JP2012240798A - Sorting conveyance facility - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sorting conveyance facility which can enhance the efficiency of an operation for carrying in an empty container into a receiving part which receives sorted articles from a chute and the efficiency of an operation for carrying out a real container from the receiving part.SOLUTION: The sorting conveyance facility includes a sorting conveyance line 110 with a sorting part 115 for sorting a plurality of input articles W, a chute 140 for carrying sorted articles W1 which are articles W sorted by the sorting part 115 to an empty container C0, and a container supply line 170 which has a receiving part 172 in which the empty container C0 for receiving the sorted articles W1 carried out by the chute 140 is disposed. The storing conveying facility also carries the empty container C0 to the receiving part 172. The container supply line 170 carries out a real container C1 accommodating the sorted articles W1 carried out by the chute 140 from the receiving part 172 to a real container conveying line T.

Description

  The present invention relates to a sorting and conveying facility including a sorting line for sorting a plurality of input articles according to a sorting destination, and a chute for feeding sorted articles sorted by the sorting line to an empty container.

  Conventionally, the sorting and transporting equipment includes a sorting line that transports a plurality of input articles and sorts in a plurality of sorting sections, and a chute that transports sorted articles, which are articles sorted by the sorting section, to an empty container, It is known that a movable member that decelerates or stops a sorted article sliding down the chute is provided on the chute (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2004-250224 (paragraphs 0009-0018, FIG. 1)

  By the way, in the conventional sorting and conveying equipment, the empty container is carried into the receiving unit that receives the sorted articles and the actual container is unloaded from the receiving unit. There is a problem that it takes time to carry in and carry out the actual container from the receiving part.

  In addition, since the movable member that decelerates or stops the sorted article that is sliding down the chute is disposed in the middle part of the chute, when the movable member shifts from the substantially horizontal state to the inclined state, the sorted article is After passing through the movable member, it is carried out from the lower end of the chute to the empty container while gradually increasing the speed on the chute. For this reason, the sorted articles are discharged from the chute at a relatively high speed, and the problem is that the attitude of the sorted articles in the empty container is uneven, and articles that are relatively vulnerable to impact are targeted for sorting. There was a problem that restrictions were imposed on the articles to be sorted, such as being unable to do so.

The present invention solves the conventional problems, that is, the object of the present invention is to carry out the empty container carrying work to the receiving part that receives the sorted articles from the chute and the real container carrying work from the receiving part. It is providing the sorting conveyance equipment which can improve the efficiency of.
The object of the present invention is to further improve the convenience of handling by improving the protection performance of the sorted articles discharged from the chute and making the attitude of the sorted articles in the actual container uniform. It is to provide a sorting and transporting facility that can be used.
Moreover, the objective of this invention is providing the sorting conveyance equipment which can further improve the conveyance efficiency of the real container in which the classified article was accommodated.

  First, the invention according to claim 1 empties a plurality of input articles and sorts a plurality of sorting lines in a predetermined number of sorting sections, and the sorted articles that are the articles sorted by the sorting sections. In a sorting and conveying facility including the predetermined number or more chutes for conveying to a container, the sorting container includes a receiving unit in which the empty container that receives the sorted articles carried out by the chute is disposed and the empty container is connected to the receiving unit. A container supply line to be transported is provided for each chute, and each container supply line solves the above-described problems by carrying out an actual container containing the sorted articles carried out by the chute from the receiving unit. Is.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, the chute has a downhill portion having a downhill surface on which the sorted article downhill, and the sorting down the downhill surface. A movable member that can come into contact with the finished article, and a drive mechanism, wherein the movable member is driven by the drive mechanism to stop the sorted article that is sliding down by coming into contact with the sorted article Or a downhill regulation position to be decelerated, and a downhill allowance position for guiding the sorted article while sliding down toward the empty container located at the receiving portion at a position closer to the empty container than the lower end of the downhill surface. The above-described problems are solved by being movable between the two.

  The invention according to claim 3 includes an empty container transfer line for transferring the empty container to the container supply line in addition to the configuration of the invention according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the empty container transfer line is An unloading line section having a plurality of unloading sections for unloading an empty container to the container supply line, the unloading line section being directly below the sorting line section having the plurality of sorting sections, along the sorting line section; By being arranged, the above-described problems are solved.

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in addition to the configuration of the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, an actual container transport line having a payout section for transporting the real container and discharging the real container. The container supply line solves the above-described problems by carrying out the actual container from the receiving unit to the actual container transport line.

  According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in addition to the configuration of the fourth aspect of the invention, the actual container transport line is a plurality of independent actual container transport lines with respect to one sorting line, and the sorted The above-described problems are solved by providing the slip issuing device for articles in each of the actual container transport lines.

