JP6264683B2 - Conveying device, sorting processing system, and conveying method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a transport apparatus used in a sorting processing system that performs sorting and bundling work by postal code such as direct mail, and a sorting processing system and a transport method using the same.

  In recent years, there has been an increase in the production of large quantities of postal items such as invoices and direct mails and direct delivery to post offices. When sending a large amount of postal items to the post office, if the sender sorts the postal items in advance by a method designated by the post office, a postage discount can be obtained. For this reason, the sender sends out the mail to the post office after performing the sorting work in advance. In the conventional classification of postal items, postal items are bundled together by postal code, but recently, codes are assigned to each address and building of the destination, and the postal items are further subdivided to bind the postal items. .

  Such mail sorting work is performed by a mail sorting apparatus (see Patent Document 1), and mails are bundled by a binding machine (see Patent Document 2). In this case, it is common that postal mails are unloaded manually from the binding machine. In addition, a tally that includes information such as the postal code of the postal item and the number of postal items is attached to the postal piece after being bound, and this tally is also manually attached between the postal item and the binding string. It was carried out in such a manner.

JP 2000-317405 A JP 10-35611 A

  However, it is inefficient to perform all the above operations manually, and the work load increases. Accordingly, the present invention aims at providing a transport apparatus capable of efficiently transporting bundled mail, a sorting processing system using the transport apparatus, and a transport method, paying attention to the above problems. To do. It is another object of the present invention to provide a sorting processing system capable of efficiently attaching tally to mail pieces to be bound.

In order to achieve the above object, a transport apparatus according to the present invention is a transport apparatus that transports a bundled object after binding from a binding machine, and a block that is pressed onto the bound object disposed in the binding machine; The pair of blocks are attached to the block so as to be parallel to each other so that the distance between the pair can be adjusted, and at a position on the object to be bound that intersects the binding line of the binding machine in a plan view. A claw member that is arranged and is bundled simultaneously with the object to be bundled by a binding string of the binding machine, an operation of pressing the block against the object to be bundled, and the block is lifted and moved in the conveying direction of the object to be bundled A movement mechanism capable of moving between the block and the claw member. The claw member is pulled into the block side, and the claw member is placed between the binding string and the object to be bound. Conveying apparatus characterized by comprising: a et withdrawing actuator.

  With the configuration described above, the moving mechanism can transport the object to be bound by the claw member, and the actuator can pull out the claw member from between the binding string and the object to be bound at the transport destination, thereby separating the object to be bound from the moving mechanism. Therefore, it becomes a conveying apparatus which can convey a to-be-bound object irrespective of manual work. Further, at the time of binding, the block is pressed against the object to be bound, and the object to be bound is compressed in the height direction. Therefore, the object to be bound and the claw member can be firmly bound, and the transporting apparatus can reliably transport the object to be bound.

In this invention, the notch which latches the said binding string is formed in the edge of the said claw member which the said binding string contacts.
With the above configuration, it is possible to prevent the binding string from being detached from the claw member during conveyance of the object to be bound.

In the present invention, the claw members are attached to the block in a pair so as to be parallel to each other, and the interval between the claw members can be adjusted.
The above configuration prevents damage (dents) due to the binding string of the object to be bound and also ensures that the binding string comes into contact with the edge of the nail, thereby preventing the binding string from coming off the nail member during transport of the object to be bound. can do.

In the present invention, the side wall of the block that faces the binding string is provided with a hook member that contacts the binding string.
With the above configuration, even if the binding string slides with the slide of the claw member, the binding string comes into contact with the hooking member, so that the claw member can be reliably pulled out.

In the present invention, the moving mechanism moves the vertical robot capable of pressing the block onto the object to be bound and lifting the block, and moves the vertical robot in the transport direction of the object to be bound. A horizontal robot, wherein the vertical robot is supported by the horizontal robot, a movable part supported by the fixed part in a vertically movable state, and the movable part in the vertical direction. A drive mechanism for moving the block, wherein the block is attached to the movable portion and is pressed against the object to be bound by the drive mechanism.
With the above configuration, the moving mechanism can be constructed with a simple configuration.

In the present invention, a stopper for fixing the movable part to the fixed part is provided, a force sensor for detecting a drag received from the bound object is provided on the block, and the drag detected by the force sensor is provided. When is equal to or greater than a certain threshold, the stopper performs an operation of fixing the movable portion to the fixed portion, and the drive mechanism stops the operation of pressing the block against the object to be bound. It is characterized by.
With the above configuration, the drive mechanism can be stopped in a state where the object to be bound is compressed, so that the load on the drive mechanism can be reduced.

  In the present invention, a distance measuring sensor for measuring a distance between any one of the block and the claw member and the object to be bound is provided, and the driving mechanism has a constant distance detected by the distance measuring sensor. It is characterized in that the lowering speed of the block is reduced when the value is equal to or lower than the threshold value.

  With the above-described configuration, if the distance detected by the distance measuring sensor is equal to or greater than a certain threshold value, the transport device can lower the block at a high speed, thereby improving work efficiency. Further, since the block can be lowered at a low speed if it is equal to or less than the above-described threshold value, damage to the block and the object to be bound can be prevented.

The sorting processing system according to the present invention includes the transport device, the binding machine, and a sorting device that forms the bound object and supplies the bound object to the binding machine. .
With the above configuration, the sorting processing system is capable of transporting the object to be bound regardless of manual work.

In the present invention, holding means for detachably holding a tally attached to the object to be bound, a horizontal movement device for moving the holding means from the output means for outputting the tally to the binding machine, and the holding means A lifting / lowering device that moves up and down, and a controller that controls the lifting / lowering device and the horizontal movement device so as to place the tally at a position on the object to be bound that intersects the binding line, The tally can be bound together with the object to be bound.
By the said structure, it becomes a division | segmentation processing system which can attach a tally to a to-be-bound object irrespective of manual labor.

In addition, the sorting processing system according to the present invention includes the above-described transport device, the binding machine, the sorting apparatus that forms the bound object and supplies the bound object to the binding machine, and the bound object. Holding means for detachably holding the tally attached thereto, a horizontal moving device for moving the holding means from the output means for outputting the tally to the binding machine, and a lifting / lowering device for moving the holding means up and down, A control unit that controls the lifting and lowering movement device and the horizontal movement device so as to arrange the tally at a position on the object to be bound that intersects the binding line, and the control unit is configured to control the vertical robot. By performing the lowering control of the lifting and lowering movement device in synchronization with the pressing operation, the tally is placed on the bound object during the pressing operation of the block to the bound object, and the tally is Characterized in that to allow binding with binding material.
With the above configuration, the tally can be reliably attached to the object to be bound.

In the present invention, the horizontal movement device includes an arm that rotates in a horizontal direction around one end in a longitudinal direction as an axis, and an arm rotation motor that rotates the arm, and the control unit includes the arm rotation motor. Rotation control is performed.
With the above configuration, interference between the moving mechanism and the horizontal moving device can be avoided.

In the present invention, the elevating and lowering device includes a housing that is attached with the holding means and is movable in the vertical direction, a motor that is attached to one end in the longitudinal direction of the arm and that is rotationally controlled by the control unit, Force transmitting means for converting a rotational force into a force in which the housing moves in the vertical direction and transmitting the force to the housing, and allowing the controller to perform lifting control of the lifting and lowering movement device. And
With the above configuration, a heavy motor is disposed in the vicinity of the rotation shaft of the arm, so that the arm can be easily rotated by reducing the torque of the arm.

In this invention, the said control part controls the said horizontal movement apparatus and the said raising / lowering moving apparatus so that the said tally will be arrange | positioned in the position which is lower than the said nail | claw member, and overlaps with the said nail | claw member in planar view. It is characterized by that.
With the above configuration, since the tally can be pressed by the claw member, the tally can be surely bound without being separated from the object to be bound even after the tally is released from the holding means.

In this invention, it has a detection sensor which detects that the said holding means received the drag from the said output means or the said to-be-bound object with the fall control of the said raising / lowering moving apparatus, The said control part has the said detection sensor The descent control of the elevating / lowering device is stopped by a detection signal from.
With the above configuration, the lowering control of the lifting and lowering movement device can be reliably stopped.

In the present invention, the holding means is a vacuum suction means that sucks the tally by vacuum suction and is controlled to be turned on / off by the control unit, and the control unit turns the vacuum suction means on / off. By performing the control, the tally output from the output means is attracted to the vacuum suction means, and the tally arranged on the object to be bound is controlled to be released from the vacuum suction means.
With the above configuration, the tally can be attached and detached reliably.

In this invention, the said vacuum suction means is provided with two or more adsorption | suction parts which adsorb | suck the said tally, The said adsorption | suction part is arrange | positioned along the surface when the said tally is bent.
With the above configuration, the tally can be held in a bent state. Therefore, it is possible to give tension (strength) to the tally to reduce dropping of the tally during the operation of the horizontal movement device and the lifting and lowering movement device, and to reliably arrange the tally on the bound object.

In this invention, it has a 2nd detection sensor which outputs the detection signal showing that the said holding means is holding the said tally to the said control part, The said control part makes the said holding means to the said to-be-bound object. While performing the control to move the head, the control for stopping the operation of the lifting and lowering moving device and the horizontal moving device is performed when the detection signal from the second detection sensor is interrupted.
With the above configuration, malfunction of the entire system can be prevented.

In the present invention, the output unit includes a third detection sensor that detects the tally, and the control unit moves the holding unit to the object to be bound and releases the tally from the holding unit. In response to the detection signal from the third detection sensor, control is performed to move the holding means toward the output means.
With the above configuration, the tally can be conveyed quickly and reliably.

  In the present invention, the sorting device includes a rotary transport device that transports the bound object to a sorting portion that performs sorting of the bound object, and the rotary transport device supplies the bound object to the sorting portion. A pair of rollers arranged side by side in a direction intersecting the conveyance path on the conveyance path, and a conveyance roller that rolls into contact with the object to be bundled and conveys the object to be bundled, and the conveyance roller rolls into contact with the object to be bundled A rotation control unit that temporarily performs a rotation speed control for making one rotation speed and the other rotation speed of the pair of conveyance rollers different from each other, and rotating the object to be bound during the conveyance It is possible to control.

  With the above configuration, the object to be bound can be transported in a state where the direction of the object to be bound is rotated in an arbitrary direction during the transportation and the orientation after the rotation is maintained. In addition, when a plurality of stages of rotary conveyance devices are provided, the objects to be bound can be reversed. Thereby, the to-be-bound object conveyed by reversing the direction and the to-be-bound object conveyed without reversing the direction can be alternately conveyed every predetermined number of sheets. For this reason, when stacking the bundles after transporting at the sorting section, even if the thickness of the bundles is not uniform, it avoids a state in which the stacked bundles are more inclined and stacked. Thus, it can be stacked while balancing the objects to be bound. Furthermore, since the reversal of the objects to be bound is performed during conveyance, the operation of reversing the objects to be bound does not interfere with the operation of stacking the objects to be bound. Therefore, it becomes a sorting processing system capable of stably and quickly stacking and binding even objects to be bound having non-uniform thickness.

In the present invention, the transport destination of the transport device is provided with a second binding device and a second transport device for transporting the object to be bound bound by the second binding device. The binding lines of the machine and the second binding machine intersect with each other.
With the above configuration, the object to be bound can be transported by performing so-called cross binding. In this case, the horizontal movement device conveys the tally to either the binding machine or the second binding machine.

The transport method according to the present invention is a method for transporting a bound object after binding from a binding machine, wherein the block is pressed onto the bound object disposed on the binding machine and supported by the block. And a pair of claw members that are attached to the block so as to be parallel to each other and can adjust the pair of intervals, are arranged at positions on the object to be bound that intersect the binding line of the binding machine in plan view, The claw member is bundled simultaneously with the bundling object by the bundling string of the bundling object, and the block is moved together with the claw member in the conveying direction of the bundling object by using a moving mechanism that supports the block. A bundle is conveyed, the claw member is pulled into the block side, and the claw member is pulled out from between the bundling string and the object to be bound.

  By the above method, the moving mechanism can transport the object to be bound by the claw member, and the bound object can be separated from the moving mechanism by pulling out the claw member from between the binding string and the object to be bound at the transport destination. Therefore, the object to be bound can be transported regardless of manual work. Further, at the time of binding, the block is pressed against the object to be bound, and the object to be bound is compressed in the height direction. Therefore, the object to be bound and the claw member can be firmly bound, and the object to be bound can be reliably conveyed.

  According to the transport device, the sorting processing system using the transport device, and the transport method according to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently transport the bundled mail items. In addition, according to the sorting processing system according to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently attach a tally to mail pieces to be bound.

It is a schematic diagram of the 1st conveying apparatus of this embodiment, and is B arrow view of FIG. 2 (at the time of the lifting of a mail matter by a 1st conveying apparatus). It is a schematic diagram of the classification processing system of this embodiment. FIG. 3 is an A arrow view (before pusher conveyance) of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a view (after pusher conveyance) of FIG. FIG. 3 is a view as viewed in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2 (after binding by the first binding machine). FIG. 3 is a view as viewed in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 2 (during transportation of mail to the second binding machine by the first transport device). FIG. 3 is a view taken in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 2 (when the mail piece is placed on the second binding machine). FIG. 3 is a view taken in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 2 (when the first transport device is returned). FIG. 3 is a view as viewed in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 2 (when the second transport device is moving). It is C arrow line view (at the time of binding by the 2nd binding machine) of FIG. FIG. 3 is a view taken in the direction of arrow C in FIG. It is C arrow line view of FIG. 2 (at the time of the fall to the belt conveyor of a mail). It is a schematic diagram (side view, bottom view) of the 1st block of this embodiment. It is a schematic diagram (side view, bottom view) of the 2nd block of this embodiment. It is a schematic diagram showing operation | movement (at the time of drawing | feeding-out and accommodation) of the 1st block of this embodiment. It is a flowchart of the classification processing system of this embodiment. It is a flowchart of the division | segmentation processing system of a modification. It is a schematic diagram (A arrow line view of FIG. 2) of the tally attachment apparatus of this embodiment. It is a mimetic diagram of a suction pad, a horizontal movement device, and a raising / lowering movement device (after raising) which constitute a tally attachment device of this embodiment. It is a schematic diagram of the suction pad, the horizontal movement device, and the lifting and lowering movement device (after descending) that constitute the tally attachment device of this embodiment. It is a schematic diagram (partially detailed drawing of FIG. 19) of the suction pad constituting the tally attachment device of the present embodiment. It is a schematic diagram (partial detail drawing of FIG. 20) of the adsorption pad which comprises the tally attachment apparatus of this embodiment. It is a schematic diagram from the right side surface of FIG. It is a schematic diagram at the time of raising a tally from the state shown in FIG. It is the modification of the suction pad which comprises the tally attachment apparatus of this embodiment, Comprising: It is a schematic diagram at the time of raising a tally. It is a control block diagram of the classification processing system of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the operation | movement (tally adsorption | suction) of the tally attachment apparatus of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows operation | movement (pulling up of a tally) of the tally attachment apparatus of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the operation | movement (movement of a tally upward of a mail) of the tally attachment apparatus of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows operation | movement (arrangement | positioning on a mail piece of a tally) of the tally attachment apparatus of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows operation | movement (a tally and bundling of a mailpiece) of the tally attachment apparatus of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows operation | movement (movement to the initial position of an adsorption | suction pad) of the tally attachment apparatus of this embodiment. It is a control flow figure of the tally attachment apparatus of this embodiment. It is a schematic diagram of the division processing system of other embodiment. It is a schematic diagram (A arrow line view of FIG. 34) which shows the sorting apparatus etc. which include the rotation conveying apparatus of this embodiment. It is a side view when mails are stacked without being reversed. It is a side view when mail is reversed and piled up with a fixed period. It is a top view of the rotation conveyance device of a 1st embodiment. It is a side view of the rotation conveyance device of a 1st embodiment. FIG. 40 is a partial detail view of FIG. 39. It is a control block diagram of the rotation conveyance apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the rotary conveying apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the timing chart of control of the rotary conveying apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is a top view of the rotation conveyance device of a 2nd embodiment. It is a side view of the rotary conveying apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is FIG. (1) which shows operation | movement of the rotary conveying apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure (the 2) which shows operation | movement of the rotary conveying apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the timing chart of control of the rotary conveying apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the modification of the rotary conveying apparatus of 2nd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. However, the components, types, combinations, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like described in this embodiment are merely illustrative examples and not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only unless otherwise specified. .

