JP3951668B2 - Automatic article sorting equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an automatic sorting facility for various types of long articles such as cigarette cartons.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, for example, a facility that sorts cartons, each of which is a group of 10 cigarettes, for each brand and according to a predetermined number according to the demand of each store, stores at least a large number of cartons for each brand. An article cutting device that cuts out a predetermined number of cartons of a given brand one by one, and a carton cut out from the article cutting device and guided by a belt conveyor is brought into contact with a guide plate and dropped onto a cradle. An article stacking apparatus for stacking on the cradle one by one and a boxing line for manually packing cartons stacked by the article stacking apparatus into empty boxes are provided.
[0003]
In the article cutting device, the carton is cut out so that the longitudinal direction of the carton coincides with the conveying direction of the belt conveyor.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
According to the above conventional sorting equipment, the carton cut out by the article cutting device, that is, the carton transported by the belt conveyor has the same longitudinal direction as the transport direction. It is necessary to increase the transport speed of the carton.
[0005]
However, when the conveyance speed is increased, the carton collides with a guide plate provided on the article stacking apparatus side at a considerable speed, and there is a problem that the carton is deformed and the commercial value is lost.
[0006]
Further, since the stacked cartons are boxed manually, there is still a problem that the processing capacity is limited.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic article sorting facility that can improve the processing capacity without impairing the commercial value of the article, that is, without damaging the article.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the automatic article sorting equipment of the present invention has a plurality of long articles in a step shape. A storage member having a storage space that can be stored and having an outlet for the elongated article formed at the lower end, and provided in the outlet of the storage member and stored in the storage space Cut out long articles one by one on the first conveying means side Cutting means having an article cutting machine; ,
A long article conveyed by the first conveying means, After receiving in a stacked form when moving from above to below, a receiving member for placing on the support base, and a stacking long article stacked in a predetermined number on the support base is second transported Has an extruder to extrude to the means side Stacking means;
Transported by the second transport means A number adjuster for obtaining a group of long boxed articles formed by combining a predetermined number of stacked long articles, empty box supply for supplying empty boxes with the lid open in the horizontal direction to the automatic boxing position And a pushing machine for pushing the box-shaped long article group obtained by the number adjusting machine into the empty box supplied by the empty box feeding machine. Consisting of boxing means,
And in the above-mentioned cutting means, the long article is cut out so that the longitudinal direction of the long article is orthogonal to the conveying direction of the first conveying means,
Further, in the stacking means in the automatic article sorting equipment, the long article is received so that the longitudinal direction of the long article is orthogonal to the transport direction of the first transport means,
Further, the long article in each automatic article sorting facility is a box-like body containing a plurality of cigarettes.
[0008]
According to the above configuration, since a long article such as a box-like body containing a plurality of cigarettes is cut from the cutting means to the first conveying means so that the longitudinal direction thereof is perpendicular to the conveying direction. Similarly, in the stacking means, since the longitudinal direction is received so as to be orthogonal to the transport direction, for example, if the number of transport is the same, the transport speed can be reduced compared to the transport in the longitudinal direction. In other words, even when the number of long-sized articles is increased, it is not necessary to increase the conveying speed of the long-sized articles and the long-sized articles are boxed by the boxing means. The sorting ability can be improved without damaging. Moreover, since a long article can be automatically boxed by a boxing apparatus, labor saving can be achieved.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, automatic article sorting equipment according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0010]
This automatic article sorting equipment is intended for long-sized articles. Specifically, 10 cigarettes are stored in a carton (box-like body) according to the order from the tobacco dealer. Are automatically boxed and sorted by each store.
[0011]
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 (a), when roughly classified as the size of the carton to be handled, the 100S type with a small order quantity has a large outline and the BOX type with a large order quantity has a small outline. There are two types of products, more specifically, the BOX type includes domestic products and imported products, and domestic products have a slightly larger shape. In addition, for the boxes to be boxed, empty boxes for transportation in which 50 cartons (allowable storage number) are packed and transported to the equipment are used. Therefore, as an empty box, an empty box for 100S is used. BOX domestic box (hereinafter referred to as BOX large box) and BOX foreign box (hereinafter referred to as BOX small box), and in this facility, 100S empty box is cut in half. And a semi-empty box capable of storing at least 25 100S cartons (half of the allowable storage capacity). As shown in FIG. 1 (b), the 100S empty box capable of storing 50 pieces, the BOX large empty box, and the BOX small empty box are packed in the back side as shown in FIG. 50 in total (25 rows x 5 rows (5 rows)) on the front side, and a half-empty box can be packed as shown in FIG. 25 boxes [5 rows x 5 rows (5 tiers)] can be stored in a state in which the box is laid down.
