JP2013095585A - Conveying method and sorting and conveying system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology capable of contributing to improve the percentage of communication success with an RF tag attached to a conveying target object.SOLUTION: In a conveying method of a conveying system having a conveying means for conveying a conveying target object and an antenna for communicating with an RF tag attached to the conveying target object to be conveyed by the conveying means, the conveying means conveys the conveying target object to a predetermined communication position at which the percentage of communication success with the RF tag through the antenna is high, and while the conveying target object is being temporarily stopped at the predetermined communication position, communication processing is executed with the RF tag attached to the conveying target object through the antenna.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for sorting and transporting a transport object such as a book.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a sorting transport system that transports a transport target such as a cardboard box or a book while sorting the transport target toward any one of a plurality of transport destinations.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for performing communication with an RF tag attached to an object to be transported, and sorting the transport destination of the object to be transported based on information read from the RF tag.

JP 2007-191226 A

  In the sorting and conveying system as in the above prior art, when communication with the RF tag attached to the object to be conveyed fails, the conveying process is stopped assuming that the object to be conveyed has failed to communicate with the RF tag. In general, notification of an error and distribution to a predetermined transport destination when a communication error occurs are common operations.

  However, a communication error with an RF tag may occur due to the positional relationship or the like even when the RF tag or the antenna that reads the RF tag is normal. It is difficult to say that the processing is preferable in performing proper sorting and conveyance.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a technique capable of contributing to an improvement in the communication success rate with an RF tag attached to a conveyance target. And

  In order to solve the above-described problem, one embodiment of the present invention includes a transport unit that transports a transport target and an antenna that communicates with an RF tag attached to the transport target transported by the transport unit. A transport method in the system, wherein the transport means transports the transport target to a predetermined communication position where the success rate of communication with the RF tag by the antenna is high, and temporarily stops the transport target at the predetermined communication position. It is related with the conveyance method which performs a communication process with the RF tag attached | subjected to the said conveyance target object by the said antenna in the made state.

  In the transport method as described above, when the communication process with the RF tag attached to the transport object fails, the position of the transport object with respect to the antenna is transferred to the communication process by the transport unit. It is desirable to move a predetermined distance from the position at the time of the failure, and to execute again the communication process with the RF tag attached to the conveyance object by the antenna.

  Further, in the transport method as described above, when the writing process to the RF tag attached to the transport object fails, the position of the transport object with respect to the antenna is transferred to the write process by the transport unit. It is preferable to move by a predetermined distance from the position at the time of failure, and execute again the writing process to the RF tag attached to the object to be transported by the antenna.

  Further, in the transport method configured as described above, the transport system further includes a light emitting unit capable of selectively emitting any one of a plurality of different colors, based on the operating status of the transport system, It is possible to determine whether or not the transport object can be placed on the transport means, and to switch the light emission color by the light emitting unit according to the determination result of whether or not the transport object can be placed on the transport means.

  Further, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a pair of main rollers that rotate around rotation axes parallel to each other, a plurality of the main rollers wound around the pair of main rollers, and spaced apart in parallel in the rotation axis direction of the main rollers The pair of main rollers positioned between at least two adjacent endless belts of the plurality of endless belts in a plane direction including rotation axes of both of the plurality of endless belts and the pair of main rollers. A distribution roller that rotates about a rotation axis extending in a direction orthogonal to both rotation axes; a storage position in which a vertex of the outer peripheral surface of the distribution roller is located below a vertex of the outer peripheral surfaces of the plurality of endless belts; Ascending / descending the sorting roller between the vertex of the roller outer peripheral surface and the protruding position located above the vertex of the outer peripheral surface of the plurality of endless belts A communication device for performing a communication process with a sorting transport device including a mechanism, a transport unit that transports a transport target toward the sorting transport device, and an RF tag attached to the transport target transported by the transport unit. The present invention relates to a sorting and conveying system including a front end module having an antenna.

  In the sorting and conveying system configured as described above, the front end module is wound around the second pair of rollers that rotate about rotation axes parallel to each other as the conveying means, and the second pair of rollers. And a plurality of second endless belts arranged in parallel at intervals in the rotation axis direction of the roller, and the spacing between the belts of the second plurality of endless belts in the front end module is It is desirable that the distance between the plurality of endless belts in the sorting and conveying apparatus is set to be narrower.