  In FIG. 2, the schematic diagram of the division | segmentation processing system of this embodiment is shown. As shown in FIG. 2, the sorting processing system 10 according to the present embodiment has a feeder 14, a postal code reading device 16, a sorting device 18, an automatic binding device 26, and a belt conveyor according to the order in which the postal matter 12 that is to be bound flows. 78. Moreover, it has the 1st conveying apparatus 34 (FIG. 1) and the 2nd conveying apparatus 66 (FIG. 9) which convey the postal matter 12 between the automatic binding apparatus 26 and the belt conveyor 78. FIG. The zip code reading device 16 and the sorting device 18 may be integrated.

  The postal matter 12 to which the sorting processing system 10 of the present embodiment is applied is, for example, an envelope (direct mail), and the postal code, address, and the like printed on the envelope are stored in the postal code reader 16. A transparent window (not shown) is provided for reading (for viewing by the sender, delivery person, and recipient). The postal matter 12 is conveyed to the postal code reading device 16 by the feeder 14 and then sorted by the sorting device 18 based on the read postal code or the like. Then, the sorted mail items 12 are bundled by the automatic bundling device 26, and the bundled mail items 12 are conveyed to the belt conveyor 78 and then carried out.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the first transport device of the present embodiment, and shows a view as viewed in the direction of arrow B in FIG. Although details will be described later, the transport device (first transport device 34) of the present embodiment transports the postal mail 12 after binding from the binding machine 28. Here, the first transport device 34 includes a first block 48 that is pressed onto the postal matter 12 disposed in the binding machine 28, and is supported by the first block 48 and the binding of the binding machine 28 in a plan view. A first nail that is arranged at a position on the mail piece 12 that intersects the line (longitudinal direction of the binding string 32 in plan view) (see FIG. 2) and is bundled simultaneously with the mail piece 12 by the binding string 32 of the binding machine 28. A member 52 is provided.

  In addition, the first transport device 34 is capable of performing an operation of pressing the first block 48 against the postal matter 12 and an operation of lifting the first block 48 and moving the first block 48 in the transporting direction of the postal matter 12. 1 horizontal robot 36, first vertical robot 40) and a first block 48 and a first claw member 52, and the first claw member 52 is pulled into the first block 48 side. And an actuator (not shown) for pulling out the first claw member 52 from between the binding string 32 and the postal matter 12.

  With the above configuration, the first transport device 34 transports the postal matter 12 by the first claw member 52, and an actuator (not shown) binds the first claw member 52 to the binding string 32 at the transport destination (binding machine 30). The postal matter 12 can be separated from the first conveying device 34 by pulling it out between the postal matter 12 and the postal matter 12. Therefore, the postal matter 12 can be transported regardless of manual work.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the feeder 14 is, for example, an unloader of an inserter (enclosed sealing machine) that encloses the enclosed item in an envelope that is a postal item 12. The feeder 14 conveys the postal matter 12 that has been sealed successively to the postal code reader 16 at regular time intervals.

  The postal code reader 16 conveys the postal matter 12 to the sorting device 18 side, reads the postal code etc. visible from the window with an attached camera (not shown), and sorts the postal matter 12 based on the prior data. To the sorting device 18. This prior data can be used not only for the postal code but also for sorting the delivery destination of the postal matter 12 in more detail, such as an address and a building.

  The sorting device 18 sorts the postal matter 12 for each pre-data corresponding to the postal code read by the postal code reading device 16, and transports the postal matter 12 that has been sorted and stacked to the automatic binding device 26. is there.

  FIGS. 3 and 4 are views taken along arrow A in FIG. 2 (before and after the pusher is conveyed). The sorting device 18 (FIG. 2) moves the postal matter 12 along the arrangement direction of the plurality of gate shutters with the gate shutter (not shown) corresponding to the prior data identified by the postal code reader 16 opened. The mail piece 12 is accommodated in the sorting section 20 under the opened gate shutter. When a certain number of postal items 12 are stacked in the sorting unit 20, the gate shutter (not shown) at the lower part of the sorting unit 20 is opened, and the postal items 12 are pushed out to the automatic binding device 26 (FIG. 2). Drops under the pusher 22. As shown in FIG. 4, the pusher 22 pushes the postal matter 12 to the automatic binding device 26 (the binding machine 28) by the attached single-axis robot 24.

  In order to prevent the postal matter 12 from collapsing when the postal matter 12 is dropped onto the pusher 22, a catch plate that moves vertically between the sorting portion 20 and the pusher 22 (not suitable) is provided immediately below the sorting portion 20. The mail piece 12 is lowered to the pusher 22 in a state where the mail piece 12 is arranged on the catch plate, and the mail piece 12 is arranged on the pusher 22. Further, before opening the gate shutter below the sorting section 20, the sorting section 20 is lowered and arranged on the pusher 22, and then the gate shutter at the lower section of the sorting section 20 is opened to put the postal matter 12 on the pusher 22. It may be arranged.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the automatic binding device 26 includes a binding machine 28 and a binding machine 30 (second binding machine). The binding machine 28 binds the postal matter 12 by causing the binding string 32 to circulate in the short direction of the postal matter 12. The binding machine 30 binds the postal matter 12 by rotating the binding string 32 in the longitudinal direction of the postal matter 12 already bound in the short direction. Therefore, the binding line of the binding machine 28 and the post binding line of the binding machine 30 (the longitudinal direction of the binding string 32 of the binding machine 28 in plan view and the longitudinal direction of the binding string 32 of the binding machine 30 in plan view) intersect (orthogonal). The postal item 12 is so-called cross-bound. Here, the postal matter 12 sorted by the sorting device 18 is conveyed to the binding machine 28 by the pusher 22 (FIG. 3). Further, the postal matter 12 bound by the binding machine 28 is transported by the first transport device 34 (FIG. 1). Furthermore, the postal items 12 cross-bundled by the bundling machine 30 are conveyed to the belt conveyor 78 by the second conveying device 66 (FIG. 9).

  A side guide (not shown) is provided at a position on the binding machine 28 and around the arrangement position of the postal items 12 on the binding machine 30 to prevent the bundled postal items 12 from collapsing. Is provided. In the binding machine 28, side guides can be arranged around (three sides) around the arrangement position of the postal matter 12 other than the direction in which it is carried in from the pusher 22. In the binding machine 30, side guides can be arranged around the four positions of the postal matter 12. Further, side guides are provided on both sides of the pusher 22 in the width direction.

  Note that the first transport device 34 and the second transport device 66 may transport the postal matter 12 in the horizontal direction simultaneously with the lifting of the postal matter 12 in order to shorten the operation time. In this case, the side guide that interferes with the postal matter 12 among the side guides is configured to escape from a position where it interferes with the postal matter 12 before each transport device is driven. Of course, when the postal matter 12 is transported after the postal item 12 has been lifted to the height of the side guide, the postal matter 12 and the side guide do not interfere with each other, so that a configuration for escaping the side guide is not necessary.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the first transport device 34 is disposed, for example, on the ceiling of a room in which the sorting processing system 10 of the present embodiment is introduced, and extends along a line connecting the binding machine 28 and the binding machine 30. A first horizontal robot 36 (moving mechanism) having a longitudinal direction, and a first vertical robot 40 (moving mechanism) attached to the first horizontal robot 36 via an arm 38 are included.

  The first horizontal robot 36 can horizontally move the first vertical robot 40 along the longitudinal direction of the first horizontal robot 36. The first vertical robot 40 includes a fixed portion 42 fixed to the arm 38 and a movable portion 44 that is supported by the fixed portion 42 and is movable in the vertical direction. The movable part 44 is movable in the vertical direction by a drive mechanism 46 (motor). The arm 38 is a member extending from the first horizontal robot 36 and has a curved shape to avoid interference between the drive mechanism 46 and a second horizontal robot 68 described later. A first block 48 is attached to the lower part of the movable portion 44. The first block 48 supports the first claw member 52 arranged horizontally and is pressed onto the postal matter 12 by the first vertical robot 40.

  In FIG. 13, the schematic diagram (side view, bottom view) of the 1st block of this embodiment is shown. As shown in FIG. 13, the first block 48 is a housing that supports the first claw member 52 and accommodates an actuator (not shown) that slides the first claw member 52. The first block 48 is designed to have a width that matches the width of the mail piece 12 in the short direction. The actuator (not shown) crosses (perpendicularly) the first claw member 52 in the longitudinal direction of the binding string 32 bound by the binding machine 28, that is, the direction in which the first claw member 52 is exposed from the first block 48 in plan view. Then, it is slid in a direction (accommodating direction) to be drawn toward the first block 48 in a plan view (see FIG. 15). The type of the actuator is not particularly limited, but an actuator using compressed air or magnetic force as a driving source is used.

  The first claw member 52 is bound together with the postal matter 12 by the binding strap 32 when the first binding device 28 binds the postal matter 12 and is sandwiched between the binding strap 32 and the postal matter 12. (See FIG. 2). A pair of first claw members 52 are prepared, and the first block is arranged so as to be substantially line-symmetric and parallel to each other around the central portion of the first block 48 in the width direction (short direction of the postal matter 12). 48 is connected to the lower part of 48. A hooking member 54 for hooking the binding string 32 is disposed on the side wall (side wall facing the binding string 32) where the first claw member 52 of the first block 48 is exposed. The lower part of the hooking member 54 is arranged so as to enter the cut portion 56 cut from the longitudinal end portion of the first claw member 52.

  A notch 58 is formed on the outer edge of the pair of first claw members 52. The width of the notch 58 is formed so as to be wider than the width of the binding string 32. Thereby, when the movable part 44 lifts the postal matter 12 through the first claw member 52 by driving the drive mechanism 46, the binding string 32 can be locked to the notch 58. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the binding string 32 from being detached from the first claw member 52 during the transport of the first transport device 34 and the postal matter 12 to fall. In the figure, the shape of the notch 58 is rectangular, but may be other shapes such as a semicircular shape.

  FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing the operation of the first block of the present embodiment (during delivery and accommodation). As shown in FIG. 15 (at the time of feeding, above), when the binding machine 28 is bound, the first pawl member 52 is seen in plan view by the actuator of the first block 48 (not shown). Slide it in the direction of exposure. Further, the first claw member 52 is disposed on the postal matter 12 placed on the binding machine 28. When the mail piece 12 is bundled by the bundling machine 28 in this state, the tip portion exposed from the first block 48 of the first claw member 52 in a plan view is sandwiched between the bundling string 32 and the mail piece 12. (See FIG. 2). Therefore, when the drive mechanism 46 raises the first block 48 (first claw member 52), the binding string 32 is locked to the first claw member 52, whereby the drive mechanism 46 is moved to the first claw member. The mail piece 12 is lifted through 52 (see FIG. 1).

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 15 (at the time of accommodation, the lower figure), the first claw member 52 is slid in the direction (accommodation direction) to be drawn toward the first block 48 in plan view by the actuator. Then, the first claw member 52 is pulled out from between the binding string 32 and the postal matter 12. When the first claw member 52 is operated to be pulled toward the first block 48 by the actuator, the binding string 32 disposed on the first claw member 52 is also in contact with the first claw member 52. The first claw member 52 may move to the first block 48 side due to the frictional force. However, since there is a hooking member 54 at the moving destination, the side surface of the binding string 32 in the direction of pulling out the first claw member 52 comes into contact with the hooking member 54. In this state, the first claw member 52 can be further separated from the binding string 32 by sliding the first claw member 52 in the direction in which the first claw member 52 is accommodated in the first block 48. The mail piece 12 can be separated from the mail.

  The operation shown in FIG. 15 (when accommodated, below) is an operation performed after the first transport device 34 places the postal matter 12 on the binding machine 30, so that the binding string 32 is fitted into the notch 58. The state is released, and the binding string 32 and the first claw member 52 can be easily separated.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the first claw member 52 is provided with an elongated hole 60 whose longitudinal direction is the width direction of the first block 48, and a set screw 62 is inserted into the elongated hole 60 to set the set screw. 62 is screwed to the lower part of the first block 48. Therefore, by loosening the set screw 62, the first claw member 52 is slid in the width direction of the first block 48, and the width of the pair of first claw members 52 is set to the width in the minor axis direction of the postal matter 12. Can be matched. Thereby, the damage (dent) to the mail piece 12 by the binding string 32 can be avoided. Further, when the drive mechanism 46 lifts the postal matter 12 with the first claw member 52, a gap may be formed between the postal matter 12 and the binding string 32. However, with the above configuration, it is possible to arrange the outer portions of the pair of first claw members 52 in the vicinity of the lateral edge of the postal matter 12, and in this case, between the outer portion and the binding string 32. The gap becomes smaller (or disappears). Therefore, the binding string 32 can be securely fitted into the notch 58.

