JP7415492B2 - Conveyance system - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a conveyance system that conveys packages from a plurality of loading devices using a conveyance device.

2. Description of the Related Art A sorting system is known that accepts packages from a plurality of input slots and sorts the received packages. The sorting system disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a plurality of trays that are connected to each other and move along an annular conveyance path, and a plurality of chutes arranged on the sides of the conveyance path. Each of the plurality of trays functions as a tray for placing baggage, and also functions as a belt conveyor for delivering the baggage placed on the tray to a chute.

A tray carrying a load moves along a conveyance path toward a specific chute among a plurality of chutes that is the destination for sorting the load. When the tray approaches a specific chute, the tray is driven as a belt conveyor. As a result, the cargo placed on the tray is transported in a delivery direction perpendicular to the transport direction along the transport path, and is delivered to a specific chute.

JP 2017-71458 Publication

In the sorting system described above, when an empty tray among a plurality of trays passes in front of the input port into which the load is to be input, the load is input from the input port to the empty tray. Furthermore, in such a sorting system, in a situation where empty trays pass one after another in front of the input port, the number of items input from the input port per unit time is fixed without being adjusted. Therefore, if the number of input slots in operation increases, the total number of packages input per unit time from multiple input ports will exceed the number of new packages per unit time that the sorting system can accept. There are cases where this happens. In this case, among the multiple input ports, the upstream input port through which the empty tray passes first will preferentially input packages into the sorting system, so downstream input ports may not be able to input packages into the sorting system. , there will be unevenness in the opportunities for loading baggage among the multiple input slots. Therefore, there is a problem that the operating time of the input port with many input opportunities is longer than the operation time of the input port with fewer input opportunities.

The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a conveyance system that can provide each of a plurality of loading devices with an appropriate loading opportunity.

In order to achieve the above object, a conveyance system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of loading devices, each of which inputs a load, and transports the load loaded by each of the plurality of loading devices in a one-way manner. a transport device; and (i) an acceptance capacity regarding the number of packages per unit time that the transport device can newly accept for transport, and an operating status regarding the number of packages input into the transport device by the plurality of input devices; (ii) changing the input capacity regarding the number of packages inputted per unit time by at least one input device of the plurality of input devices according to the acquired receiving capacity and the operating status ; , is provided.

According to this, since the loading capacity of the loading device is changed according to at least one of the receiving capacity of the conveying device and the number of operating loading devices, there is a bias in the loading opportunities of the loading devices that are in operation to the conveying device. can be reduced.

Further, the inputting capacity may be the number of times per unit time that the inputting device makes an inputting request to the transport device indicating that the loading device inputs a load.

A conveyance system according to one aspect of the present invention includes: a plurality of input devices each of which inputs a load; a conveyance device that conveys the load loaded by each of the plurality of input devices in a one-way manner; Obtain at least one of the acceptance capacity regarding the number of packages per unit time that the transfer device can newly accept for transfer, and the operating status regarding the number of packages input into the transfer device by the plurality of input devices, ( ii) a controller that changes an inputting capacity regarding the number of packages inputted per unit time by at least one inputting device of the plurality of inputting devices, according to at least one of the acquired receiving capacity and the operating status; and the conveying device. a chute, which is disposed at a different position from the loading device in the conveyance direction , and from which the load being conveyed by the conveyance device is discharged; The controller further determines whether (i) the load being transported in the transport device should be delivered to the chute or circulated without being delivered to the chute, and (ii) the A vacancy rate of the conveying device between the downstream side of the chute and the plurality of input devices is obtained, and the receiving capacity of the conveying device is determined using the vacancy rate.

According to this, since the receiving capacity of the conveying device is determined according to the vacancy rate of the conveying device between the downstream side of the chute and the loading device, even if the conveying state changes upstream of the loading device, However, the charging capacity can be determined according to the changed conveyance state. Therefore, by calculating the vacancy rate of a part of the transport device, it is possible to accurately estimate the receiving capacity of the transport device.

