JP2024047806A - Sorting device and article transport system - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a new and improved sorting device and article conveying system. [Solution] A sorting device that, in a first state in which a movable part is located at a first position, sorts articles to a first conveying path, and in a second state in which the movable part is located at a second position, sorts articles to a second conveying path, and when the sorting device is restarted after a power supply to the sorting device is cut off, if a position detection part detects that the movable part is located at the second position, a drive control part controls a drive mechanism so that the movable part is located at the second position, and a conveying control part controls a conveying mechanism to convey articles to the second conveying path, and if a position detection part detects that the movable part is not located at the second position, a drive control part controls a drive mechanism so that the movable part is located at the first position. [Selected Figure] Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a sorting device and an item transport system.

Conventionally, a sorting device is known that sorts items being transported on a transport path into multiple transport paths (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

An item transport system including this type of sorting device includes, for example, an item sensor that detects items at multiple positions on the transport path, and an identification information sensor that detects the identification information of the item at a predetermined position on the transport path. The item transport system determines the rough position of the item on the transport path and the identification information of the item by associating the item detection information with the identification information. Then, the sorting device sorts the arriving item into a transport path that corresponds to the item among the multiple transport paths based on the identification information associated with the item detection information.

Japanese Patent No. 4715663

In an item transport system configured as described above, if a power outage occurs unexpectedly, there is a risk that the actual position of an item may not match the item's detection information, or that the detection information may be lost. In particular, if there are items inside the sorting device or near its entrance, there is a risk that the sorting device will not be able to sort the items correctly when restarting after a power outage. For example, this may require the worker to check the actual item's identification information and take or send the item to the correct transport path corresponding to the identification information, which may take time before normal operation can be restored.

Therefore, one of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a new and improved sorting device and article transport system that can reduce the effort and time required for restoration, even in the event of, for example, a sudden power outage.

The sorting device of the present invention includes, for example, a movable part that is movable between a first position and a second position, a drive mechanism that moves the movable part switchably between a state in which the movable part is located at the first position and a state in which the movable part is located at the second position, a drive control unit that controls the drive mechanism so that the movable part is located at the first position or the second position corresponding to each of the articles, a position detection unit that detects whether the movable part is at the second position, a conveying mechanism that conveys the articles to the first conveying path or the second conveying path, and a conveying control unit that controls the operation of the conveying mechanism. In a first state in which the movable part is located at the first position, the articles are sorted into the first conveying path, and the movable part is moved to the second conveying path. In a second state in which the movable part is located at a second position, the sorting device sorts the items to a second transport path. When the sorting device is restarted after the power supply to the sorting device is cut off, if the position detection unit detects that the movable part is located at the second position, the drive control unit controls the drive mechanism so that the movable part is located at the second position, and the transport control unit controls the transport mechanism to transport the items to the second transport path. If the position detection unit detects that the movable part is not located at the second position, the drive control unit controls the drive mechanism so that the movable part is located at the first position.

The item transport system of the present invention further includes, for example, the sorting device, the first transport path, and the second transport path.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary schematic plan view of an article transport system including a sorting apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exemplary schematic rear view of a portion of the sorting device of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is an exemplary block diagram of the sorting device according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control procedure when the sorting apparatus according to the embodiment is restarted after a power outage. FIG. 5 is an illustrative schematic plan view of an article transport system including a sorting apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is an illustrative schematic plan view of an article transport system including a sorting apparatus according to the third embodiment. FIG. 7 is an illustrative schematic plan view of an article transport system including a sorting apparatus according to the fourth embodiment.

Below, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are disclosed. The configurations of the embodiments shown below, and the actions and results (effects) obtained from said configurations, are merely examples. The present invention can also be realized with configurations other than those disclosed in the following embodiments. Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain at least one of the various effects (including derivative effects) obtained from the following configurations.

The following exemplary embodiments include similar configurations, and each embodiment provides similar effects based on the similar configurations. In the following, similar components are given common reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions may be omitted.