  A distance measuring sensor 64 for measuring the distance between the first block 48 and the postal matter 12 is attached to the lower portion of the first block 48 (or the first claw member 52). The distance measuring sensor 64 is, for example, a reflective photoelectric sensor that outputs a detection signal when the distance between the first block 48 (first claw member 52) and the postal matter 12 becomes a certain threshold value (for example, 15 mm) or less. A sensor (a light source is applicable to a laser diode as well as an LED), and the drive mechanism 46 receives the detection signal from the photoelectric sensor, and the descent speed (drive mechanism) of the movable portion 44 (first block 48). The rotational speed of the 46 motors) can be reduced. As a result, if the distance between the first box 48 (first claw member 52) and the postal matter 12 is equal to or greater than the aforementioned threshold value, the movable portion 44 can be lowered at a high speed, so that the conveyance speed can be increased. . Moreover, since the descent | fall speed of the movable part 44 can be reduced if it is below the above-mentioned threshold value, a possibility that the 1st block 48 (1st nail | claw member 52) and the mailpiece 12 may be damaged can be reduced. .

  The drive mechanism 46 presses the first block 48 (the first claw member 52) against the postal matter 12 as it is even after the first claw member 52 contacts the postal matter 12 via the movable portion 44. An operation of compressing the object 12 is possible. In this state, the binding machine 28 binds the postal matter 12 and the first claw member 52 using the binding strap 32, so that the postal matter 12 and the first pawl member 52 are firmly bound. 12 bundling and conveyance can be performed reliably. However, while the first block 48 is pressed against the postal matter 12, a heavy burden is placed on the drive mechanism 46.

  Therefore, a force sensor (not shown) for detecting a drag force from the postal matter 12 is provided at the lower part of the first block 48 (position where it abuts the postal matter 12) (may be the first claw member 52). Yes. A stopper (not shown) that fixes the movable portion 44 to the fixed portion 42 is provided between the movable portion 44 and the fixed portion 42. The stopper is, for example, a member that is fixed to the fixed portion 42 and that slides with respect to the movable portion 44 during non-operation. The movable portion 44 is locked to the movable portion 44 or tightened to the movable portion 44 during operation. 44 is fixed to the fixing portion 42. The force sensor is formed of, for example, a piezoelectric element. The first block 48 (force sensor) compresses the postal matter 12 by compressing the postal matter 12, and converts the resistance received from the postal matter 12 into an electric signal (resistance information), and a stopper. And output to the drive mechanism 46. When the drag information output from the force sensor exceeds a certain threshold, the stopper performs an operation of fixing the movable unit 44 to the fixed unit 42, and the drive mechanism 46 stops the operation.

  As a result, the drive mechanism 46 can be stopped while maintaining the state where the first claw member 52 presses the postal matter 12 against the binding machine 28, so that the burden on the drive mechanism 46 can be reduced. In stopping the driving mechanism 46 and operating the stopper, it is desirable to control the driving mechanism 46 to stop immediately after the stopper operation is completed. Of course, when the drive mechanism 46 performs an operation in the direction in which the movable portion 44 is raised, control for canceling the operation of the stopper is performed prior to that.

  Further, when the detection signal is input to the driving mechanism 46 using the distance measuring sensor 64 described above, the current applied to the driving mechanism 46 is fixed to a constant value, and the driving mechanism 46 fixes the first block 48 with a constant force. You may make it maintain the state pressed on the mailpiece 12. FIG. In this case, the lowering of the first block 48 stops at a position where the pushing force of the drive mechanism 46 and the drag force of the postal matter 12 are balanced.

  FIG. 9 is a view taken in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 2 (when the second transport device is moving). As shown in FIG. 9, the second transport device 66 transports the postal matter 12 bound by the binding machine 30 to the belt conveyor 78. Similar to the first transport device 34, the second transport device 66 is arranged on the ceiling of the room where the sorting processing system 10 of the present embodiment is introduced, and along the line connecting the binding machine 30 and the belt conveyor 78. And a second horizontal robot 68 (moving mechanism) having a longitudinal direction, and a second vertical robot 70 (moving mechanism) attached to the second horizontal robot 68. The second vertical robot 70 is attached to the second horizontal robot 68 via an arm 38 for avoiding interference with other components.

  Similar to the first vertical robot 40, the second vertical robot 70 has a fixed portion 42, a movable portion 44, and a driving means 46, and a second claw member 76 is provided at the tip of the movable portion 44. A block 72 is attached. In order to avoid interference with the first robot 36, the second horizontal robot 68 is disposed at a lower position (may be a higher position) than the first horizontal robot 36, and crosses each other (orthogonal) on the binding machine 30. )doing. Since the operation of the second transfer device 66 is the same as that of the first transfer device 34, the description thereof is omitted.

  In FIG. 14, the schematic diagram (side view, bottom view) of the 2nd block of this embodiment is shown. The second block 72 supports the second claw member 76 and houses an actuator (not shown) that slides the second claw member 76 in the horizontal direction (longitudinal direction of the second claw member 76). Is the body. The second block 72 is different from the first block 48 in that the width of the second block 72 is designed in accordance with the width in the longitudinal direction of the mail piece 12, and the configuration and operation of the second block 72 are the same as those of the first block 48. The description is omitted because it is common. The second claw member 76 is bundled together with the postal matter 12 by the binding string 32 when the binding machine 30 binds the postal matter 12 and is sandwiched between the binding string 32 and the postal item 12. Yes (see FIG. 2). Since the configuration of the second claw member 76 is the same as that of the first claw member 52, description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 16 shows a flow of the sorting processing system of this embodiment. The operation (cross binding job) of the sorting processing system 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 16 and FIGS. 1 to 12. First, the gate shutter at the bottom of the sorting unit 20 is opened (flow 1, FIG. 3). At this time, the first transport device 34 arranges the first vertical robot 40 at a position directly above the binding machine 28 and raises the first block 48. The postal matter 12 is carried out to the binding machine 28 by the pusher 22 (flow 2, FIG. 4), and after the carry-out, the pusher 22 is returned to the original position (FIG. 5). In the first transport device 34, the actuator in the first block 48 is driven to expose the first claw member 52 from the first block 48 in plan view. Then, the drive mechanism 46 is driven to lower the first block 48 and arrange it on the postal matter 12. Further, the first block 48 is pressed against the mail piece 12 (Flow 3, FIG. 5). Here, the binding machine 28 operates, and the first claw member 52 and the postal matter 12 (short direction) are bound simultaneously using the binding strap 32 (see Flow 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 2).

  At this time, the drive mechanism 46 lowers the first block 48 at a high speed until the distance between the first block 48 (first claw member 52) and the postal matter 12 becomes a certain threshold value or less. The first block 48 is lowered at a low speed when the threshold value is below the threshold. In addition, when the first block 48 (the first claw member 52) is pressed against the postal matter 12 and the effectiveness received by the first block 48 (the drive mechanism 46) exceeds a certain threshold value, the movable portion The movable portion 44 is fixed to the fixed portion 42 by a stopper provided between the fixed portion 44 and the fixed portion 42, and the drive mechanism 46 is stopped. Thereby, the state where the first block 48 (first claw member 52) compresses the postal matter 12 is maintained while the height position of the first block 48 is fixed.

  At this stage, the first claw member 52 is sandwiched between the postal matter 12 and the binding string 32. Therefore, after the stopper is released, the drive mechanism 46 is driven (the motor is rotated in the reverse direction) to raise the first block 48, whereby the postal matter 12 (the postal matter 12 sandwiching the first claw member 52 and the binding string). 32) (flow 5, FIG. 1). Then, the first transport device 34 (first horizontal robot 36) transports the postal matter 12 onto the binding machine 30 (Flow 6, FIG. 6). The drive mechanism 46 is driven again to lower the first block 48, the postal matter 12 is placed on the binding machine 30 (flow 7, FIG. 7), and the actuator in the first block 48 is operated to change the first block 48. One claw member 52 is accommodated in the first block 48, and the first claw member 52 is pulled out from between the binding string 32 and the postal matter 12 (see flow 8, FIG. 7, and FIG. 15). As a result, the postal matter 12 is separated from the first transport device 34. On the other hand, in the 1st conveying apparatus 34, after raising the 1st block 48, the 1st vertical robot 40 is returned on the binding machine 28 (flow 9, FIG. 8).

  Next, the second transport device 66 (second vertical robot 70) is moved toward a position directly above the binding machine 30 (flow 10, FIG. 9), and is previously removed from the second block 72 in plan view. The second claw member 76 is exposed, the driving device 46 is driven, the second block 72 is lowered, and the second claw member 76 is disposed on the postal matter 12. Then, the second block 72 is pressed against the postal matter 12 (flow 11, FIG. 10). Here, the binding machine 30 operates, and the second claw member 76 and the postal matter 12 (longitudinal direction) are simultaneously bound using the binding string 32 (see the flow 12, FIG. 10, and FIG. 2). Thereby, the postal matter 12 is what is called a cross unity.

  At this stage, the second claw member 76 is sandwiched between the postal matter 12 and the binding string 32 bound by the binding machine 30. Accordingly, the driving mechanism 46 of the second transport device 66 is driven to raise the second block 72, and the postal matter 12 (the postal matter 12 sandwiching the second claw member 76 and the bundled string 32). Is lifted (flow 13, FIG. 11), and the second transport device 66 (second horizontal robot 68) transports the postal matter 12 onto the belt conveyor 78 (flow 14). Then, the second claw member 76 is accommodated in the second block 72 by the operation of the actuator of the second block 72, and the second claw member 76 is pulled out from between the postal matter 12 and the binding string 32, and the postal matter. 12 is separated from the second claw member 76, and the postal matter 12 is dropped onto the belt conveyor 78 (flow 15, FIG. 12). In addition, as shown in FIG. 14, it is suitable for the notch 58 formed in the 2nd nail | claw member 76 to make it circular, for example. Thereby, even if the binding string 32 is fitted in the notch 58 in the second claw member 76, the binding string 32 can be taken out from the notch 58 by the operation of the actuator of the second block 72. it can.

  Further, after the second block 72 is lowered and the mail piece 12 is placed on the belt conveyor 78, the second claw member 76 is pulled out, the second claw member 76 is pulled out, and then the second block 72 is moved. It may be raised. Alternatively, the second claw member 76 may be pulled out by lowering the second block 72 to a height above the belt conveyor 78 that does not damage the postal matter 12. After the postal matter 12 is placed on the belt conveyor 78, the belt conveyor 78 is operated to move the transport belt 80 of the belt conveyor 78 by a predetermined length to secure a space for the next postal matter 12 ( By returning to the flow 16) and the flow 1, the above-described operation is repeated. In the above flow, when the postal matter 12 is bound by the binding machine 30, the next postal matter 12 can be bound by the binding machine 28.

  FIG. 17 shows a flow of a sorting processing system according to a modification of the present embodiment. In the sorting processing system according to the modified example, the mail piece 12 can be bundled into one character by omitting the binding machine 30 and the second transport device 66 (see FIG. 2). The flow shown in FIG. 17 (single character bundling job) is omitted because part of the flow shown in FIG. 16 is omitted. In this case, the first transport device 34 sends the mail to the belt conveyor 78. 12 will be conveyed.

  In the present embodiment, it has been described that the postal items 12 are cross-bundled using two binding machines, but the postal items 12 can also be cross-bundled with one binding machine. For example, as shown in the flow 4 of FIG. 16, the binding machine 28 is operated to bind the first claw member 52 and the postal matter 12 (short direction) simultaneously using the binding string 32. Next, the first block 48 is lifted to lift the mail piece 12, and the first block 48 (movable part 44) is rotated 90 degrees around the vertical direction as the rotation axis to rotate the mail piece 12 90 degrees. The first block 48 is lowered, the postal matter 12 is placed on the binding machine 28, and the first claw member 52 is pulled out. Then, the first block 48 is raised and reversely rotated 90 degrees, and then the first claw member 52 is unwound from the first block 48, and the first block 48 is lowered again to move the first claw member 52. The first block 48 is pressed against the mail piece 12 while being placed on the mail piece 12. The binding machine 28 is operated again, and the first claw member 52 and the postal matter 12 (longitudinal direction) are simultaneously bound using the binding string 32. As a result, the postal matter 12 is so-called cross-bound and the first claw member 52 is sandwiched between the binding string 32 and the postal matter 12. Finally, the first transport device 34 lifts the first block 48 that supports the first claw member 52 to lift the postal matter 12 and transport it to the belt conveyor 78. In the present embodiment, the postal matter 12 is exemplified as the object to be bound. However, the application target of the transport device can be applied to other documents.

  In FIG. 18, the schematic diagram (A arrow line view of FIG. 2) of the tally attachment apparatus of this embodiment is shown. As shown in FIG. 18, the tally attachment device 100 constituting the sorting processing system 10 of this embodiment includes a printer 104 (output means) that outputs a tally 102 (see FIG. 22, FIG. 27, etc.), and a tally 102 that is detachable. A suction pad 130 (holding means) for holding the suction pad 130, a horizontal moving device 108 for moving the suction pad 130 between the printer 104 and the first binding machine 28, and a lifting / lowering device 116 for moving the suction pad 130 up and down. It is configured. In addition, the entire operation of the tally attachment device 100 is controlled by the control unit 150 (see FIG. 26).

  The printer 104 receives address information such as a zip code and information on the number of postal items 12 (see FIG. 27) to be sorted from an overall control unit 148 (see FIG. 26) which controls the entire sorting processing system 10. The information is input, and the information is printed on the tally 102 and output. Further, an output detection sensor 106 (third detection sensor) for detecting the tally 102 is arranged on the tray 104a on which the tally 102 after the output of the printer 104 is arranged. The output detection sensor 106 includes a light source (not shown) that emits laser light toward the tally 102 and a light receiver (not shown) that receives the laser light reflected by the tally 102. A light receiver (not shown) outputs a detection signal to the control unit 150 while receiving laser light, that is, while the tally 102 is disposed on the tray 104 a of the printer 104.

  The suction pad 130 (holding means) is connected to the suction pump 142 (see FIG. 26) and sucks the tally 102 output from the printer 104 or opens the sucked tally 102. The suction pad 130 can move between the printer 104 (tray 104a) and the first binding machine 28 by the vertical movement by the vertical movement apparatus 116 and the horizontal movement by the horizontal movement apparatus 108.

  FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of a suction pad, a horizontal movement device, and a lifting and lowering movement device (after ascending) constituting the tally attachment device of this embodiment, and FIG. The schematic diagram of a moving apparatus and a raising / lowering moving apparatus (after descending) is shown.

  The horizontal movement device 108 has an arm 112 that rotates horizontally. An adsorption pad 130 attached to the tip of the arm 112 is moved between the printer 104 (tray 104a) and the first binding machine 28 by the rotation operation of the arm 112. (See FIG. 18). The horizontal movement device 108 has a support column 110 serving as a rotating shaft for rotating the arm 112, and the support column 110 supports the entire horizontal movement device 108. The arm 112 has a shape that extends in the horizontal direction from the support 110 and is bent in a diagonally downward direction.

