition means 32, and staying number confirmation means 33.
The staying number confirmation means 33 is a sensor such as an optical sensor similar to the passage information acquisition means 31, and is provided on the upstream side in the transport path 2 relative to the passage information acquisition means 31, and whether the alignment number is equal to or more than the staying number. Information regarding whether or not to be acquired is acquired and transmitted to the determination unit 4. The sorting unit 5 is operated or temporarily stopped based on the information from the staying number confirmation unit 33.
Here, the “staying number” in another embodiment shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 is the number when the blocks 6, 6... Are arranged without gaps from the sorting unit 5 to substantially the front of the staying number confirmation means 33. .
Further, when the blocks 6, 6... Are arranged without gaps from the sorting unit 5 to the substantially front of the staying number confirming means 33, the block 6 is substantially in front of the staying number confirming means 33 and adjacent to the block 6. And the passage information acquisition means 31 and the quality information acquisition means 32 are arrange | positioned in the position between the blocks 6 which are downstream in the conveyance path 2.
And the passage information acquisition means 31 and the quality information acquisition means 32, while the first block 6 is taken out by the sorting unit 5 and the block 6 substantially in front of the staying number confirmation means 33 moves forward by one block, The block 6 is detected, and information relating to the quality of the block 6 is acquired.

  The sorting apparatus 1 which is an embodiment of the sorting apparatus according to the present invention, after the first block 6 is detected by the inspection unit 3 after the supply of the blocks 6, 6. If the number of blocks 6 equal to the number of stays is not detected by the inspection unit 3 even after a predetermined time has elapsed, the screening unit 5 has a function of stopping the sorting of the blocks 6 (residual object detection function). .

This has the following advantages. That is, when the sorting device 1 does not have the residual sorting object detection function, another lot is placed between the inspection unit 3 and the sorting unit 5 before the supply of the blocks 6, 6,. If some sort of blocks 6 remain and the sorting operation is performed without noticing that, based on the determination result relating to the first block 6 that has passed through the examination unit 3, the examination unit 3 and the sorting unit Among the blocks 6 of the different lots remaining between 5, the first one is sorted by the sorting unit 5.
And after that, a situation occurs in which the blocks 6, 6... Are sorted in a state where the passing order of the inspection unit 3 and the actual arrival order to the sorting unit 5 are “shifted”.
The sorting apparatus 1 which is one embodiment of the sorting apparatus of the present invention can prevent such a situation, and the certainty of the sorting work is improved.

  In the sorting apparatus 1 which is an embodiment of the sorting apparatus of the present invention, the remaining number of blocks 6, 6... Transported along the transport path 2 from the upstream side of the inspection unit 3 is less than the staying number. In such a case, the sorting of the blocks 6, 6,.

With this configuration, even when the blocks 6, 6... Are supplied to the sorting device 1 as a lot with a predetermined number as a unit, the sorting operation is performed up to the last one for the lot. It can be discharged (collected as non-defective product or defective product) without remaining outside.
As a method for detecting that the remaining number of blocks 6, 6... Transported along the transport path 2 from the upstream side with respect to the inspection unit 3 is less than the staying number, the sorting apparatus 1 is used. When the total number of supplied blocks 6, 6... Is known, a method of inputting the number to the sorting device 1 and the weight of the blocks 6. 6. A method of estimating the remaining number of blocks 6, 6... Based on the measurement result can be considered.