  Therefore, the sorting and transporting equipment of the present invention transports a plurality of input articles and sorts them at a predetermined number of sorting sections, and sorts the sorted articles that are sorted by the sorting sections to an empty container. By having a predetermined number or more of chutes to be conveyed, a plurality of articles thrown into the sorting line are stored in an empty container through the chutes from the sorting section as sorted articles sorted by each sorting section of the sorting line. In addition, the following effects specific to the present invention can be achieved.

  That is, according to the sorting and conveying facility of the present invention according to claim 1, the container supply line for transporting the empty container to the receiving unit and having the receiving unit in which the empty container for receiving the sorted articles carried out by the chute is arranged. In preparation for each chute, each container supply line carries out an actual container containing the sorted articles carried out by the chute from the receiving unit, so that an empty container containing the sorted articles carried out by the chute is Since the actual container that has been transported by the container supply line installed in the container and placed in the receiving unit and has received the sorted articles is unloaded from the receiving unit by the container supply line, the empty container can be transferred to the receiving unit. Since the actual container is unloaded from the receiving section through the container supply line, There, it is possible to improve the actual container efficiency of the unloading work from loading work and receiving portion of the empty containers into the receiving portion.

According to the sorting conveyance equipment of the present invention concerning Claim 2, in addition to the effect which the invention concerning Claim 1 produces, the following effect is produced.
The chute includes a downhill part having a downhill surface on which the sorted article slides down, a movable member that can contact the sorted article downhill on the downhill surface, and a drive mechanism, and the movable member is a drive mechanism. A down regulation position that stops or decelerates the sorted articles that are driven down by being brought into contact with the sorted articles, and an empty container that is located in the receiving part at a position closer to the empty container than the lower end of the down surface Since the sorted article that has been stopped or decelerated in contact with the movable member at the downhill regulation position can be moved between the downhill allowable position where the sorted article is guided while sliding down toward the When moving from the restricted position to the allowed downhill position, the movable member that is closer to the downhill surface in the downhill direction slides down and is transported to the empty container from the chute, and the movable member is allowed to descend from the restricted downhill position. Since it is carried out while sliding down before reaching the position or in the state where the downhill allowable position has been reached, compared to the conventional technology in which the sorted article slides down the sliding surface of the downhill part after sliding down the movable member, the empty container Since the increase in the downhill speed of the sorted articles is suppressed, the impact reduction effect on the sorted articles is improved when the chute is provided with a movable member that stops or decelerates the downgraded sorted articles. While improving the protection performance of the sorted goods by, the attitude of the sorted goods in the actual container can be made uniform, and handling of the sorted goods after being accommodated in the actual container (for example, packaging work) It becomes easy, and the convenience of sorting and conveying equipment can be improved.

  According to the sorting conveyance equipment of the present invention concerning Claim 3, in addition to the effect which the invention concerning Claim 1 or Claim 2 produces, the following effect is produced. Equipped with an empty container transfer line for transferring an empty container to a container supply line, the empty container transfer line has a carry-out line unit having a plurality of carry-out units for carrying out empty containers to the container supply line, and a plurality of carry-out line units By using the space formed just under the sorting line section of the sorting line, the unloading line section of the empty container transport line is located directly under the sorting line section with the sorting section of Therefore, the carry-out unit and the sorting unit can be arranged in a compact manner in the horizontal direction, and as a result, the sorting line and the empty container transport line can be arranged in a compact manner in the horizontal direction.

  According to the sorting conveyance equipment of the present invention concerning Claim 4, in addition to the effect which the invention concerning any one of Claims 1-3 claims, the following effect is produced. An actual container transport line having a delivery unit for transporting an actual container and discharging the actual container is provided, and the container supply line transports the actual container from the receiving unit to the actual container transport line so that the actual container Since the actual container transported to the actual container transport line by using the supplied container supply line and then transported to the actual container transport line is transported to the dispensing unit by the actual container transport line, it is received at the sorting transport facility. It is possible to improve the efficiency of transporting the actual container from the section to the payout section.

According to the sorting conveyance equipment of the present invention concerning Claim 5, in addition to the effect which the invention concerning Claim 4 produces, the following effect is produced.
The actual container transport line is a plurality of independent actual container transport lines with respect to one sorting line, and a slip issuing device for sorted articles is provided in each actual container transport line. Since the actual containers containing the sorted articles sorted by the sorting line are distributed to a plurality of actual container transport lines and transported to each slip issuing device, the efficiency of slip issuing work can be improved. As a result, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the transporting operation of the sorting transport facility until shipment.

