JP2001029900A - Transportation device and article sorting device including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To transport an article to be treated without being damaged. SOLUTION: In this device, a hook-shaped support arm 5 for supporting a petal 77 is pivotally supported by a chain 1 via a shaft 4. A top end (a roller 8) of a guide arm 6 fixed to the shaft 4 is guided on a guide rail 11a. Dropping holes closed by doors 12 (12a, 12b, 12c) are provided in the guide rail 11a and the roller 8 is dropped by opening the dropping holes by driving the door 12 (12a, 12b, 12c) to rotate the support arm 5 together with the guide arm 6. Thereby the petal 77 is slipped down from the support arm 5 and is accommodated in a collecting box.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a transporting apparatus and an article sorting apparatus including the transporting apparatus, and more particularly, to a transporting apparatus suitable for transporting articles such as flowers and vegetables on a processing line without damaging the articles, and the processing apparatus. The present invention relates to an article sorting apparatus suitable for sorting articles to be processed on a line according to criteria such as weight.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Processing articles in a flow operation type while conveying articles to be processed by a conveyor device, and sorting the articles according to standards such as weight and shape are performed in all industrial fields, such as flowers, vegetables, and the like. And in the field of processing foods and the like. For example, the present applicant has proposed an apparatus that cuts flowers such as chrysanthemums into a predetermined length, drops leaves at the root, continuously supplies the flowers to a weighing scale, weighs and sorts the flowers (practical use). Model registration No. 3052173).

FIG. 7 is a side view of a main part of an apparatus for transporting and separating flowers according to the registered utility model. In the figure, a measured flower 77 is transferred from a not-shown upstream transfer path to a guide rail 33a included in the transfer path. A circulating conveyor 30 is provided above the conveyance path including the guide rail 33a. The circulating conveyor 30 is driven in the direction of arrow H by a pair of sprockets 31a and 31b, and transport feed rods 35 are erected thereon at predetermined intervals. The transport rod 35 is a flower 7 on the guide rail 33a.
7, and the flower 77 is slid toward the downstream along the upper surface of the guide rail 33a. Downstream of the guide rail 33a, second, third,... Guide rails 33b, 33c... Are arranged in series with the guide rail 33a.
a, 34b... are provided.

[0004] Complementary rails 36a and 36b for complementing the discontinuous portions 34a and 34b to facilitate passage of the flowers 77 are provided on the guide rails 33a, 33b and 3b.
3c are arranged substantially in the same plane (in the figure, the figure is shifted downward in order to avoid congestion in the figure and to clearly show its shape). Each end of the complementary rail and each end of the guide rail facing each other are set to dimensions so that they run alongside each other, and both of them have their upstream and downstream ends bent downward, as viewed from the side, It has portions that overlap each other.

The complementary rails 36a, 36b are driven upward by relay (plunger) devices 38a, 38b, and can be retracted from the transport path of the flowers 77. When the complementary rail is retracted, the flowers 77 transported on the guide rails 33a and 33b fall downward at the discontinuous portions.
According to the measured weight of the flower 77, if which one of a plurality of relay devices is driven at which timing is controlled so that only one within a predetermined weight range falls at a specific discontinuous portion, the next transport is performed. It is possible to automatically sort the flowers 77 to be sorted by weight. As such a control means, for example, a device according to the application of the present applicant (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
In place of the thickness signal in the publication No. 9928), an electric signal representing the measured weight of the flower can be used. A box for receiving the dropped flowers 77 is placed below the discontinuous portion, and the separated flowers 77 are collected.

[0006]

In the above-mentioned transport and sorting apparatus, flowers are transported while sliding on guide rails by transport feed rods. At this time, if the sliding friction between the flowers and the upper surface of the guide rail is large, the flowers will roll without slipping, and may be damaged or the leaves may be broken.
In particular, if dirt (dust) or lye of flowers adheres to the surface of the guide rail, the sliding friction finally increases, and the sliding of flowers becomes worse.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to provide a transport device capable of smoothly transporting articles without being affected by dust and lye, without damaging the articles, and an article sorting apparatus including the transport apparatus. Is to do.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a transporting apparatus for transporting an article to be processed in a transporting process from a first scheduled position to a second scheduled position. Transport support means for capturing, a circulating conveyor for pivotally supporting and circulating the transport support means, and capturing the article to be processed by rotating the transport support means about the pivot at the second predetermined position There is a first feature in that a rotating means for canceling is provided.

