JP7640357B2 - Unloading device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a discharge device that discharges a group of storage boxes containing items.

Conventionally, agricultural produce is sorted at collection and shipping facilities based on various criteria such as item and grade, and then packed into boxes for shipping. Since the boxes containing produce contain a mixture of different items and grades, a pre-shipment method has been proposed in which these are sorted and the sorted boxes are transported together (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-37423 A

In the pre-shipment processing method for agricultural produce described in Patent Document 1, agricultural produce stored in cases is sorted at the upstream line of the receiving line, and the sorted cases are then sorted by the same item and grade at the intermediate line and transferred to the downstream line, where the cases are stacked in multiple tiers using a stacking means, and the stacked items are then transported to the next line.

The above-mentioned pre-shipment processing method for agricultural produce requires the installation of multiple intermediate line sections in parallel in order to separate the produce according to item and grade, which requires a large installation area according to the number of lines installed. In addition, a stacking device is required in addition to each line section, which increases the installation area and costs.

The present invention was made to solve the above problems, and aims to provide a discharge device that can be stored compactly.

The unloading device according to the present invention is an unloading device that unloads storage boxes containing contents in a batch, and includes a transport unit that transports the storage boxes from an entrance unit to a receiving unit, a detection unit that reads content information assigned to the storage boxes, a storage unit in which the storage boxes transported by the transport unit are stored, and a transport unit that transports the storage boxes between the transport unit and the storage unit. The storage unit has a sorting area in which the storage boxes are sorted and placed, and the transport unit transports the storage boxes transported from the entrance unit to the sorting area according to the content information, and when a predetermined number of the storage boxes are placed in the sorting area, the transport unit removes the storage boxes from the sorting area and transports them to the transport unit, and the transport unit transports the transported storage boxes toward the receiving unit.

In the discharge device according to the present invention, the transfer section may have a removal member that rotates around a central axis, and the storage section may be configured to be arranged circumferentially around the transfer section.

In the discharge device according to the present invention, the storage section may be configured to have a plurality of sorting areas arranged in a vertical direction.

In the discharge device according to the present invention, a plurality of the storage boxes may be placed side by side in the sorting area, and the transfer section may be configured to transfer the plurality of storage boxes from the sorting area together.

According to the present invention, the sorting and transporting operations can be performed simultaneously, so the discharge device itself can be stored compactly.

FIG. 2 is a schematic top view showing the discharge device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 11 is a schematic side view (part 1) showing the operation of the discharge device; FIG. FIG. 11 is a schematic side view (part 2) showing the operation of the discharge device. FIG. 11 is a schematic side view (part 3) showing the operation of the discharge device; FIG. 4 is a schematic side view (part 4) showing the operation of the discharge device; FIG. 11 is a schematic side view showing a discharge device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a schematic top view showing a discharge device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

First Embodiment
Hereinafter, a carry-out device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic top view showing a discharge device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The discharge device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a transport unit 10, a detection unit 12, a storage unit 30, and a transfer unit 20, and discharges storage boxes 100 containing stored items collectively. The stored items are, for example, agricultural products, and the items and grades are set. The storage boxes 100 are provided with stored item information indicating the items and grades of the stored items. The stored item information is, for example, a barcode, a character string, or a figure written on the surface of the storage box 100, and is read by the detection unit 12. Note that the stored item information is not limited to this, and may be an IC tag stored inside the storage box 100, or the shape or size of the storage box 100 itself may be different so that the items and grades can be distinguished. For the sake of explanation below, storage boxes 100 that contain items of the same item or grade based on the stored item information may be referred to as the same type of storage box 100.

The conveying unit 10 is, for example, a belt conveyor, and conveys the storage box 100 along the conveying direction H from the loading unit 13 (the upper end of the conveying unit 10 in FIG. 1) to the goods receiving unit 14 (the lower end of the conveying unit 10 in FIG. 1). The driving source 11 drives the connected conveying unit 10, and can also stop it as appropriate. In the conveying unit 10, a detection position 10a and a transfer position 10b are set in order along the conveying direction H. The detection unit 12 is provided at a position corresponding to the detection position 10a, and reads the contents information of the storage box 100 that has reached the detection position 10a. At the transfer position 10b, the transfer unit 20 transfers the storage box 100 between the conveying unit 10 and the storage unit 30. The conveying unit 10 is not limited to a configuration in which the driving source 11 stops the transport of the storage box 100, and a stop means for stopping the storage box 100 at the detection position 10a or the transfer position 10b may be provided. The stopping means can be, for example, a blocking bar that blocks the transport of the storage box 100, and the transport unit 10 can be left running because the stopping means stops the storage box 100.

