JPH03288716A - Classifier of transported object - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatize classification of an object by devising a classifier of the object such as bottles and others to control a timing to transmit drive force by way of forming data of time required after obtaining a detection output of the object based on a detection output of a detection means while the object is passing and by way of giving a control signal to a coupling means. CONSTITUTION:A time data creation means 22 creates time data required for an object 2 to arrive at the center of a brush body 8 after the object 2 is detected by a start sensor 17 based on an output signal while the object 2 passes a speed detection sensor 18 with its front edge to its rear edge. A transmission timing control means 23 gives a start signal through a signal conductor 24 and a stop signal through a signal conductor 25 based on the time data and an output of the start sensor 17, and transmits rotation of a motor 3 to the brush body 8 or suddenly stops the brush body 8.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a conveyed object sorting device for appropriately sorting objects such as various bottles, cans, packages, etc. in a system in which the objects are conveyed. It is.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, as a device for sorting objects such as bottles, for example, a device described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 55-24579 is known. In this device, when a switch for selecting a bottle is manually operated, the corresponding bottle is sorted and transported.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, the above-mentioned conventional techniques require manual labor, and automation has been desired. Therefore, it is conceivable to detect the conveyed object at a predetermined position, and to press the object at a predetermined timing by anticipating that the object will arrive at the pressing position after a predetermined time from that position. However, this method is effective only when the conveyed object is conveyed at a predetermined speed, and there is fluctuation in the conveyance speed when the object slides on the conveyance path, and when restarting operation after an emergency stop. Since the conveyance speed gradually increases at the start of initial operation, it is not possible to press the object at a predetermined timing.

The present invention was made to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, and its purpose is to be able to automatically sort objects without manual intervention, and also to enable automatic sorting of objects without manual intervention. To provide a sorting device for conveyed objects that can accurately sort objects. There are two.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention includes: a drive source; an object pressing means for pressing an object conveyed on a conveyance path to move it in a desired direction; and transmitting the driving force of the drive source to the object pressing means. /a coupling means that suddenly stops the object pressing means when the object is not transmitted; and an object detection device that is provided at a position upstream of the conveyance from the position where the object pressing means presses the object, and that detects an object conveyed on the conveyance path. means, an object passing detection means provided at a position further upstream of the conveyance from the installation position of the second object detection means, and detecting when the object being conveyed on the conveyance path is passing; a time data creation means for creating time data corresponding to the time required from when the detection output of the object is obtained by the object detection means until the object reaches the pressing position based on the detection output; and a second time data creation means. transmission timing control means for controlling the transmission timing of the driving force of the drive source by giving a control signal to the coupling means based on the detected time data and the detection output of the object detection means. Configured the device.

(Operation) According to the above configuration, the time data created by the time data creation means reflects the speed of the object when detected by the object passing detection means, and is changed according to the speed of the object. Therefore, by using this time data to control the timing at which the driving force of the driving source is transmitted to the coupling means, it is possible to always press the object at the correct timing.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, an object 2 such as a bottle is being conveyed from right to left in the figure on a conveyance path 1 such as a belt conveyor. Reference numeral 3 denotes a motor as a driving source, which rotates at an appropriate rotation speed. The rotation of the motor 3 is transmitted to the coupling means 7 by a transmission mechanism that transmits the rotation to the timing gear 6 via, for example, a timing gear 4 and a timing belt 5. The coupling means 7 is, for example, a vacuum clutch brake, and performs coupling between the timing gear 6 and the brush 8 and stopping the brush 8 suddenly.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the components consisting of the coupling means 7, the timing gear 6, and the brush 8. As is clear from the figure, the timing gear 6 is fixed to the shaft 9 by a nut 10. One brush 8 has an annular main body 8A.
(Fig. 3) and the hair body 1 implanted on the outer periphery of this main body 8A.
1, and this hair body 11, as shown in FIG.
For example, the length of the hair changes as it goes around, creating a so-called eccentric state. A cam 12 for detecting a brush position and a cam 14 for detecting a predetermined rotation are integrally provided on the side of the coupling means 7 of the single brush 8 . The glass position detection cam 12 and the predetermined rotation detection cam 14 each have annular shapes with different diameters, and each has a notch 1314A formed at a predetermined portion of the outer periphery. (Of course, a convex portion may be formed on a predetermined portion of the outer periphery.) When the brush 8 is in the initial position, for example, the shortest part of the bristles of the bristles 11 of the brush 8 faces the conveyance path 1, so that the object 2 is not pressed against it. , and a brush position detection cam 1 provided integrally with the brush body 8.
A proximity switch 15 is provided at a position of the housing of the coupling means 7 facing the notch 13 of the coupling means 7 .