  In the sorting and conveying system configured as described above, the front end module is wound around the second pair of rollers that rotate about rotation axes parallel to each other as the conveying means, and the second pair of rollers. And a plurality of second endless belts arranged in parallel at intervals in the rotation axis direction of the roller, the second plurality of endless belts in the front end module, and the sorting and conveying device The plurality of endless belts may be arranged at different positions in the rotation axis direction.

  In the sorting and conveying system configured as described above, it is desirable that the second plurality of endless belts in the front end module and the plurality of endless belts in the sorting and conveying apparatus are alternately arranged.

  In the sorting and conveying system configured as described above, the second pair of rollers in the front end module has a lower rotational speed when conveying an object to be conveyed than the pair of main rollers in the sorting and conveying apparatus. It can be set as the structure set to.

  In the sorting and conveying system configured as described above, the base further includes a base portion that is at least partially positioned between the pair of main rollers and rotatably supports the pair of main rollers. Has a through hole formed between at least two adjacent endless belts of the plurality of endless belts in a plane direction including the rotation shafts of both of the pair of main rollers, and the elevating mechanism includes the sorting mechanism. The sorting roller can be moved up and down by moving the roller in the through hole.

  As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique that can contribute to the improvement of the communication success rate with the RF tag attached to the conveyance object.

1 is an external perspective view showing an overview of a sorting and conveying system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the side view which showed the schematic internal structure of the sorting conveyance system by embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which looked at the state which removed the upper cover 109 of the sorting conveyance system by embodiment of this invention from the upper direction. It is the figure which looked at the state where the upper cover 209 of the master module 2 was removed from above. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a belt conveyor portion in a state where an upper cover 109 of the front end module 1 is removed. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the appearance of a belt conveyor portion in a state where an upper cover 209 of the master module 2 is removed. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the appearance of a belt conveyor portion in a state where an upper cover 209 of the master module 2 is removed. It is the figure which looked at the upper cover 109 of the front end module 1 from the upper direction. It is the figure which looked at the upper cover 109 of the front end module 1 from the side. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram seen from the side for explaining the operating principle of the transport mechanism in the master module 2. It is a figure which shows schematic structure which looked at the upstream from the main conveyance direction downstream of the conveyance mechanism in the master module. It is the schematic block diagram which looked at the state which raised the distribution roller 205 in the master module 2 from the side. It is a layout figure which shows an example of how to combine the front end module 1, the master module 2, and each distribution box BIN # 0-2. It is a functional block diagram which shows the function with which the sorting conveyance system by embodiment of this invention is provided. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the sorting conveyance method by embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the flow of the sorting conveyance method by embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the flow of the sorting conveyance method by embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the flow of the sorting conveyance method by embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the flow of the sorting conveyance method by embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the flow of the sorting conveyance method by embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the flow of the sorting conveyance method by embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the flow of the sorting conveyance method by embodiment of this invention. It is a layout figure which shows an example of how to combine the front end module 1, the master module 2, and each distribution box BIN # 0-8. It is a layout figure which shows an example of how to combine the front end module 1, the master module 2, and each distribution box BIN # 0-4.

  Hereinafter, a sorting and conveying system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The sorting and conveying system according to the present embodiment reads an RF tag (also referred to as an IC tag or RFID) attached to an object to be conveyed, and gives an instruction from a higher-level library library server or the like according to the reading result. Sort the transport destinations based on. Also, predetermined information is written to the RF tag according to the read result of the RF tag. In the present embodiment, a sorting and conveying system installed in a library is illustrated.

  In the example shown below, the case where the object to be transported is a book is exemplified, but of course, the present invention is not limited to this, and depending on the transport capacity of the sorting transport system and the transport space in the apparatus, for example, a cardboard box, a mail A desired transport object such as an object or a rental DVD can be selected as appropriate.

  First, a schematic system configuration of a sorting and conveying system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an overview of a sorting and conveying system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view showing a schematic internal structure of the sorting and conveying system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a top view of the sorting and conveying system according to the embodiment of the present invention with the upper cover 109 removed.

