JP6173051B2 - Article sorting equipment - Google Patents

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an article sorting apparatus including a transport conveyor that transports a large number of transport units on which articles such as fruits and vegetables are placed in a line, and a sorting conveyor that is branched in an intersecting direction. .

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are various types of article sorting apparatuses for sorting articles that are continuously transported by a transport conveyor into predetermined groups.

  As a typical example of this kind of article sorting apparatus, Patent Document 1 discloses a structure of a cross belt conveyor. The cross belt type conveyor includes a transport conveyor that transports a large number of transport units arranged in a line, and a sorting conveyor that branches in an orthogonal direction. Each transport unit is provided with a cross belt sorter for feeding articles such as fruits and vegetables placed on the upper surface thereof to a sorting conveyor. In this case, when a transport unit on which an article to be sorted arrives at a predetermined sorting location in the transport conveyor, the article is sent out toward the sorting conveyor by driving the cross belt sorter.

JP 2003-53275 A

  By the way, in the conventional article sorting apparatus, it is often performed to sort articles such as tomatoes, peaches, pears or melons. However, in the article sorting apparatus of Patent Document 1, when the articles are delivered from the conveyor to the sorting conveyor, the movement of the articles along the conveyor (movement in the conveying direction) is rapidly regulated by the cross belt sorter. In the initial stage of driving of the cross belt sorter, an article tends to remain on the cross belt sorter due to the inertial action, and the cross belt sorter tends to fall over the direction opposite to the direction of the sorting conveyor. In this regard, in the conventional article sorting apparatus, an extrusion protrusion for preventing overturning or a tray for placing articles is provided on the upper surface side of the cross belt sorter. However, the provision of the extrusion protrusion and the tray on the upper surface side of the cross belt sorter causes an increase in the number of parts and the number of manufacturing steps, and there is a problem that the cost increases.

  Therefore, the present invention has a technical problem to solve the above problems.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article for delivering an article on each of the transport units from a transport conveyor that transports a large number of transport units in a row to a sorting conveyor that branches in a sorting direction that intersects the transport direction. In the sorting apparatus, each of the transport units includes a belt body that sends the article to the sorting conveyor, and the upper surface side of the belt body is inclined obliquely downward toward the sorting direction, and when the belt body is not driven, While the article mounting portion on the upper surface side of the belt body is configured to be loose, the article mounting portion is configured to be tensioned when the belt body is driven .

According to a second aspect of the invention, the article sorting apparatus of claim 1, wherein each conveyor unit comprises a rotating roller pairs wrapped around the belt member, the sorting direction upstream the sorting direction downstream rotational roller It is arranged at a position higher than the rotating roller.

A third aspect of the present invention, in the article sorting apparatus of claim 1, in the sorting direction upstream side of the belt body circumference is supported from below said sorting upstream side of the belt member upper surface A support plate is provided.

  According to the present invention, an article sorting device for sending articles on each of the transport units from a transport conveyor that transports a large number of transport units in a row to a sorting conveyor that branches in a sorting direction that intersects the transport direction. In this case, each of the transport units includes a belt body that sends the article to the sorting conveyor, and the upper surface side of the belt body is inclined obliquely downward toward the sorting direction. Even if the tray does not exist on the upper surface side of the belt body, it is possible to remarkably reduce the possibility that the article falls to the side opposite to the sorting conveyor (in the direction opposite to the sorting direction) in the initial driving of the belt body. In addition, since the inclination of the belt body upper surface side obliquely downward in the sorting direction and the driving of the belt body serve as initial power for sending the article toward the sorting conveyor, the article is directed toward the sorting conveyor. The initial operation can be realized at high speed and smoothly, and the article can be reliably conveyed to the sorting conveyor.

Further , when the belt body is not driven, the article placement portion on the upper surface side of the belt body is configured so as to be loosened. The article can be stably held at the article placement location that is recessed in the step. In addition, when the belt body is driven, since the article placement portion is configured to be self-supporting, the article placement portion extends obliquely downward in the sorting direction obliquely downward, and the article is It can be reliably conveyed toward the sorting conveyor.

According to the invention of claim 2 , each of the transport units includes a pair of rotating rollers around which the belt body is wound, and the rotating roller on the upstream side in the sorting direction is disposed at a higher position than the rotating roller on the downstream side in the sorting direction. Therefore, the configuration in which the upper surface side of the belt body is inclined obliquely downward in the sorting direction can be easily realized by the rotating roller pair.