A conveyance system according to one aspect of the present invention includes: a plurality of input devices each of which inputs a load; a conveyance device that conveys the load loaded by each of the plurality of input devices in a one-way manner; Obtaining at least one of the acceptance capacity regarding the number of packages per unit time that the transfer device can newly accept for transfer, and the operating status regarding the number of packages input to the transfer device by the plurality of input devices, ( ii) a controller that changes the input capacity regarding the number of packages input per unit time by at least one input device of the plurality of input devices according to at least one of the acquired receiving capacity and the operating status; The controller obtains the input capacity of each of the one or more input devices operating among the plurality of input devices by dividing the receiving capacity by the number of operations, which is the number of the one or more input devices. Decide according to the value.

According to this, it is possible to average the loading capacity of the operating loading devices, so it is possible to reduce the bias in the loading opportunities of the running loading devices to the transport device.

According to the conveyance system according to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide each of a plurality of input devices with an appropriate loading opportunity.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of a conveyance system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the transport system according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of processing for changing the input capacity of the transport system according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the determination process of the conveyance system according to the embodiment.

(Knowledge that led to the present invention)
The present inventors have discovered that in the sorting system described in Patent Document 1, the following problems occur because the opportunities for loading packages are uneven among the plurality of input ports.

For example, if the types of baggage are classified for each input port, the types of baggage input into the sorting system will be biased. For this reason, when multiple loads of different types are requested in a specific chute, if the type of load assigned to the inlet with few input opportunities is not delivered to the specific chute, the requested multiple loads will be It takes a lot of time to get your luggage together.

In addition, even if the type of baggage is not classified for each input port, if there is uneven loading opportunity among multiple input ports, an automated warehouse will be installed to supply the baggage to each input port. If so, the waiting period for storage in automated warehouses will also be biased. For example, if the same cargo is stored in the automated warehouses corresponding to the upstream and downstream input ports, the downstream input has fewer opportunities to load, so the upstream input Baggage may be supplied. As a result, the storage period of cargo in downstream automated warehouses becomes longer, making quality control difficult. Quality control is especially important for packages that have expiration dates, such as food and medicine.

In these sorting systems, it is necessary to devise measures such as periodically switching the cargo to be supplied to the downstream input port to the upstream input port.

Therefore, the present inventors have discovered a conveyance system that can provide each of a plurality of input devices with an appropriate loading opportunity without the need for the above-mentioned measures.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail using the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are all inclusive or specific examples. The numerical values, shapes, materials, components, arrangement positions and connection forms of the components, steps, order of steps, etc. shown in the following embodiments are merely examples, and do not limit the present invention. Further, among the constituent elements in the following embodiments, constituent elements that are not described in the independent claims will be described as arbitrary constituent elements.

(Embodiment)
[Conveyance system configuration]
The overall configuration of the transport system will be explained using FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of a transport system 10 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the transport system 10 according to the embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transport system 10 includes a plurality of input devices 100, a transport device 200, and a controller 400. The conveyance system 10 may further include a detector 230 and a plurality of chutes 300. The conveyance system 10 is used, for example, in the field of logistics such as mail order, wholesale, and home delivery, to sort a plurality of parcels 20 stored in an automated warehouse or the like and each having a destination assigned to each destination. This is the system. Note that each of the plurality of items 20 is, for example, a packaged product or the like.

Each of the plurality of input devices 100 is a device that inputs luggage 20 stored in a warehouse (not shown) into the transport device 200. Each loading device 100 is, for example, connected at one end to a warehouse and receives the cargo 20 from the warehouse, and has the other end disposed near the side of the transport device 200 in the transport direction to transfer the cargo 20 to the transport device 200. This is the conveyor for feeding. The plurality of input devices 100 are arranged side by side along the transport direction of the transport device 200. That is, the plurality of input devices 100 are arranged at different positions in the transport direction.

