JP2011125806A - Sorting equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide sorting equipment that enables reduction of the number of workers for packing operation, that improves work efficiency of an entire sorting line, and that enables installation space to be reduced. <P>SOLUTION: The sorting equipment 10 is structured such that a second chute conveyor 26 is arranged in a pitch space 30 between one first chute conveyor 18 and another first chute conveyor 18 and that, on one side of a first sort conveyor 14 and a second sort conveyor 22, the tip end side of the first chute conveyor 18 and the second chute conveyor 26 are situated. As a result, a first packing section 16 and a second packing section 24 are put together on one side relative to the first sort conveyor 14 and the second sort conveyor 22. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sorting facility that detects the appearance or internal state of an article such as fruit and vegetables with a sensor or the like, and then conveys and sorts the article to a boxing unit corresponding to the detection result.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a sorting facility is known that transports articles such as fruits and vegetables in a certain direction, detects the appearance and the like with a sensor or the like, and then transports the articles to a transport unit corresponding to the detection result. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that the fruits and vegetables transported by the transport conveyor are detected by the camera device and the class is detected, and the fruits and vegetables detected by the uniform class are transported to the packaging unit corresponding to the equal classes by the carry-out merging means. An apparatus is shown as an example.

Similarly, a sorting facility 1 shown in FIG. 5 and a sorting facility 2 shown in FIG. The sorting facility 1 includes a tray conveyor (first type conveyor) 3 that transports fruits and vegetables (articles) 102 placed on the tray 100, and a plurality of first chute conveyors 4 that are arranged along the tray conveyor 3; , Arranged in parallel with the tray conveyor 3 and arranged along the small piece support type conveyor (second type conveyor) 5 for conveying the fruits and vegetables 9 supported by the small pieces 104 and a plurality of small piece support type conveyors 5. A first chute conveyor 4 and a second chute conveyor 6 are positioned opposite to each other with respect to the tray conveyor 3 and the small piece support conveyor 5. ing. Thereby, the boxing part 7 corresponding to the tray conveying conveyor 3 and the boxing part 8 corresponding to the small piece supporting conveyor 5 are opposite to each other with respect to the tray conveying conveyor 3 and the small piece supporting conveyor 5. positioned. In addition, the sorting facility 2 includes a tray transport conveyor 3, a first chute conveyor 4, a small piece support transport conveyor 5, and a second chute conveyor 6 as in the sorting facility 1. The front end side of the chute conveyor 4 and the front end side of the second chute conveyor 6 are positioned opposite to each other, and the packaging unit 7 corresponding to the tray conveyor 3 and the packaging unit 8 corresponding to the small piece support type conveyor 5 However, it is located between the tray conveyor 3 and the small piece support conveyor 5.

JP-A-3-21382

  However, according to the sorting apparatus and the sorting equipment 1 shown in Patent Document 1, the boxing section is divided on both sides with respect to the tray conveyor 3 and the small piece support conveyor 5, etc., so that the boxing operation is performed. The person will also be divided on both sides. For this reason, it is necessary to secure the number of workers on both sides of the two conveyors, and it is difficult to reduce the number of workers. In addition, in the sorting equipment 2, when the product conveyance line 106 after packaging is arranged, the boxing part is divided by the product conveyance line 106, so that the worker who performs the boxing operation is also divided on both sides. The Rukoto. Further, according to the sorting equipment 1 and 2, when the same sorting is performed for the same fruits and vegetables in the tray conveyor 3 and the small piece support conveyor 5, the same class fruits and vegetables are divided into two places and boxed. In the boxing operation, fractional products are likely to be generated, and there may be a problem that the work efficiency is deteriorated. Moreover, in the case of the sorting apparatus and sorting equipment 1 and 2 shown in Patent Document 1, the chute conveyor for transporting from the transport conveyor to the boxing unit is arranged at two locations, so the installation space becomes enormous.

Therefore, the inventor of the present invention has come to the present invention as a result of intensive studies to investigate the cause of such a problem and solve such a problem.

