JPH0412930A - Vertical sorter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To always keep a train of jointed trays horizontally, and enable the sorting of the trays into travel routes at upper and lower sides and at either of both sides by providing the trays comprising an endless belt conveyor, a means for horizontally keeping the trays and a sorting operation device for the predetermined trays. CONSTITUTION:A tray 2 loaded with articles at a feed port is driven and shifted along a vertical travel route with a chain 7. When the tray 2 is shifted to the predetermined sorting position, the movable cam 42 of a sorting operation cam 40 at the aforesaid position is operated, for example, with a solenoid 45, according to a sorting instruction. The sorting operation roller 16 of the tray 2, therefore, first comes in contact with the cam 42. Then, a roller 16 is laterally moved along the cam 42 and a fixed cam 44. Consequently, the belt 14 of the tray 2 is actuated. As a result, the articles placed on the belt 14 are moved toward the chute 10 at the predetermined sorting position and sorted. Also, the tray 2 not sorted on an upper travel route 6a is transferred from the route 6a to a lower travel route 6b, carrying the articles horizontally, and the articles can be sorted at the predetermined sorting position.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] This invention relates to a vertical sorter, in particular, a plurality of trays connected in an endless manner are always maintained in a horizontal state, and circulated in the vertical direction, so that the trays can be rotated vertically. The present invention relates to a vertical sorter that can selectively perform sorting at a required sorting position on a stage.

[Prior Art] Various sorters are known as sorters, or sorting devices, that transport packages along a conveyance path and sort the packages at a required sorting position. It is divided into various types depending on the method. In particular, among such sorters, conventional tray-type sorters are generally horizontal circulation type, and there are also rare types such as vertical circulation type and three-dimensional circulation type, but all of them use only one stage. It is normal to do so.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In such conventional tray-type sorters, the horizontal circulation type (racetrack type) sorting device consists of trays connected to endlessly circulate horizontally. There are disadvantages such as a dead space between both sides of the central straight portion and a large space at the turn portion.

In addition, since a vertical circulation type sorting device is made up of trays connected so as to circulate in the vertical direction, the trays are inverted and upside down at the lower return section. It cannot be used for sorting and is wasted, and if two sorting devices are stacked one on top of the other, the height of stacking becomes high, which is inconvenient for work and operation, and the support mechanism becomes complicated and drive control becomes difficult. It becomes complicated and expensive.

Furthermore, the three-dimensional circulation type sorting device has loop parts for raising and lowering at both ends, and these loop parts are arranged vertically and connected to maintain a constant horizontal state. As a result, the loop portions on both sides take up a large space, the loop portions cannot be used for sorting, time is wasted during transportation through these loop portions, and disadvantages include high costs.

Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to solve these conventional problems by creating a system that connects vertically in an endless manner so that more sorting points can be provided in a limited narrow fixed space. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vertical sorter which constitutes a sorting device in which trays are always maintained horizontally and can be sorted into either the upper or lower tiers or on either side.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, vertical sorters are vertically connected endlessly and perpendicular to the running direction for sorting. The present invention is characterized by comprising a plurality of trays, each consisting of an endless belt conveyor that is operated in a direction, a means for keeping the trays horizontal at all times, and a sorting operation device that operates the desired trays in a predetermined sorting direction. .

[Function] By using the above-mentioned means, the tray is always maintained horizontally, so that the baggage is always on the horizontal tray and the baggage can be sorted on either the upper or lower level. ,
In addition, each tray is composed of an endless belt conveyor so that it can sort and discharge cargo in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction, and such a belt conveyor is constructed so that it can be operated at a predetermined sorting position and in a required sorting direction. Therefore, the luggage can be sorted smoothly and reliably to the required sorting location.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one embodiment of the vertical tray of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[Example 1] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 10 of the drawings, the vertical sorter 1 of the present invention is connected in an endless manner in the vertical direction and operates individually in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction for sorting. a plurality of trays 2, each consisting of an endless belt conveyor 3, a support device 4 serving as a means for always maintaining these trays 2 horizontally, and a sorting actuator that operates the desired trays 2 in a predetermined sorting direction. It is mainly composed of 5.

In particular, in the vertical sorter 1 of the present invention, a pair of endless chains 27, that is, two endless chains 27 that circulate at the same level in parallel adjacent vertical planes separated by one space, are chain wheels whose centers are shifted back and forth. 8, the trays 2 are rotatably supported by a support frame 9 forming a machine frame, and a plurality of trays 2 are connected and driven by these endless chains 27.

