JP2004026436A - Mat sorting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To cut down labor and a labor cost, and utilize energy efficiently, reduce operation costs and perform mat releasing work quickly and correctly regardless of product input quantity in mat sorting device. <P>SOLUTION: Rails 1 are layered along a sorting station partitioned into a plurality of sorting positions, and a self-propelled carrier V provided with drive devices such as an electric motor 21 etc. and a load carrying platform 7 on which mats are loaded is placed on the rails 1 so as to be able to run. The load carrying platform 7 is constituted in such a way that the front end is turnably supported and the rear end is supported unlockably by means of a trigger type locking mechanism 30, and the mats on the platform 7 are made to drop in a specified sorting position by unlocking the locking mechanism 30 at the specified sorting position. The platform 7 is formed into a rectangle in such a way that the fore and aft width of the platform 7 in the advancing direction is shorter than the right and left width of the platform 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention mainly relates to an apparatus for automatically sorting a mat for rental.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In cleaning mat rental factories, dirty mats collected from agents or customers must be sorted by product type before cleaning, but in many cleaning factories, workers inspect and sort by product type manually. Is currently underway.
[0003]
In contrast to such manual sorting work, for example, in a mail or parcel freight collection area, a transport mechanism consisting of a transport chain or transport belt is laid along a plurality of sorting spaces, and a large number of trays and other loading platforms are used. Various devices have been developed that perform automatic sorting by installing the above on the transport mechanism, moving all the loading platforms simultaneously by driving the conveying mechanism, and opening the loading platform in a designated sorting space.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When an operator inspects and sorts manually, labor and labor costs are incurred, and when a dirty mat is sorted, the dust and dirt on the mat are applied to the worker, A problem arises in terms of environmental hygiene, and costs are required to prepare dust-proof clothing or a dust-proof mask as a hygiene measure.
[0005]
On the other hand, with an automatic sorting device in which a transport mechanism consisting of a transport chain, etc. is laid along the sorting space, and a large number of loading platforms are mounted on the transport mechanism and driven all at once, the entire transport mechanism is always maintained regardless of the amount of product input. Must be driven, energy use efficiency is poor, and operating costs are high. Further, if a problem occurs in the transport mechanism, the entire transport mechanism must be stopped and repaired until the repair is completed, and maintenance is troublesome. Further, since dust, earth and sand, or water attached to the mat may be applied to the transport mechanism and cause malfunction, it is practically difficult to introduce the transport mechanism as described above for mat sorting.
[0006]
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to save labor and human rights costs, to make it possible to efficiently use energy regardless of the amount of product input, and to reduce operating costs. Another object of the present invention is to enable the mat on the loading platform to be quickly and accurately released to a specified position.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the mat sorting apparatus according to claim 1 of the present application is a self-propelled vehicle in which rails are laid along a sorting station divided into a plurality of sorting positions, and a driving device and a mat loading platform are provided. The carriage is mounted on the rail so that it can run freely, and the loading platform is supported at the front end in the direction of carriage movement so that it can rotate, and the rear end is supported by the lock mechanism so that it can be unlocked. The mat on the loading platform is dropped to a designated sorting position by releasing at.
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the mat sorting apparatus according to the first aspect, the loading platform is formed in a rectangular shape whose front-rear width in the traveling direction is shorter than the left-right width.
[0009]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the mat sorting device according to the first or second aspect, the lock mechanism includes a trigger member that locks the rear end portion of the cargo bed, and the trigger member is detached from the rear edge portion of the cargo bed. This is a trigger type lock mechanism that releases the lock.