The typical top view in the upper floor of the sorting conveyance equipment which is an Example of this invention. The typical top view in the lower floor of the sorting conveyance equipment of FIG. The figure of the principal part in the III-III arrow view of FIG. The principal part top view of FIG. The figure of the principal part in the VV arrow view of FIG.

  The sorting and transporting equipment of the present invention transports a plurality of input articles and sorts them in a predetermined number of sorting sections, and the sorted articles that are the articles sorted by the sorting sections to an empty container. A container supply line for transporting the empty container to the receiving portion and having a receiving portion in which the empty container for receiving the sorted articles carried out by the chute and the empty container for receiving the sorted articles are disposed in the chute. Each container supply line has an empty container to a receiving unit that receives sorted articles from the chute by unloading the actual containers containing the sorted articles carried out by the chute from the receiving unit. That can improve the efficiency of loading and unloading work from the receiving part If, specific embodiments thereof are it may be any one.

  For example, in the present embodiment, an article to be sorted by the sorting and transporting equipment of the present invention is a box-shaped box-shaped article, but is an unpacked article or an article other than a box-shaped article. May be.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a sorting and conveying facility 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a lower floor 1 that is a lower installation portion, and an upper floor 2 that is an upper installation portion disposed above the lower floor 1. Are installed across the lower floor 1 and the upper floor 2.

The sorting transport equipment 100 transports a plurality of charged articles W (see also FIG. 3) and sorts them in a first predetermined number of sorting units 115 as a plurality and a sorting transport line 110. More than the predetermined number for conveying the sorted article W1 (see FIG. 3), which is the article W sorted by each sorting unit 115, to the empty container C0 (see also FIG. 3). The second predetermined number of chutes 140 and a second receiving portion 172 in which an empty container C0 that receives the sorted article W1 immediately after being discharged from the chute 140 is disposed, and the second container that conveys the empty container C0 to the receiving portion 172. A predetermined number of container supply lines 170, an empty container transfer line 160 for transferring an empty container C0 to the container supply line 170, and The actual container conveying line T for conveying the actual container C1 (see also FIG. 3) which is a container accommodating the sorting already article W1 discharged from chute 140, and a control unit 109.
Here, the empty container C0 is a container in which accommodation of the sorted article W1 from the chute 140 is not completed.

Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4, the sorting transport line 110 is a tray as a sorting device that automatically transports articles W to be sorted and automatically sorts the articles W according to their sorting destinations. It consists of a type sorting device 121.
The sorting apparatus 121 includes a transport body 122 having a tray 124 as a placement unit on which the articles W are placed, and a transport that defines a transport path of the articles W by the transport body 122 (hereinafter referred to as “article transport path”). A path defining member 126, a transport drive mechanism 130 that moves the transport body 122 along the article transport path, and a sorting mechanism 134 that sorts the articles W placed on the tray 124 according to the sorting destination.

The transport body 122 is configured by a plurality of transport units 123 having trays 124 connected in a chain shape, and here connected endlessly. Each transport unit 123 has a tray 124 in the left-right direction around a tilt center line Lt parallel to a transport direction (hereinafter referred to as “article transport direction”) that is a moving direction of the article W along the article transport path. And a carriage 125 which supports 124 in a tiltable manner.
The conveyance path defining member 126 is a traveling rail 127 on which the traveling roller 125a of the carriage 125 rolls, a base 128 on which the traveling rail 127 is laid, and a support member that is installed on the upper floor 2 and supports the base 128. And a gantry 129.
The conveyance drive mechanism 130 that conveys the article W via the conveyance body 122 is a reaction that is provided integrally with the linear motor 131 disposed in the base 128 and the carriage 125 and receives a driving force in the article conveyance direction from the linear motor 131. Plate 132.

Here, the left-right direction is the left-right direction when facing the article transport direction (that is, the transport direction of the article W by the tray 124 of the transport body 122 moving on the article transport path), and the forward direction is the article transport direction. It is assumed that the rear direction is opposite to the article conveying direction.
The upstream and downstream are related to the movement of the article W in the article conveyance direction, that is, the flow of the article W.

The sorting mechanism 134 is disposed on both sides of the traveling rail 127 in the left-right direction at positions corresponding to the respective chutes 140 with an interval in the article transport path, and a pair of index plates 135 provided on the left and right below the tray 124. A pair of left and right tilting actuators 136 that can slide in contact with each other is provided.
The actuator 136 is controlled by the control device 109 (see FIG. 1) based on the sorting destination of the article W, and is actuated at the sorting section 115 corresponding to the sorting destination (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3). 3, the tray 124 occupying the reference position (shown by a solid line in FIG. 3) is tilted to the left or right by the contact with the index plate 135, and the tray 124 is tilted (FIG. 3). Is indicated by a two-dot chain line). Thereby, the articles W are discharged to the left or right chute 140, and the articles W are sorted.
The tray 124 at the tilting position returns to the reference position by coming into contact with return guides (not shown) arranged at intervals in the article transport direction on both sides of the traveling rail 127 in the left-right direction.