The article sorting apparatus of the present invention has a second feature in that the article sorting apparatus includes the transport device and the rotating means is provided at a plurality of positions on the transport process.

According to the above feature, the article to be processed captured by the transport support means at the first predetermined position is transported by the circulating conveyor, and the transport support means is rotated by the rotating means, so that the second object is rotated. It is released at the scheduled position.
In particular, according to the second feature, since a plurality of rotating means are provided, it is possible to release the article to be processed when the article to be processed is transported from the first scheduled position to the position where these rotating means are provided. it can.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a side view of a main part of an example of an upstream weighing / conveying device installed on the upstream side of the conveying device according to the embodiment of the present invention. At least one pair of left and right chain-type supply conveyors, that is, upstream conveying means 10A, is driven by a sprocket 11 in the direction of arrow F substantially in a vertical plane. Provided. The supply guide rail 16
A guide member for transporting the flowers 77 supplied from an uppermost supply table (not shown) to the weighing scale 20 such as an electronic scale in a reclined state, and is in parallel with the moving direction of the conveyor 10A, and At least two (preferably three or more) are provided at a position slightly higher than the moving surface.

Therefore, the flowers 77 slide on the supply guide rail 16 in a posture substantially orthogonal to the supply direction F, that is, in a posture perpendicular to the paper surface, and
Is transported downstream. At the lowermost end of the guide rail 16, a flower receiving portion 16A for temporarily holding the transferred flowers 77 is formed. As shown in the figure, the flower receiving portion 16A is formed by a valley in which the guide rail 16 inclined downward from the upstream side is inverted upward so that the flower 77 detached from the feed rod 13 slides down.

At the downstream end of the supply conveyor, a weighing unit 40 including the weighing scale 20 is arranged. The weighing unit 40 includes an intermittent transfer device 50 functioning as a device for supplying and removing the objects to be weighed. Next, the intermittent transfer device, that is, the device 50 for supplying and removing the object to be weighed will be described. The details of this intermittent transfer device are described in the specification of Utility Model Registration No. 3052173, and are incorporated herein by reference.

An eccentric rotating shaft 51A which is parallel to each other, is separated by a predetermined distance in the transport direction, and is orthogonal to the transport direction.
Driven wheels 53A and 53B are rotatably engaged around a pair of drive wheels 52A and 52B having a wheel 51B, respectively (hereinafter, when these are collectively referred to, the suffixes A and B may be omitted. ). An object to be weighed such as a flower 77 is placed above the outer periphery of the pair of driven wheels 53A and 53B.
From A to the load receiving member 21 of the weighing scale 20, from there to the measured flower receiving portion 33 </ b> E on the flower feeding table 100 installed near the upstream end of the conveying means (which will be described later) further downstream. Transfer arm 56 is fixedly mounted with or without a suitable support arm. The weighing scale 20 is connected to an actuator control circuit 45 for controlling the opening and closing of the revolving door 12a and the like based on the measurement result.

The transfer arm 56 has a three-piece for holding flowers.
The support recesses 56a, 56b, 56c are formed at predetermined intervals. When the pair of drive wheels 52 is synchronously rotated in the direction of arrow K, the recesses 56a, 56b, and 56c simultaneously move along the circumferential trajectories indicated by the dotted lines.

Therefore, the flowers in the flower receiving portion 16A are transferred to the load receiving member 21 of the weighing scale, from there to the measured flower receiving portion 33E, and further to the transport support arm (to be described later) of the transport means on the downstream side. Are sequentially intermittently transported to a position on the downstream side of the engagement start point, and finally transported to the subsequent sorting section by the transport support arm.

Next, the downstream transfer device will be described. FIG. 1 is a side view of a main part of the downstream-side transfer device, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same.
The circulating conveyor 1 is driven in the direction of arrow H by a pair of sprockets 1a and 1b rotating in the direction of arrow R.
The conveyor 1 is a row of a plurality (three in this example) of chains, and brackets 3 are connected to the rows of each chain at predetermined intervals in the direction of the arrow H. A rotation shaft 4 is rotatably supported so as to be orthogonal to the rows. Each rotation shaft 4 has a plurality of transport support arms 5 (5 in this example) for transporting flowers 77.
Book) is fixed. The transport support arm 5 receives the flowers 77 transferred to the flower supply table 100 by the intermittent transfer device.
The hook is formed in a hook shape having a bent portion so as to be able to engage with and hold the stem of the stalk.