Further, the notch 14A of the predetermined rotation detection cam 14 is made to form a predetermined rotation angle with the notch 13, and the stop sensor 6 is located at a position of the housing of the coupling means 7 facing the notch 14A. It is provided.

The output signals of the proximity switch 15 and the stop sensor 6 are provided to the control section 20/\. Under the control of the control unit 20, the coupling means 7 connects the rotation of the motor 3 to one brush 8.
When the transmission is transmitted to the brush 8, the brush 8 rotates and pushes out the objects 2 located at the position facing the brush 8 in the conveyance path 1, forming two rows of the conveyance path 21A.

The object 2 is moved to the transport path 21A of the transport path 21B. A start sensor 7 for detecting an object 2 is provided upstream of the brush 8 in the conveyance path 1. The distance between this start sensor 7 and the center of one brush 8 is 11 as shown in the diagram.
and when the diameter (width, etc.) of object 2 is D, A 1'
The position of the start sensor 7 is determined so that mD/2. The output signal of the start sensor 17 is given to the control section 20.

Further upstream of the start sensor 7 is a speed detect sensor 18 that detects that the object 2 is passing.
is provided. Assuming that the distance between the speed detect sensor 18 and the start sensor 7 is 12, this 12 is selected as D<12<(D+Δ1(Vt+V2)).

Here, ■1 means that the object 2 is the speed detect sensor 18.
V2 is the speed when the object 2 passes the start sensor 17.

The control unit 20 includes a system start switch and an object 2.
An input section 30 is provided for inputting data on how to (for example, push all products toward the transport path 21A side, or push only defective products toward the transport path 21 side, etc.). The control unit 20 includes a sorting information storage means 21 in which data indicating whether or not to press the object 2 toward the conveyance path 21A side is stored for each incoming object 2, a time data creation means 22, and a transmission timing control means 23. It is being Since the speed detect sensor 18 sends an output signal while the object 2 is passing from the leading edge to the trailing edge, the time data generating means 22 detects the same object 2 by the start sensor 17. Create time data corresponding to the time it takes to reach center No. 8. Specifically, for example, if the output of the speed detect sensor 18 as shown in FIG. 4(a) is obtained due to the passage of the object 2, 1. Considering that the timing (hitting point) of pressing the brush body 8 against the object 2 is shifted due to J<12, etc., the fourth (hitting point) is delayed by Δt.
Count up the counter with the clock shown in b),
This karantoi direct is taken as time data.

The transmission timing control means 23 is the time data creation means 22
Based on the time data created by and the output of the start sensor 17, a start signal is given via the signal line 24 and a stop signal is given via the signal line 25 to transmit the rotation of the motor 3 to the brush 8, or, One brush 8 is brought to a sudden stop. Specifically, when the information about the first object 2 in the sorting information storage means 21 indicates that the object 2 is to be pressed onto the conveyance path 21A/\, the transmission timing control means 23 obtains the time data created by the time data creation means 22. When the detection signal of the object 2 is obtained from the start sensor 17, the count value, which is the time data, is counted down by the clock shown in FIG. The rotation of the motor 3 by the coupling means 7 is transmitted to the brush 8 to rotate it by applying a No. 24 HESTART signal. Thereby, the object 2 is pressed toward the conveyance path 21A side. Then, when the brush 8 rotates a predetermined amount and the notch 14A is detected by the stop sensor 16,
The transmission timing control means 23 sends a stop signal to the signal line 25 to stop the rotation transmission and cause the brush 8 to suddenly stop. As a result, the brush 8 stops after a predetermined reaction time. At this time, the proximity switch 15 comes to face the notch 13, and if it does not face it, it can be used for outputting an abnormality alarm, etc. Note that the selection information storage means 21 inputs and outputs information by a first-in first-out operation.