The schematic diagram which shows the whole structure of the sorting device based on one Example of this invention. The side surface schematic diagram which shows the most downstream part of the conveyance path which concerns on one Example of this invention. The perspective view of the block of a CVT belt. The schematic diagram which shows the information which match | combined the passage order concerning a to-be-sorted object, and the determination result. The schematic diagram which shows the whole structure of the sorting device which concerns on another Example of this invention. The side surface schematic diagram which shows the most downstream part of the conveyance path which concerns on another Example of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sorting device 2 Conveyance path 3 Inspection part 4 Judgment part 5 Sorting part 6 CVT belt block (object to be sorted)

Claims (10)

A transport path for transporting a plurality of objects to be sorted while maintaining the order;
An inspection unit that is provided in the middle of the conveyance path, detects each object to be sorted, and acquires information related to each object to be sorted;
Based on the information from the inspection unit and a predetermined criterion, it is possible to determine each item to be sorted, and for each item to be sorted, information including the determination result and the order of passage through the inspection unit can be stored. A determination unit,
A sorting unit that is provided on the downstream side of the inspection unit in the transport path, and that sorts the objects to be sorted based on the determination result corresponding to the same passing order as the arrival order reached by the objects to be sorted ,
The transport path is configured by a gutter member that can be transported while holding an object to be sorted in a predetermined posture,
The objects to be sorted are substantially the same shape and can be arranged without gaps in the conveyance direction, and are conveyed in a state of being arranged without gaps by the conveyance path,
The transport path is configured to hold the order of the objects to be transported along the transport path at least from the position where the inspection unit is disposed to the position where the screening unit is disposed. Yes,
A sorting device characterized by that. 2. The sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sorting objects are blocks of a CVT belt . Number of items to be sorted, which is the number of items to be sorted without gaps from the sorting unit toward the upstream side of the transport path, when the items to be sorted are arranged without gaps in the section between the inspection unit and the sorting unit If it is less than the number of staying, the sorting of the sorting object by the sorting unit is temporarily stopped,
The sorting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein when the number of arrangements is equal to or more than the staying number, sorting of the objects to be sorted by the sorting unit is resumed . If the same number of objects to be retained are not detected by the inspection unit even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the first object was detected by the inspection unit, the selection unit selects the objects to be selected. sorting device according to 請 Motomeko 3 you, characterized in that stop. If the remaining number of objects to be transported along the transport path from the upstream side of the inspection unit is less than the staying number, the sorting unit will sort even if the aligned number is less than the staying number. The sorting apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein sorting of objects is not temporarily stopped . Transporting multiple items to be sorted while maintaining the order along the transport path,
Detecting the plurality of objects to be sorted at an inspection position in the middle of the conveyance path and acquiring information related to the plurality of objects to be sorted,
Based on the acquired information and a predetermined determination criterion, determine each object to be sorted,
For each item to be sorted, information that combines the determination result and the passing order of inspection positions is stored,
In the sorting position located on the downstream side of the inspection position on the transport path, the sorting object is sorted based on the determination result corresponding to the same passing order as the arrival order that the sorting object has reached the sorting position,
The transport path is configured by a gutter member that can transport the object to be sorted while holding it in a predetermined posture.
The objects to be sorted are substantially the same shape and can be arranged without gaps in the conveyance direction, and are conveyed in a state of being arranged without gaps by the conveyance path,
The transport path is configured to hold the order of the objects to be transported along the transport path at least from the position where the inspection unit is disposed to the position where the screening unit is disposed. Yes,
A sorting method characterized by that. The sorting method according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of sorting objects are blocks of a CVT belt . The number of objects to be sorted, which is the number of objects to be sorted without gaps from the sorting position toward the upstream side of the transport path, when the objects to be sorted are arranged without gaps in the section between the inspection position and the sorting position. Is less than the number of stays, temporarily stop the sorting of the sorting object at the sorting position,
The sorting method according to claim 6 or 7 , wherein when the number of aligned items is equal to or greater than the number of staying, sorting of the objects to be sorted at the sorting position is resumed . If the same number of objects to be retained are not detected at the inspection position even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the first object to be detected at the inspection position, the objects to be selected at the selection position are selected. screening method according to 請 Motomeko 8 you, characterized in that stop. When the remaining number of objects to be transported along the transport path from the upstream side of the inspection position is less than the staying number, the objects to be sorted at the sorting position even if the alignment number is less than the staying number. 10. The sorting method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein sorting of objects is not temporarily stopped .

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