JP2001225943A - Control method of sorting conveyer, and sorting conveyer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control the sorting conveyer so as to certainly operate only a carriage placed with articles to be sorted while securing a propulsion force of the carriage, and to certainly sort the articles. SOLUTION: In this control method, each linear motor is energized before a specific carriage placed with articles to be sorted reaches the linear motor based on positional information (predetermined values V1-V3) of the articles, and energization of each linear motor is stopped before a carriage following the specific carriage reaches the linear motor.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to, for example, a sorting conveyor configured to transport articles in a predetermined direction and to sort articles in a direction branched from the transport direction.
In particular, it relates to a sorting conveyor equipped with a linear motor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, at airports and truck terminals, sorting conveyors are used to sort conveyed articles.

Conventionally, as such a sorting conveyor,
For example, a cross belt type conveyor is known. This cross-belt type conveyor has a plurality of carts that can circulate in a predetermined conveyance direction, and each of these carts is provided with a cross belt for moving a conveyed object to a branch chute branched from a conveyance path. I have. Further, each truck is provided with a drive motor for supplying power to the cross belt, a precise control device for controlling the drive motor, and the like.

In a conventional cross-belt type conveyor, a truck on which a conveyed object is placed is made to revolve, and when the truck to be sorted reaches a predetermined sorting branch,
By driving the cross belt, the transported object is dropped into the branch chute.

[0005]

However, in the conventional cross-belt type conveyor, it is necessary to provide a drive motor and a control device for all the trucks, so that the number of parts is increased and the cost is increased. The life of the control device is short, mainly due to vibration received from
There were various problems such as low reliability.

In order to solve these problems, for example, a linear motor is provided on the installation side (ground side) as shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-88654, and one of the conductors of the linear motor is connected to the linear motor. There has been proposed a cross belt type conveyor configured as a roller for rotating a cross belt on a cart side.

However, in such a cross belt type conveyor, when the conductor on the linear motor side is widened in order to secure the propulsive force of the cross belt, while the linear motor is driving the bogie, However, there is a problem that the truck following the truck reaches the conductor on the linear motor side, and it is difficult to reliably operate only the desired truck.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such problems of the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to place articles to be sorted while securing the propulsive force of a bogie. It is an object of the present invention to provide a control conveyor and a control method and a control means capable of controlling the operation of only the carts in a reliable manner, and thus capable of reliably sorting the articles.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a linear motor provided at a sorting / branching portion (5a) which branches to a sorting side from a predetermined transport direction (X). By energizing the primary magnetic member (8) of (7), the secondary transport member (3d) of the truck (3) moving in the transport direction (X) is driven and placed on the truck (3). A control method of a sorting conveyor for controlling a sorting conveyor (1) so as to move a placed article (M) to a sorting side, wherein a plurality of linear motors (7A, 7B) are moved as a truck (3) travels. , 7C) to sequentially switch the energization of the primary-side magnetic member (8) to operate only predetermined linear motors (7A to 7C).

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a predetermined number of linear motors (7A to 7C) are switched by sequentially switching the energization to the primary magnetic member (8) of each linear motor (7A, 7B, 7C). Can operate the cart (3) at a time, so that a predetermined number of electromagnetic forces can be applied to the secondary transport member (3d), and the secondary transport member (3d) can be stably propelled. You can gain power.

On the other hand, by sequentially switching the energization to each primary side magnetic member (8), it becomes possible not to operate the linear motors (7A, 7B, 7C) with respect to the following bogie (3A). Even if the following truck (3A) passes through the sorting / branching portion (5a), its secondary transport member (3d)
Is not driven, and it is possible to prevent the articles (M) placed on the subsequent cart (3A) from being erroneously sorted.
Therefore, according to the invention described in claim 1, the article (M)
Can be reliably sorted with stable propulsion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of linear motors (5) are arranged in a sorting / branching portion (5a) branching from a predetermined transport direction (X) to a sorting side and have a primary side magnetic member (8). 7A, 7B, 7C) and a linear motor (7
A, 7B, 7C) having a secondary transport member (3d) that can be driven by the primary magnetic member (8), so that the placed article (M) can be moved in the transport direction (X). And a truck (3) configured to be able to move the article (M) to the sorting side by driving the secondary transport member (3d), and the linear motors (7A to 7A to 7D) in accordance with the movement of the truck (3). 7C)
And a control means (20) for controlling so as to start or stop energizing the primary side magnetic member (8).