[0012]
In the operation of this facility, BOX domestic products and BOX imported products are handled as the same BOX type. Therefore, the carton types to be handled are the BOX type and the 100S type, and the types of empty boxes are described above. As described above, there are four types of 100S empty box, BOX large empty box, BOX small empty box, and semi-empty box. Packing into a semi-empty box, that is, manual operation when the number of cartons is 25 or less. According to.
[0013]
First, a schematic overall configuration of the automatic article sorting facility will be described with reference to FIG.
This automatic article sorting equipment includes a cutting device (cutting means) 1 that cuts out cartons CT stacked in a step-by-step manner on a first belt conveyor (first conveying means) 11, and the first belt conveyor 11. The carton is transported by the stacking device (stacking means) 2 for receiving a predetermined number of cartons conveyed and feeding to the second belt conveyor (second transport means) 12 side, and the second belt conveyor 12 The boxing device (boxing means) 4 for pushing the stacked cartons into the empty box KB, and the boxing device 4 that has completed boxing (hereinafter also referred to as an actual box) is sealed and delivered to A manual line 5 for affixing a label printed with a person who does not perform boxing by the boxing device 4 when the number of boxes is less than a predetermined number, that is, 25 or less. And a bypass line 6 for supplying cartons stacked on the manual work line 5 in order to carry out boxing, and in the cutting device 1, the longitudinal direction of the cartons is the transport direction of the first belt conveyor 11. Cartons are cut out so as to be orthogonal to each other, and in the sorting equipment, carton cutting procedures (cutting processing) and allocation of cartons to empty boxes (allocation method) based on orders from tobacco dealers And a sorting control device (to be described later). In addition, an empty box belt conveyor (also referred to as a debris conveyor) 7 for transferring the empty box KB after the carton is taken out to the boxing device 4 side is disposed on the side portion of the cutting device 1. .
[0014]
The above-mentioned cutting device 1 is arranged in large numbers in a row above the first belt conveyor 11 and over a predetermined range in the transport direction, and each has a storage space in which a large number of cartons CT can be stored in a stacked state in the vertical direction. And a storage case (storage member) 21 having a carton take-out port formed at the lower end thereof, and an article cutting machine for cutting out the cartons stored in the storage case 21 one by one from the exit port. By this article cutting machine, cartons are cut out one by one on the first belt conveyor 11 in the direction in which the longitudinal direction is orthogonal to the conveying direction.
[0015]
Further, the brands of the carton CT stored in the storage case 21 are arranged in the order of the number to be handled from the upstream side to the downstream side, thereby simplifying the automatic boxing operation. That is, the BOX type group is arranged on the upstream side, and the 100S type group is arranged on the downstream side.
[0016]
The stacking device 2 has a receiving plate (receiving member) that receives the cartons conveyed by the first belt conveyor 11 in a stacked shape when moving from the upper side to the lower side and then places the cartons on the support base. And an extruder for extruding a predetermined number of cartons (hereinafter referred to as “tiered cartons”) CT1 on the support base onto the second belt conveyor 12.
[0017]
In addition, the boxing device 4 is configured so that the stacked carton CT1 conveyed by the second belt conveyor 12 is determined according to a processing procedure (hereinafter also referred to as a sorting schedule) determined by a sorting control device described later. A number adjusting machine 31 for obtaining a boxed carton group CT2 of a predetermined number, that is, a combination of five rows, and an empty box supply for supplying an empty box KB with the lid open to the automatic boxing position (a) And a pushing machine 33 for pushing the box carton group obtained by the number adjusting machine 31 into the empty box supplied by the empty box feeding machine 32.
[0018]
In addition, as described above, the empty boxes that are automatically boxed by the pusher 33 are for 50 pieces, and the boxing is performed by two pushing operations of 25 pieces at a maximum, and the empty boxes for 25 pieces are used. As will be described later, boxing is performed in the manual operation line 5.
