JP5992144B2 - Sorting mechanism and sorting device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sorting mechanism or a sorting device that delivers a conveyed product in a direction orthogonal to a traveling direction of an endless belt.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a delivery center such as a parcel delivery service, in addition to a conveyance line that sorts regular packages (conveyed items), a conveyance line that sorts irregular packages is provided. When the transfer line is divided into a plurality of belt conveyors in the transfer direction and becomes a transfer line in which roller conveyors are sequentially arranged between the belt conveyors, for example, from the gap generated between the transfer rollers of the roller conveyor. It has been proposed to provide a sorting device that includes a plurality of sorting members that are projected and moved along the axial direction of the transport roller. In addition, in the case of a conveyance line composed of a long belt conveyor that is not divided at a branch portion, it has been proposed to provide a sorting device that sorts packages using a paddle or a diverter provided above the conveyance belt. Due to the size of regular packages such as cardboard boxes and the uniform friction of the bottom surface, these sorters are installed in the transport line due to the good predictability of the branching part by measuring the position of the package, etc. Are automatically sorted. On the other hand, the transport line for transporting irregular shaped luggage is not the same as the regular shaped luggage, and because of the uneven size of the luggage and the friction on the bottom surface, the arrival predictability to the branch part is poor even if the position of the luggage is measured. The automatic sorting operation of the parcel by the sorting device thus performed is not performed, but the sorting work of the transported items is performed manually by the operator. However, due to soaring labor costs for manual sorting, there is a growing need for automation in the sorting operation of packages, even in a transport line that transports irregular shaped packages.

JP 2010-215352 A

  For example, a transport line for transporting irregular shaped packages, for example, a configuration in which a plurality of belt conveyors are divided in the transport direction, and a roller conveyor disposed between the belt conveyors is disposed at a branch point aligned in the belt conveyor transport direction. In this case, due to the difference in the size of the package to be transported and the friction coefficient on the bottom surface, the arrival timing of the package that reaches the sorting device installed deviates from the timing at which the sorting member of the sorting device moves, and the packages are sorted. This can lead to tracking failure and damage to the luggage due to load misalignment in the case of paddle and divertor sorting.

  Further, in the case of a transport line that sorts irregularly-shaped luggage, the transport belt is transported in a state of projecting to the outside of at least one side on both sides of the conveyor frame (so-called overhang state), Since the height of the load to be conveyed differs for each load, the sorting device has a structure that is arranged in a gate shape across the frame above the belt conveyor, and has a guide body that protrudes upward on the side of the conveyor frame. There is also the problem that the device is not suitable.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a sorting mechanism and a sorting device capable of appropriately and automatically sorting a package to be transported even when an irregular package is being transported. .

In order to solve the above-described problems, a sorting mechanism according to the present invention is a sorting mechanism that pays out a conveyed product on a traveling endless belt in a width direction of the endless belt. A plurality of first rotating rollers arranged at a predetermined interval and a plurality of first rotating rollers positioned below the first rotating roller and between the plurality of first rotating rollers in a top view of the endless belt. and a second rotating roller that, the endless belt, the first rotary rollers and that is wound on each of said second rotating roller, a plurality of times in a direction perpendicular to the vertical on the upper surface of the endless belt The endless bell is configured such that the uppermost portion meandering and meandering a plurality of times is positioned on the same plane as the upper surface, and the endless belt is positioned above the conveyor frame. A drive shaft disposed along one end side in the width direction of the endless belt, a second end side opposite to the one end side in the width direction of the endless belt, and the drive shaft. A plurality of drives provided on the drive shaft at the same interval as a driven shaft arranged at intervals wider than the width of the endless belt and a plurality of concave portions formed by a plurality of meanders in the endless belt The same position in the running direction of the endless belt, the side wheel, the plurality of driven side wheels provided on the driven shaft so as to correspond to each of the plurality of driving side wheels in the running direction of the endless belt When the drive-side wheel body and the driven-side wheel body are respectively wound around the drive-side wheel body and the driven-side wheel body, the recesses are located in the same position. The far side is A plurality of rotating bodies to be inserted, and provided in each of the plurality of rotating bodies so as to protrude upward from the upper surface at positions that form a row in the traveling direction of the endless belt, and when the plurality of rotating bodies are moved A pressing member that moves in the width direction of the endless belt and moves the conveyed product in the width direction of the endless belt, and above the endless belt upstream of the first rotation roller in the upstream direction in the conveying direction. A position detection sensor composed of seven or more reflective detection units arranged in an orthogonal direction, and the width of the endless belt of the conveyed product placed on the endless belt detected by the position detection sensor Based on the position in the direction, when the direction in which the conveyed product is discharged is on the other end side in the width direction, the position where the pressing member waits is on the one end side in the width direction of the endless belt. When the predetermined position is determined and the direction in which the conveyed product is discharged is one end side in the width direction, the position where the pressing member waits is determined as the predetermined position on the other end side in the width direction of the endless belt. It is characterized by that.

