JP6268858B2 - Goods collection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an article collection apparatus, and more particularly to an article collection apparatus that collects articles such as empty containers and light bulbs in which drinking water or the like has been stored.

2. Description of the Related Art An article collection device that collects articles such as empty containers such as beverage containers and used light bulbs is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).
This article collection apparatus employs an optical identification method (for example, an identification method using an image captured by a camera or the like) in order to identify an article.

  In the article collection apparatus, a camera or the like for optical identification requires various initial adjustments such as an imaging direction. A general article collection apparatus is a state in which a camera is assembled in a housing.

JP 2000-121564 A

  However, in the general article recovery apparatus described above, since the camera is assembled in the housing, for example, after the article recovery apparatus is installed at the use site, the relative position between the article to be transported and the camera It may be difficult to adjust the relationship and distance (including vertical and horizontal positions and angles).

  For example, if the camera is fixed inside the housing of the article collection device and only the transport unit can be taken out from the inside of the housing, the camera and the transport unit can be removed if only the transport unit is taken out of the housing. Since the relative positional relationship with the camera changes, the camera position adjustment or repair may not be performed with high accuracy in the field.

  Further, when a failure occurs in a camera or the like, since the camera is fixed in the housing as described above, the camera cannot be easily replaced on site. In this case, the article collection device must be paused for a long time, or the article collection device itself must be collected for repair.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and provides an article collection device that can easily adjust and repair an imaging unit and the like by unitizing an imaging unit and a conveyance unit. For the purpose.

An article recovery apparatus according to the present invention is an article recovery apparatus for recovering an article, wherein an input port for inserting the article, a transfer unit for transferring an article input from the input port into the apparatus, and the transfer unit are provided. A guide member that can be pulled out from the inside of the article collection device, and an imaging unit that images the article conveyed by the conveyance unit, and the article is obliquely upward from a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the conveyance unit. only assembled together through the member on the side of the transport unit of the imaging unit such that the position of the imaging, the transfer unit is pulled out integrally the imaging unit from the inside of the article collecting device together with the guide member It is characterized by a free structure .
Also, the imaging unit has a structure that is not connected to the housing of the article collecting device (main body).

In addition, the article collection apparatus of the present invention includes a connecting member that connects the imaging unit and the transport unit, and a guide member that allows the transport unit to be pulled out from the inside of the article collection device. The conveyance unit and the imaging unit are connected while maintaining a relative positional relationship, and the conveyance unit and the imaging unit can be pulled out from the inside of the article collection apparatus by the guide member. .
The connecting member and the imaging unit are not connected to the housing (main body part) of the article recovery apparatus.

  Note that the article collection device may have a structure in which an imaging unit is directly assembled to the transport unit.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the article collection apparatus which can perform adjustment, repair, etc. of an imaging part etc. easily by unitizing an imaging part and a conveyance part can be provided.

The figure which shows an example of the goods collection | recovery apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view. The figure which shows an example of the unit which has a conveyance part, an imaging part, etc. of the article | item collection apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view. The figure which shows an example of the attachment or detachment operation | movement of the unit of the articles | goods collection apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The side view which shows an example of operation | movement of the conveyance part of the articles | goods collection apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the article imaged by the imaging part of the article collection | recovery apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, an example of an article recovery apparatus A according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an article collection apparatus A according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 1A is a front view of the article collection apparatus A, and FIG. 1B is a side view of the article collection apparatus A. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a unit u that includes a conveyance unit, an imaging unit, and the like of the article collection apparatus A. In detail, FIG. 2A is a top view and FIG. 2B is a front view.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an attaching / detaching operation of the unit u of the article recovery apparatus A according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a side view showing an example of the operation of the transport unit of the article collection apparatus A according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The article collection apparatus A according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a unit u that includes a conveyance unit 3 that conveys an article a and an imaging unit 4 that images the article a conveyed by the conveyance unit 3. Further, in the article collection apparatus A, the imaging section 4 is assembled to the conveyance section 3, and the conveyance section 3 has a structure that can be pulled out from the inside of the article collection apparatus A. The imaging unit 4 may have a structure directly assembled to the transport unit 3. The unit u may include a connecting member 5 that connects the transport unit 3 and the imaging unit 4. The relative positional relationship between the transport unit 3 and the imaging unit 4 is maintained.
The unit u is detachably provided in the housing 1 as the main body of the article collection apparatus A. Specifically, the transport unit 3 is detachably provided on a base 1k of the housing 1 as a main body of the article collection apparatus A.