  A sorting and conveying system according to an embodiment of the present invention is arranged on the upstream side in the conveying direction of an object to be conveyed, and a front end module (FE) 1 that conveys the object to be conveyed toward a master module 2 described later, and an object to be conveyed. And a master module (MM) 2 (corresponding to a sorting and conveying device) disposed downstream of the front end module 1 in the conveying direction. The front end module 1 is placed on a table Q, for example.

  The front end module 1 includes a belt conveyor that conveys a book that is a conveyance object toward the master module 2, and reading of information from an RF tag attached to the conveyance object that is conveyed by the belt conveyor and the RF tag. An antenna 105 for performing information writing processing (various communication processing with an RF tag)

  The master module 2 has a configuration that distributes and conveys objects to be conveyed to a plurality of conveyance destinations, and reads a book with an RF tag that has been subjected to information reading and information writing processing in the front end module 1. Then, based on the information received from the front-end module 1 and read from the RF tag by the front-end module 1, it is sorted and conveyed to a conveyance destination corresponding to the information.

  The front-end module 1 includes, for example, a personal computer 801 and a control device 802 with built-in firmware. By executing a program stored in the personal computer 801 and the firmware of the control device, various types of front-end module 1 are provided. Realize the function.

  Similarly, the master module 2 includes, for example, a control device 702 with a built-in firmware. By executing a program stored in the personal computer 801 and the firmware of the control device, the master module 2 has various functions. Realize.

  Further, the entire system including the front end module 1 and the master module 2 may be configured to include one personal computer and one control device with built-in firmware. In this case, on the assumption that electrical communication is possible between the front-end module 1 and the master module 2, the personal computer and the control device with built-in firmware are either the front-end module 1 or the master module 2, respectively. May be arranged. Each personal computer in this system communicates with a book library server connected to the system so as to be capable of electrical communication, and also performs book management processing such as confirmation and update of registration information.

  Next, detailed configurations of the front-end module 1 and the master module 2 constituting the sorting and conveying system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a top view of the master module 2 with the upper cover 209 removed. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the belt conveyor portion of the front end module 1 with the upper cover 109 removed. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the belt conveyor portion of the master module 2 with the upper cover 209 removed. FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the belt conveyor portion with the upper cover 209 of the master module 2 removed. FIG. 8 is a view of the upper cover 109 of the front end module 1 as viewed from above. FIG. 9 is a view of the upper cover 109 of the front end module 1 as viewed from the side. FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram seen from the side for explaining the operation principle of the transport mechanism in the master module 2. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the transport mechanism in the master module 2 as viewed from the downstream side in the main transport direction. FIG. 12 is a schematic configuration diagram of the state in which the sorting roller 205 in the master module 2 is lifted, viewed from the side. FIG. 13 is a layout diagram showing an example of how the front end module 1, the master module 2, and the distribution boxes BIN # 0-2 are combined.

  First, the master module 2 (sorting and conveying apparatus) according to the present invention will be described.

  The master module 2 includes, for example, a base portion 201, a main roller 202, a main roller 203, a plurality of endless belts 204, a sorting roller 205, a main motor 206, a driving belt 207, a roller holding arm 208, a slider 209, a pulley holding member 210, Motor holding member 211, guide shaft 212, pulley 213, sorting roller motor 214, pulley 215, lifting motor 216, lifting cam 217, roller 218, sorting roller driving belt 219, transmission belt 220, sensor S21, sensor S22 Sensor S23 and the like.

  The paired main roller 202 and main roller 203 rotate about rotation axes P3 and P4 that are parallel to each other.

  A plurality of endless belts 204 are wound around a pair of main roller 202 and main roller 203, and a plurality of endless belts 204 are arranged in parallel at intervals in the direction of the rotation axis P3 (in this embodiment, 10 as an example). . The plurality of endless belts 204 have a substantially circular cross section and are made of a material such as polyurethane, for example.

  The sorting roller 205 is arranged between at least two adjacent endless belts among the plurality of endless belts 204 in the plane direction including the rotation shaft P3 and the rotation shaft P4 of both the main roller 202 and the main roller 203 that are paired. The rotating shaft P3 of the main roller 202 and the main roller 203, which are positioned and paired, and the rotating shaft P5 extending in the direction orthogonal to the rotating shaft P4 are rotated. At least a part of the roller outer peripheral surface of the sorting roller 205 is desirably formed of a material having a high frictional resistance such as rubber, for example, so as to convey the object to be conveyed without slipping.