[0019]
Although not shown in the drawing, the number adjusting machine 31 stops the stacked carton CT1 conveyed by the second belt conveyor 12 and continues the stop until the number of one push in the sorting schedule is accumulated. Thus, the boxed carton group C2 is obtained.
[0020]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the empty box feeder 32 has a third belt conveyor 13 that can supply the empty box KB sideways (with the opening facing the side of the belt conveyor), and the third belt conveyor 13. The box packing position is arranged on the left and right sides and the upper part of the third belt conveyor 13 so as to be in sliding contact with the surface of the supplied empty box KB and with the opening KBa and the cover KBb provided around the opening KBa being opened. The guide member 41 includes a lid guide portion 42 for guiding the lid KBb, an upper surface guide portion 43 for guiding the upper surface of the empty box KB, and the lid KBb. It is comprised from the side guide part 44 which guides the side surface on the opposite side.
[0021]
The lid guide portion 42 includes strip-shaped upper and lower guide plates 45 and 46 that are in sliding contact with the lid KBb that is opened up and down, and a strip-shaped center guide plate 47 that is in sliding contact with the lid Kb that is opened left and right. Each of the upper surface guide portion 43 and the side surface guide portion 44 includes a plurality of (for example, two) belt-shaped guide plates 48 and 49.
[0022]
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the empty box feeder 32 is transported by the empty box belt conveyor 7 and the third belt conveyor 13 on the basis of the box allocation schedule determined by the sorting control device. An empty box indicator 51 is provided to indicate the type of empty box to be placed on.
[0023]
The empty box indicator 51 indicates the type of empty box to be packed with the stacked carton group CT2 conveyed by the second belt conveyor 12, that is, one of BOX large, BOX small, 100S, and semi-empty box. A display unit 52 is provided, and a “complete” button 53 is provided to shift to the next operation when an operator places an empty box as instructed by the display unit 52. In addition, when the boxes are different, a “box difference” button 54 for informing the fact and a “cancel” button 55 for canceling the box are provided.
[0024]
Therefore, in this empty box feeder 32, an operator takes out the empty box KB as indicated by the display section 52 of the empty box indicator 51 from the empty box group transported and stored by the empty box belt conveyor 7, and the cover KBb. If the guide is placed on the third belt conveyor 13 with the guides 42 to 44 being opened and the “Done” button 53 is pressed, the empty box KB is placed in the automatic boxing position with the lid open. Supplied to (b).
[0025]
The actual box JB which has been boxed at the boxing position (A) is conveyed to the manual work line 5 side by the fourth belt conveyor 14 (shown in FIG. 2) arranged on the downstream side thereof. A box inversion machine provided in the middle of the fourth belt conveyor 14 (for example, a comb-like standing member is provided in the middle of the conveyor so as to be able to stand upside down) 61 allows the actual box JB to have its lid It stands up, that is, is inverted so as to face upward from the side.
[0026]
Further, the pushing machine 33 includes an extrusion cylinder device for pushing the stacked carton group CT2 transported to the boxing position (a) in the second belt conveyor 12 into the empty box K on the third belt conveyor 13. Has been.
[0027]
That is, when the stacked carton group CT2 is transported to the boxing position (A) by the second belt conveyor 12, the box conveyor position (A) on the third belt conveyor 13 is similarly moved to the boxing position (A). The empty box KB with the lid KBb opened is supplied. In this state, the stacking carton group CT2 on the second belt conveyor 12 is placed in the empty box KB on the third belt conveyor 13 by the extrusion cylinder device. Therefore, the boxing operation of the stacked carton group CT2 is automatically performed.
[0028]
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the manual work line 5 includes a fifth belt conveyor 15 that guides the actual box JB packed by the boxing device 4 through the fourth belt conveyor 14. After the lid is closed and sealed by the worker on the belt conveyor 15, for example, a label on which a delivery destination, the number of stored items, and the like are printed is attached.
[0029]
Further, as described above, the bypass line 6 (shown in FIG. 2) is not automatically boxed by the pusher 33 when the number of sorting is small, that is, when the number of cartons to be boxed is 25 or less. Since this is performed manually, the stacked carton group CT2 that has passed through the automatic boxing position (A) as it is is guided to the manual boxing position (B) of the fifth belt conveyor 15, which is the manual line 5. The sixth belt conveyor 16 is configured.
