JP3337379B2 - Sorting device and sorting control method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a glass bottle cullet sorting device (hereinafter also referred to as a sorting device) and a sorting control method. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can also be used for a material sorting device for PET bottles, a color sorting device for glass bottles, a color sorting device for PET bottles, a sorting device of a small package delivery company, a baggage sorting device at an airport, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. FIG.
1 shows a configuration of a defective product discharging device as a conventional technique. First, the pass / fail of the work 1002 conveyed on the belt is detected by the work detection sensor 1000.

The information is stored in a temporary storage programmed in the sequencer in the order of detection. When the workpiece 1002 flows, the package detecting sensor 100
1 is detected.

[0004] When detected by the package detecting sensor 1001, the program of the sequencer reads the temporary storage in which good / bad information is stored. If the product is defective, the air blow device 10
The distance to 03 is set as temporary storage.

The sequencer program measures the amount of movement of the conveyor at regular intervals by an interrupt program, and updates the amount of movement of the work from the package detection sensor.
Each time the moving amount is updated, the moving distance of the workpiece is compared with the distance from the package detection sensor 1001 to the air blowing device 1003 set previously. If the moving distance is longer, the air blowing device is turned on. The work 1002 is discharged.

[0006]

However, the prior art has the following problems. (1) If a sorting object flowing on the conveyor belt slips on the belt after passing through the package detection sensor 1001 (due to the gaze between the guide plates on both sides of the belt), the air blow device does not blow the air correctly and blows the air. There is. (2) Only one sort of good or bad can be performed. (3) If the package detection sensor 1001 causes an erroneous detection such as a detection error of the work 1002 or a non-existent work for some reason, information in the temporary storage in which good / bad information is stored in the order of detection. However, all of the subsequent defective products will fail. An object of the present invention is to provide a device that can solve these problems.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

(1st means) A sorting apparatus according to the present invention is a sorting apparatus for sorting objects to be sorted by type such as color, material, and the like.
(A) conveying means for conveying a sorting object such as a belt conveyor, (B) measuring means for measuring displacement of a conveying means such as an encoder, and (C) a discriminating means for identifying a plurality of kinds of sorting objects. Identification means, (D) identification trigger detection means such as a photoelectric switch for detecting the identification timing of the identification means for detecting passage of the sorting object, and (E) sorting of the sorting object for each type identified by the identification means. Air nozzle,
A sorting means such as a push rod, (F) a sorting trigger detecting means for detecting that the sorting target has reached the sorting means by a photoelectric switch or the like, (G) a detected identification timing signal (identification trigger signal), (H) a control device for controlling the sorting means based on the identification signal and the arrival signal (sorting trigger signal) of the sorting target to the sorting means.
It is characterized in that sorting can be accurately performed for each of a plurality of types even if the sorting objects flowing at indefinite or constant intervals cause a position change due to slip or the like during transport or a detection unit malfunctions. (Second Means) According to the sorting control method of the present invention, even if a plurality of sorting objects flowing at indefinite or constant intervals cause a position change due to a slip or the like during transportation or a detection means malfunctions, (A) Using the identification trigger signal obtained by the identification trigger detection means as a trigger, measure the displacement and time from the time when the sorting target passed the identification trigger detection means,
(B) After detecting the identification trigger of the sorting target, read the identification signal after a preset time, set the corresponding sorting position (position of the sorting device), and (C) sort the sorting target by the sorting trigger detecting means to the sorting means. Is detected, and (D) the distance difference (displacement difference) between the sorting object and the sorting position set in (B) is calculated, and (E) the (D)
(F) If the distance difference obtained in (D) is equal to or less than the predetermined allowable value, it is determined whether the distance difference is equal to or less than the predetermined allowable value. It is characterized by issuing an operation command.

Therefore, the following operation is performed. (1) When the sorting target is transported by the transporting means, (2) the displacement is measured by the measuring means and managed by the control device. (3) The sorting target is identified by the identifying means as any one of various sorts. (4) The identification timing is detected by an identification trigger detecting means such as a photoelectric switch. (5) The control device manages the position of the sorting target based on the signal from the identification trigger detecting means, and sorts the sorting target according to the identification signal of the identification device (the position of the sorting device).
Set. (6) The sorting means corresponding to each type detects arrival of the sorting target by the sorting trigger detecting means and sends a signal to the control device. (7) The controller calculates the distance difference between the previously set sorting position and the displacement detected by the sorting trigger detecting means, and if the distance is equal to or less than a preset allowable value, the control means sorts to the sorting means. Execute the operation. (8) By the above operation, the sorting of the sorting target is executed.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
5 to FIG. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a glass bottle cullet color separation device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the glass bin cullet color classification apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 shows a CP of the glass bin cullet color sorting apparatus according to the first embodiment.
The control block diagram inside U.