  The rotational driving force of the sorting roller motor 214 held by the motor holding member 211 formed integrally with the roller holding arm 208 is distributed via the pulley 215, the transmission belt 220, the pulley 213, and the sorting roller driving belt 219. It is transmitted to the roller 205. A pulley (not shown) is rotatably provided on the rotation shaft of the pulley 213, and the roller driving belt 219 is wound around the pulley (not shown).

  The base portion 201 is at least partially positioned between the paired main roller 202 and the main roller 203, and rotatably supports the paired main roller 202 and the main roller 203, respectively. In the base portion 201, a through hole 201h is formed between at least two adjacent endless belts among the plurality of endless belts 204 in the plane direction including the rotation axes P3 and P4 of both the pair of main rollers.

  An inclined surface 201m for preventing the book from being caught is formed at the corner on the downstream side in the transport direction by the plurality of endless belts 204 of the upper opening of the through hole 201h formed in the base portion 201 for moving the sorting roller 205 up and down. Is formed.

  Further, the base portion 201 is desirably formed of a material having a low frictional resistance with the plurality of endless belts 204, such as a high molecular weight polyethylene.

  In this way, by forming inclined surfaces (chamfered) at the corners of the through-holes 201h, a magazine that hangs down when it is transported by being placed on a plurality of endless belts 204, such as a magazine. Even when the end portion of the magazine enters the hole portion, the magazine end portion is smoothly guided to the upper surface of the base portion by the inclined surface, and is not easily caught, torn or broken.

  In addition, since the pair of main rollers are supported by the plate-like base portion 201 in which the through hole 201h is formed, the upper surface of the base portion is positioned at least below the endless belt 204. Therefore, even when a book having a weight that cannot be supported only by the tension of the endless belt 204 is placed on the endless belt, the lower surface of the endless belt 204 can be supported by the upper surface of the base portion. Thereby, even a heavy book can be conveyed by a relatively thin endless belt.

  The elevating mechanism includes an “accommodating position” (see FIG. 10) in which the apex of the outer peripheral surface of the sorting roller 205 is positioned below the apexes of the outer peripheral surfaces of the plurality of endless belts 204, and the apex of the outer peripheral surface of the sorting roller 205. The sorting roller 205 is moved up and down between “protruding positions” (see FIG. 12) positioned above the vertices of the outer peripheral surfaces of the plurality of endless belts 204. Here, when in the “projecting position”, the apex of the outer peripheral surface of the sorting roller 205 is set to be positioned above the apexes of the outer peripheral surfaces of the plurality of endless belts 204 by a distance k (for example, about 9 mm). ing.

  Specifically, the elevating mechanism includes, for example, a roller holding arm 208 that rotatably supports the sorting roller 205 about the rotation axis P5, and a vertical direction along a guide shaft 212 that is fixed to the main body. A slider 209 that is slidably moved, a pulley holding member 210 and a motor holding member 211 that are arranged to be movable integrally with the roller holding arm 208, a driven pulley 213 that is rotatably held by the pulley holding member 210, and a motor Sorting roller motor 214 and drive pulley 215 held by holding member 211, elevating motor 216 fixed to the main body, elevating cam 217 fixed to the rotation output shaft of elevating motor 216, and motor holding The member 211 is rotatably supported by the member 211 and contacts the upper surface of the lifting cam 217. The roller 218, the transmission belt 220 for transmitting the rotational driving force of the distribution roller motor 214 from the driving pulley 215 to the driven pulley 213, and the rotational driving force received by the driven pulley 213 are transmitted to the distribution roller 205. It comprises a sorting roller driving belt 219.

  The sorting roller motor 214 and the lifting motor 216 can be driven and controlled by a control device 701 with built-in firmware, for example.

  With such a configuration, the lifting mechanism moves the sorting roller 205 up and down in the vertical direction by moving the sorting roller 205 in the through hole 201h.

  The sensors S21 and S22 are reflection type optical sensors arranged four by four along the conveying direction of the plurality of endless belts 204 outside the plurality of endless belts 204 in the rotation axis direction of the main roller 202. It is. Sensors S <b> 21 and S <b> 22 detect passage of a book conveyed by the sorting roller 205. When the passage of the book is detected by the sensor S21 and the sensor S22, the control device 701 with a built-in firmware determines that the book has been put into the sorting box at the transport destination.