In addition, in this specification, ordinal numbers are used for convenience to distinguish positions, structures, etc., and do not indicate priority or order, nor do they limit the number.

In addition, arrows indicating directions are drawn in each figure. The X and Y directions are roughly parallel to the horizontal direction, and the Z direction is roughly parallel to the vertical upward direction. The X, Y, and Z directions are perpendicular to each other.

[First embodiment]
[Configuration of the item transport system]
Fig. 1 is a plan view of an article transport system 1A (1) according to a first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the article transport system 1A includes a transport path 10, a sorting device 100, a transport path 21, and a transport path 22.

Each of the conveying paths 10, 21, and 22 has at least one conveying mechanism that conveys the item A. The conveying mechanism is, for example, a conveyor such as a roller conveyor or a chain conveyor, but is not limited to these. The conveying mechanism that conveys the item A on the conveying path 10 just before the sorting device 100 is referred to as the conveying mechanism 104.

On the conveying path 10, item A is conveyed to the sorting device 100. The sorting device 100 selectively delivers, i.e., sorts, the item A to either the conveying path 21 or the conveying path 22. On the conveying paths 21 and 22, the item A sorted by the sorting device 100 is conveyed. The conveying path 21 is an example of a first conveying path, and the conveying path 22 is an example of a second conveying path.

The conveying paths 10, 21, and 22 and the sorting device 100 are each provided with an item sensor 40. The item sensor 40 outputs a detection signal of item A at a predetermined conveying position. Whether or not item A is present at the conveying position is detected based on the detection signal. Each of the conveying paths 10, 21, and 22 has a plurality of item sensors 40 provided at predetermined intervals in the conveying direction of item A. The sorting device 100 also has a plurality of item sensors 40 corresponding to different conveying positions of item A. The item sensors 40 are, for example, photoelectric sensors, but are not limited to this. The conveying position refers to the position of item A on the conveying paths 10, 21, and 22 or on the sorting device 100. The item sensors 40 are an example of an item detection unit.

In addition, the conveying paths 10 and 21 are each provided with an identification information sensor 50 (50-1, 50-2). The identification information sensor 50 reads an identifier given to the item A at a predetermined conveying position and detects the identification information of the item A. The identification information sensor 50 is, for example, a code reader having a light receiving unit and a decoder, but is not limited to this. Also, for example, the identifier may be an RFID (radio frequency identifier) tag, in which case the identification information sensor 50 may be an RFID reader. The identification information sensor 50 is an example of an identification information detection unit.

The identification information sensor 50-1 is provided on the conveying path 10, behind the sorting device 100 in the conveying direction, so as to be able to detect the identification information of the item A before it enters the sorting device 100. The identification information sensor 50-2 is provided on the conveying path 21, ahead of the sorting device 100 in the conveying direction, so as to be able to detect the identification information of the item A that has been sorted from the sorting device 100 to the conveying path 21.

[Sorting device]
The sorting device 100 has a conveying mechanism 101 that conveys an item A in the X direction toward the conveying path 21, a conveying mechanism 102 that conveys an item A in the Y direction toward the conveying path 22, and a conveying mechanism 103 that conveys an item A in the X direction. The conveying mechanisms 101 to 103 are configured so as not to interfere with each other. The conveying mechanisms 101 and 103 are, for example, roller conveyors, and the conveying mechanism 102 is, for example, a chain conveyor, but are not limited to these.

The sorting device 100 changes the position of the conveying mechanism 102 up or down to switch between a state in which the conveying mechanisms 101 and 103 convey item A and a state in which the conveying mechanism 102 conveys item A.

Figure 2 is a rear view of a portion of the sorting device 100 viewed in the X direction. As shown in Figure 2, the conveying mechanism 102 is configured to be movable between a first position P1 and a second position P2 above the first position P1.