In addition, the article collection apparatus A includes a guide member 7 that allows the unit u to be pulled out from the inside of the housing 1 as a main body of the article collection apparatus A.
The article collection device A is in a state where the unit u is pulled out from the inside of the casing 1 which is the main body of the article collection device A or in a state where the unit u is taken out. The left and right positions and angles are adjusted, and then installed at a predetermined position inside the housing 1 which is the main body of the article collection apparatus A, so that maintenance can be easily performed. In addition, the article collection apparatus A has a control unit (not shown) that controls each component in an integrated manner.

  Hereinafter, each component of the article recovery apparatus A according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the article collection apparatus A includes a housing 1 (case) that is a main body of the article collection apparatus A. The housing 1 is provided with an insertion port 2 into which an article a is inserted, for example, at the center on the front side. Examples of the article a include empty containers (such as plastic bottles and bottles) in which drinking water and the like are stored, light bulbs, and the like.

  An opening / closing door, in the present embodiment, an upper opening / closing door 1 a and a lower opening / closing door 1 b are formed on the front surface of the housing 1. A charging port 2 is formed at the center of the upper door 1a. The insertion port 2 may be configured such that the shutter opens and closes each time an article is inserted one by one. Specifically, the shutter may be automatically closed when the container is not charged.

The upper opening / closing door 1a is provided with a display unit 46. The display unit 46 displays a display related to the collection of the article a, for example, a content of a collection instruction error. The display unit 46 is provided with a touch panel (operation input unit) so that an operator's instruction can be input. The operation input unit and the display unit 46 are used during setup and maintenance.
The upper opening / closing door 1a is provided with a printer 10. The printer 10 issues, for example, a coupon ticket (discount ticket) corresponding to the collected article a, a winning ticket, a ticket, a collection history, and the like.

In this embodiment, for example, when the upper door 1a is opened by inserting a key into the keyhole and unlocking, the unit u is configured to be detachable from the front side 1F of the article collection apparatus A. ing.
A collection container 9 for storing the article a is detachably disposed at the lower part of the housing 1 outside the apparatus. Specifically, when the lower opening / closing door 1b is opened by inserting a key into the keyhole and unlocking, the collection container 9 is detachably provided on the front side 1F.
When the upper opening / closing door 1a or the lower opening / closing door 1b is in an open state, the safety device is configured to stop the operation of the apparatus such as the conveying operation by the conveying unit 3.

The article collection apparatus A includes a reset button, a human sensor, a collection history reset button, a maintenance button, an upper notification lamp, and the like (not shown) on the upper opening door 1a and the lower opening door 1b on the front side.
The reset button is provided in the vicinity of a display unit with a touch panel, for example. After opening and closing the upper door 1a and the lower door 1b, after locking, the control unit performs a predetermined reset process and performs a preparation process for collecting the article a.

  The human sensor is, for example, a sensor that is provided near the insertion port 2 and senses a person near the insertion port 2. When the control unit senses a person near the insertion port 2, the control unit opens the shutter provided in the insertion port 2 so that the article a can be collected. When there is no use for a certain time, the control unit automatically closes the shutter.

  The collection history reset button is provided in the housing when the lower opening / closing door 1b is opened. When the collection history reset button is operated after the collection bag provided in the collection container 9 is replaced, the control unit performs a process of resetting the collection history regarding the collection container 9.

The maintenance button is operated when performing maintenance of the main body.
The upper notification lamp lights up a predetermined amount of light such as green when the collection box of the article is full, when an error occurs, or when replacing the printer roll paper, and notifies them.