Note that each of the plurality of input devices 100 may be connected to a different warehouse. In other words, the plurality of input devices 100 may each supply packages 20 from different warehouses to the transport device 200. Further, two or more input devices 100 among the plurality of input devices 100 may be connected to one common warehouse, or one input device 100 may be connected to two or more warehouses. . Further, the plurality of input devices 100 may be supplied with cargo 20 transported from a warehouse by a worker.

Note that the plurality of input devices 100 are not limited to conveyors, and may be robots that input packages 20 transported from a warehouse to the conveyance device 200.

The conveyance device 200 is a device that conveys the packages 20 input by the plurality of input devices 100 in one direction. The transport device 200 transports the cargo 20, for example, along a circular transport path 240, that is, a one-way circular path. Further, the conveyance device 200 may be, for example, a cross belt sorter that has a function of moving the cargo 20 in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction along the conveyance path 240. The transport device 200 includes a plurality of trays 210 and a drive unit 220.

The plurality of trays 210 are connected to each other in an annular manner along the conveyance path 240. As shown in FIG. 1, each of the plurality of trays 210 functions as a tray on which the luggage 20 is placed. Each of the plurality of trays 210 has a function of pulling the baggage 20 input from the plurality of input devices 100 toward the center of the tray 210, and a function of discharging the baggage 20 placed on the tray 210 in the dispensing direction. including a belt conveyor with Any two adjacent trays 210 among the plurality of trays 210 are connected to each other. The drive unit 220 moves the plurality of trays 210 along the transport path 240 in a predetermined direction, for example, clockwise in FIG. 1 .

The detector 230 detects the vacancy rate of the transport device 200 between the downstream side of the plurality of chutes 300 and the plurality of input devices 100 in the transport direction of the transport path 240 . The detector 230 is arranged at a first position between the downstream side of the plurality of chutes 300 and the plurality of input devices 100 in the transport direction of the transport path 240, and detects the tray passing through the first position in a predetermined period. 210 and the number of packages 20 passing through the first position. For example, the detector 230 counts the number of trays 210 that have passed through the first position and the number of trays 210 that do not have packages 20 from a predetermined period before the current time, and counts the number of trays 210 that do not have any packages 20 counted. The number is divided by the number of counted trays 210, and the obtained value is detected as the empty rate. Note that the number of trays 210 without packages 20 may be calculated by subtracting the number of packages 20 from the number 210 of trays that have passed. The predetermined period may be the time required for a predetermined number (for example, 100) of trays 210 to pass through the first position. In other words, the detector 230 may regard the period from the start of counting to the time when the number of trays 210 counted reaches a predetermined number as the predetermined period.

Note that the detector 230 sequentially stores in a storage device (not shown) a passage history in which the time when the tray 210 passes the first position and the information indicating whether the tray 210 has the cargo 20 are associated with each other. You may do so. As a result, the detector 230 or other information processing device calculates the number of trays 210 and the number of packages 20 that have passed the first position from now until a predetermined period of time ago by referring to the passage history in the storage device. This allows the vacancy rate to be calculated.

The detector 230 may include, for example, an infrared sensor that detects that the tray 210 and the luggage 20 have passed through the first position. In this case, the detector 230 may include two sensors: an infrared sensor that detects the tray 210 and an infrared sensor that detects the baggage 20. In addition, the detector 230 uses a camera that photographs the tray 210 and the baggage 20 passing through the first position, and recognizes the images obtained by the camera so that the tray 210 without the baggage 20 passes through the first position. or an information processing device that determines that the tray 210 containing the luggage 20 has passed the first position.