[0010]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the mat sorting apparatus according to the third aspect, a protruding cam is disposed at each sorting position, and the carriage is interlocked with a trigger member of a trigger type locking mechanism by a wire member. An unlocking cam roller that releases the trigger member by abutting against the cam is provided. The cam roller can be repositioned between an operable position capable of abutting the cam and a retracted position not abutting the cam, and a designated sorting position. Is changed to the operable position.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIGS. 1 to 9 are monorail mat sorting apparatuses to which the present invention is applied. In a factory for cleaning rental mats, dirty mats collected from each agent or customer are sorted by type before cleaning processing. Is to be installed. An ID chip in which an individual identification number (ID number) is written is embedded in each of the collected mats M. In the following description, in order to clarify each direction, the traveling direction (arrow F direction) is referred to as the front with reference to the self-propelled carriage V, and the direction opposite to the F direction is referred to as the rear. The left and right sides of V will be referred to as the left-right direction.
[0012]
[Layout of sorting equipment]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a mat sorting device, in which a main rail 1 is laid in an oval shape, and a load sharing sub-rail 2 is laid in parallel on the outer side of the main rail 1, and both the rails 1, 2 are arranged. This constitutes a circular bogie track.
[0013]
The carriage track is divided into a loading station S1 for loading the mat M on the carriage V, a sorting station S2 for dropping and discharging the loaded mat M to a designated sorting position, and a standby station S3 for waiting after the sorting work is completed. The plurality of carriages V arranged on the track go around the sorting station S2 and the standby station S3 in the direction of arrow F from the loading station S1.
[0014]
The sorting station S2 is divided into a number of sorting positions (sorting spaces) in the conveyance F direction, and wagons W (W1, W2,..., Wn,...) Are respectively arranged at the sorting positions. Each wagon W is located between both rails 1 and 2, and the carrier 7 of the carriage V passes above the wagon W.
[0015]
The main rail 1 of the sorting station S2 has, for each sorting position, a magnet D (D1, D2, D3,..., Dn,...) For counting the sorting position and a protruding cam C (C1 for releasing the loading platform lock). , C2,..., Cn,.
[0016]
A slope base 9 is disposed at the entrance of the standby station S3 to push up the loading platform 7 in a suspended position in a horizontal state.
[0017]
In the loading station S1, the subrail 2 is partially cut off, thereby securing a space for the worker Z to perform the mat transfer operation in the track.
[0018]
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the charging station S1, and the control station 10 including the first and second computer units 10a and 10b is arranged in the charging station S1, and on the track of the front end of the charging station S1, A reader 11 that reads an individual identification number of an ID chip embedded in the mat M and a transmitter 12 that transmits a sorting position signal to the carriage V are sequentially arranged.
[0019]
The first computer unit 10a in the control panel 10 includes an ID chip master in which ID numbers of all mats M and corresponding product codes are written, and an input unit is connected to the reader 11, The product code is searched from the ID number read by the reader 11, and programmed to output to the second computer 10b.
[0020]
The second computer unit 10b is for a sorter, and has a built-in product master in which sorting positions (drop destination numbers) set for each product type are written for all product codes. From the first computer unit 10a, Programming is performed such that a sorting position is searched based on the input product code and a sorting position signal (drop destination number) is output to the transmission device 12.
[0021]
In the loading station S1, a work table 15 on which a worker rides and a lifter 16 are disposed. The work table 15 is provided with, for example, a foot start start switch 71 for starting a carriage, and the lifter 16 includes various dirty mats M. The collection wagon 17 mixedly loaded in a folded state is placed.
[0022]
[Self-propelled cart]
In FIG. 3 showing a perspective view of the self-propelled carriage V, the main rail 1 is formed in a rectangular cross section, and the sub rail 2 is formed in a band plate shape and supported by the main rail 1 via a support bracket 29. A main body 3 of a carriage V is mounted on the main rail 1, and the main body 3 includes an electric motor 21 as a self-propelled driving device, and a wheel set including a pair of upper and lower main wheels 22 and a pair of left and right guide wheels 23. Two sets are provided at an interval in the front and rear. The upper and lower main wheels 22 sandwich the main rail 1 from above and below, the left and right guide wheels 23 sandwich the main rail 1 from the left and right, and the electric motor 21 is linked to the upper main wheel 22 of the rear wheel set. ing. The lower main wheel 22 is biased upward by a spring mechanism 25. Although not shown, the electric motor 21 is driven by being fed from the main rail 1 or other feeding rail by a current collecting shoe, so that the carriage V can be self-propelled.
