JP2014113577A - Article classification device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an article classification device capable of detecting the occurrence of an abnormality on a transport path on which an article is transported, and promptly notify an administrator of the occurrence of the abnormality.SOLUTION: An article classification device for transporting an article by transport means, reading classification information from the article, and classifying the article, includes: a plurality of abnormality detection means for detecting a transport abnormality in a plurality of portions of the transport means; a plurality of image pickup means, corresponding to the plurality of abnormality detection means, respectively, for picking up images in the plurality of portions of the transport means; a monitoring monitor including a first display unit that schematically displays entirety of the transport means in predetermined colors and a second display unit constituted by a plurality of image display portions displaying the respective images picked up by the image pickup means; first display control means for controlling the first display unit to display the portion corresponding to one of the abnormality detection means in a different color if the abnormality detection means detects an abnormality; and second display control means for controlling the image pickup means corresponding to the abnormality detection means detecting the abnormality if the abnormality detection means detects the abnormality to pick up an enlarged image in the portion of the transport means corresponding to the abnormality detection means and to display the enlarged image on the corresponding image display portion of the second display unit.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an article sorting apparatus that sorts articles such as parcels based on the sorting information.

  Recently, the destination information described in the form is read from the package (article) to which the form (delivery slip) in which the destination information (classification information) is attached, and the destination is sent to the package based on the read destination information. A separate article sorting apparatus has been developed and put into practical use.

  Such an article sorting apparatus conveys a parcel to be processed by a conveyor (conveyance path), captures an image of a surface on which a form of the parcel to be transported is attached, and from the image captured by this camera, The destination information described in the form is recognized (read), and the parcel is classified based on the recognition result.

  Conventionally, in such an article sorting apparatus, an administrator visually monitors the operation status. However, it is difficult to perform human monitoring at a distribution base where a large number of conveyors are introduced due to an increase in the amount of parcels to be processed. In addition, a system has been introduced that displays the image of the surveillance camera on the monitor in the surveillance room, but when there are many surveillance points, it is divided on the monitor (1/16 etc.) and rotated and displayed. There is a problem that it is difficult and difficult to discover abnormalities by keeping an eye on the divided images.

Japanese Patent No. 3207419

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an article sorting apparatus capable of detecting occurrence of an abnormality on a conveyance path for conveying an article and promptly notifying an administrator.

  The article sorting apparatus according to the embodiment transports an article to which sorting information is given by a transport unit, reads the sorting information from the transported article, and sorts the transported article based on the read sorting information. In the article sorting apparatus to be processed, a plurality of abnormality detection means for detecting an abnormality in the conveyance of the article at least at a plurality of locations of the conveyance means, and a plurality of abnormality detection means are provided corresponding to the plurality of abnormality detection means. A plurality of image pickup means for picking up an image; a first display section for displaying at least the entire conveying means in a predetermined color; and a plurality of image display sections for displaying each image picked up by the plurality of image pickup means. When the abnormality detection means detects an abnormality, the abnormality is detected in the first display unit of the monitoring monitor. A first display control means for displaying a portion corresponding to the installation position of the output means in a color different from the previous color; and when the abnormality detection means detects an abnormality, the abnormality is detected among the plurality of imaging means. By controlling the imaging means corresponding to the abnormality detection means, the image of the location corresponding to the installation position of the abnormality detection means that detected the abnormality of the transport means is enlarged and taken, and the taken enlarged image is Second display control means for displaying on a corresponding image display section of the second display section in the monitoring monitor.

The schematic diagram which shows roughly the structure of the article | item classification device which concerns on embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows schematically the structure of the monitoring monitor which concerns on embodiment. The flowchart explaining the operation | movement at the time of the conveyance abnormality of the article | item which concerns on embodiment.