Note that the detector 230 does not need to count the number of trays 210 passing through the first position when the number of trays 210 passing through the first position in a predetermined period is a certain predetermined number; It may be determined that a predetermined number of trays 210 have passed through the first position by timing the elapse of a predetermined period. In this case, the detector 230 may count the number of packages 20 that pass the first position in a predetermined period, or count the number of trays 210 that do not have packages 20 that pass the first position in a predetermined period. The vacancy rate is calculated by using the value obtained in and the predetermined number. Further, the detector 230 in this case does not need to have an infrared sensor for detecting the tray 210.

Each of the plurality of chutes 300 is an outlet through which the cargo 20 being transported by the transport device 200 is discharged by the transport device 200. Each of the plurality of chutes 300 is, for example, a conveyor. For example, each chute 300 is assigned a different destination, and the conveyance device 200 delivers the package 20 to the chute 300 to which the destination of the package 20 is assigned. The plurality of chutes 300 are arranged at different positions from the plurality of input devices 100 in the transport direction. The plurality of chutes 300 are arranged side by side along the conveyance path 240 on one side of the conveyance path 240 . Note that the plurality of chutes 300 may be arranged side by side along the conveyance path 240 on both sides of the conveyance path 240.

The controller 400 controls the transport system 10. The controller 400 controls the operations of the plurality of input devices 100 and the transport device 200 by exchanging information with the plurality of input devices 100 and the transport device 200 . For example, based on an order received from an external device, the controller 400 causes the plurality of input devices 100 to input packages 20 included in the order into the transport device 200 from each warehouse. Then, the controller 400 causes the transport device 200 to transport the package 20 to the chute 300 corresponding to the destination according to the order.

The controller 400 controls the conveyance system 10 so that the plurality of input devices 100 have equal opportunities to input the packages 20 to the conveyance device 200. Specifically, the controller 400 acquires the receiving capacity regarding the number of packages 20 that the transport device 200 can newly transport per unit time, and the number of operating input devices. Then, the controller 400 changes the input capacity regarding the number of loads 20 input per unit time by the one or more operating input devices according to the acquired receiving capacity and the number of operations. Note that the controller 400 may calculate the receiving capacity and the number of operating input devices using information acquired during a predetermined period from now. The calculation method will be described later.

Note that the receiving capacity of the conveyance device 200 may change depending on whether or not the conveyance device 200 performs an operation of circulating the baggage 20 without being able to send it out to the chute 300. In addition, if there is a warehouse that corresponds one-to-one to a loading device, and there is a period in which there is no delivery request to a specific warehouse, there is a period in which there is no loading of packages 20 from the loading device 100 corresponding to the specific warehouse. arise. Therefore, the receiving capacity can change depending on whether or not there is a period in which no baggage 20 is input from the input device 100. In addition, as mentioned above, the number of operating input devices is limited to the case where there is a warehouse that corresponds one-to-one to the input device, and if there is a period when there is no request for delivery to a specific warehouse, some input devices will not be in operation. , which may vary depending on the operating status of the warehouse.

For example, the controller 400 determines the charging capacity of each of the one or more operating charging devices according to the value obtained by dividing the receiving capacity by the number of operating devices. That is, the controller 400 determines the loading capacity for each loading device by averaging the current receiving capacity of the transport device 200 among the one or more operating loading devices 100. If the average value includes a decimal number, the controller 400 changes the input capacity to a value with the decimal number rounded down. As a result, the controller 400 changes the loading capacity of the loading device to a loading capacity corresponding to a lower accepting capacity than the maximum accepting capacity even in a case where the transport device 200 cannot demonstrate its maximum accepting capacity. be able to. Note that if the value obtained by averaging the receiving capacity of one or more input devices 100 exceeds the input capacity of the input device, the controller 400 determines the input capacity of the input device to be the maximum value. .

The acceptance capacity is, for example, the number of new loads 20 that can be transported by the transport device 200 (that is, the number of empty trays 210 to be transported), and is the current number of loads 20 that can be transported per unit time. is the number that can be done. The receiving capacity is, for example, the result of dividing the maximum number of conveyances of the conveyance device 200 by the time (circulation time) required for one tray 210 of the conveyance device 200 to go around the conveyance path 240 (in other words, the maximum number of conveyances per unit time). It is obtained by multiplying the empty rate by the number of conveyances). The maximum transport number is the maximum number of packages 20 that the transport device 200 can transport. In other words, the maximum number of conveyances is the total number of trays 210 included in the conveyance device 200.

