JP4268077B2 - Free tray-type article transport device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a free tray type article conveying apparatus that discharges an article placed on a free tray moving on a plane circulation path to a side of the plane circulation path together with the free tray at a specific position among a plurality of discharge positions. It is about.

  As one of the free-tray-type article conveyance systems, agricultural products are placed on free trays that move on conveying means such as roller conveyors (hereinafter, the free trays on which agricultural products are placed are abbreviated as actual trays), and the grades of agricultural products by measuring devices Various agricultural product sorting apparatuses that move the actual tray toward the corresponding boxing device according to the classification determined based on the measurement result from the movement to the measurement process for class determination have been proposed.

  As such an agricultural product sorting apparatus, an empty free tray (hereinafter abbreviated as an empty tray) is supplied to the upstream side of the sorting conveyor in the transport direction, and toward the downstream side of the sorting conveyor in the transport direction. The agricultural product supply unit that sequentially supplies agricultural products to the free tray, the measuring device for determining the equal class of the agricultural products, and the actual tray according to the sorting classification determined based on the measurement result by the measuring device A plurality of discharge devices for discharging to the side of the conveyor are arranged.

  In addition, the actual trays for each sorting section discharged from each discharging device are once pooled by a pool conveyor and sent to a boxing unit arranged in a subsequent stage by a predetermined number, for example, agricultural products on the free tray by an automatic boxing device. The free tray that has been picked up and packed in a product box such as a cardboard box and emptied when the boxing is completed is returned to the upstream side of the transport conveyor by the tray collection conveyor ( Patent Document 1).

  In a free tray type agricultural product sorting device, it is important to maintain a system that can always supply empty trays so as not to interrupt the supply of agricultural products in the agricultural product supply unit. In the initial stage of selection, since the actual tray is not smoothly discharged to the pool conveyor arranged in front of the boxing device, only a small amount of empty trays are recovered on the tray recovery conveyor. In some cases, the number of empty trays supplied to the agricultural product supply unit decreases. Therefore, if the number of free trays prepared in the entire sorting apparatus is increased, the empty tray will be excessively supplied when the collection amount of empty trays increases after the initial stage of selection. Therefore, the number of free trays to be prepared for the entire sorting device was determined based on the experience and feeling of the staff at the selection hall.

Thus, there is a buffer unit that supplies an empty tray to the tray collection conveyor so that the supply of the empty tray to the tray collection conveyor can be adjusted. Note that an empty tray that has been emptied by the agricultural products taken up by the boxing portion is fed into the buffer portion (Patent Document 2).
Patent No. 2730765 Japanese Patent No. 28888531

  In the agricultural product sorting apparatus including the buffer unit described above, the number of empty trays stored in the buffer unit in advance at the start of fruit selection, and the empty tray returned from the buffer unit to the tray collection conveyor can be smoothly fed. It takes time to stabilize the free tray conveyance system that the empty tray is supplied without interruption depending on whether or not it is performed. The time required to stabilize the flow of empty tray supply and recovery in this free tray transport system is the distribution ratio of the many selected agricultural products, the sorted agricultural products Since it depends on the packaging work efficiency at the time of packaging at the packaging unit, it is not constant.

  In addition, if the capacity of the buffer unit is too small or the boxing operation of agricultural products does not proceed in the boxing unit, the number of empty trays returned to the transfer conveyor is reduced, and empty trays are collected and supplied in the free tray transfer system. Even if it is stable, the number of empty trays supplied to the agricultural product supply unit may be insufficient. For this reason, the number of empty trays stored in the buffer section tends to have a margin.

  However, if there is a margin in the number of empty trays stored in the buffer section, the number of free trays may become excessive, and it is difficult to set the optimal number of free trays prepared for the entire sorting device. Is the current situation.

  In addition, when the number of free trays prepared in the entire sorting device is excessive, for example, if the boxing operation does not proceed in the boxing unit, the actual trays pooled on the pool conveyor located in the previous stage of the boxing unit It is conceivable that the maximum number that can be pooled by the pool conveyor is reached.

  As a solution in such a case, a conveyor that conveys the actual tray to the measuring device is a sorting conveyor, and a conveyor that conveys the actual tray after passing the measuring device toward a plurality of discharging devices is a sorting conveyor. Some conveyors have a configuration having a planar endless transport path (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-122667), and an actual tray that cannot be discharged to the pool conveyor is circulated on the sorting conveyor.

