JP5213247B2 - Roller conveyor apparatus and article sorting apparatus provided with the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a roller conveyor device for relay arranged between a conveyance line for conveying articles such as fruits and vegetables and a branch line branched in an orthogonal direction, and article sorting including the roller conveyor device. Device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are various types of article sorting apparatuses for sorting articles that are continuously conveyed on a conveyance line into predetermined groups.

  As a typical example of this kind of article sorting apparatus, Patent Document 1 discloses a structure of a cross belt conveyor. The cross-belt type conveyor includes a transport line that transports a large number of transport units arranged in a line, and a branch line that branches in an orthogonal direction. Each transport unit is provided with a cross belt sorter that feeds articles such as fruits and vegetables placed on the upper surface thereof toward the branch line. In this case, when the transport unit on which the article to be sorted arrives at a predetermined sorting location in the transport line, the article is sent out toward the branch line by the operation of the cross belt sorter.

Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a vertical rotation shaft arranged beside a sorting location in a transfer line, a horizontally long arm attached to a location above the transfer line among the rotation shafts, and a rotation shaft as its center. An article sorting apparatus including a motor that rotates around is disclosed. The laterally long arm extends on both sides in the horizontal direction across the rotation axis, and is set so that the rotation trajectory of the pressing portions at both ends thereof passes on the transport line in plan view. When the article to be sorted arrives at the sorting point by driving the conveyance line, the motor drives to horizontally rotate the horizontally long arm in one direction around the rotation axis at a rotation phase of about 180 °, and at the tip of the horizontally long arm. , The article is pushed towards the branch line.
JP 2003-53275 A JP-A-4-50257

  However, in the configuration of both patent documents, when the article is delivered from the conveyance line to the branch line, the movement of the article along the conveyance line is suddenly restricted by the cross belt sorter or the horizontally long arm. Due to the inertial action along the line, there is a problem that the product easily falls over the branch line in a slanting direction and is likely to fall over, and there is a high risk of causing damage to the article.

  Therefore, the present invention has a technical problem to solve the above problems.

  The present invention includes a roller conveyor device and an article sorting device including the roller conveyor device.

  The invention of claim 1 is arranged between a conveyance line that conveys a large number of articles arranged in series and a branch line that branches from a sorting location in the conveyance line in a sorting direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the conveyance line. A relay conveyor device for relaying, wherein a plurality of roller members arranged in series along the sorting direction are rotatably mounted between a pair of side frames, and each of the roller members is transported A moving force absorbing means configured to be movable along the direction, and further absorbing a moving force to the downstream side in the conveying direction applied to each roller member by the article sent from the sorting position. ing.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the roller conveyor device according to the first aspect, the moving force absorbing means is opposed to the movable magnet and a movable magnet provided at an end portion on the downstream side in the transport direction of each roller member. The fixed magnet is provided on the inner surface side of the side frame to be arranged, and the both magnets are arranged with the same poles facing each other.

  The invention according to claim 3 relates to an article sorting apparatus including the roller conveyor device according to claim 1 or 2, and the article sorting apparatus includes a transport line for transporting a large number of articles in series, A branch line branched from a sorting point in the transport line in a sorting direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the transport line, and a sorting mechanism for sending articles on the transport line from the sorting point toward the branch line. Yes. And the roller conveyor apparatus described in Claim 1 or 2 is arrange | positioned between the said conveyance line and the said branch line.

  According to the present invention, the roller conveyor device disposed between the transport line and the branch line is configured to rotatably mount a plurality of roller members arranged in series along the sorting direction between the pair of side frames. Each of the roller members is configured to be movable along the conveying direction, and further absorbs the moving force to the downstream side of the conveying direction applied to each of the roller members by the article fed from the sorting location. Since the moving force absorbing means is provided, when the transfer line is transferred from the transfer line to the branch line, the article is obliquely moved on the branch line by the action of the transfer force (inertia) along the transfer line. It is possible to reliably reduce the possibility of falling forward and moving forward, and it is difficult for the article to be damaged during sorting. Therefore, there is an effect that it is possible to safely sort an article (for example, peach or pear) that is easily damaged by a fall or contact.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(1). First Embodiment First, an outline of an article sorting apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The article sorting apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment includes a transport conveyor line 2 that transports a number of transport units 3 arranged in series, at least one branch conveyor line 4 branched from the transport conveyor line 2, and a transport conveyor line 2. It controls the article position detection sensor 5 as detection means arranged upstream of the branching point with the most upstream branch conveyor line 4 and the drive control of the conveyor lines 2 and 4 and a cross belt sorter 11 described later. The controller 6 (refer FIG. 7) as a control means is provided.