  The support column 110 is fixed in a state of being erected from the floor surface or in a state of being suspended from a building that houses the sorting processing system 10. An arm rotation motor 114 that rotates the arm 112 is attached to the support 110, and the arm rotation motor 114 is rotationally controlled by the control unit 150 (FIG. 26). Note that the rotation angle of the arm 112 when the suction pad 130 is moved between the printer 104 and the first binding machine 28 can be arbitrarily set. For example, when the support column 110 is arranged between the printer 104 and the first binding machine 28 and the printer 104 (tray 104a), the support column 110, and the first binding machine 28 are arranged in a line in this order, the arm 112 The rotation angle is 180 degrees. 18 and the like illustrate a case where the arm 112 rotates 180 degrees when the tally 102 is conveyed.

  A lifting / lowering device 116 is attached to the tip of the arm 112. The lifting / lowering moving device 116 includes a casing 118 attached to the tip of the arm 112 and extending in the vertical direction, a lifting / lowering motor 120 disposed near the rotation shaft of the arm 112, a timing belt 122 (force transmission means), a roller 124, 126, 128 (force transmission means). The casing 118 has a structure that can slide up and down with respect to the arm 112. The timing belt 122 has one end 122 a in the longitudinal direction attached to the upper part inside the casing 118 and the other end 122 b in the longitudinal direction attached to the lower part inside the casing 118. Rollers 124 and 126 are attached to the tip of the arm 112.

  The timing belt 122 extends downward from one end 122a, is wound around the roller 124 in the middle thereof, changes its direction, extends toward the arm 112, extends upward from the other end 122b, and extends in the middle of the roller. It is wound around 126 and changes direction to extend toward the arm 112. The timing belt 122 is wound around a roller 128 attached in the middle of the longitudinal direction of the arm 112 to adjust the direction, and is wound around the lifting motor 120. The lift motor 120 is rotationally controlled by the control unit 150.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 19, when the lifting motor 120 rotates in the direction that attracts the other end 122 b of the timing belt 122 (rotates clockwise in FIG. 19), the other end 122 b of the timing belt 122 is pulled upward, Since the entire timing belt 122 is sent to the one end 122a side of the timing belt 122, the housing 118 is displaced upward. On the contrary, as shown in FIG. 20, when the elevating motor 120 rotates in the direction to attract the one end 122a of the timing belt 122 (rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 20), the one end 122a of the timing belt 122 is pulled downward and the timing Since the entire belt 122 is fed to the other end 122b side of the timing belt 122, the housing 118 is displaced downward.

  FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of a suction pad constituting the tally attachment device of the present embodiment (partially detailed view of FIG. 19), and FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram of the suction pad constituting the tally attachment device of the present embodiment (FIG. 20). FIG. Further, FIG. 23 shows a schematic diagram from the right side of FIG. 22, and FIG. 24 shows a schematic diagram when the tally is pulled up from the state shown in FIG. A suction pad 130 (vacuum suction means) and a suction pad sensor 144 (detection sensor) are attached to the lower portion of the housing 118. The suction pad 130 extends upward from the suction portion 136, a fixing portion 132 fixed to the housing 118, a suction portion 136 that sucks the tally 102, a spring 138 that connects the fixing portion 132 and the suction portion 136. And a shaft portion 140 through which a through hole 134 provided in the fixing portion 132 is inserted.

  The suction part 136 is a hollow member having an opening 136a at the lower end, and a tube (not shown) connected to the suction pump 142 (FIG. 26) is attached to the side surface thereof. Therefore, the suction pump 142 can suck the suction portion 136 and suck the tally 102 in the opening 136a.

  The suction portion 136 and the shaft portion 140 are supported by a spring 138, but can be moved relative to the fixed portion 132 along the longitudinal direction of the shaft portion 140 by receiving an external force. An adsorption pad sensor 144 (detection sensor) is provided on an extension line in the longitudinal direction of the shaft portion 140 of the housing 118. The suction pad sensor 144 is formed of, for example, a piezoelectric element or the like, and outputs a detection signal to the control unit 150 when the shaft portion 140 comes into contact (when a constant pressure is received from the shaft portion 140).

  As shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, in this embodiment, a pair of suction pads 130 and suction pad sensors 144 are attached to the housing 118, and the pair of suction pads 130 (longitudinal direction of the shaft portion 140) is V-shaped ( It is tilted by about 10 degrees so as to form an inverted shape. As a result, the suction directions of the pair of suction portions 136 (the directions of the arrows on the suction portions 136 in the figure) intersect each other (in this case, the intersection angle is about 20 degrees). The pair of suction pads 130 are arranged so that the suction portions 136 are arranged in the short side direction of the tally 102 near one end in the long side direction of the tally 102 in plan view (see FIG. 22).

  Further, in the casing 118, a tally presence / absence sensor 146 is disposed at a position between the pair of suction pads 130. Similar to the output detection sensor 106, the tally presence / absence sensor 146 includes a light source (not shown) that emits laser light toward the tally 102 and a light receiver (not shown) that receives the laser light reflected by the tally 102. Is done. The light receiver (not shown) outputs a detection signal to the control unit 150 (FIG. 26) while receiving the laser beam.

  As shown in FIGS. 19 and 21, before the suction pad 130 sucks the tally 102 and when the casing 118 is on the upper side, that is, when the suction pad 130 is floating from the tray 104a, The portion 136 is stationary at a position where the load of the suction portion 136 and the shaft portion 140 and the tensile force of the spring 138 are balanced. At this time, a gap is formed between the shaft portion 140 and the suction pad sensor 144.

  Then, as shown in FIGS. 20, 22, and 23, when the housing 118 moves downward, the suction portion 136 is disposed on the tray 104 a via the tally 102. When the lowering of the casing 118 is further continued and the spring 138 becomes shorter than the natural length, the suction portion 136 receives a drag force from the postal matter 12 or the like, and the spring 138 is compressed by the drag force to compress the suction portion 136 and the shaft portion. 140 is displaced relative to the fixed portion 132 along the longitudinal direction of the shaft portion 140, and the shaft portion 140 contacts the suction pad sensor 144. At this time, the suction pad 130 (adsorption unit 136) adsorbs the tally 102 under the control of the control unit 150 (FIG. 26). The tally 102 includes one adsorption unit 136 and the other adsorption unit as shown in FIG. A portion between the first and second plates 136 is lifted from the tray 104a. Further, the tally presence / absence sensor 146 receives the reflected light of the laser light from the tally 102, and thus can output a detection signal to the control unit 150. Even when the tally 102 is arranged on the postal matter 12, the arrangement is the same as the arrangement shown in FIGS.

  Then, when the suction pad 130 is lifted by the rotation of the elevating motor 120, the spring 138 expands again as shown in FIG. 24, and the suction portion 136 and the shaft portion 140 move downward relative to the fixed portion 132. Thereby, since the shaft part 140 is separated from the suction pad sensor 144, the detection signal from the suction pad sensor 144 is interrupted, but the tally presence sensor 146 can continue to detect the tally 102. However, when the tally 102 is dropped from the suction pad 130 during the transportation of the tally 102 to the postal matter 12, the detection signal output from the tally presence / absence sensor 146 to the control unit 150 is interrupted.

  On the other hand, the tally 102 forms an arch-shaped curved surface that protrudes upward in the short side direction, as shown in FIG. Thereby, since the tally 102 is stretched in the long side direction (the bending strength in the long side direction is increased), it is possible to reduce the tally 102 being bent by the air during the movement and falling off the suction pad 130. .

  Further, as shown in FIG. 25, the pair of suction pads 130 may be disposed so as to be inclined with respect to each other so as to form an inverted V shape (C shape). In this case, the tally 102 forms a curved surface that protrudes downward in the short side direction. In the present embodiment, a pair of suction pads 130 are used, but three or more suction pads 130 may be used. When a new suction pad is used in addition to the pair of suction pads 130 described above, it is disposed at any position following the curved surface of the tally 102 shown in FIGS. 24 and 25 (positions different in the long side direction are possible). do it. In this embodiment, the suction pad 130 is arranged so as to form an arch-shaped curved surface in the short side direction of the tally 102, but the suction pad 130 is formed so as to form an arch-shaped curved surface in the long side direction of the tally 102. A pad 130 may be arranged. Further, when there is no possibility that the tally 102 is dropped from the suction pad 130, the suction pad 130 may be one instead of a pair.

  Here, the vertical movement device 116 has an initial position when the casing 118 is moved upward (FIG. 19) by the timing belt 122 to the end, but the tally 102 is supported by the first block 48. It is designed to be slightly lower than the one claw member 52. In addition, the horizontal movement device 108 has an initial position when the tip of the arm 112 is disposed above the printer 104 (tray 104a), but when the arm 112 is rotated toward the first binding machine 28. The suction pad 130 is a position directly above the postal matter 12 arranged in the first binding machine 28 in plan view, and is separated from the first block 48 and the first claw member 52 in plan view. It is arranged at the position. Also. In this case, the tally 102 (the other end region in the long side direction of the tally 102) is arranged so as to be directly below the first claw member 52.

  FIG. 26 shows a control block diagram of the sorting processing system of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 26, the overall control unit 148 controls the entire sorting processing system 10, and is an application installed on a PC (personal computer). The overall control unit 148 is connected to the feeder 14, the postal code reading device 16, the sorting device 18, the automatic binding device 26, the first transport device 34, the second transport device 66, the belt conveyor 78, etc. It controls the operation of each device until it is divided, bound, and unloaded.

  The control unit 150 controls the tally attachment device 100 that is a part of the sorting processing system 10. The control unit 150 is an application installed in the PC together with the overall control unit 148, for example. The control unit 150 is connected to the arm rotation motor 114, the lifting motor 120, the suction pump 142, the output detection sensor 106, the tally presence / absence sensor 146, and the suction pad sensor 144 via an interface. Note that the printer 104 is connected to the overall control unit 148 (or the control unit 150) via an interface.

  A detection signal from the output detection sensor 106, a detection signal from the tally presence / absence sensor 146, and a detection signal from the suction pad sensor 144 are input to the control unit 150. In this embodiment, a pair of suction pad sensors 144 is used, but detection signals may be input from both, or detection signals may be input from only one of them. On the other hand, the control unit 150 provides the arm rotation motor 114 with a forward rotation signal for rotating the arm 112 toward the first binding device 28 by a predetermined angle and a reverse rotation signal for rotating the arm 112 backward toward the printer 104 by a predetermined angle. Output. Further, the control unit 150 outputs an upward rotation signal for displacing the suction pad 130 (housing 118) upward and a downward rotation signal for displacing the suction pad 130 (housing 118) downward to the lift motor 120. Further, the control unit 150 outputs an ON signal for adsorbing the tally 102 to the adsorption pad 130 (adsorption unit 136) and an OFF signal for releasing the tally 102 adsorbed by the adsorption pad 130 (adsorption unit 136) to the adsorption pump 142. To do.

  The control unit 150 outputs a Steinby signal to the overall control unit 148 after the arm 112 is rotated toward the first binding machine 28 by the forward rotation signal. When the standby signal from the control unit 148 and the standby signal from the sorting device 18 described later are input, the overall control unit 148 performs a pressing operation on the postal matter 12 by the first block 48 (first vertical robot 40). And a synchronization signal is output to the control unit 150. When the synchronization signal is input, the controller 150 outputs a downward rotation signal to the lifting motor 120. The control unit 150 and the overall control unit 148 may be integrated.

  The operation of the sorting processing system (overall control unit 148) according to the present embodiment will be described. First, the overall control unit 148 outputs a drive signal to the feeder 14 to cause the feeder 14 to sequentially supply the postal matter 12 to the postal code reader 16. The overall control unit 148 inputs address information such as a zip code from the zip code reading device 16 and generates information on the number of times the address information is input, that is, information on the number of postal items 12 to be classified. When the address information (prior data) to be classified is input, the overall control unit 148 outputs a signal for classification to the sorting device 18, and the destination information and the number of postal items 12 related to the destination information. Is output to the printer 104. The sorting device 18 outputs a standby signal to the overall control unit 148 when the sorting of the postal matter 12 is completed. When the standby signal is input from the control unit 150, the overall control unit 148 operates the first binding machine 28 (automatic binding device 26) to bind the postal matter 12 and the tally 102 with the binding string 32.

  Thereafter, the first transport device 34 is operated to transport the bundled postal matter 12 to the second binding machine 30. Then, the second binding machine 30 (automatic binding device 26) is operated, and the postal matter 12 is further bound by the binding string 32 to perform so-called cross binding. Thereafter, the second conveying device 66 is operated to convey the bundled postal matter 12 to the belt conveyor 78. Here, the general control unit 148 activates the tally attachment device 100 (the control unit 150) when address information (preliminary data) such as a postal code to be classified is input from the postal code reading device 16. The tally attachment device 100 according to the present embodiment attaches the tally 102 to the postal matter 12 when the postal matter 28 is bound by the first binding machine 28.

  Next, the operation of the tally attachment device 100 (control unit 150) of the present embodiment will be described. 27 to 32 show the operation of the tally attachment device of this embodiment, and FIG. 33 shows the control flow (flow 1 to flow 16) of the tally attachment device of this embodiment. In the description of the operation of the tally attachment device 100, FIG. 26 is also referred to. First, the tally attachment device 100 (control unit 150) is activated by a command from the overall control unit 148 (FIG. 26) (flow 1). Also, destination information (preliminary data) and number information are output from the overall control unit 148 to the printer 104, and as shown in FIG. 27, the printer 104 outputs a tally 102 on which these pieces of information are printed (flow 2). The output detection sensor 106 outputs a detection signal to the control unit 150 (flow 3). At this time, the control unit 150 outputs the detection signal input from the output detection sensor 106 to the overall control unit 148. Note that if the detection signal derived from the output detection sensor 106 is not input from the control unit 150 after a certain period of time has elapsed after the output of the destination information and the like, the overall control unit 148 indicates that the tally 102 has not been output from the printer 104. Determine (error 1) and stop the entire system.

  As illustrated in FIGS. 27 and 28, the suction pad 130 is disposed at an initial position above the tally 102 output from the printer 104. When the detection signal derived from the output detection sensor 106 is input to the control unit 150, the control unit 150 outputs a downward rotation signal to the elevating motor 120 (FIG. 26), and as shown in FIG. Is lowered. Further, the controller 150 outputs an ON signal to the suction pump 142 (FIG. 26) so that the suction pad 130 can suck the tally 102 (flow 4). Thereafter, when the suction pad 130 reaches the printer 104 (tray 104a), the suction part 136 of the suction pad 130 sucks the tally 102 (see FIGS. 22 and 23). As a result, the tally presence / absence sensor 146 outputs a detection signal to the control unit 150. When the suction pad 130 continues to descend, the spring 138 of the suction pad 130 is compressed and the shaft portion 140 comes into contact with the suction pad sensor 144 (see FIGS. 22 and 23), so that the suction pad sensor 144 outputs a detection signal. It outputs to the control part 150 (flow 5). When the detection signal derived from the suction pad sensor 144 is input, the control unit 150 stops the downward rotation signal and stops the lowering of the suction pad 130 (flow 6).