  That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a sorting facility capable of reducing the number of workers for boxing work, improving the work efficiency of the entire sorting line, and reducing the installation space.

The sorting equipment of the present invention is arranged in a certain direction, and a plurality of first-type transport conveyors for transporting articles and a plurality of the first-type transport conveyors are arranged along the first-type transport conveyor, and a rear end portion intersects with the first-type transport conveyor. , A first chute conveyor for conveying the article to the first boxing portion on the tip side, first transfer means for transferring the article from the first type conveyor to the first chute conveyor, and the first type A second type conveyor that is arranged in parallel with the conveyor and conveys articles, and a plurality of the second type conveyors are arranged along the second type conveyor, and the rear end intersects with the second conveyor, and the front end side In a sorting facility comprising: a second chute conveyor that conveys the article to the second boxing portion; and a second transfer means that moves the article from the second type conveyor to the second chute conveyor, Second chute conveyor The first chute conveyor and the second chute conveyor are arranged in a pitch space between one first chute conveyor and the other first chute conveyor, on one side with respect to the first type conveyor and the second type conveyor. It is characterized in that the front end side of is located.

  Further, the sorting facility of the present invention controls the first transfer means so as to transfer the article transported by the first type transport conveyor to a predetermined first chute conveyor in the sorting facility, and the second type Control means for controlling the second transfer means so as to transfer the article conveyed by the conveyor to a predetermined second chute conveyor is provided.

  The sorting facility according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the sorting facility, the first chute conveyor and the second chute conveyor are arranged at right angles to the first type transport conveyor and the second type transport conveyor. To do.

  Further, the sorting facility of the present invention is the sorting facility, wherein the first chute conveyors are arranged adjacent to each other in parallel, and the second chute conveyor is a pair of first chute conveyors. A pair of two adjacent pairs of first chute conveyors are arranged adjacent to and parallel to the pitch space.

  In the sorting equipment according to the present invention, in the sorting equipment, the second-type transport conveyor has a transport section that transports the article, and a return section that returns in a direction opposite to the transport direction is provided below the transport section. It is comprised from the endless rotation member which has, Said 1st chute conveyor is arrange | positioned between this conveyance part and a return part, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  In the sorting facility according to the present invention, in the sorting facility, the first-type transport conveyor is a tray transporting conveyor for transporting a tray on which an article is placed, and the first transfer means is configured to place the article. Is a direction changing means for transferring the article to the first chute conveyor by changing the direction of the received tray from the first type conveyor to the first chute conveyor, and the second type conveyor conveys the article into small pieces. The second transfer means is a support release means for releasing the support of the article by the small piece and transferring the article onto the second chute conveyor. Features.

  According to the sorting facility of the present invention, the first chute conveyor, the first chute conveyor, the second chute conveyor, and the second chute conveyor are the first chute conveyor and the other first chute conveyor. The first box is arranged in the pitch space with the chute conveyor, and the first side of the first chute conveyor and the second chute conveyor is positioned on one side with respect to the first type conveyor and the second type conveyor. The packing unit and the second boxing unit are concentrated on one side with respect to the first type transport conveyor and the second type transport conveyor, and the worker who performs the boxing operation also has the first type transport conveyor and the second type transport conveyor. Therefore, it is easy to reduce the number of workers, unlike the case where the worker performing the boxing work is divided into two places. In addition, since fruits and vegetables of the same class are not divided into two places, it is difficult to produce fractional items in the boxing operation, and the work efficiency can be improved. In addition, even if a fractional product is generated, the fractional product is easily processed by reducing the number of fractional products. Moreover, an installation space can be reduced because a 1st chute conveyor and a 2nd chute conveyor concentrate on one side with respect to a 1st type conveyance conveyor and a 2nd type conveyance conveyor. That is, according to the sorting equipment of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the number of workers for the boxing work, improve the work efficiency, and reduce the installation space.