  Between the transfer conveyor line 2 and each branch conveyor line 4, a roller conveyor device 40 that relays the delivery of articles M from the transfer conveyor line 2 to each branch conveyor line 4 is disposed. Although not shown in detail, an intermittent drive conveyor for retaining the articles M sent from the transfer conveyor line 2 to each branch conveyor line 4 is connected to the downstream side of each branch conveyor line 4. The article M staying on each intermittently driven conveyor is packed (boxed) in a packaging container such as a transparent synthetic resin packaging pack or cardboard box by, for example, an operator's manual operation.

  As shown in FIG.2 and FIG.3, the conveyance conveyor line 2 is equipped with the left-right paired traveling rail 7 extended along the longitudinal direction. On these traveling rails 7, a group of carriage-type transport units 3 is disposed so as to be able to travel. Although details are not shown, the group of the conveyance units 3 is connected to endless chains wound around the drive sprocket and the driven sprocket at both longitudinal ends of the conveyance conveyor line 2 at a predetermined pitch interval. A group of transport units 3 is configured to circulate and move on the transport conveyor line 2 by driving these sprockets and chains. In this case, on the upper side of the transfer conveyor line 2, the group of transfer units 3 moves along the transfer direction X of the transfer conveyor line 2.

  In addition, the substantially half part on the opposite side of the branch conveyor line 4 among the upper sides of the transport conveyor line 2 is covered with a cover plate 8 extending along the longitudinal direction of the transport conveyor line 2. Moreover, the safety guard board 10 for the fall prevention of the wheel 9 which supports the conveyance unit 3 is attached to the left-right outer side of each traveling rail 7 (refer FIG. 3).

  As shown in FIG. 3, each transport unit 3 is placed on the transport unit 3 in a sorting direction Y orthogonal to the transport direction X at a predetermined sorting point (branch point with the branch conveyor line 4) in the transport conveyor line 2. The cross belt sorter 11 is provided as a sorting mechanism for feeding the articles M. The cross belt sorter 11 according to the first embodiment includes a pair of rotating rollers 13 rotatably supported between a pair of frame plates 12 in the transport unit 3 and an endless belt wound around the pair of rotating rollers 13. And a cross belt 14 as means. The pair of rotating rollers 13 extend in parallel with each other along the transport direction X. For this reason, the cross belt 14 can rotate in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction X (the sorting direction Y and the opposite direction).

  A belt drive shoe 15 for reciprocating in the direction intersecting the transport direction X and rotating the cross belt 14 is attached to the lower side of the cross belt 14. A guide pin 16 projects from the lower surface of the belt drive shoe 15. In this case, when the belt drive shoe 15 is moved in the direction opposite to the sorting direction Y, the upper side of the cross belt 14 is moved in the sorting direction Y in conjunction therewith.

  An article M such as a fruit or a vegetable is placed on a portion of the upper side of the cross belt 14 exposed from the cover plate 8 in plan view. Accordingly, the article M on the cross belt 14 is carried out to the branch conveyor line 4 by a revolving movement toward the sorting direction Y of the cross belt 14. In the first embodiment, due to the width dimension of the branch conveyor line 4 and the number of guide plates 19 to be described later, the number of articles M that can be placed on the group of transport units 3 and can be transported / sorted is a maximum of four transports. It is up to the length (size) straddling the unit 3.

  A support plate 17 that supports the upper side of the cross belt 14 from below is disposed inside the cross belt sorter 11. The support plate 17 is for receiving the weight of the article M on the cross belt 14, and is fixed to the inner surfaces of the pair of frame plates 12.

  As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, an upwardly open groove-like path 18 extending along the transport direction X is provided at a position near the branch conveyor line 4 between the pair of travel rails 7 in the transport conveyor line 2. It has been. The groove-shaped path 18 is for guiding the guide pin 16 of the belt drive shoe 15 in the transport direction X by the movement of each transport unit 3 along the transport direction X.