[0023]
A rectangular load carrier holding frame 5 extending to the subrail 2 side (right side) is attached to the upper end of the main body 3 so as to be pivotable upward by a hinge 26, and below the right end portion of the load carrier holding frame 5. A pair of upper and lower auxiliary wheels 27 are provided, and the flat sub-rail 2 is sandwiched from above and below by the pair of upper and lower auxiliary wheels 27. Further, a stopper 37 is provided on the upper surface of the main body 3 so as to be locked in a standing posture like a virtual line when the loading platform holding frame 5 is rotated upward. A front contact sensor 70 that temporarily stops the electric motor 21 when it comes into contact with an obstacle is provided to project forward.
[0024]
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the carriage V. A rectangular loading platform 7 having a short front and rear width and a long and narrow left and right is arranged in the loading platform holding frame 5, and the loading platform 7 can be rotated by a hinge 28 at its front end. The rear end of the loading platform 7 is supported by the holding frame 5 and is releasably supported by a trigger-type lock mechanism 30 provided at the rear of the loading platform holding frame 5 so that the loading platform 7 is maintained in a substantially horizontal posture in the locked state. ing. On the lower surface of the loading platform 7, a push-up roller 19 is provided for returning the loading platform 7 to the horizontal state from the hanging posture.
[0025]
A release device 31 for releasing the lock mechanism 30 is attached to the rear portion of the main body 3, and the release device 31 is connected to the lock mechanism 30 via a wire 32 so that the release operation force can be transmitted. The lock is released by pulling the wire 32 from the side, and the rear end of the loading platform 7 hangs down by its own weight.
[0026]
A controller 35 incorporating a microcomputer is mounted on the upper part of the main body 3, and a receiver 36 for receiving a sorting position signal by infrared rays is provided. A reed switch 34 for counting the magnet D is provided.
[0027]
The reed switch 34, the receiver 36, and the front contact sensor 70 are connected to an input unit of the controller 35, and input a magnet count signal, a sorting position signal, a contact signal, and the like. The electric motor 21 and the release device 31 are The controller 35 is connected to the output unit, and the controller 35 outputs the start / stop and speed control signals of the motor 21 and the release operation signal.
[0028]
FIG. 5 shows a specific example of the lock mechanism 30 and the release device 31, which corresponds to the VV cross section of FIG. 4. Therefore, the lock mechanism 30 is a sectional view seen from the side, and the release device 31 is seen from the rear. It is a figure. First, the lock mechanism 30 will be described. A bracket 38 is fixed to the rear end portion of the holding frame 5, and a trigger 39 is supported on the bracket 38 via a pin 40 so as to be swingable in the front-rear direction. The trigger 39 has a groove 43 with a front opening at the upper end portion, and a rearwardly inclined surface 44 below the groove 43, and a return spring 41 contracted between the bracket 38 and the trigger 39. A bolt-shaped stopper 45 that is urged forward and fixed to the bracket 38 is maintained in the upright posture lock position as shown in FIG. One end of the operating force transmission wire 32 is fixed to the rear end of the trigger 39.
[0029]
On the other hand, a locking roller 47 is attached to the rear end of the loading platform 7 so as to protrude rearward, and the loading roller 7 is locked in a horizontal position by engaging the locking roller 47 with the groove 43. By pulling the trigger 39 rearward, the locking roller 47 is detached from the groove 43, and the rear end portion of the loading platform 7 is lowered by its own weight.