Hereinafter, an article sorting apparatus according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 schematically shows a configuration of an article sorting apparatus according to the present embodiment. The article P handled by the article sorting apparatus is, for example, a six-sided parcel, and a form (delivery slip) L in which destination information as sorting information is described is attached (for example, pasted) on at least one side. ing. The destination information is composed of all or part of the prefecture name, city name, city number, name, and the like. In addition to the destination information, necessary information such as the address information of the client is described.

  The article sorting apparatus according to the present embodiment is configured by, for example, a plurality of transport processing systems 1A, 1B,... (Hereinafter also simply referred to as a transport processing system 1). Since each of the transport processing systems 1A, 1B,.

  1 A of conveyance processing systems are the conveyor (conveying means) which conveys the articles | goods P supplied by the supply part 2 and the supply part 2 which supply the article P to be processed one by one with the surface where the form L is attached up 3. A reading unit (reading unit) 4 that reads an image of a surface to which a form L of an article P conveyed by the conveyor 3 is attached, reads destination information from the captured image, and a predetermined interval along the side of the conveyor 3 A plurality of sorting gates 5 a, 5 b, 5 c, 5 d, and the sorting gates 5 a to 5 a arranged along the side of the conveyor 3, which are provided in an open manner and sort the article P that has passed through the reading unit 4 based on the reading result of the destination information. 5d, provided at each of the sorting sections 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d for receiving the articles P sorted by the sorting gates 5a to 5d, and at the terminal end of the conveyor 3, so that the destination information can be read. Accept the missing article P Project unit 7, and a transport control unit 8 for performing driving control of the conveyor 3 to control driving each sorting gate 5a~5d based on the reading result of the reading unit 4.

  Each conveyor 3 is assigned a conveyor number. In this example, for example, conveyor numbers “C1”, “C2”,... Are assigned to the conveyors 3 of the transport processing systems 1A, 1B,.

  Locations in which the conveyance of articles P on the conveyor 3 is likely to occur abnormally, for example, portions corresponding to the respective sorting gates 5a to 5d, in the vicinity of the entrance of the reject unit 7, and in this embodiment, the conveyor 3 is in front of the reading unit 4. Since they are curved, abnormality detection devices (abnormality detection means) 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e, and 9f are provided at the curved portions, respectively.

The abnormality detection devices 9 a to 9 f optically and mechanically detect, for example, conveyance abnormalities such as clogging of articles P on the conveyor 3 or dropping on the ground, and the detection signals are sent to the conveyance control unit 8. It is done.
As a specific example of the conveyance abnormality detection, for example, an optical sensor that detects an article P that is conveyed in the vicinity of the sorting gate 5 is provided, and a failure of the sorting gate 5 is detected by an output signal of the optical sensor. If the phenomenon that the article P being conveyed is clogged and stays in the sorting gate 5 portion continues for a certain time or more, it is detected that a clogging abnormality has occurred. In addition, for example, a drop abnormality is detected by providing a sensor that is turned on by the article P when the article P to be transported falls from the conveyor 3.

  Cameras (imaging means) 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, and 10f are provided in the vicinity of the conveyor 3 so as to correspond to the abnormality detection devices 9a to 9f, respectively. The cameras 10a to 10f capture an image of the vicinity including the conveyor 3 corresponding to the abnormality detection devices 9a to 9f, and have functions capable of remotely tilting and panning.

  Work monitors 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d that display abnormality information and notify the worker M1 and the like are provided in the vicinity of the sorting units 6a to 6d, respectively. Each of the work monitors 11a to 11d includes speakers (voice guidance means) 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d that notify the worker M1 and the like of abnormality information and the like by voice.

  The conveyance control unit 8, the cameras 10a to 10f, and the work monitors 11a to 11d are connected to the monitoring server 13 installed in the central monitoring room, and are controlled by the monitoring server 13, respectively. The monitoring server 13 includes a monitoring monitor 14 in which the administrator M2 and the like monitor the operating state of the article sorting apparatus, and a terminal device 15 in which the administrator M2 performs various setting operations and instruction operations on the monitoring server 13. It is connected.