  Further, it is preferable that the driving side wheel body and the driven side wheel body are sprockets, and the rotating body is a roller chain.

  Further, it is preferable that the driving side wheel body and the driven side wheel body are toothed pulleys, and the rotating body is a timing belt.

Moreover, it is preferable that a contact preventing rail for preventing contact between the second rotating roller and the rotating body is disposed between the adjacent first rotating rollers among the plurality of first rotating rollers. .

Further, it is preferable that the contact preventing rail includes a guide portion that guides the moving rotating body .

  In addition, a conveyance path provided with inclined surfaces on which the conveyed product discharged in the width direction of the endless belt slides by the pressing member is provided at both ends in the width direction of the endless belt, and the drive shaft and the driven shaft The drive-side wheel body and the driven-side wheel body are respectively disposed below the transport path, and the transport path causes the pressing member provided on the rotating body to move away from the inclined surface when the rotating body travels. It is preferable to provide a window portion that is retracted.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said pressing member is detachable with respect to the said rotary body.

The sorting apparatus according to the present invention includes an endless belt on which a conveyed product is placed, a plurality of first rotating rollers arranged along a traveling direction of the endless belt, in parallel with the first rotating roller, and A plurality of second rotating rollers arranged below the first rotating roller, and the endless belt is alternately wound around the first rotating roller and the second rotating roller, so that the endless belt A plurality of driving-side wheels arranged at the same interval as the interval between a plurality of bending rollers that meander the upper surface several times in a direction perpendicular to the top and bottom, and the endless belt meandering a plurality of times. A drive shaft provided with the drive-side wheel body, a plurality of driven-side wheel bodies arranged at the same interval as the interval between the plurality of recesses, and a driven shaft provided with the driven-side wheel body, Same position in the running direction of the endless belt When the endless belt is wound around the driving side wheel body and the driven side wheel body, respectively, and wound around the driving side wheel body and the driven side wheel body, the same position in the traveling direction of the endless belt A plurality of rotating bodies whose forward sides enter into the recesses, and a plurality of rotating bodies that are arranged in a row in the running direction of the endless belt so as to protrude upward from the upper surface. A pressing member that moves in the width direction of the endless belt in accordance with the movement of the moving body and delivers the conveyed product conveyed by the endless belt in the width direction of the endless belt, and is transported by the most upstream first rotating roller. above the endless belt direction upstream, it comprises a position detection sensor comprising a detection unit of 7 or more arrayed reflective in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, and is detected by the position detection sensor Based on the position in the width direction of the endless belt of the conveyed object to be placed on the endless belt, when the direction in which the transported object is paid out of the other end side in the width direction is a position where the pressing member waits Is determined at a predetermined position on one end side in the width direction of the endless belt, and the direction in which the conveyed product is discharged is one end side in the width direction, the position where the pressing member stands by is the width direction of the endless belt. It is determined to be a predetermined position on the other end side .

  Further, it is preferable that the driving side wheel body and the driven side wheel body are sprockets, and the rotating body is a roller chain.

  Further, it is preferable that the driving side wheel body and the driven side wheel body are toothed pulleys, and the rotating body is a timing belt.

Moreover, it is preferable that a contact preventing rail for preventing contact between the second rotating roller and the rotating body is disposed between the adjacent first rotating rollers.

Further, it is preferable that the contact preventing rail includes a guide portion that guides the moving rotating body .

  Further, the drive shaft, the driven shaft, the drive-side wheel body and the driven-side wheel body are provided at both ends in the width direction of the endless belt, and are paid out in the width direction of the endless belt by the pressing member. A window portion disposed below a conveyance path having an inclined surface on which the conveyed object slides, and the conveyance path retracts the pressing member provided on the rotating body from the inclined surface when the rotating body travels. It is preferable to provide.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said pressing member is detachable with respect to the said rotary body.

  According to the present invention, it is not necessary to divide the conveyor in the sorting unit, and the timing at which the conveyed product is conveyed and the timing at which the conveyed item is dispensed can be synchronized. Cause damage and damage to the luggage. In addition, since the sorting device is arranged below the endless belt, the baggage is transported in a state of protruding from the endless belt (so-called overhanging state), or the baggage height is different. However, since there are no projections on the transport surface that obstruct the sorting operation, it is possible to reliably sort the transported items.

It is a top view of the belt conveyor which has arrange | positioned the sorting mechanism of this invention. It is AA sectional drawing in FIG. It is a top view of a sorting mechanism. It is BB sectional drawing in FIG. It is CC sectional drawing in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the case where a conveyed product is mounted in an endless belt. It is explanatory drawing which shows the case where a conveyed product is mounted in the one end side of an endless belt. It is explanatory drawing which shows the case where a conveyed product is overhanged.