  For example, four sensors S23 are provided between the adjacent endless belts of the plurality of endless belts 204 on the upper surface of the base portion 201. The sensor S23 detects passage of a book conveyed from the plurality of endless belts 204. When the passage of a book is detected by the sensor S23, the control device 701 with a built-in firmware determines that the book has been put into a sorting box at the transport destination.

  In this way, by adopting a configuration in which the sorting roller 205 can be moved up and down between the endless belts 204 that are divided and arranged in a plurality, it is possible to arrange two conveying means having different conveying directions in one arrangement space, Compared to the conventional configuration in which a plurality of belt conveyors having different directions are arranged along the conveying direction, a significant space saving can be realized.

  Further, in the conventional flat belt conveyor of one sheet, even when the belt is partially deteriorated, the entire belt needs to be replaced. However, according to the configuration of the present invention, a plurality of endlessly arranged in parallel By adopting the belt, it is only necessary to replace the deteriorated ones among the plurality of endless belts, which can contribute to the reduction of the maintenance burden and the maintenance cost.

  As described above, since the sensor is arranged between the plurality of endless belts 204 arranged in parallel, the sensor and the book to be detected are not blocked by the belt. It is also possible to employ a transmission optical sensor or the like, and the options for available sensors can be expanded.

  With the above-described configuration, the master module 2 conveys the conveyance object to the BIN # 0 by the endless belt 204, and conveys the conveyance object to the BIN # 1 or BIN # 2 by the sorting roller 205. Switching of the transport destination by the sorting roller 205 is realized by switching the rotational driving direction of the sorting roller motor 214 by the processor 701.

  Next, the front end module 1 according to the present invention will be described.

  As a belt conveyor, the front end module 1 includes a pair of rollers 102 and 103 (which correspond to a second pair of rollers) that rotate about rotation axes P1 and P2 that are parallel to each other, An endless belt 104 (corresponding to a second plurality of endless belts) wound around the roller 103 and arranged in parallel (for example, 10) at intervals in the rotation axes P1 and P2 of the roller, and an RF tag An antenna 105 (RFID reader: ASI-4300) for reading information and writing information to an RF tag, a reflective optical sensor S11 for detecting passage of a transported book, and a roller 103 for rotationally driving A transmission belt 107 that transmits the rotational driving force from the motor 106 to the roller 103 and a light emitting unit W are provided.

  The light emitting unit W can be constituted by, for example, an LED or an organic EL, and can selectively emit any one of a plurality of different colors such as red and blue (or green). The light emitting unit W can be disposed, for example, at a position such as an inner wall of the upper cover 109 in the front end module 1 (see FIG. 2).

  Thereby, the light irradiated from the light emission part W is made to be visually recognized from the outside of the upper cover 109 through the window 109a with high light transmittance, such as an acrylic board. Of course, not only the light that passes through the window 109a and goes outside, but also the light that illuminates the belt conveyor and the book in the upper cover 109 can be viewed from the book slot of the upper cover 109. Further, by engraving the contents of notification to the user in the window 109a and illuminating the engraving portion with illumination light from the light emitting unit W, visual notification to the user can be performed. .

  Various controls such as drive control of the motor 106, communication processing with the RF tag by the antenna 105, acquisition of the detection result in the sensor S11, and light emission control of the light emitting unit W are, for example, control with built-in personal computer 801 and firmware It can be realized by the device 802.

  Further, in the sorting and conveying system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the interval between the plurality of endless belts 104 in the front end module 1 is set to be narrower than the interval between the plurality of endless belts 204 in the master module 2. ing.

  Thus, by making the pitch of the endless belt in the front end module 1 narrower than the pitch of the endless belt in the master module 2, it is possible to produce an effect that a small book such as a curled paperback book can be conveyed without problems.

  Note that the plurality of endless belts 104 in the front end module 1 and the plurality of endless belts 204 in the master module 2 are desirably arranged at different positions in the direction of the rotation axis P1, for example.

  Furthermore, in the sorting and conveying system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of endless belts 104 in the front end module 1 and the plurality of endless belts 204 in the master module 2 are alternately arranged (see FIG. 3).