[0030]
The release device 31 will be described. A base 51 is fixed to the side surface of the main body 3, and a swing case 53 is supported at the upper end of the base 51 via a pin 52 so as to be swingable left and right. The swing case 53 is provided with a lifting rod 56 having a cam roller 55 at the lower end, and a magnet 57 for swinging the case 53 around the pin 52 from side to side.
[0031]
The elevating rod 56 is supported by a guide cylinder 59 fixed to the case 53 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction, and the upper end of the elevating rod 56 is connected to one end of a swing link 60 that is swingably supported by the case 53. The other end of the swing link 60 is connected to the other end of the wire 32. That is, when the cam roller 55 is raised, the wire 32 is pulled through the lifting rod 56 and the swing link 60.
[0032]
The magnet 57 faces the electric magnet 62 fixed to the base 51 from the left side, and the electric magnet 62 is connected to a power source through a switch mechanism that is on / off controlled by the controller 35 (FIG. 4). When the 62 is not energized, the electromagnet 62 is attracted by the magnetic force of the magnet 57 as shown in FIG. 5, and the cam roller 55 is tilted together with the case 53 and is located at the retracted position deviated to the right from the cam C. It is like that. On the other hand, when the electromagnet 62 is energized, a magnetic field repelling the magnet 57 is generated in the electromagnet 62, and the repulsive force causes the cam roller 55 to change into an upright posture together with the case 53 as shown in FIG. By being locked at, it is positioned at an operable position where it can come into contact with the cam C.
[0033]
[Action]
(1) In FIG. 1, the worker Z is located in the track of the loading station S 1, takes out one folded mat M from the collection wagon 17, and places it on the loading platform 7 of the carriage V so as to be elongated left and right. By pushing the foot-operated start switch 71 in FIG. 2, the carriage V is started in the direction of arrow F.
[0034]
At the time of starting, as shown in FIG. 5, the electromagnet 62 of the release device 31 is not energized, and the cam roller 55 is located at a retracted position that is disengaged to the right from the cam C.
[0035]
(2) In FIG. 2, when the carriage V passes the reader 11 after starting, the ID number of the ID chip of the mat M is read and input to the first computer unit 10a, and the product code is searched from the ID number. To the second computer unit 10b. The second computer unit 10b recognizes the product type and weight from the product code, searches for a sorting position set in advance corresponding to the product type, and outputs a sorting position signal (for example, a drop destination number) to the transmitting device 12. Further, the weight is integrated and stored for each sorting position.
[0036]
(3) Next, when the carriage V passes through the transmission device 12, the sorting position signal is received by the receiver 36 of FIG. 4 and input to the controller 35.
[0037]
(4) After the carriage V enters the sorting space S2, the counter magnet D passing therethrough is counted by the reed switch 34 as shown in FIG. 8, and when the count number corresponding to the sorting position signal is reached, as shown in FIG. When the electric magnet 62 is energized, the cam roller 55 moves to the operable position, and comes into contact with the cam C at the designated sorting position as shown in FIG. That is, the lock release operation can be performed via the cam mechanism and the wire by using a part of the traveling force of the carriage without using a special release operation force.
[0038]
As a result, the rear end portion of the loading platform 7 opens downward due to its own weight and the weight of the mat M, and the mat M is dropped and released to the wagon W at the designated sorting position as shown in FIG. The mat M is discharged without stopping the traveling of the carriage V.
[0039]
(5) After the release, the cam roller 55 of the release device 31 returns to the retracted position as shown in FIG. 5, and the carriage V shown in FIG. 1 travels in the direction of the pulling conveyance F and proceeds to the standby station S3.
[0040]
(6) At the standby station S3, the loading platform 7 is automatically pushed up when the push-up roller 19 of the loading platform 7 abuts against the slope platform 9 as shown in FIG. At this time, the rear end locking roller 47 of the loading platform 7 comes into contact with the inclined surface 44 of the trigger 39 in FIG. 5, and the trigger 39 is pushed backward against the return spring 41. When the loading platform 7 returns to the horizontal state, the groove 43 , And the trigger 39 is returned to the front by the elastic force of the return spring 41, so that it is automatically locked.
