JP2006290490A - Sorting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sorting device installed in a small space, for surely sorting articles regardless of conditions of equipment. <P>SOLUTION: The sorting device 3 sorts articles M in three or more directions, by predetermined sorting operation according to a sorting signal from the outside. The sorting device 3 comprises: a conveyer 30 carrying the articles M in a predetermined first horizontal direction; a horizontal sorting means 31 sorting the articles M toward a second horizontal direction different from the first horizontal direction; and a vertical sorting means 34 sorting the articles M below a carrying face in the first horizontal direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sorting apparatus.

As a conventional distribution apparatus, there exist some which were indicated by the following patent documents 1-3.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-081683 (Fig. 1) JP-A-8-244966 (Summary) JP 2003-54741 A (Summary)

The sorter of Patent Document 1 sorts the chute plate in two directions within a vertical plane by swinging the chute plate up and down.
The sorting device of Patent Document 2 moves the article horizontally by swinging the belt left and right, and sorts the article in three directions.
The distribution device of Patent Document 3 distributes articles in multiple horizontal directions by swinging a guide left and right.

Here, in the conventional apparatus, when sorting in multiple directions, the article is basically moved within one plane (horizontal plane). Therefore, in order to be able to distribute in a further multistage direction, it must be in series, and the installation space becomes large.
In addition, there is a case where it is desired not to simply distribute in multiple directions but to give priority to the distribution. In other words, there are cases where it is desirable to reliably distribute articles regardless of the state of the sorting apparatus and the upstream inspection device, such as when restarting. In that case, it is necessary to reliably distribute those with high priority, and it is difficult to give superiority or inferiority on the same plane.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a sorting apparatus that can reliably sort articles in a small installation space and irrespective of the state of equipment.

  In order to achieve the above object, a sorting device according to the present invention is a sorting device that sorts articles in three or more directions by performing a predetermined sorting operation in accordance with an outside sorting signal. A conveyor for conveying in a predetermined first horizontal direction, horizontal distribution means for distributing articles in a second horizontal direction different from the first horizontal direction, and the first horizontal direction Vertical distribution means for distributing articles downward from the conveying surface.

According to the present invention, since the articles are distributed horizontally and downward, the distribution apparatus can be made compact. Therefore, the installation space for the apparatus can be greatly reduced.
Further, by distributing the articles downward, the articles can be reliably distributed regardless of the state of the device. Furthermore, the downward distribution can be performed reliably and preferentially as compared with the case of distributing articles on the same plane.

In the present invention, the vertical sorting means may sort the articles conveyed to the sorting device as uninspected articles (uninspected articles or unidentified articles).
According to this aspect, it is possible to reliably distribute uninspected products.

In this invention, it is preferable that the said horizontal distribution means contains the arm-shaped member rotated on the conveyance surface of the said conveyor around the vertical axis line.
According to this aspect, it is possible to perform the distribution at a high speed by rotating the arm-shaped member.

In the present invention, the conveyor is provided so as to be rotatable around an upstream end portion, and the conveying surface of the conveyor is in a horizontal posture and an inclined posture in which the conveying surface is inclined downward as it goes downstream. It is preferable that the vertical distribution means is constituted by an actuator to be changed.
According to this aspect, the certainty of sorting is improved by changing the attitude of the conveyor.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
1 to 4 show a first embodiment.
The quality inspection system shown in FIG. 1 includes a transport device 1, an inspection device 2, and a sorting device 3 from upstream to downstream. In addition to the weight detector, the metal detector, the seal checker, and the like, for example, a checker for the shape and color of the article can be used as the inspection device 2, but in the following description, the inspection device 2 The weight detection device will be described as an example.

  The upstream conveying device 1, the inspection device 2, and the sorting device 3 include a first conveyor 10, a second conveyor 20, and a third conveyor 30, respectively. If the article M to be transported is not a defective product and is not an uninspected product, which will be described later, the article M is on a normal transport line connected to the fourth transport conveyor 40 downstream from the first to third conveyors 10, 20, 30. It is conveyed in the first horizontal direction X1.

Control configuration:
As shown in FIG. 2, the transport device 1, the inspection device 2, and the sorting device 3 are respectively connected to a main control device 7 composed of a microcomputer (microcomputer) via an interface (not shown). On the other hand, the main controller 7 is connected to a restart button 70 that is pressed to restart when the mechanical operation of the system is temporarily stopped.
Each of the devices 1 to 3 is provided with local control means 15, 25, and 35 made of, for example, a microcomputer.