  As described above, the unit u includes the conveyance unit 3, the imaging unit 4 that images the article a conveyed by the conveyance unit 3, and the connecting member 5 that couples the conveyance unit 3 and the imaging unit 4.

<Conveyor 3>
The transport unit 3 transports the article a input from the input port 2 into the article recovery apparatus main body (housing 1).
The transport unit 3 includes, for example, a belt conveyor configured by winding an endless belt 3a around a driving pulley 3b and a driven pulley 3c that are arranged at a predetermined distance apart. The drive pulley 3b is configured such that the rotation of the motor 3m is driven and rotated by power transmission means 3e such as a belt. The driving pulley 3b and the driven pulley 3c are rotatably supported by the main body 3h of the transport unit 3.
The surface of the endless belt 3a constituting the conveying surface is made of urethane resin, vinyl chloride, or the like.

  A guide member 7 is provided at the lower portion of the transport unit 3. The transport unit 3 is placed on a guide member 7 on a load cell 13 provided on a base 1 k installed in the housing 1. In the present embodiment, the article collection apparatus A includes a load cell 13, the guide member 7 is mounted on the load cell 13 and assembled, and the transport unit 3 is attached to the article collection apparatus main body (housing 1). Although it has a structure that can be pulled out from the inside, the present invention is not limited to this, and the guide member 7 is assembled to the base 1k without providing the load cell 13, and the conveyance unit 3 is the article recovery device main body (housing 1). It may be freely drawn out from the inside.

A sensor 16a for detecting the insertion of the article a is provided in the vicinity of the start position in the transport direction of the transport unit 3, and a sensor 16b for detecting whether or not the article a has been transported to the end point in the vicinity of the end position in the transport direction. Is provided.
The article a transported in the transport direction by the transport unit 3 falls downward at the end point position and is stored in the collection container 9.

<Imaging unit 4>
The imaging unit 4 images the article a that is transported by the transport unit 3. An example of the imaging unit 4 is a camera.
The captured image is output to a control unit (not shown), and the control unit determines the type of the article a based on the image. Based on the type of the article a, the control unit performs predetermined processing such as issuing a predetermined ticket by the printer 10 and displaying a desired image by the display unit 46.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the imaging unit 4 and the illumination unit 6 are arranged via the conveyance path of the conveyance unit 3. The illumination unit 6 includes a light emitting unit such as an LED, and irradiates the article a with light. The imaging unit 4 images the article a illuminated by the light from the illumination unit 6.
For example, when the imaging unit 4 is provided with an infrared filter, and the illumination unit 6 is provided with an infrared irradiation device that irradiates the article a with infrared rays, the imaging unit 4 acquires an image of the article a captured through the infrared filter. It may be configured.

<Connecting member 5>
The connecting member 5 connects the transport unit 3 and the imaging unit 4.
In the present embodiment, one end of the connecting member 5 is assembled in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the article by the conveyance unit 3, and the attachment position and angle of the imaging unit 4 are set at the other end. Adjustable.
Specifically, the connecting member 5 includes a horizontal member 51, a holding member 52, a reinforcing member 53, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the horizontal member 51 has one end fixed to the standing piece 3 t and the imaging unit 4 is disposed near the other end via a holding member 52. The standing piece 3t is provided with a translucent part for imaging.

  The holding member 52 is provided near the end of the horizontal member 51 and holds the imaging unit 4. The holding member 52 includes, as adjustment means, an angle adjustment unit 52 a that adjusts the imaging angle of the imaging unit 4, a position adjustment unit 52 b that can adjust the relative position of the imaging unit 4 with respect to the transport unit 3, and the like.

  The reinforcing member 53 is provided obliquely between the vicinity of the end portion of the horizontal member 51 provided with the holding member 52 and the side surface portion of the transport unit 3, and reinforces the mechanical strength of the horizontal member 51.

  The guide member 7 includes, for example, a guide member 72 having a U-shaped cross section and a slide portion 71 having a slide surface 71a that allows the guide member 72 to slide on the guide member 72 in the front-rear direction. The guide member 7 is configured to be freely drawable from the inside of the article recovery apparatus main body (housing 1) while maintaining the relative positional relationship between the transport unit 3, the imaging unit 4, and the connecting member 5. ing.

