JP2509044Y2 - Sorting device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to a sorting apparatus, and more particularly to a sorting apparatus for sorting articles having different outer shapes and sizes by using a suitable slat conveyor.

[Conventional technology]

As a conventionally known sorter, various sorters such as a wheel-floating type, an extruding type, a tilting type and a slanting belt, or a moving shoe on a slat conveyor are known. Among these sorting devices, the slat conveyor is suitable for carrying articles having different outer shapes and sizes,
As a sorting device in this case, there is a sorting device using a moving shoe that moves on the slat in the longitudinal direction of the slat (transverse to the conveyor moving direction).

This sorting device is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. S60-10971 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,347. The basic structure of the device disclosed in these publications is provided with a movable shoe in which each slat is slidable in its longitudinal direction. And
As shown in FIG. 7, this moving shoe has an extension member 10 extending downwardly of the slat (a pin member or a member provided with a roller extending downwardly) which is the main portion of a guide rail laid under the slat. The rail 50 or the branch rail 51 is guided, and the projecting member 10 is guided by the branch rail 51 extending obliquely in the direction of the conveyor to move in the longitudinal direction of the slat. That is, the switching lever 52, which is a switching member of the switching device arranged at a predetermined sorting position, operates in the direction of arrow A around the fulcrum 53 as a rotation center by an appropriate signal and moves in a desired direction (direction of arrow B). Overhanging member
The 10 is guided so as to be drawn to the side of the branch rail 51, and at this time, the conveyed products that have reached the sorting position are moved in the lateral direction of the conveyor (direction along the branch rail) by the moving shoes to perform sorting.

[Problems to be solved by the device]

Thus, in the conventional sorting device, the overhang member 10
As the diameter (d) of the switching lever 52 increases, the length of the switching lever 52 increases, or the opening angle θ of the main rail 50 and the branch rail 51 increases. Since α also needs to substantially match the angle θ, the angle α also becomes large. This is because as the length of the switching lever 52 increases, the rotational moment of the switching lever increases, and the driving force required to operate the switching lever 52 also needs to increase. Also, switching lever
Increasing the opening angle α of 52 increases the rotational movement amount of the switching lever 52, and it takes time to complete a predetermined operation.

Therefore, if you try to increase the conveyor transport speed,
A solution method such as increasing the drive speed of the drive system of the switching lever 52, for example, a solenoid valve or an air cylinder can be considered,
In this case, not only is the device increased in size and the cost is increased as the performance of the drive system is improved, but, for example, as the length l of the switching lever 52 is lengthened, the tip end portion thereof increases as the rotation speed increases. However, there is a problem that the moving speed becomes faster, the impact when the lever rotation is stopped increases, and the mechanical strength of not only the switching lever but also its peripheral members needs to be increased.

Therefore, when the operation of the switching lever 52 is attempted to be made faster, the opening angle α is made smaller and the time until the completion of the predetermined operation is made faster. It cannot be applied when the angle θ of the rail 51 is large.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems,
Even if the total length of the switching lever is lengthened, the rotation moment at the time of rotation operation does not become large, the operation completion time of the switching lever can be shortened, and sorting that can perform high-speed and reliable sorting applicable to high-speed conveyance of conveyors To provide a device.

[Means for solving the problem]

An object of the present invention is to provide a moving means for moving a load on a conveyer conveyor, which is formed by connecting slats, in a longitudinal direction of the slats at a sorting position, and an overhanging portion protruding from the moving means conveys the conveyor. In a sorting device for a conveyor that is guided by guide rails laid below the surface to perform the movement, the two guide rails that guide the protruding portion in different directions are arranged at intersecting positions, and the protruding portion is disposed. The switching member for switching the moving direction has a rotating shaft that rotates on a line substantially along one of the guide rail laying directions, and forms a first guide wall surface along a shaft portion including the rotating shaft. Two guide plates, that is, a plate and a second plate that constitutes a second guide wall surface that is substantially orthogonal to the first plate and is inclined at a constant angle with respect to the rotation axis, are provided. By rotating the shaft,
This can be achieved by a sorting device in which the two guide plates form different extension surfaces of the guide rails and guide the projecting member in different directions.

[Action]

That is, since the switching member has a rotating shaft substantially along the laying direction of the guide rail, the radius of rotation thereof may be about the height of the guide rail. It does not require a large rotation moment. Further, even if the opening angle of the second plate constituting the extended wall surface of the branch rail is set to be large, the rotation radius is not the entire length of the switching member as in the conventional switching member, but the rotation shaft portion (almost the main guide rail). Since the shortest distance from the extension line) to the inlet end of the second plate is the radius of gyration, the rotational movement distance can be made extremely small.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slat conveyor according to the present invention.