[0030]
In this sorting equipment, as described above, a sorting control device for efficiently packing boxes is provided so that unnecessary space is not generated as much as possible in empty boxes to be packed according to the contents of the order. ing.
[0031]
As shown in FIG. 6, the sorting control device 101 is configured to perform as much as possible the cutting processing unit 102 that determines the cutting procedure (order) of cartons in the cutting device 1 and the stacked cartons stacked in the stacking device 2 as much as possible. The allocation processing unit 103 allocates empty boxes to be packed so as not to generate a gap. For example, a cutout schedule and an allocation schedule are created according to orders up to the previous day (hereinafter also referred to as orders).
[0032]
Hereafter, the procedure in each said process part is demonstrated with the specific sorting operation | work in the whole installation with reference to FIGS.
First, the cut-out processing unit 102 determines where and how many pieces from the storage case in the cut-out device 1 should be cut out based on the brands of cigarettes ordered from each store and the number of cartons.
[0033]
That is, as shown in FIG. 7, when a predetermined number of orders are received for a plurality of brands from a store, first, sorting is performed in the order of brands in the storage case arranged in the cutting device 1. .
[0034]
In addition, as described above, the BOX cartons having a large order quantity are arranged on the upstream side, and the 100S carton having a small order quantity is arranged on the downstream side, as described above.
[0035]
Accordingly, a predetermined number of pieces are cut out from the upstream side in the arrangement order of the storage cases 21.
By the way, when there are a plurality of storage cases 21 storing the same brand, the number is repeatedly selected from the upstream side toward the downstream side.
[0036]
For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when an order of a store (a order) has a request of 7 cartons for a certain brand and there are three storage cases (C1 to C3) for the brand. The storage cases (C1 to C3) arranged from the upstream side to the downstream side are assigned three, two, and two cutouts in order, and the cutting method for the cutting device 1 as a whole is as follows. This is performed continuously for each upstream storage case 21. That is, the a order is cut out in the order of 1, 4, 7 (C1) → 2, 5 (C2) → 3, 6 (C3).
[0037]
Therefore, in the cutting device 1, it cuts out one by one on the 1st belt conveyor 11 from the corresponding storage case 21 (C1-C3) by the cutting procedure mentioned above with the article cutting machine.
[0038]
When the carton is cut out, as shown in FIG. 9 (a), the gap S is inserted with the stacking number being five as a break. By inserting this gap S, the automatic stacking operation in the stacking apparatus 2 can be facilitated.
[0039]
Further, the order breaks for each dealer are set to be 5 units, and as shown in FIG. 9 (a), if the carton cut-off fraction is less than 5, there is a shortage. The portion is defined as an empty space AS. However, even if the brand is changed in the same order, as shown in FIG. 9B, five cartons are continuously cut out. Therefore, a plurality of brands may be mixed in the five.
[0040]
Thus, according to the order of each store, one carton is cut out from each storage case 21 one by one and in units of five.
Then, the carton CT cut into five pieces by the cutting device 1 is conveyed to the stacking device 2 by the first belt conveyor 11 at a relatively high speed, and here, on the receiving plate that moves downward from above. 5 pieces are stacked in stages and delivered to a support table.
[0041]
The stacked carton CT1 placed on the support base is extruded onto the second belt conveyor 12 by an extruder, and then a predetermined number, for example, a stacked carton, is provided by a number adjuster 31 provided in the middle. CT1 is collected in five rows, that is, in five rows to form a stacked carton group CT2.
[0042]
Then, this stacked carton group CT2 is transported to the boxing position (a) and boxed. At the same time as this transport, the empty box KB according to the order brand and the number of orders is packed by the empty box feeder 32. It is supplied to the position (A) with the lid KBb opened.
[0043]
When the stacked carton group CT2 is stopped at the automatic boxing position (A), the stacked carton group CT2 on the second belt conveyor 12 is moved into the empty box KB on the third belt conveyor 13 by the pusher 33. Although pushed in, as described above, in the boxing operation in the present embodiment, two stacked carton groups C2 are pushed into one empty box. That is, a maximum of 25 stacked carton groups CT2 are pushed into the 50 empty boxes KB twice.