In the above, as shown in FIG. 4, if the frequency of the clock in FIG. 4(b) is selected to be lower than the frequency of the clock in FIG. Even if the speed of the object 2 when it passes in front of the start sensor 17 is faster than the speed of the object 2 when it passes in front of the start sensor 17, it can be followed. Generally, the frequencies of the two clocks are selected so that the object 2 can be pushed out appropriately in a steady state. For example, considering Δt, Fig. 4 (b
) when a count value of 5 pulses is obtained by the clock in Fig. 4 (C), the time taken for the object 2 to travel from the start sensor 17 to the center of the brush 1 body 8 is set so that the clock in Fig. 4 (C) arrives at 5 pulses. Select frequency. Then, the count value of 10 pulses at the time of system start becomes time data, and even if the object 2 passing through the start sensor 17 advances to the center of one brush 8 in 9 pulses, it will be pushed out at the 10th pulse, and the 9th pulse and 10th pulse It can be seen that the hitting point does not deviate significantly because the distance between the two points is short. Note that a common clock obtained from a sensor that detects the number of rotations of a motor (not shown) that drives the conveyance path 1 may be used as these clocks, for example. That is, for example, a slit disk is provided on the shaft of the motor, and the slits in the slit disk are detected by an opto-sensor and used as a clock.3 A slit mark is attached to the belt, etc. of the transport path 1, and this is detected by the opto-sensor. The clock can be obtained by attaching an encoder to the shaft of the motor. When this clock is used, the conveyance speed and the clock are synchronized, so that the object 2 can be pressed accurately at all times.

Specifically, the essential parts of the conveyance object sorting device as described above can be constructed by including a circuit as shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, the same components as in FIGS. 1 and 2 are given the same reference numerals, and their explanations will be omitted.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 3, the input section 3 in FIG.
0 and the selection information storage means 21 in the control section 20 are not included. In the figure, a terminal 301 is for receiving a clock obtained from an encoder or the like attached to the shaft of the drive motor of the transport path 1, and the clock reaches an interface circuit 302. When such a clock is used, the contacts opposite to those shown in the diagram are selected in the switches 303A and 303B.

Clock circuit 304 generates the clock shown in FIG. 4(b), and clock circuit 305 generates the clock shown in FIG. 4(C). These clocks are connected to up counter 308 via count enable circuits 306 and 307, respectively.
, 309. Power-on reset circuit 31
0 resets the count enable circuits 306 and 307 at power-on, such as when the system is powered on, and provides a reset instruction signal to the reset circuit 311. Reset circuit 311 receives a reset instruction signal from power-on reset circuit 310 and resets up counter 308, down counter 309, and latch circuit 312. In addition, the reset circuit 311 receives the signal from the speed detect sensor 18 via a terminal 314 and an interface circuit 315, and when the detection by the speed detect sensor 18 is completed, it gives a latch timing signal to the latch circuit 3111, and from now on, the clock circuit The up counter 30B and the down counter 309 are reset with a delay of, for example, one pulse of the tarock sent from the counter 304.

When the count enable circuit 307 receives the detection output of the start sensor 17, it passes the down counter 309 clock on the condition that the output of the down 5 counter 309 was previously active (for example, H level). Allow downcount. On the other hand, the count enable circuit 306 passes the clock to the up counter 308 when the enable signal is obtained from the timer 316. Timer 316 is connected to terminal 314, interface 3
When it receives a signal to start detection from the speed detect sensor 17 via the speed detect sensor 15, it starts counting time, and when it measures the time Δt explained earlier in FIG. .