Although the receiving capacity is calculated by dividing the maximum number of conveyances by the rounding time and multiplying the result by the vacancy rate, the present invention is not limited to this. The acceptance capacity corresponds to the detected vacancy rate in the related information based on the detected vacancy rate and related information such as a relational expression, table, graph, etc. that shows the relationship between the vacancy rate and the acceptance capacity in advance. It may be calculated by specifying the value.

The number of operating input devices is the number of one or more input devices that are in operation among the plurality of input devices 100. The operating loading device includes the loading device that is loading the cargo 20 into the transport device 200. Further, the operating loading device may further include a loading device that is attempting to load the cargo 20 into the transport device 200. For example, the loading device that is attempting to load the baggage 20 into the transport device 200 is one that has received an instruction from the controller 400 to load the baggage 20 from the warehouse into the transport device 200, but has not performed an action to move the baggage 20 based on the instruction. This is an input device that has not yet performed. Furthermore, if the loading device that is attempting to load the package 20 into the transport device 200 has a warehouse that corresponds one-to-one to the loading device, the loading device has been taken out from the corresponding warehouse, but (i) the package has not yet arrived. The input device may be a loading device that is not loaded and is on standby, or (ii) a loading device that has not yet loaded cargo into the transport device 200. The controller 400 can identify these loading devices based on the fact that the number of packages taken out from the warehouse corresponding to the loading device does not match the number of packages delivered to the transport device 200 by the loading device. .

Specifically, the loading capacity is the number of times per unit time that the loading device 100 issues a loading request to the transport device 200 indicating that the load 20 is to be loaded. The loading request is information for notifying the conveyance device 200 that the load 20 is to be loaded, thereby causing the conveyance device 200 to determine the tray 210 on which the load 20 is to be placed. One load 20 may be included in one input request, or a plurality of packages 20 may be included. The input request is transmitted to the transport device 200 when the input device 100 inputs the baggage 20. The conveyance device 200 detects whether or not there is a package 20 on the tray 210 passing through the second position on the conveyance path 240, and when receiving the loading request, the conveyance device 200 moves from the second position to the third position. Among the plurality of trays 210 within the range of , the tray 210 that does not have any baggage 20 is determined as the tray 210 to which the baggage 20 is to be loaded based on the input request. The third position is a position downstream of the second position in the transport direction and upstream of the loading position of the loading device 100.

The second position may be a plurality of positions corresponding to each of the plurality of input devices 100, or may be a common position among the plurality of input devices 100. The second position is a position upstream of the plurality of input devices 100 in the transport direction of the transport device 200. The second position is, for example, a position between the downstream side of the plurality of chutes 300 and the plurality of input devices 100 in the transport direction of the transport path 240.

Further, when the conveyance device 200 determines that there is a package 20 on the tray 210, after returning the package presence information to the loading device 100, the next time the tray without the package 20 passes through the second position, The no-load information may be returned to the loading device 100. In this case, when the loading device 100 acquires the loaded information, it does not input the loaded baggage 20 and waits until the unloaded information is acquired, and when the loaded device 100 acquires the loaded loaded information from the conveying device 200, it transfers the loaded baggage 20 to the tray of the conveying device 200. Insert into 210.

Note that the second position may be the same position as the first position. That is, the conveyance device 200 may use the detection result by the detector 230 to determine whether the load 20 is present on the tray 210 into which the loading device 100 is about to input the load 20.

The controller 400 includes, for example, a processor that executes a predetermined program, a memory that stores the predetermined program, and the like. Further, the controller 400 may be configured by a dedicated circuit.