[0044]
Next, an empty box assignment method in the assignment processing unit 103 will be described.
As described above, as empty boxes for packing, there are 100S empty boxes for 50 packing, BOX large empty boxes, BOX small empty boxes, and 25 half empty boxes for packing. In the allocation method, the allowable number of stuffing into each empty box is based on the following conditions.
[0045]
That is, the 100S empty box can naturally be packed with 50 cartons of any kind (allowable storage number), and the BOX large empty box can be filled with 50 BOX type cartons. Individual (allowable storage number) can be packed, but in the case of BOX type and domestic and imported products are mixed, it can be packed up to 40 (equivalent allowable storage number), and BOX small In the empty box, regardless of whether the carton is of the BOX type or the 100S type, a maximum of 40 (maximum 4 rows in the width direction) (corresponding allowable storage number) can be packed.
[0046]
Further, as described above, since 50 empty boxes to be boxed by the boxing device 4 are for 50 pieces, when the order quantity is 25 or the fraction of boxing is 25 or less, the half empty box In this case, 25 or fewer stacked cartons CT2 are conveyed via the bypass line 6 onto the fifth belt conveyor 16 of the manual operation line 5 disposed downstream of the boxing device 4. Then, boxing is performed by the worker.
[0047]
First, the rough allocation process will be described.
As shown in FIG. 10, first, in the remaining carton number determination unit 201, it is determined whether or not the number of BOX cartons and 100S cartons is both zero, and if both are zero, the process proceeds to the next order process. If both are not zero, the process proceeds to the BOX carton remaining number determination unit 202.
[0048]
Next, the BOX carton remaining number determination unit 202 determines whether or not the remaining number of BOX cartons is zero. If the remaining number of BOX cartons is zero and the remaining number of 100S cartons exists, 100S The process proceeds to the order processing unit 203, and in other cases, the process proceeds to the order processing unit 204 such as BOX.
[0049]
Next, the processing contents in each of the processing units will be described in detail.
As shown in FIG. 11, the 100S order processing unit 203 first determines whether or not the 100S remaining carton number is 50 or more, and if it is 50 or more, after assigning the 100S empty box, That is, after allocation (of course, one is allocated, but the term “one” is omitted in the following description and drawings), 50 is subtracted from the number of cartons, and this procedure is repeated again. Of course, in the assigned 100S empty box, the stacked cartons are arranged in five rows on the back side and five rows on the near side. Note that the arrangement of the boxed contents is described on the drawing, and the description is omitted in the following procedure.
[0050]
When the 100S remaining carton number is less than 50, it is determined whether or not it is more than 40, and when it is more than 40, a 100S empty box is allocated.
In the determination process for 40 100S remaining cartons, if it is 40 or less, it is determined whether the remaining carton number is more than 25 or not. Win a box. When a BOX small empty box is allocated, a larger BOX large empty box may be allocated (hereinafter the same).
[0051]
If the number of remaining cartons in the 100S is 25 or less, it is determined whether the number of remaining cartons is zero or not. When the allocation is not left, that is, when the allocation is completed, the process shifts to the remaining carton number determination unit 201 and then shifts to the next order process.
[0052]
Next, in order processing such as BOX, as shown in FIG. 12, it is first determined whether or not the number of remaining carton boxes is 50 or more. If it is 50 or more, a large BOX empty box is allocated. After that, subtract 50 from the number of cartons and repeat this procedure again.
[0053]
When the BOX remaining carton number is less than 50, it is determined whether the 100S remaining carton number is zero or not, and if there is a 100S carton, the process proceeds to the MIX order processing unit (mixed order processing unit) 105. To do.
[0054]
In the determination processing for zero of the 100S remaining carton number, when it is zero, that is, when there is no 100S carton, it is determined whether or not the BOX remaining carton number is more than 40. , BOX empty box for box is allocated.
[0055]
In the determination processing of 40 BOX remaining cartons, if it is 40 or less, it is determined whether or not it is more than 25, and if it is more than 25, a BOX small empty box is allocated.
[0056]
In the determination process for 25 BOX remaining cartons, if the number is 25 or less, it is determined whether or not the BOX remaining carton is zero. Win a box.