FIG. 4 is a sorting control flowchart of the glass bin cullet color sorting apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a signal system diagram of the sorting mechanism of the glass bin cullet color sorting device according to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, first, a cullet is put into the supply device 1. A vibrator 2 is attached to the supply device 1, and cullet is supplied to the rotary feeder 4 by vibration.

The supply device 1 is also provided with a limit switch 3, and when the cullet is accumulated in the rotary feeder 4, the switch is turned off and the supply amount of the supply device 1 is automatically adjusted.

The rotary feeder 4 includes an inner ring 5 and an outer ring 6. The inner wheel 5 and the outer wheel 6 are driven in different modes. The rotation axis of the inner ring is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, and the rotation causes the cullet 8 to be raised by centrifugal force at a position where the heights of the outer ring 6 and the inner ring 5 are equal.

The cullet raised on the outer ring 6 is aligned along the inner wall 7 around the outer ring by centrifugal force. The aligned cullet is continuously delivered from the delivery port 9 in one row.

The connecting plate 10 connects the rotary feeder 4 and the conveyor belt 11. The conveyor belt 11 is inclined by an inclination angle (θ), and the cullet 8 placed on the conveyor belt 11 approaches the side plate 30.

The cullet 8 approaching the side plate 30 has a slit 1
Pass 2 A light 35 is provided below the slit 12 to allow light to pass therethrough and cullet to pass through.

When the cullet passes through the slit 12, the color identification trigger photoelectric switch 15 detects the passage of the cullet. In response to the trigger signal 31, the color identification device 13 captures an image of the CCD camera 14 to identify the cullet color, and
To the control device 16.

A servo motor 2 is used to drive the transport belt 11.
5, an encoder 26 is attached for detecting the amount of displacement. Downstream of the conveyor belt 11, a transparent collecting shooter 21 for sorting and a brown collecting shooter 22 are provided.
, A collection chute 23 for green, and a collection chute 24 for others, which open the solenoid valve 19 via the solenoid valve opening / closing circuit 17 with the sorting trigger signal 34 of the cullet passage detection photoelectric switch 18 as a trigger. Then, the cullet is blown down to the collecting chute by the air nozzle, and the color is sorted.

The control device 16 manages the position of the cullet from the slit position by the trigger signal 31 and the displacement signal 33, and blows the air nozzle 20 by the collection chute according to the color by the color signal 32 and the sorting trigger signal 34, and Sort.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the present sorting apparatus. A portion corresponding to the control device 16 is indicated by a chain line. FIG. 3 shows a control block diagram inside the control device 16, and FIG. 4 shows a control flowchart.

FIG. 5 is a signal system diagram of the sorting mechanism shown in the block diagram of FIG. The input from the viewpoint of the control device includes a color identification trigger photoelectric switch 15 corresponding to an identification trigger detector, a color identification device 13 corresponding to an identification device, a sorting trigger photoelectric switch 18 corresponding to a sorting trigger detector, and an encoder 26 corresponding to a displacement detector. And a clock 46 for managing elapsed time.

The output is an electromagnetic valve opening / closing circuit 17 that opens and closes an electromagnetic valve connected to the air nozzle 20. Control device 1
6, a central processing unit 49 that processes an input and information in a storage unit to output an open / close command to the solenoid valve, and a central processing unit 4
Setting value storage unit 4 for storing each comparison value used in 9
7 and a temporary storage unit 48 for storing a time variable for managing the timing of the sorting object and a displacement variable for managing the displacement of the transfer device.

As the time variable and the displacement variable, the number of cullets arranged in the distance from the color identification trigger switch 15 to the most downstream sorting trigger photoelectric switch 18 is stored in a temporary storage unit in the form of a table. .

The central processing unit includes a time / displacement counting unit, and counts and rewrites a time variable and a displacement variable, which are elements of a table of a temporary storage unit, at each interrupt set time in an interrupt process.

By doing so, it is possible to accurately execute time timing for blowing off the cullet, cullet displacement management, and the like. In the flowchart of FIG. 4A, in the main process, one cycle is completed by repeating all the number of table elements.