Referring to FIG. 1, the sorting transport line 110, which is installed on the upper floor 2 as a whole, has an article input unit in which a plurality of articles W having different sorting destinations are placed on a tray 124 (see FIG. 3) by an operator. 111 and one or more sorting lines 115 having a plurality of sorting sections 115 arranged in series along the article transport path, and a plurality of sorting line sections 112 in the present embodiment.
All of the sorting sections 115 included in the sorting transport line 110, that is, a first predetermined number of sorting sections 115 as a plurality, are allocated to each sorting line section 112 extending in a straight line.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an article conveyance line 102 including a roller conveyor is configured by a conveyor having a driving mechanism (hereinafter referred to as “driving conveyor”), and is arranged on the lower floor 1 so that a plurality of articles W are arranged. An operation performed by a unit other than the carry-in unit 103 conveyor into which the accommodated case 3 is carried in, and a take-out unit 104 that is arranged on the upper floor 2 and from which the article W is taken out from the case 3 by the operator are provided. Transport it.

The article W taken out by the take-out unit 104 is transferred to the article input unit 111 of the sorting conveyance line 110 by the operator. At this time, the worker places the article W on the tray 124 designated in advance by confirming the identification data for each article W and the identification data for each tray 124 (see FIG. 3).
In this specification, the identification data is converted into a barcode, for example, and the identification data is confirmed or read by a barcode reader.
The case 3 emptied after the article W is taken out is carried by a worker into a case return line 106 constituted by a drive conveyor composed of a roller conveyor, and arranged on the lower floor 1 by the case return line 106. Then, it is automatically conveyed to the unloading unit 107.

  For each sorting unit 115, one chute 140 is disposed on at least one side in the left-right direction, and in this embodiment, a pair of chutes 140 are disposed on both sides. Further, on one side in the left-right direction, the same number as the number of the sorting units 115 corresponding to two to four (two in the figure) sorting units 115 adjacent in the article conveyance direction in the present embodiment. The chute 140 constitutes a chute unit S.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, each chute 140 having basically the same structure includes a support base 141 installed on the upper floor 2, and a downhill part that supports the sorted article W <b> 1 while being supported by the support base 141. Downhill wall 142 as a flat inclined wall, a pair of guide walls 144 and a front guide wall 145 as a pair of guide walls protruding upward from downhill surface 143 of downhill wall 142, and downhill surface 143 And a downhill speed reduction mechanism 150 having a movable guide wall 151 as a movable member for stopping the sorted article W1 sliding down.
The downhill surface 143 is inclined downward as it approaches the empty container C0 in the downhill direction from the tray 124 toward the empty container C0 of the receiving portion 172.
The front guide wall 144 and the rear guide wall 145 are arranged apart from each other in the article transport direction.

The downhill speed reduction mechanism 150 includes a movable guide wall 151 that can be brought into contact with the sorted article W1 that is sliding down on the downhill surface 143 in the downhill direction and that can swing around the swing center line Ls, and a movable guide. And a drive mechanism 155 having an air cylinder 156 as an actuator for driving and swinging the wall 151.
The movable guide wall 151 formed of a flat plate-like member in the left-right direction (or the transport direction of the empty container C0 in the container supply line 170) is more at the receiving portion 172 than the lower end portion 143a of the downhill surface 143. It is arranged at a position close to the empty container C0.
The movable guide wall 151 protrudes upward from the lower end portion 143a of the downhill surface 143 and contacts the sorted article W1 in the downhill direction (shown by a broken line in FIG. 3 and shown by a solid line in FIG. 5). ) And a downhill allowable position P2 (shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3) for sliding down the sorted article W1 that has passed down the downhill surface 143 toward the empty container C0 as a movement limit position, It is movable between the two positions P1, P2 around the oscillation center line Ls.
At the downhill regulation position P1, the angle formed by the downhill surface 143 and the guide surface 151c of the movable guide wall 151 is a right angle or a substantially right angle. Further, at the downhill allowable position P2, the downhill surface 143 and the guide surface 151c are parallel or substantially parallel.