[0057]
If the determination process for the remaining BOX carton is zero, that is, if the allocation has been completed, the process proceeds to the remaining carton number determination unit 201 and then to the next order process.
[0058]
Next, in the MIX order processing unit 205, as shown in FIG. 13, first, the total remaining carton number is 25 or less (half the allowable storage number in the 100S empty box, that is, the allowable storage number in the semi-empty box). If the number is 25 or less, after the half empty box is allocated, the process proceeds to the remaining carton number determination unit 201, and the process proceeds to the next order.
[0059]
In the determination process for the total remaining carton number of 25, if it is more than 25, it is determined whether or not the total remaining carton number is 40 or less (which is the equivalent allowable storage number). In this case, after the BOX small box is allocated, the process proceeds to the remaining carton number determination unit 201 and then proceeds to the next order process.
[0060]
In the determination process for the total remaining carton number of 40, when the number is greater than 40, the 100S remaining carton number is n (a number that can be arbitrarily set, and in this embodiment, it is a substantially allowable storage number. 40, but of course, the number is not limited to 40, and can be arbitrarily set). If it is n, that is, 40 or more, the BOX remaining It is determined whether or not the number of cartons is (50-n), that is, 10 or less, and if it is less than that, a 100S empty box is allocated.
[0061]
In the determination processing for n (40) of the 100S remaining carton numbers, when the number is less than n (40), or the determination processing for (50-n) (10) of the BOX remaining carton numbers In the case where there are more than (50-n) (10), it is determined whether or not the number of BOX remaining cartons is 25 or more.
[0062]
In this determination process, when the number of BOX remaining cartons is 25 or more, a BOX large empty box is allocated, and when the number of remaining BOX cartons is less than 25, a BOX small empty box is allocated. Thereafter, the process proceeds to the first remaining carton determination unit 201, and the same processing as described above is repeated until there is no remaining carton.
[0063]
Based on such an allocation method, that is, an allocation method, the carton is boxed by order, and when the boxing is completed, the carton is transported to the next manual work line 5 to close the lid, and the name of the ordering dealer and the boxing. The label is printed with the contents printed.
[0064]
By the way, when the number of cartons is 25 or less, the boxes are packed in a semi-empty box, that is, the stacked carton group CT2 conveyed by the second belt conveyor 12 passes through the boxing position (A). The second belt conveyor 12 and the fifth belt conveyor 15 are conveyed to the manual boxing position (b) as they are via the sixth belt conveyor 16 that bypasses between the second belt conveyor 12 and the fifth belt conveyor 15. Done. Of course, after this, sealing work and label sticking work are performed.
[0065]
Note that the actual boxes that have been boxed are collected, for example, in a storage location and shipped to each store.
Here, when the principle of the allocation method to the empty box described above is simply shown, the BOX empty box having a large number of orders is used as much as possible, and the BOX type carton and the 100S type carton are mixed. The maximum number of boxes that can be stored in the BOX large empty box is 40, and the maximum number of rows (rows) stored in the BOX small empty box is 4 for any type of carton. It is a row (also 40).
[0066]
Thus, since the longitudinal direction is cut out on the first belt conveyor 11 for transporting the carton so that the longitudinal direction thereof is orthogonal to the transport direction, also in the stacking apparatus 2, the longitudinal direction is the transport direction. Since they are received orthogonally, compared to the case of conveying in the longitudinal direction, for example, if the number of conveyance is the same, the conveyance speed can be reduced, that is, even if the number of cartons for sorting is increased, It is not necessary to increase the conveying speed so much, so that when the carton is received by the main guide plate 50 in the stacking device 2, deformation can be prevented, and the carton is packed in the boxing device 4. Therefore, the sorting ability can be improved without damaging the article.
[0067]
The boxing device 4 includes a number adjusting machine 31 for obtaining a boxed carton group in which a predetermined number of cartons are combined, and an empty box feeder 32 for supplying empty boxes to an automatic boxing position with the lid open. Since the plurality of boxed carton groups are automatically pushed into the empty box supplied by the empty box supply machine 32, the pusher 33 is automatically used. An empty box can be boxed, thus saving labor. Moreover, the empty boxes supplied by the empty box supply machine 32, that is, the selection of empty boxes in the empty box supply machine 32, the type of empty box to be packed is selected according to the brand of the carton, and the store Since the types of empty boxes are selected and supplied according to the number of orders from, various types of carton groups can be packed in empty boxes without waste.
