JP2000198531A - Conveyed object sorter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To sort out conveyed objects in desired sorting directions continuously, instantaneously and positively via a simple-structured inexpensive device. SOLUTION: A bottom board 28 for guide rails 30 and branch rails has a depression 32, so that wheels 23 at the bottom of sorting elements 11, when brought in the depression 32, separate from the bottom board 28 and become freely dirigible because of temporarily cancelled restraint on turning motion. In the state, only application of slight lateral force to pressure bearing plates 21 interlocked with the wheels 23 can easily turn the wheels 23. The sorting elements 11 can be thus guided in a desired direction easily without contact noise and the like to sort out conveyed objects continuously, instantaneously and accurately.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for sorting articles to be used for sorting articles and the like at destinations, for example, in distribution centers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when sorting conveyed objects conveyed in a conveying path by destination, a lower portion of a sorting piece movable together with a conveying surface is guided in a guide rail laid below the conveying surface. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-72 discloses an apparatus for sorting conveyed articles that can be sorted by destination by moving the article in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction.
No. 2, JP-A-6-227649 and the like are disclosed.

In the former case, the direction of the sorting pieces is changed by switching a switching rail provided at a branch portion of the guide rail in the former case, and without using the switching rail in the latter case. This is performed by sucking the sorting pieces in the conversion direction via an electromagnet.

In such a type of transfer device,
Since running property, load resistance and stability cannot be obtained, the applicant has provided a bottom plate at the lower portion of the rail, provided wheels on the sorting piece, and tried to run the wheels on the bottom plate with the wheels.

[0005]

Here, in the case of using a switching system using a switching rail, if a switching failure occurs due to a load applied to the wheels or the like, the pin collides with the branch block, causing damage or noise. In addition, if the direction change is not smooth, there is a problem that the sorting of the conveyed products cannot be performed continuously and accurately. In addition, the electromagnet method has a problem that the apparatus becomes expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and is capable of continuously, instantly, and surely sorting a conveyed product in a desired sorting direction with a simple and inexpensive apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for sorting conveyed articles that can be used.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a conveyer sorting apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a conveyer that moves in a convey direction while a conveyer is placed on the conveyer; And a sorting piece that can sort the conveyed material in a desired direction by moving across the conveying section with respect to the conveying direction, and sandwiching a predetermined lower portion of the sorting piece from the side. In this way, the guide rail that guides in the transport direction of the transport unit, the branch rail that branches off from the guide rail, and the lower part of the sorting piece can be moved from at least the inside of the guide rail to the inside of the branch rail. In a sorting device for conveyed goods comprising a direction changing device, a pressure receiving plate for changing direction and a traveling wheel on a bottom plate of each rail are provided below the sorting piece, Provided with a branching means for changing the direction of the wheel by pressing the pressure receiving plate to branch a predetermined position between the rail and the branch rail, it is characterized in that a recess in the bottom plate of the rail of the branch predetermined portion. According to this feature, by forming a concave portion in the bottom plate of the guide rail and the branch rail, when the lowermost wheel of the sorting piece enters the concave portion, the wheel moves away from the bottom plate, the restraint in the wheel direction is released once, and the rotation is performed. Be free. In this state, the wheel can be easily rotated only by applying a slight lateral force to the pressure receiving plate linked to the wheel. Therefore, the sorting piece is easy,
In addition, since the object is converted in a predetermined direction without generating a contact sound or the like, it is possible to continuously, instantaneously, and accurately sort the articles.

[0008] In the apparatus for sorting conveyed articles of the present invention, it is preferable that the wheels are urged downward by urging means. In this way, during normal traveling of the sorting piece, a constant contact pressure F> 0 is applied to the bottom plate of the rail from the wheel provided at the lowermost portion, and the grip force of the wheel on the bottom plate increases in this state. Therefore, the grip force can be reliably transmitted to the sorting piece before and after the direction change of the wheel. Therefore, the sorting pieces can be reliably converted in a predetermined direction,
Sorting of conveyed goods can be performed accurately.