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the cart (3)
And a side for driving the same, which has a simple configuration, and can provide a sorting conveyor capable of easily implementing the control method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a sorting conveyor and a control method therefor according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a sorting conveyor according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of the sorting conveyor, and FIG. 3 is a side view showing a main part of the sorting conveyor.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the sorting conveyor 1 of the present embodiment has a traveling rail 2 arranged along a predetermined transport direction X. A plurality of trolleys 3 on which articles M can be placed are formed by guide wheels 3a.
It is provided so that it can run.

The trucks 3 are connected by a connecting member 4, and power is applied in the transport direction X by a driving device (not shown) provided on the ground side. The sorting conveyor 1 has a plurality of branch chutes 5 branching laterally from the transport path.
Is configured to transport the articles M dropped from the cart 3 to a predetermined collection section. In addition, traveling rail 2
Guard rails 6 for preventing the articles from falling are provided on both sides.

On the ground side of each of the sorting and branching sections 5a, three induction type linear motors 7 are arranged. Each of the linear motors 7 has a primary coil (primary magnetic field) that generates a predetermined magnetic field when energized. (Member) 8 is provided. These linear motors 7 are arranged in the transport direction X at a predetermined height and at a predetermined interval so that the carriage 3 can pass on a mounting portion 2 a provided between the traveling rails 2. In the present embodiment, each linear motor 7 is set to have a size that is approximately half the mounting area of the carriage 3.

As shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3, the carriage 3 has a substantially box-shaped frame 3b.
A pair of rotatable transport rollers 3c are provided in parallel. These transport rollers 3c are arranged parallel to the transport direction X, and an endless cross belt (secondary transport member) 3d is hung on each transport roller 3c. Thereby, the cross belt 3d is configured to be movable in the cross direction Y orthogonal to the transport direction X.

Here, the cross belt 3d is configured to be a secondary conductor of the linear motor 7 by weaving a thread-like non-magnetic material made of, for example, aluminum or the like in a predetermined direction.

On the other hand, at a portion inside the cross belt 7,
For example, a pair of magnetic plates 3e made of a magnetic material such as iron is provided, and these magnetic plates 3e are arranged close to the cross belt 3d at a portion 3d1 on the carrier side and a portion 3d2 on the return side of the cross belt 3d. ing. And
In this embodiment, an electromagnetic force is generated in the cross belt 3d by a predetermined magnetic circuit formed between the magnetic plate 3e of the carriage and the primary coil 8 of the linear motor 7, and the electromagnetic force is generated by the electromagnetic force. The cross belt 3d rotates.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sorting conveyor 1 of this embodiment has control means 20 for controlling the energization of the primary coil 8 of each linear motor 7. The control means 20 is electrically connected to each primary coil 8 via an amplifier or the like (not shown).

On the other hand, detectors 21 composed of, for example, transmission type optical sensors are provided on both sides of the guard rail 6 to detect the position of the carriage 3. This detector 21
It is electrically connected to the control means 20 described above.

The detector 21 includes, for example, each carriage 3
Is configured to detect a predetermined number of index portions (not shown) at predetermined positions of the frame 3b, and to send respective pulse-like detection signals to the control means 20.

On the other hand, the control means 20 has a function of, for example, having a programmable controller or the like, counting detection signals from the detector 21, and determining the relative position between the carriage 3 and each linear motor from the count number. Have.
The control means 20 is configured to start or stop energizing each linear motor 7 based on the position information.