  However, if the prepared free tray is excessive, an empty tray is supplied from the tray collection conveyor to the upstream side of the transport conveyor. Therefore, in the agricultural product supply section, an operator places the agricultural product on the empty tray. However, if there are too many actual trays waiting to circulate on the sorting conveyor, the operation of the transfer conveyor and the tray collection conveyor may be stopped, and waiting on the sorting conveyor. When the actual trays are smoothly discharged to the respective pool conveyors, the stopped sorting conveyor and tray recovery conveyor are started again.

  Starting and stopping the conveyor during selection is what interrupts the flow of the line and should be avoided if possible. Further, the empty tray supplied to the starting end side of the sorting conveyor by the tray collecting conveyor is supplied to the starting end side of the sorting conveyor so as to be pushed out while the front and rear empty trays are in contact with each other. This also puts pressure on the line.

  Therefore, it is necessary to control the start and stop of the tray collection conveyor, and the above-described line pressure mitigation measures must be taken, which requires complicated control.

  The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and can be applied to articles that can be carried on a free tray as well as agricultural products, and the number of free trays to be prepared can be easily managed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a free tray type article conveying apparatus that can be operated in an optimal number without excess or deficiency and that can smoothly convey a free tray from the start.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transport conveyor having a transport path for circulating and transporting a certain number of free trays in the horizontal direction, and an empty transported on the transport conveyor. a product supply section for supplying the article to free the tray, a plurality arranged along the conveying direction of the conveyor, the sorting segment separately inlet side of the article an article containing free tray being provided of articles discharged from the conveying conveyor more storage, a storage conveyor unit for discharging the reservoir releases the empty free tray emptied been retrieved article, each empty tray supply conveyor unit is provided connected to the downstream end in the conveyance direction of the respective storage conveyor The free trays containing articles are stored in the storage conveyor unit from the transfer conveyor by directly joining the exit sides of the empty tray supply conveyor units to the transfer conveyor. Free tray and a empty tray supply means for supplying empty-free trays from the air tray supply conveyor section to the conveyor so that conveying number of free trays on conveyor decreased to maintain the constant number by being Type of article transport device , wherein the connecting storage conveyor section and the empty tray supply conveyor section connected to each other are a bypass conveyor, and the outlet of the empty tray supply conveyor section of the bypass conveyor is a storage conveyor as viewed in the transport direction of the transport conveyor The outlet of the empty tray supply conveyor part of the bypass conveyor located on the upstream side when viewed in the transport direction of the transport conveyor is located downstream of the entrance of the transport section of the storage conveyor section of the other bypass conveyor adjacent to the downstream together is positioned upstream, the empty tray supply means one article filled in the respective storage conveyor When the tray is discharged, one empty free tray is supplied from the outlet side of the connected empty tray supply conveyor section to the portion on which the discharged article-containing free tray on the conveyor is placed. This is a free tray type article transporting device.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the free tray containing articles to which the articles on the conveyor are supplied is supplied to the storage conveyor section, the empty free tray is replenished to the conveyor and conveyed to the article supply section. Therefore, for example, when used as an agricultural product fruit selection device, it satisfies the demand for empty free trays at the start of fruit selection, and does not lead to unstable conditions such as insufficient and excessive empty free trays. In addition, stable free tray conveyance can be realized immediately after the start of selection without causing troubles of starting and stopping the conveyor. In addition, a boxing unit that picks up agricultural products and the like on the free tray at the boundary between the storage conveyor unit and the empty tray supply conveyor unit, for example, can be placed in a product box, and used empty The free tray that has become can be returned to the conveyor.

First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a free tray type agricultural product sorting apparatus.

  In the present embodiment, the transport conveyor 1 constituting the transport path of the free tray is formed in a plane circulation type, and the transport direction of the transport conveyor 1 is the direction of arrow A in the figure. Assuming that the article supply unit 2 to which agricultural products are supplied is the conveyance start point, the conveyance conveyor 1 is a measurement unit as a selection unit that performs evaluation (sorting classification) of agricultural products as articles in order along the conveyance direction A from the conveyance start point side. 3. A plurality of discharge devices 4 (4a to 4d) are arranged. In FIG. 1, four discharge devices (4a to 4d) are shown, but the present invention is not limited to this number, and five or more discharge devices can be provided. In FIG. 1, a member indicated by a small circle is an empty free tray (hereinafter referred to as an empty tray) Ta, and a member indicated by a double circle is a free tray (hereinafter referred to as an actual tray) Tb on which agricultural products are placed. .