  The monitoring monitor 14 is controlled by the monitoring server 13, and includes, for example, a first display unit 14a and a second display unit 14b as shown in FIG. The first display unit 14a includes a graphic display unit 15a that schematically displays the plurality of transport processing systems 1A, 1B,... In a predetermined color, and a processing information display unit 15b that displays various processing information and the like using characters and the like. And.

  The graphic display unit 15a includes transport processing system display units 21A, 21B,... Corresponding to the transport processing systems 1A, 1B,. Since each conveyance processing system display unit 21A, 21B,... Has the same configuration, only the conveyance processing system display unit 21A will be described below as a representative.

  The conveyance processing system display unit 21A schematically displays the entire conveyance processing system 1A in a predetermined color as shown in the figure. The display element 22 corresponds to the supply unit 2, and the display element 23 corresponds to the conveyor 3. The display elements 24a, 24b, 24c, and 24d correspond to the dividing sections 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d, and the display element 25 corresponds to the reject section 7. Position information 26 a, 26 b, 26 c, 26 d, 26 e, and 26 f is given to each portion of the display element 23 corresponding to the conveyor 3 corresponding to the abnormality detection devices 9 a to 9 f.

  In such a configuration, for example, when the abnormality detection device 9a detects a conveyance abnormality of the article P, a corresponding portion of the monitoring monitor 14, that is, position information 26a of the display element 23 in the conveyance processing system display unit 21A is given. The location is lit in a color different from the previous color, and an indication that an abnormality in the conveyance of the article P has occurred at the location corresponding to the abnormality detection device 9a of the conveyor 3 is displayed.

  2 shows a case where all the conveyance processing systems 1A, 1B,... Are simultaneously displayed on the graphic display unit 15a. However, the number of the conveyance processing systems 1A, 1B,. Depending on the size, all the transport processing systems 1A, 1B,... May not be displayed at the same time. In such a case, for example, the conveyance processing systems 1A, 1B,... May be divided into displayable numbers and rotated.

  The second display unit 14b displays a plurality of image display units 27a, 27b, 27c, 27d, 27e, 27f,... That display images captured by the cameras 10a to 10f of the transport processing systems 1A, 1B,. It has.

  In such a configuration, for example, when the abnormality detection device 9a detects a conveyance abnormality of the article P, the corresponding image including the conveyor 3 corresponding to the abnormality detection device 9a is enlarged by controlling the corresponding camera 10a. By displaying the captured enlarged image on the corresponding image display unit 27a of the monitoring monitor 14, an image including the article P in which the conveyance abnormality has occurred at a position corresponding to the abnormality detection device 9a of the conveyor 3 is displayed. It is supposed to be.

  The second display unit 14b may be provided with an image display unit corresponding to each camera when the number of cameras is smaller than the number of image display units that can be installed. When the number is larger than the number of display units, the images of the respective cameras may be rotated and displayed on the image display unit having a smaller number.

Next, the operation in such a configuration will be described.
Each of the transfer processing systems 1A, 1B,... Has the same operation, and therefore, only the transfer processing system 1A will be described below as a representative.

First, the overall operation will be briefly described.
The supply unit 2 supplies the articles P to be processed to the conveyor 3 one by one with the surface to which the form L is attached facing upward. The conveyor 3 conveys the article P supplied by the supply unit 2. The reading unit 4 captures an image of the surface to which the form L of the article P transported by the conveyor 3 is attached, reads destination information from the captured image, and sends the destination information to the transport control unit 8. The conveyance control unit 8 controls the sorting gates 5 a to 5 d based on the reading result of the reading unit 4 to distribute the articles P conveyed by the conveyor 3 to the sorting units 6 a to 6 d or the reject unit 7.