It is a top view which shows the sorting equipment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the selection equipment of FIG. It is a top view which shows the fruit and vegetables sorting floor which has shown the sorting equipment of FIG. It is a front view which shows the sorting equipment of FIG. It is a top view which shows the conventional sorting equipment. It is a top view which shows the conventional sorting equipment.

  Next, the sorting equipment according to the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. 1-4, the code | symbol 10 shows the selection equipment of this invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sorting equipment 10 of the present invention is arranged in a certain direction, and a plurality of first-class transport conveyors 14 that transport fruits and vegetables (articles) 12 and a first-class transport conveyor 14 are arranged. The rear end portion intersects with the first-type transport conveyor 14, and the first chute conveyor 18 for transporting the fruits and vegetables 12 to the first boxing portion 16 on the front end side, and the fruits and vegetables 12 from the first-class transport conveyor 14 to the first chute. A first transfer means 20 that moves to the conveyor 18, two second-type transport conveyors 22 that are arranged in parallel with the first-type transport conveyor 14 and transport the fruits and vegetables 12, and a plurality of the second-type transport conveyors 22. A second chute conveyor 26 is disposed, the rear end portion intersects with the second-type transport conveyor 22, and transports the fruits and vegetables 12 to the second boxing portion 24 on the front end side. Second shot from A second transfer means 28 to transfer to the conveyer 26, an invention relating to sorting facilities equipped with.

In the sorting apparatus 10 of the present invention, the second chute conveyor 26 is arranged in a pitch space 30 between one first chute conveyor 18 and another first chute conveyor 18, and the first type conveyor 14 and the second type conveyor. By positioning the front end side of the first chute conveyor 18 and the second chute conveyor 26 on one side with respect to the conveyor 22, the first boxing unit 16 and the second boxing unit 24 are moved to the first type conveyor 14 and the second type. The seed transport conveyor 22 is configured to be integrated on one side. Further, the first chute conveyor 18 and the second chute conveyor 26 are arranged at right angles to the first type conveyor 14 and the second type conveyor 22. Further, two pairs of the first chute conveyors 18 are adjacent to each other and arranged in parallel in plan view in FIG. 1, and the second chute conveyor 26 includes one pair of the first chute conveyors 18 and the other two pairs. Two pairs are adjacent to each other and arranged in parallel in the pitch space 30 with the first chute conveyor 18. An intermediate partition member 100 is provided between the pair of second chute conveyors 26.

  The sorting facility 10 controls the first transfer means 20 to transfer the fruits and vegetables 12 conveyed by the first type conveyor 14 to the predetermined first chute conveyor 18 and is conveyed by the second type conveyor 22. Control means (not shown) for controlling the second transfer means 28 so as to transfer the fruit and vegetables 12 to the predetermined second chute conveyor 26.