Transport device 1:
The first conveyor 10 is connected to the first local control means 15 of the transport apparatus 1.

Inspection device 2:
The second conveyor 20, the weight detection means 21, the passage detection means 22, and the like are connected to the second local control means 25 of the inspection apparatus 2.
The passage detection means 22 includes, for example, an optical sensor, and is provided on the upstream side of the second conveyor 20 as shown in FIG. When the article M crosses the passage detection means 22, the passage detection means 22 transmits a detection signal of the article M to the second local control means 25 in FIG.

The weight detection unit 21 detects the weight of the article M conveyed on the second conveyor 20, and transmits a weight detection signal to the second local control unit 25.
After receiving the detection signal of the article M from the passage detection means 22, the second local control means 25 calculates the weight of the article M based on the weight detection signal from the weight detection means 21. The second local control means 25 determines whether or not the calculated weight is within a predetermined allowable range, and transmits a failure signal to the main control device 7 when it deviates from the predetermined range. .

Sorting device 3:
As shown in FIG. 1, horizontal distribution means 31 is provided on one side of the distribution device 3. When the main control device 7 receives the defect signal from the inspection device 2, the main control device 7 transmits a horizontal distribution signal to the distribution device 3 to perform horizontal distribution. That is, when the third local control unit 35 receives the horizontal distribution signal from the main control unit 7, the horizontal distribution unit 31 discharges air, thereby causing the third local control unit 35 to discharge the air on the third conveyor 30 in the first horizontal direction. The article M being transported to X1 is moved in an oblique lateral direction (second horizontal direction) X2, and discharged into a defective product box 5 provided beside the sorting device 3, thereby normally transporting the defective product. Discharge out of the system from the line.

On the other hand, when the distribution device 3 receives the vertical distribution signal from the main control device 7, the distribution device 3 performs vertical distribution at a timing described later.
FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the sorting apparatus 3.
As shown in FIG. 3, the third conveyor 30 is provided to be rotatable around the upstream end. That is, the third conveyor 30 is provided with a downstream end 30a that is movable up and down around the upstream end 30o of the third conveyor 30, and tilts downward from a normal conveyance state indicated by a solid line, as indicated by a two-dot chain line. The posture can be changed to an inclined state.
The third conveyor 30 has a horizontal posture (normal conveyance state) in which the conveyance surface of the third conveyor 30 is substantially horizontal by the expansion and contraction of the rod 34a of the air cylinder (an example of an actuator) 34 provided in the main body of the distribution device 3. An inclined posture (inclined state) inclined downward as the surface goes downstream is selectively set.

  Vertical distribution is performed by moving the third conveyor 30 to an inclined state. That is, in the inclined state, the discharge of air from the horizontal distribution means 31 is stopped, and on the other hand, the downstream end 30a of the third conveyor 30 is inclined downward, so that the article M is moved from the downstream end 30a to the fourth in FIG. They are sorted into an uninspected product box 6 provided below the conveyor 40.

A third conveyor 30, a horizontal sorting unit 31, a solenoid valve 33, and the like are connected to the third local control unit 35 of the sorting apparatus 3 shown in FIG.
The cylinder rod 34a (FIG. 3) of the air cylinder 34 is advanced and retracted by the electromagnetic valve 33. When the electromagnetic valve 33 is opened and closed, the air cylinder 34 is operated at a predetermined timing to be described later, and the third conveyor 30 is set to either a horizontal posture or an inclined posture. Therefore, the third conveyor 30, the electromagnetic valve 33, and the air cylinder 34 constitute vertical distribution means 32 that performs vertical distribution that distributes the articles M to different heights.

  The system includes a steady mode and a distribution mode. The steady mode is a mode in which the article M is conveyed on the normal conveyance line, and the horizontal distribution unit 31 performs horizontal distribution as necessary. On the other hand, the distribution mode is a mode in which vertical distribution is performed by the vertical distribution means 32.

Quality inspection system operation:
Steady mode;
In the steady mode, the third conveyor 30 shown in FIG. 1 is set to the normal conveyance state. In the steady mode, the non-defective product is transported on the transport surface 30F along the first horizontal direction X1 toward the fourth transport conveyor 40. If the second local control means 25 in FIG. 2 detects the weight of the article M and determines that it is a defective product, a defective signal is transmitted to the main controller 7. The main controller 7 transmits a horizontal distribution signal to the third local control unit 35 and causes the horizontal distribution unit 31 to discharge air. 1 is distributed on the third conveyor 30 in the second horizontal direction X2 in the horizontal direction or the oblique horizontal direction, the article M is discharged out of the system, and the defective article M is It falls into the defective product box 5.