  Next, an operation when a conveyance abnormality occurs will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

  For example, when the abnormality detection device 9a detects a fall as a conveyance abnormality of the article P (step S1), the conveyance control unit 8 determines that the conveyance number of the conveyor 3 in which the conveyance abnormality has occurred (in this example, “C1”) and the conveyance abnormality occurs. Abnormal information consisting of positional information of the location where the error occurred (in this example, “26a”) and abnormality type information indicating the abnormality type (in this example, “falling”) is sent to the monitoring server 13 (step S2).

  When the monitoring server 13 receives the abnormality information from the transport control unit 8, based on the content of the abnormality information, the corresponding part of the monitoring monitor 14, in this example, the position information 26 a of the display element 23 in the transport processing system display unit 21 A is displayed. By illuminating the assigned location with a color different from the previous color, it is confirmed that an abnormality in the conveyance of the article P has occurred at the location corresponding to the abnormality detection device 9a of the conveyor 3 (location of location information “26a”). Display (step S2).

  That is, in this example, the entire conveyance processing system display unit 21A is normally displayed in green (first color) in the normal state. However, if the detected abnormality is light, the corresponding part is yellow (second). If the detected abnormality is heavy, the corresponding portion is switched to red (third color) display to indicate that the conveyance abnormality of the article P has occurred (step S3).

  In this example, since the abnormality type information in the abnormality information is “falling”, in this case, it is determined that the abnormality is minor, and the position to which the position information 26a of the display element 23 is assigned is switched to yellow display. When the abnormality type information in the abnormality information is “clogged”, in this case, it is determined that the abnormality is serious, and the portion to which the position information 26a of the display element 23 is assigned is switched to red display.

  Next, the monitoring server 13 determines whether or not the abnormality has been recovered (step S4), and if not recovered, determines whether or not a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes) has elapsed (step S5). If the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process returns to step S4, and if the predetermined time has elapsed, the portion to which the position information 26a of the display element 23 is assigned is switched to purple (fourth color) display (step S6).

  Further, when the monitoring server 13 receives the abnormality information from the conveyance control unit 8, the conveyor 3 corresponding to the abnormality detecting device 9a is controlled by controlling the corresponding camera, in this example, the camera 10a, based on the content of the abnormality information. An image in the vicinity including the image is captured (step S7), and the captured image is displayed on the corresponding image display unit 27a of the monitoring monitor 14, so that a conveyance abnormality occurs at a position corresponding to the abnormality detection device 9a of the conveyor 3. An image including the generated article P is displayed to the manager M2 (step S8).

  Next, the monitoring server 13 enlarges the captured image by zooming the camera 10a based on the operation of the terminal device 15 by the administrator M2 (step S9), and enlarges the display image of the image display unit 27a.

  When the abnormality is recovered in step S4, or when the process of step S6 is completed, or when the process of step S9 is completed, the monitoring server 13 is based on the content of the abnormality information received from the transport control unit 8. The abnormality information is displayed on the work monitor in the vicinity of the corresponding abnormal part, in this example, the work monitor 11a, and is notified to the nearby worker M1 and the like (step S10).

  In this way, when it is displayed on the monitoring monitor 14 that an abnormality in the conveyance of the article P has occurred, the manager M2 who has visually observed it displays an abnormality in the conveyance of the article P by operating the terminal device 15 as necessary. In this example, the speaker 12a is selected and designated, and a voice input from a microphone (not shown) provided in the terminal device 15 is performed. The abnormal part and its restoration are broadcast by voice and notified to the nearby worker M1 (step S11).

  The worker M1 who has visually observed the work monitor 11a or the worker M1 who has listened to the broadcast by the speaker 12a is in an abnormal part where an abnormality in conveyance of the article P has occurred, in this example, in a part corresponding to the abnormality detecting device 9a of the conveyor 3. Then, an operation for eliminating the conveyance abnormality of the generated article P is performed (step S12).

  The monitoring server 13 determines whether or not the abnormality has been recovered (step S13). If the abnormality has not been recovered, the process returns to step S1, repeats the same operation as described above, and completes the operation if the error has been recovered. .