In a first state S1 in which the conveying mechanism 102 is in a first position P1, the upper surface 102a of the conveying mechanism 102 is located below the upper surface 101a of the conveying mechanism 101. In this first state S1, the item A is supported on the upper surface 101a of the conveying mechanism 101 and is conveyed in the X direction by the conveying mechanism 101, i.e., sorted onto the conveying path 21.

On the other hand, in the second state S2 in which the conveying mechanism 102 is in the second position P2, the upper surface 102a of the conveying mechanism 102 is located above the upper surface 101a of the conveying mechanism 101. In this second state S2, the item A is supported on the upper surface 102a of the conveying mechanism 102 and is conveyed in the Y direction by the conveying mechanism 102, i.e., sorted into the conveying path 22.

In this manner, the sorting device 100 of this embodiment is configured to switch between a first state S1 in which the item A is sorted onto the conveying path 21 and a second state S2 in which the item A is sorted onto the conveying path 22 by switching the conveying mechanism 102 between the first position P1 and the second position P2. The conveying mechanism 102 is an example of a movable part.

Note that various types of transers, sorters, diverters, etc. can be used as the sorting device 100, and the configuration of the sorting device 100 and the movable parts is not limited to this example. In addition, the movable parts of the sorting device may be configured to selectively guide the item A to one of the conveying paths 21, 22, and the first position P1 and the second position P2 may be different positions in the horizontal direction.

[Sorting Device Control]
Fig. 3 is a block diagram of the sorting apparatus 100. As shown in Fig. 3, the sorting apparatus 100 includes a computer, and has an arithmetic processing unit 110, a main memory unit 121, and an auxiliary memory unit 122.

The arithmetic processing unit 110 is, for example, a processor (circuit). The main memory unit 121 is, for example, a random access memory (RAM) or a read only memory (ROM), and the auxiliary memory unit 122 is, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD). The arithmetic processing unit 110 reads and executes a program (application) stored in the ROM of the main memory unit 121 or the auxiliary memory unit 122. The processor operates according to the program to operate as the conveyance control unit 111, the sorting judgment unit 112, the drive control unit 113, the end judgment unit 114, the item detection processing unit 115, the identification information processing unit 116, the position detection processing unit 117, and the voltage detection processing unit 118. In this case, the program includes program modules corresponding to each of the conveyance control unit 111, the sorting judgment unit 112, the drive control unit 113, the end judgment unit 114, the item detection processing unit 115, the identification information processing unit 116, the position detection processing unit 117, and the voltage detection processing unit 118.

The program may be provided in the form of an installable or executable file recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The recording medium may also be referred to as a program product. The program may also be stored in the memory of a computer connected to a communications network, and installed on the computer by being downloaded via the network. The program may also be pre-installed in a ROM or the like.

In addition, when at least a portion of a computer is configured by hardware, the computer may include, for example, an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit).

The ROM of the main memory unit 121 or the auxiliary memory unit 122 stores information used in the calculation processing by the transport control unit 111, the sorting judgment unit 112, the drive control unit 113, the end judgment unit 114, the item detection processing unit 115, the identification information processing unit 116, the position detection processing unit 117, and the voltage detection processing unit 118. In addition, the information used in the calculation processing may be described within the program.

The calculation processing unit 110 is also electrically connected to the conveying mechanisms 101-104, the drive mechanism 140, the item sensor 40, the identification information sensor 50, the position sensor 161, and the voltage sensor 162.

The transport control unit 111 can control the transport mechanisms 101 to 104 to transport item A.

The sorting determination unit 112 acquires the identification information of item A from the identification information processing unit 116, and refers to the data stored in the auxiliary memory unit 122 indicating the correspondence between the identification information of item A and the transport paths 21 and 22 to which the item A will be sorted, to determine the transport paths 21 and 22 to which the item A will be sorted, which correspond to the identification information of the item A.