The final termination is performed based on an external termination command. First, the cullet is the color identification trigger switch 1
At 5, the passage immediately below the CCD camera 14 is detected.

The color identification device 13 captures an image of the cullet based on the color identification trigger signal 31. Color identification device 13
Outputs the color signal 32 after a certain time (the output time has a width).

At the same time, the color identification trigger signal 31 is detected by the color identification trigger detection section 52, and if it is detected, the counting of the displacement S of the sorting object and the time t is started. Next, the color identification signal reading and sorting position setting unit 53 determines whether the time t has exceeded the maximum time TR required for the color identification signal output, and if so, reads the color signal 32 and responds to the color signal. One of the sorting positions S1, S2 and S3 is set.

In the sorting trigger detecting section 54, transparent, brown,
Sorting trigger photoelectric switch 7 for detecting the timing of each air nozzle 70, 71, 72 for sorting green cullet.
At 3, 74 and 75, the presence of cullet is detected.

When the sorting trigger signal is detected, the distance difference between the sorting target displacement and the sorting position is calculated by the distance difference calculating unit 55 and the distance difference between the sorting position S1, S2, and S3 set by the sorting position setting unit 53. Is calculated.

Further, if the distance difference is within the range of the preset values ε1 and ε2 in the sorting determination section 56, it is determined that the sorting is to be executed. Finally, in the solenoid valve opening / closing control unit 57, the cullet is moved to each of the photoelectric switches 73, 7 when sorting is performed.
The time variable for managing the waiting time until the solenoid valve is opened across 4 and 75 and the time for keeping each solenoid valve open are managed in the temporary storage unit 48.
After crossing 74 and 75, open the solenoid valve after a set time,
Control is performed to close the valve when the set time for valve opening has elapsed. (Second Embodiment) FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
To FIG.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of an apparatus for separating the material of a plastic bottle according to the second embodiment. A plastic bottle (hereinafter also referred to as a plastic bottle) is crushed in the radial direction by a volume reducing device or a compression device (not shown) and is conveyed.

The compressed plastic bottle 206 is transported by the transport belt 205. Bottle 2 transported by transport belt
06 is a photoelectric switch (for detecting passage of a material identification sensor) 2
08, and the passage is detected.

The light emitted from the near-infrared light source 203 passes through the plastic bottle 206 and is received by the light receiver 207. The received transmitted light passes through the optical fiber 202 and is split by the spectroscope 201, and a material signal 209 is sent to the control device 204.

The material signals in this case are PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and PET (polyethylene terephthalate). The control device starts the bottle material detection simultaneously with the bottle passage detection by the photoelectric switch 208, and detects several materials during passage.

Upon completion of the passage, the plastic bottle 206
The counting of the movement amount is started, and with the same logic as in the first embodiment, the solenoid valve 212 for the PVC bottle is opened when the plastic bottle 206 is PVC, and the solenoid valve 213 for the PET bottle is opened when the plastic bottle 206 is PET. , Each receiving a PVC bottle 2
10. Collect in PET bottle collection receiver 211.

The bottles other than the PVC bottle and the PET bottle flow to the other bottle collection receiver 214 and are collected. In the second embodiment, a timer provided inside the control device 204 is used instead of using a belt encoder for belt displacement detection. (Third Embodiment) As a third embodiment, a glass bottle color sorting apparatus will be described.

In the third embodiment, the CCD camera 14 shown in FIG. 1 is installed instead of the light receiver 207 and the color identification device 13 is installed instead of the spectroscope 201 in the conceptual diagram of the plastic bottle sorting apparatus shown in FIG. The collection receiver is changed from the PVC bottle collection receiver 210 to a brown bottle collection receiver and the PET bottle collection receiver 211.
Can be collected in a transparent bottle.

The number of collection receivers may be increased for green bottles and the like as needed. (Fourth Embodiment) As a fourth embodiment, a plastic bottle color separation apparatus will be described.

The fourth embodiment is realized by bringing a compressed plastic bottle like the second embodiment in place of the bottle in the third embodiment. (Fifth Embodiment) As a fifth embodiment, a plastic bottle color separation apparatus will be described.

The fifth embodiment is realized by bringing a compressed plastic bottle like the second embodiment in place of the bottle in the third embodiment. (Sixth Embodiment) As a sixth embodiment, a sorting apparatus of a parcel delivery company will be described.