  On the other hand, a plurality of guide plates 19 for guiding the guide pins 16 in the direction opposite to the sorting direction Y by the movement of the transport unit 3 along the transport direction X are provided at predetermined sorting locations in the transport conveyor line 2. (Refer to FIGS. 2 to 5). In the first embodiment, a group of four rows and one set of guide plates 19 is associated with one branch conveyor line 4. Each guide plate 19 inclines in the diagonal direction which leaves | separates from the branch conveyor line 4 as it goes to the conveyance downstream side of the conveyance conveyor line 2 by planar view. Further, one group of guide plates 19 are arranged at the same interval as the arrangement interval of the guide pins 16 along the transport direction X. One end of each guide plate 19 near the branch conveyor line 4 faces a communication gap 20 (see FIG. 2) formed at an appropriate location in the groove-like path 18. In FIG. 2, for convenience of explanation, reference symbols “a”, “b”, “c”, and “d” are attached to the guide plates 19 in order from the conveyance downstream side.

  A switching plate 21 as a switching means is disposed on an extension line of each guide plate 19 or a position close to the extension line, that is, the communication gap 20 described above. The switching plate 21 of the first embodiment is formed in an approximately L-shaped plate shape, and its base 51 is pivoted up and down by a laterally rotating shaft 23 on a bracket plate 22 erected at a location of the communication gap 20. It is mounted movably.

  The base 51 of the switching plate 21 is connected to an electromagnetic solenoid 24 serving as an actuator disposed below the switching plate 21 in the bracket plate 22. That is, the switching plate 21 is configured to be selectively pivoted up and down by driving the electromagnetic solenoid 24. Of the switching plate 21, the partition plate portion 52 protruding upward from the base portion 51 blocks the groove-shaped path 18 and turns the guide pin 16 toward the guide plate 19 by swinging up and down around the rotation shaft 23. A configuration in which the posture is changed between an action posture to be sent (see the solid line state in FIGS. 3 and 6) and a non-action posture (see the two-dot chain line state in FIG. 6) in which the guide pin 16 is passed along the grooved path 18 as it is. It has become. In the first embodiment, when the switching plate 21 is in the action posture in which the switching plate 21 swings upward, the partition plate portion 52 and the guide plate 19 are set so as to be arranged in a substantially series shape in plan view (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 2). (See FIG. 4).

  In FIG. 2, the switching plate 21 also corresponds to the first guide plate 19a, the symbol a corresponding to the second guide plate 19b, the symbol b corresponding to the second guide plate 19b, and the third guide plate 19c. The thing corresponding to the 4th guide plate 19d is attached | subjected the code | symbol d to the thing.

  When the switching plate 21 swings upward, the communication gap 20 in the groove-like path 18 is blocked by the partition plate 52 of the switching plate 21, so that the upstream side of the conveyor line 2 is transported. The guide pins 16 of the transport unit 3 that have moved from the rear end collide with the partition plate portion 52 of the switching plate 21 (see the one-dot chain line state shown in FIG. 4).

  Then, the movement of the guide pins 16 in the conveyance direction X is blocked, but the conveyance unit 3 moves along the conveyance direction X as it is, so that the partition plate out of the force FX that moves the conveyance unit 3 along the conveyance direction X. The guide pin 16 slides in the diagonal direction S along the partition plate portion 52 and the guide plate 19 by the component force FX1 in the diagonal direction S along the portion 52 (two-dot chain state of the guide pin 16 shown in FIG. 4). reference).

  When the guide pin 16 slides in the oblique direction S, the belt drive shoe 15 attached to the lower side of the cross belt 14 moves in the direction opposite to the sorting direction Y, and in conjunction with this, the upper side of the cross belt 14 moves in the sorting direction. Move to Y. As a result, the article M on the cross belt 14 is sent to the branch conveyor line 4 via the roller conveyor device 40.

  According to the above configuration, it is not necessary to provide an actuator for driving the cross belt 14 and its control device in each transport unit 3, so that the structure is simplified and the number of parts can be reduced. Therefore, there is an effect that the manufacturing cost is reduced.

