JP4002116B2 - Cross belt type sorting machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cross-belt type sorting machine including a plurality of belt conveyor pieces that are driven on a circular track and can convey an article on a mounting surface in a direction crossing the circumferential direction.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, a cross-belt type equipped with a plurality of belt conveyor pieces that can be driven on a monorail-shaped circular track (infinite track) and can convey articles on the mounting surface in a direction intersecting the circumferential direction of the circular track Sorting machines have been proposed and put into practical use. The belt conveyor portion of each belt conveyor piece is made of synthetic rubber or the like. The cross belt type sorter is suitable for sorting fragile articles and thin articles as compared with the tilt tray type sorter.
[0003]
When operating the sorter, there is often a stock detection that detects whether or not an article is placed on each belt conveyor piece. Conventionally, in this type of cross belt type sorter, the following two methods are known as a stock detection method.
[0004]
One is a method using a phototube. Referring to FIG. 1, in a direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction (perpendicular to the paper surface) of the monorail-shaped orbit 10 (in the left-right direction in the figure) and on the mounting surface of the belt conveyor piece 20. The irradiation tube 61 and the light receiver 62 are arranged so that the detection light is emitted in parallel. The height h of the detection light is 5 mm on the placement surface of the belt conveyor piece 20. Then, the article on the placement surface of the belt conveyor piece 20 is scanned with detection light at a predetermined frequency corresponding to the circumferential conveyance speed of the circular track 10. As a result of scanning, when the detection light continues to be interrupted for a time corresponding to about 5 mm in the circumferential length of the article, it is detected that there is a load.
[0005]
The other is a method by image processing. Referring to FIG. 2, a screen 81 is arranged so as to cover one of the placement surfaces of the moving belt conveyor piece 20 from above. In addition, a halogen lamp 82 is disposed in the screen 81 so that irradiation light is emitted from above onto the placement surface of the belt conveyor piece 20. Further, an electronic camera 83 that vertically overlooks the placement surface of the belt conveyor piece 20 is disposed inside the top surface of the screen 81. The article on the placement surface of the belt conveyor piece 20 is illuminated by the halogen lamp 82 and is photographed by the electronic camera 83 with detection light at a predetermined interval according to the circumferential conveyance speed of the orbit 10. As a result of photographing, when there is a difference in black and white density between the placing surface of the belt conveyor piece 20 and the article or more, it is detected that there is a load.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When the article is thin, such as a sealed letter, or the same color as the conveyor belt, the conventional inventory detection method shown in FIGS. Often impossible.
[0007]
That is, in the example of FIG. 1, since the height h of the detection light is about 5 mm higher than the placement surface of the belt conveyor piece 20, it is impossible to detect whether there is a thing thinner than this. In the example of FIG. 2, since the electronic camera performs detection based on the contrast difference between the article and the background (the surface on which the belt conveyor piece is placed), there is a possibility that detection is not possible when both are approximate colors.
[0008]
On the other hand, it is also possible to consider a method in which a configuration above the cross belt type sorter, for example, an apparatus called an induction for changing the conveying direction of articles and delivering them to the cross belt type sorter has a configuration for detecting the presence of goods However, induction is an expensive device, and it is not reasonable to use induction only for inventory detection. In addition, the presence detection may be necessary at the processing stage on the cross belt type sorting machine, and in such a case, it is not valid.
[0009]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a cross-belt type sorting machine that can accurately detect the presence of an article even if it is a thin article or a thin article, regardless of the color of the article. is there.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, each conveyor belt is driven on a circular track and can convey articles on the placement surface in a second direction that intersects a first direction that is the circumferential direction of the circular track. A cross-belt type sorting machine provided with a plurality of belt conveyor pieces, which emits detection light in the second direction above the placement surface and is equal to or longer than a predetermined length in the first direction In the cross-belt type sorter having a load detection device that detects that there is load on the mounting surface when the detection light continues to be blocked , the belt conveyor piece is placed on the surface of the conveyor belt. There is provided a protrusion that always appears in the range of 1 to 3 on the surface, and the height of the protrusion is equal to or higher than the height of the detection light from the mounting surface. A minute machine is obtained.
[0011]
According to the present invention, it is also possible to obtain the cross belt type sorting machine, wherein the protrusion has a width in the first direction that is less than the predetermined length .
[0012]
Further, according to the present invention, the two or three protrusions always appear on the mounting surface, and the cross belt type device is formed in a staggered manner on a plurality of rows parallel to the second direction. A minute machine is obtained.
[0013]
Further, according to the present invention , two or three protrusions always appear on the mounting surface, and the positions in the second direction are the same on a plurality of rows parallel to the second direction. The formed cross belt type sorter is obtained.
[0014]
Furthermore, according to the present invention, the cross belt type sorter in which the protrusion is welded to the conveyor belt is obtained.
[0015]
Moreover, according to this invention, the said protrusion part can obtain the said cross belt type | formula sorter currently shape | molded integrally with the said conveyor belt.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a cross belt type sorter according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0017]