On the other hand, as will be described later, the output signal switching circuit 321 normally selects the output signal of the down counter 309 and supplies it to the interface circuit 322. The output of is sent out. Therefore, in normal operation, when the speed detect sensor 18 starts detecting the object 2, the timer 316 is activated, and after a time period of Δ, a permission signal is given to the count enable circuit 306, and the up-6 counter 30B clock (fourth (corresponding to figure (b)) is given, and up-counting is started. Then, when the speed detect sensor 18 finishes detecting the object and the rear end passes), the timer 316 stops sending out the permission signal, so the up counter 308 finishes counting up, as shown in FIG. 4(a). This means that for the portion of the pulse excluding Δt, the value counted by the clock shown in FIG. 4(b) is set. And reset circuit 3
A latch timing signal is applied from 11 to latch circuit 312, and the count value of up counter 308 is latched by latch circuit 312 and set in down counter 309.

Thereafter, the object 2 is detected by the start sensor 17, and a detection signal is delivered to the terminal 313. Therefore, the count enable circuit 307 passes the clock of the clock circuit 305, and a down count based on the clock shown in FIG. 4(C) is started. When the count value reaches 7, the output of the down counter 309 becomes active As a result, a signal from the signal line 24 is output, and the coupling means 7
7 rotations of the motor 3 are transmitted to the brush pusher 8, and the object 2 is pressed and moved toward the conveyance path 21A. Of course, the sorting information in the sorting information storage means 21 is used, for example, by an AND condition with the start sensor 17 arriving at the terminal 313,
It is used to control whether or not to perform the above sorting.

This embodiment has the following configuration in addition to the configuration for performing normal sorting in response to fluctuations in the conveyance speed as described above. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, a startup circuit 319 is provided. Startup circuit 3
19 is supplied with a switch operation signal for starting the system via a terminal 317 and an interface circuit 318. Also, this operation signal is used by timer 3.
20 activation signals. The timer 320 is activated when the system is started up, and if there is no object 2 downstream of the speed detect sensor 18 or within a predetermined distance upstream, the system operates using the up counter 308 and the down counter 309. This is to detect that the detection signal 8 is obtained from the speed detect sensor 18 after a sufficient condition has been reached.

That is, when the start-up circuit 319 receives a time-up signal from the timer circuit 320 and then receives a signal to start detection by the speed detect sensor 18 via the terminal 314 and the interface circuit 315,
The startup circuit 319 sends a control signal to the output signal switching circuit 321 to select the output of the down counter 309. As a result, the up counter 3
08, an operation using the down counter 309 is performed.

The start-up circuit 319 receives the detection signal of the speed detection sensor 18 from the terminal 317 and the interface circuit 315, and the signal from the start of the system until the passage of two objects 2 (of course, when there is no output from the timer 320), Start sensor 17 provided through terminal 324
A control signal is given to the output signal switching circuit 321 to instruct it to send out a start signal based on the detection signal. In addition, the startup circuit 319 obtains an overflow signal from the up counter 308, and detects the arrival of this overflow signal after two objects 2 have passed since the start of the system, and continues when the overflow signal is obtained. Outputs a control signal that instructs to send out a star signal based on the detection signal of the start sensor 17, and also outputs a control signal to send out the output signal of the down counter 309 as a start signal when an overflow signal is not obtained. do.

Note that the startup circuit 319 is the output signal switching circuit 3.
21, it detects that two objects have been conveyed between the speed detect sensor 18 and the plush body 8, and then switches which signal should be output and uses it to create timing. . The output signal of the start sensor 17 that reaches the terminal 324 is a spike-like signal that indicates the detection of the tip of the object 2, whereas the signal that arrives at the terminal 313 is a spike-like signal that indicates the detection of the tip of the object 2. This is a status signal corresponding to When the output signal switching circuit 321 is given a control signal to select the output signal of the start sensor 17 arriving at the terminal 324 from the startup circuit 319, the output signal switching circuit 321 selects the object of the status 0 - status signal output from the start sensor 17. A start signal is output to the interface circuit 322 at a timing corresponding to the rear end of 2. As a result of the above configuration, for example, when the system is started, two objects 21 and 22 are present between the center P of the brush double press 8 and the speed detect sensor 8, as shown in FIG. shall be. Then, in order to start up the system, the startup circuit 319 outputs a control signal to select the signal from the terminal 324 to the signal switching circuit 3.
Send to 21. Therefore, the output signal switching circuit 321 sends a start signal to the coupling means 7 via the interface circuit 322 when the star 2 sensor 7 detects the rear end of the object 2 . As a result, the brush double press 8 rotates and presses the object 21, but at this time, as explained in FIG. Object 21 located at
is pressed accurately. This kind of movement is object 2
After pressing the object 22, the control signal from the up counter 308 is determined based on the presence or absence of an overflow signal from the up counter 308.
The status signal of the sensor 17 is selected. In this way, the object 2 can be pressed accurately even when starting up the system or starting after an emergency stop. In addition,
In the above explanation, it has been explained that the start signal combined with the selection information arrives at the terminal 313, but the output of the interface 322 may be combined with the selection information and applied to the coupling means 7. Further, a signal from the stop sensor 16 is applied to the terminal 323 .