  In this way, the endless belt 104 in the front end module 1 and the endless belt 204 in the master module 2 are located at different positions in the direction of the rotation axis P1 of the roller, so that the front end module 1 and the master module 2 are endless. When the belts 104 are arranged close to each other in the conveying direction, the endless belt 104 in the front end module 1 and the endless belt 204 in the master module 2 can be alternated, which makes it easy to bring both modules closer together. There is an effect that the conveyance at the joint between the module 1 and the master module 2 can be performed smoothly.

  Further, the control device 801 with built-in firmware and the control device 701 with built-in firmware are configured so that the roller 103 in the front-end module 1 has a lower rotational speed at the time of transporting the transport object than the main roller 203 in the master module 2. The motor 106 and the motor 107 are driven and controlled.

  In the front end module 1, unlike the master module 2, the communication between the object to be conveyed such as reading and writing of the RF tag is performed. In order to ensure the stability of communication, the conveyance speed of the conveyance object is set slower than the master module 2 side.

  Then, the detail of the sorting conveyance method in the sorting conveyance system by embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. Note that the various controls in the sorting and conveying process here are exemplified by a case where the personal computer 801 and the control devices 702 and 802 with built-in firmware cooperate, but the present invention is not limited to this. Needless to say, the present invention can also be realized by a personal computer (PC) or the like connected to the sorting and conveying system according to the embodiment and capable of electrical communication via a LAN or the like. In this case, software for performing various controls in the sorting and conveying system is installed in the PC.

  FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram showing functions provided in the sorting and conveying system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the flow of the sorting and conveying method according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 16-22 is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the flow of the sorting conveyance method by embodiment of this invention. FIG. 23 is a layout diagram showing an example of how the front end module 1, the master module 2, and the distribution boxes BIN # 0 to BIN # 8 are combined. FIG. 24 is a layout diagram showing an example of how the front end module 1, the master module 2, and the distribution boxes BIN # 0 to BIN # 4 are combined.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the sorting and conveying system according to the embodiment of the present invention includes, for example, a conveyance control unit 601, a reading unit 602, a writing unit 603, a delivery unit 604, a sorting and conveying unit 605 as processing functions. Yes. These functions are realized by causing the personal computer 801 and the control devices 702 and 802 with built-in firmware to execute the functions. Note that these functions only have to be provided as a whole sorting and conveying system as a result, and it does not matter which processor realizes each function.

  First, the personal computer 801 and the control device 802 with a built-in firmware function as functions of the conveyance control unit 601, a predetermined high rate of successful writing (communication success rate) of the object to be conveyed to the RF tag by the antenna 105 by the plurality of endless belts 204. (S101) (see FIGS. 16 and 17). In this case, the positioning of the transport object can be performed, for example, by detecting the downstream end of the transport object in the transport direction by the sensor S12. Therefore, it is preferable that the arrangement of the sensor S12 is a position at which the object to be conveyed becomes the optimum reading position by the antenna 105 when the above control is performed.

  In general, the “predetermined writing position with a high writing success rate to the RF tag by the antenna” means a position that falls within the electromagnetic field range radiated from the antenna.

  Next, as a function of the reading unit 602, the personal computer 801 causes the antenna 105 to read information from the RF tag attached to the book that is the conveyance target (S102) (see FIG. 17).

  Next, as a function of the writing unit 604, the personal computer 801 performs a writing process on the RF tag attached to the object to be transported by the antenna while the book that is the object to be transported is temporarily stopped at a predetermined writing position. Is executed (S103) (see FIG. 17).

  Next, the personal computer 801 performs transport control so that a book as a transport object is transferred from the front end module 1 to the master module 2 as a function of the sorting transport unit 605 (see FIG. 19). Here, it is determined that the book has been successfully delivered to the master module 2 when the trailing end of the transported book in the transport direction is no longer detected by the sensor S12 (see FIG. 20).

  Based on the information read from the RF tag, the personal computer 801 uses one of the endless belt 204 and the sorting roller 205 in the master module 2 to carry the conveyance destination (BIN # 0, BIN) corresponding to the information read from the RF tag. It is conveyed toward any one of # 1 and BIN # 2 (S105). Here, examples of the “information read from the RF tag” as a reference for the sorting process of the transport destination include the UID of the RF tag, for example. FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a book is conveyed and input into BIN # 0 by the endless belt 204. FIG. FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a book is transported into BIN # 1 by the sorting roller 205.