As described above, the article collection apparatus A according to the embodiment of the present invention includes the unit u including the transport unit 3, the imaging unit 4, and the connecting member 5. As shown in FIG. 3, the transport unit 3 of the unit u is detachably provided on the article recovery apparatus main body (housing 1), and the imaging unit 4 and the connecting member 5 include the article recovery apparatus main body. It has a structure that is not connected to the part (housing 1).
Further, the unit u may be configured to be able to hold the article u with respect to the article recovery apparatus main body (housing 1) while being pulled out to the front side 1F of the apparatus. It may be a structure that can be pulled out from (housing 1) and removable.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an article a captured by the imaging unit 4 of the article recovery apparatus A according to the embodiment of the present invention.
The imaging unit 4 of the article collection apparatus A images the article a as shown in FIG. 5, for example. The control unit determines the type of the article a based on the image of the article a. In the present embodiment, the control unit performs pattern matching between the contour of the article a in the image and the shape corresponding to the type of the article stored in the storage unit in advance, and thereby the type of the article a. Is determined.

  Specifically, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the control unit narrows down an area 40b indicating a characteristic part of the article a in the imaging area 40a, and specifies a type 40c of the article a from the area 40b. Then, the type of the article a is specified by performing the pattern matching.

  As described above, the article recovery apparatus A according to the embodiment of the present invention includes the input port 2 for inputting the article a, the transport unit 3 for transporting the article a input from the input port 2 into the apparatus, An imaging unit 4 that images an article conveyed by the conveyance unit 3. Further, in the article collection apparatus A, the imaging section 4 is assembled to the conveyance section 3, and the conveyance section 3 has a structure that can be pulled out from the inside of the article collection apparatus A. The imaging unit 4 may have a structure directly assembled to the transport unit 3. In the present embodiment, the article recovery apparatus A includes a connecting member 5 that connects the transport unit 3 and the imaging unit 4. The transport unit 3 is detachably provided on the article recovery apparatus main body (housing 1), and the imaging unit 4 and the connecting member 5 are connected to the article recovery apparatus main body (housing 1). It has no structure. Moreover, it has the guide member 7 which can be pulled out from the inside of an article | item collection apparatus main-body part (housing | casing 1) in the state which maintained the relative positional relationship with each of the conveyance part 3, the imaging part 4, and the connection member 5.

Therefore, the transport unit 3 and the imaging unit 4 can be pulled out in a state where they are connected by the connecting member 5, so that the relative positional relationship between the transport unit 3 and the imaging unit 4 is maintained and the drawer is integrally pulled out. Or can be removed. After repairing or adjusting the imaging unit 4 provided in the unit u in a state where the unit u is pulled out or removed from the housing 1 of the article recovery apparatus A, the unit u is placed in the housing 1 It is possible to provide the article recovery apparatus A that can be easily performed with high accuracy.
By replacing the unit u to be repaired in the article recovery apparatus A with a unit u that has been adjusted in advance, the imaging unit 4 and the transport unit 3 can be repaired in a short time.

In the article recovery apparatus A according to the embodiment of the present invention, the connecting member 5 has one end assembled to the transport section 3 in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the transport section 3 that transports the article a, and the other. The mounting position or mounting angle of the imaging unit 4 is provided at the end so as to be adjustable.
Therefore, it is possible to provide the article collection apparatus A that can easily adjust the attachment position and orientation (angle) of the imaging unit 4.

Further, in the article collection apparatus A according to the embodiment of the present invention, the imaging unit 4 that images the article a attached to the other end of the connecting member 5 is the mounting position of the imaging unit 4 in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. Alternatively, it is assembled via adjustment means (an angle adjustment unit 52a, a position adjustment unit 52b, etc.) that can adjust the imaging direction and angle by making the front-rear direction adjustable.
Therefore, it is possible to provide the article recovery apparatus A that can easily adjust the attachment position and angle of the imaging unit 4. In addition, since the imaging unit 4 can be easily adjusted with high accuracy, it is possible to provide the article recovery apparatus A that can identify the input article a with high accuracy.