Further, the circuit shown in FIG. 3 can also be constructed by, for example, a microcomputer. That is, the microprocessor uses a program in the main memory to implement the operations of various counters and timers in software based on the outputs of the start sensor 17 and speed check sensor 18, and sends out the start signal as described above. Good too.

Further, the coupling means 7 is not limited to a vacuum clutch brake, but may be, for example, an electromagnetic clutch, and the brush pusher 8 may be a piston, an eccentric elastic body, or the like as long as it can press an object. Also,
Each sensor may appropriately employ an optical sensor, a magnetic sensor, or the like.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to automatically sort objects without manual intervention, and even when the conveyance speed of the objects is not constant, the conveyed objects can be accurately pressed and sorted. can do.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of essential parts of an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 4 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a counting operation by a counter used in an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a pressing operation of a loose object in an embodiment of the present invention. 1.21A, 21B... Conveyance path 2.21.22... Object 3... Motor 7... Coupling means 3 8... Brush pusher 12... Grush position detection cam 13 , 14A
... Notch part 14 ... Predetermined rotation detection cam 15.
・Proximity sensor 16 ・Stop sensor 17 ・
・Start sensor 18 ・Speed sensor 20 ・Control unit 21 ・Selection information storage means 22 ・Time data creation means 23 ・Transmission timing control means 30 ・Input unit 304, 305... Clock circuit 306, 307... Count enable circuit 308... Up counter 309... Down counter 312... Latch circuit 316, 320... Timer 319... Startup circuit 321.・Output signal switching circuit

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) a driving source; an object pressing means for pressing an object conveyed along a conveyance path to move it in a desired direction; and transmitting/non-transmitting the driving force of the driving source to the object pressing means, a coupling means for suddenly stopping the object; an object detection means for detecting an object conveyed on the conveyance path, the object detection means being provided at a position upstream of the conveyance from the position where the object is pressed by the object pressing means; and an installation position of the object detection means. Furthermore, an object passing detection means is provided at a position upstream of the conveyance, and detects when the object being conveyed on the conveyance path is being passed; a time data creation means for creating time data corresponding to the time required from obtaining a detection output to reaching the pressing position; and time data created by the time data creation means and a detection output of the object detection means. transmission timing control means for controlling the transmission timing of the driving force of the drive source by applying a control signal to the coupling means based on the above. (2) The time data generation means includes a first counter that counts up based on the clock of the first clock generation circuit while the detection output of the object passing detection means is being obtained, and the transmission timing control means includes a first counter that counts up based on the clock of the first clock generation circuit. After the count value of the first counter is given the detection output from the object detection means, the second counter is
2. The conveyed object sorting device according to claim 1, further comprising a second counter that counts down based on the clock of the clock generating circuit. (3) The time data creation means includes a first counter that counts up based on the clock obtained by the means for detecting the conveyance speed of the conveyance path while the detection output of the object passing detection means is being obtained, and transmits the time data. 2. The timing control means includes a second counter that counts down the count value of the first counter based on a clock obtained by the means after the detection output is given from the object detection means. (1) The conveyance object sorting device described in (1). (4) The transmission timing control means includes an object presence/absence detection circuit that detects whether or not there is an object between the pressing position against the object and the object detection means at the start of the operation, and an overflow output of the first counter; A transmission timing switching unit that switches to control transmission timing based only on the detection output of the object detection means when the detection output of the presence of an object is obtained from the object detection circuit. Claim (2) or Claim (3)
) A sorting device for conveyed objects according to any one of the above.