In the sorting device for conveyed articles of the present invention, it is preferable that a stopper is provided at a lower portion of the sorting piece, and a change angle with the wheel is limited to an angle range necessary for straight traveling and branching. With this configuration, even if a lateral force is strongly applied to the wheel interlocking with the pressure receiving plate whose rotation is free in the recess of the guide rail, the wheel can be limited at a predetermined angle, so that the direction of the wheel can be reduced. Can be reliably transmitted to the sorting piece.

[0010] In the apparatus for sorting conveyed articles of the present invention, it is preferable that the concave portion of the bottom plate is inclined so as to eliminate a step with respect to the bottom surface of another rail. With this configuration, when the wheel at the lowermost part of the sorting piece enters the recess of the bottom plate and when it comes into contact with the bottom plate again, it can travel smoothly without any impact, and damage and wear of the wheel can be prevented.

In the apparatus for sorting conveyed goods of the present invention, it is preferable that a deep groove is formed so as to be isolated to a level at which the wheel does not come into contact when the bottom plate cut recess of the rail at the predetermined branch point passes. In this case, the wheel separates from the bottom plate and the contact pressure becomes F = 0. In this state, the wheel can be easily rotated only by applying a slight lateral force to the pressure receiving plate linked to the wheel. Thus, the direction of the wheel can be reliably changed.

[0012] In the apparatus for sorting conveyed products of the present invention, it is preferable that a shallow groove is formed so that the bottom plate concave portion of the rail at the predetermined branching point is rotated by constantly contacting the wheel. With this configuration, the directionality and traveling performance of the wheels are constantly maintained because the wheels do not separate from the bottom plate. Therefore, the sorting pieces can be reliably converted in the predetermined direction.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, FIG. 1 shows a main part of a transport apparatus 1 as an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a side plate, and a conveyance path for moving the conveyed object H is formed between the side plates 2 and 2. The transport path includes a main transport path A extending in the left-right direction in the figure, and a branch transport path B extending diagonally from a branch portion T1 in the middle of the main transport path A.

The branch transport path B includes side plates 2 and 2 extending obliquely from the branch portion T1, and a support shaft 49 between the side plates 2 and 2.
, And a plurality of rollers 50 rotatably provided through the branch portion T, so that the conveyed object H sent from the branch portion T1 can be conveyed in a predetermined sorting direction. Note that the roller 50 may be constituted by a drive roller that is appropriately driven by a drive motor.

A rotary shaft 3 as shown in FIG. 3 is rotatably disposed at both longitudinal ends of the side plate 2 in the transport path A, and one rotary shaft 3 is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown). It has become so. Sprockets 4 are fixed to both sides of the rotary shaft 3 between the side plates 2, 2, and an endless chain 5 is stretched between the sprockets 4 at both ends in the longitudinal direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, a part of the connecting shaft 6 of the chains 5, 5 extends inward, and a traveling roller 7 is rotatably mounted. Both sprockets 4, 4
A running rail 8 having a U-shaped cross section which opens inward is provided between the upper and lower end portions of the chain 5, and the chain 5 can be moved via a running roller 7 which can run in the running rail 8. It is stored.

Sprockets 4, 4 on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the conveying path
A plurality of slats 9 formed in a plate shape are arranged in parallel and continuously in close proximity to each other to form a transfer unit, and a transfer surface 10 of a transfer object H is formed on the upper surface thereof. ing. A connecting shaft 6 extending from the chain 5 is fixed to both side surfaces 9a of each slat 9, and the slat 9 is moved in the transport direction as the chain 5 moves.

As shown in FIG. 4, a slide shoe 11 as a sorting piece for a conveyed object H is fitted on each slat 9 so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction of the slat 9. The slide shoe 11 is formed in a hollow shape and has an inner upper surface 11.
a is slidably supported by the upper surface of the slat 9, that is, the upper end of the ridge 12 projecting over the longitudinal direction of the transfer surface 10. The shape of the slide shoe 11 is arbitrary, various shapes may be used, and the slide shoes 11 may not be individually provided on each slat 9.