  The belt conveyor provided with the sorting mechanism of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the process of transporting the transported objects 15 of different sizes, the belt conveyor 10 causes the sorting mechanism 20 to move the transported objects 15 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction (X1 direction) in the belt conveyor 10, that is, the width direction of the endless belt ( Y1 or Y2 direction) automatically sorts the conveyed product 15 conveyed by the belt conveyor 10. The conveyed product 15 delivered by the sorting mechanism 20 is delivered to one of the delivery chutes 17 and 18 disposed on the side of the belt conveyor 10, and is delivered to a target sorting destination. The payout chutes 17 and 18 are inclined surfaces 17a and 18a whose upper surfaces are inclined downward in the payout direction. Rectangular cutout portions 17b and 18b for preventing interference with a pressing member 46, which will be described later, are formed at upstream end portions (end portions on the belt conveyor 10 side) of these inclined surfaces 17a and 18a, respectively.

  1 and 2, the case where one sorting mechanism 20 is provided in the belt conveyor 10 has been described, but in reality, a plurality of belt conveyors 10 are provided. For this reason, the conveyance path | route of the conveyed product 15 in the actual belt conveyor 10 is set longer than FIG.1 and FIG.2.

  The belt conveyor 10 includes a drive pulley 21, a driven pulley 22, a bending roller group 23, tension rollers 24 and 25, an endless belt 26, a drive motor 27, and a holding frame (conveyor frame) 28. The drive pulley 21 is pivotally supported on one end side of the holding frame 28 via a bearing or the like so that the axial direction thereof is the Y direction. One end portion of the holding frame 28 provided with the drive pulley 21 is a downstream end portion in the conveyance direction of the conveyed product 15. The rotation shaft of the drive pulley 21 protrudes from the side surface of the holding frame 28 toward the outside of the holding frame 28, and the drive motor 27 is fixed to the protruding portion. As the drive motor 27, a normal motor that rotates at a constant speed is used.

  The driven pulley 22 is held via a bearing or the like on the other end of the holding frame 28 opposite to one end where the driving pulley 21 is provided, so that the axial direction thereof is the Y direction. It is pivotally supported by the frame 28. The other end portion of the holding frame 28 provided with the driven pulley 22 is an upstream end portion in the conveyance direction of the conveyed product 15. Note that the drive pulley 21 and the driven pulley 22 are arranged so that their topmost vertices are in the same plane as the upper surface of the holding frame 28 or above the upper surface of the holding frame 28 in the upward Z direction in the vertical direction. 28 are respectively supported by the shafts.

  The bending roller group 23 is provided between the driving pulley 21 and the driven pulley 22. The bending roller group 23 includes, for example, five first rollers 30 and four second rollers 31. The first rollers 30 are arranged along the Y direction with a predetermined interval D1 with respect to adjacent rollers. These first rollers 30 are arranged so that the highest vertex of each roller is at the same position as the highest vertex of the main pulley 21 and the driven pulley 22 in the Z direction.

  The second pulley 31 is disposed along the X direction with a predetermined distance D2 from the adjacent rollers. The interval D1 between the adjacent first pulleys 30 and the interval D2 between the adjacent second pulleys 31 are the same interval. These second pulleys 31 are arranged in positions that are lower than the first pulley 30 in the Z direction and can include the forward side of the rotating body, which will be described later, and are shifted from the first pulley 30 by ½ of the distance D1, for example. Is done. Here, the number of the first rollers 30 and the second rollers 31 arranged, and the values of the distance D1 and the distance D2 are the size of the conveyed product 15 actually conveyed by the belt conveyor 10 and the rotation body described later. It is set by the width and the bending limit of the endless belt. The tension pulleys 24 and 25 prevent the endless belt 26 that runs by the rotation of the drive pulley 21 from being loosened. Reference numerals 32 and 33 are downward pressing rollers that prevent interference between the second roller 31 and the endless belt 26.

  The endless belt 26 is wound around the driven pulley 22, the bending roller group 23, the driving pulley 21, the tension pulley 25, the lower pressing roller 33, the lower pressing roller 32, and the tension pulley 24 in this order. In the bending roller group 23, the endless belt 26 includes the first roller 30, the second roller 31, the first roller 30, the second roller 31, the first roller 30, the second roller 31, the first roller 30, and the first roller 30. The two rollers 31 and the first roller 30 are wound around the first roller 30 and the second roller 31 alternately. That is, the endless belt 26 meanders in the Z direction a plurality of times in a side view of the belt conveyor 10 by being bent back and forth in the Z direction by each roller of the bending roller group 23. Each of the recesses (gap formed between the adjacent first rollers 30) 34 formed by the endless belt 26 wound around each roller of the bending roller group 23 has an endless roller which is a rotating body of the sorting mechanism 20. The chain 44 enters on the far side.