  The controller 150 outputs an upward rotation signal to the elevating motor 120, and as shown in FIG. 29, the suction pad 130 sucking the tally 102 (see FIG. 24) has a predetermined height (initial position of the suction pad 130). (Flow 7). After the detection signal derived from the suction pad sensor 144 is input, the control unit 150 outputs an ON signal to the suction pump 142 before outputting the upward rotation signal to the lifting motor 120, and the suction pad 130 is tallyed. 102 may be adsorbed.

  When the suction pad 130 is raised, the state where the detection signal from the tally presence / absence sensor 146 is input to the control unit 150 continues (flow 8). However, if the detection signal is interrupted in the middle, it is determined that the tally 102 has dropped from the suction pad 130 (error 2), and the control unit 150 stops the upward rotation signal and raises the suction pad 130. Can be stopped. On the other hand, the sorting device 18 places a bundle of mail items 12 to be sorted on the pusher 22.

  When the suction pad 130 moves to a predetermined height with the tally 102 being sucked (held), the control unit 150 outputs a forward rotation signal to the arm rotation motor 114 to move the arm 112 to the initial position as shown in FIG. From a predetermined angle (180 degrees) (flow 9). After rotating the arm 112 by a predetermined angle, the control unit 150 outputs a standby signal to the overall control unit 148. On the other hand, in the sorting device 18, a bundle of postal items 12 to be sorted is transported to the first binding machine 28 by the pusher 22, and when the pusher 22 places the postal items 12 in the first binding machine 28 (or the pusher). When 22 is returned to the original position), a standby signal is output to the overall control unit 148. At this time, the suction pad 130 is arranged at a position directly above the mail piece 12 arranged in the first binding machine 28, and a part of the tally 102 (the other end region in the long side direction of the tally 102). Is disposed at a position directly below the first claw member 52. It should be noted that the time when the rotation of the arm 112 toward the first binding machine 28 and the time when the mail piece 12 is placed on the first binding machine 28 may be the same, or may be before and after each other. Also good.

  During the rotation of the arm 112, the state in which the detection signal from the tally sensor 146 is input to the control unit 150 continues (flow 10). However, if the detection signal is interrupted in the middle, it is determined that the tally 102 has dropped from the suction pad 130 (error 3), and the control unit 150 stops the forward rotation signal and stops the rotation of the arm 112. .

  The overall control unit 148 to which the standby signal is input from the control unit 150 and the sorting device 18 outputs a synchronization signal to the control unit 150 and, as shown in FIG. The lowering operation of the block 48 and the pressing operation to the postal matter 12 are controlled (flow 11). The control unit 150 receives the synchronization signal from the overall control unit 148 and outputs a downward rotation signal to the lifting motor 120 to lower the suction pad 130 (flow 12). Here, the suction pad 130 starts to descend simultaneously with the first block 48, or begins to descend earlier than the first block 48. Further, the descending speeds of the first block 48 and the suction pad 130 are substantially equal, or the suction pad 130 is faster. Then, the suction pad 130 reaches the postal matter 12 before the first block 48 (first claw member 52), the suction pad sensor 144 outputs a detection signal, and the control unit 150 outputs a downward rotation signal. Once stopped (flow 13).

  However, after that, when the first block 48 presses the mail piece 12 against the first binding machine 28, the suction pad 130 is separated from the mail piece 12 when the mail piece 12 is compressed. The detection signal from is temporarily interrupted. Therefore, during the interruption, the control unit 150 outputs the downward rotation signal again to continue the lowering of the suction pad 130. Finally, when the first block 48 compresses the postal matter 12 with a constant force, the postal matter becomes a balance position between the compression force of the first block 48 and the repulsive force of the postal matter 12. The suction pad 130 (tally 102) comes into contact with the upper surface of 12 and the suction pad 130 receives a certain drag force from the postal matter 12, so that the lowering of the suction pad 130 stops (flow 13). At this time, the tally 102 is sandwiched between the postal matter 12 and the first claw member 52.

  When the detection signal derived from the suction pad sensor 144 is continuously input for a certain period of time, the control unit 150 determines that the compression operation of the postal matter 12 by the first block 48 has ended, and sends an OFF signal to the suction pump 142. The tally 102 is output from the suction pad 130 (flow 14). Thereafter, the control unit 150 outputs an upward rotation signal to the lifting motor 120 to raise the suction pad 130 to a predetermined height (flow 15). As a result, the suction pad 130 is separated from the tally 102. Further, the control unit 150 outputs a reverse rotation signal to the arm rotation motor 114 to rotate the arm 112 by a predetermined angle (−180 degrees), and the next time the printer 104 outputs the suction pad 130 as shown in FIG. Return to the initial position directly above the tally 102 (flow 16).

  On the other hand, the overall control unit 148 binds the postal matter 12 and the tally 102 by operating the first binding unit 28 in a state where the postal matter 12 and the tally 102 are pressed against the first binding unit 28 in the first block 48. Tie with string 32. Thereafter, even if the first block 48 performs the operation of pulling out the first claw member 52 from the binding string 32 on the second binding machine 30, the tally 102 is sandwiched between the postal matter 12 and the binding string 32. Will be maintained.

  In the above operation, as the response to the error 1, the operator restarts the control by the command from the overall control unit 148 after correcting the paper jam of the tally paper in the printer 104 and the like. Also, as a response to the error 2 and the error 3, the operator picks up the tally 102 that has been dropped and sucks it on the suction pad 130 to resume control by the control unit 150, or outputs the tally 102 again in the printer 104, The control unit 150 returns the arm 112 and the suction pad 130 to the initial positions, and performs control for conveying the tally 102 to the first binding machine 28 again.

  In the present embodiment, the suction pad 130 is used as the holding unit, but an adhesive unit such as an adhesive tape may be used. In this case, the adhesive means holds the tally 102 outputted to the printer 104 by the adhesive force. Then, after placing the tally 102 on the postal matter 12 and operating the first binding machine 28 to bind the tally 102 together with the postal matter 12, the adhesive means is pulled up to separate the adhesive means from the tally 102. Can do.

  In the present embodiment, the tally attachment device 100 has been described as placing the tally 102 on the postal matter 12 placed on the first binding machine 28, but the postal matter 12 placed on the second binding machine 30. Alternatively, the tally 102 may be arranged, or the suction pad 130 may be lowered in synchronization with the pressing operation of the second transport device 66 so that the tally 102 can be arranged on the postal matter 12.

  FIG. 34 shows a schematic diagram of a sorting processing system according to another embodiment, and FIG. 35 shows a schematic diagram (a view taken in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 34) showing a sorting device including the rotary transport device of this embodiment. . The sorting processing system 210 according to the present embodiment has a feeder 214, a reading device 216, a sorting device 218, an automatic binding device 260 (a binding device 262, a binding device 268), and a belt conveyor 286 in the order in which the postal matter 12 as a transported item flows. Have Further, a transport robot 274 (FIG. 35) for transporting the postal matter 12 after being bound by the binding machine 262 to the binding machine 268, and a transport robot (not shown) for transporting the postal matter 12 after being bound by the binding machine 268 to the belt conveyor 286. Is provided. The feeder 214, the reading device 216, and the sorting device 218 may be integrated.

  The postal matter 12 is, for example, a sealed letter (direct mail), and the addressing information such as a postal code and an address printed on the sealed letter is read by the reading device 216 (from the sender, the delivery person, and the recipient) A transparent window (not shown) is provided (for viewing). Moreover, as the postal matter 12, a postcard (crimp postcard) can be applied. Note that the postal matter 12 is mounted on the feeder 214 in a state in which the postal items 12 are grouped and arranged for each piece of information serving as a reference for classification, such as a postal code, so that the sorting device 218 can classify.

  The feeder 214 sequentially conveys the postal matter 12 (sealed letter, postcard) to the reading device 216 at regular time intervals. The feeder 214 can also be used as, for example, a carry-out unit of an inserter (encapsulated sealing machine) that encloses the enclosed matter in a sealed letter that is the postal matter 12.

  The reading device 216 sequentially transports the postal matter 12 that is sequentially transported from the feeder 214 to the sorting device 218 side, and sends the postal code and other destination information to the postal matter with an attached camera (not shown). 12 is read each time it is newly conveyed, and a signal is output to the sorting device 218 based on a change in destination information. When the postal matter 12 is a sealed letter, the address information such as the zip code described in the document inside is read through a transparent window provided on the sealed letter. The destination information can be not only the postal code but also information for sorting the postal matter 12 in more detail, such as an address and a building.

  The sorting device 218 stacks the postal matter 12 conveyed from the reading device 216 (feeder 214), sorts the postal matter 12 based on the signal input from the reading device 216, and conveys it to the automatic binding device 260. is there. As shown in FIG. 35, the sorting device 218 includes a rotary conveyance device 220, a sorting unit 254, and a pusher 256.

  The rotary conveyance device 220 conveys the postal matter 12 conveyed from the reading device 216 (feeder 214) to the sorting unit 254, but reverses the direction every predetermined number of sheets to the sorting unit 254 as described later. Transport. The rotary conveyance device 220 is arranged to be inclined toward the reading device 216 in order to secure the arrangement position of the pusher 256.

  The sorting unit 254 is a box-like device that stores the postal matter 12 transported from the rotary transporting device 220, and sorts the postal matter 12 by a signal from the reading device 216. A gate (not shown) is disposed on the bottom surface of the sorting portion 254. Although the gate (not shown) is normally closed, when the signal from the reading device 216 is input, the gate is opened, and the postal matter 12 stacked in the sorting unit 254 is placed in the pusher disposed just below the sorting unit 254. 256.

  The pusher 256 drives the attached single-axis robot 258 by a signal from the reading device 216 or when an attached sensor (not shown) detects the article 12 to bind the article 12 to the binding machine 262 (automatic binding). The apparatus 260 is transported to the apparatus 260) and returns to the original position after transport (just below the sorting section 254).

  As shown in FIG. 34, the automatic binding device 260 includes a binding machine 262 and a binding machine 268, and performs so-called cross binding on the postal matter 12 using binding bands 266 and 272. The binding machine 262 binds the binding band 266 to the postal matter 12 according to the binding line 264, and the binding machine 268 binds the binding band 72 to the postal matter 12 according to the binding line 270. The binding line 64 and the binding line 70 are orthogonal to each other.

  As shown in FIG. 35, the transfer robot 274 has a horizontal single-axis robot 276, a vertical single-axis robot 278, and a claw drive unit 280. The claw driving unit 280 presses the postal matter 12 placed on the binding machine 262 against the binding machine 262 and feeds the claw member 282 to a position overlapping the binding line 264 of the binding machine 262 on the postal matter 12. Thereby, the binding machine 262 binds the postal matter 12 in a state where the postal matter 12 is compressed by the claw driving unit 280, but the pawl member 282 is sandwiched between the binding band 266 and the postal matter 12. The vertical single-axis robot 278 moves the claw driving unit 280 in the vertical direction. Therefore, when the claw driving unit 280 is raised by the vertical single-axis robot 278 in a state where the claw member 282 is bundled together with the postal matter 12, the bundled postal matter 12 is lifted by the claw member 282.

  The horizontal single-axis robot 276 moves the vertical single-axis robot 278 from a position directly above the binding machine 262 to a position directly above the binding machine 268 (FIG. 34). Therefore, after the horizontal single-axis robot 276 moves the vertical single-axis robot 278 to a position directly above the binding machine 268, the vertical single-axis robot 278 lowers the claw driving unit 280, so that the binding machine 262 The postal matter 12 can be conveyed to the binding machine 268. Further, the claw driving unit 280 can perform an operation of retracting the claw member 282 into the claw driving unit 280. As a result, after the postal matter 12 is placed on the binding machine 268, the pawl member 282 is retracted, whereby the pawl member 282 is pulled out from between the binding band 266 and the postal matter 12, and the postal matter 12 is removed from the transport robot 274. Can be separated.

  A transport robot (not shown) that transports the postal matter 12 from the binding machine 268 to the belt conveyor 286 has the same structure as the transport robot 274. The transport robot (not shown) binds the claw member 284 (FIG. 34) together with the postal matter 12 to the binding band 272 in the binding machine 268, and transports the postal matter 12 to the belt conveyor 286 by moving the claw member 284.

  In the above-described configuration, the postal matter 12 is conveyed to the reading device 216 by the feeder 214 and then sorted by the sorting device 218 based on the change (preliminary data) of the read destination information. Then, the sorted mail items 12 are bundled by the automatic bundling device 260, and the bundled mail items 12 are conveyed to the belt conveyor 286 and then unloaded.

  FIG. 36 shows a side view when the mail pieces are stacked without being reversed, and FIG. 37 shows a side view when the mail pieces are reversed and stacked at a constant cycle. For example, when the postal matter 12 is a sealed letter, the paste margin portion of the sealed letter is thicker than the other parts. Further, for example, when the postal matter 12 is a pressure-bonded postcard (a sheet of paper folded in two and bonded to each other), the folded portion of the paper is thicker than the other portions. When such postal items 12 are stacked in the same direction, the bundle of postal items 12 has a difference in height between the thick portion of the postal items 12 and other portions as shown in FIG. As the postal items 12 are stacked, the postal item 12 stacked at the top is inclined, eventually the balance is lost, and the stacked postal items 12 may be collapsed before binding, Even if it does not collapse, binding by the binding machines 262 and 268 may be difficult.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 37, in the rotary conveyance device 220 of the present embodiment, the direction of the postal matter 12 during the conveyance every predetermined number (10 in FIG. 37) so that the postal items 12 after being stacked do not tilt. Is reversed so that the section 254 can be accommodated and stacked.

  FIG. 38 is a plan view of the rotary transport device of the present embodiment, FIG. 39 is a side view of the rotary transport device of the present embodiment, and FIG. 40 is a partial detailed view of FIG. The rotary conveyance device 220 of the present embodiment has an outer shape formed by a casing 222 having an upper surface 224 facing along the conveyance path of the postal matter 12. Then, at a position serving as a conveyance path of the housing 222, the conveyance belt 226, the first conveyance roller 228, the second conveyance roller 234, and the conveyance belt 238 in a direction (conveyance direction) from the reading device 216 toward the sorting unit 254. Are arranged in a line. Further, the upper surfaces of the conveying belt 226 and the conveying belt 238 and the upper ends of the first conveying roller 228 and the second conveying roller 234 are exposed slightly above the upper surface 224 of the housing 222, and are attached to the postal matter 12. It is an arrangement that allows contact.