  On the side of each discharge device 4, bypass conveyors 5 (5a to 5d) each having a planar U-turn structure and having a single free tray conveyance path are arranged. These bypass conveyors 5 are provided corresponding to the sorting categories of agricultural products. For example, when the bypass conveyor 5a on the left side in the figure is used for grade L and is used for class L, the actual tray Tb determined for this class is supported. When it reaches the discharging device 4a to be discharged, the discharging device 4a discharges it to the inlet side 51 of the bypass conveyor 5a. The discharge device 4 is composed of an air cylinder that moves in the horizontal direction, and the push tray 41 that moves in the horizontal direction by supplying air is directed toward the inlet side 51 of the bypass conveyor 5 with the actual tray Tb moving on the conveyor 1. To extrude.

  A boxing portion 6 (6a to 6d) is disposed at the back of the bypass conveyor 5, and the agricultural products on the actual tray Tb discharged from the discharge device 4 are picked up and automatically or manually boxed in the product box 7. Clog.

  The bypass conveyor 5 transports the actual tray Tb discharged from the transport conveyor 1 by the discharge device 4 to the boxing unit 6 and returns the empty tray Ta emptied in the boxing unit 6 to the transport conveyor 1 again. The inlet side 51 into which the actual tray Tb is fed by the discharge device 4 is provided on the upstream side in the transport direction of the transport conveyor 1, and the outlet side 52 where the empty tray Ta is returned to the transport conveyor 1 is from the entrance side 51. Is also provided downstream in the transport direction.

  The bypass conveyor 5 is configured as an actual tray storage portion 53 that stores the actual tray Tb from the entrance side 51 to a substantially inner portion that makes a U-turn, and an empty tray Tb from the front end of the actual tray storage portion 53 to the exit side 52. The first stopper 55 is disposed at the boundary position that bisects the area along the conveying direction of the bypass conveyor 5 into the actual tray storage unit 53 and the empty tray supply unit 54, and the exit. A second stopper 56 is arranged on the side 52.

  While the first stopper 55 is in operation, the actual tray Tb at the head of the actual tray storage unit 53 abuts against the first stopper 55 and is prevented from moving to the empty tray supply unit 54 side. The boxing unit 6 performs a boxing operation for picking up agricultural products from the actual trays Tb pooled in the storage unit 53 and packing them.

  Moreover, the empty tray supply part 54 of the bypass conveyor 5 has a capacity for waiting for a plurality of empty trays Ta, and the empty tray supply parts 54 of all the bypass conveyors 5 have a capacity for starting the selection of agricultural products. A predetermined number (seven in this embodiment) of empty trays Ta are made to wait in advance.

  The circulation type conveyer 1 uses a one-line configuration in which free trays are aligned and conveyed in a line, and the article supply unit 2 is a single-line supply conveyor that constitutes a part of the conveyer 1. For example, an empty tray Ta or an actual tray Tb that moves on the return conveyor 1c that constitutes a part of the transport conveyor 1 is arranged in parallel with the discharging device 4 by arranging the two units 1a and 1b in parallel. The first supply conveyor unit 1a and the second supply conveyor unit 1b are alternately distributed.

  In the article supply unit 2, a plurality of workers W are arranged along the first supply conveyor unit 1a and the second supply conveyor unit 1b, and a large number of agricultural products (e.g. Container C containing apples, tomatoes, pears, melons, etc.) is conveyed by container conveyor 9.

  The downstream side in the transport direction of the first and second supply conveyor sections 1a and 1b of the article supply section 2 merges into a single sorting conveyor section 1d constituting a part of the transport conveyor 1, for example, transport of the sorting conveyor section 1d. The actual tray Tb supplied from the first and second supply conveyor sections 1a and 1b is measured at substantially constant intervals by making the speed faster than the conveying speed of the first and second supply conveyor sections 1a and 1b. It can be conveyed toward the section 3.

  The measuring unit 3 is provided with a measuring device such as an image pickup device, which takes a picture of agricultural products on the actual tray Tb (external shooting, transmitted light shooting, etc.), and controls the entire sorting device based on the measurement result. Agricultural product grade (excellent, excellent, good, etc.) and class (LL, L, M, S, etc.) measured by a judgment unit of a control device (not shown) are judged.

