JP3612370B2 - Transport case and sorting apparatus using the transport case - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a transport case having unique data such as the delivery destination and type of each package via a data carrier, and classifies the packages accommodated in the transport case based on the package-specific data such as the delivery destination and type. In addition, the present invention relates to a sorting apparatus that automatically conveys the sheet to a desired place.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, it is necessary to classify a large number of packages based on classification data such as destinations in product shipping processes in the factory and courier collection / delivery offices, and performing this classification work manually requires a great deal of labor. In recent years, a sorting device is often used that attaches data specific to a package to the package and automatically sorts the data by reading this data.
[0003]
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of such a sorting apparatus.
As shown in the figure, the sorting apparatus includes a main transport path 1 that transports a transport case 5 in which unpackaged packages are stored, and a plurality of branch transport paths 3 that are branched from the main transport path 1. The interrogator 7 transmits and receives radio signals to and from a data carrier, which will be described later, attached to a transport case 5 transported on the main transport path 1, and based on the result of the query by the interrogator 7, It comprises a controller 9 that controls the sorting device in a comprehensive manner.
[0004]
The transport case 5 transported on the main transport path 1 is branched at a sorting point 11 between the main transport path 1 and the branch transport path 3 by a diverter, a running scraper, a slide shoe (not shown), or the like. Branches to the conveyance path 3 side.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the conventional transport case 5, interrogator 7 and controller 9.
[0005]
A data carrier 13 is attached to one side surface of the transport case 5. An interrogator 7 is disposed at a position facing the side surface to which the data carrier 13 is attached. The interrogator 7 is connected to the controller 9.
[0006]
This data carrier 13 is based on a known electromagnetic coupling method. 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.
This will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
As shown in the figure, a central part of the data carrier 13 is mounted with a storage unit for storing data specific to the package accommodated in the transport case 5 and an IC chip 15 serving as a transmission / reception unit for transmitting / receiving the data. The antenna 17 for transmission / reception is swirled in a spiral shape.
[0007]
Then, when the transport case 5 containing the package is sent on the main transport path 1 shown in FIG. 3, the question is asked at the position where the data carrier 13 mounted on the transport case 5 and the interrogator 7 face each other. 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. This data evening 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]
As a result, the controller 9 recognizes the destination of the transport case 5 and switches the branch point 11 to branch the transport case 5 to the desired branch transport path 3. In addition, when changing the destination of a package or assigning a name to the package, the data can be sent from the interrogator 7 and written into 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 only on one side, the direction of the side of the transport case 5 must always be constant.
[0010]
If the side surface to which the data carrier 13 is attached does not face the interrogator 7, data cannot be transmitted, and the transport destination of the package accommodated in the transport case 5 cannot be recognized.
Therefore, in order to solve this problem, as shown in FIG. 6, a data carrier 13 is disposed at the bottom of the transport case 5, and the interrogator 7 is disposed below the main transport path 1 to communicate data. However, this method has a drawback that the data carrier 13 is easily damaged by a load.
[0011]
Further, as shown in FIG. 7, there is a method of arranging the data carrier 13 on all four sides, but 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 the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to transmit and receive data with a simple configuration regardless of the direction of the side surface of the transport case. It is an object of the present invention to provide a transfer case that can be used and a sorting device using the transfer case.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 is a transfer case that accommodates a load and is moved on a conveyor to transfer the load to a desired point. The transfer case main body and all sides of the transfer case main body are connected in series via connection lines. A spirally arranged antenna, a storage unit that stores data specific to the package to be stored and added to or near any one of the antennas, and a transmission / reception unit that transmits and receives the data comprising a comprising IC chip is connected to the antenna and magnetic, and having a data carrier for transmitting and receiving radio signals to and from the antenna located in the vicinity of transmitting and receiving means and receiving means arranged in the vicinity of the conveyor .
[0013]
The invention according to claim 2 is the transfer case according to claim 1, wherein the transfer case main body has a box shape having a bottom surface and four side surfaces, and each antenna has a bottom surface on the outer side surface facing each other. It is characterized by being provided at a position rising from two diagonal corners and at the same distance from the upper vertex of the side surface.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sorting apparatus in which a box-shaped transfer case for storing a load is placed on a conveyor, and the conveyor is automatically controlled to transfer the load to a desired point. A spirally arranged antenna disposed in series on all sides via a connecting line, and a storage unit for storing data specific to the package to be added and accommodated on or near any one of the antennas, And an IC chip serving as a transmission / reception unit for transmitting / receiving the data, and a data carrier for transmitting / receiving a radio signal between a transmission / reception means arranged near the conveyor and an antenna located near the transmission / reception means, and arranged near the conveyor And a transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving data to / from the data carrier facing the data carrier or antenna when the transport case is transported.
[0014]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the sorting apparatus according to the third aspect, the transport case body has a box shape having a bottom surface and four side surfaces, and each antenna has a bottom surface on the outer side surface facing each other. It is characterized by being provided at a position rising from two diagonal corners and at the same distance from the upper vertex of the side surface.