The transfer unit 20 is an extraction arm having an extraction member 25 provided near the conveying unit 10 (particularly, the transfer position 10b), and has a rotating base 21, a movable arm 22, and a box gripping unit 23. The rotating base 21 is connected to the base via a central axis 24, and rotates in a rotation direction R around the central axis 24. The movable arm 22 extends from the rotating base 21 and is long enough to reach the outer edge of the storage unit 30. The movable arm 22 is divided into multiple parts, and the height of the tip and the length from the rotating base 21 can be changed by moving each divided part. The box gripping unit 23 is provided at the tip of the movable arm 22 and grips the storage box 100. When the box gripper 23 grasps the storage box 100 and the rotating base 21 and the movable arm 22 are moved, the transporter 20 can transport the storage box 100 to the desired position within the movable range.

The storage section 30 is arranged in a circular shape centered on the transfer section 20, and has multiple sorting areas SR (first sorting area 30a to fourth sorting area 30d) in which the storage boxes 100 are sorted and placed. Although omitted in FIG. 1, there is no particular limit to the number of sorting areas provided, as long as they are arranged within the storage section 30 so as not to overlap. In this way, the storage section 30 is arranged to match the movable range of the transfer section 20, so that the limited space can be used efficiently and the discharge device 1 itself can be stored compactly.

Next, the operation of the discharge device 1 will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 5.

Figure 2 is a schematic side view (part 1) showing the operation of the discharge device.

Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of the discharge device 1 shown in Figure 1. In Figure 2, only the first sorting area 30a to the third sorting area 30c are shown among the multiple sorting areas SR, and the other sorting areas SR are omitted, in consideration of ease of viewing the drawing. In the state shown in Figure 2, one storage box 100 is placed in each of the first sorting area 30a and the third sorting area 30c in the storage section 30. Alternatively, in the conveying section 10, the storage box 100 whose contents information has been read at the detection position 10a has reached the transfer position 10b. The transfer section 20 moves so as to grab the storage box 100 located at the transfer position 10b based on the contents information. In this embodiment, the box gripping section 23 is structured to clamp both opposing side surfaces of the storage box 100.

Figure 3 is a schematic side view (part 2) showing the operation of the discharge device.

Figure 3 shows the state in which the storage box 100 has been transferred from the conveying section 10 to the storage section 30, in contrast to Figure 2. The transfer section 20 determines the position to place the storage box 100 based on the contents information, and in the state shown in Figure 3, the storage box 100 has been transferred to the second sorting area 30b.

When the transport unit 10 transfers the storage box 100 from the transfer position 10b, it sequentially transports the storage box 100 from the upstream side (detection position 10a) to the transfer position 10b, and returns to a state substantially similar to that shown in FIG. 2. In this way, by repeating the state shown in FIG. 2 and the state shown in FIG. 3, storage boxes 100 of the same type are accumulated in the corresponding sorting areas SR in the storage unit 30.

Figure 4 is a schematic side view (part 3) showing the operation of the discharge device.

In FIG. 4, as a result of repeating the phase to the storage section 30, one storage box 100 is placed in the first sorting area 30a, two storage boxes 100 are placed in the second sorting area 30b, and one storage box 100 is placed in the third sorting area 30c. In the conveying section 10, the storage box 100 corresponding to the second sorting area 30b is located at the transfer position 10b. In other words, when the conveying section 10 (transfer position 10b) and the storage section 30 (second sorting area 30b) are combined, there are three storage boxes 100 corresponding to the second sorting area 30b. In this embodiment, it is set to convey three storage boxes 100 together for each item or grade. In this way, when a predetermined number of storage boxes 100 are placed in the sorting area SR, the transfer section 20 transfers the storage boxes 100 from the storage section 30 to the conveying section 10. In the state shown in FIG. 4, the transfer unit 20 moves to grab the storage box 100 placed in the second sorting area 30b.

Figure 5 is a schematic side view (part 4) showing the operation of the discharge device.

Compared to FIG. 4, FIG. 5 shows the state in which the storage boxes 100 have been transferred from the storage section 30 to the transport section 10. Specifically, the transport section 20 loads the two storage boxes 100 placed in the second sorting area 30b on top of the storage box 100 located at the transfer position 10b. As a result, three storage boxes 100 are loaded at the transfer position 10b, and the transport section 10 transports them together toward the receiving section. In this way, the discharge device 1 can perform sorting and transport operations together, allowing the device itself to be stored compactly.