[Transport system operation]
The operation of the transport system 10 will be described below.

First, a process for changing the loading capacity of the plurality of loading devices 100 in the transport system 10 will be described using FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the input capacity changing process of the transport system 10 according to the embodiment.

In the transport system 10, the plurality of loading devices 100 transmit operation information to the controller 400 (S11). For example, each of the plurality of input devices 100 may transmit information indicating that it is in operation to the controller 400 as operation information.

The detector 230 detects the vacancy rate of the conveyance device 200 from the downstream side of the plurality of chutes 300 to the plurality of input devices 100 in the conveyance direction of the conveyance path 240, and transmits the detected vacancy rate to the controller 400 ( S12).

The controller 400 acquires the acceptance capacity and the number of operations (S13). Specifically, the controller 400 counts the received operating information and obtains the counted result as the operating number of the input device. Further, the controller 400 obtains the receiving capacity by calculating the receiving capacity of the transport device 200 using the received vacancy rate. A detailed explanation of the processing of the acceptance capacity by the controller 400 will be omitted since it has already been explained in the explanation of the functions of the controller 400.

Note that the controller 400 does not need to receive the operation information from the input device 100. The controller 400 may obtain the number of operating loading devices by counting the number of target loading devices 100 that have transmitted instructions for loading the baggage 20. Further, the controller 400 may acquire the vacancy rate by acquiring the detection result from the detector 230 and calculating the vacancy rate based on the acquired detection result.

Then, the controller 400 changes the input capacity regarding the number of loads 20 input per unit time by the one or more operating input devices according to the acquired receiving capacity and the number of operations (S14). A detailed description of the process of determining the input capacity by the controller 400 will be omitted since it has already been described in the description of the functions of the controller 400.

Next, a process for determining whether or not to deliver the cargo 20 from the transport device 200 to the chute 300 in the transport system 10 will be described using FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the determination process of the transport system 10 according to the embodiment.

The controller 400 determines whether the load 20 being conveyed by the conveyance device 200 should be delivered to the chute 300 or be allowed to circulate without being delivered to the chute 300 (S21). Controller 400 controls the operation of transport device 200 based on the determination result.

For example, the chute 300 may be required to dispense the packages 20 in the order of the order. In this case, for example, when the cargo 20 being conveyed approaches the target chute 300, the controller 400 determines whether or not there is a cargo 20 immediately before the cargo 20 in the chute 300. . When the controller 400 determines that the baggage 20 in the previous order is in the chute 300, the controller 400 determines that the baggage 20 is to be delivered to the chute 300, and the baggage 20 in the previous order is placed in the chute 300. If it is determined that there is no cargo 20, it is determined that the cargo 20 is not delivered to the chute 300 but is allowed to circulate around the conveyance path 240.

Further, for example, the chute 300 may be required to discharge only a plurality of packages included in each group. For example, if the cargo included in the first group has already been dispensed to the chute 300, the controller 400 may determine that the cargo included in the second group is to be circulated without being dispensed to the chute 300. .

When the controller 400 determines that the baggage 20 is to be delivered to the chute 300 (Yes in S21), the controller 400 determines to pay out the baggage 20 to the chute 300 (S22).

On the other hand, when the controller 400 determines that the cargo 20 is not to be delivered to the chute 300 (No in S21), the controller 400 determines that the cargo 20 is not to be delivered to the chute 300 but to circulate around the transport path 240 (S23).

The controller 400 transmits a transport instruction based on the result determined in step S22 or step S23 to the transport device 200 (S24). As a result, the controller 400 causes the conveyance device 200 to discharge the baggage 20 onto the chute 300, or causes the conveyance device 200 to circulate the baggage 20 without discharging the baggage 20 onto the chute 300.