[0041]
(7) In FIG. 1, after returning the loading platform 7 to the horizontal position, it further proceeds in the standby station S3, detects contact with the front carriage V by the front contact sensor 70, and temporarily stops.
[0042]
(8) The carriage V positioned at the foremost position in the standby station S1 is stopped by the front contact sensor 70 coming into contact with, for example, a lift stopper in front of the input station S2, and the vehicle V in the first input station S2 is stopped. Is started, the carrier holding frame 5 and the carrier 7 are erected as indicated by phantom lines in FIG. 3 by the automatic flip-up mechanism or manually, and the operator's space shown in FIG. When it moves to the loading position before the leader 11, the holding frame 5 and the loading platform 7 are returned to the horizontal posture by the automatic lowering mechanism or manually.
[0043]
[Control method]
FIG. 10 summarizes an example of opening / closing control of the loading platform 7 by the lock mechanism 30 in a flowchart. In step (1), the ID number of the ID chip embedded in the mat is read with a reader. In step (2), the first computer section searches for the product code from the ID number, and in step (3) the search is performed. The product code is input to the second sorter computer section.
[0044]
In step (4), the second computer unit searches for the corresponding sorting position from the searched product code. In step (5), the sorting position signal (drop destination number) is transmitted to the carriage, and the designated sorting position. Accumulate the weight of the mat.
[0045]
In step (6), the sorting position (drop destination number) is stored in the microcomputer of the dolly controller and a reception confirmation signal is transmitted to the second computer unit, and the process proceeds to step (7). In step (7), the reception confirmation signal from the carriage is received on the second computer unit side, and the process proceeds to step (8), where the second computer unit determines whether or not the integrated weight is equal to or less than the specified weight at the designated sorting position. To do. If YES, the process proceeds directly to step (10). If NO, the process proceeds to step (9), the carriage is temporarily stopped, the wagon W at the corresponding sorting position is replaced, the accumulated weight is reset, and step (10) Proceed to
[0046]
In step (10), the carriage continues to run, and the count magnet is counted by the reed switch. In step (11), it is determined whether or not the count number matches the drop destination number of the sorting position signal. If NO, the process returns to step (10). If YES, the process proceeds to step (12), the lock mechanism is unlocked, and the mat is released to the designated sorting position.
[0047]
Other Embodiments of the Invention
(1) The sorting apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is used in a process of sorting the dirty mats according to the type before the cleaning process. After the cleaning process, the sorting apparatus is used, for example, in a process of picking the mats for each agent or customer. Is also possible.
[0048]
(2) As a power source for the driving device of the sorting cart, a battery may be mounted in addition to the method of feeding power from the rail as described above.
[0049]
(3) The layout of the rail is not limited to a structure in which it is laid in a flat oval shape as shown in FIG. 1, and in a factory with a narrow left and right width, it has a return path that reverses upward relative to the forward path It can also be a circulation type.
[0050]
【The invention's effect】
As explained above, according to the present invention,
(1) Since the mats are sorted using a self-propelled carriage equipped with a driving device and equipped with a cargo platform that can be opened and closed below, it is possible to operate the sorting cart according to the input amount of the mat. In addition, it is not always necessary to drive the entire conveying mechanism even when the amount of product input is small as in the case of a conventional chain or belt type sorting and conveying device, so that the energy utilization efficiency can be improved and the operating cost can be reduced.
[0051]
Further, even if a problem occurs in the sorting cart, it is only necessary to remove the cart to repair it. During the repair, it is not necessary to stop the entire transport mechanism, and maintenance is easy. Of course, labor and human rights can be saved as compared with conventional manual work, and management in terms of environmental hygiene becomes easy.