The drive control unit 113 controls the drive mechanism 140 so that the conveying mechanism 102, which is a movable part, is located at the first position P1 or the second position P2. The drive mechanism 140 has, for example, a motor, a reduction mechanism, a rotary-linear conversion mechanism, etc. In this case, the position of the conveying mechanism 102 changes according to the rotation of the motor of the drive mechanism 140, and the conveying mechanism 102 stops according to the stopping of the motor. That is, the drive mechanism 140 can switch the conveying mechanism 102 between a state in which it is located at the first position P1, a state in which it is located at the second position P2, and a state in which it moves between the first position P1 and the second position P2. During normal operation, the drive control unit 113 controls the drive mechanism 140 so that the item A is conveyed to the conveying path 21, 22 determined by the sorting judgment unit 112, that is, so that the conveying mechanism 102 is positioned at the first position P1 or the second position P2 corresponding to each of the items A.

The termination determination unit 114 determines whether or not to terminate control when restarting after a power outage. The operation of the termination determination unit 114 will be described later.

The item detection processing unit 115 detects the presence or absence of item A at the transport position corresponding to each item sensor 40 based on the detection signal of the item sensor 40. The item sensor 40 and the item detection processing unit 115 are an example of an item detection unit.

The identification information processing unit 116 acquires the identification information from each identification information sensor 50 and sends the identification information to the sorting judgment unit 112. The identification information processing unit 116 may constitute an identification information detection unit together with the identification information sensor 50.

The position detection processing unit 117 detects the position of the transport mechanism 102 as a movable part based on the detection signal of the position sensor 161. The position detection processing unit 117 can at least detect whether the transport mechanism 102 is in the second position P2 or not. The position sensor 161 outputs a detection signal of the position of the transport mechanism 102. The position sensor 161 is, for example, a sensor that outputs a detection signal when the transport mechanism 102 is in the second position P2, such as a photoelectric sensor, but is not limited to this. Note that in addition to the sensor that outputs a detection signal when the transport mechanism 102 is in the second position P2, a sensor that outputs a detection signal when the transport mechanism 102 is in the first position P1 may be provided. The position sensor 161 and the position detection processing unit 117 are examples of a position detection unit.

The voltage detection processing unit 118 detects the voltage of the power supply to the sorting device 100 based on the detection signal of the voltage sensor 162. The voltage detection processing unit 118 and the voltage sensor 162 are an example of a voltage detection unit.

As shown in FIG. 3, the sorting device 100 may also include a standby power supply 150. The standby power supply 150 maintains the supply of operating power to at least the item sensor 40 even during a power outage, and may be, for example, an uninterruptible power supply. Furthermore, the standby power supply 150 may maintain the supply of operating power to sensors other than the item sensor 40, such as the identification information sensor 50 and the position sensor 161, during a power outage. The standby power supply may also be referred to as a backup power supply. The voltage sensor 162, as well as the arithmetic processing unit 110 as a computer, the main memory unit 121, and the auxiliary memory unit 122 are configured to be supplied with operating power separately from or by the standby power supply 150, regardless of the presence or absence of a power outage.

In addition, in this embodiment, in the event of a power outage, the supply of operating power to the transport mechanisms 101-104 and the drive mechanism 140 is not maintained, i.e., it is cut off. This is because the operation of the transport mechanisms 101-104 and the drive mechanism 140 requires a larger amount of power, which would result in a larger backup power supply device configuration and higher installation costs. Note that in this case, it is not necessary to cut off the supply of power to all of the transport mechanisms 101-104 and the drive mechanism 140.

[Control procedure when restarting after a power outage]
Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of the sorting device 100 when it is restarted after a power outage. When the sorting device 100 is restarted after an unexpected power outage, it operates in a mode different from normal operation according to the procedure in Fig. 4. Note that a power outage refers to a state in which the power supply to the conveying mechanisms 101 to 103, conveying mechanism 104, drive mechanism 140, etc. of the sorting device 100 is cut off.

When restarting after a power outage, the position detection processing unit 117 first detects whether the conveying mechanism 102 is located at the second position P2 (S11).