  Next, the configuration of the sorting mechanism 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. The sorting mechanism 20 includes a driving shaft 40, a driven shaft 41, a driving side sprocket 42, a driven side sprocket 43, an endless roller chain 44, a driving motor 45, pressing members 46 and 47, and a sorting holding frame 48. The sorting holding frame 48 is provided so that the width in the Y direction is wider than the width of the belt conveyor 10 described above in order to position the driving side sprocket 42 and the driven side sprocket 43 outside the endless belt 26 in the width direction. ing.

  The drive shaft 40 is rotatably disposed on one end side of the sorting holding frame 48 in the Y direction via a bearing or the like. Four drive-side sprockets 42 are fixed to the drive shaft 40 with a constant interval D3. One end of the drive shaft 40 protrudes outward from the sorting and holding frame 48, and the drive motor 45 is fixed to one end of the drive shaft 40 that protrudes. Note that a servo motor is used as the drive motor 45.

  The driven shaft 41 is rotatably arranged via a bearing or the like so as to be parallel to the drive shaft 40 on the other end side of the sorting holding frame 48 in the Y direction. On this driven shaft 41, four driven sprockets 43 are spaced from each other at a constant distance D3, and are at the same position in the X direction as each of the driving side sprockets 42, like the driving side sprockets 42. Be placed. Here, the driving-side sprocket 42 and the driven-side sprocket 43 have the same number of teeth.

  The endless roller chain 44 is wound around the drive-side sprocket 42 and the driven-side sprocket 43 that are in the same position in the X direction. 3-5, since four sprockets are arrange | positioned at each of the drive shaft 40 and the driven shaft 41, the endless roller chain 44 is wound around each of the four sprockets arrange | positioned at each axis | shaft. .

  The pressing members 46 and 47 are detachably provided on the endless roller chain 44 with an interval corresponding to a half circumference of the endless roller chain 44. The pressing members 46 and 47 are formed by a so-called mountain shape, a normal distribution shape, or the like which is inclined downward from the center to both ends on the YZ plane, or a pressing member having a rectangular or pentagonal shape on the YZ plane. Member. As the pressing members 46 and 47, a plurality of members divided according to the length of one frame of each endless roller chain 44 may be attached to each of a plurality of continuous frames, or the endless rollers Instead of being divided according to the length of one frame of the chain 44, it may be assembled as it is over a plurality of frames. In the drawing, a pressing member having a pentagonal shape is divided into three in the traveling direction of the endless roller chain 44, and each of the three divided members is a continuous three frames among a plurality of frames constituting the endless roller chain 44. The case where each is provided is shown. The pressing members 46 and 47 are detachably provided on the endless roller chain 44 so that the pressing members 46 and 47 can be easily replaced when the pressing members 46 and 47 are broken while the conveyed product 15 is being sorted. It becomes.

  Between the drive shaft 40 and the driven shaft 41 described above, a rail 49 having a substantially U-shaped cross section or an open channel material is disposed along the Y direction. When the sorting mechanism 20 is disposed on the belt conveyor 10, the endless roller chain 44 enters the recess 34 of the endless belt 26 meandering with its forward side. In this state, the endless roller chain 44 is positioned above the second roller 31 of the bending roller group 23. When the endless roller chain 44 travels in the Y1 direction or the Y2 direction in this state, the endless roller chain 44 vibrates with a predetermined amplitude in the X direction or the Z direction due to play when wound around each sprocket. As the traveling chain belt 44 vibrates, the endless roller chain 44 may come into contact with the endless belt 26 or the second roller 31. That is, by providing the rail 49, the endless roller chain 44 is prevented from contacting the endless belt 26 and the second roller 31. Furthermore, a resin guide piece 50 for reducing noise generated when the endless roller chain 44 abuts the metal against the rail 49 may be provided on the bottom surface of the rail 49.

  When the sorting mechanism 20 having such a configuration is installed on the belt conveyor 10, the driving shaft 40, the driving pulley 42, the driving motor 45, and one end of the sorting holding frame 48 in which these are provided are below the dispensing chute 17. To position. Further, the other end portion of the sorting holding frame 48 on which the driven shaft 41, the driven pulley 43 and the driven shaft 41 are provided is positioned below the dispensing chute 18.

  Next, the relationship between the sorting mechanism 20 and the conveyed product 15 conveyed by the belt conveyor 10 will be described. As described above, various transport objects 15 having different sizes are transported to the belt conveyor 10. For this reason, the space | interval D3 of the press member 46 adjacent in a X direction becomes the minimum width | variety of the bottom face of the conveyed product 15 conveyed. For example, if the minimum width of the conveyed product 15 conveyed by the belt conveyor 10 is 20 cm, the distance D3 is set to 20 cm. Further, since the pressing members 46 are arranged in the respective endless roller chains 44, for example, in the case of a sorting mechanism having four endless roller chains 44 in the example of FIG. 3, from the pressing members 46 arranged on the most upstream side. The distance L to the pressing member 46 arranged on the most downstream side is L = 3 × D3 = 60 cm. If it is assumed that the sorting mechanism 20 can handle the transported object 15 having a length twice as large as the interval L, for example, the maximum width of the transported object 15 is 120 cm. Note that the values of the minimum width and the maximum width of the transported object 15 are set in advance based on transport experiments, statistics, and the like regarding the non-standard transported object.