[0015]
[Action]
In the invention which concerns on Claims 1 thru | or 4, if a conveyance case is conveyed by the conveyor to the transmission / reception means, a data carrier will face a transmission / reception means. Magnetic flux emitted from the transmission / reception means is linked to 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 transmission / reception means as a result is transmitted to the data carrier via the antenna, thereby Data can be transmitted / received with the data carrier.
[0016]
As a result, data such as the destination stored in the storage unit of the data carrier is read by the transmission / reception means, and the sorting operation is performed between the main transport path and the sub transport path under the control of the controller. The package accommodated in the case is transported to a desired point.
Of course, new data can also be written in the storage part of the data carrier.
[0017]
Even if the direction of the transport case is different and the transmission / reception means and other antennas face each other, these antennas are connected via connection lines, so they are located opposite to or near the data carrier antenna. Inductive current also flows through the antenna, which enables data transmission / reception between the transmission / reception means and the data carrier.
[0018]
Furthermore, even when the direction of the transport case is different and the transmitting / receiving means and another antenna face each other , each antenna is located at a position rising from one diagonal two corners of the bottom surface on the outside of the side surface facing each other. Since it is provided at the same distance from the upper apex of the side surface, the data carrier attached to one of the antennas does not face the antenna or data carrier arranged in the adjacent transport case The transmission / reception means does not read the data of the conveyance cases adjacent to each other.
[0019]
Note that when adjacent transport cases approach each other, the antenna or the data carrier and the connection line face each other. In this case, the value of the induced current generated by the data carrier and the antenna read by the transmission / reception means and the antenna or By controlling so as to detect the level difference between the value caused by the induced current caused by the data carrier and the connection line, it is possible to distinguish the data by the corresponding transport case from the data by the transport cases adjacent to each other.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a configuration of an embodiment of a transport case according to the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol was attached | subjected to the same thing as the apparatus, apparatus, and components shown in FIG. 3 thru | or FIG.
The transport case 20 includes a transport case main body 21 and spirally-turned antennas 27 a and 27 b that are arranged in series on all side surfaces 23 a, 23 b, 23 c, and 23 d of the transport case main body 21 via connection lines 29. 27c, 27d, and a data carrier 13 that is added to or near one of the antennas 27a, 27b, 27c, 27d and is magnetically connected to the antennas 27a, 27b, 27c, 27d. Yes.
[0021]
The transport case main body 21 has a box shape having a bottom surface 25 and four side surfaces 23a, 23b, 23c, and 23d and having an open top. The side surfaces 23a and 23c are long side surfaces, and the side surfaces 23b and 23d are short side surfaces.
Each antenna 27a, 27b, 27c, 27d has the same mounting position with respect to the four side surfaces 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d.
[0022]
That is, in FIG. 1, the antennas 27a, 27b, 27c, and 27d are disposed at positions that are substantially equidistant from the left end and bottom surface.
The antennas 27 a, 27 b, 27 c, 27 d are connected to the connection wires 29 so that the connection portions 29 are joined in series by the connection wires 29, and these wires are connected to the insides of the side surfaces of the transport case body 21. Buried.
[0023]
Further, the data carrier 13 is arranged in parallel with the vicinity of the installation site of one of the antennas 27a to 27d (antenna 27a in the figure). The antenna 27a and the spiral antenna 17 of the data carrier 13 are magnetically coupled.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view 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. In addition, the same code | symbol was attached | subjected to the same thing as the apparatus, apparatus, and components shown in FIG. 3 thru | or FIG.
[0024]
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a plurality of transfer cases 20 (two for simplicity in the figure) are continuously transferred on the main transfer 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, one of the antennas 27 a to 27 d always faces the interrogator 7 as a transmission unit regardless of the orientation of the transport case 20. It will be. When the antenna 27a of the transfer case 20 and the interrogator 7 face each other, the magnetic flux output from the interrogator 7 is linked to the antenna 27a, and an induced current flows through the antenna 27a. Since the antenna 27a and the antenna 17 of the data carrier 13 are magnetically coupled, as a result, the signal transmitted from the interrogator 7 is transmitted to the data carrier 13 via the antenna 27a. As a result, data can be transmitted and received between the interrogator 7 and the data carrier 13.
[0025]
As a result, the data such as the destination stored in the IC chip 15 of the data carrier 13 is read by the interrogator 7 and is sorted between the main transport path 1 and the sub transport path 3 under the control of the controller 9. 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 and switches the branch point 11 to branch the transport case 20 to the desired branch transport path 3. In addition, when changing the destination of a package or assigning a name to the package, the data can be sent from the interrogator 7 and written into the IC chip 15.
[0026]
Even when the orientation of the transport case 20 is different and the interrogator 7 and the other antennas 27b to 27d face each other, the antennas 27a to 27d are connected via the connection line 29. Inductive current also flows, and this enables data transmission / reception between the interrogator 7 and the data carrier 13.