The first type conveyor 14 is a tray conveyor (for example, a belt conveyor) that transports the tray 32 on which the fruits and vegetables 12 are placed. The first transfer means 20 presses the tray 32 on which the fruits and vegetables 12 are placed. The direction changing means transfers the fruits and vegetables 12 to the first chute conveyor 18 by changing the direction from the first type conveyor 14 to the first chute conveyor 18. The second type conveyer 22 is a small piece support type conveyer that conveys the fruits and vegetables 12 while supporting the fruits and vegetables 12 by the small pieces 34, and the second transfer means 28 tilts the small pieces 34 as shown in FIG. This is a support release means for releasing the support and dropping the fruits and vegetables 12 onto the second chute conveyor 22 for transfer.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the second-type transport conveyor 22 has a transport section 36 that transports the fruits and vegetables 12, and has an endless rotation having a return section 38 that returns to the direction opposite to the transport direction at the bottom of the transport section 36. The first chute conveyor 18 is composed of a member 40 and is disposed between the transport unit 36 and the return unit 38. Thereby, it becomes possible to cross the 1st chute conveyor 18 with respect to the 2nd type conveyance conveyor 22, and the 1st boxing part 16 and the 2nd boxing part 24 are made into the 1st type conveyance conveyor 14 and the 2nd type. It is possible to arrange them on one side with respect to the conveyor 22. In FIG. 2, the first chute conveyor 18 is located below the second chute conveyor 26, but the vertical relationship is not particularly limited. The endless rotating member 40 may be an endless belt or an endless chain.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a box transport line 42 is arranged behind the worker 102 who performs the sorting operation in the first boxing unit 16 and the second boxing unit 24. The box transport line 42 includes a lower product transport line 44 that transports a box 45 packed with the sorted fruits and vegetables 12, a middle empty transport line 46 that transports an empty box 45, and an upper empty transport line. 48. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, above the sorting equipment 10, a box 47 containing an unillustrated auxiliary material or auxiliary material from the automatic warehouse 53 to the first boxing unit 16 and the second boxing unit 24 or an empty box is provided. A flow shelf 50 for supplying the box 45 is arranged. The auxiliary material is a cushioning material for fruits and vegetables, a cardboard board for fixing the fruits and vegetables, and the like. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the empty tray 32 is conveyed in the same direction as the return portion 38 in FIGS. 2 and 4 as a return line for the empty tray 32 at the lower portion of the first chute conveyor 18. Return lines 49 (a) and 49 (b) to be returned, and return lines 49 (c) that are continuous from the return line 49 (b) and that transport the empty tray 32 in the same direction as the transport unit 36 in FIGS. Is installed. The return line 49 (a) is configured to join the empty tray 32 on the return line 49 (a) to the return line 49 (b).

  The operation of the sorting facility 10 configured as described above and installed on the fruit and vegetable sorting floor 60 shown in FIG. 3 will be described below.

  Fruits and vegetables 12 such as tomatoes and pears are put in a container, and one kind of fruits and vegetables 12 is conveyed from one container line 70 (a) shown in FIG. 3 to one hand selection unit 72 (a). Other types of fruits and vegetables 12 are transported from the container line 70 (b) to the other hand selection unit 72 (b), and the grade and / or the class is visually checked by the operator in each of the manual selection units 72 (a) and (b). Inspection is performed. In one hand selection section 72 (a), the fruits and vegetables 12 are placed on a tray 32, and the tray 32 on which the fruits and vegetables 12 are placed is moved by an operator according to the grade and / or class, and is a first type conveyor. 14 is transferred. In the other hand selection section 72 (b), the fruits and vegetables 12 are placed on a predetermined small piece 34 of the second type conveyor 22 according to the grade and / or the class. In this manner, the fruits and vegetables 12 placed on the first-type transport conveyor 14 or the second-type transport conveyor 22 are inspected by the internal sensor 74 and the appearance sensor 76. The control means recognizes these inspection results, determines the first chute conveyor 18 or the second chute conveyor 26 that is the transport destination of each fruit and vegetable 12, and stores it as predetermined data. That is, at this time, the boxed portion 16 or 24 to which each fruit and vegetable 12 is sent is determined. Next, each fruit and vegetables 12 is sorted as follows in the sorting facility 10 in a state where it is placed on the tray 32 on the first-type transport conveyor 14 or the small piece 34 of the second-type transport conveyor 22. In addition, the same kind of fruit and vegetables 12 may be sent from two container lines 70, and only one container line 70 may be used.