3 (a) and 3 (b), the cross belt type sorter according to the embodiment of the present invention places articles on the circular track 10 in the same manner as the conventional cross belt type sorter. A plurality of belt conveyor pieces 20 each having a conveyor belt 21 that is driven and can convey articles on the placement surface 21a in a second direction D2 that intersects the first direction D1 that is the circumferential direction of the orbit 10. It has. In addition, the sorting machine emits detection light in the second direction D2 above the placement surface 21a and is placed when the detection light is blocked for a time corresponding to a predetermined length in the first direction D1. A phototube-type in-stock detection device (not shown) similar to the conventional one shown in FIG. 1 is detected on the placement surface 21a . In FIG. 3A showing the main part of the sorting machine, only two belt conveyor pieces 20 are shown for convenience of explanation, but in reality, a plurality of belt conveyor pieces 20 are provided over the entire circumference of the circular track 10. Belt conveyor pieces 20 are arranged side by side.
[0018]
In the present sorting machine, in particular, the belt conveyor piece 20 is provided with one or more protrusions 23 that always appear on the surface of the conveyor belt 21 on the placement surface 21a (two in this example). The height 23 of the protrusion 23 is equal to or higher than the height of the detection light from the mounting surface 21a. When the height of the detection light from the placement surface 21a is 5 mm, the height HP of the protrusion 23 is, for example, 10 mm. Further, the width WP in the first direction D1 is less than the scanning pitch of the detection light. In the case of this example, the width WP of the protrusion 23 is 5 mm.
[0019]
In the present sorting machine provided with the projection 23 as described above, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the thin article P such as an envelope has low rigidity, so it rides on the projection 23 and is centered here. Bend. As a result of the bending, a detectable area is produced as shown in FIG.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 3A, the protrusion 23 is preferably formed so that a plurality of protrusions 23 always appear on the placement surface 21 a of the conveyor belt 21.
[0021]
As a modification, the plurality of protrusions 23 may be formed in a staggered pattern on a plurality of rows parallel to the second direction D2 as shown in FIG. With reference to FIG. 5, on the surface of the conveyor belt 21, protrusions 23 are formed in a staggered pattern on two rows parallel to the second direction D2.
[0022]
More specific dimension examples of this modification are as follows. The width WB of the conveyor belt 21 is 290 mm, the inter-axis distance LB of the pair of driving pulleys is 400 mm, and the pulley diameter d is 27 mm. The row of the two protrusions 23 extends symmetrically in parallel with the second direction D2 around the bisector of the width WB of the conveyor belt 21. The distance SP between the two rows is 70 mm. The interval LP between the protrusions 23 in each row is 220 mm. The interval LP is a length obtained by dividing the entire circumference of the conveyor belt 21 into four equal parts. Furthermore, the offset amount PP between the protrusions 23 between adjacent rows is 110 mm.
[0023]
Thus, by forming the protrusions 23 in a zigzag pattern on a plurality of rows, for example, even a scroll-like or cylindrical article such as a calendar, the protrusions 23 are accommodated between the protrusions 23 in the adjacent rows. When transported in the direction, the effect of not falling from the placement surface can be obtained.
[0024]
The protrusion 23 can be formed by welding to the conveyor belt 21 or can be formed integrally with the conveyor belt 21. Further, the shape of the protrusion 23 is not limited to a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and may be a columnar shape, a rectangular tube shape, a cylindrical shape, or the like.
[0025]
The plurality of protrusions 23 are formed on the plurality of rows parallel to the second direction D2 at the same position in the second direction D2, that is, with the offset amount PP in FIG. 5 being zero. Also good.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
The cross-belt type sorting machine according to the present invention has an inexpensive configuration, and can accurately detect the presence of goods even for thin articles, regardless of the color of the articles.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a stock detection means of a conventional cross belt type sorter.
FIG. 2 is a view showing another stock detection means of a conventional cross belt type sorter.
3A and 3B are diagrams showing a main part of a cross belt type sorting machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 3A is a partial perspective view, and FIG. 3B is a sectional view of a part of a conveyor belt.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams for explaining the function of the cross belt type sorting machine according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view taken along a cutting line parallel to the second direction, and FIG. 4B is parallel to the first direction; It is sectional drawing by an easy cutting line.
FIG. 5 is a view showing a main part of a modification of the cross belt type sorter according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Circulation track 20 Conveyor belt piece 21 Conveyor belt 21a Mounting surface 23 Protruding part 61 Irradiation tube 62 Light receiver 81 Screen 82 Halogen lamp 83 Electronic camera

Claims (6)

A plurality of belt conveyor pieces each having a conveyor belt that is driven on a circular track and that can convey articles on the placement surface in a second direction that intersects a first direction that is a circumferential direction of the circular track. A cross-belt type sorting machine provided, wherein the detection light is emitted in the second direction above the placement surface and the detection light is continuously blocked for a time corresponding to a predetermined length in the first direction. In the cross-belt type sorting machine having a stock detection device that detects that there is a stock on the placement surface ,
Said belt conveyor strip has a constantly 1 or 3 or less appears projections on the mounting surface on the surface of the conveyor belt, the protrusions placing surface of the height the detection light Cross belt type sorter characterized by being above the height of The cross-belt type sorting machine according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion has a width in the first direction that is less than the predetermined length . The cross-belt type finish according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein two or three protrusions always appear on the placement surface and are formed in a staggered pattern on a plurality of rows parallel to the second direction. Minute machine. The protrusions before appear always 2 or 3 on the mounting surface, the second direction claims are formed in the same position in the second direction on a plurality of parallel rows to 1 or 2. A cross belt sorter according to 2.   The cross-belt type sorter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the protrusion is welded to the conveyor belt.   The cross-belt type sorting machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the protrusion is formed integrally with the conveyor belt.

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