The shaft tube 16 hanging down from the lower surface of the slide shoe 11 is rotatable around the axis in the insertion passage 13 through a disk-shaped sliding contact plate 27 slidingly contacting the lower surface of the slat 9 formed at the upper portion. A stopper 25 is formed at the lowermost part of the body. At a predetermined position below the shaft tube 16, a guide roller 1 is attached via a bearing 18 to a base 17 fixed to the outer peripheral surface.
A leaf spring 20 is provided rotatably around the shaft tube 16, and has one end fixed as an urging member and the other end opened below the guide roller 19 in the shaft tube 16. A pressure receiving plate 21 having the leaf spring 20 fixed thereto is provided. The shaft tube 16 is connected to the leaf spring 20.
And is rotatably inserted around an axis into an insertion passage 24 formed in the pressure receiving plate 21, and is hung down by a stopper 25.

Further, at the lower end of the pressure receiving plate 21, there is provided a caster 22 having a roller 23 rotatably mounted on the upper surface 28a of the bottom plate 28 of the guide rail 30. The roller 23 is provided on the rear side of the pressure receiving plate 21 outside the axis of the shaft tube 16. Therefore, during normal movement of the guide rail 30, the roller 23 is located behind the axis of the shaft tube 16, and the pressure receiving plate 21 is automatically located forward in the moving direction. The leaf spring 20
The contact pressure F> 0 is always applied.

Further, two stoppers 26 each having a bar-shaped base material extending downward are fixed to the lower surface of the slide shoe 11. The stopper 26 is provided between the pressure receiving plate 21 and the roller 2.
3 is provided at a portion where the rotation angle can be limited to a range where straight traveling and branching are possible.

As shown in FIGS.
Below the slat 9, guide rails 30, 30 ′ formed in a substantially U-shaped vertical cross section with an upper surface opened from the bottom plate 28 and the two side plates 29, 29 are laid in the longitudinal direction of the transport path A. ing. A branch portion T2 is particularly formed near the branch portion T1 of the transport path A, and a branch rail 31 communicating from the branch portion T2 to the guide rail 30 'on the opposite side is substantially parallel to the branch transport path B. Is provided.

A guide roller 19 provided below each slide shoe 11 is slidably fitted in the guide rails 30, 30 'and the branch rail 31. The guide roller 19 is guided by left and right side plates 29, 29 as shown in FIG. 7, and the slide shoe 11 shown in FIG.
Is to be moved along.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, one of the direction change devices for the slide shoe 11 which communicates with a power supply (not shown) is provided outside the both side plates 29, 29 at the branch portion T2 of the guide rail 30. A solenoid main body 36 having a solenoid striking portion 37 is provided, and a tip roller 38 for reducing friction at the time of contact with the pressure receiving plate 21 is formed at the tip of the solenoid striking portion 37.

Here, the operation of the solenoid body 36 when changing the direction of the slide shoe 11 will be described with reference to the drawings. First, as shown in FIGS. In the case where the sheet is conveyed to the downstream side without performing the operation, that is, in a normal state, the switch of the solenoid main body 36 is turned off, the roller 38 of the solenoid hitting portion 37 is in a position in contact with the side plate 29, and the predetermined slide shoe 11 Pressure plate 21 provided below
And roller 23 reach branching portion T2 between guide rail 30. Here, a bottom plate cutout portion 32 is formed as a concave portion in the bottom plate 28 of the guide rail 30, and enters the bottom plate cutout portion 32. And even if the roller touches the inclined portion 34 of the bottom plate again, there is no change in the direction of the roller 23,
Each slide shoe 11 is conveyed downstream without being changed in direction without entering the branch rail 31.