The control means 20, for example, in the induction section of the sorting conveyor 1, determines the cart 3 on which the article M is placed based on the read sorting information of the article M, and operates the cart 3 It also has a function of specifying the linear motor 7 to be performed.

FIGS. 4 to 9 are explanatory diagrams showing the control operation of the sorting conveyor of the present embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a control method of the sorting conveyor. Hereinafter, the control method of the sorting conveyor according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 10, first, in step 1, when the control means 20 obtains the sorting information of the articles M,
In step 2, the truck 3 to be controlled is specified based on the sorting information, and the linear motor 7 to be controlled (hereinafter, the symbols are referred to as 7A, 7B, and 7C in order from the downstream side in the transport direction X). Then, the process proceeds to step 3.

Next, in step 3, it is determined whether or not the specified trolley (hereinafter referred to as "specific trolley") 3 has reached the detection start position.
In step 4, the control means 20 starts counting the detection signal from the detector 21, and then proceeds to step 5.

Here, the detection start position (not shown) is
For example, the first detection signal from the specific trolley 3 is
When 0 is received, it is assumed that the truck 3 has arrived.

In step 5, the counted number is set to a predetermined value V1.
Judge whether or not reached, and when it is judged that it has been reached,
The process proceeds to step 6, where the linear motor 7A is energized according to a command from the control means 20, and then proceeds to step 7.

Here, the predetermined value V1 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
The count value corresponds to a position immediately before the end edge P) reaches the linear motor 7A.

As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 5, when the linear motor 7A is energized, the magnetic plate 3e of the specific vehicle 3 and one of the linear motors 7A move along with the movement of the specific vehicle 3 in the transport direction X.
A magnetic circuit is formed between the secondary coil 8 and the cross coil 3 by the electromagnetic force generated by the magnetic circuit.
d rotates in the cross direction Y. Thereby, the article M is
It moves in the transport direction X and the cross direction Y.

In step 7 of FIG. 10, it is determined whether or not the count has reached a predetermined value V2. If it is determined that the count has reached, the process proceeds to step 8, and the linear motor 7B is controlled by a command from the control means 20. , And then the process proceeds to step 9.

Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the predetermined value V2 is a count value corresponding to a position immediately before the outermost edge P of the cross belt 3d reaches the linear motor 7B.

As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 6, when the linear motor 7B is energized, a predetermined magnetic force is also applied between the magnetic plate 3e of the specific carriage 3 and the primary coil 8 of the linear motor 7B, as described above. A circuit is formed. Thereby, the electromagnetic force generated on the cross belt 3d on the linear motor 7B is added to the electromagnetic force generated on the cross belt 3d on the linear motor 7A, and the cross belt 3d is driven by a large propulsive force.

In step 9 of FIG. 10, it is determined whether or not the count has reached a predetermined value V3. If it is determined that the count has reached, the process proceeds to step 10, and the linear motor 7C is controlled by a command from the control means 20. Is turned on. Then, after a lapse of a predetermined period, the energization of the linear motor 7A is stopped, and then the process proceeds to step S11.

Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the predetermined value V3 is a count value corresponding to a position immediately before the outermost edge P of the cross belt 3d reaches the linear motor 7C. Further, the predetermined period is, for example, from the start of energization of the linear motor 7C, a truck following the specific truck 3 (hereinafter, referred to as a truck).
It is referred to as “following truck 3A”. ) Does not reach the linear motor 7A, and this period includes the time required from the stop of energization of the linear motor 7C to the complete disappearance of the magnetic field.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the linear motor 7C is energized, a predetermined magnetic circuit is formed between the magnetic plate 3e of the specific carriage 3 and the primary coil 8 of the linear motor 7C as described above. Is done. Thereby, the cross belt 3d is
Of the magnetic circuits formed by the linear motors 7A, 7B, 7C, the cross belt 3 is always placed in two magnetic circuits.
Since an electromagnetic force corresponding to two linear motors is generated in d, the thrust of the cross belt 3d in the cross direction Y is stabilized.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 7, when the trailing bogie 3A reaches the linear motor 7A, the magnetic field has already disappeared due to the stoppage of the current supply to the linear motor 7A. The cross belt 3d does not move even if it passes over the motor 7A.