[0052]
(2) The front end of the carriage in the traveling direction of the carriage is supported rotatably, the rear end is supported by the lock mechanism so as to be releasable, and the rear end of the carriage is opened downward to move the mat on the carriage. Since the mat is dropped toward the back, the wagon at the sorting position can be arranged compactly in the transport direction, compared to the structure in which the mat is dropped and fed in the direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the carriage, and the mat can be smoothly and It can be accurately dropped to a desired position.
[0053]
(3) When the loading platform is formed in a rectangular shape whose front and rear width in the traveling direction is shorter than the left and right width, the mat is slid on the loading platform at the time of falling release by folding the mat into an elongated shape and loading it on the loading platform. Becomes shorter and can be quickly and accurately released to a predetermined position.
[0054]
(4) As a lock mechanism, having a trigger member that locks the rear end portion of the cargo bed, and having a trigger type lock mechanism that releases the lock by operating the trigger member so as to be removed from the rear edge portion of the cargo bed. It is not necessary to provide a drive mechanism for tilting the loading platform, and the mat can be released automatically by releasing the loading platform and the weight of the mat. Points and energy can be saved.
[0055]
(5) A cam is disposed at each sorting position, and the carriage is provided with an unlocking cam roller that is interlocked with a trigger member of a trigger type locking mechanism by a wire member and operates the trigger member by contacting the cam. If so, the operating force for releasing the trigger member is transmitted from the traveling force of the self-propelled carriage via the cam mechanism and the wire, so that a special operating force generator is not required and the number of parts is reduced. And energy savings can be achieved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a mat sorting apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical sectional view of the vicinity of the charging station in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cart.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the carriage.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 4) showing a connection relationship between the lock mechanism and the release device.
6 is a cross-sectional view of the same portion as FIG. 5 showing a connection state of the lock mechanism and the release device at the start of unlocking.
7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same portion as FIG. 5 showing a connection state of the lock mechanism and the release device during unlocking.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a relationship between a wagon at a sorting position and a cam or the like.
FIG. 9 is a functional diagram showing the movement when the loading platform is automatically returned to the horizontal position.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of control of the lock mechanism.
[Explanation of symbols]
C Cam D Counting magnet W Sorting wagon V Self-propelled cart 1 Main rail 2 Sub rail 3 Body 5 Loading platform holding frame 7 Loading platform 10 Control panel 11 Leader 12 Transmitter 21 Electric motor (drive device)
22 Main Wheel 30 Trigger Type Locking Mechanism 31 Release Device 32 Wire 35 Controller 39 Trigger 47 Locking Roller 55 Cam Roller

Claims (4)

Laying rails along sorting stations divided into multiple sorting positions,
A self-propelled carriage equipped with a driving device and a loading platform for mats is placed on the rail so as to be freely movable,
The loading platform is supported so that the front end in the traveling direction of the carriage can rotate freely and the rear end can be unlocked by a lock mechanism,
A mat sorting apparatus, wherein the mat on the loading platform is dropped to a designated sorting position by releasing the lock mechanism at the designated sorting position. In the mat sorter according to claim 1,
The mat sorting device, wherein the loading platform is formed in a rectangular shape whose front-rear width in the traveling direction is shorter than the left-right width. In the mat sorter according to claim 1 or 2,
The mat sorting device according to claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism is a trigger type lock mechanism that includes a trigger member that locks the rear end portion of the cargo bed and releases the lock by removing the trigger member from the rear end portion of the cargo bed. In the mat sorter according to claim 3,
Protruding cams are placed at each sorting position,
The carriage includes a lock release cam roller that interlocks with a trigger member of a trigger type lock mechanism with a wire member and makes the trigger member perform a release operation by contacting the cam.
A mat sorting device characterized in that the cam roller is freely changeable between an operable position capable of contacting the cam and a retracted position not contacting the cam, and is changed to an operable position at a specified sorting position. .

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