In the sorting facility 10, as shown in FIG. 1, the tray 32 on the first-type transport conveyor 14 on which the fruits and vegetables 12 are placed is sent to the predetermined first chute conveyor 18 by the first transfer means 20 according to a command from the control means. Moved to. The saucer 32 transferred to the first chute conveyor 18 is conveyed toward the packing stage 80 on the front end side of the first chute conveyor 18, and the worker 102 in the packing unit 16 removes the fruits and vegetables 12 from the receiving tray 32. The box is taken out and boxed on the box stand 80. The box 45 in which the fruits and vegetables 12 are packed is taken out by the operator 102 from the empty box conveyance line 46 or 48. The auxiliary material and the box 47 used for the boxing work are transported from the fluid shelf 50 to the worker 102 and taken out by the worker 102 to be used. When the sensor 51 recognizes that one auxiliary material and box 47 has been received, the next one is made to flow. Depending on the type and amount of the fruits and vegetables 12, the empty box 45 may be transported from the fluid shelf 50 to the operator 102. The box 45 in which the boxing operation of a certain number of fruits and vegetables 12 has been completed is placed on the product transfer line 44 of the box transfer line 42 located behind the worker 102 and is transferred downstream on the product transfer line 44. In addition, when the product conveyance line 44 which conveys the box 45 which packed the fruits and vegetables 12 is located under the 1st chute conveyor 18, the box packed using transfer equipment, such as a drawing-in conveyor or an extrusion pusher. Since it is necessary to transfer 45 onto the product transfer line 44, the operation of the transfer device is temporarily interrupted in order to avoid collision due to the merge of the box 45 from the transfer device to the product transfer line 44. Although the situation may occur, the worker 102 transfers the box 45 to the rear product conveyance line 44 by himself / herself, so that the worker's placement work and boxing work are not restricted. Moreover, since the product conveyance line 44 is located not behind the boxing table 80 but behind the operator, the box size is not limited so as not to interfere with the boxing table 80.

On the other hand, the fruits and vegetables 12 placed on the small piece 34 of the second type conveyor 22 are dropped onto the predetermined second chute conveyor 26 by tilting the small piece 34 at a predetermined position in accordance with a command from the control means. Moved. The fruits and vegetables 12 transferred to the second chute conveyor 26 are transported toward the boxing table 80 on the tip side of the second chute conveyor 26, and the worker 102 in the boxing unit 24 moves from the second chute conveyor 26. The fruits and vegetables 12 are taken out, the boxing operation is performed on the boxes 45 conveyed from the empty box conveyance line 46 or 48 or the flow shelf 50 on the boxing stand 80, and the box 45 after the boxing is finished is transferred to the product conveyance line 44. Placed on.

In this way, the fruits and vegetables 12 transferred from the first-type conveyor 14 to the first chute conveyor 18 are transferred to the boxing unit 16, and the fruits and vegetables 12 transferred from the second-type conveyor 22 to the second chute conveyor 26 are transferred to the box. In the filling unit 24, each boxing operation is performed. Since the first boxing unit 16 and the second boxing unit 24 are concentrated on one side with respect to the first-type transport conveyor 14 and the second-type transport conveyor 22, the worker who performs the boxing operation is also the first type. The conveying conveyor 14 and the second type conveying conveyor 22 are concentrated on one side.

According to such a sorting equipment 10, the first boxing unit 16 and the second boxing unit 24 are concentrated on one side with respect to the first type transport conveyor 14 and the second type transport conveyor 22, and the boxing operation is performed. Since the workers who perform the work are concentrated on one side with respect to the first-type transport conveyor 14 and the second-type transport conveyor 22, the number of workers is reduced unlike the case where the worker performing the boxing work is divided into two places. Becomes easy. In addition, by transporting the same class of fruits and vegetables 12 to the adjacent first boxing unit 16 or the second boxing unit 24, the fruits and vegetables 12 that are fractional items in the boxing operation are less likely to occur.

  Further, two pairs of first chute conveyors 18 are arranged adjacent to each other in parallel in plan view, and the second chute conveyor 26 includes one pair of first chute conveyors 18 and the other two pairs of first chutes. Since the two pairs are adjacent to each other in the pitch space 30 with the conveyor 18 and arranged parallel to each other in plan view, the second chute conveyor 26 is arranged by effectively using the pitch space 30 generated for reasons such as the arrangement of the operator. By doing so, the installation space of the entire sorting equipment 10 can be reduced as much as possible. For example, about half the installation space is sufficient for the sorting facility 1 in FIG. 5 and the sorting facility 2 in FIG. 6.