Distribution mode;
On the other hand, when an error or the like occurs in the inspection device 2 or the sorting device 3, the system is automatically or manually stopped. At this time, the article M may remain on the conveyors 20 and 30. For example, the defective product M may remain on the sorting device 3 before the discharge operation by the horizontal sorting means 31 is completed, or the defective product M may remain in a state where the horizontal sorting means 31 cannot sort the defective product M. . Further, the uninspected product M may remain on the second conveyor 20, or the non-defective product M may remain on the third conveyor 30. However, when this system is stopped, it becomes unclear what articles M remain. Therefore, when the system is stopped, the remaining articles M existing on the second and third conveyors 20 and 30 need to be removed preferentially.

Therefore, in the present system, the distribution mode is provided.
When the operator presses the restart button 70 (FIG. 2) to restart the system, the main control device 7 transmits a vertical distribution signal to the third local control means 35, and the distribution mode starts. . Hereinafter, the distribution mode will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
When the distribution mode starts, the process proceeds to step S1. In step S1, the vertical distribution means 32 moves the third conveyor 30 in FIG. 3 from the normal conveyance state indicated by the solid line to the inclined state indicated by the two-dot chain line, and proceeds to step S2.

  In step S2, in a state where the first conveyor 10 of FIG. 1 is stopped, the second and third conveyors 20 and 30 start the conveying operation, and the process proceeds to step S3. As shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, since the third conveyor 30 is set in an inclined state, a remaining article M such as an uninspected article M remains on the second and third conveyors 20 and 30. The remaining article M is discharged into an uninspected product box 6 provided below the fourth conveyor 40 regardless of whether it is an uninspected product or not. Therefore, the remaining articles M are distributed below the transport surfaces 30F in the horizontal directions X1 and X2 in the above-described steady mode, and are discharged to the uninspected product box 6.

In step S3 of FIG. 4, it is determined whether or not the predetermined time t1 has elapsed. That is, the main control device (microcomputer) 7 measures the time, and when a predetermined time t1 has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S4. On the other hand, if the predetermined time t1 has not elapsed, the process returns to step S3.
In step S4, the third conveyor 30 is returned from the inclined state to the normal transport state. Thereafter, the steady mode is started, the conveying operation of the first conveyor 10 is started, and a new article M can be inspected and distributed.

Here, the predetermined time t1 will be described. When the line is stopped, as shown in FIG. 1, there may be a case where, for example, a remaining article M such as an uninspected article M that has not been inspected by the inspection apparatus 2 remains on the second and third conveyors 20 and 30. is there. Therefore, the upstream conveying device 1 is stopped, and only the second and third conveyors 20 and 30 are operated, so that the uninspected and overlying remaining articles M on the second and third conveyors 20 and 30 are all left outside the system. It is necessary to sort into the inspection product box 6. Accordingly, the predetermined time t1 for operating the second and third conveyors 20 and 30 is set to the time t1 until the article M reaches the downstream end of the third conveyor 30 from the upstream end of the second conveyor 20.
Thus, the certainty of the distribution of the uninspected product (remaining product) M can be increased by inclining the third conveyor 30 for the predetermined time t1 and continuing the distribution operation.

As described above, after all the remaining articles M on the second and third conveyors 20 and 30 are sorted into the uninspected product box 6 and discharged, the third conveyor 30 returns from the inclined posture to the horizontal posture. In the meantime, the conveyance of the article M to the inspection apparatus 2 by the upstream conveyance apparatus 1 is stopped. Therefore, the remaining article M including the uninspected product M can be reliably discharged out of the system different from the defective product.
The remaining article M that has dropped into the uninspected product box 6 is inspected again.

  Moreover, since the horizontal distribution means 31 and the vertical distribution means 32 are provided in the one 3rd conveyor 30, the distribution apparatus 3 can be made compact. Therefore, the entire system can be configured compactly.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment.
As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, in the second embodiment, left and right arms 37L and 37R are employed as the horizontal distribution means.
As shown in FIG. 5A, the arms 37L and 37R are provided on the left and right sides of the third conveyor 30, respectively. As shown in FIG. 5 (b), the arm 37R (37L) is provided so as to rotate about a vertical axis 37a slightly above the transport surface 30F of the third conveyor 30 in the horizontal posture. Yes.