Next, when the transported object H is to be sorted into the branch transport path B, when the transported object H to be sorted reaches the branch portion T1 and enters the cutout portion 32 of the bottom plate, a pressure receiving means is used as an urging means. Leaf spring 2 fixed to one end of plate 21
0, and the open end of the leaf spring 20 is opened by the stopper 25 at the bottom of the open shaft tube.
3 is in a hanging state.

At this time, the power of the solenoid body 36 is turned on.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the solenoid hitting portion 37
The pressure receiving plate 21 is instantaneously moved from the position a to the position b. The angle between a and b is regulated by the stopper 26 toward the branch rail, and the pressure receiving plate 21
The roller 23 fixed to the roller shoe is also turned forward in the branching direction, and when the roller 23 comes into contact with the inclined surface 34, the contact pressure F> 0 is transmitted to the roller 23 again, and the slide shoe 1
The guide roller 19 that moves together with the branch rail 31
The direction is changed in the direction, and the vehicle enters the branch rail 31.

The guide rollers 19 which have entered the branch rails 31 are guided by the side plates 29 of the branch rails 31 as the slats 9 are moved, so that the guide rollers 19 extend in the longitudinal direction of the slats 9, that is, arrows in FIG. The slide shoe 11 is gradually pressed in the direction of the branch conveyance path B to be sent out.

FIG. 6 shows a bottom plate cutout portion 32 as a concave portion of a branch portion T2 between the guide rail 30 and the branch rail 31.
The gentle downward slope 33 'and the gentle upward slope 3
4 'is provided. When the slide shoe 11 enters the gentle downward slope 33 ′ of the notch 32, the contact pressure F> 0 of the leaf spring 20 gradually approaches 0, but the roller 23 comes into contact with the bottom plate 28 a with a weak force, The roller 23 does not separate from the bottom plate 28a until the roller 23 enters the gentle up slope 34 'on the slope and passes through the bottom plate cutout portion 32.

In this manner, the direction change can be smoothly performed at the position of the bottom plate cutout portion 32, the directionality and running property of the roller 23 can be constantly maintained, and the slide shoe 11 can be moved in a predetermined direction. It can be converted reliably.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, the position of the bottom plate notch 32 is located at the deepest portion 35 of the bottom plate notch 32 before the point connecting the center line 45 'of the guide lane 30 and the center line 45 of the branch lane 31. And the contact pressure F =
It is desirable to form the solenoid main body 36 so that the position where the pressure becomes zero and the position where the pressure receiving plate 21 and the tip roller 38 come into contact are the same position. It is desirable that the inclined surface for transmitting the contact pressure F to the roller 23 again be on the center line of the branch lane.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a direction changing device particularly suitable for the sorting device shown in FIG.
The left and right side plates 29, 29 have a large number of air nozzles 40, 40 'on one side and outlets 39 communicating therewith.
39 'are provided, and these air nozzles 40, 4
The strength of the wind pressure of 0 ′ is determined by A in the fixing members 40 and 40 ′.
1 to A5 and B1 to B5, A1>A2>A3> A
4> A5 and B1>B2>B3>B4> B5.

Here, the operation of the slide shoe 11 in this embodiment when changing the direction will be described with reference to the drawings. First, when the conveyed material H is conveyed to the downstream side without being sorted into the branch conveyance path B, the air nozzle 40 is used. Switch is ON
The air at a predetermined pressure is blown out in the direction of the arrow from the outlet 39 located in the upper part of FIG.

Accordingly, the pressure receiving plate 21 provided below the predetermined slide shoe 11 is connected to the guide rail 31 at a branch portion T2.
When the slide shoe 11 enters the bottom plate pressure notch portion 32 shown in FIG.
Contact pressure F> 0 of the leaf spring 20 fixed to one end of the
Gradually approaches 0, and the open end of the leaf spring 20 is
The roller 23 is grounded to the bottom plate pressure notch 32 with a small force.