  Next, an operation for automatically sorting the conveyed product 15 conveyed by the belt conveyor 10 by the sorting mechanism 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. The description will be made assuming that the conveyed product 15 is conveyed in the X1 direction from the upstream side of the belt conveyor 10 and is sorted in the Y2 direction by the sorting mechanism 20.

  Before the transported object 15 is transported by the belt conveyor 10 or in the process of transporting, information display peculiar to a load such as a bar code, QR code or IC chip attached to the transported object 15 (hereinafter referred to as a bar code) Is read by a bar code reader 51 (reading reader for information display specific to a load such as a QR code reader or an IC chip reader (hereinafter referred to as a bar code reader). Is read by the shape measuring device 52. The shape measuring device 52 measures the size (length, width, height, mass) of the transferred material 15. A bar code reader 51 is used. The bar code signal read by, and the size information of the transported object 15 measured by the shape measuring instrument 52 are It is transmitted to the roller 53. The controller 53 specifies the management number of the conveyed product 15, the sorting destination of the conveyed product 15, etc. from the signal output from the barcode reader 51. At the same time, the controller 53 is a shape measuring instrument. 52 generates cargo data in which the size information of the transported object 15 output from 52 and the management number of the transported object 15 are associated with each other, and outputs the cargo data to a server or the like. It is managed by.

  The conveyed product 15 measured by the shape measuring instrument 52 is conveyed by the belt conveyor 10 toward a target sorting destination. When the transported object 15 is transported, the transported object 15 transported by the belt conveyor 10 is detected by a position detection sensor 54 provided on the upstream side of the belt conveyor 10 and above the belt conveyor 10. The position detection sensor 54 is configured to include detection units 54 a to 54 g arranged in the width direction (Y direction) of the belt conveyor 10. In addition, these detection parts 54a-54g are comprised from what is called a reflection type detection part which irradiates / receives infrared rays, for example. The position of the conveyed product 15 conveyed on the belt conveyor 10 is specified by any one of the detection units 54 a to 54 g of the position detection sensor 54.

  When the conveyed product 15 is detected by any of the detection units 54 a to 54 g of the position detection sensor 54, the position detection sensor 54 outputs a detection signal of the conveyed product 15 toward the controller 53. In response to the detection signal from the position detection sensor 54, the controller 53 measures an elapsed time after the transported object 15 is detected by the position detection sensor 54. At the same time, the controller 53 obtains the time when the center of the conveyed product 15 passes the position detection sensor 54. Further, the controller 53 obtains a time T for reaching the center of the sorting mechanism 20 after the center 15 c of the conveyed product 15 passes through the position detection sensor 54. The traveling speed of the endless belt 26 in the belt conveyor 10 is constant, and the distance from the position detection sensor 54 to the center of the sorting mechanism 20 is also constant, so that the center 15c of the conveyed product 15 is the position detection sensor. The time T to reach the sorting mechanism 20 after passing through 54 can be calculated in advance. Based on the obtained time T, the controller 53 controls the operation of the sorting mechanism 20 at a location where sorting is to be performed.

  After obtaining the time T, the controller 53 identifies the sorting destination of the conveyed product 15 from the cargo data, and the controller 53 transports it to one of the dispensing chutes 17 and 18 or conveys it by the belt conveyor 10 as it is. The operation of the sorting mechanism 20 when the center 15c of the conveyed product 15 reaches the center of the sorting mechanism 20 is set. In this setting, the position of the pressing member 46 used when paying out and the position of the pressing member 46 immediately before paying out (standby position) are also determined.

  First, the case where the conveyed product 15 is placed in the center in the width direction of the endless belt will be described with reference to FIG. In this case, the conveyed product 15 conveyed by the belt conveyor 10 is detected by, for example, the detection units 54 b to 54 f of the position detection sensor 54. When paying out the conveyed product 15 to the payout chute 17, the position shown in FIG. 6 is set as the standby position of the pressing member 46. The controller 53 drives the drive motor 45 of the sorting mechanism 20 via the driver 55 before the set time T elapses, and moves the pressing member 46 to the set standby position. In addition, as a timing which moves the pressing member 46 to a standby position, the conveyed product 15 which reaches | attains the sorting mechanism 20 before a target conveyed product is conveyed passes the sorting mechanism 20 as it is, or is sorted by the sorting mechanism 20. Until the target transported material reaches the sorting mechanism 20.