  A tension spring 25 is mounted between the partition plate portion 52 of the switching plate 21 and the lower portion of the bracket plate 22. For this reason, the switching plate 21 is constantly urged by the elastic restoring force of the tension spring 25 so as to be in a non-working posture of swinging downward. Further, although not shown in detail, the guide pins 16 of the respective transport units 3 are returned to the original positions corresponding to the groove-shaped paths 18 further downstream than the most downstream sorting point in the transport conveyor line 2. A return guide plate is arranged.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, each guide plate 19 is provided with an auxiliary belt mechanism 26 as auxiliary guide means for assisting the movement of the guide pin 16 in the oblique direction S along the guide plate 19. ing. Therefore, in the first embodiment, a group of four auxiliary belt mechanisms 26 also corresponds to one branch conveyor line 4. In FIG. 2, the auxiliary belt mechanism 26 also corresponds to the first guide plate 19a, the symbol a for the second guide plate 19b, the symbol b for the second guide plate 19b, and the third guide plate 19c. Symbols "c" are attached to components that correspond to those of the fourth guide plate 19d.

  The auxiliary belt mechanism 26 according to the first embodiment includes a longitudinal drive shaft 27 and a driven shaft 28 that are rotatably provided in the vicinity of both longitudinal ends of the guide plate 19, and a double pulley 29 fixed to the drive shaft 27. The auxiliary pulley 32 wound around the upper pulley 30 and the driven shaft 28 of the double pulley 29 is provided. In this case, a portion of the auxiliary belt 32 positioned on the upstream side of the transport conveyor line 2 overlaps the flat surface of the guide plate 19 facing the upstream side of transport.

  The drive shaft 27 of the most downstream of the auxiliary belt mechanisms 26 of the same group protrudes upward from a drive motor 33 (see FIG. 2) disposed in the transport conveyor line 2. A total of four lower pulleys 31 are wound with a transmission belt 34. The transmission belt 34 is given tension by a plurality of tension pulleys 35 arranged on the outer peripheral side and between the adjacent two pulleys 29.

  The rotational power of the drive shaft 27 (the most downstream one) protruding from the drive motor 33 is transmitted to the other lower pulley 31 and the drive shaft 27 via the corresponding lower pulley 31 and transmission belt 34. Then, the rotational power of each drive shaft 27 circulates and moves the auxiliary belt 32 via the upper pulley 30. In this case, each auxiliary belt 32 is always set to circulate counterclockwise in the plan view of FIGS. 2 and 4. Accordingly, the portion of the auxiliary belt 32 that overlaps the guide plate 19 moves in the oblique direction S along the guide plate 19.

  As described above, when the configuration in which the auxiliary belt mechanism 26 is provided in association with each guide plate 19 is adopted, the guide pin 16 fed out from the groove-shaped path 18 toward the guide plate 19 is guided in the auxiliary belt 32. The portion that overlaps the plate 19 abuts from the upstream side of the conveying conveyor line 2. As described above, the portion of the auxiliary belt 32 that overlaps with the guide plate 19 always moves in the oblique direction S along the guide plate 19, and therefore the component force FX <b> 1 of the force FX that moves the transport unit 3 along the transport direction X. And the feeding action of the auxiliary belt 32 become a driving force for sliding the guide pin 16 in the oblique direction S. Therefore, there is an effect that the sliding movement of the guide pin 16 in the oblique direction S is surely and smoothly performed.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the roller conveyor device 40 disposed between the transport conveyor line 2 and each branch conveyor line 4 includes a case body 41 having a substantially box shape with an upward opening having a pair of side frames 42. I have. Between the upper parts of the both side frames 42, a plurality of roller members 43 having a length in the conveying direction X arranged in series along the sorting direction Y are rotatably mounted. Each roller member 43 of the first embodiment includes a roller support shaft 44 that is rotatably supported between upper portions of both side frames 42, and a plurality of free rollers 45 that are fitted on the roller support shaft 44. Yes.

  Although details are not shown, an electric motor is arranged in the case main body 41, and each roller support shaft 44 is configured to be rotationally driven by belt transmission by driving the electric motor. The free roller 45 group is configured to rotate with the roller support shafts 44 by the frictional force between the roller support shafts 44. In addition, each free roller 45 follows the direction in which the force exceeding the frictional force between the free rollers 45 and the roller support shaft 44 is applied in the direction along the roller support shaft 44 (conveying direction X). Can be moved by sliding. In addition, the free roller 45 which is a component of each roller member 43 does not necessarily need to be divided into a plurality as in the first embodiment, and is referred to as one horizontally long free roller 45 with respect to each roller support shaft 44. It may be a combination.