Second Embodiment
Next, a description will be given of a carry-out device according to a second embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. Note that the structure of the carry-out device according to the second embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, so the same reference numerals are used and the description and drawings will be omitted.

Figure 6 is a schematic side view showing a discharge device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the storage section 30 is constructed three-dimensionally. Specifically, the storage section 30 has a plurality of sorting areas SR (first sorting area 30a to third sorting area 30c) arranged in the height direction. In other words, the storage section 30 is a shelf having a plurality of tiers of sorting areas SR arranged vertically. Although omitted in FIG. 6, a plurality of sorting areas SR may be arranged horizontally, or a shelf having a plurality of sorting areas SR arranged vertically and horizontally may be used as the storage section 30. In this way, by providing a plurality of tiers of sorting areas SR in the height direction and arranging them three-dimensionally, it is possible to efficiently use limited space. Also, in the second embodiment, the box gripping section 23 is structured to clamp the upper and lower surfaces facing each other in the storage box 100.

Third Embodiment
Next, a description will be given of a carry-out device according to a third embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. Note that the structure of the carry-out device according to the third embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first and second embodiments, so the same reference numerals are used and the description and drawings will be omitted.

Figure 7 is a schematic top view showing a discharge device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that multiple storage boxes 100 are placed side by side in the sorting area SR. Specifically, the storage section 30 is provided with a first sorting area 30a to a fourth sorting area 30d, each of which is the size of two storage boxes 100 lined up side by side. Also, in the third embodiment, the transfer section 20 is provided with two box gripping sections 23 to clamp the two storage boxes 100. Note that the structure of the transfer section 20 is not limited to this, and it is sufficient that the box gripping sections 23 are provided to clamp two storage boxes 100 together.

In addition, in the conveying section 10, the detection position 10a, the standby position 10c, and the transfer position 10b are set in the order along the conveying direction H. In this embodiment, the transfer section 20 transfers the storage box 100 located at the standby position 10c to the storage section 30, and places the storage box 100 transferred from the storage section 30 at the transfer position 10b. In other words, when one storage box 100 is placed in the sorting area SR by the transfer section 20 and two storage boxes 100 are accumulated in the sorting area SR, when the same type of storage box 100 reaches the standby position 10c, the transfer section 20 places the two storage boxes 100 from the storage section 30 together at the transfer position 10b. After that, the one storage box 100 located at the standby position 10c and the two storage boxes 100 located at the transfer position 10b are combined, and the three storage boxes 100 of the same type are conveyed toward the goods receiving section. In this embodiment, storage boxes 100 are not stacked on top of each other, so transportation work can be carried out efficiently while still accommodating storage boxes 100 for which stacking is not preferred.

The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and are not intended to be a basis for restrictive interpretation. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is not interpreted solely by the embodiments described above, but is defined based on the claims. Furthermore, all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the claims are included.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1: discharge device 10: conveying section 12: detection section 13: carry-in section 14: goods receiving section 20: transfer section 24: central axis 25: removal member 30: storage section H: conveying direction R: rotation direction SR: sorting area

Claims (4)

A carrying-out device that carries out a plurality of storage boxes containing stored items at once,
A conveying section that conveys the container from the carrying-in section to the receiving section;
A detection unit that reads information about the contents of the container;
a storage unit in which the storage box transported by the transport unit is stored;
A transfer unit that transfers the storage box between the transport unit and the storage unit,
The storage unit has a sorting area in which the storage boxes are sorted and placed,
The transfer section transfers the storage boxes transported from the carry-in section to the sorting area according to the content information, and when a predetermined number of the storage boxes are placed in the sorting area, the transfer section removes the storage boxes from the sorting area and transfers them to the transport section . When the storage boxes are removed from the sorting area, the storage boxes are in a stacked state.
The carrying-out device is characterized in that the conveying section conveys the transferred storage box toward the receiving section, and the storage box is in a loaded state.


The discharge device according to claim 1 ,
The transfer section has a take-out member that rotates around a central axis,
The carrying-out device, wherein the storage section is provided in a circumferential shape with the transfer section as a center. The discharge device according to claim 1 or 2,
The carrying-out device, wherein the storage section is provided with a plurality of the sorting areas arranged in a height direction. A discharge device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A plurality of the storage boxes are placed side by side in the sorting area,
The carrying-out device, wherein the transfer section transfers a plurality of the storage boxes collectively from the sorting area.

Images