JP3570585B2 - Transport case and sorting device using this transport case - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sorting apparatus for sorting a plurality of packages based on data unique to the packages such as delivery destinations, and a transport case for storing and transferring the packages.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, in a product shipping process in a factory, a courier service, etc., it is necessary to classify a large number of packages based on classification data such as destinations, and performing this classification work manually requires a great deal of labor. In recent years, a sorting apparatus that attaches data unique to the package to the package, reads the data, and automatically sorts the package is often used.
[0003]
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of such a sorting device.
As shown in FIG. 1, the sorting apparatus includes a main transport path 1 that transports a transport case 5 containing packages, a plurality of branch transport paths 3 branched from the main transport path 1, a main transport path 1 An interrogator 7 for transmitting and receiving a radio signal to and from a data carrier, which will be described later, attached to a transport case 5 transported on the upper side, and interrogating the interrogator. And a controller 9 for controlling the operation.
[0004]
The transport case 5 transported on the main transport path 1 is separated by a diverter, a running scraper, a slide shoe (not shown), and the like at a sorting point 11 between the main transport path 1 and the branch transport path 3. It is branched to the transport path 3 side.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a conventional transport case 5, an interrogator 7, and a controller 9.
[0005]
A data carrier 13 is mounted on one side of the transport case 5. An interrogator 7 is disposed at a position facing the side surface on which the data carrier 13 is mounted, and the interrogator 7 is connected to the controller 9.
The data carrier 13 is based on a known electromagnetic coupling system. In the electromagnetic coupling method, the coil connected to the data carrier 13 and the coil on the interrogator 7 side are magnetically coupled, and communication is performed by transformer coupling using mutual induction.
[0006]
This will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
As shown in the figure, in the center of the data carrier 13, a storage unit for storing data unique to the package housed in the transport case 5 and an IC chip 15 serving as a transmission / reception unit for transmitting / receiving this data are mounted. The antenna 17 for transmission and reception is swirled in a spiral.
[0007]
Then, when the transport case 5 containing the luggage is sent on the main transport path 1 shown in FIG. 10, the data carrier 13 mounted on the transport case 5 and the interrogator 7 are A coil (not shown) disposed in the device 7 and the antenna 17 are magnetically coupled, and data is transmitted from the interrogator 7 to the data carrier 13 side. Then, this data is sent to the IC chip 15 via the antenna 17. On the contrary, the contents stored in the IC chip 15 are transmitted to the interrogator 7 via the antenna 17.
[0008]
Thus, the controller 9 recognizes the destination of the transport case 5 and switches the branch point 11 to branch the transport case 5 to a desired branch transport path 3. When the destination of the package is changed, or when the package is given a name, the data can be sent from the interrogator 7 and written in the IC chip 15.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a conventional transport case 5, since the data carrier 13 is arranged on only one side, the direction of the side of the transport case 5 must always be kept constant.
[0010]
If the attached side of the data carrier 13 does not face the interrogator 7, data cannot be transmitted, and the destination of the package stored in the transport case 5 cannot be recognized.
Therefore, in order to solve this problem, as shown in FIG. 13, a method of arranging the data carrier 13 at the bottom of the transport case 5 and arranging the interrogator 7 below the main transport path 1 to communicate data. However, this method has a disadvantage that the data carrier 13 is easily damaged by a load.
[0011]
Further, as shown in FIG. 14, there is a method of arranging the data carriers 13 on all four side surfaces. However, this method is disadvantageous in terms of cost because it is necessary to prepare four data carriers 13.
The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and an object thereof is to use a single data carrier with a simple configuration irrespective of the direction of the side surface of the transport case. An object of the present invention is to provide a transport case capable of transmitting and receiving data and a sorting device using the transport case.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 is a transport case for storing a load, transporting the load on a conveyor, and transporting the load to a desired point, a transport case body having a box shape having a bottom surface and four side surfaces, and the transport case body. Three antennas arranged in two corners on the diagonal of the case main body, spirally turned, connection lines connecting the three antennas in series, a storage unit for storing data unique to the package to be stored, and An IC chip serving as a transmitting / receiving unit for transmitting / receiving data, magnetically connected to the antenna, and a data carrier for transmitting / receiving a radio signal between transmitting / receiving means disposed near the conveyor and an antenna located near the transmitting / receiving means ; And one antenna is provided at one corner and two are provided at opposite corners of the transport case. The two antennas are arranged on adjacent side surfaces and have different mounting heights. Data carrier is characterized in that attached to one antenna of one of the corners.