In step 11 of FIG. 10, it is determined whether or not the count has reached a predetermined value V4. If it is determined that the count has reached, the process proceeds to step 12, where the energization of the linear motor 7B is stopped. , To step 13.

Here, as shown in FIG. 7, the predetermined value V4 corresponds to a position where the succeeding bogie 3A does not reach the linear motor 7B with respect to the end edge P of the cross belt 3d. When the magnetic field reaches the linear motor 7C, the count value is converted in view of the fact that the magnetic field is in a completely demagnetized state.

As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 8, even when the energization of the linear motors 7A and 7B is stopped, the specific trolley 3 has already passed over the linear motor 7B at that time, while the trailing trolley 3A is By the time the motor 7B arrives, the magnetic field of the linear motor 7B has already disappeared.
Even if the trailing truck 3A passes over the linear motor 7B, the cross belt 3d does not move.

In step 13 of FIG. 10, it is determined whether or not the count has reached a predetermined value V5. If it is determined that the count has reached, the process proceeds to step 14 to stop energizing the linear motor 7C.

Here, the predetermined value V5 is the same as the predetermined value V4, as shown in FIG.
Is the position where the trailing truck 3A does not reach the linear motor 7C, and the trailing truck 3A
When the magnetic field reaches C, the count value is converted in view of the fact that the magnetic field is in a completely demagnetized state.

As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 9, even when all the power supply to the linear motors 7A to 7C is stopped, at this point, the specific bogie 3 has already been removed from the linear motor 7C. When the 3A reaches the linear motor 7C, since the magnetic field of the linear motor 7C has already disappeared, the cross belt 3d does not move even if the succeeding bogie 3A passes over the linear motor 7C.

Then, while the specific carriage 3 passes from the linear motor 7A to the linear motor 7C, the article M is dropped into the branch chute 5 and is conveyed to a target collection section.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
A plurality of linear motors 7 </ b> A to 7 </ b> A
Since the plurality of linear motors 7A to 7C are controlled to operate for the specific carriage 3 by sequentially switching the energization of C, the plurality of linear motors are constantly controlled for the cross belt 3d around the sorting and branching section 5a. 7A to 7C, the cross belt 3
The driving force of d can be increased and stabilized.

On the other hand, by sequentially switching the energization of the linear motors 7A to 7C so as not to operate the linear motors 7A to 7C with respect to the succeeding bogie 3A, the following bogie 3A connects the sorting branch portion 5a to Even when passing, the cross belt 3d is not driven, so that it is possible to prevent the articles M placed on the subsequent truck 3A from being sorted by mistake. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the articles M can be surely sorted with a large propulsive force.

Further, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain the sorting conveyor 1 which can easily implement the control method of the present invention with a simple configuration.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the linear motor 7 is installed on the ground side, there is no need to provide a driving device or a precise control device or the like on the truck 3, so that the configuration of the truck 3 itself is simplified. Thus, the number of parts can be reduced, and the reliability of the device for controlling the sorting of the cart 3 can be maintained.

FIG. 11A is a side view showing a main part of a sorting conveyor according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
(B) is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of the conveyor belt of the sorting conveyor. Hereinafter, portions corresponding to the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 11A, the present embodiment is different from the above embodiment only in the configuration of the transport roller 30c and the cross belt 30d of the carriage 30.
Here, a plurality of transport rollers 30c are rotatably provided on the frame 3b of the carriage 30, and a cross belt 30d is hung on each transport roller 30c.