  The actual tray Tb that has passed through the measuring unit 3 moves on the sorting conveyor unit 1e that forms part of the transport conveyor 1 toward the return conveyor unit 1c, and corresponds to the moving on the sorting conveyor unit 1e. It is discharged to the bypass conveyor 5 of the sorting section. The actual tray Tb that has not been discharged to any of the bypass conveyors 5 is transported from the sorting conveyor unit 1e to the return conveyor unit 1c, and further from the return conveyor unit 1c to the first or second supply conveyor unit 1a, 1b is sent to the sorting conveyor unit 1d again, but since it has already been measured, the measurement by the measuring unit 3 is not performed, and the circulating transfer is sent from the sorting conveyor unit 1d to the sorting conveyor unit 1e. Is possible.

  As described above, the plane circulation type transfer conveyor 1 connects the supply conveyor units 1a and 1b, the sorting conveyor unit 1d, the sorting conveyor unit 1e, and the return conveyor unit 1c arranged endlessly in an endless manner. Thus, the empty tray Ta and the actual tray Tb are configured to circulate on the transport conveyor 1.

  In the present embodiment, a fixed number of free trays are always transported to the endless transport path of the transport conveyor 1, and at the start of selection, all of the fixed number of free trays are empty trays Ta. Yes, even if the actual tray Tb conveyed on the sorting conveyor unit 1e is discharged to the bypass conveyor 5 as the selection operation proceeds, the same number of empty trays Ta are replenished from the bypass conveyor 5 to the sorting conveyor unit 1e. As shown in FIG. 3, a fixed number of free trays can be always conveyed on the conveyance path of the conveyance conveyor 1.

  A bar code is displayed on the outer peripheral surface of the free tray for measuring the agricultural products on the free tray and sorting the measured agricultural products to the bypass conveyor 5 for each sorting category determined based on the measurement results. The barcode of the actual tray Tb is read by the first detector 11a including a barcode reader provided at a position immediately before entering the measuring unit 3, and the read barcode information is stored in the storage unit of the control device. . And the said control apparatus determines an equal class based on the measurement result measured by the measurement part 3, and makes the determination part memorize | store in the said memory | storage part corresponding to the barcode information of the free tray in which the said agricultural product was mounted. .

  Note that if the empty tray Ta passes through the first detector 11a at the start or during the selection of the fruit, measurement by the measuring device is impossible, so the control device determines that the empty tray Ta and stores it. The barcode information is canceled.

  On the other hand, a second detector 11b made of a barcode reader is provided at the entrance of the sorting conveyor unit 1e, and reads the barcode on the free tray that passes through the second detector 11b. Since the barcode information is stored in the storage unit for the real tray Tb, the sorting section is read out, and the discharge device 4 is operated in synchronization with the real tray Tb reaching the corresponding discharge device 4. The actual tray Tb is discharged to the bypass conveyor 5. The control device erases the barcode information of the actual tray Tb when the actual tray Tb is discharged to the bypass conveyor 5, and then stores it as new barcode information by the first detector 11a. Also good.

  Further, when the empty tray Ta passes through the second detector 11b, since the barcode information is not stored in the storage unit, the empty tray Ta returns to the conveyor without receiving the discharging operation by the discharging device 4. It is conveyed toward the part 1c.

  Further, as described above, when the actual tray Tb cannot be discharged to the bypass conveyor 5, for example, when the actual tray Tb is fully stored in the actual tray storage unit 53 of the corresponding sorting section, the control device responds. Since the discharge signal is not commanded to the discharge device 4 that performs this operation, the actual tray Tb is conveyed toward the return conveyor portion 1c.

  The actual tray Tb returned to the return conveyor section 1c is distributed to either the first supply conveyor section 1a or the second supply conveyor section 1b, but at the inlet side of both the supply conveyor sections 1a and 1b, The actual tray detection sensors 10a are arranged respectively. The actual tray detection sensor 10a includes a light source disposed on both sides of the transport path and a light receiving member that receives light from the light source and converts the light into an electrical signal, and agricultural products are placed on the free tray. If it is, it is attached at a height that blocks the optical path between the light source and the light receiving member.