According to the invention of claim 3, the belt body circumferential side is provided with a support plate for supporting the upstream side in the sorting direction of the belt body upper surface side from below, on the upstream side in the sorting direction. The length of the loose body part is minimized by the presence of the support plate.

It is a schematic plan view of an article sorting apparatus. It is a side view explaining the drive mode of a cross belt sorter, (a) is a figure before sending out, (b) is a figure which shows the state after sending out. It is a schematic plan view of the article | item sorting apparatus in the state which abbreviate | omitted the conveyance unit. (A) and (b) are the schematic plan views explaining a sorting mode.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, an outline of the article sorting apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. The article sorting apparatus 1 sorts articles M such as tomatoes, peaches, pears or melons into groups according to grade (quality) or class (size and shape), and arranges a large number of transport units 3 in a line. A transport conveyor 2 for transporting and at least one sorting conveyor 4 branched from the transport conveyor 2 are provided. Each sorting conveyor 4 is configured to be intermittently driven for the purpose of transporting the articles M sent from the transport conveyor 2 while temporarily retaining them. The articles M staying on the sorting conveyors 4 are packed (boxed) in a packaging container such as a transparent synthetic resin packaging pack or cardboard box, for example, by an operator's manual operation.

  As shown in FIG.2 and FIG.3, the conveyance conveyor 2 is provided with the left-right paired traveling rail 5 extended along the longitudinal direction. On these traveling rails 5, a carriage type transport unit 3 group is disposed so as to be able to travel. Although not shown in the figure, driving sprockets and driven sprockets are respectively arranged at both longitudinal ends of the conveyor 2. Each transport unit 3 is connected to an endless chain wound around both sprockets at a predetermined pitch interval. By driving both sprockets and endless chain, the transport unit 3 group circulates on the transport conveyor 2. The transport unit 3 group of the embodiment moves along the transport direction X on the upper side of the transport conveyor 2. The position of each transport unit 3 is measured by counting the drive amount of the drive sprocket with a rotary encoder (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, each transport unit 3 is a transport unit in a sorting direction Y that intersects the transport direction X at a predetermined sorting point So (a branch point with the sorting conveyor 4) in the transport conveyor 2. 3 is provided with a cross belt sorter 10 as a sorting mechanism for delivering the article M on the No. 3. The cross belt sorter 10 according to the embodiment includes a rotating roller pair 14 rotatably supported between a pair of frame plates 11 in the transport unit 3 and an endless belt (belt body) wound around the rotating roller pair 14. As a cross belt 13. The rotating roller pair 14 extends in parallel with each other along the transport direction X. For this reason, the cross belt 13 is capable of rotational movement (circular rotation) in a direction that intersects the conveyance direction X (orthogonal in the embodiment). In other words, in the embodiment, the sorting direction Y is orthogonal to the transport direction X.

  On the lower surface side of the cross belt 13, a belt drive shoe 16 that reciprocates in the direction crossing the transport direction X to rotate the cross belt 13 is attached. A guide pin 17 projects downward from the lower surface side of the belt drive shoe 16. In this case, when the belt drive shoe 16 is moved in the direction opposite to the sorting direction Y, the upper surface side of the cross belt 13 is moved in the sorting direction Y in conjunction therewith. The article M is placed on the upper surface side of the cross belt 13. Accordingly, the article M on the cross belt 13 is carried out toward the sorting conveyor 4 by the revolving movement in the sorting direction Y on the upper surface side of the cross belt 13.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the upper surface side of the cross belt 13 of the embodiment is inclined obliquely downward toward the sorting direction Y. In this case, in the pair of rotating rollers 14 rotatably supported between the pair of frame plates 11, the rotating roller 14 on the upstream side in the sorting direction Y is arranged at a higher position than the rotating roller 14 on the downstream side in the sorting direction Y. ing. As described above, the configuration in which the upper surface side of the cross belt 13 is inclined obliquely downward in the sorting direction Y is easily realized by the arrangement in which the height of the rotating roller pair 14 is varied.