In this state, the roller 23 receives the wind pressure of the air blown out from the outlet 39 provided at the same height as the pressure receiving surface 21 and the roller 23 enters the gentle upward inclined surface 34 'again without changing its direction. Then, the open end of the leaf spring 20 is gradually closed, and the contact pressure F> 0 of the leaf spring 20 is
, Each slide shoe 11 is surely conveyed downstream without being changed in direction.

Next, when the transported object H is to be sorted into the branch transport path B, as shown in FIG. 10, the switch of the air nozzle 39 'is turned on when the transported object H to be sorted approaches the branch portion T1. When it is turned on, the switch of the air nozzle 39 is turned off, and air of a predetermined pressure is blown out from the outlet 39 ′ in the arrow direction in FIG.
When 1 reaches the branch portion T2, it enters the gentle downward inclined surface 33 'of the bottom plate cutout portion 32, the contact pressure F> 0 of the leaf spring 20 gradually approaches 0, and the open end of the leaf spring 20 The portion is opened by the amount of contraction between the stop portion 25 of the shaft tube 16 and the insertion passage 24, and the roller 23 is grounded to the bottom plate portion 35 'with a small force. At this time, the contact pressure F of the leaf spring 20 applied to the roller 23
≧ 0.

At this time, the pressure receiving surface 21 and the roller 23 gradually change the angle to the branch rail 31 by receiving the wind pressure of the air blown from the outlet 39 ′ provided at the same height as the pressure receiving surface 21. When the roller 23 enters the gentle upward inclined surface 34 ′, the open end of the leaf spring 20 closes little by little, and the contact pressure F> 0 of the leaf spring 20 is transmitted to the roller 23,
The sorting piece 11 starts moving in the direction of the branch rail 31 facing the roller 21 and the guide roller 19 surely enters the branch rail 31 while being changed in direction.

The guide roller 19 that has entered the branch rail 31 in this manner is guided by the side plate 29 of the branch rail 31 as the slat 9 moves, and is guided in the longitudinal direction of each slat 9, that is, in the upward arrow direction in FIG. Is gradually pressed by the slide shoe 11 in the direction of the branch conveyance path B and is sent out.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and even if there are changes and additions without departing from the gist of the present invention. Included in the invention.

For example, the shape, size and the like of the pressure receiving plate are not limited to those in the embodiment, but can be variously modified. Also, the direction changing device is not limited to the one in the embodiment, but may be an air cylinder,
A rotating cam or the like may be used as long as the pressure receiving plate can be pressed in a desired direction. The shape of the inclined surface may be different depending on the type of the direction changing device.

[0041]

The present invention has the following effects.

(A) According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the lowermost wheel of the sorting piece enters the concave portion due to the formation of the concave portion in the bottom plate of the guide rail and the branch rail, the wheel moves away from the bottom plate and once. The restraint in the wheel direction is released, and rotation is free. In this state, the wheel can be easily rotated only by applying a slight lateral force to the pressure receiving plate linked to the wheel. Therefore, the sorting pieces are easily converted in a predetermined direction without generating a contact sound or the like, so that the sorting of the conveyed articles can be performed continuously, instantly, and accurately.

(B) According to the second aspect of the present invention, during normal traveling of the sorting piece, a constant pressing force F> 0 is applied to the bottom plate of the rail from the wheel provided at the lowermost portion. In this state, the grip force of the wheel against the bottom plate increases, so that the grip force can be reliably transmitted to the sorting piece before and after the direction change of the wheel. Therefore, the sorting pieces can be reliably converted in the predetermined direction, and the sorting of the conveyed articles can be performed accurately.

(C) According to the third aspect of the present invention, even if a lateral force is strongly applied to the wheel interlocking with the pressure receiving plate whose rotation is free in the concave portion of the guide rail, the predetermined angle is maintained. Since the wheels can be restricted, the direction of the wheels can be reliably transmitted to the sorting pieces.