The slat conveyor 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a configuration in which a plurality of slats 2 for mounting articles 60 are provided in close proximity and continuously, and a drive chain 4 fixed to both ends of the slats is attached to the slats. The articles can be conveyed (direction of arrow B) by driving to, and can be moved in the sorting direction (direction of arrow A) perpendicular to the direction of conveyance of articles (direction of arrow B) by the configuration of the slat 2 described later. Although the entire slat conveyor 1 is not shown, it goes without saying that the slat conveyor 1 is formed into a closed loop by the plurality of slats 2 and the drive chain 4.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a portion where the switching member 11 of the sorting apparatus is arranged, FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a portion of the switching lever of the switching member 11 and its periphery, and FIG. 5 is a plan view of the switching member 11, FIG. 5 is a front view of the switching member 11, and FIG. 6 is a side view of the switching member 11.

Each slat 2 has end blocks 7 at both longitudinal ends thereof appropriately connected to extension pins of a drive chain 4 on both sides of the conveyor, and two slat bars 6 are attached to the end blocks 7.
The slat bar 6 constitutes a load-carrying surface of the slat conveyor 1 and is movable along the bar penetrated by the slat bar 6 orthogonally to the load-carrying direction (B direction). 3 is provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the moving shoe 3 is provided with a projecting member 10 having a roller attached to a shaft extending below the slat. The overhanging member 10 is guided by a switching member 11 described later to a main rail 50 or a branch rail 51 of a guide rail laid under the slats.

As shown in FIG. 2, the switching device 11 is arranged at a position where a main rail 50 and a branch rail 51 that guide the overhanging portion 10 in different directions intersect with each other. The structure of the switching member 11 has a shaft portion 12 whose switching lever 5 rotates on a line substantially along the laying direction of the main rail 50 as shown in FIG. A first plate 13 that forms a first guide wall surface along the surface, and a second plate that forms a second guide wall surface that is substantially orthogonal to the first plate 13 and that is inclined at a constant angle (α) with respect to the rotation axis Two guide plates with 14 are provided. In this embodiment, the first plate 13
The length l ₂ of the second plate 14 is configured to be longer than the length l _{1 of} the second plate 14, and the stopper 16 contacts the first plate 13 on the rear end side (downstream side in the guide direction) of the second plate 14. A notch is formed as appropriate so that it can be formed.

A rotary shaft 20 is passed through the shaft portion 12, the rotary shaft 20 is supported by bearings 21 at both end portions thereof, and a pinion gear 19 is attached to one end thereof. A rack gear 22 meshes with the pinion gear 19, and the rack gear 22 slides by a solenoid valve 35. Therefore, by operating the solenoid valve 35, the switching lever 5 can be rotated. In addition to this, the rotation of the switching lever 5 can be performed by a rotary solenoid or the like appropriately connected to one end of the rotary shaft 20.

By the rotation of the switching lever 5, the first plate 13 is positioned so as to form an extension wall surface of the main rail 50, and the second plate 14 is positioned so as to form an extension wall surface of the branch rail 51. can do. Therefore, the first plate
When 13 is positioned so as to form an extension wall surface of the main rail 50, the overhanging member 10 is guided so as to move along the main rail 50, and the second plate 14 forms an extension wall surface of the branch rail 51. When it is positioned, a wall surface is formed so as to be continuous with the entrance guide 53 arranged outside the main rail 50, and the bulging member 10 approaching the switching lever 5 portion is successively directed toward the branch rail 51. (See Figure 2).

Therefore, as the moving shoes 3 are successively moved in the longitudinal direction of the slats, the articles 60 on the conveyor are pushed in the direction of arrow A as shown in FIG. Can be sorted.

It should be noted that the accurate positioning of the switching lever 5 can be achieved by separating the second plate 14 from the stoppers 15 and 16 which come into contact with the first plate 13 when the first plate 13 is positioned so as to form an extended wall surface of the main rail 50. This can be performed by the stoppers 17 and 18 that come into contact with the second plate 14 when they are positioned so as to form the extended wall surface of the branch rail 51 (the stopper 18 also functions as a spacer at the intersection of the guide rails). it can. Each of the stoppers 15, 16, 17, 18 can have not only a function of merely positioning but also a function of fixing the switching lever 5. In this case, an electromagnet is built in each stopper, and a cushioning member such as rubber is provided at the contact portion with the switching lever 5, so that the switching lever 5 is appropriately magnetized. That is, the stoppers 15 and 16 and the stoppers 17 and 17 correspond to the operation of the switching lever 5.
By alternately energizing 18 and at appropriate timing,
It is possible to prevent the switching lever 5 from bouncing when the rotation of the switching lever 5 is stopped, and to securely fix the switching lever 5. When the switching lever 5 is made of a material that cannot be magnetically attached, a metal or the like that can be magnetically attached may be attached to a portion corresponding to each stopper.

Further, at the article sorting position, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, a sensor 30 is provided upstream of the switching lever 5 in the article transport direction. The sensor 30 detects the end of the overhanging member 10 moving together with the slat 2, and the control signal for operating the solenoid valve 35 can be obtained by the end detection signal from the sensor 30. That is, the sensor 30 and the solenoid valve 35 are electrically connected to each other via a control device (not shown), and when the articles 60 need to be sorted, the sensor
When 30 detects the end of the overhang member 10, the control device operates to drive the solenoid valve 35.