  If the distance for moving the pressing member 46 to the standby position is longer than the distance for moving the pressing member 47 to the standby position, the pressing member 47 is moved without moving the pressing member 46 to the standby position. It is also possible to move to the standby position. That is, the positions of the pressing members 46 and 47 can be detected in advance, the distances from the positions of the pressing members 46 and 47 to the standby position are obtained, and the pressing members at the positions where the distance to the standby position is short are standby. It can also be controlled to move to a position.

  This is because the pressing members 46 and 47 are moved to the standby position on the side of the rotating body on the conveying surface side of the endless belt 26 so as not to misclassify the conveyed products sequentially conveyed on the endless belt 26 of the belt conveyor 10. Instead of moving, the pressing member 46 or 47 is slightly moved to the standby position on the return side of the rotating body below the endless belt 26.

  When the elapsed time after the center 15 c of the conveyed product 15 is detected by the position detection sensor 54 reaches the time T, the controller 53 operates the drive motor 45 via the driver 55. By driving the drive motor 45, the drive shaft 40 and the drive-side sprocket 42 rotate, and the endless roller chain 44 travels in the Y2 direction. As a result, the pressing member 46 moves in the Y2 direction. During this movement, the pressing member 46 presses the conveyed product 15 conveyed by the belt conveyor 10, and sends it toward the dispensing chute 17. The payout chute 17 includes an inclined surface 17a whose upper surface is inclined downward. That is, the conveyed product 15 paid out toward the payout chute 17 slides on the inclined surface 17a of the payout chute 17 and moves to a target sorting destination.

  When the transported object 15 transported by the belt conveyor 10 is sent out toward the payout chute 18, similarly, the standby position of the pressing member is set based on the position of the transported object 15 detected by the position detection sensor 54. The drive motor 45 may be driven with the driving direction of the chain belt 44 determined as the Y1 direction. Further, when the conveyed product 15 is not sent out to any one of the payout chutes 17 and 18, the pressing member 46 may be moved to a position where the conveyed product 15 conveyed by the belt conveyor 10 does not contact.

  The standby position of the pressing member is advantageously kept at a position as close as possible to the conveyed product in order to improve the sorting capability and, in turn, improve the conveyance capability of the belt conveyor 10.

  Next, a case where the conveyed product 15 is placed with being shifted from the center to the left side in the drawing in the width direction of the endless belt 26 will be described with reference to FIG. In this case, the conveyed product 15 conveyed by the belt conveyor 10 is detected by the detection units 54 b and 54 c of the position detection sensor 54. In this case as well, the controller 53 similarly obtains the time T. Then, the controller 53 specifies the sorting destination of the conveyed product 15 from the cargo data, and pays out the conveyed item 15 to either one of the dispensing chutes 17 and 18 or conveys it by the belt conveyor 10 as it is. The operation of the sorting mechanism 20 when reaching the center of the sorting mechanism 20 is set. During this setting, the standby position of the pressing member used when paying out and the pressing member immediately before paying out is also determined. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, the position where the left end portion of the pressing member 46 in the drawing is the middle point in the width direction of the endless belt 26 is the standby position of the pressing member 46. In this case as well, immediately before the set time T elapses, the controller 53 operates the sorting mechanism 20 based on the set operation, and moves the pressing member that pays out the conveyed product 15 to the standby position. Then, when the set time T elapses, the controller 53 operates the sorting mechanism 20 to send the conveyed product 15 conveyed by the belt conveyor 10 toward the discharge chute 17.

  Also in this case, when the conveyed product 15 conveyed by the belt conveyor 10 is sent out toward the discharge chute 18, the standby position of the pressing member is determined based on the position of the conveyed product 15 detected by the position detection sensor 54. The drive motor 45 may be driven with the running direction of the chain belt 44 as the Y1 direction. Further, when the conveyed product 15 is not sent out to any one of the payout chutes 17 and 18, the pressing member 46 may be moved to a position where the conveyed product 15 conveyed by the belt conveyor 10 does not contact.

  A case where the conveyed product 15 conveyed by the belt conveyor 10 is large and protrudes from at least one end side in the width direction of the belt conveyor 10, in other words, overhangs will be described with reference to FIG. 8. When such a transported object 15 is transported by the belt conveyor 10, the transported object 15 is detected by the detection units 54 a to 54 g of the position detection sensor 54. Also in this case, the controller 53 obtains the time T. Then, the controller 53 specifies the sorting destination of the conveyed product 15 from the cargo data, and pays out the conveyed item 15 to either one of the dispensing chutes 17 and 18 or conveys it by the belt conveyor 10 as it is. The operation of the sorting mechanism 20 when reaching the center of the sorting mechanism 20 is set. During this setting, the standby position of the pressing member 46 used when paying out and the pressing member 46 immediately before paying out is also determined. In this case, the position retracted from the window 18 b of the payout chute 18 to the lower side of the inclined surface 18 a of the payout chute 18 becomes the standby position of the pressing member 46. Similarly in this case, immediately before the set time T elapses, the controller 53 operates the sorting mechanism 20 based on the set operation, and moves the pressing member to the standby position. Then, when the set time T elapses, the controller 53 operates the sorting mechanism to send the conveyed product 15 conveyed by the belt conveyor 10 toward the discharge chute 17.