In S11, if the position detection processing unit 117 detects that the transport mechanism 102 is located at the second position P2 (Yes in S11), the drive control unit 113 controls the drive mechanism 140 to maintain the transport mechanism 102 at the second position P2 (S12).

Then, the conveying control unit 111 controls the conveying mechanisms 101 to 104 to start the conveying operation of item A to the conveying path 22 (S13). Note that the conveying operation in S13 means an operation that enables the conveying of item A to the conveying path 22. That is, in S13, if item A is actually present, the item A is conveyed, but if item A is not actually present, item A is not conveyed.

Here, when the item detection processing unit 115 detects the item A at a predetermined conveying position (predetermined position) of the item A set in correspondence with the sorting device 100 (Yes in S14), the end determination unit 114 thereafter tracks the conveying position of the item A, i.e., monitors the transition of the conveying position of the item A, and ends the series of controls at the time of restart after a power outage when it is determined that the movement of the item A to the conveying path 22 is completed (Yes in S15). In other words, until the end determination unit 114 determines the end of the control in S15, the conveying control unit 111 continues the conveying operation started in S13, and the drive control unit 113 controls the drive mechanism 140 so that the item A is conveyed to the conveying path 22 by the conveying operation. When the series of controls is completed, the sorting device 100 returns to normal operation. Also, when the end determination unit 114 does not determine that the movement of the item A to the conveying path 22 is completed (No in S15), it repeats S15 at a predetermined time interval. The determination in S15 may be terminated after a time limit has been set.

The predetermined position in S14, i.e., the predetermined transport position of item A set in correspondence with the sorting device 100, is, for example, a transport position within the sorting device 100, such as the position where the detection signal is output by the item sensor 40A shown in FIG. 1, or a transport position that is forward in the transport direction from the transport position where the identification information sensor 50-1 detects the identification information and is rearward (closer) in the transport direction from the sorting device 100.

On the other hand, if item A is not detected at the predetermined position in S14 (No in S14), the end determination unit 114 ends the series of controls at the time of restart after a power outage, for example, when a predetermined time has elapsed immediately after S13 (Yes in S16). That is, the control of the conveying mechanisms 101 to 104 by the conveying control unit 111 and the control of the drive mechanism 140 by the drive control unit 113 at the time of restart after a power outage are terminated. As a result, the sorting device 100 returns to normal operation. On the other hand, before the predetermined time has elapsed (No in S16), the process returns to S14. Here, the predetermined time in S16 is, for example, the longest time required for item A to move from the conveying position where the identification information was detected by the identification information sensor 50-1 to the conveying path 22 multiplied by a safety factor greater than 1. The start time of the predetermined time may be set appropriately before or after S12 or S13.

In addition, in S11, if the position detection processing unit 117 detects that the conveying mechanism 102 is not located at the second position P2 (No in S11), the drive control unit 113 controls the drive mechanism 140 to maintain the conveying mechanism 102 at the first position P1 or to move it to the first position P1 (S17), and ends the series of controls when restarting after a power outage. This causes the sorting device 100 to return to normal operation.

According to the procedure of this embodiment described above, if the conveying mechanism 102 is located at the second position P2 when restarting after a power outage, the sorting device 100 sorts the item A located in the sorting device 100 and immediately before the sorting device 100 to the conveying path 22 based on the assumption that the item A was supposed to be sorted to the conveying path 22. On the other hand, if the conveying mechanism 102 is not located at the second position P2, the sorting device 100 sorts the item A located in the sorting device 100 and immediately before the sorting device 100 to the conveying path 21. According to this embodiment, even if the reliability of the detection information and identification information of the item A is impaired due to a power outage, the sorting device 100 can automatically sort the item A when restarting after a power outage. Therefore, the effort and time required for recovery can be reduced compared to the conventional case in which an operator manually checks the identification information of all the items A located in the sorting device 100 or near its entrance and sorts them.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, an identification information sensor 50-2 is provided on the conveying path 21. Therefore, even if an item A that should be sorted to the conveying path 22 is sorted to the conveying path 21 due to the above-mentioned control, the item A can be returned to the conveying path 22 based on the identification information detected by the identification information sensor 50-2. Note that in this case, the task of moving the item A from the removal position 21P to the conveying path 22 may be performed manually by an operator. An identification information sensor 50 may also be provided on the conveying path 22.