  The roller conveyor device 40 absorbs the moving force FM (inertia) downstream of the conveying direction X applied to each free roller 45 by the article M sent to each sorting point (branch point with each branch conveyor line 4). A moving force absorbing means 46 is provided. The moving force absorbing means 46 of the first embodiment includes a movable magnet 47 provided at an end near the side frame 42 of the free rollers 45 at the most downstream side in the transport direction X, and a side frame 42 facing the movable magnet 47. It is comprised by the fixed magnet 48 provided in the inner surface side (refer FIG.7 and FIG.8). Both magnets 47 and 48 are arranged with the same poles facing each other (N poles in the embodiment).

  In this case, each of the magnets 47 and 48 is formed in an annular shape, and is fixed to the free roller 45 side or the inner surface side of the side frame 42 while being fitted to the roller support shaft 44. Therefore, the movable magnet 47 can rotate (integrally) together with the free roller 45 and can slide along the roller support shaft 44. Further, as shown in detail in FIG. 7, adjacent ones of the group of movable magnets 47 are set in an arrangement relationship in which the same poles are adjacent to each other. Of course, the adjacent magnets in the group of fixed magnets 48 are set in the same relationship.

  In the above configuration, when the article M is sent to the roller conveyor device 40 side by the revolving movement of the cross belt 14, the moving force FM (inertia) in the conveyance direction X downstream by the conveyance conveyor line 2, and the cross belt The pushing force FS in the sorting direction Y downstream by the sorter 11 acts on the article M. For this reason, the article M tends to slide and move in an oblique direction along the resultant force F (M + S) of the moving force FM and the pushing force FS.

  Each free roller 45 on which the article M rides is rotated around the roller spindle 44 by the interaction of the belt transmission and the pushing force FS, and is moved downstream in the conveying direction X along the roller spindle 44 by the moving force FM. Slide to the side (see FIG. 8A). At this time, the movable magnet 47 provided at the end of the free roller 45 on the most downstream side in the transport direction X approaches the fixed magnet 48 corresponding thereto, but the magnets 47 and 48 have the same poles facing each other. Therefore, the magnetic repulsive force between the magnets 47 and 48 tries to push back the free roller 45 that has come close together with the movable magnet 47 to the upstream side in the transport direction X along the roller support shaft 44 (see FIG. 8B). ).

  As a result, the moving force FM downstream in the transport direction X by the transport conveyor line 2 is finally absorbed by the magnetic repulsive force between the magnets 47 and 48. The article M in which the moving force FM is canceled by the magnetic repulsive force smoothly slides on the roller conveyor device 40 in the sorting direction Y orthogonal to the transport direction X and is delivered to the branch conveyor line 4. Each free roller 45 after the article M is delivered returns to its original position by the magnetic repulsive force between the magnets 47 and 48 and the collision between each other (see FIG. 8C).

  Therefore, when delivering from the conveyor belt 2 to each branch conveyor line 4, the article M is obliquely moved on each branch conveyor line 4 by the action of the moving force FM (inertia) along the conveyor belt 2. It is possible to reliably reduce the possibility of falling forward and moving forward, and it is difficult for the articles M to be damaged during sorting. For this reason, the article sorting apparatus 1 and the roller conveyor apparatus 40 of the first embodiment can safely sort articles that are easily damaged by falling or contacting (for example, peaches and pears).

  In particular, in the first embodiment, the moving force FM (inertia) of the article M along the transport conveyor line 2 is absorbed using the magnetic repulsive force of the combination of the movable magnet 47 and the fixed magnet 48. For example, a drive source such as electric power is not required for absorption, and the movement force FM (inertia) absorption function can be reliably exhibited with a simple configuration. In addition, there is an advantage that the manufacturing cost and running cost can be suppressed at a low cost. An elastic body (spring means) such as a spring can also be adopted as the moving force absorbing means.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, the article position detection sensor 5 arranged on the upstream side of the conveyance conveyor line 2 with respect to the most upstream branch conveyor line 4 is located on both sides of the conveyance conveyor line 2. The light blocking type is composed of a projector 36 and a light receiver 37 that are allotted to each other. The article position detection sensor 5 captures the outline of the article M by light shielding due to the passage of the article M between the projector 36 and the light receiver 37 and detects the length L (size, shape information) along the conveyance direction X. It is configured as follows. The article position detection sensor 5 is electrically connected to a controller 6 as control means.

  In the first embodiment, a rotary encoder 38 (see FIG. 9) for detecting the moving distance of each transport unit 3 from an arbitrary reference point is related to a spindle (not shown) of a drive sprocket in the transport conveyor line 2. Is provided. The rotary encoder 38 is also electrically connected to the controller 6.