As clearly shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, each tray 2 is connected to an endless belt conveyor 3 that is operated individually in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction so that the required sorting can sort the loads in the direction. They are each composed of That is, tray 2
1 includes a frame-shaped frame main body 11, an endless belt 14 that is hung around a pair of rollers 12 that are rotatably supported at intervals on the frame main body 11, and this endless belt 14 is connected to the left and right as required. The sorting operation roller 16 of the sorting operation device 5 is provided for operating the sorting in the direction,
Facing the direction of movement of the frame body 11, the left front end and the right rear end are connected to the left chino 7a and the right chino 7b by connecting bins 17, respectively, and the left rear end and the right front end are connected for running and horizontal Supporting rollers 18 are provided, and guide rollers 20 are provided on the left, right, front and rear sides of the lower side of the frame body 11, and the rollers 18 roll along the upper running surface 21a of the running guide rail 21. , the guide roller 20 is configured to move along the lateral guide surface 21b.

The sorting operation roller 16 of the sorting operation device 5 for sorting the trays 2 as described later is attached to the center of a suitable metal support member 24 attached to the lower running portion of the belt 14 so as to extend laterally. It is rotatably mounted and supported by 25. Furthermore.

At both ends of the support member 24, guide rollers 26 are rotatably supported by support members 28 so as to roll along the side surfaces of the horizontal member 27 of the frame body 11 to help the belt 14 run smoothly. ing. Further, two support plates are attached to the frame body 11 just below the upper running surface of the belt 14 to help support the load on the tray 2 (FIG. 3).

The first
．． As shown in Figures 2 and 10, the left and right Cheno 7a
, 7b are disposed off-center by a distance corresponding to the effective width of the tray 2. That is, in these chain wheels 8a and 8b, for example, the front chain wheel 8a is driven by the drive motor 30 to the intermediate drive shaft 31.
The chain wheel 8a on the left side is placed in front of the chain wheel 8b on the right side by a distance A in front of the chain wheel wheel 8b on the right side in the running direction, and the rear chain wheel wheels 8a and 8b are driven by the chain wheel wheel 8b on the right side. is arranged a distance A behind the chain wheel 8a on the left side.

Further, inside each of these chain wheels 8a and 8b, there is a device for maintaining the tray 2 in a horizontal state at all times when the tray 2 is transferred from the lower running section to the lower running section or from the lower running section to the upper running member, respectively. For this reason, a support arm wheel 32 of the support portion W4 is provided, and the front left support arm wheel 32a is a chain wheel 8a.
The support arm wheel 32b on the right side of the front is disposed rearward and inwardly by a distance A than the chain wheel 8b and coaxially with the chain wheel 8a. Furthermore, the rear left support arm vehicle 32
A and the rear right support arm wheel 32b are also set at a relationship value of 1 with the same chain wheel as the front support arm wheel. As shown in FIG. 7, each of these support arm wheels 32a and 32b has three arms 33 extending radially from the center at equal angles, and the tip of each arm 33 engages with the horizontal support roller 18 of the tray 2. A semi-circular notch 35 is provided with a size of .

A sorting actuating device 5 that operates the belt 14 of the tray 2 to sort the cargo placed on the tray 2 in a predetermined sorting direction at a predetermined sorting position is shown in FIGS. 3, 11, and 11. It is provided as shown in Figure 12.

This sorting actuating device 5 consists of a sorting actuating roller 16 and a sorting actuating cam 40. The sorting actuating roller 16 is provided below the belt 14 of the tray 2, and the sorting actuating cam 40 is provided on the support frame 9 forming the machine frame. It is being As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the sorting actuating cam 40 that the sorting actuating roller 16 of the tray 2 engages has a movable cam 42 whose one end is movably supported, and a movable cam 42 that is continuously connected to the movable cam 42. The movable cam 42 is normally energized by, for example, a solenoid 45 or a spring so that the movable cam 42 faces inward, so that the sorting actuating roller 16 is not obstructed. When the movable cam 42 is actuated in accordance with a required sorting command, the sorting actuating roller 16 hits this movable cam 42 and the sorting actuating roller 16 moves along the movable cam 42 and the fixed cam 44.
By moving the belt 14 of the tray 2, the belt 14 of the tray 2 is actuated in a desired sorting direction, and the cargo on the belt is sorted and discharged to either the left or right side as desired.

The vertical sorter 1 of the present invention constructed in this manner operates as follows.

That is, the plurality of trays 2 connected in an endless manner by a pair of chaenos 7 are placed at appropriate positions on the upper and lower two-stage sorting surfaces constructed along the upper and lower running sections 6a and 6b, for example, at the starting end of the lower running section. At the side, the cargo to be sorted is fed through a suitable feed port consisting of a chute, hopper or other similar device and placed on each tray 2, at which point a bar code such as that marked on the cargo is placed. A suitable display means is read in advance by a barcode reader or an appropriate electronic reader, and the necessary information is input into an electronic control device such as a small computer, and the sorting operation cam 40 of the sorting operation device 5 at a predetermined sorting position is inputted. The movable cam 42 is operated at the required time.