The movable guide wall 151 includes a base end portion 151a that is supported by a support shaft 146 that is a support portion provided at the lower end portion 143b of the downhill wall 142 so as to be swingable about the swing center line Ls, and a base portion in the downhill direction. 128 and a front end portion 151b forming a guide surface 151c.
When the movable guide wall 151 is at the allowable downhill position P2, the distal end portion 151b is viewed from above in the vertical direction (hereinafter referred to as “plan view”) when the movable guide wall 151 is at the allowable downhill position P2. It is in a position overlapping with the empty container C0 located at.
When the movable guide wall 151 is in the downhill allowable position P2, the guide surface 151c is closer to the empty container C0 than the downhill surface 143 in the downhill direction, and further below the lower end portion 143b of the downhill surface 143. And at a position close to the empty container C0 in the receiving part 172.

The drive mechanism 155 includes an air cylinder 156 pivotally attached to the lower part of the downhill wall 142 and a connecting lever 157 that is a connecting member to which an operating rod of the air cylinder 156 is pivotally attached. The connecting lever 157 is integrally coupled to a columnar base end portion 151 a that is swingably supported by the support shaft 146.
The drive mechanism 155 is controlled by the control device 109 (see FIG. 1), and the movable guide wall 151 is moved in synchronization with the sorting of the articles W by the sorting unit 115 (for example, in synchronization with the operation of the tilting actuator 136). A contact sensor that moves from the allowable downhill position P2 to the downhill restricted position P1 and then detects that the sorted article W1 that is downhill the downhill surface 143 has come into contact with the guide surface 151c of the movable guide wall 151. Then, after the sorted article W1 in contact with the guide surface 151c stops, the movable guide wall 151 is moved toward the allowed downhill position P2.
Then, when the movable guide wall 151 moves toward the downhill allowable position P <b> 2, the once-sorted article W <b> 1 resumes downhill, and the sorted article W <b> 1 is carried out to the empty container C <b> 0 of the receiving unit 172.

The rear guide wall 145 moves in the partial article transport direction so that the sorted article W1 discharged from the tray 124 slides down on the slide surface 143 toward the movable guide wall 151 toward the article transport direction while sliding down. It has a planar guide surface 145a that protrudes and is inclined downward.
The front guide wall 144 has a shape that prevents the sorted article W1 that slides down the sliding surface 143 from moving in the article transport direction.
In each chute unit S, the downhill wall 142 is formed of a common single member, so that it is possible to reduce the cost by reducing the number of parts, and the rear guide wall of the chute 140 adjacent in the article conveyance direction. Since the 145 and the front guide wall 144 are integrated, the chute unit S can be downsized in the article conveyance direction.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an empty container transport line 160 constituted by a drive conveyor composed of a roller conveyor and disposed across the lower floor 1 and the upper floor 2 is disposed on the lower floor 1 and is disposed as an empty container. There are a carry-in section 161 into which C0 is carried in, and the same number of carry-out line sections 162 as the sort line sections 112 that are branched on the upper floor 2 and arranged directly below the sort line section 112 of each sort transport line 110.
3 and 4, each carry-out line section 162 extending in a straight line has the same number of carry-out sections 165 as the sort sections 115 corresponding to the sort sections 115 of the respective sort line sections 112. The unloading line unit 162 (and thus each unloading unit 165 of the unloading line unit 162) is disposed along the sorting line unit 112 at a position directly below the sorting line unit 112, that is, at a position overlapping the sorting line unit 112 in plan view. ing.

In the carry-in unit 161, the operator reads the identification code attached to the empty container C0, and based on the identification code input to the control device 109, the empty container transport line 160 sets the empty container C0. Then, it conveys to the unloading unit 165 for supplying the empty container C0 to the sorting unit 115 corresponding to the sorting destination of the articles W accommodated in the empty container C0.
In each carry-out unit 165, arrival detection means (not shown) detects that the empty container C0 has arrived at the carry-out unit 165. Then, a pusher (not shown) included in the empty container transfer line 160 is controlled by the control device 109 based on the detection signal of the arrival detection means, so that the pusher can move in the left-right direction with respect to the carry-out unit 165. The empty container C0 is unloaded from the unloading unit 165 to a pair of container supply lines 170 arranged on both sides.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, a container supply line 170 constituted by a drive conveyor formed of a roller conveyor includes a carry-out unit 165 and carry-in line units 181 and 191 of an actual container transfer line T below the chute 140. It is arranged between.
The container supply line 170 includes a receiving unit 172 in which an empty container C0 in which the sorted article W1 is accommodated by the chute 140 is disposed, a loading standby unit 171 in which an empty container C0 to be conveyed to the receiving unit 172 is disposed, An unloading standby unit 173 in which the actual container C1 in which the sorted article W1 is accommodated after the accommodation of the sorted article W1 in the empty container C0 in the receiving unit 172 is arranged, and the empty container C0 in the receiving unit 172 is arranged. It has a receiving stopper 175 for positioning, and a carrying-out stopper 176 for positioning the actual container C1 in the carrying-out standby unit 173.