  Also in this case, when the conveyed product 15 conveyed by the belt conveyor 10 is sent out toward the discharge chute 18, the standby position of the pressing member is determined based on the position of the conveyed product 15 detected by the position detection sensor 54. The drive motor 45 may be driven with the running direction of the chain belt 44 as the Y1 direction. Further, when the conveyed product 15 is not sent out to any one of the payout chutes 17 and 18, the pressing member 46 may be moved to a position where the conveyed product 15 conveyed by the belt conveyor 10 does not contact. The above-described standby position of the pressing member and control when moving the pressing member are examples, and can be set as appropriate.

  In this way, by transporting the transported object with one belt conveyor, the synchronization of the endless belt 26 naturally matches regardless of the position in the transport direction, so when transporting the transported object with a plurality of belt conveyors It is possible to prevent the occurrence of tracking defects. By preventing the occurrence of tracking deficiencies, the current position in the transport direction of the transported object can be grasped, the transported object is damaged and dropped due to improper transported part pressing when sorting the transported object, and the transport of the sorting mechanism It is possible to prevent damage due to the conveyance object being caught in the hook / sorting mechanism gap.

  Further, since only the pressing member 46 of the sorting mechanism 20 protrudes from the upper surface of the endless belt 26 of the belt conveyor 10, it is ensured even if the conveyed product 15 conveyed by the belt conveyor 10 is in an overhanging state. The sorting mechanism 20 to be sorted can be transported through the pressing member retracted by the previous sorting mechanism, and can be reliably sorted by the sorting mechanism 20 regardless of the degree of friction on the bottom surface of the conveyed product.

  8 illustrates an overhanging state in which both ends of the conveyed product 15 protrude from the belt conveyor 10 in the width direction of the belt conveyor 10, but the conveyed product 15 in the width direction of the belt conveyor 10 is described. There may be an overhang in which one end portion of the belt protrudes from the belt conveyor 10. Even in such a case, it is possible to appropriately sort.

  In the present embodiment, the sorting mechanism 20 disposed on the belt conveyor 10 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the driving-side wheel body and the driven-side wheel body are not sprockets but toothed pulleys. The rotating body may be a timing belt instead of an endless roller chain, or may be a sorting device having both the configuration of the belt conveyor 10 and the configuration of the sorting mechanism 20 described above. In this case, a sorting device having a sorting chute may be used, or a sorting device having a different sorting chute may be used.

  In the present embodiment, a case is described in which an irregularly shaped conveyed product is sorted while being conveyed by a belt conveyor. However, the conveyed item conveyed by the belt conveyor may be a regular conveyed item.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Belt conveyor, 17, 18 ... Dispensing chute, 20 ... Sorting mechanism, 26 ... Endless belt, 40 ... Drive shaft, 41 ... Drive shaft, 42 ... Drive side sprocket, 43 ... Drive side sprocket, 44 ... Endless roller chain, 45 ... Drive motor, 46 ... Pressing member, 48 ... Rail, 49 ... Guide part, 53 ... Controller

Claims (14)