  Therefore, when the actual tray Tb is detected by the actual tray detection sensor 10a, the bar transmitted from the first detector 11a is synchronized with the arrival of the actual tray Tb at the first detector 11a. It is determined that the code information is the actual tray Tb that has been returned without being discharged, and the storage of the barcode information and the measurement process in the measurement unit 3 are cancelled.

  In the bypass conveyor 5, the number management of whether or not the actual tray Tb stored in the actual tray storage unit 53 is full counts the discharge signal which is a pulse signal to the corresponding discharge device 4, and this count In addition to subtracting the stopper release signal, which is a pulse signal of the first stopper 55, from the value, a full sensor is provided at the storage position where the actual tray storage unit 53 is full, and the full sensor has passed for a predetermined time. Alternatively, it may be determined that the control device is full when a full detection signal is output.

  Next, based on FIG. 2, when the actual tray Tb is discharged to the bypass conveyor 5, the same number of empty trays Ta are replenished from the bypass conveyor 5 to the sorting conveyor unit 1 e, and free trays on the transport path of the transport conveyor 1. A free tray replenishing operation in which a constant is always set will be described.

  In the present embodiment, the empty tray Ta is replenished to the sorting conveyor unit 1 e when the single tray Tb is discharged to the actual tray storage unit 53 of the bypass conveyor 5 by the discharge device 4. Then, since the portion where the discharged actual tray Tb is placed becomes a vacant space, the second stopper 56 is operated in synchronization with the vacant space portion reaching the outlet side 52 of the empty tray supply unit 54. In addition, by supplying one empty tray Ta positioned at the head of the empty tray supply unit 54 to this empty portion, the number of the insufficient free trays is maintained at a constant number.

  That is, at the start of selection, seven empty trays Ta stand by in the empty tray supply unit 54, the free tray does not exist in the real tray storage unit 53, and the actual trays are in the bypass conveyor 5. The total number of Tb and empty tray Ta is seven. When one actual tray Tb is discharged to the actual tray storage unit 53, one empty tray Ta is replenished to the sorting conveyor 1e from the empty tray supply unit 54. There are seven total numbers of Tb and empty tray Ta. Therefore, the total number of actual trays Tb and empty trays Ta present on the bypass conveyor 5 may be controlled to be seven. Of course, the present invention is not limited to the number of seven, and can be appropriately determined according to the number of free trays resident on the transfer conveyor 1, the boxing efficiency of the boxing unit 6, and the like.

  In this way, a certain number of free trays are always circulated and conveyed on the conveyor 1, and even if the actual tray Tb is discharged from the conveyance path of the conveyor 1 by the sorting operation and the number of free trays is temporarily reduced. Since the empty tray Ta is immediately replenished to the empty portion and recovered to the predetermined number, the empty tray Ta can always be supplied from the return conveyor portion 1c toward the supply conveyor portions 1a and 1b without excess or deficiency. Therefore, the stable conveyance of agricultural products can be realized from the start of fruit selection.

  Further, even if the packaging operation is troublesome in the packaging unit 6 and the actual tray Tb stored in the actual tray storage unit 53 of the bypass conveyor 5 is full and is not discharged, the actual tray Tb is stored in the actual tray Tb. Circulating and conveying on the conveyor 1 until the tray storage unit 53 is empty, and the agricultural products in the other sorting sections are smoothly discharged and boxed, there is no significant hindrance to the entire selection operation.

  In FIG. 1, the leftmost bypass conveyor 5a shows a state in which the actual tray Tb is discharged immediately after one empty tray Ta is replenished. The second bypass conveyor 5b from the left shows the actual tray Tb. Since three are pooled, there are four empty trays Ta in the empty tray supply unit 54. In the third bypass conveyor 5c from the left, the real tray storage unit 53 has seven full trays Tb, and the empty tray supply unit 54 has zero empty tray Ta. If the number of empty trays Ta is increased and the number of actual trays Tb is not decreased, the actual trays Tb cannot be accepted any more, and the actual trays Tb of the corresponding sorting section are circulated and conveyed on the conveyance path of the conveyor 1 Will be. Further, the bypass conveyor 5d at the right end in FIG. 1 is in a state where seven empty trays Ta are waiting in the empty tray supply unit 54, and the actual tray Tb is not present in the actual tray storage unit 53. Yes.

  In this way, even if the number of actual trays discharged for each sorting section varies, the empty tray Ta is stably supplied to the first and second supply conveyor units 1a and 1b of the article supply unit 2. can do.