  As described above, when the upper surface side of the cross belt 13 is inclined obliquely downward toward the sorting direction Y, the cross belt 13 does not exist even if the above-described conventional extrusion protrusion and tray are not present on the upper surface side of the cross belt 13. The risk of the articles M falling over to the side opposite to the sorting conveyor 4 (in the direction opposite to the sorting direction Y) in the initial driving stage can be significantly reduced. In addition, since the top of the cross belt 13 in the sorting direction Y obliquely downward and the driving of the cross belt 13 are the initial power for sending the articles M toward the sorting conveyor 4, the articles M are directed toward the sorting conveyor 4. The initial operation can be realized smoothly at high speed, and the articles can be reliably conveyed to the sorting conveyor 4.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, a substantially half of the upper side of the cross belt 13 on the downstream side in the sorting direction Y is an article placement location 50. In the embodiment, when the cross belt 13 is not driven, the article placement portion 50 on the upper surface side of the cross belt 13 is configured to be loose. When the article M is placed on the article placement location 50, the article placement location 50 is loosened and dented due to its own weight. For this reason, even if the upper surface side of the cross belt 13 is inclined obliquely downward in the sorting direction Y, the article M can be stably held in the article placement portion 50 that is depressed by the slack. As shown in FIG. 2B, when the belt driving shoe 16 is moved in the reverse direction of the sorting direction Y and the cross belt 13 is driven, the article mounting location 50 that is depressed by the movement of the belt driving shoe 16 is easily loosened. Is pulled and becomes selfish. For this reason, the article placement location 50 extends while being inclined in a straight line in the sorting direction Y obliquely downward, so that the article M can be reliably conveyed toward the sorting conveyor 4. In this case, a portion immediately below the support plate 18 (details will be described later) on the lower surface side of the cross belt 13 becomes loose.

  A support plate 18 that supports the upstream side in the sorting direction Y of the upper surface of the cross belt 13 from below is provided inside the cross belt sorter 10, that is, on the inner circumferential side of the cross belt 13 in the sorting direction Y. The support plate 18 is for receiving the weight of the article M on the cross belt 13 and is fixed to the inner surfaces of the pair of frame plates 11. For this reason, the length of the loose part of the cross belt 13 is minimized by the presence of the support plate 18.

  As shown in FIG. 3, an upwardly open groove-like path 21 extending along the transport direction X is provided at a position near the sorting conveyor 4 between the pair of travel rails 5 in the transport conveyor 2. The guide pin 17 of each transport unit 3 is fitted into the groove-shaped path 21 from above. The guide pins 17 are guided in the transport direction X by movement of each transport unit 3 along the transport direction X. On the other hand, a guide plate 22 that guides the guide pins 17 in the direction opposite to the sorting direction Y by the movement of the transport unit 3 along the transport direction X is disposed at the sorting location So in the transport conveyor 2. The guide plate 22 is inclined in an oblique direction away from the sorting conveyor 4 as it goes to the transport downstream side of the transport conveyor 2 in plan view. One end of the guide plate 22 near the sorting conveyor 4 faces a communication gap 23 formed at an appropriate location in the groove-like path 21.

  A switching piece 24 that can be turned up and down by driving the electromagnetic solenoid 25 is disposed at the communication gap 23. When the switching piece 24 is turned upward, the groove-shaped path 21 is blocked by the switching piece 24, and the guide pin 17 hits the switching piece 24. Then, the guide pin 17 slides in an oblique direction along the guide plate 22 by the movement along the conveyance direction X of the conveyance unit 3. As the guide pin 17 moves in the oblique direction, the belt drive shoe 16 moves in the direction opposite to the sorting direction Y, and in conjunction with this, the upper surface side of the cross belt 13 moves in the sorting direction Y. As a result, the articles M on the cross belt 13 are sent out toward the sorting conveyor 4. When the switching piece 24 is rotated downward, the guide pin 17 moves along the groove-like path 21 as it is due to the movement of the transport unit 3 along the transport direction X.

  Note that a determination unit 30 that determines the grade of the article M is arranged on the upstream side of the conveyance conveyor 2 with respect to the upstreammost sorting portion So. The determination means 30 is employed according to the purpose of sorting and the type of the article M. For example, when sorting by size or shape, an optical sensor or an image processing device may be employed. When sorting by quality, a saccharimeter or the like is sufficient. Although not shown, a return guide plate for returning the guide pins 17 of each transport unit 3 to the position of the grooved path 21 is disposed further downstream than the most downstream sorting portion So in the transport conveyor 2. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the sorting conveyor 4 according to the embodiment is configured such that a plurality of sorting conveyors 4 are juxtaposed in parallel in the sorting direction Y. Each sorting conveyor 4 includes a pair of substantially parallel conveyor frames 41. Although not shown in the drawings, driving pulleys and driven pulleys are respectively arranged at both longitudinal ends of each sorting conveyor 4. A sorting belt 42 is wound around both pulleys. Both pulleys and the sorting belt 42 are configured to be driven by power transmission from an electric motor as a driving source, and the upper surface side of the sorting belt 42 moves in the sorting direction Y.