In addition, if the standby power supply 150 maintains the supply of operating power to at least the item sensor 40 even during a power outage, the calculation processing unit 110 can easily grasp the transport position of item A that was acquired and tracked before the power outage, even during a power outage. In this case, there is an advantage in that control during restart can be performed more smoothly, quickly, or reliably.

[Second embodiment]
Fig. 5 is a plan view of an article transport system 1B(1) of the second embodiment. As shown in Fig. 5, in this embodiment, a sorting device 21D and a transport path 23 (discharge path) are provided on the transport path 21. The sorting device 21D includes a transport mechanism 105 capable of discharging an article A to the transport path 23 outside the transport path 21. The transport mechanism 105 is an example of an unloading mechanism.

The sorting device 21D acquires the identification information of the item A obtained by the identification information sensor 50-2, and refers to the information indicating the conveying path corresponding to the identification information. Then, if the conveying path corresponding to the item A is not the conveying path 21, the sorting device 21D controls the conveying mechanism 105 and the switching mechanism that switches the operation of the conveying mechanism 105 between enabled and disabled so as to discharge the item A outside the conveying path 21 and onto the conveying path 23.

With this configuration, even if the sorting device 100 sorts item A that should have been sorted to the conveying path 22 to the conveying path 21 during the control at the time of restart after the power outage described above, the item A can be prevented from being transported forward in the conveying direction from the sorting device 21D on the conveying path 21. Note that item A may be transported from the conveying path 23 to the conveying path 22 by an operator, or may be transported via a junction device between the conveying path 23 and the conveying path 22.

[Third embodiment]
FIG. 6 is a plan view of an article conveying system 1C (1) of the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the article conveying system 1C of this embodiment includes a sorting device 21D and a conveying path 23 similar to those of the second embodiment. However, in this embodiment, the conveying path 23 is configured to return the article A to the inlet of the article A in the sorting device 100. Specifically, the article conveying system 1C includes a junction device 10J that returns the article A conveyed on the conveying path 23 to the conveying path 10, and the junction device 10J is provided in front of the sorting device 100 (rear in the conveying direction) and before the conveying position where the identification information is detected by the identification information sensor 50-1. As a result, even if the article A that should be sorted to the conveying path 22 by the sorting device 100 is sorted to the conveying path 21 by the sorting device 100 in the control at the time of restarting after the above-mentioned power outage, the sorting device 100 can sort the article A to the conveying path 22, for example, in normal operation after the control at the time of restarting after the power outage. The transport path 23 of the third embodiment is an example of a third transport path.

[Fourth embodiment]
FIG. 7 is a plan view of an article conveying system 1D (1) of the fourth embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, in the article conveying system 1D of the present embodiment, the conveying path 21 conveys an article to the conveying path 10 via the junction device 10J. The position of the junction device 10J in this case is the same as in the third embodiment. In this configuration, the conveying path 21, together with the junction device 10J, the conveying path 10 between the junction device 10J and the sorting device 100, and the sorting device 100, constitutes a circulation path along which the article A is conveyed. In this case, as in the third embodiment, even if the sorting device 100 sorts the article A that should be sorted to the conveying path 22 to the conveying path 21 in the control at the time of restarting after the power outage described above, the sorting device 100 can sort the article A to the conveying path 22, for example, in normal operation after the control at the time of restarting after the power outage.

Although the above is an example of an embodiment of the present invention, the above embodiment is merely an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The above embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, combinations, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, the specifications of each configuration, shape, etc. (structure, type, direction, model, size, length, width, thickness, height, number, arrangement, position, material, etc.) can be modified as appropriate.