Furthermore, even if the direction of the transport case 20 is different and the interrogator 7 and the other antennas 27b to 27d face each other, the antennas 27a to 27d are outside the side surfaces 23a, 23b, 23c, and 23d that face each other. Are provided at positions that rise from two diagonal corners of the bottom surface 25 and at the same distance from the upper apexes of the side surfaces 23a, 23b, 23c, and 23d, so that they are added to any one of the antennas 27a to 27d. Data carrier 13 does not face antennas 27a to 27d or data carrier 13 arranged in adjacent conveyance cases 20, and data in adjacent conveyance cases 20 is not read by the transmitting / receiving means. .
[0027]
When the adjacent transport cases 20 approach each other, the antennas 27a to 27d or the data carrier 13 and the connection line 29 face each other. In this case, the data carrier 13 and the antenna 27a read by the interrogator 7 are used. ˜27d and the value of the induced current caused by the antennas 27a to 27d or the data carrier 13 and the connection line 29 are controlled so as to detect the level difference between the value and Data from adjacent transport cases 20 can be distinguished.
[0028]
Thus, according to the present embodiment, even when a plurality of transport cases 20 are transported continuously at a narrow interval, data can be accurately transmitted and received between the transport case 20 and the interrogator 7. it can. Further, even when the side surfaces of the transport case 20 are not the same in direction, the data can be reliably transmitted.
In the above embodiment, the antennas 27a, 27b, 27c, and 27d have been described as being disposed at positions that are substantially equidistant from the left end and bottom surface of the transport case body 21, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example , it may be disposed at a position that is substantially equidistant from the right end and bottom surface of the transport case main body 21. In short, even if the direction of the transport case 20 is reversed, there is no special position as long as the antennas of the transport cases 20 adjacent to each other or the antenna and the data carrier do not face each other.
[0029]
Moreover, although the rectangular box was demonstrated as the conveyance case 20, a polygon may be sufficient. In the case of a circular shape, the same identification can be performed by providing antennas at two or more locations.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, data communication between the transport case and the transmission / reception means can be reliably performed by one data carrier regardless of the transport direction of the transport case. Communication accuracy is improved, and reliable sorting without sorting mistakes can be performed. In addition, even when a plurality of transport cases are continuously transported at narrow intervals, 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 there is no sorting error. There is an effect that reliable sorting can be performed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of an embodiment of a transport case according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a configuration of an embodiment of a sorting apparatus according to the present invention and showing a state in which a plurality of transfer cases are transferred on a transfer path.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a sorting apparatus.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a conventional interrogator and a controller that perform data communication with a transport case and a data carrier of the transport case.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a detailed configuration of a data carrier.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the carrier is arranged on the bottom surface of the transport case.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a carrier overnight is arranged on each side surface of a transport case.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Main transport path 2 Sub transport path 7 Interrogator (transmission / reception means)
9 Controller 11 Sorting Point 13 Data Carrier 15 IC Chip 17 Antenna 20 Carrying Case 21 Carrying Case Body 23a-23d Sides 27a-27d Antenna 29 Connection Line

Claims (4)

In a transport case that accommodates luggage and is moved on the conveyor to transport the luggage to a desired point,
A transport case body;
An antenna swirled in a spiral shape disposed in series via connection lines on all sides of the transport case body,
This is added to any one of the top or near the antenna, a storage unit for storing luggage-specific data to be accommodated, and the data includes an IC chip comprising a transceiver unit for transmitting and receiving, the antenna and magnetically connected, the conveyor And a data carrier for transmitting and receiving a radio signal between an antenna located near the transmitter / receiver and an antenna located near the transmitter / receiver. 2. The transport case according to claim 1, wherein the transport case body has a box shape having a bottom surface and four side surfaces, and each antenna rises from two diagonal corners of the bottom surface on the outer side surfaces facing each other. The transfer case is provided at the same position and at the same distance from the upper apex of the side surface. In a sorting apparatus that places a box-shaped transfer case in which a load is stored on a conveyor and automatically controls the conveyor to transfer the load to a desired point.
An antenna swirled in a spiral arrangement disposed in series on all sides of the transport case via a connection line;
This is added to any one of the top or near the antenna, a storage unit for storing luggage-specific data to be accommodated, and the data includes an IC chip comprising a transceiver unit for transmitting and receiving, the antenna and magnetically connected, the conveyor A data carrier for transmitting and receiving a radio signal between a transmitting / receiving means arranged in the vicinity of the antenna and an antenna located in the vicinity of the transmitting / receiving means,
A sorting apparatus, comprising: a transmission / reception unit disposed near a conveyor and configured to face a data carrier or an antenna and transmit / receive data to / from the data carrier when the transport case is transported. 4. The sorting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the transport case body has a box shape having a bottom surface and four side surfaces, and each antenna rises from two diagonal corners of the bottom surface on the outer side surfaces facing each other. The sorting apparatus is provided at the same position and at the same distance from the upper vertex of the side surface.

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