(D) According to the invention of claim 4, when the lowermost wheel of the sorting piece enters the recess of the bottom plate and when it comes into contact with the bottom plate again, it can travel smoothly without impact or the like, and the wheel is damaged. , Can prevent wear.

(D) According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the wheel separates from the bottom plate and the pressing force becomes F = 0, only a slight lateral force acts on the pressure receiving plate interlocking with the wheel in this state. Thus, the wheel can be easily rotated, and the direction of the wheel can be reliably changed.

(D) According to the invention of claim 6, since the wheels do not separate from the bottom plate, the directionality and running performance of the wheels are always kept stable. Therefore, the sorting pieces can be reliably converted in the predetermined direction.

[0048]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main part plan view showing a transfer apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a main part of the transport device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing the transfer device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway sectional view showing a deep groove serving as a bottom plate cutout portion, a slide shoe that has entered the groove, and a lower portion thereof.

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway sectional view showing a shallow groove as a cutout portion of a bottom plate shown in another embodiment, a slide shoe that has entered the groove, and a lower portion thereof;

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a state where the direction of the slide shoe is changed according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a state where the direction of the slide shoe as the first embodiment of the present invention is not changed.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the slide shoe is not changed in direction using the cutout portion of the bottom plate of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a state where the direction of the slide shoe of FIG. 9 is changed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Conveying device 2 Side plate 3 Rotating shaft 4 Sprocket 5 Chain 6 Connecting shaft 7 Traveling roller 8 Traveling rail 9 Slat (transport part) 9a Side surface 10 Transport surface 11 Slide shoe (sorting piece) 11a Upper surface 12 Convex line 13, 24 Insertion path 14 Cylindrical body 16 Shaft tube (shaft member) 17 Base 18 Bearing 19 Guide roller 20 Leaf spring 21 Pressure receiving plate 22 Caster 23 Roller (wheel) 25 Stop portion 25a Upper surface (on bottom plate) 26 Stopper 27 Sliding plate 28 Bottom plate 28a Upper surface (bottom plate) Upper) 29 Side plate 30, 30 'Guide rail 31 Branch rail 32 Bottom plate cutout (recess) 33, 33' Downward inclined surface 34, 34 'Upward inclined surface 35 Deepest part 36 Solenoid body (direction changing device) 37 Solenoid strike Part 38 tip roller 39, 39 'air outlet 40, 40' air nozzle Direction changing device) 45 center line 45 'central line 49 the support shaft 50 roller T1, T2 branching portion of the guide lane 30 of the branch lane 31

Claims (6)

[Claims] A transport unit that moves in the transport direction with a transported object mounted thereon, and a transport unit that moves in the transport direction together with the transport unit and moves across the transport unit in the transport direction. A sorting piece capable of sorting the conveyed material in a desired direction, a guide rail for guiding the conveying part in the conveying direction so as to sandwich a predetermined lower portion of the sorting piece from a side, and a branch from the guide rail. And a direction changing device capable of moving a lower portion of the sorting piece from at least the guide rail to the inside of the branch rail. A pressure receiving surface for use and wheels running on the bottom plate of each rail are provided, and further, the pressure receiving surface is pressed at a predetermined branch point between the guide rail and the branch rail, and Provided with a branching means for changing the trees,
A conveyer sorting apparatus, wherein a concave portion is formed in a bottom plate of the rail at a predetermined branching point. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said wheels are biased downward by biasing means. 3. The sorting device according to claim 1, wherein a stopper is provided at a lower portion of the sorting piece, and a change angle between the sorting piece and the wheel is limited to an angle range necessary for straight traveling and branching. . 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the concave portion of the bottom plate has an inclined surface so as to eliminate a step with respect to the bottom plate of another rail. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bottom plate recess of the rail at the predetermined branching point is formed in a deep groove which is isolated to a level where the wheel does not contact. 6. The sorting of a conveyed product according to claim 1, wherein a concave portion of the bottom plate of the rail at the predetermined branching position is formed in a shallow groove so as to rotate while constantly contacting the wheel. apparatus.