  The conveyance belt 226 conveys the postal matter 12 conveyed from the reading device 216 to the first conveyance roller 228. The first transport roller 228 rotates the postal matter 12 transported from the transport belt 226 by 90 degrees, or transports it to the second transport roller 234 without rotating it. The second transport roller 234 is for transporting the postal matter 12 transported from the first transport roller 228 to the transport belt 238 by rotating it 90 degrees or without rotating it. The conveyance belt 238 conveys the postal matter 12 conveyed from the second conveyance roller 234 to the sorting unit 254.

  Here, the rotation direction of the postal matter 12 by the first transport roller 228 and the second transport roller 234 is the same. Therefore, when the postal matter 12 is rotated by the first transporting roller 228 and the second transporting roller 234, the postal matter 12 is transported to the sorting unit 254 while being rotated 180 degrees (in a state where the direction is reversed). Note that the rotation speeds of the conveyance belt 226 and the conveyance belt 238 and the rotation speed of the first conveyance roller 228 and the second conveyance roller 234 when the postal matter 12 is not rotated are equal to each other. It moves in the rotary conveyance device 220 at substantially the same speed.

  The first transport roller 228 includes a first transport roller 228A on the right side and a first transport roller 228B on the left side when viewed from the direction toward the transport direction (the transport belt 226 side). The rotation axes of the first conveyance roller 228A and the first conveyance roller 228B are orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the postal matter 12 and are coaxial with each other. The first transport roller 228A rotates by receiving the rotational force from the first drive motor 230A through the timing belt 232, and the first transport roller 228B rotates through the timing belt 232. Rotates under the rotational force from. That is, the first transport roller 228A and the first transport roller 228B rotate independently of each other.

  The second transport roller 234 includes a second transport roller 234A on the right side and a second transport roller 234B on the left side when viewed from the direction (the transport belt 226 side) in the transport direction. The second transport roller 234A is rotated by receiving the rotational force from the second drive motor 236A via the timing belt 232, and the second transport roller 234B is rotated by the second drive motor 236B via the timing belt 232. Rotates under the rotational force from. That is, the second transport roller 234A and the second transport roller 234B rotate independently of each other.

  The first drive motor 230A, the first drive motor 230B, the second drive motor 236A, and the second drive motor 236B are electrically connected to a control unit 246 (rotation control unit) to be described later. The rotational speed is controlled based on the input log information (rotational speed information).

  The pressing roller 240 is located at a position where the upper surface 224 of each conveying roller (the first conveying roller 228A, the first conveying roller 228B, the second conveying roller 234A, and the second conveying roller 234B) becomes the upper end in plan view. Is rolling. As shown in FIG. 40, the pressing roller 240 is supported by the housing 222, for example, and is urged against each conveying roller by an urging means 240a such as a spring. The urging direction of the pressing roller 240 is a direction parallel to the normal line of the upper surface 224 and toward the upper surface 224, and urges each conveying roller in a direction to push the inside of the housing 222. Further, the pressing roller 240 and the rotation axes of the transport rollers are parallel. Therefore, when each conveyance roller rotates, the pressing roller 240 is rotated by a frictional force with each conveyance roller.

  Then, when the postal matter 12 is transported to each transporting roller, it enters between each transporting roller and the pressing roller 240 (FIG. 40), and the pressing roller 240 is displaced corresponding to the thickness of the postal matter 12. The pressing roller 240 presses the postal matter 12 against each conveying roller by the biasing means 240a. As a result, the postal matter 12 is sandwiched between the transport rollers and the pressing roller 240 and is transported toward the sorting unit 254 according to the rotation of the transport rollers. The first conveyance roller 228A and the first conveyance roller 228B are in contact with the postal matter 12 at the same time, and the second conveyance roller 234A and the second conveyance roller 234B are also in contact with the postal matter 12 at the same time. In the present embodiment, a constant interval is provided between the first transport roller 228 and the second transport roller 234 so that the two do not simultaneously contact the postal matter 12.

  A first sensor 242 is disposed between the first conveyance roller 228A and the first conveyance roller 228B, and a second sensor 244 is disposed between the second conveyance roller 234A and the second conveyance roller 234B. Is arranged. The first sensor 242 and the second sensor 244 include light sources 242a and 244a that irradiate laser light and light receivers 242b and 244b that receive the laser light, respectively. The light receiver 242b is disposed in the housing 222 at a position between the first transport roller 228A and the first transport roller 228B when the upper surface 224 is viewed in plan. The light source 242a is disposed at a position directly above the light receiver 242b when the upper surface 224 is viewed in plan. The light source 242a emits laser light toward the light receiver. Further, the attachment positions of the light source 242a and the light receiver 242b may be interchanged. The light source 244b and the light receiver 244b are similarly arranged with respect to the second transport roller 234.

  With the above configuration, the light receiver 242b normally receives the laser light emitted from the light source 242a, and the light receiver 244b receives the laser light emitted from the light source 244a. However, when the postal matter 12 is brought into rolling contact with the first transporting roller 228A and the first transporting roller 228B, the laser beam is blocked by the postal matter 12, so that the light receiver 242b does not receive the laser light during that time. Similarly, when the postal matter 12 is brought into rolling contact with the second transporting roller 234A and the second transporting roller 234B, the laser beam is blocked by the postal matter 12, so that the light receiver 244b does not receive the laser light during that time.

  Therefore, the first sensor 242 (light receiver 242b) detects the postal matter 12 during a period in which the laser beam is not received, that is, while the first transporting roller 228 is in contact with the postal matter 12 while being conveyed. A detection signal indicating this is output to the control unit 246 described later. Similarly, the second sensor 244 (light receiver 244b) detects the postal matter 12 during a period in which the laser beam is not received, that is, while the second transporting roller 234 is in contact with the postal matter 12 while being conveyed. A detection signal indicating this has been output to the control unit 246 described later. Therefore, the first sensor 242 is the sensing object of the mail piece 12 that is in contact with the first conveying roller 228, and the second sensor 244 is the mail object 12 that is in contact with the second conveying roller. Sensing target.

  In the present embodiment, the first sensor 242 is disposed between the first transport roller 228A and the first transport roller 228B, and the second sensor 244 is the second transport roller 234A and the second transport roller 234B. It is arranged between. However, if the first conveyance roller 228 and the second conveyance roller 234 are arranged so that the postal matter 12 can be detected while being in contact with the postal matter 12, the first sensor 242 and the second sensor 244 are Any arrangement may be used. The first sensor 242 and the second sensor 244 detect the mail item 12 in a non-contact manner, but may be of a type that detects the mail item 12 in contact. Further, as the sensor that outputs the detection signal, a configuration in which the detection signal is output by detecting the displacement of the pressing roller 240 when the postal matter 12 is sandwiched between each conveying roller and the pressing roller 240 is also applied. it can.

  In FIG. 41, the control block diagram of the rotary conveying apparatus of 1st Embodiment is shown. The control unit 246 (rotation control unit) is an application installed in, for example, a PC (personal computer). The rotary conveyance device 220 conveys the postal matter 12 in a reverse state and non-reversely conveys the postal matter 12. The switching control is alternately performed between the states to be performed. The control unit 246 is connected to the first sensor 242, the first drive motor 230A, the first drive motor 230B, the second sensor 244, the second drive motor 236A, and the second drive motor 236B through an interface. ing. The storage unit 248 is a storage medium such as a hard disk attached to the PC, and the information input unit 250 is a keyboard, a mouse, or the like attached to the PC.

  The counter 252 is an application installed in the PC similarly to the control unit 246, and counts the number of times that the first sensor 242 or the second sensor 244 outputs a detection signal. In addition, the counter 252 receives period information for repeating the reverse (rotation) of the mail piece 12. Here, the cycle information is a cycle in which the mail piece 12 is repeatedly reversed and non-inverted, and has information on the number of sheets to be conveyed in the cycle. Further, the cycle information includes rotation number information indicating the number of sheets to be transferred in the cycle until the control state is changed halfway. Then, the counter 252 outputs a rotation switching signal for rotating the postal matter 12 to the control unit 246 with respect to the number of times of detection related to the number-of-rotations information among the number of times of detection corresponding to the period information of the detection signal. A non-rotation switching signal for making the postal matter 12 non-inverted is output to the control unit 246 for the number of times detected. That is, the control unit 246 performs switching control for turning on / off the rotation control of the mail piece 12 every time the rotation switching signal and the non-rotation switching signal are alternately input. Note that the counter 252 may be integrated with the control unit 246.

  The information input unit 250 inputs the above-described cycle information to the storage unit 248 and the counter 252 by an operator's key operation or the like. In addition, the information input unit 250 stores log information including information on the rotational speed of each drive motor and time information for temporarily performing the rotational speed control in order to control the rotation of the mail piece 12. Can be entered.

  In the present embodiment, a state in which the postal matter 12 is sequentially reversed and conveyed by a certain number and a state in which a certain number of items are successively conveyed in a non-inverted state are repeated thereafter. Note that the order of inversion and non-inversion may be reversed. The period information can arbitrarily adjust the inversion / non-inversion period of the postal matter 12, and the rotational number information can arbitrarily adjust the number of postal items 12 to be rotated and the number of postal items 12 not to be rotated. be able to.

  For example, if the number of transported sheets corresponding to the period information is two, the number of transported sheets to be rotated (reversed) is one, and the number of transported sheets not to be rotated (non-reversed) is one. The directions of the objects 12 are alternately reversed. When the number of transported sheets corresponding to the cycle information is 20, normally, the number of transported sheets to be rotated (reversed) is 10 sheets, and the number of transported sheets not to be rotated (non-reversed) is 10 sheets (see FIG. 37). The number of transported sheets to be rotated may be 5 sheets, and the number of transported sheets not rotated may be 15 sheets. For example, assuming that the number of transported sheets according to the cycle information is 10, the number of transported sheets to be reversed is 1 (9 sheets), and the number of transported sheets to be non-reversed is 9 (1 sheet), only 1 of 10 sheets Since the postal matter 12 with the direction reversed is a mark, the postal matter 12 can be easily counted visually.

  The control unit 246 does not control each drive roller while the non-rotation switching signal is input from the counter 252. As a result, each drive roller rotates at an initially set rotation speed, and the first conveyance roller 228 and the second conveyance roller 234 rotate synchronously (rotate at the same rotation speed), and the postal matter 12 is not reversed. (Without rotation).

  On the other hand, the control unit 246 reads log information from the storage unit 248 while the rotation switching signal is input from the counter 252. Then, the rotational speed of each drive roller is controlled temporarily (for a fixed time) according to the log information, and finally the postal matter 12 is reversed and transported to the transport belt 238 (sorting portion 254). Note that the control unit 246 has a built-in clocking means (not shown) for performing control according to the log information, and controls the log information based on the clocking means (not shown).

  FIG. 42 shows the operation of the rotary conveyance device of the first embodiment. FIG. 42 shows the operation in the case where the postal matter 12 is transported after being reversed (180 rotations) as a result. Here, the case where the postal matter 12 is transported so that the long side of the postal matter 12 is parallel to the transporting direction of the postal matter 12 will be described. In FIG. 42, the locus 12a of the portion where the first conveyance roller 228 and the second conveyance roller 234 are in rolling contact with each other on the postal matter 12 is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 42A, the postal matter 12 is transported from the transporting belt 226 to the first transporting roller 228, the first sensor 242 detects the postal matter 12, and a detection signal (ON) is sent to the control unit 246. Output to. Then, according to the log information, the control unit 246 continues the synchronous rotation of the first conveyance roller 228A and the first conveyance roller 228B for a certain time and conveys the postal matter 12 for a certain distance.

  As shown in FIG. 42 (b), after a lapse of a certain time, the control unit 246 makes the rotation speed of the first transport roller 228A slower than the rotation speed at the time of the synchronous rotation in accordance with the log information, and performs the first transport. Control is performed so that the rotation speed of the roller 228B is higher than the rotation speed during synchronous rotation. Accordingly, the first transport roller 228 rotates asynchronously, and the postal matter 12 is a direction in which a portion of the postal matter 12 upstream of the first transport roller 228 in the transport direction moves toward the first transport roller 228B. Rotate to.

  As shown in FIG. 42 (c), the control unit 246 returns the rotational speeds of the first transport roller 228A and the first transport roller 228B to the original positions when the mail piece 12 is rotated 90 degrees according to the log information. To return to synchronous rotation. As a result, the postal matter 12 is transported from the first transporting roller 228 to the second transporting roller 234 with the rotation of the postal matter 12 being stopped, and the postal matter 12 is separated from the first transporting roller 228. The detection signal is turned off.

  As shown in FIG. 42 (d), the postal matter 12 is transported to the second transport roller 234, and the second sensor 244 detects the postal matter 12 and outputs a detection signal (ON) to the control unit 246. Then, according to the log information, the control unit 246 continues the synchronous rotation of the second transport roller 234A and the second transport roller 234B for a predetermined time and transports the postal matter 12 for a predetermined distance.

  As shown in FIG. 42 (e), after a predetermined time has elapsed, the control unit 246 makes the rotation speed of the second conveyance roller 234A slower than the rotation speed at the time of synchronous rotation in accordance with the log information. Control for making the rotational speed of 234B faster than the rotational speed at the time of synchronous rotation is performed for a certain time. As a result, the second transport roller 234 rotates asynchronously for a certain time, and the postal matter 12 of the postal matter 12 is moved to the second transport roller 234B side at a portion upstream of the second transport roller 234 in the transport direction. Rotate further in the direction you want.

  As shown in FIG. 42 (f), the control unit 246 returns the rotational speeds of the second transport roller 234A and the second transport roller 234B to the original positions when the mail piece 12 is rotated 90 degrees according to the log information. To return to synchronous rotation. Thereby, in a state where the rotation of the postal matter 12 is stopped, the postal matter 12 is transported from the second transporting roller 234 to the transporting belt 238 (the sorting portion 254) in a state where the direction is reversed, and the second transporting roller 234 When the postal matter 12 is separated from 234, the detection signal is turned OFF.

  FIG. 43 shows a control timing chart of the rotary conveyance device of the first embodiment. In FIG. 43, the horizontal axis is time, and the vertical axis is a graph showing temporal changes in the rotational speeds of the first transport roller 228 and the second transport roller 234, and corresponds to the log information described above. Further, FIG. 43 is a graph when the long side of the postal matter 12 is transported so as to be parallel to the transporting direction of the postal matter 12 as in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 43, in the initial state, the first transport roller 228A, the first transport roller 228B, the second transport roller 234A, and the second transport roller 234B all rotate synchronously at a rotational speed V0. . The transport belt 226 and the transport belt 238 described above are also rotated at the same rotational speed. When the rotary transport device 220 transports the postal matter 12 in a non-reverse manner, the transport belt 226, the first transport roller 228, The second transport roller 234 and the transport belt 238 maintain this rotational speed until the end.