[0013]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sorting apparatus for placing a box-shaped transport case for storing packages on a conveyor and automatically controlling the conveyor to transport the package to a desired point. And a transmission / reception means arranged near the conveyor and facing the data carrier or the antenna when the conveyance case is conveyed and transmitting and receiving data to and from the data carrier. It is.
[0014]
(Action)
According to the first and second aspects of the invention, when the transport case is transported to the transmitting / receiving means by the conveyor, the data carrier faces the transmitting / receiving means. The magnetic flux emitted from the transmitting / receiving means links with the antenna, and an induced current flows through the antenna. And, since the antenna and the antenna of the data carrier are magnetically coupled, the signal transmitted from the transmitting / receiving means is consequently transmitted to the data carrier via the antenna. Data transmission / reception with a data carrier becomes possible.
[0015]
As a result, data such as the destination stored in the storage section of the data carrier is read by the transmission / reception means, and the sorting operation is performed between the main transport path and the branch transport path under the control of the controller. The luggage stored in the inside is transported to a desired point.
Of course, new data can be written in the storage section of the data carrier.
[0016]
Also, even if the direction of the transport case is different and the transmitting / receiving means and another antenna face each other, since these antennas are connected via the connection line, they are located facing or near the antenna of the data carrier. The induced current also flows through the antenna, which enables data transmission and reception between the transmitting and receiving means and the data carrier.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of one embodiment of a transport case according to the present invention. It should be noted that the same components as those shown in FIGS. 10 to 12 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0018]
The transport case 20 is swirled into three spirals that are arranged in series at the corners of the diagonal side surfaces 23a, 23b, and 23c of the transport case main body 21 via the connection wires 29. It comprises antennas 27a, 27b, 27c and a data carrier 13 which is added above or near the antenna 27a and is magnetically connected to the antennas 27a, 27b, 27c.
[0019]
The carrying case main body 21 has a box shape having a bottom surface 25 and four side surfaces 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d, and an open top. The side surfaces 23a and 23c are short side surfaces, and the side surfaces 23b and 23d are long side surfaces.
The antennas 27 a, 27 b, and 27 c are connected so as to be joined in series by a connection line 29, and these wirings are embedded inside each side surface of the carrying case main body 21.
[0020]
Further, a data carrier 13 is disposed near the installation site of the antenna 27a in parallel with the antenna 27a. The antenna 27a and the spiral antenna 17 of the data carrier 13 are magnetically coupled.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the sorting apparatus according to the present invention using the transport case according to the present invention shown in FIG. It should be noted that the same components as those shown in FIGS. 10 to 12 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0021]
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a plurality of transport cases 20 (two in FIG. 2 for simplicity) are continuously transported on the main transport path 1.
Next, the operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, when the transport case 20 is transported on the main transport path 1, any one of the data carrier 12 and the antennas 27 b and 27 c allows the interrogator 7 to transmit and receive data regardless of the direction of the transport case 20. Enter A. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, when the data carrier 13 attached to the transport case 20 enters the transmittable / receivable range A of the question box 7 indicated by the dashed line in FIG. The antenna 13 intersects with the antenna 17 and performs transmission and reception by electromagnetic coupling.
[0022]
Thereby, the data such as the destination stored in the IC chip 15 of the data carrier 13 is read by the interrogator 7, and the sorting operation between the main transport path 1 and the sub transport path 3 is performed under the control of the controller 9. Then, the package stored in the transport case 20 is transported to a desired point.
That is, the controller 9 recognizes the destination of the transport case 20, switches the branch point 11, and branches the transport case 20 to a desired branch transport path 3. Further, when changing the destination of the package or giving a name to the package, data can be sent from the interrogator 7 and the writing process can be performed in the IC chip 15.
[0023]
Also, if the direction of the transport case 20 is different and the interrogator 7 faces the other antenna 27b or 27c, the magnetic flux of the interrogator 7 is equal to the antenna 27b or 27c as shown in FIGS. The crossing generates an induced electromotive force, and the induced current also flows through the antenna 27a connected via the connection line 29. This current causes the antenna 27a to generate a magnetic flux, which is also transmitted to the data carrier 13 which is electromagnetically coupled. Similarly, the response of the data carrier 13 is returned to the interrogator 7 via the antennas 27a, 27b, and 27c, so that data can be transmitted and received.