The first reference example 3 show a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The first reference example is a modification of the above-described first embodiment.

In the first embodiment described above, the actual tray Tb that has not been discharged to any bypass conveyor 5 is returned from the sorting conveyor section 1e to the return conveyor section 1c and circulated on the transport path of the transport conveyor 1. However, in the first reference example , when the actual tray Tb that has not been discharged to any of the bypass conveyors 5 is detected by the actual tray detection sensor 10a, the dedicated return conveyor 200 provided for the sorting conveyor unit 1e is used. The paper is discharged by a discharge device 201 having the same configuration as the discharge device 4 and is temporarily pooled on the return conveyor 200.

  The return conveyor 200 conveys the actual tray Tb in the direction of arrow B, and merges at a position upstream of the sorting conveyor unit 1e with respect to the second detector 11b. And the stopper 202 is provided in the conveyance direction downstream end part of the return conveyor 200, The timing of the real tray Tb returned to the sorting conveyor part 1e can be controlled.

  In FIG. 3, two actual trays Tb-1 and Tb-2 are discharged to the return conveyor 200, and the two actual trays Tb-1 and Tb-2 exist in the return conveyor unit 1c. There will be voids indicated by broken lines in the parts that will be (circular parts indicated by broken lines are indicated by the symbols Tb-1 and Tb-2, respectively, for ease of understanding). Since it is possible to predict the time until these empty spaces reach the downstream side in the transport direction of the return conveyor 200 in the transport path of the transport conveyor 1, if the stopper 202 is operated in accordance with this arrival time, first the first actual If the tray Tb-1 is returned to the portion that has just been vacated on the sorting conveyor unit 1e, and then the stopper 202 is operated in accordance with the arrival time of the next vacant space, the vacant space of the sorting conveyor unit 1e is similarly obtained. Thus, the actual tray Tb-2 is returned, and there is a certain number of free trays on the conveyor 1.

In the first reference example , since the actual tray Tb is not returned from the return conveyor unit 1c to the first and second supply conveyor units 1a and 1b, measurement avoidance processing in the measurement unit 3 is unnecessary. In addition, since only the empty tray Ta is returned in the article supply unit 2, it is possible to concentrate on the supply of agricultural products.

Second reference example 4 show a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The second reference example is a modification of the above-described first embodiment.

In the first embodiment described above, when the actual tray Tb is discharged from the sorting conveyor unit 1e to the bypass conveyor 5, the empty tray Ta is returned from the bypass conveyor 5 to the sorting conveyor unit 1e, and the conveying path of the conveying conveyor 1 In this second reference example , the empty tray supply unit 54 of each bypass conveyor 5 (5a to 5d) is used as the sorting conveyor 1e as in the first embodiment. The empty tray supplement conveyor 300 is provided separately, and the empty tray supply unit 54 of each bypass conveyor 5 is joined to the empty tray supplement conveyor 300. The downstream end of the empty tray replenishing conveyor 300 in the transport direction is joined to the terminal end of the sorting conveyor unit 1e.

In the first embodiment and the first reference example described above, the empty tray supply unit 54 of each bypass conveyor 5 has a predetermined number of empty trays Ta pooled at the start of selection, but this second reference In the example , a predetermined number of empty trays Ta are pooled on the empty tray replenishment conveyor 300 at the start of selection.

  For this reason, the bypass conveyor 5a at the most upstream position that joins the upstream end of the empty tray replenishment conveyor 300 in the conveyance direction is not provided with the second stopper 56 on the outlet side 52, and the actual tray storage unit 53 is empty due to packaging of agricultural products. The empty tray Ta which has become is immediately supplied from the empty tray supply unit 54 to the empty tray replenishing conveyor 300 by releasing the first stopper 55. However, a second stopper 56 is provided on the other bypass conveyor 5 downstream from the bypass conveyor 5a at the most upstream position, and an empty space is provided in the moving row of empty trays Ta that move along the conveyance path of the empty tray replenishment conveyor 300. If there is, for example, this is detected by a detection sensor (not shown) that detects the presence or absence of the empty tray by contact with the empty tray, and the second stopper 56 is released to supply the empty tray Ta to the empty space. Yes.