1, 1A to 1D... Article transport system 10... Transport path 10J... Merging device 21... Transport path (first transport path)
21D... sorting device 21P... removal position 22... conveying path (second conveying path)
23...Transport path (third transport path)
40, 40A...Item sensor (item detection unit)
50, 50-1, 50-2...Identification information sensor (identification information detection unit)
100: Sorting device 101: Conveying mechanism 101a: Upper surface 102: Conveying mechanism (movable part)
102a... upper surface 103... transport mechanism 104... transport mechanism 105... transport mechanism (discharge mechanism)
110: Arithmetic processing unit 111: Transport control unit 112: Sorting judgment unit 113: Drive control unit 114: End judgment unit 115: Item detection processing unit (item detection unit)
116...Identification information processing unit (identification information detection unit)
117: Position detection processing unit (position detection unit)
118: Voltage detection processing unit 121: Main memory unit 122: Auxiliary memory unit 140: Driving mechanism 150: Standby power supply 161: Position sensor (position detection unit)
162... Voltage sensor A... Article P1... First position P2... Second position S1... First state S2... Second state

Claims (10)

a movable part movable between a first position and a second position;
a drive mechanism that moves the movable portion so as to be switchable between a state in which the movable portion is positioned at the first position and a state in which the movable portion is positioned at the second position;
a drive control unit that controls the drive mechanism so that the movable unit is located at the first position or the second position corresponding to each of the articles;
a position detection unit that detects whether the movable unit is in the second position;
a conveying mechanism for conveying the article to the first conveying path or the second conveying path;
A transport control unit that controls the operation of the transport mechanism;
Equipped with
A sorting device that, in a first state in which the movable part is located at the first position, sorts the objects into a first conveying path, and, in a second state in which the movable part is located at a second position, sorts the objects into a second conveying path,
When the sorting device is restarted after the power supply to the sorting device is interrupted,
When the position detection unit detects that the movable part is located at the second position, the drive control unit controls the drive mechanism so that the movable part is located at the second position, and the transport control unit controls the transport mechanism to transport the article to the second transport path.
A sorting apparatus, wherein when the position detection unit detects that the movable part is not located at the second position, the drive control unit controls the drive mechanism so that the movable part is located at the first position. an object detection unit that detects whether the object is at a predetermined conveying position;
a standby power supply that maintains the supply of operating power to the article detection unit even if the power supply to the sorting device is interrupted;
The sorting apparatus of claim 1 , comprising: The sorting device according to claim 2, configured to cut off the supply of operating power to at least one of the conveying mechanism and the drive mechanism when the power supply to the sorting device is cut off. an article detection unit capable of detecting whether the article is at a predetermined conveying position;
The sorting device of claim 1, wherein, when the position detection unit detects that the movable part is located at the second position and the item detection unit detects the item, the drive control unit controls the drive mechanism to continue the conveying operation at least until the movement of the item to the second conveying path is completed, when the restart is detected by the position detection unit. The sorting device according to claim 1, wherein when the position detection unit detects that the movable unit is located at the second position, the control of the drive mechanism by the drive control unit and the control of the conveying mechanism by the conveying control unit are terminated after continuing for a predetermined time from a predetermined timing start time. The sorting device according to claim 1, wherein the first conveying path is a conveying path provided with an identification information detection unit that detects identification information of the items conveyed on the first conveying path. The sorting device according to claim 6, wherein the first transport path is a transport path provided with a discharge mechanism that discharges the item out of the first transport path when it is determined from the detection signal by the identification information detection unit that the item is not an item that should be transported on the first transport path. The sorting device according to claim 7, wherein the first conveying path is a conveying path provided with a third conveying path corresponding to the discharge mechanism and conveying the item discharged by the discharge mechanism to an inlet for the item of the sorting device. The sorting device according to claim 1, wherein the first conveying path constitutes a circulation path that conveys the items to an inlet of the sorting device. A sorting device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
The first conveying path;
The second conveying path;
An article transport system comprising:

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