  In the above configuration, when the article M on the transport unit 3 that has reached the sorting location So is unloaded to each sorting conveyor 4 by the revolving movement of the cross belt 13, the moving force Fx in the transport direction X by the transport conveyor 2 is achieved. (Inertia) and the pushing force Fy in the sorting direction Y by the cross belt sorter 10 act on the article M (see FIG. 4A). For this reason, the article M moves onto the sorting belt 42 of each sorting conveyor 4 in an attempt to slide in an oblique direction along the resultant force F (x + y) of the moving force Fx and the pushing force Fy.

  As shown in the above description and FIG. 2, from the transport conveyor 2 that transports a large number of transport units 3 in a row, toward the sorting conveyor 4 that branches in the sorting direction Y that intersects the transport direction X, In the article sorting apparatus 1 that sends out the articles M on the transport units 3, each of the transport units 3 includes a belt body 13 that sends out the articles M to the sorting conveyor 4, and the upper surface side of the belt body 13 is in the sorting direction. Since it is inclined obliquely downward toward Y, the article M is sorted as described above at the initial stage of driving of the belt body 13 even if there is no push-out projection or tray on the upper surface side of the belt body 13 as in the prior art. The risk of falling to the side opposite to the conveyor 4 (the direction opposite to the sorting direction Y) can be significantly reduced. Further, since the sorting body Y obliquely downward on the upper surface side of the belt body 13 and the driving of the belt body 13 serve as initial power for sending the article M toward the sorting conveyor 4, The initial operation toward the sorting conveyor 4 can be realized at high speed and smoothly, and the article M can be reliably conveyed to the sorting conveyor 4.

  As shown in the above description and FIG. 2, when the belt body 13 is not driven, the article placement portion 50 on the upper surface side of the belt body 13 is configured to be loosened. Even if the sorting direction Y is inclined obliquely downward, the article M can be stably held in the article placement place 50 that is recessed by slack. In addition, when the belt body 13 is driven, the article placement location 50 is configured to be stretched, so that the article placement location 50 extends obliquely downward in the sorting direction Y obliquely downward. The articles M can be reliably conveyed toward the sorting conveyor 4.

  As shown in the above description and FIG. 2, each of the transport units 3 includes a rotating roller pair 14 around which the belt body 13 is wound, and the rotating roller 14 on the upstream side in the sorting direction Y is connected to the downstream side in the sorting direction Y. Since the upper surface side of the belt body 13 is inclined obliquely downward in the sorting direction Y, the rotation roller pair 14 can easily realize the arrangement.

  As shown in the above description and FIG. 2, a support plate that supports the upstream side in the sorting direction Y of the upper surface side of the belt body 13 on the upstream side in the sorting direction Y on the inner peripheral side of the belt body 13 from below. 18 is provided, the length of the portion of the belt body 13 that can be loosened is minimized by the presence of the support plate 18.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be widely applied as an article sorting apparatus that conveys and sorts various types of articles other than agricultural products. Depending on the type and size of the article, the width of the sorting conveyor 4 and the number of guide plates 22 and switching pieces 24 can be set as appropriate. In addition, the structure of each part is not limited to embodiment of illustration, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention.

M Article So Sorting location X Conveying direction Y Sorting direction Fx Inertia Fy Pushing force F (x + y) Resulting force 1 Article sorting device 2 Conveying conveyor 3 Conveying unit 4 Sorting conveyor 10 Cross belt sorter 13 Cross belt (belt body)
14 Rotating roller pair

Claims (3)

In an article sorting apparatus that sends out articles on each of the transport units from a transport conveyor that transports a large number of transport units in a row to a sorting conveyor that branches in a sorting direction that intersects the transport direction of the transporting unit,
Each transport unit includes a belt body that sends out the article to the sorting conveyor, and the upper surface side of the belt body is inclined obliquely downward toward the sorting direction ,
When the belt body is not driven, the article placing portion on the upper surface side of the belt body is configured to be loosened, and when the belt body is driven, the article placing location is configured arbitrarily.
Article sorting equipment. Each conveying unit includes a pair of rotating rollers around which the belt body is wound, and the rotating roller on the upstream side in the sorting direction is disposed at a higher position than the rotating roller on the downstream side in the sorting direction.
The article sorting apparatus according to claim 1. A support plate for supporting the upstream side in the sorting direction from the lower side of the upper surface side of the belt body is provided on the upstream side in the sorting direction of the belt body peripheral side,
The article sorting apparatus according to claim 1 .

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