  As a result, a substantially fixed number of empty trays Ta are always pooled on the empty tray replenishment conveyor 300. And when empty tray Ta is returned from the exit side 302 of empty tray replenishment conveyor 300 to the conveyance end of sorting conveyor unit 1e, actual tray Tb conveyed through sorting conveyor unit 1e is not discharged to any bypass conveyor 5 or In the case of an empty tray Ta to which agricultural products are transported without being placed, the tray moves toward the return conveyor 1c in order to recirculate the transport conveyor 1, so that the actual tray before the empty tray replenishment conveyor 300 joins. If there is a free tray on the conveyor, the tray detection sensor 10b having the same structure as the detection sensor 10a is provided at a height that blocks the optical path between the light source and the light receiving member. When the presence of the tray Tb and the empty tray Ta) is detected and an empty space is detected, the stopper 301 is released and the empty tray is released. And it supplies the Lee Ta to the sorting conveyor section 1e. When the free tray (actual tray Tb, empty tray Ta) is detected, the stopper 301 provided on the outlet side 302 is operated as a stopper, and the operation of replenishing the empty tray Ta to the sorting conveyor unit 1e is temporarily suspended.

In the second reference example, as described above, since the conveyance path of the conveyor unit 1c return from the end of the sorting conveyor unit 1e empty tray Ta it is supplied without causing an empty space, the first embodiment and As in the first reference example , there is always a substantially constant free tray on the conveyor 1, and an empty tray Ta is supplied to the article supply unit 2 without interruption.

  When the actual tray Tb is discharged to the bypass conveyor 5 for packing, the empty tray Ta is replenished from the empty tray replenishing conveyor 300 to the sorting conveyor unit 1e. Will always exist.

Third Example Figure 5 shows a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The third reference example is the same as the first embodiment except that the basic device configuration does not require the measuring unit 3, and the boxing unit 6 includes a necessary number of different types of products. Are discharged from the sorting conveyor 1e to each bypass conveyor 5 provided.

In the third reference example , the container C1 containing “rice ball” and the container C2 containing “sandwich” are conveyed by the container conveyor 9a, and the container C3 containing “fried chicken” and “salad” are conveyed by the container conveyor 9b. The container C4 containing is conveyed. Then, the first supply unit S1 places the rice balls in the container C1 on the empty tray Ta on the first supply conveyor unit 1a, and the second supply unit S2 places the sandwiches in the container C2 on the empty tray Ta on the first supply conveyor unit 1a. Also, the third supply unit S3 places the fried food in the container C3 on the empty tray Ta on the second supply conveyor unit 1b, and the fourth supply unit S4 places the salad in the container C4 on the empty tray Ta on the second supply conveyor unit 1b. .

  Actual tray detection is performed at the boundary position between the first supply section S1 and the second supply section S2 of the first supply conveyor section 1a and at the boundary position between the third supply section S3 and the fourth supply section S4 of the second supply conveyor section 1b. An actual tray detection sensor 10c having the same structure as that of the sensor 10a is disposed. Further, barcode readers 11c and 11d for reading barcodes displayed on the outer peripheral surface of the free tray are respectively arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction of the first supply conveyor unit 1a and the second supply conveyor unit 1b.

  Based on the detection information of the actual tray detection sensors 10a and 10c and the reading information of the barcode readers 11c and 11d, the control device uses rice balls as the articles supplied to the empty tray Ta by the first supply unit S1. That the article supplied to the empty tray Ta by the second supply unit S2 is a sandwich, that the article supplied to the empty tray Ta by the third supply unit S3 is fried, and empty by the fourth supply unit S4. It is determined that the article supplied to the tray Ta is a salad.

  Taking the first supply conveyor unit 1a as an example, when the sandwich is placed on the empty tray Ta in the second supply unit S2, the actual tray detection sensor 10c detects this. Assuming that the time at this time is t1, the time T0 required for the free tray to reach the barcode reader 11c from the actual tray detection sensor 10c is determined, so the actual time that has reached the barcode reader 11c at time (t1 + T0). It can be determined that the tray Tb is a sandwich. Further, since the barcode information is not erased for the actual tray Tb returned to the return conveyor unit 1c as described in the first embodiment, the first or second supply conveyor unit 1a, 1b Regardless of the distribution, even if it is read by the barcode readers 11c and 11d, it has already been read, so the previous information is maintained as it is.