  When one or a plurality of transport units 3 carrying a single article M reach a predetermined sorting location in the transport conveyor line 2, the controller 6 selects one article based on the form information from the article position detection sensor 5. This is for executing control to operate the cross belt sorters 11 of all the transport units 3 corresponding to M in synchronization.

  The controller 6 of the first embodiment obtains the movement distance of each transport unit 3 until the entire article M passes between the projector 36 and the light receiver 37 by counting the number of pulses from the rotary encoder 38. It has a function of measuring the length L along the conveyance direction X of the article M. The controller 6 also has a function of specifying all the transport units 3 on which at least a part of one article M is placed, and determining the distance between the specified transport unit 3 and each switching plate 21. Have.

  In addition to the article position detection sensor 5 and the rotary encoder 38, the controller 6 includes a drive motor 33 for each group of auxiliary belt mechanisms 26, an electromagnetic solenoid 24 for driving each switching plate 21, and a drive sprocket for the conveyor belt 2. Actuators (not shown) for rotational driving are connected to each other.

  Next, an example of the sorting control mode in the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, a case where the article M to be sorted is of a length L straddling three adjacent transport units 3a, 3b, 3c is illustrated (see FIG. 2).

  First, the power switch (not shown) of the article sorting apparatus 1 is turned on to operate the conveyor lines 2 and 4 and the auxiliary belt mechanism 26, and from the rotary encoder 38 associated with the drive sprocket of the conveyor line 2. The counting of the number of pulses starts (step S1).

  Next, the tip of the article M placed on one or a plurality of transport units 3 in the transport conveyor line 2 reaches the position of the article position detection sensor 5 (between the projector 36 and the light receiver 37) and starts light shielding. It is discriminate | determined (step S2). When the tip of the article M has not reached between the projector 36 and the light receiver 37 (S2: NO), the process returns to step S2 again to stand by.

  When the tip of the article M reaches between the projector 36 and the light receiver 37 (S2: YES), the entire article M is then passed between the projector 36 and the light receiver 37 by counting the number of pulses from the rotary encoder 38. The movement distance of each conveyance unit 3 until it passes through is measured, and the length L along the conveyance direction X of the article M is measured. From the relationship between the length L of the article M and the number of pulses from the rotary encoder 38, the article All the transport units 3 on which at least a part of M rests are specified (step S3). For example, in the case of FIG. 2, the three transport units 3a, 3b, 3c on which the article M is placed are specified.

  Next, based on the counting of the number of pulses from the rotary encoder 38, the guide pin 16 of the transport unit 3a that is the most advanced in the group of transport units 3 on which the article M is placed is a predetermined sorting location in the transport conveyor line 2. It is determined whether or not the position immediately before the most downstream switching plate 21a is reached (step S4). When the guide pin 16 of the most preceding transport unit 3a has not reached the position immediately before the most downstream switching plate 21a (S4: NO), the process returns to step S4 again to stand by.

  When the guide pin 16 of the foremost transport unit 3a reaches the position immediately before the most downstream switching plate 21a (S4: YES), it corresponds to all the transport units 3 on which at least a part of the article M is placed. Then, the electromagnetic solenoid 24 is driven to switch to the action posture in which each switching plate 21 is swung upward (step S5). For example, in the case of FIG. 2, since the article M straddles the three transport units 3a, 3b, and 3c, the electromagnetic solenoid 24 corresponding to the transport units 3a, 3b, and 3c is driven, and the three switching plates 21a, 21b and 21c are set to the acting posture.

  Then, after the guide pins 16 of the three transport units 3 collide with the partition plate portion 52 of the switching plate 21, the guide pin 16 slides in the oblique direction S along the partition plate portion 52 and the guide plate 19 of the switching plate 21. And the belt drive shoe 15 attached to the lower side of the three cross belts 14 moves in synchronization with the sorting direction Y, so that the upper side of each cross belt 14 moves in synchronization with the sorting direction Y. . As a result, the article M having a length L placed across the three cross belts 14 (cross belt sorter 11) is smoothly delivered to the branch conveyor line 4 via the roller conveyor device 40.

  After switching each switching plate 21 to the action posture swinging upward, after a predetermined time has elapsed, the electromagnetic solenoid 24 corresponding to the switching plate 21 in the action posture is driven, and each switching plate 21 is moved. It returns to the non-working posture swinging downward (step S6).