  As described above, when the information writing process to the RF tag attached to the object to be transported is performed, the success rate of the writing process to the RF tag can be increased by stopping the RF tag with respect to the antenna.

  Note that the personal computer 801 uses the plurality of endless belts 204 to determine the position of the conveyance object relative to the antenna when the writing process to the RF tag attached to the book that is the conveyance object fails as a function of the writing unit 604. For example, it is shifted by a few mm (predetermined distance) in a predetermined direction, and the writing process to the RF tag by the antenna 105 is executed again (see FIG. 18). It should be noted that the distance and direction in which the object to be transported is shifted during the writing retry can be appropriately set depending on the performance of the antenna and the device configuration. Of course, it goes without saying that not only the writing process to the RF tag but also the information reading process from the RF tag can be configured to retry by shifting the position of the conveyance object.

  Further, the personal computer 801 determines whether or not the conveyance target object can be placed on the plurality of endless belts 104 in the front end module 1 based on the operation status of the front end module 1, and moves onto the plurality of endless belts 204. The color of light emitted by the light emitting unit is switched according to the determination result of whether or not the transport object can be placed.

  Specifically, when the RF tag reading process in the front end module 1 is being executed, the writing process to the RF tag is being executed, or either the front end module 1 or the master module 2 has failed. For example, when the light emitting unit W emits red light and the front end module 1 can accept a new book, the light emitting unit W emits blue light. Of course, as the control of the light emission state of the light emitting unit W in accordance with the operation status of the apparatus, it is conceivable to not only change the emission color, but also to blink, or to control the lighting interval in the blinking.

  According to this, the user can determine the operating status of the front-end module based on the light emission color of the light emitting unit without performing screen operations or the like, which can contribute to a significant reduction in the operation burden on the user.

  In addition, the personal computer 801 uses the information read by the antenna 105 of the front-end module 1 when a book with an RF tag storing the information is not registered in the book library server or is taken out. If the book is in a state where it is not possible to accept a return, for example, the prohibition flag cannot be written, the plurality of endless belts 104 are driven in the opposite direction to the master module 2 and the book is returned to the user to prompt re-insertion. You can also. (Book position shown in FIG. 16)

  Of course, instead of returning a book that cannot be returned and returned to the user, any one of the return boxes BIN # 0 to BIN # 2 is used as a box in which a book that cannot be accepted for return is placed. It can be set and distributed by the master module 2.

  In this way, even when there is an RF tag within the radio wave irradiation range of the antenna, when writing is not possible, the positional relationship between the antenna and the RF tag is changed by slightly shifting the position of the RF tag with respect to the antenna, The success rate of the writing process can be increased.

  In addition, the personal computer 801 starts executing the sorting process by one of the endless belt 204 and the sorting roller 205 even though the reception of the book from the front-end module 1 is detected by the sensor S12. If the passage of the book is not detected by the sensors S21 to S23 even after a predetermined time has elapsed, it is determined that there is a sorting error, and the emission color of the light emitting unit W in the front end module 1 is changed to red or provided in the master module. By changing the light emission state of a light emitting unit (not shown) that can be performed, it is possible to notify the user that a book in an unsorted state remains in the master module.

  FIGS. 23 and 24 are layout diagrams showing an example of how the front end module 1, the master module 2, and the boxes BIN # 0 to BIN # 8 are combined. Of course, it is not restricted to this, It can also be set as the conveyance system which combined the normal belt conveyor further.

  The present invention can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the spirit or main features thereof. Therefore, the above-described embodiment is merely an example in all respects and should not be interpreted in a limited manner. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the scope of claims, and is not restricted by the text of the specification. Further, all modifications, various improvements, alternatives and modifications belonging to the equivalent scope of the claims are all within the scope of the present invention.