A guide arm 6 extending at right angles to the rotary shaft 4 is fixed to one end of the rotary shaft 4, and a plate of the guide arm 6 is parallel to the rotary shaft 4 at the front end, ie, the front end of the guide arm 6. A roller shaft 7 protruding from both sides in the thickness direction is provided. A roller 8 is rotatably provided at one end of the roller shaft 7, and a weight 9 is fixed at the other end.

The bracket 3 is connected to drop guide rods 10 extending substantially perpendicular to the conveyor 1. The drop guide rod 10 is provided with the flowers 77 transported by the transport support arm 5.
Is dropped at a predetermined position when dropped for sorting.
Has a function to determine the falling direction so that the falling is stored and to make the falling posture substantially horizontal.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view around the bracket 3. A rectangular bracket 3 is fixed to the chain, that is, the conveyor 1 by pins 3a, and a rotary shaft 4 supported by the bracket 3 is attached to a hub 5b by bolts 5a.
Are fixed, and the transport support arm 5 extends from the hub 5b. The drop guide rod 10 is connected to one side of the rectangular bracket 3 by welding or the like. With this configuration,
The position of the drop guide bar 10 is fixed with respect to the conveyor 1, while the transport support arm 5 can rotate together with the rotating shaft 4.

Around the conveyor 1, the rotation (rotation) of the roller 8 about the rotation shaft 4 is regulated to
Guide rails 11a for determining the position (posture) of
11 b and 11 c are provided along the circumferential direction of the conveyor 1. The transport guide rail 11a is located below the conveyor 1 and engages with the roller 8 to enable
The transport support arm 5 that moves to the downstream side is maintained in a posture for supporting the flowers 77, and is provided for separating the flowers 77 by weight by releasing the engagement with the roller 8 at a designated pit hole position to be described later. The return guide rails 11b and 11c are located on the upper side of the conveyor 1, and engage with the rollers 8 in the return stroke after the flowers 77 have been separated, and move the transport support arm 5 to the upstream end of the transport guide rail 11a. Provided to guide to.

The transport guide rail 11a and the return guide rail 11c have curved portions overlapping each other on the upstream sprocket 1a side, and the curved portion of the return guide rail 11c enters the inner peripheral side of the transport guide rail 11a. The curvature of each curved portion is determined. The arc-shaped return guide rail 11b provided on the downstream sprocket 1b side is provided so as to cover the linear ends of the transport guide rail 11a and the return guide rail 11c.

The rotating door 12 is provided on the transport guide rail 11a.
A trap hole closed by a, 12b, and 12c is provided. Hereinafter, when these revolving doors are shown in common, reference numeral 1 is used.
2 The pits are provided for separating the flowers 77 into heavy classes as the sorting classes, and are provided corresponding to the respective heavy classes. The actuator control circuit 45 (FIG. 4) rotates the revolving door 12 based on the result of measuring the flowers by the weighing scale 20, and opens the pit. For example, the actuator control circuit 45 to which the weighing result by the weighing scale 20 is input determines which weight class the flower belongs to based on the input weighing result, and a solenoid or the like is used after a lapse of a predetermined time for each weight class. An open command is supplied to the actuator means. At this scheduled time, the flowers weighed by the weighing scale 20 are turned from the weighing scale 20 to the revolving door 1 corresponding to the weight class.
Based on the time to reach 2 (arrival time), it is preferable to set at least this arrival time or less. In response to the opening command, the revolving door 12 is opened so as to hang down by an actuator (not shown) such as a solenoid.

When the revolving door 12 is driven in response to the opening command to open the pit, the roller 8 falls from the pit and the flower 77 falls as described later. In this way, when the roller 8 falls, the rotating door 12 is returned to the reset state in which the pit is closed, in order to separate the subsequent flowers 77.
The revolving door 12 is not limited to hanging downward with the hinge as a pivot, but may be one that pivots or linearly moves in a horizontal direction, that is, in a plane parallel to the transport guide rail 11a.