  As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention can be implemented also in another aspect. For example, if the type of the first-type transport conveyor and the second-type transport conveyor are different from each other, the mode of moving the article on the roller conveyor is the mode of the above-described tray transporting conveyor and the small piece support-type transporting conveyor. There are no particular limitations, such as a mode in which the article is placed and moved on a mounting table held by an endless rotating chain, a mode in which the article is placed directly on the endless rotating belt without using a tray, and the like. Moreover, the aspect of the 1st transfer means and the 2nd transfer means is the above-mentioned direction changing means and support release means, in addition to placing the article on the plate provided in the conveyor, and tilting the plate to the chute conveyor. There is no particular limitation, for example, a mode of transferring the item, a mode of pressing the item by the slide member or the rotating member and transferring the item to the chute conveyor. Further, the first chute conveyor and the second chute conveyor may be the same or different in method, and the aspect thereof is an aspect in which the article is moved on the roller conveyor, and the article is held on the endless rotating chain. There are no particular limitations on the manner in which the article is placed and moved on the table, the aspect in which the article is placed on the endless rotating belt, and moved. In addition, the technical scope of the present invention includes embodiments in which various improvements, modifications, and variations are added based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Moreover, you may implement with the form which substituted any invention specific matter to the other technique within the range which the same effect | action or effect produces.

  According to the sorting equipment of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the number of workers in the boxing work, improve work efficiency, and reduce the installation space. Therefore, the sorting equipment can be widely used for sorting goods.

10: Sorting equipment 12: Fruits and vegetables (goods)
14: tray conveyor (first-class conveyor)
16: 1st boxing part 18: 1st chute conveyor 20: Direction change means (1st transfer means)
22: Small piece support type conveyor (second type conveyor)
24: Second boxing unit 26: Second chute conveyor 28: Support release means (second transfer means)
30: Pitch space 32: Receptacle 34: Small piece 36: Conveying section 38: Return section

Claims (6)

A first type conveyor that extends in a certain direction and conveys articles;
A first chute conveyor that is arranged along the first type conveyor, the rear end intersects with the first type conveyor, and conveys the article to the first boxing part on the tip side,
First transfer means for transferring the article from the first type conveyor to the first chute conveyor;
A second type conveyor that is arranged in parallel with the first type conveyor and conveys articles;
A plurality of second conveyors arranged along the second type conveyor, the rear end intersects with the second type conveyor, and the second chute conveyor conveys the article to the second boxing part on the tip side,
Second transfer means for transferring the article from the second-type conveyor to the second chute conveyor;
In sorting equipment equipped with
The second chute conveyor is disposed in a pitch space between one first chute conveyor and another first chute conveyor,
Sorting equipment in which the tip side of the first chute conveyor and the second chute conveyor is located on one side with respect to the first type conveyor and the second type conveyor. The first transfer means is controlled so as to transfer an article conveyed by the first type conveyor to a predetermined first chute conveyor, and an article conveyed by the second type conveyor is set to a predetermined second chute conveyor. The sorting equipment according to claim 1, further comprising control means for controlling the second transfer means so as to transfer to The sorting equipment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first chute conveyor and the second chute conveyor are arranged at right angles to the first type conveyor and the second type conveyor. The first chute conveyors are arranged adjacent to each other in parallel, and the second chute conveyor has a pitch space between one pair of first chute conveyors and another pair of first chute conveyors. The sorting equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein two pairs are arranged adjacent to each other in parallel. The second-type transport conveyor includes a transport unit that transports the article, and includes an endless rotating member that has a return unit that returns to a direction opposite to the transport direction at a lower portion of the transport unit.
The sorting equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first chute conveyor is disposed between the transport unit and the return unit. The first-type conveyor is a tray conveyor that transports a tray on which articles are placed,
The first transfer means is a direction changing means for transferring the article to the first chute conveyor by changing the direction of the tray on which the article is placed from the first type conveyor to the first chute conveyor. ,
The second-type transport conveyor is a small-piece supported transport conveyor that transports articles while supporting the articles with small pieces,
The sorting facility according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second transfer means is support release means for releasing support of the article by the small piece and transferring the article onto the second chute conveyor.

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