According to the article sorting apparatus of at least one embodiment described above, if there is a conveyance abnormality such as dropping or clogging of articles on the conveyor, it is immediately grasped and displayed on the monitor monitor and notified to the administrator. In addition, the administrator can confirm the situation with an image and give instructions to nearby workers by broadcasting.
As a result, it is possible to immediately detect the occurrence of an abnormality and take measures to recover the abnormality. By minimizing the sorting interruption time due to the stop of the conveyor, the processing efficiency can be improved.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the conveyance abnormality of the article P is detected has been described, but the abnormality of the conveyor 3 itself may also be detected and displayed on the monitoring monitor 14.

  Further, for example, when the worker M1 has the portable terminal device 16 for work, abnormal information similar to the work monitor 11 is transmitted to the portable terminal device 16 by wireless communication, and the portable terminal device 16 It is also possible to notify the worker M1 by displaying the above.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1A, 1B ... Conveyance processing system, P ... Article, L ... Form, 2 ... Supply part, 3 ... Conveyor (conveyance means), 4 ... Reading part, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d ... Sorting gate, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d: sorting unit, 7: rejecting unit, 8: transport control unit, 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e, 9f ... abnormality detecting device (abnormality detecting means), 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f ... Camera (imaging means), 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d ... Work monitor, 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d ... Speaker (voice guidance means), 13 ... Monitoring server, 14 ... Monitoring monitor, 14a ... First display section , 14b ... second display unit, 15 ... terminal device, 15a ... graphic display unit, 15b ... processing information display unit, 21A, 21B ... transport processing system display unit.

Claims (5)

In an article sorting apparatus that conveys an article to which classification information is given by a conveyance unit, reads the classification information from the conveyed article, and classifies the conveyed article based on the read classification information.
A plurality of abnormality detection means for detecting a conveyance abnormality of the article at least at a plurality of locations of the conveyance means;
A plurality of imaging means that are provided corresponding to the plurality of abnormality detection means, and that capture images of a plurality of locations of the conveying means;
A first display unit that schematically displays at least the entire transport unit in a predetermined color; and a second display unit including a plurality of image display units that display the images captured by the plurality of imaging units. Monitoring monitor
When the abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality, the first display unit of the monitoring monitor displays a location corresponding to the installation position of the abnormality detection unit that detected the abnormality in a color different from the previous color. Display control means,
When the abnormality detecting unit detects an abnormality, the abnormality detecting unit that detects the abnormality of the conveying unit is controlled by controlling an imaging unit corresponding to the abnormality detecting unit that detects the abnormality among the plurality of imaging units. A second display control means for enlarging and capturing an image of a location corresponding to the position, and displaying the captured enlarged image on a corresponding image display section of the second display section in the monitoring monitor;
An article sorting apparatus comprising:   The first display control means normally displays the first color in the first display section of the monitoring monitor, and if the abnormality detected by the abnormality detection means is a minor abnormality, the corresponding location is indicated in the first display section. 2. The article sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a second color different from the first color is displayed, and a corresponding part is displayed in a third color different from the first and second colors in the case of a serious abnormality.   If the abnormality does not recover even after a predetermined time has elapsed from the time of occurrence of the abnormality, the first display control means changes the display color of the corresponding location from the first to third colors. The article sorting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the article sorting apparatus is changed to the color of.   The apparatus further comprises means for displaying abnormality information on a work monitor installed in the vicinity of the location corresponding to the installation position of the abnormality detecting means detecting the abnormality of the transport means when the abnormality detecting means detects the abnormality. The article sorting apparatus according to 1.   When the abnormality detection means detects an abnormality, the voice guidance means installed in the vicinity of the location corresponding to the installation position of the abnormality detection means detecting the abnormality of the transport means, and the abnormal location and its The article sorting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for notifying recovery.

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