In this way, each tray 2 loaded with cargo at the supply port
is driven by the checker 27 and moved along the vertical travel path. The tray 2 thus moved to the predetermined sorting position is moved to the sorting operation cam 40 at the corresponding position by the sorting command.
Since the movable cam 42 is actuated by, for example, a solenoid 45, the sorting actuating roller 16 of the tray 2 first comes into contact with this movable cam 42, and the sorting actuating roller 16 moves along the movable cam 42 and the fixed cam 44 that have come into contact with this movable cam 42. Since the belt 14 of the tray 2 is moved laterally, the belt 14 of the tray 2 is moved, and the baggage placed thereon is moved toward the chute 10 at a predetermined sorting position so that it can be sorted.

In addition, if sorting is not performed in the upper direction path 6a and the lower direction path 6b
The tray 2, which is to be sorted in a predetermined sorting chute 1O, is loaded with cargo, and the horizontal support roller 18 at the right front end of the tray 2 is moved to the arm 33 of the right arm wheel 32 by the support device 4 of the conversion part. At the same time, the horizontal support roller 18 at the left rear end is supported by the arm 33 of the left arm wheel 32, so that the connecting pin 17 at the left front end of the tray 2 and the connecting bin 17 at the right rear end
In conjunction with the connection with the chees 27a and 7b, the tray 2 is in a horizontal state and is converted from the upper direction path 6a to the lower direction path 6b with the cargo placed thereon, and is then sorted in a predetermined manner on the lower direction path 6b. Baggage can be sorted in the same way as if it were placed in two rows on the required side in terms of position.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the tray 2 is an endless belt 14, and the belt is sorted by the roller 16 and the cam 40. In addition, instead of using the front and rear chain wheels 8 and arm wheels 32 as one destination, the upper and lower chain wheels 8 and arm wheels 32 can be
It is easily understood by those skilled in the art that it is possible to move the trays 2 and sort them as appropriate by making the space between the upper and lower trays 6a and 6b sufficiently large for each destination. be understood.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the vertical sorter of the present invention, a pair of endless chenos, that is, two threads, circulating at the same level in adjacent vertical planes spaced apart from each other are arranged in the center. is rotatably supported by a support frame forming the machine frame by a chain wheel shifted back and forth, and each of the plurality of trays is connected to the chain 2 at two diagonal locations on both the left and right sides by these endless chains. At the remaining two diagonal positions, support arm wheels with arms extending in the radial direction support the horizontal support rollers on both sides of the tray and drive the tray. Even in the turning section, the tray can be turned horizontally from top to bottom or from bottom to top, making it possible to effectively use both the top and bottom travel paths for sorting. At the sorting position, the tray belt can be operated in the desired sorting direction by a sorting actuating device consisting of a cam and rollers to sort the loads on the belt, and the upper and lower running paths are arranged alternately across the entire floor for sorting. A sorting device that can be used to effectively utilize a small amount of space, has an efficient and effective sorting ability, and can have a sorting operating device, horizontal maintenance device, etc. in a simple configuration. In other words, effects such as a sorter can be achieved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of the vertical sorter of this invention.
2 is a schematic plan view, FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional end view showing a tray of the vertical sorter of the present invention, FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional front view of the tray, FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the tray, and FIG.
2I is an enlarged partial plan view, FIG. 7 is an enlarged front view of the chain wheel and arm wheel, FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view, FIG. 9 is an enlarged end view, and FIG. 10 is the drive system of the chain wheel and arm wheel. FIG. 11 is a partial plan view of the sorting actuating cam of the sorting actuating device, and FIG. 12 is a front sectional view. In the figure, 1: Vertical sorter, 2: Tray, 3: Belt conveyor, 4: Support device, 5: Sorting operation device, 6a: Upper direction path, 6b 2nd lower path, 7.7a, 7b: Check 2.8
．． 8a, 8b, Chain wheel, 9.9a: Support frame, 1
0. Chute, 11: Frame body, 12: Roller, 1
4: Belt, 16: Sorting operation roller, 17: Connecting bin,
18: horizontal support roller, 20: guide roller, 21: running guide rail, 21a: upper running surface, 21b: lower striking surface, 2
4.28: Support member, 25: Mounting bin, 26: Guide roller, 27: Lateral member, 29: Belt support plate, 32.32a
, 32b=support arm vehicle, 33: arm, 35. Notch, 40: Sorting operation cam, 42: Movable cam, 44: Fixed cam, 45: Solenoid.

Claims (1)

[Claims] a plurality of trays, each consisting of an endless belt conveyor connected vertically in an endless manner and individually operated perpendicular to the direction of travel for sorting; means for keeping the trays horizontal at all times; A vertical sorter comprising a sorting operation device that operates trays in a predetermined sorting direction.