As shown in FIG. 11B, the transport rollers 3
0c is an integral combination of a non-magnetic cylindrical body 30c1 made of a non-magnetic material such as aluminum and a magnetic cylindrical body 30c2 made of a magnetic material such as iron inside, for example. It is configured to be a secondary conductor. On the other hand, the cross belt 30d is made of an elastic material such as rubber, for example, and is formed endless.

In the present embodiment having such a configuration, when the carriage 30 passes through the magnetic field of the linear motor 7, the cylindrical body inside each transport roller 30 c and the primary coil 8 of each linear motor 7 are connected. A predetermined magnetic circuit is formed therebetween, and an electromagnetic force is generated in the outer cylindrical body by the magnetic circuit, and a rotational power is given to each of the transport rollers 30c by this electromagnetic force, and the cross belt 30d rotates.

As described above, according to this embodiment, as in the above-described embodiment, it is possible to obtain a sorting conveyor that can easily implement the control method of the present invention with a simple configuration. However, from the viewpoint of reducing the number of parts, it is preferable to adopt a configuration like the truck 3 of the above embodiment. Other configurations and operational effects are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various changes can be made. For example,
In the above embodiment, the cross belt 3d of the carriage 3
Although three linear motors are used to drive the motor, two or four or more linear motors can be used without being limited to this. However, the number of installed linear motors is determined according to the number of cross belts that can include the magnetic field of the linear motor.

In the above embodiment, the index portion is counted as the position information of the specific bogie, and the energization of each linear motor is controlled according to the count number. However, this is only an example. The control means only needs to obtain information on the relative position between the specific bogie and the linear motor to be controlled.

[0058]

As described above, according to the present invention, while ensuring the thrust of the cart, only the cart on which the articles to be sorted are mounted is controlled so as to be reliably operated. Can be obtained with a control method and a control means capable of surely sorting.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a schematic configuration of a sorting conveyor according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of the sorting conveyor.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a main part of the sorting conveyor.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a control operation of the sorting conveyor (steps 1 to 6).

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a control operation of the sorting conveyor (steps 7 and 8).

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a control operation of the sorting conveyor (steps 9 to 10).

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a control operation of the sorting conveyor (steps 11 to 12).

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a control operation of the sorting conveyor (steps 13 and 14).

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a control operation of the sorting conveyor.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a control method of the sorting conveyor.

FIG. 11A is a side view showing a main part of a sorting conveyor according to a second embodiment of the present invention. (B): It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of the conveyance belt of the sorting conveyor.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Sorting Conveyor 3, 30 Truck 3d Cross Belt (Secondary Conveying Member) 7 (7A, 7B, 7C) Linear Motor 8 Primary Coil (Primary Magnetic Member) M Article

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A linear motor (7) provided at a sorting / branching portion (5a) branching from a predetermined conveying direction (X) to a sorting side.
By energizing the primary magnetic member (8), the secondary transport member (3d) of the truck (3) moving in the transport direction (X) is driven to be mounted on the truck (3). A sorting conveyor control method for controlling a sorting conveyor (1) so as to move a placed article (M) to the sorting side, the method comprising controlling a plurality of linear motors (7) as the carriage (3) travels.
A, 7B, 7C) by sequentially switching the energization of the primary side magnetic member (8), so that a predetermined linear motor (7A
~ 7C) only, the sorting conveyor (1) is controlled. 2. A plurality of linear motors (7A, 7B, 7A, 7B, 7A, 7B, 7A, 7B, 7B
7C), and a secondary transport member (3d) that can be driven by a primary magnetic member (8) of the linear motor (7A, 7B, 7C), and transports the placed article (M). The article (M) is configured to be movable in the direction (X),
A truck (3) configured to be movable to the sorting side by driving the next-side transport member (3d), and the linear motor (7A) corresponding to the movement of the truck (3).
To 7C), a control means (20) for controlling to start or stop energization of the primary magnetic member (8).