  By the start of the operation of the sorting transfer line 110, the empty container C0 is disposed in the receiving portion 172 in a state where it abuts on the receiving stopper 175 by the empty container transfer line 160 and the container supply line 170. Has stopped. When the container position detection means (not shown) detects that the empty container C0 is positioned in the receiving unit 172, the empty container controlled by the control device 109 (see FIG. 1) to which the detection signal is input. The transfer line 160 carries the empty container C0 into the carry-in standby unit 171.

When a detection signal of an article storage completion detection means (not shown) for detecting that the sorted article W1 is completely stored in the empty container C0 in the receiving unit 172 is input to the control device 109, the control device 109 Is a non-contact position (a position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3) where the stoppers 175 and 176 are not in contact with the actual container C1 from a contact position (a position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 3). ). Thereafter, the container supply line 170 controlled by the control device 109 transports the empty container C0 located in the carry-in standby unit 171 to the receiving unit 172, and transports the actual container C1 in the receiving unit 172 to the carry-out standby unit 173.
The article storage detection means is constituted by, for example, a counter that counts the number of sorted articles W1 discharged from the chute 140.

When the container position detecting means detects that the entire empty container C0 is not disposed in the receiving portion 172, the receiving stopper 175 is configured to contact the empty container C0 in the receiving portion 172. The unloading stopper 176 moves to the contact position where the unloading standby unit 173 can contact the actual container C1.
Then, when the empty container C0 conveyed from the carry-in standby unit 171 to the receiving unit 172 contacts the receiving stopper 175, the container position detection means detects the empty container C0 in the receiving unit 172, and the container supply Line 170 stops. While the container supply line 170 is stopped, the empty container transfer line 160 can carry the empty container C0 into the carry-in standby unit 171.

Next, the sorted article W1 discharged from the chute 140 is stored in the empty container C0 located in the receiving unit 172, and the receiving of the sorted article W1 in the empty container C0 in the receiving unit 172 by the article storage completion detection unit. When it is detected that the container is completed, the container supply line 170 transports the empty container C0 located in the carry-in standby unit 171 to the receiving unit 172, and transports the actual container C1 in the receiving unit 172 to the carry-out standby unit 173. The actual container C1 of the unloading standby unit 173 is transported to the carry-in line unit 181 or the carry-in line unit 191 of the real container transport line T.
Thereafter, the same operation is repeated in the container supply line 170 until the process of storing the sorted articles W1 in the empty container C0 is completed.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the actual container transport line T is configured by a drive conveyor composed of a roller conveyor, and is installed across the lower floor 1 and the upper floor 2 to automatically transport the actual container C1.
One or more actual container transport lines T are provided for one sorting transport line 110, and in the present embodiment, they are two independent first and second actual container transport lines 180 and 190.

Each of the actual container transport lines 180 and 190 includes one or more three actual carry-in line units 181 and 191 in which the real container C1 is carried by each container supply line 170, and a plurality of them in the present embodiment. The carry-in line portions 181 and 191 gather together to have one payout line portion 185 and 195.
The payout line sections 185 and 195 are arranged in order in the transport direction of the actual container C1 in the payout line sections 185 and 195, and the assortment sections 186 and 196 that perform the assortment of the actual container C1 and the sorted articles W1. Slip issuing sections 187 and 197 for issuing slips for use, packaging sections 188 and 198 for delivering the actual container C1 between the packaging material line 108, and dispensing sections 189 and 199.
In the assortment units 186 and 196, when the sorted articles W1 corresponding to one order are transferred to a plurality of real containers C1, the worker waits for and loads the line so that the real containers C1 are continuously conveyed. The parts 185 and 195 are loaded, and the position of the actual container C1 in the payout line parts 185 and 195 is changed.
The slip issuing units 187 and 197 are provided with slip issuing devices 187a and 197a operated by an operator, and the slips issued by the slip issuing devices 187a and 197a are attached to the actual container C1.
In the packaging units 188 and 198, the actual container C1 on the delivery line units 185 and 195 is temporarily transferred from the delivery line units 185 and 195 to the packaging work table by the operator, and the sorted article W1 in the actual container C1. Are packed in a packaging box as a packaging material conveyed by a packaging material line 108 constituted by a circulation line. Thereafter, the boxed sorted article W1 is returned to the actual container C1 in which the sorted article W1 was stored.

  Next, the actual container C1 containing the boxed sorted articles W1 is transferred to the payout line sections 185 and 195, and is carried out by the workers at the payout sections 189 and 199. The actual container C1 lowered from the payout line sections 185 and 195 by the payout sections 189 and 199 is loaded into the empty container transport line 160 by the worker as the empty container C0 after the contained sorted goods W1 are shipped. It is carried into the department.