In the sorting mechanism for delivering the conveyed product on the traveling endless belt in the width direction of the endless belt,
A plurality of first rotation rollers arranged at predetermined intervals in the traveling direction of the endless belt of the conveyed product, and a plurality of the first rotations below the first rotation roller and in a top view of the endless belt. A plurality of second rotating rollers arranged so as to be positioned between the rollers,
The endless belt, by being wound around each of said second rotating roller and the first rotating roller, the uppermost portion in a direction perpendicular to the vertical on the upper surface of the endless belt meanders a plurality of times and meandering a plurality of times Each endless belt is configured to be positioned on the same plane as the upper surface, and the endless belt is positioned above the conveyor frame.
A drive shaft arranged along the traveling direction of the endless belt on one end side in the width direction of the endless belt;
A driven shaft disposed on the other end side opposite to the one end side in the width direction of the endless belt, and at a distance wider than the width of the endless belt with the drive shaft;
A plurality of drive-side wheels provided on the drive shaft at the same intervals as the intervals between the plurality of recesses formed by a plurality of meanders in the endless belt;
A plurality of driven side wheels provided on the driven shaft so as to correspond to each of the plurality of driving side wheels in the traveling direction of the endless belt;
When the drive side wheel body and the driven side wheel body that are in the same position in the traveling direction of the endless belt are respectively wound around the drive side wheel body and the driven side wheel body, A plurality of rotating bodies in which the forward side enters the concave portion at the same position;
Each of the plurality of rotating bodies is provided so as to protrude upward from the upper surface at a position that forms a row in the running direction of the endless belt, and moves in the width direction of the endless belt when the plurality of rotating bodies move. And a pressing member for moving the conveyed product in the width direction of the endless belt,
A position detection sensor comprising a reflection type detection unit arranged at least seven in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction above the endless belt upstream in the conveyance direction from the most upstream first rotating roller;
With
Based on the position of the transported object placed on the endless belt detected by the position detection sensor in the width direction of the endless belt, the direction in which the transported object is discharged is the other end side in the width direction. When the position where the pressing member waits is determined as a predetermined position on one end side in the width direction of the endless belt, and the direction in which the conveyed product is discharged is one end side in the width direction, the pressing member waits The sorting mechanism is characterized in that the position is determined at a predetermined position on the other end side in the width direction of the endless belt . The sorting mechanism according to claim 1,
2. The sorting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the driving side wheel body and the driven side wheel body are sprockets, and the rotating body is a roller chain. The sorting mechanism according to claim 1,
The sorting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the driving side wheel body and the driven side wheel body are toothed pulleys, and the rotating body is a timing belt. In the sorting mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A contact preventing rail for preventing contact between the second rotating roller and the rotating body is disposed between the adjacent first rotating rollers among the plurality of first rotating rollers. Sorting mechanism. The sorting mechanism according to claim 4,
The sorting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the contact preventing rail includes a guide portion that guides the moving rotating body. In the sorting mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
Conveying paths provided with inclined surfaces on which the conveyed product discharged in the width direction of the endless belt slides by the pressing member are provided at both ends in the width direction of the endless belt,
The drive shaft, the driven shaft, the drive-side wheel body and the driven-side wheel body are respectively disposed below the conveyance path,
The sorting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the conveyance path includes a window portion that retracts the pressing member provided on the rotating body from the inclined surface when the rotating body travels. The sorting mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The sorting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the pressing member is detachable from the rotating body. An endless belt on which a conveyed product is placed;
A plurality of first rotating rollers disposed along the traveling direction of the endless belt; and a plurality of second rotating rollers disposed in parallel with the first rotating roller and below the first rotating roller. The endless belt is alternately wound around the first rotating roller and the second rotating roller so that the upper end of the endless belt meanders a plurality of times in a direction perpendicular to the top and bottom;
A plurality of drive-side wheels disposed at the same interval as the interval between the plurality of recesses formed by the endless belt meandering a plurality of times;
A drive shaft provided with the drive-side wheel,
A plurality of driven-side wheels arranged at the same interval as the intervals between the plurality of recesses;
A driven shaft provided with the driven wheel body;
When the drive side wheel body and the driven side wheel body that are in the same position in the traveling direction of the endless belt are respectively wound around the drive side wheel body and the driven side wheel body, A plurality of rotating bodies whose forward sides enter into the recesses at the same position in the traveling direction of the endless belt;
Each of the plurality of rotating bodies is provided in a line in the running direction of the endless belt so as to protrude upward from the upper surface, and moves in the width direction of the endless belt as the plurality of rotating bodies move. A pressing member for paying out the conveyed product conveyed by the endless belt in the width direction of the endless belt;
A position detection sensor comprising a reflection type detection unit arranged at least seven in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction above the endless belt upstream in the conveyance direction from the most upstream first rotating roller;
With
Based on the position of the transported object placed on the endless belt detected by the position detection sensor in the width direction of the endless belt, the direction in which the transported object is discharged is the other end side in the width direction. When the position where the pressing member waits is determined as a predetermined position on one end side in the width direction of the endless belt, and the direction in which the conveyed product is discharged is one end side in the width direction, the pressing member waits The sorting apparatus is characterized in that the position is determined at a predetermined position on the other end side in the width direction of the endless belt . The sorting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein
2. The sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving side wheel body and the driven side wheel body are sprockets, and the rotating body is a roller chain. The sorting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein
2. The sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving side wheel body and the driven side wheel body are toothed pulleys, and the rotating body is a timing belt. The sorting apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 10,
A sorting apparatus, wherein a contact preventing rail for preventing contact between the second rotating roller and the rotating body is disposed between the adjacent first rotating rollers. The sorting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein
2. The sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contact preventing rail includes a guide portion that guides the moving rotating body. The sorting apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 12,
The drive shaft, the driven shaft, the drive-side wheel body and the driven-side wheel body are provided outside both end portions in the width direction of the endless belt, and are paid out in the width direction of the endless belt by the pressing member. The transported object is arranged below the transport path having an inclined surface on which the object slides,
The sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveyance path includes a window portion that retracts the pressing member provided on the rotating body from the inclined surface when the rotating body travels. The sorting apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 13,
The sorting device according to claim 1, wherein the pressing member is detachable from the rotating body.

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