When the first or second horizontal distribution signal is received from the main control device 7 (FIG. 2), the third local control means 35 rotates one of the left and right arms 37L and 37R, and the article M Are distributed diagonally left and right. When the articles M are distributed to the right side X2 toward the downstream side, the tip of the right arm 37R on the right side shown in FIG. 5A is rotated toward the left side and moved onto the third conveyor 30. With this movement, the right arm 37 </ b> R is moved to a position that blocks the conveyance path on the third conveyor 30. Therefore, the article M conveyed on the third conveyor 30 abuts on the right arm 37 </ b> R and is distributed to the oblique right side X <b> 2 of the third conveyor 30.
On the other hand, when the articles M are distributed to the left side toward the downstream side, the tip of the left left arm 37L is rotated toward the right side and moved onto the third conveyor 30. With this movement, the left arm 37L is moved to a position that blocks the conveyance path on the third conveyor 30. Therefore, the articles M conveyed on the third conveyor 30 abut on the left arm 37L and are distributed to the oblique left side X3 of the third conveyor 30.

  Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals are given to the same or corresponding portions, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the steady mode, the non-defective product is transported downstream on the transport surface 30F in the first horizontal direction X1. When receiving the first or second horizontal distribution signal from the main control device 7, the third local control unit 35 rotates either one of the arms 37L and 37R according to the horizontal distribution signal, The article M is distributed to either the left or right. By such distribution, the articles M can be distributed in two horizontal directions according to the type of defective product.

  On the other hand, in the distribution mode, the third conveyor 30 is moved from the normal conveyance state indicated by the solid line to the inclined state indicated by the two-dot chain line. The remaining articles M are distributed to a height below the conveying surface 30F in the three horizontal directions X1, X2, and X3 in the above-described steady mode, and are discharged to the uninspected product box 6.

As shown in FIG. 6, the arms 37 </ b> L and 37 </ b> R may be moved in an inclined state together with the third conveyor 30.
Further, in the distribution mode, the third conveyor 30 is set to the inclined posture, and as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the entire third conveyor 30 and the arms 37L and 37R move downward. You may be made to do. Further, only the third conveyor 30 may be moved downward.
Further, in the distribution device 3 of FIGS. 6 and 7, a horizontal distribution unit 31 that discharges air may be employed instead of the arms 37L and 37R.
In addition, the present invention can be applied to various sorting devices other than the sorting method described above. As another distribution method, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-54741, it is possible to employ a distribution apparatus that moves both the upstream end and the downstream end of the arm member.

  This sorting apparatus can be used for an article conveyance line or the like.

It is a schematic perspective view of the quality inspection system provided with the sorting apparatus concerning Example 1 of this invention. It is an apparatus block diagram of the distribution apparatus. It is a schematic side view of a distribution apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows distribution mode. It is the top view and side view of a distribution apparatus concerning Example 2. It is a schematic side view of the distribution apparatus which shows a modification. It is the top view and side view of a distribution apparatus which show a modification.

Explanation of symbols

3: Sorting device 30: Third conveyor 31: Horizontal sorting means 32: Vertical sorting means 37a: Vertical axis 37L, 37R: Arm M: Article X1: First horizontal direction X2: Second horizontal direction

Claims (4)

A distribution device that distributes articles in three or more directions by performing a predetermined distribution operation in accordance with an external distribution signal,
A conveyor for transporting articles in a predetermined first horizontal direction;
Horizontal sorting means for sorting articles in a second horizontal direction different from the first horizontal direction;
Vertical sorting means for sorting articles downward from the first horizontal conveying surface;
Sorting device with   2. The sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vertical sorting means sorts articles conveyed to the sorting apparatus as uninspected products downward.   3. The distribution device according to claim 2, wherein the horizontal distribution means includes an arm-shaped member that rotates about a vertical axis on the conveyance surface of the conveyor.   4. The conveyor according to claim 3, wherein the conveyor is provided so as to be rotatable around an upstream end portion, and the conveying surface of the conveyor is in a horizontal position that is substantially horizontal, and an inclined posture that is inclined downward as the conveying surface goes downstream. A sorting apparatus in which the vertical sorting means is constituted by an actuator for changing a posture.

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