The actuator control device 45 for automatically separating the flowers 77 to be conveyed next by weight is, for example, a device according to the application of the present applicant (JP-A-10-8).
In place of the thickness signal in the publication No. 9928), an electric signal representing the measured weight of the flower can be used.

The transport guide rail 11 is opened by opening the pit.
The roller 8 rolling on the roller a falls off the transport guide rail 11a and comes off, and the transport support arm 5 connected to the roller 8 rotates clockwise in the drawing. Thus, the weight 9
Means that the rotating door 12 is opened and the roller 8 is
When the support by 1a is lost, the flowers 7
What is necessary is just to fulfill the function of urging the rotating shaft 4 so that the shaft 7 falls. Therefore, the mounting position and shape of the weight 9 can be arbitrarily changed so as to fulfill this function. For example, an arm may be provided on the rotating shaft 4 at an end opposite to the side where the roller 8 is installed, separately from the guide arm 6, and a weight may be attached to this arm. The roller 8 may be omitted or the shape of the guide arm 6 itself may be changed by forming the tip of the guide arm 6 in an arc shape so as to secure the sliding property with the guide rail (center of gravity). May be shifted toward the front end) or the roller 8 may be enlarged to have the function of the weight 9.

Furthermore, it is not always necessary to provide the guide arm 6 such that the roller 8 and the weight 9 both precede the rotating shaft 4 in the direction of circulation of the conveyor. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing a modified example of the guide arm 6, and the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 indicate the same or equivalent parts. The guide arm 6A extends forward and backward with respect to the rotating shaft 4 in the direction of circulation of the conveyor, and the weight 9 is provided before the rotating shaft 4 in the direction of circulation as in the example of FIG. The roller 8 is attached to the end of the guide arm 6A opposite to the side on which the weight 9 is attached. The roller 8 is in contact with the transport guide rail 11a from below. Therefore, in this case, the revolving door 12 is set to open upward.

A collection box 17 of flowers 77 is provided almost directly below the pit, that is, the rotating door 12. This collection box 17
Distributing members 15A and 15B that are tilted about the shaft 14 are provided between the shaft and the pit. Sorting member 15A,
15B are provided separately from each other in the width direction of the transport path, that is, in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 4, and are positioned and arranged so as to respectively correspond to the petal side and the root side of the flower 77 falling from the pit. You. If one of the sorting members 15A and 15B is inclined to the upstream side in the transport direction, the other is inclined to the opposite side, that is, the downstream side, and if one of them is inclined to the downstream side in the transport direction, the other is the opposite. It moves to the side, that is, to the upstream side.

In accordance with these inclinations, the direction in which the flowers 77 that have fallen at that time lie down in the collection box 17 is determined. For example, by oscillating the distribution members 15A and 15B each time the flowers 77 drop by the predetermined number, the lying direction of the flowers 77 changes for each of the predetermined number, and the flowers 77 are stacked and intersected with each other. Flowers 77 for each number are collected. Therefore, it is easy to separate and pick up those lying in the same reclining direction.

The partitioning bar 22 is located immediately below the shaft 14 in the collecting box 17 and at least one end in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 14, that is, at least on the petal side and the root side of the flowers 77 accumulated in the collecting box 17. It is planted almost vertically on the bottom on one side. The flowers 77 dropped from the guide rail 11a are sorted by the sorting member 15A or 15B,
Inside the collection box 17, they are stacked in an X-shape when viewed from above. Therefore, by providing the partition bar 22, this X-shaped accumulation form is maintained, so that the sorting work of the flowers 77 is more easily performed.

The orientation and orientation of the falling flowers 77 can be determined by the distribution members 15A and 15B. When the distribution members 15A and 15B are used,
The drop guide bar 10 can be omitted. Further, the distribution members 15A and 15B are suitable for grouping the flowers 77 by the planned number, and may be omitted when such a function is not particularly required.