[0068]
Although the sorting control apparatus 101 according to the above embodiment is provided with the extraction processing unit 102 and the allocation processing unit 103, each processing unit has been described as performing predetermined determination and processing. As a specific configuration, a computer device including an arithmetic processing unit is used, and a program as a determination unit and a processing unit for performing the above determinations and processes is included.
[0069]
By the way, in the cutting device of the above-described embodiment, the cartons stacked in a step shape in the storage case are taken out from the lower side. For example, the outlet provided in the upper side by supplying the carton from the lower side into the storage case is provided. Or a belt conveyor disposed above the belt conveyor.
[0070]
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the carton which bundled the tobacco was demonstrated as an elongate article, it is not limited to this carton, For example, foodstuffs, such as confectionery put in the elongate box, are contained. The present invention can also be applied to a packaging container sorting facility.
[0071]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the automatic article sorting equipment of the present invention, a long article such as a carton in which cigarettes are collectively stored is cut out from the cutting means onto the first conveying means so that its longitudinal direction is perpendicular to the conveying direction. Similarly, in the stacking means, since the longitudinal direction is received so as to be orthogonal to the transport direction, compared to the case of transporting in the longitudinal direction, for example, if the number of transport is the same, The conveyance speed can be slowed, that is, even when the number of long articles sorted is increased, it is not necessary to increase the conveyance speed of the long articles, and the long articles are packed in a boxing device. As a result, the sorting ability can be improved without damaging the article. In addition, since the boxing device is provided, long articles can be boxed automatically, thus saving labor.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining articles and empty boxes handled by an automatic article sorting facility according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic overall configuration of the automatic article sorting equipment according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an empty box feeder in the automatic article sorting equipment.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the empty box feeder.
FIG. 5 is a front view of an empty box indicator in the empty box feeder.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a sorting control device of the article automatic sorting equipment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a cutting process procedure in the sorting control apparatus of the article automatic sorting equipment.
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the cut-out processing procedure;
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the same cutout processing procedure;
FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an empty box assignment method in the sorting control apparatus of the automatic article sorting facility.
FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the assignment method.
FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the assignment method.
FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the assignment method.
[Explanation of symbols]
CT carton
CT1 stacked carton
CT2 Multi-layer carton group
KB empty box
1 Cutting device
2 stacking equipment
4 Boxing equipment
5 Manual work line
6 Bypass line
11 First belt conveyor
12 Second belt conveyor
13 Third belt conveyor
15 5th belt conveyor
16 6th belt conveyor
21 Storage case
31 Number adjustment machine
32 Empty box feeder
33 Pusher
41 Guide members
42 Lid guide
43 Top guide
44 Side guide
51 Empty box indicator
61 Box Inverter
101 Sorting control device
102 Cutout processing unit
103 Allocation processing unit

Claims (3)

A storage member having a storage space in which a plurality of long articles can be stored in a step shape and having an outlet for the long article formed at the lower end, and a storage member provided at the outlet of the storage member. Cutting means having an article cutting machine for cutting out the stored long articles one by one on the first conveying means side;
After receiving the long article conveyed by the first conveying means in a stacked manner when moving from the upper side to the lower side, the receiving member for placing on the support table, and the support member on the support table A stacking means having an extruder for extruding a stacking long article stacked in a predetermined number to the second conveying means ;
A number adjusting machine for obtaining a boxed long article group formed by combining a predetermined number of stacked long articles conveyed by the second conveying means, an empty box with a lid open in a horizontal direction Empty box supply machine that supplies the box to the automatic boxing position, and a pushing machine for pushing the box-like long article group obtained by the number adjusting machine into the empty box supplied by the empty box supply machine And a boxing means having
An automatic article sorting apparatus characterized in that, in the cutting means, the long article is cut out so that the longitudinal direction of the long article is perpendicular to the conveying direction of the first conveying means.   The automatic article sorting equipment according to claim 1, wherein the stacking means receives the long articles so that the longitudinal direction of the long articles is orthogonal to the transport direction of the first transport means.   3. The automatic article sorting equipment according to claim 1, wherein the long article is a box-like body containing a plurality of cigarettes.

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