Next, operations and effects of the embodiment configured as described above will be described.
The sorting and transporting facility 100 transports a plurality of input articles W and sorts them in a plurality of predetermined number of sorting units 115, and sorted articles that are the articles W sorted by the sorting unit 115. And a predetermined number of or more chutes 140 for transporting W1 to the empty container C0.
With this configuration, a plurality of articles W input to the sorting transport line 110 are automatically sorted into the empty container C0 from the sorting section 115 through the chute 140 as sorted articles W1 sorted by the sorting sections 115 of the sorting transport line 110. Can be accommodated.

The sorting and transporting facility 100 has a receiving unit 172 in which an empty container C0 that receives the sorted article W1 carried out by the chute 140 is disposed, and also the chute 140 through the container supply line 170 that transports the empty container C0 to the receiving unit 172. In preparation for each, each container supply line 170 carries out the actual container C1 containing the sorted article W1 carried out by the chute 140 from the receiving portion 172.
With this configuration, the empty container C0 that accommodates the sorted article W1 carried out by the chute 140 is transported by the container supply line 170 provided for each chute 140 and disposed in the receiving unit 172. Since the actual container C1 that has been accommodated is carried out from the receiving unit 172 by the container supply line 170, the empty container C0 to the receiving unit 172 and the real container C1 from the receiving unit 172 are carried out by the container supply line 170. Therefore, in the sorting and conveying facility 100, the efficiency of carrying in the empty container C0 to the receiving unit 172 and carrying out the actual container C1 from the receiving unit 172 can be improved.

The chute 140 includes a sliding wall 142 having a sliding surface 143 on which the sorted article W1 slides down, a movable guide wall 151 that can come into contact with the sorted article W1 sliding down the sliding surface 143, and a drive mechanism 155. The movable guide wall 151 is driven by the drive mechanism 155 to stop the sorted article W1 that is sliding down by coming into contact with the sorted article W1, and the lower end portion 143b of the downhill surface 143. It is possible to move between the downhill allowable position P2 where the sorted article W1 is guided while sliding down toward the empty container C0 located in the receiving portion 172 at a position closer to the empty container C0.
With this configuration, the sorted article W1 that has stopped in contact with the movable guide wall 151 at the downhill regulation position P1 slides down in the downhill direction when the movable guide wall 151 moves from the downhill regulation position P1 to the downhill allowable position P2. The movable guide wall 151 located at a position closer to the surface 143 is slid down and carried out from the chute 140 to the empty container C0, and before the movable guide wall 151 reaches the slidable permissible position P2 from the slidable down regulation position P1 or downhill permissible. It is carried out while sliding down in a state where it has reached the position P2. For this reason, since the increase in the downhill speed of the sorted article W1 to the empty container C0 is suppressed as compared with the conventional technique in which the sorted article W1 slides down the downhill surface of the downhill portion after the downgraded down the movable guide wall, In the chute 140 including the movable guide wall 151 that stops or decelerates the sorted article W1 that is downhill, the protection performance of the sorted article W1 by improving the impact reduction effect that acts on the sorted article W1 when discharged to the empty container C0 is achieved. While improving, the posture of the sorted article W1 in the actual container C1 can be made uniform, and the handling (for example, packaging operation) of the sorted article W1 after being accommodated in the actual container C1 becomes easy. The convenience of the sorting and transporting facility 100 can be improved.
Then, since the impact acting on the sorted article W1 when discharged into the empty container C0 is reduced, it is possible to target an article that is relatively weak against impact, and the sorting and conveying equipment 100 can target the article W. The range of application can be expanded, and the convenience of the sorting and conveying facility 100 can be improved in this respect as well.

The sorting and transporting facility 100 includes an empty container transport line 160 that transports the empty container C0 to the container supply line 170, and the empty container transport line 160 includes a plurality of unloading units 165 that unload the empty container C0 to the container supply line 170. The carry-out line unit 162 is provided, and the carry-out line unit 162 is disposed along the sorting line unit 112 directly below the sorting line unit 112 having the plurality of sorting units 115.
With this configuration, the unloading line unit 162 of the empty container transfer line 160 is arranged using a space formed immediately below the sorting line unit 112 of the sorting transfer line 110, so that the unloading unit 165 and the sorting unit 115 are horizontally disposed. The sorting conveyance line 110 and the empty container conveyance line 160 can be arranged compactly in the horizontal direction.