FIG. 7 shows a conceptual diagram of the sorting apparatus. A parcel 604 from a collection truck 601 that has collected parcels from a courier service store such as a convenience store or a rice grain store.
Is caused to flow to the upstream transport belt 602 manually or by mechanical force.

The flowed parcels are transferred to the main transport belt 60.
Ride 3 and flow to the sorting mechanism. FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram of the sorting mechanism, and FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram of the baggage identification tag.

Each of the small packages 604 is attached with a tag 607 for identifying the package when the small package 604 is received at a store. This tag stores information such as a destination, a reception shop, a sender, and a type of luggage (cuts, refrigerated goods, etc.) like an IC lift ticket at a ski resort.

This tag 607 is used as the identification tag reading device 6
After passing through the vicinity of 05, the information of the parcel is read out in a non-contact manner. The parcel information is sent to the controller 608 through a parcel information signal 609.

The control device 608 sends an operation command to a cylinder for driving a push rod for sorting small packages by using the same logic as in the first embodiment. For example, when the parcel is destined for the city, it is recognized that sorting to the city is performed based on the destination read by the tag reading device 605.

At the stage where the parcel starts to pass through the photoelectric switch 606, the movement of the parcel is started to be counted. At the stage where the parcel arrives at the photoelectric switch 611 for sorting in the city area, if it matches the movement amount counted in the controller, the cylinder 613 is driven and the push rod 612 moves the parcel to the city area. Sort.

The sorted parcels are arranged on a luggage carrier 615, and when the delivery truck 616 arrives, the whole luggage is loaded on the delivery truck 616 and sent to a delivery destination or a collection / delivery station in each area. (Seventh Embodiment) A baggage sorting apparatus at an airport will be described as a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram of the sorting apparatus. At the airport, when a passenger performs an airplane boarding procedure using the boarding procedure counter-701, he or she deposits baggage 702.

When the staff at the counter checks baggage,
The baggage tag 703 is attached as shown in FIG. The conventional tag only printed the destination airport and baggage number.

In the seventh embodiment, it is assumed that an IC-type baggage information tag 704 similar to the sixth embodiment is attached. The baggage information tag stores information such as a destination airport, baggage number, boarding airplane number, airline name, and depositor name.

The baggage to which the tag is attached is sent to the sorting mechanism by the conveyor belt 705. The sorting mechanism is the same as that shown in FIG. 8, and sorts using the boarding airplane number of the baggage and the airline name as clues.

The sorting procedure is exactly the same as in the sixth embodiment. Sorted baggage 707 is sent to Trailer-7
06 and mounted on the airplane on which the owner is boarding.

[0055]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects. (1) Even if the sorting object flowing on the conveyor belt slips on the belt, the sorting can be accurately performed without causing a sorting failure in the sorting device. (2) Multiple types of sorting are possible. (3) Even if the detection means for detecting the passage of the sorting target malfunctions, the difference between the classification information of the sorting target detected by the identification device stored in the temporary storage and the actually flowing sorting target is not changed. It does not happen and all sorts after the malfunction do not fail.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a glass bin cullet color separation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control device of the glass bin cullet color classification device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram inside a CPU of the control device of the glass bin cullet color separation device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sorting control flowchart of the control device of the glass bottle cullet color sorting device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a signal system diagram of a sorting mechanism of the glass bin cullet color sorting device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of an apparatus for separating plastic bottle materials according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of a sorting apparatus of a parcel delivery company according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram of a sorting mechanism of a sorting apparatus of a parcel delivery company according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram of a baggage identification evening of a sorting apparatus of a parcel delivery company according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram of an airport baggage sorting apparatus according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram of a baggage information tag according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of a defective product discharging device according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Supply apparatus (hopper) 2 ... Vibration apparatus 3 ... Limit switch 4 ... Rotary feeder 5 ... Inner ring 6 ... Outer ring 7 ... Inner wall 8 ... Cullet 9 ... Supply port 10 ... Connecting plate 11 ... Conveying belt 12 ... Slit 13 ... Color identification Device 14 ... CCD camera 15 ... Color discriminating trigger photoelectric switch 16 ... Control device 17 ... Solenoid valve opening / closing circuit 18 ... Sorting trigger photoelectric switch 19 ... Solenoid valve 20 ... Air nozzle 21 ... Transparent collecting shoe evening 22 ... Brown collecting shoe Evening 23: Green collecting shoe 24: Other collecting shoe 25: Servo mode 26: Encoder 30: Side plate 31: Trigger signal (color identification trigger signal) 32: Color signal 33: Displacement signal 34: Sorting trigger signal 35 ... Light 46 Clock 47 Setting value storage unit 48 Temporary storage unit 49 Central processing unit 50 Time / displacement meter Unit 51: Time signal 52: Color identification trigger detection unit 53: Color signal reading and sorting position setting unit 54: Sorting trigger detection unit 55: Distance difference calculation unit between sorting target displacement and sorting position 56: Sorting determination unit 57: Electromagnetic Valve opening / closing control unit 70: air nozzle for transparent sorting 71: air nozzle for brown sorting 72: air nozzle for green sorting 70: photoelectric switch for transparent sorting trigger 71: photoelectric switch for trigger for brown sorting 72: photoelectric switch for green sorting trigger 202: optical fiber 203 ... Light source 204 ... Control device 205 ... Transport belt 206 ... Plastic bottle 207 ... Photodetector 208 ... Photoelectric switch 209 ... Material signal 601 ... Collection truck 602 ... Upstream transport belt 603 ... Main transport belt 604 ... Package 605 ... Identification tag reader 606: photoelectric switch 607: luggage identification Tag (IC card) 608 Control device 609 Small package information signal 610 Photoelectric switch signal 611 Photoelectric switch 612 Push rod 613 Cylinder 614 Cylinder operation command signal 615 Luggage truck 616 Delivery truck 701 Boarding procedure counter 702 ... baggage 703 ... baggage tag 704 ... baggage information tag 705 ... conveyor belt 706 ... trailer 707 ... sorted baggage 1000 ... sensor for detecting good / bad of the work 1001 ... sensor for package detection 1002 ... work 1003 ... air blow device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-60-41582 (JP, A) JP-A-1-252415 (JP, A) JP-A 8-257508 (JP, A) JP-A-56-257 37952 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model 3-102512 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B07C 5/00-5/38 B65G 43/00-43/10 B65G 47/34-47/51