In this way, the controller 400 controls the delivery of the packages 20 to the chute 300 depending on whether or not the previous package 20 is in the chute 300, so that the controller 400 dispenses the packages 20 to the chute 300 in the order ordered. The transport device 200 can be controlled so that the

[Effects etc.]
According to the transport system 10 according to the present embodiment, the controller 400 changes the charging capacity of the operating charging device 100 according to the receiving capacity of the transporting device 200 and the number of operating charging devices 100. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the bias in the chances of loading the loading device 100 into the transport device 200 while it is in operation.

Further, according to the conveying system 10 according to the present embodiment, the receiving capacity of the conveying device 200 is determined according to the empty rate of the conveying device 200 between the downstream side of the chute 300 and the loading device 100. Even if the emptying rate changes on the upstream side of the device 100, the charging capacity can be determined in accordance with the changed emptying rate. Therefore, by calculating the vacancy rate of a part of the section of the transport device 200, it is possible to accurately estimate the real-time current receiving capacity of the transport device 200.

Furthermore, in the conveyance system 10 according to the present embodiment, the controller 400 calculates the charging capacity of each of the one or more operating loading devices 100 according to the value obtained by dividing the receiving capacity by the number of operating units. decide. Thereby, it is possible to average the input capacities of the operating input apparatuses 100, and it is possible to perform control so that the total input capacity approaches the receiving capacity. For this reason, when the loading device 100 in operation loads the cargo into the transport device 200, the probability that a tray 210 with no cargo 20 will pass in front of the loading device 100 on the downstream side in a section where a plurality of loading devices 100 are lined up is calculated. can be improved. Therefore, it is possible to reduce unevenness in the chances of loading the baggage 20 into the transport device 200 of the loading device 100 that is in operation.

[Modified example]
(1)
In the above embodiment, the transport device 200 is a cross-belt sorter, but it is not limited to a cross-belt sorter, and may be a tracked truck or a linear motor system. When the loading device 100 is a robot, the transport device 200 may be a conveyor that does not have the function of moving the cargo 20 in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction. Moreover, although the conveyance device 200 has been described as having the circular conveyance path 240, the present invention is not limited to this, and the conveyance device 200 may have a linear conveyance path.

(2)
In the embodiment described above, the controller 400 acquires the receiving capacity and the number of operations, and according to the acquired receiving capacity and the number of operations, the controller 400 relates to the number of inputs of packages 20 per unit time by one or more operating input devices. Although the input capacity is changed, it is not necessary to obtain both the receiving capacity and the number of operations. For example, if the number of operating input devices in operation is a fixed number, the controller 400 does not need to obtain the operating number, and determines the input capacity using the receiving capacity and the fixed number. You may. Further, for example, when the receiving capacity is maintained at a constant value, the controller 400 does not need to acquire the receiving capacity, and may determine the input capacity using a constant value and the number of operations. That is, the controller 400 may acquire at least one of the receiving capacity and the number of operations, and change the input capacity according to at least one of the obtained receiving capacity and the number of operations.

(3)
In the embodiment described above, the controller 400 acquires the receiving capacity and the number of operations, and according to the acquired receiving capacity and the number of operations, the controller 400 relates to the number of inputs of packages 20 per unit time by one or more operating input devices. Although the loading capacity is changed, it is not necessary to change the loading capacity of all of the loading devices that are in operation, and the loading capacity of at least one loading device may be changed. Further, the controller 400 may obtain the operation rate of the input device instead of the number of operations, and change the input capacity according to the acquired operation rate. In this way, the controller 400 may acquire the operating status of the input device and change the input capacity according to the operating status. The operating status is a value related to the number of loads loaded into the transport device by the plurality of loading devices 100, such as the number of operations and the rate of operation.