  Then, after the first sensor 242 detects the postal matter 12 and outputs a detection signal (ON) to the control unit 246, after a certain waiting time (T1), the control unit 246 detects the first conveyance roller 228A. Rotational speed control for asynchronous rotation is performed by setting the rotational speed to VL lower than V0 and the rotational speed of the first transport roller 228B to VH higher than V0. In this way, the postal matter 12 is made to be slower by making the rotational speed of the first transport roller 228A slower than that of the synchronous rotation, and conversely, making the rotational speed of the first transport roller 228B faster than that of the synchronous rotation. Since it can be rotated with a small curvature radius, the rotation can be completed in a short time. Then, the above-described rotation speed control is maintained for a time (TR) necessary to rotate the postal matter 12 by a predetermined angle (90 degrees in this embodiment), and then the first conveyance roller 228A and the first conveyance roller 22B. Is controlled to return the rotation speed to V0 and return to synchronous rotation. As a result, the postal matter 12 is transported from the first transport roller 228 to the second transport roller 234 with the rotation stopped. When the postal matter 12 moves away from the first transport roller 228, the detection signal from the first sensor 242 is turned off.

  Thereafter, after the second sensor 244 detects the postal matter 12 and outputs a detection signal (ON) to the control unit 246, after a certain waiting time (T2), the control unit 246 detects the second transport roller 234A. The rotation speed is set to VL, the rotation speed of the second transport roller 234B is set to VH, and the rotation speed control for asynchronous rotation is performed for a predetermined time (TR), and then the control is returned to the synchronous rotation. As a result, the postal matter 12 is further rotated by 90 degrees, and as a result, the postal matter 12 is rotated from the second transporting roller 234 to the transporting belt in a state where the rotation is rotated in the plane by 180 degrees and the rotation is stopped. 238 (sorting part 254). When the postal matter 12 moves away from the second transport roller 234, the detection signal from the second sensor 244 is turned off.

  As shown in FIGS. 42A and 42B, when the first transport roller 228 rotates and transports the postal matter 12, the long side of the postal matter 12 transported to the first transport roller 228 is shown. The transport direction is parallel. In this case, if the mail 12 is rotated immediately after the first sensor 242 detects the mail 12, the long side forms the rotation radius of the mail 12 as it is centered on the short side of the mail 12. As a result, the radius of rotation of the postal matter 12 becomes large. Thereby, it becomes difficult to rotate, and the postal matter 12 may interfere with other parts in the rotary conveyance device 220. Therefore, the first conveyance roller 228 waits for a certain waiting time (T1) until it rolls in contact with the central region in the long side direction (longitudinal direction) of the postal matter 12, and the rotation control of the postal matter 12 (the first conveying roller 228). The rotation radius of the mail piece 12 is made smaller by starting the rotation speed control.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 42D and 42E, when the second transport roller 234 rotates and transports the postal matter 12, the short side of the postal matter 12 and the transport direction are parallel to each other. Yes. In this case, when the second sensor 244 detects the postal matter 12 and starts to rotate the postal matter 12 after a certain amount of time has elapsed, the postal matter 12 is detached from the second transport roller 234 during the rotation. As a result, not only the rotation becomes insufficient, but also the conveyance becomes impossible. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 43, immediately after the second sensor 244 detects the postal matter 12 (after a certain waiting time (T2)), the rotational control of the postal matter 12 (rotational speed control of the second transport roller 234). ) Has started. Therefore, the waiting time T2 is shorter than the waiting time T1.

  Conversely, when the postal matter 12 is transported to the first transporting roller 228 with its short side parallel to the transporting direction, the postal matter T is T2 after the first sensor 242 detects the postal matter 12. 12, and the second sensor 244 detects the mail piece 12, and then starts the rotation control of the mail piece 12 after T <b> 1. Further, when the mail piece 12 is square, the waiting time from when the first sensor 242 detects the mail piece 12 until rotation control of the mail piece 12 is started, and the second sensor 244 is set to the mail piece 12. The waiting time until the rotation control of the mail piece 12 is started after the detection is detected becomes equal to each other.

  In this embodiment, the postal matter 12 is rotated 90 degrees by the first transport roller 228 and further rotated 90 degrees by the second transport roller 234. However, it is only necessary that the postal matter 12 is rotated (reversed) by 180 degrees as a result of the rotation by the first conveyance roller 228 and the rotation by the second conveyance roller 234. Therefore, the time (TR) for rotating the postal matter 12 by the first transport roller 228 is set longer than the time when the postal matter 12 is rotated 90 degrees, and conversely the postal matter 12 is rotated by the second transport roller 234. It is also possible to generate the log information so that the time (TR) is shorter than the time when the mail piece 12 is rotated 90 degrees and can be rotated 180 degrees by two rotations. For example, the rotation angle of the postal matter 12 can be controlled to be 120 degrees with the first transport roller 228 and can be controlled to be 60 degrees with the second transport roller 234.

  FIG. 44 shows a plan view of the rotary transport device of the second embodiment, and FIG. 45 shows a side view of the rotary transport device of the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the common components of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted unless necessary.

  The rotary conveyance device 220A of the second embodiment does not use the conveyance rollers in two stages as in the first embodiment, and the postal matter 12 is rotated 90 degrees only by the third conveyance roller 288, The thing 12 reversely rotated 90 degree | times and the thing conveyed alternately for every predetermined number of sheets. Further, only one third sensor 290 (same configuration as the first sensor 242) is used as a sensor for detecting the postal matter 12. Thereby, the long side (short side) of the postal matter 12 before conveyance and the long side (short side) of the postal matter 12 after conveyance are mutually orthogonally crossed.

  In the present embodiment, the control block by the control unit 246 is substantially the same as that shown in FIG. 41, but the cycle information input to the counter 252 has the rotation number information and the reverse rotation number information. In the present embodiment, the counter 252 includes a rotation switching signal (for first rotation speed control) for rotating the postal matter 12 for the number of detections related to the number-of-rotations information among the number of detections related to the period information of the detection signal. ) To the control unit 246, and controls a reverse rotation switching signal (for second rotation speed control) for reversely rotating the mail piece 12 for the remaining number of detection times, that is, the number of detection times related to the reverse rotation number information. To the unit 246.

  When the rotation switching signal is input, the control unit 246 performs control to rotate the postal matter 12 by 90 degrees via the third conveyance roller 288, and when the reverse rotation switching signal is input, the control unit 246 moves the third conveyance roller 288. Through which the postal item 12 is rotated 90 degrees backward. As a result, the postal items 12 rotated 90 degrees and the postal items 12 rotated 90 degrees reverse to each other.

  46 and 47 show the operation of the rotary conveyance device of the second embodiment. FIG. 48 shows a timing chart of control of the rotary conveyance device of the second embodiment. FIGS. 46 to 48 sequentially show the operation when the postal matter 12 is alternately rotated by 90 degrees in the opposite direction. Here, the postal matter 12 is transported to the third transporting roller 288 in a state where the long side of the postal matter 12 is parallel to the transporting direction of the postal matter 12, and then the short side is parallel to the transporting direction of the postal matter 12. The case of carrying from the carrying roller 288 will be described. In FIGS. 46 and 47, the direction and the rotation direction of the postal matter 12 are shown so as to be understood.

  As shown in FIGS. 46 and 48, the postal matter 12 is transported to the third transporting roller 288, and the third sensor 290 detects the postal matter 12 and outputs a detection signal (ON) to the control unit 246. Then, according to the log information, the control unit 246 maintains a constant waiting time (T1), the rotation speed V0 of the third transport roller 288A and the third transport roller 288B, and continues the synchronous rotation to maintain the fixed-distance mail 12 Transport. After a certain waiting time (T1) elapses, the control unit 246 sets the rotation speed of the third conveyance roller 288A to VL and sets the rotation speed of the third conveyance roller 288B to VH according to the log information (rotation switching signal). The first rotation speed control is performed for a predetermined time (TR). As a result, the third transport roller 288 is rotated asynchronously, and the postal matter 12 has a direction in which a portion of the postal matter 12 upstream of the third transport roller 288 in the transport direction moves toward the third transport roller 288B. Rotate to. Then, in accordance with the log information, the control unit 246 performs control to return the rotation speed of the third transport roller 288A and the third transport roller 288B to V0 and return to the synchronous rotation when the mail piece 12 rotates 90 degrees. . Accordingly, the postal matter 12 is transported from the third transporting roller 288 to the transporting belt 238 (sorting portion 254) with the rotation of the postal matter 12 stopped. When the postal matter 12 moves away from the third transport roller 288, the detection signal from the third sensor 290 is turned off.

  As shown in FIGS. 47 and 48, the same control as described above is also performed when the next postal matter 12 is transported to the third transport roller 288. However, the control unit 246 performs second rotation speed control in which the rotation speed of the third conveyance roller 288A is set to VH and the rotation speed of the third conveyance roller 288B is set to VL according to the log information (reverse rotation switching signal). Perform for a certain time (TR). As a result, the postal matter 12 is rotated in the direction in which the portion of the postal matter 12 upstream of the third transporting roller 288 in the transporting direction moves toward the third transporting roller 288A, and the postal matter 12 is reversely rotated. . As a result, the postal items 12 stacked on the sorting unit 254 are alternately opposite to each other. The rotational speed of the third transport roller 288 in the second embodiment can be designed in the same way as in the first embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the postal items 12 are alternately rotated by 90 degrees in the opposite direction so that the directions of the postal items 12 adjacent to each other are opposite to each other. However, for example, as described above, log information is generated so that the time for rotating the mail piece 12 is longer than TR and shorter than TR, and the rotation angle of the first mail piece 12 is set to 120 degrees. Alternatively, the rotation angle of the next mail piece 12 may be set to 60 degrees in the reverse direction, and as a result, the directions of the mail pieces 12 adjacent to each other may be opposite to each other.

  In FIG. 49, the modification of the conveying apparatus of 2nd Embodiment is shown. In the second embodiment, the direction of the postal matter 12 is rotated 90 degrees before and after conveyance. Therefore, the relative direction of the postal matter 12 on the transport path can be prevented from being changed as a result by bending the transport path 90 degrees in the middle. In FIG. 49, the postal matter 12 is shown so that its direction can be understood. Therefore, in the modified example, a conveyance belt 292 whose conveyance direction intersects with the rotation conveyance device 220 </ b> A at 90 degrees is disposed after the conveyance belt 238. The upper surface of the conveyor belt 292 is arranged to be slightly lower (about 20 to 30 mm) than the upper surface of the conveyor belt 238.

  Further, an abutting plate 296 is disposed at a position adjacent to the conveyance belt 292 on the side extending over the conveyance belt 292 on the extended line in the conveyance direction of the rotary conveyance device 220A on the housing 294 that supports the conveyance belt 292. Has been. Therefore, when the postal matter 12 is transported from the transport belt 238, the postal matter 12 does not directly contact the transport belt 292 but contacts the abutting plate 296, falls as it is, and is disposed on the transport belt 292. The postal matter 12 is transported in accordance with the transport direction of the transport belt 292. In the above operation, the postal matter 12 is carried into the rotary conveyance device 220A in a portrait orientation and is conveyed (discharged) in a landscape orientation, but the conveyance direction of the conveyance belt 292 intersects the conveyance direction of the rotation conveyance device 220A at 90 degrees. Therefore, the postal matter 12 is conveyed vertically.

  In the present embodiment, the postal matter 12 has been described as a transported object. However, a sheet-like transported object may be applied to a sheet material such as a metal plate or a wooden board, or a sheet-like material such as a film. it can. In any of the embodiments, the conveyance belt 238 can be omitted if the postal matter 12 can be reliably conveyed by the conveyance rollers (the second conveyance roller 234 and the third conveyance roller 288). Further, in this embodiment, by appropriately adjusting the rotation speed at the time of synchronous rotation and rotation speed control, the postal matter 12 is not sandwiched between the pressing roller 240 and the conveying roller by the pressing roller 240, and only the conveying roller is used. Thus, the rotation of the mail piece 12 can be controlled. In this case, the pressing roller 240 can be omitted. In the present embodiment, the mounting positions of the transport roller and the pressing roller 240 may be replaced with each other.

  In any of the embodiments, it has been described that the postal matter 12 is conveyed in a state where the direction is opposite every predetermined number of sheets. However, in this embodiment, on / off switching control of rotation speed control, rotation speed (VH, VL) of the conveyance roller when performing rotation control, and time for performing rotation speed control (using log information) TR) and waiting time (T1, T2) are adjusted so that the mail piece 12 is rotated at an arbitrary angle (including the case where the mail piece 12 is not rotated), and the orientation of the post-rotated mail piece 12 is maintained. It can be transported. Therefore, for example, the direction of the postal matter 12 can be changed by 90 degrees every predetermined number. Furthermore, since the direction of the postal matter 12 after conveyance can be set arbitrarily, the direction of the sorting unit 254 can be set freely.

  In the first embodiment, two transport rollers are disposed along the transport path. However, three or more transport rollers may be disposed. In the second embodiment, one transport roller is disposed on the transport path. However, two or more transport rollers may be disposed along the transport path. The control unit 246 can individually control each transport roller based on the log information, and can sequentially transport the postal matter 12 that is sequentially transported in an arbitrary direction. In any of the embodiments, if the timing at which the postal matter 12 is brought into contact with the conveying roller can be predicted, the sensor does not need to detect the postal matter 12. Then, based on the log information to which the above timing information is added, it is possible to control the rotation of the postal matter 12 (control of the rotational speed of the transporting roller) in accordance with the time when the postal matter 12 reaches each transporting roller. In the sorting processing system 10 (210) of the present embodiment, the rotary conveyance devices 220 and 220A and the tally attachment device 100 can be used simultaneously.

From the above, the rotary conveyance devices 220 and 220A according to the present embodiment are arranged in a pair along the direction intersecting the conveyance path on the conveyance path of the conveyance object (postal matter 12), and are transferred to the conveyance object. A transport roller (first transport roller 228, second transport roller 234) that contacts and transports the transported object, and one of the pair of transport rollers while the transport roller is in rolling contact with the transport object. And a control unit 246 that temporarily performs a rotational speed control that makes the rotational speed different from the other rotational speed, and is capable of controlling the rotation of the conveyed product during the transportation.
With the above configuration, the rotation conveyance devices 220 and 220A can rotate the conveyance object in an arbitrary direction during conveyance and convey the conveyance object in a state in which the rotated direction is maintained.