The sorting and transporting facility 100 includes a real container transport line T having transporting units 189 and 199 for transporting the real container C1 and discharging the real container C1, and the container supply line 170 receives the real container C1 from the receiving unit 172. Unload to the transfer line T.
With this configuration, the actual container C1 is transported to the actual container transport line T by using the container supply line 170 that supplies the empty container C0, and the actual container C1 transported to the actual container transport line T is Since the sheet is automatically transported to the slip issuing units 187 and 197, the packaging units 188 and 198, and the dispensing units 189 and 199 by the transport line T, in the sorting transport facility 100, the receiving unit 172 and the slip issuing units 187 and 197, It is possible to improve the efficiency of the work of transporting the actual container C1 up to the packaging units 188 and 198 and further to the dispensing units 189 and 199.

The actual container transport line T is a plurality of independent actual container transport lines 180 and 190 for one sorting transport line 110, and the slip issuing devices 187a and 197a for the sorted articles W1 are connected to each actual container transport line. 180, 190.
With this configuration, the actual container C1 in which the sorted articles W1 sorted by one sorting and conveying line 110 are accommodated is distributed to a plurality of actual container conveying lines 180 and 190, up to the respective slip issuing devices 187a and 197a. Since it is transported, the efficiency of the slip issuing work can be improved, and as a result, the efficiency of the transporting work of the sorting transport facility 100 until shipping can be improved.

Hereinafter, an example in which a part of the configuration of the above-described embodiment is changed will be described with respect to the changed configuration.
The sorting device constituting the sorting transport line 110 may be other than the tray type sorting device 121.
In addition to the air cylinder 156, the actuator of the drive mechanism 155 may be a fluid pressure actuator other than air pressure, and may further be an electromagnetic actuator, for example, a linear reciprocating actuator using a solenoid or an electric motor.

The movable guide wall 151 has a sliding surface 143 and a guiding surface 151c, for example, so that the sorted article W1 sliding down the sliding surface 143 is decelerated by contact with the guiding surface 151c at the sliding regulation position P1. You may be comprised so that an obtuse angle may be formed. Further, the downhill allowable position P2 may be set so that the downhill surface 143 and the guide surface 151c form an obtuse angle, and thereby the downhill speed of the sorted article W1 can be reduced. The same effect as when stopping is achieved.
The downhill wall 142 of the chute 140 may be constituted by a rolling element (for example, a roller), and the downhill surface 143 may be constituted by the outer peripheral surface of the rolling element.

100 ... Sorting and conveying equipment 108 ... Packaging material line 110 ... Sorting and conveying line 112 ... Sorting line section,
115: Sorting unit 140 ... Chute 142 ... Downhill wall 143 ... Downhill surface 151 ... Movable guide wall 155 ... Drive mechanism 160 ... Empty container transfer line 162 ... Unload line Unit 170 ... container supply line 172 ... receiving unit 180, 190 ... actual container transport line 187, 197 ... slip issuing unit 187a, 197a ... slip issuing unit 188, 198 ... packaging unit W ... Article W1 ... Sorted article P1 ... Downhill regulation position P2 ... Downhill allowable position C0 ... Empty container C1 ... Actual container

Claims (5)

A sorting line for transporting a plurality of input articles and sorting in a predetermined number of sorting sections, and a chute of the predetermined number or more for transporting sorted articles that are the articles sorted by the sorting section to an empty container In a sorting and conveying facility comprising
A container supply line for transporting the empty container to the receiving part and having a receiving part in which the empty container that receives the sorted articles carried out by the chute is disposed is provided for each chute.
Each said container supply line carries out the actual container which accommodated the said sorted goods carried out by the said chute from the said receiving part, The sorting conveyance equipment characterized by the above-mentioned. The chute includes a downhill part having a downhill surface on which the sorted article slides down, a movable member that can come into contact with the sorted article downhill on the downhill surface, and a drive mechanism.
The movable member is driven by the drive mechanism and comes into contact with the sorted article to stop or slow down the sorted article. 2. The sorting conveyance according to claim 1, wherein the sorting conveyance is possible between a downhill allowable position for guiding the sorted articles while sliding down toward the empty container located in the receiving unit at a position close to the container. Facility. An empty container transfer line for transferring the empty container to the container supply line;
The empty container transport line has a carry-out line section having a plurality of carry-out sections for carrying out the empty container to the container supply line;
The sorting / conveying equipment according to claim 1, wherein the carry-out line unit is disposed along the sorting line unit directly below a sorting line unit including a plurality of the sorting units. An actual container transport line that transports the actual container and has a payout unit from which the actual container is paid out;
The said container supply line carries out the said actual container from the said receiving part to the said actual container conveyance line, The sorting conveyance equipment as described in any one of Claim 1 to 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. The actual container transport line is a plurality of independent actual container transport lines for one sorting line,
5. The sorting and conveying equipment according to claim 4, wherein a slip issuing device for the sorted goods is provided in each of the actual container conveying lines.

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