  In addition, since the time T1 for the actual tray Tb to reach the barcode reader 11c from the actual tray detection sensor 10a for detecting the return actual tray Tb is determined, the actual tray Tb is detected by the actual tray detection sensor 10a at time t2. Assuming that the time is t2, the actual tray Tb that has reached the barcode reader 11c at the time (t2 + T1) can be determined as the return actual tray Tb. The actual tray Tb that has reached the barcode reader 11c at a time other than these times can be identified as a rice ball. The second supply conveyor 1b can be similarly distinguished from fried chicken and salad.

  In this way, the type of the article is determined and stored in the control device corresponding to the barcode information.

  On the other hand, if the packaging parts 6a to 6d have different delivery destinations of articles, and the number of articles delivered to each delivery destination is different, data of delivery articles for each delivery destination is input to the control device in advance. ing. The control device outputs a discharge signal to the discharge devices 4a to 4d so as to properly distribute the input delivery items to the boxing portions 6a to 6d by the set number. Since the type of each article is stored corresponding to the barcode information, if the barcode on the actual tray Tb is read by the barcode reader 11b provided in the sorting conveyor section 1e, it is necessary for each of the packaging sections 6a to 6d. A discharge signal is output to each of the discharge devices 4a to 4d so as to discharge the number of items to be delivered to each boxing unit in this case, such as “rice ball”, “sandwich”, “fried chicken”, and “salad”.

  Therefore, the operator of each of the supply units S1 to S4 only needs to place the articles distributed to the supply unit on the empty tray Ta in front of the eyes, and then automatically select a plurality of types of articles. Only the number is sent to each boxing unit 6.

  Of course, the articles are not limited to “rice balls”, “sandwich”, “fried chicken”, and “salad”, and the configurations of the second and third embodiments can also be used.

1 is a schematic plan view showing a first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an agricultural product sorting apparatus. The top view of the bypass conveyor of FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a first reference example of the present invention. The plane schematic which shows the 2nd reference example of this invention. The schematic plan view showing a third reference example of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Conveyor 1a 1st supply conveyor part 1b 2nd supply conveyor part 1c Return conveyor part 1d Sorting conveyor part 1e Sorting conveyor part 2 Article supply part 3 Measuring part 4 (4a-4d) Discharge device 41 Pushing member 5 (5a To 5d) Bypass conveyor 51 Inlet side 52 Outlet side 53 Actual tray storage part 54 Empty tray supply part 55 First stopper 56 Second stopper 6 (6a to 6d) Packing part 7 Product box 8 Sorting device 9 (9a) 9b) Container conveyors 10a, 10b, 10c Actual tray detection sensors 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d Bar code reader 200 Return conveyor 300 Empty tray replenishment conveyor Ta Empty tray Tb Actual tray

Claims (1)

A transport conveyor having a transport path for circulating and transporting a certain number of free trays in the horizontal direction;
An article supply unit for supplying articles to an empty free tray conveyed on the conveyor;
A plurality of free trays that are arranged along the transport direction of the transport conveyor and that are supplied with articles discharged from the transport conveyor are stored from the entrance side according to the classification of the articles, and the articles are taken out and become empty. Storage conveyor section that discharges empty free trays by releasing storage,
An empty tray supply conveyor unit is connected to the downstream end in the transport direction of each storage conveyor unit, and the exit side of each empty tray supply conveyor unit is directly joined to the transport conveyor, and the storage conveyor stores the storage conveyor. An empty free tray is supplied from the empty tray supply conveyor unit to the conveyor so that the number of free trays on the conveyor is reduced by storing free trays containing articles in the conveyor unit. A free tray type article transport device comprising an empty tray supply means
The connecting storage conveyor section and the empty tray supply conveyor section connected to each other are used as a bypass conveyor, and the outlet of the empty tray supply conveyor section of the bypass conveyor is positioned downstream of the inlet of the storage conveyor section when viewed in the transfer direction of the transfer conveyor. And the outlet of the empty tray supply conveyor portion of the bypass conveyor located on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the conveyance conveyor is positioned on the upstream side of the storage conveyor portion of the other adjacent downstream conveyor, and the empty The tray supply means is configured such that when one free tray containing articles is discharged to each of the storage conveyor sections, the discharged free tray containing articles on the conveyor conveys from the exit side of the connected empty tray supply conveyor section. A free tray-type article transporting device, characterized in that one empty free tray is supplied to the part that has been placed .

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