For example, in a first time period, the first outage rate is the number of outgoing packages 20 from the first warehouse per unit time, while the first outgoing rate is the number of outgoing packages 20 from the second warehouse per unit time. Consider a case where the ratio of the second exit rate is a first ratio, and the ratio changes to a second ratio in which the second exit rate is larger than the first exit rate in a second time period. In this case, the controller 400 determines that in the first time period, the ratio of the charging capacity of the second loading device corresponding to the second warehouse to the loading capacity of the first loading device corresponding to the first warehouse is the first ratio. , and the input capacity is determined so that the total input capacity is less than or equal to the receiving capacity. Further, the controller 400 determines that in the second time period, the ratio of the input capacity of the second input device corresponding to the second warehouse to the input capacity of the first input device corresponding to the first warehouse is a second ratio; In addition, the input capacity is determined so that the total input capacity is less than or equal to the receiving capacity. In this way, the operating rate of the first loading device and the operating rate of the second loading device change depending on the first shipping rate and the second shipping rate, respectively.

At this time, depending on the situation, the controller 400 may maintain the loading capacity of one of the loading capacity of the first loading device and the loading capacity of the second loading device without changing it, and maintain the loading capacity of the other loading device without changing. can only change the input capacity of The controller 400 also controls the input capacity of the first input device so that the input capacity of the first input device is relatively higher or lower than the input capacity of the second input device. , and at least one of the charging capacity of the second charging device can be changed. In this way, the controller 400 can change the charging capacity of the charging device placed upstream, downstream, or near the middle of the section where the plurality of charging devices 100 are arranged, depending on the situation.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION This invention is useful as a conveyance system etc. which can give a suitable input opportunity to each of several input devices.

10 Conveyance System 20 Baggage 100 Loading Device 200 Conveyance Device 210 Tray 220 Drive Unit 230 Detector 240 Conveyance Route 300 Chute 400 Controller

Claims (4)

A plurality of input devices each inputting cargo;
a conveyance device that conveys the baggage input by each of the plurality of input devices in a one-way manner;
(i) Obtain the acceptance capacity regarding the number of new packages per unit time that the transfer device can newly accept for transfer, and the operation status regarding the number of packages input into the transfer device by the plurality of input devices. , (ii) a controller that changes the input capacity regarding the number of packages input per unit time by at least one input device of the plurality of input devices according to the acquired receiving capacity and the operating status . system. The conveyance system according to claim 1, wherein the input capacity is the number of times per unit time that the input device makes input requests to the conveyance device, indicating that the load is to be input. A plurality of input devices each inputting cargo;
a conveyance device that conveys the baggage input by each of the plurality of input devices in a one-way manner;
(i) At least one of the acceptance capacity regarding the number of packages per unit time that the transfer device can newly accept for transfer, and the operating status regarding the number of packages input into the transfer device by the plurality of input devices. and (ii) changing the input capacity regarding the number of packages inputted per unit time by at least one input device of the plurality of input devices, according to at least one of the acquired receiving capacity and the operating status; ,
a chute disposed at a different position from the loading device in the transporting direction of the transporting device, from which the load being transported by the transporting device is discharged;
The conveyance device conveys the baggage in a one-way circular route,
The controller further includes:
(i) determining whether to discharge the cargo being conveyed in the conveyance device to the chute or to circulate it without discharging it to the chute;
(ii) Obtaining the emptying rate of the conveying device between the downstream side of the chute and the plurality of input devices in the circumferential route, and determining the receiving capacity of the conveying device using the emptying rate.
Conveyance system. A plurality of input devices each inputting cargo;
a conveyance device that conveys the baggage input by each of the plurality of input devices in a one-way manner;
(i) At least one of the acceptance capacity regarding the number of packages per unit time that the transfer device can newly accept for transfer, and the operating status regarding the number of packages input into the transfer device by the plurality of input devices. and (ii) changing the input capacity regarding the number of packages inputted per unit time by at least one input device of the plurality of input devices, according to at least one of the acquired receiving capacity and the operating status; , comprising;
The controller obtains the input capacity of each of the one or more input devices operating among the plurality of input devices by dividing the receiving capacity by the number of operations, which is the number of the one or more input devices. Decide according to the value
Conveyance system.

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