[0024]
At this time, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the antennas 27b and 27c have different mounting heights, and the antenna 27a and the antenna 27c have the same mounting height. Therefore, even when the plurality of transport cases 20 are transported continuously at a narrow interval, data can be transmitted and received between the transport case 20 and the question box 7 accurately.
FIG. 6 is a diagram when the transport case 20 is continuous in the same direction, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a view showing a case where the orientation is different by 90 °.
[0025]
In this manner, according to the present embodiment, even when a plurality of transport cases 20 are continuously transported at a narrow interval, data can be accurately transmitted and received between transport case 20 and interrogator 7. Can be.
7 and 9 show a state in which the transport case 20 according to the present invention has approached.
7 shows a case in which the transport cases 20 shown in FIG. 1 approach each other, and FIG. 8 shows a case in which the transport case 20 shown in FIG.
[0026]
As can be understood from these figures, when the interrogator 7 reads or writes the data carrier 13 attached to one of the transport cases 20 even when the transport case 20 approaches, the data carrier of the adjacent transport case 20 is read. 13 is not accidentally read or written. Further, even when the sides of the transfer case 20 are not the same and the transfer is performed, the data can be reliably transmitted.
[0027]
FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a transport case according to another embodiment of the present invention.
In the present embodiment, the antenna 27a is provided on the side surface 23d.
In the above embodiment, the antenna 27b is lower than the antenna 27c in FIG. 1, but the antenna 27b may be higher than the antenna 27c.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, irrespective of the direction in which the transport case is transported, data communication between the transport case and the transmitting / receiving means can be reliably performed by one data carrier. Communication accuracy is improved, and reliable sorting without sorting errors can be performed. Further, even when a plurality of transport cases are continuously transported at a narrow interval, data communication between the transport case and the transmission / reception means can be reliably performed, so that the accuracy of data communication is improved and sorting errors are eliminated. The effect is obtained that reliable sorting can be performed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a transport case according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a sorting device according to the present invention and showing a state in which a plurality of transport cases are transported on a transport path.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a data carrier reading situation according to the embodiment of the sorting apparatus shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a data carrier reading state of the sorting device according to the present invention in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a data carrier reading range according to the embodiment of the sorting device according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a data carrier reading range of the sorting apparatus according to the present invention in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a situation in which the transport cases in FIG. 1 approach each other.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a situation in which the transport cases in FIG. 1 approach each other.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a transport case according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a sorting device.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a conventional transport case, an interrogator for performing data communication with a data carrier of the transport case, and a controller.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a detailed configuration of a data carrier.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing a state where the data carrier is arranged on the bottom surface of the transport case.
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which data carriers are arranged on each side surface of a transport case.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Main transport path 3 Branch transport path 7 Interrogator (transmitter / receiver)
9 Controller 11 Sorting point 13 Data carrier 15 IC chip 17 Antenna 20 Transport case 21 Transport case main bodies 23a to 23d Side surfaces 27a, 27b, 27c Antenna 29 Connection line

Claims (2)

In a transport case that accommodates luggage and is moved on a conveyor to transport luggage to a desired point,
A transport case body having a box shape having a bottom surface and four side surfaces,
Three spirally-turned antennas disposed at two diagonal corners of the transfer case body;
A connection line connecting the three antennas in series,
A storage unit for storing data specific to the package to be accommodated, and an IC chip serving as a transmission / reception unit for transmitting / receiving the data, a transmission / reception unit magnetically connected to the antenna , disposed near the conveyor, and located near the transmission / reception unit. And a data carrier for transmitting and receiving a radio signal to and from the antenna ,
One antenna is provided at one corner and two are provided at opposite corners of the transport case, and the two antennas are arranged on adjacent side surfaces and have different mounting heights.
A transport case, wherein the data carrier is attached to one antenna at one corner. In a sorting device that places a box-shaped transport case in which the load is stored on a conveyor, and automatically controls the conveyor to transport the load to a desired point.
A transport case according to claim 1,
A sorting apparatus, comprising: a transmitting / receiving unit disposed near a conveyor, facing a data carrier or an antenna when a transport case is transported, and transmitting and receiving data to and from the data carrier.

Images