In the present embodiment, the control unit 246 performs switching control for turning on / off the rotational speed control each time the transport roller transports a predetermined number of transported objects.
By the said structure, the conveyed product conveyed by changing direction and the conveyed product conveyed without changing direction can be conveyed alternately for every predetermined number of sheets.

In this embodiment, a plurality of the transport rollers are arranged side by side on the transport path.
With the above configuration, the conveyed product can be reversed. Moreover, the conveyed product conveyed by reversing the direction and the conveyed product conveyed without reversing the direction can be alternately conveyed every predetermined number of sheets. For this reason, when the transported goods after transport are stacked, even if the thickness of the transported goods is non-uniform, avoiding the state where the stacked transported objects are inclined more upward, It can be stacked while keeping balance.

  Further, since the reversal of the conveyed product is performed during the conveyance, the operation of reversing the conveyed product does not interfere with the operation of stacking the conveyed items. Accordingly, the rotary transport devices 220 and 220A are capable of transporting evenly transported objects so that they can be stably and quickly stacked and bundled. In this case, the direction of the long side and the short side of the conveyed product after conveyance is the same as that before conveyance.

In this embodiment, the rotational speed control includes a first rotational speed control in which one rotational speed of the transport roller is higher than the other rotational speed, and one rotational speed of the transport roller is greater than the other rotational speed. The control unit 246 is configured to control the first rotational speed control and the second rotational speed control each time the transport roller transports a predetermined number of transported objects. And switching control between and.
The above-described configuration has the same effect as described above, but the direction of the long side and the short side of the conveyed product after conveyance is in a state rotated by a predetermined angle from the state before conveyance.

In the present embodiment, the control unit 246, in the rotation speed control, the rotation speed of the transport roller, which is slower, is slower than the rotation speed during the synchronous rotation of the transport roller, and Control is performed so that the rotation speed of the transport roller having the higher rotation speed is higher than the rotation speed during the synchronous rotation.
With the above configuration, the conveyed product can be easily rotated with a small radius of curvature.

In this embodiment, there is a pressing roller 240 that urges and rolls against the transport roller, and the transported object is transported by the transport roller while being sandwiched between the transport roller and the pressing roller 240. It is characterized by that.
With the configuration described above, slipping of the conveyed product with respect to the conveyance roller can be avoided, and conveyance and rotation control of the conveyed product can be reliably performed.

In this embodiment, it has sensors (the 1st sensor 242 and the 2nd sensor 244) which detect the conveyance thing which rolls in contact with the conveyance roller, and the control part 246 has the sensor detect the conveyance object. The rotation speed control is performed during the operation.
With the above configuration, the conveyed product can be reliably rotated while the conveyed product is in rolling contact with the conveyance roller.

In the present embodiment, when the transported object is transported to the transporting roller in a state where the longitudinal direction of the transported object is parallel to the transporting direction, the control unit 246 detects that the sensor detects the transported object. The rotational speed control is performed when the transport roller is in rolling contact with a central region in the longitudinal direction of the transport object.
With the above configuration, the rotation of the conveyed product can be easily performed by reducing the rotation radius when the conveyed product is rotated.

In this embodiment, the sensor is arranged at a position between the transport rollers that are in rolling contact with the transport object to be sensed by the sensor.
With the configuration described above, the transported object can be reliably detected.

In this embodiment, the control unit 246 counts the number of times that the sensor has detected the transported object, and stores the cycle information for the switching control. The control unit 246 counts the number of times corresponding to the cycle information. The unit 246 is provided with a counter 252 that outputs a signal, and the control unit 246 performs the switching control according to a signal from the counter 252.
With the above configuration, the inversion / non-inversion cycle of the conveyed product can be arbitrarily adjusted using the cycle information.

In the present embodiment, the period information includes rotation number information indicating the number of sheets until the control state for the conveyed object is switched halfway among the number of sheets corresponding to the periodic information of the conveyed object, and the control unit 246 Is characterized in that the switching control is performed based on the number-of-rotations information.
With the above-described configuration, the number of transported objects to be rotated and the number of transported objects that are not rotated (or transported objects that are reversely rotated) can be arbitrarily adjusted using the rotation number information.

In addition, the rotational conveyance method according to the present embodiment is a conveyance roller (first conveyance roller 228, second arrangement) arranged in a line in a direction intersecting the conveyance path on the conveyance path of the conveyance object (postal matter 12). The conveying roller 234) is a method for rotating and conveying the conveyed product, and the rotational speed of one of the pair of conveying rollers and the rotational speed of the other of the pair of conveying rollers while the conveying roller is in contact with the conveyed product. The rotational speed of the conveyed product is controlled in the middle of conveyance by temporarily performing rotational speed control that makes the two different from each other.
By the above method, the direction of the conveyed product can be rotated in an arbitrary direction during the conveyance, and the conveyed product can be conveyed while maintaining the rotated direction.

The present invention can be used as a transport apparatus capable of efficiently transporting bundled mail pieces, a sorting processing system using the transport apparatus, and a transport method. Further, it can be used as a sorting processing system capable of efficiently attaching tally to mail pieces to be bound.

10, 210 ... …… Sorting processing system, 12 ... …… Mail, 12a ... …… Trajectory, 14 ... …… Feeder, 16 ... …… Zip code reader, 18 ... …… Sorting device, 20 ... …… Sorting , 22 ......... Pusher, 24 ......... Single axis robot, 26 ......... Automatic binding device, 28 ......... Binding machine, 30 ......... Binding machine, 32 ......... Binding string, 34 ......... No. 1 transfer device 36 ......... first horizontal robot 38 ......... arm 40 ... first vertical robot 42 ... fixed part 44 ... movable part 46 ... drive Mechanism: 48 ......... First block, 52 ......... First claw member, 54 ......... Hanging member, 56 ......... Notch, 58 ......... Notch, 60 ......... Elongated hole, 62 ......... Set screw, 64 ......... Distance sensor, 66 ......... Second transport device, 68 ......... Second Flat robot, 70 ......... Second vertical robot, 72 ......... Second block, 76 ......... Second claw member, 78 ......... Belt conveyor, 80 ......... Conveyor belt, 100 ......... Tally attachment device, 102 ......... Tally, 104 ......... Printer, 104a ......... Tray, 106 ......... Output confirmation sensor, 108 ......... Horizontal movement device, 110 ......... Pole, 112 ......... Arm, 114... Arm rotation motor 116... Elevating and moving device 118... Case, 120... Elevating motor 122 ...... Timing belt 122 a ...... One end 122 b ...... Other end 124 ......... Roller, 126 ......... Roller, 128 ......... Roller, 130 ......... Adsorption pad, 132 ......... Fixed part, 134 ......... Through hole, 136 ......... Adsorption part, 138 ......... Spring, 140 ... ... Shaft part, 142 ......... Adsorption pump, 144 ... ... Adsorption pad sensor, 146 ... ... Tally sensor, 148 ... ... Overall control unit, 150 ... ... Control unit, 216 ... ... Reading device, 218 ………… Sorting device 220 …… Rotary transfer device 228, 228A, 228B ………… First transfer roller 234, 234A, 234B ………… Second transfer roller 240 ……… Pressing roller 242 ......... First sensor, 244 ......... Second sensor, 246 ......... Control section, 248 ......... Storage section, 250 ......... Information input section, 252 ......... Counter, 254 ......... Classification , ... pusher, 258 ... ... single axis robot, 260 ... ... automatic bundling device, 276 ... ... horizontal single axis robot, 278 ... ... vertical single axis robot, 280 ... ... claw drive unit, 282 ... ... Claw member, 284 ......... Claw member, 286 ......... Belt conveyor, 288, 288A, 288B ......... Third transport roller, 90 ......... Third sensor, 92 ......... Conveyor belt, 294 ……… Case, 296 ……… Abutting plate.

Claims (20)

A transport device that transports a bundled object after binding from a binding machine,
A block that is pressed onto the object to be bound arranged in the binding machine;
It is supported by the block and attached to the block so as to be parallel to each other so that the distance between the pair can be adjusted, and is arranged at a position on the object to be bound that intersects the binding line of the binding machine in plan view. A claw member that is bound simultaneously with the object to be bound by the binding strap of the binding machine;
A movement mechanism capable of pressing the block against the object to be bound, and an operation for lifting the block and moving the block in the transport direction of the object to be bound;
An actuator that is interposed between the block and the claw member, pulls the claw member toward the block, and pulls out the claw member from between the binding string and the object to be bound. A transport device.   The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein a notch for locking the binding string is formed at an edge of the claw member that contacts the binding string. The side wall which faces the binding string of the block, conveying apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that abutting hooking member is provided on the binding string. The moving mechanism is
A vertical robot capable of pressing the block onto the object to be bound and lifting the block;
A horizontal robot that moves the vertical robot in the transport direction of the object to be bound,
The vertical robot is
A fixed portion supported by the horizontal robot;
A movable part supported by the fixed part in a state movable in the vertical direction;
A drive mechanism for moving the movable part in the vertical direction,
The block is
Attached to the movable part, the transport apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is pressed against the material to be bound by the drive mechanism. A stopper is provided to fix the movable part to the fixed part,
The block is provided with a force sensor for detecting a drag received from the bound object,
When the drag detected by the force sensor is equal to or greater than a certain threshold value,
The stopper is
An operation of fixing the movable part to the fixed part is performed,
The drive mechanism is
The conveying device according to claim 4 , wherein the operation of pressing the block against the object to be bound is stopped. A distance measuring sensor for measuring the distance between either the block or the claw member and the object to be bound is provided,
The drive mechanism is
The transport apparatus according to claim 4 or 5 , wherein when the distance detected by the distance measuring sensor is equal to or less than a certain threshold value, the descending speed of the block is decreased. The transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 ,
The binding machine;
A sorting apparatus for sorting and forming the objects to be bound and supplying the objects to be bound to the binding machine; Holding means for detachably holding the tally attached to the object to be bound;
A horizontal movement device for moving the holding means from the output means for outputting the tally to the binding machine;
A lifting and lowering device for moving the holding means up and down;
A controller that controls the lifting and lowering movement device and the horizontal movement device so as to arrange the tally at a position on the binding object intersecting the binding line, and binding the tally together with the binding object The sorting processing system according to claim 7 , wherein the sorting processing system is enabled. A transport device according to any one of claims 4 to 6 ,
The binding machine;
A sorting device for sorting and forming the objects to be bound and supplying the objects to be bound to the binding machine;
Holding means for detachably holding the tally attached to the object to be bound;
A horizontal movement device for moving the holding means from the output means for outputting the tally to the binding machine;
A lifting and lowering device for moving the holding means up and down;
A controller that controls the lifting and lowering movement device and the horizontal movement device so as to arrange the tally at a position on the object to be bound that intersects the binding line;
The controller is
The tally is placed on the object to be bound during the pressing operation of the block to the object to be bound by performing the descending control of the lifting and lowering movement device in synchronization with the pressing operation of the vertical robot, and the tally Can be bundled together with the object to be bundled. The horizontal movement device is:
An arm that rotates horizontally around one end in the longitudinal direction;
An arm rotation motor for rotating the arm,
The controller is
The sorting processing system according to claim 8 or 9 , wherein the rotation control of the arm rotation motor is performed. The lifting and moving device is
A housing attached with the holding means and movable in the vertical direction;
A motor attached to one end of the arm in the longitudinal direction and controlled in rotation by the control unit;
Force transmission means for converting the rotational force of the motor into a force in which the housing moves in the vertical direction and transmitting the force to the housing, and allowing the controller to perform the lifting control of the lifting and lowering movement device. The classification processing system according to claim 10 . The controller is
8 through claim, wherein the tally to control the horizontal movement device and the vertical moving device to place the position overlapping with the pawl member in a plan view a height position lower than the pawl member 11 partitioning processing system according to any one of. A detection sensor that detects that the holding means has received a drag force from the output means or the bound object in accordance with the lowering control of the lifting and lowering movement device;
The controller is
The sorting processing system according to any one of claims 8 to 12 , wherein the lowering control of the lifting and lowering movement device is stopped by a detection signal from the detection sensor. The holding means is a vacuum suction means that sucks the tally by vacuum suction and is controlled to be turned on and off by the controller.
The control unit controls the vacuum suction means to be turned on / off so that the tally output from the output means is attracted to the vacuum suction means, and the tally placed on the object to be bound is vacuum suctioned. 14. The sorting processing system according to any one of claims 8 to 13 , wherein control for releasing from the means is performed.   The sorting process according to claim 14, wherein the vacuum suction unit includes a plurality of suction portions that suck the tally, and the suction portions are arranged so that directions of sucking the tally cross each other. system. A second detection sensor that outputs a detection signal indicating that the holding means holds the tally to the control unit;
While the control unit performs control to move the holding unit toward the object to be bound, when the detection signal from the second detection sensor stops, the lifting and lowering moving device and the horizontal moving device The sorting processing system according to claim 8, wherein control for stopping the operation is performed. A third detection sensor for detecting the tally in the output means;
The control unit moves the holding means to the object to be bound and releases the tally from the holding means, and then receives the detection signal from the third detection sensor and sends the holding means to the output means. The sorting processing system according to any one of claims 8 to 16 , wherein control is performed to move the head toward the head. The sorting device is
A rotating transport device that transports the object to be bound to a section that separates the object to be bound;
The rotary conveying device is
A pair of rollers arranged side by side in a direction intersecting the transport path on the transport path to the sorting portion of the bound object, and a transport roller for rollingly contacting the bound object and transporting the bound object;
A rotation control unit that temporarily performs rotation speed control for making one rotation speed and the other rotation speed of the pair of conveyance rollers different from each other while the conveyance roller is in rolling contact with the object to be bound; The sorting processing system according to any one of claims 8 to 17 , wherein rotation control of the object to be bound is made possible during conveyance. The transport destination of the transport device is provided with a second transport device that transports the object to be bound that is bound by the second binding device as well as a second binding device,
The sorting processing system according to any one of claims 7 to 18 , wherein binding lines of the binding machine and the second binding machine cross each other. A method for transporting a bundled object after binding from a binding machine,
A claw member that presses a block onto the object to be bound disposed on the binding machine, is supported by the block, and is attached to the block so as to be parallel to each other so that the pair of gaps can be adjusted. Arranged at a position on the object to be bound that intersects the binding line of the binding machine in plan view, the claw member is bound simultaneously with the object to be bound by the binding string of the bound object,
Using the moving mechanism that supports the block, the block is moved together with the claw member in the conveyance direction of the object to be bundled to convey the object to be bundled, and the claw member is pulled to the block side, and the nail A conveying method comprising pulling out a member from between the binding string and the object to be bound.

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