In operation, when the conveyor 1 is driven, the flowers 77 transferred to the flower supply table 100 by the intermittent transfer device are picked up at the position A in FIG. Roller 8 is transport guide rail 1
While being guided by the linear portion 1a, the tip of the transport support arm 5 is maintained substantially horizontal or slightly upward, so the flowers 77 picked up by the transport support arm 5 are held on the transport support arm 5. Transported. Then, during the conveyance of the straight portion of the conveyance guide rail 11a, the rotating door 1 is rotated at a timing determined according to the result of measurement by the weighing scale.
2 is rotated to open a predetermined pit. Then,
The roller 8 falls into the pit due to the gravity acting on the weight 9, the rotation shaft 4 rotates through the guide arm 6, the transfer support arm 5 is inclined, and the flowers 77 are transferred to the collection box 17 located immediately below the pit. Will be accommodated.

Thus, the flowers 7 measured by the weight scale 20 are
If the actuator means of the revolving door 13 is controlled in accordance with the measured weight, so that only one in a predetermined weight range falls in a certain pit, ie, a discontinuous portion of the guide rail 11a, according to the weight of 7, Then, the flowers 77 conveyed one after another can be automatically sorted by weight.

Flowers 77 dropped from each pit
Is stored in the actuator control circuit 45, and by using this stored information, it can be detected whether or not the planned number of flowers 77 has dropped from a certain pit and collected. Using this detection information, the sorting member 1
The tilting directions of 5A and 15B can be switched.

The collection box 17 disposed below the pit and serving as a means for collecting the flowers 77 is not necessarily limited to a box whose periphery is surrounded by a box or a shelf. Further, the flowers 77 may be dropped on another transport means such as a take-out conveyor.

The above is one embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this. In particular, the transfer devices or processing devices disposed on the upstream and downstream sides of the conveyor 1 can be arbitrarily combined with the conveyor 1.
For example, the intermittent transfer device 50 for measuring the flowers 77 and transferring the flowers 77 to a position on the flower supply table 100 where the flowers 77 can be picked up by the transport support arm 5 can be modified as follows. FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing an alternative device of the intermittent transfer device 50, and the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 4 indicate the same or equivalent parts. The conveyor 10A has a pair of sprockets 11a, 1
1b is driven in the direction of arrow F, and the flowers 77, which are the objects to be processed, are conveyed in the same direction by the supply feed rod 13 mounted thereon at predetermined intervals. When the flowers 77 reach the sprocket 11b on the downstream side, they fall onto the weight receiving member 21 of the weighing scale 20, and the weight thereof is measured. The weighed flowers 77 are scooped up by the support arms 32 arranged on the downstream conveyor 30 at predetermined intervals, and transferred to the downstream flower supply table 100.

The articles to be treated are not limited to being sorted by weight, but may be sorted by shape such as length and thickness. In this case, it is a matter of course that well-known sensor means suitable for detecting the length and the thickness may be used instead of the weighing scale 20. Also, it is easily understood by those skilled in the art that the article to be treated is not limited to flowers, but may be other articles such as kobo and kelp.

Further, the purpose of the transfer device is not limited.
That is, it does not need to be included in the sorting apparatus. In short,
The article is slid on the conveyor and moved from the first expected position to the second
Can be applied as an alternative to the conventional transfer device that has been transferring to the predetermined position. Therefore, for example, the pit may not be provided on the guide rail 11a. In this case, when the roller 8 reaches the downstream end of the guide rail 11a (position B in FIG. 1), the transport support arm 5 is inverted and the flower 77 falls. Devices, collection boxes, etc. may be arranged.

The shape of the transfer support arm 5 is not necessarily a hook shape. For example, a member such as a tongue or a hook for pinching or hooking the flowers 77 may be separately provided at the tip of a straight rod. Good. In short, the second position in which the transport support arm 5 is engaged with the article to be processed such as the flower 77 in the planned first attitude, and the engagement with the article to be processed is released by the rotation about the rotation shaft 4. What is necessary is just to be in the form which can become. Therefore, as long as it fulfills this function, either a rod-like or plate-like form can be adopted.