  When the control is performed as described above, when one or a plurality of transport units 3 on which one article M is placed reaches a predetermined sorting position in the transport conveyor line 2, based on the form information from the article position detection sensor 5. Since the cross belt sorters 11 of all the conveyance units 3 corresponding to one article M are operated synchronously, the length L (large) of the article M to be sorted at a predetermined sorting location in the transport conveyor line 2. The cross belt sorter 11 of each conveyance unit 3 can be operated in accordance with the above-mentioned, for example, even an article M placed across a plurality of conveyance units 3 is branched smoothly and reliably through the roller conveyor device 40. It can be carried out to the conveyor line 4. In the first embodiment, since the cross belt sorters 11 of the maximum four transport units 3 can be operated in synchronization, it is possible to transport and sort up to an article M having a length L straddling the maximum four transport units 3.

  Accordingly, since an article M having a size larger than one transport unit 3 can be transported / sorted, the use (applicable range) is dramatically expanded and versatility is improved as compared with the conventional cross belt type conveyor. Play.

  In addition, since one article can be placed on one transport unit 3 or one article can be placed across a plurality of transport units 3, even if there is some variation in the length L (size) of the article, The placement efficiency (space efficiency) of the article M on the conveyor line 2 can be increased. As a result, high effects can be achieved in terms of sorting work efficiency and running cost of the article sorting apparatus 1.

  By the way, in 1st Embodiment, in step S3 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, based on the detection information (information of light shielding time) of the article position detection sensor 5 and the count of the number of pulses from the rotary encoder 38, While measuring the length L, the transport unit 3 on which the product M is placed is specified based on the relationship between the length L of the product M and the number of pulses from the rotary encoder 38, but the transport unit 3 is specified. The control mode to be performed is not limited to the above embodiment.

  For example, as another example, sorting control may be performed as follows. That is, in step S3 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, the start position and end position of one article M are based on the detection information (information on the light shielding time) of the article position detection sensor 5 and the count of the number of pulses from the rotary encoder 38. The transport unit 3 corresponding to the position is specified. In step S5, the electromagnetic solenoids 24 corresponding to the two transport units 3 specified in step S3 and the transport unit 3 between them are driven, so that each switching plate 21 is swung upward. By switching, the two specified transport units 3 and the cross belt sorter 11 of the transport unit 3 between them are operated in synchronization. Even when controlled in this way, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

(2). Second Embodiment FIGS. 11 and 12 show a second embodiment of the article sorting apparatus 1. In the second embodiment, in place of the article position detection sensor 5, the video camera 39 as an imaging means for imaging the article M on one or a plurality of transport units 3 is used as the detection means. It is very different from the one.

  Similar to the article position detection sensor 5 of the embodiment, the video camera 39 is disposed on the upstream side of the conveyance conveyor line 2 with respect to the branch point with the most upstream branch conveyor line 4. An article passage sensor 40 for detecting whether or not the article M has passed is disposed further upstream than the video camera 39.

  In the article sorting apparatus 1 of the second embodiment, when the article passing sensor 40 senses that the article M has arrived at the position immediately before the video camera 39 by driving the conveyor belt 2, the article M is moved to the video camera 39. The image information obtained by this imaging is transmitted to the controller 41.

  When one or a plurality of transport units 3 on which one article M is placed arrives at a predetermined sorting location in the transport conveyor line 2, the controller 41 sets one article M based on the result of image processing described later. Control is performed to operate the cross belt sorters 11 of all the corresponding transport units 3 in synchronization.

  In addition to the video camera 39, the article passage sensor 40, and the rotary encoder 38, the controller 41 includes a drive motor 33 for the auxiliary belt mechanism 26 of each group, an electromagnetic solenoid 24 for driving each switching plate 21, and a conveyor conveyor line 2. Actuators (not shown) for rotating the drive sprocket are connected to each other. Other configurations are substantially the same as those of the embodiment.

  Next, an example of the sorting control mode in the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, the case where the articles M to be sorted are of the length L that straddles the three adjacent transport units 3a, 3b, and 3c is illustrated (see FIG. 2).

  In the sorting control according to the second embodiment, basically, the function exhibited by the article position detection sensor 5 in the embodiment is merely replaced by the video camera 39 as an imaging unit.