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A color sorting target, the sorting device you sorted for each type of such material, and conveying means for conveying the (A) sorting the subject, for measuring the displacement of the (B) said transfer means identification DOO showing a measuring means, and identifying means for identifying (C) a plurality of types of sorting target, the identification timing of the identification means to detect the passage of sorting objects conveyed by (D) said conveying means
And identifying a trigger detecting means for outputting a trigger signal, (E) is provided for each of the sorting target type, the corresponding type is a sorting means for sorting the sort object identified by the identifying means, (F) wherein each sorting A sorting trigger detecting means provided for each means for detecting that a sorting target has reached the sorting means; and (G) the identification output from the identification trigger detecting means.
Using the trigger signal as a trigger, the identification trigger detecting means
The transfer from the point when the passage of the sorting object is detected
(H) a displacement counting means for measuring the displacement of the means,
Sorting position setting means for setting a sorting position to be set, and (I) the sorting corresponding to the sorting trigger detecting means.
When it is detected that the sorting target has reached the sorting means
The carrier hand measured by the displacement counting means at that time
Calculate the distance difference between the step displacement and the set sorting position.
A distance difference calculation means for output, (J) tolerance than said calculated distance difference is predetermined
A distance difference determining means for determining whether or not the lower, if (K) the calculated distance difference is less than the allowable value,
A system for operating the sorting means in which the sorting position is set.
A sorting device comprising: a control device . 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transfer means is provided at irregular or fixed intervals.
Sorted objects to be conveyed by sorting means for each type
In the sorting control method for sorting , (A) passage of a sorting object carried by the carrying means
The by but is more detected identification trigger detection means
The identification trigger signal output from the identification trigger detection means is used as a trigger, and the identification trigger
Pass pass measures displacement and time of the conveying means from the time it is detected, the sorting subject by (B) the identification trigger detector
After preset have a time from the time but has been detected, the
Use the identification trigger signal as a trigger to identify the type of sorting target
It reads an identification signal from the identification means, the identification signal
Set the sorting location corresponding to the type indicated by, and corresponds to (C) sorting means for the sorting position is set
Sorting subject to the sorting means detects whether the host vehicle has reached the sorting trigger detection means provided Te, biopsy has been reached is sorted target (D) said sorting means
If it is issued, change of the measured transport means at that time
Calculating a distance difference between the position and the set sorting position ; (E) determining whether the calculated distance difference is equal to or less than a predetermined allowable value; and (F) determining the calculated distance difference. if more than the allowable value,
A sorting control method characterized by operating a sorting means in which the sorting position is set .