In this way, since the rotation shaft 20 of the switching lever 5 is along the main rail laying direction, the turning radius thereof may be about the height of the guide rail, and the total length (l ₂ ) of the switching lever 5 is long. In both cases, the radius of gyration is small, and it does not require a large rotational moment when the gyro rotates as in the conventional case. Further, even if the opening angle α of the second plate 14 constituting the extended wall surface of the branch rail is set to be large, the rotation radius is not the entire length of the switching member (1) as in the conventional switching member, but the rotation radius is It is the shortest distance from the rotating shaft 20 to the inlet end of the second plate 14, and can be reduced. Therefore, the switching member 11 can quickly operate the switching lever 5 even if the driving force of the solenoid valve 35 is not large.

The slat 2 moved to perform the sorting operation as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is, for example, in a region where articles are not conveyed, that is, in a place where the slat conveyor 1 performs a returning operation (operation on the back side of the conveyor). The guide rails in the opposite direction or the same direction as the branch rail 51 can be prepared in an appropriate state according to the direction of the sorting direction.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but various modifications can be made.

For example, the attachment angle β between the first plate 13 and the second plate 14 of the switching lever 5 can be set to a value other than 90 °, and the lever rotation angle can be set to a value other than 90 °. Further, the second plate 14 is not a linear wall surface, for example, even if the second plate 14 is configured as a gently curved curved plate 14a that guides the overhanging member 10 to the branch rail 51 smoothly, This curved structure can be easily adopted without affecting the guide function. According to this curved structure,
Even if the guide direction of the branch rail 51 is a steep angle, it can be accommodated without increasing the opening angle α of the second plate 14,
It can also be used for curved branch rails.

Further, in the present invention, it is needless to say that the opening angle α of the second plate 14 with respect to the first plate 13 can be detachably configured so as to be changed according to the branch rail 51.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the rotation shaft of the switching lever 5 is arranged along the main rail 50, but in the present invention, this rotation shaft may be arranged along the branch rail 51. Further, if it is between the rails 50 and 51, it can be appropriately set to an intermediate position between both rails or any other position. It goes without saying that the drive system of the switching lever 5 and the arrangement and shape of the stoppers can be changed as appropriate.

[Effect of device]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the rotating shaft of the switching lever is along the guide rail laying direction, the rotation radius of the switching member can be set to about the height of the guide rail. Rotation can be performed quickly. Also, even if the total length of the switching lever is long, its turning radius is small, and it does not require a large turning moment when rotating, so a quick operation is guaranteed without increasing the driving force of the drive system. You can It is possible to provide a sorting device compatible with high-speed sorting.

Furthermore, in the sorting apparatus of the present invention, by appropriately forming the wall shape of the second plate corresponding to the branch rail to a curved wall surface, even if the inclination direction of the branch rail with respect to the main rail is a steep angle, The adjustment range is wide because the second plate can be attached and detached so that the opening angle α of the two plates can be accommodated in a steep angle sorting direction without increasing, and the opening angle α can be changed in response to changes in the sorting angle. It is also possible to improve the adaptability of.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a slat conveyor to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a portion where a switching member is arranged, and FIG. 3 is a plate portion of the switching member and its periphery. The schematic perspective view shown in FIG. 4 is a plan view of the switching member, and FIG.
6 is a front view of the switching member, FIG. 6 is a side view of the switching member, and FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the switching member in the conventional sorting apparatus. Reference numeral 1 ... Slat conveyor, 2 ... Slat, 3 ... Moving shoe, 4 ... Drive chain, 5 ... Switching lever, 6 ...
… Slat bar, 7 …… End block, 10 …… Overhanging member, 11 …… Switching member, 12 …… Shaft part, 13 …… First plate, 14 …… Second plate, 14a …… Bending plate, 15 , 1
6,17,18 …… Stopper, 19 …… Pinion gear, 20 …… Rotary shaft, 21 …… Bearing, 22 …… Rack gear, 30 …… Sensor, 35 …… Solenoid valve, 40 …… Sort line, 50 …… Main rails, 51 ... Branch rails, 53 ... Entrance guides, 60 ... Goods.

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A moving means for moving a load on a conveyer conveyor, which is formed by connecting slats, in a longitudinal direction of the slats at a sorting position, and an overhanging portion projecting from the moving means is located below a conveyor conveying surface. In a conveyor sorting device that is guided by a laid guide rail to perform the movement, two guide rails that guide the protruding portion in different directions are arranged at intersecting positions, and the moving direction of the protruding portion is changed. The switching member for switching has a rotating shaft that rotates on a line substantially along any guide rail laying direction, and a first plate that forms a first guide wall surface along the shaft portion including the rotating shaft, Two guide plates, which are substantially orthogonal to the first plate and constitute a second guide wall surface that is inclined at a certain angle with respect to the rotation axis, are provided.
A sorting device that rotates the shaft portion so that the two guide plates form different extension surfaces of the guide rails and guides the projecting member in different directions.