  That is, a power switch (not shown) of the article sorting apparatus 1 is turned on to operate each of the conveyor lines 2 and 4 and the auxiliary belt mechanism 26, and from the rotary encoder 38 related to the drive sprocket of the conveyor belt 2 Counting of the number of pulses is started (step T1).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the article M placed on one or a plurality of transport units 3 in the transport conveyor line 2 has reached the location of the article passage sensor 40 (step T2). When the article M has not reached the location of the article passage sensor 40 (T2: NO), the process returns to step T2 again to wait as it is.

  When the article M reaches the location of the article passage sensor 40 (T2: YES), the article M is then imaged by the video camera 39 (step T3). Image information obtained by this imaging is transmitted from the video camera 39 to the controller 41, and stored in a RAM (a readable / writable memory as needed) in the controller 41.

  Next, the above-described image information is subjected to image processing (binarization or the like), and the center of gravity position of the article M and the length L (size) along the transport direction are obtained from the result of the image processing, and the article M From the relationship between the center of gravity position, the length L, and the number of pulses from the rotary encoder 38, all the transport units 3 on which at least a part of the article M is placed are specified (step T4). In the case of FIG. 2, the three transport units 3a, 3b, 3c on which the article M is placed are specified.

  Since the control mode of steps T5 to T7 shown in FIG. 10 is not different from the control mode (see FIG. 8) of steps S4 to S6 in the embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted. Even when the control is performed as described above, the same effects as those of the embodiment can be obtained.

(3). Others The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be widely applied as an article sorting apparatus that conveys and sorts various types of articles other than agricultural products such as fruits and vegetables. Further, the width dimension of the branch conveyor line 4 and the number of the guide plates 19 and the switching plates 21 can be appropriately set according to the type and size of the articles. The sorting mechanism is not limited to the cross belt sorter 11 and may be a rotary extrusion type as in Patent Document 2.

  In addition, the structure of each part is not limited to embodiment of illustration, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention.

It is a schematic plan view of the article sorting apparatus in the embodiment. It is a schematic plan view of the article sorting apparatus in a state where the transport unit is removed. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of a mechanism for moving a cross belt in a sorting direction. FIG. 5 is a VV side sectional view of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a side sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 4. It is an enlarged plan view which shows the relationship between a conveyance conveyor line and a roller conveyor apparatus. It is explanatory drawing about an effect | action of a roller conveyor apparatus. It is a functional block diagram of an article sorting device. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a sorting control aspect. It is a functional block diagram of the article sorting apparatus in a 2nd embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a sorting control aspect.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Article sorter 2 Conveyor line 3 Conveyor unit 4 Branch conveyor line 5 Article position detection sensors 6 and 41 as detection means Controller 11 as control means 11 Cross belt sorter 14 as sort mechanism Cross belt 15 as endless belt means Belt Drive shoe 16 Guide pin 18 Groove-shaped path 19 Guide plate 20 Communication gap 21 Switching plate 23 Rotating shaft 24 Electromagnetic solenoid 26 Auxiliary belt mechanism 27 Drive shaft 28 Drive shaft 29 Dual pulley 32 Auxiliary belt 33 Drive motor 34 Drive belt 36 Projector 37 Photoreceiver 39 Video camera 40 as imaging means Roller conveyor device 43 Roller member 46 Moving force absorbing means 47 Movable magnet 48 Fixed magnet

Claims (3)

Roller conveyor for relay arranged between a conveyance line that conveys a large number of articles in series and a branch line that branches from a sorting location in the conveyance line in a sorting direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveyance line A device,
A plurality of roller members arranged in series along the sorting direction are rotatably mounted between a pair of side frames, and each of the roller members is configured to be movable along the transport direction.
Furthermore, it comprises a moving force absorbing means for absorbing the moving force to the downstream side in the conveying direction given to each roller member by the article sent from the sorting location.
Roller conveyor device. The moving force absorbing means includes a movable magnet provided at an end portion on the downstream side in the transport direction of each roller member and a fixed magnet provided on an inner surface side of a side frame facing the movable magnet. The magnets are arranged with the same poles facing each other,
The roller conveyor device according to claim 1. A transport line that transports a large number of articles arranged in series, a branch line that branches from a sorting location in the transport line to a sorting direction that is orthogonal to the transport direction of the transport line, and an article on the transport line that is the sorting location An article sorting apparatus comprising a sorting mechanism for sending out from the branch line toward the branch line,
The roller conveyor device according to claim 1 or 2 is disposed between the conveyance line and the branch line.
Article sorting equipment.

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