  In addition, examples of the article a handled by the article collection apparatus A according to the embodiment of the present invention include a container such as a can, a plastic bottle, and a bottle, or a light bulb. For this reason, it is possible to provide an article recovery apparatus A that can recover such various articles a and can easily maintain the apparatus itself.

As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and there are design changes and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention. Is included in the present invention.
Further, the embodiments described in the above drawings can be combined with each other as long as there is no particular contradiction or problem in the purpose and configuration.
Moreover, the description content of each figure can become independent embodiment, respectively, and embodiment of this invention is not limited to one embodiment which combined each figure.

As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, some or all of embodiment of this invention is described as the following additional remarks.
[Appendix 1]
An article collection device for collecting an article,
A slot for loading the article;
A transport unit for transporting an article thrown into the apparatus into the apparatus;
An imaging unit that images an article conveyed by the conveyance unit,
The article collection apparatus, wherein the imaging section is assembled to the conveyance section, and the conveyance section has a structure that can be pulled out from the inside of the article collection apparatus.
[Appendix 2]
A connecting member that connects the imaging unit and the transport unit;
A guide member that allows the conveyance unit to be pulled out from the inside of the article collection device,
The connecting member is connected in a state in which a relative positional relationship between the transport unit and the imaging unit is maintained, and the transport unit and the imaging unit can be pulled out from the inside of the article collection device by the guide member. The article recovery apparatus according to appendix 1.
[Appendix 3]
One end portion of the connecting member is assembled in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction for conveying the article in the conveyance unit, and the other end portion is configured to adjust the attachment position or the attachment angle of the imaging unit in the direction in which the image pickup unit is adjustable The article collection apparatus according to appendix 2, wherein the article collection apparatus is assembled to a section.
[Appendix 4]
The imaging unit that images the article attached to the other end of the connecting member captures an image by adjusting an up / down direction, a left / right direction, or a front / rear direction, which is an attachment position of the imaging unit. 4. The article recovery apparatus according to any one of appendix 1 to appendix 3, wherein the article collection device is assembled through an adjustment unit that allows adjustment of a direction and an angle.
[Appendix 5]
5. The article collection apparatus according to any one of appendix 1 to appendix 4, wherein the imaging unit has a structure not connected to the article collection apparatus main body (housing).
[Appendix 6]
The article collection apparatus according to any one of appendix 1 to appendix 5, wherein the article is a container such as a can, a plastic bottle, a bottle, or a light bulb.

1 Housing (main body)
2 Input Port 3 Conveying Section 3a Endless Belt 3b Drive Pulley 3c Driven Pulley 3e Power Transmission Means 3m Motor 4 Imaging Section 5 Connecting Member 6 Illumination Section (Light)
7 Guide member 9 Collection container 10 Printer 46 Display unit 51 Horizontal member 52 Holding member 52a Angle adjustment unit (adjustment means)
52b Position adjustment part (adjustment means)
53 Reinforcement part A Article collection device u unit

Claims (3)

An article collection device for collecting an article,
A slot for loading the article;
A transport unit for transporting an article thrown into the apparatus into the apparatus;
A guide member that allows the conveyance unit to be pulled out from the inside of the article collection device;
An imaging unit that images an article conveyed by the conveyance unit,
Only assembling the image pickup unit such that the position of imaging from substantially obliquely upward the article in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveying portion integrally via a member on the side of the transport unit, the transport unit, The article collection device, wherein the guide member has a structure that can be pulled out integrally with the imaging unit from the inside of the article collection device. The imaging unit, the mounting position of the imaging unit in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the article by the transport section, the vertical direction, lateral direction, or that that have been assembled to the member adjustably in the longitudinal direction The article collection apparatus according to claim 1. An infrared irradiation device for irradiating the article with infrared rays, and an infrared filter provided in the imaging unit,
The article collection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the imaging unit acquires an image of an article taken through the infrared filter .

Images