[0040]

According to the present invention, an article to be processed can be transported on a predetermined transport path without rolling or sliding the article to be processed by using the transport support means or the transport support arm. Therefore, an article to be processed that is easily damaged by rolling or sliding can be suitably transported. In addition, since the article to be processed can be removed from the transport path by the transport support means or the means for rotating the transport support arm, the operation of the plurality of rotary means provided on the transport path in particular, As a result, the article to be processed comes off and the article to be processed can be separated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a main part of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a main part of the device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part around a bracket 3;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the transfer device for the article to be processed.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the transfer device for the article to be processed.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing a modification of the guide arm of the transport support arm.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a main part of a conventional transport device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Conveyor, 3 ... Bracket, 4 ... Rotating axis, 5
... Conveyance support arm, 6 ... Guide arm, 7 ... Roller shaft, 8 ...
Roller, 9: Weight, 10: Fall guide rod, 11a: Transport guide rail, 11c: Return guide rail, 12
a, 12b, 12c ... revolving door

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3F015 AA07 DA03 FA01 GA01 3F025 CA34 CB09 3F079 AC07 CA29 CB12 CC06 CC08 CC11 DA01 DA16 DA18 DA28

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A transport device for transporting an article to be processed in a transport process from a first scheduled position to a second scheduled position, wherein: a transport support means for capturing the article to be processed at the first scheduled position; A circulating conveyor that pivotally supports and circulates the transport support means; and a rotating means that pivots the transport support means about the pivot at the second predetermined position to release capture of the article to be processed. A transport device comprising: 2. A transport apparatus for transporting an article to be processed in a transport process from a first scheduled position to a second scheduled position, comprising: transport support means for capturing the article to be processed at the first scheduled position; A circulating conveyor that pivotally supports and circulates the conveying support means; a conveying guide rail provided along the circulating conveyor and terminating at the second predetermined position; 2. The conveyance according to claim 1, further comprising a rotation restricting member that restricts rotation of a pivot of the conveyance support means in a direction in which the article to be processed is released by engagement with a guide rail. apparatus. 3. A transport device for transporting an article to be processed in a transport process from a first scheduled position to a second scheduled position, comprising: a circulating conveyor; and a circulating conveyor arranged at predetermined intervals in a circulating direction of the circulating conveyor.
A plurality of rotating shafts extending in a direction orthogonal to the circulating conveyor; conveying support means fixed to the rotating shaft and supporting the article to be processed in a predetermined posture; and provided along the circulating conveyor in the conveying process. A transfer guide rail, and a guide arm extending perpendicularly from the rotation axis so that the transfer support means follows the transfer guide rail and maintains the predetermined posture. A transport device, wherein the transport device terminates near the second predetermined position so that the arm can be removed. 4. The transport support means, wherein the transport support means is a transport support arm which is fixed to the rotating shaft and has a free end bent in a hook shape so as to be substantially directed in the circulation direction.
The transfer device as described in the above. 5. The transfer device according to claim 3, wherein the guide arm is extended so that a tip end of the guide arm precedes the rotation axis in the circulation direction. 6. A weight according to claim 3, further comprising a weight provided so that gravity acts in a direction in which a tip of said guide arm is pressed against said conveyance guide rail. Transport device. 7. The transfer device according to claim 6, wherein the weight is provided near a tip of the guide arm. 8. Provided along the circulation type conveyor,
A return guide rail that engages with the distal end of the guide arm at the end of the transport guide rail and guides the distal end of the guide arm to the first predetermined position side of the transport guide rail. The transfer device according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein 9. The transport device according to claim 3, wherein a roller that rolls following the transport guide rail is provided at a tip of the guide arm. 10. An article sorting apparatus including the transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rotating means is provided at a plurality of positions on said transport process. 11. An article sorting apparatus including the transport apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transport guide rail has at least one openable / closable discontinuous portion, and the transport guide rail has at least one discontinuous section. An article sorting apparatus, wherein a continuous portion is positioned above a sorting and collecting position of articles to be processed. 12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of discontinuous portions are provided in correspondence with a classification class of the article to be treated, and based on an opening command input according to which classification class the article to be treated belongs to. 12. The article sorting apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising control means for opening the discontinuous part when the article to be processed is located at the discontinuous part corresponding to each sorting class. 13. A downwardly protruding portion from the circulating conveyor during a transfer process that extends substantially vertically from the circulating conveyor near the rotation axis and directs articles falling from the transfer support arm to a predetermined collection position. The article sorting apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 12, further comprising: a drop guide rod for an article to be processed, the amount of which is set to be larger than the transport support arm. 14. The article according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the article to be treated is a flower transferred to the first predetermined position and having a classified class for each weight determined. Sorting device.