1 Front-end module,
2 Master module,
201 base part,
202 main roller,
203 main roller,
204 endless belts,
205 sorting roller,
206 Main motor,
207 drive belt,
208 roller holding arm,
209 slider,
210 pulley holding member,
211 motor holding member,
212 guide shaft,
213 pulley,
214 motor for sorting roller,
215 pulley,
216 lift motor,
217 Elevating cam,
218 roller,
219 belt for driving the sorting roller,
220 transmission belt,
S21 sensor,
S22 sensor,
S23 sensor,
102 Laura,
103 Laura,
104 endless belt,
105 antenna S11 sensor,
106 motor,
103 Laura,
107 transmission belt,
W Light emitting part.

Claims (9)

A transport method in a transport system comprising transport means for transporting a transport object and an antenna for communicating with an RF tag attached to the transport object transported by the transport means,
Transporting the transport object by the transport means to a predetermined communication position with a high communication success rate with the RF tag by the antenna,
A transport method for executing a communication process with the RF tag attached to the transport target by the antenna while the transport target is temporarily stopped at the predetermined communication position. In the conveyance method of Claim 1,
When at least one of the information reading process and the information writing process with the RF tag attached to the transport object fails, the position of the transport object with respect to the antenna is determined by the transport unit. , By moving a predetermined distance from the position when at least one of the information reading process and the information writing process fails,
A transport method for performing again at least one of the information reading process and the information writing process with the RF tag attached to the transport object by the antenna. In the conveyance method in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 2,
The transport system further includes a light emitting unit capable of selectively emitting any one of a plurality of different colors.
Based on the operating status of the transfer system, determine whether or not the transfer object can be placed on the transfer means,
A transport method for switching a light emission color by the light emitting unit according to a determination result of whether or not the transport object can be placed on the transport means. A pair of main rollers rotating around rotation axes parallel to each other; a plurality of endless belts wound around the pair of main rollers and arranged in parallel at intervals in the rotation axis direction of the main rollers; In a plane direction including the rotation axes of both of the pair of main rollers, it is located between at least two adjacent endless belts of the plurality of endless belts, and is in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axes of both of the pair of main rollers A sorting roller that rotates about an extending rotation axis; a housing position in which a vertex of the sorting roller outer circumferential surface is located below a vertex of the plurality of endless belt outer circumferential surfaces; and a vertex of the sorting roller outer circumferential surface. A sorting mechanism comprising: an elevating mechanism for elevating and lowering the sorting roller between a protruding position located above the apex of the outer peripheral surface of the endless belt; And equipment,
A front end module comprising: a transport unit that transports a transport target toward the sorting transport device; and an antenna that performs communication processing with an RF tag attached to the transport target transported by the transport unit;
Sorting and conveying system with In the sorting conveyance system according to claim 4,
The front end module is wound around the second pair of rollers that rotate around the rotation shafts parallel to each other as the conveying means, and the second pair of rollers, and is spaced from each other in the rotation shaft direction of the rollers. A plurality of endless belts arranged in parallel with a plurality of openings, and
The sorting conveyance system in which the interval between the belts of the second plurality of endless belts in the front end module is set to be narrower than the interval between the belts of the plurality of endless belts in the sorting conveyance device. In the sorting conveyance system according to claim 4,
The front end module is wound around the second pair of rollers that rotate around the rotation shafts parallel to each other as the conveying means, and the second pair of rollers, and is spaced from each other in the rotation shaft direction of the rollers. A plurality of endless belts arranged in parallel with a plurality of openings, and
The sorting and conveying system in which the second plurality of endless belts in the front end module and the plurality of endless belts in the sorting and conveying device are arranged at different positions in the rotation axis direction. In the sorting conveyance system according to claim 4,
The sorting and conveying system in which the second plurality of endless belts in the front end module and the plurality of endless belts in the sorting and conveying apparatus are alternately arranged. In the sorting conveyance system in any one of Claims 4 thru | or 7,
The sorting and conveying system in which the second pair of rollers in the front end module is set to have a lower rotational speed when conveying an object to be conveyed than the pair of main rollers in the sorting and conveying apparatus. In the sorting conveyance system according to claim 4,
At least a portion thereof is located between the pair of main rollers, and further includes a base portion that pivotally supports each of the pair of main rollers,
In the base portion, a through hole is formed between at least two endless belts adjacent to each other in the plurality of endless belts in a plane direction including the rotation axes of the pair of main rollers.
The sorting and conveying system in which the lifting mechanism moves the sorting roller up and down by moving the sorting roller in the through hole.

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